2020-04-05 1 Thessalonians 5.16-18
Notes
Transcript
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray constantly,
18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
I. Rejoice always.
I. Rejoice always.
16 Rejoice always,
A. We rejoice because we can see beyond our circumstances.
A. We rejoice because we can see beyond our circumstances.
16 Rejoice always,
Illus:
Up until this week the pain we had felt was the pain of isolation, of forced social isolation, of economic downturn, and or the loss of church were the extent we faced. The fear of the coming virus was at the forefront.
This week the pain we know escalated innumerably as the threat of the virus became reality. A pandemic across our nation became local.
We lost a valued member of our community. Pastor bates was an integral member of our community. He served his church, our schools, our police department faithfully.
The pain and death of losing a 36 year old valuable member of our comunity has hit home.
I was in the middle of preaching my Wednesday Night Service when a friend texted me the news.
At that moment my heart did not feel like rejoicing. It did not feel like praising God. Deeply I wanted to scream that this was senseless. My heart ached as the sting of death became very very real in our community.
Then I stopped and dwelt on the fact that a brother pastor had passed. Not ended, but passed into eternity with Jesus Christ. Even though we felt the pain of death across our comunity, Pastor Bates does not know that pain, he knows Jesus.
Death and darkness must not reign over the children of God. Our rejoicing in the midst of death is the battle cry that it did not, now will not win.
Christ has conquered it, and it will not reign over us. Even though we may die on this earth we will rise with Jesus Christ.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is going to be revealed to us.
B. We rejoice because pain draws us to know God more deeply than ease ever could.
B. We rejoice because pain draws us to know God more deeply than ease ever could.
16 Rejoice always,
Illus: In our day it seems that the common treatment for pain is to do whatever you can to remove it.
We live in a time where we try to distract ourselves from pain in any way possible.
Today as we are walking through the most painful moment in our country since 9-11 I don’t want you to distract yourself from the pain.
Sweeping pain under the rug does not remove your pain. It simply places it away from your eyes to that it can build and debilitate you. You need to deal with it.
God does not waste your pain. He is the God who has carried our griefs and borne our sorrow.
Allow your pain to draw you to depend on God. Might these days serve as tool to bring you into his sovereign and loving arms.
We rejoice in the midst of pain because our God has not removed himself from pain, but instead embraced our pain. Our God embraced our wold of death.
Draw near to God in these days of death to know a God who has carried your death for you, and then rejoice how God brings life to your soul.
12 Dear friends, don’t be surprised when the fiery ordeal comes among you to test you as if something unusual were happening to you.
13 Instead, rejoice as you share in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may also rejoice with great joy when his glory is revealed.
II. Pray constantly.
II. Pray constantly.
17 pray constantly,
A. Your strength in the midst of pain is your relationship with the living God.
A. Your strength in the midst of pain is your relationship with the living God.
17 pray constantly,
Illus: You are not strong enough to handle this on your own.
Frankly when things were good, you know, in a mostly virus free world, you were not strong enough to handle life on your own.
This week the pain we know escalated innumerably as the threat of the virus became reality. A pandemic across our nation became local.
You weakness has simply been exposed. It does not matter how many positive vibes you read, or how much you try, you are weak.
We lost a valued member of our community. Pastor bates was an integral member of our community. He served his church, our schools, our police department faithfully.
Our false sense of strength in recent years has starved our prayer lives. Frankly we have been too busy to commune with God. At least that is our excuse.
The pain and death of losing a 36 year old valuable member of our comunity has hit home.
I was in the middle of preaching my Wednesday Night Service when a friend texted me the news.
Today a strong and caring God is waiting to speak with you. He promises to give you the strength you need.
Will you go to him, cast all you cares on him, allow him to be your strength, and embrace the relationship he has waiting for you.
At that moment
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!
5 Let your graciousness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
phil 4:
B. Do not squander these days of spiritual opportunity because because you numb them with pointless distractions.
B. Do not squander these days of spiritual opportunity because because you numb them with pointless distractions.
17 pray constantly,
Illus: Stopping is not something we are good at. Quiet is the enemy of our current day.
From the moment you rise in the morning till the moment you sleep there is the temptation to purposely numb yourself as a way of coping with the stress and pain.
You binge watch netflix or watch tv all day as a way to pass the time.
You live with the glow of the screen on your face to feel close to others.
Pain will not disappear because you ignore it.
Allow you pain to bring you to God. Allow it to be the kick in the pants you need to bring you to dwell in the presence of God.
Where distractions will help you to look away for a moment they will leave scars of pain that will not heal.
When you go to God and pray through every hurt, worry and struggle, God is there to heal you, and give you the strength necessasary to face today.
9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.
10 So I take pleasure in weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and in difficulties, for the sake of Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
2 cor 12:9-10
15 Pay careful attention, then, to how you live—not as unwise people but as wise—
16 making the most of the time, because the days are evil.
17 So don’t be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.
18 And don’t get drunk with wine, which leads to reckless living, but be filled by the Spirit:
19 speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music with your heart to the Lord,
20 giving thanks always for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,
21 submitting to one another in the fear of Christ.
eph 5:15-
III. Give thanks in everything.
III. Give thanks in everything.
18 give thanks in everything; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
A. Thankfulness is the deliberate choice to see the good in all things.
A. Thankfulness is the deliberate choice to see the good in all things.
Illus: It is easy to allow the darkness to reign in your heart today. Don’t let it.
Look through the darkness to the Light. Look to Jesus Christ.
Thankfulness is often conditional. We are thankful because good things happen in our lives.
How can we be thankful in the midst of death and darkness? Simply because we understand the fullness of What God has done.
We are thankful today because we know in the midst of death God has conquered death in Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving is the grateful confidence that our momentary circumstances will fall as the glorious redemption of God prevails.
6 Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.