“Do You Not Remember?”
“Do You Not Remember?”
Blessings folk!
The Thessalonians were confused and disturbed about the coming of the Lord and our gathering together to Him.
Remember what the Lord through Paul said to them.
Do not be shaken from your composure.
Do not be disturbed.
Do not allow a letter as if from us or a spirit or a message deceive you into thinking that the Day of the Lord has already occurred.
Paul then told them to remember.
There would be some precursors to the coming of that Day.
THE Apostasy comes first.
THE man of lawlessness would be revealed.
Neither had occurred.
Neither has yet to occur.
I am always struck by what Paul says next…
2 Th 2:5
Do you not remember that while I was still with you,
I was telling you these things?
Paul had told them about these things.
They already knew.
Yet, they were believing something else someone had told them…apparently that the Day of the Lord had already happened.
Paul was only with them three sabbaths…a very short time.
Yet, he was delving into things that most Believers today know little about.
Paul considered the return of the Lord and the Day of the Lord to be foundational.
Act 17:1-3
Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
And according to Paul’s custom, he visited them,
and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
Some believed.
The Jewish religious leadership then rose up and attacked Paul.
Act 17:5
But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the marketplace, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and they attacked the house of Jason and were seeking to bring them out to the people.
The brothers sent Paul away to avoid danger.
Act 17:10
The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea,
and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
There is much that we should be teaching and learning that we avoid.
Such should not be so.
Proclaim the good news of the gospel.
Proclaim the good news of the return of the Lord.
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“Man of Lawlessness”
“Man of Lawlessness”
Blessings folk!
The Lord does not want us to be deceived, especially related to his return and the Day of the Lord.
The Scripture is clear about the basics.
Sadly, man chooses to “have his own belief” and confusion is rampant in the Body.
This is nothing new.
The Thessalonians were experiencing such.
Read these verses again.
What do you learn about the “it” - the Day of the Lord?
What do you learn about the man of lawlessness?
2 Th 2:3-4
No one is to deceive you in any way!
For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first,
and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,
so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,
displaying himself as being God.
Here are the clear truths.
The Day of the Lord will not occur:
- until the apostasy comes first
- hummm…what is “the apostasy”
- the man of lawlessness is revealed
- the son of destruction
- opposes
- who does he oppose?
- what form is this opposition?
- exalts himself
- above every so-called god
- above very object of worship
- takes his seat in the temple of God
- displays himself as being God
There is much revealed in these verses when we slowly break things down.
Know this.
There will be a man of lawlessness.
He will be the son of destruction.
Note what he will do:
- oppose
- exalt
- take seat in temple of God
- display himself as God
There will be a temple of God.
There will be an apostasy.
There will be a man.
There will be trouble.
Are you ready?
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“No One Is To Deceive You”
“No One Is To Deceive You”
Blessings folk!
We must read the Word carefully with the empowerment of the Spirit.
This portion of the Word requires close, slow attention.
Remember what we read yesterday…
2 Th 2:1-2
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters,
regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
The Lord is returning.
We will be gathered to Him.
Do not be shaken/disturbed nor believe the various unbiblical things about the Day of the Lord.
Now…
2 Th 2:3-4
No one is to deceive you in any way!
For it will not come unless the apostasy comes first,
and the man of lawlessness is revealed, the son of destruction,
who opposes and exalts himself above every so-called god or object of worship,
so that he takes his seat in the temple of God,
displaying himself as being God.
The “it will not come” is not found in the Greek.
The phrase is provided to help in our language.
So, what is the “it”?
The context from the previous verse reveals that the “it” is the Day of the Lord!
Certain things must occur before the Day of the Lord.
The Word is clear about this.
What are these things?
- Apostasy
- Revealing of the man of lawlessness, the san of destruction
Neither had occurred during the days of the Thessalonians.
Neither has occurred yet…
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“Do Not Be Shaken/Disturbed"
“Do Not Be Shaken/Disturbed"
Blessings folk!
Paul continues with his second letter to the Thessalonians.
Give close attention…
2 Th 2:1-2
Now we ask you, brothers and sisters,
regarding the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him,
that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit, or a message, or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
What is Paul doing?
