The Model Life: Adoration, Part 1

Take your Bible, if you would, and turn with me to 1st

Thessalonians chapter 5 to make our way toward the end of this

wonderful epistle. We have been challenged, we've

been encouraged, we've been convicted as we look at what the

word of the Lord has to say and in order for us to be the model

church that God wants us to be and be the model leaders that

God wants us to be. And the be the model followers

and model friends. We must live the model life.

And that's what chapter 4 and chapter 5 are all about.

So we told you that there were 6 words that make up the model

life. The first word is abstinence.

That's in verses 1 to 8 of chapter 4.

And that is that the model life abstains from sexual immorality.

That's number one. Number two, in verses 9 to 12 of

chapter 4, the next word is aspiration, and that is the

model life aspires to a life of charity and sensitivity.

And then the next word following that is anticipation, verses 13

to 18 of First Thessalonians 4, which the model life anticipates

the return of deity. And then in chapter 5, verses 1

to 11, the next word is alertness.

For the model life is alert to the world's destiny and then

their responsibility in light of that.

And then you come to the next set of verses and verses 12 and

following, and the model life is 1 of adaptability.

The model life adapts within God's wonderful family to the

membership, to the leadership. So there's sweet fellowship

within the body of Christ. Today we come to the last word

that describes the model life, and that is adoration.

For the model life adores their God continually, unashamedly,

unreservedly. The model life adores the Lord,

adoration, reverence, respect, honor, and glory.

That's what the model life is all about.

It's about the true worship of the King.

And it's very easily stated, not so easily applied for.

Most of us would say that we adore the king, we live in

adoration of the Messiah. Most of us would say, yeah,

that's that's that's me. And yet when when Paul describes

it, he describes it this way, one verse 2 words rejoice

always. Then he gives the next verse

verse 17, pray without ceasing, and then the next verse verse 18

and everything give thanks. For this is the will of God in

Christ Jesus concerning you. In other words, the will of God

is summed up by saying you rejoice always, you pray without

ceasing, and you give thanks in everything.

That is the will of God for your life.

It's a life of adoration of the Messiah.

We like to say we, we rejoice, we like to say we pray, we like

to say that we give thanks to God.

The problem is, it's the rejoicing always that's the

problem. It's a praying without ceasing

which is the problem, and it's the giving of thanks in every

situation which is the problem. But Paul states it very clearly.

This is what you do. This is how you adore the King.

You rejoice always, You pray without ceasing and you give

thanks in everything because this is God's will for your

life, a life of adoration of the king.

That's a requirement for you to understand this when it comes to

being a child of the king. Most of you know the story of

the rich young ruler who came to Jesus.

He, he was the ultimate seeker in Israel.

He comes to Jesus and he says a ruler questioned him saying,

good teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?

This is the perfect opportunity for Jesus to say, wow, this is

what you do. Repeat after me.

Pray this prayer. That's not what Jesus said.

That's not what Jesus said. The fact you'll find nowhere in

the Bible that becoming a Christian says you got to say a

prayer, but that's another topic for another day.

But Jesus has his ultimate seeker come to him and say, what

must I do, good teacher, to inherit eternal life.

And the disciples are like, wow, he's coming right to us.

We don't have to go to him. He is seeking salvation.

And instead of making it easy for the guy to believe in Jesus,

Jesus makes it absolutely impossible for him to believe.

And that's the way you ought to be with people who want to know

Christ. Make it impossible for them to

believe. Make it so hard for them.

Do not ever make it easy, because Jesus never made it

easy. In fact, he made it so difficult

that people turned away in droves from him.

If he was to have a crusade at a stadium in Southern California

and he preached, everybody would run away.

They wouldn't come down by the thousands.

They'd run away because he says to the man, this why do you call

me good? Only God is good.

So you must recognize that I'm God because you called me good

and you know that only God is good.

So you are assuming or believing that I am good.

So he says this, you know, the commandments do not commit

adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not bear false

witness, honor your father and mother.

You want eternal life. Now he knows that eternal life

is all about God's life. Eternal life is not about

quantity. Eternal life is about quality,

God's eternal right. So therefore, eternal life is

God's life. He's asking, how do I obtain

God's life, the quality of life. Here's a man who has everything.

He's the rich young ruler. He's got it all.

So he comes to Jesus because he he knows that there's something

missing in his life. He can't define it.

He doesn't know what it is, but it must be eternal life, the

quality of life that he's missing, even though he's rich.

And so he says to Jesus, All these things I have kept from my

youth. I never slept with anybody else.

Are you kidding me? Steal.

I don't have to steal. I'm rich.

