The Word of the Lord

1 Samuel 3

1 Samuel 2:12 (NKJV): Now the sons of Eli were corrupt; they did not know the Lord.

Eli was from the house and lineage of Aaron, the one chosen by God to be the Priest and spiritual leader of His people. The priesthood passed down for generations through the line of Aaron. These priests were responsible for leading Israel, and there was no king or governor. Israel was a theocracy, a nation ruled by God. Therefore, the Priests were the leaders that the people looked to for guidance in all matters, political and religious. There was no separation of church and state.

The Scriptures’ indictment of the sons of Eli begins with their corruption. The word that this word “corrupt” was translated from is most often translated “worthless one.”

As leaders, these sons of Eli were indeed “worthless ones.”

1 Samuel 2:13-17 explains how Eli’s sons defiled the sacrifices the people were making to the Lord. At the passing of their father, they would be the leaders and judges of Israel. However, they demonstrated by their behavior that they were utterly unfit for the job. Although they were to lead the people in worship, the Scriptures tell us that they did not know the Lord.

Eli addressed this issue with his boys. 1 Samuel 2:22-25 is enlightening as to the behavior of Eli’s sons and the consequences of it.

1 Samuel 2:22–25 (NKJV): ²²Now Eli was very old; and he heard everything his sons did to all Israel, and how they lay with the women who assembled at the door of the tabernacle of meeting. ²³So he said to them, “Why do you do such things? For I hear of your evil dealings from all the people. ²⁴No, my sons! For it is not a good report that I hear. You make the Lord’s people transgress. ²⁵If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?” Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.

Eli was telling his boys that they were stepping over a line that should not be crossed. They despised the things of God. They treated these things as if they had no meaning and used them for their own advantage and advancement. They took advantage of the people who they were to protect and shepherd. Look at how Eli pleads with them in verse twenty-five. “If one man sins against another, God will judge him. But if a man sins against the Lord, who will intercede for him?”

However, Eli’s sons would not listen. Verse twenty-five tells us why they would not listen. “Nevertheless they did not heed the voice of their father, because the Lord desired to kill them.”

For the person or nation that deliberately chooses to despise the Lord, there comes the point of no return. The Bible has a word for these people. It calls them mockers. 

Proverbs 21:24 (NIV): The proud and arrogant person—“Mocker” is his name—behaves with insolent fury.

The word insolence fits. According to Webster, it means: insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct. And then there is the word “fury.” According to Dictionary.com, fury means: violence; vehemence; fierceness. Putting these two words together -- the mocker pursues insulting contemptuous speech and conduct with fierce energy. This conduct is generally directed towards God, and God puts up with it for a time. God warns the mocker and gives them time to repent. In 1 Samuel 2 and 3, God warns Eli about the coming fate of his household. Twice they were warned, but they were mockers and contemptuously dismissed the warnings.

Later in Israel’s history, Solomon warned:

Proverbs 29:1 (NKJV): He who is often rebuked, and hardens his neck, will suddenly be destroyed, and that without remedy.

Rebukes are given for the purpose of correction. The intent is that a person realizes that his actions are wrong, and he needs to change what he is doing. The word repent means to see that one’s direction is wrong and turn around and go in the opposite direction. The first message Jesus preached was “Repent.” 

Dare we talk about sin at this point? Every person finds himself in conflict with God over sin. We do not want to admit the serious nature of our rebellion. We do not see that our behavior and attitudes are evil. We make mistakes, for sure, but our intentions are not evil. We are not vile or corrupt like Eli’s sons. The truth of the matter is that we all are sinners in rebellion against God and our hearts are just as corrupt as Eli’s sons’ hearts were. Read Romans 3:10-18 to understand God’s perspective on sin.

Romans 3:10–18 (NKJV): ¹⁰As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; ¹¹There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. ¹²They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” ¹³“Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; ¹⁴“Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” ¹⁵“Their feet are swift to shed blood; ¹⁶Destruction and misery are in their ways; ¹⁷And the way of peace they have not known.” ¹⁸“There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 

Repentance is the first step in salvation. If a person desires eternal life, a relationship with God, and eternal happiness, then the problem of sin must be dealt with. I see the idea of sin scoffed at, and some that deny they are sinners. We are so smart that we do not even know how to take our sin seriously. We have redefined sin to suit our tastes and rejected what God says about sin in His word.

