Joyful Thankfulness
Notes
Transcript
Pre-service - things I read
“Embarrassed by your livestream…?”
We worship, praying it looks and sounds pleasing to the LORD
JOY - real joy
Lady catching a foul ball - crowd cheered for her
Walk-off HR - waiting to be greeted at home
“Smaller” things - you have taught him/her how to ride that bike, and then you push off, and he does!
Watching others succeed..
Joy is possible, just gotta know where to look…
READ 1 Thess 3:5-13
Joyful Thankfulness
Joyful Thankfulness
This section, much thankfulness, relief, and reliance on God
Linked to joy
When focused on God’s ways and work
Prayers of thankfulness rooted in joy - A guide…
1) Good Testimonies
1) Good Testimonies
ILLUST: airBnB reviews - the real ones…
But nobody’s perfect…
(Good testimonies) of others
There are people NOT giving in to temptation
There are people NOT following false teaching
Paul hears GREAT news of these spiritual children, and He praises God, thanks God!
This brings him comfort!
(Never says they are perfect)
Fears of temptation are real
Paul had to flee Thessalonica; and he bathed them in prayer
Prayer for their faith to stay and then grow
Prayer for strength through temptation
Paul could preach and teach all he wanted…but
….If they abandoned the faith, his work was in vain (his perspective)
Timothy returned with great news
The testimony of believers was joyous!
Not good news of health, prosperity, ease of life
NO…
News of faith and selflessness (love)
Thinking kindly = holding dear
Good news from believers helps one’s soul so much, because
Believers are special to each other
Because we share a bond of forgiveness others do not get!
“Really living” = standing firm
Not…complacency
Sharing and hearing good news helps in the daily walk
And supporting each other in this world, through this walk…
It truly comforts me to experience the faith of others
Highlight verses 6-9 (good news, comforted, joy, rejoice)
2) Growth
2) Growth
ILLUST: The best are always learning, growing, sharpening
Verse 9 and 10 - Paul prays for growth
Growth - always room for growth
There is always room for growth
Paul prays for him to be a part of helping others grow!
They had progressed well with their growth
It takes maturity to admit where you need to grow
It takes humility to allow others to help you
It takes tremendous faith to trust God’s process
If you think you can do it yourself
You are mistaken
“I’ll just be stronger”
“I’ll have more will power”
“I can do this”
NO, you can’t!
God can
What do you pray for, for yourself?
Growth?
This prayer in verses 11-13
3) The Lord’s Direction
3) The Lord’s Direction
ILLUST: We often make up our mind and THEN pray.
How about praying first?
ASIDE - Here is a prayer to Jesus, treating Him as God… (v 11)
Praying NIGHT and DAY
Where do you go for direction, wisdom?
His way, not my way
Let Him direct the path
Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
The mind of man plans his way, But the Lord directs his steps.
Some specific prayer aspects…
Paul asks for God to direct his way in where and how to serve
In this case, he gets to go back there (Acts 20)
He desires to be used by God to impact those God puts before him
And God knows what He is doing!
Don’t make it all make sense!
The LORD works through even the smallest of details
Illustration
Blessed by meeting State Trooper/Preacher Craddock
Man gets mail by mistake, takes it to woman, who invites him to church
Later, gets saved
Don’t force it to make sense
Just see that God will work how He will work
He just desires servants to be prepared and ready to reach those He puts in your path!
2. Pray for the church to abound in love
For one another (inside the faith)
For all people (outside the faith)
And Paul is the example
US - this church
Increase in love, abound in love
For each other
For others
YOU be the example
THIS is the work that prepares us to meet Jesus
3. Pray for removal of barriers
What keeps you from growing?
What keeps others from joining us here?
Let God show you and them, and open that way
4. Pray to be prepared to meet Jesus
Following God’s way prepares you to meet Him
“…at the coming”
V. 13 paints the picture of when we are all together in the personal presence of the Savior
We, saints, will be fully established then, holy before Him
Blameless, ready and acceptable to worship
For eternity
That eternity starts now
God will work to “establish” your inner spiritual self, if you let Him
God has consecrated you to Him, set you apart
So you can serve Him for His purposes
Allow Him to shape you
Follow the Godly examples, and…
BE the Godly example!
Father’s Day
Also, Dads, what is your true concern for your children, family?
If you pray for them, what is it you are praying for? Health? Success? Happiness?
What do you want to be thankful for in their lives?
Challenge
What spiritual example are you to your children and family!
3 John 4, hear children walk in truth
I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.
No GREATER joy? Do you hear that?
The greatest joy from John is to hear that those he has taught are walking in truth!
Hearing it, meaning others notice and tell of it
Examine your prayer life
Praying for family?
Praying WITH family?
Examine your connection to the Word
Reading the Word?
Reading Word WITH family?
DADS
Life is full of temptation
Let’s pray each other through
Your kids will be tempted by so much
How you pray for them matters!
Dads, how are you helping your children grow, spiritually?
Really!
JOY - real joy, leading your family in faith!
That lady catching a foul ball - crowd cheered for her, that joy died down
Walk-off HR - life continues
The good times of this world, fun to experience
JOY - connected with the spiritual realm, live that EVERY day!
ILLUST: I gave you a tool - I hope you use it, small things, daily, equipping you in a small way
God desires to equip you, using you, through the small ways, every day
They add up
CLOSING PRAYER
Guide our ways,
Mature us
Humble us
Complete us in growth
Increase in love for each other
Seek joy
Let that joy spill over for others to experience
