Early Warning System 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

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Have you ever heard the Emergency Warning System that broadcasts over the radio from time to time, testing to make sure it works properly? I know it can be annoying but isn’t it an important system to have in place?

What about the reverse 911 system we have in this county now, have you heard of it? It is designed to call lists of numbers by computer to warn people of impending disasters heading their way. If the dam were to break, a forest fire break out or an earthquake happen causing great destruction this system is supposed to warn people so they can get to safety.

If you have seen any of the pictures of the destruction in Colorado from the flooding you could see how a system like this would be very helpful, but it is only as good as those, who are warned, are prepared for such an event.

If those who are warned are not ready to go with the things they need the disaster will overtake them and they will become victims of it instead of survivors.

Paul has just finished giving the believers in Thessalonica good news about what will happen when Jesus returns in the clouds to take all believers to be with Him physically in heaven. Their fears were put to rest because they now understood what would happen at the rapture.  But one can imagine that when Paul was teaching this if some were thinking about when this would happen, then what about what is going to happen to those who were not believers.

Vs 1-3 So Paul reminds them that he had already taught them about this and that they should remember what the Lord said about it. Matt. 24:36-44 Those who are left behind will go on with life unaware of what is coming upon them. Jesus said no one knows the day or the hour. This is what Paul had taught the new believers, this would happen suddenly, like when a woman goes into labor, unexpected catching everyone off guard.

Notice Paul does not include the believers in this statement, he says ‘they’ not ‘we’ as he does when he speaks of believers. There will be sudden destruction coming upon those left behind with no early warning system to prepare them for it.

They will be expecting peace and safety when they will receive destruction. It will be a time when they think the unrest in the Middle East is finally settled and the world can rest from all the troubles there. Dan. 9:27 He will confirm a covenant with many for one ‘seven.’ In the middle of the ‘seven’ he will put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on a wing of the temple he will set up an abomination that causes desolation, until the end that is decreed is poured out on him.”  2 Thess. 2:1-12

God’s wrath which has been building over time toward man’s sin will be poured out on all these who are unsuspecting. The signs will be there, noticeable, but ignored till the outbreak. When it comes no one will be able to escape. Rev. 6: 12-17

Vs 4 But, Paul says the believers should not be caught unaware. God has given us an early warning system, His Word, to let us know what will happen and what to look for leading up to the Rapture. We should not be caught off guard.   What did people do in ancient times to have an early warning system? They had guards posted at strategic points to act as the early warning system, crying out if something went wrong or if danger was approaching. God has given us His Word so we can also be an early warning system.

Col. 1:13–14 For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins. Vs 5-6 God has delivered us from darkness into the Kingdom of His Son, Jesus. Because He has done this for us we have been warned of what to beware of and watch for. We are not like those who are lost in the darkness of the kingdom of the world under its head, the devil. How many of you know what a 72 hour kit is? How many have one ready? If you had the knowledge of the need for a 72 hour kit and didn’t put one together and there was a disaster, what would you say about yourself? “That was irresponsible of me.” Because we know what is coming we should not act like those who are asleep, blissfully ignorant, of what is coming. We should not be complacent about what is coming. Instead we should be watchful, looking for the Lord’s return and living like we are ready for it at any moment. Titus 2:11–13 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 2 Peter 3:10-16 We need to live lives that will be honoring to Christ when He comes. Acts 18:6 But when the Jews opposed Paul and became abusive, he shook out his clothes in protest and said to them, “Your blood be on your own heads! I am clear of my responsibility.

What happens to our skills when we have had alcohol to drink in excess? Should one drive in such a condition? Vs 7 Unbelievers are unaware of what is coming because something else is in control of them. The devil has lulled them into a complacent sleep, numbness, to spiritual things. 2 Thess. 2:11-12 They are driving drunk through their lives to their own destruction. What happens to the watchman if he is asleep at his post and lets disaster come upon those he is guarding? Ezek. 33:6 But if the watchman sees the sword coming and does not blow the trumpet to warn the people and the sword comes and takes the life of one of them, that man will be taken away because of his sin, but I will hold the watchman accountable for his blood.’ Vs 8 Because we belong to the Lord we should be prepared, just as the watchman is when on guard duty. He is dressed ready for battle. We should also be armed and ready for the spiritual battle with the world as well. We need to be armed with self control so not to be lulled into complacency. We should be putting on our covering to protect our vital areas, our hearts and minds. The faith we have in God will protect our hearts and our love for others will help protect them as well. Faith in God protects inwardly while the love we have for others protects outwardly. 3:12-13. The attitudes of faith and love will equip us so we will be ready when the rapture comes. Add to this the hope of our salvation, the helmet on our heads protecting our minds from attacks on our thinking. The salvation we look forward to is deliverance from the wrath that will come upon the earth like a thief. Because we follow Christ we are sure of the hope we have and not like those who live in hopelessness, blind drunk to the dangers that await them.

