By The Rev. Dr. Paul A. Leggett
Sunday, May 23, 2010 · Pentecost Sunday
Sermon Text: I Thessalonians 5:15-24
Sermon Theme
For Paul, life in Christ is life in the Spirit. The Christian life is lived in a tension between the present and the future, between the flesh and the spirit, between freedom and bondage. These tensions can either be sources of growth or a basis for confusion and despair. The Christian life is a constant surrender to Jesus Christ, to his grace and mercy. However, it is in this surrender that we encounter the greatest freedom (Galatians 5:1). Paul sets forth a healthy balance based on testimony, thankfulness and testing.
Sermon Outline
- Testimony. The center of Christian life is not found in ourselves. This is a difficult truth in a culture obsessed with self-image and self-fulfillment. We live in a world of American idols. For Paul the Christian’s life is totally bound up with Jesus Christ (Galatians 2:20). Everything we do and say reflects our understanding and experience of Jesus. Paul insists that the life of the Christian cannot be defined by rules (Galatians 5:13-14; Colossians 2:16-23). For Paul, life in Christ is life in the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:9-11; Ephesians 3:16). This life is dynamic and free but always dependent upon Jesus Christ. The Spirit always reminds us that “Jesus is Lord.” Through the Spirit we are free from fear, guilt and compulsion. The evidence of this is that the Spirit filled Christian rejoices always and prays continually (I Thessalonians 5:16-17). In the Spirit we have no need of vengeance or self-defense (Romans 12:19). We are defined as always doing good to one another and to all (I Thessalonians 5:15; Galatians 6:10).
- Thankfulness. Thankfulness is a critical part of the Christian life (I Corinthians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; I Timothy 4:4). Paul calls us to “give thanks in all circumstances” (I Thessalonians 5:18). He also says we are to give thanks for everything (Ephesians 5:20). Paul is not saying that we should thank God for tragedy and sin. Nonetheless in every circumstance, good or bad, we are to thank God for everything. The attitude of thankfulness has its source in the Spirit which is not be quenched (I Thessalonians 5:19). A thankful attitude testifies to the freedom we have in Jesus Christ. We are free to give thanks no matter what our situation. Jesus gives thanks to God repeatedly (Matthew 11:25; Mark 8:6; Luke 22:17-19; John 11:41). Jesus is also the only completely free person who ever lived. He is free to celebrate (John 2:1-11; Matthew 11:19), free from the rigid demands of the law (Matthew 12:1-8; Mark 7:17-19), free from intimidation (John 19:8-11), free to embrace sinners (Luke 19:7; Matthew 9:10-13). More than this, Jesus is free to forgive sinners (Mark 2:5; John 8:10-11). Jesus makes us free (Luke 4:18, 13:12; John 8:31-36; Galatians 5:1). For that we should be truly thankful.
- Testing. The Christian life is to be lived clearly and confidently. We are not to despise the word of God wherever it is found. We are to test everything. John calls us to “test the spirits to see whether they be of God” (I John 4:1). We are to hold fast to what is good and abstain from every form of evil (I Thessalonians 5:20-22). This sounds simple and straightforward. Yet this is hardly the case. We need to depend on the Spirit for discernment (Romans 12:2; I Corinthians 2:15). We are not to judge by appearances (John 7:24). We need to remember that people accused Jesus of being in league with the devil (Matthew 10:25; Mark 3:22) and Satan masquerades as an angel of light (II Corinthians 11:14). People praised God for Adolf Hitler and condemned Martin Luther King Jr. How then are we to test everything? We are to know the Scriptures (‘the words of prophets’) and continually be dependent on the Holy Spirit for guidance (John 16:13). We need to understand the Scriptures fully and completely. Satan quotes the Bible and Paul quotes Greek poets (Matthew 4:5-6; Acts 17:28). Yet which proclaims the word of God? In the Spirit we are to be free and open to test the spirits around us. It is the tragic Christian who abstains from the good and (unintentionally) holds fast to what is evil. The call to testing should not unnerve us. We are to bring everything before the standard of Scripture. We have been “marked with the seal of the promised Holy Spirit” (Ephesians 1:13). The eyes of our hearts have been enlightened (Ephesians 1:18). Therefore, with thankfulness, we will see God revealing Jesus Christ again and again in ways that will both amaze and inspire us.
Questions for Us
- Why do we find it difficult to "rejoice always"? How effective do you think we would be as witnesses to Jesus Christ if people saw us always rejoicing?
- What do you think of the idea that thankfulness is a sign of freedom? How have you experienced freedom in being thankful?
- Why do you think we are so tempted to judge by appearances (John 7:24)? What are some ways we can become more discerning?
