The Ins and Outs of Thanksgiving

Introduction: What do you and I really know about Thanksgiving? Let’s begin by looking at a couple of Bible verses. These verses will provide us with a base to build this message upon.

The Old Testament

Psalm 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

The New Testament

Philippians 4:6 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

Would you consider yourself a THANKFUL person? How often do you say these two words: THANK YOU? When someone else does something nice, or something kind for you, do you thank them for what they did? And how thankful are you when God steps in and does something wonderful in your life? Do you give Him thanks?

We really do have so much to be THANKFUL for. And I believe that the most thankful people ought to be the people of God –believers in Christ (Amen). Christ’s followers should shine in giving thanks. Giving Thanks should be the overflow of a walk with the LORD.

So, I ask you again, Are you a Thankful person? Is it easy for you to give thanks for what someone else or what God has done for you?

The dictionary defines Thanksgiving this way: the expression of gratitude, especially to God. Yes, that is from the dictionary.

There are at least three areas in our lives where we can give God thanks. We can give God thanks for:

I. For the Past – Psalm 126:3

I was saved in a church that taught about the importance of thanksgiving. My Pastor, Royal Blue, who is now in heaven often quoted Psalm 126:3 from the pulpit. This verse reminds us of what the Lord has done for us. We read,

Psalm 126:3 - “The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.”

Are we thankful for all the great things God has done for us? Do we see the great things flowing from God’s hands into our hands? Someone once said, “We give with a teaspoon, but God gives with a coal shovel.” We will never out give God – Never!

The Apostle James penned these words,

James 1:17 - Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and come down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.

What are all the “good” and “perfect” gifts that God has provided for you so far this year? Have you expressed thanks to God for all these things?

Allow me to share with you SEVEN GIFTS that God has showered upon me so far this year. Here is my Thankful list:

1. Gift 1 - Every month has been different – there are no repetitions. Our God is full of variety! Thank you, God, for your variety. I’m glad that my life is not like Bill Murry in Groundhog Day!

2. Gift 2 – God’s faithfulness - God has shown up in my life every day. He is my Faithful God. Thank you, God, for your faithfulness.

He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it. (1 Thessalonians 5:24)

3. Gift 3 - An amazing family. I have a beautiful wife with an incredible ability to love people. Who is just as called to ministry as I am! I have children and grandchildren that I love to the moon and back. Thank you, God, for my family.

4. Gift 4 - Ministry here at SLBC has experienced some wonderful high points. Even during the past few years with all of the uncertainty, God’s people have been active and engaged in using their giftedness. Thank you, God, for the body of Christ.

5. Gift 5 - Enjoying the beauty of God’s creation. Debbie and I along with our kids enjoyed some fantastic vacations – Redwoods National Park, Badlands of South Dakota, and Point Defiance, Washington. Mountains.

6. Gift 6 – My health. I received good news once again from my oncologist that all my tests were negative for cancer. Other than having a bad hip I’m doing great!

7. Gift 7 – The fellowship with the people of God. I thoroughly love being around God’s people.

So, that’s my list of the Good Gifts that I am THANKFUL for, what would be on your list? (Homework assignment – Come up with your top seven things you are thankful for).

Can you imagine what type of list we would all have if we started back on January 1st, and wrote down all the things we were THANKFUL for as we walked through the past eleven months? No doubt we have a long list. Probably a list longer than our Christmas wish list!

Remember the Psalmist penned,

Psalm 100:4 - Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, And into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

Here are some things that you might include on your Thankful list:

• Protection when traveling.

• The purchase of a new toy – Kayak, boat, vehicle.

• Birth of a new baby/grandbaby.

• Family reunions.

• Vacation time.

• Hikes in the mountains.

• Traveling to the coast.

• Fishing and hunting trips.

• Spending time with family.

• Creating memories.

• Engaged in a hobby.

Perhaps you got a brand-new job, or you have been allowed to keep your job – do you see it as a gift from God? I want to encourage you to develop a THANKFUL heart. Come up with your list of all the things you want to thank God for.

Jesus and the Ten Lepers

I want you to open your Bible to Luke 17:11-19, and I want us to look at a miracle that took place in the life of ten lepers. We read,

Now it happened as He went to Jerusalem that He passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. And they lifted up their voices and said, "Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!" So when He saw them, He said to them, "Go, show yourselves to the priests." And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. So Jesus answered and said, "Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?" And He said to him, "Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well."

Did you notice in that text that only one out of the ten lepers returned to give thanks to Jesus for healing him (v. 15-16)? I find this so amazing, and so realistic to life. Only 1/10th returned to give thanks. I hope that this statistic would be different today, but I’m not sure it would be. Look again at verse 18. Jesus says,

“Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner.”

