REASONS FOR THANKSGIVING TO GOD
Thanksgiving Day in Canada has been a holiday on the second Monday of October since 1957. It is a chance for people to give thanks for a good harvest and other fortunes in the past year.
Thanksgiving, or Thanksgiving Day, is a holiday celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday in November. It has officially been an annual tradition since 1863, when, during the Civil War, President Abraham Lincoln proclaimed a national day of "Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens,"
Scottish minister Alexander Whyte was known for his uplifting prayers in the pulpit. He always found something for which to be grateful. One Sunday morning the weather was so gloomy that one church member thought to himself, "Certainly the preacher won't think of anything for which to thank the Lord on a wretched day like this." Much to his surprise, however, Whyte began by praying, "We thank Thee, O God that it is not always like this.
Two men were walking through a field one day when they spotted an enraged bull. Instantly they darted toward the nearest fence. The storming bull followed in hot pursuit, and it was soon apparent they wouldn't make it. Terrified, the one shouted to the other, "Put up a prayer, John. We're in for it!" John answered, "I can't. I've never made a public prayer in my life." "But you must!" implored his companion. "The bull is catching up to us." "All right," panted John, "I'll say the only prayer I know, the one my father used to repeat at the table: 'O Lord, for what we are about to receive, make us truly thankful.'"
Why did only one cleansed leper return to thank Jesus?
The following are nine suggested reasons why the nine did not return:
1. One waited to see if the cure was real.
2. One waited to see if it would last.
3. One said he would see Jesus later.
4. One decided that he had never had leprosy.
5. One said he would have gotten well anyway.
6. One gave the glory to the priests.
7. One said, "O, well, Jesus didn't really do anything."
8. One said, "Any rabbi could have done it."
9. One said, "I was already much improved."
Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High (Psa 50:14 KJV) :
I Chronicles 16:8 Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, and make known his deeds among the people.
Psalms 68:19 Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.
Psalms 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
• Some people act as if they had nothing to be thankful for!
• A lack of thankfulness is a lack of thoughtfulness.
• Ingratitude is probably the less attractive attitude anyone could possess.
I. BECAUSE OF THE PROSPERITY HE HAS GIVEN US.
Deuteronomy 8:10 When thou hast eaten and art full, then thou shalt bless the Lord thy God for the good land which he hath given thee.
II. BECAUSE HE HAS MADE US “MEASURE UP” TO THE ABILITY TO BE GOD’S CHILDREN.
Colossians 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:
III. BECAUSE IT IS THE WILL OF GOD.
I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
IV. BECAUSE OF HIS RIGHTEOUS DECISIONS.
Psalms 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.
V. BECAUSE OF HIS ENABLING US TO MINISTER.
I Timothy 1:12 And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
VI. BECAUSE IT IS A GOOD THING TO DO. [AND CHRISTIANS DO GOOD!]
Psalms 92:1 (A Psalm or Song for the Sabbath day.)
It is a good thing to give thanks unto the Lord, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:
VII. BECAUSE OF THE HEALING HE HAS PROVIDED.
Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
VIII. BECAUSE OF THE VICTORY HE HAS GIVEN US OVER SIN AND DEATH
I Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
VIII. BECAUSE OF THE UNSPEAKABLE GIFT OF HIS SON JESUS CHRIST.
II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Thanksgiving for Jesus!
Col 3:17 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.
Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
I. All Our Thanksgiving should be offered and given through Jesus.
Col 1:12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to
be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light: Col 1:13 Who hath delivered usfrom the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
Col 1:14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
II. Why should we give thanks through Jesus?
Col 1:15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
Col 1:16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be
thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all
things were created by him, and for him:
Col 1:17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
Col 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the
beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
Col 1:19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell;
Col 1:20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by
him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say,
whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
A. Jesus is our lawyer in heaven.
1 John 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that
ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with
the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:
1Tim 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men,the man Christ Jesus;
Heb 7:25 Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
III. Through His Name:
A. The Father receives our thanks through Him
1. We show the Father thanks by doing this and act upon John 1:12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
IV There is No Name like His Name!
A. Salvation is only in His Name.
Act 4:12 Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.
B. The Father answers prayer only through His Name.
John 16:23 And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
John 16:24 Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye
shall receive, that your joy may be full.
C. The devil and his demons fear His Name.
Luke 10:17 And the seventy returned again with joy, saying, Lord,
even the devils are subject unto us through thy name.
Mark 16:17 And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;
D. There is Healing is in His Name.
James 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:
James 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. James 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Thanksgiving actions.
(Psa 100:4 KJV) Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.
(Psa 100:5 KJV) For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.
This Thanksgiving we should remember to thank God for His Character & Nature. [Evidenced By His Actions & Affirmed In His Word] -- Ps 100:4-5; 107:1, 8, 15, 21, 31; Jer 33:11
1. For the creation of the universe-- Psalm 136:1-9 (see Psalm 19:1-6; Romans 1:21
2. For creating mankind -- Psalm 139:13-16
3. For deliverance and salvation - Ex 15; Ps 18:49; 30:4, 12; 86:12-13; 118:21; Isa 12:1, 4; 25:1; Col 1:12
4. And we Should Thank God For His Wondrous Works -- Psalm 9:1; Isaiah 25:1
5. We Should Thank God For All Of His Gracious Provisions Ps104.
6. We Should Thank God For His Grace And Mercy, And For Withholding The Punishment Which We Deserve – Ps 103:6-12.
7. We Should Thank God For The Blessings And Joys Of Fellowship With Him. Ps 73; Jam 1:1-2
8. We Should Thank God For His Revelations Through Creation & His Word -- Ps 19; 119.
9. We Should Thank God For His Wondrous Work In The Lives Of Others -- Ps 107; 109:30-31; 1 Thess 1;2; 2 Thess 1:3; Eph 1:16; Col 1:3
10. We Should Thank God For His Future Work, Based On His Purposes & Promises -- Ps 79; 92; 2 Chron 20:1 -- 31:2
Unsaved: Show your Thanksgiving to God by giving your life to Him.
Believer: Thanksgiving with life change. [Sanctification] (Eph. 5:3-7, 19-20)