Eli’s sons are an early example of what happens to those who will not repent even after multiple rebukes. The nation of Israel is a later example of what happens to those who will not repent after numerous rebukes. They suffered through defeat and exile at the hands of the Babylonians. 2 Chronicles 36:16 tells us:

2 Chronicles 36:16 (NKJV): But they mocked the messengers of God, despised His words, and scoffed at His prophets, until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, till there was no remedy.

Let us pray that none of us suffers the wrath of the Lord.

Because Eli’s sons were godless, and they were in charge of worship, the people’s relationship with God suffered. 1 Samuel 3:1 tells us:

1 Samuel 3:1 (NKJV): And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no widespread revelation.

The people were starved for the word of the Lord. Their connection to the Lord was cut off because Eli’s sons did not know the Lord. God gave Eli’s family time by not immediately wiping them out. Instead, He gave them time to repent. True to form, they scoffed at the warnings.

What a contrast Samuel was! From the time he was a little boy, Samuel served in the temple. The Scriptures show the difference in 1 Samuel 2:18.

1 Samuel 2:18 (NKJV): But Samuel ministered before the Lord, even as a child, wearing a linen ephod. 

Samuel had the same teacher that Eli’s boys had — Eli. But Samuel was completely different. Even as a child, Samuel served. Serve is just another word for minister. This is the opposite of the mocker. Samuel was humble and was not too proud to serve. God loves a humble, teachable heart that trembles at His word. Look at where we meet Samuel in chapter 3.

1 Samuel 3:15 (NKJV): So Samuel lay down until morning, and opened the doors of the house of the Lord.

Here we have a young boy who is the first one up in the morning and is opening the doors of the house of the Lord. I imagine Eli’s sons had been partying too much the night before to get up early. But this young boy was serving, getting up before everyone else to get started at the work of the Lord.

This is the person the Lord chose to speak to. And when the Lord spoke to Samuel, Samuel took it to heart.

The word of the Lord was rare because those to whom it was entrusted scoffed at it. But Samuel was a faithful servant, not a mocker. He received the word of the Lord with the respect it deserved. This characterized Samuel’s life and ministry. He had the utmost respect for God’s word.

Next, we have the account of Samuel learning to know the voice of the Lord. The Lord came and stood by Samuel and called. Samuel thought it was Eli. Eli was old and mostly blind, and he was very fat, so he needed someone to wait on him, especially at night. Did Eli’s boys do this? No, Samuel did. Samuel’s bed was close by so that he was quickly at the old man’s side, saying, “You called?” Once again, we see how completely different Samuel’s attitude was. He responded immediately to the word of his teacher. He did not mock the old man’s weakness, nor did he complain, nor was he put out by being called upon. Three times the call was repeated, and each time Samuel immediately went to Eli. Finally, Eli realized what was happening and told Samuel to say, “Speak Lord, for your servant hears.”

And with that, the word of the Lord was once again heard in Israel. As a prophet, Samuel’s first job was to let his teacher and mentor know that God had decided to kill his sons and remove his family from their hereditary position. When Samuel had done this, we are told:

1 Samuel 3:19–20 (NKJV): ¹⁹So Samuel grew, and the Lord was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. ²⁰And all Israel from Dan to Beersheba knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.

And so began the ministry of one of the great men of God in the Bible. He led Israel for many years; he established a school for prophets (preachers), and he anointed Saul and David.

If there is one thing we learn from all this, it is that we must never scoff at the word of the Lord. The Lord gives his word to help us, to strengthen us, to cause us to stand. His word is given for our correction. If we heed His word, we will live. But if we do not heed His word, we can be sure we will eventually be destroyed beyond remedy.

Do not scoff at the idea of sin. Do not mock God and His word. Consider carefully these words from 2 Peter.

2 Peter 3:1–7 (NKJV): ¹Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), ²that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, ³knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” ⁵For this they willfully forget: that by the word of God the heavens were of old, and the earth standing out of water and in the water, ⁶by which the world that then existed perished, being flooded with water. ⁷But the heavens and the earth which are now preserved by the same word, are reserved for fire until the day of judgment and perdition of ungodly men.

