1 Thessalonians 5 - How Can I Pray Unceasingly?
1 Thessalonians 5 NIV
The Day of the Lord
5 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.
Paul concludes his letter to the Thessalonians with teaching about the Day of the Lord. This is referring to the day Jesus will return. Like today, they were curious about when this would happen. There have been many people over the last 2,000 years who have been bold in predicting an exact date, like Harold Camping, who predicted the date of Jesus' return would be September 6th, 1994. When the date passed without incident, he then predicted May 21, 2011. Alas, he was wrong again. Such has been the fate of anyone who has attempted to predict when Jesus would return. The one thing about all such prognosticators is that they have all been 100% wrong.
When Jesus was on the earth he said, "It is not for you to know the times and dates of my return, only the Father in heaven knows." Matthew 25:13
But Paul gives us a prescription for being ready for Jesus' return. He says, "Jesus will return like a thief in the night." He will come when he is least expected. It may even be a time of peace and prosperity. But the main thing is he will come again.
4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
Paul tells them they should not be surprised by Jesus' return because they are children of the light. Though they cannot not know the date or the time, they could be ready by continuing to live in the light. He urges them to be awake and sober, not drunk.
Paul tells them to not be like the others "who are asleep"? Who is he referring to? It appears he is referring to believers who are toying with life in the darkness.
Paul used a different word here than for the sleep of death mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. “The word sleep is here used metaphorically to denote indifference to spiritual realities on the part of believers. It is a different word than that in 4:13-15 for the sleep of death. It covers all sorts of moral and spiritual laxity or insensibility.” (Hiebert)
Paul uses very similar language to Ephesians 6 when he talks about "putting on the armor of God". The qualities of love and faith protect our hearts, which is our most important organ outside of the brain. The hope of salvation protects our brain and/or the thoughts of our minds. 1 Corinthians 13 Paul says, "Faith, hope and love, the greatest of these is love."
How do we live that out in our churches? Paul says to, "Encourage each other and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing". I love the word "building each other up". There are those in your life who "build you up". And, those who "tear you down". I think you know who you should spend the most time with. As I have said many times before, "Christianity is not for lone rangers". Most people who go back to the things of the world have no one in their life to encourage and build them up.
The word for "build up" is edify. It is the same word we use when we say the Word of God builds up. It is the same word "edifice". When a house or structure has a strong edifice is secure.
Final Instructions
12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for 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. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Again Paul talks about those who "work hard". This is where the term "Christian work ethic" comes from. What does this mean?
A Christian work ethic is a set of principles based on the Bible that emphasizes working diligently, with integrity, and for the glory of God, not just for human approval. It involves performing all tasks "heartily, as unto the Lord" and includes diligence, honesty, excellence, and a sense of responsibility. This ethic views work as a gift from God and a way to serve others and glorify Him. - Google AI
Specifically Paul is referring to the Christian workers among them.
Those who labor among you. Leaders are recognized not by their title but by their service. A title is fine; but only if the title is true and if the title describes what that person really is before God and man. - Guzik
Paul then gives general and practical instruction for their life together in Christian community. It is as we live with others in community, we live out our discipleship to Christ. Note the different qualities mentioned here. Paul urges them to be "Peaceful, warn those who are lazy, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, and be patient with everyone."
Would these characteristics describe you? When we apply these teachings, our churches will never become divisive or divided. No one want to belong to a divisive church. People see enough divisiveness and discouragement in the world with things like politics. This is also why though its great to watch church online, I would urge those who do so to have other av avenues for fellowship and be encouraged and built up!
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not treat prophecies with contempt 21 but test them all; hold on to what is good, 22 reject every kind of evil.
We all wonder what God's will is. Sometimes we take so much trying to figure out "God's will" that we don't do anything. In 90% of the matters of our daily life God's will is pretty simple and specific.
Paul gives three aspects of God's will.
1. Rejoice Always. To rejoice is the command to have joy in you, even when you don't feel like it. Our source of joy is Jesus, which is why even in hard times we can have joy. "The joy of the Lord is your strength." Nehemiah 8:10 Do you need to rejoice today? Start with all the gifts God has given us in Christ.
2. Pray continually. Another translation says, "Pray unceasingly." You might ask, "How can I pray all day? After all I have to work and have other responsibilities". I think a good way to put this would be, "be prayerful". Or, "have an attitude of prayer". What does this mean?
You can give pray for people when you are driving, but keep your eyes on the road. If you are meeting someone going through a really hard time, you could pray for a simple prayer them. You can pray before important meetings or conversations with others. There are virtually endless ways you can pray.
I have found when I go through my day with an attitude and a readiness to pray, my day goes so much better.
3. Give thanks in all circumstances.
We might call this having an "attitude of gratitude". One of the foundational principles of twelve groups, like A.A., is gratitude. The bottom line is if we stay grateful, we are less likely to feel like we need the things that the world offers. We can be grateful for the car(s) we have. We can be grateful for our spouse and if we have children. We can be grateful for food, clothing, and a roof over our heads.
Note none of these are perfect and they let us down, but if we remain grateful and never take these for granted we can remain thankful.
Paul does not say to exhibit these qualities some of the time, or when you feel like it. He says, "Always, continually, and in all circumstances. Again God has never asked us to do something he hasn't equipped and empowered us to do.
Finally, Paul says to "not quench the Holy Spirit". What does this mean? This implies that the opposite is to listen to and be led by the Holy Spirit. To quench the Spirit is to deny him access to your life. The Holy Spirit is our comforter, guide, and power to live the Christian life, but if we deny the Spirit, we are left only to our life in the flesh.
To not quench the Holy Spirit means we need to be continually filled with the Holy Spirit. You are filled with the Holy Spirit when you become a believer, but we need "refills". Paul says,
"Keep on being filled with the Holy Spirit!" - Ephesians 5:18
The Holy Spirit is a person of the Trinity, which is why we can have a relationship with the Holy Spirit like the Father and the Son. This is why I often pray and ask the Holy Spirit to be with me. I pray simply, 'Come Holy Spirit fill Your church. Come Holy Spirit fill me"
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. 25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Paul closes with the all the things God does for us He is the source of our grace and peace through Christ. Importantly Paul says, "The one who calls you is God is faithful." Philippians 1:6 says the same thing, "He who began a good work in your will be faithful to complete it!"
My prayer is that all of us would heed Paul's warnings, his exhortations, and his assurance of salvation in Christ! Let's have an attitude of gratitude over the holiday season. There are so many reasons we have to be thankful. Rejoice in that fact that in a little over a month we will celebrate that God became one of us. How cool is that!
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