1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:03,960 Amen. Let's turn this morning in God's 2 00:00:03,960 --> 00:00:06,840 Word to 1st Thessalonians chapter 5. 3 00:00:10,600 --> 00:00:20,600 First Thessalonians chapter 5 reading from verse 16 to the 4 00:00:20,680 --> 00:00:24,200 end. Let's hear the Word of God for 5 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,760 those online, the words that come up on screen reading, of 6 00:00:27,760 --> 00:00:30,200 course from the King James Bible. 7 00:00:32,600 --> 00:00:37,720 You could truthfully say the only and faithful translation of 8 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:45,080 the Holy Scriptures. Let's hear God's word First 9 00:00:45,080 --> 00:00:48,320 Thessalonians chapter 5, verse 16. 10 00:00:51,200 --> 00:01:00,160 Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing in everything. 11 00:01:00,160 --> 00:01:04,160 Give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus 12 00:01:04,440 --> 00:01:10,840 concerning you. Quench not the Spirit, despise 13 00:01:10,840 --> 00:01:17,800 not prophesying, Prove all things, hold fast that which is 14 00:01:17,800 --> 00:01:21,800 good, Abstain from all appearance of evil. 15 00:01:23,240 --> 00:01:27,080 And the very God of peace. Sanctify you holy. 16 00:01:28,280 --> 00:01:31,240 And I pray God, your whole spirit and soul and body be 17 00:01:31,240 --> 00:01:34,920 preserved, blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, 18 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:39,240 faithful as he that calleth you, who also will do it. 19 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:44,920 Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an 20 00:01:44,920 --> 00:01:48,600 holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord Jesus 21 00:01:48,600 --> 00:01:52,160 that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 22 00:01:52,840 --> 00:01:55,800 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. 23 00:01:57,200 --> 00:01:58,680 Amen. Amen. 24 00:01:58,680 --> 00:02:01,120 We know that God will stamp with his own approval and blessing 25 00:02:01,320 --> 00:02:04,680 this reading of His own precious and infallible Word. 26 00:02:05,040 --> 00:02:11,840 Amen. Now this morning we are 27 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,320 returning to our expository studies in the book of First 28 00:02:16,440 --> 00:02:20,000 Thessalonians that we began many months ago. 29 00:02:20,400 --> 00:02:25,160 And today my text is taken from First Thessalonians chapter 5, 30 00:02:25,440 --> 00:02:31,280 verses 6 through to 18. And my theme for this morning's 31 00:02:31,280 --> 00:02:38,000 service I've entitled Commands for a Christ Centred Church. 32 00:02:38,960 --> 00:02:43,080 Now the Apostle Paul is writing under the inspiration of the 33 00:02:43,080 --> 00:02:47,280 Holy Spirit to a young church suffering persecution, 34 00:02:47,720 --> 00:02:51,760 opposition. And as he brings his epistle to 35 00:02:51,760 --> 00:02:58,720 a close, he does so with a series of short yet weighty 36 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:04,600 exhortations that define the ordinary Christian life. 37 00:03:04,800 --> 00:03:11,480 Now these are not just random commands, but righteous commands 38 00:03:12,120 --> 00:03:16,560 that are the marks of a spiritful life within every true 39 00:03:16,560 --> 00:03:20,240 believer. These are not just suggested 40 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:27,280 commands, but spirit filled commands, scriptural commands. 41 00:03:27,680 --> 00:03:30,640 See, these commands are not just for the select few, not just for 42 00:03:30,640 --> 00:03:34,160 the minister, not just for the elders, not just for the Deacon, 43 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:38,240 but for every born again believer within the local 44 00:03:38,240 --> 00:03:40,200 congregation. They're not just for the 45 00:03:40,200 --> 00:03:44,480 individual. They're also can apply 46 00:03:45,040 --> 00:03:48,640 congregationally. You see, these commands 47 00:03:48,640 --> 00:03:54,400 determine the daily walk with God of every true believer found 48 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,560 in a saving union with Jesus Christ. 49 00:03:57,720 --> 00:04:02,120 So here's the Apostle Paul. He's bringing his letter to a 50 00:04:02,120 --> 00:04:05,200 close. He's already addressed the great 51 00:04:05,200 --> 00:04:10,120 doctrinal matters like the authority of Scripture, the 52 00:04:10,120 --> 00:04:14,040 personal, visible, bodily return of the Lord Jesus Christ in 53 00:04:14,040 --> 00:04:18,519 power and in glory, the doctrine of sanctification. 54 00:04:19,120 --> 00:04:23,200 And now in closing, He is setting forth to them the 55 00:04:23,200 --> 00:04:27,160 necessity of a life of practical godliness. 56 00:04:27,160 --> 00:04:34,760 You see in all of these verses 16 through to the end, these are 57 00:04:34,880 --> 00:04:43,880 scriptural, these are Spirit LED commands. 58 00:04:45,480 --> 00:04:50,560 These are commands that have to do with the life of godliness. 59 00:04:52,000 --> 00:04:57,200 He is setting forth the necessity of a life of practical 60 00:04:57,680 --> 00:05:00,840 godliness. And in these commands I I see 61 00:05:00,840 --> 00:05:04,280 the fruit of the grace of God. Notice they're not rooted in 62 00:05:04,280 --> 00:05:07,800 human strength, but in a saving union with Jesus Christ. 63 00:05:07,840 --> 00:05:12,960 In Jesus Christ, I believe is the key to passionately, 64 00:05:12,960 --> 00:05:17,840 personally, and also powerfully enjoying the reality of these 65 00:05:17,840 --> 00:05:23,200 commands in our Christian life. Here's the will of God for you. 66 00:05:24,080 --> 00:05:28,840 Notice it's not hidden, it is heralded forth, it is 67 00:05:28,840 --> 00:05:32,360 proclaimed, it is plainly revealed. 