Is Thanksgiving Next?

On November 13, 2003 , exactly two weeks before Thanksgiving, Alabama Supreme Court’s Chief Justice, Roy Moore was turned out of office. The judicial panel that removed him cited Justice Moore’s insistence on acknowledging God in his courtroom as the reason he had to go. They did not say he was a religious bigot. They did not say he twisted the law to suit his religious views. They simply said that he acknowledged God. That was unacceptable to them.

In his defense, Justice Moore said that the prayer offered before each judicial session was itself an acknowledgement of God. The oath taken by persons elected to public office as they lay their hands upon the Bible was an acknowledgement of God. The entire basis of our declaration of independence and the constitution of our government was the acknowledgment of God. Therefore, to serve as a judicial officer in the State of Alabama , Justice Moore contended that the acknowledgment of God was required.

If the new standard of qualification to serve in the government of the United States is the refusal that God exists, we are all in trouble. It’s hard to tell where these disturbing developments will take us, but, if they follow the trend, we will become a totally secular state. That means that Thanksgiving will no longer be recognized as a national holiday. Christmas will likely lose its status as well. Gone will be prayer in the halls of Congress, “In God We Trust” from our coinage, “under God” from our pledge of allegiance, the white crosses from thousands of military graves, and all mention of God in public documents or shrines. The Bible says that the nation that forgets God will be turned into hell. What will happen to a nation that does not just forget God, but deliberately and methodically expunges all traces of God from its official life? Those who seek to dismantle the Christian underpinnings of this great country must remember that our very freedoms were not the discovered outside the Bible, but are the very outgrowth of Biblical principles.

Here is the first Thanksgiving Proclamation, issued June 20, 1676 . “The Holy God having by a long and Continual Series of his Afflictive dispensations in and by the present Warr with the Heathen Natives of this land, written and brought to pass bitter things against his own Covenant people in this wilderness, yet so that we evidently discern that in the midst of his judgements he hath remembered mercy, having remembered his Footstool in the day of his sore displeasure against us for our sins, with many singular Intimations of his Fatherly Compassion, and regard; reserving many of our Towns from Desolation Threatened, and attempted by the Enemy, and giving us especially of late with many of our Confederates many signal Advantages against them, without such Disadvantage to ourselves as formerly we have been sensible of, if it be the Lord’s mercy that we are not consumed, It certainly bespeaks our positive Thankfulness, when our Enemies are in any measure disappointed or destroyed; and fearing the Lord should take notice under so many Intimations of his returning mercy, we should be found an Insensible people, as not standing before Him with Thanksgiving, as well as lading him with our Complaints in the time of pressing Afflictions:

The Council has thought meet to appoint and set apart the 29th day of this instant June, as a day of Solemn Thanksgiving and praise to God for such his Goodness and Favour, many Particulars of which mercy might be Instanced, but we doubt not those who are sensible of God’s Afflictions, have been as diligent to espy him returning to us; and that the Lord may behold us as a People offering Praise and thereby glorifying Him; the Council doth commend it to the Respective Ministers, Elders and people of this Jurisdiction; Solemnly and seriously to keep the same Beseeching that being perswaded by the mercies of God we may all, even this whole people offer up our bodies and soulds as a living and acceptable Service unto God by Jesus Christ.”

Over 300 years later, this same nation denies the even the right to acknowledge God, not to mention condoning the depth of religious fervor spelled out in this proclamation. Thanksgiving may very well be on our endangered species list. A secular nation cannot continue to observe Thanksgiving while asserting that there is no God to thank.

Let us be clear. As believers, we begin with the acknowledgment of God. “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.” Hebrews 11:6. Acknowledgement begets thanksgiving. Thanksgiving produces submission. Submission leads to obedience. Obedience aligns us with the divine will. These steps may be easily seen in a study of the scriptures. If we reverse the order, however, we will unravel the very cords that bind us together with all of our rights, privileges and freedoms. Our forefathers, fresh the the land of religious oppression and persecution, knew that true freedom flows from God himself. We must not forget these principles today.

The Power of Thanksgiving

Most of of think of thanksgiving as a courteous, nice thing to do. Good public relations, rather than an absolute requirement, dictate the act. We classify it as proper protocol. When people don’t express gratitude, we think they are only being uncouth. When people forget to say thanks, we accuse them only of thoughtlessness. When we study the scripture, however, a far different profile emerges. Thanksgiving actually turns out to be a fundamental spiritual principle. True thanksgiving opens the door to deep spiritual healing and experience.

A powerful fact is attached to the incident of the lepers whom Jesus healed in Luke 17:12-19. Only one man out of the ten returned to Jesus to thank him. When this man fell down on his face to give thanks, Jesus asked, “Were there not ten cleansed? Where are the nine?” They were not to be found. Only this stranger (he was a Samaritan) came back to give God glory. Then, Jesus said, “Arise, go thy way: they faith hath made thee whole.”

