INTRODUCTION
• CLICK TO PC VIDEO
• SLIDE #1
• As you live your life each moment, is it not easy to forget that we are to be thankful for so much?
• I like the way the video clip brings an awareness of how we are to be in a constant state of thankfulness.
• Today we are going to spend some time in Colossians 3:15-17 as we look at the concept of sitting in the Thanksgiving Chair.
T.S.: As we celebrate the Thanksgiving holiday season, let us take a look at how we can sit in the Thanksgiving Chair!
• SLIDE #2
• Colossians 3:15-17(ESV) 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• Let’s begin by examining the following question.
• SLIDE #3
SERMON
I. What does it mean to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair?
• As we ponder the thought of sitting in the figurative Thanksgiving Chair, there are a few things we need to understand so we can sit in the chair.
• So what does it mean to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair? There are at least three things it means. FIRST…
• SLIDE #4
A. We acknowledge the grace of God in all areas of our life.
• In the New Testament, the word for “thanksgiving” and “thankful” come from 2 basic root words.
• One of the words that can be translated “thanksgiving” comes from the word “grace”. The second word comes from a root that means to “acknowledge”.
• From theses two root words we can see that an attitude of thanksgiving has to do with God’s grace and a person acknowledging that grace in their life.
• The particular focus here would be gratitude for the forgiveness and new life from God described in the previous verses. This was essential to the faith, and is to be a Christian’s constant motivation.
• Thankfulness should spring forth from our relationship with Jesus and because we realize all He has done.
• A second thing for us to remember is:
• SLIDE #5
B. We do not allow circumstances to affect our thankfulness to God.
• Sitting in the Thanksgiving Chair also means that even when things look terrible in life, we will be able to be thankful.
• Corrie Ten Boom in “The Hiding Place” relates an incident which taught her this principle. She and her sister, Betsy, had just been transferred to the worst German prison camp they had seen yet, Ravensbruck. Upon entering the barracks, they found them extremely overcrowded and flea-infested.
• Their Scripture reading that morning in 1 Thessalonians had reminded them to rejoice always, pray constantly, and give thanks in all circumstances. Betsy told Corrie to stop and thank the Lord for every detail of their new living quarters.
• Corrie at first flatly refused to give thanks for the fleas, but Betsy persisted. She finally succumbed. During the months spent at that camp, they were surprised to find how openly they could hold Bible study and prayer meetings without guard interference. It was several months later when they learned that the guards would not enter the barracks because of the fleas.
• In every tragedy you can look at what you’ve lost and be hateful, or you can look at what you have left and be grateful. Joseph (Old Testament) was a grand example of choosing to be grateful instead of hateful in the face of betrayal. -- Gerald Mann, When the Bad Times Are Over For Good, p. 150-152.
• Sitting in the Thanksgiving seat also means:
• SLIDE #6
C. We recognize who we serve.
• Christians should always be the most thankful people in the world, because we are serving the Living God! True thankfulness is something that proceeds out of the inner person, from the heart through the lips.
• If we are thankful, we will not spend our time grumbling and complaining.
• If we are grumbling all of the time, then we need to have a heart exam!
• The Israelites when they were wandering in the desert, grumbled and complained all the time, God did not LIKE it.
• Our Founding Fathers understood who they served when they sacrificed to fight for this country.
• Let’s look at:
• SLIDE #7
II. Why we should want to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair?
• Thankfulness is a theme that runs throughout the bible and through the book of Colossians. (1:3, 1:12, 2:7, 3:15-17, 4:2).
• Why should we want to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair? Let’s examine 3 reasons.
• SLIDE #8
A. Thankfulness is our proper response for all that God has done for us.
• Let’s look again at verse 17
• SLIDE #9
• Colossians 3:17(ESV) 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• "The word for thanks in verse 15 was used in referring to cities and people who were grateful to their benefactors of the provision that they received.
• We are to be thankful because God is our provider!
• SLIDE #10
• 2 Corinthians 9:10-11(ESV) 10He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness. 11You will be enriched in every way for all your generosity, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God.
