5:12-13
Proper respect for the office he sustains. It is a most sacred office, and because some men have disgraced it, and others made it the engine of priestcraft, or for other reasons, the minister is not to be stripped of official superiority and reduced to the rank of a mere speaking brother. Regard your pastor, then, not with feelings of superstitious dread, or slavish veneration, or frivolous familiarity. Hold such in reputation as your friend, but also as an ambassador of God. (Excell)
If a church changes doctrine and structure to follow its members’ views, it is difficult to see the value of that church and its religion. Religions must claim to be true, and in their essentials, to uphold principles that are universal and eternal. No church that panders to the zeitgeist deserves respect, and very shortly it will not get respect, except from those who find it politically useful, and that is less respect than disguised contempt. —Robert H. Bork, Slouching Towards Gomorrah (Quotes)
Admonishment “is needed by the ignorant, the negligent, the inconsistent.” (Excell)
5:16
Rejoice evermore ] A duty much pressed in both Testaments, but little practised by many of God’s whinnels, who are ever puling and putting finger in the eye, through one discontent or another. The wicked may not rejoice, Hosea 9:1 ; the saints must,Psalms 32:11; Psalms 32:11 ; Psalms 33:1 , and that continually, striving to a habitual cheerfulness, which occurs when faith heals the conscience, and grace husheth the affections, and composeth all within: what should ail such a man, not to be perpetually merry? (Trapp)
It is of the very nature of a duty that it is in our power to perform it; and so with this one, the very fact of its being laid upon us proves that we may, if we will, obey it. And therefore this at once disposes of those who would be inclined to say that gladness does not depend on ourselves, that it is the privilege of the few only to be [filled with joy], and of those few only under peculiar circumstances; and that it is as vain to tell people to be merry and joyful as to tell them to be tall or short, or strong or handsome. There is always a disposition to make every thing in our Christian life dependent on circumstances, and to make excuses for this or that sin or shortcoming, by blaming circumstances and not ourselves. Once begin with the perilous doctrine that men are what they are made, and that we cannot help our lapses because of the taint and defects in our nature, and we open the door to excuses for every kind of enormity. ¶ Just as we get nearer to our true selves, the fresher and purer, and wiser and truer our souls become, the more food shall we find for joy; and because, as the pure soul finds life glad, and so gladness reacts upon the soul and tends to make it pure, so this is the reason why the Apostle tells us to rejoice; for joy tends to cleanse the heart and banish thought of sin and misery, and wars against the useless recollection of sorrows that are gone, and of errors that cannot now be retrieved, and of troubles that may be temptations to murmur …
(Nicoll; Nicoll also cited A. Jessopp, Norwich School Sermons, p. 226., Reference: 1 Thessalonians 5:16, and Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xxxii., No. 1900; edited for clarity)
Religious exercises are, to many, very dull and uninteresting. Prayer is to many a tiresome thing. They will bow their heads or kneel and endure the uncongenial form, but they feel no interest in it, and they are secretly glad when it is over. To them religion appears to cloud the face, darken the sky, and make life gloomy. But if Christians are gloomy, it is not in obedience to Divine orders. (Nicoll)
5:17
The nature of prayer. Prayer is not a rite, not a ceremony, not a cold, outward observance, but an actual intercourse between two parties one who prays and One who hears. It is a communion between man and God, as real and actual as what passes between two men, when they speak face to face with each other. If the inward desire is absent, then prayer is absent; and though a man shall have breathed all his life long the words of prayer, he will never have prayed if he has never asked. We cannot ask unless we desire, and we cannot desire, unless we feel our want. Thus, therefore, the word expresses much more than this. See how great is the dignity of prayer. When the soul prays it is as if the distance between itself and the throne of God were annihilated. This is the idea conveyed in the expression of St. Paul. “Let us, therefore, come boldly unto the throne of grace.” To pray is to come to the throne of grace, its exercise bringing us into the very presence of God, as really and truly as if in the body we stepped upon the gleaming pavement of heaven, and stood at God’s footstool, and gazed upon the majesty of His appearance. (Nicoll)
When our desire is according to the Divine will, and endorsed, so to speak, by the Saviour, it is granted. It goes in His name. So we have to study the Scriptures to know what is God’s will, and look for the help of the Spirit to make us prayerful, hopeful, patient, persevering under that gracious influence. “This is the confidence that we have in Him, that if we ask anything according to His will, He heareth us.” (Nicoll; Nicoll cited J. Hall, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xii., p. 15.)
Prayer … is a communion between man and God, as real and actual as what passes between two men, when they speak face to face with each other. If the inward desire is absent, then prayer is absent; and though a man shall have breathed all his life long the words of prayer, he will never have prayed if he has never asked. We cannot ask unless we desire, and we cannot desire, unless we feel our want. (Nicoll)
“without ceasing” >> “Consider the universality of the duty. “Pray without ceasing.” When the true nature of prayer is rightly comprehended, this, too, will follow from the mere instincts of the soul’s desire. The words express (1) constancy and perseverance.” (Nicoll; Nicoll cited E. Garbett, The Soul’s Life, p. 271.)
5:18
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 give us three marks of a genuine Church. (i) It is a happy Church. There is in it that atmosphere of joy which makes its members feel that they are bathed in sunshine. True Christianity is an exhilarating and not a depressing thing. (ii) It is a praying Church. Maybe our Church’s prayers would be more effective if we remembered that “they pray best together who also pray alone.” (iii) It is a thankful Church. There is always something for which to give thanks; even on the darkest day there are blessings to count. We must remember that if we face the sun the shadows will fall behind us but if we turn our backs on the sun all the shadows will be in front. (Barclay)
NOTE: Please see the following web-page for most of the works cited: https://insidecrosspoint.org/sermons/2022/june/bibliography.html. Works cited on this web-page correspond to the verses they are are grouped or outlined with.
Nicoll also cited these additional resources and passages:
References: "Bible Passages - 1 Thessalonians 5:17. Spurgeon, Sermons, vol. xviii., No. 1039; S. A. Tipple, Sunday Mornings at Norwood, p. 109; Plain Sermons, vol. v., p. 131; J. Kelly, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xviii., p. 374; Clergyman’s Magazine, vol. v., p. 270. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 . H. Jones, Christian World Pulpit, vol. xxxvi., p. 341;, E. L. Hull, Sermons, 1st series, p. 14. 1 Thessalonians 5:19. Preacher’s Monthly, vol. ix., p. 285; Clergyman’s Magazine, vol. viii., p. 273; E. Garbett, The Soul’s Life, p. 180; Bishop Temple, Rugby Sermons, vol. i., p. 46; C. G. Finney, Gospel Themes, p. 245.
“Quotes on the Church.” Ministry 127, https://www.ministry127.com/resources/illustration/quotes-on-the-church.