REJOICE AND PRAY AND GIVE THANKS

PROCLAMATION

“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, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 (NIV)

 

EXPLANATION

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  Paul begins the fifth and final chapter of this letter by stating that he does not have to remind them that the day of The Lord is coming for they are children of the light. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8)  He encouraged them to build one another up, just as they were already doing.  He also told them to acknowledge those among them who work hard for The Lord and to hold them in high regard. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)  Then he urged them to warn the wrongdoers, to help the weak, to encourage the down-hearted, and to be patient with everyone.  Finally he told them to rejoice always, to pray continually, and to give thanks to God in all situations. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18)  He said that they should hold on to that which is good and reject every kind of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:21-22)

 

APPLICATION

We should acknowledge those among us who are doing a good job and warn those who are doing poorly.  We should encourage the depressed and help those who are in need.  Remember the old saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go you or I.”  We should always be patient with others, for at some point in our lives someone was patient with us.  Believers should not walk around with a negative attitude.  We are to rejoice because everything is going to work out in our favor and for our good. (Romans 8:28)  So we should count everything as a joy, even our storms, trials, and tribulations. (James 1:2)  We should have a prayerful attitude and pray often about everything. (Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, and 1 Thessalonians 5:15)  We should also acknowledge that God’s hand is in everything (Proverbs 3:6) and then we should thank Him for everything. (1 Chronicles 16:8, Psalm 92:1, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)  Everything that happens is either a blessing or a lesson to be learned.

WE SHOULD REJOICE PRAY AND GIVE THANKS

Proclamation:

“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, and give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”  1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 (NIV)

Explanation:

These words were written by the apostle Paul, under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica.  Paul begins this fifth and final chapter in this letter by stating that he does not have to remind them that the day of The Lord is coming for they are children of the light. (1 Thessalonians 5:1-8)  He encouraged them to build one another up, just as they were already doing.  He also told them to acknowledge those among them who work hard for The Lord and to hold them in high regard. (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13)  Then he urged them to warn the wrongdoers, to help the weak, to encourage the down-hearted, and to be patient with everyone.  Then he told them to rejoice always, to pray continually, and to give thanks to God in all situations. (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18) 

Application:

We should acknowledge those who are doing a good job, and warn those who are doing poorly.  We should encourage the depressed and help those who are in need.  Remember the old saying, “There, but for the grace of God, go you or I.”  We should always be patient with others, for at some point in our lives someone was patient with us.  Believers should not walk around with a negative attitude.  We are to rejoice, everything is going to work out in our favor. (Romans 8:28)  So we should count everything as a joy, even our trials and tribulations. (James 1:2)  We should have a prayerful attitude and pray about everything. (Luke 18:1, Ephesians 6:18, and 1 Thessalonians 5:15)  We should also acknowledge God’s hand in everything (Proverbs 3:6) and then we should thank Him for everything. (1 Chronicles 16:8, Psalm 92:1, and 1 Thessalonians 5:18)

REJOICE AND PRAISE THE LORD FOR HIS STRENGTH AND POWER

Proclamation:

“Be exalted in Your strength, Lord; we will sing and praise Your might.” Psalm 21:13 (NIV)

Explanation:

This psalm is a song which was written under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God by King David to be sung by the people after he was victorious in battle.  This is the companion song along with Psalm 20 that was part of the prayer and praise that the people did for their king before (Psalm 20) and after (Psalm 21) the victory in the holy wars.  This is a psalm of thanksgiving and celebration for The Lord God answering their prayer for the victory.  This psalm begins by finding joy and rejoicing in the strength of The Lord and it ends with the people singing, praising, and exalting The Lord because of His strength and power.  It also addresses and anticipates future victories. (Psalm 21:8)

Application:

Jesus, The Christ, said that all power in heaven and in earth was given to Him. (Matthew 28:18)  As believers we know that The Lord God is omnipotent.  He said things that are impossible for men are possible with God, for with God all things are possible. (Mark 10:27)  Given all that He has created and all that He has done, including all that He has done for us, we ought to also sing and shout praises to Him and exalt His holy and righteous name.  For those whom we pray for, afterwards we should also pray and give God thanks for working things out for them and for giving them the victory.   

