“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).

“For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus…”

Again? This too is God’s will for the Christian?

Yup.

You don’t have to wonder if this is God’s will. You don’t have to guess.

God just comes out and says, “This is my will for you.”

Well, what is it? What is God’s will for the Christian?

“Rejoice always. Pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Pay attention to these words: always, continually, and all circumstances. That, I would argue, is pretty darn conclusive. Not sometimes. Always. Not just once in a while. Continually. Not in some situations, but all circumstances.

What are we called to do always, continually, and in all circumstances? Rejoice. Pray. Give thanks.

You see, God doesn’t tell us to be happy. He tells us to rejoice. Joy is so different than happiness. You see, I was happy when the Mariners were up 7-0 against the Cubs the other week. And I was very upset by the end of the game when the Mariners lost to the Cubs 9-14! How in the world do you lose a baseball game after going up 7 runs!!! But here’s the thing about joy. You can be unhappy and still be filled with joy.

I’ve seen it. I’ve seen people who’ve lost their spouse of six decades be filled with grief and sorrow, and who are at the same time rejoicing because they know that death does not get the last word, that disease does not win. Because of Jesus and the empty tomb that this departure is temporary. Grief and sorrow doesn’t cancel out resurrection hope and joy. They can co-exist.

Rejoice always.

Pray continually. Not just once in a while. But continually. Be mindful throughout the day of God’s presence in our lives.

Finally, give thanks in all circumstances. Not some. Not only in good situations. But in all circumstances. How? Why? Because the tomb is empty. We start on the basis of God’s ultimate victory. Even if nothing good ever happens again, we start with the resurrection and the empty tomb. God wins. And we’re already victors because of all that God has done in Jesus Christ.

Always – Continually – All Circumstances

Rejoice – Pray – Give Thanks

“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12).

“For the word of God is alive and active.”

What in the world does that mean?

Because the word of God expresses the character and nature of a holy and perfect God, whenever God’s word encounters finite and sinful creatures, the word of God will convict and challenge sinners to repent and change. What the word of God is not and cannot be is mere words that entertain and inform. The word of God will always convict and challenge sinners to repent and change.

It is truly encouraging to hear of so many of you who have taken on the challenge of reading the Bible daily. That makes the hearts of your pastors sing! Well done.

As you are reading and sitting under the teaching and the authority of God’s word, I pray that you are being challenged and changed by God’s truth.

Alistair Begg writes, “The more we sin under the instruction of the Bible without being changed by it, the less likely the possibility of such change becomes.”

So, how can we read the Bible so that God can challenge and change us?

First, read God’s word as if your life depended on it…because it does. Read in a time and place where you can be free from distractions.

Second, read slowly. This is not a race to see how fast you can finish your daily reading. This is about genuinely opening yourself to whatever it is God wants to reveal to you through the reading that day.

Finally, read prayerfully. As you are reading, ask the Holy Spirit to reveal what God wants you to know for that day.

The word of God will always convict and challenge sinners to repent and change. What the word of God cannot be is mere information.

“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God” (1 Thessalonians 4:3-5)

“It is God’s will…”

There are a handful of instances in scripture where the Bible simply tells us that this is God’s will. So whatever follows such statements deserves our full attention.

“It is God’s will that you be sanctified…”

Sanctified means to be more like Christ. It means that every day, every moment, we are becoming more like Christ. It means that we are more like Jesus today than we were when we received Jesus as Lord and Savior. And, it means that a year from now, we ought to be more like Jesus than we are today.

Sanctification – this word literally means to become more holy. We are to be more holy because Jesus is holy. And if we are becoming more like Jesus, then we are becoming more holy.

Sanctification – this is a process that will continue until Christ calls us home. This is a never ending process. You can’t be sanctified in a moment. This is a life-long process.

What is interesting is that in almost every instance sanctification is talked about in the New Testament, its reference is sexual purity. You cannot be like Christ without also living a life that is holy, set apart, sanctified. I am not sure why the Bible makes such a big deal about sexuality. But what is clear is that there is no such thing as pursuing Christ without also pursuing sexual holiness.

When Christians confuse joy and happiness with pleasure, Christians will run into error. You see, while sexual sin is capable of delivering pleasure, sexual sin cannot ever make someone happy. Pleasure is not the same thing as joy and happiness. Sexual sin will never lead to joy and peace.

Of course sexual sin is pleasurable. If it weren’t we would never struggle with it. But pleasure cannot lead to joy and happiness.

God offers us joy and genuine happiness. Pursue Christ. Be sanctified.

How can I say that? Because I know that this is God’s will for you and for me.