HELEN SANDERS
1-15-2024
HOW TO LIVE A HOLY LIFE
The book of 1 Thessalonians is full of instructions about end times and also how to live a holy life. In chapter 5:12-22 it gives us some admonitions for holy living. They are:
1. Know who labors among you in the Lord. Get to know those that minister to you.
2. Esteem (treat) them highly for their work’s sake. Treat leaders with respect.
3. Be at peace among yourselves. (this would be in the church and outside the church).
4. Warn them that are unruly. They need to know when they are in error and be warned.
5. Comfort the feebleminded. Be a support to people with little strength.
6. Support the weak. Be strong for others when they have no strength.
7. Be patient toward all men. Do not be impatient with others. Be willing to give others grace when they do not meet your expectations.
8. See that none render evil for evil. Do not repay someone with evil.
9. Follow after that which is good. This is in the church and outside the church.
10. Rejoice evermore. Let praise be a daily part of your life.
11. Pray without ceasing. Always be in communion with God.
12. In everything give thanks because this is the will of God for you.
13. Quench not the Spirit. Let the Holy Spirit move in your life and in the church.
14. Despise not prophesyings. This means to not hate prophesying and to listen and be led by the true prophets through theirs prophetic voice, not just preaching.
15. Prove all things. This means to test all things before making decisions.
16. Hold fast to that which is good. Always stick with God and his plan.
17. Abstain from all appearance of evil. This is inward and outward.
When we meet these conditions, we are living a holy life and we can be confident that verse 23 will work in our lives. It reads, “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
This scripture promises us that if we meet the conditions in Verses 12-22 we can be looked upon by God as blameless. This should be our goal every day, and through doing it we will live in victory. It means living a crucified life with the one desire, and that is to please Jesus and not ourselves.
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