R.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man): 15 Thanksgiving

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R.A. Torrey Collection: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man): 15 Thanksgiving



TOPIC: Torrey, R.A. - What Bible Teaches (about Man) (Other Topics in this Collection)
SUBJECT: 15 Thanksgiving

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Ch 15 Thanksgiving





The importance of this subject will be manifest to anyone who will note the space occupied in the Bible by thanksgiving and praise.



I. THE DUTY OF GIVING THANKS. Psa_29:1-2; Psa_29:4 "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: To shew forth thy loving kindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night .... For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands."



First Proposition: It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord.



The Lord's dealings with us make thanksgiving and praise on our part the only fitting thing. In Psalm 107 the psalmist burst out four times into the cry, "Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men." As we reflect today upon the wondrous goodness of God to men on the one hand, and, on the other hand, upon the little thought and strength and time not only men, but even the average Christian, gives to thanksgiving, we may well utter the same cry. <19A004> Psa_100:4 "Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him and bless his name." Eph_5:4 "Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Col_3:15; Col_3:17 — "And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful." 1Th_5:18 — "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."



Second Proposition: We are commanded again and again to give thanks.



The failure to return thanks to God "who daily loadeth us with benefits" is just as distinct and definite disobedience to God's commands as to steal or to murder. Psa_69:30-31 — "I will praise the name of God with a song, and will magnify him with thanksgiving. This also shall please the LORD better than an ox or bullock that hath horns and hoofs."



Third Proposition: Giving thanks to God is more acceptable to Him than sacrifices.



We cannot all bring expensive offerings to God, but we can all bring the more pleasing offering of true and hearty thanksgiving. Luk_24:52-53 — "And they worshipped him, and returned to Jerusalem with great joy: and were continually in the temple, praising and blessing God. Amen." Act_2:46-47 — "And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, praising God, and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved."



Fourth Proposition: The early Christians gave themselves continually to praise and thanksgiving.



Thanksgiving and praise were among the most noticeable and notable characteristics of their lives. The same thing is true of the holy men and women of the Old Testament. I cannot think of one good person, mentioned prominently in the Bible, who didn't thank God for some act of his goodness. The Bible is largely taken up with praise and thanksgiving. (Look up the words "thank," "praise," and "bless" and synonymous words.



Note especially the Epistles of Paul.) Joh_11:41 — "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father I thank Thee that Thou hast heard me." Mat_11:25 — "At that time Jesus answered and said, I thank thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them unto babes."



Fifth Proposition: The Lord Jesus Christ gave thanks.



These are only specimen passages, but again and again we get glimpses into the life of Christ that show us it was a life of abounding thankfulness to God. Christ's manner of returning thanks at the simplest meal was so noticeable that two of His disciples recognized Him by this after His resurrection ( Luk_24:30-31; Luk_24:35). Col_1:9; Col_1:12 — "For this cause we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to desire that ye might be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding .... Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."



Sixth Proposition: Giving thanks to God is one of the inevitable results of being "filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding. ' Eph_5:18-20 — "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 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."



Seventh Proposition: Giving thanks to God is one of the inevitable results of being filled with the Spirit. 2Co_9:12 — "For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God." 2Co_4:15 RV — "For all things are for your sakes, that the grace, being multiplied through the many, may cause the thanksgiving to abound unto the glory of God."



Eighth Proposition: Giving thanks brings glory to God. Joh_11:41-42 — "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me. And I knew that thou hearest me always: but because of the people which stand by I said it, that they may believe that thou hast sent me."



Ninth Proposition: Giving thanks leads other men to believe. Luk_17:15-18 — "And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks; and he was a Samaritan. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? But where are the nine?



There are not found that returned to give glory to God save this stranger.



And he said unto him, Arise, go thy way: thy faith hath made thee whole."



Tenth Proposition: The failure to give thanks for definite blessings received is a manifestation of ingratitude that surprises and grieves Jesus Christ. Rom_1:18; Rom_1:21 RV — "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who hold down the truth in unrighteousness .... Because that, knowing God, they glorified him not as God, neither gave thanks; but became vain in their reasonings, and their senseless heart was darkened." (Note also following verses 24, 26) Eleventh Proposition: The failure to give thanks is one of the principal reasons for the revelation of the wrath of God from heaven, and for giving men up to a depraved mind. Php_4:6 — -"Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God."



Twelfth Proposition: Thanksgiving is a necessary accompaniment of prevailing prayer.



II. WHO SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS TO? Psa_75:1 — "Unto thee, O God, do we give thanks, unto thee do we give thanks: for that thy name is near thy wonderous works declare." 1Co_15:57 — "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."



