The Gospel Family

INTRODUCTION:

Interest:

It is good to be with you again this morning. I wasn't sure with everything going on in our country this past week who might be here this morning, but it is good to see each of you. I also expect that we have several of our church family watching the service through our live stream this morning. I am sure that is a wise decision for each of you as well and I am glad to have you join us from your homes.

It is also good to be with you personally this morning after being away last week because of my foot surgery. Last week I was watching the services over the live stream, but I missed being here. I am glad to be back with you this morning. I trust that you will allow me to sit rather than stand this morning as I don't think my foot is quite up to standing for the whole service, though.

Even though we are here, I expect that our attention this morning is probably somewhat still distracted by what has been the focus throughout our country over this past week, the coronavirus that is officially being called a pandemic. At this point, there are more questions than answers. Many of us are wondering what the next weeks will hold as we see the country responding with many unprecedented actions. You may all be watching me over a live stream of the sermon in coming weeks for all we know at this point.

Involvement:

Fortunately, in every situation the word of God always gives us guidance. Providentially, God arranged that we would come to set of versus this morning that are very appropriate for the circumstances that we have encountered over this past week. In fact, things were so providential that I decided to focus on only half of the verses that I had planned to cover this morning because they speak so directly to our situation today. So, while the bulletin says that we will be going through verse 22 this morning, we are actually only going to go through verse 18. We will include the other verses in our sermon next week, Lord willing.

Context:

We've been looking at Paul’s wrap up of his letter to these young believers for a few weeks now. What we have seen is that, Paul, as he does so often in his letters, concludes with several quick instructions. These are final thoughts that he wants to leave with these believers who are facing difficult circumstances because of their faith in Jesus Christ. Remember, these were believers in a city filled with unbelievers. These were believers who are being persecuted by the unbelievers because of their faith in Jesus Christ. These were believers who were being forced to depend upon one another because they had been ostracized from the rest of the city. As Paul writes these believers, he leaves them with these final words of encouragement. These are words of exhortation. These are words of comfort. These are words that have been profitable to the church throughout the centuries.

Throughout this series, I trust you recall that we've been looking at the gospel life cycle. The gospel is the means by which God calls people to new life through faith. The gospel is the means by which believers grow in this new life within their faith. And the gospel is the means by which people share the work of Jesus Christ with others so that new life and growth may continue. But what we also need to understand is that as we go through this gospel lifecycle ourselves, we become part of what I am calling the gospel family. We are spiritual brothers and sisters with each other through our faith in Jesus. We are united in this gospel work.

Preview:

This morning, in three verses that we will look at, we will be reminded again that being part of this gospel family means that we have responsibilities toward each other. We've already seen that we have responsibility to encourage and comfort each other. Now, the responsibilities that we will see in our verses are ones that are specifically important when we face difficult circumstances.

The main lesson that we can see in our verses this morning is that: We must respond properly to difficult circumstances. We must respond properly to difficult circumstances.

Illustration

This week have you found yourself wondering how you should respond to the coronavirus? You may have been tempted to respond in a number of ways, I know I have been: fear of the unknown, derision over the panic, panic over the panic, stress over the sudden change in plans, concern for those who are impacted directly. And so forth. I'm sure all of us have already aware of and have been impacted by the coronavirus at least somewhat, even if it is only by not being able to buy the groceries that we wanted. It is the only news story that seems to be on the television channels. It is inescapable wherever you look on social media. The coronavirus demands a response of some sort from each of us.

Application

God tells us how to respond to difficult circumstances. We will face difficult circumstances. This week and for the next few weeks that will likely be the coronavirus. But there are many other difficult circumstances that we will face as well. We will face financial challenges. We will face health challenges. And we may even face opposition because of our faith in Jesus Christ. We don't know which difficult circumstance may suddenly come into our life but regardless of the circumstance we are given three instructions in our verses this morning to guide our response.

