The Basis of Thanksgiving Ephesians 1:3-6

Thanksgiving is an interesting holiday… Do people really know what is being celebrated? The main roots of our national celebration go back to the pilgrims… They left Plymouth, England, on September 6, 1620

The Pilgrim’s adventures… For over two months, the 102 passengers braved the harsh elements They arrived off Massachusetts in late November and sought a suitable landing On December 11 they signed the “Mayflower Compact” –governing plan

A reason for thanksgiving… After a devastating winter of great loss of life, they had a good summer & harvest The grateful pilgrims declared a three day feast starting on December 13, 1621 They purposed to thank God and to celebrate with their Indian friends This was America’s first thanksgiving festival…

The first “official” National celebration of Thanksgiving, 1941 In 1789, George Washington issued a proclamation for thanksgiving… Protestant Episcopal Church announced a regular day for giving thanks... Credit for Annual National celebration is atributed to Mrs. Sarah Joseph Hale... Lincoln responded in 1863

Over the next 75 years… Presidents followed Lincoln’s precedent annually declaring a national day… In 1941, Congress permantly established the 4th Thursday as a national holiday Other nations and cultures have some comparable celebrations...

I. We have No Shortage of Reasons to be Thankful “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,” (Ephesians 1:3, NKJV)

A. We have every spiritual blessing in heavenly places in Christ As believers in Christ we lack nothing for heaven’s destiny As believers in Christ we have a right relationship with God We need to recognize what we have in Him & not try to get something more

Ephesians 1:4 “just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,” (NKJV)

B. We have been personally selected by God We are the objects of God’s love We are the objects of God’s choosing for heaven We are the objects of God’s provision for living

Ephesians 1:5 “having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will,” (NKJV)

C. We have been adopted into God’s family We are no longer in a place of alienation or enmity We are in a family relationship with God We are under the protection and provision of our heavenly Father

Ephesians 1:6 “to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.” (NKJV)

D. We have been accepted in the Beloved We are the recipients of His grace We are the participants in & for His glory We are fully accepted as His loved ones

II. Scripture is Clear that Thanksgiving is a big deal 2 Cor 9:15 “Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!” (NKJV) 1 Cor 15:57 “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (NKJV) Eph 5:20 “giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,” (NKJV)

A. Thankfulness is based on the expression of God’s grace We have manifold spiritual blessings in Christ We have all manner of physical blessings in life We do not have what we actually deserve

The idea of giving thanks is based on some basic principles A great God created and sustains life The vanity of human nature leads human beings to want to take credit… The greatest gift God has given is the gift of His Son

B. Thankfulness is exhorted and commanded Thankfulness is presented as a positive expectation The Bible records various people thanking the Lord Thankfulness is called for and commanded

C. Thanklessness is condemned and potentially hazardous People are condemned for not giving thanks People are rebuked for not thanking God for their harvest Withheld praise to God could lead to stones crying out

III. Secular Society has Much to be Thankful for as well

A. They have the common grace for all mankind All experience some basic blessings of life All experience the structure and order of life All rely on basic intellectual capacity and the logic in life

B. They have the positive influence of the church in the world The church provides moral guidelines and social stability The church provides compassion and meaning

C. They have the opportunity to respond in faith There is an ultimate source of truth beyond us There is a means of obtaining eternal life in Christ There is a provision for man’s basic sin problem