We must seek the Lord

Eli’s family did not.

Samuel did.

The Lord revealed Himself to Samuel.

The Desires of the Heart

 

1 Samuel 1

Hannah faced an unwinnable battle. Her obstacle was beyond her ability to change or influence. She could not have children. Her own body was the source of her misery. And, as if that were not enough, her human rival mercilessly needled and persecuted her. Ephesians 6:10 tells us:

Ephesians 6:12 (NKJV) For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places.

Hannah was a woman of God. Her human rival was not her real enemy. Her true enemy was the same one who is our enemy today. This enemy is the one who attacked Job, stirred up David to sin, and tempted our Lord in the wilderness. He is called the accuser of the brethren. “Accuser” or “Adversary” is the meaning of his name.

The Hebrew word שָׂטָן (satan) means to oppose, obstruct, or accuse. The Greek term (σατάν, satan) literally means “adversary.” In the New Testament, it refers to a title or a name—(the) Satan. The term שָׂטָן (satan) is rendered as diabolos in the Septuagint.1

Our enemy, the devil, or Satan, seeks to destroy us. However, he has no power over us. 

1 John 4:4 (NKJV) You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. 

While the devil has no power over us, the Holy Spirit led Jesus into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. God gave Satan permission to attack Job. Jesus told Peter:

Luke 22:31 (NKJV) “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat.”

God grants this permission because as Hebrews 12 tells us:

Hebrews 12:6 (NKJV) For whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.

The Father tells us to rejoice in our trials. He says much about suffering in His word. 1 Peter 1:6-7 teaches us that the testing of our faith purifies us as gold is purified in the crucible.

1 Peter 1:6–7 (NKJV) ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

I cannot think of one of God’s servants who did not go through the crucible of suffering. Indeed, Hebrews 12:6 says, “...every son whom He receives.”

1 Samuel 1 introduces us to a Hannah overcome with sorrow. 1 Samuel 1:10 says of her:

1 Samuel 1:10 (NKJV) And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish.

Hannah’s battle was unwinnable. Nothing she did would change the fact that she could not have children. We all have an unwinnable battle. Nothing we do can change the fact that we have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. Nothing we do can change the fact that the wages of sin is death. There is just one wage - death. Sorrow and grief over this unwinnable battle drove many of us to seek God for deliverance. However, God allows many unwinnable battles in our lives.

• How was Abraham to produce an heir?
• How were the disciples to feed the vast crowd?
• How was a young shepherd boy to save his sheep from bears and lions?

It is time to learn a secret of prayer from Hannah. 1 Samuel 1:13 says:

1 Samuel 1:13 (NKJV) Now Hannah spoke in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard.

Let your requests be made known to God. (Philippians 4:6). Hannah did not need to move her lips. She spoke in her heart. God hears the cry of the heart. When the Pharisees prayed, they spoke many great sounding words, and Jesus said their prayers were for show and were not heard by God.

The first thing the crucible did was to shape Hannah into a God-seeker, a person whose heart’s desire and pursuit is God, Himself.

A second, more subtle change the crucible wrought was it made Hannah selfless. It burnt away the dross of seeking her own benefit. Hannah did not keep the child for herself but gave the child to God. In addition, in her praise, written in chapter two, she shows she was seeking the good of her people Israel, and the introduction of the KING. Consider verse ten of chapter two.

1 Samuel 2:10 (NKJV) The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken in pieces; From heaven He will thunder against them. The Lord will judge the ends of the earth. “He will give strength to His king, And exalt the horn of His anointed.”

This woman was looking forward and hastening the coming of the Messiah and the establishing of His kingdom. Again, she did not keep the child for herself but gave him to the Lord as his servant forever.

1 Samuel 1:22 (NKJV) “I will take him, that he may appear before the Lord and remain there forever.”

One often hears, “Our trials serve to make us bitter or better.” Our trials expose the desires of our hearts, whether they be for good or evil.

God gave Hannah the desire of her heart. He gave her the son she had been praying for. She now faced an even greater trial. She had made a promise. She said she would give the child to the Lord. Now she had to follow through. 

We are all tested by our blessings. When we receive money, do we use it for ourselves, or do we use it to benefit others? Do we practice hospitality, using what God has given us to bless others? When we have a healthy body, do we use it to find pleasure or to serve others?

