weekly sermon
11-25-07
Thanksgiving
I suppose, this being the time for the season, that we should stop and talk
about giving thanks and what it means, what it does, or how to do it. I know
some of that statement sounds funny but you would be surprised how many do not
really know what giving thanks is about. Some consider thanksgiving as the
holiday that falls at the end of November. If you phrase it in a religious
manner, then some think that thanksgiving is, what it says, giving thanks. In
most cases, if you know me then you know, I usually talk of things in the most
simple manner. In this case we will have to dig a little deeper to know exactly
what God is talking about.
The word thanksgiving is used 28 times in 27 verses in the entire Bible, but
there are many places that talk about giving thanks. First turn with me to
Philippians 4:6, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." In
this chapter Paul writes about how to have unity and joy in Christ, and how to
manifest temperance and freedom from anxiety. One of the ways he mentions, in
this chapter, is by the contents of this verse. The word careful here is from
Greek "meden merimnate", meaning anxious.
So we can see here that we should be anxious for nothing, and that we are to
make our desires known to God in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving. Ok I
want to pause here just for a second and take you to another passage of
scripture. We will look at a few passages then we will talk more in depth. I
will talk about each verse, then we will look at the common fact between them.
Turn with me next to 1 Thessalonians 5:18, "In every thing give thanks: for this
is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." This is a commandment from
God. No not one of the 10 commandments, but there are more than just 10
commandments in the Bible. Then next turn with me to Colossians 3:17, "And
whatsoever ye do in word or deed, [do] all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving
thanks to God and the Father by him." In this verse, whatsoever ye do, is a
statement from God that means obligations. Our obligations are our requirements
of what we are to do as Christians. Remember the last two comments that were
made where the words "commandment" and "obligation" were used. We will hear more
about those in a few minutes.
Well of course the common link between these three verses is the word
thanksgiving. I know that that particular word is not used in each verse, but a
variation of the word is mentioned.
The meaning of giving thanks is to offer up an appreciation for something. In
each of these verses it talks about giving thanks to God. This is talking, of
course, about going to God in prayer and offering Him thanks for something.
When we give thanks what does it do? This would be best described by, of course,
looking at the Bible. Look at 2 Corinthians 9:8, 11, "And God [is] able to make
all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all
[things], may abound to every good work: (11) Being enriched in every thing to
all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God." What does this
mean, you ask? When we give thanks to God, we are made sure by Him that we have
sufficient supply in all things. Or as it says here, "enriched in every thing to
all bountifulness." When we thank God, we have that bountiful, to overflowing
that we have discussed in the past. He will make sure we do not need for
anything, as long as it is in the will of God. Yes I know that most people do
NOT like to hear the last half of the statement I just made. I want the things I
want, not the things that God wants. How often have you heard that statement?
More often than not has it been expressed. The mind is worldly and thinks
worldly things. This is why Jesus lives in your heart and not in your head. We
like to think of things that we like and not of things that is of God. If we
would only learn that, if we would think on the things of God, we would be so
blessed with the things that we want also. Matthew 6:7-8, "But when ye pray, use
not vain repetitions, as the heathen [do]: for they think that they shall be
heard for their much speaking. (8) Be not ye therefore like unto them: for your
Father knoweth what things ye have need of, before ye ask him." The reason I
mention these two verses here, is because we are talking about giving our thanks
in prayer, and this is showing you how not to pray, but mostly I wanted you to
notice the last part of the last verse. It states that your Father already knows
what you are in need of. I wanted you to see that if you keep your mind on God's
will first, then he will supply your needs, which He already knows of, most
bountiful. So listening to this statement, He will supply you bountifully in the
things that are His will, because that is where your mind is, and He will supply
your needs, that He already knows about.
