Sunday November 15, 2009				                        Phone: 
570.829.5216
Pastor David Miklas					            e-mail pdmikBBM@aol.com
Message "Thanksgiving - Part 2	                 		         Text: Colossians 2:7b

"Abounding in Thanksgiving"

Jesus said to the Jewish Ruler, Nicodemus in John 3:3, “...Verily, verily, I say unto thee, 
except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.” In this verse, Jesus was saying 
that in order to get to heaven you must have a new birth experience. You must have a 
spiritual birth, a second birth, a birth from above. 

Now from Colossians 2:1-8 we read, “For I would that ye knew what great conflict I have for 
you, and for them at Laodicea, and for as many as have not seen my face in the flesh; (2) That their 
hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love, and unto all riches of the full assurance of 
understanding, to the acknowledgement of the mystery of God, and of the Father, and of Christ; (3) In 
whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge. (4) And this I say, lest any man should 
beguile you with enticing words. (5) For though I be absent in the flesh, yet am I with you in the spirit, 
joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ. (6) As ye have therefore 
received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: (7) Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in 
the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. (8) Beware lest any man spoil 
you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, 
and not after Christ.” Now would you focus your attention upon verses 6-7, “As ye have 
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.” From verse 6, notice two 
important words "AS" and "SO." 

The first phrase, "AS ye have received,” represents one’s faith in Christ Jesus as Saviour.
The second phrase, “SO walk in Him." should be the natural result of having placed one's faith 
and confidence in Jesus Christ.

Paul said, "AS ye have received Christ Jesus..." Literally there can be NO Christian life, NO 
new birth experience, and NO hope of eternal life until first there is an INVITING by 
faith of Jesus Christ into our lives as personal Saviour. 

Ephesians 2:8-9 tell us, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: 
it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast.”

John 3:36, says to us, “He that BELEIVETH on the SON (that is Jesus Christ) hath everlasting 
life: and he that believeth not the Son shall not see life; but the wrath of God abideth on him.”

John 5:24 tells us, “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on 
him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed 
from death unto life.”

I John 5:12-13, tells us, “He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God 
hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; 
that ye many know that ye have eternal life...”

Acts 4:12 says to us, “Neither is there SALVATION in any other; for there is none other name 
under heaven given among men, whereby we must be SAVED.”

Remember being “Born Again” is just the beginning of the journey. Afterwards the 
ACCENT moves from ACCEPTANCE of Christ, to CONTINUING in Christ. As a result 
there should be a revolution that takes place in one’s life of actions, activities, and 
attitudes, after accepting Christ as Saviour. It is in II Corinthians 5:17 we read, 
"Therefore, if any man be in Christ, he is a new creation; old things are passed away; behold, all 
things are become new." 
In our last Sermon we spent a great deal of time on the first part of verse 7. However, 
at the end of verse 7, we have a kind of “PS” to the "basic Christian life." Since we are in 
what we call the Thanksgiving Season it seems appropriate that we touch upon one of 
the basic ingredients to the Christian life found in the last three words of verse 7, 
"Abounding with Thanksgiving." The word “Thanks” or “Thanksgiving” in one form or 
another is found some 140 times in the Bible.

David the shepherd, King, and Psalmist probably referred to “Thanks” more times than any 
other Bible Character. 

Psalm 100:4, “Enter into his gates with THANKSGIVING, and into his courts with 
praise; be THANKFUL unto him, and bless his name.”
Psalm 105:1, “O give THANKS unto the LORD; call upon his name…”
Psalm 106:1, “Praise ye the LORD. O give THANKS unto the LORD; for he is good: for 
his mercy endureth for ever.”

The Apostle Paul who lived continually in the spirit of “Thanksgiving” runs a close second, for 
praise was as natural to him as breathing. 

In Philippians 4:6 we read, “Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and 
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.”
In I Thessalonians 5:18 he said, "In EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS for this is the will 
of God in Christ Jesus..."

   Even the Hymn-writer encourages us:
         
When upon life's bellows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, NAME THEM ONE BY ONE,
And it will surprise you what the Lord has done.

On the other hand, when you hear some people talk, you think they have nothing but 
RAIN in their lives. All they do is gripe and complain about their lot: 

How difficult life is. 
How bad the kids are.
How the boss is such a pain in the neck.
How bad the problems are at home.
How nothing is going right at church.

It seems all you hear is Negative, Negative, Negative, as though it RAINS all the time in their 
lives. Let's face it. There will be those cloudy rainy times filled with problems, trials 
and circumstances beyond our control. However, the truth of the matter is, God sees 
to it that there is sunshine every day in our lives as believers:

Maybe it is just for a moment.
Maybe it is just for a portion of a day.

