THANKSGIVING TO THE TRINITY
By Pastor Zacch Olorunnipa
Key Texts: Ephesians 5:20; Genesis 1:26 & Jeremiah 30:19
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus” (Ephesians 5:20)
And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. (Genesis 1:26)
And out of them shall proceed thanksgiving and the voice of them that make merry: and I will multiply them, and they shall not be few; I will also glorify them, and they shall not be small (Jeremiah 30:19)
Introduction
In America and in some other parts of the world, the month of November has become known as “Thanksgiving month” since 1863 when President Abraham Lincoln gave his Thanksgiving Proclamation. In this proclamation, President Lincoln called on his fellow citizens to "set apart and observe the last Thursday of November --, as a day of Thanksgiving and Praise to our beneficent Father who dwelleth in the Heavens". Essentially it is a call for reflecting on, and giving thanks to God on that day for His blessings and bountiful provisions as well as the peace the nation has enjoyed.
While this Thanksgiving day is a laudable idea, the believer must remember that in God’s Calendar, Thanksgiving is meant to be a timeless practice. This is implied in the phrases “giving thanks always” (Ephesians 5:20) and “give thanks alway” (2 Thessalonians 2:13). It will be helpful to define the two key words in the title of this message - Thanksgiving and Trinity. Thanksgiving, according to the dictionary, is the act of giving of thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favors, especially to God. While the ultimate thanksgiving belongs to God, the believer's attitude of thanksgiving must also be extended to other deserving human beings from whom one has received benefits or favor or service. Trinity (also called Blessed Trinity or Holy Trinity) refers to the union of three persons (God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost) in one God head, or the threefold personality of the one Divine Being. The inseparable unity of the Triune God is clearly brought out in Mt. 28: 19 when Jesus Christ declared that believers in Him are to be baptized “in the name of Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost “.
Role of the Trinity in the Believer's Life
In the life of the believer, the Trinity can function as a singular entity while each member can also perform unique roles according to divine plan. Take the wonderful work of creation as an example, the three members of the Trinity were in tandem to create man in their own image according to Gen 1:26: "And God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth. So God created man in his own image, in the image of God created he him; male and female created he them". Of course the "us" in this scripture refers to the Trinity as defined above. Many people do not realize how blessed they are to be created in the image of God and to be given the power to have dominion over everything else created. You must see yourself as a perfectly and wonderfully created representation of the Triune God (Gen. 1: 27, 31; Ps. 139:14).
Aside from acting jointly, each member of the Trinity is capable of working individually For example, the Bible declares that God the Father sent His Son Jesus Christ to be the Savior of the world: "And we have seen and do testify that the Father sent the Son [to be] the Saviour of the world" (1 John 4:14). After His ascension into heaven, Jesus Christ also sent the Holy Spirit into the world as a Comforter: "Nevertheless I tell you the truth; It is expedient for you that I go away: for if I go not away, the Comforter will not come unto you; but if I depart, I will send him unto you" (John 16:7). Other unique roles of the Holy Spirit include serving as a Teacher and as a Reminder (John 14:26) as well as a Guide (John 16:13). In this season of Thanksgiving and always the Trinity deserves our unwavering giving of thanks for his roles in our lives.
