The Gospel and Worship
Series: Gospel Life
Speaker: Ash Kwok
Date: 14th September 2025
Passage: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-28
00:00:00 --> 00:00:04 Friends, I'm so thankful that I can unpack this passage with you.
00:00:05 --> 00:00:10 Whilst I'm untangling myself, I want to add my special welcome to you.
00:00:10 --> 00:00:14 But a particular special welcome to our Year 7-8s into our room
00:00:14 --> 00:00:19 as they continue on the journey of discovering what it looks like to be lifelong disciples
00:00:19 --> 00:00:23 and particularly as they worship with us on Sundays.
00:00:24 --> 00:00:28 So I'm really glad that I can tie a neat bow.
00:00:28 --> 00:00:29 I try to, hopefully.
00:00:30 --> 00:00:32 To finish one Thessalonians.
00:00:32 --> 00:00:36 And if you've got a St Paul's app with you, there is an outline for notes.
00:00:36 --> 00:00:39 But if you're a note taker, I've got them on the screen for you.
00:00:39 --> 00:00:40 These are the three points.
00:00:40 --> 00:00:42 Number one, the heart of worship.
00:00:43 --> 00:00:45 Number two, the inputs for worship.
00:00:46 --> 00:00:47 And steadfast worship.
00:00:47 --> 00:00:48 But before we do, let's pray.
00:00:49 --> 00:00:53 Gracious Father, your kindness in Christ means that we can come before your throne
00:00:53 --> 00:00:58 with full confidence that you will deliver on your promises.
00:00:58 --> 00:01:02 And today I pray that you show us those promises evidently.
00:01:02 --> 00:01:08 The promises that your spirit is unveiling the glories of this text to see you clearly.
00:01:08 --> 00:01:14 And the promise that you are chipping away at our hearts so that we can become more like our Saviour, Jesus Christ.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:15 Amen.
00:01:15 --> 00:01:21 I remember a while ago I was walking with a friend of mine to Macca's.
00:01:22 --> 00:01:25 And we were determined to get a really, really good feed.
00:01:26 --> 00:01:30 And as we were chatting, he kind of stopped me because he had received a text.
00:01:30 --> 00:01:33 And it was a text that kind of shocked him.
00:01:33 --> 00:01:37 And it was about a sad occurrence that had happened for a friend of his.
00:01:37 --> 00:01:41 And he said, let's just stop now.
00:01:41 --> 00:01:43 Let's just pray for this person.
00:01:43 --> 00:01:45 And I was like, wow, okay.
00:01:45 --> 00:01:50 Like, this is the first time I've ever gone like, okay, let's just stop in the middle of the path
00:01:50 --> 00:01:56 and just pray because my heart is convinced and convicted that it needs to get chicken nuggets.
00:01:57 --> 00:02:04 And as we continued hanging, I just noticed him talk about how cool it was for God to be his creator.
00:02:04 --> 00:02:11 Every third sentence was like speckled with, I thank God that, or in God's kindness, by God's grace.
00:02:11 --> 00:02:22 And as I was hearing these things, like, did he just want to show that he was, you know, more holy, more overtly religious than me?
00:02:23 --> 00:02:34 And what I'd begun to realize was that he was so convinced, so convinced that God is the true and living God,
00:02:34 --> 00:02:43 that he was confident about the presence and work of the living God, that he had to talk to him, that he had to talk about him.
00:02:45 --> 00:02:46 This is worship.
00:02:47 --> 00:02:49 This is worship.
00:02:50 --> 00:02:51 What's your picture of worship?
00:02:51 --> 00:02:56 Is worship connected to singing songs or when we open the Bible, when we pray?
00:02:57 --> 00:03:00 Perhaps all the things that seem uber churchy.
00:03:00 --> 00:03:08 Maybe we see that worship is only a matter of time in our calendars, a Sunday, maybe a midweek,
00:03:09 --> 00:03:11 or maybe even certain seasons.
00:03:11 --> 00:03:16 When seasons are hard, you come to church for hope and assurance.
00:03:17 --> 00:03:21 And what I want to say is that the scriptures, particularly the passage that we're going to unpack today,
00:03:21 --> 00:03:28 is much, much greater in its depiction of worship, much greater on a grander scale.
00:03:28 --> 00:03:33 And we might have a small view of what worship is or what it even can be.
00:03:34 --> 00:03:42 And it's limited, perhaps because the way that we give devotion and adoration to God
00:03:42 --> 00:03:49 is confined by the resources that we can give him that we think are limited.
00:03:50 --> 00:03:52 But maybe that's not the case.
00:03:52 --> 00:03:58 Maybe God joyfully says you actually have more to offer than you think.
00:03:59 --> 00:04:03 But this passage captures the essence about worship.
00:04:03 --> 00:04:09 If last week's passage that Nick looked at was the horizontal nature of what it looks like
00:04:09 --> 00:04:17 to be a follower of Jesus until Christ returns, this speaks of the vertical nature, our devotion to God.
