August 30, 2009
Morning Service

I Thess. 5

 

Review:

1.      In chapter 4 Paul begins by saying FINALLY brethren.  He is closing his letter, and encourages them to continue their loving ways.

2.      He also lets them know that it is God’s will for them to be sanctified.  To be set apart from the world, in the aspect of the way they love one another, and their deeds of kindness towards everyone.

3.      Then at the end of chapter 4 Paul tells them the state of their dead loved ones.  Had they been with Jesus at the house of Jairus they would have understood what Paul was saying. 

 

We want to finish up I Thessalonians this morning, so let’s begin.

 

1Th 5:1-28  But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.  (2)  For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.  (3)  For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape. 

• THE DAY OF THE LORD, This is another very highly discussed topic, as is the resurrection, and when it’s going to happen.
• Luk 12:39  And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through.  Luk 12:40  Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
• Jesus also said this concerning His return;  Mat 24:36-39  But of that day and hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels of heaven, but my Father only.  (37)  But as the days of Noah were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.  (38)  For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered into the ark,  (39)  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.
• Paul tells them you have no need that I write to you concerning this.  Now Paul said this in the beginning of this letter.  1Th 1:10  And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come. 
• Paul spent much time in establishing the church at Thessalonica, so no doubt he touched on all the aspects of the resurrection that I Cor. 15 explains.  
• In the beginning of the book of Acts, when Jesus revealed Himself to His disciples, they ask Him if He was going to restore the kingdom to Israel, and He replied; Act 1:7  It is not for you to know the times or the seasons, which the Father hath put in his own power.
• SOME THINGS WE ARE NOT GIVEN.  WE ARE TOLD TO WATCH, WAIT, AND BE READY AT ALL TIMES.
• HE COMES AS A THIEF IN THE NIGHT TO THE WORLD, NOT TO CHRISTIANS.

(4)  But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 

• Then he explains why.

(5)  Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.  (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  (7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.  (8)  But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 

• The idea being that Christians are to be actively working, and being productive in the day time, and sleep or get their rest at night.
• The night is the playground of the worldly crowd, that’s when the worldly, or carnal people go out to party.

(9)  For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 

• Another very enlightening revelation.  Christians will not suffer the wrath of God, but be delivered from the wrath to come.

(10)  Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 

• Whether we are awake, or sleeping, He will take us with Him.

 

(11)  Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

• Christians we should be comforted by this understanding.  He says comfort yourselves together, and that’s what we are doing this morning.
• Edify one another.  Build each other up.  In your singing, in your prayers, in your hugging, and holy kisses.  Be comforting, and encouraging to one another, for Jesus is coming back after you.  Whether in the daytime, or night time, He is going to take you with Him, and out of this old sinful world.

(12)  And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;  (13)  And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 

• Then Paul puts in a good word for all the workers in the Church.  Deacons, Teachers, Workers, and your Pastor, or Bishop.
• And be at peace among yourselves.  Oh how important that is.  No backbiting, gossiping, envy, jealousy, let not these things exist among us.

(14)  Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.  (15)  See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 

• Warn the unruly;  this must be done in love.
• Comfort the feebleminded; or the disheartened; the downcast.
• Support the weak;  Paul said in the Roman letter;  Rom 15:1  We then that are strong ought to bear the infirmities of the weak, and not to please ourselves.
• None render evil for evil unto any man.  Jesus said;  Mat 5:44  But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;

(16)  Rejoice evermore. 

·         Christian, we have a lot to rejoice about.  By accepting what God has offered mankind, we have all the promises that God give to His obedient people.  We are His children, and He is our Heavenly Father.

(17)  Pray without ceasing. 

·         And I certainly thank God for all the prayer warriors.

(18)  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 

• Sometimes we might think we have nothing to be thankful for, but I assure you we have everything to be thankful of.  And it’s God’s will that we be thankful, and not grumblers, and moaners.

(19)  Quench not the Spirit.  (20)  Despise not prophesyings.  (21)  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

• Quench not the Spirit;  quench not love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,  Meekness, temperance:  all the fruits of the Spirit.

(22)  Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

• The appearance of evil;   adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God.

(23)  And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  (24)  Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 

• God calls us to a life of servitude toward our Lord, but also all of mankind.  A life of love, caring, and helping those that we can.  It’s a sanctified life, one that is different from the worldly way of greed, and unconcern of the needs of others.
• He asks us to be like this, and then He assures us that He will help us be what He wants us to be.

Paul closes this letter with this:

(25)  Brethren, pray for us.  (26)  Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.  (27)  I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.  (28)  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

 

MY PRAYER THIS MORNING WOULD BE THAT GOD WOULD QUICKEN TO OUR HEARTS THE URGENT NEED TO APPLY THIS CHAPTER TO OUR LIVES.  NOT ONLY TO HEAR IT, BUT TO PUT IT IN ACTION IN OUR LIVES.