THANKSGIVING, AN ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
1 THESSALONIANS 5:18
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God\’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Note; All circumstances are in God’s will for you
For the BAD AND THE GOOD BE JOYFUL
PRAY IN THE NAME OF JESUS ALL THE TIME
THE FIRST THANKSGIVING IN THE US
November 28 has been designated as the day of Thanksgiving
It all began when 102 men and women boarded the Mayflower in 1620
To get away from the Church of England and establish religious
freedom in America. They landed at Jamestown in the winter and established a colony. William Bradford became the governor.
By 1621 only 44 survived the winter, most died of scurvy and malnutrition. With the help of an American Indian tribe, they were
Taught how to fertilize the ground using dried fish. They produce
a stellar corn crop.
Squanto, an American Indian who had been kidnaped and taken to
England where he learned English served as an interpreter for the
Indian tribe. They formed an alliance and the first harvest festival was held.
In 1863 President Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a national celebration. Ironically, the English were the original immigrants
Who now considers all other nationalities wanting to enjoy American freedom As immigrants.
THANKSGIVING AN ATTITUDE OF LIFE
For the Believers in Jesus Christ, thanksgiving is not a day but a daily Attitude of Celebration. God commands us to be thankful.
In the Old Testament times, there were days of celebration commanded by our God under the law.
- Fellowship offering of Thanksgiving Lev 7:13
- We are commanded to Sing praise and thanksgiving Ezekiel 3:11
- Thanksgiving and prayer Nehemiah 11:17
- Come into God’s house with joy and thanksgiving Psalms 42:4
- Glorify God with Thanksgiving Psalms 69:30
- Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving Psalms 100:4
In the New Testament, the Attitude of Thanksgiving was continued under grace.
- Cup of Thanksgiving for the participation in Jesus Blood 1 Cor 10:16
- Overflow with Thanksgiving 2 Corinthians 4:15
- Give with Thanksgiving 2 Corinthian 9:11
- Prayer and intercession with thanksgiving 1 Timonty 2:1
- Receive God’s creation with thanksgiving 1 Timonty 4:3-4
Gratefulness is defined as being appreciative of the benefits
Received.
There are two things I am sure of. I don’t know all the benefits God
has provided for me. I am sure I am not as thankful as I should be.
Did you know that there are 12 body systems working all the time?
- The 12 systems of the human body are: Integumentary System (skin, hair, nails) Skeletal System (bones, cartilage, ligaments) Muscular System (skeletal muscles) Nervous System (brain, spinal cord, nerves) Endocrine System (hormones, glands) Cardiovascular System (heart, blood vessels) Lymphatic System (lymph nodes, vessels)
Are you aware of them? How can you express thanks for what you don’t know is happening? We get up in the morning not knowing that all these systems and more operate together to make us normal human beings.
THANKSGIVING IS NOT ENTITLEMENT
Do you know doing your day what God keeps from happening to you? Do you know what ways God is preparing for you to travel? Or who God has prepared for you to meet?
The problem is we are so focused on what we know that we cannot see the big picture. We have come complacent saying what God has for me is for me. That is an attitude of entitlement. The problem is what God has for you, you have to continue to work toward it.
DEVELOPING THE ATTITUDE OF GRATITUDE
We are born selfish and want more. Babies cry when they are hungry, cry when they are wet, and cry when they want attention. This attitude is continued throughout life until there is a change brought on by our relationship with Jesus Christ. As our relationship with Jesus matures
We grow out of selfishness into thankfulness.
Two verses. Old and New Testament stand out to me as an Attitude Of
Gratitude.
Psalms 42:4
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go with the multitude,
leading the procession to the house of God,
with shouts of joy and thanksgiving
among the festive throng.
NIV
Philippians 4:6-7
6 Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
NIV
Five points I want to leave you with
- Gratitude is an attitude missing in the Lost.
Romans 1:21
21 For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Those who don’t know God spend their days getting more
And enjoying what they have less.
- Thankfulness does not come naturally
Genesis 3
Adam and Eve had the freedom to eat from any tree in the
Garden, but chose to eat from the one tree God told them not to
eat from.
Instead of consulting God who made them and gave them all
They had, they listened to a voice that gave nothing but and
the idea of greed. We face the same thing today.
They were so busy looking at what they didn’t have, that they
could not appreciate what they had.
- Gratitude is an antidote for deceitful emotions
In other words, gratitude opposes deceitful emotions
Ephesians 4:22-24
With regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self,
which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made
new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self,
created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
If you spend your day being grateful you won\’t have time for
Any other emotions.
4. Gratitude is an acknowledgment of God’s blessings
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God\’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Peter 2:9
We should give thanks always, for everything
You should make it a priority to thank God for the many blessings He gives each day, some you can see and some you cannot conceive.
5. Gratitude is recognizing the perfection of God
James 1:17
17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,
You and I give gifts, but are they ever perfect? Do you even know what someone wants or needs? God does.
Thanksgiving to the almighty God is an all day every day
Event. Remember the first immigrants to America in 1620 were thankful that they survived the year.
HAPPY THANKSGIVING