First Proposition: Thanks should be given to God. Col_1:12 — "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light." Eph_5:20 RV — "Giving thanks always for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to God, even the Father."



Second Proposition: Thanks should be given to God the Father. Eph_1:3 — "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord.Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ."



Third Proposition: Thanks should be given to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. 1Ti_1:12 RV — "I thank him that enabled me, even Christ Jesus our Lord, for that he counted me faithful, appointing me to his service."



Fourth Proposition: Thanks should be given to Christ Jesus our Lord.



In the overwhelming majority of instances in the New Testament, to say nothing of the Old, the offering of thanks is not to Jesus, but to God the Father. It is through Jesus Christ. The reason for this seems to be that God the Father is the originator of all our blessings; even Jesus is His gift ( Joh_3:16; Rom_5:8). While all the Father's love is manifested to us in Christ, still it is the Father's love. We need to recognize the Father back of Christ as the source of all. The concept that God only loves us because of what Christ did is utterly foreign to the thought and life of the New Testament. It is true that God, being holy, can deal with sinners in mercy only on the ground of the propitiatory work of Christ, but it is God Himself who furnishes the propitiation: 1Jn_4:10 — "Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his son to be the propitiation for our sins." The Son came;, as He so often said, to do the Father's will.



III. WHO CAN GIVE ACCEPTABLE THANKS? <19A701> Psa_107:1-2 — "O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever. Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy."



First Proposition: The redeemed of the Lord can render acceptable thanks. 1Ti_4:3 — "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."



Second Proposition: Those who believe and know the truth can give acceptable thanks.



The body of believers ("a spiritual house, an holy priesthood") exists for this purpose: "to offer up spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ" ( 1Pe_2:5 RV; compare to Heb_13:15 RV). Pro_15:8 — "The sacrifice of the wicked is an abomination to the LORD: but the prayer of the upright is his delight." (Compare Heb_13:15 — "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.") Third Proposition: The wicked cannot render to God acceptable thanks. Their sacrifice is an abomination to the Lord.



IV. WHAT SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS FOR? Luk_2:27-28 — "And he came by the Spirit into the temple: and when the parents brought in the child Jesus, to do for him after the custom of the law, then took he him up in his arms, and blessed God..." Luk_2:36-38 — "And there was one Anna, a prophetess, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser: she was of a great age, and had lived with a husband seven years from her virginity; and she was a widow of about fourscore and four years, which departed not from the temple, but served God with fastings and prayers night and day. And she coming in that instant gave thanks likewise unto the Lord, and spake of him to all them that looked for redemption in Jerusalem."



First Proposition: We should give thanks for Jesus Christ.



As all our blessings center in Him and come through Him, our thanks to God will be for Him. <19A301> Psa_103:1; Psa_103:3 — "Bless the LORD, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name .... Who forgiveth all thine iniquities."



Second Proposition: We should give thanks for forgiveness of iniquities. Rom_7:24-25 — "0 wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death? I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord." (See context.)



Third Proposition: We should give thanks for deliverance from the power of the law of sin and death. <19A303> Psa_103:3 — "Who healeth all thy diseases."



Fourth Proposition: We should give thanks for the healing of our diseases. (Compare to the lepers in Luk_17:15-18.) 1Co_15:57 — "But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." (See context.)



Fifth Proposition: We should give thanks for victory through our Lord Jesus Christ over sin and death and the grave. 1Pe_1:3 RV — "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to his great mercy begat us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead."



Sixth Proposition: We should give thanks for a new birth into a living hope by the resurrection of Christ. Col_1:12 — "Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light."



Seventh Proposition: We should give thanks for being made suitable to partake of the inheritance of the saints in light. 2Co_1:3; 2Co_1:4 "Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God."



Eighth Proposition: We should give thanks for comfort in all our tribulations. Joh_11:41 — "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me."



Ninth Proposition: We should give thanks for answered prayer.



Every answered prayer should be met by definite thanksgiving to God. We never forget to thank anyone but God for granted requests. Dan_2:23 — "I thank thee, and praise thee, O thou God of my fathers, who hast given me wisdom and might, and hast made known unto me now what we desired of thee: for thou hast now made known unto us the king's matter."



Tenth Proposition: We should give thanks for wisdom and might. 1Ti_1:12 — "And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry."



Eleventh Proposition: We should give thanks for being enabled for service. 1Ti_4:3 — "Forbidding to marry, and commanding to abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with thanksgiving of them which believe and know the truth."



Twelfth Proposition: We should give thanks for food.



