Thanksgiving; What To Be Thankful For

PastorRodney’s Weblog

11/24 Thanksgiving; What To Be Thankful For; Audio available at: http://www.ephraimbible.org/Sermons/20241124_thankful-for.mp3

I’m Thankful For…

I’m thankful for…? How do you finish that sentence? Take a moment, write down the first few things that come to mind…

If we were to go around the room and ask what you all wrote, I’m sure we would hear things like ‘family, friends, a pet, a place to live, basic necessities’; and those are all good things to be thankful for. Of course we are in church, so we would also hear ‘God, Jesus, the gospel, salvation’ and things like that. Again, those are great things to be thankful for. As followers of Jesus, we want the Bible to inform and instruct our thanksgiving. In preparation for this message, I wanted to see what kinds of things are the subject of thanksgiving in the Scriptures, so I entered in the search engine of my Bible software ‘thank*’ which with the wildcard will return any occurrence of thank, thanks, thanksgiving, thankful, etc. That returned 65 verses in the New Testament, so I went through those and put them in categories to see what kinds of things were the main subjects of thanksgiving.

Guilty Failure to Give Thanks

Remember, thanksgiving is not optional. All humanity is under God’s judgment for our guilty failure to give thanks;

Romans 1:21 For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.

We were created to be in relationship with God, and we were created to give him thanks and praise. When we honor God as God and worship him, we find fulfillment in doing what we were created to do.

What Thanksgiving Replaces

A few practical benefits we receive when we give thanks; thankfulness replaces anxiety (Phil.4:6). Do you worry? Be purposeful in prayer and thanksgiving. Do you find the things coming out of your mouth mostly positive or mostly negative? Ephesians 5 tells us to replace filthiness, foolish talk, and crude joking with thanksgiving.

Thanks For Undeserved Gifts

Jesus gives us a negative example in Luke 18 of thanksgiving gone sour. A self-righteous religious person thanks God that he is not as bad as that dirty rotten sinner over there, and then he goes on to itemize his performance. He was giving thanks when he should have been confessing his sin and crying out for mercy. Thanksgiving by definition is giving thanks for an undeserved gift received, not proud boasting that views oneself as deserving. Every time I give thanks, I acknowledge that I have been given a gift I don’t deserve, and say thank you to the Giver.

This understanding of thanksgiving makes sense of when thanksgiving comes from unlikely places. In Luke 17, there were ten men with leprosy that were crying out to Jesus to have mercy on them.

Luke 17:14 When he saw them he said to them, “Go and show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. 15 Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice; 16 and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving him thanks. Now he was a Samaritan. 17 Then Jesus answered, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?”

This Samaritan, an outsider, probably viewed himself as least deserving, and therefore was most filled with gratitude.

This also fits with one of the few recorded prayers of thanksgiving Jesus offered to his Father. Both Matthew and Luke, in the context of pronouncing woes on the unbelieving cities in which many of his mighty works had been done, record Jesus’ prayer:

Matthew 11:25 At that time Jesus declared, “I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, that you have hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children; 26 yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. 27 All things have been handed over to me by my Father, and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him. 28 Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. (cf. Luke 10:21-22)

The sovereign will of the Father in hiding truth from those who are wise in their own eyes, and revealing it to those who are children, ready to receive what they know they don’t deserve, is for Jesus a matter of gratitude and praise.

Thanks for Common Graces; Food and Drink

Jesus viewed what we would call common graces as occasions of gratitude. Every thing is a gift. Jesus gave thanks for food, and he taught us to recognize every meal no matter how small as supernatural provision for our every need. When he took five loaves and two fish and fed over 5,000, or when he took seven loaves and a few small fish and feed a multitude of over 4,000, he looked up to heaven and said a blessing; he gave thanks (Mt.14:19; 15:36; Mk.6:41; 8:6-7; Lk.9:16; Jn.6:11, 23).

His apostles looked at issues of food and drink, specifically those divisive issues over what is permitted or not permitted in observance of dietary restrictions, and taught that the issue is not about what you eat or drink, but the attitude with which you eat or drink (Rom.14:6; 1Cor.10:30-31). God created food to be received with thanksgiving. Everything God created is good and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving (1Tim.4:3-4).

Thanks for The Sacred Meal; Eucharist

There was another meal where Jesus gave thanks, this time for bread and wine (Mt.26:26-29; Mk.14:22-23; Lk.22:17-20; 1Cor.10:16; 11:23-25).

Matthew 26:26 Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, “Take, eat; this is my body. 27 And he took a cup, and when he had given thanks he gave it to them, saying, “Drink of it, all of you, 28 for this is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you I will not drink again of this fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

This was a Passover meal, commemorating God’s deliverance of his people from Egypt, and it involved a lamb killed as a substitute. Jesus turned this celebration toward its greater fulfillment in himself, as the Passover lamb who was sacrificed for us. If Jesus himself looking forward to what he would accomplish for us on the cross gave thanks, how much more should this be a time for us of thanksgiving. Some Christian traditions refer to communion as the ‘Eucharist’, the Greek word for giving thanks (cf. Lk.24:30; Act.2:46-47; 27:35)

Thanks for Promises Fulfilled

Early in the gospel of Luke, thanksgiving was made for the unfolding fulfillment of God’s promises. Simeon, waiting for the consolation of Israel,

Luke 2:25 …Simeon, …waiting for the consolation of Israel… 26 And it had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Christ. …28 he took him [Jesus] up in his arms and blessed God and said, 29 “Lord, now you are letting your servant depart in peace, according to your word; 30 for my eyes have seen your salvation 31 ​that you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32 ​a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and for glory to your people Israel.”

