Being a People of Thankfulness I. Introduction A. Most people recognize that they, in some way or form, have been the recipients of many blessings 1. Many even believe in a God from whom blessings flow 2. Few, if any, believe that they have received no blessings or benefits in life from some source B. It is customary to offer some form of thanks when benefits and blessings have been received 1. We have various social customs, including saying "thank you", sending a thank you card, sending a small gift in return, etc. 2. Rarely are such offerings of thanks equivalent to the benefit or blessing received; they are generally not expected to be such, but to be a token demonstrating our thanks for having received benefits and blessings C. As Christians, we have plenty for which to give thanks 1. We most probably recognize that God has been good to us and that we have been the recipients of many blessings 2. Indeed, we are to be a people of thankfulness D. Let us examine the Scriptures today to see the various things for which we are to be thankful, to see how we are to demonstrate our thankfulness, and the benefits of being a people of thankfulness II. Blessings from God: Spiritual A. In truth, all benefits and blessings in life come from God 1. We would not have enough time in our lives to enumerate upon every benefit with which God has blessed us 2. Nevertheless, let us examine some of the manifold blessings which God has bestowed upon us, beginning with spiritual blessings B. God has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places (Ephesians 1:3) C. God has blessed us by creating us in His image (Genesis 1:26-27) 1. It was entirely possible for God to create us like every other animal, giving life but not in His own spiritual image 2. We have the benefit of the soul, allowing us to have spiritual life D. God has blessed us with His love and care (John 3:16, 1 John 4:8) 1. God also could have created this world and us and then left it (and us) to fend for ourselves 2. Likewise, God could have easily left us in our sins, left us separated from Him, with no hope of redemption 3. Yet God saw fit to care for His creation, and loved us so much as to be willing to give His Son for our sin E. God has blessed us by allowing us to have association with Him (1 John 1:1-3) 1. The great God of heaven, the Creator of all, has found it agreeable to have association with mere mortals! 2. We have the opportunity to lay at His feet our concerns, needs, and thanks through prayer (1 Thessalonians 5:17) 3. Hebrews 10:19-22: while others perhaps have trembled with great fear, we may have the confidence to enter into the holy places through Christ! F. God has blessed us by giving us His Word (2 Timothy 3:16-17) 1. Not only has God worked salvation, He has also provided the guide by which we can understand His will for us and to do it! 2. This guide has been committed to writing so as to preserve the message without corruption or violation for each succeeding generation G. God has blessed us with the association of fellow brethren-- the establishment of the church (Acts 2:41-47, Ephesians 4:11-16) 1. God could have established His truth by leaving individuals to fend for themselves 2. Yet, in His wisdom, He established the church so that each saint could be continually encouraged and edified (Hebrews 10:24-26) H. Likewise, God has established His church with the intention of having elders shepherding each local congregation (Acts 20:17-38, Titus 1:5) 1. God did not intend to leave His church without any form of leadership whatsoever; likewise, He did not intend to make it a human institution engaged in human hierarchy 2. Therefore, He specified that highly qualified men were to guide the local congregation according to His standard! I. These are only some of the numerous spiritual things for which we are to be thankful! III. Blessings from God: Physical A. Just as all spiritual blessings come from God, so do our physical blessings B. We are blessed with the creation and the satisfaction of our physical needs (Matthew 6:30-34) C. We are blessed with human relations, with mothers, fathers, husbands, wives, children, other family members, and friends D. We are blessed with great wealth 1. While one may feel poor here in America when compared with other Americans, all of us are wealthy compared to the standards of many other nations 2. Things we can take for granted-- food, shelter, etc.-- are not so easy to come by in other places E. We are blessed with some portion of health F. Again, these are but a few of the numerous physical things for which we should be thankful! IV. Being a People of Thankfulness A. Since we have so much, both spiritually and physically, for which to be thankful, how shall we offer our thanks to God? B. We can offer thanks directly through prayer 1. In 1 Corinthians 14:16-17, when Paul speaks of the corporate prayer in the assembly, he calls it the "giving of thanks" 2. Indeed, Paul commands us in 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to give thanks in all circumstances, and that such is the will of God for us 3. This same message is echoed in Ephesians 5:30 and Colossians 3:17 4. Can these things be said of our prayers? Do we spend more time giving thanks to God in our prayers than our petitions and desires, or vice versa? 