On the other hand, whatever takes place in the negative, God sees to it that His love, 
warmth and blessings come into our lives every day. Even the prophet Jeremiah, as he 
wept over the destruction of Jerusalem and wrote the Book of Lamentations, could 
say in Lamentations 3:22-24, "It is because of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, 
because his compassion's fail not. They are NEW EVERY MORNING: great is Thy faithfulness. The 
Lord is my portion, saith my soul, Therefore will I hope in Him."

In each of the four chapters of Colossians, there is at least one reference to the truth of 
"Abounding with Thanksgiving." Please follow me as we note four of those passages.

First: In Colossians 1:3-4 we read, “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 of the love 
which ye have to all the saints...”  Here we find something very typical of the Apostle Paul. 
Throughout his epistles, he gave thanks for the believers in the churches to whom he was 
writing. Here’s a man, always in the midst of some trying circumstance and yet he was 
filled with thanksgiving for the faith of others. 

In I Corinthians 1:4 Paul was thankful for the believers in Corinth, “I THANK my God always 
on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ.” 
        
In Ephesians 1:15-16 Paul was thankful for believers in Ephesus, “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.” 

In Philippians 1:3-4 Paul was thankful for the believers at Philippi, “I THANK my God upon 
every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with 
joy.” 

Now understand that Paul’s giving thanks for believers in these churches was in spite 
of the fact that: 

In Colossians there were DOCTRINAL difficulties in that church.
In Philippi there were PERSONAL difficulties in that church.
In Corinth there were MORAL disorders in that church. 

Think about it. If those difficulties existed in our Church, would we be giving thanks 
as Paul did? Or would we be saying, "What do I have to be thankful for in this wretched 
place?" 

Nobody ever talks to me.
People seem to be somewhat unfriendly.
I don't like they way things are going in the ministry.
There are some problems, yet I cannot explain them if I had to.
There are sins in other people’s lives, but I can not think of any in my life.
The Deacons and the Pastor are not doing what I think they ought to be doing.
To top it off, I am just plain miserable. 

However, that was not the Apostle Paul's attitude despite problems. He was thankful 
to God for the saints in these Churches. Just as we should be THANKFUL TO GOD FOR 
ONE ANOTHER IN THIS PLACE WHERE GOD HAS PLACED EACH AND EVERY ONE OF US 
AS MEMBERS and as a part of the body of Christ.

Oh, by the way, welcome to the real world. For even in this church, none of us are 
perfect, and no situation will ever be perfect. Often, it has been said, "If you are looking 
for a perfect church, stop looking, for you will never find one. But if you even think you have found 
one, don't join it, because you will soon wreck it." 

Now, if you look at what the Apostle Paul was being thankful for in these letters, you 
will notice that it was not for PERFECTION in the saints. Rather, he was thanking 
God for several other qualities:

First: He was thankful for the faith of the saints. Notice again Colossians 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 of the love which ye have to all the saints,...”  He was 
thankful for a regenerate church membership. We too should be thankful to God for 
the faith of believers in our assembly. Perhaps most, if not all, of us could stand this 
morning and sing:

Thank you Lord, for saving my soul.
Thank you Lord for making me whole.
Thank you Lord for giving to me,
Thy salvation so rich and free.


Second: He was thankful for the love of the saints. In I Thessalonians 1:2-3 we read, 
“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; (3) Remembering 
without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, 
in the sight of God and our Father;” Notice again Paul was thankful for other’s "Work of 
Faith, Labor of Love and Patience of Hope." Let me ask you an honest, heart searching 
question.
	
"When was the last time you took the time, either by letter, phone, or personal conversation, 
to express your gratitude for someone's "Work of Faith, Labor of Love and Patience of 
Hope" on your behalf or for the ministry on behalf of others?

I encourage you to take the challenge this week to write a note of THANKSGIVING to 
God, to Jesus, to the Holy Spirit and to others. Express your thanksgiving to them for 
the ways they have benefited your life. Consider writing a note of THANKS to your 
husband or wife, to your children or your parents, to one of your relatives or neighbors, 
or to a friend here at church. I predict that it will be a blessing to witness the results of 
your outpouring of thankfulness.

Second: In Colossians 2:7 we read, “Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as 
ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.” Now you know as well as I do, 
you do not have to be a Christian to be thankful. Even the unsaved can be thankful. 
But there is a difference between someone who is a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ 
and someone who is a non-believer. The simple difference is the believer will be 
"abounding or overflowing with Thanksgiving." He can be happy even in the midst of the 
most depressing and painful circumstances.

