What is True Thanksgiving? Psalm 92:1-6 Introduction: The first mention of thanksgiving is found in Leviticus 7:12. “If he offer it for a thanksgiving, then he shall offer with the sacrifice of thanksgiving unleavened cakes mingled with oil, and unleavened wafers anointed with oil, and cakes mingled with oil, of fine flour, fried.” (Leviticus 7:12) The instruction begins with the word “IF.” In Leviticus 22:29, the Lord explains further. “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.” (Leviticus 22:29) In the Old Testament Law there were two types of sacrifices offered to the Lord. One was the required offerings or tithes to the Lord, which in a sense were taxes. These offerings were for the priests who ministered to Israel. In other words it kept up their government which was a “theocracy” meaning a government under God. The Old Testament Law was their constitution and system of both spiritual and civil laws. The other sacrifice was the was a thanksgiving offering, called a peace offering, freely given to the Lord. It was offered because the person making the sacrifice wanted to show that he was grateful to the Lord for God’s provision for him. It was a act of faith and showing that one understood that all he had came from God. In true worship of the Lord there was always thanksgiving shown in the giving of a offering. It helps us to understand this offering better if we understand the circumstances and reasons for this peace or thanksgiving offering. 1. It was voluntary, meaning given of one’s free will and it was private. 2. It was freely given to express gratitude to the Lord for the blessings one received. It was never to be given in a begruging attitude or of necessary. The New Testament also gives the same principles about giving our offerings to the Lord. “But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:6-8) 3. The thanksgiving offering was offered also when a vow that was made was fulfilled. This offering was also a free-will offering. The offerer would promise God something and when he had fulfilled the promise he thanked the Lord for being able to do so. It expressed being thankful to God that the person was able to keep his vow. This votive offering was offered also as an expression of piety. Piety means having a reverence to God, and/or devotion to Him in living a godly life. The offering was accompanied with a godly life that honored the Lord. Words or offering not accompanied with righteous living does not honor the Lord. 4. It was given also as a spontaneous expression of gratitude to the Lord in given an offering devoted wholly to the Lord. 5. Offering to the Lord were always unspotted. They were not second hand, marred, used, always the best. A lamb was to be spotless and healthy. The offering were to be the first fruits. The first of the harvest which was the best. The first of the Spring lambs or cattle. The significance of this offering was that it was freeing given and offered to God by the one who was grateful and thankful to God for his provision for them. God does not compel us or require that we show our gratitude to Him. He said in Leviticus. “And when ye will offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the LORD, offer it at your own will.” (Leviticus 22:29) Ezekiel 45:17 states the animals for this sacrifice in the Millennial temple would be furnished by the kings and it would be eaten by the assembled meetings in a common meal. In the later times the peace offering was presented in the Temple for all the people. God’s grace to us makes a debtor to the Lord. He freely gives His grace and mercy and our response should be to be grateful and show our thankfulness to him for his beneficence to us. A thanksgiving or peace offering is rooted in the truth that we are at peace with the Lord. We have experienced His mercy and grace and atonement. It shows a believer’s right attitude toward the Lord. The offerer is not at odds with the Lord. It is a way to show the Lord that we love Him and are grateful to Him for His sacrifice for us. It shows we recognize that what we have comes from Him, thus we are showing thankfulness for His provision. I. This message is a challenge to each of us. A. To be thankful to God we first must believe in Him and accept the truth that all things come from Him. Here is a question that may seem foolish at first, but not after you think about it. “How many of us here created ourselves?” Of course NO ONE! Yet, you are here . . . the question is why? As you consider that question think about this also. “Where does the food that sustains you come from? Where did the house you live in. The wood and metal that it is constructed from? Where did that come from?” Most people work in businesses and factories. Where did they come from. Who provided you with a job to earn the money it takes to live. What about the power, the gas and electricity that keeps your home warm. Who grew the food you eat? How did the food grower grow the food and the soil it grew it in? Yet, most of the world does not consider where they or this world came from. The believers in evolution have gone to great lengths to deny that God is our Creator. H.A. Ironside is said to have this experience in a crowded restaurant. There were few tables open and just as Ironside was about to begin his meal, a man approached and asked if he could join him. Ironside invited his to have a seat. Then, as was his custom, Ironside bowed his head in prayer. When he opened his eyes, the other man asked, Do you have a headache? Ironside replied, No, I dont. The other man asked, Well, is there something wrong with your food? Ironside replied, No, I was simply thanking God as I always do before I eat. The man said, Oh, youre one of those, are you? Well, I want you to know I never give thanks. I earn my money by the sweat of my brow and I dont have to give thanks to anybody when I eat. I just start right in! Ironside said, Yes, youre just like my dog. Thats what he does too! The man who Dr. Ironside met in the restaurant was a fool. He made himself a fool by not recognizing how dependent we are on God and each other. ILLUS: In the booklet “Our Daily Bread” there was the story of a man Edward Spencer. Warren Wiersby used this illustration in his commentary on Colossians. He told about a ministerial student in Evanston, Illinois, who was part of a life-saving squad. In 1860, a ship went aground on the shore of Lake Michigan near Evanston, and Edward Spencer waded again and again into the frigid waters to rescue 17 passengers. In the process, his health was permanently damaged. Some years later at his funeral, it was noted that not one of the people he rescued ever thanked him. Giving these people the benefit of the doubt we can say they probably were so busy living their lives that they just forgot to take a few