Rejoice Evermore!

TEXT: 1 Thessalonians 5:16

(Portrays Christ as “GOD PRESENT WITH US”)

1 Thessalonians 5:16 is one of the shortest verses in the Bible, but it really packs a big punch.  It’s telling us to keep a cheerful attitude all the time.  In fact, the word “rejoice” in the Greek means “cheerful”.

God wants us to have a cheerful demeanor in all circumstances.

This first letter to the Thessalonians is one of Paul’s first writings we have in scripture.  “Rejoice always”, he says.  “Rejoice always” – whether washing dishes, folding laundry, cleaning the bathroom, sitting in traffic. Does Paul really mean it?  “Rejoice always”?  How can we rejoice always?  Bad things, evil things, terrible things happen all around us.  There are little things, big things, tragic things, annoying things.  How can we rejoice?  Let me make this clear:  Paul is not suggesting that everyone should go around with a forced smile on their face, acting as if everything is okay.

He is not saying that suffering does not come to those who are faithful believers in Christ.  Paul himself faced suffering, persecution, health difficulties. It would be unrealistic for Paul to suggest that Christians ought to forget every difficult moment or trial in their lives, acting as if they didn’t exist.

THE WORRIED CHRISTIAN!

TEXT:  Matthew 6:25-31  

Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on.  Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?  Behold the fowls of the air:  for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feedeth them.  Are ye not much better than they?  Which of you by taking thought can add one cubit unto his stature?  And why take ye thought for raiment?  Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they toil not, neither do they spin:  And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.  Wherefore, if God so clothe the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, shall he not much more clothe you, O ye of little faith?  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink?  or, wherewithal shall we be clothed?

SUBTOPIC: “ANTIDOTE:  GOD FIRST”!

Medical Doctors estimate that more than 25% of their patients are what they call the “worried well”.  They spend a lot of time examining people who are not sick.  They are only “worried”.

It seems like worry is the diet of our day.  Many are plagued by problems.  What if?  What if I don’t get this job?  What if my check doesn’t come?  What if?  Are you plagued by “what if” problems?  Are you in the “worried well” class?

I think it’s safe to say all of us have experienced worry to some degree.