The following concludes my thoughts on chapter 5, for the sake of reference we’ll call it lesson 13. Starting with verse 12:
“And we beseech you , brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. And esteem them very highly in love for their works sake.. And be at peace among yourselves.
Most people do not consider the things of another world at all, because they are asleep; or they do not consider them as they should, because they are asleep in the spiritual sense. Paul said to the Philippians in ch. 4 verse 5, “Let your moderation be known to all men,
The Lord is at hand.” We need to show our moderation in the light of the facts…Jesus is coming! Wake up! Shall Christians, who have the light of the blessed gospel shining in their faces, be careless about their souls, and unmindful of another world? We need the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love, and hope. Faith; if we believe that the
eye of God is always upon us, that there is another world to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. True and fervent love to God, and the things of God, should keep us watchful and sober. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of any thing that would shake our trust in the Lord. How important that is. The enemy of our souls is always looking for an opportunity to cause doubts to arise, especially if we go by feelings. But when you don’t feel saved just turn to the written Word of God and lay hold of His promises. Declare it to the devil and to others also that you are saved, and you are God’s child…James said first of all submit unto God and then resist the devil and he will flee from you. We have ground on which to build unshaken hope, when we consider, that salvation is by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, to atone for our sins and to ransom our souls. We should join in
prayer and praise one with others. We should set a good example for each other, and this is the best means to answer the cynicism of society. They will know that we are Christians by our love. Thus we shall learn how to live before Him, with whom we hope to live for ever. (1Th 5:12-15
The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office, which is to serve and honour the Lord. Minister means servant. It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove when it is needed. Then we should honour and love their ministers, because their business is the welfare of men's souls. And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences. These differences can lead to church splits and how we need to watch out for this sort of thing. How we need to seek peace with every thing within us. Paul says in another place “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope , through the power of the Holy Ghost.”Ro. 15:13 The God of hope will fill you with joy and peace if you believe in His Word. But love of peace must not make us wink at
sin. The fearful and sorrowful should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good. We must bear and forbear. We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, to all men. Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others.

We should rejoice more, in fact the apostle tells us to rejoice evermore. if we prayed more, If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want something for thanksgiving in every thing. We shall see cause to give thanks in everything. This verse 18 tells us that in everything we are to give thanks, in every situation, in every circumstance, no matter what it is and how hard that seems to be to us to understand. We don’t need to understand it but we do need to obey it.
“ Quench not the Spirit.” Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of men. As fire is put out by taking away fuel, and as it is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great deal of earth upon it; so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit, by indulging carnal lusts and affections, minding only earthly things. Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. “Despise not prophesyings.” Notice it uses the plural “prophecyings” Not speaking about the gift so much but rather the utterances of prophecies. Do you find yourself judging the person sometimes who is uttering the prophetic word rather than judging the utterance?Also to understand the preaching of the word, the interpreting and applying the Scriptures. We must not despise preaching either, though it is
plain, and we are told no more than what we knew before. We must search the Scriptures. And proving all things must be to hold fast that which is good. We should abstain from sin, and whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of it, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to it, will not long keep from doing sin. (1Th 5:23-28)
And encourages them to persevere under all their sufferings for Christ, considering his coming at the great day of account.
The apostle prays that they might be sanctified more perfectly, for the best are sanctified but in part while in this world; therefore we should pray for, and press toward, complete holiness. And as we must fall, if God did not carry on his good work in the soul, we should pray to God to perfect his work, till we are presented faultless before the throne of his glory. We should pray for one another; and brethren should thus express brotherly love. This epistle was to be read to all
the brethren. Not only are the common people allowed to read the Scriptures, but it is their duty, and what they should be persuaded to do. The word of God should not be kept in an unknown tongue, but transplanted, that as all men are concerned to know the Scriptures, so they all may be able to read them. The Scriptures should be read in all public congregations, for the benefit of the unlearned especially. We need no more to make us happy, than to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is an ever-flowing and an over-flowing fountain of grace to supply all our wants.