1 Thess 5:1-11

SCRIPTURE

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

COMMENT

Focus. It seems to be the key to success in a lot of situations. Athletes need to stay focused. As do all competitors. I recall playing chess in Junior High. Couldn't win a game. Then I played the sponsor of the club. I did not want to lose. I was focused, and achieved my goal. He could not believe it. That woke me up and suddenly I started playing much better. 

There is a lot out there to distract us. Satan knows this and uses it to accomplish his purposes. Sometimes those distractions are good times, to lull us into complacency. Other times there are trials, to draw our focus away. But we belong to the day. We have our sobriety. God has not destined us for (eternal) wrath, but salvation through Jesus. That is the gospel. Not by our strength, but by His might.

1 Thess 5:16-22

SCRIPTURE

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

COMMENT

Rejoice always. In order to rejoice always, that means in every circumstance. Like Paul and Silas when they sang praises to God while in prison. Don't stop praying. No, not the eyes closed, head bowed kind of prayer, but the constant communication and recognition that God is God, and is always in charge, and works for our ultimate good. Who knows, that kind of attitude could lead to rejoicing always. Give thanks in ALL circumstances. All. Every. Each. Remember, God is in charge. Don't quench the Spirit. Don't throw water on the Holy Ghost. Do not despise prophecies, but at the same time TEST EVERYTHING. Even what your preacher, my preacher, Joel Osteen (etc.) say. You are responsible for what you believe, not the people who speak through lying lips. Make sure you know God, and that the basis for that knowledge comes from what He has revealed about Himself through His word and not through someone's message or your opinion of how things ought to be. Hold fast to the good. Not what you want to be good, but that which is truth. Abstain from every form of evil. 'Nuff said.

1 Thess 4:13-18

SCRIPTURE

But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words.

COMMENT

I want to start at the end, where Paul says, Therefore encourage one another with these words." What words in particular. Is it the idea that we should not grieve as others who have no hope?? Is it that the dead in Christ will rise first? Or is it the idea that we will meet the Lord, and so always be with Him? 

I believe that you answer will depend in part at least on your theology. What does it mean to be a Christian? Is it just someone who hopes to go to heaven? Does being a Christian mean that you have a better life on earth? Does it mean that we should not deal with grief?

To me, there is only one "best" answer. The answer that we will ALWAYS be with the Lord. Do I hope to be reunited with family and friends someday in heaven? Absolutely. But if that is my main thought, then what about Jesus? Shouldn't my main thought be to someday be with Him? Family and friends have let me down from time to time, but His love has never failed me, and never will. Not even when I have failed him. Yes, it would be neat to see mom and dad again, but shouldn't my first thought be to run into the arms of a Savior who has loved me without fail and has provided me with a way to get salvation? I'm sure that mom and dad won't mind.

 

1 Thess 4:1-8

SCRIPTURE

1 Thess 4:1-8

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.  For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.  For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;  that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor,  not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;  that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.  For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.  Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Comment

I heard a video on You Tube where someone was talking about all of the expectations that are set forth for Christians, and how faith alone is not mentioned in the Bible. Sounds a lot like the kind of stuff Paul was combating in Galatians, where the Judaizers were all clamoring for circumcision.

Yes, there are plenty of passages that talk about what true Christianity should look like. Like this passage. But these are descriptive passages, because it is important that we have a good look at what Christianity should be about. They are not prescriptive, telling us how to live in each and every situation. That would be law, and we are no longer under the law, but under grace.

Now there are some who abuse this too, saying that since we are under grace, we can do as we please. They are also wrong. They are the very reason for the need of passages such as this. 

Such teachings, in either case, go against the Holy Spirit. If you can't see that, maybe read and pray a bit more, or maybe just get your head out of da Nile. 

 Descriptive, not prescriptive

1 Thess 3:1-5

SCRIPTURE

1 Thess 3:1-5
Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

COMMENT

Paul did not want his suffering to cause the discouragement of others. Did you hear that? He was suffering for Christ, but did not want that to limit the faith of others. He did not want others to be moved (away from the faith?) by his afflictions. Not that he was hiding them, not that he was preaching some kind of gospel that said everything should go your way now, he just did not want to see others moving away from their faith because of his suffering. 

