If only men would be mindful and thoughtful; and if they will truly realize the source and foundation of their existence and the frailty of their being; the good-will of their general wellness from the Maker thereof, none will cease to cultivate thanksgiving and become thankful in custom and in practice as a normal daily expressions and conversations to abound therein. Besides the United States of America, there are other five countries in the world where people celebrate thanksgiving every year in response to Jehovah’s Sovereignty that his kingdom rules over them. These are the Canadians, Liberians in West Africa, Leiden (a city in Holland) which also celebrates thanksgiving the same day of every year like the Americans. Others are Grenada and the Norfolk Island in the Pacific Ocean between Australia and New Zealand. 
Here are four important points I will like to establish from the scriptures this morning on the power and blessings of thanksgiving.
First, let me express to every one of us here today that the daily benefits and generosity we received from God cannot be blown out of proportion. The undeserved qualification by grace and mercy into the adoption of children by Jesus Christ in the beloved to be partakers of the inheritance of saints in light, purchased by the blood of the Lamb is the unspeakable gift (2 Corinthians 9:15) for an unceasing thanksgiving that ought to be the fruit of our lips, giving praises and thanksgiving to God by Christ Jesus for the grace that has brought us salvation and for the truth that brought us into the marvelous light of God’s kingdom from the dominion of sin and darkness. What a so great salvation from the awfulness of sin and damnation of hell and from the dominion and power of darkness into the kingdom of light and of Jehovah’s dear son. Colossians 1:9-13.     
The spirit of ungratefulness and pride is the cause for any bitterness, not to be thankful to Jehovah under any situation and circumstance of life. This is an evil spirit that snorts in us and works to belittle the great goodness of God by expressing displeasure or contempt against Jehovah and against his goodness in others. Have we thought it over to call the good people who has been there for us throughout this year for their encouragements, prayers and supports, or do we take things for granted? Whenever we’re comparing ourselves to others, we are not thankful before God for who we are and what he’s doing and will do in us. Whenever we willfully refused to help others (if we have the opportunity) because of a particular lesser or bigger difficulty we’re going through, we are demonstrating ungratefulness attitude and spirit before God for the present place we are and the destiny he’s leading us into. Why should we not be daily thankful to God, even for the gift and breath of life, is a living dog not better than a dead lion? Job 34:14-15. Ecclesiastes 9:4. We should give thanks for all our good and bad experiences in the comforts, battles and struggles of life -for our victories and shortcomings; in everything, we should rejoice in the Lord always and giving him thanks with joyfulness in the spirit. As fallen creatures, we do not worth nor merit anything than misery and death; except for the accomplished works Christ Jesus on the cross that has made as heirs of God and joint heirs with our Saviour. For each step we take, we are advancing to heaven and should be thankful for the undefiled inheritance possessions, reserved in heaven for us, avoiding murmuring or complaining (which may bring us problem with God. Corinthians 10:10) for any present sufferings not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us when Christ will return or calls us to our eternal home.
Second, thanksgiving is also the expression of our faith in Jehovah God that hears and answers prayer. The act of thanksgiving before we make our request is the demonstration of the confidence that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. Before we call, we know that Jehovah hears us: and while we are asking, we have the petition that we desired of him because we do those things that are pleasing in his sight. Thus, we give thanks at the commencement of our request for the blessings we are yet to ask from Jehovah, just as the Lord gives thanks in prayer to God before the presence of the mourners and onlookers by the grave of Lazarus whom he raised from the dead after he had prayed. John. 11:41.                                                                                                                     
After the same example should we be giving thanks for the audience and uninterrupted spiritual conversations (now when Daniel knew that the writing was signed, he went into his house; and his windows being open in his chamber toward Jerusalem, he kneeled upon his knees three times a day, and prayed, and gave thanks before his God, as he had been doing previously. Daniel 6:10) we are privilege to have with Jehovah. At the end of our prayer season, we should not forget to give him the offering of thanksgiving, knowing that Jehovah will do above all that we can ask or think according to his power that works in us. Constant absence of thanksgiving offering before the throne of grace at the end of our prayer can validate double mindedness, carefulness and anxiety in the heart. ‘Continue in prayer, and watch in the same with thanksgiving’. Colossians 4:2. ‘Be careful for nothing; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus’. Philippians 4:6.
