December
11, 2005 pm
A Recipe Full of Joy
I Thessalonians 5:16-24
By
Ronald E. George Jr. at the Fayetteville Baptist Church
Thank God for Children Saying Grace...
Last week I took my children to a restaurant. My six-year-old son asked if he
could say grace. As we bowed our heads he said, "God is good, God is great.
Thank you for the food, and I would even thank you more if Mom gets us ice cream
for dessert. And Liberty and justice for all! Amen!"
Along with the laughter from the
other customers nearby I heard a woman remark, "That's what's wrong with
this country. Kids today don't even know how to pray. Asking God for ice cream!
Why, I never!"
Hearing this, my son burst into tears and asked me, "Did I do it wrong?
Is God mad at me?" As
I held him and assured him that he had done a terrific job and God was certainly
not mad at him, an elderly gentleman approached the table. He winked at my son
and said, "I happen to know that God thought that was a great prayer.
"Really?" my son asked. "Cross my heart," the man replied.
Then in a theatrical whisper he added (indicating the woman whose remark
had started this whole thing), "Too bad she never asks God for ice cream.
A little ice cream is good for the soul sometimes."
Naturally, I bought my kids ice cream at the end of the meal. My son stared at
his for a moment and then did something I will remember the rest of my life.
He picked up his sundae and without a word, walked over and placed it in
front of the woman. With a big smile he told her,
"Here, this is for you. Ice cream is good for the soul sometimes; and my soul is good already." Unknown source. (email)
One day God was looking down at Earth and saw all of the
rascally behavior that was going on. So God called one of the angels and sent
the angel to Earth.
When she returned, she told God, "Yes, it is bad on
Earth; 95% are misbehaving and only 5% are not."
God thought for a moment and said, "Maybe I had better
send down a second angel to get another opinion."
So God called another angel and sent him to earth for a
time too. When the angel returned he went to God and said, "Yes, it's true.
The earth is in decline; 95% are misbehaving, but 5% are being good."
God was not pleased. So He decided to e-mail the 5% who
were being good, because he wanted to encourage them ... give them a little
something to help them keep going.
Do you know what the e-mail said?
(Pause for the answer!)
Okay, just wondering; I didn't get one either.
Scripture Text:
1The 5:16 (NIV) Be joyful always; 17 pray continually;
18 give thanks
in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.
19 Do not put
out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21 Test
everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.
23 May God
himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole
spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
24 The one who
calls you is faithful and he will do it.
1.
Be determined to be joyful always.
Begin with a joyful attitude. Joy is your pan for cooking up a
joyful life. Look for the Joy.
This is not positive thinking, but it is the power of God thinking.
I am thinking He makes it possible.
2.
Be in constant prayer.
Stir in constant prayer.
A prayerful attitude is important for maintaining a constant temperature.
Stir constantly and often with prayer.
Keep the prayer going. If
you stop praying your joy will become lumpy.
3.
Give thanks in all things.
(Remember this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus)
Pour
in a healthy dose of thanksgiving. Remember
to give thanks for everything. God
is the control. Put your oven on
his control.
4.
Let the Spirit burn freely.
The Spirit of God is the fire
that makes your joy rise to its full potential. If you turn off the fire then your joy will go flat.
So don’t quench the Spirit. Obey
the Lord and yield to him in your life for a life full of joy.
5.
Listen to the Word of the Lord.
Read the recipe and follow it
all. Don’t leave out any of the
steps and follow God’s direction. He
gives the best recipe for a life full of Joy.
6.
Eat fish and spit out the bones.
Test everything and hold on to
the good. Eat the good and spit out
the bad. If you eat the bad don’t
be surprised if your joy goes flat.
7.
Don’t hit the potholes in the road.
Avoid
every kind of evil. Don’t put mustard in the chocolate cake.
If you hit the holes you will spill your soup.
8.
May God Sanctify you.
Allow God to cook you through and
through. Be committed to God’s
work in your life. Give yourself to
Him.
9.
May your whole self be blameless until Jesus comes.
Put it in the oven and leave it
there until the buzzer rings. Give
it to God and leave it all there. Don’t
take it out before time and mess it up. If
you give it to God then it is in his hands.
10.
Remember that God who calls you is
faithful and capable. After
you have done all rest easy and enjoy your life in the Lord.
He has promised to make it all come out all right.
God keeps his promises.
Are you cooking with the Lord? Then you are enjoying your life in Christ.
If not then start by committing yourself to him tonight.