68 00:05:34,440 --> 00:05:39,120 The four Reformer John Calvin wrote this God requires not just 69 00:05:39,120 --> 00:05:44,480 the obedience of our hands, but also the inward affection of the 70 00:05:44,480 --> 00:05:47,920 heart. Therefore, these divine commands 71 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:53,960 penetrate way beyond the outward conduct to the very disposition 72 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:59,120 of our heart and our life. These commands, of course, 73 00:05:59,120 --> 00:06:04,920 define the life of one who is justified by the grace of God 74 00:06:04,920 --> 00:06:09,240 through faith in Christ alone. And yet that faith that's never 75 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:13,760 alone is evidenced by a life of practical godliness. 76 00:06:13,880 --> 00:06:17,840 And here's the way that that practical godliness is seen. 77 00:06:17,960 --> 00:06:21,400 So think about the commands to a Christ centred church with this 78 00:06:21,400 --> 00:06:28,080 introduction. 3 commands one verse 16 rejoice evermore. 79 00:06:28,480 --> 00:06:32,760 Here's the command to perpetually rejoice. 80 00:06:33,240 --> 00:06:35,760 Now these two words rejoice evermore. 81 00:06:35,960 --> 00:06:39,320 They're the shortest 2 words not in the English Bible, but in the 82 00:06:39,320 --> 00:06:42,360 Greek New Testament. If we were to study they 83 00:06:42,360 --> 00:06:45,960 received text, we would discover these are the two of the 84 00:06:45,960 --> 00:06:49,000 shortest verses in the Greek New Testament. 85 00:06:49,000 --> 00:06:52,520 The two shortest verses in the English New Testament are Jesus 86 00:06:52,520 --> 00:06:54,360 wept. But here's the shortest in the 87 00:06:54,360 --> 00:06:57,920 Greek New Testament. Rejoice evermore. 88 00:06:58,040 --> 00:07:01,360 Now what do they mean? When you look at them, when you 89 00:07:01,360 --> 00:07:02,760 think about them, what do they mean? 90 00:07:02,760 --> 00:07:05,920 What do they say to you? Here's this command. 91 00:07:06,400 --> 00:07:08,680 Rejoice evermore and you're a Christian. 92 00:07:09,600 --> 00:07:12,560 What does it mean? Let's look at it negatively. 93 00:07:12,640 --> 00:07:14,600 Let me tell you what it doesn't mean. 94 00:07:15,720 --> 00:07:20,920 It doesn't mean rejoice a lot. It doesn't mean rejoice much. 95 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:25,720 It says rejoice ever more. We could substitute the word 96 00:07:25,720 --> 00:07:31,640 ever more for always. Think of Philippians 4 and 4. 97 00:07:32,000 --> 00:07:37,000 Rejoice in the Lord. And again I say rejoice. 98 00:07:37,320 --> 00:07:40,240 And in that hymn that we were singing, lift up your heart, 99 00:07:40,240 --> 00:07:45,080 lift up your voice, rejoice. Again I say rejoice. 100 00:07:45,200 --> 00:07:50,360 We are commanded to perpetually rejoice. 101 00:07:50,600 --> 00:07:52,720 But what does it mean to perpetually rejoice? 102 00:07:52,880 --> 00:07:57,320 Well, it's not a command or a call to feel happy all the time. 103 00:07:58,400 --> 00:08:04,360 It's not a call to a happy, clappy, smiley lifestyle 24/7. 104 00:08:05,520 --> 00:08:08,680 It doesn't mean we have a smile on her face like a Cheshire cat, 105 00:08:09,880 --> 00:08:13,560 or it doesn't mean we have a bounce in our step like Tigger 106 00:08:13,720 --> 00:08:16,880 the tiger in the story of Winnie the Pooh. 107 00:08:18,000 --> 00:08:21,400 Let me ask this morning, Think of this as a question. 108 00:08:22,920 --> 00:08:27,600 Are you sinning against the Lord If you feel sad in your 109 00:08:27,600 --> 00:08:32,280 Christian life, or if you feel depressed, or if you feel 110 00:08:32,280 --> 00:08:36,360 tearful? If you feel upset or if you're 111 00:08:36,360 --> 00:08:40,480 grieving, what's the answer? And here's the answer, plain and 112 00:08:40,480 --> 00:08:43,120 simple. No, not at all. 113 00:08:44,000 --> 00:08:47,120 I'm thinking of a man who's a professing believer, will not 114 00:08:47,120 --> 00:08:49,680 mention him. And when I meet him, and I know 115 00:08:49,680 --> 00:08:53,440 this man has got loads of trials and troubles in his life, lot of 116 00:08:53,640 --> 00:08:56,640 personal private problems that we don't mention. 117 00:08:57,520 --> 00:08:59,640 And I asked this man, how you doing, brother? 118 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:02,600 I, I'm fine. I'm good. 119 00:09:03,880 --> 00:09:08,680 I'm just praising the Lord. And you know what, I want to 120 00:09:08,680 --> 00:09:12,040 tell you this, the man really has a fake smile. 121 00:09:13,720 --> 00:09:18,600 The man really has a sense of falseness about him because that 122 00:09:18,600 --> 00:09:25,360 man feels as if it was a sin to say, brother, I'm not good, 123 00:09:26,120 --> 00:09:31,360 brother, I'm struggling. You know, it's not unscriptural 124 00:09:31,360 --> 00:09:37,080 or unspiritual to say I'm not good today or I'm not fine or 125 00:09:37,080 --> 00:09:40,680 I'm struggling. You see, many are like that 126 00:09:40,680 --> 00:09:46,480 individual. They display a happy face, but 127 00:09:46,480 --> 00:09:50,640 their smile is fake. There's a falseness. 128 00:09:51,560 --> 00:09:55,880 They're they're denying reality. You see, you don't have to 129 00:09:55,880 --> 00:09:58,880 pretend to be upbeat all the time in the Christian life. 130 00:09:59,600 --> 00:10:04,000 It's not wrong to be sad, folks. It's not wrong to be down. 131 00:10:04,400 --> 00:10:08,320 It's not wrong even to feel a sense of despair and be tearful. 132 00:10:08,480 --> 00:10:11,240 Do you know why the Lord Jesus never lived like that? 133 00:10:12,240 --> 00:10:16,240 Neither did the apostle Paul. Do you want proof? 134 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:19,480 Think of the sufferings of the Lord Jesus Christ, the days of 135 00:10:19,480 --> 00:10:22,280 his humiliation from the day of his birth to the day of his 136 00:10:22,280 --> 00:10:27,320 death, a life of humiliation and condescension, a life of pee and 137 00:10:27,320 --> 00:10:30,200 and woe and sorrow and suffering. 138 00:10:30,640 --> 00:10:34,360 And if you want the Scripture, here's Hebrews 5 and seven, who 139 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:38,920 in the days of his flesh, when he had offered up prayers and 140 00:10:38,920 --> 00:10:42,520 supplication, with strong crying and tears unto him, that was 141 00:10:42,520 --> 00:10:48,040 able to save him from death, and was heard in that he feared. 