Discovering God's Will

Will of God

CCCAG 11/24/24

Scripture Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Introduction

As a pastor, one of the most common things that people ask me to pray about is for God to help them make an important decision.

If you are a Christian, God’s plan for your life should be a consideration for any major decision that you make. Therefore, one should ask for HIS counsel, help, and leading in all aspects of our lives.

One of the ways HE had given to help us with that, is the bible.

The bible gives us the boundaries to keep us safe, and principles of righteousness and holiness to guide us on how we live.

God expects us to know HIS Word, and follow those general principles.

However, sometimes a decision is not something that’s a black and white issue.

For example- If I want to be an assassin like John Wick, the bible already speaks to that- you shall not murder, so that is very clear- you can’t be a Christian and be an assassin.

But life is often lived in shades of grey. Therefore, we need practice a lifestyle that is lived with a constant connection with God to navigate those times.

This is important because God doesn’t want to just be our God when tragedy strikes, or for an hour on Sunday morning.

God really doesn’t want a relationship with us that relegate HIM to a box on the way that says “Break Glass in the event of an emergency”

Our Father is interested in every part of our lives, and wants to be a part of everything we do.

Today, we are going to be exploring that idea as we dive into a powerful passage from Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians.

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)

Prayer-

God give us a trio of commands – to rejoice always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances

This might seem too easy or deceptively simple, but they are profoundly transformative.

Together, these verses outline a way of living that aligns our hearts with the will of God. Let us explore how we can live in constant joy, unwavering prayer, and steadfast gratitude and thanksgiving.

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1. Rejoice Always: A Call to Constant Joy

Paul begins with the command to "rejoice always." At first glance, this seems challenging, perhaps even unrealistic. Life is full of trials, disappointments, and pain. How can we possibly rejoice always?

Rejoicing means to practice Joy at all times.

But as I say that, I know we are automatically thinking of dozens of circumstances where joy would be an inappropriate emotion to experience.

Because that is because we equate joy with happiness- we think they are the same thing, but in the bible, they are not the same thing.

Happiness is an emotional response to a favorable circumstance. If the circumstance changes, then the level of happiness changes or disappears.

Joy Is Not Circumstantial

The joy Paul speaks of is not dependent on external circumstances. It is not the fleeting happiness tied to favorable events or material success. Instead, it is a deep and abiding decision to trust and rejoice as we stay rooted in the presence of God.

Psalm 16:11 reminds us, “In your presence there is fullness of joy.”

The Apostle Paul himself exemplified this joy.

Writing from prison, he declared, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Philippians 4:4). His circumstances were dire, yet his heart overflowed with joy because his focus was on Christ.

You remember In Acts 16, Paul and Silas were arrested, severely beaten, and imprisoned for preaching the Gospel and casting a demon out of a young girl.

So they are chained up with their feet in stocks, in the most inner part of the prison- which is probably a very cold and damp dungeon with only a loincloth to cover them, with open sores all over their bodies from being flogged.

Do you think they were happy? Does that circumstance sound favorable to you?

No,

What they did have was

a deep and abiding decision to trust and rejoice as they were rooted in the presence of God.

What was God’s response?

And the jail was shaken, their chains fell off, and the jail door opened. It was such an amazing experience that even the hardest hearted person there- the jailer himself got saved.

What is the The Source of this Joy?

Our joy comes from several eternal truths:

1. The Assurance of Salvation – We have been redeemed by the blood of Christ and reconciled to God. Nothing can separate us from His love (Romans 8:37-39).

Romans 8:37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.