00:04:17 --> 00:04:24 Paul's very first point in regard to worship is that worship is an all-of-life matter.
00:04:24 --> 00:04:28 If you've got your Bibles open, keep it at verse 16.
00:04:28 --> 00:04:28 It says,
00:04:28 --> 00:04:31 Be joyful always.
00:04:31 --> 00:04:33 Pray continually.
00:04:35 --> 00:04:38 Give thanks in all circumstances,
00:04:39 --> 00:04:41 for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
00:04:43 --> 00:04:44 Notice the language.
00:04:44 --> 00:04:55 Notice that Paul uses to describe the action words with always, continually, all circumstances.
00:04:56 --> 00:05:00 Worship is not a matter that is a start and stop.
00:05:01 --> 00:05:09 It's not a compartmentalised life where I do this, this, and worship is here.
00:05:10 --> 00:05:13 Worship is all of life.
00:05:14 --> 00:05:16 And this might sound overwhelming to you.
00:05:17 --> 00:05:26 How am I supposed to juggle being a parent, a child, a student, an employee, a boss, do chores, find time to sleep,
00:05:27 --> 00:05:34 a member of a church, let alone be an all-of-life worshipper of Jesus?
00:05:34 --> 00:05:40 Friends, that perhaps the question is not the what or how we do worship,
00:05:40 --> 00:05:49 but our first question ought to be the who, the object of our worship.
00:05:50 --> 00:05:52 Whom do you worship?
00:05:53 --> 00:06:01 Friends, who or even what do you devote your time, affections, and praise to?
00:06:01 --> 00:06:08 The matter at hand isn't that maybe you need more church or more Bible.
00:06:09 --> 00:06:11 They could be, in fact, what you might need.
00:06:11 --> 00:06:14 But the reason you worship is the object.
00:06:14 --> 00:06:28 And the object in 1 Thessalonians that he starts and begins is that we worship the true and living God
00:06:28 --> 00:06:33 who's made visible in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
00:06:33 --> 00:06:37 So do you see God for who he is?
00:06:37 --> 00:06:39 Do you see him as the creator of the universe?
00:06:41 --> 00:06:46 Two years ago, I picked up tennis, and I had played as a child for about 10 years,
00:06:46 --> 00:06:51 and I was really genuinely, I'm not trying to be humble, not good at all.
00:06:51 --> 00:06:53 Couldn't hit a ball for the life of me.
00:06:53 --> 00:06:59 And I just noticed, as I was hitting my forehands and backhands, my coach said something to me,
00:06:59 --> 00:07:02 and he was screaming repeatedly from the other side of the net.
00:07:03 --> 00:07:07 And he said, eyes on the ball, like a million times.
00:07:07 --> 00:07:11 Because I thought I had my eyes on the ball, but what I realised was I had my eyes on the opponent,
00:07:12 --> 00:07:16 the coach, spectators, where I was trying to aim,
00:07:16 --> 00:07:20 but what I needed to have my eyes fixed on was the ball.
00:07:20 --> 00:07:26 And the three actions that Paul refers to in worship that he calls you to do all times,
00:07:26 --> 00:07:31 all circumstances is pray, rejoice, give thanks.
00:07:32 --> 00:07:36 For the Christian, this is what the heartbeat of the person does,
00:07:37 --> 00:07:43 and it only is worship that is pleasing and true
00:07:43 --> 00:07:48 when the worship has our eyes fixed on the right thing.
00:07:50 --> 00:07:54 Pray to God in Christ Jesus.
00:07:55 --> 00:07:57 Give thanks to God for Christ Jesus.
00:07:57 --> 00:08:00 Rejoice in the Lord.
00:08:01 --> 00:08:04 That's where your eyes should be fixed, friends.
00:08:05 --> 00:08:07 It's because Christ is worthy of your praise.
00:08:08 --> 00:08:12 He is the only living, true God who created all things to give thanks to.
00:08:13 --> 00:08:19 Worship is made right and perfect when our eyes are fixed with Jesus.
00:08:20 --> 00:08:26 And the rejoicing here that Paul talks about as well is not this matter of being happy.
00:08:27 --> 00:08:36 John Piper puts joy as being Christian joy is a good feeling in the soul produced by the Holy Spirit
00:08:36 --> 00:08:42 as he causes us to see the beauty of Christ in the word and in the world.
00:08:44 --> 00:08:47 Happiness hangs on what happens.
00:08:47 --> 00:08:49 Joy doesn't.
00:08:50 --> 00:08:51 I won my soccer game.
00:08:52 --> 00:08:53 I got a promotion.
00:08:53 --> 00:08:56 If that's not happening, I'm not happy.
00:08:57 --> 00:08:58 But joy?
00:08:59 --> 00:09:03 Joy can be a matter of when life is frustrating.
