Diamond Drops

Good Evening,

Its good to see yall tonight, this morning when I mentioned rings it brought back to memory when I was shopping for a wedding ring for Amy. Amy is not a materialistic girl so I knew that whatever I got her wouldnt have mattered to her. But I knew how blessed I was to have someone like her so I wanted to get her something special, I remember being schooled on diamonds by the man at the ring place, he schooled me on cut, clarity, and kerrat. I realized right then that I knew nothing about diamonds.

But i also learned really quick that there were only a few types I could afford, you know I heard that diamonds are a girls best friend and I wanted to get this right. I mean you only get married once so try to get something special.

Turn with me in your Bibles tonight to because there are 3 verses there this is not gonna be a deep message, it is 3 verses with 3 very simple commands that make up 3 points of this message.

Be joyful

Be Prayerful

3. Be Thankful

So let’s read this together beginning in verse 16

1 Thessalonians 5:16–18 ESV

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

James Moffat calls these three verses “diamond drops”

The NIV says in verse 16

“BE JOYFUL ALWAYS”

Knowing human nature as the apostle Paul did he sensed the need for a reminder. So He says Be Joyful always this is the shortest verse in the greek NT.

Did You Know?

The word Joy is used 16 times in the book of Philippians and 70 times in the NT we are told to rejoice.

Its a fruit of the Spirit, “Love JOY peace, patience kindness goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self control

Were told to be joyful not just when circumstances are pleasant either for the Christian it is an odd experience joy amid sorrow, joy amid suffering, joy amid hardship.

I read about a student his name was danny he was the part time youth minister at lake jackson Texas he had a girl in his youth group and she was bubbly, kind, dedicated beautiful and her name was joy. He watched her grow he watched her mature he watched her blossom, and then he watched her as she came under the attack of pancreatic cancer.

Your pancreas controls your hormones so not only are you dealing with the cancer, it can send you into terrible bouts of depression. So danny was there with joy sitting by her bedside she wasnt expected to live past the Christmas holidays. Her body was emaciated by the ravages of cancer, and she asked Danny:

“Danny do you know what it is to be without hope?”

Danny said “No I have been very fortunate”

She said: “Neither do i”

You know nothing is more obvious than genuine joy, you cant hide it, would you agree with that?

People who have genuine joy, have a well developed sense of humor, an optimistic outlook on life, and a lighthearted spirit. So let me ask you:

Are You a Joyful Person?

Are you able to laugh at yourself?

Do you have that deep seated joy that comes from knowing Christ?

Joy springs from the fact that you are “in Christ” thats the term Paul uses over and over.

There is a union betwen Christ and you

I wish you could get your mind around that, your sinful past has been forgiven. Isnt that amazing?

I mean i think back about things I did before Christ and I cringe when I see my kids with the same temperment I had. I see the struggles we have with their independent strong will and I think… Lord please have mercy on them let them be like their mamma.

Think about this tonight you are now well pleasing to God! Think about that for a minute.... you will spend eternity in Heaven with Christ.

NOTHING AND NO ONE CAN EVER TAKE THAT AWAY FROM YOU!

Psalm 16:11 ESV

You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.

Psalm

There are times in life when your just slap miserable, but I want you to remember His love, and His mercy, and His goodness, and His willingness to meet you where you are and meet your every need. Think about the undeserved love that He has for you!

So BE JOYFUL!

Be Prayerful

1 Thessalonians 5:17 ESV

pray without ceasing,

1 Thessalonians 5:

The NASB says: pray without ceasing

The NASB says: pray without ceasing

The NIV puts it pray continually

The greek writers used this phrase “without ceasing” and actually when you study the phrase it actually was used to describe a hacking cough. You know how frequent that can be its terrible!

(Ron)

Its embarassing your hacking and barking and your in the middle of a meeting and you cant control it, its awful! Thats what it means to pray without ceasing. SPurgeon really helped me with this:

“I cant remember the last time I prayed for an hour; but neither can I remember the last hour when i didn’t pray— Spurgeon

It just means regularly releasing your burdens throughout the day.

Ity is letting go of what is temporary to receive something from God that is eternal.

