1Thess 5:16 rejoice evermore

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 5

1Thess 5:16
Rejoice evermore.

Finally, a verse our size we can commit to memory.
[FYI: this verse is the shortest verse in the Greek New Testament (Πάντοτε χαίρετε); in case you are in a trivia contest; the shortest English verse in John 11:35 “Jesus wept.” (ἐδάκρυσεν ὁ Ἰησοῦς) – see you are already glad you came!]

Back to our mission…
As we should expect “rejoice” should be related to “joy”. “To make joyful; to gladden; to animate with lively pleasurable sensations; to exhilarate.”
“evermore”: always; at all times.

So we are to be made joyful, exhilarated at all times. And you can be with Christ in you, the hope of glory (Col 1:27).
Look at what Paul says in other places:
Rom 5:1-2
Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Rom 12:15
Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep.

Col 1:24
Who now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up that which is behind of the afflictions of Christ in my flesh for his body's sake, which is the church:

In Philippians, Paul uses this word more in this book than all his others:
Phl 1:18
What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

Phl 2:16-18, 28
Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain.
Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.
For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. ...
I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Phl 3:1, 3
Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe. ...
For we are the circumcision, which worship God in the spirit, and rejoice in Christ Jesus, and have no confidence in the flesh.

Phl 4:4
Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

(10X in this small book)

Paul thought highly of rejoicing, and commanded us in the body of Christ to so be, with him, in that rejoiceful state. Things might not be falling out as we thought they would, but we can still rejoice. We have a destination we can look to, that is our expectation, and we can hold forth our promises in Christ and be joyful. We can rejoice together. We can rejoice and be joyful when we see the brethren rejoice. Paul says to do it and that it is safe.
And we should do it always. Need he say it again…to rejoice?
It is a compact verse, the first of several in a row that I suggest we commit to memory. And as I heard someone say, it is like a zip file that when you hit, you can decompress and remember and behold all the things that are “rejoice-worthy” from the books that you have read on the way to First Thessalonians. Romans. 1&2 Corinthians. Galatians. Ephesians. Philippians. Colossians. What are the doctrines that you have encountered up until this book and chapter and verse that you should be rejoicing about, to reflect on? (that would be a good homework assignment.)

Who knows what is ahead for the body of Christ in this world on this earth before the Lord catches us up and out of here. It might get right ugly. But just like some of us prep for a coming collapse of society (I said “us” to sound like a cool guy, but I would die in the first week of such an event), or supply chains, EMP, coup or whatever, we should be prepping the mind with scripture for the work ahead.

Paul was having bad circumstance after bad circumstance laid upon him AFTER Christ called him on the Damascus road – sufferings and persecutions – of the like of which Big Eva would more than likely exclude him from their association if he were here today (he would not fit the business model or the image). But Paul rejoiced to the end, and commanded us to rejoice the same.

And Christ, who stepped down from Heaven to take on flesh, and looked to the joy and the glory that lay ahead after suffering the humiliation and death on a cross:
Heb 12:2
Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.

We as saved members of the body of Christ should be able to always look to the eternal glory, which is far better, and rejoice whilst standing in this muck today.
2Cor 4:17-18
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

Grace and Peace James 

Rejoice evermore.