Grace Fellowship Church November 23, 2011 Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard

I. The Establishment of Thanksgiving as a Holiday in America.

George Washington “To be devoted by the people of these States to the service of that great and glorious Being who is the beneficent author of all good that was, that is, or that will be, our sincere and humble thanks.… Americans should also beseech the great Lord and Ruler of Nations that he might pardon our national and other transgressions.”

Abraham Lincoln “A prayerful day of Thanksgiving.”

II. The Origins of Thanksgiving in America

Governor William Bradford “Thank you Lord for sending Squanto to us. We know your hand has been upon him throughout all of his trials, and that You have prepared him to be our guide and friend in a time of great need. Squanto is your living answer to our tears and prayers.”

Captain John Woodlief “We ordain that the day of our ships arrival at the place assigned for plantation in the land of Virginia shall be yearly and perpetually kept holy as a day of Thanksgiving to Almighty God.”

III. Biblical Origins for Thanksgiving.

1. Hebrew – Old Testament: Thanksgiving is first mentioned in scriptures in Lev 7 where our Lord established the Peace and Thanksgiving offerings. Peace between God and Man.

TODAH - “words of thanks to God, a ritual act of thanksgiving, a religious song of thanksgiving, a Levitical choir or a verbal confession of sin.”

When sin is acknowledged, the worshiper gives honor to God and prepares the way for God’s display of salvation, Psa 50:23.

Psa 50:23, “He who offers a sacrifice of thanksgiving honors Me; and to him who orders his way aright I shall show the salvation of God.”

TODAH was one of the fellowship offerings (SHELAMIN) mentioned in Lev 7:12-15 and 22:29. Along with the words of the thank offering, the worshiper was to bring food.

2. Greek – New Testament: EUCHARISTIA (noun) - “thankfulness, giving of thanks, or gratitude.” 2 Cor 4:15; 9:11; Col 2:6-7; 4:2; 1 Tim 4:3-4; Rev 7:12, etc.

1 Tim 4:4-5, “For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with gratitude; 5 for it is sanctified by means of the word of God and prayer.”

EUCHARISTEO (verb) – “Give thanks” Eph 1:16; 5:20; Col 1:3, 12; 3:17; 1 Thes 1:2; 5:18; 2 Thes 2:13; Rev 11:17, etc.

Mat 15:36, “And He took the seven loaves and the fish; and giving thanks, He broke them and started giving them to the disciples, and the disciples gave them to the people.”

“A way to a man’s heart is through his stomach!!”

IV. Principles of Thanksgiving (TG):

1 Thes 5:18, “In everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Col 3:17, “Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God the Father.”

T.G. T.G. is not some shallow, fleeting system of gratitude for something. It is a system of worship of God.

It is capacity for worship; capacity for life; a reflection of what is truly going on inside your soul.

T.G. T.G. should be the daily act of rendering gratitude to God.

T.G. T.G. can also be a public acknowledgment or celebration of worship in which the goodness and graciousness of God are extolled, 1 Chro 16:7-36.

T.G. T.G. should be the normal mental attitude of the royal family of God, Eph 5:20; 1 Thes 5:18.

T.G. T.G. is based on knowing God through Bible doctrine resident in the soul, Psa 100:3-5; 2 Cor 9:10-11; Col 2:7; 1 Thes 3:9.

T.G. T.G. is a priestly sacrifice. It was a sacrifice in the OT, it is a sacrifice for the royal priesthood of the New, Psa 116:17; 107:22; Amos 4:5; Heb 13:15.

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. And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.”

God should be the object of your thanksgiving. 2 Cor 9:15; Rev 7:12

Communion

Grace Offering

Grace Fellowship Church Wednesday, November 23, 2011 Tape # Thanksgiving Special The Origins of Thanksgiving Lev 7:12-15; Mat 15:36; 2 Cor 9:11-12, 1 Tim 4:4-5; 1 Cor 11:23-26 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2011