Murdered. Nah, Honor my father and mother.

I bought him a condo in the Sea of Galilee.

They can live there forever. They're fine.

I've honored my mother and father.

So Jesus says one thing you lack just one.

There's only one thing you're missing one thing.

So he tells them, he says, sell all that you possess distributed

to the poor, and you should have treasure in heaven.

Come and follow me. You lack one thing.

See. He takes them to the latter half

of the 10 commandments, the the, the, the, the half that deals

with your relationship to people 1st and then he takes him to the

first part of the 10 commandments that deal with his

relationship with God. You should have know the gods

before me should I fall down and worship any other God.

But you see, he had another God. His riches were his God.

His riches is what he adored. And Jesus says you need to adore

me. So go and sell all that you have

distribute to the poor. You'll have treasure in heaven

and follow me. The Bible says these words, but

when he had heard these things, he became very sad, for he was

extremely rich. He adored his riches.

Anything that you have that you can't give away, you don't own

it. It owns you.

Anything that you have that you cannot give away, you don't own

it. It owns you.

He was owned by his riches. He loved his riches.

He adored his riches. He did not want to depart from

that which was preeminent in his life.

That was his God. He did not want to adore the one

true God. He did not say, Lord, whatever

you ask I will do, for you are the King of kings and Lord of

Lords. I will follow whatever you say.

It wasn't about selling his possessions, it was about him

having another God that ruled in his heart that reigns supreme.

And so it says this. Jesus looked at him and said how

hard it is for those who are wealthy to enter the Kingdom of

God, for it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a

needle then for a rich man to enter the Kingdom of God.

They heard it said then who can be saved?

But he said, the things that are impossible with people are

possible with God. It's impossible for men to save

himself. It's impossible for men to do

anything when it comes to salvation.

Man is dead and as trespasses his sin, he's doubly blinded by

Satan and by himself. He cannot resurrect himself from

the dead spiritually. God must resurrect him.

God must give him light. God must give him faith.

God must give him repentance. God must give him every gift in

order for him to be saved. And the man went away, said

Mark's gospel tells us that the Lord felt love for him.

He came to the Lord because he had a felt need.

He didn't come to the Lord because he had a fallen need.

Big difference. People come to church because

they they feel empty. They feel like they're missing

something. They they feel like their

marriage is is falling apart. They they feel like their life

is in shambles. They they feel like there's no

hope. There's nothing this they have a

a felt need. But to be a Christian, you must

see yourself as fallen in sin, separated from the true and

living God that you might crowd. Oh, Lord, have mercy on my soul.

Adoration is key when it comes to living the model life.

And it's summed up by saying you're one who rejoices always

that that's just a, a magnificent statement.

You know, Paul doesn't expound on it.

Doesn't have to. Why?

Because First Thessalonians 213 says that when you heard the

word of God, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what

it really is, the word of God. And you put out the welcome mat

and freely accepted it. So he doesn't have to say,

listen, this is how you rejoice always.

He just says rejoice always because he knows they put up the

welcome mat to the Word and they're going to receive that

word and obey that word. He knows that.

So he just tells them, rejoice always.

This is a theme throughout the New Testament.

The Bible says these words in Philippians 31.

Finally, brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

Philippians 4/4 Rejoice in the Lord always.

Romans 1417 The Kingdom of God is righteousness, peace, and joy

in the Holy Spirit. Glaciers 522 The fruit of the

Spirit is joy. Philippians 33 The true

Christian rejoices in Christ Jesus in John 13 to 17 eight

different times in the disciples turmoil over the Lord dying the

next day. He tells them that their joy can

be made full in him. He wants him to understand that

true joy only comes through him. Paul would say in Second

2 Corinthians 6 · chapter mention

Corinthians chapter 6 verse #10 I am sorrowful, yet I am always

rejoicing. It can happen.

Acts 2024. Paul said, I have one goal,

that's to finish my course with joy.

In Colossus 124 Paul said, I rejoice in my sufferings.

James said. Consider it all joy, my

brethren, when you fall into various trials.

In the late 1800's, the Scottish evangelist Henry Truman said

these words. How many prodigals are kept out

of the Kingdom of God by the unlovely character of those who

profess to be on the inside of that Kingdom?

Think about that, you have unsaved friends, what is your

attitude like around them? He poses the question that how

many people are kept out of the Kingdom because of the attitude

of those that are in the Kingdom.

It was AJ Mason, an English theologian and hymn writer who

said these words. The Christian who remains in

sadness and depression really breaks the commandment in some

direction or another. He mistrust God, his power, his

Providence, and his forgiveness. That's true.