142 00:10:48,720 --> 00:10:53,640 See the apostle Paul said Second Corinthians 6 and 10 as 143 00:10:53,640 --> 00:10:56,840 sorrowful. So he felt sorry. 144 00:10:58,560 --> 00:11:03,080 He felt sad, yet he added the words Second Corinthians 6 and 145 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:06,760 10, yet always rejoicing. Think of what he said to the 146 00:11:06,760 --> 00:11:11,920 church at Rome. Romans 12 and 15. 147 00:11:12,280 --> 00:11:17,000 Rejoice with those who rejoice. Weep with those that weep. 148 00:11:17,240 --> 00:11:18,920 He didn't tell them to stop weeping. 149 00:11:19,760 --> 00:11:21,960 He didn't tell them to start laughing. 150 00:11:23,080 --> 00:11:28,480 No, you see, the true Christian will not deny reality. 151 00:11:29,240 --> 00:11:32,720 The true Christian will not deny his true feelings. 152 00:11:32,720 --> 00:11:36,520 The Lord Jesus didn't. The apostle Paul didn't. 153 00:11:37,040 --> 00:11:40,920 They never put on a show. They, they never put on a happy 154 00:11:40,920 --> 00:11:43,600 face. They, they, they never pretend 155 00:11:43,600 --> 00:11:47,480 that, well, you know what? We, we feel happy and we never 156 00:11:47,480 --> 00:11:50,120 feel down or sad or grieved at any of the time. 157 00:11:50,160 --> 00:11:58,760 You see this command to perpetually praise doesn't mean 158 00:11:58,760 --> 00:12:01,520 any of that. It's not a call to continually 159 00:12:01,520 --> 00:12:04,240 smile. It's, it's not a call to a happy 160 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:10,680 clappy lifestyle 24/7. Well, if it's not that, what 161 00:12:10,680 --> 00:12:12,960 does it mean? So we're going to look at it 162 00:12:12,960 --> 00:12:14,960 positively Now. I've told you what it's not. 163 00:12:15,800 --> 00:12:22,280 Let's look at it positively. It's a call or a command to 164 00:12:22,280 --> 00:12:30,520 biblically rejoice in the Lord. Biblical joy is not rooted in 165 00:12:30,520 --> 00:12:33,480 our circumstances, but in Christ Himself. 166 00:12:33,960 --> 00:12:35,120 You might want to write that down. 167 00:12:35,120 --> 00:12:38,400 You might want to learn that biblical joy is not rooted in 168 00:12:38,400 --> 00:12:40,480 circumstances, but in Christ Himself. 169 00:12:40,920 --> 00:12:44,800 It's not really in your situation, but in the Saviour. 170 00:12:45,880 --> 00:12:50,720 It is a a covenantal joy. It's a spiritual joy. 171 00:12:51,240 --> 00:12:55,760 It's a spirit enabling joy. It's a scriptural joy. 172 00:12:56,480 --> 00:13:01,160 It's a joy that fills the heart and mind, grips your soul, not 173 00:13:01,160 --> 00:13:05,520 just when things are going well, but a joy that helps you rejoice 174 00:13:05,520 --> 00:13:08,640 even in the day of persecution like this church was suffering 175 00:13:09,280 --> 00:13:13,840 or in a day of opposition, when you're facing hardship and 176 00:13:13,840 --> 00:13:17,400 difficulty, when you have trials and troubles in your life. 177 00:13:18,120 --> 00:13:21,640 Let me illustrate. Think of a born again believer. 178 00:13:21,920 --> 00:13:23,880 You're one of them. This morning he professed to be 179 00:13:23,880 --> 00:13:25,120 saved. Hallelujah. 180 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:34,600 You're mistreated at homework school, mistreated because of 181 00:13:34,600 --> 00:13:38,040 your fear, because you're a Christian or because you're a 182 00:13:38,040 --> 00:13:47,680 Free Presbyterian and you feel sad, get upset, maybe even mad. 183 00:13:48,240 --> 00:13:53,520 Things said, things done. Now, when that happens, and it 184 00:13:53,520 --> 00:13:57,320 does happen and it will happen, you've got a choice. 185 00:13:57,680 --> 00:13:59,520 I've a choice. Here's the choice. 186 00:14:00,080 --> 00:14:02,360 We can lapse into a state of self pity. 187 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:09,520 We can think, poor me, or we can lift our heart and mind and soul 188 00:14:09,520 --> 00:14:14,000 heavenward, and we can experience this biblical joy. 189 00:14:14,480 --> 00:14:22,480 We can rejoice in the Lord now. Not in your circumstances, but 190 00:14:22,480 --> 00:14:26,400 in Christ. Not in your situation, but in 191 00:14:26,400 --> 00:14:29,680 the Saviour. And it's not about you denying 192 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:34,480 how you feel. It's not that you're oblivious 193 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:39,280 to your circumstances. The key is in Christ. 194 00:14:39,760 --> 00:14:44,800 And in Christ you're not governed or controlled by these 195 00:14:44,880 --> 00:14:48,840 outward things. You're you're LED of the Spirit 196 00:14:48,840 --> 00:14:53,120 of God who indwells you. And you learn how on the journey 197 00:14:53,120 --> 00:14:57,760 of the Christian life, to rejoice in him, to rejoice 198 00:14:57,760 --> 00:15:02,880 evermore, to be always rejoicing, as Paul said, as 199 00:15:02,880 --> 00:15:09,320 sorrowful yet rejoicing. Hi, what's the secret? 200 00:15:10,280 --> 00:15:14,440 Very quickly, focus on all the riches you have in Christ. 201 00:15:15,200 --> 00:15:18,480 Don't focus on the rottenness of the bad things that's happening 202 00:15:18,480 --> 00:15:20,640 in your life. Don't even focus on the routine 203 00:15:20,640 --> 00:15:25,000 of your circumstances. Rejoice in what God has done for 204 00:15:25,000 --> 00:15:27,880 you in Christ. You see, if you're in Christ 205 00:15:27,880 --> 00:15:32,200 this morning, you've got a full, free and forever justification 206 00:15:33,640 --> 00:15:35,800 in Christ. You've been adopted unto God's 207 00:15:35,800 --> 00:15:37,600 family. God's your Father, you're one of 208 00:15:37,600 --> 00:15:40,400 his children. You're indwelt by the Spirit of 209 00:15:40,400 --> 00:15:44,400 God. On top of that as well, you've 210 00:15:44,400 --> 00:15:47,480 got pardon from all your sin. Your sins are under the blood. 