## With Christ in Thanksgiving

## I John 2:6

(1 John 2:6) He that saith he abideth in Him ought himself also so to walk, even as He walked. By now I am sure that most of your plans for Thanksgiving are probably completed. Perhaps your plans include the traditional Thanksgiving dinner with the family and friends. Or maybe you are looking forward to a day of food and football. We have my family coming for dinner on Thursday, and then on Saturday we will travel to Pat's mother's for dinner with her family. Either place I will be the one who is called upon to return thanks before the meal. I don't mind this at all. It gives me an opportunity to share the gospel message with everyone there by way of the prayer! What I want us to consider this morning is this: What if Jesus came to our house for Thanksgiving this year? And what if He was the One who was asked to return thanks? How would He pray? What are some of the things for which He would be thankful? Go with me this morning in the Scriptures as we consider what Christ has been thankful for in the past.

I. Christ was thankful for the Simplicity of the Gospel.

A. Consider Christ's ministry.

1. Christ and His outreach to the poor and needy. cf. Mt. 11:1-6

2. Rebuke of the proud and the Pharisees. cf. Mt. 11:20-24

3. Declaration of thanksgiving for the simplicity of the Gospel message.

(Matthew 11:25) At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes.

B. The 'great' mistake.

1. The believers in the church at Corinth were fighting and arguing over who was greater.

2. God's plan was to make the message of salvation simple so that all could understand.

(1 Corinthians 1:18) For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.

C. The road to blessing is the road of humility.

1. Peter challenges us to be humble.

(1 Peter 5:6) Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time:

2. This was something that he had to learn the hard way.

3. God's blessings is not to be found by acquiring the wisdom of this world, but by humility.

(Luke 14:11) For whosoever exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted.

D. Christ was thankful, as He looked over the multitude, that education, riches, and fame could not earn heaven...when we come to Christ, we must do so as a little child.

1. Are you thankful for the simplicity of the Gospel message?

2. What must I do to be saved? Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

4. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.

5. Have you received Christ by simple faith this morning? If so, there is reason to be thankful.

II. Christ was thankful for the Sufficiency of God the Father.

A. The setting and the scene: Feeding of the five thousand. Cf Jn 6:1-10

1. After a busy day of ministry Jesus chose to teach His disciples a great lesson in the sufficiency of God.

2. He instructed His disciples to have the multitude sit down.

3. The disciples questioned how this great task would be accomplished.

B. Consider the need and the resources at hand.

1. How would you like to have that crowd drop in for Thanksgiving?

2. Philip's dilemma: not enough to meet this need.

3. Jesus proving Philip... Philip would be a better man after this event.

4. There is comfort in the fact that Jesus knew what He would do.

C. Christ was thankful for the provision.

(John 6:11) And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the fishes as much as they would.

1. He made the universe, yet He was thankful for loaves and fishes.

2. He was the One who called forth the first stalk of wheat, yet He was thankful for the bread.

3. He was the One who spoke the first fishes into existence, and yet He was thankful for those given to Him.

D. Are we thankful for the provision of God?

1. How often we fail to show our gratitude to God!

2. God has made provision for all of our needs...but especially for our eternal future, are we thankful?

3. People who think they must work or do something to help God out do not believe in the sufficiency of the Father.

(Romans 1:16) For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.

4. Let's be thankful for the sufficiency of God?

III. Christ was thankful for Salvation through the Cross.

A. Christ was with the disciples in the upper room at time of the Passover.

1. The Lord began to pray for the meal that they were about to eat, but it was more than just thanksgiving for the food.

2. Paul explains this to the church at Corinth.

1 Cor. 11:23b-24, "…The Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread: And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me."

3. This was thanksgiving for what the bread and wine represented.

a. "This is my body which is broken for you."

b. "This is the New Testament in my blood."

c. Jesus knew exactly what would take place in just a few short hours.

d. And He was thankful!

B. What amazing love!

1. Jesus was thankful for the cross upon which He would die.

2. This was God's plan for the redemption of mankind.

3. Jesus was thankful that men can be saved ...even though it would take His death upon the cross.

What are we thankful for this Thanksgiving? Are we thankful for the simplicity of the Gospel? For God's provision? For salvation through the Cross? Are we thankful for what God has done in our lives? Why not take the opportunity to thank Him? Why not be a witness through your prayers this year? Do you know Christ as your Savior? Why not trust Him today?