Weekly Sermons

Are You Spiritually Prepared for Thanksgiving?

By the President of the United States of America, a Proclamation.

Whereas it is the duty of all Nations to acknowledge the providence of Almighty God, to obey his will, to be grateful for his benefits, and humbly to implore his protection and favor-- and whereas both Houses of Congress have by their joint Committee requested me to recommend to the People of the United States a day of public thanksgiving and prayer to be observed by acknowledging with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God especially by affording them an opportunity peaceably to establish a form of government for their safety and happiness.

Now therefore I do recommend and assign Thursday the 26th day of November next 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 the good that was, that is, or that will be-- That we may then all unite in rendering unto him our sincere and humble thanks--for his kind care and protection of the People of this Country…

and also that we may then unite in most humbly offering our prayers and supplications to the great Lord and Ruler of Nations and beseech him to pardon our national and other transgressions…

For the most part people don’t think enough about getting spiritually ready for Thanksgiving – but today we will see that built into the very Hebrew word for Thanksgiving is the idea of both confession and praise.

Psalm 100

Notice in verse 1 the Psalmist pictures the entire world getting in on praising God – which now happens as people gather to worship God around the world today.

Do you think of your faithful church attendance and your time of adoration and prayer as ministering to the Lord (Acts 13:2)?

What a wonderful thought there in verse 3 – The Creator God who made us wants to be our Shepherd – He is not an indifferent “watchmaker” in the heavens; He is a loving and present Shepherd in our daily lives (Ps. 23).

Verse 5 gives us three specific reasons to thank our Shepherding Creator:

His goodness (Tob – H2896) seen in His physical provision.

His Steadfast love (Hesed – H2617) seen in His spiritual provision.

His faithfulness/ truth (Emuna – H530) seen in His provision of the coherent Biblical worldview that gives believers truth to live by.

The word for thanksgiving in Psalm 100 is the Hebrew word Toda (H8426). It can be translated confession, praise, and thanksgiving.

Now Joshua said to Achan, “My son, I beg you, give glory to the LORD God of Israel, and make confession (H8426) to Him, and tell me now what you have done, do not hide it from me.”         -Joshua 7:19

What ramifications does Joshua 7:19 have for our own getting ready for Thanksgiving?

Thanksgiving needs to be first and foremost God-focused!

Then Hezekiah said, “You have now consecrated yourselves to the LORD. Come near, bring sacrifices and thank offerings (H8426) to the house of the LORD.”                                                          -2 Chronicles 29:31

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything GIVE THANKS (G2168); for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.               -1 Thess. 5:16-18

Although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were they thankful (G2168), but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.              -Romans 1:21

The word for thanksgiving in 1 Thess. 5:18 is the Greek word euCHARISteo (G2168). It can be translated thanksgiving, give thanks, be or feel grateful.

The apostle Paul modeled for us a spirit of thankfulness. In just about every letter he expresses thankfulness to God for his fellow believers, and then states specific things he is thankful for about them.

I thank (G2168) my God upon every remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine making request for you with all joy, for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.   -Philippians 1:3-6

Three Questions you should ask before taking the Lord’s Supper:

1.        Am I trusting in Christ’s work alone for my salvation?         

2.        Have I confessed all known sin to God and received His forgiveness?      If not, do it now, going to I John 1:9

3.        As much as it depends on me, have I tried to be at peace with all                                      men? See Romans 12:18.