When Abraham was blessed with his long-awaited heir, he had to choose between God and his son. When David was faced with Goliath, he had to put his life on the line. 

Think with me of the challenge each one of these faced. Abraham had no additional child of promise. Isaac was all he had. David was anointed as the next king, but as he stood facing Goliath, he only had one life to give. And Hannah, Hannah had not been able to have any children, and now she was faced with giving up the only child she had.

Our blessings are more difficult tests than our trials, because our hearts are drawn to the gifts instead of the giver. Sadly, not many of us pass this test. God blesses us, and we selfishly build bigger barns to hoard the excess. We do not seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness. We do not set our hearts on things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of the Father. We tend to ask how much we should give to the Lord when the question is, how do we give it all to the Lord?

Look at what happened when Hannah surrendered all that she had to the Lord.

Samuel was the child she prayed for. He was her heart’s desire, and she gave him to the Lord. She did not know that she would ever have another child. The one she had was a miracle! But look:

1 Samuel 2:21 (NKJV) And the Lord visited Hannah, so that she conceived and bore three sons and two daughters.

We must first surrender to the Lord before we can receive His blessing. It is said that gifts cannot be received by clenched fists. One must first let go of what one is holding to hold something else. When we surrender our heart’s desire to the Lord, He can loan it to us, not to possess but to hold for a short time. Then we discover it was never really ours to begin with. 

Before Abraham could receive many descendants, he had to let go of the one he had. Before the widow of Zarephath could receive oil and flour sufficient to last through the drought, she had to surrender what little she had. Before the crowd could be fed, the little food available had to be surrendered to Jesus.

We do not surrender our money to get more money. We surrender our money to see God’s purpose fulfilled. That is the true blessing. 

When Hannah surrendered her son, she did not do it to receive more children. Her praise was that God would “give strength to His king, and exalt the horn of His anointed.” 

God used Samuel in the most incredible way. He was the last judge of Israel. He led Israel through one of the most significant transitions they would ever make. He did it without conflict, upheaval, and civil war. Not only was he the last judge, but he was also the first prophet. As the first prophet, he anointed the first two kings of Israel. He is the one who had the privilege of anointing David, through whom the Messiah would come.

Interestingly enough, Samuel really had no say in all of this. It was his mother’s decision to surrender him to the Lord. It was his mother’s prayers that brought about his birth. His mother dedicated him to the Lord. His mother said he would be a Nazarite. Did you know that Samuel’s hair was never cut as long as he lived? His mother decided that. 

1 Samuel 1:11 (NKJV) Then she made a vow and said, “O Lord of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a male child, then I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life, and no razor shall come upon his head.”

Samuel was a great man of God, and he was a great man of God because his mother was a great woman of God. His mother made his Nazarite vow for him. However, and this is important, Samuel willingly surrendered himself to the plans and purposes of God. He abandoned cutting his hair, drinking wine, and pursuing his own life to pursue God. He came by it honestly. He learned it from his mother.

I hope you catch the significance of this. The world and especially our children are watching. They know and can see what is truly important to us. We can tell them they ought to follow Christ all we want, but our words are meaningless if we do not follow Christ ourselves. The world knows that many churches are after the same measures of success and money that they are. Why would they want what we have if we are no different?

We have an unwinnable battle before us. We must reach our generation for Christ. What is impossible for man is possible for God. The only way to overcome the unwinnable battle we have before us is to surrender what little we have to the Lord. 

 1 The Lexham Bible Dictionary, Copyright 2016. Lexham Press, 1313 Commercial St., Bellingham, WA 98225

The End of a Letter

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

1 Thessalonians 5:27 (NKJV) ²⁷I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all the holy brethren.

Paul desired that his letter to the Thessalonians be read to all believers.

Paul was clear about his ministry. He had a commission from God to take the Gospel to the Gentiles, also called the nations. Therefore, Paul considered his mission to be of the utmost importance. He called himself an apostle to the Gentiles.

Romans 11:13 (NKJV) ¹³For I speak to you Gentiles; inasmuch as I am an apostle to the Gentiles.

He explained that he received his apostleship from God and that God singled him out to be a minister to the Gentiles.