The believer is able to abound in thankfulness to God in the little things as well as in 
the big things. Turning to Ephesians 5:20 we read, “Giving thanks always for all things unto 
God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;” Giving thanks is just not something 
we do at a Wednesday evening prayer and praise time, or on Sundays when we come 
to the house of God for a time of Worship, or on Thanksgiving Day. Giving thanks is 
to be included everyday for all things. Please notice carefully the context here starting 
with verse 18, “…but be ye filled with the Spirit.”  People ask all the time, “How does one 
know when someone is filled (the word means CONTROLLED) with the Holy Spirit?”

According to Ephesians 5:19 a spirit filled Christian has a song in his heart, “Speaking to 
yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart 
to the Lord;” A spirit-filled believer can sing:

Come, thou font of EVERY blessing, Turn my heart to sing thy grace;
Streams of mercy, never ceasing, Call for songs of loudest praise.

According to Ephesians 5:20 a spirit filled Christian is a thankful Christian, “GIVING THANKS 
always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” 

According to I Corinthians 15:55, 57 a spirit filled believer can even be thankful for death, for 
we read, "O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; 
and the strength if sin is the law. But thanks be God, which giveth us the victory through our 
Lord Jesus Christ." But thanks be unto God, who giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus 
Christ." The unsaved can not thank God for death, but:

	Believers can thank God for other’s faith.
	Believers can thank God for other’s love.
	Believers can thank God for victory over death.

A spirit-filled believer can be "Abounding with Thanksgiving." 

Third: In Colossians 3:15, 17 we read, “…and be ye THANKFUL… 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.” 
Holding your place here in Colossians please turn with me to the Gospel of John 
chapter 6, where I call your attention to a little known incident that happened after the 
feeding of the 5000 and right after our Lord had walked on the water. Notice verses 
22-23, “The day following, when the people which stood on the other side of the sea saw that there 
was none other boat there, save that one whereinto his disciples were entered, and that Jesus went not 
with his disciples unto the boat, but that his disciples were gone away alone: (23) (Howbeit there 
came other boats from Tiberias nigh unto the place where they did eat bread, after that the Lord had 
given thanks).” Now verse 23 seems to be just a parenthesis after the feeding of the 
5000. However, just the fact that the Lord gave thanks before eating made a profound 
impact on these disciples.

I mention this because it is so seldom when I eat in a restaurant that I see anybody 
bow their head and give thanks. At times, people seem to be like a bunch of pigs. Just 
as soon as the food hits the table they stick their snout right in it and just gobble it up. 

On the other hand, when you see someone bow his or her head, or a family praying 
before they eat, doesn't that make a profound impact on you? It made a profound 
impact on the disciples when they saw the Lord praying before eating. What a 
testimony a simple prayer of thanks can be to unbelievers. That is just another way of 
"Abounding with Thanksgiving." 

Fourth: In Colossians 4:2 we read, “Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with 
THANKGIVING.”  As you read this verse, let me ask you four questions.

How long has it been since you prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, not asking, but giving thanks 
to God and praising Jesus for:

	His redeeming blood,
	His marvelous grace,
	His keeping power,
        His mercy and tenderness, and for
        The everyday things of life so generally taken for granted?

How long has it been since you thanked God for:

Sunshine and rain,
	Good fresh air to breathe,
	Good food to eat,
	Clothes to wear,
	A house to live in, and for
	Family, friends, neighbors, and your church?

How long has it been since you counted your blessings and named them one by one?

How long since you fell on your knees in humility and poured forth words of praise and 
thanksgiving to God as the giver of every good and perfect gift?

May God help each and every one of us to take the time to breathe a prayer of 
thanksgiving for His goodness to us, right now! I do not remember from where I 
retrieved this article, but let me end our message today with a story entitled with some 
very familiar words, “Why Me Lord?”

I couldn’t sleep. To make matters worse, I had a sore throat. I looked at the clock, 2 a.m.! I’d 
gone to bed at eight, and to my knowledge I hadn’t drifted off to sleep once. Then, to top it all 
off, one of the neighbors decided that 2 a.m. would be a good time to turn on his rock music. 
Now I knew I’d never get to sleep.

So I prayed, “Lord, here it is 2 a.m. and I need my sleep. Would you please blow up the 
neighbor’s stereo?” When that didn’t appear to work, I tried quoting Scripture. However, it was 
hard to concentrate against the constant “boom, boom, boom” surrounding me. So, after 
exhausting my memory storehouse, I began to pray for everyone and everything. That is until I 
realized that I was repeating the same names and requests. I think I’m drifting off to sleep now. 
Silence….Ahhh….they must have gone to bed and turned off the music. BOOM! Maybe the 
stereo blew up. “Thank you, Lord!” Then reality struck. Oh no, here it goes again! The silence 
must have been between songs and the loud thud was only the slamming of a car door. I looked 
at the clock again, 2:30 a.m.

