Worthy Of Our Thanks

Introduction

Turn to and read Acts 27:33-37

On October 3, 1789, President George Washington made the following proclamation and created the first Thanksgiving Day designated by the federal government in the United States of America. This was right after the First Amendment was passed by Congress and sent to the States for ratification:

“Whereas 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 favor...

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next to be devoted by the People of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being, who is the beneficent Author of all the good that was, that is, or that will be.”

In the following section of the proclamation, he proceeds to name some things for which we should give thanks:

“That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks, for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country previous to their becoming a Nation, for the signal and manifold mercies, and the favorable interpositions of his providence, which we experienced in the course and conclusion of the late war, for the great degree of tranquility, union, and plenty, which we have since enjoyed, for the peaceable and rational manner, in which we have been enabled to establish constitutions of government for our safety and happiness, and particularly the national One now lately instituted, for the civil and religious liberty with which we are blessed; and the means we have of acquiring and diffusing useful knowledge; and in general for all the great and various favors which he hath been pleased to confer upon us.”

In 1789, our young nation could already find many reasons why it should give thanks. They had almost miraculously won a war against Great Britain, one of the world’s greatest powers at the time. They had slowly established the form of the new national government. They had formed one of the freest nations on earth, one with civil and religious liberty, things hardly known around the world at that time. And while many challenges lay ahead, they had begun to enjoy a small measure of prosperity.

These blessings, Washington noted, were all thanks to the provision of Almighty God. Our first president recognized something that is increasingly missed in our day, and it is this:

when we give thanks this season, it is not to one another, it is not to Mother Nature, it is not to luck, to chance, or to good fortune, we give thanks to Almighty God!

The first thought I want to direct your attention to this evening is...

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Who is worthy of our thanks - Acts 27:35

In the beginning of Acts 27, Paul, his friends that travelled with him, and other prisoners are put on ship to cross the Mediterranean towards Greece. In verse six, they find a ship in Myra that is bound for Rome, and they set sail. The captain of the ship decides to sail further before winter rather than stay where they were, as Paul advised.

In the days that follow, Paul and the ship endure at least two weeks of a violent storm - verse 27. But in verse 23, God gives a vision to Paul, letting him know that they would be shipwrecked, but all 276 people on board would survive.

Verse 27 begins to tell how that they are blown close to an island and the sailors attempt to escape, but Paul sounds the alarm and stops them.

Their circumstances appear hopeless. They have not eaten for at least two weeks - verse 33.

In the middle of this storm, when there is no hope of deliverance, the apostle pauses for a moment to offer thanks to God for the food that was provided. Notice: we give thanks before eating because it is a pattern we see throughout Scripture

Application: we live in a world that has secularized the meaning of Thanksgiving. It has been watered down. In some places it is being canceled entirely. Let’s reverse that trend in our homes, in our families, and in our lives. Let’s offer thanks to God this season because He is worthy! Let’s remind ourselves and our children of what our God has done!

We need to recognize not only the principle of thanksgiving, but even more we need to honor the Person of Thanksgiving.

If you were to look throughout the Old Testament, you would find that the majority of instances, the giving of thanks is directed specifically towards God or unto his name.

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

Daniel 2:23 “I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, Who hast given me wisdom and might, And hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: For thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.”

Christian, it is not enough to walk out these doors with a renewed commitment to give thanks this season. You need to walk out of these doors with a renewed commitment to thank and praise your God because He is worthy!

Some of our unsaved friends may talk about thanksgiving, and they may even talk about God, but that’s not the same as what the child of God can offer to the Lord in praise.

The more I get to know Him personally, the more I learn and know of His character, the more I realize that I need to praise Him. He is worthy of honor! Giving thanks is not just an activity that we do; it is an heartfelt action that we direct to the Lord. Giving thanks is a choice of your will. Paul chose to give thanks even though the circumstances didn’t seem right for it.

We must clarify for ourselves and for our children that our thanks is offered and directed to a Person - to a Savior that we love and cherish.

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God is worthy of our thanks in all seasons - Acts 27:33

As the ship was being tossed and battered by the raging storm, I don’t sense that anyone felt like giving thanks to God at that moment. This was a situation far removed from the joyous Thanksgiving table where every family favorite is begging for your indulgence and where you consume so much delicious food that you feel as though you’ll never be able to take another bite. Far from it. For two weeks, they had eaten nothing.

I can assure you, had I been on that wind-tossed boat, I would not have been interesting in eating and I would not have felt like saying “thank you” to the Lord.

Illustration: digging post holes at SHC for the pole barn that presently serves as their chapel. Looking back, I am thankful I had that experience, but I sure am glad that I don’t have to relive it. To this day, for those that were there, it was an unforgettable experience.

Application: we must be intentional in our praise of God. Thankfulness to our God is appropriate during all seasons of life - they were still in the middle of the storm and they knew with near certainty that they would soon be shipwrecked on the nearby island, but Paul stopped everything to thank the Lord for His provision.

Im not suggesting foolishness. If I’m painting a bedroom in my house and I kick a can of paint over my carpeted floor I’m not going to drop to my knees and have a praise and worship service but when the mess is cleaned up, God is still worthy of my praise.

Why? Because we can always give thanks because of the promises of God - “there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you” - that promise made to Paul gave him comfort.

We have promises that God has made to us! This is why it is appropriate in all seasons because his promises are faithful and true.

The next time I am going through a hard season of life, do me a favor and remind me to keep praising God anyway. Remind me that His mercy endureth forever! Remind me that God is still worthy of praise!

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God is worthy of our thanks even in public places - Acts 27:35

Surrounded by rough mediterranean sailors and by pagan roman soldiers. Paul believed that thankfulness can and ought to be a public practice.

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

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

Psalm 79:13 “13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture Will give thee thanks for ever: We will shew forth thy praise to all generations.”

Application: Don’t be afraid to praise the Lord publicly. Don’t be afraid to talk about the Lord publicly. Don’t be afraid to give thanks to God publicly.

Why do we sing in church? It is the primary way that we voice our praise and thanksgiving to God! 1 and 2 chronicles associate praise and thanksgiving with the temple musicians.

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God is worthy of our thanks and it will affect those around us - Acts 27:36

Thankfulness affects those around us - it may encourage and strengthen others

Choosing to give thanks may be unpopular - it wasn’t until after Paul began that everyone else follow his lead. At first, he was alone.

Conclusion

Let’s direct our thanksgiving to the Lord because He is worthy of Our Thanks.