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We come to the concluding verses of I Thessalonians Chapter 5 from verse 12. – we just touched on this.

We beseech you – we plead with you – respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Know them and know their worth and appreciate their value. Recognise the leadership that is ordained of God.

Develop a proper respect for leaders – especially those who are over you in the Lord – those who admonish you – or counsel you – and guide you – rebuking when necessary. We need love to do that but we also need courage to rebuke.

Look at their work – their sheer faithfulness and dependability. Esteem them lovingly. That would put an end to so much carping and criticism in what is seen to be the visible church.

Live at peace among yourselves. Might that be a consequence of what has just gone before? Were they divided over their thinking on the coming again of Jesus? That has caused division in the Church over the past hundred years – this is one area where we have to be tolerant and understanding.

Paul is interested in a well run orderly fellowship.

Verse 14 - Warn those who are idle – or better, ‘unruly’. It is a military term for those in the front line who are disorderly or out of line.

If there is a broken front line, weaknesses arise and the enemy can get in.

This happens when people are out of place and not where they should be, and if they become uncooperative they become a disruptive influence, and they allow trouble to creep in. Warn them!

If a man is not obedient and reliable in the ranks is he officer material? This can hinder a man’s promotion in the Kingdom of God.

Comfort the feeble minded – the fainthearted – those who may be experiencing spiritual despondency – and that can mean those who are have succumbed to temptation or who are on the point of giving in to temptation.

Some people go to pieces under strain and stress and are temporarily overwhelmed.

Support the weak – to support someone you need to be strong and stable and reliable and able to be leaned upon – for a season.

We are to become strong, and able to get on with service in the kingdom. Darwin spoke about the survival of the fittest – we are called in Christ to support the weak.

Be patient with everyone.

Minister to those needs and be tender where tenderness is needed.

Verse 15 – There must be no revenge – no retaliation. Do not be vindictive – this is the most natural thing in the world, to want to get your own back – no – not if we in Christ. We are to be different and go after that which is good – for each other – and to everyone else. ‘Kind’ is a weak word here.

Verse 16 – Be joyful always. Enjoy the victory of Christ – our security is in Christ.

What God allows and permits He can use, and does use. We learn to anchor our joy in something more permanent and eternal – your names are written in heaven.

Verse 17 – Pray continually – be always in communion with Jesus – occupy your mind with prayer.

Live in God’s company – do not go anywhere where you could not take Jesus. Do not say anything that you would not wish Jesus to overhear.

Pray – use the time – travelling – washing – walking.

David Du Plessis use to fly thousands of miles a year – if he had no work to do on the plane he would pray in tongues until he fell asleep – the old adage – don’t count sheep, talk to the shepherd.

Verse 18 – Give thanks in all circumstances – not for everything – but in everything – in every situation. If you are walking in God’s Will, give thanks. Paul is encouraging us here to cultivate an atmosphere of joy and prayer and thanksgiving.

These are emotional words – and we need that – we are not machines – we are not computers.

Verse 19 – Do not do anything to stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not despise prophecies and visions. Judge them. Evaluate them. The New Testament prophet never says “Amen” to the prophecy or vision – it is the people who do that. This keeps us from private soulish interpretations.

Verse 21 – Test everything. Hold on to what is good. Avoid every kind of evil. Do not give anyone the opportunity of even suggesting that you are up to no good. KJV – ‘Abstain from all appearance of evil.’ Sometimes we need to be set free from pettiness or flippancy or folly.

We need to know the difference between good and evil and that is not an easy matter today as we are bombarded with such compromise when it comes to biblical standards.

Verse 23 – May the God of peace sanctify you through and through – holy through and through. ‘Soul’ means ‘life’!

May your whole being be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

There is a wholeness of personality here – not a split personality. We should not be like a bundle of sticks that has lost its string. It is Christ Who ties us together and unites our parts and ministers to us to make us whole. Tighten your grip on us.

These lessons are so amazing and profound and therapeutic. ‘Blameless’ here has that sense of being unable of being accused of sin on that day.

Verse 24 – The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it. When Derek Prince was being interviewed he was asked if he could sum up his lengthy ministry in two or three sentences. He replied, I can do it in three words – “God is faithful”.

Verse 25 – Pray for us. He requested prayer for the team. Paul depended upon the intercession of others – so do we. Paul knew what it was to be spent and weary and tired and in need of refreshing and renewal.

Verse 26 – Warmly greet each other

Verse 27 – Have this letter read to all the brothers.

Verse 28 – the grace – from the throne of the risen and living Lord Jesus Christ. Nothing can turn off the flow of grace. These sentences and phrases are real pearls and grace is the string to string them all together.

“Lord God, thank You for these verses in Your Word which are so practical and profound and encouraging – we so need them – all of them. May we be able to testify to the truth that “God is faithful” through Jesus Christ, our Saviour and Lord. Amen”

"Word from Scotland" from Sandy Shaw

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