Pastor Alex Adegboye
Luke 17:12-19.
I believe, as individuals, we have so much to thank God for as there are all kinds of evil around us both spiritually and physically. The Bible says, “a thousand shall fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand.” So, sometimes, when people complain, I see them as people who are actually ungrateful. As long as you are still alive, whatever it is that you want and is yet to happen, will happen, but if you die, there is nothing more to look forward to.
Jesus said we cannot find anyone who returned to give glory to God, save this stranger. Only one out of ten had enough sense to return and thank God. This is the pain that is in the heart of God concerning many people who are alive and are still complaining. God has always wanted to get our attention in giving Him glory so that He can do the things He has promised us.
The early church was taught to give thanks to God. It was their lifestyle. The Bible in Col 2:7 says, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Ephe 5:20 says, “Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Giving of thanks is deeply spiritual. It takes a spiritual man to actually give thanks. When the Lord says, you should ‘be’ something, like it says ‘be strong in the Lord’. It should not be considered as an advice, rather it is a command. Just do it. Jesus was heartbroken when He did not see anyone return to give God glory. These people are blessed, but they are ungrateful.
What should you give thanks for?
1. Your salvation which came to you through Jesus Christ. 2 Cor 9:15.
2. What God delivered us from which we do not even know.
3. The things He has done for us that are very obvious like children, spouse, promotion. Ps 33:1.
4. What He did not deliver you from. Ps 119:71.
5. The ministry, the church leaders and your fellow believers. 2 Thesa 2:13.
Thanksgiving is God’s love language. A love language is the language that is recognised as love by the hearer. Love language varies from person to person and from gender to gender. It is your responsibility to find out the love language of your spouse. For our God, thanksgiving is His love language. When you give Him thanks, He sees it as the expresion of love and he responds to it.
Jesus asked, was there no one to give thanks? In other words, He was expecting it. He thought these people will have enough sense to know that this is my love language. Thanksgiving is what God expects, even though things are not okay. Giving of thanks is how He perceives our love for Him. Giving of thanks is a way to say, even though he slays me, I will yet trust Him. Giving Him thanks is saying I know my redeemer lives. We enter His gates with thanksgiving. Ps 100:4.
Jesus thanked God at the tomb of Lazarus. When Jesus wanted to raise the dead, He did not command the angels to do something nor did he do any extraordinary thing. He only thanked God. In John 11:41, Jesus said, “Father I thank that you hear Me always.” When He wanted to feed the 5,000 with five loaves and two fishes, He gave thanks as He broke it. At the Communion in John 13, Jesus gave thanks. Giving of thanks was a lifestyle of Jesus. The Apostles continued to give thanks too. Apostle Paul always began his letters with: “I give thanks to God.” The Apostles did not just give thanks as part of a religious exercise, they did it because they recognised the value of thanksgiving.
Why do we say amen?
1. When you know, by revelation, that what you are asking God for, is done. Phil 4:6.
2. When you are very grateful. 1 Kings 3:15.
3. When you know His will concerning you, you will thank Him. 1 Thesa 5:18.
4. When you want to give the devil a nervous breakdown. 2 Chro 20, Ps 136, James 1:2.
5. When you rejoice. Phil 3:1,3; 4:4, Acts 2:8.
6. When you want to live a carefree life. 1 Pet 5:7.
Jesus said to the Samaritan that your faith has made you whole. In other words, thanksgiving is an act of faith. When you do it, it will consummate your miracle.