211 00:15:47,600 --> 00:15:50,480 God has made a promise, and thy sins and iniquities I'll 212 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,920 remember no more better than that you have peace with God. 213 00:15:54,000 --> 00:15:57,080 Therefore, being justified by faith, we have peace with God 214 00:15:57,240 --> 00:15:59,880 through the Lord Jesus Christ. We can experience the peace of 215 00:15:59,880 --> 00:16:02,280 God even in difficult circumstances. 216 00:16:03,560 --> 00:16:05,520 We've also access to God's presence. 217 00:16:05,520 --> 00:16:08,200 What a friend we have in Jesus, all our sins and griefs to bear. 218 00:16:08,200 --> 00:16:12,160 What a privilege to carry everything to God in prayer. 219 00:16:12,560 --> 00:16:14,720 You know, I believe this morning we should learn from the 220 00:16:14,720 --> 00:16:19,400 psalmist. Oftentimes the Psalms start with 221 00:16:19,400 --> 00:16:22,200 a cry for help. If you turn over there very 222 00:16:22,200 --> 00:16:24,960 quickly to Psalm 5, I'm just picking out one Psalm. 223 00:16:26,160 --> 00:16:30,320 In Psalm 5, verse one, the psalmist says to the Lord in 224 00:16:30,320 --> 00:16:38,280 prayer, give ear to my words, O Lord, consider my meditation. 225 00:16:39,160 --> 00:16:43,240 You see, the psalmist starts here with a cry for help. 226 00:16:44,400 --> 00:16:46,840 He's facing a problem or a series of problems. 227 00:16:46,840 --> 00:16:48,840 There's trials and troubles in his life there. 228 00:16:48,960 --> 00:16:53,720 There's a a major crisis. And he says, give ear to my 229 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:58,960 words in the Sammy. He contrasts the wicked man with 230 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,480 the man of the word. He, he, he, he. 231 00:17:01,480 --> 00:17:05,400 He says this in verse 4. For thou art not a God, that of 232 00:17:05,400 --> 00:17:07,960 pleasure and wickedness, Neither shall evil dwell with thee. 233 00:17:07,960 --> 00:17:09,720 The foolish shall not stand in thy sight. 234 00:17:09,839 --> 00:17:11,800 Thou hatest all workers of iniquity. 235 00:17:11,960 --> 00:17:13,960 Thou shalt destroy them that speak leasing. 236 00:17:14,119 --> 00:17:17,839 The Lord will abhor the bloody and deceitful man. 237 00:17:19,319 --> 00:17:20,839 And then he says this about himself. 238 00:17:20,839 --> 00:17:25,160 But As for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of 239 00:17:25,160 --> 00:17:30,120 thy mercy, and in thy fear will I worship the ward, thy holy 240 00:17:30,120 --> 00:17:31,880 temple. He's not a man of the world. 241 00:17:31,880 --> 00:17:35,440 He's a man of the Word. He stands in contrast to this 242 00:17:35,520 --> 00:17:40,480 wicked, worldly man. He's a true worshipper of God. 243 00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:43,120 Notice how the Psalmans listen to verse 11. 244 00:17:43,520 --> 00:17:46,720 But let all those that put their trust in thee rejoice. 245 00:17:47,280 --> 00:17:51,000 Let them ever shout for joy. Why? 246 00:17:51,920 --> 00:17:56,480 Because thou defendest them. Let them also that love thy 247 00:17:56,480 --> 00:18:01,000 name. Be joyful in thee. 248 00:18:01,640 --> 00:18:04,600 What has happened? David's circumstances haven't 249 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:07,600 changed. The wicked worldly man is still 250 00:18:07,600 --> 00:18:14,560 there, working his wickedness. The circumstances are still the 251 00:18:14,560 --> 00:18:16,560 same. What's he done in the Psalm? 252 00:18:16,560 --> 00:18:19,840 As he cried for help, he began to focus on who the Lord is. 253 00:18:20,520 --> 00:18:26,120 He began to focus what the Lord has done in his life and what he 254 00:18:26,120 --> 00:18:30,280 can do by faith. So here's the secret. 255 00:18:31,080 --> 00:18:33,520 Focus on all the riches you have in Christ. 256 00:18:33,840 --> 00:18:36,960 Another secret. Very quickly find the true joy 257 00:18:36,960 --> 00:18:41,480 that is the fruit of the Spirit. Remember, Paul and Silas, could 258 00:18:41,480 --> 00:18:44,720 you imagine? It's midnight, you've just been 259 00:18:44,720 --> 00:18:51,240 beaten, blood's running out of your body, you're sore, you're 260 00:18:51,240 --> 00:18:54,120 in the inner prison. You're you're you're, you're in 261 00:18:54,120 --> 00:18:59,080 the stocks in the sense that your feet in hands are in irons. 262 00:18:59,080 --> 00:19:02,920 And what did you do? Would you have a petty party? 263 00:19:04,840 --> 00:19:09,400 Paul and Silas, the Bible tells us in Acts 16, verse 25, prayed 264 00:19:09,400 --> 00:19:16,760 and sang praises to God. They discovered true joy is not 265 00:19:16,760 --> 00:19:20,440 changed, but it's rooted in Christ. 266 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:25,200 It's realised by the Holy Spirit. 267 00:19:25,920 --> 00:19:29,280 Matthew Henry said this that holy joy is the oil to the 268 00:19:29,280 --> 00:19:36,360 wheels of our obedience. Focus to walk with God in the 269 00:19:36,360 --> 00:19:39,000 power of the Spirit despite your circumstances. 270 00:19:39,720 --> 00:19:42,600 Don't walk in the poverty of your situation. 271 00:19:43,000 --> 00:19:46,080 The second secret is to find the true joy. 272 00:19:46,360 --> 00:19:49,040 That's the fruit of this earth, the joy of the Lord. 273 00:19:49,280 --> 00:19:53,320 Nehemiah 8 and 10 says is your strength. 274 00:19:53,920 --> 00:19:56,920 And thirdly, fill your heart and mind with thoughts on the 275 00:19:56,920 --> 00:19:59,920 future. What have we got with eternal 276 00:19:59,920 --> 00:20:02,480 life now? He that believeth on the Son 277 00:20:02,640 --> 00:20:07,080 hath everlasting life. And of course, it's not one of 278 00:20:07,080 --> 00:20:09,800 the eternal life now in the present as a present possession, 279 00:20:10,040 --> 00:20:12,960 but it's eternal life and eternity to come. 280 00:20:13,520 --> 00:20:16,080 And we don't focus on the things of time and sense. 