Vs 9 God has not appointed us to suffer wrath, the wrath of the Tribulation period. He has saved us from it through Jesus shed blood on the cross. When He returns we will be gathered to Him and taken out of the world where God’s wrath will be poured out.

Vs 10 So no matter if we die before the rapture or live to experience the return of Christ for us, we will be with the Lord for all eternity. He died on the cross to secure that place for us. 2 Cor. 5:21 God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Vs 11 What should be the response of every believer who has be forewarned about the inevitable? How should we respond? Matt. 24:45-51

We need to make sure we are diligent to be prepared ourselves and helping others to be prepared as well. We are early warning systems for each other. Every time we get together we need to remind each other of these things. Heb. 10:24–25 And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds. Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Being reminded will help us be diligent to live in the way we should, as sons of the light, honoring God with our lives, living in love, self control and self disciplined so not to be dragged off into worldly ways.

God has called us to be alert and awake to the dangers of the world and its ways. To be early warning systems to each other and the lost so we might keep each other safe and rescue some of them.

Benediction: Rom. 12:1–2 Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

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To Listen ‘Open Message from Title’ and click on Listen Now or To Save: Right Click and ‘Save Target as’ Have you ever heard the saying, “Ignorance is Bliss”? What does it mean to you? It is often better not to know about something unpleasant. Ignorance is a lack of knowledge or educational unawareness of something, often of something important. But what about things that are important in our lives, things that can cause us stress or heartache or harm because we do not know or understand what they mean? How does this bring us bliss? Often a lack of understanding can be more unsettling then knowing completely what is about to occur or the consequences of a decision. If you were going to have surgery wouldn’t you want to know what to expect before and after it or just wait to see what happens then? I believe most of us would rather know what lay ahead instead of waiting in ignorance. It seems that the lack of understanding that the Thessalonian believers had about the rapture was very unsettling to some of them. 2 Thess. 2:2 not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by some prophecy, report or letter supposed to have come from us, saying that the day of the Lord has already come. This was still lacking in their knowledge in discipleship concerning the return of Christ and the rapture of the believers. So Paul wants to help them understand what to expect and what the plan is for those who have already died. Because ignorance isn’t always bliss. Vs 13 These folks lived in a time much like we do now. Their society as a whole didn’t have any hope for life after death. Most just thought once a person died, that was it, they ceased to exist anymore. This left them with dark feelings of hopelessness about death and loss of loved ones. Paul uses the term here ‘fall asleep’ to refer to a person dying. This was a common reference used in the NT for death. John 11:11-14 Where do we usually put people who have died? The word Cemetery means sleeping place, from a Greek word koimeterion. Now a lot of people confuse this with soul sleep. This is not what this means. The scriptures are very clear about what happens to our spirits, souls, when we die; Luke 23:42–43 Then he said, “Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.” Jesus answered him, “I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise.” 2 Cor. 5:8 We are confident, I say, and would prefer to be away from the body and at home with the Lord. Phil. 1:23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; This is not soul sleep but the physical body put away so that it may be remade at the return of Christ, when the spirit will be reunited with a physical body. 1 Cor. 15:35-53 Paul was giving these new believers the hope they needed so they would not grieve like the unbelievers around them when they lost loved ones. Yes, we will grieve at the loss of a loved one but it must not be a debilitating grief that stops us from functioning. John 11:35 Jesus wept. Loved one moves across country. For us it is not like we will never see them again, we will when Jesus returns to gather us up. We have a hope that those who do not know Christ as Lord and Savior do not have, that we will be with our loved ones in Christ once again at the return of Christ. We will not be together with friends in Hell. If you don’t have this hope today, you can, by putting your faith in Jesus and His work on the cross for forgiveness of our sins that separate us from God leaving us no hope for the future. Vs 14 We as Christians have reason why we do not have to grieve like others, in hopelessness. God has given us proof that we gain hope from, Jesus resurrection from the dead. God has also made it clear to us that we too will be raised from the dead as well, to live and serve Christ for eternity. This will happen at the 2nd coming of Christ. 