1 Corinthians 15:3–11 (NKJV) ³For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, ⁴and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, ⁵and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve. ⁶After that He was seen by over five hundred brethren at once, of whom the greater part remain to the present, but some have fallen asleep. ⁷After that He was seen by James, then by all the apostles. ⁸Then last of all He was seen by me also, as by one born out of due time. ⁹For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. ¹⁰But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. ¹¹Therefore, whether it was I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

From this passage, we see:

1. The message he delivered was something that he received. 
2. Of all the Apostles, Paul was the last to see Jesus. (He says that after the resurrection, Jesus was seen by Cephas and then the twelve. Then Jesus was seen by over 500 believers at one time. After that, Jesus was seen by James and the Apostles. Finally, he was seen by Paul. Paul describes this as being one born out of due time.) 
3. Paul says he was not worthy of being called an Apostle since he persecuted the Church. However, this gives him the chance to tell of the grace of God. 

He gives the grace of God credit for both his calling and the fruit of his work. He received the message he preached through revelation from Jesus. Jesus first appeared to Paul on the road to Damascus, and the revelation he received came after that. So, chronologically Paul was the last of the Apostles. He received his apostleship after Jesus ascended to heaven, which is why Paul refers to himself as one born out of due time.

Paul’s Apostleship was not from men nor was it given by men.

Galatians 1:1 (NKJV) ¹Paul, an apostle (not from men nor through man, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father who raised Him from the dead),

Paul wrote letters to churches because of his calling from God as an Apostle to the Gentiles. The responsibility and authority for establishing the Church throughout the non-Jewish world were his.

Romans 15:15–16 (ESV) ¹⁵But on some points I have written to you very boldly by way of reminder, because of the grace given me by God ¹⁶to be a minister of Christ Jesus to the Gentiles.

Paul’s boldness in writing grew out of the responsibility he carried for the Gentile Church. Others saw his success, the love the churches had for him, and his authority. Seeing these things, they desired them for themselves. In Philippians 1:15, Paul says that some preached Christ out of envy and strife. In 2 Corinthians, Paul confronts false Apostles. They were trying to turn the Corinthians’ hearts away from Paul so the Corinthians would follow them. Many of the New Testament Epistles were written to confront and correct errors introduced by false teachers and apostles. One of the distinguishing marks of the New Testament is that all the writings were written under the authority of one of the twelve Apostles. (This is counting Paul as the twelfth in place of Judas.)

We must recognize this apostolic authority in the Church because false teachers grow more numerous every day. We must continue to read the writings of the Apostles so that we are not led astray by false apostles.

The Apostle Peter said the following about Paul’s writings.

2 Peter 3:15–16 (NKJV) ¹⁵and consider that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation—as also our beloved brother Paul, according to the wisdom given to him, has written to you, ¹⁶as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught and unstable people twist to their own destruction, as they do also the rest of the Scriptures.

Peter puts Paul’s epistles with “the rest of the Scriptures.” He called Paul’s writings, “Scripture.” When Paul gives the charge in 1 Thessalonians 5:27 that his letter be read to all the believers, he says this command is “by the Lord.” In other words, God desires that this letter be read by all believers.

1 Thessalonians covers foundational truths that all Christians need to understand. The authority of Paul as an Apostle of God to the Gentiles has not diminished. Even today, untaught and unstable people twist these truths to their own destruction. Anyone claiming to be an apostle of Jesus Christ who contradicts or twists the Apostles’ teachings is one of these untaught and unstable people Peter speaks of.

At verse twelve of chapter five, Paul begins the close of the epistle. Realizing that he needs to wrap things up, the Apostle gives a shopping list of things to do, a to-do list. This list is not doctrinal instruction. These are exhortations from one who loves them and is concerned for their welfare. These remind me of a mother sending her children off to school. “Do you have your homework? Don’t forget your lunch. Behave yourself, and say hello to Mrs. So-and-so. Hurry, or you’ll miss the bus!”

As last-minute exhortations, each one of these reminders is a topic that deserves our careful study and attention. How should we treat pastors, elders, and teachers? How do we maintain peace among ourselves? This list appears to be all the things Paul would like to address but does not have time and parchment to cover. Each one is hard-hitting and necessary. “Pray without ceasing. Do not quench the Spirit.” These are things that are essential for us as Christians. The Apostle wants us to understand and apply these things. Still, he leaves the Scriptural exploration of these subjects up to us.