It was the Samaritan among the lepers that returned to give God thanks. It was the outcast. The one that not only was an outcast because he had a disease, but was an outcast because of his ethnicity.

These ten lepers had received a “good gift” and a “perfect gift” from God. One gave thanks! You and I have received a “good gift” and a “perfect gift” from God throughout the past eleven months. Will we take the time to give God thanks? I truly hope we will.

God give us Thankful hearts.

II. For the Present – Ephesians 5:20

When I speak about the present, I am speaking about what is happening in our lives right now. The right now moments of our lives.

Ephesians 5:20 – giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fall was yesterday, Summer is in the past, Spring is ahead of us, and we are now entering into the Winter months – November through February. I am so glad that we live in an area where we get to experience the four seasons. Don’t you just love Idaho? We often joke about our four seasons - Mud, Snow, Cold, and Wet. The truth is that we are a very blessed people to live here in the Pacific Northwest.

The Summer of 2022 was a hot one. Many of us longed for some refreshing rain that we never received. Our Fall has been so beautiful – the colors this year have been amazing. Debbie and I were in awe at the Tamarack trees as we drove over Lookout Pass past week. And now, I know that some of you are looking forward to a snowy winter and you are longing for colder days. You can’t wait to hit the hills and slice the snow or jump on that snowmobile.

Someone amply said,

“Yesterday is history,

tomorrow is a mystery,

and today is a gift...

that's why it’s called, the present”

Can we give God thanks for the present? I hope we can. And when I speak about the present, I am speaking about everything that would be included in our present life. So, let’s start with:

• Our Faith – We are gathered in Church right now. So, how is your walk with God? Are you thankful for your faith? Are you where you should be in your walk with God? Does each day you walk with Jesus grow sweeter than the one before? Are you living an exciting faith?

• Our Marriage – The most important earthly relationship is the one between you and your spouse. Are you thankful for your life mate? Are you two growing in your marriage? Are you seeking to out-serve the other? Are you taking opportunities to do things together?

• Our Children – How are you doing in raising your children? Do you feel blessed? Are you giving God thanks for the privilege of the fruit of your womb? Children are gifts from the Lord. Are you seeking to instill biblical truth into the life of your children? Are you loving being a parent?

• Our Church – Do you give God thanks for your Church family? We have a fantastic community of Faith. We are so extremely blessed here at SLBC. Don’t take what we have here for granted. God has given us a fantastic Church fellowship. Continue to love one another. We are not perfect, but we strive to glorify God together.

Here is what Paul penned about the Philippian believers,

Philippians 1:3 - I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

Lately, when I sign your Birthday or Anniversary card from the church, I have been writing Philippians 1:3 on them. I am reminded how great it is to be a part of such a wonderful Church.

I am thankful for our church fellowship – each one of you. I am also thankful for those who are connected in Home Groups. You are doing community together.

• Our Employment – Do you have a job? Be thankful. A lot of people aren’t working, and some have lost their job. If you have a job and it is providing for you and your family give God thanks.

• Our Health – How is your body doing? Are you healthy? Don’t ever take your health for granted. You can be healthy one day and be hospitalized the next. It happens. So, if you are blessed with good health give God thanks.

• Our Community – Every one of us needs people in our lives. We were never meant to live isolated lives. God designed us for community. You and I should be thankful for our neighbors around us. NO ONE is Perfect – we are all broken people. But we need other people in our lives.

Matthew 22:39 – You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

The present encompasses so much of our lives, and when we think of it that way, we really do have a lot of things to give God THANKS for.

III. For the Future – 1 Thessalonians 5:18

Not everyone had a pleasant eleven months. Many have found their days filled with hurt and heartache. While I talked about giving thanks for the Past and the Present (our right now moments), we also must recognize that we have a future, and in that future trouble may come into our lives. No one is exempt from trouble. Are you aware that we are commanded to give God thanks for the future? The Apostle Paul penned these words,

1 Thessalonians 5:18 - In everything gives thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Life is often a two-way street. On one side of the street, there are some exciting experiences, but on the other side, there are some great hardships and disappointments. We see in life both blessings and heartaches. Good times and hard times. Even the pilgrims had hard/ships (Get it - Hard Ships!). We need to remind ourselves that we live on a broken and fallen planet. Sin has wreaked havoc on planet earth, and it affects our lives (Read through Romans 8).