We live in depression. We live in sadness because we

don't really believe in the God we say we have faith in.

Your faith works best in turmoil, in trials, in

affliction, in persecution than anywhere else.

If it doesn't work there, you never had to begin with because

that's where it shines the most. Apostle Paul is a classic

example that I love. I love what the the hymn writer

said. William Thompson when he said

that Jesus is all the world to him.

Maybe you've heard this song. I'm not going to sing it for

you, but it goes like this. Jesus is all the world to me.

My life, my joy, my all. He is my strength from

day-to-day. Without him I would fall.

When I am sad to Him I go. No other one can cheer me.

So when I am sad, He makes me glad.

He's my friend. Jesus is all the world to me.

My friend. And trials soar.

I go to him for blessings, and he gives them oar and oar.

He sends the sunshine in the rain, He sends the harvests,

golden grain, sunshine and rain harvest of grain.

He's my friend. Jesus is all the world to me and

true to him I'll be. Oh how could I, this friend deny

when he's so true to me following him I know I'm right.

He watches or me day and night, following him by day and night

He's my friend. Jesus is all the world to me.

I want no better friend. I trust him now.

I'll trust him when life's fleeting day shall end.

Beautiful life was such a friend.

Beautiful life that has no end. Eternal life, eternal joy.

He's my friend. Isn't it interesting that Moses

in Exodus 3311 was called a friend of God?

That Abraham and James chapter 2 was called a friend of God and

James 2 · chapter mention

Jesus said to his disciples on the eve of the crucifixion, I no

longer call you slaves. I call you friends.

And greater love hath no man than this that a manly down his

life for his friends. You're my friends.

It means you have this extraordinary opportunity to

know God intimately because you're his friend.

It's no wonder the the the Christian rejoices always.

So let me help you put a little flesh on this.

Let me help you work through this.

Because if the command is rejoice always, we have to ask

ourselves the question is that me?

Do I adore my God so much that I live a life that rejoices always

in my God? And some of you are going

through extreme situations, some of you are going through

hardship, pain, your marriages, your families, affliction from

from those who have come against you, or persecution for those

who have come against you. Even even affliction, that's

personal affliction. And you have to deal with those

things. And how do you rejoice always?

I want to give you some principles that will help you

walk through this that are very, very practical and very, very

instrumental and helping you live out one verse with two

words that help you adore the truth and living God.

Number one, you need to learn to rest in His Providence.

Rest in the Providence of God. Remember, the sovereignty of God

is the overall plan of God, and the Providence deals with the

particulars of that overall plan.

God is working in every individual in every situation to

bring about His sovereign plan, and God's Providence is what

describes that. You can read the book of Esther

and realize that even though God's name is never mentioned in

the book of Esther, the Providence of God screams all

throughout the story of Esther. And Esther and Mordecai both had

to learn to rest in the providential working of the

living God. That is just so incredibly

important to understand. Paul was the master of this.

Listen to Acts chapter 20 and Acts chapter 20 verse 22 says,

Acts 20 · chapter mention Acts 20:22

Now behold, bound by the Spirit, I am on my way to Jerusalem, not

knowing what will happen to me there, except that the Holy

Spirit solemnly testifies to me in every city, saying that bonds

and afflictions await me. But I do not consider my life of

any account as dear to myself. So I may finish my course with

joy and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus to

testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

Paul says, I go bound to Jerusalem and I don't know what

awaits me there, but I know that the Spirit of God has told me

that there's going to be bonds and affliction that await me.

But you know what? It doesn't matter because my

life doesn't matter. What matters is the gospel.

That's why in Philippians 1, he says being confident of this

very thing, that he began a good work and you will complete it

until the day of Christ. That's first number six.

And then in verse 12 he says, now I want you to know,

brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater

progress of the gospel. Now where's Paul in Philippians?

He's in prison. He's in prison.

My circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the

gospel so that my imprisonment, he says in the cause of Christ

has become well known throughout the whole Praetorian Guard and

everyone else. And that most of the brethren

trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment have far more

courage to speak the word of God without fear.

So Paul and Philippians who who emphasizes rejoicing the Lord

always says, look, listen, what's happened to me.

My circumstances have turned out for the progress of the gospel.

You see, we we get so, so enamored with our own personal

lives that we forget that what is happening to us is happening

for a purpose that goes way beyond us, so others will know

and hear the truth of the gospel.

You know the story of Joseph. You've read the story of Joseph.

The end, the climax is unbelievable.