Lastly, how do you do it? This to me is the most important part. We mentioned
part of it already. First, let me say that going before God in prayer and giving
thanks is exactly how you do it, but, it MUST be for the things that are in
God's will, which we already discussed. Now, if we are truly, and I mean truly,
giving God thanks the way we are suppose to, then we must notice a few things
that are also common in the verses that we read in the beginning. In the first
two verses we see the same words exactly and in the last verse we see a
variation used. What I am talking about here is the words "everything" and
"all". We are to give thanks for everything or for all. When I say everything
and all, thats exactly what I mean. See you knew I would go back to the basics
of exactly what it says. Most folks will give thanks to God for a financial gain,
a healing, a great outcome to a crisis, or anything that is going right for the
one giving the thanks. But now you have to be tested. Try, when you are in a
situation that is not going good for you, to give thanks for that. I told you
that when He said give thanks in all that is what He meant. Let me tell you what
I mean here, so that there is no misunderstanding.
This past week, I had to go into the hospital to have some tests done that
really worried me. They were minor tests but they were for a major illness in my
life that has been an ongoing thing. The results of these tests could go either
way, as any tests of course. Meaning that if the test results were negative,
then all was fantastic, if not, then things could be VERY bad. In all things, as
hard as it was for a worldly mind, I gave God thanks for the results of the
tests in advance. Believe me I know that the small problems in my life are
miniscule in comparison to those of others, but to me it was a very difficult
time mentally. No matter what your situation is, it is very serious to you, just
as mine was to me. Even during that difficult time, I gave God the thanks. I
thanked Him for Him handling my crisis in the manner of His will. I do this
daily for everything that is in my life, including the many folks on our prayer
page. I do this because I know that His will MUST be done prior to the things
that I am in need of. I also know that once I give thanks for His, He will then
fulfill my needs.
It is VERY easy to give God thanks for the things you received in your life that
were the things you wanted. But try to give thanks for things that are not going
so well in your life. When you give thanks for those difficult things, make sure
you give thanks for them in a positive way. First I would pray that God's will
be done, then thank Him for great results on my tests. Things of that nature are
what I mean about giving thanks in a positive way. I by no means say that the
way I pray is how you should pray, that was just used as an example. For the
exact way to pray finish reading Matthew chapter 6. That can be your homework,
hahaha. I am just talking here about giving thanks. How to prayer is a whole
different message. I do not know how I can stress enough that we are to give
thanks in ALL things.
I wanted you to remember the words "commandment and "obligation. First, remember
it is a commandment that you give thanks to God, and secondly it is your
obligation that you MUST give Him thanks. And it is your obligation to give Him
thanks for ALL Things.
I want to give thanks that I have the ability to bring this message to you, the
ability to speak freely about God, and that you are here to see these messages.
I also want to thank God for misfortunes, so that I will know Him truly. By the
way, my test results were negative, but either way I would have thanked Him. I
know that my time here is solely for Him and not for myself. If you think that
way, I promise you that He will bless you beyond anything you could possibly
conceive. Yes, I gave thanks for the time I got to spend with family and friends
on this holiday we call thanksgiving, and I thought of things that I gave silent
thanks about in my head. If you want to see true thanksgiving from some that are
really going through bad times, take notice of any branch of our military that
are in the conflict in the middle east. We have seen photo after photo fly
through the emails that show them on their knees in prayer. This is true
thanksgiving in a time that you have to look hard to give thanks.
If you know you have received the salvation of our Lord Jesus Christ, then give
a great prayer of thanks to God, but if you do not know for sure about your
salvation, then give a prayer of thanks to God that you still have time to
receive Him as your saviour. You can do this by saying the following prayer with
me.
Dear Lord, come into my
life and forgive me of my sins, and give me the gift of everlasting life. Amen.
If you have said this simple prayer, then we believe that you have received
salvation. We would love to rejoice with you, so please drop us a note, in our
link, to let us know and confess Jesus before man, so that we may send you a few
things that we hope will help you in your new Christian walk.
With Love in Christ,
Pastor Stone