““T 37 Tweety Bird with T 38 Talon!”T 37 Tweety Bird with T 38 Talon!”

““Before There Was Twitter There Was… Before There Was Twitter There Was… Tweet!”Tweet!”

““Doesn’t the Bible say God doesn’t need anything –Doesn’t the Bible say God doesn’t need anything – Yes. Yes.

And doesn’t God say we’re not supposed to seek And doesn’t God say we’re not supposed to seek the praise of others?”the praise of others?” Yes.Yes.

Then why does Scripture tell us we have to give Then why does Scripture tell us we have to give thanks and praise to God? What’s God’s thanks and praise to God? What’s God’s problem?problem?

If we only give thanks because of a command from If we only give thanks because of a command from God – God – the problem is not with Him.the problem is not with Him.

It’s with our knowing the presence of It’s with our knowing the presence of God.God.

And, perhaps with our definition of And, perhaps with our definition of Thanksgiving.Thanksgiving.

Ephesians 5:18-20 Ephesians 5:18-20 Do not filled with wine – don’t get drunk Do not filled with wine – don’t get drunk

that is reckless, mindless, wild living:that is reckless, mindless, wild living:““The life of one who has no regard for safety” The life of one who has no regard for safety”

When we are under the influence of anything When we are under the influence of anything other than God’s Spirit, we place ourselves other than God’s Spirit, we place ourselves

in danger. in danger.

But, being filled with the Spirit brings to us the But, being filled with the Spirit brings to us the “mind” of Christ “mind” of Christ

And what is the result? And what is the result?

Ephesians 5:18-20 Ephesians 5:18-20

What is the result?What is the result?

We have the words of Christ to speak and sing We have the words of Christ to speak and sing to each other; natural praise for Christ and to each other; natural praise for Christ and

thanksgiving flows! thanksgiving flows!

From this word for thanks in the passage we From this word for thanks in the passage we get “eucharist” Holy Communion, that is get “eucharist” Holy Communion, that is

also commonly called “The Great also commonly called “The Great Thanksgiving”.Thanksgiving”.

How do we give thanks for everything?How do we give thanks for everything?

Thanks for Sandy? For the nor’easter that Thanks for Sandy? For the nor’easter that followed? For tragedy? followed? For tragedy?

The emphasis is not on just the “all” – or all The emphasis is not on just the “all” – or all the time – for all things, the time – for all things,

but on the new opportunity, privilege and but on the new opportunity, privilege and experience we enjoy of giving thanks to the experience we enjoy of giving thanks to the

Father – in the name of Jesus – in the Father – in the name of Jesus – in the fullness and power of the Holy Spirit that fullness and power of the Holy Spirit that

make us fully aware of the continual make us fully aware of the continual presence of the Father and the Son at all presence of the Father and the Son at all

times in all situations.times in all situations.

1 Thessalonians 5:17-191 Thessalonians 5:17-19““Give thanks In all circumstances…Give thanks In all circumstances…

For this is the will of God…”For this is the will of God…”First it says “pray constantly”First it says “pray constantly”

Not the circumstances, but our giving thanks.Not the circumstances, but our giving thanks.

In the most difficult of times God is still In the most difficult of times God is still present, God still rules, God still loves me, present, God still rules, God still loves me,

God still listens to my cry, His powerful God still listens to my cry, His powerful grace is still available to me – for that I can’t grace is still available to me – for that I can’t

help but give thanks – all the time.help but give thanks – all the time.

Perhaps that’s why Paul goes on to say, Perhaps that’s why Paul goes on to say, ““Do not stifle the Spirit.”Do not stifle the Spirit.”

What if I don’t What if I don’t feelfeel grateful or grateful or appreciative. It just seems so appreciative. It just seems so hypocritical to give thanks.hypocritical to give thanks.

The word usually translated as Thank isThe word usually translated as Thank is YadahYadah – along with Hodah and Todah. – along with Hodah and Todah.

All related and are found in our Bibles as All related and are found in our Bibles as thanks, thanksgiving, thankoffering and thanks, thanksgiving, thankoffering and the like.the like.

But the word does not have the root meaning But the word does not have the root meaning of appreciation, gratitude, or gratefulness, of appreciation, gratitude, or gratefulness,

but of confession, acknowledgement, but of confession, acknowledgement, declaration and proclamation.declaration and proclamation.

Then, how does it get translated “give Then, how does it get translated “give thanks”? thanks”?

When Scripture says, “Give thanks to God” it When Scripture says, “Give thanks to God” it is exhorting us to confess to Him and is exhorting us to confess to Him and

others, to acknowledge, declare or others, to acknowledge, declare or proclaim who He is, what He has done, and proclaim who He is, what He has done, and

what He has promised He will do.what He has promised He will do.

As a consequence some versions now As a consequence some versions now translate it as praise, because “giving translate it as praise, because “giving

thanks to God is one way of praising Him.”thanks to God is one way of praising Him.”

Giving thanks, then, is the recognition and Giving thanks, then, is the recognition and subsequent acknowledgement, confession subsequent acknowledgement, confession and declaration of who God is, what he has and declaration of who God is, what he has promised, what he has done, and what he promised, what he has done, and what he

has said He will do.has said He will do.

Psalm 100Psalm 100

Enter His gates with…Enter His gates with…Thanksgivng - TodahThanksgivng - Todah

And His courts with…And His courts with…Praise – HallelPraise – Hallel

Give thanks to Him – HodahGive thanks to Him – HodahAnd bless His name - BarachAnd bless His name - Barach

Back to the New – the New TestamentBack to the New – the New Testament

Hebrews 13:15 Hebrews 13:15 Through Jesus, therefore, let us Through Jesus, therefore, let us

continually offer to God a sacrifice of continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise--the fruit of lips that confess His praise--the fruit of lips that confess His

name…name…that praise His name…that praise His name…

that acknowledge His name…that acknowledge His name…that proclaim His name…that proclaim His name…

that give thanks to His name!that give thanks to His name!

Which is it – are we to praise, confess, Which is it – are we to praise, confess, acknowledge, proclaim, or give thanks?acknowledge, proclaim, or give thanks?

All of the above! Same sense as our Old All of the above! Same sense as our Old Testament word – Yadah.Testament word – Yadah.

It is one “sacrifice” we are privileged to It is one “sacrifice” we are privileged to offer to Him.offer to Him.

OOOh…serving Christ is such a sacrifice!OOOh…serving Christ is such a sacrifice!

So to the question – and often the So to the question – and often the accusing voice – accusing voice –

““You hypocrite! You don’t feel very You hypocrite! You don’t feel very appreciative. Stop giving thanks to appreciative. Stop giving thanks to

God.”God.”

We say, We say, ““I don’t need to feel it – I know it to be I don’t need to feel it – I know it to be

true with all my being – all my heart”true with all my being – all my heart”

And, when I acknowledge it, when I And, when I acknowledge it, when I confess it, when I proclaim it in confess it, when I proclaim it in

thanks and praise to God – thanks and praise to God – it’s funny how that makes me feel!it’s funny how that makes me feel!