00:09:04 --> 00:09:08 Joy can be experienced and felt in the midst of grief.
00:09:09 --> 00:09:15 Joy can be felt when you don't know even what the Lord is doing in your life at this present moment.
00:09:15 --> 00:09:19 Think about the times that Paul himself talks about joy.
00:09:19 --> 00:09:22 He says in 2 Corinthians 12 verse 9 on the screen,
00:09:22 --> 00:09:29 Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.
00:09:30 --> 00:09:32 Romans 5, 2-3,
00:09:32 --> 00:09:35 We rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.
00:09:35 --> 00:09:40 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings.
00:09:40 --> 00:09:45 Notice that Paul often talks about joy in times when it is hard.
00:09:45 --> 00:09:55 If you are wanting this steadfast and ongoing joy that doesn't buckle when you are crushed and afflicted,
00:09:57 --> 00:09:58 look to Jesus.
00:09:59 --> 00:10:01 Have your gaze firmly fixed on him.
00:10:01 --> 00:10:10 Because what we saw earlier in the chapter that Paul gets them to look forward to the day of the Lord.
00:10:11 --> 00:10:17 For those of you who are playing at home, that is the day that Jesus will come back
00:10:17 --> 00:10:24 and bring an end to all things and renew them and restore them to how everything will be.
00:10:24 --> 00:10:32 Because joy is confidence that he will make you all that you were meant to be in every fashion.
00:10:33 --> 00:10:40 Physically, mentally, spiritually, existentially, on the day that Jesus returns.
00:10:41 --> 00:10:43 Because do you see it?
00:10:43 --> 00:10:47 God made you to be an awe maker.
00:10:47 --> 00:10:52 You were created to have awe at things.
00:10:53 --> 00:11:00 And when our awe of Jesus is diminished, what we cannot do in renewing our awe,
00:11:02 --> 00:11:08 Jesus does it for us and will complete it when we are with him forever.
00:11:08 --> 00:11:10 Revelation 19, verse 1 says,
00:11:10 --> 00:11:16 After this, I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting,
00:11:17 --> 00:11:18 Hallelujah.
00:11:19 --> 00:11:24 Salvation and glory and power belong to our God.
00:11:24 --> 00:11:31 The end for the Christian, in fact, the end for all people, is that they worship God.
00:11:33 --> 00:11:39 What our life, the world, is hurling towards is the adoration of the one who made us
00:11:39 --> 00:11:42 and is the only one who is worthy of our praise.
00:11:42 --> 00:11:48 And so to answer that question at the beginning, how am I meant to do all of life worship?
00:11:51 --> 00:11:57 Worship is when your life becomes more about Jesus than this world.
00:11:57 --> 00:12:18 Worship isn't just singing praise to our God, being in the Word as they are and is a pinnacle of what we are on about.
00:12:18 --> 00:12:24 But worship is also when you willingly vacuum after Sunday kids when there is glitter all over the floor
00:12:24 --> 00:12:27 because you were convinced that the glitter was going to help them understand the Bible.
00:12:28 --> 00:12:33 It's when you sit under your boss talking about your work performance and listen humbly like Christ.
00:12:34 --> 00:12:37 When you pray for the Lord's patience not to scream at your child.
00:12:37 --> 00:12:44 It's when you keep coming to church in the hard, hard seasons or even when church is hard.
00:12:46 --> 00:12:49 Because it's all about Jesus.
00:12:50 --> 00:12:55 For is that not what Jesus does when he is on agony on the cross?
00:12:55 --> 00:13:00 When he says, Father, forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.
00:13:01 --> 00:13:05 The true living God perseveres on the cross for his Father's will.
00:13:05 --> 00:13:07 He doesn't scorn at you.
00:13:07 --> 00:13:08 He doesn't sit in silence.
00:13:08 --> 00:13:09 He prays.
00:13:10 --> 00:13:12 He prays.
00:13:12 --> 00:13:17 He prays that your soul might know the depths of your sin, your inability to worship him,
00:13:17 --> 00:13:21 and that your gaze may be reaffixed to his heart for you.
00:13:22 --> 00:13:27 Because of Christ, you are free to worship.
00:13:28 --> 00:13:35 You are free to worship anytime, anyplace, and you get to do what you were made for.
00:13:35 --> 00:13:37 Friends, isn't that good?
00:13:39 --> 00:13:45 Isn't it a joy that in Jesus you get to worship who you were made to worship?
00:13:47 --> 00:13:51 I've had this question a lot from youth over the years, and it's this.
00:13:51 --> 00:13:52 No judgment.
00:13:53 --> 00:13:54 Ash, I understand.
00:13:54 --> 00:13:57 God is the creator of the heavens and the earth.
00:13:57 --> 00:13:58 Jesus died for me.
00:13:59 --> 00:14:00 He's everything.
00:14:00 --> 00:14:07 But I just don't want to learn about Jesus today.
