Sermon Title 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 Ill: I. We...

Sermon Title

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

Ill:

I.    We Must Welcome Him with Joy – Lk 2:8-12

A. All of heaven is invested in our future

B. There is now one who can make God’s will a reality

II.   We Must Focus for a Joyful Life is Active

          vv 16-22

A. Given our life’s troubles, we need to be reminded of our attitude

B. Our open conversation with God is to keep our concentration where it belongs

C. God’s will surrounds our ability to thank Him for His involvement in our day

D. A keen awareness of the Holy Spirit keeps us from doing what would stop His work

E. How we handle the authority of God’s Word determines its ability to bring about joyful change

F. Be a good “money-changer”, don’t keep that which is not genuinely Godly – in harmony with truth

G. Evil becomes the manner of our living, don’t adopt it

III.  We Must Prepare for a Joyful Reunion

          vv 23-24

A. Jesus’ purpose of setting us apart becomes the measuring stick we us

B. God’s intention is that we will be found following His will

C. The joy is that He takes the personal interest to make it happen

The Point  ?  The joy the Angels proclaimed becomes the joy of our daily living as we actively await His finishing the work Jesus started.