Message 11 - 1 Thessalonians Chapter 5:15-17 – Vengeance, Rejoicing Always, And Praying Without Ceasing Series

MESSAGE 11 - 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:15-17 – VENGEANCE, REJOICING ALWAYS, AND PRAYING WITHOUT CEASING

There is a fair bit of scripture in this message. It deals with vengeance, injustice, persecution and rejoicing and we look at a lot of verses dealing with those matters.

PART 1

{{1Thessalonians 5:15 “See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all men.”}}

Vengeance is mine. I will repay. This was penned to the Romans by Paul – {{Romans 12:16-21 “Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation. Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men. If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men. Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord, but if your enemy is hungry, feed him, and if he is thirsty, give him a drink, for in so doing you will heap burning coals upon his head. Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”}}

The thoughts in verse 15 go to motive – not revenge, but seek to make things good and to do good. “for one another” includes fellow Christians and the wider community. How to do that? This is not easy and we are often not too successful. Well for Christians, it is incorporating what Paul has already given in this letter. There is a code of justice that operates for Christians and always among them. For outsiders, we can seek their betterment in trying to improve the lot of others by highlighting injustice and improvements. It means not only addressing the physical problems like working for the homeless, but addressing moral issues like writing to politicians about homosexuality, to give one example.

Christians often find it a difficult matter to get involved in community and national improvement. Politics is dirty. We don’t easily relate to non-Christians and our views are too often considered as right wing, homophobic, and of wowser value. In our Christian community we must be very diligent to ensure that verse 15 is operating. Christians must not defraud one another; they must consider others of more importance than themselves; we attend to the sick and those laid aside.

Injustice in this world is not new. It is as old as mankind is, shown by Cain when he rose up against Abel. The world all goes about with its standard of cheating each other but this is not the Christian way. We must seek God’s help in steering through the world’s injustice like navigating an iceberg field. We have been considering much the injustice that was in Israel and Judah in the Minor Prophets. These prophets spoke out constantly against the injustices of their own people. Here are two passages showing their injustice -

{{Micah 3:1 I said, “Hear now, heads of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, is it not for you to know justice? Mic 3:2 You who hate good and love evil, who tear off their skin from them and their flesh from their bones, Mic 3:3 and who eat the flesh of my people, strip off their skin from them, break their bones, and chop them up as for the pot, and as meat in a kettle.” Mic 3:4 Then they will cry out to the LORD, but He will not answer them. Instead, He will hide His face from them at that time because they have practised evil deeds. Mic 3:5 Thus says the LORD concerning the prophets who lead my people astray, when they have something to bite with their teeth, they cry, “Peace,” but against him who puts nothing in their mouths, they declare holy war. Mic 3:6 Therefore it will be night for you - without vision, and darkness for you - without divination. The sun will go down on the prophets, and the day will become dark over them. Mic 3:7 The seers will be ashamed and the diviners will be embarrassed. Indeed, they will all cover their mouths because there is no answer from God. Mic 3:8 On the other hand, I am filled with power - with the Spirit of the LORD - and with justice and courage to make known to Jacob his rebellious act, even to Israel, his sin. Mic. 3:9 Now hear this, heads of the house of Jacob and rulers of the house of Israel, who abhor justice and twist everything that is straight, Mic. 3:10 who build Zion with bloodshed and Jerusalem with violent injustice. Mic. 3:11 Her leaders pronounce judgment for a bribe; her priests instruct for a price; and her prophets divine for money. Yet they lean on the LORD saying, “Is not the LORD in our midst? Calamity will not come upon us.” Mic. 3:12 Therefore, on account of you, Zion will be ploughed as a field; Jerusalem will become a heap of ruins; and the mountain of the temple will become high places of a forest.”}}