The doctrine of thanksgiving

1. Thanksgiving is the daily act of rendering gratitude to God. And there is no gratitude to God apart from Bible doctrine in the soul. Thanksgiving is often a public acknowledgment or celebration of worship in which the goodness and graciousness of God are extolled, 1 Chronicles 16:7-36.

2. Thanksgiving is the normal mental attitude of the royal family of God, Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18.

3. Thanksgiving is based on knowing God through doctrine resident in the soul, Psalm 100:3-5.

4. Thanksgiving is a priestly sacrifice. It was a sacrifice in the Old Testament, it is a sacrifice for the royal priesthood of the New, Psalm 116:17; 107:22; Amos 4:5; Hebrews 13:15.

5. Thanksgiving is a supergrace function, Colossians 3:15; 2 Corinthians 4:15. Maximum ability in thanksgiving is related to the supergrace life, therefore maximum thanksgiving comes from maximum doctrine in the soul. You must have doctrine in the soul before you have the mental attitude of thanksgiving. 2 Corinthians 9:10,11, related to the priestly function of giving. Personal testimonies, Daniel 2:23; Romans 1:8; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3.

6. Thanksgiving is motivated, therefore, by Bible doctrine resident in the soul, Colossians 2:7. You have to be taught before you overflow in thanksgiving.

7. Believers who are positive toward doctrine motivate thanksgiving in others, 1 Thessalonians 3:9.

8. Thanksgiving is related to the function of prayer, Colossians 4:2.

9. God is the object of thanksgiving, 2 Corinthians 9:15; Revelation 7:12