Israel dies, Jacob dies. The sons are fearful that Jacob

now excuse me, that Joseph now is going to enact judgement upon

them, having brought them to Egypt, having protected them

through famine. Jacob dies, So it says in verse

15. When Joseph's brothers saw that

their father was dead, they said, what if Joseph bears a

grudge against us and pays us back in full for all the wrong

which he did, which we did to him?

What if, excuse me, what if he enacts judgement upon us?

So he sent a message to Joseph, seeing your father charged

before he died, saying, thus you shall say to Joseph, Please

forgive, I beg you, the transgression of your brothers

and their sin, for they did you wrong.

And now please forgive the transgression of the sermons of

the God of your father. And Joseph wept when they spoke

to him. Why did he weep?

First of all, their father never said that.

They just said their father said it because they were afraid that

Joseph was going to act in judgement upon them, seek

revenge. And Joseph wept because he

thought of him as being that kind of person.

And so it says his brothers also came and fell down before him

and said, behold, we are your servants.

They were begging for their lives, but Joseph said to them,

do not be afraid, for am I in God's place?

Am I to repay evil for evil? You see, whenever you repay evil

for evil, you set yourself up to be in God's place, because

vengeance is his. When you return evil for evil,

you're saying I am God, I can handle this.

And God says vengeance is mine, I will repay.

And Joseph says he knows he's not God.

I'm not in God's place. That's not my responsibility to

do that. And so he says, As for you, you

meant an evil against me, but God meant it for good.

Now you don't know that verse, right?

Genesis 50 verse #20 But you have forgotten the next phrase

in the verse which says this God meant it for good in order to

bring about this present result to preserve many people alive.

You know, my God allowed you to do what you did because there

was a greater purpose than just me.

It was to preserve two nations, the nation of Israel and the

nation of Egypt. And without Joseph, it would not

have happened without all the negative circumstances and his

imprisonment and the lion against him and being thrown

into a pit, being sold to the Israelites.

Without all that happening, nations would not have been

preserved and Joseph knew that the Providence of God was at

work to preserve many people alive.

That is just so important to understand this and we need to

learn to to rest in the Providence of the living God.

The Bible says over in first Peter chapter one in this you

greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if

necessary, you have been distressed by various trials set

the proof of your faith being more precious than gold, which

is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to

result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus

Christ. And though you have not seen

him, you love him, and though you do not see him now, but

believe in him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible

and full of glory. And then he says in chapter 4,

beloved, do not be surprised at this fiery ordeal among you,

which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange

thing were happening to you. But to the degree that you share

the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at

the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exaltation.

Rejoice always, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus

concerning you. As a pastor, my ministry is to

help you understand what the Bible says and to walk you

through how to handle difficult times, trials, severe as they

may be, hardship, loneliness, pain, turmoil, whatever it may

be, as a pastor, that's my job. And I was so grieved this past

week when a pastor in Southern California of a very large

church who tends to be more political than pastoral told his

people that if AB495 simply Bill 495 passes in Sacramento, he

tells them, you need to flee California.

You need to run, pack your bags and go, he says.

And I'm like, that's not what pastors do.

No, no, pastors say, no matter what the bill is in the bill,

AB495 is about how a caregiver can come and sign an affidavit,

fill it out, sign it, take it to a school and take your child out

of school without any identification, any approval

from the parents and take your child out of school.

And it goes into more detail than that.

But he says if this bill passes, you need to run, flee

California, pack your bags and go.

He says, and I'm like, wait a minute, that's what did Peter

say when they went through persecution in Jerusalem?

Pack your bags and get out of Jerusalem.

That's not what Peter said. No, they went to prayer.

They trusted in God and they rested in His Providence.

See, this is very, very important because because

pastors had the responsibility to lead people through hardship

and difficult times and show them how God in His Providence

is working and that you need to be able to stand strong on the

Bible and the truth of the word of God and to live out your

faith. Listen, the Bible says flee

immorality. So run away from immorality.

Bible says flee idolatry. Run away from idolatry.

The Bible says flee the love of money.

So run from the love of money. The Bible never says leave your

state because things are bad. I can't tell you to do

something. The Bible doesn't say my job is

to help you through difficult times.

That's what pastors do. Political pundits don't.

Pastors do. That's our responsibility.

That's how we live our lives, to help people do hardship.

So when you come to the book of Acts and you have what, the

threat to the apostles, no longer can you preach in his

name. If you do, you will be punished.

What do they do? Well, let's leave Jerusalem and

go someplace else. Flee.

No, that's not what they did. They went back and told

everybody else, listen to this. When they've been released,

they, they went to their companions and reported all the

chief priests and the elders that said to them.

