THANKSGIVING_2019
(mr 01/04/19)
OLUBI JOHNSON
Thanksgiving is a spiritual sacrifice from our hearts through our mouths to bless and refresh God.
Hebrews 13:15 KJV: By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name
Psalms 50:13-14 KJV: Will I eat the flesh of bulls, or drink the blood of goats? (14) Offer unto God thanksgiving; and pay thy vows unto the most High:
1Peter 2:5 KJV: Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
Luke 24:53 KJV: And were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen.
Exodus 31:17 KJV: It is a sign between me and the children of Israel for ever: for in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, and on the seventh day he rested, and was refreshed.
Can men bless and refresh God?
Yes, indeed! Men can bless and refresh God.
Why?
God is constantly releasing power to create and sustain creation.
Romans 11:36 KJV: For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.
When we praise, thank and worship God, we give back to Him some of the power He has released, this blesses and refreshes Him just like we are refreshed when we eat and drink, or when the breeze of the wind, fan or air conditioner refreshes us when we are feeling weak, tired or hot after some vigorous physical exercise.
How then do we thank God?
- With words and songs in the Spirit and with our understanding:
Psalms 47:6-7 KJV: Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. (7) For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding.
- With clapping, dancing and musical instruments:
Psalms 150:3-5 KJV: Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, (4) praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, (5) praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.
- With words and song in the Spirit, in tongues:
1Corinthians 14:14-17 NIV: For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. (15) What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. (16) Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say “Amen” at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? (17) For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified.
- With words and instruments in prophecy:
1Chronicles 25:1-3 KJV: Moreover David and the captains of the army separated for the service some of the sons of Asaph, of Heman, and of Jeduthun, who should prophesy with harps, stringed instruments, and cymbals. And the number of the skilled men performing their service was: (2) Of the sons of Asaph: Zaccur, Joseph, Nethaniah, and Asharelah; the sons of Asaph were under the direction of Asaph, who prophesied according to the order of the king. (3) Of Jeduthun, the sons of Jeduthun: Gedaliah, Zeri, Jeshaiah, Shimei, Hashabiah, and Mattithiah, six, under the direction of their father Jeduthun, who prophesied with a harp to give thanks and to praise the LORD.