2 Cor. 4:13–14 It is written: “I believed; therefore I have spoken.” With that same spirit of faith we also believe and therefore speak, because we know that the one who raised the Lord Jesus from the dead will also raise us with Jesus and present us with you in his presence. Jesus death and resurrection are among the best attested facts of history, since we can be certain of this so we can be certain that those who died in Christ before He returns will come back with Him, in spirit, when He returns to gather up all the saints.2500 predictions in the Bible. Just as the prophesies of Christ’s death and resurrection came true so will this one as well. Is. 53:8-12. Vs 15 Jesus had made this clear to Paul and the early church. No one is sure how or when, it could have been when Paul was instructed by the Lord in the wilderness after he came to faith. Gal. 1:11–12 I want you to know, brothers, that the gospel I preached is not something that man made up. I did not receive it from any man, nor was I taught it; rather, I received it by revelation from Jesus Christ. Jesus taught that when He returns He will bring the spirits of those who have died with Him so that they will be given then their new eternal, physical bodies. 1 John 3:2–3 Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made known. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Everyone who has this hope in him purifies himself, just as he is pure. Vs 16 Where is Jesus now? Heb. 1:3 The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven. When the time is right He will return, bringing with Him the spirits of those who died in the faith and they will be the first to receive their new bodies. It will happen with a loud command, a shout by the archangel and a trumpet blast will sound announcing Christ’s return. Everyone on earth will know something is happening, believers and unbelievers alike. Ignorance will not be bliss then. Then those who had died, who are returning with Christ in spirit, will have their new bodies raised from the dead. This is only the Christians at this time. The OT saints who were not raised when Jesus was resurrected will not be raised until the end of the Tribulation Period. Matt. 27:52–53 The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life. They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus’ resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared too many people. Dan. 12:1-2 You ask; ‘How could all this be?’ God who created the heavens and the earth through a word spoken can speak again, give a command, and give new bodies to those who have died in the faith. This is not a problem for Him. Vs 17 What about those who are still alive, you ask. 1 Cor. 15:51–52 Listen, I tell you a mystery: We will not all sleep, but we will all be changed— in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. After the bodies of the dead are resurrected, all who are left alive in Christ will be caught up into the air to meet those who have just returned. We call it the Rapture. It comes from the Latin word ‘rapturo’ which means caught up.The time between the dead receiving their bodies and those alive being caught up and changed will be infinitesimally short, the blinking of an eye. From that moment on, ever after, we will be with Jesus. He will take us to the place He is preparing for us. John 14:2–3 In my Father’s house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. There we will live and serve Him for eternity. Vs 18 What an encouragement and comfort this must have been for those who were so concerned about their loved ones who had died before Christ’s return. The fact that believers who have died will be resurrected to join the living saints, to be with Jesus when He comes, that those who died will get their new bodies in the air and almost immediately those who are alive will join them to be with Jesus forever, what rejoicing there is in this. We do not have to grieve as the unbeliever grieves but look forward to the time when we will be together again for eternity. What a blessed hope we have. Do you have this hope? Or are you living in ignorant bliss right now because you are not prepared for the return of Christ? You might think; “I will have time later to make Jesus my Lord and Savior. I have things I want to do now. I know it is an important decision but I don’t want to deal with it now.” Ignorance is not always bliss. If Jesus were to come back this moment there would be no time for you to make that decision.It would be over in an instant, too late to then choose Christ; you would have only the Tribulation Period to look ahead to, death, suffering and destruction, judgment from God because of the sinfulness of mankind. Now is the time, today can be your day of salvation, to have this hope of life eternal, it is up to you. Benediction: Titus 2:11–14 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