It is remarkable how frequent are the references in the New Testament to thanksgiving for food. Over and over again attention is called, in the brief record of the life of Christ, to His returning thanks for food — even when it consisted of five cheap barley loaves and two small fishes for a great company ( Joh_6:23). 1Co_14:18 — "I thank my God, I speak with tongues more than ye all."



Thirteenth Proposition: We should give thanks for spiritual gifts. Act_28:15 — "And from thence, when the brethren heard of us, they came to meet us as far as Appii Forum, and the three Taverns; whom when Paul saw, he thanked God and took courage."



Fourteenth Proposition: We should give thanks for Christian companions and fellowship. Rom_6:17 — "But God be thanked, that ye were the servants of sin, but ye have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine which was delivered you."



Fifteenth Proposition: We should give thanks for the conversion of others. 2Th_2:13 — "But we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth."



Sixteenth Proposition: We should give thanks for the elect and their salvation. 1Co_1:4 — "I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ." (See context.)



Seventeenth Proposition: We should give thanks for the grace bestowed upon others. Rom_1:8 — "First I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Eph_1:15-16 — "Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers." Col_1:3-4 "We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and the love which ye have to all the saints." 1Th_1:2-3 — "We give thanks to God for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father." 2Th_1:3 RV — "We are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren, even as it is meet, for that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the love of each one of you all toward one another aboundeth." Php_4:5 — "I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers, hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints."



Eighteenth Proposition: We should give thanks for the love, faith, and "patience of hope" of others.



This seems to have been one of Paul's most frequent occasions for thanksgiving. Whenever he heard of the faith and love of an individual or church, his heart seems to have gone out at once in thanksgiving to God. 1Th_3:8-9 — "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.



For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God."



Nineteenth Proposition: We should give thanks for the steadfastness of the love of others. 1Th_2:13 — "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."



Twentieth Proposition: We should give thanks for believers who receive God's Word for what it is. 1Ti_2:1 — "I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men."



Twenty-first Proposition: We should give thanks for all men. Php_4:6 — "Be careful for nothing: but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." 1Th_5:18 — "In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." Eph_5:20 — "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."



Twenty-second Proposition: We should give thanks in everything and for all things.



QUESTION: How can we?



ANSWER: Refer to Rom_8:28 — "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them that are called according to his purpose." There is no greater, nor more simple secret of a life of uninterrupted and ever-increasing joyfulness, than rendering thanks for all things. Our disappointments become "His appointments," our sorrows become joys, and our tears become rainbows.



V. WHEN SHOULD WE GIVE THANKS? Psa_92:1-2 — "It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O Most High: to show forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night."



First Proposition: We should give thanks every morning and every night.



Each day should begin and close with thanksgiving to God. The thought of God's goodness to us should rule our lives. We should arise every morning to work and lie down every night to sleep with this thought. <19B962> Psa_119:62 — "At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments."



Second Proposition: We should give thanks at midnight.



The judgments here spoken of are the judgments of God's word. (Compare to verses 7, 13, 30, 39, 43, 53, 75, 102, 106, 108, 120, 137, 149, 156, 160, 164, 175: eighteen times, all in this Psalm.) We should be so taken up with the excellence of God's Word that we awake in the night to thank Him for it. 1Ti_4:4-5 — "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." Rom_14:6 — -"He that eateth, eateth to the Lord, for he giveth God thanks; and he that eateth not, to the Lord he eateth not, and giveth God thanks." (Compare to Act_27:35.)



Third Proposition: We should give thanks every time we eat. Php_4:6 — -"Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God." Col_4:2 — "Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving."



Fourth Proposition: We should give thanks every time we pray.



Thanksgiving for prayers answered and blessings granted in the past can alone prepare for new answers and new blessings. Furthermore, definite thanks for blessings already received will strengthen our faith to appropriate larger blessings. Col_3:17 — "And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him."



Fifth Proposition: We should give thanks in all our doing in word and deed.



As all the doing of a Christian is in Christ's name and in Christ's strength, it should all be done with thanksgiving to Him who gives us the name and strength in which to do it. This applies to all our activities, and not to those alone which we ordinarily call Christian work. All work of one abiding in Christ is Christian work, the work of the man digging a ditch or of the woman at the washtub, and it should all be done in Christ's name and with thanksgiving to God. There is no drudgery in a life thus lived. The whole of life becomes a song, a psalm of praise. 1Th_5:18 — "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."



Sixth Proposition: We should give thanks in everything. Eph_5:20 — "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ."



Seventh Proposition: We should give thanks always.



As we are to pray without ceasing, so are we to return thanks always. Of course, there cannot always be the word of thanks on our lips, but there can always be the heart going up toward God in gratitude and praise.



