Everybody likes a party! Parties are usually associated with the celebration of life in some way. A New Years party celebrates the start of a new year of life. A birthday party celebrates the length of ones life. An anniversary party celebrates the years of life a couple has enjoyed together. A graduation party celebrates the start of a new life. Parties are about living. Nobody likes a dead party, but everybody enjoys being around the life of the party.
One of the most commonly used words in the New Testament referring to the relationship that exists between Christians has the connotation of a party. It is the word “koinonia” , usually translated in the 1611 KJV as “fellowship”. An accurate twentieth century translation could be the word party! God has sent his Son to pay the cost and sent the Holy Spirit to invite us to join the trinity in a supernatural party which will last for all eternity. Forever we will celebrate His life! Is your life characterized by an aura of celebrative joy? Jesus clearly said that He wants His joy to fill our lives (John 15:11). He said that on the night before He was crucified.
Several elements often characterize parties. Every party is filled with socializing. Singing, music and laughter usually set the mood of a party. It would seem really strange to attend a party where these things weren’t prevalent. Acts 2:46 says the early church were enjoying meals together in each others homes with gladness. The believer should exemplify the spirit of gladness in this world. There are far too many whiners in the modern church. I’m not talking about sincere Christians sharing legitimate burdens. I’m talking about perpetual belly-achers who have a “woe is me” mentality every time you see them. Away with moaning and complaining. The tomb is empty, remember? We won!
Remember Jeremiah the weeping prophet? How’s this song for the modern church whiners?
Jeremiah was a prophet, He is a good friend of mine, I don’t remember a single word he said, But he sure taught me how to whine!
Away with whining forever! As those who share in the very nature of Christ (2 Peter 1:4), we should instead:
Celebrate! Celebrate! Dance to the music of His grace!
(If you weren’t a teen in the late sixties and early seventies, you won’t know the tune, but you can still understand the message).
Another element sometimes found in worldly parties is drunkenness. It’s the world’s effort at trying to experience joy in life. On the day of Pentecost the observers of the early Christians were mocking and saying, ‘They are full of sweet wine’ (Acts 2:13). They were drunk all right , but not on wine. They were totally intoxicated with the life of Christ being expressed through them by the power of the Holy Spirit. They were “under the influence” of Christ’s life and couldn’t keep quite about Him. The reason that the evangelism of the early church was so effective is that these folks were celebrating the life they experienced in Jesus with unbridled, uninhibited joy! They understood that Christ is Life. That’s the reason for saints of every age to celebrate! With that truth firmly in mind, let’s party!
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