Perpetual Practices

I Thessalonians 5:16-17

Reasons to Rejoice Always

1)  For God’s righteous character (Nehemiah 8:10; Psalm 28:7; 71:23; 89:16;

Isaiah 61:10)

2)  For Christ’s redemptive work (Luke 2:10; 10:20; John 15:11; 16:30; Romans

5:1-2, 11; I Peter 1:8-9; I John 5:20)

3)  For the Holy Spirit’s ministry (Acts 10:44; Romans 14:17; 8:14-27)

4)  For spiritual blessings (Ephesians 1:3-4; Philippians 4:13, 19; Colossians

2:9-14; 2 Peter 1:3)

5)  For God’s providence (Romans 8:28-30; James 1:2-4)

6)  For future glory (Psalm 16:8-11; Matthew 5:12; Luke 10:20; 1 Corinthians

1:7; Philippians 1:18-21; 3:20; Jude 24)

7)  For answered prayer (Psalm 66:20; 116:1, 17; 118:21; John 16:24)

8)  For God’s Word (Psalm 19:7-11; 119:14, 111, 162; Jeremiah 15:16;

Colossians 3:16)

9)  For Christian fellowship (1 Thessalonians 3:9; 2 Timothy 1:4; Philemon 7;

2 John 12)

10) For the proclamation of the Gospel (Acts 15:3; Philippians 1:18)

Reasons to Pray Without Ceasing

1)  To glorify God (Daniel 9:4-19; Matthew 6:9-10)

2)  To fellowship with God (Psalm 27:1, 4; 42:1-2; 63:1-2; 84:1-2)

3)  To meet needs (Matthew 6:11; Luke 11:9-13; 1 John 5:14-15)

4)  For wisdom (Matthew 6:13; 1 Corinthians 10:13; James 1:5)

5)  For deliverance from troubles (Jonah 2:1-2; Psalm 20:1)

6)  For relief from fear & worry (Psalm 4:1;Philippians 4:6-7)

7)  For past blessings (Psalm 44:1-4; Philippians 1:3-5)

8)  For freedom from the guilt of sin (Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; 1 John 1:9)

9)  For the salvation of the lost (Matthew 9:37-38; 1 Timothy 2:1-4; Romans 10:1)

10) For spiritual growth (Ephesians 1:15-19; 3:14-21; Colossians 1:9-12)

Taken from John MacArthur’s commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, pp. 185-188.