281 00:20:16,800 --> 00:20:20,480 Of course, as we journey towards heaven, we sing praises unto the 282 00:20:20,480 --> 00:20:21,440 Lord. That's what we've been 283 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:25,240 attempting to do this morning. Especially ones that praise Him 284 00:20:25,240 --> 00:20:31,480 for who He is. Praise Him for what he's like 285 00:20:31,480 --> 00:20:35,760 and what He's done. Praises about the great themes 286 00:20:35,760 --> 00:20:40,200 of heaven and home. Remember what Paul says there in 287 00:20:40,800 --> 00:20:46,440 First Corinthians in chapter 1 and in the verse 9. 288 00:20:47,400 --> 00:20:50,560 He says there in First Corinthians chapter 1 and verse 289 00:20:50,560 --> 00:20:53,520 9, he makes a tremendous statement. 290 00:20:53,840 --> 00:20:58,040 He tells us these words. Sorry, it's chapter first 291 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:01,920 Corinthians chapter 2 verse 9. But as it is written, I have not 292 00:21:01,920 --> 00:21:05,040 seen nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man 293 00:21:05,040 --> 00:21:08,240 the things which God has prepared for them that love him. 294 00:21:09,160 --> 00:21:13,160 Think of that you see this rejoicing ever more is a 295 00:21:13,160 --> 00:21:16,800 conscious attitude of true contentment. 296 00:21:22,950 --> 00:21:28,790 True godliness with great contentment is great game. 297 00:21:28,870 --> 00:21:32,600 There's the secret, true hope and happiness. 298 00:21:32,960 --> 00:21:37,080 Focus on the riches of Christ. Find that fruit of the Spirit 299 00:21:37,080 --> 00:21:41,880 which is true joy, and also fill your hearts and minds with 300 00:21:41,880 --> 00:21:44,760 thoughts of who God is and what he's doing and what he's done, 301 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:48,200 heaven and home. That way you'll be able to 302 00:21:48,200 --> 00:21:51,480 fulfil this command to rejoice evermore. 303 00:21:52,600 --> 00:21:55,600 The second command, if you look again at our text of Scripture, 304 00:21:56,280 --> 00:21:59,560 carries on from this. Notice what it says in the verse 305 00:21:59,560 --> 00:22:02,480 17. Three words, pray without 306 00:22:02,480 --> 00:22:04,480 ceasing. Now what does that mean? 307 00:22:04,640 --> 00:22:08,040 Does that bother you? You're commanded to pray without 308 00:22:08,040 --> 00:22:11,480 ceasing. Oh dear, we're all in trouble, 309 00:22:11,840 --> 00:22:14,320 aren't we? See, a lot of people read that 310 00:22:14,320 --> 00:22:18,520 and think negatively. Lots of misunderstanding. 311 00:22:18,840 --> 00:22:22,720 I've got to pray 24/7. I'll never be able to sleep or 312 00:22:22,720 --> 00:22:23,920 eat. I can't go to work. 313 00:22:24,080 --> 00:22:27,120 Sorry, boss, I've got to pray 24/7. 314 00:22:28,200 --> 00:22:31,880 Pray every waking moment. Let me ask you this. 315 00:22:32,200 --> 00:22:34,520 Did the Lord Jesus pray every waking moment? 316 00:22:36,360 --> 00:22:39,680 Did the Apostle Paul? No. 317 00:22:40,120 --> 00:22:45,520 You see, this is not a call to uninterrupted verbal prayer. 318 00:22:46,560 --> 00:22:50,880 It doesn't mean that pray without ceasing does not mean a 319 00:22:50,880 --> 00:22:55,360 call to in up interrupted verbal prayer 24/7. 320 00:22:56,920 --> 00:22:58,800 Let me try and explain with an illustration. 321 00:22:58,800 --> 00:23:02,280 Without ceasing. I want you to think of a cough 322 00:23:02,280 --> 00:23:05,240 and I had a wee bit of a cough there this morning at the start. 323 00:23:05,800 --> 00:23:07,720 Think of a person with a bad cough. 324 00:23:08,440 --> 00:23:14,200 They don't cough 24/7. They do cough often. 325 00:23:15,560 --> 00:23:20,160 They do cough repeatedly, but it's not a, a constant, 326 00:23:20,400 --> 00:23:25,400 continuous 'cause let me switch it round from a cough. 327 00:23:26,200 --> 00:23:31,560 I want you to think about army. And they're wanting to capture a 328 00:23:31,560 --> 00:23:35,000 town or a city. The first attack, they don't 329 00:23:35,000 --> 00:23:36,480 succeed. What do they do? 330 00:23:36,560 --> 00:23:39,960 They retreat, they regroup, then they attack again. 331 00:23:40,560 --> 00:23:44,520 They attack again and again. And that's what puzzle Paul is 332 00:23:44,520 --> 00:23:48,320 teaching here. Think of it positively. 333 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:56,200 Pray without ceasing. You see, this is a mark of true 334 00:23:56,200 --> 00:23:58,360 grace. When the Apostle Paul got 335 00:23:58,360 --> 00:24:02,000 converted to Damascus Rd, his first response was after he 336 00:24:02,000 --> 00:24:04,720 said, who art thou, Lord? Here's the second thing. 337 00:24:04,720 --> 00:24:07,520 He said, Lord, what will thou have me to do? 338 00:24:08,200 --> 00:24:11,000 And we read of him in Acts Chapter 9 verse 11. 339 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:14,600 The Lord said to Ananias when he was in the streets straight in 340 00:24:14,600 --> 00:24:19,720 Damascus, behold, he prayeth. See, before Saul of Tarsus had 341 00:24:19,720 --> 00:24:22,240 said prayers, but now he's really praying. 342 00:24:24,840 --> 00:24:28,440 You see, when you're born again and dwelt by the Holy Spirit, 343 00:24:28,960 --> 00:24:32,680 you're led by the Spirit to a life of constant dependence on 344 00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:35,440 the Lord. There's within you a desire 345 00:24:35,440 --> 00:24:40,120 created to seek after God. There's an interest in calling 346 00:24:40,120 --> 00:24:44,560 upon it. It is a life marked by communion 347 00:24:44,560 --> 00:24:50,120 and fellowship with God through the means of prayer, David said. 348 00:24:50,120 --> 00:24:55,120 But I gave myself to prayer. True prayer is frequent. 349 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:57,960 Then if it's a mark of grace, it's frequent. 350 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:01,120 It's persistent, it's passionate. 