• What if God couldn’t take the time to bless us today because we couldn’t take the time to thank Him yesterday?
• What if God decided to stop leading us tomorrow because we did not follow Him today?
• What if we never saw another flower bloom because we grumbled when God sent the rain? What if God didn’t walk with us today because we failed to recognize it as His day?
• What if God took away the Bible tomorrow because we would not read it today? What if God took away His message because we failed to listen to His messenger?
• What if the door of the church was closed because we did not open the door of our heart? What if God stopped loving and caring for us because we failed to love and care for others?
• What if God would not hear us today because we would not listen to Him yesterday?
• What if God answered our prayers the way we answer His call for service? What if God met our needs the way we give Him our lives?
• We are to be thankful to God because He sent His Son to die on the cross for YOU!
• SLIDE #11
• Colossians 1:12(ESV) 12giving thanks£ to the Father, who has qualified you£ to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
• A second reason we want to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair is:
• SLIDE #12
B. We do not want our prayer lives to be hindered.
• DO you think God wants to bless us in our prayer lives if we are not willing to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair?
• SLIDE #13
• Philippians 4:6(ESV) 6do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
• If we can be thankful to God for what He has done for us, then we really are not in a position to ask for more.
• A third reason we want to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair is:
• SLIDE #14
C. We want to experience peace!
• Look at verse 15 again with me.
• SLIDE #15
• Colossians 3:15(ESV) 15And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
• When we are not thankful, we are also not at peace with the world or with God!
• Our final thought is this:
• SLIDE #16
III. How we can stay in the Thanksgiving Chair? Verses 15-16.
• We spent our time getting in and out of the Thanksgiving Chair. We need to stay in the chair. Let’s look at how we can do that.
• SLIDE #17
A. Let the peace of Christ “rule” in your heart!
• This goes back to verse 15.
• The word rule was used of a person who was a referee in a game, or of a person who presided over a game, one who kept order and distributed prizes to the victor.
• We are to live a Spirit controlled live. Ephesians 5:18-20
• If Jesus is sitting on the your throne, then you will be able to keep a thankful heart. To maintain a peaceful heart one has to be thankful.
• Colossians 1:9-12 tells us that a thankful heart is developed by staying close to the Lord through living in and growing by His word!
• Let’s reexamine verse 16 for a second way to stay in the chair.
• SLIDE #18
• Colossians 3:16(ESV) 16Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God.
• SLIDE #19
B. Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you. Verse 16
• To dwell means to take residence within, to live in.
• Paul calls upon believers to let the Word take up residence and be at home in their lives.
• The word for (richly) could also be translated “abundantly or extravagantly rich.” The truths of Scripture should permeate every aspect of the believer’s life and govern every thought, word, and deed.
• The Word in the heart and mind is the handle by which the Spirit turns the will.
• The third way is found in verse 17
• SLIDE #20
• Colossians 3:17(ESV) 17And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
• SLIDE #21
C. Do everything in the name of Christ.
• Notice verses 15,16,17 being thankful or giving thanks is mentioned in each verse!
• When we do what we do FOR JESUS, IN HIS NAME, how can help but to be thankful.
• The verse tells us in WHATEVER we do we are to do in the name of Jesus! That makes everything we do special!
• Living this way leads to contentment which helps us to stay thankful.
• SLIDE #22
• Philippians 4:11(ESV) 11Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
• We are to recognize that God provides for us. That keeps us thankful!
CONCLUSION
• Going back to the Pilgrims’ landing on Plymouth Rock, they celebrated what we would call the first thanksgiving on November 29, 1623, three years after landing on Plymouth Rock.
• When Governor Bradford of Massachusetts made his great proclamation on that day, he thanked God for all the blessings the Pilgrims had been granted from God.
• Please remember they lost a significant portion of their population due to sickness and disease.
• Plus they landed in MASSACHUSETTS instead of FLORIDA!
• The pilgrims suffered a lot, they lost a lot, but they were thankful because they understood that God was in control. They understood what it meant to be content in all circumstances.
• It is my prayer that as Christians, we to will know what it means to sit in the Thanksgiving Chair!
