The Three Great Commands of God
If we recalled the blessed message given to us in New Year’s Day service, the conclusion was “Eat the honeycomb.” And, the honeycomb symbolizes the Word of God.
Rev 1:3 declares “Blessed is he who reads and those who hear the words of the prophecy and heed the things which are written in it.”
The Greek word used for “blessed” here is Makarios, which means “blessed, happy, or joyful.” Thus, those who read, hear, and keep the Word cannot help but have a future filled with joy and happiness.
Today’s scripture is Paul’s message to the church in Thessalonica. Paul stayed in Thessalonica for about three weeks, teaching the Word. As he departed, he left them with three exhortations:
- Rejoice always
- Pray without ceasing
- Give thanks in everything
Paul emphasized that these three things are the will of God. Yet, Grammarly speaking, he used the imperative form in this passage. In other words, “Rejoice always, give thanks in everything, and pray without ceasing” are not suggestions or advice. They are not optional but rather commands from God that must be obeyed.
- God’s Command
What is a command? Proverbs 6:23 tells us that a command is a lamp, and Psalm 119:105 declares that God’s Word is a lamp to our feet and a light to our path.
Imagine walking on a path at night, losing your way because of the darkness. You may press forward diligently, but you end up going in circles, wasting time and energy. Despite all your efforts, you achieve no results.
However, God’s command – His Word – becomes your lamp and light. With His guidance, you will not lose your way. Even the darkest night will turn to day through the power of His Word.
Recall the wilderness journey of the Israelites. During the day, God led them with a pillar of cloud and at night, with a pillar of fire. The fire not only provided warmth and protection from wild animals but also illuminated their path, ensuring they would not lose their way (Exo 13:21; Deu 1:33).
- Rejoice, Pray, and Give Thanks
- Rejoice Always (Thess 5:16-18)
Rejoicing refers to a change in our emotional state. Normally, we feel joy when something good or beneficial happens, and we don’t feel joy when something bad or harmful occurs. Therefore, the command to “rejoice always” cannot be achieved through the natural mechanisms of our human joy.
So, how can this state of constant rejoicing be attained? (Romans 14:17)
The Bible tells us that the kingdom of God is joy. This means that the very fact of God’s existence should be the source of our joy. Knowing that God’s kingdom exists and that we are taking steps each day toward that kingdom should bring us joy.
- Pray Without Ceasing (1 Thess 5:17)
When do we usually pray? According to Matt 18:18-19, prayer is described as the key that unlocks everything that is bound. Therefore, we often pray when we are in need or when we face difficulties in life.
However, if we only pray to ask for what we need, and if all our prayers are answered to the point where we no longer lack anything, our prayers may eventually cease. In that case, we would be unable to fulfil the command to “pray without ceasing.”
So, what kind of prayer allows us to pray continuously?
Jesus taught His disciples to pray, saying, “Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven (Matt 6:10).
This is the key: when we pray for our desires, those prayers may eventually come to an end. However, when we pray for the fulfilment of God’s will, we can pray without ceasing.
In Jhn 4:34, we see that Jesus Himself prayed with the heart to do the Father’s will and to accomplish His work.
- Give Thanks in Everything (1 Thess 5:18)
In the world, people express gratitude when someone has helped them. However, biblical gratitude is about acknowledging that everything comes from God. It is about recognizing that God is the sovereign ruler over all things.
For this reason, the founding pastor has taught us that the opposite of gratitude is pride, the attitude of saying, “I did it all myself.” This pride, when present, often leads to complaints and grumbling.
Think about the Israelites walking through the wilderness. Even though they had the pillar of cloud and the pillar of fire to guide them, they held onto the pride of believing they were the ones walking that path.
Because of this pride, whenever their circumstances became difficult-when there was no meat, no water, or the terrain became rough- they would grumble and complain against Moses, saying things like, “Were there no graves in Egypt that you brought us here to die?” (Exo 14:11)
What was the hidden cause behind such grumbling and dissatisfaction? It was the pride of believing that they, not God, were the ones leading themselves through the wilderness.
Conclusion:
Victory and Success Through Obedience to the Three Commands
The commands to rejoice always, pray without ceasing, and give thanks in everything may appear as three separate, independent instructions. However, in reality, they are interconnected. You cannot give thanks without rejoicing, you cannot pray without a thankful heart, and you cannot rejoice without prayer. Depending on the person or situation, the starting point may vary. However, it is essential that all three commands are upheld in our lives.
The Lord's Covenant Church Malaysia 