Thanks-Living

Thanks-Living

Pastor Phil Derstine  11-26-23

Thanksgiving is a 1-day National Holiday

• Established by President Abraham Lincoln in 1863 – Yet many people today are very UNTHANKFUL 
• II Timothy 3:1-2 “In the last days, perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy." 
• Thanks-Living is a POWERFUL tool in the spiritual realm… it releases the POWER OF GOD. 

Thanks Living is...

1. A Way of Thinking - We teach our children to say “Thank you” thru repetition…."Now, what do you say?"

• An attitude, not just words

• Ephesians 5:20 “Giving thanks always, for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus…”

• Not based on what you HAVE or don’t have. 

2. A Door of Entry - entry into repentance, forgiveness, faith, finances… enter HIS GATES

• Into a deeper Supernatural Realm - A way to get out of one place and into another.

• Psalm 100:4 “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, & into His courts with praise; be thankful unto Him.”

• Thanks giving can bring a Change of your SEASON.

3. A Sacrifice - Story of Jonah - He learned to be thankful in the belly of a great fish (Value of Storms, Pandemics)

• Jonah 2:9 “But I will sacrifice unto thee with voice of thanksgiving; I will pay that that I have vowed…”

• God sent Storm - Jonah rebellious, running from God, asleep in the boat.
• God sent Fish - Then Jonah prayed…. “In my distress…”
• God sent Revival - Jonah was angry, not grateful
• God sent Vine, Worm, Scorching wind, & Sun - Jonah still learning.

• Psalm 50:14 (NIV) “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High. (15) And call on me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.”

4. How to Pray

• Find something to be Thankful for!

• Philippians 4:6 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

• Count what you HAVE, not what you DON'T have!

• Mark 6:38 (Feeding of the 5,000) "How many loaves do you have?  Go and See!"

5. An Act of Faith 

• Something done in ADVANCE of the answer from God!

• I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”

• In the midst of everything…

• Luke 17:19 (10 lepers) “And He said unto him Arise, go thy way; thy faith hath made thee whole” (Sozo)

• Faith that returns Thanks!