THANKSGIVING TO GOD
Pastor Zacch Olorunnipa
Text: 1 Chronicles 16: 4 – 36
Key Scripture: “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you” 1 Thessalonians 5:18)
Introduction
Simply defined thanksgiving is the act of giving thanks. As simple as it sounds, thanksgiving is one of the most unfulfilled biblical injunctions in the sense that no one can do enough of it when evaluated on the basis of the standard set forth in the word of God. According to 1Thessalonians 5: 18 we are to give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God. Obviously, this is a tall order as everything encompasses the totality of our being including words and actions. As a child of God we are to give thanks to God for everything in our life including sitting down, rising up, going to toilet, sleeping, waking, breathing, seeing, hearing, feelings, having a job or without a job, rich or poor, failure or success, good or bad, happy or sad, etc.
Failing to give thanks for everything is tantamount to violating the will of God. If not for the mercy and long suffering of God (Ecclesiastes 3: 23) most of us would have faced God’s condemnation for neglecting the giving of thanks. In James 1:22 we are told to be “- doers of the word, and not hearers only --. The giving of thanks is one thing Christians don’t do enough of. Many of us will rather complain than give thanks
One of the most celebrated national holidays in the United States of America is the Thanksgiving Day now observed on the fourth Thursday of November. Some other countries also observe Thanksgiving Day. For example, Canadian Thanksgiving Day or Jour de l’Action de grâce is observed on the second Monday in October while in Granada the Thanksgiving Day is October 25th. Although it has become more secularized and commercialized, Thanksgiving is traditionally meant to be a time to give thanks for the harvest and express gratitude to God in general. In this regard, Thanksgiving for the believer should not be limited to only one day in the year especially if we are to give thanks in every thing.
As discussed below, there are general reasons and specific reasons why every believer should give thanks to God. This sermon is a call for all and sundry to give more thanks to God in order to fulfill the will of God for their lives. The purpose, importance, modality and the rewards for giving thanks are also pointed out. I pray that the Holy Spirit will teach us how to give adequate thanks to God in Jesus name.
Background Information
The text for this message (1 Chr. 16: 7-36) is appropriately known as Psalm of Thanksgiving or Praise Psalm of David. It is based on thanksgiving that David and the Israelites rendered unto God after the Ark of the Covenant was successfully transported from the house of Obededom to Jerusalem. Recall that earlier on when the Ark of the Covenant was mishandled by Uzza, God smote Uzza dead (1 Chr. 13: 9-10). As a result everybody was scared of the ark including King David who sent it to Obededom’s house instead of his. The Ark of the Covenant remained in Obededom’s house for three months during which the LORD blessed his house and all that he had (1 Chr. 13: 6-14). It was thereafter that king David prepared a befitting place for the ark in Jerusalem. The ark was brought to Jerusalem with pop and pageantry. On the day of its arrival, King David delivered the Psalm of Thanksgiving to a Choir of 12 musicians (led by Asaph) who ministered continuously before the ark of the covenant of God. The contents of this Thanksgiving Psalm/song (1 Chr. 16) can be examined synoptically as follows:
1. Purpose of the Song (to give thanks to God) verse. 4, 7.
2. Praise of God: verse. 4, 12, 14, 23 – 32
3. Person of God: verse. 14 – the LORD our God.
4. Promises of God: verse. 15 – 17
a. Covenant with Abraham (Gen 17:2; 22: 16-18)
b. Oath unto Isaac (Gen 26: 1-5)
c. Law to Jacob
d. Everlasting Covenant for Israel
5. Provisions of God: verse 18 – 20
6. Protection of God: verse. 21 -22
7. Presence of God: verse 33
8. People of God: verse. 8, 13, 36.
Purpose of Thanksgiving
The primary purpose why everyone is called upon to give thanks is to do the will of God. In other words, the single over arching will of God for every born again child of God is to give thanks to Him for everything. This is why the Bible declares “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” (Heb 13: 15). From the very day one accepts Jesus Christ as his/her Lord and Savior God expects one to render ceaseless thanksgiving to Him. If we make giving thanks to God a goal of our relationship with God, it will not be difficult to fulfill other requirements such as obedience, giving, praying, praising, worshipping, witnessing, studying His word, living holy, etc. Regrettably, ignorance has robbed many Christians of their blessings.
Importance of Thanksgiving
Giving thanks to God puts the believer at par with doing God’s will. Furthermore, the giving of thanks to God is a demonstration of obedience to the word of God. It is noteworthy that the Psalm of Thanksgiving in 1 Chronicles 16: 7-36 (which is basically the same as Ps 105: 1-15), contains an important command – Give thanks unto the LORD (v.8). This command is so important that it is repeated (verbatim) eight other times (in KJV). The nine occurrences of this phrase in KJV are shown below:
Give thanks unto the LORD, call upon his name, make known his deeds among the people (1 Chr. 16:8)
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever (Chr. 16:34). It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, o most High (ps. 92:1)
O give thanks unto the LORD; call upon his name: make known his deeds among the people (Ps. 105:1).
Praise ye the LORD. O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 106:1).
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 107:1). O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: because his mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 118:1).
O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 118:29). O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever (Ps. 136:1).
Looking at these 9 references we see 3 general major reasons why God should be thanked:
(a). It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord (Ps. 92:1).
Giving thanks to God is good because it can give the thanks giver the satisfaction that he/she is doing the will of God while at the same time God derives pleasure in the thanks giver for being obedient.
(b) God is good (1 Chr. 16:34; Ps. 105:1, 106:1; 107:1; 118: 1; 118:29; 136:1).
