We can learn something about thanksgiving, praise, and rejoicing from three verses in I Thessalonians 5. These verses are short, but they sum up Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonian church. Rejoice always; pray without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Verses 16–18.
There is an interesting story behind these verses. Paul went up to Philippi, an old city that was named after Alexander the Great’s father, King Philip. There Paul and Silas were beaten, shamefully treated, and put in prison. God delivered them by an earthquake at the midnight hour, and shortly after baptizing the new converts they were on their way to the next city (Acts 16). The next city was Thessalonica, modern-day Salonika. It is a beautiful Greek city that has existed since ancient times. Near the city is a beautiful harbor and well-watered fertile plains. Even back in New Testament times, it was one of the most important cities in that part of the world.
The Scriptures tell us the story of Paul’s visit to Thessalonica. It was an exciting time. For three Sabbath days Paul disputed with the Jews, and they became so angry that they literally caused a riot! This was the city in which it was said, as the mob came rioting through the streets, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also. Acts 17:6. How beautiful to see the way that their persecution simply furthered the work of the gospel. The result was that Paul departed after three Sabbaths, as Acts indicates, although three different passages indicate that he must have been in Thessalonica a little longer (Philippians 4:16, 1 Thessalonians 2:9, and II Thessalonians 3:8). Perhaps he was there for even a month or six weeks; but that was not long, considering that the Thessalonians were coming out of darkness. They were Gentiles who were embracing Christ, and they had much to learn. Then Paul was whisked out of town to a little city called Berea, about fifty miles to the west. We never hear of a Bible class being called a Thessalonian Bible class, but we often hear of a Berean Bible class, or a Berean Bible church. This is because Paul said of the Bereans: These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they … searched the Scriptures daily (to see), whether these things were so. Acts 17:11. Anyone who is honest to search the Scriptures is like those who first believed at Berea.
Paul was not in Berea very long before the Jews came from Thessalonica, and another riot took place. Some of the brothers helped Paul again, and they traveled two hundred miles south to Athens. He preached and ministered there, but he sent a message back to Berea to send Timothy and Silas in all haste to him. They came immediately, but as we will see in I Thessalonians 3 there was a grieving in the heart of Paul. He wondered how the new converts were doing and what he should do about them, and so he sent Timothy back to the Thessalonian church to minister to them.
After a while Paul left Athens and went on to Corinth, and it was there that Timothy finally returned with a report. Timothy’s report so stirred Paul that on his second missionary journey he wrote what was probably the first New Testament Epistle to be written, now called I Thessalonians. In it he related how excited he was over Timothy’s report, a report which included some disturbing news. You must realize that in this young church, perhaps less than three months old, some of the people had already died for Jesus Christ. Some of them were being severely persecuted, suffering unbelievably at the hands of their countrymen. Paul told them that the early Church in Judea suffered the same things at the hands of the Jews (I Thessalonians 2:14).
While these persecutions were taking place, the Thessalonians were wondering, “The Lord may be returning soon-what about those who have died in the Lord already and who have died as martyrs?” Paul wrote to them, Ye sorrow not even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent (precede) them which are asleep … and the dead in Christ shall rise first: then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air.… Wherefore comfort one another with these words. I Thessalonians 4:13b–18.
The Thessalonians received a little teaching in this first Epistle, but it was mainly a personal letter. It was not involved with doctrine as much as it was with Paul reminiscing and talking to them. This was a very human letter and one of the most personal of all that were written. As you read the third chapter, try to picture what took place, based upon what you already understand concerning the situation of which Paul was writing. Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone; and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow-worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith. Notice that he said, “We could endure it no longer.” He said it twice in this chapter, for he was concerned about their faith. Note this as you read the passage. He did not say that he was deeply concerned about all the persecutions and the terrible circumstances that they were going through. He did not even mention such a concern. He was worried about only one thing-their faith. Today we should be concerned about the same thing. Instead of greeting one another by saying, “How do you feel?” we should say, “How is your faith?” How you feel is not important, but how you believe is important.
Paul was concerned about their faith, saying, … so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know. For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor should be in vain. But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith (no one’s circumstances looked good, but what mattered was that they all believed); for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?
The Thessalonian church could not possibly have been grounded in the faith in three Sabbath days, or even in six. How could a man start a church and really root it and ground it that fast? No wonder Paul yearned over them. His apostle’s heart was reaching out to them, not able to bear another minute without making an effort to find out how those precious saints were doing. Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all men, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. I Thessalonians 3:1–13.
