Personal love toward God produces thanksgivings in the believer..
This holiday, more than any other, provides an opportunity for all of us to re‑examine what America is really all about spiritually and where we stand in relationship to God.
We cannot escape and we constantly face the reality of our situation when we are confined.
JOH 8:31 Jesus therefore was saying to those Jews who had believed Him, "If you abide in My word, then you are truly disciples of Mine;
JOH 8:32 and you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
JOH 8:36 “If therefore the Son shall make you free, you shall be free indeed.”
GAL 5:1 It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore, keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.
GAL 5:13 For you were called to freedom, brethren; only do not turn your freedom into an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.
The earthly overseer of this new movement of freedom, the apostle Paul, was in Rome in prison.
Rather than say "pray for my release" or "pray that I may endure this horrible injustice", Paul turns the issue upside down and says "Don't lose heart because of my persecution for it is for your glory."
Look at EPH 3:13 Therefore I ask you not to lose heart at my tribulations on your behalf, for they are your glory.
Paul was in prison for a reason just like some of you may be in a prison spiritually for a reason and you do not know how to get out.
He spent a lot of time in prison after his conversion to Christianity and this reality may have been an embarrassment or point of contention for some of the church members.
Imagine explaining your new faith and church to a neighbor and then revealing that your pastor is actually working from a cell at the County Jail?
We cannot escape and we constantly face the reality of our situation when we are confined.
GAL 2:4 But it was because of the false brethren who had sneaked in to spy out our liberty which we have in Christ Jesus, in order to bring us into bondage.
During this Thanksgiving Holiday do not let anyone or anything put you in bondage or condemnation.
For in EXO 6:6, what was true for natural Israel is also true about us, spiritual Israel or what is true about the new racial species, the Jews, is also true about the new spiritual species, the Royal Family.
EXO 6:6 "Say, therefore, to the sons of Israel, 'I am the Lord, and I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians, and I will deliver you from their bondage. I will also redeem you with an outstretched arm and with great judgments.
ROM 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.
He clarifies that he is not a common criminal doing time for breaking the Law or in violation of the moral or criminal code.
He was in prison because he spoke the truth regarding the new order of the Kingdom, the inheritance of the Gentiles and the unifying of the Jews and Gentiles through TLJC.
Rather than being popular, Paul chose to be truthful.
God commissioned Paul to preach mystery doctrine and it probably didn't make sense to Paul - it certainly didn't line up with his traditional knowledge and teaching.
He could have revealed most of the mystery of doctrine without pressing the issue of equality between Jew and Gentile.
He could have preached one message to the Jews and another message to the Gentiles - satisfying both while inciting neither.
Paul recognized that the church is built on the teaching of the apostles and prophets, and as an apostle he was required to speak the truth without a soft-sell.
Paul preached the Gospel and was put in prison for it.
Truth is what truth is and sometimes we are imprisoned when we speak the truth which tonight is to “give Thanksgiving to our Lord.
COL 3:15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body; and BE THANKFUL.
1TH 5:18 in everything GIVE THANKS; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
2TH 2:13 But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord,
Samuel Adams wrote "It is therefore recommended to set apart Thursday the eighteenth day of December next, for solemn Thanksgiving and praise,
that with one heart and one voice the good people may express the grateful feelings of their hearts and consecrate themselves to the service of their divine benefactor."
This was given by Samuel Adams, November 1, 1777 (adopted by the 13 states as the first official Thanksgiving Proclamation).
When Francis Jane Crosby was only six weeks old, she was taken to a doctor to treat an inflammation in her eyes caused by a cold.
Then when Francis was just a year old, her father died and her mother had to hire herself out as a maid to provide for the family.
When she was 29 an epidemic killed more than half of the children in the school.
Yet, in spite of these tragedies, Francis Jane was always a cheerful, thankful person, free from the bitterness that so easily destroys most people.
When only eight years old, she wrote a poem that revealed a lot about the spunky little girl, who climbed trees and played practical jokes in spite of her blindness.