00:14:07 --> 00:14:08 Is that okay?
00:14:09 --> 00:14:14 Have you ever felt sometimes weary about worship?
00:14:14 --> 00:14:25 Have you felt that what the kid is saying is what you feel sometimes?
00:14:26 --> 00:14:34 I wonder if Paul continues on reminding us that our devotion to God doesn't just start with what you put out,
00:14:34 --> 00:14:36 but what you put in.
00:14:37 --> 00:14:42 The inputs in your heart matter as much as your outputs.
00:14:42 --> 00:14:43 Have a look at verse 19.
00:14:44 --> 00:14:45 Do not quench the spirit.
00:14:46 --> 00:14:49 Do not despise prophecies, but test everything.
00:14:49 --> 00:14:51 Hold fast to what is good.
00:14:51 --> 00:14:53 Abstain from every form of evil.
00:14:53 --> 00:14:55 Why does Paul say this?
00:14:56 --> 00:15:00 The Thessalonian church might have been constantly hearing prophecy maybe.
00:15:00 --> 00:15:03 Maybe there was a really bad instance of prophecy.
00:15:03 --> 00:15:05 And so Paul says, don't despise it.
00:15:05 --> 00:15:12 And what we need to say about prophecy is that often biblical prophecy, particularly in the Old Testament,
00:15:12 --> 00:15:16 was not just a future prediction, but a message from God.
00:15:16 --> 00:15:19 It could be God's law, as he did with Moses.
00:15:19 --> 00:15:25 And perhaps Paul is calling for some discernment of what they hear.
00:15:25 --> 00:15:33 And it's worth noting briefly that prophecy is quite a divided matter between Christians today.
00:15:34 --> 00:15:40 And I don't think scripture is quite definitive of what prophecy for us today is.
00:15:40 --> 00:15:45 Particularly in this passage, Paul does not tell us what the prophecies are
00:15:45 --> 00:15:49 or why he brings the matter of prophecy in verse 19 to 22.
00:15:50 --> 00:15:56 Some people say that prophecy today is this unprompted thought that God has suddenly brought to mind.
00:15:56 --> 00:15:59 Some people say it's the powerful preaching of the word.
00:15:59 --> 00:16:00 But I want to park the debate.
00:16:00 --> 00:16:02 You can speak to me or you can speak to Steve.
00:16:02 --> 00:16:02 Sorry, Steve.
00:16:03 --> 00:16:05 Over about morning tea.
00:16:06 --> 00:16:11 But what I want us to listen carefully here to is the principle.
00:16:11 --> 00:16:19 The principle is if prophecy is rooted and always rooted that it is from the word of God,
00:16:19 --> 00:16:24 it must always be tested by the scriptures.
00:16:25 --> 00:16:33 And I think what is clear in this passage and others what Paul writes is that these prophecies are about holding what is good
00:16:33 --> 00:16:36 and what is in light, what is affirmed in scripture.
00:16:36 --> 00:16:47 In other words, the principle is that whatever you hear, does it ring out the glories, the majesty, the beauty of our great God.
00:16:49 --> 00:16:53 So that means we can apply this principle to everything.
00:16:53 --> 00:16:55 We can apply it to our social media.
00:16:55 --> 00:17:01 Because sometimes we take matters that we hear in our phones and podcasts as gospel.
00:17:01 --> 00:17:07 You've heard it before, you know, the gospel of self-actualization, I am enough.
00:17:08 --> 00:17:10 The gospel of self-care.
00:17:10 --> 00:17:12 The gospel of health and fitness.
00:17:13 --> 00:17:15 And I'm not saying those things aren't good things.
00:17:16 --> 00:17:23 But have you ever considered all of the things that you hear from this world, the media, your friends,
00:17:24 --> 00:17:28 whether you place them under the microscope and look them through a gospel lens?
00:17:28 --> 00:17:35 Do we let the spirit work as we let him witness to the truth that aligns to his word?
00:17:37 --> 00:17:43 If Jesus is the most ultimate thing and the ultimate matter I am to gaze my mind on,
00:17:43 --> 00:17:50 if he is coming back, shouldn't everything I do, read and hear,
00:17:51 --> 00:17:54 fall under my understanding and worship of him?
00:17:54 --> 00:18:07 And I wonder if the people in our modern era, like me, despising of prophecy isn't the issue.
00:18:08 --> 00:18:20 The thing that our brain and mind is subsumed by is the world, the internet and the media.
00:18:20 --> 00:18:33 And so friends, let us train our eyes to look towards Jesus and his word because he is worthy.
00:18:35 --> 00:18:42 The heart of worship is that you let all that you take in and all that you put out be shaped about Jesus.
00:18:42 --> 00:18:45 God wants your heart.
00:18:45 --> 00:18:48 It is his will for you in Christ Jesus.
00:18:49 --> 00:18:53 The object of our affections in worship.
00:18:55 --> 00:18:59 The heart of worship is Christ Jesus.
