ADVENT 3 – December 13, 2020 – 1 Thess. 5:16-24
“LIVING IN THE INTERIM”
Introduction: Grace be to you and peace, from God our Father, and from our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ. Our text is the Epistle Lesson just read, from 1 Thess. 5. We begin with prayer.
Dear fellow disciples of our Savior and Lord, Jesus Christ:
- We have become so accustomed to “multi-tasking” that it is almost impossible for us to simply sit and wait for something. It seems strange, almost unnerving, to have absolutely nothing to do.
- So we see people reading a novel, or a newspaper, as they wait for the bus to come or to board the airplane. But nothing matches a cell phone! With a cell phone you can fill “waiting time” by playing games, by communicating with texts or emails, by researching things on the internet, or even shopping on the internet.
- Still, it would be fairly rare for someone to become so infatuated with their cell phone that they miss their bus or plane. We want to be engaged while we wait, but the thing we are waiting for continues to be the main thing.
- In our text the Apostle Paul gives wise advice for Christians as we look forward to the “coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” He doesn’t tell us to quit our jobs, or to hole up somewhere and meditate, or even to lay down on the picnic table and gaze up at the clouds.
- So as Christians, we understand that we will be multi-tasking as we live out our lives in this world. But even as we engage in our work, our family responsibilities, and our life within the church we must take care not to lose sight of the main thing, the thing we are waiting for, and that is the return of the Lord Jesus in all His glory, and the beginning of the new age!
- So what does Paul advise us to be doing?
I. The Church [all Christians] Is To Be Carrying On Life In God’s Will
Text: “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
A. We Are To Be Rejoicing Always
Text: “Rejoice always.”
B. We Are To Be Praying
Text: “Pray without ceasing.”
C. We Are To Be Giving Thanks
Text: “Give thanks in all circumstances.”
D. We Are To Be Allowing The Spirit To Lead And Guide Us
Text: “Do not quench the Spirit.”
John 16:13,14 “When the Spirit of truth comes, He will guide you into all the truth, for He will not speak on His own authority, but whatever He hears He will speak, and He will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify Me, for He will take what is Mine and declare it to you.”
1. We are to have a right relationship with God’s Word
Text: “Do not despise prophecies.” [the preaching and teaching of God’s Word, the Holy Scripture]
2. We are to be testing all things as to their spiritual nature, their morality
Text: “Test everything.”
3. We are to be properly discerning all things, so that we are doing all good things and avoiding all evil things
Text: “Hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.”
Statement: So in all the mundane earthly responsibilities that we are to be engaged in, we are also instructed to be rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks to God! We are not just permitted or encouraged to be rejoicing – we are commanded to be rejoicing! The same for praying and giving thanks – although this is difficult for us to do when circumstances are very unpleasant! But as the Spirit of God leads us into all truth – by means of God’s Word, the Bible, we are able also to discern all things correctly so that we may devote ourselves to all that is good.
Application: You can see the balance that God provides for us as we multi-task our way through this life and eagerly await the coming of Jesus. This Christian way of life reflects our hopes and our trust in God. It also bears witness to the goodness of God. And in this way we are kept safe from the evil one and his pitfalls and traps! This may seem daunting to us, impossible, and if we had only ourselves to rely upon we would surely fail! But we are assured that:
II. God Will Be Helping Us Every Step Of Our Lives
A. God Will Keep Us In Faith And Holiness
Text: “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
1. By faith we are forgiven and cleansed of all our sin and guilt, sanctified completely and blameless in the sight of God!
2. By His Word and Spirit God is also transforming us, restoring His image within us
B. And So It Is God Who Will Enable Us And Do This For Us – Through His Word And By The Power Of His Spirit
Text: “He Who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.”
Statement: God desires that we be faithful in all these matters – for our own good and blessedness, to bring praise and honor and glory to Him, and also to bear witness to others about the true nature of God, that God is love. He bids us to be faithful because He is faithful to us in all things. He is the One Who ultimately empowers all good within us. He has said He will be faithful, and He has called us to faith. And so as Paul asserts: “He will surely do it.”
Application: These spiritual tasks blend into our mundane chores and tasks. If we are to be “praying without ceasing,” then we must be able to do this while engaged in other tasks. And surely we can bring a joyful attitude to everything we do. And we can be grateful to God no matter what we are doing.
The discerning, and the practice of good, is always a work in progress for us, but God will also enable this in us. After all, “We are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus for good works, which He has foreordained that we should be walking in them.” [Eph. 2:10] He will surely do this!
Conclusion: Thinking about all of this, perhaps it could be suggested, even recommended that instead of picking up the cell phone while waiting for the bus, or waiting for our turn, we instead spend some time rejoicing in God’s gifts, His love, praying to Him for everything we need, and giving Him our thanks and praise!
When our tasks seem difficult and daunting, even dangerous and depressing, these are times to cast our cares upon the Lord knowing that He cares for us. We have the assurance that He is working all things together for our good and blessedness.
And as we rely upon Him in our daily lives here and now, we remember with joy and eagerness His promise to come again in glory. And this is our primary goal and task in life! Amen.
Votum: And the peace of God, which surpasses all human understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds in the true faith, which is in Christ Jesus, even unto life everlasting, Amen.