Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 37

Paul Exhorts them to Give Thanks & Draw from the Holy Spirit

1 Thessalonians 5:18-19 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Quench not the Spirit. KJV

Immediately following the exhortation to pray always and at all times and for all things, the great Apostle Paul urges these new believers in the city of Thessalonica to give thanks, for thankfulness is the joint connection with prayer to our Heavenly Father as Paul says it with these words, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (1 Thessalonians 5:18) (KJV). Paul declares to them and to us today that 'thanks' should be given to God the Father for 'every thing' and here also is where I personally have had much wrestling going on within my inner man to understand how and why my Heavenly Father would want me to give thanks for my baby brother being murdered in prison or why I lost both my parents to death within 5 shorts months of one another, or why I was blackballed out of my career of Civil Engineering because I sued the United States Department of the Interior for racial discrimination in 1993 and then for reprisal the following year, for these things are not worthy of my thanks in prayer as I see now through this glass 'darkly', and this English word 'darkly' (from 1 Corinthians 13:12) is translated by the Greek word ainigma meaning abstractly obscureness or  the state of being indistinct or indefinite for lack of adequate illumination.

The English word 'thanks' is translated by the Greek word eucharisteo meaning to be grateful, that is, (actually) to express gratitude (towards). In other words, because these believers in the Church @ Thessalonica and we believers today have whole heartedly put their/our faith and trust in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, then we must trust and know that He will work all things together for our good because we love Him and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28), therefore, we must understand that we see things that happen to us and to those we love that are horrible only through our limited vision not able to see the whole picture as our Lord Jesus does because He lives in Eternity seeing everything at the same time past, present, and future, while we can see only our past and present.

The little English phrase 'is the will' is translated by one Greek word thelema meaning a determination (properly the thing), that is, (actively) choice (specifically purpose, decree; abstractly volition) or (passively) inclination: - desire, pleasure, will. In other words, it is our Heavenly Father's desire, decree, and determination for us to have this attitude, aptitude, and ability to thank Him for all things and circumstances and situations we find in our lives at all times during our sojourn and pilgrimage away from our home in Heaven here on the earth, just as King David said with these words concerning this issue, "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My life makes its boast in the Lord; let the humble {and} afflicted hear and be glad. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought (inquired of) the Lord {and} required Him [of necessity and on the authority of His Word], and He heard me, and delivered me from all my fears." (Psalm 34:1-4) (Amplified Bible), for if we cannot believe and trust that the One who made the Heavens and the Earth and all the Universes and all things visible and invisible cannot bring us home safely, then we have stopped depending on Him and are now depending on ourselves.

Paul exhorts them to, "Quench not the Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 5:19) (KJV). The English word 'quench' is translated by the Greek word sbennumi it is a prolonged form of an apparently primary verb; meaning to extinguish (literally or figuratively): - go out, quench. In other words, God the Holy Spirit is the inspirer, instigater, and invigorater of prayer and thanks giving to God the Father and when we quench Him by grieving Him with our sin and indifference, then we put out the flame of prayer, its frequency, its power, and its effectiveness at the Throne of our Heavenly Father. Note: "Wherever it is, it burns; it flames in holy love, in joy, prayer, thanksgiving. O quench it not, damp it not in yourself or others, either by neglecting to do good, or by doing evil!" (John Wesley).

"Do not throw cold water on those who, under extraordinary inspiration of the Spirit, stand up to speak with tongues, or reveal mysteries, or pray in the congregation. The enthusiastic exhibitions of some (perhaps as to the nearness of Christ’s coming, exaggerating Paul’s statement, 2 Thessalonians 2:2, By spirit), led others (probably the presiding ministers, who had not always been treated with due respect by enthusiastic novices, 1 Thessalonians 5:12), from dread of enthusiasm, to discourage the free utterances of those really inspired, in the Church assembly. On the other hand, the caution (1 Thessalonians 5:21) was needed, not to receive 'all' pretended revelations as divine, without 'proving' them." JFB Commentary

"We can always find something to be thankful for, and there may be reasons why we ought to be thankful for even those dispensations which appear dark and frowning. Chrysostom, once the archbishop of Constantinople, and then driven into exile, persecuted, and despised, died far away form all the splendors of the capital, and all the comforts and honors which he had enjoyed, uttering his favorite motto - δόξα τῷ Θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκεν  doxa tō Theō pantōn heneken - 'glory to God for all things.' Bibliotheca Sacra, 1:700. So we may praise God for everything that happens to us under His government. A man owes a debt of obligation to Him for anything which will recall him from his wanderings, and which will prepare him for heaven. Are there any dealings of God toward people which do not contemplate such an end? Is a man ever made to drink the cup of affliction when no drop of mercy is intermingled? Is he ever visited with calamity which does not in some way contemplate his own temporal or eternal good! Could we see all, we should see that we are never placed in circumstances in which there is not much for which we should thank God. And when, in His dealings, a cloud seems to cover His face, let us remember the good things without number which we have received, and especially remember that we are in the world of redeeming love, and we shall find enough for which to be thankful." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…