He is answering a question.
A question that we do not have.
A question he had received back after his first letter.
Obviously a question…
- regarding the coming of the Lord
- regarding our gathering together to Him
Do not glance over these truths.
Many professing believers do not believe that the Lord will return.
Many do not believe that we will be gathered together to Him.
The Lord states these truths forthrightly.
Paul then answers the question
- do not be shaken from your composure
- do not be disturbed
- either by a spirit
- either by a message
- either by a letter “as if” from us
- to the effect that the day of the Lord has come.
Someone had been preaching/teaching/writing/prophesying that the day of the Lord had already occurred. Apparently someone had sent a letter signed “Paul”, which was not from Paul.
Paul calls this deception in the next verse.
Therefore know this.
The Lord is coming.
The Lord will gather us to Him.
This is tied to the day of the Lord…somehow…
Therefore do this.
Be not shaken from your composure…word means “mind”. What you know to be true.
Be not disturbed.
The day of the Lord had yet to come.
It is still yet to come.
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“To This End We Pray…"
“To This End We Pray…"
Blessings folk!
Paul prayed for the Thessalonians.
He did so with point and purpose…
2 Th 1:11-12
To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will consider you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power,
so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him,
in accordance with the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul prayed for them always.
What did he pray?
That God would consider them worthy of the calling.
That God would fulfill every desire for…
- goodness
- the work of faith
- with power
Work of faith with power.
We are “big” on faith.
Less so on “power”.
Thus lies the problem.
We must be seeking, living and manifesting the power of God.
Why?
So that the name of the Lord will be glorified in us.
Glorified in/through the Lord, according to His grace
Pray for one another in like manner.
Lord, manifest your power.
Lord, we are willing.
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“Glorified Among His Saints"
“Glorified Among His Saints"
Blessings folk!
People who do not know God and people that do not obey the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ will pay the penalty…eternal destruction.
2 Th 1:9
These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction,
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Read the balance of the sentence…
2 Th 1:10
when He comes to be glorified among His saints on that day,
and to be marveled at among all who have believed—
because our testimony to you was believed.
When does all this happen?
When He comes to be glorified.
Glorified among His saints - His Holy Ones - on “that day”.
Only Father knows the day and hour of “that day”.
Still, that day will come.
The Lord will be glorified among us.
Our reaction?
Those who believe will marvel!
Marvel at His glory.
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they are among the saints.
They had believed the testimony that Paul had shared with them.
Note that Paul reveals “how” he shared the gospel with them - he testified.
Testified of what the Lord had done with/in him.
May we do likewise.
May we be prepared to marvel…
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“Eternal Destruction”
“Eternal Destruction”
Blessings folk!
We have seen that God will repay with affliction those who afflict Believers.
We have seen that God will give relief to the afflicted.
We have see that God will deal retribution to:
- those who do not know God
- those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus
Now read the next verse…
2 Th 1:9
These people will pay the penalty of eternal destruction,
away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power,
Those who do not know God…
Those who do not obey the gospel…
They will pay the penalty…the penalty of eternal destruction.
Eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord.
Eternal destruction away from the glory of His power.
Think on this.
“Eternal destruction” - destruction that never ends, destruction that is ongoing!
This is the penalty of rejecting the Lord.
Such people will undergo:
- eternal, never-ending destruction. Not annihilation. Constant. Without end.
- separated from the Presence of the Lord.
- removed from the the glory of His power.
This truth should motivate us to speak the truth of the gospel.
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“Relief or Retribution”
“Relief or Retribution”
Blessings folk!
Yes. We stopped in the middle of a sentence yesterday.
The sentence actually is divided into three verses.
We have seen that…
- God will repay with affliction those who afflict us
- God will give relief to those afflicted
Now, read the entire sentence.
Always interrogate (fear not, it is good) the Word with who, what, when, where, why and how questions.
2 Th 1:6-8
For after all it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us,
when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels
in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God,
and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
Who will repay and bring relief?
God.
How?
Through the Lord Jesus?
When?
When Jesus is revealed from heaven.
How?
With Jesus and His mighty angels.
In flaming fire.
Why?
To deal retribution.
To Who?