Reasons for Giving Thanks to the Trinity:
Without a doubt there are innumerable functions performed by the Trinity in the life of the believer. The Bible says God loads us with benefits on a daily basis (Psalm 68:19). Acts 17:28a declares “For in him [God] we live, and move, and have our being”, meaning that we cannot function outside God. In fact Jesus Christ categorically told His followers that “without me you can do nothing” (John 15: 5b). It is the Holy Spirit that empowers us to become children of God and to be His witnesses (Rom. 8:14,16; Acts 1:8). Therefore, everything about the believer (conception, birth, childhood, redemption, adulthood, talents, education, career, wealth, family, etc) centers on the role of the Trinity. Rememeber, the scripture says “A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27). Both in quality and quantity the gifts of the Trinity are more superior to the gifts of man. In fact, divine gifts are good and perfect according to James 1:17:“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning”
The innumerable roles of the Trinity in the believer’s life calls for uncountable reasons why worthy Thanksgiving should be rendered to God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost. Like King David who said, “I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth” (Psalm 34:1), the believer must thank the Trinity ceaselessly. Let us examine 7 key reasons while thanksgiving should be rendered reverently to the Trinity. Each of these 7 reasons can serve as an umbrella under which we can group many of the uncountable blessings of the Trinity just to help direct the context and content of our Thanksgiving: These pertain to the roles of the Trinity regarding the:
(1) Way, (2) Word, (3) Wisdom, (4) Will, (5) Wonders, (6) Works, (7) Wealth
The Way
Jesus said "-- I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me". (John 14:6 KJV). Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven. Anyone who has confessed Jesus as Lord and has accepted Him as Lord has been translated from darkness to the light and will spend eternity with Jesus. The way to heaven that Jesus provided for His followers cost Him the shedding of His blood and the brutalization of his body. The believer owes Jesus Christ a lot of thanksgiving for the grace to know the way.
The Word
It is written in John 1:1 that "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God". (John 1:1). In other words, Jesus Christ, the second personality of the Trinity is the Word. The believer has access to the Word and therefore has access to many blessings including life and the Holy Spirit (John 6:63), power (Heb 4:12), sanctification and truth (John 17:17), healing (Ps. 107:20), faith (Rom 10:17), live without sinning (Ps. 119:105), etc. These are blessings that money cannot buy and they are worth thanking God for.
The Wisdom
Consider this scripture "But of Him you are in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God—and righteousness and sanctification and redemption" (I Corinthians 1:30, NKJV). That is, to the believer, Christ became the wisdom of God, righteousness, sanctification and redemption. What an honor! The wisdom of God alone is mind bugling. James describes it thus: "But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, [and] easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy" (James 3:17). God is very generous and ready to share of his wisdom liberally with anyone who will ask of him (James 1:5). According to The book of Proverbs 4:7. "Wisdom is the principal thing; Therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding." (Proverbs 4:7 NKJV). We must give thanks to "the only wise God" (1 Tim 1:17) for giving us wisdom, especially the wisdom to know and accept Him as our Savior.
The Will
There is a popular saying that where there is a will, there is a way. Let me reframe this and say “with the Way there is a will or wills”. In order words with Jesus (the Way), there is a will or wills. For example, His wills for the believer include giving Him thanks always in everything (1 Thess, 5:18). This is the main point of this message. It is a command from God that we give the Trinity thanks for everything, whether you think the circumstance under consideration is good or bad. Remember, the Bible says “---- all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Rom. 8:28). This biblical principle was upheld when Jesus, by simply giving thanks to His father, called forth Lazarus back to life after he was dead and stinking for 4 days (John 11: 38-45). Whatever, unpleasant situation you are facing right now, you are coming out rejoicing in Jesus name. Among the wills of the Trinity for the believer are also peace and fulfillment of destiny (Jer. 29:11); prospering in spirit and in health ( III John v. 2), answered prayers (Isaiah 33:3; 65:24), fruitfulness (Gen. 1:28), protection (Ps. 121:8), etc. The Trinity definitely deserve our thanksgiving for the "Will" of eternal life and other blessings in store for the believer.
The Wonders
Another reason to be thankful to the Trinity is for the wonders that characterize Him. Psalms 77: 14a declares "Thou art the God that doest wonders". Similarly, the Psalmist says God alone does great wonders (Ps. 136:4); The Bible is replete with numerous accounts of the wonders of God. For example, wonders were evident in the following events: creation of the heavens and the earth (Gen. Chp. 1&2); the Israelites were brought out of the bondage of Egypt (Deut 26:8); the earth opened (a form of sinkhole?) to swallow alive Korah and 250 noble princes and their houses because they strove against Moses and Aaron (Num.26: 1-34); David defeated Goliath with a sling (1 Sam 17); Elijah called down fire from heaven to consume his burnt offering (1 kgs 18: 36- 40); Elijah was taken up to heaven in a whirlwind (2 Kgs 2:11); Daniel was delivered from the lion's den (Dan. 6: 16-24); dry bones gathered together to live again to become a formidable army (Dan. 37: 1-10); Lazarus was raised back to life after being dead and stinking for 4 days (John 11:1-44); Jesus Christ resurrected from dead after three days (1 Cor. 15:4 ).
