Rejoice, Pray, Thank
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Pastor Jerry Koller

Rejoice means to express great joy. It means to feel happiness or joy. It means to be ecstatic with joy. All three of these definitions mention the word joy.
• Joy is a supernatural delight in God and in God’s goodness.
• The key to rejoicing centers around God. We need to shift our focus from circumstances to Jesus for unlike circumstances, Jesus never changes. (see: Hebrews 13:8)

Three reasons why we can rejoice when we focus on Jesus:
1. Jesus has overcome the world. (see: John 16:33; 1 John 5:4¬5)
2. Our names are written in the Book of Life. (see: Luke 10:20)
3. Jesus is coming back for us. (see: John 14:3)

Reasons why we don’t pray as we should: we are…
• Too Contented

• Too Busy
Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on the earth (Col. 3:2)

• Too Blind
Because you say, “I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,” and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked...
This reflects needs blindness and self-sufficiency.

• Too Ignorant
…The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. (James 5:16)
Scripture gives many examples of this truth: Elijah, Hannah, Elisha, Daniel, Moses, Jonah, Peter & Paul…

• Too Uneducated

The third and final verb: In everything give thanks; (1 Thess. 5:18a)
• The word “everything” means totality, completeness, all-encompassing in every condition; in every manner.
• The NIV and the ESV translate this word “in all circumstances.”

All three directives are essential to one another. All three focus on God.
• Rejoicing and giving thanks are bonded together by the glue of prayer.
• ...A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart. (Ecc. 4:12)

We can do this because we are in Christ Jesus. And we should do this because this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. (1 Thess. 5:18b)

• James Thomas (friend of Bruce & Vasha Ferguson) has been diagnosed with ascites, a very serious disease often associated with cirrhosis.
• Louann Pranger (Tracy Marshall's mom) continues to recover from a C Diff infection; pray that reoccurrence doesn't happen
• Derrick (grandson of Bruce & Vasha Ferguson) is recovering from a stroke.
• Curt Bales has returned home and continues to recover from a broken knee.
• Vasha Ferguson is recovering from parathyroid surgery.
• Miriam Bryant is having difficulty with both of her hands being numb, tingly, and extremely painful. Please pray that her doctor can find something to help alleviate the discomfort.
• Vincent Bryant (Miriam's son) is traveling back and forth to Grand Rapids as he is being evaluated for a kidney transplant. Please pray for safety and that he will be approved for a procedure soon. He's been on the transplant list for several years.
• Jeremy Price is scheduled for surgery at U of M Hospital on 3/18 for a spinal infusion and adding a cage to the L5S1 joint in his spine. Pray that surgery is successful, and his pain will be alleviated.
• Beth Bocock continues to recover from ulcerative colitis.
• Cam (18 yar-old son of Tracy Marshall’s co-worker) has mosaic trisomy 3, is having seizures, and a brain tumor was discovered, but they don’t think the two are related so he continues testing.
• Linda Newell · is recovering from surgery for a herniated disc in her lower back.
• Judy Jones (wife of Pastor Grady Jones/friend of Pastor Jerry) is recovering from a successful surgery and doctors believe they removed all of the cancer. She is waiting for biopsy results to decide how to proceed with treatment.
• Lennon McKamey (son of Kyle & Sarah) needs surgery on his shoulder. Please pray that preparing for surgery goes smoothly.
• Check out our monthly prayer card on-line at southhavenfbc.com under “Weekly Bulletins” for a list of those with on-going needs.

First Baptist Church
1635 76th Street
South Haven, MI 49090
269-637-1291
southhavenfbc@gmail.com