Those who do not know God.
Those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
The Spirit makes the truth clear.
Those afflicted will receive relief.
Those causing the affliction will be repaid.
Those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel will receive retribution.
What will your receive at the coming of the Lord?
Relief?
Retribution?
Today is the day to decide.
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“Repay. Relieve.”
“Repay. Relieve.”
Blessings folk!
The Thessalonians were undergoing persecution.
Trials.
Tribulations.
Such is the life of the true believer.
The Lord told us we would have such times….
Jhn 15:20
“Remember the word that I said to you,
‘A slave is not greater than his master.’
If they persecuted Me, they will persecute you as well;
if they followed My word, they will follow yours also.
Now, read what the Spirit was saying to them/us through Paul…
2 Th 1:6-7b
For after all it is only right for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you,
and to give relief to you who are afflicted, along with us,…
God will repay.
Who?
How?
He will repay those who afflict us.
He will do so by afflicting them.
God will give relief.
To Who?
When?
How?
To those who are afflicted on His account.
God will repay, so let us not.
God will bring relief, let us rejoice.
Wait until you see how…yeah…we stopped in the middle of a verse…
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“Considered Worthy of the Kingdom of God”
“Considered Worthy of the Kingdom of God”
Blessings folk!
The Thessalonians were persevering in the midst of persecutions and afflictions.
Their faith empowered them to press on.
Paul has more words of encouragement for them related to this…
2 Th 1:4-5
As a result,
we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
This is a plain indication of God’s righteous judgment so that you will be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you indeed are suffering.
Give close heed to this last verse.
People often don’t like what is being said.
Paul says it is plain.
It is God’s righteous judgment that allowed the persecution and affliction to come their way.
Such allows for the development of perseverance and faith.
This “pressing on” reveals the true salvation that one has.
It reveals that one is “worthy of the kingdom of God”, not to attain the Kingdom by works, but that the works of perseverance and faith reveal that one is a true Kingdom person!
Think on this.
Do you count it a good thing to suffer for the kingdom of God?
Consider the example of Peter and John…
Act 5:40-42
And to him they agreed: and when they had called the apostles, and beaten them,
they commanded that they should not speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go.
And they departed from the presence of the council,
rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.
And daily in the temple, and in every house, they ceased not to teach and preach Jesus Christ.
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“Perseverance and Faith…”
“Perseverance and Faith…”
Blessings folk!
Paul was giving thanks for the Thessalonians.
For their ever increasing faith…
For their ever increasing love for one another…
Paul continues…
2 Th 1:4
As a result,
we ourselves speak proudly of you among the churches of God for your perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure.
As a result of this faith and love, Paul spoke of them often.
He spoke proudly of them to the other churches of God.
Why?
Because of their perseverance and faith in the midst of persecutions and afflictions.
They were enduring much.
We know little detail.
They were suffering due to their faith.
Some believe that we are suffering for our faith.
No.
Wait until you see what is to come.
Are you ready?
Are you prepared?
The strategies of man will not work.
Only by the hand of the Lord will we press on.
Again, are you ready?
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“Faith. Love. Increasing.”
“Faith. Love. Increasing.”
Blessings folk!
Paul and friends had brought the gospel to Thessalonika.
Some believed.
Paul/friends only spent three sabbaths with the folk before they were “run out of town” under threats of death.
Paul had heard some things.
He wrote a letter to them - 1 Thessalonians.
They responded - we do not know how.
We do not have a letter from them.
We can glean some things by what Paul said in response - 2 Thessalonians.
2 Th 1:1-3
Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is only fitting,
because your faith is increasing abundantly,
and the love of each and every one of you toward one another grows ever greater.
Paul gave his “traditional” greeting,
He acknowledged to whom the letter was written - the church of the Thessalonians.
They were “in God our Father”.
They were in “the Lord Jesus Christ”.
Paul spoke grace to them.
Paul spoke peace from Father and Jesus.
Paul then gave thanks for the them.
Note: brothers and sisters.
Such thanks is only fitting.
He tells why he is thankful.
- Because their faith was increasing abundantly
- Their love toward one another was growing ever greater…each and every one
Such faith and love should be the norm for the Body of Christ.