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What does paradox mean? No it is not a place where you park boats. It means; a statement, proposition, or situation that seems to be absurd or contradictory, but in fact is or may be true. Can you think of any examples of a paradox?  A paradox is a true statement that either is contrary to conventional wisdom or is seemingly absurd.  Paradoxes can be a useful tool in teaching because it requires you to think more carefully about what is being said. Most people, when they first hear a paradox, immediately decide it cannot be true. But as they chew on the thought they realize that the assumptions they held are not necessarily correct.  For example, “From death comes life” At first this will strike people as absurd because death is the end of life. Yet we see this in the world around us all the time. In order for a seed to germinate, it must first “die” being a seed. There is another way to look at this as well, from the death of a plant or animal comes food to sustain the life of other plants or animals. From one death comes many lives. Do you know that we as Christians are called to live in a paradox daily? One paradox we might understand is that in order to gain eternal life, our mortal bodies must die. We are called to live in the world but not be part of it. We are told to die to self and live for Christ and on and on. Paul used paradoxes often to get his points across to the believers. Even in this passage today he uses some seeming paradoxes to help the new believers in Thessalonica to understand their need to grow in faith and love for the Lord and in their relationship with others. The first paradox Paul gives is that sexual immorality should be avoided at all costs but our love for others should be practiced at all costs. I know you are asking where the paradox is.  Even though sexual immorality and brotherly love seem contradictory they both have a common denominator. Luke 6:31 Do to others as you would have them do to you.  Love for others means we would not do anything to them that we would not want done to ourselves, Vs 6. Vs 9-10 Here is a paradox for you! When we become believers, giving our life to Christ we become different even though we are still the same person. Ez. 36:26 I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. God gives us a change of heart by instilling His love and His Spirit into us. 1 John 4:7-21 Meet someone who says they are a Christian. Doing this we seem to unnaturally have a new sense of feelings for other believers, we are more open to them and accepting of them. When God poured the Holy Spirit into us we now know deep down that we should have a greater love for others, especially other believers.  The Thessalonian believers had proved this out by the way they treated others already. Vs 1:3. This was something they had learned from God and not man. John 6:45 It is written in the Prophets: ‘They will all be taught by God.’ Everyone who listens to the Father and learns from him comes to me. And they were doing very well at it. But, here is the paradox; Paul says they need to do so more and more. If they are doing so well at it why do they need to do better? They had given great evidence of their love to others through their selfless giving of their affections to other believers in Macedonia. The neighboring cities of Philippi and Berea had blossoming churches in them and the love of the Thessalonian believers had reached even to them, 1:8. Even amidst severe trials their love for others reached out. Paul even commends them to the Corinthian church. 2 Cor. 8:1-5 Look Together But there is still room for improvement. Are we the best we can be in loving others, is there still room for us to improve, to do so more and more? Vs 11-12 Here is another paradox. What Paul is telling them is to be ambitious about living a quiet life, be busy at being at being peaceful. It is not the big things we do for people from time to time that make a difference in our witness for Christ, it is how we act day in and day out, a consistency of lifestyle, which makes a difference in our witness. So heavenly minded that we are no earthly good. There were believers in Thessalonica who, after receiving Christ, had quit working and were going around telling everyone that Jesus was coming back, disturbing the whole church and others outside the church. In other words they were fanatics about the return of Christ. 2 Thess. 2:1-2.  Our witness depends upon the consistent peace we have no matter what our circumstance are. Paul instructs the new believers to lead a quiet life not to be over reactive, pushy or demanding but to have peace no matter what life throws at us. To be settled in our being.  Calm in a traumatic situation, brings calmness to others. Our peace will bring peace to others instead of a reactive lifestyle which is always bumping into others and disrupting them. Living reactively causes us to loose focus on to whom we belong and to whom we serve. 1 Thess. 5:16-22 Here comes another paradox, we are told to be busy not busy-bodies. Vs 11b How is this connected with how we love others? Proverbs 25:17 Seldom set foot in your neighbor’s house— too much of you, and he will hate you.  How do we want people to react when we are coming down the street toward them? “Hey look here comes so and so, or Oh no here comes that so and so.” The Thessalonian church had people who were not working bit were busy bodies and it was affecting their witness.  2 Thess. 3:6-15   So he instructs them to busy and not busy bodies.  This demonstrates brotherly love because a self supporting person is not a burden to others. Paul had already set the example for this kind of lifestyle.The paradox for these believers was that in Greek culture it was considered deplorable to do manual labor while for the Jews it was a highly respected thing. The Jews, no matter how wealthy they were, required that all boys learn a trade of some kind. Work is a blessing from God and ordained by Him. Gen. 2:15 The LORD God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. Work is a blessing and working with one’s hands to support oneself and family shows love for our brethren because we will not be dependent upon anyone for our needs but will be able to help others who are truly in need, who can not support themselves. Acts 20:35. When we are willing to do what it takes to provide for our family needs, to live a quiet life, minding our own business, we will win the respect of others, including non-believers. Doing so glorifies God.  Matt. 5:14-16 People respect those who do not take advantage of them or others.We as believers should not expect special treatment or favors from other believers simply because they are fellow Christians.Nothing disrupts the peace of the Christian community more than the unwillingness of its members to shoulder their part of the responsibility for that community. Fanatics, busy bodies and loafers, nearly every church have them, too often wrapped all up all in one. Instead of putting their noses into everyone else’s business they should putting their noses to the grindstone minding their own business and caring for their own. Another paradox, Paul was not promoting a spirit of independence, which every believer should become completely self-sufficient but teaching personal responsibility. 2 Cor. 8:13-15  When we live in brotherly love we have the personal responsibility to strive to live peaceful lives seeking to work to provide for our needs as God supplies the work for us, minding our own business so to focus on our relationship with God and our testimony to others. Being mindful of the opportunities God gives us to share with others in need from what God has provided to us, including the gospel. All of this is living in brotherly love and is how we should treat others whom God has placed in our lives, whether for a moment or a lifetime. Think about this, another paradox; how does God increase our love for others? He does so by putting us into circumstances that force us to love more, to practice Christian love. We are called to live lives honoring to God and in love for others. I know this seems like a paradox today, in the world we live in, but with God’s help and the Holy Spirit’s indwelling we can do this;if we are willing to let Him be in control and not our selfish self-centered sin nature. Benediction: 1 Thess. 5:23-24

