by
U.S. Army Chaplain (MAJ) Ken Harris
CP Walker, Taegu South Korea
BIG IDEA: A believers’ ATTITUDE of PRAISE AND SITUATIONAL ACCEPTANCE leads to IMMEDIATE DELIVERANCE because it COMMUNICATES to God that HE IS TRUSTED without being UNDERSTOOD.
REFERENCES: In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you – 1 Thessalonians 5:18; 2 Samuel 22:3; Matthew 14: 22-33; Water for Jehoshaphat’s army in the Land of Moab- 2Ki 3:16-20; 1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV); Psalms 121; 2 Chronicles 20 (Jehoshaphat defeats Judah enemies); Hebrews 13:15 (By him therefore let us offer the SACRIFICE OF PRAISE to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name – KJV);
I. ANNOUNCE THE PERICOPE: 1 Thessalonians 5: 16-18
II. READ THE PERICOPE: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (KJV & MSG)
III. READ THE TEXT: Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 1 Thess 5:16-18 (KJV)
&
Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time;
thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live. 1 Thess 5:16-18 (MSG)
IV. PURPOSE: To motivate the hearers to TO RECEIVE their powerful deliverance through PRAISE by accepting and TRUSTING GOD (without UNDERSTANDING HIM).
V. SERMONIC THEME: “The POWER of Praise”
INTRODUCTION:
(In my preparation for today, I came across an article by one the greatest pulpiteers of our times – Reverend Doctor Billy Graham. Dr. Graham’s write-up addresses the NEED for CHRISTIANS to CARRY a “SERVANT ATTITUDE” of THANKSFULNESS in all of life’s circumstances.
In fact, he says “Taking a ’servant’ attitude of thankfulness in all of life’s circumstances will help us to react as OLD MATTHEW HENRY did regarding his mugging MATTHEW HENRY said ... and I quote:
"Let me be thankful first because I was never robbed before; second, although they took my purse, they did not take my life; third, because although they took my all, it was not much; and fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I who robbed").
Likewise, Paul (in Philippians 2:5 of the GOD’S WORD Translation) encouraged believers in Philippi to “Have the same ATTITUDE Christ Jesus had”.
The WORD ATTITUDE comes from an Italian word – Aptitude. In psychology, it’s defined as a MENTAL POSITION with regards to a FACT OR CIRCUMSTANCE ...
Paul (in Ephesians 4:23 of GOD’S WORD Translation) reminded the believers in Ephesus ... that they TOO ... “were taught to have a NEW ATTITUDE.”
I’ve said it before, so I’ll go on record today as saying it again, “AS BELIEVERS – OUR ATTITUDES DETERMINES OUR ALTITUDES”: our spiritual growth in God.
********************TATE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 1: But, that’s NOT ALL. Our attitude can also determine the outcome or the results of a situation or circumstance that we’re CURRENTLY IN.
a. For example, I firmly believe that a believers’ ATTITUDE of PRAISE AND SITUATIONAL ACCEPTANCE leads to IMMEDIATE DELIVERANCE ...
b. BECAUSE it COMMUNICATES to God that GOD IS TRUSTED without being UNDERSTOOD.
c. For who can ever forget the Story of King David – who worked as a servant in a HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT. For the scriptures tells us (in 1 Samuel 16) that GOD DIRECTED an EVIL SPIRIT to TORMENT King Saul on a regular basis.
d. The only RELEIF received by SAUL was through the INSTRUMENTAL PLAYING OF David – the shepherd boy/servant (who had already been anointed by the Prophet Samuel to become the FUTURE KING).
e. Part of God’s Call and preparation for David’s MINISTRY ... is that he had to serve, and play for King Saul – someone who obviously didn’t care for him.
f. STILL, DAVID worked in this HOSTILE ENVIRONMENT WITH A GOOD ATTITUDE AND CONTINUOUS PRAISE FOR GOD... until GOD RELEASED HIM (IN 2 Samuel 22).
g. ... And when God released him, HE CELEBRATED HIS GOD GIVEN DELIVERANCE ...
******************** Take 5 Beats *******************
MOVE 2 BUT THAT’S NOT ALL ... BECAUSE DAVID ... HAD CONTINUOSLY PRAISED GOD FOR HIS JOB without HAVING UNDERSTOOD WHY God placed him in that environment in the FIRST PLACE.
a. GOD BLESS HIM ... so much so ... that in 2 Samuel 22:3 ... David the servant is quoted as saying ... God is the God of my rock; in him will I trust: He is my shield,..
b. My brothers and my sisters ... the WORD shield as used in 2 Samuel 22:3 is “a small round shield held by a handle at
arm’s length. It was often used in a defensive posture.
c. In the Old Testament, a shield was held in the left hand to war off arrows of destruction by shielding and protecting.
