Teaching (no posting) 1 Thessalonians

[SpiritPsalmist]

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Greetings
1 Thess 1:1-5

Paul greets them saying that greetings also come from Silas, and Timothy and is Paul's response to Timothy's report after Paul had sent him to the Thessalonian congregation, then met up with him again in Corinth (Acts 18:1-5; 1 Thess 3:1-2). Silas and Timothy had both accompanied Paul on his 2nd journey to Thessalonica (modern Salonika in Macedonia, northern Greece).

Paul told them they prayed continually for them and thanked God for their work of faith and the labor of love and steadiness of their hope in Yeshua Messiah.

The gospel did not come to them in "word" only, but in power, meaning they did not just hear but they "did", (the proof of their faith was with works of faith (Jms 2:18). Not just any works, not works that they had to force themselves to do but works that flowed up out of their very being, love growing within them from the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit) and spilling out in obedience to what they were learning regarding God's ways and were able to do. Their faith and trust produced action, their love produced hard work,and their hope produced perseverance. (Rom 5:2-5; Rom 8:20-25; Heb 6:11) These actions of faith were active in Paul, Silas, and Timothy as well so the Thessalonians were following in the footsteps that Paul, Silas, and Timothy walked in. ​

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Rescued From the Wrath Due Sin
1 Thess 1:6-10

Paul points out to them that they became imitators of him, Silas, and Timothy. They were in much tribulation when the Thesslonians accepted the message and managed through this troubling time with the joy of the Ruach ha-Kodesh (Holy Spirit). The fact that they came through tough times with joy was an example not only to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia but everywhere that had heard about them and their faith.

The Apostles had no need to tell anyone about them because the news spread quickly among all the believers. See my teachings on the Acts of the Apostles in Thessalonica here.

The news about the changes in the lives of the Thessalonians spread quickly, how they had turned away from idols to serve the living and true God (they responded to 1Sam 7:3). How their faith caused them to trust and wait expectantly for the return of Yeshua, God's Son who had given his life for them and was raised from the dead and would return from heaven...the One who is the rescurer from the wrath of God for the wages of their sins (Rom 1:18). Paul reminded them of their new hope as taught them in Is 9:5; Ps 2:7; Prov 30:4; Dan 7:13.​

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[SpiritPsalmist]

To Win Favor With God
1 Thess 2:1-4

The changes in the lives of those in the Thessalinian congregation was so obvious that no one could say Paul's journey to them was in vain.

When Paul and Silas had first entered Thessalonica they were coming from Philippi where they had been beaten and imprisoned. Upon arriving in Thessalonica they went straight to the Synagogue as was their custom (Act 17:1-4). For at least three Shabbats in a row, he took part in the Shabbat (Gods Sabbath appointment * with us humans) service and afterward debated the scriptures with them. This was not an unusual thing to take place being that friendly debating/discussion of scriptures, which at that time all they had was the Tenakh (what Christians call the Old Testament) is common in Jewish gatherings. From these debates, many Jews, men, women, and Greek God-fearers and leading women were convinced that Yeshua was Messiah and believed on Him and began to follow the teachings of Paul and Silas.

*We can worship God on any and every day of the week, but the Sabbath is the date that God set forth. The 7th day of the week is the Sabbath. (Ex 20:8-11) On every calendar, Sunday is the first day of the week.
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However, the Jews who did not believe on Yeshua became jealous and stirred up a riot in the city. (see Act 17:5-9) Paul and Silas hid and after dark "got out of Dodge" and went to Berea.

Paul explains that his teachings is the truth and had proven such by using the scriptures (OT) to prove it. His appeal was not from impure motives nor is he trying to trick them. God had tested them and found them fit and God entrusted them with the Good News therefore, that is what they speak about. They don't speak to win favor with people, they speak to win favor with God who is the one who examines our hearts (Jer 17:10). They spoke honestly and clear, not sugar-coating the gospel.​

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Actions Of Indearment
1 Thess 2:5-8

So Paul has reminded them where they were spiritually when he first met them and their lives had so changed that they were a testimony to all those around them. He tells them he and Timothy and Silas have and are speaking to them the truth and not flattering them with flowery words so as to cheat them or gain anything from them. There is no greed involved in their coming to the Thessalonian people. Even though, because of who they are, they could have thrown their weight around and been haughty, treating the people as if they were servants, correcting with harshness and superiority, they didn't.

