MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THANKSGIVING!

 EVERYDAY IN THE WORD!

SUNDAY AUGUST 01, 2021.

SUBJECT : MAJOR ELEMENTS OF THANKSGIVING!

Memory verse: "Remember His marvelous works which He has done, His wonders, and the judgements of His mouth." (First Chronicles 16 vs 12.)

READ: First Chronicles 16 vs 8 - 9; 28 - 29:

16:8: Oh, give thanks to the lord! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the people! 

16:9: Sing to Him, sing psalms to Him; Talk about His wonderful works!" 

16:28: Give to the Lord, O families of the people, Give to the Lord glory and strength. 

16:29: Give to the Lord glory due to His name; Bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the LORD in the beauty of His holiness.

 

INTIMATION:

There are four major elements of thanksgiving. These four elements are:-

1. To remember what God has done.

2. To tell others about what God has done.

3. To show God's glory to others.

4. To offer gifts of self, time, and resources.

The bases of praise, and thanksgiving is declaring God's character and attributes in the presence of others. When we recognize and affirm His goodness we are holding up His perfect moral nature for all to see. And this praise benefits us because it takes our minds off our problems and needs and focuses on God's power, mercy, majesty, and love. Genuine praise, and thanksgiving involves ascribing glory to God, noting that this is our worship, and that we give God all the glory. This means that we give credit where credit is due.

The elements of thanksgiving is clearly expressed in David’s psalm to thank the LORD in First Chronicles 16 vs 7 - 36. Thanksgiving should be an integral part of our praise to God, and this theme is woven throughout the psalms. Thanksgiving should be in all areas of life, and If you are truly thankful, your life will show it. As we praise and thank God for material, and spiritual blessings, we should also thank Him for answered prayers, remembering His answers to our quest for protection, strength, comfort, patience, love, or other special needs that He supplied. 

Beware of taking God's provisions and answered prayers for granted. Jesus healed ten lepers in Luke 17 vs 11 -19, but only one returned to thank Him, and consequently, he was made whole. Only the thankful man however, learned that his faith had played a role in his healing. It is possible to receive God's great gifts with an ungrateful spirit. This was the guilt of nine out of the ten lepers that Jesus healed. Remember that only grateful Christians grow in understanding of God's grace. God does not demand that we thank Him, but He is pleased when we do so and uses our responsiveness to teach us more about Himself; revealing Himself more to us for our benefits. 

Thanksgiving is one of the acts of 'giving,' and 'giving' is the nature of God. As His children, adopted in Christ in the new birth, that nature is imparted in us and is to be expressed in us. The Scripture, in Luke 6 vs 38, says; "Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over will be put into your bosom. For with the same measure that you use, it will be measured back to you." Therefore, giving is for your own benefit. You can only receive when you give, and in the like manner you give, you receive. 

Giving to God is a wonderful tool for receiving from Him, and receiving quite in excess of your gift. It is noteworthy that you cannot out-give God. Study Genesis 22 vs 15 - 18, on how Abraham was blessed by God when He obediently offered Isaac. Also, study First Kings 3 vs 4 - 14, on the blessings of God on King Solomon when he offered his astonishing sacrifice.

Prayer: Abba Father, what do I have that I have not received from You? Everything within me will continually thank You for Your goodness, faithfulness, and mercy. Endue me with the excellent spirit of gratitude to You everyday of my life, in Jesus’ Name I have prayed, Amen.

PRAISE THE LORD!