The fearful and sorrowful spirits, should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good. And we should rejoice more, if we prayed more. True and fervent love to God, and the things of God, will keep us watchful and sober.
1 Thessalonians 5:12,13 He beseecheth them to respect their spiritual guides, 1 Thessalonians 5:14-22 and giveth, divers other precepts, 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28 concluding with a prayer and salutations. And as we must fall, if God did not carry on his good work in the soul, we should pray to God to perfect his work, till we are presented faultless before the throne of his glory.
Might some say, as the disciples asked Christ, Matthew 24:3,36 Ac 1… Shall Christians, who have the light of the blessed gospel shining in their faces, be careless about their souls, and unmindful of another world?
We have ground on which to build unshaken hope, when we consider, that salvation is by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, to atone for our sins and to ransom our souls.
We should set a good example one before another, and this is the best means to answer the end of society. Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of any thing that would shake our trust in the Lord. Understanding the susceptibility that humans have to the lies and blows of the evil one in isolation (Prov 18:1), he sent his Son to reconcile us, not only with himself but also with one another (2 Cor 5:18).
Faith; if we believe that the eye of God is always upon us, that there is another world to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. And we should rejoice more, if we prayed more. Not only are the common people allowed to read the Scriptures, but it is their duty, and what they should be persuaded to do. It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove for whatever may be amiss.
Christ's coming will be terrible to the ungodly. The apostle tells the Thessalonians it was needless or useless to enquire about the particular time of Christ’s coming: Of the times and seasons you need not that I write unto you, v. 1. We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, and this to all men. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of it, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to it, will not long keep from doing sin.The apostle prays that they might be sanctified more perfectly, for the best are sanctified but in part while in this world; therefore we should pray for, and press toward, complete holiness. Their destruction will overtake them while they dream of happiness, and please themselves with vain amusements. It is an enormous blessing that God, who said, “It is not good for the man to be alone” (Gen 2:18), has designed his Church to be a family. For they that sleep, sleep in the night The night is the usual season for sleep, and sleep is only for such who are in darkness, and are children of the night; and not proper to be indulged by such who are children of the day, and of the light: There will be no means to escape the terror or the punishment of that day. 1 Thessalonians 5:11(NASB) Verse Thoughts 1 Thessalonians holds a special place in the canon of Scripture, as this was the first epistle the apostle Paul wrote, and it contains a significant amount of Church-age doctrine, including much notable information about the rapture of the Church, and Christ's second coming, to set up His millennial kingdom.
But when shall these things be? Our moderation as to all earthly things should be known to all men. Not only for prosperous and pleasing, but also for afflicting providences, for chastisements and corrections; for God designs all for our good, though we at present see not how they tend to it. This, along with evangelism, is the main goal for participation in the local church. We need no more to make us happy, than to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. We should abstain from sin, and whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. We should join in prayer and praise one with another. It is the happy condition of all true Christians. Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others.We are to rejoice in creature-comforts, as if we rejoiced not, and must not expect to live many years, and rejoice in them all; but if we do rejoice in God, we may do that evermore. And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences. 1 Thessalonians WAKING AND SLEEPING 1 Thessalonians 5:10. We need the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love, and hope. And proving all things must be to hold fast that which is good. This is to the praise of his glory. In these words the Apostle concludes a section of this, his earliest letter, in which he has been dealing … These encouragements are often the difference-maker for someone who is on the edge of falling away. He is an ever-flowing and an over-flowing fountain of grace to supply all our wants. The coming of Christ will be a great surprise to men. Prayer will help forward all lawful business, and every good work. Our Lord himself said so. We must search the Scriptures.