Is it?
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“He Who Called Will Do It”
“He Who Called Will Do It”
Blessings folk!
Read the conclusion of Paul’s first letter the the Thessalonians…
1 Th 5:24-28
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.
Brothers and sisters, pray for us.
Greet all the brothers and sisters with a holy kiss.
I put you under oath by the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers and sisters.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.
Paul drove home the truth of the faithfulness of the Lord.
The Lord Who called you is faithful.
He will do that which He has called you to do!
Never forget that!
We should pray for one another.
Paul asked that they would.
So should we.
Paul “put them under oath”…meaning “y’all do it now!”…to have the letter read to all.
All the brothers.
All the sisters.
All can understand the Word!
Then, Paul spoke the grace of the Lord upon them.
What a great letter.
All was answered and addressed…well, until he heard back from them.
Some situations and questions would necessitate another letter….2 Thessalonians.
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“Faithful”
“Faithful”
Blessings folk!
Hear the Word of the Lord through Paul’s closing of his letter to the Thessalonians!
1 Th 5:24
Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will do it.
Do not forget this.
The Lord is faithful
It is He Who has called us.
It is He Who will do it.
What is the “it”?
All that he has mentioned in the letter.
Salvation.
Sanctification.
Sparing of wrath to come.
Transformation of life.
Proclamation of the gospel.
Etc.
If you are true believer you can live in this.
In His faithfulness.
In His calling.
In His “doing”.
Not in our ability.
In His.
Live that way.
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“Spirit, Soul, Body”
“Spirit, Soul, Body”
Blessings folk!
We looked at the first part of this verse yesterday.
Give close heed to the balance…
1 Th 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
What was Paul’s statement?
May your…
- spirit
- soul
- body
…be preserved completely
…without blame
…at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
We learn much here.
Paul expected the Lord to return…to come again.
He wanted them to be preserved.
Complete.
Notice what was to be preserved.
Spirit.
Soul.
Body.
We are tripartite beings.
We consist of spirit - that which humans have alone…made in the image of God.
We consist of soul - the seat of the emotions…some animals share this with us.
We consist of body - all have a body.
Paul desired for all three parts to be preserved at the coming of the Lord.
Interesting.
Will all three still exists in the eternal state?
Hummmm….
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“God of Peace”
“God of Peace”
Blessings folk!
Paul now speaks a doxological blessing over the Thessalonians…
1 Th 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Examine closely…
May the God of Peace…the Lord is the God of Peace…then “Himself”…that is interesting.
Not “may He cause someone else to do something”.
May the God of Peace Himself do something.
Sanctify you entirely.
Set you apart.
“Holify” you…yeah, there is no such word, but that is the idea.
It means “to consecrate”, “to make holy”, “to set apart”.
It is the Lord Who makes us holy…entirely.
Think on that.
If you are a True Believer, then you are holy in the Lord.
He has done it.
You are not just a “sinner saved by grace”.
You are a Holy vessel of the very Presence and Power of God.
Holy are the people of the Lord!
Rejoice!
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“Examine Everything”
“Examine Everything”
Blessings folk!
Paul continues with his instructions to the Thessalonians…
Note the first word…
1 Th 5:21-22
But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil.
To what thought does the “but” connect?
Oh, yeah…
1 Th 5:19-20
Do not quench the Spirit;
do not despise prophetic utterances.
We are not to quench the Spirit.
We are not to despise prophetic utterances.
But!
We are to examine everything carefully.
We are to see if something is from God or not.
We are not to believe everything just because someone says “it is of the Spirit”, “it is prophecy”.
Examine!
By what standard?
The Word of the Lord!
The Spirit of the Lord!
After examining everything, what are we to do?
Hold fast to the good!
Hang on tight to it!
Abstain from every form of evil.
Every form.
Abstain…have nothing to do with it!
Let us do this.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
Examine everything carefully!
Hold to the good.
Abstain from the evil.
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“Do Not Quench Nor Despise”
“Do Not Quench Nor Despise”
Blessings folk!
Paul is drawing his letter to a close.
Thoughts are rapidly coming out.
We saw one yesterday - “do not quench the Spirit…”.
