Thanksgiving - the SURE mark of a believer

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful ; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
Romans 1:18-25 (esp. verse 21)

" This know also, that 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,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
2 Timothy 3:1-7 (note verse 1, qualities in verses 2-4 and the comparison of verses 5 and 7 with the previous passage in Romans)

Most often, these two passages are used in condemning a man for his behaviour. Pointing out that the last days will see such perversions of truth that evil will wax worse and worse until it simply oozes out of every pore of every being, many preachers like to use these passages in a condemnatory way against man's behaviour. Unfortunately, this has little effect except to stir up fleshly guilt (and fear) in those of tender conscience and do nothing but further harden the hearts of the reprobate. Not because such an approach is mean-spirited, but because it does not encourage TRUE repentance or get to the heart of the problem. Behaviour is only a symptom.

The writer (in both cases, Paul) is here describing symptoms as a doctor would describe symptoms that point to a specific ailment. His reaction is not to treat the symptoms (if he is a good doctor) but to realize that the only way to rid the body of what is attacking it is to treat the disease that is causing these symptoms. This is what Paul is saying in both cases above. There are outward manifestations that are a direct result of some inward 'defect'. Not a defect per se, but some deeper principle that must be addressed.

Let's look at the passage in Romans, first. The theme through all 8 verses stems from a perversion of the truth. Not an absence of it. This is not about 'bad men' running around devoid of any understanding of God, but of men without excuse who have "...changed the truth of God into a lie...". Verse 19 clearly shows that such men have been shown the truth (in some degree, be it small or large) and have not received a spirit of atheism but have had a witness given them that testified of God and His message. The outward result in resisting that witness was literal idol worship - idolatry. But it no less applies to we in this age who do not receive the things of God with an open heart and desire to change what He has shown us at all. Even if it is simply changing something to a more palatable (to us) version of the truth, it is still changing the truth into a lie.

While this is a description of the outward symptoms, let us look closer at what is the catalyst that brought about this spiritual state:

"Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened."
Romans 1:21

At first glance this appears to be merely a statement about either accepting that God exists or He doesn't. But looking closer, we have to see that those of whom Paul speaks actually KNEW GOD! It wasn't as if they received a word and decided against it, but they KNEW GOD! And their response? They DID NOT GLORIFY HIM AS GOD and NEITHER WERE THEY THANKFUL with the result that "...their foolish heart was darkened (from the truth)." Verse 25 speaks of worshipping and serving the creature more than the Creator. The darkness of the heart that perverts (changes, in any way) the truth of God results in a more man-centered gospel than a God-centered gospel and outright idolatry (worshipping ANYTHING but God). I Samuel 15:22 says that rebellion is as witchcraft and stubbornness as idolatry in the Lord's sight. So we need not be bowing to cows or trees to be idolatrous.

So wherein lies the idolatry? When that dawning of truth becomes anything less than what God gave us. If we receive that truth from God with anything other than a thankful heart, with anything other than praise and glory to His name, we are on the verge of allowing that darkness and

"...all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved." (I Thess 2:10)

to consume our very beings.

The key is a heart of thanksgiving. It is praising God - often when we don't want to or feel like it. This, God will honour. This spirit of thanksgiving will cleanse the vessel that is us, to receive the water of life untainted by our unholiness. As Paul says in another letter to Timothy:

" For every creature of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with thanksgiving:
For it is sanctified by the word of God and prayer."
I Timothy 4:4,5

This is not just an admonition to receive all food with thanksgiving, but if we place our faith in the Creator, then ALL things we receive are sanctified by both God's word and ours. This spirit of thanksgiving is in communion. Our word in prayer and worship to God and His word in blessing to us. For if we are truly walking in faith, then we can see that Paul speaks not just of food, but of ALL things:

" Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord;
Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;"
Ephesians 5:19,20

The inner life of the believer is dominated by thanksgiving and praise to God. If we receive ALL things from God (even those we don't naturally like) in this spirit, we are led by the Spirit of God and all things will work together for our good.