Transition from introduction to body:

We must respond properly to difficult circumstances. Let's read our verses those verses…<read 1 Thess 5: 16–18>

BODY:

In the short verses that we just read there are three instructions, as I said. Before we look at those instructions, though, I want us to notice the last phrase that I just read in verse 18. Look at it: “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” This phrase applies to all three of the instructions that we will look at. There may be times when we are unsure what God would have us do. But when it comes to the three instructions that guide our response to difficult circumstances in these verses, we have no doubt as to what God would have us too. This is God’s will.

Notice also that this is God's will “in Christ Jesus.” Paul is calling out specifically the union that we have in Christ that places us in a position to actually do the will of God. Let's never forget that without Christ in our lives, without saving faith, we cannot do the will of God. It is only because of Christ and His finished work on the cross that we can be in a position to comply with what God would have us do. That means that the three instructions that we will look at this morning are not natural at all: they're supernatural instructions. We cannot do these things through our own energy or natural ability. We can, however, fulfill these instructions because of an inward transformation that is occurring through the power of God at work within us through our faith in Jesus Christ.

Transition:

The first response is the simple command that we are given in verse 16,…

I. We are to rejoice in difficult circumstances.

“Rejoice always.” that really is a very short command, isn't it? Many of you probably know that John 11:35 “Jesus wept” Is the shortest verse in our English bibles. Really in the original Greek, this verse is the shortest verse. It is not a difficult verse to understand. The challenge comes in doing what it says.

The command is simple, rejoice. It is not hard to understand. It simply means that we are to display joy in our lives.

Illustration

We all have experience at doing that. Our team wins, we get a raise, we receive a surprise gift; these and many other things cause us to respond with joy.

The challenge is not understanding the command; the challenge comes with the word that modifies the command, that word “always.” That is the word that makes this command difficult.

Think about the Thessalonians. According to verse six of chapter one these believers had already displayed joy amid their suffering. And yet here as Paul closes out this letter, he leaves this command for them to continue rejoicing always. This really is a wakeup call for suffering people. It issues a challenge to them to constantly be joyful. Constantly joyful, regardless of whatever circumstance one finds him or herself in.

How is this possible? How can a person be joy-filled and display rejoicing when bad things happen? Well, what we need to understand is that the answer to that question is based upon the central theme of this entire letter, the gospel life cycle. We are not to be joyful because of our circumstances of the moment, we are to be filled with joy because our circumstances cannot affect what we have received through our faith in Jesus Christ…we are in Jesus Christ. Whatever circumstance we encounter at this moment, it is temporary. Our joy is based upon that which is eternal, our salvation which can never be taken away. In fact, the most startling characteristic of Christians should be the joy that emerges in our lives even under the adverse circumstances.

Application

Now, I am nowhere close to a medical expert. That means I have no idea if the responses that have been recommended to the coronavirus are wise or unwise. I will trust those who are experts to advise us in that area. Furthermore, I am not a prophet so I have no idea what level of impact this virus will have upon the economy and our future. What I do know, is that there is nothing about this virus that can possibly shake my joy in my Savior. My reason for joy is so much greater than any circumstance that could be brought upon me by this virus. And the same is true for you as well if you know Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. So, let me ask you, this past week have you been rejoicing in your salvation? As you've watched the news unfold about this epidemic, have you continued to rejoice because of Jesus Christ? This coming week will you be rejoicing in your salvation? Will you be encouraging those who are sitting around you this morning to rejoice as well?

Transition:

We are to rejoice in difficult circumstances. That is the first response that we are given this morning. Remember our main lesson? We must respond properly to difficult circumstances. That means first that we must rejoice.

In verse 17 we see the second command this morning….

II. We are to pray in difficult circumstances.

Pray…Pray without ceasing.

Frequently, I believe these verses are looked at independently. When we do that, we tend to look at the idea, “pray without ceasing” separate from any context. That is not entirely problematic because the instruction does tell us that we should be praying all the time. But we should recognize that the context for all this instruction is the same as the previous one—the persecution that these believers are experiencing. This verse specifically applies to the times when we're going through extremely dire and difficult circumstances.

