## What Kind of Thanksgiving?

## Psalm 116:17

- Not talking about what we will have on the menu
- Not talking about who will be with us
- Not talking about where we will be

I. Costly Thanks.

A. Thanksgiving often involves sacrifice.

Ps 116:17 I will offer to thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD.

1. Thanksgiving has been a part of God's plan for His people from the very beginning.

a. He taught Adam and Eve…

b. They taught their children…

c. God instructed the Jews in the O.T.

d. He also instructs us today in His Word.

2. Thanksgiving isn't about our resources; it is about our attitude.

3. But there will be a cost involved!

2Sa 24:24 And the king said unto Araunah, Nay; but I will surely buy it of thee at a price: neither will I offer burnt offerings unto the LORD my God of that which doth cost me nothing. So David bought the threshingfloor and the oxen for fifty shekels of silver.

4. We do not offer up animals for sacrifice today, because Jesus did away with that…He was the Lamb of God sacrificed on Calvary.

5. Now it is our verbal praise that is sacrificial.

Heb 13:15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

II. Correct Thanks.

A. Thanksgiving is an evidence of faith.

1.While ten were healed, only one leper returned to give thanks. Luke 17:11-19

2. Lack of faith and spirit of ingratitude go together.

Ro 1:21 Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

3. So when we know God…we also should be thankful to Him for all He has done in our lives!

B. Thanksgiving reveals the depth of our fellowship.

1. Saying grace at meals…recognizing that we owe everything to Him…even the food we eat!

2. We must have God's grace in our hearts to properly thank Him.

3. Our willingness to offer genuine sacrifices of praise is evidence that we consider the Lord worthy of all our sacrifice and thanks.

C. Too often we take God, and those around us, for granted

III. Continual Thanks.

A. Praise and thanksgiving is to be a way of life.

1Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.

Eph 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;

B. We are called to be a living sacrifice.

Ro 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.

1. Paul instructs us to present our bodies…our lives right now!

2. Actually the only gift we can give is ourselves!

3. Everything else comes from God!

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.

What kind of thanksgiving will we have this year? It should be…

- Costly…sacrificial
- Correct…from a heart of faith and in fellowship
- Continual…not just on the fourth Thursday of November, but every day of our lives!

We need to thank Him for the greatest gift of all…Salvation through the shed blood of His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. Have you accepted Christ as your personal Savior? If not, why not trust Him today? If so, we ought to thank Him for His grace and mercy in our lives.

2Co 9:15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.