1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Rejoice always,

1 Thessalonians 5:16

Final Instructions

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. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

Do not quench the Spirit. Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good, reject every kind of evil.

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. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.

Brothers and sisters, pray for us. Greet all God’s people with a holy kiss. I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

New International Version

For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17

Always Be Joyful

‘Always be joyful (rejoice). Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.’

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
  • In this Scripture we read about the keys to success in life.
  • Moaning, complaining, and negativity robs us of the victorious life He has for us.
  • But rejoicing, being prayerful and thankful, brings us out on top.
  • Don’t settle for the mud and mire, lift up your hands, rejoice and be thankful.

PRAYER: Lord, today I choose to rejoice, I choose to continue believing You as I pray and bring my requests to You, and I choose to have a thankful heart. I will look to You, in all Your wonder and glory, and remind myself of Your greatness and Your love for me. Amen.

Prophecies

Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good.

1 Thessalonians 5:20-21 (NLT)

Prophecies are not limited to just the end times. They include anything God reveals about the future. Many predictions are made in the name of God about life. Unless they are clearly verified by God’s Word, accept them with extreme caution. God only speaks from the context of His Word. He never says anything that contradicts or conflicts with His Word. Never. Therefore, be discerning about what you believe about the future. Test what you hear in light of God’s Word. If His Word is in agreement, then you have reason to believe it is true. So many of us are way too quick to accept and believe what we hear simply because someone who is supposed to know what he is talking about says it. Examine everything you hear in light of what God has already said.

sky blue with sun rays of sunshine

One of the sure ways of knowing that the Bible is true is the way history has unfolded in light of the prophecies of the prophets of old. We read often of what they said was going to happen and it did. The Bible is historically accurate on all it proclaims. It can be trusted to be accurate on all the prophecies not yet fulfilled.

Everything that God has proclaimed is both true and good. Do not let Satan confuse you about it. Don’t doubt God’s Word, no matter how convincing someone’s words may be. All Scripture comes directly from the mind and heart of God. It is absolutely true in everything it says from beginning to end. Unless you stand on that truth, you will be led astray. It is very important that we understand this, especially in these days, because we live amongst so many smooth talkers and people who have personality plus. If we are not careful, we get caught up by the messenger instead of the message.

Prophecies are anything that speaks of what God is going to do. Pay attention to them, but always put what man says about them to the test of God’s Word. Be wary of anyone who adds to or takes away from what God has already said.

God never contradicts himself. If there seems to be a problem with what has been said, the problem is with man’s understanding, not with what God has said. God is absolutely trustworthy in everything He declares. If He said it happened, it happened. If He says something is going to happen, it will.

Hold on to that which is true and good. Let it guide your living.

Jim Hughes
https://cthroughmarriage.blogspot.com