Oh what a happy child I am,
although I cannot see!
I am resolved that in this world,
contented I will be!
How many blessings I enjoy
that other people don't!
So weep or sigh because I'm blind
I cannot--nor I won’t!
Eventually, her writing brought her national recognition and she was invited to visit presidents and generals and other notable dignitaries.
As DEU 23:5 says the Lord turned a curse into a blessing.
She even was asked to play at President Grant's funeral.
When she finally died in 1915, just 6 weeks shy of her 95th birthday, Francis had written over 8,500 poems and songs.
Most importantly, Francis - better known as "Fanny" - loved the Jesus Christ and definitely celebrated this Thanksgiving.
Fanny's love for her Savior became the inspiration for her thousands of songs and poems, many of which are still sung in churches every weekend today.
Many hymns that bear the name Fanny Crosby, includes “To God be the glory, great things He hath done," "I am thine, O Lord, I have heard thy voice," and "Blessed Assurance."
"Do you know that if at birth I had been able to make one petition, it would have been that I should be born blind?"
"Because" she said, "When I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"
What an attitude to remind of us on this Thanksgiving celebration.
Rather than become so occupied with family events, a dinner, a day of football games "May we be like Fanny Crosby, rejoice in the goodness of our God in every situation with an attitude of Thanksgiving.
As Fanny said “This is my story, this is my song, Praising my Savior, all the day long."
1TH 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
This holiday, more than any other, provides an opportunity for all of us to re‑examine what America is really all about spiritually and where we stand in relationship to God.
"There is no question that the inspiration was from the Holy Spirit because He comforted me with rays of marvelous inspiration from the Holy Scriptures.
I am a most unworthy sinner, I've cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely.
I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvelous presence and grace and be thankful for it.
For the execution of the journey to the Indies, I did not make use of intelligence, mathematics, or maps, it is simply the fulfillment of what Isaiah had prophesied."
"No one should fear to undertake any task in the name of our Savior, if it is just and if the intention is purely for His own service.
The working out of all things has been assigned to each person by our Lord, but it all happens according to His sovereign will.
And then day by day, moment by moment, everyone should express their most devoted gratitude to Him."
Columbus' own name, Christopherns or Christopher means to carry, it means Christ‑bearer.
Christopher means Christ‑bearer and it was a testimony that God, as far as he was concerned, called him to a special calling.
MAT 16:26 "For what will a man be profited, if he gains the whole world, and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?
MAR 8:36-37, "For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? "For what shall a man give in exchange for his soul?
LUK 9:25 "For what is a man profited if he gains the whole world, and loses or forfeits himself?
Just as a man's life does not consist in the abundance of the things he possesses, so the believer who is truly thankful to God loves Him and serves Him with an attitude of gratitude and thanksgivings.
Where do you stand with regards to your values and attitude of thanksgivings?
Is it all about the respect you have for our Lord Jesus Christ or is it more important to think about what ingredients should you put in the stuffing?
Is it the Word of God which is alive and powerful or is it bondage to the cares of this world? Is it Doctrine or the details of life?
It is very hard for us to imagine the needs and the poverty of those early settlers who that tried to start colonies here on this strange land.
Most of the leaders during that time were truly thankful to our Lord and practiced being thankful for all things no matter what they were.
Notice that you should voice your thanksgivings to the Lord and His people especially.
Voice your thanksgiving attitude to others.
If you desire to glorify and honor our Lord during this thanksgiving Holiday or Holy Day than as PSA 50:15 says, call upon Him when you are in trouble and He shall rescue you, and you will honor Him."
A sacrifice of thanks giving is giving thanks for situations that are difficult to be thankful.
We all have them.
HEB 13:15 Through Him then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that give thanks to His name.
We can hardly imagine the burdens of those experiences that our early fathers had to endure.
Providence is the divine outworking of all of the divine decrees, the object being the final manifestation of God's glory.
The decrees have to do with what God has allowed to happen throughout history.
The doctrine of providence expresses the fact that the world and our lives are not ruled by chance, fate, or luck, but by God.