Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchNovember 23, 2011November 23, 2011

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

I.I. The Establishment of The Establishment of Thanksgiving as a Thanksgiving as a

Holiday in America.Holiday in America.

1789 - George Washington “To be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all good that was, that is, or that will be, our sincere and humble

thanks.… Americans should also beseech the great Lord and Ruler of

Nations that he might pardon our national and other transgressions.”

1863 - Abraham Lincoln

“A prayerful day of Thanksgiving.”

II. The Origins of II. The Origins of Thanksgiving in AmericaThanksgiving in America

1621 - Governor William Bradford

“Thank you Lord for sending Squanto to us. We know your hand has been upon him throughout all of his trials, and that You have prepared him to be our guide and friend in a time of great need. Squanto is your living answer to

our tears and prayers.”

1619 - Captain John Woodlief

“We ordain that the day of our ships 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.”

III. Biblical Origins for III. Biblical Origins for Thanksgiving.Thanksgiving.

1. Hebrew – Old Testament:Thanksgiving is first

mentioned in scriptures in Lev 7 where our Lord established the Peace and Thanksgiving

offerings. Peace between God and Man.

TODAH - “words of thanks to God, a ritual act of

thanksgiving, a religious song of thanksgiving, a

Levitical choir or a verbal confession of sin.”

When sin is acknowledged, the worshiper gives honor to

God and prepares the way for God’s display of salvation, Psa 50:23.

Psa 50:23, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and

to him who orders his way aright I shall show the

salvation of God.”

TODAH was one of the fellowship offerings

(SHELAMIN) mentioned in Lev 7:12-15 and 22:29.

Along with the words of the thank offering, the worshiper

was to bring food.

2. Greek – New Testament:

EUCHARISTIA (noun) - “thankfulness, giving of

thanks, or gratitude.”2 Cor 4:15; 9:11; Col 2:6-7; 4:2;

1 Tim 4:3-4; Rev 7:12, etc.

1 Tim 4:4-5, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is

to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5for it is

sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”

EUCHARISTEO (verb) – “Give thanks”

Eph 1:16; 5:20; Col 1:3, 12; 3:17; 1 Thes 1:2; 5:18;

2 Thes 2:13; Rev 11:17, etc.

Mat 15:36,“And He took the seven

loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”

“A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!!”

IV. Principles of IV. Principles of Thanksgiving (TG)Thanksgiving (TG)::

1 Thes 5:18,“In everything give thanks;

for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Col 3:17,“Whatever you do in

word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through

Him to God the Father.”

T.G.T.G. is not some shallow, fleeting system of gratitude for something. It is a system

of worship of God.

It is capacity for worship; capacity for life; a reflection

of what is truly going on inside your soul.

T.G.T.G. should be the daily act of rendering gratitude to

God.

T.G.T.G. can also be a public acknowledgment or

celebration of worship in which the goodness and graciousness of God are extolled, 1 Chro 16:7-36.

T.G.T.G. should be the normal mental attitude of the royal

family of God, Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18.

T.G.T.G. is based on knowing God through Bible doctrine

resident in the soul, Psa 100:3-5; 2 Cor 9:10-11;

Col 2:7; 1 Thes 3:9.

T.G.T.G. is a priestly sacrifice. It was a sacrifice in the OT, it is a sacrifice for the royal priesthood of the New,

Psa 116:17; 107:22; Amos 4:5; Heb 13:15.

Heb 13:15, “Through Him then, let us

continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit

of lips that give thanks to His name. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such

sacrifices God is pleased.”

God should be the object of your thanksgiving.

2 Cor 9:15; Rev 7:12

CommunionCommunion

Grace OfferingGrace Offering

Grace Fellowship Church

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Tape # 11-132

Thanksgiving SpecialThe Origins of Thanksgiving

Lev 7:12-15; Mat 15:36; 2 Cor 9:11-12, 1 Tim 4:4-5; 1 Cor 11:23-26

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011