May 31, 2023

Tonight our Bible study will be led by Robert Read, my friend and Assistant Pastor. I want to thank Robert in advance for what I know will be an interesting and helpful study.

Wednesday May 31, 2023

Exhortations to the Thessalonians and Christians

1 Thessalonians 5:11-22 (NKJV)

11 Therefore [b]comfort each other and [c]edify one another, just as you

also are doing.

12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among

you, and are over you in the Lord and [d]admonish you, 13 and to

esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace

among yourselves.

14 Now we [e]exhort you, brethren, warn those who

are [f]unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient

with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but

always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all

things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

(11) Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just

as you also are doing. Paul again tells us not to take comfort, but

to give comfort.

(12-13) And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who

labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish

you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s

sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

Leaders are recognized not by their title but by their service.

(14-15) Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are

unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient

with all. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but

always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

To exhort is to tell someone what they must do, but without

sharpness or a critical spirit.

2

(16-18) Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all

circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for

you. a. Rejoice always:

The Christian can rejoice always because their joy isn’t based in

circumstances, but in God. Circumstances change, but God doesn’t.

Philippians 4:4; Galatians 5:22; Romans 8:37-39; Acts 5:41; Matthew

5:11-12; Nehemiah 8:10; Romans 8:28; Romans 11:29; Revelation

22:1-5; Psalm 62:6

Pray without ceasing: Paul is not referring to non-stop talking, but

rather an attitude of God-consciousness and God-surrender that we

carry with us all the time.

Philippians 4:6; Colossians 4:2; Ephesians 6:18

There are many valuable implications from this command and those

implications are:

· The use of the voice is not an essential element in prayer.

· The posture of prayer is not of primary importance.

· The place of prayer is not of great importance.

· The particular time of prayer is not important.

· A Christian should never be in a place where he could not pray.

In everything give thanks: We don’t give thanks for everything,

but in everything. We recognize God’s sovereign hand is in charge,

and not blind fate or chance.