Thankfulness—gratitude for blessings

1Th 5:16-18 KJV

(16) Rejoice evermore.
(17) Pray without ceasing.
(18) In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
concerning you.

We express thanks for

a) Food  
 Joh 6:11
11 And Jesus took the loaves; and when he had given thanks, he distributed to the
disciples, and the disciples to them that were set down; and likewise of the
fishes as much as they would.
Joh 6:23
23 (Howbeit there came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they
did eat bread, after that the Lord had given thanks:)

b) Wisdom  
Dan 2:23
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.

c) Converts    
 1Th 1:2
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our
prayers;

d) Prayer answered     
Joh 11:41
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.

e) Victory     
1Co 15:57
57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus
Christ.
 f) Salvation     
2Co 9:15
15 Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift.

g) Lord’s Supper     
1Co 11:24
24 And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my
body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.

h) Changed lives     
1Th 2:13
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.

i) Healed   
Luk 17:12-17
12 And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were
lepers, which stood afar off:
13 And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14 And when he saw them, he said unto them, Go shew yourselves unto the
priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15 And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud
voice glorified God,
16 And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a
Samaritan.
17 And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the
nine?

j) Righteous     
Psa 140:13
13 Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in
thy presence.
We know in the last days people will become unthankful

INGRATITUDE DISPLEASES GOD...

1. It is included among other sins that would be prevalent in

"perilous times" - 2Ti 3:1-5
2. The wrath of God will be revealed against those who are
unthankful - Ro 1:18-21

Thanks help us

a) overcome Anxiety
Php 4:6 KJV
(6) Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

b) Peace of God
Php 4:7
7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.

Why
Rom 8:28
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to
them who are the called according to his purpose.

William Hendriksen has beautifully expressed the importance of giving

thanks:

When a person prays without giving thanks, he has clipped

the wings of prayer, so that it cannot rise.