Essential Practices of Worship
Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 (NET)
What are essential practices of worship, both private and public? In 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, Paul addressed the Thessalonians’ worship. He gave eight commands that would help their worship become healthier and stronger. The first three commands (v. 16-18) seem to focus primarily on private worship with implications for public worship, while the last five (v. 19-22) focus on public worship. What makes these first three practices so difficult is that they are called to be done all the time. It would be so much easier if Paul said to “Rejoice occasionally, pray in the mornings and before bed, and try to give God thanks when you think of him.” But Paul says, “Always rejoice, constantly pray, in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” When it says, “this is God’s will,” it seems to apply not only to giving thanks but the other two commands as well. Therefore, in one sense, they are impossible to implement perfectly, but we must aim to grow in them for the rest of our lives.
In regards to private worship, everything we do should be worship, not just what happens on Sundays and during our devotions. Everything we do can be offered to the Lord. Colossians 3:17 says, “And whatever you do in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” And 1 Corinthians 10:31 says, “So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.” Everything we do should be worship, but what affects whether or not it is worship is our attitude while doing them. Paul essentially addresses that in the first three verses. They are practices but also attitudes that Christians must always aim to practice every day and in everything we do. We must be joyful, prayerful, and thankful. In the Greek, all of these are commands in the present and plural tense. Consequently, these are not Paul’s suggestions for us to adopt, but God’s expectation for our private, public, daily, and moment by moment, worship of him.
With that said, Paul doesn’t teach the Thessalonians how to implement these practices. Therefore, the implication is that he had previously taught the Thessalonians, so he just mentioned the eight practices of private and public worship quickly in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22. However, the rest of Scripture, including the teachings in 1 Thessalonians, will help us better implement these essential aspects of worship.
As we study, 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, we will consider how to apply the first three essential but difficult aspects of our private worship, being joyful, prayerful, and thankful. Secondly, we’ll also apply them to our public worship. May God give us much grace.
Big Question: In considering 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18, what are essential aspects of private worship and how can we practically implement them both privately and publicly?
Always Rejoicing Is an Essential Practice of Worship
Always rejoice,
1 Thessalonians 5:16
Interestingly, “Rejoice always” is the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament, even though “Jesus wept” is the shortest in the English New Testament. As we consider this verse, the context of Paul’s command must be remembered. The Thessalonians were being persecuted for their faith and apparently some even died during the persecution, as 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 which describes the rapture and resurrection suggests. However, Paul still commanded them to rejoice in the midst of their sufferings.
With that said, Paul doesn’t mean the believers should never be sad. Persecution and the loss of loved ones should create sadness and mourning in our hearts. However, it is possible to be sad and yet have joy because of our faith in God. In the same way a mother in labor can have joy as she thinks about the birth of her child, believers also can have joy amidst their pain. Paul himself experienced this. In 2 Corinthians 6:10, he described himself, “as sorrowful, but always rejoicing.” It is possible for joy and sorrow to coexist. In fact, we are at times commanded to have sorrow. In Romans 12:15, we are called to “weep with those who weep.” And, Matthew 5:4 says, “Blessed are those who mourn for they will be comforted.” There is a righteous and appropriate mourning. In Matthew 5:4, Christ was referring to those who part of his kingdom (cf. 5:3, 10), and they are known by mourning over sin, while the world rejoices over it (cf. Ez 9:4-6). We should mourn over our sin, that of our friends and community, our nation, and our world in general. These are appropriate types of mourning which God blesses. When the world celebrates sin and watches it as entertainment, indulging in it through their games, music, and video, believers should mourn it and turn away from it. God blesses those who mourn over sin. They are his in a world of those who are not.
So again, Paul was not calling the Thessalonians to not be sad over the loss of loved ones, the pain they were experiencing, or the sin in their life and the world. That type of mourning and sadness is appropriate. An inappropriate sadness would be mourning without hope, which he warned them about in 1 Thessalonians 4:13. In the context of mourning over the death of their loved ones, he said, “so that you will not grieve like the rest who have no hope.” Believers have hope when facing sickness and death. Believers have hope when government fails us. Believers have hope in the face of obstacles because our God is sovereign and good. In fact, we should not only have hope, but we should have joy. Biblical joy is different than happiness. Happiness is based on positive outward circumstances, but joy is based on an inward disposition regardless of circumstances. It is based on our relationship with God. For this reason, with the Philippians who were also being persecuted, Paul commanded them to “Rejoice in the Lord” (4:4). Likewise, our joy is based on God and not our circumstances. That is why we should “always rejoice” (1 Thess 5:16).
Application Question: How can we learn to “always rejoice,” even in difficult circumstances, as 1 Thessalonians 5:16 teaches?
1. As mentioned, to always rejoice, we must focus on our relationship with God instead of our circumstances.
A great illustration of this is battling sea sickness. When a person is in a boat and it is rising and falling with the waves, people commonly start to get headaches and become sick to their stomach. However, an old sailor trick to stop sea sickness, which has a scientific basis, is to focus on an object that is not moving. Sea sickness comes from a disparity between what we are seeing and experiencing, as everything is slowly or fastly moving up and down. So to get rid of sea sickness, a person should focus his eyes on something stable, like the sea shore, a tree, or a building, and the sickness will subside.
Likewise, we must learn to do this with God when the waves of life go up and down and we are prone to anxiety, confusion, discouragement, and even depression. We must focus not on health, finances, or even relationships, which can be fleeting, we must focus on God. Focusing on life circumstances will always lead to spiritual and emotional sickness because they are unstable. However, focusing on God can give us joy, regardless of circumstances. In fact, James said it this way when talking about trials in James 1:2-3, “My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.” When we go through trials of various kinds (whether they happen because of our personal sin, the sin of somebody else, “random chance,” or Satan), according to James, God allows these trials to test our faith. Practically speaking when a person has a science test coming up, he should not focus on studying math, history, or language arts. If he does, he will fail. He should focus on studying science. Likewise, when the waves of sickness, conflict, and uncertainty come upon us, we must focus on God. That’s the point of the test! Isaiah 26:3 (ESV) says, “You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.” Proverbs 18:10 says, “The name of the Lord is like a strong tower; the righteous person runs to it and is set safely on high.” A name in the ancient world referred to the character of someone or something. When we realize that God is sovereign over our trials, that he is good, and that he works all things for our good (Rom 8:28, Eph 1:11), it should give us peace. In the storms of life, we must focus on our God whose character is unchanging. We do this by increasing our time in God’s Word, praying, singing and listening to worship, and fellowshipping with God’s people in church, which refocuses our hearts on God. If we decrease our time focusing on God and his Word in the trials, our joy will decrease and our emotions will become more unstable. Again, to rejoice always, we must focus on the Lord who is unchanging instead of our circumstances which always change.
