Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction

Well we have just celebrated Thanksgiving, a holiday that our world seems to forget.

I was talking the other day with a man I had just met and we were discussing how things have changed through the years.

I remember growing up and stores decorating for fall, and there would be wonderful seasonal displays all around and as we entered the month of November one would see pilgrims and turkeys, horns of plenty all decorating tables and store fronts...

It all reminded us of the joy of Thanksgiving, a time of family gathering and celebrating together, we would watch the parade and some football on the TV.. and we would promise one another we would never eat that much again...

But today, we go from fall to Halloween and then suddenly to Christmas....

How sad that larger merchants of our world have pushed our society in such a direction as forgetting to be thankful.... instead its get up early and head out to Black Friday.

Now Im not against early Christmas shopping and great deals on items we might want to buy....

I’m just sad that society has lost it, the day after Thanksgiving becomes more important that the day it self...

Let me ask you a question, ponder on this … What are you thankful for....

I bet there is not one back Friday deal in any of that… not even a early look at Christmas…

No… instead we are thinking of a Savior, of our present hope in Jesus, of our family and friends… perhaps a few other things…

My friends we have so much to be thankful about… we cannot loose sight of it.

So this morning I want to share this thought… We have much to be thankful for, and no matter what we face, give the Lord praise my friends.

Let me begin by sharing this verse with you…

So with this passage as our base this morning, let me share a few thoughts with you...

So with this passage as our base this morning, let me share a few thoughts with you...

So with this passage as our base this morning, let me share a few thoughts with you...

So with this passage as our base this morning, let me share a few thoughts with tyou

In these verses Paul gives us a recipe for us to consider as we approach the Christmas season.

1. Rejoice Always.....

He is a

Consider this word if you will, Rejoice?

What does it mean....

We know that the word itself implies a happy or joyous feeling if you will, it is meant to be a feeling, a emotion that springs forth from the very heart of a person

And what does Paul say… let is always be....

But how, people want to know how can you be happy or joyous each day?

And what does Paul say…

Do you know people are looking for this secret day and night… ?

Yes, its true people desire to be happy… but honestly, the world goes about it wrong..

They seek to find the outside stimulus of life to bring or impart true joy.

But joy doesn’t work that way, oh… it can for a season but not forever.

So much can change in a moment…

So what brings us happincess… He does.

Jesus does!

The very nature of what Paul tells us here is that true joy, lasting joy comes from the Lord.

Listen to Paul in Philippians 4:4...

So here the very object of rejoice is the Lord.... we are called to rejoice in Him.

And in Him you can rejoice, every day without problem...

So why can we rejoice in the Lord?

Let me share why we can rejoice in the Lord...

A. He has saved us… Right there, if this was act, His salvation was the only thing we could rejoice in, my friends it would be enough.

Listen to the prophet Isaiah...

says “I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall exult in my God, for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation....”

Jesus came and gave his life as a ransom from sin, as such, His sacrificial death brought us the means whereby men and women could be saved.

So we have passed from death unto life....

Salvation implies that we needed to be rescued… Yes!!!

And Jesus did just that… I am alive because of Him… can I rejoice in that?

Yes!

And so that applies to you as well!

B. He Made Us New… Here is where it gets better… He takes us, our old self that has been saved and gives us a new self, a new nature…

B. He Made Us New… Here is where it gets better… He takes us, our old self that has been saved and gives us a new self, a new nature…

To be saved means we are united with Him, and therefore just has Christ has died, buried and rose again… so we my friends are made “new” in Christ Jesus.

The Greek word “new” implies a new nature, a new desire, different from anything that we previously had…

In fact to drive the point home, Paul says, the old has passed away… the old carnal, selfish nature.. it passed away just as one season gives way to the next.... that which is new...

The past is not remembered, behold all things have become new..

The past is not remembered, beyond all things have become new..

Can you rejoice in that my friends??

It doesn’t matter what your past was made up of either, simply this is enough.

Your past made your destined for Hell, your Present makes Heaven your home....

Amen...

Are you glad you are not the same person you used to be because you met Jesus?

I am....! Without a doubt, I am!

C. His Presence.... We can rejoice that He is always with us...

Jesus promised us himself that He would never leave us or forsake us… it doesn’t matter where we are going and it doesn’t matter where we have found ourselves, He is with us, all the way,

You see I have told you all of this to remind us that no matter, our state, our position or place in this life, we can rejoice for the Lord is with us and has done everything for us...

Can you rejoice in the Lord?

Can you rejoice in Him no matter what else is happening?

Now I know you say… Pastor, that is a lot.... Friends, he is a lot....

Bless His holy Name....

These are just a few reasons why I can rejoice my friends, just a few!

Now moving on, the second thing that Paul reminds us of is to ....

2. Pray without Ceasing....

Now you might not think of this as something we can be thankful for… but I assure you the opportunity and privilege to pray is something we can be extremely thankful for my friends....

Lets go back to our text for a momement...

I Thes 5

I believe my friends that the first (Rejoicing always) truly isn’t possible without the second; pray without ceasing!

Prayer is the one measure that God has given to us that we might not only communicate with Him, but in prayer we have the opportunity to be more like Him.... in that regard it helps us rejoice in all things...

How does prayer make us better, how does it make us more like Him?

I believe when we have the joy of praying, the more we pray, the more we commune with our Father, it makes us, changes us, shapes us into His likeness.

Now consider the word pray....

The word “pray” means to petition God. to reach out to Him and ask?

But can that be done continually?

Yes, it is not that our knee is continually bent before God, it is that the very desire of our heart is remain in Him.

To talk, to share and to listen to his counsel.

One writer said… we are to pray ..... “Without allowing prayerless gaps to intervene between the times of prayer...”

So we remain in a state and attitude of prayer that we might allow ourselves to grow closer and closer to the Lord, toward His will and purposes…

I believe here is where peace abounds my friends… it bounds in the presence of the Lord, listen, praying and worshipping him.

Do you pray always?

Is prayer as natural to you as breathing or is it is discipline you struggle with...

Part of our responsibility is to pray.... and Jesus expects us to pray..

He said… And when you pray

Matthew 6:6 But when you pray

And when you pray

This, then , is how you should pray...

So I say to you: Ask, Seek and Knock.....

Then Jesus told his disciples… they should always pray....

My friends we are expected to pray....But we say it is hard, I forget....

I struggle in prayer....

I can’t....