But what of the perilous times mentioned in 2 Timothy? I'll continue that in the Part Two.

Reviewing the passages:

"For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold the truth in unrighteousness;
Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.
Professing themselves to be wise, they became fools,
And changed the glory of the uncorruptible God into an image made like to corruptible man, and to birds, and fourfooted beasts, and creeping things.
Wherefore God also gave them up to uncleanness through the lusts of their own hearts, to dishonour their own bodies between themselves:
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."
Romans 1:18-25 (esp. verse 21)

" This know also, that 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,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
2 Timothy 3:1-7 (note verse 1, qualities in verses 2-4 and the comparison of verses 5 and 7 with the previous passage in Romans)

Chapter 3 of 2 Timothy starts out with a statement we too often glaze over:

"...in the last days, perilous times shall come."

This is not just a statement of warning, but one that shows us further the symptomatic nature of behaviour (that is, that behaviour is not something to be changed directly but that it points to a deeper issue). Paul isn't just predicting some mass falling away, he's trying to show us WHY and HOW this lack of faith comes. This is not just a description of world events, though that will be one outworking of this state of spiritual affairs. This is not Paul warning men of some war that will come between one nation and another or even a great war that will be waged between all nations on the battlefield. If that is part of the message, it is only a tertiary effect - not a primary or secondary cause. The main thing here in Paul's mind is not how the world will teeter on the brink. No, I believe Paul realizes that the world is disappearing and it is also manifest that Paul places NO hope in the things of this earth or this existence. It would be entirely out of character for Paul to start worrying about the destruction of a planet after stating to one church that he is not wrestling with physical powers, it would be misleading and a grievous error to think Paul was worrying about how we might be mistreated in days to come. His experiences of torture, shipwreck and deliverance from horrible situations should make us realize he has no confidence in the flesh, nor cares much for it. So this statement should reflect his trust in God and his focus on things above lest he judge himself as one who worships his own belly and rejects the cross of Christ. This is a statement of powerful spiritual impact.

"...in the last days, perilous times shall come."

Here is a man who has been taken in to the highest heavens and shown things not lawful to be uttered. Things have been revealed to him that the world is still not ready to receive. This man has had his spiritual eyes opened and his spiritual eyes have seen the state of spiritual void that will (is now) mark(ing) the face of the earth in the 'last days' (ignoring for now, the debate over the meaning of last days). So we can be confident that he is about to tell us what these perilous times shall be. And he does, in verses 2through 7.

"For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."
2 Timothy 3:2-7

This is a veritable shopping list of the spiritual afflictions that will mark a people still to come (from Paul's perspective). It is a list of symptoms describing the man that will prevail in days Paul has not yet experienced. We know that the days of Paul were trying because men were persecuted for their faith - viciously. But those who hold to the Spirit of God, who persevere, who continue that communion with God will feel this keenly because those who commune with Him also feel His pain in a very real way. They share His longings, they fellowship in His suffering - both spiritual and physical (in His Son). So when the creature that God created becomes the very thing that God hates, it tears Him apart just as it would a father of a child that goes horribly astray. So this spritual condition brings about coldness in many and anguish in a few. That few are the faithful. The remnant. Those that follow the Lamb of God whithersoever He goeth. There is more pain in the realm of the spirit because of man's rebellion than there is in the realm of the flesh because of man's cruelty.

And Paul warns true believers not to commune with such folk as their darkness is contagious. And what is a key common denominator to all these characteristics? Thanksgiving. The characteristics here mentioned all point to a lack of thanksgiving to God, a lack of a spirit of praise, a rejection of the truth in its FULNESS. Which is why verse 7 says (in harmony with the passage in Romans 1) that these men are ever learning but NEVER able to come to a knowledge of the truth. Intellectualism takes over. That is the idol (referring again to the Romans 1 passage) that dominates in this day. The mind and heart of man has taken over and all the jealousies, murders and other abominations that Jesus saw in man has now been exercised to the point of externalizing ALL the evil of man's heart. No longer is it the exception that men are this way, but it is becoming the rule.

