America has a lot to be thankful for, including the election and it is still –– in spite of the current recession –– the best economy in the world among large nations. Why did the Pilgrims launch the greatest nation on Earth shortly after arriving in the New World? They tremendously appreciated the opportunity and freedom, and set up the Thanksgiving Holiday to thank our great Creator for His blessings and protection. Why was King David “A Man After God's Own Heart?” He really thanked and appreciated God!
1 Chronicles 16:7-12, “…to thank the LORD: 8 Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name … sing psalms to Him; Talk of all His wondrous works!… 12 Remember His marvelous works which He has done…” (NKJV)
Psalms 8:3-6, “When I consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained; 4 What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man … and hast crowned him with glory and honor. 6 Thou madest him to have dominion…”
This spirit of appreciation and thankfulness for God's choosing mankind was one reason why God chose David to be King. Actions which automatically work are called “laws.” They cannot be denied. Gravity is a law. So is thankfulness. The first observable law is that “Spiritual blessings come to those who are thankful.” Therefore it is assumed that law observation number two is the converse “Spiritual decadence comes with LACK OF thankfulness or ingratitude.”
2 Timothy 3:1-3, “But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come: 2 For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, UNTHANKFUL , unholy, 3 unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal…”
Those who are not grateful or thankful seem to drink in evil influences.
Romans 1:21, “Because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.”
WE MUST BE APPRECIATIVE OF GOD'S BLESSINGS THIS THANKSGIVING
During the nation's most stressful moments, they turned to the celebration of Thanksgiving and it worked. George Washington did it and so did Abraham Lincoln during the stress of the Civil War. Further, in March of 1865 He signed a bill adding “In God We Trust” to our coinage. It was the last act Lincoln ever signed.
Paul also encouraged thankfulness. He emphasized thankfulness in a number of his letters advising Christians on how to grow and overcome spiritually who also were under stress.
Ephesians 5:18-20, “And do not be drunk with wine... but be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord, 20 GIVING THANKS ALWAYS for all things to God...”
Paul is stating that thankfulness is a major force to buoy up the spirits of believers. It can help strengthen the believers in Christ in our hearts, just as music and other positive emotional activities do. The believer that is thanking God for blessings, and in some cases, even trials, is getting stronger. The act of thanking draws Christians closer to Christ! The spirit that comes with a lack of thankfulness or ingratitude pulls us away from Jesus.
WE MUST RESIST THE WOKE MOVEMENT TO DISCREDIT AND DISMISS THANKSGIVING
Thursday, November 28. In 1621, the Plymouth colonists and the Wampanoag people shared an autumn harvest feast that is acknowledged as the first Thanksgiving celebration in the colonies. But the holiday is not without controversy. Many American scholars for years have attacked the holiday. Like most woke ideologies, they are wrong.
The Pilgrims helped protect them from their enemies to the west, the Iroquois league. The Wampanoags also benefited from European agriculture advances. Obviously it was mutually beneficial as the natives taught them key local knowledge needed to flourish. Today millions of indigenous people of central and southern America gladly rush the border to enjoy the prosperous nation founded by the Pilgrims.
Colossians 2:7, “Rooted and built up in Him and established in the faith, as you have been taught, abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
Colossians 4:2, “Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving;”
GOD REQUIRES THANKFULNESS FOR CONTINUED BLESSINGS
A full robust Thanksgiving Holiday is good for this nation.
Psalms 67:3-6, “Let the people praise You, O God; let all the people THANK YOU... 5 Let the people GIVE THANKS to You, O God; let all the people praise You. 6 The earth shall yield its increase; and God, our own God, shall bless us.”
A parent is more likely to give more gifts to an appreciative and positive gift receiver rather than a negative, “You-owe-it-to-me” demander of a gift. However, America is now increasingly minimizing the Thanksgiving Holiday. Two big commercial holidays dominate the public mind. They are Halloween, which is not just for children anymore and Xmas. Black Friday shopping is strongly encroaching on the Thanksgiving Holiday itself as well. What remains is a truncated meal, TV, football and SHOPPING. Obviously God deserves more!
Col. 2:6, “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: 7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.”
What are we losing? An UN-thankful populous is an unhappy populous. Being thankful is necessary for a content, mature population. We have not been taught to appreciate America and our blessings. God has clearly blessed America. But we are losing our appreciation for the blessings of living in America, land of the free and mostly the very well fed. Some youth are being taught to hate America in America -- unbelievable!
1 Thessalonians 5:18, “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (KJV)
We have bigger cars and homes and yards than other peoples. Our food production problems have normally been those of excess bounty (Why the need for crop price controls?). America is still the breadbasket of the world. America is the most desired destination of refugees. Wall Street is the financial hub of the World. The Pilgrims were validated by the breathtaking rise to power and national greatness of the United States. It is unparalleled in all of world history! In two World Wars, America had the productivity to give victory to people globally. This productive power is a gift from God, which we should appreciate. WE MUST RELISH THANKSGIVING!
ISSUES : DO MOST KNOW OF THE SPIRITUAL PERIL OF PROSPERITY? DO SOME NO LONGER FEEL A STRONG NEED FOR GOD AS THEY PROSPER?
