Grace Fellowship Church Pastor/Teacher Jim Rickard Thanksgiving 2008

This is a time when we pause to give thanks to our Lord for the tremendous grace He has bestowed on us, our families and our great nation.

History of Thanksgiving * Fall 1621 surviving Pilgrims give thanks to God for his logistical grace over the previous year. * June 29 1676 declared a day of thanks. * Fall 1789 Pres. Washington declares Nov. 26, “be devoted as a day of sincere and humble thanks”. * Pres. Lincoln declared Thanksgiving a Federal holiday as a "prayerful day of Thanksgiving" on the last Thursday in November in 1863. * President Franklin D. Roosevelt set the date to the fourth Thursday of Nov. in 1939.

Biblical Thanksgiving Old Testament: Leviticus 7:11-21; 22:29, a special offering to give thanks to God for His provisions in deliverance, answering prayers, healing, etc. Part of the “Peace Offering”.

Peace - the removal of the dividing barrier between God and man, sin Peace - the removal of the dividing barrier between God and man, sin. Christ removed that barrier at the Cross and there is peace between God and the believer.

It was a communal offering because of the shared meal that crowned the sacrifice. Deut 12:12, 18-19; 16:11; 27:7; 1 Kings 8:64-65; cf. 2 Chron 29:31; 33:16; Jer 17:26; Psa 56:12-13; 107:22; 116:17-19; Jer 33:11

There are many passages and hymns of thanksgiving found in the Bible including Psa 100 and 1 Chron 16:8-36.

New Testament: Just as when under the Law, thanksgiving is still a function of prayer, praise, and song for the Church Age believer.

Eph 1:16, “I do not cease giving thanks for you, and I make mention of you in my prayers.”

Col 1:3, “We give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you.”

Col 4:2, “Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”

Phil 4:6, “Stop worrying about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”

Thanksgiving in the Greek is the verb EUCHARISTEO Thanksgiving in the Greek is the verb EUCHARISTEO. The noun EUCHARISTIA means thankfulness, giving of thanks, and gratitude.

This is where we get our word for communion from, Eucharist, in 1 Cor 11:23-26.

2 Cor 4:15, “For all things are for your sakes, so that the grace which is spreading to more and more people may cause the giving of thanks to abound to the glory of God.”

2 Cor 9:15, “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.”

Eph 5:20, “Always giving thanks for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father.”

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

Rev 7:12, “Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be to our God forever and ever. Amen."

Grace Fellowship Church Wednesday, November 25, 2008 Tape # 08-086 Thanksgiving Special 2008 Lev 7:11-21; Psa 100; 1 Chron 16:8-36; 1 Cor 11:23-26 James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2008