I. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 ESV

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.... Do not quench the Spirit."

• Paul gave us THE THREE SECRETS OF THE 
SPIRIT-FILLED LIFE.
  • JOY in our circumstances
  • PRAYER for our problems
  • GRATITUDE for our blessings
• "Do not QUENCH the Spirit" means not to suppress, put out the Spirit's fire, or extinguish the Spirit.

II."Rejoice always": JOY in our circumstances

• The WELL of joy
  • "Rejoice always" is the SHORTEST VERSE in the Greek Bible.
  • It is a command: REJOICE. JUST DO IT. Or, as the Message translation says, "Be cheerful no matter what."
  • Isaiah 12:4-5 ESV-"With JOY will you DRAW WATER from the WELLS of salvation." Isaiah continued, "You will SAY in that DAY, "Give thanks to the Lord ... Sing praises to the Lord, for he has done gloriously."
  • The "WATER in the well" is a psalm, a song, a tune, 
a melody in your heart.
  • Paul said, "Be [in the Greek, "continually"] filled with the Spirit; speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord" (Ephesians 5:18-19 KJV).
  • "About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God" (Acts 16:25 ESV).

III."Pray without ceasing": PRAYER for our problems

• INTERCESSION-"We do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes INTERCESSION for us with groanings which cannot be uttered" (Romans 8:26 NKJV).
• Make intercession for OTHERS. Paul told the Roman believers that "WITHOUT CEASING I make mention of YOU always in my PRAYERS"(Romans 1:9 NKJV).
• Make intercession for OURSELVES.
  
  • "Building yourselves up on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Spirit" (Jude 20 NKJV).
  • "Pray in the Spirit on all occasions, with all kinds of prayers and requests" (Ephesians 6:18 NIV).
  • "The Spirit also HELPS in our weaknesses" 
(Romans 8:26 NKJV).

IV."Give thanks in all circumstances": GRATITUDE for our blessings

• The DISSATISFIED life: an attitude that never has ENOUGH, never says THANKS, and never feels CONTENT.
• The satisfied life: an outward GRATITUDE for every small favor of everyday life.
  • "And whatever you DO, whether in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him" (Colossians 3:17 NIV).