Recognizing that this command is connected to the previous one also causes us to recognize that there is a relationship between prayer and joy. Joy puts us into the proper mood for prayer and, as one commentator expressed it, “Incessant prayer is the only way to cultivate a joyful attitude in times of trial.”

I am sure that we know what prayer is, simply talking to God. But let's consider the idea that Paul is expressing in this verse when he says, “without ceasing.” The image of the word that Paul uses to express this incessant idea is particularly poignant this week considering our circumstances. The idea of the word that he uses that we have translated as “without ceasing” is the idea of a hacking cough. It is not a word that describes an active, aggressive cough, but rather that tickle that refuses to go away in the back of your throat that causes a repetitive clearing of your throat with a little cough. That is the idea here that Paul applies to prayer. He is encouraging these believers to have prayer be something that just keeps coming back into their lives all day long.

Illustration

I know I have had the experience of a nagging cough of this nature many times. I seem to get this frequently when I have a cold. I will recover from my cold but I will continue to have an itch in my throat that will last for two or three weeks longer. This causes me to especially have trouble sleeping because I keep attempting to scratch this nagging itch with a cough. In fact, the cough is nearly involuntary; it just hits. My wife particularly dislikes this trait because for a couple of weeks it seems that just as she is falling asleep, I will need to cough wake her up.

Application

So again, let's think about this coronavirus situation. I'm sure many of you have spent a fair amount of time reading about this situation. Undoubtedly, you've seen information on television. You've been wearied, most likely, from the pontificating in social media. But how much time have any of us spent praying about the situation? Does the amount of time we've spent praying come anywhere close to the amount of time we've spent talking and reading about the situation? Have we been praying with our families that our faith would be strong? Have we been praying for those who are making the difficult decisions? Have we been praying for those who are sick? Have we been praying for those who care for the sick?

When we are directly affected by a difficult circumstance, we frequently find ourselves turning to prayer. We know that when we cannot control the outcome, we need to pray. But how about when things are not out of control? Are we still continually praying? Frequently it seems as if God is forced to bring difficult circumstances into our lives so that we will pray.

Well, I guarantee that the current situation is one that none of us are able to control. All of us, though, can pray. In fact, we have a command from God do precisely that. Let's not ignore this command.

Transition:

We are to pray in difficult circumstances. That is our second response that we are given in our verses this morning. We are to pray without ceasing.

Again, our main lesson: We must respond properly to difficult circumstances

Now, thirdly, in verse 18 we see that,…

III. We are to give thanks in difficult circumstances.

Verse 18 begins, “in everything give thanks.” I'm not sure that is the best translation, however. for the phrase that Paul has written in the original language. What Paul wrote in the original literally says, “in every (or the word can also be translated ‘all’) give thanks.” We are forced to complete the idea by adding something to that adjective “every.”

Certainly, one word that we can add is the generic word “thing” but that leads to the idea that we should be thankful for everything. I believe that the idea of being thankful for everything misleads many people from what Paul really means. Does this really mean that I must be thankful for cancer? Or, when my child fails a test that he studied for, should I be thankful? Do you see the issue? There are things that come into our lives that we certainly do not feel inclined to be thankful for. In fact, there are some things that would be wrong to be thankful for. For example, we should never be thankful for sin that is committed.

I believe what will help us greatly is to remember the context again. Paul is writing to these believers who are going through difficult circumstances and giving them final instructions on how to respond in the midst of those circumstances. Therefore, what we need to understand is that when Paul says “in every (or in all) give thanks,” he means that we are to give thanks in every occasion or all circumstances without exception. The distinction maybe minor but it is significant. We do not need to be thankful for cancer, for example, but we do need to still be thankful when the circumstances of cancer are brought into our life. If we understand “everything” in this verse to mean every situation or every circumstance, then we understand the verse correctly.

