Finding hope in every season

What does Christan hope look like in a global pandemic?

Three lions on a shirt

For football fans last week brought another great dissappointment. Englands first major final for 1966, when we won the world cup. It’s coming home rang loudly from hearts of the nation, needs something to believe in, something good to hope for as the England side looked better and better. The long wait might be over, no more years of hurt. But sadly hopes were once again dashed in another awful penalty shoot out. I’m not even a football fan and I felt the bitter dissappointment. Yet the next day what was the talk from mouth of fans. It’s okay - world cup next year.

As Christian I wonder how do we respond to the dissapointments of the last year? The missed family members, the cancelled plans, cancelled holidays, yet another 2 weeks in isolation. Missing out on events with friends. Seeing loved ones struggling yet not being able to support them. Loss of loved ones whether through COVID or not, and restricted funerals making it hard to grieve as we would like. How have we felt through the restricted worship, unable to enjoy the usual encouragement and togetherness of church family on a Sunday and mid week. And the doom of zoom.

All the frustrations, dissappointments, losses, concerns. If one word could sum up how we might be feeling - perhaps its weary. What does it look like to keep going. Today is our summer celebration - but perhaps you are thininking, what is there to celebrate?

God says to us today:

kEEP LOOKING TO GO WITH GRATITUDE

We arre going to meet a church who could easily feel discouraged, and hear what Paul has to say to them. Hannah is going to read for us from 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 to give us a bit of context, but then we’ll spend our time in 5:16-18.

What does Paul tell us about Thess church and their situation?

READING: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Wonder what you picked up about church. Prob one of most encouraging letters Paul writes. first 3 chapters are his celebration of the faith, evident and enduring. Could easily think life must be going well. But did you pick up how this church began? 1v6, severe suffering. These believers were born into persecution. In Acts within a month of Paul and Silas preaching gospel, many came to faith, but that their annoucment of Jesus as King upset Roman authories as strong perseuction began, such that Paul and Silas had to flee from the city. Later, having heard from Timothy about them, Paul writes celebrating their faithfulness to Jesus inspite of severe suffering.

Imagaine being believer in that church. Life constantly under threat. Freedoms constantly taken away. Loved ones killed because of their faith. You could imagine that longer live in such circumstances, more weary they become.

While we don’t face persecution for gospel like they did, I do think we can resonate with that weariness from keeping going through a year in pandemic.

What do you say to a church feeling like this? How can he help them to keep hope in face of discouragement?

I don’t know if you have ever thought about lyrics of that England anthem. I hadnt’ until last week someone pointed out to me. They are all about the reality of being an England fan. they are also a gospel plea. Lyrics take us back to the glories of the past, significant moments,

i still see that tackle by moore

gary lineckar scores

bobby belting the ball

and bobby dancing

to help the fan keep believing their is hope for the future - that glory WILL come again. footballs coming home.

Paul does the same thing as he finishes his letter with a number of commands - I believe to keep them going. We are going to focus on three of them today. He too wants us to look back and to look forward, so that we know how to live today.

REJOICE ALWAYS

How do we keep going in the weariness of life? May have been Thess believer question

Longer we endure trial, more easily it can consume us. 2 traps fall into.

One road to despair,

other smile, burying truth. But neither are right response.

We are called to rejoice.

Not about brave face. Smiling through gritted teeth, or just being happy as if emotion is something we can turn on and off. This is a command, so must be possible. How can Paul tell this church to rejoice in what they are going through. How can we rejoice in the weariness?

Because we can always rejoice in the Lord Jesus.

“To rejoice is to take delight in unchanging truths in the face of ever changing circumstances”

Rejoicing is an act of worship to God. Declaring that whatever is going on around me, however I feel emotionally, God is good.

What are the unchanging truth we are to take delight in - gospel of grace. Who God is and what he has done, and is doing, and will do. Paul threads it through this letter to Thess. Reminds them of what their faith has produced - love and endurance in Lord Jesus. Reminds them how they turned from idols, and who they now serve - the true and living God. In light of those who have died, reminds them of future they can be certain of when Jesus returns and they will be together with him, so they need not grieve without hope. The reality is that the believer has more to rejoice in on their very worst day than the unbeliever has on their very best. Because as seen in Romans, we have the glorious realities of the gospel of grace, of knowing God as our Father, Jesus as our Saviour and Lord, and life that is in him.

Christian joy not determined by circumstance, not is our ability to rejoice about a happy experience. even in sorrow and suffering we can have joy because we know it is well between us and God.

famous song “When peace like a river” written by Horatio Spafford, after traumatic events in his life, losing his Son in a fire which also ruined him financially, then losing his four daughters at sea. Yet this is what he wrote.

