Praise God for His Problem-Solving (I Thes 1:5-10)
We can praise God for His ability to solve any problem. Problems that go unresolved often cause stress, mistakes and miscommunication. When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians he thanked God for the way He helped them solve their problems of turning away from idols to serve a living and true God. Let us look at some of the ways God solves problems so we can worship Him more completely.
Illustration:
If the only tool you have is a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail.
Abraham Maslow, Eating Problems for Breakfast by Tim Hansel, Word Publishing, 1988, p. 54.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Experimental psychologists have long been studying the thinking process in solving problems. Here are some approaches you can use to improve your score as a problem solver:
1. Consider the elements of the problem several times, until a pattern emerges that encompasses them all. This helps you get the total picture before you become lost in details.
2. Don’t make a hasty judgment. Avoid succumbing to the first interpretation that comes to mind.
3. Try rearranging the elements of your problem. This may help uncover a familiar pattern previously masked by an unfamiliar arrangement.
4. Attempt a different approach. A proficient problem solver has learned not to persist in one approach if it’s obviously not working. He or she will jump from one approach to another until a solution is found.
5. Take "time out" when you’re stuck. This will permit you to get away from the problem and perhaps to be able to come back to it with a new perspective.
6. Discuss your problem with others. This will cause you to consider aspects you might otherwise ignore. A listener can serve as a useful feedback source to reveal inconsistency in your reasoning if it exists.
You cannot force a solution to a problem to come to mind. But you can keep your mind open so you can recognize possible paths to solutions when they present themselves.
Bits & Pieces, June 24, 1993, pp. 9-11.
1. PERSECUTION DELIVERANCE - The Thessalonican Christians stood firm when they were persecuted. Paul commended them for their faithful work, steadfast of hope and labor of love that was made possible by the power of God working in and through them. Let us praise God for delivering us from criticism, misunderstanding and adversity brought by evil of all sorts.
2. PURPOSE GIVER - We can praise God, as the Thessalonians did, for the purpose that transcends time, culture and our own limited perspective. Paul wrote, "You turned from idols to serve a living and a true God who is blessed forever." It is a privilege to serve God and know that our labor is not in vain. So many people, 71% of the american workforce, claim that they simply do their jobs merely to receive a pay-check. Consequently, many lack a sense of purpose that gives their lives meaning, fulfillment and a deep sense of satisfaction.
3. PROGRESS ENABLER - We can praise God that He gives us the assurance that He will complete the work that He begins in us as in the days of the Thessalonians. Paul wrote, "The Holy Spirit gave you full assurance that what we said was true." Maturing believers have a continual sense that their lives are getter better not deteriorating. Believers are continually infused with greater hope, love and faith in our great God and His plan for our lives.
4. PRESENT HELP - We can praise God that like the Thessalonians that He is our ever present help in the time of trouble. Though the earth give way and it falls into the heart of the sea. There is a river that makes glad the city of our God." (Psa 46;1,2) The city of Thessalonia was a key port city that afforded Paul an opportunity to herald the gospel out throughout the whole world as He wrote, "You echoed the gospel throughout the whole world." Only the Lord provides us with the best strategies, means and methods to accomplish His great commission purposes. He is never limited by our meager resources.
5. PRODUCER AND CONTROLLER - The Thessalonians realized that they were receiving a gift from God with great joy that was full of proof of its truth. NO wonder there were able to continue through great suffering. As a result they were able to follow the example of Paul in multiplying churches and converts that became effective missionaries throughout the region. Paul wrote, "You became example to all the believers throughout Greece." Let us praise God for the ability to produce new converts, new disciples and new fellowships through the working of our evangelism and disciple-making and teaching ministries.
6. PERSUADER - We can praise God that the Holy Spirit helps persuade people to bring about change, growth and greater Christlikeness in their lives. Paul wrote, "For wherever we go we find people telling us about your faith in God. We didn’t need to tell them about it, for they themselves report how you turned to God and away from idols to serve a living and true God." Only the Holy Spirit can bring people to conversion and beyond. It is God who is at work in people both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Stop feeling that you have to play the role of the persuader since it the word and the Spirit that act as the greater motivator in the world for Christlike maturity.
7. PURIFIER - We can praise God that He purifies, cleanses and renews us with His holiness. Paul wrote, "And they speak of how you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven who has rescued us from the terror and judgment to come." We can praise God that He purifies our perspective, motives and emotions. We know no longer have to live with insecurity, depression, and guilt since we have the assurance of future deliverance in Christ. We can praise God that He is the potter and we are the clay. He is gradually removing the old desires and replacing them with His love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control to a greater degree of holiness. May the Lord be given freer reign and greater praise to complete the work He has begun in us.
