What Does God Want For Thanksgiving 2026

A. INTRODUCTION: PSALM 100

1. What do people want out of Thanksgiving?

Mom ___________________________________________,

Dad ____________________________________________,

Children ________________________________________,

Football players __________________________________.

2. What does God want? “Serve the Lord with gladness” (v. 2, KJV). “Worship the Lord with gladness” (v. 2, NIV, LB). Worship.

3. What is worship? “Giving God the worthship that is due to Him.” “The Father seeks for people to worship Him” (John 4:23, ELT).

B. FOUR STEPS TO WORSHIP

1. God wants you to focus on Him, vv. 1-2

2. God wants you to know your duty, v. 3

3. God wants you to come to Him, v. 4

4. God wants you to acknowledge Him, v. 5

C. GOD WANTS YOU TO FOCUS ON HIM. (vv. 1-2).

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing” (vv. 1-2).

1. How can we focus on God? “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord” (KJV). “Shout with joy to the Lord” (NIV, LB). Enthusiastic words. Our mouth is one way we tell others our thoughts, feelings and desires.

2. How should we speak to God?

a. Speak out loud.

b. Speak clearly.

c. Speak correctly.

d. Speak sincerely.

e. Speak often.

3. God does not need anything, how can we serve Him? “Serve the Lord” (KJV). “Worship the Lord with gladness” (NIV, LB). We serve the Lord with worship.

4. How should we enter God’s presence? “Come before His presence with singing” (KJV). “Come before Him, singing with joy” (LB). Rejoice because of salvation.

a. Israel sang the Psalms of Ascent.

b. Levitical choirs sang as people worshiped.

c. The church sings prayer hymns to God.

d. I sing hymns in my devotions.

e. The praise choruses are an anointed method.

D. GOD WANTS YOU TO KNOW YOUR DUTY. (v. 3).

“Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture” (v. 3).

1. Who should you worship? “Know that the Lord is God” (KJV). Worship the Lord God.

a. The Lord God knows everything.

b. The Lord God is everywhere present.

c. The Lord God can do anything He wants.

2. Why should we worship the Lord God?

a. Because He created us like Himself. He is our blueprint. “It is He who made us.”

b. Because we belong to Him. He is our owner. “We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.”

E. GOD WANTS YOU TO COME TO HIM

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name” (v. 4).

1. How did the Israelites enter the gate of the Tabernacle? With praise. All praise is worship, let worship include more than praise, i.e., thanksgiving, adoration, rejoicing, exhalation, etc.

a. Praise in anticipation of forgiveness.

b. Praise because of fellowship with Him.

c. Praise in gratitude for what God did.

d. Praise because of who God is.

2. What was the reaction of the Israelites when they got inside the courtyard of the Tabernacle? (i.e., they entered the gate via the brazen altar for sacrifice). “Into His courts with praise, be thankful unto him, and bless His holy name” (v. 3). They gave thanks.

You should know the many names of God so you can thank Him for all He is and does, because each different

name of God reflects something different about Him.

F. GOD WANTS YOU TO ACKNOWLEDGE HIM.

1. What is the first thing about God that you should know? God is good. What is the first of the four spiritual laws? God loves you and has a wonderful plan for your life.

2. What is the second thing God wants you to know? God will forgive your sin. “His mercy is everlasting.”

3. What is the third thing God wants you to know? God can be trusted. “His truth endureth to all generations.” God will not change.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.