1 Thessalonians 3:13

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This is definitely the season of preparation. It seems that earlier and earlier, every year, the Christmas lights are coming out in the stores and everyone’s getting ready for Christmas. The church at this time of year also has a season of preparation. But it’s not Christmas. It’s called Advent. Advent means coming and so in this season of the church year, the church prepares for Jesus coming.

They remember how he came in the past, they contemplate how he comes to them in the present, and they look forward to when he comes again at the end of time. The verse that I’ll share with you this morning looks at that third point, the coming of Jesus at the end of time and being ready for it. In First Thessalonians chapter three the 13th verse says

That he may establish your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and Father, when our Lord Jesus comes with all his saints. (1 Thessalonians 3:13)

Jesus came once as a baby born in Bethlehem, but he is coming again. And when he comes again, he’ll be coming with a very different purpose. When he came the first time, he came to establish a holiness and a blamelessness for all people. He did that by perfectly loving God and perfectly loving his neighbor. And through his perfect life he has won for you a holiness before God. But Jesus also had to deal with your guilt because you have not loved God with your whole heart and you have not loved your neighbor as yourself. So you have guilt before God, and that guilt has to be dealt with. So Jesus took away your guilt. He claimed those sins as his very own, and he suffered and died in payment for them.

So why are those two things important? Why is the holiness that Jesus has won and the blamelessness that Jesus has won, why are they so important? Because when he comes again, he is coming as the judge of the world. To be able to stand in front of Jesus, you need to be holy and you need to be blameless. Anyone there that stands without Jesus stands there with the guilt of all of their sins. But in Jesus you have a perfect life. In Jesus, your guilt is taken away so that your heart can be at rest when he comes again. So trust, trust that Jesus has lived and died for you, and you have nothing to fear about his second coming. Prepare for that day by believing that Jesus is your Savior from sin. To him be the glory now and forever. Amen.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

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Who would you rather spend time with: a person who is happy and positive, or someone who is always sad and negative? I think most people would prefer to spend time with a positive person, a happy person. Have you ever wondered to yourself, how can I be a happier person?

Some time ago, I was reading books about happiness, and one fact stood out to me a very simple fact. Thankfulness leads to happiness. Being thankful will lead to being happy. And the opposite is also true ingratitude leads to sadness.

Have you heard of missing tile syndrome? To explain it. Imagine that you have walked into a beautiful grand theatre and you’re sitting waiting for a performance to begin. As you’re waiting there, you start to look around and you notice the beautiful ceiling above you, hundreds of ornate tiles on that ceiling. But then you notice one of the tiles is missing. And you can’t stop staring at it. It really annoys you. In spite of the fact that there are hundreds of other beautiful tiles on that ceiling, you focus in on that one that’s missing. And in fact, it ruins the entire performance and evening for you.

Many people have what we would call missing tile syndrome. For example, a man who has a bald head, he might focus on the fact that he doesn’t have hair on his head in spite of the many other wonderful things in his life. Maybe he’s very healthy, has a great job, is married to a beautiful wife and has a wonderful family. And yet he dwells on the fact that he has no hair on his scalp and he lets it get him down.

The Lord tells us in 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 verses, 16 through 18. He says,

Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)

God wants you to be thankful for the many blessings that you have in your life and that will lead you to rejoicing. God has even taken care of things that you are lacking in your life. God wants you to be perfect. He wanted you and me to keep his law, the Ten Commandments, perfectly. And yet we know that there are many pieces of that that are missing in our lives when it comes to his commandments. And yet he sent Jesus to provide what you and I are missing.

Jesus kept the Ten Commandments perfectly in your place and my place, and then Jesus spilled his blood on the cross to wash away all of our failures, all of the ingratitude that we’ve had in our life. And in his resurrection, he demonstrated that all who believe in him will one day enter into eternal life. That place where there will be nothing missing, where there will be nothing that you lack, but rather you will have joy and happiness with the Lord forever. Truly, we have many things to be thankful for. I hope that you have a happy day. Amen.

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I don’t remember what had gone wrong, but that day was terrible. It seemed everything I touched just crumbled. I couldn’t do a thing right. And then my wife smiled at me. Just that smile was enough to boost my spirits and lift me up for the day. Was enough for me to face the battles and charge ahead.

Let’s face it. Life is tough. It tears this down. It beats us up and sometimes it feels like it’s going to win. What a difference a word or an action of encouragement can make. It can lift us up instead of tearing us down. It can strengthen us instead of causing us to fall. No wonder in First Thessalonians Paul encourages us:

Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

The greatest encouragement I’ve received in my life is when I’ve messed up royally. I’ve done the wrong thing and sinned. Someone has come and pointed out my sin but then also pointed me to Jesus. That God wasn’t going to hold my sins against me but because of Jesus had forgiven me and loves me and would work all things for my good.

What great words of encouragement God’s words of forgiveness are. So maybe you’re having a tough day today. It’s gotten off to a bad start and it’s not getting any better. Here’s a word of encouragement for you: God loves you. Your sins are forgiven. May the rest of your day be filled with peace, amen.

Mom can I have something to eat?

Dad can I go to the park?

Mum can I play video games?

If you’re a parent you know the kids can come with constant requests and demands.

Mom! Dad! Mom! Dad! Can I? Can I? Can I?

Times it’s overwhelming. I wonder how God feels. Does God get sick of hearing our requests? Does he get fed up with hearing what we’re concerned about and the things that we want to do and achieve?

No he doesn’t. In fact in First Thessalonians Chapter 5 God caused Paul to write this:

Rejoice always pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing. God wants you to come to him at any time with any request with whatever’s on your mind. He promises to hear you and to work what is best for you.

Just as a parent doesn’t always say ‘yes’ to all of those demands that the kids make so too God doesn’t always say ‘yes’ because God knows that not everything we want is good for us. Here Paul tells us that in Christ Jesus God hears our prayers. And it’s God’s will that we pray to Him. In Christ Jesus is a promise that God will work all things for our good.

When you have questions about if God really loves you and cares for you look at what he did in Christ Jesus. He took away all of your sins. Jesus suffered and died in payment for them. And God raised him from the dead so that you can know there’s a place in heaven just for you. If God loves you in Christ Jesus, then you can be assured that he hears your prayers and will give you what is truly best for you.

So pray without ceasing. Come to the Lord at all times assured of his love and mercy in Christ Jesus. Amen.

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