Instead, they treated them as a loving mother would when feeding and caring for her children. They were patient, not yelling at the people for any mistakes they made but correcting them in gentleness and in walking it out themselves. They did not resent this either, they were happy and joyful to share their lives with the people because they held them dear to their hearts.

What an example for us even now of how we should think and act toward those we are teaching and walking alongside.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Walking Worthy of The Calling of God
1 Thess 2:9-12

Often times, accusations against those who are proclaiming the gospel run rampant, and not just in the unbelieving world. Tragically, sometimes, the accusations are true but here Paul is proclaiming that the accusations swirling about were not true. He declares the Thessalonians to be witnesses to their labor and hardships while working among them day and night so as to not be a burden to anyone. Paul was a tentmaker (some say that is a reference to tallit's, see Was Paul a Tallit-Maker?) and he did not want any to have to pay for his food, clothing, shelter, etc. It's not that he did not accept help, but he did not "expect" or "assume" others to take care of him and any of the other ministers. They behaved as true men and women (remember Pricilla alongside her husband Aquila) of God and not "so holy you must do everything for us".

Of course, that does not mean that the people of the congregations should not do what they can in caring for the visiting ministers. The people should go out of their way to give of what they have (remember Elijah and the widow) and make them comfortable, but the visiting ministers should not be burdening the people with excessive and unreasonable expectations over short or long periods of time. Paul and the others worked alongside the people as they taught. They did not expect anything for free.

Paul and the others behaved themselves as men of God, worthy of the calling God had called them to. He compared himself and the others with him as a father who tenderly cared for his children. A good father exhorts and encourages, and urges each one of his children to walk in a manner just as worthy as he is. He does not stand over and yells and demand but he leads the way by his own example and that is what Paul and the others did.​

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Imitators Even In Persecution
1 Thess 2:13-16


For this reason, we also thank God constantly that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it truly is—the word of God, which does its work in you who believe.

Another reason that Paul and the other emissaries' constantly thank Gof for is that their (Pauls and the others) example of righteous behavior and their teachings where accepted by the new believers as not the word of men, but the word of God, which indeed it was. As a result the word of God was doing it's good work within those who believed. They were studying the word of God plus, in Pauls and the others teachings coming to understanding of how the scriptures (The Tenakh) taught all the things that they were learning and it was not something new. The new believes faith was being built up and they were growing in leaps and bounds.​

For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s communities in Messiah Yeshua that are in Judea—for you suffered the same things at the hands of your own countrymen as they did from the Judean leaders, who killed both the Lord Yeshua and the prophets and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God and hostile to all people, hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they might be saved.

Paul notes that their faith became so built up that they became imitators of the Judean believers at the hands of persecuters who were their countrymen. Just as the Judean unbelieving leaders had persecuted and set Yeshua up to be killed and drove out the apostles and other Judean believers, in Yeshua, the Thessalonian believers, Jew and Gentile were suffering at the hands of their fellow countrymen in Thessalonica. Persecution from both unbelieving Jews and Gentiles. See Ioudaion. All the persecution hindered Paul and the others in speaking to the Gentiles and bringing them the gospel but through perseverence it went to the world anyway.

If the translation you are reading makes that error, and blatently makes it as Jews, you need to understand that it is incorrect. ​

As a result, they constantly fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last.

I don't see this as Paul in a rejoicing way saying, "Yah, they''ll get theirs", but as just making a matter of fact statement. The persecuters are storing up wrath for themselves, and God is keeping record of it all. Don't seek revenge or vindication on your own. See Rom 12:19.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

"They Got It"
1 Thess 2:17-20

"But brothers and sisters, after we were orphaned by separation from you for a short time (in person, not in heart), we were all the more eager in our great longing to see you face to face. For we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, more than once—but satan thwarted us. For who is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Yeshua at His coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy!"

I really love how Paul is so open regarding his affections towards the other believers. It's not a warped affection but one out of true love for God and those who are called by His name. I think we see some of what God feels for us demonstrated by the pure affection that Paul has and does not withhold from letting the readers of his letter know.

For a short time he has been kept from fellowship with them. He has not been able to visit them. Probably the last time he had seen them was where the people had been stirred up by the unbelieving Jewish leaders (Acts 17:5-15) and the brethren of Thessalonica had to sneak Paul and Silas out of the city and they went to Berea. He had made close friends in the short time he'd been there and missed them. They wanted to return he says, "but satan thwarted us,".