2. To always rejoice, we must obey God instead of following our emotions or lack of them.
Again, “always rejoice” is a command in Greek. This may be difficult to hear because many of us think of emotions happening naturally and therefore being uncontrollable. This is why we say somebody just fell in love, like it was an accident, or someone made us angry, as though we had no control over our emotions. However, Scripture treats emotions as actions we choose. We are called to love our enemy (Matt 5:44). Certainly, this is not referring to feeling all bubbly about someone who hurt us. However, it is a call to lovingly serve them, even though they don’t deserve it and we don’t feel like doing so. And when we act in love, our emotions commonly start to follow along. Our hearts will typically soften towards those we act in love towards, and they harden when we pull back or act in evil ways towards them. In addition, Philippians 4:6-7 says,
Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God. And the peace of God that surpasses all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
We’re commanded to be anxious for nothing. We are called to control our anxiety and get rid of it by praying about every situation and giving God thanks in them. It’s the same with rejoicing. It’s something we choose to do as an act of obedience to God who commands us to control our emotions and not allow them to control us.
Practically, to rejoice as an act of obedience to God means when a trial comes, somebody harms us, or something unpleasant happens, we have a decision to make. We can choose to be angry, anxious, and depressed, or we can choose to rejoice in God as an act of obedience. Joy is a choice. As mentioned before, we can choose to reflect on God’s sovereignty, goodness, and wisdom, or we can choose to reflect on the wrong done, the person who committed the sin, his stupidity, and the potential future results of that action. We make these choices all the time as reactions to various events (being late to an appointment, being stuck in traffic, etc.). We must recognize that having joy is a choice, just like allowing ourselves to become anxious and angry is. We may have no control over the event or situation, but we can choose how we respond. Paul commanded the Thessalonians to always choose to rejoice as an act of obedience to God. We must do the same.
As mentioned, choosing to focus on God will bring joy, while choosing to continually focus on the difficulties will bring worry, discouragement, anger, and depression. Like Peter walking on water in a storm, he could have chosen to keep focusing on Christ or to focus on the storm. As he focused on Christ, a miracle happened. God kept his feet from sinking in the water. However, when he started to focus on the storm, he began to sink, as, no doubt, worry and anxiety began to flood his mind. Likewise, whether in storms or pleasant seasons, we must choose to rejoice as an act of obedience to God, instead of worrying and doubting.
3. To always rejoice, we’ll commonly have to fight for joy.
Having joy is not easy. When we read the Psalms, we commonly see the Psalmist wrestling with himself to trust in God. For example, in Psalm 42, it’s clear the Korahites were fighting for joy as they repeatedly spoke to their soul in the midst of difficulties.
Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention. I am depressed, so I will pray to you while in the region of the upper Jordan, from Hermon, from Mount Mizar.
Psalm 42:5-6
I will pray to God, my high ridge: “Why do you ignore me? Why must I walk around mourning because my enemies oppress me?” My enemies’ taunts cut me to the bone, as they say to me all day long, “Where is your God?” Why are you depressed, O my soul? Why are you upset? Wait for God! For I will again give thanks to my God for his saving intervention.
Psalm 42:9-11
Likewise, this will commonly be true of us. It’s totally normal to have time of discouragement and depression and, therefore, have to fight to have joy in the Lord. Like the Psalmist, we’ll have to repeatedly remind ourselves of God’s promises. We’ll have to tell ourselves to wait and trust. We’ll commonly have to get into the Word in the morning and at night to have peace. We’ll have to fight against wrong thoughts and attacks of the devil to maintain it. We must fight through prayer, confession, worship, fellowship, and the study of God’s Word. To maintain joy in the Lord means to always be fighting to control our thoughts and emotions. Second Corinthians 10:5 describes our warfare this way: “we take every thought captive to make it obey Christ.” Similarly, Philippians 4:8-9 says,
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is worthy of respect, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if something is excellent or praiseworthy, think about these things. And what you learned and received and heard and saw in me, do these things. And the God of peace will be with you.
To think on what’s right, good, and pure to keep our joy means that we’ll have to fight cause the world and our sin nature are always flooding our mind with unhelpful thoughts, fears, and lusts that steal our joy. Like the Psalmist, we need to constantly comfort our soul because God is good. We have to fight to always have joy. Are we fighting for joy or accepting apathy and discouragement?
4. To always rejoice, we must understand the consequences of not rejoicing in God.
In continuing from the last point, we only fight for things that are important to us. People join a volunteer army because their country, freedom, family, and faith are important to them, and they don’t want to lose those blessings. Likewise, we won’t fight for joy if we don’t understand the consequences of not fighting. Consider the following verses:
Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.
Nehemiah 8:10
Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.
Philippians 3:1
If we understand that the joy of the Lord is our strength, as Nehemiah 8:10 says, then we’ll also realize to not have joy in him is to be weak. If we understand that to rejoice in the Lord is a safeguard for us, as Philippians 3:1 says, then we understand to not have his joy makes us vulnerable to temptation and sin. When our joy is based on circumstances, relationships, and things instead of God, we will be tempted to pursue those over God, making them idols. In Matthew 6:24, Christ said, “No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money.” According to Christ, by pursuing wealth over God, it will slowly start to erode our relationship with him, making us vulnerable to further sin and greater consequences. The devil understands this. He knows a little leaven leavens the whole lump (1 Cor 5:6)—that sin spreads. The more we try to find our joy in things other than God, the more sin will grow in our lives and the consequences from it. That’s how Satan tempted Adam and Eve; they were tempted to pursue satisfaction in something other than God and his will for their lives. Discontent with God and what he had given, led to sin and its consequences, which we are still experiencing today. It’s the same for us. Discontent with God and his will not only leads to sin but can ultimately lead to people turning away from the faith. Therefore, we must ask ourselves, “Is our joy in the Lord? And if not, what is it in?” Typically, those are the areas Satan is tempting us in and will continue to do so.
In addition, Satan understands that when we lack joy in the Lord, we will become discouraged and less effective for the kingdom. A discouraged Christian typically becomes self-consumed or consumed with their circumstances and therefore will not be effective at worshiping God, discipling other believers, or winning the lost. Because of this, Satan is always after our joy. He understands the devastating consequences for our spiritual life. As with Job, he desires for us to be confused and upset with God in our trials so we ultimately curse God (cf. Job 1:11). As with Peter, Satan ultimately wants to sift our faith by the trials we go through which hurt our joy (cf. Lk 22:31).
