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1 Thessalonians 5:18 – Thankful For Everything

Posted on September 25, 2012 by Will

in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Truth to Learn

Christians are to be thankful for everything!

Behind the Words

The word translated “everything” is pas, meaning “all.” It includes the idea of plurality, meaning “all the parts” or “every.” In this verse it is expressed as a neuter adjective, so it could be translated as “all things” or “everything.”

“Give thanks” is from the Greek verb eucharisteō, which is composed of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant” or “to give.” Thus, eucharisteō means “to express gratitude” or “to give thanks.”

Meaning Explained

In the past two verses, Paul has given us a couple of commands regarding Christian attitudes: always rejoicing and ceaseless prayer. He now adds a third attitude that we are to have: giving thanks for everything. This is not the only place in the New Testament where we are told to give thanks for everything. In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul said:

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, (Ephesians 5:20)

And, in his letter to the Colossians, he said:

And 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 3:17)

Also, in his letter to the Philippian Christians, Paul said:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6)

As with giving praise, however, it is difficult for us to be thankful for situations in which we feel physical or emotional pain. However, James has given us a similar command in the first chapter of his letter:

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)

Yes, it’s hard to be filled with joy and to give thanks to God for trials and troubles, but it’s what God expects from Christians. Doing so will produce patience in us, as James told us. But we also know that God will use even these difficult times to produce good, as Paul told the Christians in Rome:

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

Finally, the reason we should give thanks for everything that happens is because it’s God’s will for every Christian. In fact, the grammatical construction in the Greek text indicates that everything in this and the previous two verses (rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything) are part of God’s will for every Christian.

Application

Whether we’re healthy or sick, whether we’re rich or poor, whether life is easy or hard, whether we feel like it or not, it is our responsibility to give thanks to God. It is what God wants and what He expects. Let’s get on our knees right now and thank God for everything in our lives!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 2:13 – God’s Effective Work

Posted on May 22, 2012 by Will

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.

Truth to Learn

Any success we might have is because of God, not us.

Behind the Words

The words “we … thank” are translated from the verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant” or “to give.” The basic meanings of this word include “to show oneself to be pleased or grateful” or “to give thanks.”

Adialeiptōs is the Greek word translated “without ceasing.” It is a double compound word made up of a, meaning “without,” dia, meaning “through” or “between,” and a form of the verb leipō, meaning “to leave.” Thus, adialeiptōs literally means “without leaving space between.” In other words, it means doing something without pausing or stopping.

“You received” is from the Greek verb paralambanō. This word is made up of para, meaning “from” and lambanō, meaning “to take” or “to receive.” This word means “to receive from someone else” or “to receive to oneself.”

“You welcomed” is translated from dechomai, which means “to accept something deliberately and readily.”

The words “effectively works” are from the verb energeō. This word is based on energēs, meaning “operative, active, or working.” Thus, energeō means “to be at work” or “to be effective.”

Meaning Explained

One of the hallmarks of the Apostle Paul’s ministry is his repeated thankfulness to God. He realized, without a doubt, that his ministry, its effectiveness, and its result were all the result of God’s working in him, not his own efforts. He also realized that his message was not something that he made up or delivered in his own personal eloquent style. He knew that he was not the originator of the message, simply the messenger. As a result, he reminded the Christians in Thessalonica that the message they heard from him is not of human origin, but God’s word.

You may recall from the first chapter of this letter that these believers were undergoing persecution (a point which he will reiterate in the upcoming verses). Under similar persecution, Christians of all ages have found comfort and encouragement in the words of Holy Scripture. Paul also reminds his readers here that God’s word is truth. Notice that in His closing prayer at the last supper, Jesus declared plainly that it is the truth which sets us apart from the rest of the world (John 17:17). In similar fashion, throughout the apostolic teaching in the New Testament, the writers give testimony that God’s word is truth (2 Corinthians 4:2, 6:7; Ephesians 1:13; Colossians 1:5; 2 Timothy 2:15; James 1:18; 1 John 3:18).