And when they heard this, they, they lifted their voices to God

with 1 accord and said, Oh Lord, it is you who made the heavens

and the earth and the sea and all of this in them.

They begin to pray and, and they, they recognize God as

creator, originator, designer of everything that they begin to

pray. And then it says this, who by

the Holy Spirit, through the mouth of our Father David, your

servant said, Why do the Gentiles rage and the peoples

divides feudal things? The kings of the earth took

their stand, and the rulers were gathered together against the

Lord and against this Christ. For truly in this city they were

gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you

anointed both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles

and the peoples of Israel, to do whatever your hand and your

purpose predestined to occur. They are acknowledging that God

in his sovereignty and in his Providence, design Herod, pilot,

the Gentiles, and even his own people, Israel, to crucify their

Messiah. They're acknowledging that and

they said, and now, Lord, take note of their threats and grant

that your bond servants may speak your word with all

confidence that that's how you deal with Sacramento.

Lord, take note of Governor Newsom's threats here.

We pay evil for evil. God will do that.

Lord, take note of their threats, but Lord, give us a

confidence to preach the Word with confident, with boldness

and with courage. Give us a strength to do that.

This pastor wants all of us people to make a statement in

Sacramento. I'm like, you don't make

statements. We preach the gospel.

That's what the church does. The church was never designed to

make a statement. Never in the early church.

Do you find them marching on the Capitol?

Never. Do you find them marching

against laws? You don't do that.

That's what Christians do. Christians stand strong on the

principles of God's Word, and they preach the gospel with

confidence. As a pastor, my responsibility

is to help you understand not what's happened in Sacramento,

but how to deal with what takes place in Sacramento and how you

deal with the difficulties that come down the Pike through laws

that are given. That's my responsibility as your

pastor. I want you to learn to rest in

the province of God. So, so important to learn to

trust that God is working through every individual, every

circumstance, every situation to bring about a greater purpose

and that is the spread of the gospel in the glory of His

Kingdom. Be heavenly minded.

Hudson Taylor, great missionary China was influenced by a young

lady's hymn. Her name was Jean Sophia

Piggott. Her brother was an associate of

Hudson Taylor in China and she died at the age of 37.

But she wrote a very familiar hymn that hopefully most of us

all know, and that hymn is Jesus.

I am resting, Resting. It was said that Hudson Taylor

will be found at various times either whistling or humming or

singing the hymn Jesus I Am Resting, Resting.

After his precious wife died, they would hear him in the night

singing the hymn Jesus I Am Resting, Resting during the dark

and gruesome days of the box of rebellion.

The song was on his lips and one day, after hearing the dreadful

news about missionaries being held hostage, he simply began to

whistle the tune to Jesus. I am Resting, Resting.

He was angrily questioned about how he could whistle during such

terrible times. This is his response.

Would you have me anxious and troubled?

That would not help them and would certainly incapacitate me

for my work. I have just to roll the burden

on the Lord. What a great response.

Let me read you the words that Him.

Jesus. I am resting, resting in the joy

of what Thou art. I am finding out the greatness

of Thy loving heart. Thou hast bid me gaze upon Thee,

and Thy beauty fills my soul, for by Thy transforming power

Thou has made me whole. Simply trusting the Lord Jesus.

I behold Thee as Thou art, and Thy love, so pure and

changeless, satisfies my heart, satisfies its deepest longings,

meets, supplies It's every need, compasses me round with

blessing. Vine is love indeed.

Ever lift thy face upon me as I work and wait for thee resting

Neath thy smile, Lord Jesus. Earth's dark shadows flee

brightness of my Father's glory. Sunshine of my Father's face.

Keep me ever trusting. Resting.

Fill me with Thy grace. A man who learned to rest in the

Providence of God through the capturing and murdering of many

missionaries, through the loss of his precious wife.

God was providentially working in and through his life.

He was a man of great impact, used for the glory of God's

wonderful Kingdom. That's because he learned to

rest in the Providence of God. He could rejoice always.

My, my prayer for all of us is that we would learn to rest in

His Providence so we could rejoice always.

But there's more to just resting in His Providence.

I have six more principles to give to you, so you'll have to

come back next week. But in the meantime, between now

and next Sunday, if the Lord tarries, this is the will of God

concerning you, that you rejoice always, you pray without

ceasing, and then everything give thanks.

Let's pray. Father, we thank you for today,

all that you do, for surely you are great and You are greatly to

be praised. May we be a people who rejoices

always because we know that you're at work for a great and

better purpose than just our own personal lives, for the sake of

your glorious Kingdom. And we see it from your

perspective and learn to give you all the praise and all the

glory and all the honor in Jesus name, Amen.