Hallelujah! Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:24). This is the praise song the company of the heavenly host sang when the Son of God – the Lord God Almighty who created the universe and everything in it (Deuteronomy 10:14; Psalm 24:1; Acts 17:24), incarnated as the Son of Man in the city of David called Bethlehem (Micah 5:2; Matthew 2:1; Luke 2:4-7). This praise and worship song was not sang just one-time on that particular day, but ever since the company of heavenly host sang this praise song, it became the praise song of everyone who loves God either in heaven or on earth for the glory of God! Along with thousands upon thousands of God’s people across the world, we are also given the privilege to sing this praise in our lives to glorify God. Heaven and the heavenly hosts rejoiced and praised God when Jesus was born in Bethlehem. Similarly, whenever a sinner repents and joins God’s family of people and experiences new birth (John 3:3, 5; Romans 6:4; 1 Peter 1:23), heaven and the heavenly beings rejoice, as Jesus stated: I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent (Luke 15:7). Let us begin this week’s meditation by praising the Lord God Almighty who reigns forever and ever.

The Lord blessed us with a timely Scripture passage for our meditation (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24). We all (whether or not a follower of Christ) live in a world that is filled with so much pain and grief, nervousness and uneasiness, fear and worries, and so on, due to man-caused problems or natural calamities. Even in the midst of such unfavorable circumstances, we, the faithful followers of Christ, are meant to live a life that is worthy of our calling. Yet, sometime when things do not happen the way we planned, instead of trusting God, we feel insecure and try to take control of our life and try to find solutions by ourselves for all the situations that we come across in our life. In most cases, while we try to fix our own problems, instead of fixing the problems, we end up causing more troubles to ourselves as well as to everyone else we come across in our life. As a result, we lose our patience and temperament to our restlessness and begin to behave weirdly towards others. Apostle Paul, in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-25, gives very encouraging and inspiring instructions to anyone who would like to live a meaningful and purposeful Christian life despite the troublesome situations they face. Paul’s recommended guidelines would help anyone who would like to redirect their life in the right path of spiritual fruitfulness if they strictly follow those guidelines. Apostle Paul encourages the believers to follow these spiritual principles strictly, so that they can live a fruitful and faithful Christian life before God and before people.

We can understand from the book of Acts that the Church at Thessalonica was founded by Apostle Paul along with his ministry companions Silas and Timothy (Acts 16:1-6; 17:1-4). The church had been facing so much persecution right from its inception (Acts 17:5-9). During such unfavorable situations, both the ministers of the gospel as well as the believers alike faced opposition and persecution because of the gospel. In the midst of such situations, Apostle Paul urged the believers in Thessalonica to acknowledge the ministers of the gospel who work hard among them, who care for them in the Lord, and admonish them (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13), in addition to asking them to hold the ministers of the gospel in the highest regard in love because of their work (1 Thessalonians 5:13a). It was not only the ministers of the gospel who went through opposition in Thessalonica but the believers also faced opposition for following Jesus’ teachings. In addition, the believers were grieving upon the death of some of their dear and near ones (family members and fellow-believers) before Christ’s return because many were thinking and hoping that Christ would return during their life-time itself (2 Peter 3:4). Paul continued to encourage the believers urging them to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in all things and in all circumstances (1 Thessalonians 5:16-18), because the Lord God who redeemed us is the one who gives us peace, joy, and hope, and we need to connect with Him through our continuous prayers. The Lord who has conquered death will not abandon the believers who have already died but He will raise them up from the dead just as God raised Jesus from among the dead, as it is mentioned:

… 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

There are many things Apostle Paul reminds the believers in Thessalonica as well as across the world to pay heed to. Since, we do not have enough time and space to discuss all of them, we will focus a few of the most important matters based on 1 Thessalonians 5:19-22, these matters are mentioned below:

(i) They must not resist or quench the Spirit (5:19)

The ministry of the Holy Spirit connects us with the Lord God Almighty, comforts us in our sufferings, reminds us of the love of God for us and the work of Christ on the cross, convicts the nonbeliever of their failures, and much more. The Holy Spirit of God enables the believers to be faithful before God. Also, the Holy Spirit enables the believers to pray earnestly, serve the Lord faithfully, and follow Christ wholeheartedly. The ministry of the Holy Spirit in connection with the believers’ call and the gifts of God gave them to empower their spiritual life are irrevocable (Romans 11:29). Yet, one can accept it or resist it. If they accept it, God will honor them; and if they resist it, God’s wrath will linger upon them. Therefore, let us not resist or quench or grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

(ii) The believers must not treat prophecies with contempt (5:20)

The ministry of the prophets were very crucial and inevitable during the Old Testament time and during the early stage of the New Testament era, and even today. God reveals His will and purpose for His people through the prophets who are chosen for special tasks of God. Apostle Paul stated that Christ Himself gave prophets to the church along with the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, in order to equip the saints for works of ministry and to build up the body of Christ (Ephesians 4:11-12). Apostle Peter also stated that For prophecy never had its origin in the human will, but prophets, though human, spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit (2 Peter 1:21). From this we can understand that the prophets receive their messages through divine revelation as the Lord God reveals His Word in and through them. Thus, the ministry of the prophets is very important for the sustainability of the church at large and believers in particular. Through prophetical utterances, God speaks to His people and, if necessary, warns the wrongdoer.

