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1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, Rejoice always; 17 pray without ceasing; 18 in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
We had a wonderful Christmas season. The Christmas Eve service was so good, glorifying God, exalting Christ, and blessing all the people. Deepest thanks to all who had a part in it, including all those beautiful children. Weren’t they good?
Now we move into a New Year this Thursday, the second quarter of the 21st century, so what better time to make some New Year’s resolutions. Start the ELF diet or at least eat healthier. Read through the Bible or jump into the EBC reading plan. Read some good books (I recommend Thomas Watson’s Body of Divinity). Treat your spouse better. Quit being so grouchy in the morning. I’m sure you can think of many more. Of course, the failure rate of New Year’s resolutions is notoriously high.
THE BELIEVER’S STANDING ORDERS
In our text this morning, God gives three standing orders for every believer that make great New Year’s resolutions and are not optional. Someone called them “diamond drops.” As Paul nears the end of his letter to these Thessalonian believers, he gives three terse, practical commands that will transform even the sourest Christian into a radiant, Christ-exalting, God-pleasing child of God. As you see in verse 18, these are God’s will for you. Always have a heart that rejoices in the Lord, regardless of your circumstances. Constantly keep a heart of prayer or communion with your Lord, trusting God step by step. Always be ready to pray, even flare prayers like Nehemiah who “prayed to the God of heaven and said to the king…” (Nehemiah 2:4-5). And be thankful for whatever God allows to come into your life. Why? Because everything that comes into your life is from your sovereign loving heavenly Father who has the good purpose of helping you grow and become more like Christ.
These orders are so short and so terse they are easy to memorize. Let’s repeat them together. Make these your memory verses to start the new year. You might remember them as the believer’s “RPG” (Rejoice, Pray, Give thanks). These are spiritual Rocket Propelled Grenades that send the devil fleeing and serve as a defense against your own sin. God says, “Rejoice always.” So when we find ourselves griping and complaining, it’s time to send that miserable attitude to the trash bin and start rejoicing! The same with prayerlessness and ingratitude.
The qualifiers for each command stand first in the verses in the original language. Always rejoice; without ceasing pray; in everything give thanks. And these don’t just apply to other people. These orders are God’s will for you! And you, and you, if you’re a believer. Plus, they’re all in the present tense, which means there’s never a time to stop rejoicing, praying, and being grateful.
These are God’s will. These aren’t just a few good tips to help spice up your day. These aren’t Paul’s newest “Positive Attitude” approach to help you cope. These are the will of God. This is how you please God. This is how God wants you to handle your life every day! What is God’s will for my life today? Rejoice! Pray! Give thanks!
And don’t miss the last little phrase, “in Christ Jesus.” When you came to Christ, you were baptized into Christ and brought into union with Christ. That’s your position that sets you apart from the world. Romans 6:4 says you are now walking in newness of life. You are a distinct person in this world who knows Christ and believes that He is the risen, victorious, exalted, ruling, interceding, coming King of Kings and Lord of Lords. These are the heart marks of people who know their risen Lord and walk with Him daily. These three commands are motivated by God’s rich mercy and great love with which He loved you. He has forgiven you all your sins and promised never to forsake you and to receive you to Himself. Why would you not always rejoice; unceasingly pray, and in everything give thanks?
Let’s unpack this trinity of godly heart habits, these standing orders, these diamond drops, these resolutions for the new year and the rest of your life.
ALWAYS REJOICE – vs. 16
Last week we witnessed through the Word of God the visit of the angels to the shepherds. What did the angel announce? “I bring you good tidings of GREAT JOY which shall be for all the people.” Why was it great joy? “There has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.” The incarnation of the second Person of the Godhead, the Word made flesh, is reason for great joy. He came to be our Savior. I want to trace this note of GREAT JOY through Christ’s life. In Luke 6:22 Jesus said when we suffer persecution for His name we should leap for joy. He told stories of lost things being found and there was rejoicing every time. In the upper room Jesus repeatedly assured His disciples He would share His joy with them.
John 15:11, These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.