Trials That Refine Strengthen Purify And Prove

"In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.  These have come so that your faith, of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire, may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed."  1 Peter 1:6-7 (NIV)

While writing under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Peter told the believers that they should rejoice in their sufferings.  He said that their suffering was just a brief trial in a refining fire which was designed to purify them and strength their faith

Under the influence of The Holy Spirit of God, the Apostle Peter wrote that although we may suffer grief, trials, tribulations, and troubles, for a little while, we should rejoice because we are put through these things in order to refine, strengthen, purify, and prove our faith in Christ.  He also said that if we keep the faith, and pass our tests, we will be rewarded when we see Jesus.

Rewarded For Being Persecuted For Doing Good

"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me.  Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you."  Matthew 5:10-12 (NIV)

According to the Apostle Matthew, in The Sermon on The Mount Jesus taught that those who were persecuted because of righteous behavior would be blessed and they would be granted access to heaven.  He also said that when they were physically or verbally abused, or lied on because of Him, that they should rejoice and be very glad, for they will be greatly rewarded in heaven.  Remember that Christ and the prophets were persecuted.

There are places in the world today where Christian behavior is not tolerated.  Some Christians are still being physically abused because of their belief, and others are verbally and emotionally abused.  Those who are ostracized, persecuted, or abused in any way for exhibiting Christ-like behavior will be blessed. (James 5:10-11 and 1 Peter 4:12-16)  We should not be surprised that the world hates us for being Christ-like, because the world hated Christ. (John 7:7, John 15:18, and 1 John 3:13)  While it is not pleasant to endure, we should delight in persecution and abuse for our belief in Christ, just as the Apostle Paul did, when we recognize that Christ suffered for us, He is always with us, and He will reward us for persevering through it. (2 Corinthians 12:10)  It is not easy to turn the other cheek, to patiently and humbly endure abuse and persecution, but that is what we are taught to do. (Matthew 5:39)  However, for doing so, we will be blessed and great will be our reward in heaven.  

God's Favor Sourrounds The Righteous

"But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy.  Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You.  For surely, O LORD, You bless the righteous; You surround them with Your favor as with a shield."  Psalms 5:11-12 (NIV)

King David prayed that God would bless and protect the righteous and surround them with His favor.  Those who are true believers should rejoice because they are assured of the blessings and protection of The Lord.

Those of us who believe in The Lord Jesus Christ and obey The Word of God, are surrounded by the favor of God and it is like a hedge of protection around us.  God's favor is a special blessing for us.  We should thank God for our being blessed and favored.

We Hope And Trust In The Lord

"We wait in hope for The LORD; He is our help and our shield.  In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name.  May Your unfailing love rest upon us, O LORD, even as we put our hope in You."  Psalms 33:20-22 (NIV)

This psalm of praise begins with a call to sing praises unto The Lord.  It then follows that call with three reasons for singing praises to God: 1 God's Word is upright; 2 God's will prevails; and 3 God's gaze discerns all.  Therefore, we hope in God. 

Each faithful soul is grateful for the greatness and awesomeness of God.  We rejoice because He loves us, He protects us, and He provides for us, and therefore we put our trust and hope in Him.

Rejoice In The Lord Always

"Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in The Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength ..." Habakkuk 3:17-19 (NIV)

Because of all of the evil that God allowed, the prophet Habakkuk complained and questioned God.  After God answered him, he prayed for mercy.  Then he praised God's power and said no matter how bad things got, he would still rejoice in The Lord because God is his strength.

God is in control of everything.  It does not matter how bad things seem to us, they are all part of His permissive will.    Since we know that He has already overcome the world, and through Him we have the victory.  There is no need to worry about anything.  We can rejoice in The Lord and be joyful, in spite of our situation and circumstances.

Don't Worry About Anything Pray About Everything

"Rejoice in The Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:4-7 (NIV)

In his letter to the Christians in Philippi, the Apostle Paul wrote these words to encourage them to strive to be Christ-like. Because their joy comes form The Lord, they should not worry about anything. They pray and give thanks, and ask God for what they want. Because they are believers, God will protect them and give them peace.

