A Time for Thanksgiving

Introduction

Thursday of this week upcoming is Thanksgiving - followed right behind by what’s known as ‘Black Friday’.

Thanksgiving historically in America since Colonial times was a day set aside to recognize and offer thanks unto God for His blessings upon us:

George Washington - in his Thanksgiving Day proclamation Oct. 3, 1789: “it is the duty of all nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly to implore His protection and favour”

As we look toward this Holiday, I would like to present to you this message ‘A Time for Thanksgiving’.

The first things we must address is What is Giving Thanks?

I. What is Giving Thanks?

What is Thankfulness?

First I want you to understand that there is a difference between Thankfulness and Thanksgiving.

Thankful (def) Grateful; Full of Thanks; impressed with a sense of kindness recieved

Thankfulness is on the inside.

Thankfulness is having the ‘attitude of gratitude’

Thankfulness is a mindset

Know this - thankfulness and having that ‘attitude of gratitude’ effects the way and manner in which we live our lives. It effects the way we approach things & it effects the way we perceive God.

Thankfulness is more uncommon than what you would realize.

Many are grateful for what they do have, while at the same time lamenting the things they don’t. This is not true thankfulness, it’s more recognition.

Thankfulness is once again - an attitude. It’s the manner to which you approach life. And might I add - the attitude that should permeate the church of the Living God!

What is Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving (def) The ACT of rendering thanks or EXPRESSING gratitude for favors or mercies

Thankfulness is an ATTITUDE, Thanksgiving is an ACT.

Thankfulness is something you ARE, Thanksgiving is something you DO

THIS church, is what we’re talking about today. The giving of thanks. The act thereof.

What does Thanksgiving Require?

Recognition

You must recognize that:

You’ve got something - some blessing - to be thankful for.

From where that blessing originated.

Church, it’s easy for us to focus on the negative things in life.

(Ill.) Raise your hand if you’ve experienced trials, hardship or tragedy in your life. That should be everyone - some just a little more than others. Now, raise your hand if you’ve experienced blessings and favor in your life. That should be just about everyone as well.

Seeing as how we all experience trials & tribulations, yet we all experience blessings and favor, why do some live antsy & aggravated, and others live with peace & joy? The difference is upon which we focus!

There’s a reason why would should ‘Count our Blessings name them one by one’… because once we do that, it changes our perspective!

THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN ONE WHO IS THANKFUL AND AN INGRATE IS WHAT THEY’RE FOCUSED UPON

Thanksgiving requires you recognize you’re blessed - but it also requires Humility

Humility

Humility (def) freedom from pride and arrogance; humbleness of mind; a modest estimate of one’s own worth

How does humility work with thanksgiving?

Because in order to extend thanksgiving, you are praising one who has done something for you.

Extending Thanksgiving, we let it be known among those who are present that God is to be thanked & recognized and not ourselves.

(Ill.) Oftentimes we fail to testify, and praise & thank God when given the opportunity because pride gets in the way. Thanksgiving requires Humility

Also, because you’re not praising yourself, but another - which goes against our flesh.

The Bible tells us: James 1:17 “Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.”

WE desire to take credit for the good things in life. We want to say that we worked hard for our possessions, we did without some things to get others… yet humility and thanksgiving puts all the praise upon God!

So Thanksgiving (def) The ACT of rendering thanks or EXPRESSING gratitude for favors or mercies - the ACT

We see WHAT Thanksgiving is, next let’s look Biblically as to WHY we should give Thanks unto God

II. Why We Give Thanks?

Now I want you to know that I have 6 points that I’ve taken from Scripture - however, this is not a comprehensive list at all!

Because it’s a Good Thing (Ps. 92:1)

Psalm 92:1 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, And to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:”

I think that we can all agree on the fact that there are some things that we should do, and some that we shouldn’t. For the Christian, what determines the two is what the Bible says: Not, what’s popular, what’s acceptable or what feels good.

The Bible declares that it’s a GOOD THING to give thanks unto God.

Do you know why that is? Because to fail to do so makes us ungrateful & unthankful.

The word ‘unthankful’ is only used twice in Scripture.

One when Jesus describes the universal care of God: Luke 6:35 “But love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

Secondly, when describing men in the last days: 2 Timothy 3:1–2 “This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,”

(Ill.) How many have seen children who have been given and given so much, yet instead of being thankful, they do nothing but want more? Do you know what we call those? Spoiled!

Give thanks, because it’s a Good thing

Because of His Goodness and Mercy (Ps. 136:1)

Psalm 136:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good: For his mercy endureth for ever.”

