Shining Stars
Notes
Transcript
“Shining Stars”
Text: 1 Thess.1:6-10
Introduction: When you wish upon a star your dreams will take you very far but when you wish upon a dream life ain't always what it seems what'd you see on a night so clear In the sky so very dear you're a shining star no matter who you are shining bright to see what you could truly be. Those are the lyric to a song by one of my favorite rhythm and soul groups, Earth, Wind, & Fire. It was during this same time that I was stationed in Ft. Hood Texas where one of our past time on the weekend if you didn’t have duty was to wash and wax your car. On Saturday mornings you could find me out in front of the Barracks polishing up my Gold 1977 Cutlass Supreme. Most of you’ll who know me know that I take pride in wearing shined shoes. I can remember when I was in grade school an extra incentive was a shiny quarter or Kennedy half dollar for every A on your report card form uncles and aunts cause momma and daddy’s standard was an A was expected out of you. Because other than chores all you had to do was go to school and c’s and below were just not tolerated. While these cultural practices were the norm of that day and in many instance encouraged and celebrated they will not suffice for the glow or shine that Christian should express in his or her daily walk with Christ. They use to sing a hymn in the old church; shine on me, oh shine on me, let the light from the lighthouse shine on me. If we are going to be shining stars, this text shares with us some key features in becoming shining stars.
Be an Imitator of the LORD (1 Thess. 1:6a)
Who are you imitating? If you are going to imitate Christ, you will have to work at doing it. It will take some time, commitment and energy. The key to demonstrating the presence of God in one’s life comes through “taking God at His word.” Paul says, “We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction.” We must be convicted by the word of God in order that we can imitate Him. They heard it and complied with what they heard. When the Gospel is lived out in our daily lives on a personal, passionate, and purposeful note others will see it and it has the power to convince the unsaved to see the goodness of the Lord. It is important that we imitate Christ because it is a very central means whereby men can be saved. This little light of mine, I am going to let it shine should be every Christians code of honor. When we are imitating Christ the masses can be reached with the saving message of the cross.
Afflictions will come, but the Word stabilizes and produces Joy! (1 Thess. 1:6-7)
“For you received the word in much afflictions, with joy of the Holy Spirit,” We live in a culture, where so much goes on that is not holy. Our churches are filled with imperfect people and the tendencies of the world invades our ranks. The devil is constantly on the attack and many of us are duped by him into thinking that we are doing the right thing. However a word to the wise; you can’t be right and wrong at the same time. You can’t choose times and opportunities to be right when you want to then neglect to do it when you don’t want to. Spiritual fruitfulness, empowerment, maturation, and discipleship are a must have if the Holy Spirit is to produce joy in the believers walk. You want to be a shining star? Portray a life that is sold out to and for God! The only way it can be done is allow the word of God to stabilize your minds and your actions will follow in a righteous direction.
Shine and sound off wherever you Go. (1 Thess. 1:8-10)
Verse 8 explains how the Thessalonians became examples to other Christians, Having recieved the gospel (v.5) they passed it on to others. They acted like a relay station in that not only did they recieved the word but they sent it farther on its way with increased power. Yes where ever we go we ought to sound off with the saving message of Jesus Christ. Many time we leave the best of our worship and praise at the church house, expecting to come back on next Sunday and pick up where we left off. But we would fare a whole lot better if we adopted a grab and go type spirit. Grab all the worship, praise, Christian education, bible study, and kingdom knowledge that we can grab and go, go where? Go out into our communities, into the world where sin and gross injustice are running wild and tell them about our Christ who can save anybody. Every where I go I am going to let it shine, Jesus gave me this light I am going to let it shine.
Closure: Yes we all can be shining stars, no matter who you are, shining bright to see what God want us to truly be. Is there anybody here that wants to be a shining star? And if you are here, let me encourage you to keep on shining all in your home, let it shine, all in your walk, let it shine, all in your talk, let it shine, because one of these days the brighter than the morning star is going to crack the sky, every eye is going to see Him, every tongue is goin to confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of the Father. Until then keep shining, letting men and women know that Jesus is the light of the world!