Third, thanksgiving is the verbal appreciation and expression of acknowledging the goodness of God for the deliverance and victory given, favour bestowed and mercies received. Ten lepers were cleansed, but only one came back to give thanks to Christ for his healing. Luke 11:17-19. When we voluntarily come forward before the congregation to testify to the goodness and power of God in our life, we are showing gratitude and are thankful to him. Oh, that men will praise the Lord. For his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! For he has broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder. Oh, that men will praise the Lord. For his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men! And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing. Psalms 107: 15-16 & 21-22.                                                                                                 
Jonah, the fugitive prophet was sent and expected to preach repentance and impending judgement to the nation and people of Nineveh. Whatever the deterrent and his reasons to flee to Tarshishto desert his duty at Nineveh from the presence of the Lord was inadmissible as the Lord commanded a storm to redirect his path and a whale to bring him to the place of his assignment. Three days in the belly of the big fish, Jonah repented and begged for forgiveness and vows to offer sacrifices of thanksgiving to God for a second chance to fulfil the task of preaching he was formerly sent to the people of Nineveh. Jonah 2:9.                 
Thanksgiving can also be a substantial material or financial offering unto God to further and enlarge his cause and kingdom in our community in anticipation for greater goodness and multiplication of the seed giving at our own will according to our estimation of God’s prosperity and abundance toward us. ‘And when you will offer the sacrifice of thanksgiving unto the Lord, offer it at your own will.’ Leviticus 22:29. 
We don’t have to levy or fix a certain amount of money on the people of God to give at the end of the year because of the church projects whereby putting financial burdens on others, but to allow individual’s and every member in particular to express themselves with joyfulness in the spirit to thank Jehovah with whatsoever they have set aside in their heart for the goodness and help they’ve obtained so far, of which no amount of money could purchase, in expectation for greater blessing a-head. Let us draw example from the gratefulness and generosity of Hannah, the mother of Samuel as she refused to become a hoarder or one who hoard her blessing but released the young child as a loan and gift to serve the community good in the temple for the work of God all the days of his life. But who has first given to Jehovah, and it shall be recompensed to him again? Sincere generosity toward God will only enlarge our barns and increases our storehouses for increasing voices of thanksgiving, even as the barren borne five more children in addition. 1 Samuel 2:21. Jeremiah 30:17-22.
 
 
Above all, the best thanksgiving offering which we can be daily, weekly and yearly give Jehovah God is the offering and sacrifice of our sanctified body, soul and spirit in holiness from worldliness, sexual promiscuity and idolatry to honour and glorify Jehovah as his dwelling place or temple. If we can only come out of the world and be unspotted from it through the lusts of the eyes, lusts of the flesh, and the pride of life, injustice and oppression and deceitful heart with all hypocrisies as Jesus did to sanctify us when he suffered without the gate, then shall we and our offering be unleavened (pure, good and true) for a sacrifice of sweet odour, acceptable unto our heavenly Father. This can only be done when we understand the malediction and the doom our sins brought on us; and the penalty and sacrifice paid by Christ to remove the curse and destruction that is awaiting us as our burnt, peace and sin offering unto Jehovah. Whatever we give as monetary or material gifts to advance the work of God are of no use or any eternal significant if they are offered with leaven. Therefore, let us keep the feast, not with old leaven, neither with the leaven of malice and wickedness; but with the unleavened bread of sincerity and truth. 1 Corinthians 5:8. ‘Hear this word, ye kine of Bashan, that are in the mountain of Samaria, which oppress the poor, which crush the needy, which say to their masters, bring, and let us drink. The Lord God hath sworn by his holiness, that, lo, the days shall come upon you, that he will take you away with hooks, and your posterity with fishhooks. And ye shall go out at the breaches, every cow at that which is before her; and ye shall cast them into the palace, says the Lord. Come to Bethel, and transgress; at Gilgal multiply transgression; and bring your sacrifices every morning, and your tithes after three years: And offer a sacrifice of thanksgiving with leaven, and proclaim and publish the free offerings: for this is what you prefer, O ye children of Israel, says the Lord God’. Hebrews 13:12-13. Chronicles29:31-33. Amos 4:1-4. Romans 12:1-2.