I Thessalonians 5:16-18

I heard a story this week about a man named Charlie Steinmetz.  Have you ever heard of him?  He was an electronics wizard who lived in the days of Henry Ford.  Charlie Steinmetz put together the electrical works for the first car plant Henry Ford established in Michigan.  It is said that he would create the electric motor system in his mind and watch it run; then he would watch it foul up and break down, repair it, get it all up and running . . . all in his mind.  Then he would build it.

The story is that one day the whole electric plant went down which caused the whole factory to stop.  They had many people working on the problem but could not solve it.  Time was wasting the plant was not working . . . so Henry Ford said, “We need to get Charlie Steinmetz.”  So in came Charlie.  After a couple of hours of tinkering around the electric plant, Charlie said, “Hit the switch.”  They did and everything began to run.

A couple of week later a bill came to Henry Ford from Charlie Steinmetz for $10,000.  Henry Ford was rich but was astounded at the bill and sent it back with this message:  “Dear Charlie, don’t you think that this is a bit steep for a couple of hours of tinkering?”

Charlie Steinmetz changed the bill to read:  “For two hours of tinkering - $10;  for knowing where to tinker $9,990.”

Henry Ford paid the bill.

As we continue in this series on seeking God’s will, be sure of this:  the Father, Son, and precious Holy Spirit know what to do and They know where to tinker.  We are seeking to find out what the Lord is doing and what he wants us to do.

If the Lord is doing everything that I want done and in my way . . . then I am lord – not Him.

So, I can’t call Him Lord – and then wonder why he doesn’t do everything I say.

I also am confronted, even rebuked and disciplined by my Lord when I don’t do what He says.

   LK 6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

We have the big cook stove at camp going in this series.  This is the sixth kettle of stew we are putting on today.

#1 - SEEKING GOD’S WILL

Matthew 6:9-13, “. . . Thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.”

Three Tim bits to get us warmed up to this important subject:

#2 - SEEKING GOD’S WILL IN THE OLD COVENANT

Everyone who knows God always wants to know what He is doing and what He wants done.

Everyone from all the different eras of history has people who seek the Living God and they want to know His Will.

#3 - PRINCIPLES FOR SEEKING GOD’S WILL IN THE OLD COVENANT

“Lord you’re leading me with a cloud by day and then in the night the glow of a burning flame . . . and everywhere I go I see you.”

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS FOR SEEKING GOD’S WILL IN THE NEW TESTAMENT

Key: Remember God!  Don’t forget God!  This makes us thankful in all circumstances.

Key: Humbly Pray (do this continually) . . . for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble.

I.                    The Old Testament background.

1)      King David knew how to rejoice.

PS 32:11 Rejoice in the LORD and be glad, you righteous;

    sing, all you who are upright in heart!

  PS 64:10 Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD

    and take refuge in him;

    let all the upright in heart praise him!

  PS 97:12 Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,

    and praise his holy name.

PS 104:34 May my meditation be pleasing to him,

    as I rejoice in the LORD.

2)      Isaiah knew how to rejoice.

ISA 29:19 Once more the humble will rejoice in the LORD;

    the needy will rejoice in the Holy One of Israel.

ISA 41:16 You will winnow them, the wind will pick them up,

    and a gale will blow them away.

  But you will rejoice in the LORD

    and glory in the Holy One of Israel.

3)      Joel knew how to rejoice.

JOEL 2:23 Be glad, O people of Zion,

    rejoice in the LORD your God,

  for he has given you

    the autumn rains in righteousness.

  He sends you abundant showers,

    both autumn and spring rains, as before.

4)      Habakkuk knew how to rejoice.

HAB 3:17 Though the fig tree does not bud

    and there are no grapes on the vines,

  though the olive crop fails

    and the fields produce no food,

  though there are no sheep in the pen

    and no cattle in the stalls,

  HAB 3:18 yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

    I will be joyful in God my Savior.

  HAB 3:19 The Sovereign LORD is my strength;

    he makes my feet like the feet of a deer,

    he enables me to go on the heights.

5)      Nehemiah knew how to rejoice.

NE 8:9 Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

    NE 8:10 Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

6)      Zechariah knew how to rejoice.

  ZEC 10:7 The Ephraimites will become like mighty men,

    and their hearts will be glad as with wine.

  Their children will see it and be joyful;

    their hearts will rejoice in the LORD.

II.                 The New Testament Statement.

PHP 3:1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord! It is no trouble for me to write the same things to you again, and it is a safeguard for you.

PHP 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!

III.               The Child of God’s Fulfillment.

“Rejoice evermore . . . for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus” (I Thessalonians 5:16).

What did Paul leave out of this statement in I Thessalonians that was clearly given in Philippians?

Rejoice . . in the Lord.

Key: Our rejoicing is in the Lord.

“Rejoice in the Lord” by Ron Hamilton – Patch the Pirate.

ULTIMATE JOY

REAL JOY

We do have to distinguish between the real fruit of the Spirit of joy and (as Theodore Epp said in his commentary on Galatians) the weed or false fruit.

There is that which masquerades as this vital fruit but is only a weed. 

My flesh has a capacity for happiness and even certain times of joy; but this is not the fruit of the Holy Spirit which is the real or genuine joy. 

How will we recognize the fruit and the weed?

Only wisdom will accomplish this.

What joy does not come from:

2CO 8:1 And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2 Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3 For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4 they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5 And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will.

Today is kettle #6 – Rejoice evermore (I Thessalonians 5:16).

Key: Our rejoicing is in the Lord.