God is good all the time, and all the time, God is good. Aren’t you glad for that?

We have a good God! But not only that, we have a merciful God!

Church, I’m glad that I’m not getting what I deserve. What I deserve is a front row ticket on a Hell bound train! That’s what I deserve! But the mercy of God has made provision to withhold that punishment from me. Not because I am good, but because HE is good, and full of mercy!

We should be giving thanks because He is good and full of mercy

Because He is Holy (Ps. 30:4; 97:12)

Psalm 30:4 “Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Psalm 97:12 “Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous; And give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.”

Twice here we see the same phrase: ‘Give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness’.

Holy (def) consecrated; dedicated; hallowed; purity or integrity of moral character; freedom from sin. This is our God - and we should give thanks for it!

Because He’s Holy, He’s dependable

God is free from sin, therefore, He cannot lie - this means that He and His word are trust worthy! You may not tell me right, but God will never tell me wrong!

Because we can be Holy

Hebrews 12:10 “For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness.”

Because it makes serving Him sweeter

I wouldn’t want to serve a scoundrel. I wish to serve that which is good and honorable. I’m glad that the God I serve is Holy!

Offer Thanksgiving unto God because He is Holy

Because He’s Given us Victory through Jesus (2Cor. 2:14-15)

2 Corinthians 2:14–15 “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place. For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish:”

1 Corinthians 15:57 “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

As we consider reasons to be thankful, none perhaps could compare to this one right here.

As I think about what Jesus did to bring me victory, I stand in awe. To think that someone who knew everything about me would like me - much less love me - to the point to give His life for me! Church, I look at you and I see people worth dying for - but me? I’m not worth anyone dying for, much less the perfect Son of God!

Jesus said: John 10:10 “The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.”

Jesus has given me victory in that I have life.

When I close my eyes in death upon this world, I still have life - except, it will be life ETERNAL. I’ve got a house on Smith St. right now, but I’ve got an eternal mansion in Heaven prepared by the Master Carpenter!

Jesus has also given me victory in that I have life more abundantly

More abundantly than what? Than anyone who is lost. They labour from corruptible crowns & treasures, but I for incorruptible! I have a peace, joy, contentment that they don’t enjoy!

CHRIST HAS GIVEN US THE VICTORY! WE HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE THANKS FOR!

We should give thanks because He’s given us the victory

Because We’ve been made Righteous (Ps. 140:13; Rom. 6:17)

Psalm 140:13 “Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: The upright shall dwell in thy presence.”

I am in the eyes of God positionally righteous because of the substitutionary death of Jesus for my sins. I’ve been made Righteous in the eyes of God

SURELY the righteous shall give thanks.

Anyone who God has done this great thing for, SURELY they would extend - act out - the giving of thanks as well.

Romans 6:17 “But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you.”

There was a time in my life where I was wicked. And I had no choice but to be wicked. (Ill.) A dog barks, a pig grunts, a sinner sins - and as much as I liked to think that I was right, I was wrong.

But now things are different! I don’t have to sin any more. I’ve been freed from the bondage of sin!

We should give thanks because we’ve been Made Righteous

Because We’ve been Given Brethren (1Th. 1:2)

1 Thessalonians 1:2 “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;”

What’s amazing is the truth that an ORPHAN can become a SON, and an ONLY CHILD can inherit brothers and sisters without number!

As I look out in this congregation, what I see is a church full of family. Family by blood no less - THE BLOOD OF CHRIST!

And what that affords me is that I have people who will look out for me. Some who have my back. Some that will go to bat for me.

Family is something to be give thanks for!

We should give thanks because we’ve been given brethren

We’ve examined WHAT Thanksgiving is, WHY we should give Thanks unto God. Lastly, WHEN we should give thanks

III. When We Give Thanks?

When do we find God’s people giving Thanks in the Bible

In Public (Ps. 35:18; Ps. 18:49)

Psalm 35:18 “I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.”

Psalm 18:49 “Therefore will I give thanks unto thee, O Lord, among the heathen, And sing praises unto thy name.”

Do you know when we should be giving thanks unto God? When we’re in public. Whether it be amongst our kinfolk, or at the store or on the job - we should be seizing every opportunity to thank God in public.

I know that this for many is difficult. But you must remember what it takes to give thanks - humility. You have to put your own self last to lift Him up.

Do you know who needs to hear most about how good God has been to you? The Heathen! They need to hear that we have a good & gracious God that loves & provides for us!