00:19:01 --> 00:19:06 And you might say to me, it's all good and well for me to pat you on the back.
00:19:06 --> 00:19:07 Go on, brother.
00:19:07 --> 00:19:08 Go on, sister.
00:19:08 --> 00:19:13 But how do I keep going in worship until Jesus comes back?
00:19:14 --> 00:19:15 How do I keep going?
00:19:15 --> 00:19:21 How can I be steadfast, perseverant for the next 5, 10, 20, 50 years,
00:19:21 --> 00:19:24 however long God has got me on this earth?
00:19:25 --> 00:19:29 Take a look at verse 23.
00:19:29 --> 00:19:36 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.
00:19:38 --> 00:19:48 And may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
00:19:50 --> 00:19:52 He who calls you is faithful.
00:19:53 --> 00:19:55 He will surely do it.
00:19:55 --> 00:20:01 Paul starts ending this chapter with what he begun this chapter with.
00:20:01 --> 00:20:06 The hope of the day that Jesus is coming back.
00:20:06 --> 00:20:10 Because this is what will keep them steadfast in worship.
00:20:10 --> 00:20:14 This is what they are to persevere in lifting their eyes to Jesus.
00:20:14 --> 00:20:20 I was speaking to a parent recently who was considering how they parent their children
00:20:20 --> 00:20:28 and how they always have their eyes on equipping them as individuals beyond living in the household.
00:20:29 --> 00:20:32 So by the time that they become empty nesters,
00:20:32 --> 00:20:41 their children are able to live in a way that they can be self-sufficient and independent as adults.
00:20:41 --> 00:20:46 Not just doing everything for them or fixing all their problems or making them happy,
00:20:46 --> 00:20:49 but equipping them for the future.
00:20:50 --> 00:20:56 They've always, they're always, always thinking about the future as they love, parent and nourish their children.
00:20:57 --> 00:20:59 They've got their eyes on the future.
00:21:00 --> 00:21:05 And for the Christian, as you have your eyes fixed in Jesus,
00:21:05 --> 00:21:11 you have your eyes fixed on the future that Jesus has secured for you.
00:21:12 --> 00:21:15 For the Christian, you are always thinking about that future.
00:21:16 --> 00:21:19 If you want worship that is steadfast,
00:21:19 --> 00:21:22 don't take your eyes off the target.
00:21:22 --> 00:21:24 That is the promise
00:21:24 --> 00:21:26 that God,
00:21:27 --> 00:21:28 in Christ Jesus,
00:21:28 --> 00:21:30 works powerfully in you
00:21:30 --> 00:21:32 to complete you,
00:21:32 --> 00:21:34 to make you who you were meant to be
00:21:34 --> 00:21:36 until he returns.
00:21:37 --> 00:21:38 And did you see that word sanctify?
00:21:39 --> 00:21:40 What does it mean?
00:21:41 --> 00:21:43 Sanctify is,
00:21:43 --> 00:21:45 sanctifying or sanctification
00:21:45 --> 00:21:48 is the process of being set apart for God,
00:21:49 --> 00:21:50 being made more like Christ Jesus,
00:21:51 --> 00:21:52 set apart for worship.
00:21:53 --> 00:21:54 And what is God sanctifying?
00:21:56 --> 00:21:57 What is he sanctifying?
00:21:57 --> 00:22:00 your whole spirit
00:22:00 --> 00:22:02 and soul
00:22:02 --> 00:22:03 and body.
00:22:05 --> 00:22:06 Paul yearns for the church
00:22:06 --> 00:22:09 to not be those who are idle people.
00:22:09 --> 00:22:11 We saw that earlier in verse 14 last week.
00:22:12 --> 00:22:13 But what he wants
00:22:13 --> 00:22:13 is mature,
00:22:14 --> 00:22:15 sanctified,
00:22:15 --> 00:22:16 transformed Christians,
00:22:17 --> 00:22:18 lovers of Christ
00:22:18 --> 00:22:20 who are both transformed horizontally
00:22:20 --> 00:22:21 and vertically.
00:22:23 --> 00:22:24 He wants you to be
00:22:24 --> 00:22:25 all in,
00:22:25 --> 00:22:26 full throttle,
00:22:26 --> 00:22:27 self-abandoned.
00:22:27 --> 00:22:30 And the question now is,
00:22:30 --> 00:22:32 how does God sanctify us?
00:22:33 --> 00:22:34 Paul tells us
00:22:34 --> 00:22:35 that the how
00:22:35 --> 00:22:36 is in the who
00:22:36 --> 00:22:37 will sanctify.
00:22:38 --> 00:22:39 Yes,
00:22:39 --> 00:22:39 Jesus
00:22:39 --> 00:22:40 is
00:22:40 --> 00:22:41 our object
00:22:41 --> 00:22:42 of worship.
