Thanksgiving Sermon, I Give Thanks to

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This week we will celebrate Thanksgiving. Families and friends will gather to spend time with family and give thanks to God for the blessings we have received, but did you know that God wants us to always thank Him, even when we’re going through difficult times?

I thank God for many things. I thank Him for who He is (His attributes) and for what He has done (His works). I thank Him that He is Holy and righteous, but I also thank Him that Christ’s has made me righteous. I am thankful that God placed me in a home where my parents loved me enough to take me to church and share the gospel with me and loved God enough to worship Him on Sunday mornings rather than going to the beach or having a cookout. I thank God that He allowed me to grow up in America where the gospel is freely preached and where we have received blessings as a result of the obedience of previous generations. I thank God for His word which is readily available to us in this country. I thank God for creating me and defending me, and when I thank Him, God does incredible things in me, on my behalf, and on the earth, even impacting kinds and nations.

Note: Pastor Bryan Longworth misread a part of 1 Chronicles 29:10-13. It should have read, “Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: ‘Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.’” (NKJV)

Opening Passage — Psalm 136.

I try to rejoice always

Philippians 4:4-7 – “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” (NKJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 – “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” (NKJV)

Creation Praises God

Psalms 19:1 – “The heavens declare the glory of God; And the firmament shows His handiwork.” (NKJV)

If I don’t praise God, the rocks will cry out in praise!

Luke 19:40 – “But He answered and said to them, ‘I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.’” (NKJV)

I give thanks to God for who He is and what He has done

Psalms 136:1-4 – “Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. 2 Oh, give thanks to the God of gods! For His mercy endures forever. 3 Oh, give thanks to the Lord of lords! For His mercy endures forever: 4 To Him who alone does great wonders, For His mercy endures forever.” (NKJV)

I thank Him and praise His glorious name

1 Chronicles 29:10-13 – “Therefore David blessed the LORD before all the assembly; and David said: ‘Blessed are You, LORD God of Israel, our Father, forever and ever. 11 Yours, O LORD, is the greatness, The power and the glory, The victory and the majesty; For all that is in heaven and in earth is Yours; Yours is the kingdom, O LORD, And You are exalted as head over all. 12 Both riches and honor come from You, And You reign over all. In Your hand is power and might; In Your hand it is to make great And to give strength to all. 13 “Now therefore, our God, We thank You And praise Your glorious name.’” (NKJV)

I thank God for His grace toward me

Romans 5:8 – “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (NKJV)

I thank God for my country

Psalms 50:5 – “‘Gather My saints together to Me, Those who have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice.’” (NKJV)

I thank God for His word

Psalms 119:105 – “Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.” (NKJV)

I give thanks to God with everything that is in me

Psalms 150:1-6 – “Praise the LORD! Praise God in His sanctuary; Praise Him in His mighty firmament! 2 Praise Him for His mighty acts; Praise Him according to His excellent greatness! 3 Praise Him with the sound of the trumpet; Praise Him with the lute and harp! 4 Praise Him with the timbrel and dance; Praise Him with stringed instruments and flutes! 5 Praise Him with loud cymbals; Praise Him with clashing cymbals! 6 Let everything that has breath praise the LORD. Praise the LORD!” (NKJV)

I praise God for creating me

Psalms 139:14 – “I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well.” (NKJV)

I praise God for defending me

Psalms 18:1-4 – “<<To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of David the servant of the LORD, who spoke to the LORD the words of this song on the day that the LORD delivered him from the hand of all his enemies and from the hand of Saul. And he said:>> I will love You, O LORD, my strength. 2 The LORD is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; My God, my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold. 3 I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised; So shall I be saved from my enemies. 4 The pangs of death surrounded me, And the floods of ungodliness made me afraid.” (NKJV)

My praise and worship not only changes me but it is also spiritual warfare that manifests on earth

Psalms 149:1-9 – “Praise the LORD! Sing to the LORD a new song, And His praise in the assembly of saints. 2 Let Israel rejoice in their Maker; Let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. 3 Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp. 4 For the LORD takes pleasure in His people; He will beautify the humble with salvation. 5 Let the saints be joyful in glory; Let them sing aloud on their beds. 6 Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, And a two-edged sword in their hand, 7 To execute vengeance on the nations, And punishments on the peoples; 8 To bind their kings with chains, And their nobles with fetters of iron; 9 To execute on them the written judgment-This honor have all His saints. Praise the LORD!” (NKJV)