351 00:25:03,080 --> 00:25:06,160 That's exactly what the apostle Paul is teaching when he said 352 00:25:06,200 --> 00:25:09,600 pray without ceasing. It's prayer that's frequent, 353 00:25:09,960 --> 00:25:14,920 persistent, and passionate. Think of the man knocking on the 354 00:25:14,920 --> 00:25:18,880 door of his friend at midnight. The man's in bed with his wife 355 00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:21,000 and family. What does this man do? 356 00:25:23,360 --> 00:25:26,160 Well, he keeps knocking. He wants the man to get up. 357 00:25:27,680 --> 00:25:31,360 He's waking the whole house. And because of his constant 358 00:25:31,360 --> 00:25:35,920 knocking, the man gets up out of bed, gets his dressing gown on, 359 00:25:35,920 --> 00:25:37,960 comes to the door. What do you want? 360 00:25:38,760 --> 00:25:40,920 I want 3 loaves. Here you go. 361 00:25:41,920 --> 00:25:43,200 He gives them to him. You see? 362 00:25:43,280 --> 00:25:48,520 That's the attitude. True prayer is the sincere 363 00:25:49,080 --> 00:25:52,520 affectionate pouring out of the soul to the Lord. 364 00:25:53,080 --> 00:25:56,800 George hadn't spurt and said he never went 10 or 15 minutes 365 00:25:56,800 --> 00:26:01,760 without prayer, but he never prayed for 10 or 15 minutes at 366 00:26:01,760 --> 00:26:05,800 any one time. If I was to bring a little 367 00:26:05,800 --> 00:26:11,160 silver goblet into the pulpit that had sat unpolished for say 368 00:26:11,280 --> 00:26:15,320 a year or two years, it would take a lot of work to get all 369 00:26:15,320 --> 00:26:17,680 the tarnish removed and bring back it's shine. 370 00:26:19,080 --> 00:26:24,280 But if you Polish that little silver goblet every day, then 371 00:26:24,280 --> 00:26:29,160 the tarnish that's there for the daily period is easy removed. 372 00:26:29,360 --> 00:26:31,080 Well, will you apply that to prayer? 373 00:26:31,320 --> 00:26:36,000 When we pray dearly, when we pray frequently, when we pray 374 00:26:36,000 --> 00:26:39,520 passionately, but when we pray affectionately, pouring out our 375 00:26:39,520 --> 00:26:43,960 soul to the Lord, then we discover then we're fulfilling 376 00:26:43,960 --> 00:26:47,040 this command. We're praying without ceasing, 377 00:26:49,480 --> 00:26:52,280 true prayers connected to praise and vice versa. 378 00:26:52,840 --> 00:26:57,400 In prayer we praise the Lord, read the Psalms, we lay hold of 379 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:01,760 the riches that we have in Christ, We plead the promises of 380 00:27:01,760 --> 00:27:06,920 God, true prayers, a life of dependence on the Lord and every 381 00:27:06,920 --> 00:27:09,960 situation and every area of need. 382 00:27:10,800 --> 00:27:14,680 See prayers, the language of trust, true prayers grounded on 383 00:27:14,680 --> 00:27:19,440 the Word of God. We learn to pray over the Word. 384 00:27:20,960 --> 00:27:23,160 We even pray the Word of God back to Him. 385 00:27:23,160 --> 00:27:25,600 That's why we quote verses to the Lord in prayer. 386 00:27:25,680 --> 00:27:27,920 We're just reminding Him of what He said. 387 00:27:29,080 --> 00:27:31,600 True prayer keeps on praying till the answer comes. 388 00:27:31,600 --> 00:27:35,400 We cry, we plead, we intercede. Yes, the devil hinders us. 389 00:27:35,680 --> 00:27:38,200 Yes, the flesh craves other things. 390 00:27:38,480 --> 00:27:42,080 Yes, we often times feel a failure and prayerlessness is a 391 00:27:42,080 --> 00:27:46,040 sin. But true prayer keeps on praying 392 00:27:46,440 --> 00:27:49,720 till the answer comes. Do you know that true prayer is 393 00:27:49,720 --> 00:27:54,720 a command over there in the book of Psalms and Psalm 27? 394 00:27:55,000 --> 00:27:59,400 I believe it is in verse 8 when thou settest. 395 00:27:59,400 --> 00:28:03,240 This is God speaking to David. Psalm 27 verse 8 when thou 396 00:28:03,240 --> 00:28:05,960 settest. Imagine God speaking to you this 397 00:28:05,960 --> 00:28:08,320 morning, and what would He say to you as a Christian? 398 00:28:09,520 --> 00:28:14,880 Seek ye my face in other words, up arise, call upon me in 399 00:28:14,880 --> 00:28:17,320 prayer. This is what David said. 400 00:28:17,320 --> 00:28:22,440 This was his response. My heart said unto thee, Thy 401 00:28:22,440 --> 00:28:29,080 face, Lord, will I seek. True prayer is commanded and and 402 00:28:29,080 --> 00:28:34,560 true prayer has accomplished much in the church. 403 00:28:35,080 --> 00:28:39,640 According to God's grace. God is sovereign, but this 404 00:28:39,640 --> 00:28:43,880 sovereign God is ordained. It means, and one of those means 405 00:28:43,880 --> 00:28:47,520 is the weapon of prayer. I would love to talk this 406 00:28:47,520 --> 00:28:50,400 morning, but I can't of the prayers of John Knox for 407 00:28:50,400 --> 00:28:53,120 Scotland. Give me Scotland or a die. 408 00:28:55,200 --> 00:28:59,960 What about prayers for revival? 16251859 Nineteen 20's. 409 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:03,080 The prayer meetings in the early days of the Free Presbyterian 410 00:29:03,080 --> 00:29:07,200 Church where they experience the power and the presence of God. 411 00:29:08,080 --> 00:29:11,840 Somebody asked the question now, if we're commanded to pray 412 00:29:11,840 --> 00:29:17,080 without ceasing in the way that I've described, where's the 413 00:29:17,080 --> 00:29:21,520 regular discipline prayer meetings from the people of God? 414 00:29:22,800 --> 00:29:27,080 Remember Daniel prayed 3 times, Daniel 6 and 10. 415 00:29:28,040 --> 00:29:31,640 Where's the spontaneous Christ to God in our of need? 416 00:29:32,600 --> 00:29:38,120 When we face a crisis, where is the continual awareness of God's 417 00:29:38,320 --> 00:29:42,560 presence and power? We bemoan it's absence. 418 00:29:43,280 --> 00:29:45,400 The prayer meeting seems to be in decline. 419 00:29:46,320 --> 00:29:50,880 And yet prayerlessness is a sin and if we neglect public and 420 00:29:50,880 --> 00:29:55,240 private prayer, then we're really sinning against God. 421 00:29:56,520 --> 00:29:59,680 We're not taking seriously this command to pray without ceasing. 422 00:30:00,440 --> 00:30:03,240 We have 3 or 4 prayer meetings in the week in this church. 