If the joy of the Lord is our strength and protection as Nehemiah 8:10 and Philippians 3:1 say, to not have consistent joy in Christ makes us vulnerable to idolatry, depression, various other sins, and even destruction. Therefore, we must obey God’s command to always rejoice and find our joy in him because the consequences are serious.
How else can we grow in rejoicing in the Lord?
5. To always rejoice in the Lord, we must understand the benefits that come from rejoicing.
As mentioned, Nehemiah 8:10 says the joy of the Lord is our strength. To add, Paul shared this about his thorn in the flesh and his response to God not removing it in 2 Corinthians 12:8-9: “But he said to me, ‘My grace is enough for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.” Again, it must be noted that Paul said that he boasted in his weakness “so” the power of Christ would reside on him. Rejoicing in the Lord, specifically in trials, leads to power. Unfortunately, for many people, their trials lead them to become angry at God or others, or find their comfort in sin. Consequently, God’s power isn’t made perfect in their weakness. In fact, Satan commonly has a field day with their thoughts and actions because of their negative response to their trial. However, for Paul, rejoicing about his weakness and in his weakness allowed Christ’s power to move in him. Our joy, especially in trials, enables us to better serve God and others. It enables his Word to come alive when we read it and through our mouth to comfort others. It enables the fruit of perseverance in a difficult job or relationship. God’s power is made perfect in us when we rejoice in and through our difficult circumstances. Understanding this reality will help us rejoice always.
In fact, the benefits of rejoicing in the Lord are much greater than this. They are legion: When our joy is in the Lord, we are most satisfied with life and therefore most thankful. When our joy is in the Lord, we are most prone to share that joy with unbelievers and believers. When our joy is in the Lord, even our trials won’t hinder our spiritual progress. Romans 4:3-4 says this: “Not only this, but we also rejoice in sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance, character, and character, hope.” When we complain instead of rejoicing in trials, it can hinder our perseverance including making us quit. It can hinder our character growth and lead to various vices, like anger, anxiety, and unforgiveness. It can also hinder our hope in God, as we doubt his goodness and promises.
As mentioned, the benefits of rejoicing in the Lord are legion (power, perseverance, growth of character, and hope), but so are the consequences of not rejoicing (anxiety, discouragement, sin, and potential apostasy). Understanding these will help us make rejoicing in the Lord our discipline, both in good and bad times.
6. To always rejoice in the Lord, we must also help others have joy.
As mentioned, the word rejoice is not only a command in the present tense but also a plural. Paul commanded the entire congregation to always have joy. The implication of this is that it is our responsibility to help one another have joy in the Lord. While Paul was in prison awaiting a possible death sentence, he wrestled with whether he wanted to die and be with Christ or remain to continue to serve him. In response, he said this in Philippians 4:23-25:
I feel torn between the two because I have a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far, but it is more vital for your sake that I remain in the body. And since I am sure of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for the sake of your progress and joy in the faith,
He wanted to continue to live not only to serve Christ generally but specifically for the Philippians’ “progress and joy in the faith.” He wanted them to have joy. And throughout the letter, he reminded the Philippians to have joy. He commanded it several times. Again, in Philippians 4:4, he said, “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I say, rejoice!”
Another great example of helping others have joy in the Lord is with Jonathan and David. When David was discouraged and hiding in the wilderness because Saul was trying to kill him, Jonathan came to him. First Samuel 26:16 says, “Then Jonathan son of Saul left and went to David at Horesh. He encouraged him through God.” We must do the same with others. We should pray with them and for them. We should encourage them with our presence, even as Jonathan did with David. We should worship together and pray together. And as their joy increases in the Lord, so will ours.
Public Worship
In fact, it should be noted that many believe all of Paul’s eight commands in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 refer to public worship, instead of the first three focusing specifically on private worship. In that sense, instead of coming to public worship sleepy, bored, and gloomy which negatively affects our corporate celebration, we should always prepare our hearts and bodies to offer the Lord our best with joy. As we each pursue the Lord with joy, our individual and corporate joy is increased. In fact, in Ephesians 5:18-19, Paul described both a fruit and means of being filled with the Spirit as corporate worship. He said:
And do not get drunk with wine, which is debauchery, but be filled by the Spirit, speaking to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing and making music in your hearts to the Lord,
As a fruit, when we are filled with the Spirit, we want to worship and sing together, and as a means, to be filled with Spirit, we need to worship and sing together. As we worship corporately with joy, we enable ourselves to rejoice in the Lord and empower others to do the same. As we speak to one another in psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, we are all filled the Spirit and joy.
In considering this, we must ask ourselves: most of the time when we come to corporate worship are we just trying to wake up and not fall asleep? Or are we coming to bring God our best and to celebrate with joy together? When we worship publicly with joy, we edify others and leave with a greater joy in the Lord.
Again, to always have joy in the Lord as Paul commanded, (1) we must focus on God instead of our circumstances, (2) rejoice as an act of obedience, (3) fight for joy, (4) understand the consequences of not always rejoicing, (5) the benefits of rejoicing, and (6) remember our need to help others have joy.
Are we rejoicing in the Lord?
Application Question: Which principle about having joy in the Lord stood out most and why? What are consequences of not finding our joy in the Lord and benefits of doing so? What are common hindrances to you having joy? How is God calling you to develop joy in him despite your circumstances? How have others, at times, participated in helping increase or restore your joy in the Lord? How is God calling you to help others find their joy in the Lord?
Constantly Praying Is an Essential Practice of Worship
constantly pray,
1 Thessalonians 5:17
After encouraging the Thessalonians to always rejoice, he called for them to constantly pray. The word “constantly” was used of an army attacking a city but not succeeding. After failing, they would regroup and attack again. It was also used of a hacking cough. When a person has a hacking cough, it’s not that they never stop coughing, it’s just that they cough repeatedly even after small breaks. Likewise, God wants us to keep praying throughout the day, continually going back to it throughout our various endeavors. Continual prayer is essential to worship and, therefore, should saturate both our private and public worship.
Application Question: How can we grow in constantly praying?