********************* TAKE 5 BEATS *****************
MOVE 3: In other words, AS BELIEVERS WE MUST CONSCIOUSLY ... HAVE THE RIGHT ATTITUDE INWARDLY .... WHILE DISPLAYING PRAISE & ACCEPTANCE FOR GOD’S WILL IN OUR LIFE ... OUTWARDLY.
a. IN OTHER words, having a GOOD ATTITUDE IS having A servant attitude of holding up your shield of TRUST
b. with your left hand; while looking
c. ... over your right shoulder and simultaneously gesturing THANKS to GOD for having YOUR BACK ... in the midst of your circumstance ...
d. It’s TAKING YOUR EYES off OF YOUR marital circumstances, ...
e. and LOOKING UNTO GOD with the SERVANT ATTIDUDE
of ACCEPTANCE, and THANKSFULNESS while TRUSTING
GOD no matter what.
*********************TAKE 5 BEATS******************
MOVE 4: FOR DON’T YOU RECALL the story of the
Arabian Invasion in 2 Chronicles 20?
A. THIS PARTICULAR STORY is still one of the greatest
biblical ... PRAISE & WORSHIP accounts of all time.
B. King Jehoshaphat and The Kingdom of Judah were
facing an abrupt invasion of EVIL Arabian Soldiers.
C. YET ... I declare unto you today ... that even though Judah herself reportedly had over one million soldiers in her OWN Army;
D. King Jehoshaphat DID NOT TURN TO HIS ARMY for
deliverance. He AND THE ENTIRE NATION ... WENT ON
A FAST, AND HE Turned TO GOD IN PRAYER.
************************ 5 BEATS *******************
MOVE 5: Now ... my brothers and sisters ... I’m not sure of everything that God revealed to Jehoshaphat after the fast. But, whatever He did reveal to Jehoshaphat ...
A. JEHOSHAPHAT stood up and said, “Believe in the Lord your God, So Shall ye Be estabilshed, believe his prophet, so shall ye prosper.
B. Jehoshaphat DID NOT WAVER OR DOUBT GOD’S ABILITIE TO DELIVER JUDAH.
C. IN FACT, THE BIBLE SAYS, that Jehoshaphat realizing the enemy was fastly approaching their CAMP...
D. CONSULTED WITH THE PEOPLE of Judah , and afterwards ...
he APPOINTED SINGERS UNTO THE LORD ... (that’s right singers)...
E. HE TOLD THEM TO MARCH OUT IN FRONT OF the ARMY
AND GIVE PRAISE ... TO THE BEAUTY OF HOLINESS ...
********************TAKE 5 BEATS*******************
MOVE 6: THE BIBLES SAYS, JUDAH MARCHED ... OUT INTO BATTLE ... FOR CAN’T YOU SEE (with your sanctified imagination) THE TRIBE OF JUDAH marching band.
A. And as THEY BEGAN TO SING PRAISES ... THE LORD
AMBUSHED THE ENEMY ...
B. My brothers and my sisters ... Praise is a form of worship.
C. Sincere Praise is both external and internal.
D. When we sincerely PRAISE GOD outwardly while having an SERVANT ATTITUDE of PRAISE inwardly ...
E. God immediately ambushes the TROUBLES in our lives.
******************TAKE 5 BEATS ************************
MOVE 7: PRAISING, THEN, INVOLVES BOTH GRATITUDE AND JOY.
A. In the Message Bible, (in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) PAUL challenges us all to ...
B. Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants
c. ... you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.
d. An important step in the act of Praising God is to take
our eyes off the threatening circumstances and look to
God instead.
**************TAKE 5 BEATS *************
MOVE 8: David said it best in Psalm 121, ...
When he said ... I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the LORD,...
A. My brothers and sisters ... the postman may have
delivered the mail ... but our HELP CAME FROM GOD.
B. The commander may have pin on the promotion; but our
HELP CAME FROM GOD.
C. The 3rd Infantry Division may have SENT the
bullets DOWN RANGE; but it was GOD THAT DELIVERED ME ...
***************** TAKE 5 BEATS ********************
CELEBRATION: (1 Thessalonians 5:18 & Psalms 150)
In every thing give thanks ... for this is the will of God concerning you.
Praise ye the LORD.
Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.
Psalms 150:1-6 (KJV)
