Rev. Dustin ParkerGot Joy? Want it?
The King of Glory, the One who Makes us Holy
1 Thes 5:16-24
† IMMANUEL †
As you meditate on the return of our Lord this advent, may the knowledge of His presence burst forth in your hearts and minds with unimaginable peace… and joy!
Creating an environment of Joy?
It is supposed to be the reason for most parties this time of year, to share in the joy of the season, to share in the joy of Christmas. The host and hostess are busy setting up the decorations, cooking the feast that it is to be shared. Little gifts of appreciation, and big presents are being wrapped up, hoping to create the joyous smiles and sparkling eyes that speak volumes more than a hastily said thank you…
But there are always a few, that sit on the very edge of the apparent happiness, who can’t bring themselves to become part of the happiness, part of the celebration, part of that which was slavishly worked upon, that they would know a brief moment of freedom, a brief moment of rest… a brief moment of un-adulterated joy…
Maybe it’s the stress of the season. Maybe there are others stresses – some may be large, a health condition, finances, family stresses and challenges. Maybe it’s the little things, the spat with a co-worker, the flood of water in the garage – because the drain hose from the washer wasn’t secured, the inability to get the entire list of things done in one day…
I asked on Facebook this week, which makes it harder to know joy – the big trauma or the little frustrations… one person replied with a very Lutheran answer. BOTH!
So how does a host or hostess create an environment of joy for everyone, whether it is just for the normal family dinner, for a office party, a gathering of friends?
How do Chris and I, the elders and the praise team create an environment of joy – today in the third week of Advent –the week of “Joy” - here, in the midst of people dealing with all the challenges of life? How do we lift the spirits of all, especially those who sit on the edge, who desire to be part of the joy… but struggle with themselves to disengage from “life” long enough to realize what real life is?
Or is it less about creating that joy, and more about simply revealing it?
Well- here is a list…
If you didn’t know about the style of writing, the reading selection from 1 Thessalonians sounds like a strategic list of things you have to do especially in the translations that start Rejoice always! Pray Unceasingly,, Give thanks..
The list gets harder – you know those people who think they speak for God? I’m not talking about the good pastors – but even those television personalities – just don’t dismiss them out of hand…but compare their words to scripture. Test them Same for those who think they know what God wants you to hear, and don’t hesitate to tell you! Grumble, Grumble… if they only knew how their words so empty, because they have never faced the fears I face… Yet perhaps, what if in their foolishness, God is actually trying to communicate to you? It’s happened before, ask Balaam about the donkey’s prophecy! So indeed test what they say against the scriptures.. keep what is common to scripture!
The list continues – hold onto what is good, or rather – be grasped by it. If you manage to do that, we think this passage teaches, then we can rejoice always. Sure- but many of us have days when we are hanging on, by less than a finger nail!
Then there is that “stay away from every kind of evil” or more literally, “stay away from that which has absolutely no value – morally or otherwise”. Paul obviously didn’t live in California – where are we to turn where there is no “evil” where everything is good and of value. Where is there a place where we won’t encounter the seven deadly sins, or find ways to be tempted to break the 10 commandments? Why we’d have to get rid of our tv’s, our radio’s, our cars, heck I have even heard that people can sin and do evil in… church! Does that mean we have to avoid church? There are days I think some do – with the intent of avoiding sin! Or at least sinners…you know, the hypocritical, judgmental types other churches have…
So how is this task list working for you – do you wonder why people have trouble finding joy? How is trying to do this all – how is it going for you?
But what if… this isn’t a task list that we can follow to create joy, but rather, the description of what happens when we know joy, when we always are joyful?
Here’s the sercret…
The key to “always be joyful” and “be thankful in all circumstances” is found there in verse 17 – the idea of never stop praying. Not because if you continually pray you will earn God’s favor somehow, or because it is the way we become spiritually “plugged in” or ignited. It’s not even the answer because we are keeping the second commandment, to keep holy the name of God.
But rather, because prayer is the first commandment - it is keeping God – God. Or as Paul puts it in verse 19 – do not stifle the Holy Spirit! It’s about putting into God’s hands all that causes anxiety, from our big traumas, to our sins, to our anxieties. He’s God – His pay grade is to deal with all that stuff.
