The two-year old looks up at her father and said, "Daddy, I want some money." Persuaded by her big eyes and her open hand, her father handed her a quarter and said, "Here's some big money!" Immediately, she responded, "I want some 'wittle money, too." Giving her a penny, or some 'wittle money, he asked, "Now, what do you say?" Her answer wasn't the "Thank you" he had expected, but it was so true to life. She wrinkled her nose and whined, "I want some more."
Thanksgiving is not a natural attribute in anyone. Contrary to popular opinion, we are not born with good tendencies. The Bible tells us that "there is none that doeth good, no, not one" (Rom. 3:12). Thus, we are not born with a thankful heart. Thanksgiving doesn't flow out of our unregenerate nature. It is only when we are born again, or divinely regenerated, that we become genuinely appreciative to God and to man for our blessings in life. And, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, by the revelation of Holy Scripture, by the operations of the grace of God within us, and by the influence of others who have already progressed in this spiritual arena, we begin to learn God's truths and ways, one of which is thankfulness.
Giving thanks is more than bowing our heads and praying a little prayer over our daily food. It is also more than just a once-a-year event celebrated with friends, relatives, turkey, and pumpkin pie. It is an attitude of heart and life, that leaves us in humble gratitude before God and men. This morning, let's use Noah's sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving to focus on this principle.
Read: Genesis 8:20-22
I. The Place of Thanksgiving.
A. Thanksgiving Should Have First Place In Our Attitude
"FOR AS HE THINKETH IN HIS HEART, SO IS HE: EAT AND DRINK, SAITH HE TO THEE; BUT HIS HEART IS NOT WITH THEE." (PROV 23:7)
1. Our actions are governed by our attitudes.
2. In other words, what we are determines what we do.
3. We must be right on the inside before we can behave correctly on the outside.
4. For thanksgiving, then, to work its way into our daily living, it must begin in our hearts.
5. Jesus taught this same principle during His earthly ministry.
"A GOOD MAN OUT OF THE GOOD TREASURE OF HIS HEART BRINGETH FORTH THAT WHICH IS GOOD; AND AN EVIL MAN OUT OF THE EVIL TREASURE OF HIS HEART BRINGETH FORTH THAT WHICH IS EVIL: FOR OF THE ABUNDANCE OF THE HEART HIS MOUTH SPEAKETH." (LUKE 6:45)
a. What’s on the inside is what is going to come out!
b. To be thankful, then, involves self- discipline.
c. We must heed the admonition of Solomon.
"KEEP THY HEART WITH ALL DILIGENCE; FOR OUT OF IT ARE THE ISSUES OF LIFE." (PROV 4:23)
6. There is nothing easy about cultivating an appreciative attitude.
a. It is something that we have to work on constantly in our inward man.
b. But, as we humble ourselves, and cooperate with His Spirit, the "sweet aroma" of a grateful spirit will begin to issue out of our lives.
B. Thanksgiving Should Have First Place In Our Actions.
If we are thankful in our hearts, we will be thankful in our daily living. "Thanksgiving is thanks-living!" That is, a thankful spirit is translated into our actions.
1. First, our daily lives should display our gratitude to God.
"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." (JAMES 1:17)
2. We should be determined, then, by the grace of God, to always show our appreciation for His blessings.
3. Our daily lives should demonstrate our appreciation to those around us.
a. Thanksgiving is not just a vertical principle.
b. It has its horizontal relationships, as well.
c. When we are sincerely thankful to God for His blessings, we cannot help but be grateful for the kind deeds of others.
d. Let's not forget to express a "thank you," to others.
C. Thanksgiving Should Have First Place In Our Approach to God.
1. When we think of approaching God, we usually think of prayer.
2. But, the Bible instructs us to come before God, not only with "prayer and supplication," but also "with thanksgiving" (Phil. 4:6).
3. Prayer and thanksgiving are seldom seen one without the other in the Scriptures.
"ENTER INTO HIS GATES WITH THANKSGIVING, AND INTO HIS COURTS WITH PRAISE: BE THANKFUL UNTO HIM, AND BLESS HIS NAME." (PSA 100:4)
4. What Noah did certainly agrees with the law of approach, then, doesn't it?
5. His " prayers" and "giving of thanks" came first.
6. He was quick to give God the glory for what He had done!
7. We need to learn to follow this pattern of worship.
"LET US COME BEFORE HIS PRESENCE WITH THANKSGIVING, AND MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE UNTO HIM WITH PSALMS." (PSA 95:2)