Paul tells the Thessalonians that "you" are our glory and joy, our crown of boasting" Paul did not boast of "his" accomplishments, he boasted of theirs, accomplished by their love and devotion to him in believing that the word of God was being explained to them and coming to them through him and they emulated everything they saw him do. They saw that what he taught them matched with the written word of God and purposed to be faithful to God and do Paul proud. Not evil proud of one's own accomplishments, but a love proud, where love welled up in his heart that the Thessalonian believers were grasping hold of and learning to walk on their own. They comprehended, they understood, they acted upon what they heard. They got it!


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[SpiritPsalmist]

We Long To See You
1 Thess 3:1-10


So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind alone in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker for God in proclaiming the Good News of Messiah, in order to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be shaken by these afflictions. For you yourselves know we are destined for this. 4 For even when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer persecution—just as has happened, as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faithfulness, for fear that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be in vain.

It was a long period of time that Paul had been kept from going to see the Thessalonians again and he was distressed over it. Because of the persecution and all the events that were preventing Paul from returning to Thessalonica, Paul and his companions felt it better to stay behind in Athens while they sent Timothy on back to proclaim the Good News in order to strengthen and encourage them in their faith (1 Thess 2:17-18; Act 17:13-15; Act 18:5; Act 19:22). Paul did not want to leave the new believers to flounder on their own. Timothy and other workers of the faith with Paul returned to share more of the gospel and make sure the people learned scripture and how it was to be applied to their daily life.

Paul was concerned that even though they had been forwarned of coming persecution, that when they heard the news of his being persecuted that they would become discouraged and give up. The persecution happened just as he'd told them it would and just as Yeshua said it would (Matt 24:4-13; Jon 16:33) and Paul could not stand the thought of them not knowing how he was doing, nor how they were doing in the persecution on them. Paul wanted to make sure that the enemy had not destroyed all that Paul and the others had planted. It is a very discouraging situation to labor over people, telling them the gospel, having them believe, then having all of it stolen away by discouragement with the troubling times, and lies of the enemy.​

6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you and brought us the good news of your faithfulness and love, and that you always have good memories of us, longing to see us just as we long to see you— 7 because of this, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and trouble, we were comforted about you by your faithfulness. 8 For now we live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 For what thanks would be enough to offer to God, in return for all the joy we feel before our God because of you? 10 Night time and day time we keep praying more than ever to see you face to face, and mend any shortcomings in your faith.

Paul is feeling overjoyed now that Timothy has returned with good news, "The people are doing well, they are faithful and love the Lord and each other. They remember all the good things you did among them and they long to see you just as Paul longed to see them".

Paul and his co-workers in the Lord, even in their distress and trouble felt great comfort upon hearing such wonderful news...the Thessalonians were standing firm in the Lord. He proclaims in verse nine, "How can we thank God enough and express all of our joy at such wonderful news".

Paul tells them that both night and day he and others are praying that they will soon see them face to face and take care of any areas where anyone is falling short in their faith.

Verse 10 Paul is referencing night and morning prayers in the synagogue. Later in the letter he incourages them to "pray regularly" and even though he's talking to Gentile believers he and the others have set the example of praying regularly in the night and morning prayers. See Watch and Pray.

Paul nor any of the others stopped being Jewish but they, as Yeshua did, taught how to properly apply Torah to their lives. See James instructions in Act 15:19-21 to give only a few rules to follow because the REST would be learned as they went to Synagogue every Sabbath. See also comments here in my Acts teaching on Cornelius and what God thought about his daily prayers.

Paul mentions night first because the Jewish day begins at sunset which coresponds with the days of creation (Gen 1:5; 2 Tim 1:3). Paul was giving a Jewish model for personal and corporate prayer. Somewhere along the line believers have stopped following the model that Paul and all the other disciples/apostles gave and started doing their own thing. That does not mean necessarily that what is done is bad, but it does show that what is done is not what was modeled for us in scripture. Just something to consider.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Thanks, Joy, and Love Before God
1 Thess 3:11-13


11-13 Now may our God and Father Himself and Yeshua our Lord direct our way to you. May the Lord also cause you to increase and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as we also do for you, in order to strengthen your hearts as blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Yeshua with all His kedoshim. Amen.

So Paul and the other emmisaries are praying day and night to be able to see the Thessalonians again and that God would direct the means of that happening. They pray that the Lord would bring increase and overflow in love for one another and for all people, just as Paul and the others have for them, the Thessalonians.

