“Rejoice always,
Pray unceasing,
In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
 
Last week we looked into the Scriptures concerning ‘rejoicing always’ so now let’s continue with the passage.
 
‘Pray unceasing’
Vine’s “Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words” tells us the Greek word here for unceasing is ADIALEIPTOS.  It is defined as not constantly occurring, but consistently recurring.
 
In this letter of Paul’s to the Thessalonians we see his recurring prayers for them:
“We give thanks to God always for you all; making mention of you in our prayers.”  Chapter 1:2
“For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth the word of God…”  2:13 
“Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”  3:10
(He is not on his knees around the clock, but his prayers are often and recurring.)
 
The presence of God is always with us,
“…For you are the temple of the living God…”  2 Corinthians 6:16
 
Because His presence is always with us, we can communicate with Him anywhere and anytime.  Therefore, it is good to develop that conscious awareness of God’s abiding presence.  When we do so, it becomes natural for us to talk to Him throughout the day.  He is our ever loving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit!
 
And with a thankful heart we have this awesome picture of our Lord Jesus Christ who is at the right hand of God interceding for us.
“Who is he who condemns?  It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”  Romans 8:34
 
‘In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you’
Notice the verse doesn’t ‘for’ all things, but ‘in’ all things.   We aren’t thankful ‘for’ the evil deeds of the enemy, but we can give thanks ‘in’ them because we have God’s promise to turn them into good.
 
Who of us does not have Romans 8:28 engraved in our thoughts and on our hearts?
“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”
 
Our thanks is to be spontaneous as we see in Philippians 1:3,
“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you.”
 
Our thanks is in Jesus Christ’s name,
“Giving thanks always for all things to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Ephesians 5:20
 
Our thanks is an obligation,
“But we are bound (under obligation) to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth.”   
2 Thessalonians 2:13
 
Why give thanks in all things?  Because it is ‘God’s will for us’.
God’s will is to everlasting life to those the Father has given Jesus:
“This is the will of the Father who sent Me, that of all He has given Me I should lose nothing, but should raise it up at the last day.  And this is the will of Him who sent Me, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have everlasting life; and I raise him up at the last day.”  John 6:39-40
 
God’s will establishes relationship,
“For whoever does the will of My Father in heaven is My brother and sister and mother.”  Matthew 13:50
 
As we are being conformed to the image of the Son, we have Jesus Christ, the perfect example of doing God’s will:
“He (Jesus) went away again a second time and prayed, saying, ‘O My Father, if this cup cannot pass away from Me unless I drink it, Your will be done.”  Matthew 26:42
 
God’s will gives spiritual knowledge as Jesus says in John 7:17,
“If anyone wants to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.”
 
God’s will requires whole heartedness,
“Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eye service as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.”  Ephesians 6:5-6
 
God’s will is the rule of everyday life:
“For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world.  And the world is passing away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.”  1 John 2:16-17
 
Here is another opportunity to delve deeper into the Scriptures concerning thanksgiving and God‘s will  to enlarge our understanding!
 
Holy God we thank you for this passage of Scripture!  Briefly it tells us to:
Rejoice always, pray continually and give thanks in all things.  By doing so, we faithfully keep our eyes on You.  You are honored and glorified and we are bless!  Thanks you Lord. Amen