Pastor Craig Diestelkamp (or right click here to save to your computer)
Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22
In these verses we find a list of staccato commands that the Apostle Paul gives to help us understand how we are to yield to the Holy Spirit’s work in our lives.
16 Rejoice always,
17 pray without ceasing,
18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit.
20 Do not despise prophecies.
21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.
22 Abstain from every form of evil.
I believe there is a beautiful connection in this list of commands and the key statement that ties them all together is verse 19 “Quench not the Spirit.” Not only does it reference the verses that follow, but it references the verses that precede it. And it also indicates the wonderful balance of the Spirit’s work and ministry in our lives 1) to develop our character through the fruit of the Spirit and 2) empower us for service with the gifts of the Spirit. The first three commands refer to the Spirit’s work of character transformation, and the last three refer to the Spirit’s release of supernatural gifts.
One of the main values to our Christian faith here at GracePoint is to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit’s transforming power. (Ephesians 5:18-21).
Wherever the Spirit of God is received for who He is and the work that He has been sent to do, there is always a two-fold work and manifestation of God.
1) Life and character transformation into the image of Christ
2) A release of the supernatural gifts that come from Christ Himself.
Yielding To The Fruit Of The Spirit
“Rejoice Always”
Christian joy is…
A command with no exceptions
A supernatural response
A response of our will
Christian joy is the emotion springing from the deep-down confidence in our life that God is in perfect control of everything and will bring from it our good for His glory.