Thanksgiving and prayer should be the atmosphere in which we live and the air we breathe. Just as a man keeps right on breathing while doing a thousand other things without ever stopping to think how he does it, so we can keep on praising and thanking and praying while doing a thousand other things without ever stopping to think how we do it. For example, a man can be preaching in the power of the Holy Spirit, throwing all the energy of his soul and body into his preaching, and all the time be thanking God for the power in which he is preaching. This does not hinder but increases the inflow of the power. Of course there must be times when we give ourselves up exclusively to prayer and thanksgiving; that is how this perpetual atmosphere of prayer and thanksgiving are main-rained. We should bless God at all times: His praise should be continually in our mouths ( Psa_32:1). Psa_89:1 — "I will sing of the mercies of the LORD forever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations."



Eighth Proposition: We should give thanks forever.



Thanksgiving and praise will be a large part of the occupation of heaven. Rev_5:8-14: "And when he had taken the book, the four beasts and four and twenty elders fell down before the Lamb, having every one of them harps, and golden vials full of odours, which are the prayers of saints.



And they sung a new song saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation:



And hast made us unto our God kings and priests, and we shall reign on the earth. And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne, and the beasts, and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever." Rev_7:11-17 — "And all the angels stood round about the throne, and about the elders and the four beasts, and fell before the throne on their faces, and worshipped God, Saying, Amen: Blessing, and glory, and wisdom, and thanksgiving, and honor, and power, and might, be unto our God for ever and ever. Amen. And one of the elders answered, saying unto me, What are these which are arrayed in white robes? and whence came they? And I said unto him, Sir, thou knowest. And he said to me, These are they which came out of great tribulation, and have washed their robes, and made them white in the blood of the Lamb. Therefore are they before the throne of God, and serve him day and night in his temple: and he that sitteth on the throne shall dwell among them. They shall hunger no more, neither thirst any more; neither shall the sun light on them, nor any heat. For the Lamb which is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them unto living fountains of water: and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."



Heavenly life will be a perpetual jubilee. We can have an unceasing year of jubilee down here in which to prepare for the year of jubilee that never ends.



VI. HOW TO GIVE THANKS. Eph_5:20 — "Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ." Rom_1:8 — "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world." Col_3:17 RV — "And whatsoever ye do, in word or in deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him."



First Proposition: We should give thanks to God in the name of Christ, or through Christ.



Christ is man's only way of approach to God (Joh_14:0). As there was no way of approach to God in the Old Testament except on the grounds of the shed blood, so there is no way of approach to the real holy of holies except by the way of Christ's flesh and his outpoured blood ( Heb_10:19-20). Christ has access to God, and we only in His name and through Him.



God receives no offering of thanks from men except that offered in Christ's name. The man who has been the vilest sinner can offer up thanks to God in Jesus' name that are the sweetest incense to Him; the man whose life has been most exemplary can offer no acceptable thanks except in the same name and way. Eph_5:18-20 — "And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 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."



Second Proposition: We should give thanks to God in the Spirit's power.



The Holy Spirit alone can lead to acceptable thanks. It is the thanks that God the Spirit inspires, that are offered through God the Son and that God the Father accepts. No strange fire must be brought before God. We should cast ourselves upon the Holy Spirit to teach us to return thanks properly. 1Ki_8:15; 1Ki_8:20; 1Ki_8:22-24 "And he said, Blessed be the LORD God of Israel, which spake with his mouth unto David my father, and hath with his hand fulfilled it, saying .... And the LORD hath performed his word that he spake, and I am risen up in the room of David my father, and sit on the throne of Israel, as the LORD promised, and have built an house for the name of the Logo God of Israel .... And Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the congregation of Israel, and spread forth his hands toward heaven: And he said, LORD God of Israel, there is no God like thee, in heaven above, or on earth beneath, who keepest covenant and mercy with thy servants that walk before thee with all their heart: who has kept with thy servant David my father that thou promisedst him: thou spakest also with thy mouth, and hast fulfilled it with thine hand, as it is this day." Joh_11:41 — "Then they took away the stone from the place where the dead was laid. And Jesus lifted up his eyes, and said, Father, I thank thee that thou hast heard me."



Third Proposition: We should give thanks definitely.



We should render to God definite acknowledgment of definite blessings received. (The above are only illustrative instances. Such instances abound in the Bible.) Col_2:6-7 — "As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving."



Fourth Proposition: We should render thanks aboundingty. 1Th_2:13 — "For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but, as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe."



Fifth Proposition: We should render thanks without ceasing.