Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving A. Definitions. 1. thanksgiving: The giving of thanks; the expression of thankfulness or gratitude; esp. the act of giving thanks to God. 2. thank: v. trans. To give thanks to; to express gratitude or obligation to. 3. thank: sb. Favourable thought or feeling, good will. 3. Kindly thought or feeling entertained towards any one for favour or services received; grateful thought, gratitude. 4. The expression of gratitude; the grateful acknowledgement of a benefit or favour. 4. gratitude: The quality or condition of being grateful; a warm sense of appreciation of kindness received, involving a feeling of goodwill towards the benefactor and a desire to do something in return; gratefulness. 5. appreciate: v. 1. To make or form an estimate of worth, quality, or amount. 2. To estimate aright, to perceive the full force of. 3. To esteem adequately or highly; to recognize as valuable or excellent; to find worth or excellence in. 6. bless: II. To hold or call holy; to extol as holy, divine, gracious. III. To declare to be supernaturally favoured; to pronounce or make happy. 7. To confer well-being upon; ‘to make happy: to prosper, to make successful.’ To make happy with some gift. B. Thanksgiving is a good thing to do. PSA 92:1-2. C. Thanksgiving is commanded for all times and in all circumstances. EPH 5:20; 1TH 5:18. 1. It is the will of God and thus a matter of obedience. The will of God is the believer’s law. 2. This is a commandment for those who are in Christ. Those outside of Christ cannot keep this commandment. 3. Only in Christ Jesus can this obedience be acceptably rendered. EPH 1:6; 1PE 2:5. 4. All in Christ Jesus ought to be thankful for their salvation in Him regardless of life’s circumstances. 1CO 15:57; 2CO 9:11. D. Thanksgiving is an essential part of doing all in the name of (by the authority of) Jesus Christ. COL 3:17. E. Thanksgiving is a sacrifice of praise we offer to God. HEB 13:15; PSA 107:21-22. 1. Thanksgiving is to be done with our lips. 2. Under the Old Testament this sacrifice was more pleasing to God than the animal sacrifices. PSA 69:30-31. 3. Genuine lip-sacrifice differs from hypocritical lip-service. LUK 18:11 c/w MAT 15:7-8. F. God’s creatures are to be received with thanksgiving. 1TI 4:3-5. G. Thanksgiving is a necessary ingredient in prayer. PHIL 4:6-7; COL 4:2; 1TI 2:1. 1. Praise is the antidote to heaviness brought on by carefulness (state of trouble, anxiety or concern). ISA 61:3. 2. Learn to be thankful for your trials, which bring on carefulness. PSA 119:71. 3. Thanksgiving prepares your heart to accept whatever God's solution is for your problem. H. Thanksgiving connects with the peace of God ruling in our hearts and harmony within the body of Christ. COL 3:15. Thanksgiving 11-24-24 Page 1 of 2 I. Thanksgiving should displace corrupt speech. EPH 5:4. J. Thanksgiving demonstrates spiritual strength. COL 1:11-12. K. Thanksgiving is an ingredient in abounding faith. COL 2:6-7. L. Thanksgiving is an evidence that one is filled with the Spirit of God. EPH 5:18-21. M. Consider the examples of our Lord and of Paul. JOH 6:11, 23; LUK 10:21; 22:19-20; ACT 27:34-35; ROM 1:8; 1CO 1:4; 15:57; 2CO 2:14; EPH 1:15-16; PHIL 1:3-5; COL 1:3-5; 1TH 1:2-3; 2TH 1:3; 2:13; 1TI 1:12; 2TI 1:3-5; PHM 1:4-5. 1. Paul is our example. 1CO 11:1-2. 2. Following Paul’s example we shall have the God of peace with us. PHIL 4:9. N. Thanksgiving is the activity of heaven (REV 7:9-12). Why not let heaven begin now? O. The neglect of thanksgiving breeds moral corruption. ROM 1:20-25; 2TI 3:1-2. P. Don’t limit thanksgiving to an annual celebration. Thanksgiving 11-24-24 Page 2 of 2