00:22:43 --> 00:22:44 But he's not just
00:22:44 --> 00:22:45 our object
00:22:45 --> 00:22:45 of worship.
00:22:46 --> 00:22:47 He is also
00:22:47 --> 00:22:48 our agent
00:22:48 --> 00:22:49 of change.
00:22:50 --> 00:22:51 Verse 24,
00:22:51 --> 00:22:52 he who calls you
00:22:52 --> 00:22:53 is faithful.
00:22:55 --> 00:22:56 He will surely
00:22:56 --> 00:22:56 do it.
00:22:57 --> 00:22:59 Jesus will
00:22:59 --> 00:23:01 by his Holy Spirit.
00:23:02 --> 00:23:03 Doesn't that give
00:23:03 --> 00:23:04 anyone
00:23:04 --> 00:23:06 more reason
00:23:06 --> 00:23:06 to rejoice,
00:23:06 --> 00:23:07 more reason
00:23:07 --> 00:23:09 to pray unceasingly
00:23:09 --> 00:23:10 if he is the one
00:23:10 --> 00:23:11 that you ask
00:23:11 --> 00:23:12 and long
00:23:12 --> 00:23:14 that he will sanctify you
00:23:14 --> 00:23:14 and make him
00:23:14 --> 00:23:16 more like him.
00:23:17 --> 00:23:18 And I wonder
00:23:18 --> 00:23:19 if you've come
00:23:19 --> 00:23:20 weary today
00:23:20 --> 00:23:21 thinking,
00:23:21 --> 00:23:22 I can't do it.
00:23:22 --> 00:23:23 maybe you've heard
00:23:23 --> 00:23:24 sermon
00:23:25 --> 00:23:26 after sermon
00:23:26 --> 00:23:27 this series
00:23:27 --> 00:23:27 about the need
00:23:27 --> 00:23:28 to be at peace
00:23:28 --> 00:23:29 and community.
00:23:30 --> 00:23:31 Maybe you haven't
00:23:31 --> 00:23:32 even fully grasped
00:23:32 --> 00:23:32 hold
00:23:32 --> 00:23:34 of the gospel
00:23:34 --> 00:23:35 in your heart.
00:23:35 --> 00:23:36 The call to worship
00:23:36 --> 00:23:37 God with both
00:23:37 --> 00:23:38 your bodies
00:23:38 --> 00:23:39 and your work
00:23:39 --> 00:23:40 and you just
00:23:40 --> 00:23:41 sense that you
00:23:41 --> 00:23:42 are not strong
00:23:42 --> 00:23:43 enough
00:23:43 --> 00:23:45 to do more
00:23:45 --> 00:23:45 or be more.
00:23:45 --> 00:23:48 the story
00:23:48 --> 00:23:49 of the gospel
00:23:49 --> 00:23:51 finds its hope
00:23:51 --> 00:23:51 and beauty
00:23:51 --> 00:23:53 in that there is
00:23:53 --> 00:23:54 a stronger man
00:23:54 --> 00:23:54 than you.
00:23:55 --> 00:23:56 There's a stronger
00:23:56 --> 00:23:57 one than one
00:23:57 --> 00:23:58 who can defeat
00:23:58 --> 00:23:59 the giant apathy
00:23:59 --> 00:24:00 in your heart.
00:24:00 --> 00:24:00 There's a more
00:24:00 --> 00:24:01 patient one
00:24:01 --> 00:24:02 when you are
00:24:02 --> 00:24:03 impatient at life
00:24:03 --> 00:24:04 and impatient
00:24:04 --> 00:24:04 with people
00:24:04 --> 00:24:05 around you.
00:24:05 --> 00:24:06 There's a more
00:24:06 --> 00:24:07 faithful God
00:24:07 --> 00:24:08 when you feel
00:24:08 --> 00:24:09 so faithless.
00:24:11 --> 00:24:12 He will
00:24:12 --> 00:24:13 do it.
00:24:13 --> 00:24:14 not just might
00:24:14 --> 00:24:15 do it someday
00:24:15 --> 00:24:17 but certainly.
00:24:18 --> 00:24:19 Paul says
00:24:19 --> 00:24:21 surely do it
00:24:21 --> 00:24:22 because he wants
00:24:22 --> 00:24:23 the Thessalonians
00:24:23 --> 00:24:24 to have that
00:24:24 --> 00:24:24 certainty
00:24:24 --> 00:24:25 to not mistake
00:24:25 --> 00:24:26 that it will not
00:24:26 --> 00:24:27 happen
00:24:27 --> 00:24:28 but to be certain.
00:24:29 --> 00:24:29 Friends,
00:24:29 --> 00:24:30 you can be certain
00:24:30 --> 00:24:31 that Jesus
00:24:31 --> 00:24:32 will change you.
00:24:37 --> 00:24:38 You don't have
00:24:38 --> 00:24:38 to be blooming
00:24:38 --> 00:24:39 to be growing.
