WHAT OUR RESOLUTION OUGHT TO BE

IOI CHRISTIAN MORNING MEAL

TOPIC: WHAT OUR RESOLUTION OUGHT TO BE
TEXT: 1thess 5:14-23

I. REVOLUTION IN OUR WORSHIP (Ill. Let's face it, often our worship experience is less than it ought to be. The fault lies not with the Lord, but with those who are involved in the worship. In these verses, Paul gives some practical advise that will breathe new life into dead worship.)

A. V. 16 There Should Be Praise - "Rejoice evermore" literally means to have a praise in our hearts to God at al times. In truth, the modern church is lacking in the praise department. There was time when the people of God were filled with His glory and were not ashamed to express it visibly and vocally. Yet, in our day, we seem petrified when it comes to praising the Lord. Now, whether we ever believe it or not, whether we ever do anything about it our not, it is still God's will for His people to praise Him - Heb. 13:15; Psa. 50:23. There are other verse that teach this same truth, but suffice it to say that the church, and our private lives, ought to be filled with the sounds of His praise.

(Ill. There are those who say, "Well, that just isn't my style!" If you will think for a minute, you will find many areas where you have changed in your lifetime, this is one where you can as well. Ill., there is always one good reason for praise - Luke 10:20.)

B. V. 17 There Should Be Prayer - God isn't saying that we are to walk around all the time taking to Him. He is saying that we are to leave the receiver off the hook and be in an attitude of prayer, so that when needs arise throughout the day, we are constantly ready to call on His name whether it be out loud or silently.

(Ill. The words "without ceasing" refer to a person who has an intermittent cough. He may not be coughing every instant of the day, but there is always that little tingle at the back of his throat. A cough is always a possibility.)

(Ill. Prayer is vitally important to the spiritual life of every Christian. Therefore, we should always be in that place of prayer, for when we are, the Lord will hear us and will answer according to His will - Matt. 21:22; 1 John 5:14-15.)

C. V. 18 There Should Be Thanksgiving - Ill. Some sing the Doxology and think that they have given thanks to the Lord. God, however, is calling us to be genuinely thankful from our hearts for His blessings in our lives. God has done so much for us that we could never repay Him. The least we can do is to bow our heads before Him and be thankful for His gracious gifts. After all, it is His will for every Christian!

(Ill. Thankfulness is the opposite of complaining. The Israelites had more to be thankful for than any people of their time, yet they were guilty of doing the most complaining. For 40 years they wandered around the desert and griped and complained about what they were having to go through, when all the while, they were there through their own doings - Numbers 13-14. You might not be happy about your situation, but at least be thankful that there is a God in Heaven who loves you and cares for you!)

LET US PRAY
MAY GOD GIVE YOU EVERY REASON TO PRAISE HIM THIS YEAR IN JESUS NAME

GOOD MORNING BRETHREN