Application

Let us all remember that we are here to serve God, not ourselves. In whatever ministry we find ourselves, our responsibility is to represent our King and it is His message we deliver. Therefore, any success which we might have is the result of His working, not ours. Give Him thanks and praise!

In God's service, for His glory,

1 Thessalonians 1:2 – Prayer Warriors

Posted on April 18, 2012 by Will

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

Truth to Learn

Our ministry should be focused on what God will do for others.

Behind the Words

The words “We give thanks” are translated from the Greek verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant” or “to give.” The basic meanings of this word include “to show oneself to be pleased or grateful” or “to give thanks.”

“Always” is from pantote, which is a compound word composed of pan, meaning “all” or “every” and tote, which literally means “the when,” but by usage it means “then.” So a completely literal translation of this word would be “every when,” that is, “at all times.”

“Making mention” is translated from poioumenoi mneian. Poioumenoi is the present participle of the verb poieō (to make), so it literally means “making.” Mneian is based on the verb mnaomai, meaning “to remember.” Thus mneian refers to “a remembrance.” So, Paul is literally saying “making a remembrance of you …”

The word translated “prayers” is proseuchē, which is made up of pros, meaning “to” or “toward” and a form of euchomai, meaning “to wish” or “to pray.” Proseuchē refers specifically to a prayer (or wish) expressed to God.

Meaning Explained

We see something here that is very characteristic of the Apostle Paul. He is a person of prayer as much as (perhaps even more than) he is a preacher. His letters often talk about how he remembers in his prayers, and is thankful for, those to whom he is writing (Romans 1:9; 1 Corinthians 1:4; Ephesians 1:16; Philippians 1:4; Colossians 1:3; 2 Timothy 1:3; Philemon 1:4). We also see here an example of how often Paul is engaged in prayer (pantote = “every when”), that is, all the time. Based on what he has written to this church and others, Paul was constantly in prayer. Perhaps, he was not audibly praying at all times, but he seems to have been in constant communication with our Heavenly Father. He obviously practiced what he preached, for later in this very letter he admonishes his readers to “pray without ceasing” (1Thessalonians 5:17).

However, Paul was not a lonely prayer warrior. He states very clearly here that “We give thanks …” It appears that Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy spent time together praying about their ministry and praying for those to whom they ministered. These servants of God did not just preach the gospel to one group of people and then move on to preach to others, forgetting those to whom they ministered as soon as they were out of sight. No, they made constant remembrances of every church they had ministered to and probably remembered most of the people by name.

These faithful ministers were not focused on what God would do for them; they were focused on what God would do for others through them.

Application

Do you have a specific ministry within the church? If so, are you ministering to others for what you can get out of it, or are you ministering to others for what they can get from God? And, do you pray regularly for those to whom you minister?

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 5:20 – Thankful for Everything

Posted on February 14, 2012 by Will

giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

Truth to Learn

Thankfulness is an indication of Spirit-filling.

Behind the Words

“Giving thanks” is translated from the Greek word eucharisteō. This word is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to give” or “to be gracious.” Eucharisteō means “to give thanks.” Because of the derivation of this word, when we give thanks at a meal it is known as “saying grace.”

Pantote is the word translated “always.” It is composed of a form of pas, meaning “all” or “every” and a form of hote, which is an adverb of time. Thus, pantote literally means “at all times” or “always.”

The words “all things” are from the Greek word pas, which we just learned means “all” or “every.” In the form that is used here it means “all things” or “everything.”

Meaning Explained

Paul is giving examples of what happens when a person is “filled with the Spirit.” The first example was given in yesterday’s verse:

speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord,

In today’s verse he gives the second evidence, “giving thanks always for all things.” When we are filled with the Spirit we are thankful, not just one day a year on Thanksgiving Day, but at all times. Now, here’s the hard part of Paul’s teaching in this verse – when we are filled with the Spirit we are thankful “for all things.” Notice, he did not say, “for all good and pleasant things,” or “for all the things that make us feel good.” He said, “for all things.”

