Thanksgiving 2001

 

It is a great time to remember what God has delivered us from; being dead in trespasses and sins. It is also a great time to be thankful for all of what has been freely given to us through the accomplished work of Christ Jesus.

 

Of all the holidays of the year, Thanksgiving may be the greatest. It should be incorporated into our lives more as a daily pattern, than a once a year reminder that we are to be thankful for all God has done for us.

 

The giving of thanks to God for His divine favor can be traced back to the dawn of human history. Thanksgiving of many kinds have marked the progress of men and nations from the days of antiquity.

 

The greatest day of thanksgiving in the Old Testament was the commemoration of the Passover which foreshadowed the life and death of the Lord Jesus Christ. The Passover feast was celebrated every year to remind God’s people of the deliverance from the angel of death who “passed over” the first born of the Israelites one night in Egypt. It was also to serve as a constant reminder that the true Messiah was still coming.

 

In the New Testament thanksgiving is not an event or special day but rather a manner of life. We are to express thankfulness continuously.

 

I Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

This is really a command from God for us to be thankful. We can be thankful for what we have, no matter what situation we find ourselves in. God has given us an eternal life spirit, and He is sending His son back for us no matter how tough it gets.

 

It must be available to live with a mind set of thanksgiving rather than by the way most people live; complaining about everything.

 

II Corinthians 10:5 Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the obedience of Christ; 

 

The expanded literal translation to this verse is:

 

“Demolish your human logic from the high position to which you have lifted it vertically against the knowledge of God which you have known by experience; be wise, lead captive everything to Christ which you have attentively listened to and heard.”

 

Having an attitude of thankfulness is a key to controlling what you think, to bringing into captivity every thought. By controlling what you think you can train your mind to be thankful in everything.

Psalm 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

 

It is not available to give thanks when you are dead, so we need to learn how to do it now.

 

Colossians 2:6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

 

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding  therein with thanksgiving.

 

We are to abound in thanksgiving. We have plenty to be thankful about. If you don’t believe what is written in God’s Word, then you have plenty to be unthankful about.

 

Colossians 3:15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.

 

Being thankful is to be a part of our lifestyle. It is much more than just mouthing “thank you.” It can be a genuine heart felt respond when you realize that you have received something of incredible value from God.

 

Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;

 

Prayer and the giving of thanks fit together.

 

Philippians 4:6 Be careful [anxious] for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

 

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

 

When we pray, we give thanks in the name of Jesus Christ. We do not need to be mentally distracted by the world, instead give thanks making your requests known to God.

 

Ephesians 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise,

 

16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

 

17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is.

 

18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;

 

19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;

 

20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The believer is to walk a balanced walk, aware of what is happening around him spiritually.

 

I Timothy 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men; 

 

2 For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. 

 

3 For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour.

 

We are to pray on behalf of those in authority. We are to give thanks on their behalf so we can live a life that is pleasing to God.

 

II Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 

That gift of holy spirit, that gift of eternal life, is something we can always be thankful for.

 

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

In this day and time and hour, when the future can be jaded by the actions of others, we should  not trust in the world and our human logic. Instead we can be thankful to God for all that we have been given and for what we can look forward to with absolute certainty, the promise of our lord coming back to gather us together to him.

 

I Thessalonians 4:16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

 

17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.