A "What If" World
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A "What If" World
A "What If" World
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Intro:
Here we are “again” Online only...
It was exactly 8 months ago today - March 22, that we closed the doors and went online only because of COVID-19...
On that Sunday, I preached a message entitled “What If”....
What if… Covid comes to me?
What if… Covid is a Rod?
What if… Covid is a Sword?
What if… Covid brings Revival?
There are many “what if’s” in life… but over the past 8 months, the “What If’s” continue to grow...
Why? Because “what if” scenario’s are in-exhaustive...
“What if” scenarios are also exhausting...
fear
anxiety
depression
no hope...
Tonight, we are going to look at 8 things we need to be mindful about in the days we live…
A "What If" World
A "What If" World
Pray:
At the end of the previous chapter, Paul was teaching about the resurrection and the rapture of the believers...
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.
What a glorious day this will be…
I don’t know about you, but I am ready…
I am ready for the corrupt and political leadership to be removed
I am ready for the freedom from this old sin cursed world
I am ready to see the Savior whom I have served for over 37 years...
I am ready to be out of here...
But… that is not God’s will for my life...
It isn’t God’s will for me to change because of the political, spiritual, financial or physical conditions in life...
These believers were so excited about the Lord’s return and their deliverance, that the Apostle had to continue the admonition in chapter 5 -
1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
The focus should not be on the when… the Lord will return...
We need to remain focused on the what of the will of God… because He knows:
where we are
what we are experiencing
what we are expected to do for Him in these days...
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
19 Quench not the Spirit.
20 Despise not prophesyings.
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
I am so thankful for the fulfillment of these verses in these days by our people...
Our staff
Our Faithful Men
Our Leadership
Our People...
There has been an outpouring of support and love towards us as we are ministering in these day...
Relationship - know them which labour among you
Receive
Over you in the Lord
Admonish you
Response -
Esteem theme very highly IN LOVE for their work’s sake
notes, texts, calls - prayers - support has been a blessing -
So these believers, knowing the Lord was going to return, were in a spot where they were inclined to focus on “getting out” “saved” from the situation instead of serving in the situation and we find Paul giving them 8 points that they needed to do… in these days.
Peace
13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.
peace among yourselves...
This should be the normal among God’s people -
Peace - to have harmonious relations and freedom from disputes...
The Lord said - blessed are the peacemakers...
so those who are contentious and remove peace are not right with the Lord -
be at peace among yourselves
Peace
Prepare
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.
15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
We have to be prepared to do all of these things…
Warn the unruly
Comfort the feebleminded
Support the weak
Be patient to all men
4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
longsuffering
reward - not evil for evil
Follow that which is good -
among yourselves - believers
all men - humanity - community,
Prepare your heart
Prepare your soul
Prepare your mind...
Prepare your actions...
training - I was down at the Sheriff’s dept this week for a swearing in ceremony - as I arrived, the swat teams were all assembling for a hit. Each one that is on that team goes through a lot of extra training to prepare themselves so they will know how to respond in different actions w/o having to think it through - instinct, reflexes…
Preparation and training goes into that - if we are going to respond like a believer ought, we have to be prepared… we have to train...
PEACE
PREPARE
3. Praise
16 Rejoice evermore.
Joy in the Lord...
The “feeling” of joy and happiness
are we joyful
A praising person is a joyful person
A complaining person is a negative and anxious person -
Little joy, little rejoicing, little praising -
The Lord instructs us to REJOICE EVERMORE...
does evermore include 2020?
does evermore include covid?
does evermore include online services?
does evermore include masks?
this admonition carries a lot more than what we allow it to cover - we feel like there are exceptions to the rule - but the Lord said
Rejoice evermore...
PEACE
PREPARE
Praise
4. Pray
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
notice the admonition to continue - continual state of being -
REJOICING
PRAYER
THANKFULNESS
we need to be in a constant state of prayer...
Illust: jawbone bluetooth mics came out…
I was standing in a line at the store and this guy looks at me - Hello, how are you doing -
i’m fine
He sort of looks at me weird and turns away…
he looks back at me and asks a question… it was random… I’m not sure what it was, but it didn’t sound like it was directed to me, so I looked behind myself - but nobody was there...
so I looked back at this guy and responed - I have no idea what you are talking about -
He looks at me pretty upset - and then points to his ear… and I was the one who was weird...
It should be normal for us to have communication with the Lord - with / without bluetooth
PEACE
PREPARE
Praise
Pray
5. Pursue
19 Quench not the Spirit.
Do not become negative in:
your countenance
your communication
30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Do we believe that God is in control?
Look for His working
See His working
See His plan…
Quench not the Spirit - in your life - in others
PEACE
PREPARE
Praise
Pray
Pursue
6. Promote
20 Despise not prophesyings.
despise not...
Treat the revealed Word of God with contempt… disdain
God’s word
God’s will is revealed and should be manifested in our lives
The teaching and preaching of God’s word should bring:
conviction
conversion
confession
conformity
it should be elevated in our lives...
PEACE
PREPARE
Praise
Pray
Pursue
Promote
7. Prove
21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.
1 Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world.
10 Proving what is acceptable unto the Lord.
11 For what man knoweth the things of a man, save the spirit of man which is in him? even so the things of God knoweth no man, but the Spirit of God.
15 But he that is spiritual judgeth all things, yet he himself is judged of no man.
PEACE
PREPARE
Praise
Pray
Pursue
Promote
Prove
8. Protect
22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.
10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.
11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.
12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.
13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
14 Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;
15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;
16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:
PEACE
PREPARE
Praise
Pray
Pursue
Promote
Prove
Protect
23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
vs 24 is on my office wall -
we don’t always feel like we are going to be victorious, or that we are capable -
But God is faithful...
God is faithful to do it… what is it? all that he has called us to do that we cannot...
often the Lord does not save us from the valley, the storm, the situation - but he will bring us through it!
Faith - Focused faith...