Theme: Do as he Wishes
Text: 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
Greetings: The Lord is good and His love endures forever!
Compare the Translations:
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. (NIV).
“16 Celebrate always, 17 Pray constantly, and 18 Give thanks to God no matter what circumstances you find yourself in. (This is God’s will for all of you in Jesus the Anointed.”) (The Voice).
“16-18 Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” (The Message).
16 Be happy [in your faith] and rejoice and be glad-hearted continually (always); 17 Be unceasing in prayer [praying perseveringly]; 18 Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will]. ”(AMPB).
Introduction:
This section of the letter has a very beautiful construction of the sentences. Rejoice always, pray continually, and Give thanks in all circumstances. Paul continued to write and exhort the believers at Thessalonica to be Joyful always, pray continually, and give thanks in all circumstances. These imperatives convey a human response toward God, recognition that God is the source of our joy and thanksgiving. Very memorable passage to read and easy to tell and remember at any time. These three precepts are easy when things are favorable and if everything goes well. But hard to practice at all times when things go wrong.
Paul exhorted Thessalonians to love God, act justly with everyone, and do the will of God with a grateful heart. No member in the congregation can be a lazy person and no one can sit idle in the congregation. Rejoicing, praying, giving thanks, discerning, and testing are the life of the believers. Paul emphasized a God-centered and action-oriented life. I wish we could have rejoiced a lot, pray often, and try to be thankful. God’s commandments in the Bible are beyond our ability to obey in the flesh, so we must rely on His indwelling Holy Spirit. All these are possible only when we are in Christ.
John Stott says that ‘these commands are not directed to us individually, but rather to the church regarding our public worship. It should be filled with joy, prayer, and thanksgiving.’ But I would like to say, ‘without doing it individually you can’t do it corporately.’ Matthew Henry says truly religious life is a life of constant joy. Our rejoicing is integrated with our prayer and praise. This is Christian perfection. We repeat them on a daily basis.
1. REJOICE ALWAYS
Is it possible to rejoice always, can we be upbeat and never feel sadness? No saint in the Bible rejoiced always. One person said that the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament is “Rejoice always” (1 Thessalonians 5:16), but another person said that the very shortest verse in the English New Testament is “Jesus wept.” (John 11:35).
We learn from the scriptures that Jesus prayed “with loud crying and tears” (Hebrews 5:7). Paul described himself as a man of sorrowful yet always rejoicing (2 Corinthians 6:10). He further said in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep.” So, rejoicing does not mean, denying your feelings, emotions, or outbursts, putting on a happy face, and never feeling sad. God brings sorrowful trials and discipline (Hebrews 12:11).
Maclaren says that there are two sources from which gladness may come, the one is circumstances of a pleasant and gladdening character, and the other is communion with God. Apostle James, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” (James 1:2-3). Paul wrote, “And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” (Romans 5:3-5). So, this command to rejoice always has to be viewed not primarily as a matter of feelings, but rather as an act of obedience and expression of Faith. Rejoicing always is a conscious attitude of contentment, hope, and happiness that comes from deliberately focusing on Christ and the eternal treasures that we have received freely from Him.
Disciples of Christ must cultivate the practice of the presence of God which leads to an overflow of joy. A wicked man rejoices in his wickedness, a hypocrite in his profession of religion, and the reputation he gains by it; and a legalist in his morality, civility, and obedience to the rituals of the law; for such rejoice in their boastings which are evil. But rejoice in the Lord Jesus Christ, in the greatness, fitness, fulness, and glory of his person, in his blood, righteousness, and sacrifice. Rejoice not in the things of this life, such as for a fitting physical body, for intellectual property, and for temporal blessings. But for that, your name is written in heaven, and you are redeemed by the blood of Christ, and called by his grace, and shall be glorified together with him, and shall live eternally (John Gill).
2. Pray Continually
Joke:
A man asked God, ‘What’s a million years to you, O Lord?’
God replied: A minute
The man asked: What a million rupees to you, O Lord?
God replied: One rupee
The man asked: O Lord give me one rupee?
