By Rev. Ron Purkey
Guest Columnist

Rev. Ron Purkey

Read 1 Thessalonians 5:1-28

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18)

When the early church gathered, their purpose was to give thanks. It was a part and parcel of their worship.

Someone had a psalm, someone had a prayer, someone had a word from the Lord, and a lot of people had an opportunity to say thank you. When we have fellowship with believers in smaller groups, it is good to have a time of giving thanks.

In Ephesians 5:18, Paul cautions us to be filled with the Holy Spirit. And what will happen? “Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.” Joy, rejoicing, prayer and praise will happen. In Ephesians 5:20, he says, “Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

According to the Apostle Paul, a Spirit-filled believer is a thankful believer, a joyful believer, a praying believer. If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, thanks will gush out of you for everything.

Even in times of trouble, Paul says, “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God” (Philippians 4:6). In times of great anxiety, fear, worry and stress, be thankful. “Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. … Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him” (Colossians 3:15, 17).

In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, the responsibility of the Christian believer to the Lord is described in terms of his heart attitude. He is to have inward incessant joy, continual unceasing prayer, constant daily thanks. And these three commands — rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks — penetrate the innermost recesses of the redeemed heart. They are the best measurement of a person’s spiritual condition.

It will lead to a right attitude in all your duties, responsibilities and ministries. If you are not a joyful, prayerful, thankful person, you are struggling with the flesh. When the Holy Spirit controls you, those things fall into place.

Then the Apostle Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18, “For this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” This is attached to all three of those commands, not just the last one. God’s will in Christ Jesus is that you would have constant joy, constant prayer and constant thanks.

If you are filled with the Holy Spirit, you will speak to yourself in psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. That is rejoicing. And you will offer that to the Lord, because that is prayer. You will give thanks. Because it’s good to be in the family of God and have faith in Jesus Christ.

Read Ron Purkey’s Bible study outlines at www.rtcol.com/purkey free on the website. Purkey has been an ordained Baptist minister for 50 years.