There are three words that describe what happened to the leper. He was cleansed (purified), healed (cured) and made whole (saved, preserved). While all ten were cleansed and healed, only the one who gave thanks was made whole.

A number of people in the Bible were blessed, healed and touched, but not made whole. Luke 6:35 says, “Love ye your enemies, and do good, and lend, hoping for nothing again; and your reward shall be great, and ye shall be the children of the Highest: for he is kind unto the unthankful and to the evil.”

What are the steps to wholeness?

Luke 17:12-19

Prayer of desperation

13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.

Those who do not pray should not expect answers to prayer.  Prayers that move God are effectual and fervent.

Obedience

14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the priests.

Jesus could have declared them clean because he was a high priest after the Order of Melchezidek. Instead, he sent them to the high priest for evidence of their healing. Why? First of all, it would legitimize their healing to all the people who did not yet recognize Jesus. Second, and more important, if the High Priest declared them clean, it meant that the High Priest would have been forced to recognize the power of Jesus to heal leprosy.

And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.

Realization

15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,

Worship

16 And fell down on his face at his feet,

Worship=shawchaw (prostrate oneself, bow down)

Gen 19:1 And there came two angels to Sodom at even; and Lot sat in the gate of Sodom: and Lot seeing them rose up to meet them; and he bowed himself with his face toward the ground;

Gen 42:6 And Joseph was the governor over the land, and he it was that sold to all the people of the land: and Joseph’s brethren came, and bowed down themselves before him with their faces to the earth.

1 Sam 25:41 And she arose, and bowed herself on her face to the earth, and said, Behold, let thine handmaid be a servant to wash the feet of the servants of my lord.

Thanksgiving

giving him thanks: and

Forgiveness

he was a Samaritan.

17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine? 18 There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. 19 And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole.

What did the leper who came back communicate with Jesus?

You have changed my life for the better.
I could not have had this healing without you.
I am forever indebted to you.
You did not just restore my health for my purposes; you did it for your own purposes.

What is it that the simple act of sincere thanksgiving does to God?

The nine who did not return to give thanks grabbed whatever blessings and advantages they could get from Jesus and ran. They wanted to be healed to get on with their lives, to pursue their own interests. They either had no concept of God’s purpose or they were totally self-indulgent. Whatever they received, they felt like it was a deserved benefit.

It is possible to have enough faith in God to receive miracles and blessings from him. This does not necessarily lead on to true discipleship.

Wholeness requires an attitude of thanksgiving towards God.

Wholeness is a release of pain.
Wholeness neutralizes long-standing dysfunctional effects.
Wholeness makes one comfortable with who they are and what they have.
The most important truth to embrace is your relationship with God supercedes your relationship with yourself, your family, your friends, your acquaintences, your past, or any other person or thing that can be named.

2 Cor 12:7-10  And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure. 8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. 9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.

The High Company of THANKSGIVING

Rev 7:12 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Thanksgiving is placed in the middle of the terms of worship to God.

Worship expresses what we think about God.  You cannot worship without thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving is the response to some act of God.

We say “please” in order to get it.  We say “thank you” when we receive it.

THANKSGIVING (Heb. toda, or yaddah; Gk. eucharistia). The term most in use is charis. Charis is the Greek word for grace.

Thanksgiving is the acknowledgement that grace has happened.

I got something I don’t deserve.  The grace of God in Christ, operating in the soul of the believer.  This grace goes back to Him in gratitude: “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” <2 Cor. 9:15>.

Thanksgiving sees (recognizes) grace everytime it thinks about God.

It doesn’t see the obvious—-it sees the implicit, the subtle, the hidden.  Grace in His death, burial, resurrection.  Grace in faith, repentance, water baptism, Holy Ghost baptism.  Grace in healing, blessing, need supplying.  Grace in worship, singing, preaching, teaching.  Grace in every aspect of living for God.

Titus 2:11-12 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Thanksgiving sees grace in bad things that happen to us.

1Thes 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

In the midst of the bad.  In spite of the bad.  Because of the bad.

Rev 7:12-17 Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.  13 And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they?  14 And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb.  Who are the white-robed worshippers?

Great tribulation saints—-(Not necessarily THE great trib.)  The Tecklimarians, persecuted Christians, Russians, Chinese, Cubans, The sick who never complained.  The deprived who never coveted.  The victims of tragedy who never charged God.  The wounded who never got bitter.

These all recognize the greater grace they have received to go through their greater trial.

15 Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them.  16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat.  17 For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of waters: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes.  To give thanksgiving is to join in worship with Blessing, and glory, and wisdom… and honour, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen.

Give Thanks Unto God

Give thanks for living for God in a world of sinful people.

2 Sam 22:50 Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name.

Give thanks that God is not evil or vengeful.

1 Chr 16:34 O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

Give thanks for deliverance from the clutches of evil people.

1 Chr 16:35 And say ye, Save us, O God of our salvation, and gather us together, and deliver us from the heathen, that we may give thanks to thy holy name, and glory in thy praise.

Give thanks for a new building for God.

