2.  Is thanking God a way of life for you?  All men owe God gratitude on a daily basis: Psa. 100; 69:29-32; 95:1-3  Ingratitude leads to the darkness of sin and error: Rom. 1:18-21, 28-32 2

3.  True thanksgiving involves obedience: Col. 2:5-8  We receive Christ in baptism: Col. 2:12  Then we must worship Him in spirit and truth: Jn. 4:24; Eph. 5:19-20  Our trust in the Lord grows as we draw near in prayer and thank Him: Phil. 4:4-7 3

5.  God sustains our physical life on a daily basis: Matt. 6:25-34; 5:45; Acts 14:17  God places special emphasis upon giving thanks for our food: Mk. 8:6-7; Jn. 6:11, 23; Acts 27:35  Let us receive our food “with thanks- giving”: 1 Tim. 4:3-5; Col. 1:16-17; Psa. 107:8 5 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

6.  Spiritual blessings have even greater meaning than physical blessings: Eph. 1:3; 3:8; 1 Tim. 4:8  Creation of this relationship with God is unconditional, but the reception of these blessings is conditional!  God does not force man to enter this spiritual relationship, but tenderly invites us: Matt. 11:28-30; Rom. 1:16-17; 2 Thess. 2:13-14  We can only enjoy these blessings if we are citizens of God’s kingdom: Jn. 3:5 6 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

7.  Sin separates us from God: Isa. 59:2  Old Testament sacrifices designed to impress man with the seriousness of sin: Lev. 17:11; Heb. 10:1-4  Satisfaction of God’s wrath required Christ’s cruel death: Heb. 13:10-15; Rom. 3:25-26  Constant thankfulness a must: Matt. 26:26- 29; 1 Cor. 10:16; 11:23-26 7 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

8.  Despite man’s best intentions we are all guilty of sin: Rom. 7:22-8:2  Only Christ can break both the guilt and practice of sin: Eph. 1:3-7  Paul recognized this in his own life and was thankful; are you? 1 Tim. 1:12-17 8 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

9.  The gospel is the greatest message ever delivered to mankind: 1 Tim. 3:16; Rom. 1:16-17; 2:16  Gospel message would have been incredible if not confirmed: Acts 1:3  Not a collection of pious myths: 2 Pet. 1:3; Heb. 2:3-4; Rom. 1:4; 1 Cor. 1:4-9 9 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

10.  Something for which Jesus was thankful: Matt. 11:25-27  With most, the truth is secondary to their own wants and desires: Matt. 15:3-9  The simple truth sounds strange, narrow, legalistic, and judgmental to the carnal mind: Matt. 7:13-14  Humble hearts seek the truth of God’s Word, but proud and carnal hearts seek sensationalism, emotionalism, and intellectualism: 1 Cor. 1:18-31 10 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

11.  Paul was thankful for those who obeyed the gospel: Rom. 6:3-4, 17-18  Paul was thankful for those who received the gospel as God’s word: 1 Thess. 2:13-14; Jas. 1:21 11 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

12.  We should be thankful for those of “like precious faith”: 2 Pet. 1:1; Rom. 1:8-12  Such thoughts filled Paul with comfort and joy: 1 Thess. 3:5-13; 2 Thess. 1:3-4  Paul was thankful for the genuineness of Timothy’s faith: 2 Tim. 1:3-5; 2 Jn. 4 12 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

13.  Smell of burning incense in ancient triumphal processions could signal life or death.  We should be thankful for the aroma of the gospel: 2 Cor. 2:14-17  We should be thankful when we spread the gospel that we are “laborers together with God”: 1 Cor. 3:6-9  No greater privilege than to preach Christ or fellowship those preaching: Eph. 3:8-10; Phil. 1:5 13 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

14.  God makes it possible for us to do this work and guides us to fulfill its intended purpose: 1 Cor. 15:58  Jewish Christians were thankful when Gentile Christians came to their aid: 2 Cor. 9:7-15  We need to engage in such works for the benefit of others and ourselves: Acts 20:35; Lk. 18:22; Matt. 25:31-46 14 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

15.  Do you contemplate this wonderful victory? You should! Phil. 1:21-23  Many battles ahead, but the outcome is certain because Christ has defeated Satan: Eph. 6:10-13; 1 Tim. 6:12; 2 Tim. 4:6-8  We need to be thankful that Christ makes our victory possible and sure! 1 Cor. 15:54-58 15 Thanksgiving: A Way of Life

16.  Are you living a life of thanksgiving?  Satan’s defeat is a “done deal”! It’s certain beyond a shadow of doubt!  Truth and right will prevail over all sin and error.  If faithful, we will join the heavenly hosts in praising and thanking God for all eternity! 16 “Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honor and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created.” Revelation 4:7-11