Living Grace Foursquare Church
Sunday Service
From Thanksgiving to Thanks-Living Thanksgiving is much more than words. Like so many of the commands of God, it should be an attitude of the heart because of who God is and what He has done. How do we turn Thanksgiving from a once-a-year celebration to “Thanks-Living?” Psalm 107:21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy!
Locations & Times
Living Grace Foursquare Church
3646 N Rancho Dr, Las Vegas, NV 89130, USA
Sunday 8:30 AM
Sunday 10:30 AM
Thanksgiving is not something we celebrate one day a year, but it’s who we are. We’re a thankful people who give thanks!
From Thanksgiving to Thanks-Living
From Thanksgiving to Thanks-Living
When the Pilgrims of 1621 held their first TXS, the previous winter had been one of brutal adversity in which weather and disease brought death of many of them, including women and children.
To all ye Pilgrims, Inasmuch as the great father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, squashes and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the raids of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Plymouth rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.
To all ye Pilgrims, Inasmuch as the great father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, squashes and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has protected us from the raids of the savages, has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Plymouth rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.
The purpose of our being built up as a spiritual house is to form a world-wide priesthood that is continually offering spiritual sacrifices to God (v5)
The Sacrifice of our Bodies
a. Scripture tells us to offer our bodies daily to God, asking Him to live His life through us (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:12–14).
a. Scripture tells us to offer our bodies daily to God, asking Him to live His life through us (Galatians 2:20; Romans 6:12–14).
The Sacrifice of Praise
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. 6 Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God. AMP
1. We were created to praise God.
2. We were created to be generous to others
Hebrews 13:15 Through Him, therefore, let us at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name. 6 Do not neglect to do good, to contribute [to the needy of the church as an expression of fellowship], for such sacrifices are always pleasing to God. AMP
1. We were created to praise God.
2. We were created to be generous to others
The Sacrifice of Thanksgiving
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1. Praise
2. Thanksgiving
3. Joy
4. Prayer
Notice these other important words:
1. Always
2. Everything
3. Without ceasing
4. In all circumstances
1 Thessalonians 5:16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1. Praise
2. Thanksgiving
3. Joy
4. Prayer
Notice these other important words:
1. Always
2. Everything
3. Without ceasing
4. In all circumstances
How can we have this attitude continually, especially "in all circumstances?"
We need a proper perspective of God. Only then we will be able to give thanks to the Lord always.
We need a proper perspective of God. Only then we will be able to give thanks to the Lord always.
What keeps us from being thankful?
1. Not understanding His grace
a. The Greek verb conveys the understanding that the giving of thanks is a response to the grace of God
2. Our Pride
a. We have no one to thank but ourselves
b. Acts 12:21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
3. A Critical Spirit or constant complaining
4. Carelessness
5. Forgetting where our blessings come from
1. Not understanding His grace
a. The Greek verb conveys the understanding that the giving of thanks is a response to the grace of God
2. Our Pride
a. We have no one to thank but ourselves
b. Acts 12:21 On an appointed day Herod put on his royal robes, took his seat upon the throne, and delivered an oration to them. 22 And the people were shouting, “The voice of a god, and not of a man!”
3. A Critical Spirit or constant complaining
4. Carelessness
5. Forgetting where our blessings come from
Our Thanksgiving should also include the tough stuff of life
He prayed 3 times to have this thorn removed.
1. 2 Corinthians 12:9. ““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
ii. Our response of giving thanks to the Lord is based upon experiencing the sufficiency of His grace being ministered to us
iii. Giving of thanks comes from the word that means grace.
Giving thanks does not mean we give thanks for everything, but we give thanks in everything because of our gracious God!
He prayed 3 times to have this thorn removed.
1. 2 Corinthians 12:9. ““My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
ii. Our response of giving thanks to the Lord is based upon experiencing the sufficiency of His grace being ministered to us
iii. Giving of thanks comes from the word that means grace.
Giving thanks does not mean we give thanks for everything, but we give thanks in everything because of our gracious God!