Sermon "Avoiding 911"
Rev. Lonnie Richardson
Sunday, December 12, 1999
1 Thessalonians 5:16-24
Avoiding 911
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our lord Jesus Christ. The One who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.
Here are some 911 calls to the Los Angeles fire department to which emergency crews were dispatched. How would you like to end up in the emergency room waiting room with some of these poor folks? One call came from person who had his arm stuck in ready-teller machine. An 18-year-old male couldn't get any rest at home and wanted a ride to the hospital. A 13-year-old stubbed her toe on stereo speaker. A 61-year-old was worried because her stomach was not growling. Another lady had a headache for four days and she reported that her husband had no money for aspirin. Another person answered "No" to the question, "Are you conscious?" Another lady had blisters on her feet from walking for three days at the Taco Bell. A man was shot two months ago and now he feels dizzy and is worried about bullet. Another man was shot one year ago and said the bullet and his intestines were coming out.
Sometimes we make spiritual 911 calls to God. Usually because we are not patient in our waiting. Don't you just hate to wait? I do. And, Christmas is the worst when it comes to waiting. At Christmas, we wait to celebrate an event that has already happened -- the birth of the Christ child.
I've discovered something remarkable about waiting. There is much that God cannot do in my life, unless I wait. There is much God will not do in my life, until I wait. At least as important as the things for which I wait, is the work God wants to do in my life while I wait. Thessalonians is good counsel for those who wait, for the Thessalonian Christians were waiting-- waiting for the Lord to return. They just knew that he would come back sometime very soon. However, there was a problem. Some of the members of the church had been dying. They were surprised and disturbed by this. And were trying to understand the Lord's promise to return. Was it all just wishful thinking? Was he ever going to come? Paul wrote to assure them that those who have died will not be left out of God's promises. The things he says in this passage are intended to strengthen and encourage folks like you and me -- folks who are waiting for more of God. Paul is saying: waiting for Jesus can have an amazing effect on our lives. For instance: waiting for Jesus can help us resort to the transforming purpose of God. Paul points out three things that will give our waiting on Jesus a purpose. He says be joyful, be prayerful, and be thankful. Sounds like a good strategy for Christmas, doesn't it? Well, let's look at it.
First, he says, "Be joyful -- always." Now you might be saying to yourself, who does Paul think I am? With all the hassles, and troubles, and disappointments, how can he expect me to be joyful all the time? If it's the kind of joy of human fabrication, we can't. This joy isn't something that can be turned on and off like a faucet. This joy is something that happens when you recognize the hand of God in whatever is happening and realize that in any and all circumstances God is at work on behalf of God's people.
This is the joy that comes in knowing that God is in control of the circumstances of our lives. The key to this sustaining joy is found in the words of that old familiar Christmas song: "Joy to the world -- the Lord is come." It is a historic reality with a future hope.
Paul continues, he says, "Be prayerful. Pray without ceasing." This is the way to draw on the inner strength that God provides. Now, Paul isn't telling us that we should always be on our knees, with our heads bowed, and our hands folded. There are certainly times for that, and most of us could benefit from more of that kind of praying. However, Paul isn't advocating that kind of praying here. He's talking about prayer that acknowledges our utter dependence upon God and the total dependability of God in all circumstances. He wants us to continually be in a spirit of prayer -- because we have God's ear at all times. We can turn to God at any moment of the day, in any circumstance, and be connected with God.
Then, there's the third thing Paul admonishes us to do. "Be thankful. Give thanks in all circumstances." Notice: Paul doesn't say, "Be thankful for all circumstances." He says, "Be thankful in all circumstances." There's a difference. There's just no way to be thankful for everything that happens to us. You lose your job. How can you be thankful for that? They diagnose cancer. And, I'm supposed to be thankful for that? No way!
Paul says, "Be thankful in all circumstances." Let me give you one good reason why. When faced with a difficult situation, one is given an opportunity to glorify God. If you never have any difficulties -- if you never face any trials or pressures -- how will anyone ever see that you have an invisible means of support? How will anyone ever know that you have a reliable source of strength? How will anyone ever discover that God is who you say God is in your life?
Finally, what Paul says, in verse 24 is the foundation upon which our faith is built. He says, "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it." This is the Christmas message! This is all we really need to understand. This is the gospel in three easy steps. God is the one who calls us; God is faithful; God will do it!
And so, we watch, we listen -- we wait. There is much that God cannot do in our lives unless we wait. There is much God will not do in our lives, until we wait. At least as important as the things for which we wait is the work God wants to do in our lives while we wait. Be joyful, be prayerful, be thankful in the waiting. When we do we avoid the spiritual 911's of life.
Prayer
Almighty God, who through the prophets spoke the promise of a Messiah to come to free your people, stir us through their words, we pray, to prepare our hearts in eager waiting, that our hopes may be sustained through the days of winter by their assurance of the bright day of the coming of our Lord, in whose name we pray. Amen.
