Sermon Central
-
Why Thanksgiving?
Contributed by Olayinka Alamu on May 5, 2003 (message contributor)
Summary: Why should we give thanks
Why Thanksgiving?
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (AMP)
16Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); 17Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 18Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].
The main subject here is “praise and thanksgiving”, others are ALWAYS, CONTINUALLY and IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
But the question here is why must I thank Him when I have waited so long for my request,
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light;
Chosen Generation
10 Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy. It means, we can boast of His mercy at all times (explain)
3 But know that the LORD hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the LORD will hear when I call unto him. It means I will always have a GOD that is faithful (explain with illustration)
A Royal Priesthood
6 Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
6 But ye shall be named the Priests of the LORD: men shall call you the Ministers of our God: ye shall eat the riches of the Gentiles, and in their glory shall ye boast yourselves.
A royal family does not work like an elephant and eat like ants, some don’t even work at all and receive riches from neighboring towns. So explain why we must give thanks to God.
An Holy Nation
12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
We will definitely be with Christ in his kingdom because he will establish us in holiness
A Peculiar (extraordinary, exceptional) People
2 For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God, and the LORD hath chosen thee to be a peculiar people unto himself, above all the nations that are upon the earth.
“Peculiar” in webster dictionary means different from the usual or normal.
So from 1 Peter 2:9 we can conclude that to God we are different from the usual or normal.
That is why God in Jeremiah 1:5 … Explain with illustrations, He knew us
In all these we must not complain but thank Him.
Altar call