Please hear this: Trouble does not have to keep you from giving THANKS to God. It may become harder, but when trouble knocks at your door, that is when you need to fully rely upon the LORD. It is easy to give thanks when things are going well (I’m not sure we do it well), but what about when things are going terribly wrong? This is when we really need to get our eyes on the Lord.

Pastor Tony Evans writes, “God says to give thanks in everything. That doesn’t mean you need to give thanks FOR everything. You don’t need to give thanks FOR that bad day. Or FOR that bad relationship. Or being passed over at work. Financial hardship. Whatever it is – you are not to give thanks FOR the difficulties, but rather IN the difficulties. That is a very important distinction, and one I think we often miss. Giving thanks IN everything shows a heart of faith that God is bigger than the difficulties and that He can use them, if you approach Him with the right heart and spirit, for your good and His glory.”

And Christian writer Kay Arthur penned, “God is in control, and therefore in EVERYTHING I can give thanks - not because of the situation but because of the One who directs and rules over it.”

None of us knows what tomorrow holds, but we KNOW who holds tomorrow! Amen.

Real Life Illustrations

# 1 – Death (The sudden taken of a precious life).

Katrina's mother was here helping Katrina clean the Church on Tuesday. When I came into the building, I asked her how she was doing. She responded, “I wasn’t going to tell anyone about this, but since you asked, my nephew was killed in a car accident last night.” She went on to say, “I would get into his face because he was raised attending Daily Vacation Bible School every summer. I would challenge him to make better choices. This is what we as Christians are supposed to be doing. This is what it means to be bold for Christ. He is dead now. Why wouldn’t he listen?”

Life may knock us down, but we don’t stay down. We get back up. Our hope is not just in this life. Our hope is outside of this life. Everything here is only temporary, but we have a hope within us that is eternal (Amen). Paul penned to the Corinthians these words,

I Corinthians 15:19 – If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitable.

None of us know what is going to happen next in our lives.

# 2 - Disenfranchised (At odds with one another)

I have shared with you in the past about a father who is disenfranchised with his daughter. She has a child, and she is unwilling to allow her father to see him. He has prayed, pleaded with God, and sought to do some nice things for his daughter and grandchild to make their lives easier. So far, it has all been met with a brick wall.

# 3 – Disease (When disease attacks the people we love).

In our Church, we have been praying for Shannon Smith (cancer), Scott Long (Leukemia), Andy Gable (end-stage kidney failure). As well as a host of people who has had recent surgeries and are recovering. Not to mention all the sickness in our area.

Not one person that I have spoken to you about knew the future. Most of us would not want to walk into the future if we saw it in advance. But I remind you that the God who has blessed us in the past, who stands with us in the present, will take care of us in the future.

How does a believer give thanks to God when the people they loved are taken from them either by disaster, disappointments, or disease? How do we give THANKS to God when bad things happen in our lives? Well, we hold on to the TRUTHFULNESS of God’s Word. The Scripture tells us,

Romans 8:18 - For I consider the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Don’t BLAME God when bad things happen to you, or to your loved ones. We have got to remember that we live in a fallen and broken world. We live in an environment that is hostile toward us. Remember though we are only passing through. This is NOT our eternal home.

One Pastor penned, “In happy moments, PRAISE GOD. In difficult moments, SEEK GOD. In quiet moments, WORSHIP GOD. In painful moments, TRUST GOD. Every moment, THANK GOD.”

So, what do we do during difficult times? Perhaps we should take the advice of the Apostle Peter. Here is what Peter penned,

• 1 Peter 5:7 - Casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

And I also believe that the advice of the author of Hebrews is relevant to anyone going through difficult times. The writer pens,

• Hebrews 4:16 - Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

So, there we have it, The Ins and Outs of Thanksgiving: What the Bible teaches us about THANKSGIVING?

Conclusion: What will we do with everything we heard today? Forget it all? Or will we keep it before us and remember that we have looked at some great Biblical instruction? Thanksgiving teachings about how we are to develop a heart of gratitude and Thanksgiving.

The ball is now in our court. It is now our turn. We must act upon what we have heard today. Three key areas: The Present, the Past, and the Future.

1. For the Present - Will you write out at least seven things you are thankful for? And share them at your Thanksgiving table this coming Thursday.

2. For the Past - Will you develop a list of the “good gift” and the “perfect gifts” that God has sent your way these past eleven months? My idea here is that we might really consider all the good things God has done for us. Focus on the good. Far too many of us only see the negative.

3. For the Future - Will you give God thanks even for the difficult trials that will come across your path in the future? It’s not the difficulty you give thanks for, but the ONE who directs and rules over them. Give God thanks.

So, there you have it, The Ins and Outs of Thanksgiving.