1. To constantly pray, we must recognize our weakness and dependence on God.
This is a life-long work. As natural children, we start off dependent upon our parents. We need them for food, shelter, and direction. But as we physically, emotionally, and mentally grow, we grow in independence. We need them less, and eventually, we move away and start our own family. However, for the spiritual child, it is the opposite. We start off with dependence as we learn that we cannot be saved apart from Christ’s work on the cross. We are sinners only deserving of God’s judgment, but he gives grace to those who recognize their weakness—their inability to be saved through our own strength. Romans 10:13 says, “For everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” When we come to Christ like a dependent child (not an adult), seeking his salvation, he gives it. In Matthew 18:3-4, Christ said this to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, unless you turn around and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven! Whoever then humbles himself like this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.” This is the beginning of our salvation, when we come to Christ in weakness for salvation. However, it is also the pathway after salvation. Those who continue to grow in weakness and dependance upon God, he uses greatly for the kingdom.
In the Beatitudes, Christ called this poverity of spirit. In Matthew 5:3, he proclaimed, “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to them.” Again, a person must recognize that they cannot do enough good works to be saved. They are spiritually bankrupt. All we can do is cast ourselves upon God’s mercy. With that said, this spiritual poverty which begins at salvation continues throughout the believer’s life. As mentioned, unlike a natural child who grows in independence from his parents, a spiritual child continually grows in dependance upon God which manifests in continual prayer, as well as other spiritual disciplines. Because we are naturally independent (trying to do things apart from God), God will often allow us to fail in some area, like conquering sin, our career, studies, health, or some relationship to show us our great need for him. In our trials and failures, God again reveals our spiritual poverty, our need for his grace, not just for salvation, but all of life. This is how God trains us to constantly pray, to pray without ceasing. He reveals our weakness through various difficulties that are too much for us (sickness, conflict, lack of direction, financial problems, etc.). It’s not that we are not weak enough already. The problem is we are unaware of our great weakness, and therefore rely little on God, as seen through our inconsistent prayer. That’s why God commonly allows trials or failures so we will cry out to him even more. John Piper, in talking about prayer, described it this way. He said:
It’s utterly impossible for people to get a handle on what prayer is for until they know that life is war. … The stakes are infinitely higher than any nuclear disaster of what’s happening in the world today. The stakes that are in play today in this city and among the unreached peoples of the world are far worse than anything in World War II—far worse.
When we know the stakes of our life and calling, how important they are, and the great need of those around us, we will pray. We will pray constantly. Therefore, the reason we don’t pray as we should is because we are blinded to our great need and the needs of those around us. We should not ask for trials—though Scripture calls us to thank God when they come (Jam 1:2, cf. Matt 6:13)—but we should pray that God would open the eyes of our heart to know our weakness and be inclined to greater prayer (cf. Eph 1:18).
Are we praying constantly?
2. To constantly pray, we must develop a God-conciousness, where every matter, small and big, is brought before God in prayer.
John MacArthur described our need for this in prayer when he said:
Such unceasing or recurring prayer (1 Thess. 5:17) demands first of all an attitude of God–consciousness. That does not mean to be constantly in the act of verbal prayer, but to view everything in life in relation to God. For example, if we meet someone, we immediately consider where they stand with God. If we hear of something bad happening, we react by praying for God to act in the situation because we know He cares. If we hear of something good that has happened, we respond with immediate praise to God for it because we know He is glorified. When Paul looked around his world, everything he saw prompted him to prayer in some way. When he thought of or heard about one of his beloved churches, it moved him toward communion with God.
Likewise, a practical illustration of being God-conscious and bringing everything before the Lord in prayer in seen in the example of a woman named Aunt Vertie, as described in the Teacher’s Outline Bible. In it, the author says:
Aunt Vertie, one of the godliest women I have ever heard about, was once asked the meaning of ‘praying without ceasing.’ She replied: ‘Well, it means what it says:
“When I put on my clothes in the morning, I thank God for clothing me in the righteousness of Christ.
When I wash in the morning, I ask God to cleanse me from my sin.
When I eat breakfast, I thank Christ for being the bread of life.
When I clean house, I ask God to be merciful and cleanse the houses of the world from sin.
When I talk with people throughout the day, I ask God to save and grow them in Christ and to meet their particular needs.
When I see strangers or crowds of people on the streets, I pray for the salvation of the people of the world.”‘
To add to this, in Philippians 4:6, Paul taught the same principle this way: “Do not be anxious about anything. Instead, in every situation, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, tell your requests to God.” In order to not worry, we must learn to pray in every situation—good, bad, or neutral.
Are we praying in every situation? To do so, we must live a God-conscious life where we bring every matter, big and small, before the Lord in prayer. This is necessary to constantly pray.
3. To constantly pray, we must constantly study and meditate on God’s Word.
If prayer is us speaking to God, sharing our heart and concerns with him, being in God’s Word is him speaking to us. Any conversation that is one-sided will not last very long and will not be constant. If we pray but never allow God to speak back to us in his Word, then we will never be people who are constant in prayer. Psalm 1:2-3 describes how God blesses the person that delights in God’s Word and meditates on it day and night. Day and night really just refers to all the time. A person who constantly prays is a person who constantly meditates on God’s Word and its precepts in regard to ourselves, relationships, our duties, and the world around us. This is part of developing a God-conciousness. To do this, we must know what God says and thinks about, according to his Word, in various situations.
This means if we are not taking time to daily read God’s Word and meditate on it throughout the day, then our prayer life will be short and stagnate. Through God’s Word, he wants to talk to us about ourselves, people around us, our family, current events, his church, his kingdom, and things to come. And as he teaches us his Word and applies it to these things (church, family, current events, the future, etc.), he calls us to pray about them. We should take the teachings of God’s Word and change them into prayer. That’s what everybody does in a healthy conversation. They go back and forth over a specific topic. Likewise, God wants us to bring his Word to himself, so he can move based on those prayers. Ezekiel 22:30 said it this way: “I looked for a man from among them who would repair the wall and stand in the gap before me on behalf of the land, so that I would not destroy it, but I found no one.”
This is an important concept to understand about prayer. For many prayer is primarily about bringing our personal requests to God and getting our desires. Certainly, that is part of prayer, but not the primary part. Prayer is primarily bringing God’s concerns before him to get his will done on the earth. We see this in the Lord’s Prayer, which was given as our pattern or primer for prayer (Matt 6:9-12). The first two prompts are about God (hallowed be thy name and thy kingdom come) and the last three are concerned with us (our daily bread, forgiveness, and protection). If we are not in God’s Word, our prayers will only be concerned with last three prompts in the Lord’s Prayer (about us) instead of about God. Being in God’s Word teaches us and reminds us of God’s will, so we can pray in accord with it.
