1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18
UNCEASING REJOICING, PRAYER & THANKSGIVING
“Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
Our passage is a series of brief, staccato commands for Christian living. It contains three imperative or forceful commands directing our attitudes and actions if we would live in God’s will. Do you know what is God’s will for you? Paul succinctly defines it as praying without ceasing, giving thanks in everything and rejoicing always. These are inner attitudes that Christians can daily choose by yielding to the Spirit until they become abiding and constant.
These brief but pointed admonitions in our passage hold for us the secret of a peaceful heart amid the turmoil and clamor of a hectic world. The instructions of these verses are to be woven into our daily life until the become part of the very fabric of who we are. Rejoicing, praying, and thanking should all be facets of our continuous daily attitude and life.
I. ALWAYS JOYFUL, 5:16.
II. ALWAYS PRAYERFUL, 5:17.
III. ALWAYS THANKFUL, 5:18.
The first attitude listed in verse 16 that the Holy Spirit creates in yielding believers is supernatural joy. “Rejoice always,
A result of continual yielding to Christ is the spiritual fruit of joy (Gal. 5:21). This daily living in Christ enables us to rejoice always, even when we are unhappy. And this rejoicing in Christ is something we can choose to have, whatever the tone of our feelings. It really becomes a matter of obedience. Christian joy is not bound by circumstances or hindered by difficulties. When the believer surrenders daily to live for Christ the Holy Spirit creates a supernatural joy, a shalom or wellness of soul that is not usurped by adversity or affliction (2 Cor. 4:16-18). Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation but be of good cheer for I have overcome the world” (Jn. 16:33). In Christ we not only have joy, but the enabling to be more and more joyful. As Paul commanded the Philippians, “Rejoice in the Lord always, Again I say rejoice!”
II. ALWAYS PRAYERFUL
The second attitude of this spiritual development is in verse 17 where we are command to live in spiritual communion with Christ. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, ...”
This frequently misunderstood verse does not mean that one is to be praying every minute, nor does it necessarily call for an individual’s maintaining always an attitude of prayer (Luke 11:1). Some believe the verse insist upon an uninterrupted practice of prayer regarding all matters. Obviously, to pray without ceasing means something other than constantly saying prayers, or the command is an impossibility. J. B. Lightfoot clarifies this point in his oft quoted “it is not in the moving of the lips, but in the elevation of the heart to God, that the essence of prayer consists.” But having made the distinction between saying prayers and praying with the heart, the question of unceasing prayer demands deeper reflection. To pray without ceasing establishes prayer, not as a part of the Christian life, but as all of it. [To pray day and night, in good times and in bad, without cessation or interruption, is not the experience of most people I know. Is this just a high ideal to be achieved by a few spiritual super athletes, or is it within the reach of ordinary folks like us?]
How do I pray without ceasing? The discipline of unceasing prayer to me means nothing less than practicing the presence of God in everything that we do. I wish I could tell you that I’ve achieved this in daily practice. I haven’t, but I’m growing, and I’ve been helped by Henri Nouwen. Nouwen encourages the goal of converting our unceasing thinking into unceasing communion or prayer. This fellowship does not mean that we learn to direct our minds constantly to God. It means, rather, “to think and live in the presence of God” (Henri Nouwen, Clowning in Rome (New York: Image Books, 1979. p. 70). This continual awareness of God’s presence means to live with a growing awareness that God is always present with you. It is to grow in our openness to God—to bring consciously all of our life into His presence, (including our feelings, thoughts, words & deeds). [Think of the analogy of love. When one is truly in love with another, there is an unceasing awareness of the other.] This awareness does not mean that we are consciously engaged in thinking of God, but an awareness that the presence of God is with us constantly.
