Rejoice Evermore

/ Discipleship Bible Study / By

1 Thess 5:12-22

“Rejoice evermore” is one of Seven final instructions that Apostle Paul gave to the church in Thessalonica.

  • Rejoice evermore
  • Pray without ceasing
  • In everything give thanks
  • Quench not the Spirit
  • Despise not prophesying
  • Prove all things; hold fast what is good
  • Abstain from all appearances of evil

The immediate and broader context of these instructions is related to the phrase “the coming of the LORD”:

  • to wait for his Son from heaven 1 Thess 1:10
  • For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?  1 Thess 2:19
  • To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. 3:13
  • For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 4:15
  • For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. 5:2
  • I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 5:23

The seven instructions given to the church are fruitful practices while believers wait for the coming of the LORD.

We need to remind ourselves of the coming of the LORD. The things we are going through are not the end. The world as it is will not continue like this. The LORD will come. Some live as if the LORD will not come again. When believers fall into that trap their lives manifest exactly the same lifestyle as Paul admonished the Thessalonian church against. Those who do not focus on the return of the LORD will not be careful to please God. And to please God we must take care of the following:

  • Our sanctification- abstain from fornication 4: 3-7 God has not called us to uncleanness but to holiness. When people are not mindful of the coming of the LORD they become earthly minded and are corrupted by their sinful selves. Lusts will take over their minds and all they will care about is how to satisfy their carnal desires.
  • Increase in brotherly love vs 9- 10. When people do not remember that the LORD is coming they become self-centered. All they desire is to please themselves and their own interests are more important than the well-being of others. They do not care about the souls of others to even present the gospel to them. The gospel of personal well-being seems to me an indication that we may be failing in brotherly love and are not mindful of the coming of the LORD.
  • Live a quiet life vs 11
  • Earn your own living by doing your own business vs 11- Sloth and laziness are also possible lifestyles of those who are no longer focused on the coming of the LORD.

But what is the instruction to Rejoice evermore about? Why should believers rejoice evermore as they wait for the coming of the LORD?

  • Rejoice because God loves you and He has chosen you 1 Thess 1:4- the evidence that you are chosen is that the Gospel came to you and you believed vs 5,6. This is how you know you have been chosen of God. Many are called but you have been chosen because you did not only hear the Gospel (calling) but also believed (the choosing). What a grace to be chosen. For by grace are you saved…not your works that you should glory.
  • Rejoice because God has called you to His Kingdom and glory 1 Thess 2:12. You belong to the Kingdom of light. You are the light of God shinning in the world. Many believers don’t know who they are in the world. You are to live worthy of God’s calling as His ambassadors. Your life should reflect the image of Him who called you to His kingdom and glory. That Kingdom is of righteousness and the image is same.
  • Rejoice that you are not appointed to the wrath of God but unto salvation 1 Th 5:9. Just as eyes have not seen what God has prepared for those who love Him, so, no one has ever seen or will in this world be able to fathom the depth of God’s wrath on those who refuse His Son, Jesus Christ. He that does not believe is condemned already says the Holy writ. The Lake of fire is described as a place where the fire is not quenched and their worms do not die. It obviously is a torturing fire and not a destroying fire. We are talking of eternal torture.
  • Rejoice in the resurrection 1 Th 4:14-16. If Jesus was raised from the dead, so shall all who believe in Him. We shall be raised from the dead; those who are alive when He returns shall be raptured to be with the LORD. This is very comforting. Death becomes a gateway whenever it comes. It is not a dead end. That the saying may be true- death is swallowed in victory; no longer a torment. This is also a cause for rejoicing.

Everything that brings comfort to the heart is a cause for rejoicing as Paul stated in this epistle. Knowing that we will be raised with Christ, knowing that we are appointed to salvation and not wrath and we shall live with Him are all reasons for rejoicing. These are the reasons to rejoice evermore regardless of what we may be going through in this world. The present distress cannot be compared with the weight of glory that awaits us when the LORD shall return. Therefore we continue to rejoice in hope.

Are you certain of this hope? Do you have the assurance that you are chosen of God? Have you been united with Christ? It is when this is in place you can rejoice evermore. Are you convinced you need to connect with Jesus today? Today is the day of Salvation.

Do you need to make your way right with God? The door is also open to you.

Sermon preached at United Faith Gospel Tabernacle Church, Jos