Worship the Lord with Joy

IIT UBF - University Bible Fellowship at IIT

Worship the Lord with Joy

Date: Dec. 31, 2021

Passage

1 Thessalonians 5:16-28 (ESV)

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

25 Brothers, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss.

27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

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Daily Bread

Key Verse: 5:16-18

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

When a person enters a gospel-centered church, they should see a slice of heaven. They should get a taste of Revelation 5 where all the redeemed gather around the Lamb and worship him. Paul’s commands to rejoice, pray, and give thanks are all aspects of worship. We are to rejoice always, regardless of our circumstances because we possess the joy of salvation and the hope of eternal life in Christ. We are to pray continually and live by faith and dependence in God. When someone comes to our church, they come to a place of holy and reverent intercession for all the people of the world. We are to be thankful in all circumstances as well. This is possible when we realize that God is always working for the good of those who love Him in both good times and bad.

The church is built on the foundation of God’s word. We must never quench the spirit but test what we hear by the standard of God’s word. All of this is possible only through the power of God. Paul prays for the church to be sanctified through and through and because God is faithful, he will do it. Another important aspect of worship is fellowship. We are to pray for each other and greet each other in the Lord. Paul concludes by praying for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ to be with the church. May the same grace be with you this coming year.

Prayer: Prayer: Lord Jesus, we praise your holy name!

One Word: One Word: Rejoice, pray, and give thanks

Hezekiah Restored the Temple

2 Chronicles 29:1-19

Key Verse: 29:18

Then they went in to Hezekiah the king and said, “We have cleansed all the house of the LORD, the altar of burnt offering and all its utensils, and the table for the showbread and all its utensils.

Today's Question

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