Biblical Thanksgiving
November 18, 2012
Biblical Thanksgiving
The Key Issue:
Thankfulness is critically important
because of the supreme worthiness
of God to receive thanks.
Biblical Thanksgiving
Ephesians 5:19,20
“Sing and make music in your heart
to the Lord, always giving thanks to
God the Father for everything, in the
name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Biblical Thanksgiving
Colossians 3:17
“And whatever you do, whether in
word or deed, do it all in the name
of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to
God the Father through Him.”
Biblical Thanksgiving
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
“Be joyful always, pray continually,
give thanks in all circumstances, for
this is God’s will for you in Christ
Jesus.”
Biblical Thanksgiving
I Timothy 2:1
“I urge, then, first of all, that
requests, prayers, intercession and
thanksgiving be made for
everyone…for kings and all those in
authority.”
Biblical Thanksgiving
Thankfulness is a command of
God, always, for everything, in all
circumstances: this is His will for His
people.
Biblical Thanksgiving
Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer
Proclamation, 1789:
“Wheras it is the duty of all
Nations to acknowledge the
providence of Almighty God, to obey
His will, to be grateful for His
benefits, and humbly implore His
protection and favor…”
-President George Washington
Biblical Thanksgiving
Day of Thanksgiving and Prayer
Proclamation, 1865:
“…I…do hereby appoint and set
apart the last Thursday in November
next…as a day of thanksgiving and
praise to Almighty God, the
beneficent Creator of the Universe.”
-President Abraham Lincoln
“Secular” Thanksgiving
•
Simple gladness for what we
have/ positive circumstances
• A polite gesture to those who give
us things, to avoid appearing rude
• An attempt not to hurt the
feelings of those who give gifts
• Perhaps a way of encouraging
more gifts next time!
II Corinthians 4:15
“All this is for your benefit, so
that the grace that is reaching
more and more people may
cause thanksgiving to overflow
for the glory of God!”
Biblical Thanksgiving
God’s
Grace
Our Thanks
The Glory
of God!
NOT:
The Glory
of God
Dispenses
Grace
We give
thanks, in
hope of more
Psalm 69:30
“I will praise God’s name in
song, and glorify Him with my
thanksgiving. This will please
the Lord more than an ox,
more than a bull with its horns
and hoofs.”
II Corinthians 9:11-15
“You will be enriched in every way so
that you can be generous on every
occasion, and through us your
generosity will result in thanksgiving to
God.
This service that you perform is not only
supplying the needs of the Lord’s people
but is also overflowing in many
expressions of thanks to God. Because
of the service by which you have proved
yourselves, others will praise God for
the obedience that accompanies your
confession of the gospel of Christ…”
Biblical Model of Service?
God
Blesses
Us
So we will
help others
II Corinthians 9:11-15
“…your generosity will result in
thanksgiving to God.
This service that you perform is not
only supplying the needs of the
Lord’s people but is also
overflowing in many expressions of
thanks to God.
…others will praise God for the
obedience that accompanies your
confession of the gospel of Christ…”
Biblical Model of Service
God
Blesses
Us
God
(in us)
Blesses
Others
Many
Thanks
Go to
God!
NOT:
God
Blesses
Us
So we will
help others
Biblical Thanksgiving
Thankfulness is a command of
God, always, for everything, in ALL
circumstances: this is His will for His
people.
Psalm 95:2,3
“Let us come before God with
thanksgiving…
…for the LORD is the great God!”
II Corinthians 4:8-10
“We are hard pressed on every
side, but not crushed; perplexed,
but not in despair; persecuted,
but not abandoned; struck down,
but not destroyed. We always
carry around in our body the
death of Jesus, so that the life of
Jesus may also be revealed in
our body.”
Biblical Thanksgiving
Blessings, service,
difficulty, thanks…ALL for
the glory of God.
“…that the grace that is
reaching more and more people
may cause thanksgiving to
overflow for the glory of God!”