All our life is to be oriented around and lived in fellowship with God’s Spirit. Such a constant awareness will require certain disciplines of devotion or prayer. You begin by dying to self by the power of the cross. Then you present yourself to God’s Presence, to love and worship Him, to offer all you are are, or doing or bearing to Him & placing your mind, body, soul & strength at His feet. [The 17th century French writer Francois Fénelon wrote about it also.] Daily periods of intentional prayer, reflection, & meditation are essential to establish the climate of unceasing prayer for the rest of the day. Daily Scripture reading also is well established as an essential discipline if we would walk in the Spirit. It is also helpful to begin each day with a prayer to be consciously constantly in Jesus’ presence during the day. [Nouwen found the daily Eucharist, a practice perhaps all too foreign to us Protestants, as essential to the climate of prayer in his life.] [Demarest, G. W., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1984). 1, 2 Thessalonians / 1, 2 Timothy / Titus (Vol. 32, pp. 97-99). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.] By the Spirit of God we can train ourselves to maintain an awareness of the Lord’s Presence with us throughout the day and talk w/ Him as we are able. The discipline of unceasing prayer means nothing less than practicing the presence of God in us and in everything that we do. [More about Unceasing Prayer can be found in My book, Without Ceasing, Dennis Davidson from Amazon.com/books]
III. ALWAYS THANKFUL
The two previous commands deal with one’s time (“always” and “continually”); this one deals with his circumstances. The next command in verse 18 requires trust in the sovereignty of Christ. “....give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”
“In everything” (en panti) carries the idea of “on every occasion” or “in every set of circumstances.” Christians are to give thanks to God in every circumstance of life. In every thing, even in what seems adverse (Eph 5:20).
Note that the text says in everything, not for everything. The giving of thanks in all things does not imply that all things are good but it recognizes God’s eminence in all things. The Christian is charged with the giving of thanks because of his confidence in the purpose and the providence of God in any and every circumstance of life. The fact that God works everything together for good for those who love Him is the basis for this entreaty (Rom 8:28–39).
While I may not be able to give thanks for all of the things that happen, I can give thanks in everything for the confidence that God is always present and is always at work for good. [God Himself is not thankful for everything that happens. Things that happen because of the sinfulness or selfishness of ourselves or others need to be repented of (changed) & not accepted.]
Through many great dramas the Bible teaches the belief that God is at work for good in the lives of His people, no matter what. There was nothing good in Joseph’s brothers selling him to the Ishmaelite traders. There was nothing good about the injustices he experienced from Potiphar’s wife. But, in retrospect, Joseph could say of it all: “You meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20). This belief is articulated powerfully by Paul: “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God” (Rom. 8:28). Our translation tends to make “all things” the subject rather than “God.” A better translation is that “in everything, God is at work for good.” We must never forget that God is at work in and through, and often in spite of the “things.” Thanksgiving is always possible for God has willed it in those who have received the gift of the Lord Jesus Christ. [See Christ’s example (Mt 15:36; 26:27; Lk 10:21; Jn 11:41).]
Gratitude is a life-changing, happiness inducing choice. The famous Bible scholar Matthew Henry wrote theses words in his diary after he was robbed of all the money he had in the world: “First, let me be thankful because I was never robbed before. Second, because although they took my wallet, they did not take my life. Third, though they took all I had, it was not much. Fourth, because it was I who was robbed, not I that did the robbing.”
What a winning attitude. Are you a joyful, prayerful & thankful person? If not, do something about it. Surrender yourself afresh to the Spirit of God & let the power of His death on the Cross & His resurrection to new life change you.
IN CLOSING
To rejoice always, to pray without ceasing, and to give thanks in everything “is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Obedience to these three commands is difficult. But Christ calls us to a life of joy, prayer, and gratitude. Nothing worthwhile is ever easy, but the rewards of obedience to these commands are rich and full. [Demarest, G. W., & Ogilvie, L. J. (1984). 1, 2 Thessalonians / 1, 2 Timothy / Titus (Vol. 32, pp.99). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc.]
Again, these three exhortations are not just good advice; they are God’s will for every Christian. They are not the totality of God’s will, but they are a clear and important segment of it. God’s will means joy, prayer, and thanksgiving for those who are in Christ Jesus. [ Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 709). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.]