00:24:39 --> 00:24:40 You don't have
00:24:40 --> 00:24:41 to always be happy
00:24:41 --> 00:24:42 or be in a good
00:24:42 --> 00:24:44 season in your life
00:24:44 --> 00:24:44 to be growing
00:24:44 --> 00:24:48 because
00:24:48 --> 00:24:51 you and yourself
00:24:51 --> 00:24:52 in your own striving
00:24:52 --> 00:24:53 cannot grow yourself
00:24:53 --> 00:24:54 to the image
00:24:54 --> 00:24:55 of Christ Jesus
00:24:55 --> 00:24:56 without his Holy Spirit.
00:24:59 --> 00:25:00 Perhaps you are
00:25:00 --> 00:25:01 growing in Jesus
00:25:01 --> 00:25:02 because all you have
00:25:02 --> 00:25:03 done is remained
00:25:03 --> 00:25:04 in him
00:25:04 --> 00:25:06 in the hard times
00:25:06 --> 00:25:08 because he is
00:25:08 --> 00:25:09 the one changing you.
00:25:11 --> 00:25:13 Where have you
00:25:13 --> 00:25:13 seen yourself
00:25:13 --> 00:25:15 slowly but surely
00:25:15 --> 00:25:16 grow closer
00:25:16 --> 00:25:17 into the image
00:25:17 --> 00:25:18 of Christ
00:25:18 --> 00:25:19 rather than your own?
00:25:20 --> 00:25:21 Who in this room
00:25:21 --> 00:25:22 have you seen
00:25:22 --> 00:25:23 grow slowly
00:25:23 --> 00:25:25 but surely
00:25:25 --> 00:25:26 into the image
00:25:26 --> 00:25:27 of Christ?
00:25:28 --> 00:25:28 Who will you
00:25:28 --> 00:25:29 encourage?
00:25:30 --> 00:25:31 And I can imagine
00:25:31 --> 00:25:31 as we talk about
00:25:31 --> 00:25:32 these big concepts
00:25:32 --> 00:25:34 what we can do
00:25:34 --> 00:25:36 is get all
00:25:36 --> 00:25:37 muddled
00:25:37 --> 00:25:38 as what that looks
00:25:38 --> 00:25:39 like in our
00:25:39 --> 00:25:39 day to day.
00:25:39 --> 00:25:41 and I think
00:25:41 --> 00:25:42 it will be
00:25:42 --> 00:25:43 helpful for us
00:25:43 --> 00:25:43 to ground it
00:25:43 --> 00:25:45 in our daily
00:25:45 --> 00:25:45 reality.
00:25:46 --> 00:25:47 So take this
00:25:47 --> 00:25:48 group of flowers
00:25:48 --> 00:25:50 imagine that
00:25:50 --> 00:25:51 each flower
00:25:51 --> 00:25:52 is made up
00:25:52 --> 00:25:53 of all of
00:25:53 --> 00:25:53 the things
00:25:53 --> 00:25:54 you do
00:25:54 --> 00:25:55 in one day.
00:25:55 --> 00:25:56 Maybe
00:25:56 --> 00:25:57 you are
00:25:57 --> 00:25:58 packing your
00:25:58 --> 00:25:59 school lunchbox
00:25:59 --> 00:26:01 for you kids
00:26:01 --> 00:26:02 doing it yourself
00:26:02 --> 00:26:03 thank you.
00:26:03 --> 00:26:05 Maybe you are
00:26:05 --> 00:26:06 driving to work
00:26:06 --> 00:26:07 through all that
00:26:07 --> 00:26:07 traffic.
00:26:07 --> 00:26:08 maybe you are
00:26:08 --> 00:26:09 doing a load
00:26:09 --> 00:26:10 of laundry.
00:26:10 --> 00:26:11 Maybe you are
00:26:11 --> 00:26:12 going for a walk.
00:26:12 --> 00:26:13 Maybe you are
00:26:13 --> 00:26:13 reading the Bible.
00:26:14 --> 00:26:14 Maybe you are
00:26:14 --> 00:26:15 attending a
00:26:15 --> 00:26:16 community group.
00:26:19 --> 00:26:20 It is done
00:26:20 --> 00:26:20 in worship.
00:26:20 --> 00:26:21 All of these
00:26:21 --> 00:26:22 flowers is done
00:26:22 --> 00:26:23 in worship
00:26:23 --> 00:26:25 when you pray
00:26:25 --> 00:26:26 that your kid
00:26:26 --> 00:26:27 will shine
00:26:27 --> 00:26:28 like a light
00:26:28 --> 00:26:29 for Jesus
00:26:29 --> 00:26:31 as you pack
00:26:31 --> 00:26:32 their lunchbox.
00:26:32 --> 00:26:33 it is when you
00:26:33 --> 00:26:34 are patient
00:26:34 --> 00:26:36 like our Lord
00:26:36 --> 00:26:37 when someone
00:26:37 --> 00:26:38 cuts you off.
