1 Thess:15See that none render evil for evil unto any [man]; but ever follow that whichis good, both among yourselves, and to all [men]. 16Rejoice evermore. 17Pray without ceasing. 18In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
1. Rejoice evermore
2. Pray without ceasing, and
3. In everything give thanks
Why should we give thanks in every circumstance? Why should we rejoice evermore? Even when it seems life is kicking us in the throat, rejoice? Give thanks? You bet, especially when life us kicking us, rejoice more, give thanks more....But why? This goes against everything this world stands for or understands. The 'why' behind giving thanks and rejoicing in every circumstance is this:
Psalm 22But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.
Our Lord inhabits the praises of His people, that means Israel, you and me.
Okay, so He inhabits our praises, so what? This nobody has written you recently about our need for His presence and power. There is no substitute for it. When the Lord shows up, our problems are taken care of. Proof?
Daniel 3:19Then was Nebuchadnezzar full of fury, and the form of his visage was changed against Shadrach, Meshach,and Abednego: [therefore] he spake, and commanded that they should heat the furnace one seven times morethan it was wont to be heated. 20And he commanded the most mighty men that [were] in his army to bindShadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, [and] to cast [them] into the burning fiery furnace. 21Then these men were bound in their coats, their hosen, and their hats, and their [other] garments, and were cast into the midst of the burning fiery furnace. 22Therefore because the king's commandment was urgent, and the furnace exceedinghot, the flame of the fire slew those men that took up Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. 23And these threemen, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, fell down bound into the midst of the burning fiery furnace.
24Then Nebuchadnezzar the king was astonied, and rose up in haste, [and] spake, and said unto his counsellors, Did not we cast three men bound into the midst of the fire? They answered and said unto the king,TRUE, O king. 25He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they haveno hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. 26Then Nebuchadnezzar came near to the mouth of the burning fiery furnace, [and] spake, and said, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, ye servants of the most high God, come forth, and come [hither]. Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, came forth of the midst of the fire. 27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, sawthese men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
Are any of our problems like being cast alive into a fiery furnace? I don't think so. What happened?
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego had a problem, a real big problem and what happened? The Lord God appeared in their midst. His presence and His power appeared with Him and the result for our 3 brothers?
27And the princes, governors, and captains, and the king's counsellors, being gathered together, saw these men, upon whose bodies the fire had no power, nor was an hair of their head singed, neither were their coats changed, nor the smell of fire had passed on them.
^^Problem solved......
You may say "that's great brother D but that was way back then and this is now" or "they were special and I am not" to which I would say: nonsense. This brother writes to you today to point you toward the Word of the Most High God, whose power is as great today for you as it ever was for any man in the past, including our brothers Sharach, Meshach, and Abednego. This nobody who writes to you is a living breathing testimony to the power of God toward those who believe. This nobody calls himself a nobody because he really is a nobody. The only claim this brother has to anything that is noteworthy or worthwhile is the presence and power of the Lord God Almighty in my life. That power has been exercised in a very very mighty way that this brother may provide in all truth a testimony of the presence and power of God right now today for you.
Praise Him, thank Him, rejoice evermore. We, you and me both desperately need the presence and power of the Lord our God every minute of every day. How does His presence and power show up for us? Through our praise, thanks and rejoicing. We do not beg Him, we thank Him. We do not grovel before Him, we rejoice in Him. Is this not what our Lord taught us?
Hebrews 414Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast [our] profession. 15For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of ourinfirmities; but was in all points tempted {5625;3987:5772} like as [we are, yet] without sin. 16Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
You need help, I need help every single day. Our help comes in and through thanks, rejoicing and praise.
| Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. |
grace and peace