We need to understand that our joy comes from The Lord. We believe in Him and He blesses us. We pray and thank Him and ask for more blessings. Don't worry about anything, pray about everything. Because we belong to Him, He will protect us and provide for us.

Rejoice God Hears And Answers Prayers

"Praise be to The Lord, for He has heard my cry for mercy. The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. The Lord is the strength of His people, a fortress of salvation for His anointed one. Save Your people and bless Your inheritance; be their shepherd and carry them forever." Psalms 28:6-9 (NIV)

After lamenting about his situation, David prayed for deliverance, then offers praise and thanks to God, even though his situation had yet to change. David knew that God would hear him, strengthen him, protect him, help him, save him, and bless him, so he was joyful and thankful .

We should believe and behave as if our prayers have already been answered. Our faith in God should allow us to know that He hears our prayers and that He will bless us because He loves us, not because we deserve it. Let us exercise a little more faith in God each day.

Rejoice And Praise The Lord

"Glory in His holy name; let the hearts of those who seek The Lord rejoice. Look to The Lord and His strength; seek His face always. Remember the wonders He has done, His miracles, and the judgments He pronounced." 1 Chronicles 16:10-12 (NIV)


After the ark of the covenant had been recovered, David gave thanks and praised The Lord, and he encouraged the people to do likewise. The ark represented the presence of God and they celebrated having it with them again.


The presence of The Lord is cause for celebration, and He is always with us so we should always be joyful. When the world tries to get us down, we should look to Him and His strength, remember what He has done for us in the past, remember all of the wonderful things that He has done, and remember His promise never to leave us or forsake us. (Hebrews 13:5) For that we should give Him praise, honor, and glory, and always be joyful.

Joy And Joyous Anticipation

"Lord, You have assigned me my portion and my cup; You have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise The Lord, who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me. I have set The Lord always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices ... You have made known to me the path of life; You will fill me with joy in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand." Psalm 16:5-11 (NIV)

Here King David seeks preservation and a blessing from God. He is grateful and expresses his gratitude. He praises God for His counsel and His instruction. In life and facing death he is hopeful. He knows that God has chosen his path and that it leads to joy and eternal life with Christ.

We should be content with our portion and with God's provisions and promises. We should delight in God's constant presence. We should daily reflect on God's council and instruction should intentionally keep His Word before us. The steps we take and the walk that we walk should be directed by The Lord. We should run this race with joy and joyous anticipation knowing that we are headed for eternal life with Christ.

Don't Envy Others Enjoy Your Blessings

"A heart at peace gives life to the body, but envy rots the bones." Proverbs 14:30 (NIV)


A healthy mind filled with wisdom is associated with a healthy body. Envy and jealousy are like suffering from a painful incurable condition that destroys your insides. They are like a passionate hatred which produces only corruption, distress and shortens ones life. Whereas a healthy heart and mind leads to longevity

Be thankful and rejoice in the things which The Lord has blessed you with, and do not worry or fret over the blessing that others receive. Everything that we want is not good for us, and somethings that others have we could not handle. Often we are not willing to pay the price that others paid to get what they have. So count your blessings and enjoy them.

Advice For Christian Living

The Apostle Paul ends his letter to the Christians in Thessalonica with some good advice for Christian living that is appropriate for us today.

In 1 Thessalonians, chapter 5, the following verses read:
5:16 "Rejoice evermore."
5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
5:18 "In every thing give thanks ..."
5:19 "Quench not The Spirit."
5:21 "Prove all things; hold fast that which is good."
5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."

Be joyful in The Lord at all times. God is in control and all things are going to work out for our good. Pray persistently and regularly. Develop a continual personal relationship with God. Be conscious of His presence throughout the day. Every day ought to be a day of Thanksgiving and we should give thanks to God for every thing in our lives. Be on fire for The Lord, don't throw water on the flame, let it continue to burn. Test everything that you read, hear, say, and do by comparing it to the Bible. Make sure that it is consistent with The Word of God. Not only should we avoid all that is evil, we should avoid things that look like, suggest, or might appear to be evil. Reject and shun all forms of evil.