What Is Thanksgiving

Temple Baptist Church - 11-15-2020

Philippians 4:6

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  This is verse gives us a unique look at thanksgiving. 

 

1.  “Be careful for nothing” – “care full” - careful-to be full of care; anxious to the point of distraction.  There are things that we are apt to worry about in life.  The Bible is very direct in the matter of worry.  “I am not worried; I am just highly concerned?” 

 

1 Peter 5:7  Casting all your care upon him; for he careth for you.

 

2.  “But in everything” – good times or bad times; times when we can control our circumstances and times when our circumstances are out of our control; times when we understand and times when we do not understand.

 

Proverbs 3:5  Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.

 

3.  “by pray and supplication” – Prayer-worship in oratory (speaking to God in acknowledgement of Who and What He is), supplication-to make petition; requests-to ask.

 

James 4:2 … ye have not, because ye ask not.

 

4.  “with thanksgiving” – when the outcome is still in doubt or not fully known.

 

Jeremiah 33:3  Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and shew thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not.

 

Isaiah 55:9  For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

 

Romans 11:34  For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?

 

a)  It is not thanksgiving for what God has done but thanksgiving in advance for what He has not yet done.  It is based upon the love, mercy, and goodness of God to His people. 

 

b)  We do not know what will happen in the future but we do know that God will still be God!  We do not know what the future holds for us, but we do know Who holds the future and holds us!

 

B.  THANKSGIV'ING, n.  The act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for favors or mercies.  A public celebration of divine goodness; also, a day set apart for religious services, specially to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in any remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of his bounties.  The practice of appointing an annual thanksgiving originated in New England.

 

C.  Most people say “Thank you” simply because they have been trained to do so.  I know that, personally, there have been times that I have blessed the food on our table and then had to ask my wife if I had blessed it already.  Then I bow my head and really give to God thanks!

 

D.  We have so much to be thankful for. 

 

1.  Our Great Salvation

 

a)  Saved by grace

b)  Saved eternally

c)  A wonderful life here and heaven waiting!

 

2.  Our Great Possessions

 

a)  Our homes

b)  Our transportation

c)  Our everyday needs

 

3.  Our Great families and friends

 

a)  Your greatest possession outside of salvation!

b)  Quality, not quantity!

 

4.  Our Great Liberty

 

a)  Freedom of travel

b)  Freedom of speech

 

5.  Our Great Opportunities

 

a)  You can be anything that you want.

b)  Your life is limited by your will to accomplish

 

E.  We are always to be thankful.  I, as a pastor, have difficulties in this area.  Now, I can be thankful when the heavens are opened up, and God's blessings rain down upon me, and when everything is going well, and when there are no bumps in the road!  But when problems come, I too often complain.  When things don't go my way, I too often whine instead of giving thanks!

 

What is Thanksgiving?

 

1.  Thanksgiving Is A Sign Of Realization: the Lord has been good to us (far better than we deserve) and will remain good to us in the future. - James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

 

a.  If it were not for the Lord, you would have nothing.  If it is not of the Lord, you will have nothing!

 

b.  Things could be a lot worse than they are now.  Things can get a lot worse than they are now!

 

c.  Compared to the rest of the world, you are rich.  Happiness is so much more than temporal things: it is peace of mind!

 

2.  Thanksgiving Is A Sign Of Acceptance: we should rightly accept what we have and be willing to accept what we shall have. - 1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

a.  All that we have came from the Lord.

 

b.  What we have is His will for our life.

 

c.  God wants the very best for us and our family.

 

3.  Thanksgiving Is A Sign Of Gratitude: we should be grateful for what we have and also be grateful what we will have. - Matthew 6:31-33 Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? 32 (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. 33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

a.  The Lord has been so good to us.

 

b.  We deserve absolutely nothing.

 

c.  What He has given us should be satisfactory.

 

d.  We can trust Him to supply our every need as they come - Philippians 4:19 But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

 

Conclusion:  We need to thank God this week for all that He has done for us and thank Him in advance for all that He will do for us:

 

            a.  Learn to look for both blessings and lessons in our circumstances. 

 

            b.  Prayerfully accept God’s will for our lives.

 

            c.  Replace griping and murmuring with thanksgiving and praise.