We all come to those moments in life where we are wondering how to handle some of life’s greatest challenges. What does God require of us? What is His will in this moment? What direction do we need to take at this point in our lives? Decisions are demanded of us. We may have a rough idea of what we should be doing but we don’t know how the specifics will work out.
Even someone who knew our Lord Jesus Christ, the apostle Paul, struggled with knowing exactly what to do at times. That may seem strange to us, but it is true. Paul was trying to bring the good news about Jesus to people in what is now present-day Turkey, but he found that he was being prevented from moving forward.
Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia.
When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to.
So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas.[i]
Troas was a port city on the Aegean Sea. Often the frustrating experience of opportunities closing before us is really God re-directing us. As we continue to read the biblical text, we find that the right opportunity finally became available.
During the night Paul had a vision of man of Macedonia standing and begging him, ‘Come over to Macedonia and help us.’
After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.[ii]
The gospel is simply the good news about Jesus’ death and resurrection for the forgiveness of our sins, which brings us into a right relationship with God. Macedonia was a province in northern Greece. The first city that they, Paul and his team, came to was Philippi, a city that was a Roman colony. This was a place where many Roman veterans lived. There was a very small Jewish community in Philippi, because we read that there was no synagogue, a place of Jewish worship there. Synagogues required at least ten Jewish men to establish one. However, they discovered that there was a small prayer meeting held at the river nearby.
On the Sabbath we went outside the city gate to the river, where we expected to find a place of prayer. We sat down and began to speak to the women who had gathered there.[iii]
Being a rabbi, Paul was invited to speak and he did.
One of the those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. She was a worshiper of God. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul’s message.
When she and the members of her household were baptized, she invited us to her home. ‘If you consider me a believer in the Lord,’ she said, ‘come and stay at my house.’ And she persuaded us.[iv]
So far, Paul’s vision at Troas had not materialized. Where was the man needing help? But God was obviously doing something. But as we are about to see, things became interesting.
Once when we were going to the place of prayer, we were met by a female slave who had a spirit by which she predicted the future. She earned a great deal of money for her owners by fortune-telling.
She followed Paul and the rest of us, shouting, ‘These men are servants of the Most High God, who are telling you the way to be saved.’
She kept this up for many days. Finally Paul became so annoyed that he turned around and said to the spirit, ‘In the name of Jesus Christ I command you to come out of her!’ At that moment the spirit left her.[v]
Paul was disturbed because the spirit through this female slave was speaking the truth. What may deceive us is that evil is often packaged with elements of truth, which makes it so deadly. Paul knew two things: one that this evil would bring about confusion. Evil often tries to capture what is good by befriending it. Paul, also knew that this future predicting was actually an evil spirit controlling this person and this tactic was meant to confuse people. Evil tries to attach itself to what is good. But now that this female slave was set free from the control of the enemy, the result became a crisis in Paul and Silas’ life.
When her owners realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and dragged them into the marketplace to face the authorities.
They brought them before the magistrates and said, ‘These men are Jews, and are throwing our city into an uproar by advocating customs unlawful for us Romans to accept or practice.’
The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten with rods.
After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully.
When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.[vi]
Wow! All Paul and Silas were doing was God’s business. They were not looking for trouble, but trouble found them. I wonder how many believers are upset, disappointed, or questioning God when they are doing the right things and bad things happen to them. How do we handle life when circumstances seem to turn against us? How would we respond to being misunderstood, beaten, and imprisoned? Would you feel betrayed? “God, I was only trying to do Your will, and now I am suffering as a result.” Did they feel abandoned? Do you question God’s direction when things don’t turn out as you think they should? This happens in marriages, in jobs, and in ministries. How did Paul and Silas handle this incredible reversal? How did they handle this pain and disappointment?
About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them.[vii]
What were they doing? Singing, praising, rejoicing, giving thanks to God. They were worshiping God! Is that how we handle life’s crushing moments? How do we relate to God? Is worship our response to life’s great difficulties?
Paul and Silas’ response was to worship. His life was not defined by his circumstances, but rather by his relationship with God.
This attitude of thanksgiving should not be a day in the year of our lives but the state of mind in which we face all of life’s challenges. In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we find three expressions that always reflects God’s will for us. This is the proper way to relate to God at all times.
Rejoice always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.[viii]
Let us look at these three expressions that will help us live a life of continuous celebration despite life’s challenges.
THE FIRST EXPRESSION THAT HELPS US LIVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS CELEBRATION DESPITE LIFE’S CHALLENGES IS TO ALWAYS REJOICE
Our lives should reflect the hope that we have. We can live with a confidence, not in ourselves, but rather in the goodness and love of God. Delight, confidence, and hope should exude from our lives. We are not just living for this moment, but for eternity. Circumstances come and go, but God’s presence remains.