As we study their situation, it becomes more and more real what Paul was really saying to them: “Rejoice evermore!” Imagine these people worshiping-some of them whose family members had just been killed. They were being persecuted, maimed, and stripped of everything; yet he told them, “Rejoice always!” A man is a winner, not by what he has or does not have, but by his rejoicing. A man will have periods like Paul had, in which he will be abased, and then he will abound (Philippians 4:12). At times he will have nothing, and at other times he will have an abundance. These things happen in the ordering of the Lord. However, it takes a good man to rejoice always. Are you grumpy? Are you a murmurer? Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and in everything give thanks.
Regardless of what you do for them, some people will never be satisfied. No matter what you give them, they will wonder about it. God could rain some marvelous blessing upon them, and they would look up and complain that it was not exactly what they wanted. Such people are never quite pleasing to the Lord, because there is a murmuring in their hearts. They are never blessed or really happy, because they are always grumpy and complaining. You will have to make up your mind to be a rejoicer. Rejoicing seems to attract the blessing of the Lord, while murmuring always seems to bring the wrath of God.
Consider the children of Israel in the wilderness. They were out of Egypt and eating manna: Man did eat angels’ food. Psalm 78:25. Water gushed out of a dry, barren rock in a place where there was no water, and that stream followed them throughout the wilderness. God did everything for them, yet they grumbled. They loathed the manna, and they murmured because of the way (Exodus 16, 17). Would they rather have been in Egypt with the whip on their backs, eating half-rotten meat that had to be heavily spiced? Did they want to be eating the garbage of the Egyptians? Did they want to go back to making bricks without any allotment of straw? Some people do not know when they are well-off.
Do you complain about how rough it is to be walking with God? What do you want? Do you want to walk in the days of destiny? Do you want to be in on the final scene of what God is bringing forth through a remnant? Do you want to live at the close of one age and the beginning of another, the tremendous days when the Lord is to return? Or do you want to be like the rest of the world, overtaken with sleepiness and drunkenness, with heaviness and the sin of the world? Do you want your love to wax cold? Would you like to be a part of the Laodiceans—neither hot nor cold—so that the Lord will spew you out of His mouth? Or would you rather press on and begin to rejoice among the remnant that will come to Zion with everlasting joy upon their heads (Isaiah 35:10). They will have everlasting joy rejoicing in the Lord. You must decide whether you are blessed or not. If you are blessed, then rejoice!
Actually, people tend to pass over all the blessings to look at one problem. That perversity in people’s spirits is what sells newspapers. They like to read about shootings and robberies, and then they exclaim, “Oh, how terrible! What is the world coming to?” Newspapers glean and print all the rubbish they can find. They do not tell about all the beautiful people who worship the Lord and how God blesses them. They do not report the prophecies that come and all the wonderful things that happen, because that will not sell newspapers. People are not interested in what God is doing; they are interested in the muckraking. What would publishers do without politics and election campaigns? They sell papers by reporting what the opponents say against each other. Then the readers become angry and want to fight. In contrast, we read this in Philippians 4:8: Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honorable, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. The preceding verses, 6 and 7, say, In nothing be anxious; but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus. That is much better than grumbling and complaining.
The Thessalonian church did not grumble. They were persecuted and suffering, yet they obeyed those brief little commands to pray and rejoice. Paul blessed them for the way they loved one another and stood by believing God and rejoicing always. They were praying without ceasing. Paul added, “Night and day we keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face.” The apostle believed in these commands too. He was always rejoicing, always praying without ceasing, and always giving thanks in everything. This is the will of God in Christ Jesus.
Rejoice and praise the Lord. Even if everything seems to go wrong, you can still rejoice in the Lord. Have enough faith, so that no matter what happens, it will be in your heart to rejoice. Relax! Too many are planning to really enjoy their families in the millennium. Enjoy your family now. Nothing is sweeter than to take hold of the grimy little hand of a child. Enjoy your children now. Children are the sweetest little gifts that God could ever give you. God has saved many parents from complete deterioration by giving them little ones to love, by giving them the privilege of loving them. When your children are naughty and mean, the Lord has given you divine sanction to spank. But remember also to love them a great deal. Let them always feel tremendously loved. It is important to enjoy them and to grow up with them in the blessing of the Lord. Be aware of the Lord and His blessing on you, and you will be aware of the little children too.
It is necessary for you to open your heart to the truth that you are living your life now, and that you have much for which you can thank God. However bad the circumstances may seem, you can still look up and find much to rejoice in. Know that God is taking care of your entire situation. No matter how bad it appears or how much you are suffering, give thanks. In everything give thanks to the Lord, for that is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning each one of us. You are not to live or to think as though you do not have a Lord who is sufficient and adequate. Your attitudes and your feelings are not to be as though you do not have a Lord who is sufficient and adequate for every need and every circumstance. He is a God who does more than just pull your foot out of a hole when you step in one. He is a God who is ordering your life to bring forth an eternal destiny that is in His heart for you to fulfill in relationship to Him. Therefore, in everything give thanks.