Note that Paul is not praying for increase and overflow in money or things that satisfy the flesh but for increase and overflow in love for each other.

Why does Paul pray for this? So that their hearts will be strengthened. So that they can continue to withstand the persecution they are experienceing, so they can cotinue to uplift and encourage each other, so that they won't become discouraged and give up in the good they are doing and be joyful in their faith in Yeshua. So that they continue to build on the foundation of Yeshua and continue to wrestle their flesh into submission to God's ways. So that the works they do be of the quality that when they are tested by the fire, the works will withstand and not burn up. (see 1 Cor 3:10-15)
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Now that's something to say AMEN about. So be it!

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Walking in Sanctification
1 Thess 4:1-12

Finally then, brothers and sisters, we ask you and appeal in the Lord Yeshua—just as you received from us the way you ought to walk and please God (as in fact you are walking)—that you keep progressing more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Yeshua.

Paul begins to wind down the letter and he appeals to them to continue in the ways they have been taught and have been walking. Obediece is pleasing to God and they in fact are walking in obedience. It's obedience to keep progressing, not just stop at a particular success and be satisfied there. They know all the instructions and are to continue on to accomplish them all. ​

For this is the will of God—your sanctification: to abstain from sexual immorality; to know, each of you, how to gain control over his own body in holiness and honor— not in the passion of lust like the pagans who do not know God; and not to overstep his brother and take advantage of him in this matter—because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, as we told you before and solemnly warned you. For God did not call us to impurity, but in holiness. Consequently, the one who rejects this is not rejecting man, but God, who gives His Ruach ha-Kodesh to you.

The will of God is in all the instructions they were given. In the previouse lifestyle of the Thessalonians, there was immorality in every sense. The Apostles had brought the word of God to the people teaching them Gods morality of abstaining from sex with someone other than their spouse.

Each person is to gain control over their own body in holiness and honor. We are to not allow our passions of lust and/or corruption to take over like the pagans do. Don't allow yourself to tempt your brother or sister in this way and don't allow yourself to be in a position where the other person you are with can pull you into their immoral behavior. In the end the Lord will avenge the wrong of one person against another who is trying to serve God and is seduced by another.

God has called us to purity and holiness and it's unacceptable to take the stance of "I can do whatever I want because Jesus loves me". Only someone who truely does not know God could say such a thing and that's not judging their heart it's assessing their heart as showing itself by the impurity that comes out of their mouth. Ask yourslef, "is this the type of person I want to be with? One that does not care what God says nor do they care about me since they are trying to tempt me? Run from you yourself treating another in that manner and run feom another who is treating you in that manner. A person who does such only cares about themselves. The person who rejects this teaching is rejecting God and the Holy Spirit. ​

Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write you—for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. In fact, you even practice it toward all your brothers and sisters throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, to keep progressing more and more and aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, just as we directed you— so you may behave properly toward outsiders and not have need of anything.

Concerning the brotherly love they show each other Paul states they have no need of special instructions. The Apostles taught them well and the Thessalonians were responding well. The Thessalonians brotherly love toward each other was known and practiced throughout Macedonia.

We see here that even though he's commending them for their brotherly love he urges them to keeping doing more, process more love. Keep looking for ways to show love and care for each other.

I would like to interject though, that at the same time, don't overdue it and put the person in a position of you being a "caregiver" when they don't need one. Just be alert and take note of what is truely needed. Don't be like that cartoon where the boy scout keeps helping the old lady across the street when she does not want to go across the street. ​

Aspire to live a quiet life, minding your own business. Don't be a busy body always having an "inquiring mind" and wanting to know everything about everybody. Work for your own food/clothing/shelter and don't expect others to foot the bill. This is so that you may behave properly toward others and not have need of anything.

Again, it's not bad to receive from others that want to give but don't take atvantage of any situation. This is so that you may behave properly toward others, whether brothers and sisters or outsiders who are watching your every move and are looking for anything wrong for you to do so they can discredit Yeshua Messiah.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

The Return Of Messiah
1 Thess 4:13-18

13 Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who are asleep, so that you may not grieve like the rest who have no hope. 14 For if we believe that Yeshua died and rose again, so with Him God will also bring those who have fallen asleep in Yeshua.

15 For this we tell you, by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall in no way precede those who are asleep. 16 For the Lord Himself shall come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the blast of God’s
shofar, and the dead in Messiah shall rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left behind, will be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air—and so we shall always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Paul does not desire that we remain uninformed about the return of Messiah and how that it includes those who've died before us.

