God's Will for Every Saint
Dr. Ernest L. Easley
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
April 5, 2000
Like a plane comes to the end of the runway after a delightful flight, we're coming to the end of our flight through the book of 1st Thessalonians. And that of course would bring us to the 5th chapter.
Now as Paul wraps up his letter to the Thessalonian saints, he leaves them with some practical principles. Aren't you glad that the Bible is more than theory to learn! I mean, if the Bible is just a book of theory, it would make a lot of difference in our daily life.
More than a book of theories to learn, the Bible is a book of principles to live! That's why James says in James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Well, beginning in I Thessalonians 5:16, Paul gives us three timeless principles to pursue! And in pursuing them, we find ourselves living in the middle of the will of God. And if we'll live in the will of God when it comes to these principles, it will make finding the will of God at other times much easier!
So beginning in verse 16, we read about
God's Will for Every Saint
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Here is the will of God for every saint: Be Joyful! Be Prayerful! And Be Thankful! Now lets take a brief look that these three principles to pursue.
(1) BE JOYFUL.
Verse 16, "Rejoice always." Here we find the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament: "Rejoice always!" And if you want to be in the will of God, then "rejoice always."
Now the word translated "rejoice" is in the Present Tense. So what that tells us is that when Paul says, "Rejoice always," he's literally saying, "Rejoice and keep on rejoicing always." Now is it possible to rejoice always? I mean, in every situation? When we struggle? When we're in the valleys as well as on the mountain tops? Is it possible?
Of course it's possible! Do you think that God would tell us to "rejoice always" without giving us what we need ...
Dr. Ernest L. Easley
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
April 5, 2000
Like a plane comes to the end of the runway after a delightful flight, we're coming to the end of our flight through the book of 1st Thessalonians. And that of course would bring us to the 5th chapter.
Now as Paul wraps up his letter to the Thessalonian saints, he leaves them with some practical principles. Aren't you glad that the Bible is more than theory to learn! I mean, if the Bible is just a book of theory, it would make a lot of difference in our daily life.
More than a book of theories to learn, the Bible is a book of principles to live! That's why James says in James 1:22, "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."
Well, beginning in I Thessalonians 5:16, Paul gives us three timeless principles to pursue! And in pursuing them, we find ourselves living in the middle of the will of God. And if we'll live in the will of God when it comes to these principles, it will make finding the will of God at other times much easier!
So beginning in verse 16, we read about
God's Will for Every Saint
I Thessalonians 5:16-18
Here is the will of God for every saint: Be Joyful! Be Prayerful! And Be Thankful! Now lets take a brief look that these three principles to pursue.
(1) BE JOYFUL.
Verse 16, "Rejoice always." Here we find the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament: "Rejoice always!" And if you want to be in the will of God, then "rejoice always."
Now the word translated "rejoice" is in the Present Tense. So what that tells us is that when Paul says, "Rejoice always," he's literally saying, "Rejoice and keep on rejoicing always." Now is it possible to rejoice always? I mean, in every situation? When we struggle? When we're in the valleys as well as on the mountain tops? Is it possible?
Of course it's possible! Do you think that God would tell us to "rejoice always" without giving us what we need ...
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