Thanksgiving

 

 

“Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?”

Luke 17:17

 

The CURSE OF THANKSGIVING Is God’s Judgment for Neglecting Proper Thankfulness.

  1. The abundance of all things can turn into the want of all things (Deuteronomy 28:47-48).
    1. Joyfulness and gladness of heart should characterize a people blessed as we are.
    2. Destruction and the want of all things will be God’s judgment for no thankfulness.
  2. Sodomy and other wicked perversions are God’s righteous recompense (Rom 1:18-27).
    1. The natural creation provides plenty of visible evidence to prove God’s existence.
    2. But men neither glorify Him nor are thankful when they know of certainty He is.
    3. So God turns them over to reprobate minds to engage in perversity like sodomy.
  3. The perilous times of the last days would be marked by no thankfulness (II Tim 3:1-2).
  4. While our nation will celebrate Thanksgiving this week, yet we are very unthankful.
    1. The Pilgrims had the original to thank God for their preservation and blessing.
    2. But now it is merely Turkey Day, football games, thick newspapers, heavy retail advertising, preparation for shopping the next day, and Baalmass preparations.
  5. America should prepare to meet God as the prophet Amos warned Israel (Amos 4:12).

The DUTY OF THANKSGIVING Is the Importance God Places on this Aspect of Worship.

  1. It is the will of God in Christ Jesus for us to be thankful for everything (I Thess 5:18).
  2. We must enter into the worship of God with hearts glad in thanksgiving (Psalm 100:1-5).
  3. As we expect our beneficiaries to thank us, God deserves the same (Ps 26:6-7; 95:2).
  4. Since it is a good thing to give thanks (Psalm 92:1), is it not our duty to give it?
  5. Paul exhorted the churches of the N.T. to thanks (Col 2:6-7; 3:15-17; 4:2; I Thess 5:18).
  6. Rather than foolish talking and jesting like pagans, we ought to give thanks (Eph 5:3-7).
  7. We are commanded to be filled with the Spirit and give thanks (Ephesians 5:18-20).
  8. Peace that passes understanding results from trusting God with thanksgiving (Phil 4:6).

The NATURE OF THANKSGIVING Is the Definition of the Essential Aspects of this Grace.

  1. Mere enjoyment of a thing is not thanksgiving: surely nine lepers enjoyed their cleansing; America enjoys her abundance and prosperity; but she does not thank the Giver for them.
  2. Thanksgiving recognizes blessing of gift and Giver and admits we don’t deserve either.

GLORY OF THANKSGIVING Is the Exalted Status of Simple Thanksgiving to God.

  1. Thanksgiving is a sacrifice to God of the fruit of our lips (Hebrews 13:15). And the altar of our truths should continually have a fire burning with sacrifices upon it.
  2. Consider the times thanksgiving is called a sacrifice (Psalm 107:22; 116:17; Jonah 2:9).
  3. We magnify God through thanksgiving more than with burnt sacrifices (Ps 69:30-32).
  4. The sacrifice of thanksgiving – the calves of our lips – brings God’s mercy (Hos 14:1-2).
  5. Heaven shall ring with the thanksgiving of men and beasts (Rev 4:9; 7:11-12; 11:16-17).

The EXAMPLES OF THANKSGIVING Are Those Men Who Were Known for Thankfulness.

  1. Jacob thanked God for His many favors and truth and His deliverance (Ge 32:10; 35:1-3).
  2. Israel annually kept the Passover to remember and be thankful (Ex 12:14,42; 13:1-16).
  3. Moses and Miriam led Israel in a glorious thanksgiving song at the Red Sea (Ex 15:1-21).
  4. Israel had laws for sacrifices and offerings of thanksgiving (Leviticus 7:11-15; 22:29).
  5. Levites were appointed for giving thanks (I Chron 16:4,7; 23:30; II Chron 5:11-14; 31:2).
  6. David was greatly known for his glorious giving of thanks to God (I Chron 29:10-16).
  7. David described thanking God before much people in the great congregation (Ps 35:18).
  8. David spoke of giving God thanks at midnight for his righteous judgments (Ps 119:62).
  9. Daniel gave thanks on at least two different occasions in Babylon (Daniel 2:19-23; 6:10).
  10. Even at the Last Supper, as Jesus instituted communion, He gave thanks (Matt 26:27).
  11. Simeon and Anna gave glorious thanks to God for the gift of Jesus (Luke 2:25-35,36-38).
  12. Paul thanked God for something as simple as brethren to encourage him (Acts 28:15).

The BLESSINGS OF THANKSGIVING Are Those Benefits God Promises Thankful People.

  1. If we offer thanksgiving to God, He will hear us and save us, when we call (Ps 50:14-15).
  2. Praise includes thanksgiving, and God reveals His salvation to the thankful (Ps 50:23).
  3. God keeps a book of remembrance to identify those who speak of Him (Mal 3:16-18).

The OBJECTS OF THANKSGIVING Are Those Things for Which Wise Men Will Thank God.

  1. The Psalmist called for thanksgiving for God’s holiness (Psalm 30:4; 97:12).
  2. The goodness and mercy of God are obvious objects (Psalm 106:1; 107:1; 136:1-3,26).
  3. David was thankful for God’s righteous judgments – the Word of God (Psalm 119:62).
  4. Paul spoke of an unspeakable gift, which is Jesus Christ (II Cor 9:15; Luke 2:25-35).
  5. Paul thanked God through Christ for deliverance from the body of sin (Romans 7:25).
  6. Paul thanked God for grace in various churches (Romans 6:17; I Cor 1:4; Eph 1:15-16; Col 1:12-13; I Thess 2:13; II Thess 1:3; 2:13), and so should we (II Cor 4:15).
  7. Paul thanked God for his ministry, and so should all ministers and people (I Tim 1:12).
  8. Our hope of the resurrection and eternal life should cause thanksgiving (I Cor 15:57).
  9. Jesus thanked God for revealing wisdom to babes (Matt 11:25). We should surely do so.
  10. We must be thankful for God converting us to the truth (II Thess 2:11-14; I Thess 2:13).
  11. Even ability and willingness to give to the Lord deserves thanksgiving (I Chron 29:6-14).
  12. Every thing and all things are sufficient for thanksgiving (Ephesians 5:20; I Thess 5:18).

The PRACTICE OF THANKSGIVING Are Those Means of Increasing Our Giving of It to God.

  1. Give thanks before eating (John 6:23; Acts 27:35; Rom 14:6; I Cor 11:24; I Tim 4:3-5).
  2. We should never pray without giving thanks as part of our prayer (Phil 4:6; Col 4:2).
  3. An annual ordinance such as our Thanksgiving Day is certainly righteous (Ex 13:1-16).
  4. The churches of Christ were known for public thanksgiving and “Amen” (I Co 14:16-17).
    1. We must take certain care that we emphasize giving thanks and blessing to God.
    2. Opportunities for public thanksgiving are not for relating ordinary experiences.
  5. We must take the time to observe and consider the Providence of God (Psalm 107:43).
  6. God required of Israel a practice we should observe from time to time (Deut 14:23-26).