PURSUING HOLINESS
See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to everyone else. Always be joyful. Keep on praying. No matter what happens, always be thankful, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Keep away from every kind of evil [1 Thess. 5:15-22].
In this passage Paul sets forth five principles for Christian living. Note!
(1)…The believer is to be merciful [v-15]…do not pay back evil for evil…(we are to substitute love for vengeance).
(2)…The believer is to be joyful [v-16]…we need to be joyful at all times…(worldly happiness is dependent on outward circumstances, Christian joy is dependent on doing God’s will).
(3)…The believer is to be prayerful [v-17]…Paul says we are to keep on praying, Jesus says in Luke 11: 9-10, “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be open. For everyone who ask, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”…(living our lives in the spirit of prayer, practicing the presence of God is essential in our walk with Christ).
(4)…The believer is to be thankful [v-18]…no matter what happens we are to demonstrate a perpetual attitude of thanksgiving…(a thankful heart is a joyful heart).
(5)…The believer is to be careful [v-19-22]…the text says we are to be careful not to stifle (quench) the Spirit, and we are not to scoff (despise) prophecy, also we are to test everything that is said, and we are to avoid every kind of evil.
Surely this passage teaches that all Christians are to live lives full of joy, prayer, and gratitude. That doing what is right and good by biblical standards, being open and responsive to the Holy Spirit, Bible study, fellowship with believers who understand grace. All of these things I believe are God’s will for His children and are necessary if one is to pursue holiness. What do you think? Lets have some comments.
In this passage Paul sets forth five principles for Christian living. Note!
(1)…The believer is to be merciful [v-15]…do not pay back evil for evil…(we are to substitute love for vengeance).
(2)…The believer is to be joyful [v-16]…we need to be joyful at all times…(worldly happiness is dependent on outward circumstances, Christian joy is dependent on doing God’s will).
(3)…The believer is to be prayerful [v-17]…Paul says we are to keep on praying, Jesus says in Luke 11: 9-10, “And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will be given what you ask for. Keep on looking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be open. For everyone who ask, receives. Everyone who seeks, finds. And the door is opened to everyone who knocks.”…(living our lives in the spirit of prayer, practicing the presence of God is essential in our walk with Christ).
(4)…The believer is to be thankful [v-18]…no matter what happens we are to demonstrate a perpetual attitude of thanksgiving…(a thankful heart is a joyful heart).
(5)…The believer is to be careful [v-19-22]…the text says we are to be careful not to stifle (quench) the Spirit, and we are not to scoff (despise) prophecy, also we are to test everything that is said, and we are to avoid every kind of evil.
Surely this passage teaches that all Christians are to live lives full of joy, prayer, and gratitude. That doing what is right and good by biblical standards, being open and responsive to the Holy Spirit, Bible study, fellowship with believers who understand grace. All of these things I believe are God’s will for His children and are necessary if one is to pursue holiness. What do you think? Lets have some comments.
posted by Mel | 2:46 PM
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