Yesterday, we looked at a passage in I Thessalonians where Paul gave instructions on how to treat our church brothers and sisters. Paul is equipped not only to do this because he has been given these words to write to us under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit but also because he lived a life surrounded by fellow believers, not blood relatives. His physical life often depended on his brothers and sisters in Christ for his well-being. In Paul’s life, we see how much he loved those in the church by his kind words and reprimands when they were wrong. He was a complete picture of a true brother in Christ.
After Paul tells them in I Thessalonians 5:11-15 to edify, exhort, esteem each other highly, comfort and be patient with one another, support the weak, and not seek vengeance, he turns to commands that are positive and productive actions that will lead to a stronger bond between them.
In verse 16, we are told to “rejoice evermore.” This is a tall order in a world where there seems to be more sorrow than joy. Yet, we know God would not give us a command that He would not enable us to keep. In Philippians 3:1, we find Paul giving the church at Philippi the same directive: “Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.” No matter what our circumstances are, we can rejoice. We have a Savior who forgave us, redeemed us, and is preparing a home for us in Heaven. His Holy Spirit dwells within us to comfort us and guide us. Our joy is a deep heart knowledge, and feeling from His presence and promises. No one can take it from us, and it gives us hope, building security in our lives. When this is shared with our brothers and sisters in Christ, it creates a deep-rooted and secure bond.
I Thessalonians 5:16 “Rejoice evermore.”
Next, his instructions are to “Pray without ceasing.” Again, it is a tall order at first glance, but praying without ceasing is a mindset. We are to have a mindset that is always one thought away from giving each situation to God. It is the process of being heavenly-minded, not earthly-minded. When I’m in line at the grocery store, my first thought about the person in front of me is, do they know Jesus? I ask the Holy Spirit to give me words to engage in a conversation. This directive also involves seasons of prayer, daily, privately, and with other believers. It is a means for us to stay connected with Christ and each other.
I Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
Paul reminds these precious saints to always be thankful in every situation. Even if it is a horrible situation we can be thankful it is not forever. We have hope of an eternal life that is perfect. There will be no more sorrow. In this life, we tend to think and focus on our problems rather than our blessings, but that is not God’s desire for us. He wants us to focus on Him and the blessings He brings to our lives. Too often, our lives are like our Christmas holiday; we unwrap our gifts, and with joy, we thank others. Then, we rush to the kitchen to put the meal on the table and silently focus on how tired we are and who is not helping clean up the mess. We miss the blessing because our focus turns inward and not upward. God’s will is for us to be thankful people.
I Thessalonians 5:18 “In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.”
The directive in verse 19 is not to quench the Spirit. To quench something is to put it out. We quench our thirst by taking in fluids. The fluid replaces the desire. We quench or put out a fire by pouring water on it. It extinguishes the fire. When we quench the Holy Spirit, we extinguish its influence on our hearts. One of the most significant ways we quench the Spirit is our failure to feed it. A fire that is not fed will soon go out. We feed the Holy Spirit by studying, praying, and obeying God’s commands.
I Thessalonians 5:19 “Quench not the Spirit.”
These directives that we looked at today are given for individual and corporate applications. When we practice them in our private devotion to God, they spill over into our relationships with others. They become our lifestyle, affecting all we are involved with, especially those with whom we share a kindred Spirit. It becomes contagious as others watch how we love the Lord and love others. Tomorrow we will visit the last four verses of I Thessalonians 5. Examine your life today, see where you are lacking, and ask God to help you. If you ask, you will receive. He is waiting for your response.