We should give Thanks in Public

In the House of God (Ps. 100:4)

Psalm 100:4 “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, And into his courts with praise: Be thankful unto him, and bless his name.”

Church, this place should be filled with God’s people giving thanks unto Him.

We should be a people of praise, testimonies. Should there really be a service where someone isn’t praising and thanking God for something? Either during praise / praise time, or at the close of the service?

This is a safe place to worship & give thanks

If your neighbor thinks ill or less of you for you giving Thanks unto God, then shame on them. If you allow your pride to hinder you from giving thanks openly unto God, then shame on you.

And the truth is, if you won’t thank God amongst other Christians, you’ll not give Him the thanks He deserves amongst the Heathen - who need to hear it most!

We should be giving Thanks in the House of God.

In Prayer (Ps. 105:1; Col. 4:2)

Psalm 105:1 “O give thanks unto the Lord; call upon his name: Make known his deeds among the people.”

Colossians 4:2 “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;”

(Ill.) I spoke to my students recently and challenged them. I said “If you want to gauge where you are Spiritually, analyze your prayer life. Consider this when you pray. Do you spend more time asking God for things, or thanking God for things.

It’s good to Thank God in public

It’s good to Thank God in the Church house

But it’s good to speak directly to God and simply say ‘Thank you’. Acknowledge the goodness & kindness of the LORD and say ‘Thank you Lord!’

We should be Thanking God in Prayer

In Song (Ps. 69:30; Ps. 147:7)

Psalm 69:30 “I will praise the name of God with a song, And will magnify him with thanksgiving.”

I love the way this verse is worded. (Stress ‘magnify Him with Thanksgiving’)

Psalm 147:7 “Sing unto the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praise upon the harp unto our God:”

We should be offering thanksgiving unto the LORD in song.

Too often we’re focused on the wrong thing when it comes to song. It’s not about what it does for us or how it makes us feel… you see it’s not about the song, but should be about the one to whom the song is about!

We should sing to magnify our thanks unto Him.

(Ill.) There are some when they sing who might sound more pleasing than others unto us. However, let me ask you: Do you think God is in Heaven and if you’re singing unashamedly unto Him - but not the best - do you think His reaction is like ‘That’s nice, but you might want to hold it down a bit’.? No!

Listen you might not think you sing well, but don’t sing to please others, sing to magnify the LORD!

We should be thanking God in Song

In Every Thing (1Th. 5:18; Eph. 5:20)

1 Thessalonians 5:18 “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

Oh, now we get down to the nitty gritty. We should be thanking God in EVERY THING.

Not just the good things - but the bad things as well. Not just the mountaintops of life, but the valleys too.

My Bible tells me: 1 Peter 4:12–13 “Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you: But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”

You see, when we suffer, we become more like Christ - we get refined and the impurities of our lives are taken away.

Psalm 23:4 “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; Thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Even through the valleys He is with me - His protection & correction are dependable comforts in my hardships

If we joy in the good times and curse in the bad, are we any better than the heathens who have no hope, no comfort, no help?

We should be thanking God in Every Thing

At All Times (Ps. 92:1-2; 1Chr. 23:30; Eph. 5:20)

Psalm 92:1–2 “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, And to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, And thy faithfulness every night,”

1 Chronicles 23:30 “And to stand every morning to thank and praise the Lord, and likewise at even;”

Once again: Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;”

This I think answers the question on ‘When’ - the answer is as you begin your day, and at the close - and everywhere in between!

Here’s the thing. You might have an attitude of ingratitude. Do you know how to fix that? One thanksgiving at a time.

Thank God for something first thing in the morning.

As you go about your day - whether good or bad, thank God for it. For either the blessing to your life or the lesson you may learn from it.

Close your day by giving thanks to God for the ‘PRESENT’ that is today.

If you make it habit, you will see that the power of your words will begin to cultivate an ‘attitude of gratitude’ - and transform you from an ingrate to a thankful heart.

Give thanks - at all times, because:

It’s a good thing to give thanks

(Because) He is good and merciful

(Because) He is a Holy God

(Because) He’s given us the victory through Jesus Christ

(Because) He’s made us Righteous

(Because) He’s a Father to the Fatherless and given us an Family

God is good church - give thanks unto Him today!

Conclusion

For some of you, you can’t give thanks unto God for Salvation because you’ve never been saved.

Understand this: Thats all you - Christ desires to save you. You just come to the altar & He’ll do the rest!

Church, do you have something to thank God for? Why don’t you come to the altar and offer up thanksgiving unto Him in prayer. It will please Him and make you feel better at the same time!