Men are lovers of themselves. Psychology is telling us that we have to love ourselves more, the focus is on ME, it is all about what I can get, what I can become, what I can be. Christ was all about the opposite - self-emptying and self-denial. Those who love themselves have only themselves to thank and glory in, so why glorify God? They don't. Instead, they fulfill the rest of that first verse. They praise themselves (covetous, boasters,proud, blasphemers). They even exalt themselves over those who have raised them and sacrificed themselves for them (disobedient to parents).
In short, they are unthankful and unholy.

So what does this thanklessness and unholiness breed? Coldness. Spiritual and emotional coldness. In days gone by we can read of countless men of God who wept for others, who had deep affection for parents, who would give all for strangers. Even unbelieving parents could know of this compassion and sacrifice. But today, the norm is coldness. Empty doctrine (teaching) and lack of warmth. Those who are that way are also disloyal, untrusting, self-serving, violent and eventually that lack of trust corrupts them to the point that they call evil good and good evil - they despise those that are good. They are traitors, arrogant, heady. Do a character study of a grandmaster chess player sometime and see what headiness is in the extreme. The best chess players are crafty, super-intelligent, always scheming...they make the best con-men. This is the type of lack of trust being breeded in the general public today.

Lovers of pleasure more than lovers of God. If it feels good, do it. Even the churches support this.

Having a form of godliness but denying its power. This is an entire message unto itself. Suffice it to say that it goes right along with headiness and the idol of the intellect. There is more, but this is the main manifestation today. And because of this, the knowledge men get is vanity, not truth. As it says in verse 7, they have great knowledge but cannot learn the truth. Why? Because their minds have been darkened by a perversion of the truth.

But in all these things, the sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving is absent. Were one to receive the truth in praise and thanksgiving, even with a small portion of their spirit crying out in rebellion against their soul and flesh, God would honour that and the blessings of the faithful would fall on that thankful one. It is often a sacrifice, but the sweeter in God's ear when we do ignore our fleshly inclinations and give Him glory for any and all things and in any and all situations.

There are examples of this in history. The pilgrims that came over on the Mayflower were reduced in number the same way Gideon's army was reduced to 300. Those who were not prepared were vetted. The ship sailed and returned several times before it made it out. Each time more potential pilgrims dropping out until a few were left and the boat sailed. On the seas, the storms raged and one was almost lost. But even in those days where their very lives were at risk on a constant basis, the pilgrims still praised God and thanked Him in prayer and supplication. They were so to such a degree that the captain (who begrudged his human cargo) called them hymn singing 'pukestockings'. But when God rescued one of the crew and they continued in their prayer and praise, the captain changed his tune.

Also, the Master, when on earth showed us the necessity of thankfulness. The only recorded thanksgiving Jesus gave was on the breaking of bread and the feeding of crowds. Yet remember well what Jesus said:

"My meat and drink is to the will of Him who sent me."

Jesus was really thanking God for all the situations He guided Christ through. The culmination of that was when Jesus prayed that the cup pass from Him if possible, but NEVERTHELESS, He wanted GOD'S WILL TO BE DONE.

So, in closing, remember the words of Paul that all things, IF THEY BE DONE IN PRAYER AND THANKSGIVING are sanctified. If not, we risk our spiritual health and sight in the things of God.

" For all things are for your sakes, that the abundant grace might through the thanksgiving of many redound to the glory of God.
For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day."
2 Corinthians 4:15,16

Still to come: why thanksgiving MUST be the FIRST response.

