Be at Peace

How should we treat those who are over us  in the Lord? v12-13a, Rom 12:2, 2 Tim 3:16-17

• Admonish:
  • From /nouthetéō (“admonish through instruction”) especially appeals to the mind, supplying doctrinal and spiritual substance (content).
    • This “exerts positive pressure” on someone’s logic (reasoning),
      • i.e. urging them to choose (turn to) God’s best.
  • Admonish based on scripture alone – the unchanging God’s standard
• Knowing those who labor in the Lord
• Respect and honor such people

How are we supposed to treat each other? V13b-15, Jam 3:14-18, 2 Tim 3:16-17

• Be at peace
  • Fruit of righteousness is sown in peace
    • By those who make peace
• Admonish the disorderly
  • Based on scripture alone
• Encourage the faint-hearted
  • From the Thessalonians context faint hearted could be
    • Because of the persecution that Thessalonians faced
    • Due to death of dear ones in the assembly
• Support the weak
  • New believers
  • Immature believers
• Be patient toward all
  • Whether we admonish, encourage or support – do it patiently to all
• Don’t return evil for evil
  • To anyone
• Follow that which is good – always – for one another and for everyone

How are we supposed to live? V16-22, Phil 4:4, Jer 29:11

• Always rejoice
  • Says Paul – who suffered a lot for the Gospel
• Pray without ceasing
  • In v25, Paul asks for prayer for him and his team too
• In everything give thanks
  • For this is the will of God
    • In everything knowing that God is in control
• Don’t quench the Spirit – Don’t despise prophecies
• Test all things – but hold firmly that which is good
  • Checking the scriptures to see whether it is so
• Abstain from every evil

Conclusion:

• Respect and honor those who labor in the Lord
• Be at peace with everyone.  Patiently: admonish, encourage and support as needed.
• Rejoice and pray without ceasing
• Giving thanks in everything

Main Passage 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28 – World English Bible (WEB)

12 But we beg you, brothers, to know those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you, 13 and to respect and honor them in love for their work’s sake.

Be at peace among yourselves. 14 We exhort you, brothers: Admonish the disorderly; encourage the faint-hearted; support the weak; be patient toward all. 15 See that no one returns evil for evil to anyone, but always follow after that which is good for one another and for all.

16 Always rejoice. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you. 19 Don’t quench the Spirit. 20 Don’t despise prophecies. 21 Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. May your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I solemnly command you by the Lord that this letter be read to all the holy brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Notes / Cross References

Romans 12:2 Don’t be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what is the good, well-pleasing, and perfect will of God.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 16 Every Scripture is God-breathed and[a] profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for instruction in righteousness, 17 that each person who belongs to God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.

James 3:14-18 14 But if you have bitter jealousy and selfish ambition in your heart, don’t boast and don’t lie against the truth. 15 This wisdom is not that which comes down from above, but is earthly, sensual, and demonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition are, there is confusion and every evil deed. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceful, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. 18 Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace.

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”

2 Corinthians 11:24-27 24 Five times I received forty stripes minus one from the Jews. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep. 26 I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers; 27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you,” says Yahweh, “thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you hope and a future.

Romans 8:28 We know that all things work together for good for those who love God, for those who are called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:38-39 38 For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing will be able to separate us from God’s love which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Acts 17:11 Now these were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

1 John 4:1 Beloved, don’t believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God, because many false prophets have gone out into the world.

2 Peter 1:19-21 19 We have the more sure word of prophecy; and you do well that you heed it, as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the day dawns, and the morning star arises in your hearts: 20 knowing this first, that no prophecy of Scripture is of private interpretation. 21 For no prophecy ever came by the will of man: but holy men of God spoke, being moved by the Holy Spirit.