423 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,280 I encourage you, your communicant members wanting to 424 00:30:06,280 --> 00:30:10,200 be communicant members, do do, do join with us in the times of 425 00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,960 prayer with a great season of prayer on Wednesday night here 426 00:30:12,960 --> 00:30:16,520 in this church. See, if the Lord Jesus withdrew 427 00:30:16,520 --> 00:30:23,320 to pray privately, pray with His disciples in their presence, if 428 00:30:23,320 --> 00:30:27,400 He experienced the necessity of a life of dependence on his 429 00:30:27,400 --> 00:30:31,160 Heavenly Father, then so should we. 430 00:30:31,160 --> 00:30:34,120 You see, true prayer, You know what it presupposes? 431 00:30:34,400 --> 00:30:40,320 It presupposes a felt need. True prayer is a confession of 432 00:30:40,320 --> 00:30:48,920 our own faith that that need can only be met by God's power and 433 00:30:48,920 --> 00:30:52,360 God's provision and by God's presence. 434 00:30:53,440 --> 00:30:58,960 And true prayer flows from being in Christ in union with Him, and 435 00:30:58,960 --> 00:31:01,040 intercessory work of the Holy Spirit. 436 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:05,080 I remember what we read in the book of Romans in chapter 8 and 437 00:31:05,080 --> 00:31:07,760 verse 26. Listen to these words. 438 00:31:08,200 --> 00:31:11,400 Likewise the Spirit also help with our infirmity, for we know 439 00:31:11,400 --> 00:31:14,480 not what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit itself 440 00:31:14,480 --> 00:31:18,880 make us intercession for us with groanings which cannot be 441 00:31:18,880 --> 00:31:20,800 uttered. Oh, I would love to take time 442 00:31:20,800 --> 00:31:23,680 this morning to tell you about a man called Albert McCauley down 443 00:31:23,680 --> 00:31:26,880 in Ballymoney. You know, one time his children 444 00:31:26,880 --> 00:31:28,800 were on holidays. They were over with Doctor Alan 445 00:31:28,800 --> 00:31:37,120 Kearns over in Greenville and South Carolina, and they're in 446 00:31:37,120 --> 00:31:39,320 the church that were looking at the missionary board. 447 00:31:40,480 --> 00:31:44,920 And in that missionary board was a picture of Albert McCauley and 448 00:31:44,920 --> 00:31:47,320 one of the children four years of age. 449 00:31:47,480 --> 00:31:50,560 When asked, do you know who that is mentioning the little child's 450 00:31:50,560 --> 00:31:51,240 name? Yes. 451 00:31:51,240 --> 00:31:58,000 That's praying Grandpa. Praying Grandpa wasn't to the 452 00:31:58,000 --> 00:32:00,600 child, Just Albert wasn't just Grandpa. 453 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:04,120 It was praying Grandpa because there was a room in Albert 454 00:32:04,120 --> 00:32:07,920 Mcauley's house where he went to Dealey and cried unto God for 455 00:32:07,920 --> 00:32:11,000 Bali Monday. And I thought, what a testimony? 456 00:32:13,680 --> 00:32:18,480 Would we have such a testimony? Would I have such a testimony? 457 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:25,520 There's a command to persistently pray. 458 00:32:26,760 --> 00:32:33,320 Notice finally here there's a command to profound praise, not 459 00:32:33,320 --> 00:32:38,720 just to perpetually rejoice and not just to persistently pray, 460 00:32:39,360 --> 00:32:41,120 but a command to profound praise. 461 00:32:41,120 --> 00:32:44,520 Notice as we finish, look very quickly with this verse 18 and 462 00:32:44,520 --> 00:32:46,800 everything give thanks for this is the will of God and Christ 463 00:32:46,800 --> 00:32:50,760 Jesus concerning you. Notice the scope here. 464 00:32:51,080 --> 00:32:54,200 In everything, give thanks. It's not wide. 465 00:32:54,720 --> 00:33:01,440 It's not a wide berth. Everything, in everything, every 466 00:33:01,440 --> 00:33:06,320 situation, every circumstance. Not for everything, but in 467 00:33:06,360 --> 00:33:08,640 everything, in every circumstance, in every 468 00:33:08,640 --> 00:33:10,480 situation. It includes the days of 469 00:33:10,480 --> 00:33:15,240 prosperity, the days of poverty. It includes days of sickness as 470 00:33:15,240 --> 00:33:19,880 well as days of health. It includes days of joy as well 471 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:24,600 as days of sorrow. The scope here in everything, 472 00:33:24,920 --> 00:33:26,360 give thanks. Notice quickly. 473 00:33:26,360 --> 00:33:29,800 The sign is here. This is the will of God. 474 00:33:30,520 --> 00:33:34,240 You see, the will of God here is wide enough to include these 475 00:33:34,240 --> 00:33:37,840 three commands. God's command to rejoice, God's 476 00:33:37,840 --> 00:33:40,920 command to pray, and God's command to give thanks. 477 00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:47,360 Often people have confessed to me they have trouble discovering 478 00:33:47,360 --> 00:33:51,040 what the will of God is. But it's not hidden, it's 479 00:33:51,040 --> 00:33:54,840 heralded forth. Here's the will of God. 480 00:33:54,840 --> 00:33:57,920 In these three areas, we're commanded to rejoice. 481 00:33:57,920 --> 00:34:02,280 Pray and give thanks no matter your circumstances. 482 00:34:02,520 --> 00:34:06,840 Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing in 483 00:34:06,840 --> 00:34:08,040 everything. Give thanks. 484 00:34:08,400 --> 00:34:12,000 Notice the subject very quickly. Give thanks. 485 00:34:12,280 --> 00:34:14,960 Underline that. How do we give thanks? 486 00:34:15,800 --> 00:34:20,679 Well, let's remember, aim to understand who God is. 487 00:34:20,679 --> 00:34:24,199 In other words, no God. God is sovereign, God is holy. 488 00:34:24,199 --> 00:34:26,000 God's a good God, God's a great God. 489 00:34:26,840 --> 00:34:30,080 Romans even 28 And we know that all things work together for 490 00:34:30,080 --> 00:34:32,360 good to them that love God, and to them who are the called 491 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:36,280 according to his purpose. See, there's things we can't say 492 00:34:36,440 --> 00:34:39,880 in our life, things we don't understand. 493 00:34:41,760 --> 00:34:44,280 And even though they're terrible, things come into our 494 00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:48,679 lives somehow. And I don't know the answer. 