God said: Surly but wait for a minute.
Christians must pray to make requests to God, uninterruptedly, regularly, and frequently. Prayer is intercession with the realization of God’s presence (1 Thessalonians 1:2, Ephesians 1:16). Jesus spent hours together in Prayer stations. He spent time in the mornings, evenings, midday, and all night. The words "prayer" and "pray" are used at least twenty-five times in connection with Jesus by the Gospel writers. Paul found that the Holy Spirit assisted him in prayer as he sought to know and do God’s will (Romans 8:14, 26).
Prayer does not mean always sitting down and having a very deep conversation with God but it is more attainable at any point in time and at any need arises for us. We feel God, recognize Him in our circumstances, and acknowledge Him at all times. We realize God’s presence, so it’s impossible for us to act outside of God’s will.
Naturally, this does not mean to be in a state of prayer during every waking moment. Rather, we ought to be in a constantly prayerful state, and frequently speaking to God in dedicated prayer. Prayer should be as much a part of our daily lives as breathing is. We can say short prayers. Whenever we think of a loved one or friend, say a short prayer for him or her. Whenever someone asks us to pray for some need, don’t promise to pray later and then forget. Pray right there with the person. Spend time in God’s word and prayer each morning. Be united in prayer with our prayer partner. Be devoted to prayer personally (Colossians 4:2). Persistent prayer, praying without ceasing, builds our faith. Daniel is the best example. He believed in private and corporate prayers, and he valued night prayers and practiced them (2:17–19). Daniel prayed on his knees three times a day (Daniel 6:10, Psalm 55:17).
Maclaren says to Pray continually not mechanically, not unworthy but in meaningful and profitable manners. Sometimes the deepest and truest communion with God is voiceless and wordless. To maintain and improve holy joy, be always in a spirit of prayer. Pray privately and publicly at all proper seasons. Hold hands together in prayer with your family, believing friends, and spiritual congregations to the throne of grace at all opportunities (Benson).
Matthew Henry says Prayer helps to take forward all lawful business and every good work. God designs all for our good. Prayer demands and calls for perseverance in prayer, praying with strength (Luke 18:1, Romans 12:12, Ephesians 6:18, Philippians 4:6, Colossians 4:2).
Psalm 90 reveals that Moses prayed for the teaching of life and death, satisfaction on a daily basis happiness in all situations by trusting God, and restoration equally to the period of loss and defeats through prayer.
3. Give Thanks in all Circumstances
The obligation of gratitude is a spiritual virtue. An average Christian does not recognize the importance of it. True believers should not forget the blessings of the past, yielding of old golden days. Think and praise God for the blessings of the children, the success of the business, and fruitfulness. The prospered things and turnings of the impossibilities in your life career. Praise God for all because of the love and grace of God. The unmerited favor is flown day after day. Think of the loving purposes of God and their fulfilments while you were passing through them. Give thanks for everything of the Past including failures, disappointments, and defeats. God does everything perfectly in our lives, which is the will of God. (Matthew Henry).
Personal Testimony (Rev. Dr. Andrew B. Natarajan): For almost three to four years, I lived with my failures, I could not pursue my studies successfully. I was running from one organization to another but was neither satisfied with what I was doing nor successful. I became a laughing stock. I desired to be a theological teacher but God put me back to Pastoral ministry. So, I learned to give thanks to the LORD for all my life struggles. Now when I look back all of my failures were good for me. They turned into blessings.
Jesus thanked God before going to Calvary. Habakkuk thanked God despite failure at every corner. Job praised God in the midst of bereavement, death, and loss of the properties, and people. We can thank God that all things work together for our good (Romans 8:28). We can thank God that God's grace is sufficient to sustain us in every circumstance (2 Corinthians 12:9). We can thank God because nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:37–39).
Matthew Henry: Give thanks for prospering and preventing; for common and uncommon, past and present, temporal and spiritual mercies.
Conclusion:
Remember all that God has done in your life, in your children, grandchildren, parents, and grandparents. Today who you are all because of who he is in your life. Rejoice, pray, and praise him without ceasing.