(iii) They ought to test all the prophecies and hold on to what is good (5:21)

Apostle Paul, urged the believers to test the prophecies and hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:21). What we can figure out from such a statement is that perhaps in the church at Thessalonica there were prophets who were called by God (true prophets) as well as self-imposed prophets (false prophets). This could be the reason apostle Paul encouraged the believers saying Do not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is good (1 Thessalonians 5:20-21). Jesus warned His disciples and those who followed Him about the false prophets, saying: Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them … (Matthew 7:15-23). Apostle Peter acknowledged the existence of false prophets in the early church.  These false prophets diverted genuine believers with their destructive heresies, as it is mentioned in the Second Epistle of Peter:

But there were also false prophets among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you. They will secretly introduce destructive heresies, even denying the sovereign Lord who bought them—bringing swift destruction on themselves. 2 Many will follow their depraved conduct and will bring the way of truth into disrepute. 3 In their greed these teachers will exploit you with fabricated stories. Their condemnation has long been hanging over them, and their destruction has not been sleeping (2 Peter 2:1-3; also refer to  3:3)

Apostle John also urged the early Christians saying Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world (1 John 4:1). As Paul encourages the believers to test all the prophecies and hold on to what is good, we need to be like the believers at Berea that received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true ( Acts 17:11). Similarly, as the chosen people of God, we need to strictly hold on to the Scripture. At the same time, we need to test everything else we hear or learn from other sources in the light of the Scripture and hold on to anything that has eternal value and is beneficial for our spiritual pilgrimage (1 Corinthians 3:14-15). Therefore, let us be spiritually wise enough not to treat prophecies with contempt rather seriously hold on to genuine prophecies that aligns with God’s Word (the Holy Scriptures).

(iv) They ought to reject every kind of evil (5:22)

Apostle Paul urges the believers in Thessalonica to reject every kind of evil, which means, they need to abstain from all that stands against one’s relationship with their redeemer God or anything that stands against one’s genuine walk with Jesus (faith-life). As an ardent believer of Christ Jesus, we need to avoid any word or deed that is blasphemous or discredits the Word of God. King David exhorted his readers saying Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from deceitful speech. Turn from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Psalm 34:13-14). Paul wrote to the believers in Rome that … Hate what is evil; cling to what is good (Romans 12:9). Prophet Isaiah stated that Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter (Isaiah 5:20). Again, Apostle Paul wrote elsewhere to:

Do everything without grumbling or arguing, 15 so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky 16 as you hold firmly to the word of life. And then I will be able to boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor in vain (Philippians 2:14-16)

As the ambassadors of Christ in our communities and as dearly loved God’s children, we ought to fear God and shun all kinds of evil, as it is written The wise fear the LORD and shun evil, but a fool is hotheaded and yet feels secure (Proverbs 14:16). The best way to avoid, hate, or shun evil is to meditate on the Scripture regularly, draw closer to the Throne of Grace, and begin to fear God, as it is mentioned: To fear the LORD is to hate evil; I hate pride and arrogance, evil behavior and perverse speech (Proverbs 8:13). Let us hold onto the Word of God and pray to God like one of the Psalmists prayed: I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you (Psalm 119:11). If we ask the Lord God, He will definitely help us to hold on to what is good and reject every kind of evil that entices God’s people.

Apostle Paul concluded his godly instructions to the believers in Thessalonica with a short prayer and blessing for them. Paul blessed them saying: 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 (1 Thessalonians 5:23). Apostle Paul prays for the believers that their whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul prayed in this way because when God created human beings, He formed the body from the dust of the earth (the body), then He breathed the breath of life into their nostrils (the spirit), and they became a living being (the soul) (Genesis 2:7; also refer 1:26-27). Thus, a human being is the combination of spirit, soul, and body. As the spirit came from God, our spirit connects us with God, as the body is formed out of the dust of the earth, our body connects us with the world, and, as the spirit entered in to the body and they became a living soul, the soul connects the spirit and the body. Thus, we, as individuals, are connected with God as well as with the world. So, at our redemption, the entire being needs to be redeemed – the spirit, soul, and the body; in that sense all three elements of our being need to be kept blameless. Since the Holy Spirit helps the believers to keep themselves pure and blameless until the day of their redemption, we are asked not to grieve the Holy Spirit, as it is written elsewhere: Do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30; also refer 1:13-14).

