Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

What does thanksgiving mean? Or is it just a day, when folks indulge their gullets?

Why is the giving of thanks important?

If you are not dependent on someone else for something, is there even a reason to give thanks?

Is walking into the kitchen to say thanks for the meal an end in itself? Do we even recognize that all things come from God?

Thanksgiving is not just about thanking our earthly contemporaries, although that is often all the further it goes for us. God has given us all things and not only deserves our thankfulness, but requires it.

Romans 1:18-23

King James Version (KJV)

18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;

19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.

20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:

21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

22 Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,

23 And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.

When someone ungrateful, they would be an ingrate. We probably all have either known people like this or have heard stories of them. A person who is ungrateful is one who refuses to acknowledge the gift, the sacrifice put forth by the giver and through his or her ungratefulness is receiving the gift as if it were something he or she had worked for or deserved. This is an elevation of their pride.

If the giver is God, and we refuse to acknowledge his gift to us, we are assuming that we got this around ourselves or just don't need it. Taking the credit or glory for something that God has given to us is what got Satan thrown out of Heaven an by character is devilish.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14

Contemporary English Version (CEV)

11 Make sure that you never forget the Lord or disobey his laws and teachings that I am giving you today. If you always obey them, 12 you will have plenty to eat, and you will build good houses to live in. 13 You will get more and more cattle, sheep, silver, gold, and other possessions.

14 But when all this happens, don’t be proud! Don’t forget that you were once slaves in Egypt and that it was the Lord who set you free.

Deuteronomy 8:11-14

King James Version (KJV)

11 Beware that thou forget not the Lord thy God, in not keeping his commandments, and his judgments, and his statutes, which I command thee this day:

12 Lest when thou hast eaten and art full, and hast built goodly houses, and dwelt therein;

13 And when thy herds and thy flocks multiply, and thy silver and thy gold is multiplied, and all that thou hast is multiplied;

14 Then thine heart be lifted up, and thou forget the Lord thy God, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt, from the house of bondage;

People who live in a society that enables an indulgent spirit are at risk for forgetting the Lord and His provision for them. Sometimes we may hear the phrase “He was a self-made man” or “Through his sweat and tears, he or she did this”.

In both instances the inference is there, that position was reached by their own strength, and there is no need to recognize anyone or anything for opening doors or orchestrating our paths. A mindset like this and gives thanks is merely doing it in form and doesn’t feel thankful from the heart.

You cannot have a truly Thankful heart without humbling yourself!

1 Thessalonians 5:18

King James Version (KJV)

18 In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Ephesians 5:20

King James Version (KJV)

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

Understanding the will of God, goes a long way is how we respond to our “everything”. It is hard to give thanks for our difficult circumstances if we view them as an end in themselves and/or as a threat to our “comfort”.

When is feels like God’s hand is against us, how does our view of a Sovereign God affect our feeling of thankfulness to him.

Does God want us to suffer?

If God doesn’t want us to suffer, then why do we?

What if our testimony of thankfulness, even in suffering spoke to the world and became a drawing agent working alongside the Holy Spirit to the end of bringing the lost to God?

Philippians 2:14-16

King James Version (KJV)

14 Do all things without murmurings and disputings:

15 That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world;

16 Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.

Can we be blameless if we have a complaining spirit? How about a spirit of dispute? What happens to the light of our testimony if we end up having a complaining spirit or a spirit of dispute. How will this affect the great commission?

How does a complaining spirit affect our worship? Psalm 100

Revelation 11:17

King James Version (KJV)

17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

1 Corinthians 1:4

King James Version (KJV)

4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

2 Corinthians 4:15

King James Version (KJV)

15 For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.

Having received grace at the hand of God, we should join with the many in the giving of thanks for it.

Philippians 1:3-11

King James Version (KJV)

3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;

6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;

10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ.

11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

Can you thank God for your brother or sister in Christ?

Philippians 4:6

King James Version (KJV)

6 Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

Colossians 2:7

King James Version (KJV)

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:16-17

King James Version (KJV)

16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.

17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.

Colossians 4:2

King James Version (KJV)

2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

Watch with Thanksgiving!

Ephesians 1:15-18

King James Version (KJV)

15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,

1 Timothy 4:4

King James Version (KJV)

4 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:

Hebrews 12:28

King James Version (KJV)

28 Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:

Hebrews 13:15

King James Version (KJV)

15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

Read about Thanksgiving From Henry Morris' Thoughts