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IT’S TIME TO GIVE THANKS

Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.     This week, we will celebrate a holiday called:  “Thanksgiving.”

 

B.      It is like we have entered into that time of year when “It’s Time to Give Thanks.”

1.       We do something similar with Christmas.  It’s that time of when we “It’s Time to Give Gifts.”

2.       When applied to Thanksgiving, it seems like we might assume that the rest of the year we do not have to be grateful.

3.       But, shouldn’t we be appreciative of our blessings every day of the year?

 

C.     We have entitled our lesson, “It’s Time to Give Thanks.”  We will be using each of the letters of the word “thanks” to entitle each section of this lesson.

 

I.                    THANKSGIVING

 

A.     A definition:  expressing gratitude for benefits, blessings, gifts, favors, or kindness.

1.       This gratitude is usually felt first in the heart of the individual.

2.       This feeling motivates one to express thanks in some outward manner:  words, a hug, a card, etc.

 

B.      Thanksgiving is commanded in God’s holy Word.

1.       “Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving…” (Ps. 95:2).

2.       “Enter into his gates with thanksgiving…” (Ps. 100:4).

3.       “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6).

4.       Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving…” (Col. 4:2).

 

II.                 HOLIDAY OF THANKSGIVING

 

A.     The date for Thanksgiving is the fourth Thursday of November.

1.       This date is at the close of the harvest.

2.       It is a time for all to celebrate the blessing of the harvest that has been received.

 

B.      Two dates for the first Thanksgiving.

1.       1619: 

a.       Thirty-eight settlers arrived at Berkley Hundred, a settlement in Virginia.

b.      When they landed, they had a religious celebration.  This celebration was dictated by the charter issued by the London Company who funded the effort.

c.       The charter stated:  “…the day of our ship’s arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of thanksgiving to Almighty God” (Wikipedia, “Thanksgiving”).

2.       1621:

a.       The Plymouth, MA harvest was exceeding abundant.

b.      The Pilgrims celebrated their bounty with the Wampanoags, a tribe of Native Americans who had assisted the pilgrims with food during the previous winter.

 

 

 

C.     National Holiday

1.       Abraham Lincoln declared the fourth Thursday of November as “Thanksgiving Day” in 1863.

2.       In 1939, it was changed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt to the next to the last Thursday of November. 

3.       This, however, did not set well with the public.  In December of 1941, a joint resolution of Congress officially set Thanksgiving Day as the last Thursday in November.

 

III.              AREAS OF THANKSGIVING

 

A.     In 1 Thessalonians 5:18, Paul tells us to give thanks in everything.

 

In every thing give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

 

B.      There are many different ways of looking at various areas wherein we should give thanks.

1.       Our physical blessings (food and clothing) and spiritual blessings (forgiveness and Heaven)

2.       The small blessings (a child’s handmade card, a touch, a kiss, ) and great blessings (someone’s presence during a trauma, a organ donation)

3.       The noticeable blessings (nation, the church) and the less noticeable blessings (oxygen, sunshine, birds, rain)

4.       The expensive blessings (jewelry, vacations) and inexpensive blessings (a walk on the beach, time on the porch swing)

5.       The merriment of life (holidays, special occasions) and the struggles of life (sickness and death)

6.       The things in life (house, car) and the people in our lives (brethren, friends)

7.       The over-appreciated (jobs) and the under-appreciated (parents, spouse)

 

C.     Two additional verses:

1.       Ephesians 5:20

 

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

 

2.       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.

 

IV.              NO THANKS

 

A.     Sadly, we live in a world that shows little, or no, thanks.

1.       We can be blessed by God, but there is no appreciation.

2.       We can be blessed by others, but there is no gratitude.

3.       We can enjoy benefits, profits, and gifts, but here is no expression of thanksgiving.

 

B.      How do you feel we you seek to bless another, but they never acknowledge the blessing?

 

C.     Paul tells us that one of the elements in the departure of the Gentiles from God was the cessation of thankfulness (Rom. 1:21).

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

 

D.     One of the saddest stories found in the Life of Christ involves the healing of the ten lepers found in Luke 17:11-19.  Everyone who reads the account can feel the pain of Jesus in a question He asks.

1.       An overview of the encounter:

a.       The Crossing of Paths (Luke 17:11-12)

b.      The Cry of the Lepers (Luke 17:13)    “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.”

c.       The Command of Jesus (Luke 17:14a)

d.      The Cleansing of the Ten (Luke 17:14b)

e.       The Credit of the Samaritan (Luke 17:15-16)

f.        The Concern of Jesus (Luke 17:17-18)

g.      The Charge to the Samaritan (Luke 17:19)

2.       Jesus’ pain is revealed in verses 17-18.

 

And Jesus answering said, Where there not ten cleansed?  but where are the nine?  There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.

 

3.       Question:  Would we have been the Samaritan?  Or, would we have been part of the nine? 

 

V.                 THE KEY TO THANKSGIVING

 

A.     The Samaritan did give thanks to God (Luke 17:16).

 

And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks:  and he was a Samaritan.

 

B.      Note what the Samaritan did. 

1.       He turned back.                                        Forgot self and found Jesus

2.       He glorified God with a loud voice.        Sacrificed self and shouted praise

3.       He fell down on his face.                          Humbled self and honored Jesus

4.       He gave Him thanks.                               Examined self and expressed thanks

 

C.     What was the key to what the Samaritan’s gratitude?

1.       Understanding of what had happened to him.

a.       He was a leper who suffered great pain, who was rejected, and who could only look forward to death.

b.      Being cleansed, the pain was gone.  Once he was pronounced clean, he could return to his family and community.  And, once healed, he did not have to contemplate death.

2.       Realization of Jesus’ work in providing the blessing.

a.       Jesus had thought about him. 

b.      Jesus had spent time with him.

c.       Jesus used His abilities to bless this man.

 

D.     NOTE:  When we truly realize the goodness that others show us, and when we realize what they put into bring that blessing into our lives, then we will respond as did this Samaritan and render thanksgiving for our blessings.

 

 

 

VI.              SALVATION

 

A.     A man or a woman can receive no greater blessing than the salvation of his/her soul.

 

B.      Think about four things connected to our salvation.

1.       Forgiveness of sins (Eph. 1:7)

2.       Acceptance of God (Eph. 1:6)

3.       Access to God’s throne presently (Eph. 2:18)

4.       Hope of life in the hereafter (Eph. 4:4)

 

C.     All of these things were provided for us through a gift, Jesus Christ the Son of God.  Paul understood this.  Listen to his words found in 2 Corinthians 9:15.

 

Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

 

1.       Paul knew he had been given a gift.

a.       He refers to it as an “unspeakable” (indescribable, inexpressible, that which cannot be fully expounded) gift.

b.      He also notes that it is a divine gift.  It is from God.

2.       His knowledge of and realization of this gift caused him to shout the words:  “Thanks be unto God!”

 

D.     The psalmist was appreciate unto God and exhorted his readers to give thanks to Him (Ps. 100:4-5).

 

Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise:  be thankful unto him, and bless his name.  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.     My friends, it is Thanksgiving Week.  It is time to give thanks.

 

B.      We are often blessed by the generosity and kindness of others.  It is time to give thanks.

 

C.     God has provided us salvation in His Son Christ Jesus.  It is time to give thanks.

1.       1 Chronicles 29:13

 

Now therefore, our God, we thank thee, and praise thy glorious name.

 

2.       Hebrews 13:15

 

By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.