Paul also assured the believers in Thessalonica that the Lord God who called them is faithful and He will fulfill everything that is promised in the Scripture for them as well as for everyone everywhere who is called by Him, including redeeming their souls in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 1:7; 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24 [1 Kings 1:29; Psalm 16:10; 31:5; 34:22; 49:15]).

Let us briefly analyze and meditate upon those instructions Apostle Paul gave to the believers in Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 5:12-24), which will definitely strengthen our ongoing spiritual walk with Jesus and will help us to draw closer to the Throne of Grace where God is seated:

• • As a faithful followers of Christ, acknowledge those who work hard among us (5:12a)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, acknowledge those who care for us in the Lord (5:12b)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, acknowledge those who admonish us (5:12c)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, hold those who admonish us in the highest regard in love because of their work (5:13a)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, live in peace with each other (5:13b)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, warn those who are idle and disruptive (5:14a)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, encourage those who are disheartened (5:14b)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, help those who are weak (5:14c)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, be patient with everyone (5:14d)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong (5:15a)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, always strive to do what is good for each other (5:15b)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, always strive to do what is good for everyone (5:15c)
  • God’s will for you in Christ Jesus is to rejoice always (5:16)
  • God’s will for you in Christ Jesus is to pray continually (5:17)
  • God’s will for you in Christ Jesus is to give thanks in all circumstances (5:18)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, do not quench the Spirit (5:19)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, do not treat prophecies with contempt (5:20)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, test all prophecies (5:21a)
  • As a faithful followers of Christ, hold on to what is good (5:21b)
  • As a faithful follower of Christ, reject every kind of evil (5:22)
  • May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through (5:23a)
  • May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ (5:23b)
  • God is faithful (5:24a)
  • God who called you to Himself is faithful (5:24b)
  • God who called you to Himself will fulfill all that has been promised to you (5:24c)

Dear friends in the Lord, as Apostle Paul and the believers in Thessalonica, and millions of devout followers of Christ across the world placed their trust and hope in the Lord God Almighty, let us also place our trust and hope in Him who is faithful to everyone who calls upon His name (Romans 10:13). The Lord promised that He will remain faithful to us through all ages and fulfill all His promises to us, as we are His chosen people in this generation (Joshua 21:45; 23:14; Ezekiel 12:28). As we walk with Jesus on a daily basis:

• • The Lord will reveal His truth to us (John 1:17; 8:32; 16:13; 17:17; 2 Timothy 2:5; 3:16; 1 John 4:6)
  • The Lord will renew our strength everyday  (Isaiah 40:31)
  • The Lord will protects us from all kinds of evil (Job 5:19; Psalm 91:10; 121:7; Matthew 6:13; 2 Thessalonians 3:3)
  • The Lord will help the believers to be holy and blameless (Ephesians 5:27; Colossians 1:22; 1 Thessalonians 3:13; 5:23)
  • The Lord will bless us with His presence as He promised to us (Deuteronomy 31:6, 8; Joshua 1:5; Hebrews 13:5)
  • The Lord God of peace will comfort us with His everlasting peace when we go through difficult situations in our life (Isaiah 32:17; John 14:27; 16:33; 1 Thessalonians 5:23)
  • The Lord will meet all of our needs according to His riches and glory (Psalm 46:1; John 2:1-11; Mark 4:35-41; Philippians 4:19)
  • The Lord will fulfill all His promises for us written in the Scripture (Joshua 21:45; 23:14; Ezekiel 12:28).
  • Ultimately, the Lord will redeem for Himself everyone who calls upon His name (Romans 10:30).

As we have meditated upon 1 Thessalonians 5:12-24, we, the devout believers of Christ Jesus in our generation, have learned so many spiritual factors from the exemplary life of the Thessalonians (1 Thessalonians 1:7). The gospel that Apostle Paul and his associates preached among the Thessalonians changed their old-way-of-life-style to then embrace the new-way-of-life-style in Christ Jesus and become devout followers of Lord Jesus Christ. They not only just lived an exemplary Christian life before God and others but eagerly waited for the return of the Lord, so that they can unite with their Lord and Savior Jesus Christ right away. The believers in Thessalonica lived an exemplary Christian life. Let us pray to God to grant us wisdom and knowledge to understand the mind of Christ, so that we can live our life according to God’s will and for His purpose. May the Lord God Almighty bless us all! Amen!