Sixteen Powerful Truths from Eleven Verses (#4)

This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. I hope you are as well.

Over the past few days we have been looking at 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22. In these verses are sixteen powerful, practical truths. I hope to expound a little on each one. This passage of Scripture has been some of my favorite since I was a young boy. Let me share it with you from the English Standard Version of the Bible:

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, (13) and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. (14) And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. (15) See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. (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.

Previously we have looked five of these truths:

#1 Respect & Esteem (highly in love) those in leadership
#2 Be at peace
#3 Admonish the undisciplined and idle
#4 Encourage the fainthearted
#5 Help the weak
#6 Be patient with everyone #7 Do not repay evil with evil #8 Seek to do good to everyone

Today, let's look at three others:

These three verses (v. 16-18) have been called by some "the standing orders of the church." They are in the imperative mood, forceful commands directing our attitudes and actions. The very use of the imperative forces us to regard rejoicing, praying, and giving thanks as things other than feelings. We all know that feelings cannot be commanded. Telling your spouse not to feel angry or your child not to feel badly seldom leads to a happy evening at home. But behaviors can be called for. And that's what Paul is doing.

#9 Rejoice always-

Our joy, prayers, and thankfulness should not fluctuate with our circumstances or feelings. Obeying these three commands—be joyful, never stop praying, and be thankful—often goes against our natural inclinations. When we make a conscious decision to do what God says, however, we will begin to see people in a new perspective. When we do God's will, we will find it easier to be joyful and thankful.

"Rejoice always." This is not the same as commanding one to feel happy at all times. Feeling happy is the natural response to experiences that bring us rewards. Please don't ask me to feel happy when I've just smashed my thumb with the hammer or even when the Razorbacks have just lost a close football game. But neither smashing my thumb nor the Razorbacks losing need have anything to do with my joy and rejoicing in life.

Thus, throughout the Bible, we are called to joy and rejoicing in our sufferings. I can't make any sense of this without distinguishing between joy and happiness. I've long since accepted the fact that I cannot be happy at all times. But I'm satisfied that there can always be a basic joy in my life. The basis of that joy is Jesus Himself. There is a perspective on life in Jesus Christ that enables us to rejoice always, even when we are unhappy. And this is something we can choose to do, whatever the tone of our feelings. It really becomes a matter of obedience.

#10 Pray without ceasing-

This basically means, "to think and live in the presence of God". To live with a growing awareness that God is always present. It is to grow in our openness to God—to bring consciously all of our words and deeds into His presence. It's long past time for us to issue an urgent call for unceasing prayer as an object for our attention and discipline. Such prayer means nothing less than practicing the presence of God in everything that we do.

The Greek is, "Pray without intermission"; without allowing prayer less gaps to intervene between the times of prayer. The enemy will do everything he can to distract us from spending daily, regular, consistent, and passionate time with the Lord in prayer. We must think and live in the presence of God at all times. When we do, it will affect the way we talk, walk, and the daily decisions that we make.

#11 Give thanks in all circumstances-

There is a silver lining to every cloud. God is with us whatever befalls us. It is God's will that we find joy in prayer in Christ Jesus in every condition of life. If we rejoice always, pray without ceasing (recognize moment by moment the presence of God), then it will be a lot easier for us to "give thanks in all circumstances."

We are too prone to murmur and complain. We need God's Spirit to help us develop an attitude of gratitude, in every circumstance. Especially, if we truly believe Romans 8:28:

We are assured and know that [God being a partner in their labor] all things work together and are [fitting into a plan] for good to and for those who love God and are called according to [His] design and purpose.

I choose today to Rejoice, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in every circumstance of my life today! Blessings!

Pastor Rusty