II. The Purpose of Thanksgiving is to Glorify God.
Note: Ps. 148:2-5
"AND EVERY CREATURE WHICH IS IN HEAVEN, AND ON THE EARTH, AND UNDER THE EARTH, AND SUCH AS ARE IN THE SEA, AND ALL THAT ARE IN THEM, HEARD I SAYING, BLESSING, AND HONOUR, AND GLORY, AND POWER, BE UNTO HIM THAT SITTETH UPON THE THRONE, AND UNTO THE LAMB FOR EVER AND EVER." (REV 5:13)
"AND THAT EVERY TONGUE SHOULD CONFESS THAT JESUS CHRIST IS LORD, TO THE GLORY OF GOD THE FATHER." (PHIL 2:11)
A. The Direction Of Thanksgiving
1. The thankful life is one that moves us toward God!
2. Giving thanks is cooperating with the divine purpose, or simply doing what we were created to do - - glorify God!
3. That's what we see here in this post- flood scene.
4. Noah built an altar "unto the Lord" (8:20).
"NOW WHEN DANIEL KNEW THAT THE WRITING WAS SIGNED, HE WENT INTO HIS HOUSE; AND HIS WINDOWS BEING OPEN IN HIS CHAMBER TOWARD JERUSALEM, HE KNEELED UPON HIS KNEES THREE TIMES A DAY, AND PRAYED, AND GAVE THANKS BEFORE HIS GOD, AS HE DID AFORETIME." (DAN 6:10)
B. The Distinction Of Thanksgiving
1. We are not told that Noah gave thanks, but he did give unto the Lord.
2. The special feature of thanksgiving is that it has "giving" in it.
3. Actually, the "thanks" is rather insignificant without the "giving."
4. Thanksgiving is simply giving something for something given.
a. It is giving something back for something received.
b. It is giving honor to the One Who has honored us!
c. It is blessing Him Who has blessed us!
d. It is a reciprocal offering!
5. Noah had much to be thankful for, but what about us?
C. The Delight Of Thanksgiving.
1. When Noah gave his offerings unto the Lord, the Bible says that "the Lord smelled a sweet savour".
2. This means "to perceive with delight; or to accept."
3. He was greatly pleased with the aroma of the Noah's sacrifices.
4. Thanksgiving is one of the few things that is said to please God.
a. He is pleased with the preaching of the Gospel. cf 1Co. 1:21
b. He is pleased with Jesus Christ. cf Col. 1:19
c. He is pleased with faith. cf Heb. 11:5-6
d. But when we offer up "the sacrifice of praise...God is well pleased" cf Heb. 13:15-16
5. The Lord delights in, takes pleasure in, our offerings of thanksgiving.
a. Have we been pleasing the Lord?
b. Is He well-pleased with us?
c. He is if we are thankful!
III. The Spiritual Offering.
A. Clean Spirit
1. Noah's thanksgiving offerings were truly acceptable because all his sacrifices were clean animals.
2. God will not accept just anything we decide to offer.
a. A good illustration of this is found in the story of the Pharisee and the publican in Luke 18:9-14.
b. The Pharisee gave thanks, but his thanksgiving was hypocritical and self- exalting.
c. As a result, his offering was refused and the humble publican's accepted.
3. If our thanksgivings are to be acceptable to God, we must be clean within and without.
B. Complete Surrender.
1. Noah's offerings were burnt on the altar.
2. In a burnt offering, every part of the sacrifice was to be offered and totally consumed on the altar. cf Lev. 1:1-17
3. This bears a message to us of complete surrender to God.
4. Anything less is unacceptable to God.
C. Continual Sacrifice.
1. I'm sure that you have already noticed that Noah offered "offerings."
a. It is in the plural, and suggests that many sacrifices were consumed on the altar offered in gratitude to His God.
b. It was not just a brief moment of worship that was experienced, but hours and, perhaps, days were expended in this sacrificial ordeal.
2. From this we are reminded of our constant need to give thanks.
3. The fire of the altar is to never go out!
4. The smoke of our grateful hearts is to ever ascend before Him!
"...I WILL BLESS THE LORD AT ALL TIMES: HIS PRAISE SHALL CONTINUALLY BE IN MY MOUTH." (PSA 34:1B)
5. In the morning and in the evening, let us give thanks!
6. In times of blessing and times of trial, let us give thanks!
7. In private moments and in public gatherings let us give thanks!
This morning if you have never trusted Christ and accepted His payment for sin on Calvary...thank God you can come today and be saved! If you have failed to live faithfully for Him as a Christian...thank God you can come to Him and find forgiveness and restoration. Whatever the need...thank God for the Holy Spirit who convicts us and draws us to Him.