Key Verse for THANKSGIVEN is Luke 22:19
“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.”
THANKSGIVEN: Giving thanks for what has been GIVEN
(a guide for the next 5 days, starting tomorrow or a guide for Thanksgiving Day to be used personally or with family and friends)
As we move toward Thanksgiving we wanted to give a challenge for giving thanks to God based what God has GIVEN us We find this word “GIVEN” prominently stated by Jesus during the Passover mean in Luke 22:19. It reads, “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.”
We also see it in 1 Corinthians 11:24, as the Apostle Paul gives the church instructions for the Lord’s Supper. It says, “On the night when He was betrayed, the Lord Jesus took some bread and He gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and said, “This is my body, which is GIVEN for you. Do this to remember me.” NLT
We also draw on 2 Peter 1:1-4 as we find the word “GIVEN” twice in the beginning verses.
Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, 3 as His divine power has GIVEN to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been GIVEN to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What has God GIVEN (G I V E N) us that we should give thanks?
G – The indescribable GIFT and Gifts from above
2 Corinthians 9:15 Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift!
I want to give thanks to God for the indescribable GIFT(s) He has GIVEN
John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
How often do you thank God for His Son and your salvation?
I want to give thanks to God for the good and wonderful GIFT(s) He has GIVEN
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow of turning.
2 Peter 1:4 by which have been GIVEN to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
Psalm 40:1 I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to me, and heard my cry. 2 He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my steps. 3 He has GIVEN me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see what he has done and be amazed. They will put their trust in the LORD. 4 Blessed is that man who makes the LORD his trust, and does not respect the proud, nor such as turn aside to lies. 5 Many, O LORD my God, are Your wonderful works Which You have done; And Your thoughts toward us cannot be recounted to You in order; If I would declare and speak of them, They are more than can be numbered.
The hymn writer said COUNT YOUR MANY BLESSINGS – NAME THEM ONE BY ONE. Have you counted your blessings lately?
I – Imputed righteousness
I want to thank Him for IMPUTED RIGHTEOUSNESS that was GIVEN to me!
2 Peter 1:1 Simon Peter, a bondservant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ:
2 Corinthians 5:21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him. (the greatest exchange of all time)
The INCREASE
I want to thank Him for the INCREASE that He has given.
Deuteronomy 28:4 “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks.
Proverbs 3:9 Honor the LORD with your possessions, and with the firstfruits of all your increase;
Colossians 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; 10 that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
How has Paul’s prayer for you to INCREASE in the knowledge of God been answered this year?
What are at least two things that you have learned about God this year that you are so grateful for?
V – Victory
I want to thank God for the VICTORIES that He has given
1 Corinthians 15:57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
1 John 2:14 I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have OVERCOME the wicked one.
How has the Word of God helped you win over temptations?
E – Everything
While struggling with the word EVERYTHING, I want to thank God for EVERYTHING as He has GIVEN me so many blessings, as well as been involved with working everything out for His glory!
1Thessalonians 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Ephesians 1:3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,
2 Peter 1:3 as His divine power has given to us all (every) things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue, 4 by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.
What has been the hardest thing to give God thanks for this year?
How does Romans 8:28 help you to give thanks in everything?
N – New NATURE – NEW NAME – NEW FUTURE
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new.
I want to thank God He has GIVEN me a new nature, new name and a new future, one that includes a new home in heaven one day with a new inheritance.
Thank you, Lord, for saving my soul
Thank you, Lord, for making me whole
Thank you, Lord, for giving to me
Thy great salvation so rich and free
Happy ThanksGIVEN!