Ezra 3:11 And they sang together by course in praising and giving thanks unto the LORD; because he is good, for his mercy endureth for ever toward Israel. And all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Give thanks for keeping you in the land of the living.

Ps 6:5 For in death there is no remembrance of thee: in the grave who shall give thee thanks?

Give thanks for the knowledge of God’s holiness.

Ps 30:4 Sing unto the LORD, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Give thanks that we know how to pray and worship without inhibition.

Ps 30:12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Give thanks for a church full of believers and worshippers.

Ps 35:18 I will give thee thanks in the great congregation: I will praise thee among much people.

Give thanks for the knowledge of true praise.

Ps 106:47 Save us, O LORD our God, and gather us from among the heathen, to give thanks unto thy holy name, and to triumph in thy praise.

Give thanks when you can’t sleep at night.

Ps 119:62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments.

Give thanks for divine wisdom.

Dan 2:23 I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king’s matter.

Give thanks for your food.

Matt 15:36 And he took the seven loaves and the fishes, and gave thanks, and brake them, and gave to his disciples, and the disciples to the multitude.

Give thanks for the opportunity to love your enemies.

Luke 6:32 For if ye love them which love you, what thank have ye? for sinners also love those that love them.

Give thanks for people who don’t pay you back.

Luke 6:34 And if ye lend to them of whom ye hope to receive, what thank have ye? for sinners also lend to sinners, to receive as much again.

Give thanks for your healings.

Luke 17:16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.

Give thanks for spiritual liberty.

Rom 14:6 He that regardeth the day, regardeth it unto the Lord; and he that regardeth not the day, to the Lord he doth not regard it. He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks.

Give thanks for compassionate brothers and sisters in the church.

Rom 16:4 Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.

Give thanks for the Holy Ghost.

2 Cor 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

1 Cor 14:18 I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all:

Give thanks for all things.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

Give thanks for the society in which you live.

1 Tim 2:1 I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;

Give thanks for the omnipotence of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Rev 11:17 Saying, We give thee thanks, O Lord God Almighty, which art, and wast, and art to come; because thou hast taken to thee thy great power, and hast reigned.

Thorns to Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day, the crown jewel of November, makes us think about gratitude, if only by default. Our national psyche has undergone a 180-degree change on the attitude of thankfulness. A spirit of self-praise and entitlement now typifies the average American. Spirit-filled people must resist the prevalent view which trash thanksgiving and exalt the self. Do the following attitudes describe the way you feel?

I deserve the good things I get. If the truth were known, few of us can really claim credit for anything. Our parents gave us all our genes, our backgrounds, our training and the opportunities we enjoy. Health, soundness of mind, strength and life itself come straight from the hand of God. If we got what we deserved, we would all be dead or lost.

I have a right to blessing and prosperity. This humanistic attitude springs from pride. In the strictest sense of the word, we have a right to nothing. The farmer who doesn’t sow has no right to a harvest. The lazy worker who calls in sick or hides to get out of work has no right to full benefits. You can only expect to get out of something when you put something into it. Even those who work hard in a failing company have no universal right to remuneration. Prosperity will always be worthy of thanksgiving because it is something that none of us can ultimately control.

If I don’t get what I want, I’ll sue. Frivolous lawsuits, embittered litigants and outrageous claims burden our justice system. Many courtroom battles are little more than adult tantrums. If we think we have a right to everything we want, it follows that we will go after those things regardless of the cost. It is a system based on bullying, threatening, and selfish aggrandizement. There is no room for thankfulness here.

I only recognize greatness in myself. The modern sports cult is one of many indications that we have turned into a nation of prima-donnas. Athletes, rock musicians and celebrities strut themselves before the world in self-adulation. Gone is a sense of modesty, deference and humility. In its place, boasting rules. Those who stumble into the limelight do not say, “Thank you for making me what I am.” Instead, they growl, “Thank me for allowing you to be in my presence!”

God? Who’s he? Just about everybody believes in God these days. Trouble is, few people in the world pay much attention to Him. They are theoretical believers but practical atheists. Only as we maintain a constant awareness of the presence of God in our lives will we live in a state of thanksgiving.

Nobody helped me get where I am. Surly, angry, and sulking, many people carry around a chip on their shoulder. They view life as a huge contest of “me against them.” They pride themselves in not needing anyone else. What they mistake for self-reliance is more like mistrust and belligerence. They honestly do not believe that anyone has helped them in life. Unfortunately, they eventually wound or destroy the people that mean the most to them. Thanksgiving can save such people from a world of hurt.

Thanksgiving is weakness. To the contrary, thanksgiving is the highest and best illustration of strength. Only those who have the right perspective on time and eternity, rights and responsibilities, self and others, and humanity and deity can truly understand the power of thanksgiving. Thanksgiving says to others, “I recognize that you are very important to what I am today.” When we say “Thank you,” to God, we are saying, “Without you, Lord, I am nothing.” To God be all the glory!

“Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name. For the LORD is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.” Psalm 100:4-5