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the  Preachers  blog

Blogs are posted every Wednesday, except in July and August

The King of One Liners by Pastor Dave

12/18/2020

 
“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.  The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it. ‘
1 Thessalonians 5: 23-24
 
1 Thessalonians 5: 12-24
 
     Henny Youngman, an English-American comedian, was often called the ‘King of One Liners:’ “I told the doctor I broke my leg in two places. He told me to quit going to those places;” “If at first you don't succeed... so much for skydiving.” Perhaps Jimmy Carr has now taken that mantel. Today’s full reading though blows them out the water for one liners. Just look how many there are: acknowledge those who work hard among you; live in peace with each other; warn those who are idle and disruptive; encourage the disheartened; help the weak; be patient with everyone; make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong; always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else; rejoice always;  pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances; do not quench the Spirit; do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good; and reject every kind of evil.
     The temptation when reading such noble instructions is to feel woefully inadequate and to almost give up before trying to follow them. Wonderfully next comes truth and hope; it is God who sanctifies us, enables us to live this way and prepares us for Christ’s coming (vs. 23-24). This promise is concluded by the ultimate one liner, “The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” Absolute certainty, great grace and our essential hope.
     When we read backwards from this awesome truth, we see the process of sanctification detailed. God calls us and sanctifies us within our inner most being (vs. 23-24); He gives us His Spirit to enable us to live this new life and His truth to follow (vs. 19-23); we are part of Jesus Christ’s Body, the Church, with the gifts of prayer and praise (vs. 16-18); we are given His peace and live within the Body under the leadership He places, each member of the body with ministries and roles. Through this process we see a golden thread of obedience that is required of us coming from our faith in the Lord and our love for Him.
     Comedians may be the kings of humorous ‘one liners’ but as Christ’s Body He clearly calls us to be the Royal Priesthood of His ‘one liners’ that we are to live out in His Spirit. As we celebrate Advent, remembering Christ’s incarnation and anticipating His return these are incredible directions for us to follow as God delivers His work of Grace in each of us. What a beacon of the light the Church could be if indeed we reflected these truths….and we can because the One who calls us is faithful, and He will do it!
 
To Ponder: Meditate on all these ‘one liners,’ which does the Holy Spirit highlight to you? In His power and Grace live by that one liner this day. Consider following a different ‘one liner’ each day of the week ahead and see what difference the Lord makes!
 
Pray: Saviour eternal, life of the world unfailing, light everlasting and our true redemption. Taking our humanity in your loving freedom, you rescued our lost earth and filled the world with joy. By your first advent justify us, by your second, set us free: that when the great light dawns and you come as judge of all, we may be robed in immortality and ready, Lord, to follow in your footsteps blest, wherever they may lead. Amen
Salus Aeterna – Saviour Eternal
 
Praise: Counting every Blessings by Rend Collective
Rejoice by Chris Tomlin

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St Aidan’s Anglican Church
274 Campbell Street | Winnipeg, MB R3N 1B5
Phone: 204.489.3390 Email: [email protected]
  • Home
  • Worship Online
  • The Preachers Blog
  • Hope Explored Course
  • Bible in a Year
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Prayer Requests
  • Request Pastoral Care
  • Youth
  • Give
  • Statement of Faith
  • Video Archive
    • 2025 Videos
    • 2024 Videos
    • Real Lives
    • 2023 Videos
    • 2022 Videos
    • 2021 Videos
    • 2020 Videos
  • Sermon Audio Archive
    • 2020 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermons
    • 2019 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centered Eternities November 2019
      • The Real Joy of Easter - Holy Week 2019
    • 2018 Sermons
    • 2018 Sermon Series >
      • Gospel Centred Church Spring 2018
      • A Gospel Shaped Church Fall 2018
    • 2017 Sermon Series >
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
      • The Saviour King Lent 2017
      • The Victorious King Holy Week 2017
      • The Living King Easter 2017
      • The Brother King Fall 2017
      • Worship the King Advent 2017
    • 2016 Sermon Series >
      • Real Obedience Lent 2016
      • Unity of the Church
      • The Servant King Christmas 2016
    • 2015 Sermon Series >
      • Real Gifts 2015
      • Real Mission 2015
      • Mission Discerned
    • 2014 Sermon Series >
      • Real Church 2014
      • Real Lives 2014
    • 2013 Sermon Series >
      • Real God 2013
    • Sermon Archive From 2014 - 2017
  • Christianity 101