When peace like a river, attendeth my way, When sorrows like sea billows roll; Whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to know[b] It is well, it is well, with my soul.

Doesnt deny the tragedy and heart break, yet as you read on, he rejoices in the gospel.

Paul says rejoice ALWAYS. because we always have reason to. Not just on our own, this primarily about what we do together. Not just in formalities of songs and service, but in our every day lives. Are we in the habit of calling each other to these unchanging truths, so that we are always rejoicing. What do we say to each other when we are feeling down? Lets help each other to rejoice

PRAY CONTINUALLY

What does it mean to pray continually? Greek: “Without ceasing” Maybe what springs to mind:

meditation (bhudda?)

I regualrly see a man walking locally who is alwasy talking to himself. cant get a lot else done

What does it mean to pray without ceasing? In the genral sense this is about a heart of dependence on God. Part of rejoicing - recognise that all we need, and all we have comes from him, don’t draw breath without him. One author writes:

“It is not in the moving of our lips, but in the elevation of our hearts to God that prayer exists”

Pray is about our heart posture before God as our heavenly Father, and our relationship with him. But that will of course involve talking to him.

He loves it when we come to him. And he gives good gifts to those who ask. Again this is Paul’s command to us as a body, not just as individuals. Corperate prayer is about bringing each other before our heavenly Father, and raising our needs to him.

John Stott quote?

Each congregation should accept the responsibility to engage in serious intercession… We should be praying for our own church members, far and near; for the church throughout the world, its leaders, its aherance to the truths of God’s revelation, its holiness, unity and mission,; for our nation, parliment and government, and for a just, free, compassionate and participatory sociert; for world mission, especially for places and peoples resistant to the gospel; for peace, justice and environment stewardship; and for the poor, the oppressed, the hungry , the homeless and the sick. I sometimes wonder if the comparitively slow progress towards world peace, world equity and world evangelization is not due more that anything else, to the prayerlesness of people.

We are to rejoice together - helping each other delight in unchaging truths of the gospel, and pray for each other, lifting each other to our loving Fathers care.

GIVE THANKS IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES

Thankful should be characteristic of people of God. Yet, how easily in our weariness, thankfulness is replaced by grumbling. might be a British thing.

Few years ago I was at rugyb game waiting to be brought on, complaining about problems in the club and selection policy, and good friend said to me, Phil recently all you do is grumble.

If Paul is calling this Thess church to be thankful, then how much more us.

Psalm 103:2 NIV

Praise the Lord, my soul, and forget not all his benefits—

Again very closely linked to rejoicing, About who God is and what he has done. Whatever our circumstances we have every reason to be thankful

because whatever circumstance we are in God is still good and his mercies are new every day.

Whenever im grumpy Laura asks me a brilliant but annoying question. What are you thankful for today. Its annoying because in my sinfulness I want to stew. But its brilliant because it forces me to life my eyes above the situation, the grumpiness, and to remember God’s goodness. There is alwasy so much we can be thankful for, all the good things God has given us, especially the gospel

2. we give thanks in ALL cricumstances. Not saying FOR - suffering is not good. Paul not saying that the persecution this church faces is good, nor this pandemic we are in. Not any of the brokeness or evils we face. But he is we are to be thankful in the midst of all circumstances. Because God works all things for the good of those who love him. Seen in Romans that suffering produces perseverance, perseverance character character hope.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 NIV

May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Again together, will we look to remind each other of God’s goodness that our lives might be marked by thankfulmess. Will we make a habit of regonising his goodness day after day. In our every day conversations will we ask each other “What are you thankful for today”

Rejoice, pray, give thanks.

But what about when I don’t feel like it? When weariness or apathy takes over

Do it anyway.

1 Thessalonians 5:18 NIV

give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Why. Not about positive thinking - though it will lift us up, even if not immediately. We do it because it is an act of obedience to God. In the weariness to rejoice anyway. When we feel distant or dissappointed, we pray anyway. When we feel like everythign is falling apart, we give thanks regardless.

Why its so important to be part of a church family - why all NT is written to group of people not just individuals. Because when one of us doesn’t feel like it, we need someone else to help us rejoice, and pray and be thankful. So that we can lead each other continually out of unbelief and into presence of God. Together we fix our eyes on Jesus, even if our emotioms have to catch up later.

Rejoice, always, pray continually, give thanks in all coircumstances.

We you do these things as you leave today. Why not as you talk, share something you are rejoicing in, or ask for prayer, or ask each other what you are thankful for? We don’t always have to talk about the weather - but if you do, give thanks for the sunshine! Geuinely. What is all this about - redirecting our praise. Reorientating our hearts, recognising

God is good all the time. All the time God is good.