Sermon Tone Analysis

Rejoice Always

According to Paul, the purpose of the church is that we, God’s people, should grow spiritually so that we increasingly attain to Christlike holiness and maturity.

This principle is perhaps most clearly expressed in the fourth chapter of Ephesians, a letter that is widely regarded as the most full and developed expression of Paul’s pastoral philosophy.

There, he writes that we are to attain “to mature manhood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ.…

Speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ” (Eph.

4:13–15).

This definition challenges the kind of Christianity that is common today.

For many church members, Christian faith resides in the background of their lives.

They think little about the Bible or God or their own spiritual condition, and they draw from very little of the power for godliness that is available to them in Christ.

Towards the ends of Paul’s benediction we find another place in this letter where he clearly states the will of God for us.

REJOICE - joy, feeling joy, fruit of the Spirit, state of being rather than emotion

OT associates joy or rejoicing with victory over enemies (David)

Why rejoice?

1&2 John - John understands he is writing these things so that our joy may be complete

REJOICE ALWAYS?

BRIDGE

Pray without Ceasing

Luke 18:1-8 Parable of the Persistent Widow

Who is Paul addressing in this letter?

All the brothers and sisters…Therefore, praying together, without ceasing, matters as it leads to what is called for next in v.18

The prayer meeting, as a medium to facilitate corporate unceasing prayer is important because we come together to pray for needs, help, forgiveness, etc., and then can rejoice and give thanks together in response to the answer that comes from God.

Judges chapter 1 shows the Israelites continuing the conquest of Canaan after the death of Joshua.

They inquire of the Lord first thing.

By v.18 they encounter a challenge and do not inquire of the Lord and let the inhabitants remain.

The results are devastating

Jesus in the garden - “Can you not watch for one hour?

Pray that you would not enter into temptation.

Armour of God in Eph.

6, after outfitted what do you do?

Pray at all times.

Give Thanks in ALL Circumstances

as a result of the Gospel and answers to our prayers

Eph.

5:14-21 see ref

Giving thanks in all circumstances orients our hearts and minds to the reality that all things are for your good and directed towards that end by the Sovereign God.

MacArthur wreck story

CONCLUSION

Thinking on this truth caused the Scottish preacher George Matheson to grow in spiritual maturity.

Matheson had often trusted God to help him manage the near-blindness that he had suffered since childhood, but he could not remember ever thanking God for this dreadful affliction.

Then he prayed: “My God, I have never thanked you for my ‘thorn’.

I have thanked you a thousand times for my roses, but never once for my ‘thorn’.…

Teach me the glory of my cross; teach me the value of my pain.

Show me that my tears have made my rainbows.”

A heart and mind, focused on Christ and the knowledge of God, is delighted, dependent, and directed towards Him who brings the fullness of all these graces into our lives.