Being Spirit-filled makes us thankful for everything that God brings into our lives. Paul taught the same thing about thanksgiving in his first letter to the church at Thessalonica:

pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1Thessalonians 5:17-18)

And his teaching to the Philippian Christians was similar:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; (Philippians 4:6)

So – being Spirit-filled causes us to be truly thankful for even the bad things that happen to us: thankful for heartache and pain, thankful for injury or disease, thankful for the loss of a loved one, thankful for persecution, thankful for being made the way we are, thankful for being too short, thankful for being too tall, thankful for being too skinny, thankful for being too fat, thankful for a mean boss, thankful for …

Finally, notice that we are to give thanks to the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not instructed to thank Jesus. We are to thank the Father in Jesus’ name.

Application

What are you thankful for? Careful, that’s a trick question. If we allow ourselves to be filled with the Spirit, then we will be thankful for ALL things at ALL times!

In God's service, for His glory,

Ephesians 1:16 – Giving Thanks

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Will

Ephesians 1:16 – Giving Thanks

do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers:

Truth to Learn

Thanksgiving is an important part of the Christian life.

Behind the Words

“Cease” is from the Greek word pauō, meaning “to stop” or “to pause.” It is expressed here in the middle voice (action done by the subject to the subject), so the meaning is “to stop myself.”

The words “give thanks” are translated from the Greek verb eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant a favor.” Eucharisteō carries the meaning “to be thankful or grateful.” It is expressed as a participle; thus it means “giving thanks.”

“Making” is from the verb poieō, which means “to make” or “to do.” It is expressed here as a present participle in the middle voice. So, it literally means “making myself.”

The word “mention” is from the noun mneia, which is from the verb mnaomai, meaning “to remember.” Thus, mneia refers to “a remembrance” or “a recollection.”

“Prayers” is from proseuchē, which is made up of pros, meaning “to or toward” and a form of euchomai, meaning “to make a wish.” Proseuchē, therefore, is a wish or a desire expressed toward God.

Meaning Explained

In order to get the full impact from today’s verse we must combine it with the previous verse:

Therefore I also, having heard of the faith of those among you in the Lord Jesus, which you show toward all the saints, do not cease giving thanks for you, making remembrance of you in my prayers.

As we saw in the previous verse, the church in Ephesus continued to grow, demonstrating their faith to all Christians. This so pleased the Apostle Paul that he continually gave thanks to God for the believers in the Ephesian church.

Paul here demonstrates that he practices what he preaches. He told the church at Thessalonica:

pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1Thessalonians 5:17-18)

Prayer is a critically important part of our relationship with God. In the New Testament alone, prayer is mentioned more than 130 times. Jesus mentions it more than fifty times and Paul mentions it more than forty times. Jesus is said to be praying about fifteen times and Paul mentions himself praying about fifteen times as well. If it was that important to them, it should be just as important to us.

Application

Many Christians think of prayer as asking God for something. Indeed, we are told to make our requests known to God, but we are also told to thank Him. In fact, giving thanks is mentioned about fifty times in the New Testament. It is far more important than asking for something. Giving thanks demonstrates your recognition that God has already done something for you. It is an active indication of the strength of your faith. How many times have you prayed to God for something and then forgot to thank Him when He answered your prayer? Let’s take some time right now to thank God for what He has already done!

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 14:6 – God-ward Focus

Posted on March 11, 2011 by Will

Romans 14:6 – God-ward Focus

He who observes the day, observes it to the Lord; and he who does not observe the day, to the Lord he does not observe it. He who eats, eats to the Lord, for he gives God thanks; and he who does not eat, to the Lord he does not eat, and gives God thanks.

Truth to Learn

Convictions are good if properly focused.

Behind the Words

The word translated “observes” is from the Greek verb phroneō. This word literally means “to use the mind.” It has a number of nuance interpretations in English, such as “to have a mindset about,” “to be mentally inclined toward,” “to interest oneself in,” or “to be of an opinion about.” This is the same word that Paul used back in Romans 8:5, translated as “set their minds on,”

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit.

This word indicates more than simply an occasional thought about something. It implies more of a state of mind or what we would call a conviction.