Praise God for His All Sufficient Grace that He provides through His word and Spirit’s:
(2 Cor. 12:9,10; Rom. 11:35,36)
1. Actualization
2. Adaptation
3. Adaptation w/His power for my weakness
4. Administration
5. Admiration
6. Affection
7. Affirmation
8. Alleviation of pain
9. Alterations
10. Amalgamation
11. Applications
12. Appropriation
13. Arbitration
14. Articulations
15. Association
16. Authorization
17. Calculation
18. Catalyzation
19. Caution
20. Celebrations
21. Clarifications
22. Cognition
23. Collaboration w/other believers
24. Communication
25. Compensation w/joy
26. Completion
27. Concentration
28. Concentration
29. Configuration
30. Confirmation
31. Connections
32. Consecration w/yielding
33. Consideration
34. Consolation
35. Consultation
36. Contextualization
37. Contribution
38. Conviction
39. Cooperation w/godly people
40. Coordination
41. Coordination
42. Correction
43. Correlations
44. Dedication
45. Deliberation
46. Demonstration
47. Demotion
48. Deputation
49. Determination
50. Direction
51. Discretion
52. Edification
53. Education
54. Education
55. Elevation above the world, the flesh & the devil
56. Elucidation
57. Embarkation
58. Emotions
59. Enablization means
60. Energization
61. Erudition
62. Escalation
63. Evaluation
64. Evaluations
65. Evangelization
66. Excitation
67. Exhortations
68. Exoneration
69. Expectation
70. Explanation
71. Explanations
72. Exposition
73. Facilitation
74. Filtration
75. Fixation
76. Foundation
77. Glorification hope
78. Harmonization
79. Harmonization
He Gives Sufficient Grace by means of the Word & Spirit:
80. Humiliation
81. Identification w/Christ
82. Illuminations
83. Illustrations
84. Impartation of truth,love,hope,power
85. Improvisations
86. Inauguration
87. Innovations
88. Inspiration
89. Instruction
90. Intention
91. Interpretations
92. Intervention
93. Intrepidation
94. Intuition
95. Irritations
96. Jubilation
97. Justification
98. Liberation
99. Limitation
100. Magnification
101. Maturation
102. Maximization of gifts, abilities and resources
103. Mediation
104. Memorization
105. Mobilization of people
106. Modifications
107. Motivation
108. Multiplication
109. Navigation
110. Objections
111. Observations
112. Obsession
113. Oppositions
114. Optimization
115. Orchestration
116. Organization
117. Perception
118. Perfection
119. Permutations
120. Persecution
121. Personalization of love
122. Pre-occupation
123. Presentation abilities
124. Preservation
125. Prevention
126. Prioritization
127. Proclamation
128. Profusions
129. Progression
130. Promotion
131. Promulgation
132. Promulgation
133. Propitiation
134. Protection
135. Purification
136. Realization of blessings
137. Reception
138. Recognition
139. Recognization
140. Recollection
141. Reconciliation
142. Reconsideration
143. Reflection
144. Reformation
145. Rehabilitation
146. Reinvigoration
147. Rejection
148. Relations
149. Relaxation
150. Relegation
151. Remediation
152. Remuneration
153. Renovations
154. Renovation w/Christ likeness
155. Renunciation of evil, sin & flesh
156. Reproduction
157. Repudiation of evil
158. Reservations
159. Resignations
160. Resolution
161. Resolution of conflict
162. Restoration w/Word-Spirit
163. Resuscitation
164. Revelation
165. Salvation-deliverance
166. Sanctification
167. Satisfaction
168. Solutions
169. Stimulation
170. Supplication
171. Transformation
172. Tribulations
173. Unification
174. Validation
175. Vindication
176. Visualization
DID YOU KNOW?
As you walk up the steps to the building which houses the U.S. Supreme Court
you can see near the top of the building a row of the world’s law givers
and each one is facing one in the middle who is facing forward with
a full frontal view - it is Moses and he is holding the Ten Commandments!
DID YOU KNOW?
As you enter the Supreme Court courtroom, the two huge oak doors
have the Ten Commandments engraved on each lower portion of each door.
DID YOU KNOW?
As you sit inside the courtroom, you can see the wall, right above
where the Supreme Court judges sit, a display of the Ten Commandments!
DID YOU KNOW?
There are Bible verses etched in stone all over the
Federal Buildings and Monuments in Washington, D.C.
DID YOU KNOW?
James Madison, the fourth president, known as
"The Father of Our Constitution" made the following statement
"We have staked the whole of all our political institutions upon the capacity
of mankind for self-government, upon the capacity of each and all of us
to govern ourselves, to control ourselves, to sustain
ourselves according to the Ten Commandments of God."
DID YOU KNOW?
Patrick Henry, that patriot and Founding Father of our country said,
"It cannot be emphasized too strongly or too often that this great nation
was founded not by religionists but by Christians,
not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ".
DID YOU KNOW?
Every session of Congress begins with a prayer by a paid preacher,
whose salary has been paid by the taxpayer since 1777.
DID YOU KNOW?
Fifty-two of the 55 founders of the Constitution were members
of the established orthodox churches in the colonies.
DID YOU KNOW?
Thomas Jefferson worried that the Courts would overstep their authority
and instead of interpreting the law would begin making law
....an oligarchy....the rule of few over many.
DID YOU KNOW?
The very first Supreme Court Justice, John Jay, said,
"Americans should select and prefer Christians as their rulers."
How, then, have we gotten to the point that everything we have
done for 220 years in this country is now suddenly wrong and unconstitutional?
