Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
Introduction
In chapter 5 Paul has provided a series of admonitions in light of the fact that Jesus Christ is
Coming Soon. As we read the exhortations we are struck by the fact the young church faced
several problems; some Christians were living carelessly; some were not respecting church
leaders; others were abusing the time of corporate worship; there was a need for holiness, love
and honesty and harmony among the saints (See Wiersbe’s Outlines of the New Testament pp.
603-606). Paul has included the admonition to be watchful (5:1-11); be respectful of your
leaders (5:12-13); and now the plea is to be mindful of one another (vv.14-15) and to be thankful
for one another (vv.16-18). The Church is a Bride; and the Church is a Body; but the Church in a
very real sense is a family. In Chapter 5 Paul begins with instructions for family leadership and
continues with exhortations for family partnership and the atmosphere for family worship.
Be Mindful Of One Another (vv.14-15)
Paul will give a series of reminders; admonish the unruly; encourage the faint-hearted; help the
weak; be patient with all; refuse to retaliate. The instructions are not limited to the elders or the
leaders but include all who are called “brethren” (v.14).
Warn The Unruly (v.14a)
“warn those who are unruly”
Warn is the same word translated admonish in verse 12 (noutheteo). The ancient word nous is
mind and tithemi means to place or put; so literally to place in the mind. The term “warn”
means to cautiously confront; with a view that you may be wrong; but it carries with it the idea
of calling a person to account for behavior. In my experience Christians are very much willing
to comfort but rather reluctant to confront.
The word translated “unruly” is “ataktos”; as a descriptor or adjective; tasso--to draw up in
order or arrange in order; with the negative prefix; so disorder; the word appears one more time
2 Thessalonians where it is translated “undisciplined” (2 Thess. 3:6b-7,11);
“Keep away from every brother who leads an unruly life and not according to the tradition
which you received from us. For. . .we did not act in an undisciplined manner among
you. . .For we hear that some among you are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work at all,
but acting like busybodies”.
One Bible teacher (Morris) notes the word was used in the context of the military; and it referred
to a soldier who would step out of rank; or to an army moving in disarray; we might think of a
person who abandons orders or abandons their post. The word was sometimes used in ancient
literature to describe someone who was truant; like a student ditching class. This is the person
who has either neglected or abandoned their God-given responsibilities. This is interesting in
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Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
light of the return of Jesus Christ; we have a role; we have a post; we have been assigned a task;
Jesus is our General. Are you a believer? Are you where you belong? You belong in the
ranks of the Church; with the people of God; in fellowship; ministering, serving, helping to
reach the lost; and providing for the poor and the needy. What in the world are you doing in
the world?
One Bible translator (Moffatt) went so far as to write “keep a check on the loafers.” Has laziness
or inactivity brought you to a place where you must be cautioned or warned? Avoid the thin ice.
Why would you damage your soul or your testimony. We all make mistakes. There are two
kinds of mistakes that we make; those that we can recover from; and those that we can never
recover from.
The Puritan Preacher Jonathan Edwards said;
“You have been once more warned today, while the door of the ark yet stands open. You have, as
it were, once again heard the knocks of the hammer and axe in the building of the ark, to put you
in mind that a flood is approaching. Take heed therefore that you do not still stop your ears,
treat these warnings with a regardless heart, and still neglect the great work which you have to
do, lest the flood of wrath suddenly come upon you, sweep you away, and there be no remedy.”
Titus 3:10 (NKJV) Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition,
Comfort The Faint-Hearted (v.14b)
“comfort the faint-hearted” oligopsychos; oligos; little; psyche “Soul”.
The faint hearted are the people who are walking with the weight of the world; these are the
people who constantly think about life’s problems, life’s pains, they are mentally, emotionally
physically drained by fear and worry. Are you timid, reserved? Are you easily discouraged or
disappointed? Are you a person who hesitates to serve or witness; not because you want to do
your own thing; but because you are afraid? Rebuke is not the right response; but rather the
giving of comfort! Do you know someone who is faint-hearted? Give them the priceless gift of
comfort (Swindoll p. 85). Some people who are consumed by grief or guilt believe there is no
room for grace or comfort. Grace and grit are needed to walk out of life’s shadows.
Comfort is never a substitute for obedience. God promised to bless Abram and make him
great, but there was one condition. Abram had to obey God; that meant leaving home and family
and friends and going to a new land where God promised to make Abram and his children a great
nation. I am not talking about clinging to peace and comfort because of opposition in our walk
with Christ. I am talking about the comfort that gives strength to face trials; face difficulties and
provide comfort for others in trial and difficulty.
Support The Weak (v.14c)
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Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
“uphold the weak”
The weak are those who are to exhausted to stand; they have neither the resources or the strength
to handle life’s daily load. The weak cave easily to temptation; are discouraged, defeated, and
easily led astray! They need to be supported (anthechesthe). The word means to cling and hold
on to. . . What is Paul asking the believer’s to do? I think the song
“lean on me when your not strong, I’ll be your friend, I’ll help you carry on,” captures the
sentiment. Paul told the Romans to receive the weak (Rom.14:1); receive not reject. “We then
that are strong ought to bear the infirmities (weakness) of the weak, and not to please
ourselves” (Rom. 15:1). “To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made
all things to all men, that I might by all means save some” (1 Cor. 9:22). The “weak” may refer
to those who are morally or spiritually weak. The Church sometimes elevates the strong but
finds no place for the weak.
