Below are notes to a sermon preached Sunday morning and evening , November 23, 2003, at Gospel Light Baptist Church, Albany, Georgia.
MANIFESTATIONS OF THANKSGIVING
by Michael D. O’Neal Pastor, Gospel Light Baptist Church Albany, GA
Scripture Reading: 2 Cor. 9:1-15
Text: 2 Cor. 9:12
2 Corinthians 9:12 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God;
Introduction: What a blessed holiday is this event we Americans call “Thanksgiving.” So many of our holidays have Roman and pagan roots. Even the names of our days of the week come from pagan gods. Thanksgiving, on the other hand, was has more purely American roots than do other national holidays, and it has more of a scriptural association with it, for it is always the will of God to be thankful:
1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
Our text says that our giving of tithes and offerings, in liberal fashion, abounds by MANY thanksgivings unto God. I believe that we ought to have thanksgiving every day of the year, and that we ought to manifest our thanksgiving by more ways than taking a day off from work to feast with family members. Amen! This morning I want to give you some:
MANIFESTATIONS OF THANKSGIVING
I. WE SHOW OUR THANKS IN SONGS AND PRAISE
Nehemiah 12:46 For in the days of David and Asaph of old there were chief of the singers, and songs of praise and thanksgiving unto God.
A. In the heart
B. In the home
C. In the house of God
D. In the harvest
1. “Whistle while you work” 🙂
II. WE SHOW OUR THANKS IN SUPPLICATIONS AND PRAYER
Philippians 4:6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.
Colossians 4:2 Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving;
A. Count your blessings
B. Confess your sins
THEN
C. Call unto God with your
requests
III. WE SHOW OUR THANKS BY SEPARATION AND PURITY
Psalms 26:6-8 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth.
1 John 3:1-3 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. 2 Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3 And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
A. Thankful for our profession
1. 1 John 3:1
2. Rom. 10:11
B. Thankful for our position
1. 1 John 3:2a
C. Thankful for our prospect for the future
1. 1 John 3:2b
IV. WE SHOW OUR THANKS BY STICKING WITH OUR PROMISES
Psalms 50:14 Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
Jonah 2:9 But I will sacrifice unto thee with the voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed. Salvation is of the LORD.
It shows we are thankful for
A. His prompting us in our promises
B. His power for us to keep our promises
C. His patience with us in keeping our promises
V. WE SHOW OUR THANKS BY SACRIFICING OUR POSSESSIONS (TIME, TALENT, AND TREASURE)
Psalms 107:22 And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.
Giving sacrificially shows that your thankful that:
A. You got your possessions from God
B. You can give possessions
C. You can get along without them