That was just half the sentence.
Here is the complete thought.
1 Th 5:19-20
Do not quench the Spirit;
do not despise prophetic utterances.
It literally means “do not despise prophetic gifts”.
This verse is basically complete ignored by the western church today.
We quench the Spirit.
We despise prophetic utterances.
We basically ignore both the Spirit and prophetic when it comes to corporate worship.
Oh sure, one individual is allowed to “prophesy” for awhile, but not how you see in the Word.
How do I know?
Read 1 Corinthians 12-14.
Do you see that happening in corporate gatherings today, especially chapter 14?
No.
We ignore, we quench.
We ignore, we despise.
We ignore the way of the Lord, all the while imploring Him “to move”.
Why would He, when we refuse His instruction?
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“Do Not Quench the Spirit”
“Do Not Quench the Spirit”
Blessings folk!
Do not forget God’s will for us…
1 Th 5:16-18
Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
Rejoice!
Always!
Pray!
Without ceasing!
Give thanks!
In everything!
This is God’s will…for you!
In Christ Jesus!
Paul continues to fire off exhortations, directives, encouragements, commands, etc.
1 Th 5:19
Do not quench the Spirit;
This is a biggie.
Too many professing Believers quench the Spirit.
“Quench” means to extinguish…to put out.
We “put out” the move of the Spirit too often.
How?
Unbelief.
Doubt.
Fear.
Ignorance.
Pride.
Hubris.
Witchcraft.
Manipulation.
I could go on…
Do not quench the Spirit!
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“God’s Will”
“God’s Will”
Blessings folk!
As mentioned earlier, Paul is reaching the end of his letter.
He begins to “fire off” instructions, commands, encouragements and exhortations.
The next three verses are power for what they say and how they say it.
Brief.
Pointed.
Direct.
Read.
Give close heed to the exhortations.
Do you see the answer to a question that people are always asking?
1 Th 5:16-18
Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks;
for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.
People are always inquiring as to “the will of God” in their lives.
This is good.
Start with what we learn here.
What is God’s will for us according to these verses?
God’s will is found “in Christ Jesus”.
God’s will is not found outside the Son.
God’s will if for us to rejoice always.
Always means always.
At all times.
In “all ways”.
God’s will is for us to pray without ceasing.
Every breath is a prayer unto the Most High!
Do our words and deeds reflect such?
God’s will is for us to “in everything give thanks”.
Not “for everything”.
But, “in everything”.
In the midst of all of life, give thanks!
This is God’s will for those of us who are in Christ Jesus.
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“Seek Not Evil…”
“Seek Not Evil…”
Blessings folk!
We saw yesterday that we are to…
1 Th 5:14
We urge you, brethren,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
Think on this a little more.
Among the Body of Christ…among true Believers…there might be times when folk are unruly, fainthearted weak and challenging.
What are we to do?
Admonish the unruly.
Note that we are not to be a milquetoast, passive weakling.
We are to aggressively love.
We are to aggressively deal with situations.
Encourage those who are fainthearted.
Help the weak.
Be patient with all.
We all will require patience for one another.
We all will be the source of impatience on occasion. LOL
We are not to seek revenge nor retribution.
We are to seek what is best for one another.
We are to seek what is best for all people.
How do I know?
The next verse says so…
1 Th 5:15
See that no one repays another with evil for evil,
but always seek after that which is good for one another and for all people.
Are we doing so?
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“Urged…”
“Urged…”
Blessings folk!
Paul is drawing to the end of his letter to the Body of Believers at Thessalonica.
We can “see” the end of the printed page.
He begins to write as if he were running out of ink…as if he were running out of time at the moment.
He begins to fire off even more precise/concise instructions, command and exhortations.
1 Th 5:14
We urge you, brethren,
admonish the unruly,
encourage the fainthearted,
help the weak,
be patient with everyone.
Note the heart,
Note the intensity.
He “urged them”.
He urged them a brethren.
They were, as we are, One Body.
In this verse he calls them to do four things.
To admonish…a warning is involved with this, an exhortation.
To admonish the unruly…”unruly” means “undisciplined”, “our of order”, “out of place.”
