Rejoice Always

1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

1. And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labour 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.
2. Be at peace among yourselves.
3. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly,
4. comfort the fainthearted,
5. uphold the weak,
6. be patient with all.
7. See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

1. Rejoice always,
2. pray without ceasing,
3. in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
4. Do not quench the Spirit.
5. Do not despise prophecies.
6. Test all things; hold fast what is good.
7. Abstain from every form of evil.

[1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NKJV]

In ‘Be Thankful And Give Thanks’, we noted that the final group of verses written by Paul in 1 Thessalonians, formed a group of seven denoting a whole, a completion, but in fact there are two groups of seven to be discovered in chapter 5:12-22. The first group can be seen as an exhortation; an urging for our earnest attention, while the second are instructions — essentials for the journey — which, if put into practice, will help in guiding us in dealing with the exhortations.

For example, how can I be patient with all if it is not within me to do? Only by the Holy Spirit working through me will the longsuffering fruit of the Spirit enable me to overcome my natural impatience with all. Furthermore, we can learn much by the order in which the second grouping is presented.

Do not quench the Spirit is central to our discernment and all that we are accomplishing for The Lord. Without the intimate voice of the Holy Spirit, we can do nothing. However, to be ‘in the Spirit’, we must be in ‘the right spirit’, having a heart that is praising and rejoicing, ever praying and giving thanks — three things that have us effectively ‘abiding in Christ’.

But having that relationship with Jesus Christ means that we can lose it unless we take four conscious steps to avoid that outcome — two ‘do not’s’, which would otherwise leave us rudderless in the sea of humanity, and two aspects of spiritual discernment — Hold the good; reject the bad.

This is Paul’s checklist for the journey, as it were, which if I bear in mind can be a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. [Psalm 119:105 NKJV]

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A HOLY CONDITION: Oswald Chambers on Peace
Life in the Spirit

Lord, may I be full of calm peace which comes from knowing that You reign.
[from ‘Knocking at God’s Door’]

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“Rejoice In The Lord Alway” — George Rathbone

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‘Meditate on these things’

1 CORINTHIANS 15:20-23
But now Christ is risen from the dead, and has become the firstfruits of those who have fallen asleep.
For since by man came death, by Man also came the resurrection of the dead. For as in Adam all die, even so in Christ all shall be made alive.
But each one in his own order: Christ the firstfruits, afterward those who are Christ's at His coming.