1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 Click here for Bible Verses
Hi GAMErs!
Today’s passage is 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28. Let’s go!
1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (NIV)
12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you.
13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.
On verses 12-13: This past weekend I got to witness one of our ministry teams at Thrive honouring their team leader and thanking her for her hard work leading them. It was cool to see verses 12-13 lived out that way. For how we treat our church leaders is a reflection of our character, maturity and commitment to Jesus and His church.
1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NIV)
14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone.
On verse 14: When you notice other brothers and sisters in the church who may seem idle, timid, or weak in a certain area, be patient with them. In addition, be sensitive to what they need: in some cases what they may need is a warning, in some cases encouragement, and in other cases other help. May the Holy Spirit give you a discerning heart to know what those around you need and how best to give it to them.
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NIV)
15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.
On verse 15: We must encourage one another not to seek revenge against those who hurt us, but to exercise the mercy and kindness Jesus showed us.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NIV)
16 Be joyful always;
17 pray continually;
18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
On verses 16-18: Every Christian should memorize these verses. Notice that joy is not a feeling but a choice. We must make the choice to rejoice. Notice also verse 18 does not tell us to feel thankful, but rather to give thanks. In every situation, no matter how tough, there is always something to be thankful for.
Verse 18 says “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus”. Many Christians like to ask, “What is God’s will for my life?” The answer is here in verse 18: God’s will is that you would be a joyful, prayerful, thankful person. “But that’s not specific enough, Lord! What about my career and what I should do with the rest of my life?” God’s will begins with your character, not your career. So here’s a suggestion: do the best you can with what you have right now and aim to be the most joyful, prayerful and thankful person as you do it. God will reveal His next step for you as you live out this part of His will. For until you learn to be joyful, prayerful, and thankful, you will miss much of the other parts of God’s will for your life.
1 Thessalonians 5:19-22 (NIV)
19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire;
20 do not treat prophecies with contempt.
21 Test everything. Hold on to the good.
22 Avoid every kind of evil.
On verses 19-22: Paul gives his church in Thessalonica some guidance on how to approach prophecy. First, don’t look at prophecy with cynicism or disdain. Doing so will put out the Spirit’s fire in your life. Instead, when you receive what someone claims to be a prophetic word, test what you hear against Scripture and the character of Christ. Hold on to those parts which are good, and ignore any part that is evil.
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 (NIV)
23 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.
24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.
On verses 23-24: God is in the business not just of saving us, but sanctifying us (that is, setting us apart and making us like Christ in our character). This work of sanctification is not something we can do in our own strength. Rather it is something God does in our lives when we give Him room to do so.
That concludes our look at the book of 1 Thessalonians. What were the most important lessons you learned from this book?
Lord Jesus, thank You that You are coming soon. May I be joyful always, pray continually and give thanks in all circumstances, for this is Your will for me. May I have a healthy and mature view toward prophecy as well. Thank You that You are in the process of sanctifying me and making me more like Jesus. Thank You that You are faithful to complete that process one day. In Jesus’ name, AMEN!
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