It is also the cause of us being able to “Be thankful in all situations”
All the translations miss this a little – to state that being able to be thankful is God’s will for you in all situations. The word is the one for “desire”. It means – “that which causes pleasure, and the return of joy. He wants us to so grasp His presence in such times, that we give thanks… in all of them.
When we realize God is God, I almost said – when we let Him be God – but He is whether we recognize it or not… when we realize He is control – there is a freedom that floods us with peace and joy… even when we are struggling with anxiety, when we don’t “feel” happy. Joy is knowing the One who can and does make a difference – it is all in His hands.
One of my favorite author’s put it this way,
“The joy you should have is not the kind we might call physiological – like that of a healthy animal. Rather it is the supernatural happiness that comes when from the abandonment of everything, including yourself, into the loving arms of our Father God!
Our biggest challenge in life isn’t the big traumas we face… nor is it the little annoying, frustrating, pain in the neck and other places distractions.
It is realizing that God is here… His advent is not just when He passed through Mary’s body to be laid in the manger, it is not just when he rips open the skies to come on the clouds. The Holy Spirit is here, and at work. Bringing healing to us, It’s realizing that in our baptism – we abandoned all to God…and fell into His arms.
TO unwrap the gift of His presence, will cause His delight to be our joy, to know that the Holy Spirit is at work in us, crafting us into something that is Holy, and dedicated to God in a relationship much as is mirrored in His plan for marriage. A relationship that causes our sin marred bodies, souls and minds to be re-made without mark, or blemish, TO be made Holy is what we are promised! To realize that it is well underway, and it has been since our baptism, can only result in joy!
The Holy Spirit is at work in us, right now, right here, He is making this happen. Those verbs aren’t in a future tense – they are aorist – the completion has begun, He will make it happen – we can trust Him. He is the God of peace….
A peace He pours out on His people… starting in their baptism – and throughout our lives… a peace that reveals itself in amazing ways.. as we realize we don’t have to play God anymore…
We have one. Who loves us, Who desires and takes pleasure in making us perfect, setting us apart as His people. Children of the Father.
May He continue to cause our hearts and minds to dwell in this place of peace… were we know joy.. because He is our Immanuel. God with Us!
1 Thes 5:16-24
† IMMANUEL †
As you meditate on the return of our Lord this advent, may the knowledge of His presence burst forth in your hearts and minds with unimaginable peace… and joy!
Creating an environment of Joy?
It is supposed to be the reason for most parties this time of year, to share in the joy of the season, to share in the joy of Christmas. The host and hostess are busy setting up the decorations, cooking the feast that it is to be shared. Little gifts of appreciation, and big presents are being wrapped up, hoping to create the joyous smiles and sparkling eyes that speak volumes more than a hastily said thank you…
But there are always a few, that sit on the very edge of the apparent happiness, who can’t bring themselves to become part of the happiness, part of the celebration, part of that which was slavishly worked upon, that they would know a brief moment of freedom, a brief moment of rest… a brief moment of un-adulterated joy…
Maybe it’s the stress of the season. Maybe there are others stresses – some may be large, a health condition, finances, family stresses and challenges. Maybe it’s the little things, the spat with a co-worker, the flood of water in the garage – because the drain hose from the washer wasn’t secured, the inability to get the entire list of things done in one day…
I asked on Facebook this week, which makes it harder to know joy – the big trauma or the little frustrations… one person replied with a very Lutheran answer. BOTH!
So how does a host or hostess create an environment of joy for everyone, whether it is just for the normal family dinner, for a office party, a gathering of friends?
How do Chris and I, the elders and the praise team create an environment of joy – today in the third week of Advent –the week of “Joy” - here, in the midst of people dealing with all the challenges of life? How do we lift the spirits of all, especially those who sit on the edge, who desire to be part of the joy… but struggle with themselves to disengage from “life” long enough to realize what real life is?
Or is it less about creating that joy, and more about simply revealing it?
Well- here is a list…
If you didn’t know about the style of writing, the reading selection from 1 Thessalonians sounds like a strategic list of things you have to do especially in the translations that start Rejoice always! Pray Unceasingly,, Give thanks..