"...if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches."
Romans 11:16

In the vast majority of his letters to people and churches, Paul greets the readers with a note of thanksgiving to God for them. There are a few that do not have this greeting, but in the main, Paul expressed a heart for the Lord Jesus Christ in his expression of thanksgiving. And in so doing, he knew he was sanctifying the word he was sending them as well as spreading a thankful spirit to those for whom he was responsible. He understood more fully what we casually say: "First impressions are everything." That maxim is more than just a saying to be remembered in business and dating, but it extends to the spiritual realm and is no less truthful there. Jesus warned against the leaven of the Pharisees for that very reason. Their root was unsound, their firstfruits rotten, and as such, the path they trod was guided by an unthankful heart.

Think also of food. There is little purpose in washing food (or even trying to wash it) after it has been consumed. The disease, dirt or whatever has already contaminated us. We have received, eaten and then tried to cleanse. But if we wash the fruit before taking it and eating it, we cleanse it and it bears good fruit within us. So when Paul, in 1 Timothy says thanksgiving cleanses food, he, by analogy shows that all things, if they be received with thanksgiving are sanctified - made clean.

We are instructed, by the Lord, to seek God's Kingdom FIRST and all things will be added unto us thereafter. We are inclined to interpret that merely as an indication of priority, but if we examine ourselves further, we will find that that which comes first, that which we do first, that which precedes in time also moulds that which comes after. Our lives testify to this. Nothing is a stronger influence on who we are in this life than our upbringing. We become ourselves more truly in childhood than in adulthood. Maturity is a solidifying, a hardening of the clay of our personality that was so pliable in youth - and thus formed by our experiences. So when Jesus says we are to be like litte children, He means (among other things)that we should always be ready to be moulded, guided, directed, and changed. This is necessary if He is to be formed in us. We must go. And in this process, growth is much quicker and more fruitful when fertilized by thanksgiving. We are cleansed as well as strengthened when we yield that firstfruit to God. That firstfruit, if it be holy, will ensure the entire lump is holy. But if it be not, then neither will the rest be.

That analogy can be seen in tithing. We are called to give a tenth to the Lord in thanksgiving for His gifts. We give Him 10% of what He has freely given us. Not as a requirement, but as a gift that we give to show our appreciation and thanksgiving for God's provision. If we give that first, our whole life is blessed. If not, our lack of thanksgiving is evident and we can have no guarantees on the rest of our resources. It is only in thanksgiving that we should give, or in seeking to praise God, even if our feelings are otherwise. In that, we are building a root of thanksgiving that will strengthen the entire lot. We may not have a present desire, but for no other reason that we act in obedience and a deeper knowing that God desires this response, we thank Him by giving back to Him. But it isn't giving unto God unless it is done in THANKSGIVING.

Our first response is critical, because it is most what we are like. If it is holy, our lives will be holy. If unholy, our lives will be unholy.

Originally posted by lambslove
Psalm 50 says that the only thing we can give to God that He doesn't already own is our thanks and honor. So that's what He really wants from us the most.

Not service, not obedience, not money, not defense. Nope, what He want the most, what He holds most dear, what He treasures from us above all other things is our humble words of thanks.

Click to expand...

 An excellent point, Lambslove. The thing is, at the same time, I have come into contact with those who want to abolish the tithe as wrong! Herein lies the SPIRIT of Thanksgiving that characterizes the true believer (something the mere thankful word can never fully embrace).  Not that we tithe or don't according to the law, but that we naturally want to give to God of ALL our increase. It is the most tangible and effectual way of displaying our thanks. To Him, not for the world to see. One cannot abolish or enforce a spirit. One can only submit to it. And the spirit of thanksgiving exists in overwhelming degree in one who is truly Christ's. As I am finding out (in many ways), the proverb that says "Pride goeth before destruction" is the antithesis of (true spirit of) Thanksgiving sanctifying all that we receive. The two CANNOT coexist.

Bump. For others who might benefit.

Really old bump. Sometimes we need to hear what we are preaching ourselves!