In a moment of great difficulty David had Jonathan to lean on. Elijah had Elisha; Paul had
Epaphroditus, Epaphras, Luke and Onesiphorus. You may not know or remember those names;
but Paul said of Onesiphorus that he “often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains” (2
Tim. 1:16).
We sometimes fool ourselves into thinking we are the strong; we are the ones who others look
for help and support; and we forget even our Lord called on the disciples to pray with Him and
for Him in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Apostles fell asleep.
“be patient with all”
The Apostle Paul tacks on “patience” as a quality to be exercised with all. The word patience is
makrothumeo--which literally means to be long--tempered. There is another Greek word for
patience; hupomone (patient in circumstance). Here Paul speaks of patience with people.
We all have fuses. Some of have short fuses--and some of have long fuses. We are not to blow
up when others fail; or if the change we expected is slow---real slow--we are not grow irritable
or impatient or restless. We are to remain calm, long-suffering. We give ourselves and those in
the Body of Christ; those in the family of God; time and space to grow. Paul asks that we be
very patient with people.
Let me ask you a hard question; “Have you wounded someone with an outburst of anger or
impatience? If so--what do you suppose you need to do do remedy this conflict and the
soothe the wounds?
James 1:4 (NKJV) But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete,
lacking nothing.
Patience is not simply for your brother’s sake; there is direct benefit to you!
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Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
Watch Your Motives (v.15)
1 Thessalonians 5:15 (NKJV) See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue
what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Refuse to retaliate. The Roman world was a world of retaliation. The Jews “eye for eye, tooth
for tooth, hand for hand, life for life” was not adopted by the Romans. Kill a Roman and
everyone in your village dies. The very fact that Paul insists “see that no one renders evil for
evil to anyone” seems to suggest that such behavior was talking place. The family of Christ has
no place for retaliation or revenge. Paul understands that human beings will do evil; but
we are not to reciprocate evil. If you or I mistreat the unbeliever we have forfeited our
right; our privilege to point them to Jesus. Our testimony is ruined.
Proverbs 24:29 says; “Say not, I will do so to him as he has done to me: I will render to the man
according to his work”. Don’t say that; don’t say; I will simply do to him what he deserves.
Let’s do an exercise. Where it says; “See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone” insert your
name; “See that Gino Geraci does not render evil for evil to “anyone” and under “anyone”
place the name of that person who you are tempted to term “enemy”. Not so easy. Harsh word,
for harsh word, threatening word for threatening word; You might think; “this is impossible”. No
one can do this. This is exactly what Jesus did. Imagine if everyone in your family did this.
Imagine if everyone in the church did this.
C.S. Lewis writes in Mere Christianity:
“Surely what a man does when he is taken off his guard is the best evidence for what sort of a
man he is. Surely what pops out before the man has time to put on a disguise is the truth. If
there are rats in a cellar you are most likely to see them if you go in very suddenly. But the
suddenness does not create the rats: it only prevents them from hiding. In the same way the
suddenness of the provocation does not make me an ill-tempered man: it only shows me what an
ill-tempered man I am. The rats are always there in the cellar, but if you go in shouting and
noisily they will have taken cover before you switch on the light.”
Sometimes in a crisis the veneer comes off; the pleasantness comes off; and what is inside comes
out. Few people can summon character in a crisis unless character is already there.
Firefighters fight fire at all times; firefighters respond when citizens have a heart attack at
3:00 in the afternoon or 3:00 in the morning. Firefighters are trained to help; trained to
respond; and they put themselves at risk; I have seen firefighters go into homes where
families have beat each other senseless and render aid with no regard to who started the
fight or finished the fight.
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Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
We are to be peacemakers. Let me ask you a question; have you said out loud or in your heart; “I
think I’ll give him, I’ll give her a dose of their own medicine; or “Let’s see how she likes it if I
treat her the way she treats me!” Do you need help coming up with a strategy for doing good to
someone who has done evil to you? Smile instead of frown. Listen to God say; “you can obey
ME; rather than the Devil’s hurt them before they hurt you. Pursue what is good both for
yourselves and for all. That is a great definition of God’s agape love.
Be Thankful For One Another (vv.16-18)
Paul gives a checklist of things that are continually appropriate. We say continually because
Paul uses language like; always (v.16); without ceasing (v.17) and in everything (v.18). These
have been called “the standing orders of the Church” and are in the imperative (commands).
Rejoice Always (v.16)
1 Thessalonians 5:16 (NKJV) Rejoice always,
Yogi Berra once said; “You can observe a lot just by watching”!
In Philippians 4:4 Paul writes; “Rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice!”