We can all testify to the fact that God is good. Just take a look at yourself in a mirror. What you see is the image of God. God is good worker and He deserves to be given thanks. Everything He created in Gen 1and 2 is recorded to be good. He has made all things beautiful in His time (Ec. 3:11). On completion of the foundation of the temple of God in Jerusalem under Priest Ezra, the builders sang praises and gave thanks to God declaring that God “is good and His mercy endureth towards Israel” (Ez. 3:11). Are there things you have begun in your life, which you have not finished? Give thanks to the good God at every facet of such project. He will help you complete them in Jesus name.
(c) His mercy endureth for ever.
This statement is repeated 41 times in the KJV, 26 of which are in Psalm 136 with every verse of this Psalm ending with His mercy endureth for ever. Brethren, we can not talk enough about the mercy of God. Someone has noted that, for the Christian, grace is receiving what we don’t deserve, and mercy is not receiving what we do deserve. We should be thankful to God for showing us mercy instead of punishing us for all our short comings. The scripture says “It is of the LORD’s mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness” (Lam 3: 22 -23). David did not have to die despite the sins of murder, adultery and other atrocities he committed. He learnt to plead for forgiveness and lived a life of praise, worship and thanksgiving. God is not a respecter of persons. If he did it for David he can do it for you for He is plenteous in mercy (Eph. 2:4, Ps. 85:5; Ps. 86:15 and Ps. 103:8). May you receive the mercy of God in all situations of your life in Jesus name.
Modality of Thanksgiving
The giving of thanks to God can be expressed in various ways. In the Old Testament sacrifices and offerings of various types were commonly used (e.g. Lev. 7: 12, 13, 15; 22:29). In David’s psalm of thanksgiving we are considering, the people offered burnt sacrifices and peace offering. They also sang and praised the LORD. In both the Old and the New Testaments, praise was intensively used, among other things, in expressing thanks to God (e.g. Neh. 12:46; Luke 17: 12 – 19).
In this era, expression of thanksgiving to God can take various forms as long as we use biblical principles. For example, thanksgiving can include praise, vows, monetary or material offerings, services, prayer and fasting, witnessing, etc. Whatever form of worthy appreciation we can offer to God to honor and glorify Him for what He has done or will do in our lives will be appropriate for thanksgiving. A good way to exercise your faith and provoke a miracle into your life is to give an offering of thanksgiving to God in anticipation of the manifestation of something you are believing Him to do for you. Remember you can not out- give God who is the Possessor of heaven and earth (Gen 14:19).
Rewards for Thanksgiving
God is a just God who is always good. If He makes the sun to rise on the evil and sends rain on the unjust (Matt. 5:45), how much more will He bless the one that will do His will - giving Him thanks. The Bible says God is a “ - - rewarder of those who diligently seek Him” (Heb. 11:6b). Jesus Christ demonstrated that it is profitable to give thanks to God by preceding several of His miracles with thanksgiving. Prior to calling Lazarus back to life after he was dead for four days in the grave, Jesus gave thanks to His Father (John 11: 41 – 43). In like manner, it was through thanksgiving that Jesus multiplied five barley loaves and two fishes to feed more than 5000 men with 12 baskets of left over surplus (John 6: 6 -13). Do you need revival in any aspect of your life/body or do you need transformation from scarcity to abundant supply, poverty to prosperity, etc, increase your thanksgiving and receive your miracles in Jesus name.
Appropriate thanksgiving to God can usher in many blessings to the believer. It can open the gate of God to you for direct access to Him (Ps. 100:4). The blessings accruable to the thanks giver are innumerable and may include total healing, fruit of the womb, all round success, promotion, provision of life partner, debt cancellation, favor, mercy, honor, victory over the enemy, etc.
Specific Reasons for Thanksgiving
A Native America Indian Minquass proverb says "If you see no reason for giving thanks, the fault lies within yourself." No matter your circumstance, you have reason to give thanks to God. The breath in you belongs to God. You can not give thanks to God in the grave. Everything in your environment belongs to God. As the psalmist says God loads us with benefits every day (Ps. 68:19) Identify the specific blessings God has bestowed on you and give him thanks. Let me suggest the following eight categories of blessings that we should include in our myriads of reasons for giving thanks to God:
1. Salvation (you are redeemed & guaranteed eternal life; 1 Chr. 16:35, Ps. 106: 47)
2. Sanctification (set apart for God, sin has no more power over you; 2 Thes. 2:13)
3. Scriptures / God’s word (can count on God’s promises about you; Ps. 119: 105)
4. Social Relationships (you are in Christ’s family, you have your own family & others, you can love and be loved; Rm 12:5)
5. Self Actualization (you are gifted and talented, wired to succeed and be fulfilled; Jos. 1:9; 1 Pet 2:9)
6. Senses (ability to touch, see, hear, smell, taste; Gen 1:27,31)
7. Security (divine protection, personal and national safety; Pr. 18:10; Is. 54:17)
8. Serenity (peace of mind; Phil. 4:7)
Conclusion.
One of the most important ways to do the will of God is to give Him quality thanks. Therefore, thanksgiving is a debt owed by every one, believer or non believer. If you have not given your life to Jesus Christ as your LORD and Savior, you are an ingrate because you are not doing the will of God and you are on your way to hell. Accept Jesus Christ today by confessing your sins, ask Him to forgive you and be your LORD. If you are already born again, intensify your thanksgiving to God. To give thanks in every thing, thanksgiving must become a lifestyle.