What is the idea behind this exhortation, this challenge to express joy in our lives? The idea is to be in a state of joy and wellbeing, to rejoice and be glad. This is not a denial of difficulty, suffering or grief.
This joy should always be in our lives, in whatever circumstances we find ourselves. The apostles never encourage believers to deny that adversity brings sadness or grief, but they recognize that in the midst of the most agonizing situations the presence of God through his Spirit can infuse the soul with hope and the heart with joy.[ix]
Nicky Gumbel points out that “suffering and joy go hand in hand in the New Testament. Do not expect one without the other.’[x]
The apostle Paul certainly had his share of painful moments. Yet, as he describes himself in these moments, he states it this way.
sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.[xi]
The amazing paradox of genuine biblical faith is that we can have joy in times of sorrow. The only thing that will diminish joy in our lives is sin. Joy comes from knowing God, and knowing God’s good purpose for our lives, despite our circumstances.
Christian joy constantly flows from what the believer continually knows to be true about God and about his eternal, saving relationship to Him–regardless of circumstances.[xii]
And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.[xiii]
What is Paul saying? Simply that God’s purposes are being worked out regardless of what life circumstances we are facing as a child of God. Even the negative things will ultimately help us become more like Him. Sometimes it may simply be allowing the Spirit of Jesus to forgive others for their sins, even as Jesus forgave us our sins. It is not until I see myself at the foot of the cross, responsible for Christ’s crucifixion, that I begin to realize that I must forgive others their sins against me. We know that in God’s presence there is joy, and that joy brings strength.
LORD, the king finds joy in Your strength. How great is his joy in the victories you give![xiv]
Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.[xv]
So, what was the outcome of Paul and Silas being tried unjustly, beaten, and finally imprisoned? Joy-filled worship. When we have the right attitude it lifts our soul. We can have a powerful, pleasant, and faith-filled attitude. So, what was the outcome of their worship and their right attitude?
Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and everybody’s chains came loose.[xvi]
I realize that what Luke is explaining here happened, but there are some symbolic elements. When we worship God it frees us, not just physically, but spiritually.
The jailer woke up, and when he saw the prison doors open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself because he thought the prisoners had escaped.[xvii]
Roman law was strict. If you lost your prisoners, you lost your life. You were a disgrace. This is a shame-based culture, and most people could not handle the shame of this kind in neglecting their responsibility. He had fallen asleep and now thought his prisoners had escaped. He knew that the penalty for his negligence would be execution and he would be publicly shamed. Paul, however, saw what was about to happen and called out to the jailer.
But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself! We are all here!’
The jailer called for the lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas.
He then brought them out and asked, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved?’[xviii]
Here was a man who, to this point, we have no sense that he is open to the message of Paul and Silas, but this moment of crisis strikes his life and he realizes that these men have something he needs.
Let’s remember back to Paul’s night vision of the man from Macedonia calling for help. Here is that man, but what’s interesting is that he did not know his need until the crisis struck. Most people don’t realize that they need help until crisis strikes. Most people don’t realize that they need God’s presence in their lives until their lives are coming apart, and the circumstance seems to be beyond their ability to handle it. The very thing that Paul was trying to do in Asia, by ‘bringing this wonderful message of hope is now given to this man as he asks for help.
They replied, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved–you and your household.’[xix]
His response to the message is one of belief and he and his family experienced the joy of God’s presence reigning in their hearts.
then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house.
At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized.
The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God–he and his whole household.[xx]
The result of putting our trust in Jesus is being filled with joy. In God’s presence is fulness of joy.
THE SECOND EXPRESSION THAT HELPS US LIVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS CELEBRATION DESPITE LIFE’S CHALLENGES IS TO PRAY CONTINUALLY
The idea is not that we are praying constantly, but that we never give up on praying. Prayer is a way of life. Jesus, Himself, encourages us to never stop praying.
Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.[xxi]
Our prayer is an expression of our hope, our trust, our confidence in God who is able to hear our cry and answer our prayer. Real praying begins with a confidence in God for His grace. We do not come to God based on our merit but rather we come in our time of need for help.
Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.[xxii]
We are either praying or giving up. Do we really realize how essential prayer is in our lives? Apart from it, we will give up. What fuels prayer is faith. One expression of faith is prayer. Jesus’ challenge is that if we are not praying it’s a reflection on our faith and confidence in God.
Our ultimate position as Christians is tested by the character of our prayer life.[xxiii]
However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?[xxiv]
Jesus is tying faith to prayer. When we stop praying, it is a signal that we have lost faith in God to do something. Praying then is an expression of faith. Why do we stop praying? One reason is, as John MacArthur points out:
It is easy to become so satisfied with physical blessings that we have little desire for spiritual blessings, and to become so dependent on our physical resources that we feel little need for spiritual resources.[xxv]
Regardless of who we are, our prayer life reveals the true nature of our relationship with God.