He promised the same in John 16:24, “Your joy will be made full.” And in John 17 Jesus prayed to His Father in heaven.
John 17:13, But now I come to You; and these things I speak in the world so that they may have My joy made full in themselves.
If there is one leading characteristic of believers in Christ, it’s joy. Remember those good tidings of great joy when Christ was born. Then He went to that cross bearing the punishment for the sins of all who would trust in Him. They put His dead body in a tomb. And what happened three days later? Up from the grave He arose. He appeared to over 500 people in His resurrected body and then in Luke 24:50-53 He commissioned His people to preach repentance and forgiveness of sins to all the nations. He promised to send them the Holy Spirit and then led them out to Bethany, lifted up His hands and blessed them, and while He was blessing them He was carried up into heaven.
Luke 24:52, And they, after worshiping Him, returned to Jerusalem with GREAT JOY, 53 and were continually in the temple praising God.
There was great joy at His birth; great joy at His resurrection and ascension, and as you read the book of Acts you see joy in those early believers who were persecuted. Acts 5:41 says they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name. When Philip led the Ethiopian Eunuch to Christ, Acts 8:39 says the eunuch “went on his way rejoicing.”
Always rejoice. Paul filled his prison epistle to the Philippians with the same command. Philippians 4:4, “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.” Peter described believers waiting for Christ’s return as greatly rejoicing.
1 Peter 1:8, and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
From that manger to the empty tomb to Christ now at the right hand of God, we have every reason to rejoice regardless of our circumstances. Some Christians live as if God is losing. No, God is not losing! The tomb is empty! He’s ascended and waiting to return! He has given us forgiveness and eternal life and an inheritance incorruptible, undefiled, and unfading. Plus in the here and now, everything is working together for our good – always rejoice!
And hope feeds this godly rejoicing.
Romans 15:13, Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
When your hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness, you will rejoice!
But you won’t rejoice in the power of the flesh. Our flesh loves to complain, criticize, and grumble. You need the power of the indwelling Spirit of God to actually pass your days rejoicing like this. The fruit of the Spirit is…? Love…JOY. So your first New Year’s resolution is God’s will: Always be rejoicing! Do you have a joyful heart?
UNCEASINGLY PRAY – vs. 17
The NLT says, “Never stop praying.” Jesus knew we’d be tempted to lose heart, so in Luke 18:1 He told another story.
Luke 18:1, Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart.
Whether it’s discouragement or anxiety or spiritual dullness, God’s answer for His people is to pray all the time. Talk to your loving heavenly Father. Praying without ceasing means cultivating an attitude of dependence on God. Paul was constantly praying for fellow believers. That doesn’t mean he was on his knees 24 hours a day. You can learn to pray as you drive down the road (keep your eyes open), as you lay in bed waiting to fall asleep, as you face a difficult task. When you need wisdom, talk to God. James 1:5 says God gives wisdom willingly to those who ask.
First Chronicles 5:19-20 records the Reubenites fighting some bad guys, the Hagrites, and it says,
Verse 20, They were helped against them, and the Hagrites and all who were with them were given into their hand; for they cried out to God in the battle, and He answered their prayers because they trusted in Him.
Isn’t that good! In the midst of your day when circumstances are getting hard, cry out to God! I need to do this as I’m getting ready to preach and even while preaching, “Lord, I need your help, big time!”
We should be ready to pray any time. It doesn’t have to be a mini-sermon or eloquent speech. Praying doesn’t have to be loud – God isn’t hard of hearing. Some Christians are intimidated to pray, thinking their prayers aren’t as flowery as others. Remember what Jesus said about those Pharisees: “They pray to be seen by men.” Prayers don’t have to be long. One of the shortest prayers in the Bible was, “Lord, save me!” Peter’s prayer as he sank into the waves was answered immediately.
Calvin said we ought to unload our anxieties on to His bosom in prayer like David and Peter directed us.
Psalm 37:5, Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, and He will do it.
Psalm 55:22, Cast your burden upon the LORD and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.
1 Peter 5:6-7, Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you at the proper time, 7 casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you.