To encourage…means to speak a word of comfort and courage…kindly
To encourage the fainthearted…”fainthearted” means “small in spirit”…the fretful, fret-filled, worried, feeble-mined.
To help…”help” means “to hold firmly to”, “to cleave to”, “to support”.
The word means much more than we thought!
To help the weak…the “weak” means “without strength”, “powerless”.
To be patient… “patient” means “to persevere”, “to be forbearing”, “long-suffering”
To be patient with everyone…”everyone” means “all things”, “all kinds”.
We are urged to live this way in the Spirit.
Do we?
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“Appreciate. Esteem.”
“Appreciate. Esteem.”
Blessings folk!
Paul now has a request of the Thessalonians.
1 Th 5:12-13
But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you,
and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction,
and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.
Live in peace with one another.
Paul wanted them to “appreciate” those who diligently labor among them.
Who were these?
Those who have change over them in the Lord.
Those who instructed them in the ways of the Lord.
Paul tells them to “esteem them very highly in love because of their work”.
The word “appreciate” carries the strong meaning of “to know, knowing”.
They were to know one another.
Often people associate the appreciate/esteem with monetary support.
There is an element of this.
The varied monthly bills usually can not be settled by “appreciations”. So, support those who labor among you, especially those that labor in the Word.
1 Ti 5:17-18
Let the elders who rule well be counted worthy of double honor,
especially those who labor in the word and doctrine.
For the Scripture says,
“You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain,” and,
“The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
How do we “appreciate” and “esteem”?
By living in peace with one another!
Think on that…
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“Destined For…”
“Destined For…”
Blessings folk!
Listen to this great word of hope the Lord gives us through Paul.
Remember everything that had been said to the Thessalonians to this point.
1 Th 5:9-10
For God has not destined us for wrath,
but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
who died for us,
so that whether we are awake or asleep,
we will live together with Him.
We as Believers are not destined to experience the wrath of God.
Yeah!!
We as Believers are destined to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.
Yeah!
If you Believe…
If Jesus is Lord…
Then salvation!
The Lord died for us.
So whether we are awake (alive) at His coming or asleep (dead body) we will live together with Him.
We as Believers are destined to spend eternity with the Lord.
Now, read what Paul says we are to do with this understanding…
1 Th 5:11
Therefore encourage one another and build up one another,
just as you also are doing.
Encourage one another with these truths.
Build up one another with these truths.
Do so, even more!
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Are you ready?
“Be Sober”
Blessings folk!
Are you ready?
Paul was exhorting the Thessalonians…
1 Th 5:7-8
For those who sleep do their sleeping at night,
and those who get drunk get drunk at night.
But since we are of the day,
let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love,
and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.
The sleeping and the drunk do so at night.
They are not ready.
Unprepared.
We, Believers, are of the day.
We are of the Light.
Therefore, let us:
- Be sober…self-controlled
- Put on the breast plate of love
- Put on love
- Put on the hope of salvation as a helmet
Walk not in fear.
Live in the hope of salvation.
Be not as those in darkness…sleeping, drunk, wasting away life.
Manifest the Presence of the Most High in all you do.
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“But You…”
“But You…”
Blessings folk!
Paul reminded the Thessalonians that they knew about the times, the epochs, the Day of the Lord.
They had no need of him writing anything about such.
Which immediately makes me wonder what they had been taught!!??
We have seen Paul’s reminder about the Day of the Lord…coming as a thief in the night, people thinking that peace had arrived, etc.
Then Paul brings forth that most powerful of words…”but”…
1 Th 5:4-6
But you, brethren, are not in darkness,
that the day would overtake you like a thief;
for you are all sons of light and sons of day.
We are not of night nor of darkness;
so then let us not sleep as others do,
but let us be alert and sober.
Read that three verse sentence again.
Rejoice!
Look at what we learn about ourselves as “brethren”.
We are not in darkness.
The Day of the Lord will not overtake us as a thief.
We are all sons of light.
We are all sons of day.
We are not of night.
We are not of darkness.
We are not to sleep as others.
We are to be alert.
We are to be sober.
Are we?
I wonder…
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“Peace and Safety”
“Peace and Safety”
Blessings folk!