Joy takes the burden out of service. When Paul lists the fruit of the Spirit or the characteristics of
the Spirit in Galatians 5:22 he speaks of love; joy, peace, long-suffering. We cannot manufacture
these spiritual qualities; we must produce them by the Holy Spirit. Why in the world should I
rejoice? God has saved you. The Lord looks after you. God will cause all the circumstances of
our lives for our good and His glory (Rom. 8:28). And on top of that--God has given us eternal
life in Jesus Christ. We face forever with Christ. We are not told we must feel happy all the
time; but rather we rejoice. What is the difference between joy and happiness? One is internal
and the other external. One is based on outward circumstances and the other internal reality.
The basis of joy is Jesus Himself.
Pray Always (v.17)
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) pray without ceasing,
Paul moves from family partnership to family worship. In the next several verses Paul will write
about the elements of prayer (v.17), praise (v.18) and the Word of God (vv.19-21).
Paul told the Romans “Be. . .faithful in prayer” (Rom.12:11). Paul told the Colossians;
“Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings. He is always
wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully
assured” (Col. 4:12). Paul told Timothy; “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer,
without anger or disputing” (1 Tim. 2:8).
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Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
Prayer is the mechanism God has ordained for human beings to receive things from God. Prayer
is simply the request for things from God; but rather the means and mechanism of friendship,
fellowship and friendship. Prayer is admission that God can and you can’t.
Someone once said; “I often say my prayers, but do I ever pray? And do the wishes of my heart,
go with the words I say? I might as well kneel down, and worship gods of stone,
As to offer to the living God, a prayer of words alone.”
How can a person pray without ceasing? It is to remember that prayer is more than simply words
we say to God; but rather it is the life lived in Christ, through Christ, by Christ. Prayer in part is
faith in God; not faith in words. Prayer is relationship. J. B. Lightfoot put it this way; “Is is not
in the moving of the lips, but in the elevation of the heart to God, that the essence of prayer
consists.”
I think praying without ceasing is too constantly live in the conscious knowledge that God is
present, that Christ is present; it is thinking thoughts with the understanding that Jesus is present.
The analogy of love is a good one--when you are in love--there is an unceasing awareness of the
other person; it is not simply that you are or not are not thinking of that person; but in the end all
decisions are made with your loved one in mind.
Grateful Always (v.18)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (NKJV) in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus
for you.
Prayer and praise go together. How do we express thanks? How do we give thanks?
Colossians 3:16 (NKJV) Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and
admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your
hearts to the Lord.
I can hear some saying; “How in can I give thanks in all things? How can I give thanks for the
earthquake in Haiti; for the death of a child; for terrible accidents; for death and sin? We don’t.
That’s not what Paul is asking or the Scripture is saying; we thank God for His presence and
power as we walk through painful difficult trials. In Christ Jesus there is triumph and victory
over all; no matter how terrible or painful. Therefore IN everything (not FOR everything) we
walk through it all; knowing in Jesus we are more than conquerors. This is the will of God in
Christ Jesus; we rejoice evermore; we pray without ceasing; we give thanks in everything.
“Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus
Christ” (Eph. 5:20).
Conclusion
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Body-Life
1 Thessalonians 5:14-18
The Christian life is a life of joy, a life of prayer and a life of thanksgiving. God intends that-and makes that possible for every believer. Where in the world will you find the resources to do
what God has asked? Good news! We have three resources. We have God’s Word; we have all
the truth we will ever need to function as believers in Christ towards one another. Second we
have God’s Holy Spirit; so we have all the power we will ever need. Rely on the Holy Spirit’s
power in you; for strength to forgive and the power to patient and the strength to provide
comfort, assistance, encouragement. The last resource is one that might surprise you. We
have in God’s family--all the challenge you will ever need! In the Body of Christ; in the
family of God we will have those who are unruly; and those who are fainthearted; and
those who are weak. Some we will warn; some we will encourage; some we help help; but
we will be patient with all. `
Think for a moment; you have friends who have left fellowship and left God’s path to walk in the
ways of the world. They don’t even come to church anymore; they don’t seem open to
discussing Christ; his love and his truth. Some may be dealing with deep sorrow; deep despair,
deep disappointment that have caused them to neglect work, home, marriage, family.
You don’t feel competent or qualified to admonish their friends for their attitude and behavior.
You talk with them and discover that they are overwhelmed by pain, heartache, dissapointment
and disillusionment. Do you confront or console? Should your love be tender or tough?
Ask yourself this question; what need, what hole, what emptiness is your friend trying to fill
from the world outside? How can you show them the love of Christ and the provision of Christ
in a real way?
In Spain the Matador faces the Bull with only a red cape and a long sword. When the charging
bull comes he must step aside at just the right moment. One tiny mistake, one lapse in judgment,
and the matador could find himself permanently injured, or dead. Where does the matador go to
find courage? One of Spain’s most successful matadors, El Cordobes, answered: “The university
for courage is to do what you believe in?”
Christian--what do you believe in? Do you believe in God’s Word; Do you believe in God’s
Spirit; Do you believe that God’s people might be what God has placed in your life; to become
that man of God; that woman of God; that servant of God in the arena we call life?
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