minutes to tell him they were grateful that he sacrificed so much to save them. Even a card would have been something. But these 17 people seemed to never give it a thought or acknowledge the wonderful thing they had received. B. First we must understand that if one is truly thankful they will show it. We must accept the reality that often we are ungrateful. It is not a matter of should we be grateful, but of how we can show it. II. ONE WAY TO SHOW OUR THANKS IS IN PUBLIC WORSHIP SERVICES. “It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this” (Psa. 92:1-6). I think many times we are so caught up in our busy lives we do not consider the part that being thankful should play in our lives. We do not recognize what others do for us. We might even think that it is not that important. A. David who the Bible says, was a man after Gods own heart was a spiritual man. He had many get achievements in his life for the Lord, and also many failures and trials. He was a man acquainted with great victories, but he experienced many tragedies also. He knew the value of being thankful and expressing it. 1. This song was, as its title denotes, a song that was sung on the Sabbath day. The Sabbath Day is Saturday and was given by God to Israel as the day set aside for worship. Christian worship on Sunday because it is the day the Lord arose. 2. Giving thanks to God was an act of worship. Singing praises, even as we did this morning is an act of worship. The basis of truly worshiping the Lord is thanksgiving. There is no true worship without it. 3. Our hymns express the greatness of God and remind us of who God truly is least we forget. Most examples in the Bible of worship was an act of a congregation. a. This has the benefit for the individual. b. It has benefit in that it teaches our children that we truly do love God and are grateful. c. It teaches us all young and old to be grateful. d. It sets the example and is a testimony of our love and gratitude to God for saving us. 4. Note that the worship was done in the morning and evening. It was an every waking hour privilege and attitude. B. So one way we can show gratitude is in faithfully attending worship services and as a church worship the Lord with song and the preaching of His Word. 1. The Bible teaches that we honor the Lord and show gratitude in having a special time to offer praises. 2. Publicly offering thanksgiving is actually a witness for the Lord. III. WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE TO THE LORD BY PROCLAIMING GODS GREATEST AND PRAISE TO OTHERS. “O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy” (Psalm 107:1-2). A. We can show our thankfulness by telling others what God has done. 1. By telling others who he it. 2. A true friend will share with others their good fortune. By telling others of Christ Jesus we honor and praise the Lord and it is a witness to others. B. Let the redeemed of the Lord say so! If God has saved you then tell others. 1. Lots of folks think that witnessing for the Lord is a hard and difficult thing to do. 2. Lots of books written on how to witness. 3. Yet, the most effective way and simplest way to just to tell folks what God has done for you. 4. Think for a moment. If we have an attitude of telling folks about the Lord....it will have the added effect of keeping us living as we should. C. You honor God and spread the Gospel when you tell people the truth....God is good, He loves each person and wants to see all men everywhere saved and having received forgiveness of sin and eternal life. IV. WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE TO THE LORD BY GIVING OFFERINGS TO THE LORD. PROV. 3:9-10 A. You cannot in fact give anything to the Lord. It is His already because He is our creator. 1. Yet, he lets us be stewards of material things on this earth. 2. Not all receive the same, yet all receive something. Thus, all have a reason and much to be thankful for. B. God wants your best “the first fruits.” It is a shame the way we have been taught to think of giving to the Lord. 1. Many have the idea that we Give your junk to Jesus. . 2. Many times, we offer to serve the Lord only if it is convenient, not to much trouble or cost to much. 3. Only if nothing interferes. 4. Only if we feel like it or feel comfortable. 5. I thank all would agree...this is not giving of our first fruits. C. The truth is that you cannot out-give God. As a person faithful tithes and gives his offerings to the Lord God honors faithfulness and a thankful heart and meets that person’s needs. 1. If you are a good steward of small things then He makes you stewards of greater and greater things. 2. God promises to those who show their thankfulness to God by giving...to make them prosper. Your barns will be full and your presses shall burst out with new wine. (grape juice) And ye shall eat in plenty, and be satisfied, and praise the name of the Lord your God, that hath dealt wondrously with you: and my people shall never be ashamed (Joel 2:26). V. WE CAN SHOW OUR GRATITUDE BY PRAYING AND ASKING GOD TO MEET OUR NEEDS. In this we recognize all was have comes from Him. “ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God” (Phil. 4:6). A. This is a matter of living by faith. 1. The word be careful in the means do not be overly anxious and worry. 2. If we are anxious and no trusting in the Lord has a two fold ill effect. a. On us and how we feel and act. b. On those around us who look to us for strength. We have a great responsibility to those around us. 3. You can be much help to your husband or wife when you are worried and depressed yourself. Everyone will at times be worried. It is normal, but this is talking about one whose pattern of their life is to worry. B. The verse says with thanksgiving let your requests be know unto the Lord. 1. We need to be dependent on the Lord. 2. We do it in many ways. By asking, expressing our needs and desires. Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.” (Psa. 37:4-5) CONCLUSION: 1. It just boils down to this: The best way to show God we are grateful is to live our lives as He wants us to. Today sinful and misinformed men have distorted offering God our praise and thanksgiving. Many churches teach and practice that praising God is singing repeatous chourses, waving our hands into the air. Folks that does not impress God. What impresses God is a life lived in godliness. 2. To meet together and worship as a church family. To tell others of Gods love and all He has done for us. To give our tithes and offerings and give our very best to the Lord. Material things and also in our service. To live by faith. Trusting in the Lord, being dependent on him for all things. Happy Thanksgiving from Ali Nagi and Family .
Posted on: Thu, 28 Nov 2013 16:01:28 +0000
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