Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchNovember 24, 2009November 24, 2009

Pastor/TeacherPastor/TeacherJim RickardJim Rickard

Peace and ThanksgivingPeace and ThanksgivingJohn 14:27; Col 3:15John 14:27; Col 3:15

Col 3:15,Col 3:15,“Let the “Let the peacepeace of Christ rule of Christ rule

in your hearts, to which in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in indeed you were called in

one body; and be one body; and be thankfulthankful.”.”

““Thankful” = Thankful” = EUCHARISTOS. EUCHARISTOS.

EUCHARISTEO = “to be EUCHARISTEO = “to be thankful or giving thanks”. thankful or giving thanks”.

EUCHARISTIA = EUCHARISTIA = “thanksgiving, thankfulness, “thanksgiving, thankfulness,

giving of thanks, or gratitude.” giving of thanks, or gratitude.”

Lev 7:13-15, Peace and Lev 7:13-15, Peace and Thanksgiving were closely Thanksgiving were closely related in a special offering related in a special offering

to God under the Law.to God under the Law.

TODAH in Hebrew = TODAH in Hebrew = thanksgiving emphasizing thanksgiving emphasizing giving of thanks in song or giving of thanks in song or

in an offering. in an offering.

1) We are to be thankful for 1) We are to be thankful for the peace that we receive the peace that we receive from God in regard to our from God in regard to our

salvation through Christ, and salvation through Christ, and for the peace in the mentality for the peace in the mentality of our souls when we have of our souls when we have His Word within our souls. His Word within our souls.

2) This peace is 2) This peace is demonstrated through our demonstrated through our

application of His Word via application of His Word via a Relaxed Mental Attitude a Relaxed Mental Attitude (RMA) towards all things (RMA) towards all things

and situations. and situations.

3) When you have a RMA, 3) When you have a RMA, you will be more you will be more

appreciative towards the appreciative towards the blessings in your life from blessings in your life from

God and for the people God and for the people around you.around you.

4) When you have a RMA, 4) When you have a RMA, (peace) you will serve God (peace) you will serve God

and one another more freely. and one another more freely.

1 Thes 5:12-181 Thes 5:12-18

In Phil 4:4-9, when we are In Phil 4:4-9, when we are thankful for the Peace and thankful for the Peace and Grace of God, we receive Grace of God, we receive

further peace in the further peace in the mentality of our souls.mentality of our souls.

Definition of Thanksgiving:Definition of Thanksgiving:1. Thanksgiving is worship in 1. Thanksgiving is worship in

which the Church Age which the Church Age believer acknowledges the believer acknowledges the

benefits related to the divine benefits related to the divine initiative of antecedent grace.initiative of antecedent grace.

2. The Biblical definition 2. The Biblical definition of worship is the basis of worship is the basis for the true function for the true function

of thanksgiving. of thanksgiving.

John 4:24, John 4:24, “God is a spirit, and those “God is a spirit, and those who worship Him must who worship Him must worship by means of the worship by means of the

Spirit, (Spirit, (filling of the Spiritfilling of the Spirit) ) and truth, (and truth, (Bible doctrineBible doctrine).”).”

3. Thanksgiving is worship 3. Thanksgiving is worship of God as a part of our of God as a part of our

priestly service and sacrifice priestly service and sacrifice to Him. to Him.

Psa 116:17; 107:22; Psa 116:17; 107:22; Amos 4:5; Heb 13:15Amos 4:5; Heb 13:15

4. Thanksgiving, with its 4. Thanksgiving, with its root CHARIS, says that root CHARIS, says that

when we give thanks to God when we give thanks to God we are offering the grace we are offering the grace which He has given to us, which He has given to us,

back to Him.back to Him.

5. Thanksgiving is first of all 5. Thanksgiving is first of all directed toward God, and as directed toward God, and as

an overflow it is capacity an overflow it is capacity and appreciation for life.and appreciation for life.

It is an expression of It is an expression of gratitude based on your gratitude based on your

doctrinal capacity to doctrinal capacity to appreciate who and what He appreciate who and what He is, and what He has, is, and is, and what He has, is, and

will do for you. will do for you. Eph 5:18-20Eph 5:18-20

6. It is a part of your spiritual 6. It is a part of your spiritual life and worship, not some life and worship, not some shallow fleeting system of shallow fleeting system of gratitude for something.gratitude for something.

7. It is having Divine 7. It is having Divine viewpoint in life, viewpoint in life,

(recognizing that all (recognizing that all blessings and provisions are blessings and provisions are from God), which leads to from God), which leads to

thankfulness.thankfulness.Col 1:9-12; 2:7Col 1:9-12; 2:7

Col 2:7,Col 2:7,“Having been firmly rooted “Having been firmly rooted

and nowand now being built up being built up ((edifiededified) in Him and ) in Him and

established by means of your established by means of your faith, just as you were faith, just as you were

instructed; overflowing with instructed; overflowing with gratitude (gratitude (thankfulnessthankfulness).”).”

8. Thanksgiving is an index 8. Thanksgiving is an index of the spiritual status of the of the spiritual status of the

believer.believer.

Psa 100:4, Psa 100:4, “Enter into His gates with “Enter into His gates with thanksgiving and into His thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Give courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His thanks to Him, bless His

name (name (honor His personhonor His person).”).”

Rev 7:12,Rev 7:12,“Blessing and glory and “Blessing and glory and

wisdom and thanksgiving wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and and honor and power and

might belong to God forever might belong to God forever and ever. Amen.”and ever. Amen.”

2 Cor 9:15,2 Cor 9:15,“Thanks be to God for His “Thanks be to God for His

indescribable gift.”indescribable gift.”

9. Thanksgiving is a function 9. Thanksgiving is a function of your prayer life.of your prayer life.

Eph 1:16,Eph 1:16,“I do not cease giving thanks “I do not cease giving thanks for you, and I make mention for you, and I make mention

of you in my prayers.”of you in my prayers.”

Col 1:3,Col 1:3,“We give thanks to God the “We give thanks to God the

Father of our Lord Jesus Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for Christ, praying always for

you.”you.”

Col 4:2,Col 4:2,“Devote yourselves to “Devote yourselves to

prayer, keeping alert in it prayer, keeping alert in it with thanksgiving.”with thanksgiving.”

Phil 4:6,Phil 4:6,“Stop worrying (“Stop worrying (the opposite the opposite of peaceof peace) about anything, but ) about anything, but in everything by prayer and in everything by prayer and supplication with thanks-supplication with thanks-

giving, let your requests be giving, let your requests be made known to God.”made known to God.”

10. Giving causes 10. Giving causes thanksgiving.thanksgiving.2 Cor 9:7-122 Cor 9:7-12

Grace Fellowship ChurchGrace Fellowship ChurchTuesday, November 24, 2009

Tape # 09-083

Peace and ThanksgivingPeace and ThanksgivingThanksgiving Special, Part 1Thanksgiving Special, Part 1

John 14:27; Phil 4:4-9; Col 3:15; 1 Thes 5:12-17

James H. Rickard Bible Ministries 2009