With Thanksgiving – The Lamp & Light Post

2021 08 15

The Power of Thanksgiving

Nehemiah walls, Ezra Temple

Nehemiah 12:26 (NKJV) These lived in the days of Joiakim the son of Jeshua, the son of Jozadak, and in the days of Nehemiah the governor, and of Ezra the priest, the scribe.
Nehemiah 7:1-2 (NKJV) ¹ Then it was, when the wall was built and I had hung the doors, when the gatekeepers, the singers, and the Levites had been appointed, ² that I gave the charge of Jerusalem to my brother Hanani, and Hananiah the leader of the citadel, for he was a faithful man and feared God more than many.
Ezra 1:3 (NKJV) Who is among you of all His people? May his God be with him, and let him go up to Jerusalem which is in Judah, and build the house of the LORD God of Israel (He is God), which is in Jerusalem.

Walls Salvation, gates praise Isaiah 60:18

Isaiah 60:18 (NKJV) Violence shall no longer be heard in your land, Neither wasting nor destruction within your borders; But you shall call your walls Salvation, And your gates Praise.

Gates made of one giant Pearl-Revelation 21

Revelation 21:21 (NKJV) The twelve gates were twelve pearls: each individual gate was of one pearl. And the street of the city was pure gold, like transparent glass.
Peals made from irritation

All food sanctified by prayer and thanksgiving

1 Timothy 4:4-5 (NKJV) ⁴ For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; ⁵ for it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer.
Thanksgiving nullifies the weapons of the enemy
Praise allows Jesus in, but prevents the enemy from coming in
God takes care of your salvation
You are in control of the gate,

Holy Communion

Luke 22:14-20 (NKJV) ¹⁴ When the hour had come, He sat down, and the twelve apostles with Him. ¹⁵ Then He said to them, “With fervent desire I have desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer; ¹⁶ for I say to you, I will no longer eat of it until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God.” ¹⁷ Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and said, “Take this and divide it among yourselves; ¹⁸ for I say to you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” ¹⁹ And He took bread, gave thanks and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” ²⁰ Likewise He also took the cup after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood, which is shed for you.

Jesus gave thanks

During the Holy Communion

Matthew 15:36 (NKJV) And He took the seven loaves and the fish and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples; and the disciples gave to the multitude.
Before feeding the multitudes

Mark 8:6 (NKJV) So He commanded the multitude to sit down on the ground. And He took the seven loaves and gave thanks, broke them and gave them to His disciples to set before them; and they set them before the multitude.

John 6:11 (NKJV) And Jesus took the loaves, and when He had given thanks He distributed them to the disciples, and the disciples to those sitting down; and likewise of the fish, as much as they wanted.
Often and always

John 6:23 (NKJV) however, other boats came from Tiberias, near the place where they ate bread after the Lord had given thanks—

We are called to give thanks

With Thanksgiving

Philippians 4:4-9 (NKJV) ⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! ⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ⁷ and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. ⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy–meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
in everything give thanks;
for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 (NKJV) ¹² And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³ and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves. ¹⁴ Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵ See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. ¹⁶ Rejoice always, ¹⁷ pray without ceasing, ¹⁸ in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. ¹⁹ Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰ Do not despise prophecies. ²¹ Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²² Abstain from every form of evil.
giving thanks to God the Father through Him.

Colossians 3:16-17 (NKJV) ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
Giving of thanks to God avoids
- Fornication
- all uncleanness
- covetousness,
- filthiness,
- foolish talking,
- coarse jesting,
Ephesians 5:1-4 (NKJV) 1 Therefore be imitators of God as dear children. 2 And walk in love, as Christ also has loved us and given Himself for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweet-smelling aroma. 3 But fornication and all uncleanness or covetousness, let it not even be named among you, as is fitting for saints; 4 neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor coarse jesting, which are not fitting, but rather giving of thanks.
giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ
- submitting to one another
- In the fear of God. (v21)
Ephesians 5:15-21 (NKJV) ¹⁵ See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, ¹⁶ redeeming the time, because the days are evil. ¹⁷ Therefore do not be unwise, but understand what the will of the Lord is.
¹⁸ And do not be drunk with wine, in which is dissipation; 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 the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
²¹ submitting to one another in the fear of God.

giving of thanks be made for all people in authority

1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NKJV) ¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and
giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

In the Old Testament

2 Samuel 22:47-50 (NKJV) ⁴⁷ “The LORD lives! Blessed be my Rock! Let God be exalted, The Rock of my salvation! ⁴⁸ It is God who avenges me, And subdues the peoples under me; ⁴⁹ He delivers me from my enemies. You also lift me up above those who rise against me; You have delivered me from the violent man. ⁵⁰ Therefore I will give thanks to You, O LORD, among the Gentiles, And sing praises to Your name.

It is God who
- avenges me
- subdues the peoples under me;
- delivers me from my enemies.
- lift me up above those who rise against me;
- You have delivered me from the violent man.
Therefore, I will give thanks to You
Throughout the OT, there are scriptures on being thankful to God, our creator
- His character
- His attributes as they are revealed
1 Chronicles 16:8 (NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the LORD! Call upon His name; Make known His deeds among the peoples!

1 Chronicles 16:34 (NKJV) Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.

Ezra 3:11 (NKJV) And they sang responsively, praising and giving thanks to the LORD: “For He is good, For His mercy endures forever toward Israel.” Then all the people shouted with a great shout, when they praised the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Psalm 79:13 (NKJV) So we, Your people and sheep of Your pasture, Will give You thanks forever; We will show forth Your praise to all generations.

Psalm 97:12 (NKJV) Rejoice in the LORD, you righteous, And give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.

Psalm 119:62 (NKJV) At midnight I will rise to give thanks to You, Because of Your righteous judgments.

A River in the New Testament

A glad heart gives thanks

Psalm 32:11 (NKJV) Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous; And shout for joy, all you upright in heart! (śāmaḥ)

Psalm 46:4 (NKJV) There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High. (śāmaḥ)

Revelation 22:1 (NKJV) And he showed me a pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb.

John 7:37-39 (NKJV) ³⁷ On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink. ³⁸ He who believes in Me, as the Scripture has said, out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.” ³⁹ But this He spoke concerning the Spirit, whom those believing in Him would receive; for the Holy Spirit was not yet given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.
- Water of life and the Holy Spirit
- Oil of gladness
  
  Psalm 45:7 (NKJV) You love righteousness and hate wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.
  
  Hebrews 1:9 (NKJV) You have loved righteousness and hated lawlessness;
  Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
  With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.”
  
  Isaiah 61:3 (NKJV) To console those who mourn in Zion, To give them beauty for ashes, The oil of joy for mourning, The garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; That they may be called trees of righteousness, The planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified.”
- It is still God who
  - avenges me
  - subdues the peoples under me;
  - delivers me from my enemies.
  - lift me up above those who rise against me;
  - You have delivered me from the violent man.
- Additionally in the New Covenant, God fills you with the promised Holy Spirit
- Therefore, I will give thanks to You
A glad heart gives thanks

Ecclesiastes 5:20 (NKJV) For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart.

Hebrews 13:15 (NKJV) Therefore by Him let us continually offer the sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of our lips, giving thanks to His name.

Revelation 11:17 (NKJV) saying: “We give You thanks, O Lord God Almighty, The One who is and who was and who is to come, Because You have taken Your great power and reigned.

Proverbs 12:25 (NKJV) Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression, But a good word makes it glad. (śāmaḥ)