Are we constantly studying and meditating on God’s Word? If so, it will help us be constant in prayer.
4. To be constant in prayer, we must set aside specific times to focus on prayer.
As with any discipline, we must set aside time to do it. For example, devout Jews in Scripture prayed in the morning, noon, and afternoon. When the Persian officials wanted to get Daniel in trouble, they knew he would be praying during those times (Dan 6:10-11). Yes, as we’re considering, 1 Thessalonians 5:17 calls us to pray constantly or without ceasing. However, without set times of intimate prayer with God, our spontaneous prayers throughout the day won’t be as rich and fluid. For example, many couples have a date night once a week, biweekly, or monthly to focus on undistracted communication and enjoyment of each other. Having a date night doesn’t mean they don’t talk at other times. They have a date night in order to enhance their routine, daily communication. This discipline makes a couple less prone to miscommunicate. This is true of prayer. Having focused times of prayer to God will enhance our spontaneous praying to him throughout the day.
We should select times to focus on prayer and guard them. A great time to do this—apart from distractions—is in the morning. In the Psalms, the writers often describe seeking the Lord in the morning. Consider the following verses: Psalm 119:147 says, “I am up before dawn crying for help. I find hope in your word.” Psalm 5:3 says, “Lord, in the morning you will hear me; in the morning I will present my case to you and then wait expectantly for an answer.” Similarly, Christ often got up early in the morning, while it was still dark, and went to pray. Mark 1:35 says, “Then Jesus got up early in the morning when it was still very dark, departed, and went out to a deserted place, and there he spent time in prayer.” The morning is a great time for us to focus on prayer as well. It is harder to be distracted when nobody else is up and the daily grind hasn’t begun.
Are we meeting with God at set, specific times each day or week? It will helps us be more constant in prayer.
5. To be constant in prayer, we must practice various types of prayer.
In verse 17, the word “prayer” is a general term for in any type of prayer. Obviously, there are various types including thanksgiving, lamentation, confession, intercession, and petition. When calling the Ephesians to pray in the Spirit, Paul said this in Ephesians 6:18 (NIV), “And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests.” Instead of having “all kinds” of prayer, most people only have one type of prayer—simply bringing their personal requests before God. A good way to vary are prayers is to use the Lord’s Prayer, which Christ gave as a pattern of prayer.
• “Our Father, who is in heaven, hallowed be Your name” (Matt. 6:9) calls us to pray for others to worship God throughout the world, and it’s a great time to worship him ourselves and give him thanks for his blessings and his faithfulness in our trials
• “Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven” (Matt. 6:10) calls us to pray for missions, evangelism, discipleship, and ultimately for Christ to come and rule. It’s also a great time to pray for over government leaders and spiritual leaders who are meant to be God’s servants—helping bring righteousness and peace in our land (cf. Rom 13:1-7, Eph 6:19-22).
• “Give us this day our daily bread” (Matt. 6:11), calls us to pray for our personal needs and those of others. It’s a great time to pray for the poor, sick, and hurting in the world.
• “Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors” (Matt. 6:12), calls us to confess our sins and the sins of our communities—family, church, nation, and the world.
• “Do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from evil” (Matt. 6:13) calls us to pray for spiritual protection from temptation and the devil. It’s certainly a time when we can pray for ourselves and individuals to be delivered from specific sins and vices, like conflict, anger, dishonesty, and lust.
Another prayer method we can use to vary our prayer is the Five Finger Prayer Method. Here is a description of it from the Daily Bread devotional:
• “When you fold your hands, the thumb is nearest you. So begin by praying for those closest to you—your loved ones (Philippians 1:3-5).
• The index finger is the pointer. Pray for those who teach—Bible teachers and preachers, and those who teach children (1 Thessalonians 5:25).
• The next finger is the tallest. It reminds you to pray for those in authority over you—national and local leaders, and your supervisor at work (1 Timothy 2:1-2).
• The fourth finger is usually the weakest. Pray for those who are in trouble or who are suffering (James 5:13-16).
• Then comes your little finger. It reminds you of your smallness in relation to God’s greatness. Ask Him to supply your needs (Philippians 4:6, 19).”
Finally, another way to help vary our prayers is by using a prayer journal to document our personal requests and requests for others. As God makes us wait on the answers to those prayers or denies them, we can add to prayer journal our praise, thanksgiving, confusion, and further petitions. As we reread our prayer journal entries over the years and each specific date, it reminds us of our times of doubt or need, God’s faithfulness, helps build our faith, and provokes us to further prayer. In many ways, our prayer journal becomes our personal Psalm book—documenting our communication with God and testimonies of God’s faithfulness.
To pray constantly, our prayers must be varied, offering different types of prayers and using different methods to do so. One practical reason this is important is just to maintain freshness in our prayer life. To always pray the same way will lead to boredom and staleness, which hinders our communication with God.
6. To be constant in prayer, we must practice perseverance in prayer.
In Luke 18:1-8, Christ gave the parable of the persistent widow who would not give a government official rest as she continually pleaded with him for justice, and finally the judge granted her request. The primary reason Christ gave this parable to the disciples according to verse 1 was, “to show them they should always pray and not lose heart.” Likewise, many of our prayer requests will not be answered immediately. God wants us to constantly pray about them and pray with perseverance because as we do so, God will change us. By talking with him and being in his presence, God conforms us into his image, which is the primary goal of our salvation. God saved us to be made in his Son’s image. Romans 8:29 says, “because those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, that his Son would be the firstborn among many brothers and sisters.” Also, 2 Corinthians 3:18 says, “And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord’s glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit.” As we pray with perseverance for someone or something, God changes us into his image, which is his primary goal for our lives. No doubt, God at times delays his answer to our prayers for this purpose, so we will be closer to him longer, learn to trust him, and be made more in his image.
In addition, God wants us to persevere in prayer because some strongholds will take constant prayer to be broken. In Mark 9:29, when the disciples couldn’t cast out a demon, Christ said, “This kind can come out only by prayer.” This probably referred to continual prayer. Some manuscripts actually say “fasting and prayer.” Many things that God will ultimately change in answer to prayer will take months, if not years, of prayers. In the same way, wars sometimes take years to win, it may be the same when we are praying for the salvation of a lost family member, to change abortion laws in a country, deliverance for an oppressed people group, or revival in our community or nation. Many things God calls us to pray for will take time. In fact, some of our prayers will not be answered during our life. When we die and go to heaven, somebody else will take up that mantle and not give God rest until he answers those prayers (cf. Is 62:6-7). If we are going to pray constantly, we must pray with perseverance. After calling the disciples to pray like the persevering widow, he said this to them and us in Luke 18:8, “However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?” Will we persevere in prayer for God’s kingdom to come and his will to be done? The implication is that faith and perseverance in prayer will be minimal when Christ returns.