495 00:34:49,679 --> 00:34:53,159 God just comes and says what I do now you know not, but he 496 00:34:53,159 --> 00:34:55,480 shall know hereafter. In other words, in the world to 497 00:34:55,480 --> 00:34:58,680 come, it'll be revealed. But somehow even bad things that 498 00:34:58,680 --> 00:35:01,920 happen in our life, they're for the glory of God and the good of 499 00:35:01,920 --> 00:35:04,320 His people. We should apply that 500 00:35:04,320 --> 00:35:06,680 individually. We should apply that 501 00:35:07,480 --> 00:35:14,000 collectively. And we know Paul says that all 502 00:35:14,000 --> 00:35:22,000 things, good or bad, work together for good to them 503 00:35:22,960 --> 00:35:27,000 exclusive, you see, who love God to them who they're called 504 00:35:27,000 --> 00:35:32,040 according to his purpose. The second thing I would say 505 00:35:32,040 --> 00:35:36,840 today is this trust and believe and rely on the Lord. 506 00:35:37,880 --> 00:35:40,200 We were called upon to live by faith. 507 00:35:40,200 --> 00:35:43,520 The just shall live by faith. Place your life in his hands. 508 00:35:43,760 --> 00:35:48,480 Every trial, every trouble are instruments of sanctification, I 509 00:35:48,480 --> 00:35:51,480 would say, thirdly, don't murmur, don't grumble, don't 510 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:54,760 complain about your lot in life, Thomas Watson wrote. 511 00:35:55,280 --> 00:35:59,480 Thankfulness is the work of heaven and it is the beginning 512 00:35:59,480 --> 00:36:03,360 of heaven in the soul. Thankfulness is the work of 513 00:36:03,360 --> 00:36:07,480 heaven and it's the beginning of heaven in the soul. 514 00:36:08,280 --> 00:36:12,080 A thankful heart acknowledges God's Providence and submits to 515 00:36:12,080 --> 00:36:12,840 its will. Whenever. 516 00:36:12,840 --> 00:36:16,440 John Wesley was the founder of the Methodist Church. 13 years 517 00:36:16,440 --> 00:36:19,560 before his conversion, he found a Porter one evening. 518 00:36:20,000 --> 00:36:22,080 The Porter had only one thin coat on. 519 00:36:22,600 --> 00:36:24,440 This Porter worked for a Stagecoach company. 520 00:36:24,440 --> 00:36:26,280 He was getting horses into a barn. 521 00:36:26,560 --> 00:36:28,720 He'd not eaten that day. It was wet. 522 00:36:29,080 --> 00:36:32,960 He was cold. And as John Wesley came up with 523 00:36:32,960 --> 00:36:38,880 this horse, this man said to John Wesley, thank God, Sir. 524 00:36:39,800 --> 00:36:42,560 And John Wesley said to him, well, what are you thanking God 525 00:36:42,560 --> 00:36:46,760 for? You have no second coat to put 526 00:36:46,760 --> 00:36:48,640 on. You've not eaten. 527 00:36:49,800 --> 00:36:52,920 You've got a a straw bed in the stable for tonight. 528 00:36:53,480 --> 00:36:56,320 You're wet and you're cold. What have you got to thank God 529 00:36:56,320 --> 00:36:57,440 for? This is what he said. 530 00:36:57,560 --> 00:37:02,760 My life, a heart that loves him, a desire to serve him. 531 00:37:04,200 --> 00:37:07,600 And I rejoice in all the riches I have in Christ because my 532 00:37:07,600 --> 00:37:09,760 home's in heaven. See. 533 00:37:09,880 --> 00:37:15,800 See, that's the subject. Giving thanks when you know God, 534 00:37:16,480 --> 00:37:20,080 when you put your life in his hands, when you refuse to sin by 535 00:37:20,080 --> 00:37:24,080 murmuring and grumbling, complaining about your lot, you 536 00:37:24,080 --> 00:37:26,880 just leave yourself in God's providential care. 537 00:37:27,560 --> 00:37:31,680 Notice lastly, as we finish the source, this command to profound 538 00:37:31,680 --> 00:37:34,480 praise as a source in Christ Jesus. 539 00:37:34,480 --> 00:37:37,080 There's the key. Are you in Christ this morning? 540 00:37:37,480 --> 00:37:39,760 All these commands are impossible without them. 541 00:37:41,920 --> 00:37:44,120 They're impossible without the new birth. 542 00:37:45,240 --> 00:37:48,000 They're impossible without the indwelling of the Spirit. 543 00:37:49,200 --> 00:37:53,680 I asked, are you in Christ? We read in First Corinthians 544 00:37:53,680 --> 00:37:59,000 chapter 1 and in the verse 30. But of him are ye in Christ 545 00:37:59,000 --> 00:38:02,320 Jesus, who of God has made unto us wisdom and righteousness and 546 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:08,120 sanctification and redemption. You see, these are all linked. 547 00:38:08,880 --> 00:38:10,480 These three are all linked together. 548 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:15,080 They describe a life of fellowship with God, but that 549 00:38:15,080 --> 00:38:18,040 life of fellowship with God is only found in Christ. 550 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:22,720 It's only grounded in him. So I asked as I close this 551 00:38:22,720 --> 00:38:25,920 morning, are you in Christ? Are you saved? 552 00:38:26,240 --> 00:38:28,760 Have you got a testimony to a saving and keeping power? 553 00:38:28,920 --> 00:38:32,480 Can you say I know him as my Lord and Saviour? 554 00:38:33,360 --> 00:38:37,320 And then, if that is true that you're in Christ, then have you 555 00:38:37,320 --> 00:38:42,600 got that biblical joy that looks upward to God's good grace? 556 00:38:44,320 --> 00:38:49,120 Are you exercising prayer that leans upon God's provision and 557 00:38:49,120 --> 00:38:53,280 sufficiency? Are you thankful to rest in 558 00:38:53,280 --> 00:39:01,080 God's marvellous Providence? Apart from Him, such a life is 559 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:05,960 impossible. I was tempted to preach this as 560 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:10,880 impossible commands, but I thought of that that wouldn't be 561 00:39:10,880 --> 00:39:17,480 true because they are possible. They can become a reality, but 562 00:39:17,480 --> 00:39:22,120 only to those who are in Christ. May the Lord take His word this 563 00:39:22,120 --> 00:39:25,000 morning and bless it to you. And next week, we'll look 564 00:39:25,000 --> 00:39:29,160 further at some of these other thoughts in the passage of 565 00:39:29,160 --> 00:39:29,640 Scripture.