A few take-aways:

• Paul was not only passionate about Jesus, he was passionate about the genuine faith of others. I think that is part of being passionate about Jesus. How can we say we love Jesus while watching others go to hell?
• Paul suffered for his faith, but did not view that suffering as something to be avoided. He was content with his lot in life because of his passion for Jesus.
• Paul did not hide his afflictions from others. He even states that, "you yourselves know that we are destined for this." No "your best life now" stuff. And I believe that when he ways WE, he is referring to him and them and not him and those with him. WE will suffer afflictions for our faith. Do not let the suffering of others or of your own diminish your faith.

1 Thess 2:9-12

SCRIPTURE

1 Thess 2:9-12

For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

COMMENT

How opposite is this of the church today. Today, preachers sit on pedestals. We honor (dare I say worship?) them. They are our Christianity. What they say is what we believe. What they do is what we do. Yes, we expect a lot out of them. But that is the result when they are your belief system. So we treat them gingerly. At least until they offend us. What should the church look like? Here are some thoughts.

Rather than one individual studying the Scriptures to tell us how to believe, maybe everyone studies them. Wouldn't that be novel? I recall taking a survey for a game we were going to play with the youth, a Family Feud type of game. We surveyed the congregation for answers. One question was, "Who is your favorite Bible King?" Number one answer was King James. I was talking with someone the other day who stated, "Well Jesus was not perfect either. He must have sinned as a child." Yet the Bible says that in order for Him to be the atonement for our sins, He must be perfect. But let's forget about the average pew-warmer for a moment, let's talk about preachers and what they sell. Things like "Your Best Life Now" clear the shelves and build mansions for the author. Want a better prayer life, then pray in Circles, just like Mark Batterson does. I am not only offended by the people who write this trash, but by the preachers to promote it, help sell it, hold "Bible" studies around it or preach from it.

What if preachers were just one of us? What is we didn't have extravagant buildings and budgets and programs to sell Jesus to the masses? What if we were all in the trenches and just needed someone more experienced to encourage us, rather than live it our for us? What would a church like that say to the world?  What if we did it like it was written in the book of 1 Thessalonians?

1 Thess 2:4-8

SCRIPTURE

but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

COMMENT

This is how the gospel should be presented. Not to please or entice with games or activities. Not to seek after the hearts of men, but to seek after the heart of God. Not with flattery or pretty words of praise for the audience, but with praise for God. Not with a heart that asks what we can get out of it, whether it be financial gain or praise for our doings. Sharing without expecting a return. Kind, but in the kindness preaching truth and not fluff. Where is that preaching?

1 Thess 1:8-10

SCRIPTURE

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

COMMENT

Would Paul, or anyone else for that matter, say that about me? That my faith was so evident, others need not say a word? That is repentance. That is turning from self toward Jesus. They had worshiped idols, so had I. Different ones, but idols none the less. But do I serve God? Is it obvious? Or am I just fooling myself? I ask myself that a lot. Still haven't come up with a good answer. All I can do is fall on His grace.

What Is Your Opinion? - 1 Thess 1:4-7

SCRIPTURE

1 Thess 1:4-7

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

COMMENT

Here we go again, so I will ask you, how do you understand the statement that God (he) has chosen you? If that is true, does it mean we have no role in the decision? Does God choose but we get to decide? If God chooses some to salvation, what about those not chosen by God? Are they without hope, or do they get to decide on their own. I know what I want to believe. I want to believe that all are capable of being saved. But what if I don't get what I want? Am I still willing to worship that God? These are tough questions, but questions that should be thought about if we are going to approach Scripture with the idea that maybe we are not the ultimate authority when it comes to how God should do things. So I pose questions without giving answers or opinions sometimes, because it is not what I think that matters, it is getting others to think.

It says that they received the word in much affliction. What??? No padded pews, pop music bands, funny preachers? How does that even work? (Heavy sarcastic tone should be noted.) In the midst of affliction, they were filled with joy. I wonder if that is why so many today seem so joyless? Perhaps where there is no affliction, the invitation to become a Christian is often not that Christ is the answer, it is that Christ will keep you from future affliction. Jesus is the vaccine shot that will keep you Corona free, and the cure for the common cold, and everything else for that matter. Maybe we need to read more Scripture.