Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving

Colossian 1:12-17

Intro.

-I have heard that there is now a movement to change

Thanksgiving Day from a day of giving thanks to a day

of mourning.

-We should not be surprised as we live in ageneration

of ungrateful people.

Romans 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

-When we cease to glorify the Lord, we cease to be thankful

-To be truly thankful requires several things.

1. Recognizing that what you have you could not produce yourself – it was a gift.

2.Humility (humbleness)

3. Acknowledgment of the gift and it source.

Paul speaks of thanksgiving.

I. The “who” of Thanksgiving.

-the "who" is our source.

-Unto the Father. Vs. 11

-All of our thanksgiving should be directed toward God.

-It is a good thing.

Psalms 92:1 It is a good thing to give thanks unto

the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High:

-Our thanks should not be directed toward any other but Him.

-Not self

-Not friends

-Not family

-Not government

-The Lord Himself should be our only focus in thanksgiving.

II. The “what” of thanks giving.

A. Salvation. “which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

-He made us fit for heaven.

-We needed His righteousness.

Matt. 5:20 For I say unto you, That except your

righteousness shall exceed the righteousness of

the scribes and Pharisees, ye shall in no case

enter into the kingdom of heaven.

-He made us righteous in Christ II Corin. 5:20

B. He delivered us from the power of darkness.

-the power of Satan

-Ephesians 5:8 For ye were sometimes darkness, but now are ye light in the Lord: walk as children of

light:

-He took us from darkness to light.

1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal

priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvelous light:

C. He moved us to His kingdom.

-Translated…move us from one place to another.

-He moved us from the kingdom of Satan to the

Kingdom of Christ.

-I have a new home

-I have a new master.

-I am a citizen of heaven.

D. He redeemed us. Vs 14

-Paid for us.

-The price was his own blood.

-Galatians 3:13 Christ hath redeemed us from the

curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a

tree:

Hebrews 9:12 Neither by the blood of goats and

calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into

the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption

for us.

-Revelation 5:9 And they sung a new song, saying,

Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the

seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed

us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and

tongue, and people, and nation;

E. He forgave our sin.

-Forgiven – as though it never happened in the first

place.

-Ephesians 1:7 In Him we have redemption through

His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the

riches of His grace.

Acts 10:43 All the prophets testify about him that

everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness

of sins through his name."

III. The “why” of Thanksgiving…. Vs. 16

-VS. 16 Because everything begins with God….

Conclusion:

On this Thanksgiving Day, “be thankful to Him” who saved you, delivered you, translated you, redeemed you and forgave you….what more do you need?