THANK YOU, LORD!


GIVE THANKS TO GOD 

• thanksgiving begins in the heart (Col 3:16)
• giving thanks is the proper response to receiving God's grace—for Jesus and our salvation (2 Cor 9:15),
for victory over death (1 Cor 15:57), and for allowing Paul to serve as an apostle (1 Tim 1:12–13)
• the angels in heaven continually thank God for the things He has done for them (Rev 4:9; 7:12; 11:17);
thanksgiving comes from the highest angels—the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders who surround God's throne
• we are commanded to be thankful (Col 3:15) and to give thanks (Eph 5:3–4)
• include thanksgiving in your prayers (Phil 4:6; Col 4:2)
• we may give thanks in private (prayer) or in public (prayer, testimonies, preaching, teaching, singing)
• thanksgiving glorifies God (Luke 17:11–19):
Jesus thanked God in advance for answering His prayer in order to glorify God publicly (John 11:41–43)

THANK GOD FOR… 

• some things to thank God for: (1) healing (Luke 17:11–19), (2) salvation (2 Cor 9:15),
(3) freeing us from sin and making us slaves of righteousness (Rom 6:17–18),
(4) victory over death (1 Cor 15:57), (5) leading us in His triumph (2 Cor 2:14),
(6) hearing our prayers (John 11:41), (7) allowing us to serve Him (1 Tim 1:12–13), (8) a positive response to God's Word
(1 Thess 2:13), (9) the love and faith of your Christian friends (Philemon 4–5; cf. 2 Tim 1:3), (10) the people in your church
(Eph 1:15–16; 1 Thess 1:2), (11) spiritual growth in the local church (2 Thess 1:3), (12) generous saints (2 Cor 9:11b, 12b),
(13) daily food (Matt 15:35–36; Acts 27:35; 1 Tim 4:3–4)
• thanks must be given through Jesus to the Father (Rom 1:8; Eph 5:20; Col 3:17)

GIVE THANKS IN SUFFERING 

• we are commanded to give thanks in everything (1 Thess 5:18)
• the real test of thankfulness comes in hard times: can we honestly thank God for suffering, testing, temptation, or discipline?
• a thankful attitude in suffering is the result of seeing things from God's perspective:
it requires an understanding of the Bible and faith in God's promises
• we can honestly give thanks for hard times because God has promised to work all things together for good (Rom 8:28)
• thank God for (1) not testing you beyond your ability (1 Cor 10:13), (2) providing a way of escape (1 Cor 10:13),
(3) limiting the amount of suffering you will endure (Job 1:12; 2:6),
(4) giving you an opportunity to learn how to endure (James 1:2–3),
(5) protecting you from pride (2 Cor 12:7–9), (6) disciplining you (Heb 12:9–11),
(7) making you an example and encouragement to others (Job),
(8) giving you an opportunity to win the crown of life (James 1:12; Rev 2:10)
• thankfulness is a prerequisite of contentment: if you're not thankful during the hard times you won't be content (cf. Phil 4:11)
• giving thanks in the hard times glorifies God much more than giving thanks for your blessings
• thanksgiving should be a part of every worship service (Eph 5:19–20; Col 3:15–17)