“Gives thanks” is from eucharisteō, which is made up of eu, meaning “good” or “well” and a form of charidzomai, meaning “to grant as an undeserved favor or as an act of grace.” Thus, eucharisteō means “to show good favor,” that is, “to express gratitude.” From this comes the English expression “to say grace” before eating a meal. Whatever we do, whether it is eating or some other action, we should give God thanks for it.

Meaning Explained

Paul now makes his summary statement regarding what he has said in the previous four verses. Whether it is regarding one day as special or abstaining from certain kinds of foods, there is no right or wrong belief. What is important is that the belief, or conviction, is focused on God, not on self. Unfortunately, our earthly flesh tends to make us believe that everyone should behave the way that we do with regard to the things that we have a strong conviction about. However, God does not give all Christians the same convictions.

Now, what Paul says is that the spiritually mature Christian who believes that Sunday is a day sacred to the Lord does so to honor God. And the spiritually mature Christian who believes that all seven days of the week are equally sacred does so to honor God. Likewise, the spiritually mature Christian who believes that certain foods should not be eaten does so because it honors God and the spiritually mature Christian who believes that all foods are given by the Lord as acceptable gives honor to God as he or she eats them. In each case what is done or not done is because of a conviction that it honors the Lord.

The crux of what Paul is saying is that the focus of all mature Christians should be on glorifying God. When we honor God in anything we necessarily lift Him up, which by the very definition means that we lower, or humble, ourselves before Him. It’s a matter of where our focus is.

Application

If you have been critical of another Christian for not having the same conviction that you do, then you need to refocus that conviction God-ward instead of man-ward.

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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Romans 7:25 – He is Lord!

Posted on May 17, 2010 by Will

Romans 7:25

I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.

Truth to Learn

Submitting to the lordship of Jesus Christ is the only way to win the battle against our sin nature.

Behind the Words

“Thank” is translated from the Greek word eucharisteō, which means “to express gratitude” or “to give thanks.”

The word translated “through” is dia, which can imply “motion through something” or “through the instrumentality, or by means of someone or something.” The latter is the meaning as it is used here.

“Mind” is from the Greek word nous, which refers to “intellect or mental perception.”

The word translated “flesh” is sarx, which refers to the flesh of an animal, but it is used metaphorically to refer to our physical being.

Meaning Explained

Paul’s initial conclusion now, of this entire battle between his desire to obey God and his tendency to commit sin, is expressed in the current verse. His conclusion is that with his mind, that is, his intellect, Paul serves the Law of God. As he said back in verse 22, he (his “new man’) delights in obeying the Law of God. The regenerated part of him wants to do God’s will. But with his flesh, that is his “old man” or his sin nature, Paul says he serves the law of sin.

Paul recognizes that the part of him that he has control over is focused on serving God, but the part of himself that he cannot control is a captive slave to sin. Again, let me point out that this does not absolve Paul of the responsibility for his sin. He is still guilty of violating God’s Law and of sinning against God. The difference, as we will see in the next chapter of this epistle to the Romans, is that God has provided a way for him (and us) to be free from the condemnation of sin.

That’s why he opens this verse with, “I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord!” You will notice that it is not Jesus to whom he is thankful, but to God (the Father) and his thanks is through, or by means of, Jesus Christ. Paul recognizes that it is because of what Jesus did for him on the Cross and by his resurrection from the dead that he is able to be freed from the dominion of his sin nature. By God’s grace the blood of Jesus Christ cleanses us of all unrighteousness. Hence, he thanks God through Jesus Christ. But he doesn’t stop there. You will notice that he says “through Jesus Christ our Lord!” Paul recognizes that it is through the lordship of Jesus that he is able to overcome the lordship of sin that he is battling. In other words, he recognizes that it is only through submitting his will to Jesus Christ as his Lord and Master that he finally overcomes his slavery to his own sin nature.

Application

Too often we hear of people who have “accepted” the gift of salvation, the sacrifice of Jesus on the Cross to pay for their sins, but they have never really submitted themselves to the Lordship of Jesus Christ. If you have never submitted to Him as Lord and Master of your life, you have not been saved.

Are you submitted to His will? Is He truly your Lord and Master?

In God’s service, for His glory,

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

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