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IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS

1 Thessalonians 5:18

This last May Lynette and I were privileged to have visited Athens Greece. It was an amazing city that boasts of many important Bible times stories. We stood where Paul preached in a couple of places there…

Our President visited there this week too, but I think Lynette and I had more fun than he did…

Just a few hundred miles north of Athens is the modern day city of Thessaloniki, Greece. Twenty years after the resurrection of Christ the Apostle Paul arrived in Thessalonica, now renamed Thessaloniki, and began to preach to the people there. In only three weeks, the Apostle was driven from the City… But… Believers are STILL there… Still teaching the Gospel… And will until the Day of Jesus Christ!

Even in the midst of horrible persecution, the Apostle challenged them to give thanks in everything… NO MATTER THEIR CIRCUMSTANCES!

In 1 Thessalonians 5:18 he instructs them:

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

How in the world can Paul expect us to give thanks, no matter what?

Some very practical principles are found both before and after this amazingcommand.

1Th 5:16 Rejoice always,

  • This is an attitude… A decision… A determination…
  • To obey this command is to tell your heart what to feel, not follow your heart into sin…
  • Guzik - Not only rejoicing in happy things, but in sorrows also. The Christian can rejoice always because their joy isn’t based in circumstances, but in God. Circumstances change, but God doesn’t.
  • I have seen believers rejoice at their weddings… I have seen believers rejoice at their spouse’s funerals too. IT IS A DECISION!

SECONDLY…

1Th 5:17 pray without ceasing,

  • One of the ways that our enemies mock us is to accuse us of thinking: “Everything will be fine… Just read the Bible and pray!”
  • What an awful thing to think, right?
  • Listen to God…. AND… Talk to Him too!
  • The Expositor’s Bible - Prayer, we know, when we take it in the widest sense, is the primary mark of the Christian. "Behold, he prayeth," the Lord said of Saul, when He wished to convince Ananias that there was no mistake about his conversion.
  • One of the true signs of a true believer is that they pray!

So… If you want to be able to give thanks in all things – Rejoice, & pray

Our text…

1Th 5:18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

THIRDLY…

1Th 5:19 Do not quench the Spirit.

Guzik - This command is based on the familiar image of the Holy Spirit as a fire or a flame. Though there is a sense in which fire cannot be created, we can provide the environment in which it can burn brightly. Yet a flame can be extinguished when it is ignored and no longer tended, or when the flame is overwhelmed by something else.

  • Those of us who go camping know exactly how to quench a flame. You simply overwhelm the flame with anything else:
  • Water… Dirt… Neglect…
  • It is amazing how often at family camp, while sitting around the campfire, it goes dormant…
  • THAT should never describe us, CCSV
  • Let’s pay attention to the Holy Spirit and be responsive to Him!
  • If we are going to give thanks in all things we need to keep our relationship with God in good condition!

Fourth…

1Th 5:20 Do not despise prophecies. (NLT) Do not scoff at prophecies,

  • Three ways to interpret this verse:
  • 1. Courson - Some scoff at the gift of tongues or words of wisdom. They do so to their own spiritual poverty because those who fail to acknowledge the manifestations of the Spirit actually quench His presence in their own lives.
  • If you believe in the gifts of the Spirit… Don’t ignore this one!
  • 2. Gill - "prophecies"; the prophecies of the Old Testament concerning the first coming of Christ, concerning his person, office, and work, his obedience, sufferings, and death, his resurrection from the dead, ascension and session at God's right hand; for though all these are fulfilled, yet they have still their usefulness; for by comparing these with facts, the perfections of God, his omniscience, truth, faithfulness, wisdom, &c. are demonstrated, the authority of the Scriptures established, the truths of the Gospel illustrated and confirmed, and faith strengthened;
  • If you believe the Bible, there are real truths to be found in its pages… Especially the pages of the Old Testament.
  • 3. Matthew Henry - By prophesyings, here understand the preaching of the word, the interpreting and applying the Scriptures.

FIFTH…

1Th 5:21 Test all things; hold fast what is good.

  • The word “Test” here is the same word used for proving that metal is good…
  • Those of you who buy old cars… How do you test the body for rust and for body filler?
  • What do you do when you find big areas of rust? Paint over it? Sell it quickly? Or do you cut the rust out and replace it with good?
  • What should you do if you find a lot of rust in a car you are thinking of buying?
  • Don’t hold on to it!
  • Test what you believe!!!!!
  • The gospel can handle being tested…
  • Guzik - Between the time Paul last saw the Thessalonians and the writing of this letter, he had spent time in Berea (Act_17:10-12). There, the Christians were of a noble character because they heard Paul’s preaching and diligently searched the Scriptures to see if what he said was true. Paul wanted the Thessalonians to have more of the heart and mind of the Bereans.

If you want to give thanks in all things… Your faith must be the real deal!

LASTLY…

1Th 5:22 Abstain from every form of evil. (CEV) and don't have anything to do with evil.

  • Courson - If you want to be used by the Lord, you must deal with the issue of appearances. You might be innocent, but if anything you're doing even appears evil, it can compromise your usefulness.
  • Adam Clark- Sin not, and avoid even the appearance of it. Do not drive your morality so near the bounds of evil as to lead even weak persons to believe that ye actually touch, taste, or handle it.

To avoid the appearance of evil, or every form of evil, I think means to stay far away from evil. We don’t need to become legalistic regarding what others may perceive to be evil. But we do need to remain aware of our witness to the world and of our duty to support fellow believers.

We should also be aware of our own tendencies toward sin. Rather than flirting with what could lead us into sin, we avoid evil altogether.

It is important not to judge others without first judging our own hearts and motives (Matthew 7:1-5).

SO… As we approach Thanksgiving this week, Let’s back up to V16 and review our game plan:

Rejoice always,

pray without ceasing,

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise prophecies.

Test all things; hold fast what is good.

Abstain from every form of evil.

23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Amen