December 11, 2011

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Two of the great themes of the Advent and Christmas seasons are joy and peace. In our fallen world under the influence of sin and death, joy and peace can often be hard to find. Yet, God’s people enjoy them because of the coming of Jesus in the manger, and we look forward to perfect joy and peace after His return.

Note that this morning’s passage begins with Peter commanding us to be joyful. "Be joyful always." (v.16) Being joyful is not just a wish. It is not an option. It is not just a good idea. It is an instruction in God’s word. We are to be joyful. Even in the midst of pain we are to be full of joy. Even when our lives are falling apart we are to be full of joy. Even in our darkest hour we can be full of joy.

We can be full of joy in these times because joy is not something that comes out of us. It is not generated by our hearts. It is not the same as happiness. The Bible never commands us to be happy. God does expect us to be full of joy, which is deeper and better. Joy is not based on the good things that happen to us. Joy is the condition of the heart that results from the realization that our God has come to us. Joy comes from outside us and it is meant to fill us and strengthen us.

Those who are in Christ can always be joyful because they have the Holy Spirit and have been made right with God. When the world threatens them they can stand firm because they know that the Holy Spirit in them is greater than the spirit of the world. They can be joyful because they know that they are known and loved by the Creator of the universe. They can be joyful because they know that their God knows their name, knows how many hairs are on their head, knows everything they think and do, and loves them anyway. Those who are in Christ, the redeemed of the Lord, those who belong to Him through the new birth, can always be joyful because they know that Jesus didn’t die on the cross for just anybody’s sins, but that He died for theirs, and they are washed clean and made right with God. If you know this, if you know you are in God’s presence and the future is secure in Him, how can you not be joyful?

Because God’s people can and must always be joyful, they must also always be in an attitude of prayer. Paul instructed the Thessalonian church, "[P]ray continually." (v.17) First, we need to dispel some wrong ideas about prayer. Jesus did say to pray in your closet so that you would not make a show about it in front of other people. We can pray anywhere we are, however. As long as we are not praying for the purpose of those around us watching us pray, we are alright. We can pray at work or school. We can pray while we play. Indeed, in everything we do, and wherever we are, we are to do it with the realization that we are in God’s presence and we always have His attention. Prayer is a constant attitude as well as a periodic activity.

Because prayer is something to be done at all times and in all places different postures are okay. In the Bible people often prayed laying on the floor face-down. Other times they would pray seated or standing as we do. All of these are fine and are appropriate at one time or another depending on the prayer being offered. We also teach our children to fold their hands, bow their heads, and close their eyes. While this is a nice, pious, posture, let’s be honest, we do it as much to keep them from getting distracted and making noise during the prayer as anything else. It is okay to pray while you are driving. I recommend it. While you do, please to not bow your head or close your eyes, and God will not be angry if you leave both hands on the wheel. Prayer is not about what you do with your body, it is about spending time with God. You need quiet time each day in your closet, but remember that when you leave the closet, you don’t leave God there.

Paul is talking about the attitude of our lives here. Look at the next verse with me. "[G]ive thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus." (v.18) We are to be full of joy because we belong to God. We are to be in constant communication with the one Who loves us enough to die for us and bought us for Himself. We are to be grateful for God’s promises to us and His faithfulness in keeping those promises. Because He has given us joy into which we can tap, and He makes Himself available to us at all times, there is no time in which we cannot be grateful to Him and give thanks.

We are easily distracted by the problems of life, and really bad things really do happen. Some of us have been sick for a long time. Others are dealing with the death of loved ones. For some of us, relationships that should bring us joy cause us pain. There are as many different reasons for suffering as there are people in this room. Like you, I can get caught up feeling sorry for myself or looking down on myself for the bad things that have happened to me, or even worse, the bad things I have done or caused. And yet, even through all of this we still have a God Who cares, guides, leads, corrects, and even more, who paid the penalty for our sins so that we might have eternal life. If only for this reason we ought always to give thanks.

The other side of being joyful, praying, and giving thanks is to quench the Holy Spirit. Paul not only lists the things we should do. He also lists some of the things we should not do. This list starts with, "Do not put out the Spirit’s fire." (v.19) If we are to have a joyful, prayerful, thankful attitude, then we cannot have an attitude of resistance to God and rejection of His word. When the Spirit moves in us we must respond and follow His lead. We must not stop listening to Him. We must not seek to hold down what He brings out in us.