1 Peter

1 Peter 5:7–9 ESV

casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world.

Satan desires to shipwreck you with worry doubt and frustration.

He desires for you to focus on what others think of you rather than what God has already stated to be true about you.

The enemy wants strongholds within your mind, and lies penetrating your heart so that you cannot function within the peace God stands ready to hand you.

CASTING!

Cast your cares upon him

George Mueller lived from 1805-1898 He was 93 years old George Muller of bristol England started 117 schools that educated 120,000 young people and orphans. Through prayer he raised over 7 million dollars HE was once on a ship headed to quebec he had an appointment that he couldnt afford to miss.

The ship got caught in a deep fog, and before he knew it they had dropped anchor and they weren’t moving at all. So he went up on deck to see the captain, and he told the captain: “Captian I cant miss this appointment, I must be at these set of meetings.”

The captain said “sir it is impossible with this fog were going to be here for several hours if not an entire day.”

Mueller said: “this fog must be lifted, would you kneel down with me and pray”

The captain said: “Man are you mad? Ive never heard of such a thing, do you know how dense this fog is?”

Meullers response was:

“My eye is not on the fog, but on God who controls every circumstance of my life”, and so he knelt by himself.

He prayed the most powerful prayer the captain had ever heard:

The captain began to kneel and Muller sensed that he was about to kneel and stopped him!

“No, because you dont believe that God is gonna answer your prayer anyway, and second if you look out the window youll see the fog is already lifting.”

IT did.

The captain was dumbfounded

We take prayer for granted, your prayers are not limited by time, they are not restricted by a set of hours or any specific place… so be prayerful.

Be Thankful

1 Thessalonians 5:18 ESV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

This is a verse that God continually brings me back to over and over again. It applies to every situation we find ourselves in. In EVERYTHING, DOESN’T SAY FOR EVERYTHING, DOESN’t SAY IN EVERYTHING, DOESNT SAY WE WILL UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING, IT DOESNT SAY WE WILL LIKE EVERYTHING, IT DOESNT SAY EVERYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO US WILL BE GOOD...

But we do have Gods assurance that all things work together for good.

Matthew Henry was robbed, he was held up by thieves robbed of his wallet and belongings on him at the time.

He went home and immediately took out his journal and wrote:

“Lord, I thank you that I’ve never been robbed before. Lord I am thankful that thought they took my money they didnt take my life. Lord I am thankful that they took everything I had but it wasnt much. Lord I thank you that it was I that got robbed and not someone else.

(READ VERSE)

I want you to think with me about this for a moment:

It takes faith to believe that God is so concerned with you that nothing comes into your life. ABSOLUTELY NOTHING COMES INTO YOUR LIFE, THAT HE DOESNT ALLOW.

If something escaped Gods notice, he wouldnt be God

He has approved it because it is whats best for you

He has approved it because it is what draws you closer to Him

He has approved it so that you can learn deep truths about him

He has approved it so that you can give thanks. He knows every detail of your life so you can give thanks, it was hand picked for you so you can give thanks.

God means it ultimately for your good so that you will give thanks, it will bring glory to Him so you can give thanks.

HE WHO SPARED NOT HIS SON, BUT DELIVERED HIM UP FOR US ALL. HOW SHALL HE NOT WITH HIM ALSO WITH HIM FREELY GIVE US ALL THINGS.

We serve a good, great, a holy, and aloving GOD

The will of God apply to all three of these

BE JOYFUL FOR IT IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU

BE PRAYEFUL FOR THIS IS THE WILL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU

BE THANKFUL FOR THIS IS THE WIL OF GOD IN CHRIST JESUS FOR YOU

But Kyle i wish I knew Gods will for my life:

CHoose Joy in all things, Pray without ceasing (constant communion), THANK GOD FOR THE GOOD BAD AND UGLY this is God’s will for you.

This is not all of God’s will but if you cannot focus you efforts toward learning these 3 simple commands, your not ready for the rest of Gods will.

diomond

If diamonds are a girls best friend

Then these diamonds are your best friend Christian because they lead to the treasure of more revealing of His will concerning your life.

(let’s pray