Beloved of God, Almighty God has declared this month a month of thanks giving in this ministry. A MONTH OF A WITNESS THAT THE LORD IS GOD! When we look at Josh 22:34 in the Message bible we see the following text, “Reuben and Gad named the altar: A Witness between Us. God Alone Is God.”
The key thing here is that these two tribes erected an altar as an eternal memorial and physical witness of Gods goodness. An altar is a place of covenant hence the reference I made to eternity. When God gives you His word you can bank on it. It is irrevocable. Following this pattern there are certain spiritual laws of favour that are set into motion when we apply the law of thanks or rather thanksgiving in our Christian faith. The laws of the kingdom of God are irrefutable and immutable.
When looking at the concept of thanksgiving a common theme emerges. It involves utterance and action. Thanksgiving, is not thanks giving if there is no evidence of it. The evidence can be verbal, in the form of a testimony to others, songs of praise and finally prayers of thanks to God. Physically, this thanks giving can be in the form of alms to the needy, orphan’s, widows, foreigners, giving to the work of God. This can also be gifts of any kind to your pastor, or a ministry which is heavily involved in community work.
Have you ever asked yourself what it really means to give thanks? Why it is important and if it really is important? Well today we will examine some of these questions and more. If we examine the key words we see that the word thanks means ‘to express gratitude, appreciation, or acknowledgment,’ [Answers.com]. The free online dictionary expand the definition to include, 'grateful feelings or thoughts; gratitude: a heart full of thanks [e.g.] for our escape. 2. An expression of gratitude [e.g.] gave thanks to God; a note of thanks to a contributor.
Dictionary.com says Thanksgiving however means ‘the act of giving thanks; grateful acknowledgment of benefits or favours, especially to God. 2. An expression of thanks, especially to God. 3. A public celebration in acknowledgment of divine favour or kindness. 4. A day set apart for giving thanks to God. Let us now explore thanks giving in detail.
The month of October is a special month, a month of giving gifts to other people, blessing others, empowering them, showing love in a special way, visiting the less-privileged. Doing something good for others. Let’s add value to the lives of others this month. What does the word say about this? Let’s look at the message bible:
2 Corinthians 9:12
Carrying out this social relief work involves far more than helping meet the bare needs of poor Christians. It also produces abundant and bountiful thanksgivings to God. This relief offering is a prod to live at your very best, showing your gratitude to God by being openly obedient to the plain meaning of the Message of Christ. You show your gratitude through your generous offerings to your needy brothers and sisters, and really toward everyone. Meanwhile, moved by the extravagance of God in your lives, they'll respond by praying for you in passionate intercession for whatever you need. Thank God for this gift, his gift. No language can praise it enough!
Thanksgiving as song
As I have already mentioned there are different ways in which to give thanks to God. One very powerful and consistent way is to sing praises to the Lord. They sang with praise and thanksgiving to the LORD:
"For He is good; His faithful love to Israel endures forever." Then all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD because the foundation of the LORD's house had been laid. [Ezra 3:11,Holman Christian Standard Bible]
Psalm 40:1-3 (Thanksgiving and a Cry for Help)
1 I waited patiently for the LORD, and He turned to me and heard my cry for help. 2 He brought me up from a desolate pit, out of the muddy clay, and set my feet on a rock, making my steps secure. 3 He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear, and put their trust in the LORD.
I want you to think back to this time last year. Think about the situations that God has brought you out of. He was faithful then, He is still faithful. Just thank Him now.
1 Chronicles 17:16 [ David's Prayer of Thanksgiving ] Then King David went in, sat in the LORD's presence, and said, "Who am I, LORD God, and what is my house that You have brought me this far?
Thanksgiving as a testimony
Some of you were sick because you'd lived a bad life, your bodies feeling the effects of your sin; You couldn't stand the sight of food, so miserable you thought you'd be better off dead. Then you called out to God in your desperate condition; he got you out in the nick of time. He spoke the word that healed you, that pulled you back from the brink of death. So thank God for his marvellous love, for his miracle mercy to the children he loves; Offer thanksgiving sacrifices, tell the world what he's done—sing it out! [Psalm 107:17 (The Message)]
Giving to others as a demonstration of our thanksgiving and gratitude to God
Whatever we have is given to us by God. So giving to others is an expression of our gratitude and appreciation to God.
As you are enriched in every way for all generosity, which produces thanksgiving to God through us. [2 Corinthians 9:11 Holman Christian Standard Bible]
As you can see from the above, this love that God shows to us becomes an avenue for God to touch others. We are blessed to become a blessing. Because we are not the originator of that blessing, we cannot take credit for it. We are merely channels.
2 Corinthians 4:15 Holman Christian Standard Bible
For all this is because of you, so that grace, extended through more and more people, may cause thanksgiving to overflow to God's glory.
Thanksgiving as a sacrifice
Beloved for thanksgiving to count it has to cost you something. I am not just referring to money. Thanksgiving is a sacrifice. Sometimes your flesh will tell you there is no reason to give thanks. The devil might even point out all the challenges you might be going through. In such situations, giving God a sacrifice of your praise will unlock your breakthrough and keep the enemy at bay. You see when you praise the Lord with all that is in you, the devil can’t stand in the presence of the Lord. For God indwells the praises of His people. He brings deliverance and healing for His children.
Thanksgiving as Prayer
[Speaking to God and Others] Devote yourselves to prayer; stay alert in it with thanksgiving. [Colossians 4:2 Holman Christian Standard Bible]. Get in the habit of thanking God for answered prayer is sign of respect and gratitude for what God has already done. It puts you in the position to receive from Him for your current requests
2 Samuel 22:1-4 and Psalm 107
Thanksgiving to the LORD for His Great Works of Deliverance
If there was ever a child of God who understood the power of thanksgiving it was David. He wrote many psalms of thanksgiving. He would encourage himself in the Lord whenever circumstances overwhelmed Him. He kept his gaze on God and was delivered from his opponents every time. In 2 Sam 22:1-4 (Amplified Bible):
1DAVID SPOKE to the Lord the words of this song on the day when the Lord delivered him from the hands of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. 2He said: The Lord is my Rock [of escape from Saul] and my Fortress [in the wilderness] and my Deliverer. 3My God, my Rock, in Him will I take refuge; my Shield and the Horn of my salvation; my Stronghold and my Refuge, my Savior-You save me from violence. 4I call on the Lord, Who is worthy to be praised, and I am saved from my enemies.
Psalm 107 (NKJV).
1 Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, Whom He has redeemed from the hand of the enemy,8 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men! 9 For He satisfies the longing soul, and fills the hungry soul with goodness. 15 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, and for His wonderful works to the children of men!
16 For He has broken the gates of bronze, and cut the bars of iron in two. 21 Oh, that men would give thanks to the LORD for His goodness, And for His wonderful works to the children of men!
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