1 Thessalonians 5:16-22

:16 “Rejoice evermore. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 19 Quench not the Spirit. 20 Despise not prophesyings. 21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

As disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ we should possess and develop the characteristics and qualities as listed in the passage above.

“Rejoice evermore.” We have so much to rejoice in. We can rejoice in the grace of God that he chose us before the foundation of the world. We can rejoice in the grace of God in that he quickened us into spiritual life. We can rejoice in the grace of God in that he saved us from the condemnation of sin at the cross of Calvary. We can rejoice in our hope of heaven’s glory world based on the promise of God made before the foundation of the world. We can rejoice in the spiritual gifts that he has given each of us. We can rejoice in the scriptures that God has given in which we find comfort, peace, direction, timely deliverances, etc. We can rejoice in that we have an intercessor who ever liveth and maketh intercession for us. We can rejoice in that we have a throne of grace by which we can approach God in prayer and find grace to help in time of need. The list continues on and on. Thus we should rejoice evermore.

“Pray without ceasing.” Obviously we cannot pray 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days in a year. However, we should make at least a daily practice of praying and not cease from that schedule of praying.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” Just as we have so much to rejoice in as noted above, we also have so much to be thankful for. We are so quick to ask God for our needs, yet so lax in giving thanks to God for all his blessings and deliverances. It is pleasing to God for us to give thanks to Him. Just as parents like their children to thank them for the things they do for them, God likes for his children to give him thanks.

“Quench not the Spirit.” God’s children have the Holy Spirit dwelling in them. When they fail to respond to the leading of the Spirit, then they are quenching the Spirit. Sometimes we may feel a need to go visit a brother or sister in the nursing home and yet don’t follow through then we are quenching the Spirit. We sometimes feel a burden to assist a brother or a sister, but if we don’t follow up then we are quenching the Spirit. Likewise, sometimes brothers and sisters know that they should regularly attend to the worship service, but allow other things to get in the way. This too is quenching the Spirit. Other times we feel an inner desire to study God’s word, and yet allow other things to keep us from doing so. Again, this is quenching the Spirit.

"Despise not prophesyings." Rev. 19:10 tells us that the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy: Rev. 19:10 “And I fell at his feet to worship him. And he said unto me, See thou do it not: I am thy fellowservant, and of thy brethren that have the testimony of Jesus: worship God: for the testimony of Jesus is the spirit of prophecy.” When the scripture testimony or some good brother or sister tells us what we should be doing or not be doing based on the word of God, then we should not despise that prophesying.

“Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.” What is the standard by which we are to prove all things? The standard is the word of God. We are not to prove things by trying them out to see whether it is good or not. We are to use the perfect standard, which is the word of God in order to prove what is good and what is not good. Once we have approved something to be good, then we should hold fast to that which is good.

“Abstain from all appearance of evil.” This verse needs no expounding upon. It means that we are not even to give an appearance of evil as the disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.