Paul reminded the Thessalonians that the Day of the Lord would come like a thief in the night.
1 Th 5:2
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
They knew this.
He had told them when he was with them.
Apparently this information is important.
Makes one wonder why it is rarely taught today?
Paul reminded them of more…
1 Th 5:3
While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like labor pains upon a woman with child, and they will not escape.
Everyone will think that all is well.
Peace!
Safety!
The things for which man has striven for millennia.
It is at this time that the Day of the Lord will come.
Destruction.
Labor pains.
No escape.
Be not fooled.
Peace and safety will not come through plans and processes of man.
Peace and safety are only found in the Most High God.
All other ways are deception.
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“Times and Epochs”
“Times and Epochs”
Blessings folk!
Paul had just told the Thessalonians to comfort one another with the word of truth related to the Lord’s return.
He continues to respond to their questions/inquiries.
Note how the first verse in chapter 5 is word…”now…”
They had asked him something.
He now answered.
1 Th 5:1-2
Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren,
you have no need of anything to be written to you.
For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
As to the “times and epochs”…you have no need of anything to be written to you.
They knew already.
Paul had told them.
What did they know?
They knew full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
Even though Paul was with them only a few short weeks, he taught this.
He brought the gospel.
They believed.
He told them the Lord would return.
They believed.
He told them the day of the Lord would come, as a thief in the night.
They believed.
He told them what the “Day of the Lord” was.
Do you know?
Do you believe?
The Day of the Lord: God’s wrath/judgment upon unbelieving humans beings and upon rebellious divine beings.
The Great Tribulation: Satan’s wrath upon Believers and Jews/Israel.
This biblical distinction/truth clarifies much.
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“Comfort One Another”
“Comfort One Another”
Blessings folk!
Whoa!
Are you ready for this?
Paul had been telling the Thessalonians what happens when a Believer dies.
He told them some about the return of the Lord.
Then he said this…
1 Th 4:18
Therefore comfort one another with these words.
Therefore…in light of all that he had just shared.
Comfort…
- one another
- with these words.
Remember he said he did not want them to be uninformed.
The truth he gave them about those “asleep”…
The truth he gave them about the return of the Lord…
The truth he gave them about those alive at the return of the Lord…
All of this is a source of comfort.
We are to comfort one another with these truths.
Therefore, do so.
Learn the truths.
Comfort one another.
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“Meet In the Air”
“Meet In the Air”
Blessings folk!
Paul tells the Thessalonians, and us, that those who are alive will not precede those who have fallen asleep…
1 Th 4:15
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord,
will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
Those who have gone ahead into glory - preceded - us will receive their glorified body before us.
Those alive will be raptured - snatched away - to be with the Lord.
Paul explains some detail…
1 Th 4:16-17
For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout,
with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God,
and the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord.
The bodies of the dead in Christ will rise first.
When the Lord Himself descends from heaven.
With a shout.
With the voice of the archangel.
With the trumpet of God.
Interesting!
Those who are alive will be caught up together with them…dead in Christ…and will meet the Lord in the air!
Whoa!
So we shall always be with the Lord.
A great hope.
Do you believe this?
Do you have this hope?
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“Precede”
“Precede”
Blessings folk!
Remember, Paul was responding to a question the Thessalonians had.
We do not have the question.
We can glean the question from the response Paul gives.
He told them that he did not want them to be uninformed about those who “fall asleep” - die.
He did not want them to grieve.
Why?
Because we as Believers have hope the world does not have.
What is the hope?
Actually several things.
In this letter he mentions…
1 Th 4:14
For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again,
even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus.
If you truly Believe, then you have hope.
The hope is that the Lord will bring with Him those that have “fallen asleep”.
This means that after death, we are alive with Him.
But wait, there is more!
1 Th 4:15
For this we say to you by the word of the Lord,
that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord,
will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
Paul says this is “by the word of the Lord”.
This is not Paul’s thought.
What is said?
Believers who are alive and remain at the coming o the Lord will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
What do we learn from this verse?
- The Lord is coming.
- Some Believers will be alive when He comes.
- Alive Believers will not “precede” those who have fallen asleep.
To what does “precede” refer?
Hummmm….
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