Giving Thanks To The Father

I. EXORDIUM:

Do you give thanks to GOD?

II. AUDIENCE PROFILE:

Believers

III. OBJECTIVES:

To show that we need to be thankful for all we have and all we are, because it all came from GOD.

IV. TEXT:

Colossians 1:12 (Amplified Bible)

Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light.

V. THESIS:

We need to be thankful for all we have and all we are, because it all came from GOD.

VI. TITLE:

Giving thanks to the FATHER

VII. EXPLICATION:

A. Author: Apostle Paul

B. Date written: Between 60 to 64 A.D.

C. Purpose: To exhort and edify believers

D. To whom written: Church in Colosse, a city of Asia Minor

E. Main themes: Church, as body of CHRIST. CHRIST as Head of the Church. Warnings against trusting worldly wisdom

F. Keywords: CHRIST - the Head of all

Colossians 2:10 (Amplified Bible)

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

G. Key verses:

Colossians 2:9-10 (Amplified Bible)

For in Him the whole fullness of Deity (the Godhead) continues to dwell in bodily form [giving complete expression of the divine nature].

And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life [in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead—Father, Son and Holy Spirit—and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the Head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power].

VIII. MAIN BODY:

A. The FATHER has qualified us

"Giving thanks to the Father, Who has qualified and made us fit"

1. FATHER GOD's Fatherhood:

Romans 8:15 (Amplified Bible)

For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father!

1 Peter 1:17 (Amplified Bible)

And if you call upon Him as [your] Father Who judges each one impartially according to what he does, [then] you should conduct yourselves with true reverence throughout the time of your temporary residence [on the earth, whether long or short].

Isaiah 64:8 (Amplified Bible)

Yet, O Lord, You are our Father; we are the clay, and You our Potter, and we all are the work of Your hand.

Isaiah 63:16 (Amplified Bible)

For [surely] You are our Father, even though Abraham [our ancestor] does not know us and Israel (Jacob) does not acknowledge us; You, O Lord, are [still] our Father, our Redeemer from everlasting is Your name.

Psalms 68:5 (Amplified Bible)

A father of the fatherless and a judge and protector of the widows is God in His holy habitation.

1 Corinthians 8:6 (Amplified Bible)

Yet for us there is [only] one God, the Father, Who is the Source of all things and for Whom we [have life], and one Lord, Jesus Christ, through and by Whom are all things and through and by Whom we [ourselves exist].

2. Be thankful to FATHER GOD:

Deuteronomy 8:10 (Amplified Bible)

When you have eaten and are full, then you shall bless the Lord your God for all the good land which He has given you.

Colossians 3:15 (Amplified Bible)

And let the peace (soul harmony which comes) from Christ rule (act as umpire continually) in your hearts [deciding and settling with finality all questions that arise in your minds, in that peaceful state] to which as [members of Christ’s] one body you were also called [to live]. And be thankful (appreciative), [giving praise to God always].

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (Amplified Bible)

Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].

The recipient, the one who receives, always thank GOD, the FATHER.

B. To share in the inheritance

"to share the portion which is the inheritance of the saints (God’s holy people) in the Light."

Acts 20:32 (Amplified Bible)

And now [brethren], I commit you to God [I deposit you in His charge, entrusting you to His protection and care]. And I commend you to the Word of His grace [to the commands and counsels and promises of His unmerited favor]. It is able to build you up and to give you [your rightful] inheritance among all God’s set-apart ones (those consecrated, purified, and transformed of soul).

Acts 26:18 (Amplified Bible)

To open their eyes that they may turn from darkness to light and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may thus receive forgiveness and release from their sins and a place and portion among those who are consecrated and purified by faith in Me.