“I hear something! Someone’s breathing! Oh, it’s only my husband snoring.” I glanced over 
at him. How peaceful and rested he looked. Suddenly, I had an urge to give him a big shove! 
“After all, I thought, we’re one, aren’t we? Seems to me he ought to be able to share in my 
misery.” Maybe if I moaned a few times. “What’s the matter, Honey?” “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I 
wake you up? It’s nothing really. It’s just that my throat is sore and I can’t get to sleep.” 
“Hope, you feel better, sweetheart,” he said reassuringly as he drifted off to sleep again. “Woe 
is me, a lot of good that did!” Now I felt like crying. I was angry and frustrated.” Lord, I’m 
miserable.

        Why won’t You help me go to sleep?
        Why do I have to be sick?
        Why does the devil play that “junk” in my ears?
        Why can’t the neighbors be more considerate?
        Why me, Lord? WHY?  WHY?

Suddenly, a verse penetrated my sulking and self-pity. “The foxes have holes, and the birds of 
the air have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.” 

“Oh, Lord! Why am I complaining? I have more than You ever had when You were here on 
earth. You’re the King of Glory, the Lord God, Almighty, my Saviour, my Master, and 
yet…” Suddenly everything took on new meaning; things usually taken for granted became 
treasures, and gratefulness swelled in my heart to heights sublime. 
	
I clasped my pillow and hugged it. “Thank You, Lord, for a soft pillow on which to lay 
my head, for a comfortable bed, and warm cover.”

I saw the soft light of the night light. “Thank You, Lord, for electricity. Thank You that 
I simply have to flick a switch, turn a dial, or pull a knob, and I can have heat, air 
conditioning, clean clothes, spotless floors, a hot meal, beautiful music or even the 
weather report.”

“Thank You, Lord, for the clothes in my closet, the variety I have, the warmth, the 
colors You made - blue, yellow, red, purple, peach, orange, and green.” I laughed to 
myself when I thought of how funny the world would look if it were all in black and 
white.

I remembered back to third grade when I had wished out loud that I could wear glasses. 
Then, after it was discovered I needed them, how often I had wished that I never wished 
that wish. But now I was grateful. “Thank You for glasses, Lord, to help me see. If it 
weren’t for my glasses, I couldn’t see a picture across the room, drive a car, or 
recognize a friend down the street.” I thought of all the millions of people who had ever 
lived and had missed seeing God’s great creation because they had no glasses.

I purposely tried to think of other things I could be grateful for, both large and small: 

	A cozy trailer with a furnace that works,
	Bug spray, where would I be without it?
	Christian parents, what a heritage!
A wonderful, godly husband, even if he was sleeping so soundly, 
America and freedom! I could  easily have been born in a Communist 
country or a primitive culture where Christ had never been heard of.

“Oh, Thank You, Lord, for sending Your Son to die for me, for saving me from my sins, for 
Your Word, the opportunity of serving You, the promise of heaven, the privilege of one day 
seeing You face to face!”

My mind went back once more to the verse, “The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air 
have nests; but the Son of Man hath not where to lay his head.” “Dear Jesus, why me, why 
have You been so good to me?” As the tears fell on my pillow and joy flooded my soul, I 
whispered softly, “Goodnight, Lord. I love you.”

Paul is telling us in Colossians 2:7 to be "Abounding with Thanksgiving." That's how I 
want my life, as well as my family as well as our church to be described as "Abounding 
with Thanksgiving." Should we not be thankful for all God has blessed us with, and 
given to us, and for all that others on our behalf have done for us? Remember this 
week to be "Abounding with Thanksgiving." 


If God has spoken to your heart, after reading the sermon "Abounding with Thanksgiving," right now 
talk to God about what He has spoken to you.

Do you have the assurance that one day you will go to heaven? If you have no assurance that you 
know Jesus Christ, then I trust you will decide to accept Him as your personal Savior. The Bible tells us 
in 

Acts 16:31, “...Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved...” 
Romans 10:13, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
This prayer is here for those who need to ask Jesus to be their personal Savior: “I do want to go to 
Heaven. I know I am a sinner, and I do believe Jesus Christ died for me. I realize I cannot buy this 
great salvation, nor can I earn it. Knowing Jesus died on the cross and arose from the grave to pay 
my sin debt and to purchase my salvation, I do now trust Him as my Savior, and from this moment 
on I am completely depending on Him for my salvation.”
If you made the decision to accept Jesus Christ as your personal Savior let me know? Please send an e-
mail to, pdmikBBM@aol.com and I will send you some literature that will help you in your Christian 
life.
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