5. Indeed, can whatever trifles we may desire of God compare to the great things He has done for us, for which we ought continually offer thanks? C. We also offer thanks through our deeds 1. Romans 12:1/Philippians 2:5-11: we become living and holy sacrifices, a thank-offering to God for what He has done for us through His Son 2. Indeed, the Christian is called upon to act in many ways on account of the blessings God has given Him so as to give Him thanks D. To give thanks to God for the creation with which He has blessed us, we ought to be good stewards of the world and its resources E. To give thanks to God for the love He has shown us, we are to love God and love our neighbor (1 John 4:7-11) 1. We must show the love of Christ to our brethren to encourage them in the faith 2. We must show the love of Christ to the world so that God may be glorified and people will come to the truth (Matthew 5:13-16) F. To give thanks to God for the offering of His Son for our sin, we must strive to cease from sin (Hebrews 10:26-31) 1. We are not to crucify the Son of God afresh, but through repentance and conversion become a people having been raised to walk in newness of life 2. We cannot thank God for redemption by unrepentantly continuing to sin! G. To give thanks to God for forgiving us of our sin, we must forgive others when they sin against us (Matthew 18:23-35) H. To give thanks to God for His Word, by which we can know of Him, we must learn that Word (2 Timothy 2:15) I. To give thanks to God for the physical blessings of food, shelter, and financial stability, we ought to give back to Him as we have prospered, and also give to others less fortunate than ourselves (1 Corinthians 16:1-4, 2 Corinthians 9:6-11, Matthew 25:31-46, Galatians 2:10) J. These are just a few of the ways in which we can offer thanks to God for all that He has given us K. It ought to be manifest by the witness of the Scriptures that it is not sufficient to be occasionally thankful, or thankful only in certain ways; indeed, the Scriptures attest to how we are to be a people of thankfulness 1. After all, we of all people are most blessed! 2. Those of us who share in the hope of salvation in Christ Jesus have been most blessed, and our lives are to be demonstrations of thankfulness 3. We must not merely talk about how thankful we are, but demonstrate our thankfulness in our deeds: how we live, how we compose ourselves, how we relate to other people, etc. V. The Benefits of Being a People of Thankfulness A. There are many benefits gained when we are a people of thankfulness B. We maintain humility 1. When we are continually reminded of how much God has given to us, and how much more He has done for us than we could ever do for Him, it is easier to maintain humility in our lives before God 2. We see that we are forever in His debt and that we continually require His aid! 3. It is when we forget that our blessings come from God, and begin to believe that it is from our own power that we have gained the benefits of life, that we become arrogant and stumble! C. It helps us to keep perspective 1. Many times we can become depressed or down-trodden based on many difficulties, temptations, and persecutions which we face 2. If we are people of thankfulness, we will maintain a good perspective, recognizing that the great things God has done for us outweighs whatever setbacks we might be facing 3. By continually being a people of thankfulness, we will always keep in mind all the wonderful things God has done for us, and it will make all trials easier to bear (1 Peter 1:3-7) D. We will be the cause of others giving thanks to God-- a blessing to others 1. Matthew 5:13-16: by being the example we ought to be, we give others cause to glorify God 2. Ephesians 1:16, 1 Thessalonians 1:2: brethren gave Paul a reason to give thanks to God for their existence 3. When we are a people of thankfulness, acting in accordance with our gratitude, we will show the light of Christ to many within and without the church, leading saints to be built up, and ideally, conversions of people out of the world and into the Kingdom, and therefore the source of blessing for many people 4. Can such be said of us? E. There are many other ways in which we ourselves can benefit by being people of thankfulness F. Such benefits, of course, ought not be our purpose in being thankful people, but be the result of the fact that we are a people of thankfulness to God for what He has done for us VI. Conclusion A. We are a people most blessed 1. God has bestowed upon us innumerable spiritual blessings, allowing us to exist, to be loved by Him, to be cleansed of sin through His Son, to have association with Him, to have His Word, to have association with fellow brethren, and many other blessings 2. Likewise, God has bestowed upon us physical blessings, giving us the creation, food, shelter, a source of income, family, friends, health, and many, many other things 3. Time would indeed fail us if we tried to enumerate all of His blessings! B. We ought to give thanks to God for the blessings He has bestowed upon us 1. We certainly are to do this by our mouths, giving continual thanks to God in prayer... 2. ...yet we are to demonstrate thankfulness by our deeds, by being a living and holy sacrifice, loving others, forgiving others, and striving to be as Christ because God has loved us, forgiven us, and has given us of His Son! 3. Indeed, we ought to be a people of thankfulness! C. There are many benefits to being a people of thankfulness 1. We can maintain humility and perspective while being a blessing to others 2. Yet, in the end, these benefits are not to be the goal, but the natural result of our being a people of thankfulness to God D. Let us strive, then, to be a people of thankfulness, constantly considering the manifold blessings of God and offering thanks to Him, both in word and in deed E. Songbook/invitation F. Have you accepted the wonderful blessings God would bestow upon you? 1. Romans 5:8: God has demonstrated His love for us by having Christ die for us while we are yet sinners 2. Will you accept this gift God has given on your behalf? Come to obedient faith in Christ Jesus today G. Have you been a person of thankfulness? 1. Perhaps you have received many blessings from God, but have not been as thankful as you should, having sinned before God 2. If we can encourage you and pray with you, let us help you H. Or perhaps you simply require encouragement to be a person of thankfulness, to continue to live as you ought I. However we may help you, let us do so; come to the front as we stand and sing