The list gets harder – you know those people who think they speak for God? I’m not talking about the good pastors – but even those television personalities – just don’t dismiss them out of hand…but compare their words to scripture. Test them Same for those who think they know what God wants you to hear, and don’t hesitate to tell you! Grumble, Grumble… if they only knew how their words so empty, because they have never faced the fears I face… Yet perhaps, what if in their foolishness, God is actually trying to communicate to you? It’s happened before, ask Balaam about the donkey’s prophecy! So indeed test what they say against the scriptures.. keep what is common to scripture!
The list continues – hold onto what is good, or rather – be grasped by it. If you manage to do that, we think this passage teaches, then we can rejoice always. Sure- but many of us have days when we are hanging on, by less than a finger nail!
Then there is that “stay away from every kind of evil” or more literally, “stay away from that which has absolutely no value – morally or otherwise”. Paul obviously didn’t live in California – where are we to turn where there is no “evil” where everything is good and of value. Where is there a place where we won’t encounter the seven deadly sins, or find ways to be tempted to break the 10 commandments? Why we’d have to get rid of our tv’s, our radio’s, our cars, heck I have even heard that people can sin and do evil in… church! Does that mean we have to avoid church? There are days I think some do – with the intent of avoiding sin! Or at least sinners…you know, the hypocritical, judgmental types other churches have…
So how is this task list working for you – do you wonder why people have trouble finding joy? How is trying to do this all – how is it going for you?
But what if… this isn’t a task list that we can follow to create joy, but rather, the description of what happens when we know joy, when we always are joyful?
Here’s the sercret…
The key to “always be joyful” and “be thankful in all circumstances” is found there in verse 17 – the idea of never stop praying. Not because if you continually pray you will earn God’s favor somehow, or because it is the way we become spiritually “plugged in” or ignited. It’s not even the answer because we are keeping the second commandment, to keep holy the name of God.
But rather, because prayer is the first commandment - it is keeping God – God. Or as Paul puts it in verse 19 – do not stifle the Holy Spirit! It’s about putting into God’s hands all that causes anxiety, from our big traumas, to our sins, to our anxieties. He’s God – His pay grade is to deal with all that stuff.
It is also the cause of us being able to “Be thankful in all situations”
All the translations miss this a little – to state that being able to be thankful is God’s will for you in all situations. The word is the one for “desire”. It means – “that which causes pleasure, and the return of joy. He wants us to so grasp His presence in such times, that we give thanks… in all of them.
When we realize God is God, I almost said – when we let Him be God – but He is whether we recognize it or not… when we realize He is control – there is a freedom that floods us with peace and joy… even when we are struggling with anxiety, when we don’t “feel” happy. Joy is knowing the One who can and does make a difference – it is all in His hands.
One of my favorite author’s put it this way,
“The joy you should have is not the kind we might call physiological – like that of a healthy animal. Rather it is the supernatural happiness that comes when from the abandonment of everything, including yourself, into the loving arms of our Father God!
Our biggest challenge in life isn’t the big traumas we face… nor is it the little annoying, frustrating, pain in the neck and other places distractions.
It is realizing that God is here… His advent is not just when He passed through Mary’s body to be laid in the manger, it is not just when he rips open the skies to come on the clouds. The Holy Spirit is here, and at work. Bringing healing to us, It’s realizing that in our baptism – we abandoned all to God…and fell into His arms.
TO unwrap the gift of His presence, will cause His delight to be our joy, to know that the Holy Spirit is at work in us, crafting us into something that is Holy, and dedicated to God in a relationship much as is mirrored in His plan for marriage. A relationship that causes our sin marred bodies, souls and minds to be re-made without mark, or blemish, TO be made Holy is what we are promised! To realize that it is well underway, and it has been since our baptism, can only result in joy!
The Holy Spirit is at work in us, right now, right here, He is making this happen. Those verbs aren’t in a future tense – they are aorist – the completion has begun, He will make it happen – we can trust Him. He is the God of peace….
A peace He pours out on His people… starting in their baptism – and throughout our lives… a peace that reveals itself in amazing ways.. as we realize we don’t have to play God anymore…
We have one. Who loves us, Who desires and takes pleasure in making us perfect, setting us apart as His people. Children of the Father.
May He continue to cause our hearts and minds to dwell in this place of peace… were we know joy.. because He is our Immanuel. God with Us!