If knowledge about God and the things of God do not drive us to know Him more personally, we can be sure that our true motivation and commitment are centered in ourselves rather than Him. [xxvi]
What does it mean to pray without ceasing?
It does not mean you are always praying, but that you live in a constant awareness in your soul that God is with you, and that you are in relationship with Him. It is a God consciousness where we are surrendered to Him and find that we are constantly bringing things that come to our mind before Him in adoration and prayer.
Most Christians pray sometimes, with some prayers and some degree of perseverance, for some of God’s people. But to replace some by all in each of these expressions would be to introduce us to a new dimension of praying.[xxvii]
However, Paul, in writing to the church at Ephesus states the real nature of praying.
And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.[xxviii]
THE FIRST EXPRESSION THAT HELPS US LIVE A LIFE OF CONTINUOUS CELEBRATION DESPITE LIFE’S CHALLENGES IS TO GIVE THANKS ALWAYS.
Gratitude is the constant attitude of a true believer. Gratitude is another attitude that reveals whether we are trusting God and believing that God cares for our needs.
A. The dangers of an unthankful heart.
Complaining, grumbling and constantly being dissatisfied reflects a heart that really does not know or trust God. It is the heart of an unregenerated soul. The apostle Paul warned against this sinful state of mind when he wrote to the Corinthian church by using the Israelites’ wanderings through the wilderness as an example.
And do not grumble, as some of them did–and were killed by the destroying angel.
These things happened to them as examples and were written down as warnings for us, on whom the culmination of the ages has come.[xxix]
During the wilderness wandering after leaving Egypt, we read in the book of Numbers of all the whining and complaining that was going on. They complained about the food, the lack of water, they were constantly upset with Moses as a leader, but in all these things, they were actually complaining against God and eventually they died in the wilderness, never entering into God’s promise.
B. Not only did Paul warn about the dangers of complaining, but he also knew from the Old Testament psalms the importance of having a right heart attitude.
Listen to King David as he writes this beautiful psalm.
I will extol the LORD at all times; his praise will always be on my lips.
I will glory in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
Glorify the LORD with me; let us exalt his name together.[xxx]
King David knew that praising God in everything was the key to overcoming even the most difficult situations in life. One of those difficult moments in David’s life was at a place called Ziglag, where he lived before he became king. He had been running from King Saul for years. While he and his men were away on a raiding expedition, raiders came upon his village, capturing their wives and children, and destroying their homes. It was such a low point that his own men in their discouragement and anger talked about killing him as their leader. When bad things happen, we look to blame someone. Leaders are often blamed. So, what did David do? He found strength in God.
David was greatly distressed because the men were talking of stoning him, each one was bitter in spirit because of his sons and daughters. But David found strength in the LORD his God.[xxxi]
What does that mean, that he found strength in God? It means that he looked to God, he cried out to Him, He worshiped. God’s presence energized him. When you read what happens you find that David is not paralyzed, he takes the initiative to recover their losses.
We rejoice because of who God is and what He did and will do. Praying continually, knowing that God cares for us, and finally having a heart of thanksgiving, reflects the heart of deep appreciation for who God is and what He does. When we look at life with the right attitude despite life’s challenges, it will lead to incredible joy and blessing, not only in our lives but also in the lives of others.
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[i] Acts 16:6-8, The New International Version of the Bible, Zondervan, 2011.
[ii] Acts 16:9-10.
[iii] Acts 16:13.
[iv] Acts 16:14-15.
[v] Acts 16:16-18.
[vi] Acts 16:19-24.
[vii] Acts 16:25.
[viii] 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.
[ix] Gene Green, The Letters To The Thessalonians, The Pillar New Testament Commentary Series, (Grand Rapids, Mi: Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company, 2002), 258.
[x] Nicky Gumbel, The Bible Nicky Gumbel Classic Version, Day 283.
[xi] 2 Corinthians 6:10.
[xii] John MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2002), 184.
[xiii] Romans 8:28.
[xiv] Psalm 21:1.
[xv] Nehemiah 8:10b.
[xvi] Acts 16:26.
[xvii] Acts 16:27.
[xviii] Acts 16:28-30.
[xix] Acts 16:31.
[xx] Acts 16:32-34.
[xxi] Luke 18:1.
[xxii] Hebrews 4:16.
[xxiii] D. Martyn Lloyd Jones, The Christian Soldier, (Grand Rapids, Mi: Baker Book House, 1977), 342.
[xxiv] Luke 18:8b.
[xxv] John MacArthur Jr., Ephesians, The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, (Chicago, IL: Moody Press, 1986), 378.
[xxvi] Ibid, 379.
[xxvii] John Stott, The Message of Ephesians, (Downers Grove, Il: Inter Varsity Press, 1979), 283-84.
[xxviii] Ephesians 6:18.
[xxix] 1 Corinthians 10:10-11.
[xxx] Psalm 34:1-3.
[xxxi] 1 Samuel 30:6.
