Introduction: Our time in Tennessee and Iowa over the past week…That is how we celebrated “Thanksgiving” this past week.
It is good to have a day dedicated to Thanksgiving, but we need more than a day, a week a month or even a year to properly demonstrate Thanksgiving. We need to be “Living Thanksgiving” continuously.
Why is “Living Thanksgiving” so important? Well, because it is God’s will for us…
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NASB) “…in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.”
If you are “in Christ Jesus” then “God’s will” is for you to “give thanks”, literally, “in everything”, all the time.
****God’s will for us is that we would be “Living Thanksgiving”. But what exactly is Thanksgiving?
READ: According to Webster’s 1828 Dictionary, “Thanksgiving” is: “The act of rendering thanks or gratitude for favors or mercies. A public celebration of divine goodness; specifically, to acknowledge the goodness of God, either in remarkable deliverance from calamities or danger, or in the ordinary dispensation of His bounties.”
“The act of rendering thanks or gratitude for favors or mercies…” Thanksgiving is an “act” (action) that we do or say in order to show “gratitude” for what God has done for us, namely, for His mercy, grace and provision.
“A public celebration of divine goodness…” The act of Thanksgiving is to be done openly, fully and unashamedly in order to “celebrate” the goodness of who God is and declare the greatness of what God has done.
So what does that look like? What does it look like when we are Living Thanksgiving?
To answer that question, we will look to Isaiah, chapter 12. THE CONTEXT: Chp. 9 is a prophecy about Jesus (A child is born unto us…) Chp. 10 is a prophecy about God’s wrath being administered by the Assyrians. Chp. 11 is a prophecy about Jesus, calling Him the “branch” that “stems from Jessie”. When we get to chapter 12, God tells Isaiah why and how we are to be praising God for all His blessings that come to us through Christ Jesus, namely the salvation and peace that Jesus brings. In other words, chapter 12 tells us Christians how to be “Living Thanksgiving”. In fact, the NASB heading says “Thanksgiving Expressed” (***Read Isaiah 12***)
5 Reasons WHY we should be Living Thanksgiving continuously…
i. Because of the WILL of God. (v. 1a: “Then you will say…”) see also 1 Thessalonians 5:18…
“…in everything give thanks; for this is God's in Christ Jesus.” We are commanded to give thanks over 850x in the Bible (Rejoice, Praise, Celebrate, Shout…) Thanksgiving is commanded more than anything else!
ii. Because of the WRATH of God. (v. 1b)
"I will give thanks to You, O LORD; for although You were with me, Your …”
John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the ”
iii. Because of the WATER of God. (v. 2-3)
“Behold, God is my salvation, I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation. Therefore you will joyously draw .”
John 4:10 “…If you knew the gift of God and who it is that asks you for a drink, you would have asked Him and He would have given you living.”
iv. Because of the WORKS of God. (v. 4)
“…Give thanks to the LORD, call on His name. Make known His among the peoples…”
Psalm 103:22 (NIV)
“Praise the LORD, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the LORD, my soul.”
(John 1:1-3 “all things came to be through Jesus”; Psalm 139 “knit together”; salvation & sanctification are God’s)
v. Because of the WHEREABOUTS of God. (v. 6)
“Cry aloud and shout for joy, O inhabitant of Zion, for great .”
John 1:14 “The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us…” (“2 or more gathered I am in their midst”)
(Ephesians 3:17 Christ dwells in our hearts… 1 Corinthians 3:16 The Holy Spirit dwells inside us…)
3 Ways HOW to be Living Thanksgiving continuously, starting right now…
i. Personally (v. 1-4a)
“1 Then you will say on that day, "I will give thanks to You, O LORD; for although You were angry with , Your anger is turned away, and You comfort . 2 "Behold, God is , I will trust and not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is strength and song, and He has become ." 3 Therefore you will joyously draw water from the springs of salvation. 4 And in that day you will say…”
(10x in the first 3 ½ vs. it is clear this is a personal call to Thanksgiving. Personal invitation. Individual expectation.)
ii. Publicly (v. 4b-5) (so the “personally” is NOT privately)
“4 …Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted." 5 Praise the LORD in song, for He has done excellent things; let this be known throughout the earth.”
iii. Purposefully (v. 4-5) (meaning to be intentionally obedient in an act of loving gratitude [John 14:15])
(v. 4) “Make known His deeds among the peoples; make them remember that His name is exalted.”
(v. 5) “…let this be known throughout the earth…” ***(point them to Matthew 28 & Acts 1:8)***
It is time to start Living Thanksgiving! Don’t wait around for a holiday, “This is the day the Lord has made…”
1st step? Living a Life Thanksgiving starts by responding appropriately to the gift God gives through Christ Jesus…
