Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical ThanksgivingNovember 18, 2012November 18, 2012

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

The Key Issue:The Key Issue:

Thankfulness is critically important Thankfulness is critically important because of the supreme worthiness because of the supreme worthiness of God to receive thanks.of God to receive thanks.

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

Ephesians 5:19,20Ephesians 5:19,20

““Sing and make music in your heart Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, to the Lord, always giving thanks always giving thanks to to God the Father God the Father for everythingfor everything, in the , in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

Colossians 3:17Colossians 3:17

““And And whatever you dowhatever you do, whether in , whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, the Lord Jesus, giving thanks giving thanks to God to God the Father through Him.”the Father through Him.”

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

I Thessalonians 5:16-18I Thessalonians 5:16-18

““Be joyful always, pray continually, Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstancesgive thanks in all circumstances, for , for this is this is God’s willGod’s will for you in Christ for you in Christ Jesus.”Jesus.”

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

I Timothy 2:1I Timothy 2:1

““I urge, then, first of all, that I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for thanksgiving be made for everyoneeveryone…for kings and all those in …for kings and all those in authority.”authority.”

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

Thankfulness is a command of Thankfulness is a command of God, always, for everything, in all God, always, for everything, in all circumstances: this is His will for His circumstances: this is His will for His people.people.

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical ThanksgivingDay of Thanksgiving and Prayer Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer

Proclamation, 1789Proclamation, 1789::

“ “Wheras it is the Wheras it is the dutyduty of all of all Nations to acknowledge the Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey providence of Almighty God, to obey His will, to be grateful for His His will, to be grateful for His benefits, and humbly implore His benefits, and humbly implore His protection and favor…”protection and favor…”

-President George Washington-President George Washington

Biblical ThanksgivingDay of Thanksgiving and Prayer

Proclamation, 1865:

“…I…do hereby appoint and set apart the last Thursday in November next…as a day of thanksgiving and praise to Almighty God, the beneficent Creator of the Universe.”

-President Abraham Lincoln

““Secular” ThanksgivingSecular” Thanksgiving

• Simple gladness for what we Simple gladness for what we have/ positive circumstanceshave/ positive circumstances

•A polite gesture to those who give A polite gesture to those who give us things, to avoid appearing rudeus things, to avoid appearing rude

•An attempt not to hurt the feelings An attempt not to hurt the feelings of those who give giftsof those who give gifts

•Perhaps a way of encouraging more Perhaps a way of encouraging more gifts next time!gifts next time!

II Corinthians 4:15II Corinthians 4:15

““All this is for your benefit, so All this is for your benefit, so that the that the gracegrace that is reaching that is reaching more and more people may more and more people may cause cause thanksgivingthanksgiving to overflow to overflow for the for the glory of Godglory of God!”!”

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

Our ThanksOur Thanks

God’s God’s GraceGrace

The Glory The Glory of God!of God!

NOT:NOT:

The Glory The Glory of Godof God

Dispenses Dispenses GraceGrace

We give We give thanks, in thanks, in

hope of morehope of more

Psalm 69:30Psalm 69:30

““I will praise God’s name in I will praise God’s name in song, and glorify Him with my song, and glorify Him with my thanksgiving. This will please thanksgiving. This will please the Lord more than an ox, more the Lord more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and than a bull with its horns and hoofs.”hoofs.”

II Corinthians 9:11-15II Corinthians 9:11-15 ““You will be enriched in every way so You will be enriched in every way so that you can be generous on every that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.God.This service that you perform is not only This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is also but is also overflowing in many overflowing in many expressions of thanks to Godexpressions of thanks to God. Because . Because of the service by which you have proved of the service by which you have proved yourselves, others will praise God for yourselves, others will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ…”confession of the gospel of Christ…”

Biblical Model of Service?Biblical Model of Service?

GodGod Blesses Blesses UsUs

So we will So we will help othershelp others

II Corinthians 9:11-15II Corinthians 9:11-15

“…“…your your generosity will result in generosity will result in thanksgiving to God.thanksgiving to God.This service that you perform is not This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of the only supplying the needs of the Lord’s people but is Lord’s people but is alsoalso overflowing in many expressions of overflowing in many expressions of thanks to Godthanks to God. . ……others will others will praise God for the praise God for the obedienceobedience that accompanies your that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ…”confession of the gospel of Christ…”

Biblical Model of ServiceBiblical Model of Service

Blesses Blesses UsUsGodGod

Many Many Thanks Thanks Go to Go to God!God!

NOT:NOT:

GodGod Blesses Blesses UsUs

So we will So we will help othershelp others

God God (in us) (in us) Blesses Blesses OthersOthers

Biblical Thanksgiving

Thankfulness is a command of God, always, for everything, in ALL circumstances: this is His will for His people.

Psalm 95:2,3Psalm 95:2,3

““Let us come before God with Let us come before God with thanksgiving…thanksgiving…

……for the LORD is the great Godfor the LORD is the great God!!””

II Corinthians 4:8-10II Corinthians 4:8-10

““We are hard pressed on every We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. We always but not destroyed. We always carry around in our body the carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our Jesus may also be revealed in our body.”body.”

Biblical ThanksgivingBiblical Thanksgiving

Blessings, service, Blessings, service, difficulty, thanks…ALL for difficulty, thanks…ALL for

the glory of God.the glory of God.

“… “…that the grace that is that the grace that is reaching more and more people reaching more and more people may cause thanksgiving to may cause thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God!”overflow for the glory of God!”