Per the middle part of verse 11 and into 12, (our previous portion) there was a tendency toward laziness. See 2 Thess 3:6-15 where Paul had to instruct them again on keeping busy and minding their own affairs. Even today we see some of that in our churches. Attitudes of, "I'm saved, and that's all I need to care about".

Appairently there was also some concern among the believers regarding the fate of believers in Yeshua who had died. Paul said we should not grieve as those in the world (non-believers in Yeshua), who have no hope. If we believe that God raised Yeshua from the dead, He will also raise our loved ones who were believers from the dead. Another concern was that even though as Paul touched on it here, they still had a tendency toward distracted by false teachings, see 2 Thess 2:1-3.

At the Lord's return, there will be a commanding shout with the voice of the arcangel and the sound of the shofar. Those who have died knowing Yeshua as Lord will go first and then those of us who are still alive and remain will be taken and join together with them. We will meet together in the air to greet the Lord upon His return and so we shall always be with the Lord.

We are to encourage each other with these words.


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[SpiritPsalmist]

Keep Watch for the Day of the Lord
1 Thess 5:1-11



5 Now concerning the times and seasons, brothers and sisters, you have no need for anything to be written to you. 2 For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord comes like a thief in the night. 3 When they are saying, “Shalom and safety,” sudden destruction comes upon them like a woman having birth pains in the womb—there is no way they will escape.

So, when will Yeshua return? We don't need to know. (Act 1:7) The day Yeshua will return will be as a thief in the night (a reference that Yeshua had used in Matt 24:43 and also Peter in 2 Pet 3:10). We are to just be ready to go when He comes. (Matt 24:44; Matt 25:13) Some signs of nearness will be when we start hearing all those in the world (the wicked and unbelieving and untrusting in Yesua) proclaiming, "Peace and safety", that is when suddenly their destruction comes. Like a woman who goes into labor, there is no way they will escape what is about to happen.

Only the Father knows when this will happen (Matt 24:36).

"The Day of The Lord" is a phrase used often in the Tenakh (Older Testament) see Ams 5:18-20; Is 2:12; Ez 13:5; Ez 30:3; Zeph 1:7; Zeph 1:14; Zeph 2:2-3; Zeph 3:8. ​

4 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, so that the Day might overtake you like a thief. 5 For you all are sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night or of darkness— 6 so then, let us not sleep as the others do, but let us remain on the alert and sober-minded. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night; and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober-minded—putting on the breastplate of faithfulness and love, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 10 He died for us so that, whether we may be awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up—just as you in fact are doing.

The suddeness of the Day of the Lord will NOT come as a surprise to those who are watching and waiting. Why? Because those who've put their faith and trust in Him are children of light and of day, not darkness.The brightness of day is not a surprise to people who belong to the light.

So, since we are of the day let us be sober-minded "put on" (God gives you the supplies, you have to put it on yourself...see Eph 4:17-32)

• the breastplate of faithfulness and love
• the hope of salvation as a helmet

Why? Because God did not destine us for wrath but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He died so that when Yeshua returns, whether we're still living or we've died and are buried we will come alive again and will live together with Him.

Then Paul says again, "Encourage each other and build each other up", just as in fact they were doing.

There is no time for bickering and backbiting. There is no time for being jealous of each other and resenting what another has or is doing. Each of us are to do our own part, keeping busy, minding our own business, and walking in faith and love. We are to lift up Yeshua, giving glory to Him and be ready when we hear that shofar.

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[SpiritPsalmist]

Instructions For How To Live Righteously
1 Thess 5:12-24



12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to recognize those who work hard among you and are over you in the Lord and correct you, 13 and to esteem them beyond all measure in love because of their work. Keep shalom among yourselves.

Do not be disrespectful toward the elders of the congregation. Know who the workers are among you and be respectul, heeding any corrections they make of you. (See Heb 13:17) It is to your benefit to make their task a joy and not a burden having to put up with rebellion in the congregation.

Now there are some leaders who use this to exploit the people, forcing the people to submit to unreasonable and ungodly (meaning they go against scripture not you just don't want to do it) demends but they will have to give an accounting of their stewardship to the Lord Yeshua and how they used their authority.

