Praying with Paul: Seemingly Impossible Tasks
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Intro:
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Tonight, we will continue [Praying with Paul]. The subject of my message is, [Seemingly Impossible Tasks].
Some tasks seem impossible, until we do them. We have all came upon an obstacle that we thought we could never overcome, until we recieved the right tools.
Bekah and I got Davis a wooden jungle gym for his birthday. Bekah showed me a picture of it before she ordered it, and it looked good to me.
That is until it came in through FedEx. I opened the box with all the little pieces that needed assembled. At first glance, it seemed impossible.
But, with proper directions, the smallest Allen wrench I’ve ever seen, a few mistakes, and two blisters later, it is assembled and he plays on it often.
The task seemed impossible, but I recieved the instructions and proper tools.
Notice in our text that Paul declares the faithfulness of the Lord and explained that He is able to do it.
What is it?
Paul gave the Thessalonians a seemingly impossible task. I want to read all he instructed them to do:
Build each other up
Respect leaders
Live in peace
Warn the unruly
Comfort the fainthearted
Uphold the weak
BE PATIENT WITH ALL
Resist revenge
Rejoice always
Pray without ceasing
Give thank for everything
Do not quench the Spirit
Do not despise prophecies
Avoid every kind of evil
That long list seems impossible. But the Holy Spirit must have expected the people of God to live this way.
But He does not and will not leave us alone with these tasks. Instead, He provides the necessary assistance to do all that He expects from us.
God is concerned with how we live, but He will also helps us live the way He wants us to live.
What was Paul’s encouragement and confidence for the Thessalonians in this seemingly impossible task?
He trusted in [Peace of God], [Process of Godliness], and [Preserved by God].
Let’s begin
1. Peace of God
1. Peace of God
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The Thessalonians had a lot facing them:
False teachers
Opposition from Jewish Leaders
Questions about the coming of the Lord
Like most people, when we start to have questions, we might feel anxious and not have peace.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;
7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
After Paul helped answer their questions, he gave them the tasks of what God expected from them. But he calls on the God of peace. Peace and God come in multiple forms.
Peace with God— that comes when the sin that divided us from God is forgiven through the blood of Jesus.
Peace from God— that is where He sends the peace and harmony to our situations
Peace of God— when we think peace of God, think about God. He is peace.
6 For unto us a Child is born, Unto us a Son is given; And the government will be upon His shoulder. And His name will be called Wonderful, Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
27 Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
When we encounter the presence of God, He will give His peace, for He is peace.
When we think of all that we have to do, all that we face, and all that this world holds— we should focus on the Lord and enter into His peace.
Satan cannot bring peace, for Jesus is the Prince of Peace. Peace only comes from God.
In all of the seemingly impossible tasks, God will give us His peace.
2. Process of Godliness
2. Process of Godliness
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Much what Paul referenced earlier goes against our nature.
Live in peace
Warn the unruly
Comfort the fainthearted
Uphold the weak
BE PATIENT WITH ALL
Resist revenge
These are a few that I read and thought, how that fights against. But Paul, who believed that we can be at peace with God, referenced God’s desire to sanctify us completely.
When I think of sanctification, I remember a New Year’s Eve service going from 2008 into 2009. Our pastor preached a message, Draw the Line in ‘09.
He asked us to pray about where we felt God wanted us to draw the line. I was seventeen and I asked the Lord to help me live a sanctified life.
I told Him, God, I am drawing the line, from this point forward, I ask that you sanctify me and draw me closer to you. As I prayed, it was sincere and I felt the peace of God flood over me.
What is sanctification?
The Assemblies of God believes in sanctification.
"The Bible shows that sanctification is in one aspect positional and instantaneous; in another aspect, practical and progressive. The chief aspect, however, is the progressive work of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer." -Menzies and Horton
At salvation God INSTANTLY sets us apart for Him.
Since salvation, we PROGRESSIVELY become more like the Lord.
We should have within us a desire for God to continue to set us a part for Him.
How does this happen?
17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
When we get into God’s presence, the Holy Spirit transforms our image and makes us more like Jesus.
Is it really possible to do accomplish all of the seemingly impossible tasks?
We can do anything God has for us, because He will give us His peace and He will help us in the process of growing in Him.
3. Preserved by God
3. Preserved by God
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Though we did not study 1 Thessalonians 4, it is worth noting that Paul speaks about the coming of the Lord, where the dead in Christ rise first and we which are alive and remain go to meet Him.
The Thessalonians had questions and concerns about Christ’s coming, and Paul tells them that He will keep them and preserve them until His coming.
But notice how he mentions the spirit, soul, and body.
That shows us that God is interested in EVERY PART OF US.
There is not one part of us that God will forget or forsake. When we give Him everything, He will keep us and help us.
I think of the seemingly impossible tasks we face spiritually:
difficulty in prayer
attacks from the enemy
facing temptation
I think of the seemingly impossible tasks we face soul:
when our heart hurts
when our mind is confused
when the inner person struggles
I think of the seemingly impossible tasks we face physically:
sickness
doctors reports
hardships
NONE OF THESE ARE IMPOSSIBLE WITH GOD.
God will take care of us and preserve us at His coming!
7 just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.
12 For this reason I also suffer these things; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
24 Now to Him who is able to keep you from stumbling, And to present you faultless Before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy,
25 To God our Savior, Who alone is wise, Be glory and majesty, Dominion and power, Both now and forever. Amen.
Nothing can keep us from God and He will help us!
Close:
Who has faced tasks that seem impossible?
I want to emphasize the word seemingly. Not everything we face is as difficult or hard as it appears.
24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
Whatever we face, whatever comes our way, whatever attacks of the enemy— GOD WILL HELP US BECAUSE HE IS FAITHFUL.
Faithfulness is a characteristic of God. He keeps His promises, His love is absolute, and He never forgets us.
He is a faithful God. And I feel that we are to think of all that He has done in the past, praising Him for His faithfulness, to help us with what we face.
When we remember the faithfulness of God:
His peace will overwhelm us
He will continue the process of transforming and sanctifying us
He will preserve us and keep us until He comes!