1 Thessalonians 5:14-22
Note: This is God’s purpose for working in your life: Perfection
“Sanctified through and through” = Complete and Permanent Transformation.
“Blameless” = above reproach... implies a witness connotation
Point: Prayer maintains a dedicated line of communication with God...
Life Lesson: Unbroken communion with God sustains us perfectly.
2 Blessings of the “Unbroken Communion” Life
Blessing 1 – Deeper Peace with God
Philippians 4:6-7 – “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Richard Foster - “Unceasing prayer has a way of speaking peace to the chaos.” ( Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home)
Blessing 2 – Purer Passion for God.
Howard Taylor - “For forty years the sun never rose on China that God didn’t find him on his knees.”
1 Thessalonians 5:14 – “We urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them.”
Point: Prayer is the food that satisfies the soul for God.
8 Disciplines of Perfection
Discipline 1 – “Be Joyful Always.” (v. 16)
“Joy” = the satisfaction of the soul
Discipline 2 – “Pray continually.” (v. 17)
Discipline 3 – “Give thanks in all circumstances.” (v. 18)
2 Corinthians 9:8 – “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
William Barclay – “Even on the darkest days there are blessings to count.”
Discipline 4 – “Do not put out the Spirit’s fire.” (v. 19)
Matthew 12:30-32 – Jesus said, “Anyone who isn’t with me opposes me, and anyone who isn’t working with me is actually working against me. 31 So I tell you, every sin and blasphemy can be forgiven - except blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, which will never be forgiven. 32 Anyone who speaks against the Son of Man can be forgiven, but anyone who speaks against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven, either in this world or in the world to come.” (NLT)
Point: Let God lead the church.
Discipline 5 – “Do not treat prophecies with contempt.” (v. 20)
“Contempt” = to be cavalier/resistant about God’s revealed will.
Colossians 3:16 – “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom.”
Discipline 6 – “Test everything.” (v. 21a)
“Test” = verify authenticity, consistency; implies avoiding gullibility
1 John 4:1 – “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
Discipline 7 – “Hold on to the good.” (v. 21b)
Point: Purity is the result of testing and holding.
Discipline 8 – “Avoid every kind of evil.” (v. 22)
“Evil” = distortion, twisting or destruction of what is of God.
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