00:26:39 --> 00:26:39 It is when you
00:26:39 --> 00:26:40 thank God
00:26:40 --> 00:26:44 that you have
00:26:44 --> 00:26:45 clothes to wear.
00:26:46 --> 00:26:47 It is when you
00:26:47 --> 00:26:48 are in awe
00:26:48 --> 00:26:49 of your great
00:26:49 --> 00:26:50 creator as you
00:26:50 --> 00:26:51 see the trees
00:26:51 --> 00:26:51 that you walk
00:26:51 --> 00:26:52 through.
00:26:52 --> 00:26:52 It is when you
00:26:52 --> 00:26:53 walk past the
00:26:53 --> 00:26:54 other runner
00:26:54 --> 00:26:55 who is made
00:26:55 --> 00:26:56 in God's image.
00:26:57 --> 00:26:58 It is when you
00:26:58 --> 00:26:59 see that God
00:26:59 --> 00:26:59 has been so
00:26:59 --> 00:27:01 so good to you
00:27:01 --> 00:27:03 but so
00:27:03 --> 00:27:04 so good
00:27:04 --> 00:27:04 to generation
00:27:04 --> 00:27:05 after generation
00:27:05 --> 00:27:06 and his faithful
00:27:06 --> 00:27:08 love for his
00:27:08 --> 00:27:08 people.
00:27:09 --> 00:27:10 It is when you
00:27:10 --> 00:27:11 turn up each
00:27:11 --> 00:27:12 week to community
00:27:12 --> 00:27:13 group to be
00:27:13 --> 00:27:14 an encouraging
00:27:14 --> 00:27:15 friend that
00:27:15 --> 00:27:16 speaks the
00:27:16 --> 00:27:16 gospel.
00:27:18 --> 00:27:19 And all you
00:27:19 --> 00:27:20 do is you
00:27:20 --> 00:27:21 hold the vase
00:27:21 --> 00:27:22 up back to
00:27:22 --> 00:27:22 God and give
00:27:22 --> 00:27:23 it to him
00:27:23 --> 00:27:24 saying thanks
00:27:24 --> 00:27:24 God.
00:27:25 --> 00:27:26 Thank you
00:27:26 --> 00:27:27 that you have
00:27:27 --> 00:27:27 given me a
00:27:27 --> 00:27:28 life that was
00:27:28 --> 00:27:29 made for
00:27:29 --> 00:27:29 worship.
00:27:30 --> 00:27:31 You have
00:27:31 --> 00:27:31 given me
00:27:31 --> 00:27:32 life to
00:27:32 --> 00:27:33 live to
00:27:33 --> 00:27:33 the full
00:27:33 --> 00:27:34 and I
00:27:34 --> 00:27:35 give all
00:27:35 --> 00:27:35 this, the
00:27:35 --> 00:27:36 experiences, the
00:27:36 --> 00:27:37 thoughts, all
00:27:37 --> 00:27:37 back to you
00:27:37 --> 00:27:38 because I was
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 made to
00:27:38 --> 00:27:38 worship.
00:27:40 --> 00:27:41 Friends, what
00:27:41 --> 00:27:42 is in your
00:27:42 --> 00:27:42 vase?
00:27:43 --> 00:27:44 Let's pray.
00:27:44 --> 00:27:45 Lord Jesus,
00:27:46 --> 00:27:47 you are the
00:27:47 --> 00:27:47 founder and
00:27:47 --> 00:27:48 perfecter of
00:27:48 --> 00:27:49 our faith.
00:27:50 --> 00:27:51 We plead
00:27:51 --> 00:27:51 with you
00:27:51 --> 00:27:53 knowing that
00:27:53 --> 00:27:53 you are good
00:27:53 --> 00:27:55 and that you
00:27:55 --> 00:27:56 are a promise
00:27:56 --> 00:27:57 keeper.
00:27:57 --> 00:27:58 That you
00:27:58 --> 00:27:59 might help us
00:27:59 --> 00:28:00 redeem every
00:28:00 --> 00:28:01 moment, take
00:28:01 --> 00:28:02 every thought
00:28:02 --> 00:28:03 captive so
00:28:03 --> 00:28:04 that we can
00:28:04 --> 00:28:05 lay it down
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 at the foot
00:28:05 --> 00:28:05 of the cross
00:28:05 --> 00:28:06 and say
00:28:06 --> 00:28:06 thank you
00:28:06 --> 00:28:08 and just
00:28:08 --> 00:28:08 say you
00:28:08 --> 00:28:09 are worthy,
00:28:09 --> 00:28:09 you are
00:28:09 --> 00:28:10 worthy, you
00:28:10 --> 00:28:10 are worthy
00:28:10 --> 00:28:11 of all our
00:28:11 --> 00:28:12 praise.
00:28:12 --> 00:28:13 holy
00:28:13 --> 00:28:13
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