Pray without ceasing!
Goooooooood Morning Lake Tapps Community Church!
Right now we have just begun a survey of LTCC members, attenders, and any interested parties, so we can know what people think of the church. That will help us gauge where we are, where God may be directing us and how to get there. We want to seek God and ask Him to help us understand that picture. We want to do His will. So, before that survey is over, probably in mid-August, we will ask you to sign up for “100 days of prayer triplets at LTCC.” We will make a way for you to sign up with 2 others (we ask you to ”triple up” with those who aren’t relatives or bffs). The commitment will be to meet together for a total of 10 times in those 100 days to seek God about: each other’s needs, the church, and the calling of a new pastor, as well as anything else He lays on your heart. Prayer triplets will start September 15 and last until Christmas. In the meantime, there is also a prayer focus already going on in our church. Every Sunday morning from 9:15-9:45, join what has lately been a growing prayer meeting in the LTCC sanctuary. It is also a great time to prepare your heart for worship.
With these things in mind let’s look at a passage we probably know well.
1 Thess 5:16 “Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
There are three commands here in Paul’s benediction: these are God’s will for the church. We know that because He says that!The first is: be joyful always. Earlier in the letter, Paul makes special note of the joy the Thessalonians experienced even in the midst of tribulation, and he attributes it to the work of the Holy Spirit. We all know that joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit (Gal. 5:22). Our joy as believers is not the shallower feeling we call happiness. Happiness is understood as just a feeling and a transient mood dependent feeling at that. This joy is one based on our salvation in Christ. It can be accessed at any time, even in tough situations, because that does not go away. Joy can be experienced even in the midst of tragedy and pain. Paul said in 2 Cor. 6:8b and following:
“We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich; as having nothing, yet possessing everything.”
So, no matter what, dwell on the ultimate joy of being saved by Christ.
Then Paul writes “Pray continually.” Clearly we can’t form words without breathing, eating, sleeping, etc. In context, this means that the entire life of the believer is lived in dependence on God. That being said, there is a time and a call for much vocal praying as well. There is a need. We want to be as persistent as the widow before the judge in Luke 18:1-8. Oswald Chambers says, “Prayer does not equip us for greater works— prayer is the greater work. Yet we think of prayer as some common sense exercise of our higher powers that simply prepares us for God's work.”
The passage then says, “Give thanks in all circumstances.” Paul is not asking his readers to thank God for tragedy and misfortune. He is asking them to be thankful in the midst of the various and changing situations in life, whether we are “happy” about them or not. There are always good reasons for gratitude. This is different than our natural human tendency to have lives characterized by ingratitude. We as God’s people are to be “overflowing with thankfulness” (Col. 2:7). SO, as we go to this prayer emphasis, let us look for God to work, and give Him thanks directly and credit Him in front of everyone for what He does in this season. Then, for all the times we say, “I just want to know God’s will,” look at the end of our passage of 1 Thess. 5:18b:
“for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Love ya,
(for the elders and deacons - who also love ya),
Bob
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