Will we be constant in prayer by praying with perseverance?
7. To be constant in prayer, we must also practice corporate prayer.
As with all the other commands Paul gave in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22 about worship, the verb for pray is also plural. The implication is that the Thessalonians were to not only pray individually but also together as a church community. Corporate prayer helps us be accountable and enhances our practice of prayer. In fact, as mentioned, the Lord’s Prayer, which is our pattern of prayer, is all in the plural: “our Father,” “our trespasses,” “our daily bread,” and “deliver us from evil” (Matt 6:9-13). We should pray corporately at church—praying for our government leaders for their wisdom and salvation. When Paul gave Timothy instructions on corporate worship, in 1 Timothy 2:1-4, he said this:
First of all, then, I urge that requests, prayers, intercessions, and thanks be offered on behalf of all people, even for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. Such prayer for all is good and welcomed before God our Savior, since he wants all people to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth.
Corporate prayer should be a staple when the church gathers together in small groups and large groups. When we do this, God our Savior is pleased. Certainly, we should not only pray corporately for the salvation of our government leaders but also friends, family, co-workers, and the lost in general. We should pray for one another when struggling with sin, sickness, or discouragement. James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” By having transparent relationships with specific people in the church and praying for one another, our prayer life is enhanced. In fact, Scripture says corporate prayer is tremendously powerful, which should encourage us to do it even more. In Matthew 18:19-20, Christ said, “Again, I tell you the truth, if two of you on earth agree about whatever you ask, my Father in heaven will do it for you. For where two or three are assembled in my name, I am there among them.” Though the context of this verse is church discipline, it certainly applies to corporate prayer in general. Church members should wisely share their health issues, relational conflicts, and other struggles with one another, so we can pray in faith together and see God move.
Are we practicing corporate prayer? It will help us be constant in prayer.
Again, constant prayer is an essential aspect of our worship, both private and public. Our lives and churches should be saturated with prayer, which exalts God and invites his power into our lives, families, and communities. We seek to be constant in prayer by (1) recognizing our weakness and dependance on God, (2) developing a God-conciousness where everything is brought before the Lord in prayer, (3) constantly studying and meditating on God’s Word to prompt and guide our prayers, (4) setting aside specific times to focus on prayer, (5) practicing various types of prayer instead of only offering selfish petitions, (6) practicing perseverance in prayer, and finally (7) praying corporately.
Are we aiming to pray constantly? May God give us grace to saturate everything we do or will do in prayer.
Application Question: Which principle about praying constantly stood out most and why? What makes prayer, and persevering in prayer, so difficult to be consistent at? What topic, person, or community has God been calling you to persevere in prayer over, without quitting? How do we know when God is calling us to stop praying about something? How would you currently rate your constancy in prayer, 1 to 10, and why? What discipline have you found most helpful in growing your prayer life? How is God calling you to grow in constant prayer?
Being Thankful in Everything Is an Essential Practice for Worship
in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 5:18
After calling the Thessalonians to always rejoice and to constantly pray, Paul called for them to give thanks in everything. This is an essential practice for both our private and public worship. If we are not thankful to God, we won’t worship him. Instead of worshiping God, we’ll most likely complain about him, rebel against him, neglect or forget him altogether. Again, thankfulness is an essential part of worship just like rejoicing and prayer.
Application Question: How can we give God thanks in everything, including difficult things?
1. To give God thanks in everything, we must see him as the Giver of every good gift.
James 1:17 says, “All generous giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or the slightest hint of change.” This is important because we have a tendency to see our blessings as a result of our hard work or from other people, which may certainly be true in a sense. However, there is a sovereign hand behind the fact that we have a healthy body and strong mind that allows us to work and be rewarded for it. There is also a sovereign hand behind parents who provide for us, a spouse who loves us, and friends who bless us. According to Scripture, they are simply channels by which God shows his love to us.
Even when Christ spoke about the birds of the air eating and the lilies of the field blooming, he said these blessings came from God. In Matthew 6:26-30, Christ described these realities this way:
Look at the birds in the sky: They do not sow, or reap, or gather into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you more valuable than they are? And which of you by worrying can add even one hour to his life? Why do you worry about clothing? Think about how the flowers of the field grow; they do not work or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his glory was clothed like one of these! And if this is how God clothes the wild grass, which is here today and tomorrow is tossed into the fire to heat the oven, won’t he clothe you even more, you people of little faith?
Christ taught that even though the birds of the air and lilies of the field are provided for through natural causes, these provisions ultimately come from God.
Again, recognition of this is important for us to give thanks in everything. When God provides for us through a monthly income, though we have worked for it, God provided the job and strength so we can earn a wage. And if we enjoy good health, though we may eat healthy, workout, and have good genes, God is ultimately the one that keeps us from sickness.
Without understanding this reality, we will never give God thanks for good gifts. We’ll see them as coming from ourselves, others, or even chance.
Are we giving God thanks for our many blessings?
2. To give God thanks for everything, we must see him as sovereign over trials.
Seeing God as the Giver of our blessings is easier than seeing him as the Sovereign over our trials. However, Scripture teaches this reality from Genesis to Revelation. There is nothing on the earth that happens apart from God’s sovereign purposes, good or bad. God’s sovereignty is as much a characteristic of God as his omnipotence, omniscience, and omnipresence.
How do we see God’s sovereignty over evil taught in Scripture? A good example of this is in the story of Hannah in 1 Samuel 1. In verses 5 and 6 (ESV), a phrase is repeated, “the Lord had closed her womb.” The author of the book, probably Samuel, taught that Hannah’s infertility came from the Lord. And later in the story when Hannah got pregnant, that was attributed to God as well. Verses 19 and 20 says, “And Elkanah knew Hannah his wife, and the Lord remembered her. And in due time Hannah conceived and bore a son…” God is in control of both the bad and the good.
In Amos 3:6, it says this about disaster, “If an alarm sounds in a city, do people not fear? If disaster overtakes a city, is the Lord not responsible?” Isaiah 45:7 says it this way: “I am the one who forms light and creates darkness; the one who brings about peace and creates calamity. I am the Lord, who accomplishes all these things.”
