WE COMMAND YOU
Sunday Morning: June 11, 2000
Read:
Romans 12:9 - 21
Text:
1 Thessalonians 5:14-22
There are 14 present imperatives in verses 14 through 22. Imperatives are commands to be obeyed. The present tense implies obedience without stopping.
Ten imperatives are in the active voice meaning the subject is to perform the action of the command.
Four imperatives are in the middle voice meaning the subject is to participates in the action of the command.
PRESENT ACTIVE IMPERATIVES: personally active
WARN AND BE PATIENT
1 Thessalonians 5:14 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly (out of step), comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men."
WARN
2 Thessalonians 3:6 "Now we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye withdraw yourselves from every brother that walketh disorderly, and not after the tradition which he received of us."
2 Thessalonians 3:11-12 "For we hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busybodies. 12. Now them that are such we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread."
PATIENT
Galatians 5:22-24 "But the fruit of the Spirit (of sonship) is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23. Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24. And they that are Christ's have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts."
SEE AND FOLLOW
1 Thessalonians 5:15 "See [take heed] that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow [pursue] that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men."
NONE RENDER EVIL FOR EVIL
Romans 12:17-21 "Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men. 18. If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men. 19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. 20. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. 21. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good."
1 Peter 3:9 "Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing."
FOLLOW THAT WHICH IS GOOD
Galatians 6:9-10 "And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 10. As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith."
1 Peter 3:11 "Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it."
3 John 1:11 "Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God."
REJOICE
1 Thessalonians 5:16 "Rejoice evermore."
Romans 12:15 "Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep."
Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord I: and again I say, Rejoice."
Nehemiah 8:10 " . . . neither be ye sorry; for the joy of the LORD is your strength."
GIVE THANKS
1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In (not for) every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."
Philippians 4:6-7 "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 7. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
Hebrews 13:15 "By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name."
QUENCH NOT
1 Thessalonians 5:19 "Quench not the Spirit."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind [self-control]."
Ephesians 4:23 "And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;"
DESPISE NOT
1 Thessalonians 5:20 "Despise not prophesyings."
2 Timothy 4:2-3 "Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. 3. For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;"
PROVE AND HOLD FAST
1 Thessalonians 5:21 "Prove [test, examine] all things; hold fast that which is good."
1 John 4:1 "Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world."
Acts 17:11 "These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so."
PRESENT MIDDLE IMPERATIVE: more personally involved.
COMFORT/SUPPORT FOR YOURSELVES
1 Thessalonians 5:14 "Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort [para, beside; muqov, speak] the feebleminded [faint hearted (quitters)], support the weak (in the faith), be patient toward all men."
Romans 14:1-2 "Him that is weak in the faith receive ye, but not to doubtful disputations. 2. For one believeth that he may eat all things (has liberty): another, who is weak, eateth herbs (rules)."
Romans 14:5 "One man esteemeth one day above another: another esteemeth every day alike. Let every man be fully persuaded in his own mind."
Romans 15:1-2 "We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2. Let every one of us please his neighbour for his good to edification."
Acts 20:35 "I have showed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." (yourselves)
PRAY FOR YOURSELVES
1 Thessalonians 5:17 "Pray without ceasing."
Luke 18:1 "And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;"
Ephesians 6:18 "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;"
ABSTAIN FROM
1 Thessalonians 5:22 "Abstain from all appearance of evil."