The verse itself is encouraging cooperation between the leader and the people and the glory it brings to the Lord. The leaders have work to do in keeping watch over the lives of the congregants. It is their responsibility to confront you in order to help you change. See Eze 3:17-18; 33:1-6.
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14 We urge you, brothers and sisters, correct the unruly, comfort the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one repays evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good for one another and for all.

Correction is not to bring shame to you but to warn you. See 1 Cor 4:14. If you are continuing in wicked activity you should expect one of the leaders to approach you on it. It's for your benefit. When you don't listen and you get all huffy and out of joint, it's rebellion and rebellion is the same as witchcraft in the Lords eyes. (1 Sam 15:23)​

16 Rejoice always,
17 pray constantly,
18 in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Messiah Yeshua.
19 Do not quench the Spirit,
20 do not despise prophetic messages,
21 but test all things, hold fast to what is good,
22 keep away from every kind of evil.

• Rejoice Always - as Paul said it previously (Phil 4:4), "Rejoice in the Lord always". That does not mean go around all bubbly and gleeful and bouncy and laughing when someone has lost a loved one, or they've lost their job, or a number of other sad things that happen in life. To be like that when someone is sad is uncaring and inconsiderate. As Rom 12:15 puts it, "Rejoice with those who rejoice and weep with those who weep". Yet, in your being, in your knower, you can rejoice that you know that God is in control and He loves you and good things will still come into your life.
• Pray Constantly - To pray constantly is not to walk around with your hands folded and looking all "pious" all day. Paul said he prayed for them constantly, night and day, which was a reference to his times of prayer, which he did daily, at least 3 times a day. We should have times that we dedicate totally to God, where we are undisturbed by outside stuff and we can pray. Seek God for His guidance and not just ask Him for stuff or to do this and that but where we just get into His presence and communicate with Him and allow Him to communicate with us.
• In Everything Give Thanks - Notice it says, "IN everything". We cannot honestly give thanks that we have cancer or we lost our leg or our best friend died, but we CAN give thanks to God for His mercy and grace and for His salvation and that He works all things together for good for those who love Him (Rom 8:28). It is God's will for us that we give thanks for His goodness and His mercy and His grace.
• Do Not Quench The Spirit - I know there is more to this verse than what I'm zoning in on right now, but I see a quenching of the Spirit when we rebel against our church leaders who are trying to correct the things in our life that need correcting. Even the Holy Spirit Himself when He pokes our conscience and tells us, "Don't do that" or "Do that" and we ignore it. That is a quenching of the Spirit and it is hardening our spirit to His voice to where we don't hear Him at all.
• Do Not Despise Prophetic Messages - I know in some congregations this can be overdone. Don't despise the message though. If it's to you directly then think on it, give it time, it may not fit you now, but later it might. As long as you have breath a prophetic word can come to be.
• Test All Things, Hold Fast To What Is Good - The written word of God is the tester. At the time Paul wrote this the tester was limited to the Tenakh (Older Testament) and that's what the people used to find out if Paul and the others were teaching the truth. Now we have the Newer Testament which perfectly coincides with the older. There is nothing in the newer that is not in the older. If it's backed by the scriptures, then it's true. If you have to finagle the words around to say something different then you are choosing to believe a lie. Checking out the cultural background and what was understood then is not finagling, that's studying. The best rule of thumb is, "if God did not say it, it's false".
• Keep Away From Every Kind Of Evil - Lying, cheating, adultery, fornication, homosexuality, gluttony, dishonoring parents, etc... Paul makes lists of things to stop participating in throughout his letters. See Eph 4:17-32; Col 3:1-17; Ex 20:2-17)

23 Now may the God of shalom Himself make you completely holy; and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept complete, blameless at the coming of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. 24 Faithful is the One who calls you—and He will make it happen!

When the Lord returns He should find us blameless...Not Guilty. He is faithful to fulfill in us what He's called us to when we're actively submitting ourselves every moment to His ways and diligently seeking the changes He desires to make in us, It's a lifetime battle, See Rom 7. Don't be lazy about your spiritual walk.
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[SpiritPsalmist]

Closing Greetings
1 Thess 5:25-28


25 Brothers and sisters, pray for us.

26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you under oath, by the Lord, that this letter be read to all the brothers and sisters.

28 The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you.

Paul gives a simple closing. He requests for prayer for himself and the others working with him. He requests that they greet each other with a holy kiss. He commands in the name of the Lord that this letter be read to the whole congregation, the men, women, and children. Then ends with, "The grace of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah be with you.

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