What about when people do evil things to us? Is God in control of that as well? Yes. Obviously, a famous example of this is in the story of Israel’s deliverance from slavery in Egypt. Initially, every time Moses tried to get Pharaoh to let them go, he said no, and when this happened, Moses interpreted it as an act of God. In Exodus, which Moses authored, three times, God said he would harden Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 4:21; 7:3; 14:4). Six times it says, God hardened Pharaoh’s heart (Ex. 9:12; 10:1; 10:20; 10:27; 11:10; 14:8). And three times it says Pharaoh hardened his own heart (Ex. 8:15; 8:32; 9:34). Scripture teaches that God is in absolute control of people’s hearts, even their bad decisions. Proverbs 21:1 says it this way, “The king’s heart is in the hand of the Lord like channels of water; he turns it wherever he wants.”
What about when Satan does evil things to us? Is God in control of that as well? Yes. We know that when Satan tempted Job by taking away his children and wealth, Job saw God as in control of it and therefore worshiped God because of it. In Job 1:21, Job said: “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return there. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!” To further confirm this, in 2 Samuel 24 and 1 Chronicles 21, there is a story of David pridefully taking a census of his army which led to God judge Israel. The two parallel narratives give seemingly contradictory causes for David counting his army. Second Samuel 24:1 says, “The Lord’s anger again raged against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, ‘Go count Israel and Judah.’” And 1 Chronicles 21:1 (ESV) says, “Then Satan stood against Israel and incited David to number Israel.” Who incited David, God or Satan? The text says both. This seems to be very similar to what happened with Job. Satan tested Job, but God gave Satan permission to (Job 1:12, 2:6). Satan did it, but God was in control of it. The same is true with David’s census. There are other examples of this. In 1 Kings 22, God sent a lying spirit to deceive King Ahab so he would go to war and die. First Kings 22:23 says, “So now, look, the Lord has placed a lying spirit in the mouths of all these prophets of yours, but the Lord has decreed disaster for you.” Who deceived King Ahab? A lying spirit who was either Satan or a demon. Who was in control? God! Another example of God’s sovereignty over Satan and demons is with King Saul. When Saul was living in rebellion towards God, God sent an evil spirit to torment him. First Samuel 16:14 says, “Now the Spirit of the Lord had turned away from Saul, and an evil spirit from the Lord tormented him.” Scripture exhausts itself to teach us that God is in control of evil people and demons. In fact, it should be added that Scripture teaches God is sovereign over random, chance events as well. Proverbs 16:33 (NLT) says, “We may throw the dice [or lot], but the LORD determines how they fall.” God is in control of all things, good and bad.
God being in control of all things, both good and bad is important to understand. However, understanding his control of all things alone is not enough for us to give thanks in everything. We must also realize the end to which he is control all things. Ephesians 1:11 says that God, “accomplishes all things according to the counsel of his will.” Also, Romans 8:28 says, “And we know that all things work together for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose.” God’s purpose in controlling all things, including bad things, is to accomplish his will, and his will is that all things work for the good of those who love him, those who are true believers. Even our failures, God uses for good. Through them, he helps us learn how to hate our sin, how to be free from it, and how to sympathize with and counsel others who struggle with the same or other struggles. He uses all things, including the bad for our good.
Again this is important for us to accept so that we can give thanks in all things, including bad things. It’s easier for most to accept God as in control of good things, but they struggle to accept God as being in control of the bad. This was a very important concept for Job to understand so he could give God thanks when he lost his wealth and children, but also so that he didn’t sin against God. Again, Job 1:21 and 22 says, “…The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be blessed!’ In all this Job did not sin, nor did he charge God with moral impropriety.” God’s sovereignty doesn’t remove the blame from creatures for their acts; however, it does mean they are not ultimately in control and that somehow God will use even evil for good, both to glorify himself and to bless his people.
Are we giving God thanks in all things including the bad? Without a strong understanding of God’s sovereignty, even over bad things, we will not be able to fulfill God’s command.
3. To give God thanks in everything, we must do so, not based on our feelings, but based on our faith as an act of obedience.
Again, 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “in everything give thanks. For this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” When Paul says, “for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus,” he is saying that our responsibility as believers who have been united with Christ through salvation is that we always give God thanks. Paul also probably meant for this to apply to our call to always rejoice and pray. They are all God’s will for us as believers, and they should distinguish us from the world. People who have been saved by God should always rejoice, pray, and give him thanks. Since God has done such eternal good for them, how can they not give him thanks in this temporary world? If we know the ultimate outcome of their life is good, including eternal life with God and his saints, how can we not rejoice and give him thanks all the time? Again, this should separate believers from unbelievers. Romans 1:21 says this about the world: “For although they knew God, they did not glorify him as God or give him thanks.” The world is identified by complaining against God, rebelling against him, neglecting him, or denying his existence altogether. However, believers should be known for worship and thanksgiving, even in difficult times.
Consequently, when we encounter something difficult, though our natural response might be to complain or worry, we must instead choose to give God thanks as an act of obedience. We thank him because he has saved us eternally. We thank him because he is in control of all events happening to us. We thank him because he is using those events for our good. We thank him because his will is always perfect. And when something good happens, though like the world we tend to not acknowledge him or remember to thank him, as an act of the will, we should stop and give thanks. We should thank him because every good and perfect gift comes from above (Jam 1:17). In addition, as a general practice, it’s often good to stop, remember all his past works, and gratefully worship him for them. We should do this because we’re so prone to forget God’s blessings. In Psalm 103:2-5, David did this when he said:
Praise the Lord, O my soul. Do not forget all his kind deeds. He is the one who forgives all your sins, who heals all your diseases, who delivers your life from the Pit, who crowns you with his loyal love and compassion, who satisfies your life with good things, so your youth is renewed like an eagle’s.
Are we giving God thanks as an act of obedience? Like parents training a child to give thanks to others when they receive something, we commonly have to train ourselves to make that our first response to God for both the good and bad. We need to stop and thank God because he saved us, provides for us, and we know his purposes are good even in difficult circumstances that we don’t understand. Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding.” His purpose in our trials will ultimately be proved to be good. Till then, we must thank God in faith as an act of obedience.
Thanks "In" and "For" Everything?