And Anna, an elderly woman, a widow, a worshiper, was anticipating the prophecies, and she gave thanks to God for promises fulfilled; that God had sent redemption in Jesus, and she spoke about him to everyone around (Lk.2:38). This is Christ centered thanksgiving.

Thanks for Prayers Heard and Answered

Jesus, in a grand demonstration of his claim to be the resurrection and the life, before raising Lazarus from the dead,

John 11:41 …And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you that you have heard me. 42 I knew that you always hear me, but I said this on account of the people standing around, that they may believe that you sent me.”

This too is Christ centered thanksgiving.

Thanks for God’s Work in the Churches

When we come to the New Testament letters, the majority of them begin and end with thanksgiving. Most letters open with a word of thanksgiving for the church; ‘because your faith is proclaimed in all the world’ (Rom.1:8); because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus (1Cor.1:4); because of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints (Eph.1:15; Col.1:3); because of your partnership in the gospel (Phil.1:3-5); remembering ‘your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1Thes.1:2-3); ‘because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing (2Thes.1:3); because God chose oyou as firstfruits to be saved, through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth’ (2Thes.2:13).

At the close of his letters, Paul often greets specific individuals and thanks God for them; for ‘fellow workers in Christ Jesus who risked their necks for my life’ (Rom.16:3-4); ‘because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints (Phm.1:4; cf. Ac.28:15; 2Tim.1:3).

Thanks for the Gospel at Work

The letters throughout are punctuated with specific expressions of thanksgiving.

Romans 6:17 But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed,

Romans 7:24 Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! …

1 Corinthians 15:56 The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Corinthians 2:14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere.

2 Corinthians 8:16 But thanks be to God, who put into the heart of Titus the same earnest care I have for you.

Colossians 1:11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son,

1 Thessalonians 2:13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

1 Timothy 1:11 in accordance with the gospel of the glory of the blessed God with which I have been entrusted. 12 I thank him who has given me strength, Christ Jesus our Lord, because he judged me faithful, appointing me to his service, 13 though formerly I was a blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent. But I received mercy because I had acted ignorantly in unbelief, 14 and the grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Thanks is given for gospel transformation, for gospel rescue, for victory in Jesus, that the knowledge of Jesus is spreading everywhere, that God is stirring up care for others; thanks for Jesus himself, for gospel qualification, gospel deliverance, gospel identity; for the apostolic preaching being received as God’s word, for personal grace and being entrusted with the gospel. Thanksgiving stems from the gospel and is saturated with the gospel, the good news that Jesus died to rescue us, set us free, transform us, give us new identity in Jesus. In the gospel there is so much to be thankful for.

Thanks Offered Publicly in Churches

The assumption is made that thanksgiving would be a public part of the meeting of the churches. Paul instructs Timothy:

1 Timothy 2:1 First of all, then, I urge that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all people, 2 for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way. 3 This is good, and it is pleasing in the sight of God our Savior, 4 who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. (cf. 1Cor.14:16-17)

Permeating Thanksgiving in All of Life

The assumption was also that for those whose lives have been transformed by the gospel of Jesus, thanksgiving would permeate all of life.

Ephesians 5:18 … but be filled with the Spirit, 19 addressing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Colossians 2:6 Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving.

Colossians 3:14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Colossians 4:2 Continue steadfastly in prayer, being watchful in it with thanksgiving.

1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Thanks Increased to the Glory of God

Thanksgiving ultimately brings glory to God. The apostles’ ministry in advancing the gospel was ultimately

2 Corinthians 4:15 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

This was Paul’s purpose in the Gentiles giving generously to the saints in Jerusalem;

2 Corinthians 9:11 You will be enriched in every way to be generous in every way, which through us will produce thanksgiving to God. 12 For the ministry of this service is not only supplying the needs of the saints but is also overflowing in many thanksgivings to God. 13 By their approval of this service, they will glorify God … 14 …because of the surpassing grace of God upon you. 15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

This is what we see in Revelation; in Revelation 4 it is the four living creatures giving glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, and the 24 elders respond with worship

Revelation 4:11 “Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created.”

In Revelation 7, a great multitude from all the nations;

Revelation 7:10 and crying out with a loud voice, “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb!” 11 And all the angels were standing around the throne and around the elders and the four living creatures, and they fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying, “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might be to our God forever and ever! Amen.”

In Revelation 11, loud voices were saying;

Revelation 11:15 …“The kingdom of the world has become the kingdom of our Lord and of his Christ, and he shall reign forever and ever.” 16 And the twenty-four elders who sit on their thrones before God fell on their faces and worshiped God, 17 saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, who is and who was, for you have taken your great power and begun to reign. 18 The nations raged, but your wrath came, and the time for the dead to be judged, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets and saints, and those who fear your name, both small and great, and for destroying the destroyers of the earth.”

We were made for thanksgiving. Our thanksgiving is a response to an undeserved gift. Thanksgiving is to be Christ centered, gospel saturated, and ultimately to the glory of God.

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Pastor Rodney Zedicher ~ Ephraim Church of the Bible ~ www.ephraimbible.org