Thanksgiving. Pt. 3 Thanksgiving for Grace, Prayer and Spiritual Life.
Good afternoon Dear Readers. We are busily preparing for Thanksgiving on Thursday with my sister and one of the widows from our church family. On Friday, we will host our daughter and granddaughters families to observe Thanksgiving.
In light of this, I am posting this thanksgiving lesson early. I hope that you can use it in your homes for a devotion with your families!
I thought we ought to take a look at thanksgiving from a New Testament perspective. It is helpful to compare and contrast what we read in the Old Testament with what we read in the New Testament regarding the topic of thanksgiving.
May aim is to help us understand that we can honor God by having thanksgiving toward Him for all that He is and all that He does.
Thanksgiving for the grace of God
2 Corinthians 4:13-15 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
The Apostle Paul leads the Corinthians into a discussion of the gospel and the purposes of God in Christ Jesus. It is within this context that he mentions thanksgiving.
The Greek word translated "thanksgiving" means grateful words spoken to God as an act of worship. The word is found 15 times in the New Testament and is translated "Thanksgiving" or "thanks" in most of those places.
Thanksgiving is verbally blessing our Great God for all of His wonderful works. Websters 1828 dictionary defines thanksgiving as the act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for grace and mercy from God.
Paul is reminding the Corinthians that he speaks for God with apostolic authority and as he glories in the resurrection of believers he is overwhelmed by the grace of God brought salvation from God to man through the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's grace is abundant and many rejoice and are filled with thanksgiving because the light of the gospel called them out of darkness to serve the living God.
Thanksgiving in prayer for the works of God
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Paul closes his letter to the church at Philippi with some imperatives. In our prayer life we are to freely bring all of our cares, burdens and concerns to God with hearts filled with thanksgiving because when we pray this way God will grant His comforting peace.
Colossi ans 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Paul gave the church at Colosse some insight on how to pray effectively and fervently. He reminds us as well to continue in prayer which is the idea of not giving up because we do not see anything happening. Instead, he urges us to watch how we pray and maintain an attitude of thanksgiving.
1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Paul exhorts young Timothy regarding prayer. Some people were saying that certain foods could not be eaten and Paul reminded him that every creature made by God is good to eat if we receive it with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving to God for the new birth and spiritual life
Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Christians in Colosse were encouraged to walk in Christ. This is learning the teachings and commands of Christ and living by them. It includes spiritual growth described as being rooted and built up. Spiritual roots only grow as we commit ourselves to learning the Word of God. This establishes our faith so that we will not be swayed by false teachers.
Paul makes it clear that we must be thankful for the sound teaching and preaching that we receive. We must be thankful for God giving us the inspired scriptures. We must be thankful for the indwelling Spirit of God who helps us learn, understand and apply the truth to our lives.
Paul tells us to give thanks fo our Father for translating us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. (Col. 1:12-14). In Colossians 3:17 Paul says that whatever we do in word or deed do it in Christ's name and give thanks to the Father.
In the text telling us our need for a daily filling of the Spirit of God Paul tells us what it looks like. Among the things that Paul says are the fruit that comes from being filled by God's Spirit is "giving thanks" at all times for all things. This is the same Greek word translated "thanksgiving."
Sometimes our life is hard, full of pressures and troubles. Yet, even in difficult times if we are filled with the Spirit we can give thanks consistently for all things, good or bad, that we experience. Our Father knows what is best for us and we can trust Him completely.
Ephesians 5:18-21 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Points to Ponder.....
In light of this, I am posting this thanksgiving lesson early. I hope that you can use it in your homes for a devotion with your families!
I thought we ought to take a look at thanksgiving from a New Testament perspective. It is helpful to compare and contrast what we read in the Old Testament with what we read in the New Testament regarding the topic of thanksgiving.
May aim is to help us understand that we can honor God by having thanksgiving toward Him for all that He is and all that He does.
Thanksgiving for the grace of God
2 Corinthians 4:13-15 We having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak; Knowing that he which raised up the Lord Jesus shall raise up us also by Jesus, and shall present us with you. For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
The Apostle Paul leads the Corinthians into a discussion of the gospel and the purposes of God in Christ Jesus. It is within this context that he mentions thanksgiving.
The Greek word translated "thanksgiving" means grateful words spoken to God as an act of worship. The word is found 15 times in the New Testament and is translated "Thanksgiving" or "thanks" in most of those places.
Thanksgiving is verbally blessing our Great God for all of His wonderful works. Websters 1828 dictionary defines thanksgiving as the act of rendering thanks or expressing gratitude for grace and mercy from God.
Paul is reminding the Corinthians that he speaks for God with apostolic authority and as he glories in the resurrection of believers he is overwhelmed by the grace of God brought salvation from God to man through the Lord Jesus Christ.
God's grace is abundant and many rejoice and are filled with thanksgiving because the light of the gospel called them out of darkness to serve the living God.
Thanksgiving in prayer for the works of God
Philippians 4:6-7 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
Paul closes his letter to the church at Philippi with some imperatives. In our prayer life we are to freely bring all of our cares, burdens and concerns to God with hearts filled with thanksgiving because when we pray this way God will grant His comforting peace.
Colossi ans 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
Paul gave the church at Colosse some insight on how to pray effectively and fervently. He reminds us as well to continue in prayer which is the idea of not giving up because we do not see anything happening. Instead, he urges us to watch how we pray and maintain an attitude of thanksgiving.
1 Timothy 4:4-5 For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving: For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Paul exhorts young Timothy regarding prayer. Some people were saying that certain foods could not be eaten and Paul reminded him that every creature made by God is good to eat if we receive it with thanksgiving.
Thanksgiving to God for the new birth and spiritual life
Colossians 2:6-7 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.
Christians in Colosse were encouraged to walk in Christ. This is learning the teachings and commands of Christ and living by them. It includes spiritual growth described as being rooted and built up. Spiritual roots only grow as we commit ourselves to learning the Word of God. This establishes our faith so that we will not be swayed by false teachers.
Paul makes it clear that we must be thankful for the sound teaching and preaching that we receive. We must be thankful for God giving us the inspired scriptures. We must be thankful for the indwelling Spirit of God who helps us learn, understand and apply the truth to our lives.
Paul tells us to give thanks fo our Father for translating us from the kingdom of darkness into the kingdom of Jesus Christ. (Col. 1:12-14). In Colossians 3:17 Paul says that whatever we do in word or deed do it in Christ's name and give thanks to the Father.
In the text telling us our need for a daily filling of the Spirit of God Paul tells us what it looks like. Among the things that Paul says are the fruit that comes from being filled by God's Spirit is "giving thanks" at all times for all things. This is the same Greek word translated "thanksgiving."
Sometimes our life is hard, full of pressures and troubles. Yet, even in difficult times if we are filled with the Spirit we can give thanks consistently for all things, good or bad, that we experience. Our Father knows what is best for us and we can trust Him completely.
Ephesians 5:18-21 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Points to Ponder.....
- We should have a heart of thanksgiving for the grace of God toward man.
- We should have a heart of thanksgiving for the blessings of prayer and the works of God.
- We should have hearts of thanksgiving for the Bible and the good teachers that God has provided throughout the ages.
May the Lord help us to grasp what thanksgiving really means. May He help each of us see where His blessings and provisions have come to us, that we might freely offer thanksgiving to Him. May we have rejoicing and thanksgiving in our hearts for prayer and the scriptures. May we have thanksgiving in our hearts as His Spirit seeks to make us more like Jesus Christ.
Bob
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