The greatest wonder in the believer's life that should provoke thanksgiving to the Trinity is the wonder of salvation and deliverance from Satanic stronghold. As stated by Apostle Paul it is Jesus Christ "Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son" (Col. 1:13). The first song composed in the Bible is by Moses to acknowledge and thank God for parting the Red Sea to allow the Israelite to cross over on dry land and closing it against the pursuing Egyptians who were all destroyed by the same Red Sea. In part, the song that Moses led the Israelites to sing declares " Who is like unto thee, O LORD, among the gods? who is like thee, glorious in holiness, fearful in praises, doing wonders" (Ex. 15:11). Like Moses and the Israelites the believer must express Thanksgiving to the Trinity in various forms including songs.
Works
Today we have many people in the society performing many important functions for their own benefits and for the benefits of others. We have various cadres of workers such as preachers, cooks, teachers, doctors, beauticians, janitors, construction workers, etc. If any of these workers fail to do their job for a protracted period of time, the society will suffer some inconveniences. Every member of the society has the potential to do good works because God does not make junks. The believer's expression of Thanksgiving must cover the fact that he/she is created unto good works by the Trinity and expected to walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 declares "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them". As a believer, you are saved to serve God which include doing good works.
Jesus Christ is our model of doing good works for the Bible declares that, "--God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Ghost and with power: who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed of the devil; for God was with him" (Acts 10:38). Since Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, and today and for ever (Heb. 10:38), He, along with other members of the Trinity, is still doing good works in our lives. The most important aspect of the Trinity's work for which we should be thankful is the work of redemption which was completed on the cross of Calvary when Jesus Christ declared "It is finished" (Jn 19:30). If you are reading this piece and you have not given your life to Jesus Christ as your Savior, I urge you to do so without further delay so that you can be a partaker of the redemption work Jesus Christ already finished through His death and resurrection. This blessing is reserved for those who will confess their sins, repent of them and ask Jesus Christ to be their Lord and Savior (John 3:16, Rm. 10: 9-10). While we can't pay for salvation, we can express our thanksgiving to Him by serving Him with gladness (Ps. 100;2).
7. The Wealth
In addition to the aforementioned reasons, the Trinity is well deserving of our Thanksgiving for the wealth He has bestowed on us for the Bible says God, "According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness,-" (2 Peters 1:3). "All things" in this verse, obviously include salvation, which money cannot buy. Additionally, wealth is included in the abundant life that Jesus Christ said he has come to give His followers (John 10:10). Furthermore, as the earth is the LORD's and the fullness therof (Ps. 24:1), the generous God is willing to share (as He wishes) His wealth to those who will ask in obedience. This is what Paul alluded to in Romans 8:32: "He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?". Definitely God wants us to be wealthy for He has promised not to withhold any good thing from those who will walk uprightly before Him (Psalm 84:11). However, the believer must shun greed and covetousness and pursue wealth in accordance with Apostle Paul's injunction: "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God" (Phil. 4:6) .
Conclusion
Glory be to God for another Thanksgiving Holiday that is in the horizon. Though plenty of Turkeys and the Treats will be in circulation, we must not forget that the primary purpose of this holiday is to give thanks to the Trinity (God the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit) for His innumerable roles in the life of the believer. In particular, ceaseless thanksgiving is due to the Trinity for being the Way, the Word and the Wisdom; as well as for His Will, Wonders , Works and Wealth for the believer. Anyone who will be a beneficiary and partaker of these provisions of the Trinity, must surrender his life to Jesus Christ and remain connected with Him. May Thanksgiving to the Trinity and other deserving people always proceed from you in Jesus name. Amen.
