FOR THIS REASON

FOR THIS REASON

Thanksgiving Sunday, November 22, 2015

1 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) For this reason we also thank God without ceasing,

Paul is thanking God for the way the people at Thessalonica had received the Word.  I also am thankful for the way you have received the words that I have shared with you over these past 13 years.  Let’s take a few moments today and just be thankful.

Thankfulness — “attitude of gratitude” for the blessings we have received.

A. Thankfulness is:

1.  A Path to His Presence - Psalm 95:2 (NKJV) Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; Psalm 100:4 (NKJV) Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise. Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.

2.  Spiritual Sacrifice - Psalm 116:17 (NKJV) I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

3.  Without Ceasing - Ephesians 1:16 (NKJV) I do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayer

4.  In Christ’s Name - Ephesians 5:20 (NKJV) giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

5.  Spontaneous - Philippians 1:3 (NKJV) I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,

6.  A Path to Peace - Philippians 4:6–7 (NKJV) Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

7.  God’s Will - 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

8.  Duty - 2 Thessalonians 2:13 (NKJV) But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth,

B. We thank God for:

1.  Goodness and Mercy - Psalm 107:1 (NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

2. His Works - Psalm 107:8 (NKJV) Oh, that men would give thanks to the Lord for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!

3.  Wisdom - Daniel 2:23 (NKJV) “I thank You and praise You, O God of my fathers; You have given me wisdom and might, and have now made known to me what we asked of You, For You have made known to us the king’s demand.”

4.  Food - 1 Timothy 4:4 (NKJV) For every creature of God is good (for food), and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving;

5.  Answered Prayer - John 11:41 (NKJV) Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead man was lying. And Jesus lifted up His eyes and said, “Father, I thank You that You have heard Me.

6.  Lord’s Supper - 1 Corinthians 11:24 (NKJV) and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

7.  Victory - 1 Corinthians 15:57 (NKJV) But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

8.  Salvation - 2 Corinthians 9:15 (NKJV) Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

9.  Converts - 1 Thessalonians 1:2 (NKJV) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

C.  We show thankfulness:

By praise and worship - Psalm 147:7 (NKJV) Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; Sing praises on the harp to our God,

On Earth - Luke 17:12–19 (NKJV) Then as He entered a certain village, there met Him ten men who were lepers, who stood afar off. ¹³And they lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have mercy on us!” ¹⁴So when He saw them, He said to them, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And so it was that as they went, they were cleansed. ¹⁵And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, returned, and with a loud voice glorified God, ¹⁶and fell down on his face at His feet, giving Him thanks. And he was a Samaritan. ¹⁷So Jesus answered and said, “Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine? ¹⁸Were there not any found who returned to give glory to God except this foreigner?” ¹⁹And He said to him, “Arise, go your way. Your faith has made you well.”

In Heaven - Revelation 7:11–12 (NKJV) All the angels stood around the throne and the elders and the four living creatures, and fell on their faces before the throne and worshiped God, 12 saying: “Amen! Blessing and glory and wisdom, thanksgiving and honor and power and might, Be to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

D. We practice thankfulness by:

Psalm 140:13 (NKJV) Surely the righteous shall give thanks to Your name; The upright shall dwell in Your presence.

1.  Who do we thank?                      God    

2.  When do we thank?                    Always     

3.  Where do we thank?                   Everywhere, in everything     

4.  How do we thank?                      Without ceasing     

5.  Why do we thank?                      Because…  

This is where you come in. Our ushers are going to pass out sticky notes and pens. I want you to write down the one thing you are the most grateful for this past year. After you are finished we are going to all go to the foyer and stick them all over the windows! Then I want you all to take some time and just go around and look at all the things your brothers and sisters are thankful for. May this encourage and motivate us all!