More Prayer Produces More Rejoicing, More Rejoicing Produces More Thanksgiving!, Part 2 (Praying Through the Bible #455)
TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18:
16 Rejoice evermore.
17 Pray without ceasing.
18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
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Warren Wiersbe said, “The Christian who walks with the Lord and keeps constant communion with Him will see many reason for rejoicing and thanksgiving all day long.”
In our last message in this series, we looked at how the Apostle Paul’s three commands to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks to God in everything are tied together and show us a vision of the Christian life.
Now, let’s look at the first of the Apostle Paul’s commands in more detail.
First, we are to rejoice evermore. The King James Bible Dictionary defines rejoicing as “The act of expressing joy and gladness in a high degree; to be exhilarated with lively and pleasurable sensations; to exult.” The word “evermore” means “Always, eternally, and at all times.” Throughout the Bible, and especially the New Testament, we are commanded to rejoice. Philippians 4:4 says, “Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice.” Rejoicing is not to be confused with mere happiness, which is momentary and cannot be continued forever. This joy is something that only comes about through knowing Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1:8 tells us that, though we have not seen Jesus Christ, because we believe in Him, we rejoice with “joy unspeakable.” This “joy unspeakable” enables us to rejoice even when we are suffering. In 1 Peter 1, we see that Christians “greatly rejoice” because we are “kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation”, even when we “are in heaviness through manifold temptations.” In 1 Peter 4:13, we are told to “rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings.” In 2 Corinthians 6:10, Paul wrote that we as Christians are seen as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing. In the Beatitudes, Jesus told us to “Rejoice, and be exceeding glad” in the midst of persecution, for the reward in heaven is great. Paul told the Colossians that he rejoiced in his sufferings for them. James told us to count it all joy when we are tested by temptation. The natural state of humanity when suffering in life is not to be joyful. Clearly, this joy is not natural. It is supernatural “joy unspeakable.” This joy is only possible in the life of the Christian.
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Now, if you are with us today, and you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ as your Saviour, your first prayer needs to be what we call the Sinner’s Prayer. First, please understand that you are a sinner, just as I am, and that you have broken God’s laws. The Bible says in Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned and come short of the glory of God.”
Second, accept the fact that there is a penalty for sin. The Bible states in Romans 6:23: “For the wages of sin is death…”
Third, accept the fact that you are on the road to hell. Jesus Christ said in Matthew 10:28: “And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” Also, the Bible states in Revelation 21:8: “But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.”
Now this is bad news, but here’s the good news. Jesus Christ said in John 3:16: “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
Just believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead by the power of God for you so that you can live eternally with Him. Pray and ask Him to come into your heart today, and He will.
Romans 10:9 & 13 says, “That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved… For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”
If you believe that Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sins, was buried, and rose from the dead, and you want to trust Him for your Salvation today, please pray with me this simple prayer: Holy Father God, I realize that I am a sinner and that I have done some bad things in my life. For Jesus Christ sake, please forgive me of my sins. I now believe with all of my heart that Jesus Christ died for me, was buried, and rose again. Lord Jesus, please come into my heart and save my soul and change my life today. Amen.
If you just trusted Jesus Christ as your Saviour, and you prayed that prayer and meant it from your heart, I declare to you that based upon the Word of God, you are now saved from Hell and you are on your way to Heaven. Welcome to the family of God! Congratulations on trusting Jesus Christ as your Lord and Saviour. You have done the most important thing in life. For more information to help you grow in your newfound faith in Christ, go to Gospel Light Society.com and read “What To Do After You Enter Through the Door”. Jesus Christ said in John 10:9, “I am the door, by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.”
God loves you. We love you. And may God bless you.
BCNN1 WP 