1 Thessalonians 5:12–22 (NKJV) ¹²And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, ¹³and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.

¹⁴Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. ¹⁵See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.

¹⁶Rejoice always, ¹⁷pray without ceasing, ¹⁸in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit. ²⁰Do not despise prophecies. ²¹Test all things; hold fast what is good. ²²Abstain from every form of evil.

With a quick look at this list, it can be divided into two categories. Verse twelve through fifteen deal with relationships within the Church, and verses sixteen through twenty-two deal with our relationship with God.

In our relationships within the Church, the admonitions center on respect, love, and patience. The first admonition is to recognize or esteem the leaders of the Church. This idea continues for two verses as Paul includes the concept of loving the leaders for their work’s sake. Hebrews 13:7 also speaks of this idea when it says:

Hebrews 13:7 (NKJV) ⁷Remember those who rule over you, who have spoken the word of God to you, whose faith follow, considering the outcome of their conduct.

Both 1 Thessalonians and Hebrews addresses our attitude toward those who speak the word or admonish. This is consistent with the instructions Paul gave his young apprentice, Timothy, when he said:

1 Timothy 5:17 (NKJV) ¹⁷Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor, especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.

I hesitated to say anything about this subject because I have no complaints about how I have been received and treated by this body. But since this is included in Paul’s admonitions to the Thessalonians, I could not avoid it. I do not feel overburdened or unappreciated, but I do covet your prayers. As Paul closes his epistle with “Brothers, pray for us,” I also covet your prayers. Although I have never felt particularly worthy of being a pastor, I am confident of God’s calling.

Paul’s admonitions to the Thessalonians concerning relationships within the Church are consistent themes throughout the New Testament. They are consistent with the command to love our neighbors as ourselves. Consider the words of 1 Thessalonians 5:14.

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NKJV) ¹⁴Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.

This verse reminds me of Philippians 2 and Galatians 6. Look them up! I have summed up these verses as treating each other with love, respect, and patience.

In verse sixteen of 1 Thessalonians 5, Paul begins talking about our relationship with God. I would sum these admonitions up as: be joyful, be thankful, and yield to the Holy Spirit.

Verse sixteen says, “Rejoice always.” This is connected in the same sentence with “Pray without ceasing.” These two are closely related. Joy is not what this world calls happiness. I have found that I can be full of the joy of the Lord in the midst of pain or sorrow. The joy of the Lord is founded on our faith in His goodness and providence. This faith gives birth to praying without ceasing. The same faith that strengthens us in joy causes us to let all of our requests be made known to God, our Father. This relationship with God naturally produces gratitude and thanksgiving.

These things that Paul is listing are an essential part of who we are as children of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. And they are produced by the Holy Spirit working in our lives. In Galatians, Paul calls them the fruit of the Spirit. Sadly, even though these things are an essential part of who we are as children of God through the Lord Jesus, many do not exhibit the fruit of love, respect, and patience in our lives, and none of us consistently exhibit them 100 percent of the time.

The problem is what Paul list in verse nineteen. 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (NKJV) ¹⁹Do not quench the Spirit.

This admonition is here because we do this so easily. Verse nineteen through twenty-two are all tied to the idea of yielding to the Spirit’s work in our lives. Yielding to and living by the Spirit are an essential theme running through the entire Bible that is especially emphasized in the New Testament. I am going to quote just one passage regarding this subject.

Romans 8:12–15 (NKJV) ¹²Therefore, brethren, we are debtors—not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. ¹³For if you live according to the flesh you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. ¹⁵For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.”

After giving this list of admonitions, Paul gives a benediction, a blessing. The list of commands he just gave seems impossible to keep. As Paul brings his letter to a close with his final list of last-minute instructions, who of us feels adequate for these things? Which one of us feels like he or she can live up to the example of Paul, let alone Jesus? But in the benediction, Paul says God will do it. God will preserve us blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus. The confidence that God can and will perform all that is necessary for our lives gives us great confidence. Our confidence as Christians is not in our own ability to keep a list, but our confidence is in God, who will continue to work in our lives until Jesus comes.