Again, Paul is simply giving quick instructions here at the end of his letter, but we can assume he has taught these young believers more fully as to why they are to give thanks even in difficult circumstances. We can look to other places in scripture for the reasons why we should be giving thanks even in difficult circumstances.

For example, we can turn to Rom 5 and read in verses 3-5 where Paul writes, “we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” Here Paul explains that tribulations, or difficult circumstances, puts us on the path to develop perseverance in our spiritual life and that perseverance develops our Christian character and our Christian character makes us firm in our eternal hope. So, while we may not be thankful for the tribulation, we can be very thankful for the results that come from that tribulation.

Of course, James teaches a similar idea in verses 2 through 4 of chapter one in his letter, verses that we memorized a couple years ago as a church family. Remember what James writes? “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Hopefully, you remember that the idea of perfect and complete here means spiritually mature. James lays out the process through which trials are used by God to turn us into spiritually mature men and women.

Turning back to our verse in First Thessalonians, we can remember that it is a direct command from God for us to give thanks in every circumstance that God brings into our lives. I worded it that way intentionally, God brings into our lives. The key for us as believers is to always have in the forefront of our mind the reality that nothing is transpiring in our lives apart from God's good plan. There is no accident. There is no random chance. There is only that which God has determined is best for accomplishing his perfect plan and good purposes. And that is what our thanks is based on; we are thankful that God is at work in the midst of every circumstance that we find ourselves in.

Application

Folks, this truth remains unchanged today. The coronavirus is not here by accident, it is here because God is using it for His purposes. I think it is very important that we humble ourselves to recognize that we are not able to understand those purposes so we should limit our speculation as to what God might be doing. We should, though, continue to be thankful that God is giving us an opportunity to praise him during this difficult time and all difficult times. God is giving us an opportunity to grow in our spiritual maturity. God is giving us an opportunity to point to the hope that we have in Jesus Christ. We have many reasons for which we are still able to thank God even as we face the disruption and challenges that the coronavirus is bringing to our country.

Transition from body to conclusion:

We are to give thanks in difficult circumstances. Response #3. We are to thank God for what He is doing in our lives and in the lives of those around us in every situation. And again, not only are we to do this ourselves, we must remember that we are part of a gospel family and encourage those around us to do likewise.

CONCLUSION

We must respond properly to difficult circumstances That is our main lesson this morning. We must respond properly to difficult circumstances

The responses that we are to give in difficult circumstances have been spelled out for us in three simple verses this morning. We are to rejoice, rejoice always. We are to pray, pray without ceasing. We are to give thanks, give thanks in every situation.

Application

As we go forth this week and, likely, in the coming weeks we will many opportunities to put these commands into practice. Our country is in a panic. Our neighbors are in a panic. We may even feel as if we are in a panic. But we must not allow panic to drive our response. Rather, We must respond properly to difficult circumstances

What we need to recognize is that we have a unique opportunity presented to us during this difficult circumstance to shine for our Savior. Our goal should be to remain obedient to Him. As we do that—as we rejoice and pray and give thanks—let's be looking for opportunities to share our Savior with those who are in a panic because they have no hope. Even as we find ourselves feeling that sense of panic, we need to remind ourselves of the hope that we have and the responsibilities that God has given us. We also can remember that we are not alone, we are part of a gospel family through Jesus Christ. We must do our part to model the proper response. We can also take encouragement from those around us who are doing the same.

At the same time, if you are here this morning and you do not know Jesus as your Savior, I encourage you to talk to me after the service. Let me show you how you can have real hope during the unknown circumstances the coronavirus is brought to our country. Because of my foot, and because we should recognize that medical experts have told us it is unwise to be shaking everyone's hand at this time, I will not be going to the lobby at the end of the service , but I will be down here in the front pew; I would love for you to come talk to me and allow me to share the hope of Christ with you.