Thanksgiving

Preparing the Bride

Paul knew all about thanksgiving!

• (1Th 1:2) We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;

-I Thess. 5:16-24• 16Rejoice always; 17pray without ceasing;

18in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Do not quench the Spirit; 20do not despise prophetic £utterances. 21But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; 22abstain from every £form of evil.

• 23Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify (set you apart for exclusive use) you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

• (1Co 1:4) I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given you in Christ Jesus,

• (1Co 15:57) but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.

• (2Co 2:14) But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place.

• 2Co 9:10 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness;

• 2Co 9:11 you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God. 2Co 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!

Last Year…Five Foundations of a Thankful heart

• Faith, Family, Fellowship, Friends, & Freedom

THE PILGRIM LEADER WHO LED THE GROUP ON THE

MAYFLOWER WROTE THIS:• “We came to this new land with a

great hope for advancing the kingdom of Christ”

Revisionism has changed America

• History books today write:

“They came to this great land to seek their fortune in the new world”

IN 1676, the first Thanksgiving proclamation said;

• “that the Lord may behold us as a people offering praise and thereby glorifying Him, persuaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and souls as a living and acceptable service unto God by Jesus Christ”

• 2Th 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth.

• Col 4:2 Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving;

• Hosea, the people didn’t have thankful hearts. They no longer needed or desired God. What about us this morning?

• Psalms 42:1-2• 1 As the deer £pants for the

water brooks,• So my soul pants for You, O

God.• 2 My soul thirsts for God, for the

living God!

• Let’s be a people known for having thankful hearts!

• We need the peace of the Lord in our lives today…

•Col 3:15 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness.

• Col 3:16 Let the Word of Christ--the Message--have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Let the word of Christ richly dwell within you, with all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And sing, sing your hearts out to God!

• Col 3:17 Let every detail in your lives--words, actions, whatever--be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

•Joh 8:31 So Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you continue in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;

•Joh 8:32 and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."

•Are you free this morning?•Do you have a thankful heart?

We live in uncertain times, yet…• When you have faith in God you trust Him with your

life!Mat 6:31 Therefore do not be anxious, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?'

• Mat 6:32 For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all.

•Mat 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

• Phi 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

• Phi 4:5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

• Phi 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

• Phi 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

• Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

Review of the 5 F’s of a thankful heart…

• Do you really trust God with everything in your life? That’s real FAITH. (1)

• Are you loving and caring for your relatives? That’s taking care of your FAMILY

• Are you involved in Church? That’s being a part of the bride of Christ and God’s FAMILY (2)

• Do you have real intimacy – mutual sharing – with believers? That’s FELLOWHIP (3)

• Are you spending time with people who are brothers and sisters in Christ more than people of the world? That’s true FRIENDSHIP (4)

• Are you experiencing God’s grace, love and His joy in your life? That’s real FREEDOM (5)!

• Faith, Family, Fellowship, Friends, and Freedom.

• To be a person known for having a thankful, joy filled heart!

Phi 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is

lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any

excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on

these things.