With that said, when Paul says to “give thanks in everything,” some commenting on this text emphasize that we are called to do so “in everything” and not “for everything.” Though that is Paul’s emphasis in this text, in Ephesians 5:20, he are called for believers to give thanks “for” everything as a fruit of being filled with the Spirit. Ephesians 5:20 says: “always giving thanks to God the Father for all things in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Certainly, giving thanks “for” everything is more difficult than “in” everything. It’s easier to give God thanks that he is using a sickness for our good, than to thank him for the sickness. However, with both, we should do so as acts of faith in obedience to God. If we believe God is using this difficulty for our good, then we can thank him both for it and in it. Job thanked God for giving and taking away, which included his wealth and children. Certainly, that was great faith.
As we thank God for and in trials, we are exercising our faith—stretching it, strengthening it, and increasing it. No doubt, as we do so, God will grant us more grace for our current circumstances. Again, as an example of this, in 2 Corinthians 12:9, when Paul said, “So then, I will boast most gladly about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may reside in me.” As we rejoice in God and thank him for our trials, he will supernaturally empower us to persevere in them and to be a blessing to others.
Are we thanking God while in our trials and for them? We should do this repeatedly, not based on our feelings, but based on our faith as an act of obedience.
4. To give God thanks in everything, we must faithfully rejoice and pray in everything.
It’s clear that these commands (rejoicing, praying, and thanking) are connected for a purpose. The more we work on one, the more the others will follow. If we find our joy in the Lord, the more we will want to talk with God and be in his presence. The more we are praying and in God’s presence, the more we will be grateful and give God thanks, and the more we give God thanks, the more we will pray to God and rejoice in him. These are like the three fold cord Solomon described in Ecclesiastes 4:10 that is not easily broken. They commonly come together because practicing one causes the others to naturally erupt and flow.
Are we always rejoicing in the Lord and seeking to pray in everything? If so, we will naturally start to give God thanks in everything?
Changing Our Situation
With all this said, always rejoicing and giving God thanks in everything doesn’t mean we should never try to change our situation or make things better. There is nothing inherently wrong with a single wanting to be married, a person without a job wanting a job, or a person with a sickness wanting to be healed. If we desire a change, we should pray for it and work to bring it about, as long as it doesn’t conflict with God’s revealed will in his Word. However, whether God changes our situation or keeps us in the same one temporarily or long term, we should rejoice in the Lord—in our relationship with him and his character—and we should give him thanks in everything because his purposes are good and he knows better than us.
5. To give God thanks in everything, we must do so corporately instead of complaining and spreading bitterness.
Again, the verb to give thanks is plural, meaning the whole congregation was called to do so. This is important because of how fast unthankfulness and complaining spread within a community. Hebrews 12:15 says, “See to it that no one comes short of the grace of God, that no one be like a bitter root springing up and causing trouble, and through it many become defiled.” For example, in Numbers 13 when the ten spies went throughout Canaan to check it out and eight returned complaining, it led the nation of Israel to rebel against God. Even the good report from the two spies did no good. Bitterness and complaining quickly spreads throughout a family, community, and an organization, maybe even faster than a good report because of our sin nature. Consequently, we must guard our hearts against complaining and bitterness. Certainly, there is a place for sharing the bitterness in our hearts so others can pray for us and give us counsel. But there is a certain type of sharing that only riles up others or brings them down. In Psalm 73, when Asaph struggled with the purpose of living a righteous life as he envied the wicked, he decided not to share it with others so they would not be tempted to stumble. Instead, he went straight to God with his irrational thoughts. In Psalm 73:15-17, he said this:
If I had publicized these thoughts, I would have betrayed your people. When I tried to make sense of this, it was troubling to me. Then I entered the precincts of God’s temple and understood the destiny of the wicked.
Likewise, we must be careful about complaining and spreading our bitterness about our family, friends, church, work, or government. Often times, it will only increase our bitterness and infect others as well. There is a type of sharing that is just stating facts to discuss, and there is a type of sharing that defames and defiles others. The difference is the motive in of the heart and the manner in which it is shared. We must wisely discern the difference and probably hold back from sharing if in doubt. Like Asaph, we should go to God first to bring our complaints and ask for his heart and wisdom. This is especially important when it comes to God’s church, which he died for, diligently protects, and works to sanctify. In Matthew 18:6, Christ said this: “But if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him to have a huge millstone hung around his neck and to be drowned in the open sea.” With this in mind, we must guard our hearts against bitterness and complaining and guard others from them as well. Philippians 2:14-15 says it this way:
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God without blemish though you live in a crooked and perverse society, in which you shine as lights in the world
Again in context, instead of coming together to spread bitterness, we must remember worship is about giving God thanks. And as we give God thanks corporately, even in trials like Job did, it spreads. Are we spreading thankfulness to others or bitterness? Paul called for the Thessalonians who were being persecuted for their faith to thank God corporately, no doubt, in part to protect them against the lethal virus of bitterness and complaining that infiltrates and destroys so many family, friends, communities, churches, and nations.
Are we giving God thanks in everything? To do so, (1) we must see him as the Giver of every good gift, and (2) the Sovereign even over bad things. (3) We must give thanks in faith as an act of obedience to God, (4) practice always rejoicing and praying in everything which will increase our thankfulness, and finally, (5) practice giving God thanks corporately instead complaining and spreading bitterness.
Application Question: Why is accepting God’s sovereignty over all things, good and bad, so important for having a thankful spirit? Why is accepting God’s sovereignty over evil so difficult? Share a situation where God used something bad for your good. What are some current situations in your life that you struggle with giving God thanks in and for (cf. 1 Thess 5:18, Eph 5:20)? How does bitterness and complaining commonly spread through a family, community, church, or nation? In what ways do you struggle with complaining? How is God calling you to grow in giving God thanks?
Conclusion
How can we grow in our worship, both private and public? As Paul said, we must practice always rejoicing, constantly praying, and giving thanks in everything. This is how we will turn our mundane daily routines into worship, and this is how we will ignite our lifeless spiritual disciplines and corporate worship. These practices are God’s will for us in Christ Jesus and therefore are essential to our private and public worship.
Application Question: What stood out in the text and study most and why?
Prayer Prompts
• Pray for God to give us supernatural joy based on a deepening relationship with him and obedience to him and not our fluctuating circumstances.
• Pray for God to increase, bless, and be honored by our individual and corporate worship of him.
• Pray for God to help us grow in constant prayer, that our daily routines would be saturated with various types of prayer including thanksgiving, confession, lament, petition, and intercession.
• Pray for God to help us grow in gratitude and thanksgiving and to deliver us from discontentment, bitterness, and complaining.
• Pray for God to increase our understanding and acceptance of his sovereignty over all things, good and bad, for our eternal benefit, so that our joy, prayer, and thanksgiving in God may increase.
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