The Prescription Of Thanksgiving!

Intro: It’s the holiday season! And the bible tells us that…

Ecclesiastes 3: 1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens. -NIV

God has made us seasonal creatures, and as a result we annually celebrate and commemorate certain events and things. Thanksgiving, Christmas, President’s Day, Valentine’s Day, etc.

Illustration: Another thing that I annually do is have a physical. My doctor will examine me checking for problems by observing me not only “outwardly”, but will always have my blood drawn and tested in order to determine whether there are any deficiencies or potential diseases within.

The reason?

Leviticus 17:11a for the life of every living thing is in the blood. -NET

He discovered that I had a Vitamin D deficiency which could lead to a compromised immune system, one that is unable to fight off virus, infections, etc. He therefore advised that I take 5,000 units per day!

Point: Just as we can appear to be physically healthy on the surface, but have a deficiency within which makes us susceptible to sickness, it is also true that spiritually we can appear to be healthy on the surface but have a deficiency within that can make us susceptible to spiritual viruses, such as distress, depression, anxiety, faithlessness, etc.

Proposition: I believe the scripture shows us that at the core of every healthy, vibrant, overcoming, productive, victorious Christian is a heart of gratitude! It is in their “spiritual system.” It keeps them spiritually healthy and well in the most difficult of times.

And so as a “spiritual practitioner” I am prescribing that each one of us practice a healthy dose of thanksgiving! The annual holiday of Thanksgiving serves as a necessary reminder that without gratitude in our system, deep within our hearts, we will be spiritually weakened to the point of being susceptible to devil’s attacks and schemes!

And so I’ve entitled today’s message:

Title: The Prescription of Thanksgiving!

Believing that a healthy dose of gratitude cn keep us spiritual safe and strong!

Let’s delve into the:

I. Why Prescribe Thanksgiving?

Using the medical illustration again – it can be likened to being something that is a..

A) Preventative therapy!

1. Against what is the most dangerous “spiritual disease’s” called- Apostasy!

a) Apostasy is to abandon, denounce, reject, or fall away from one’s faith.

B) Produce?

1. Death!

2. Damnation!

a) In the letter to the Hebrew believers, the writer warns:

Hebrews 6: 4 For it is impossible in the case of those who have once been enlightened, tasted the heavenly gift, become partakers of the Holy Spirit, 5 tasted the good word of God and the miracles of the coming age, 6 and then have committed apostasy, to renew them again to repentance, since they are crucifying the Son of God for themselves all over again and holding him up to contempt. 7 For the ground that has soaked up the rain that frequently falls on it and yields useful vegetation for those who tend it receives a blessing from God. 8 But if it produces thorns and thistles, it is useless and about to be cursed; its fate is to be burned. -NET

C) Point?

1. I believe that ingratitude is at the heart of why people “fall away” and/or ignore God!

D) Proof?

1. Paul’s argument in Romans:

Romans 1:18 For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of people who suppress the truth by their unrighteousness,

2. Reason?

Romans 1:21a For although they knew God,-NET

a) Those are some of the saddest words in the Bible - "They knew God!"

b) Paul is saying that men are conscious of God’s existence, power, and divine nature through His Creation, His General Revelation:

Romans 1:21b they did not glorify him as God,-NET

c) To glorify Him is to honor Him, to acknowledge His attributes (which a clearly understood by what had been made), and to praise Him for His perfections!

Romans 1:21b or give him thanks, ,-NET

d) Natural creation was intended to lead man to glorify God and to express gratitude to Him.

e) Cessation from praise and thanksgiving to God leads to disastrous consequences, which the apostle now enumerates.

Romans 1:21c but they became futile in their thoughts and their senseless hearts were darkened. ,-NET

Romans 1:24 Therefore God gave them over in the desires of their hearts to impurity, to dishonor their bodies among themselves. ,-NET

Romans 1:26 aFor this reason God gave them over to dishonorable passions. -NET

Romans 1:28b God gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what should not be done. 29 They are filled with every kind of unrighteousness, wickedness,

Romans 1:32 Although they fully know God’s righteous decree that those who practice such things deserve to die, they not only do them but also approve of those who practice them. ,-NET