Pray without ceasing. The best time to pray is now. The best place to pray is here. The best way to pray is humbly and sincerely. The best posture for prayer is a submissive spirit. The best words for prayer reflect Scripture. The best reason for prayer is because God invites us to pray; His ears are open to our prayers. He is a prayer-hearing God. The best types of prayer are Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, and Supplication.
Someone said, “The door to the throne room of the universe has been thrown wide open.” God’s ears are open to our prayers.
Hebrews 4:14, Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who has been tempted in all things as we are, yet without sin. 16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS – vs . 18
A thankless person is a poor excuse for a human being living in a world totally provided for him by God. Romans 1:21 says though they knew God, “they didn’t honor Him as God, or give thanks.” Thanklessness is a grievous sin. Remember those ten lepers in Luke 17? Ten lepers standing afar off from Jesus cried out, “Master, have mercy on us.” Christ responded, “Go show themselves to the priests.” And as they were going they were cleansed. One came back to Jesus, glorifying God, falling on his face, and giving thanks. Jesus noticed, “Weren’t ten cleansed? The nine, where are they?” One in ten. One grateful person in ten. That’s probably a typical statistic.
In everything give thanks means expressing our heart’s thankfulness at all times, in every situation, under every circumstance, before, in and after trials, in bright days of happiness and dark nights of fear. MacArthur says “to be thankful always is to recognize God’s control of our lives in every detail as He seeks to conform us to the image of His Son. Nothing must grieve the Holy Spirit so much as the believer who does not give thanks.”
You can thank God for every moment, every good thing, every evil thing, every big thing and little thing, every blessing and every ugly thing – because the Lion from the tribe of Judah has overcome and is now living for you at the right hand of God. All authority is in His hands because He lives forever. No one will ever separate you from God’s love for you in His Son.
Romans 8:31, What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Is there anything in your life, any relationship, any circumstance in which you refuse to give thanks to your heavenly Father, who loves you and cares for you? It is God’s will that in everything the believer give thanks. True, we all know there are some things you can’t change. There are times of distress, days of trouble, when it is required you live by faith, trusting God. You submit to Him and rest quietly in His wise, sovereign, loving providence. Easy? No. Habakkuk lived through a season of national grief and distress, but he learned to trust God knowing that if God is all you have, you have everything. Here’s how he ended his book.
Habakkuk 3:17-19, Though the fig tree should not blossom And there be no fruit on the vines, Though the yield of the olive should fail And the fields produce no food, Though the flock should be cut off from the fold And there be no cattle in the stalls, 18 Yet I will exult in the LORD, I will rejoice in the God of my salvation. 19 The Lord GOD is my strength, And He has made my feet like hinds’ feet, And makes me walk on my high places.
George Mueller lived in the 1800s and was a good friend of Charles Spurgeon. George was known for his prayerful trust in God providing for the orphanages he began in Bristol, England. When his wife passed away, he chose Psalm 119:68 for his funeral message: “You are good and do good; Teach me Your statutes.”
His points were ”God was good and did good in giving her to me; God was good and did good in so long leaving her to me; and God was good and did good in taking her from me.” This past week I read the whole message. It is excellent. Mrs. Mueller had been getting increasingly ill and then went to be with the Lord, in whose presence is fulness of joy. These are Mr. Mueller’s words:
When this most heavy affliction began, I said to myself, twenty-nine years the Lord has given me this precious wife with comparatively little illness, and shall I now be dissatisfied, because He has been pleased to afflict her thus, in the thirtieth year of our conjugal union? Nay, it becomes me rather to be very grateful for having had her so long in comparative health, and fully to submit myself to the will of the Lord.
Always rejoicing, unceasingly praying, and in everything giving thanks. These are God’s beautiful standing orders for 2026 and the rest of your life. This is God’s will for every believer.
What about you? Is Christ the center of your life, your reason for living? Can you say your life is God-centered and Christ-exalting? Have you turned from your old self and ways, turned to Christ, and put your faith in Him? That’s your first order from God. Now is the day of salvation.