Pray Without Ceasing

1 Thessalonians 5:17 MKJV Pray without ceasing.

A1 Background

B1 Acts 17:1-9 NKJV Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and [saying,] “This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ.” And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. “Jason has harbored them, and these are all acting contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying there is another king–Jesus.” And they troubled the crowd and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. So when they had taken security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. Keathley III adds this from his commentary: Paul instructed the returning Bereans to have Silas and Timothy join him immediately at Athens (see Acts 17:15 and 1 Thess 3:1). Paul then sent Timothy back to Macedonia for the purpose of strengthening and encouraging the Thessalonian believers and to bring back a report about their faith and spiritual condition. Silas was probably sent on a similar mission to Philippi.

B2 The Thessalonian Christians were faithful. They had some questions for Paul, since he had to leave abruptly.

B3 Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians ~51 AD (CE).

C1 Dr. Daniel B. Wallace writes in his introduction to 1 Thessalonians: Not only is 1 Thessalonians found in Marcion’s canon and the Muratorian canon, but it is also quoted by name by Irenaeus, Clement of Alexandria, and Tertullian. Perhaps even Polycarp alludes to it when he speaks of Paul’s letters to the Philippians.4 Further, it is found in the most ancient MSS (including the old Latin, old Syriac, and ¸46), suggesting its full acceptance from a very early period.

C2 Keathley III adds: Both 1 and 2 Thessalonians were written from Corinth during the Apostle’s eighteen-month stay in that city (cf. Acts 18:1-11). The first epistle was written during the earlier part of that period just after Timothy had returned from Thessalonica with news of the progress of the church, and the second letter was dispatched just a few weeks later (or at the most a few months). Any date assigned will have to be approximate, though probably ... AD 51-52.

B4 This is ~20 years after the ministry of the Lord Jesus. Many people would still alive who had seen, heard, been healed, be blessed, etc. By the Lord Jesus Himself.

B5 The book has not been questioned as to time of writing or author for the most part.

A2 At the end of his letter, Paul gives some instructions to the Thessalonians. These are rules for the church to follow. It was not only the congregation at Thessaloniki at that time. It is for today, too.

A3 Pray without ceasing

B1 Pray

C1 The Greek word is G4336 προσεύχομαι proseuchomai, which means to offer prayer to the gods. Of course, we know there is only one God.

C2 Prayer is talking, that is, conversing with God.

C3 We enjoy talking with our spouse, our children, our friends, and the people we work with, so why shouldn’t we enjoy talking to God.

C4 The Westminster Larger Catechism has as it first question:

Q. 1. What is the chief and highest end of man?

A. Man's chief and highest end is to glorify God, 1 and fully to enjoy him forever.

C5 Personally, I prefer the answer to be Man’s chief and highest end is to fellowship with God and serve Him forever.

D1 1 John 1:3 MKJV that which we have seen and heard we declare unto you, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ.

D2 Revelation 22:3 WEB There will be no curse any more. The throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will serve him.

C6 Since fellowship is important, let us pray. Praying is fellowship. We don’t to be passive or in silence. God wants us alert and fellowship with Him. 1 Corinthians 1:9 GNB God is to be trusted, the God who called you to have fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ, our Lord.

B2 Without ceasing

C1 The Greek word is G3114 μακροθυμέω makrothumeō, which means do not quit or interrupt.

C2 How do we do this?

C3 It is an attitude.

C4 We do this with our friends. We may not talk for awhile when working but then we say something. It is not non-stop talking; it is a readiness to converse with our God.

B3 Fellowship

C1 God does not have a need for fellowship. He enjoys it.

C2 We see this is in the Garden of Eden. We see God and Enoch walking together. We see the Lord Jesus walking with the Apostles. We need to see Him walking with us.

C3 Some verses:

D1 He wanted fellowship with the nation of Israel: Exodus 25:8 NRSV And have them make me a sanctuary, so that I may dwell among them.

D2 All people: Zechariah 2:10-12 NRSV Sing and rejoice, O daughter Zion! For lo, I will come and dwell in your midst, says the LORD. 11 Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD on that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell in your midst. And you shall know that the LORD of hosts has sent me to you. 12 The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem.

D3 Christians: John 14:23 NRSV Jesus answered him, "Those who love me will keep my word, and my Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.

A4 Summary

B1 1 Peter 4:7 GW The end of everything is near. Therefore, practice self-control, and keep your minds clear so that you can pray.

B2 Pray without ceasing.

B3 Will you?