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Sheri and I don’t watch a lot of TV but we do like to watch some of the cooking shows on TV. There is one show I have seen from time to time where the chef always talks about taking his food up a notch. This is his way of saying that he wants to make every meal a little better than the last by adding deeper flavors and so on, taking it up a notch. I think most of us have a similar view when it comes to things we love to do. If there is a hobby we have or a profession we are in, we are always looking for ways to improve in it, going to the next level of knowledge or skill, taking it up a notch.

It is the same when it comes to our relationship with God. We should always be striving for ways to take it up a notch, ways to improve our love and knowledge of the Lord, our holiness and what He has and wants for us. Kind of like climbing a ladder, the higher we get the better the view. The higher we get on the ladder of maturity in Christ, the better view we have of who God is and all He has for us. These last 2 chapters of 1 Thessalonians Paul moves to teach these new believers some of the things they are lacking in order to take it up a notch in their relationship with God. These are some of the practical discipleship teachings every believer should learn. In this 1st section he focuses on some of the deeper truths of proper holy Christian living.

Vs 1-2 He begins with the word finally not because he is finishing his letter but has now gotten to the meat he desires to teach them. Paul knew from Timothy that these new believers had responded positively to his earlier teaching on living lives to please God. But now it is time to take it up a notch. These folks had proved their love for the Lord was genuine by the way they conducted themselves to live to please God above all others, even in the midst of suffering and persecution. List of rules and regulations to be part of Gun Club. There are those today who believe that when we come to faith in Christ that there is a list of rules and regulations that we have to adhere to or else. Mess up and you get punished or kicked out.

But this is not at all what it means to come into relationship with Christ and receive forgiveness of sin in our lives. Our conduct as believers is to be based upon our love for God and His touch and forgiveness to us in that love, even proving it by killing His own Son so we might have forgiveness and restoration of relationship with Him. It is out of our love for Him that we desire to obey His commands because we do not want to hurt or offend those we love. John 14:15 “If you love me, you will obey what I command. If we love someone it will be our desire to please them, to make them happy. Paul was not asking these believers to do anything different from what they were already doing but to take it up a notch; that is to do so more and more. He urges them in the Lord Jesus to do so. It is by the authority of Christ that he can instruct them to take it up a notch. Jesus had given Paul this authority and He has given it to us as well. Matt. 28:18-20 If any believer truly loves the Lord they will have a desire to take their love up a notch in their walk with Him, living to please God.

Vs 3-4 Part of living as a believer is being holy, set apart from the world for the Lord, this includes our sanctification, the dedicating of one self to and to be loyal to God above all others. It is God’s will that we be holy for Him. This means that we are always pressing on toward the next level of our relationship with Him. Phil. 3:12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. This is part of the conforming process into the image of Christ in Rom. 8:29 For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. This all depends on how we respond to our daily experiences, to the Word of God and to the leading of the Holy Spirit in our lives.

One of the ways we can take our holiness up a notch is the way we deal with sexual temptation and sexual immorality. The scriptures make it clear that we need to stay away from sexual immorality. It should be avoided and abstained from at all costs. We can do this by self control and through self discipline. But this can only happen when we allow the Holy Spirit to take control of our hearts and not the old sin nature.

Every Christian is commanded to abstain from every act of sexual immorality that lies out side of the will of God for us. This means we are to stay away from premarital sex, homosexuality, extra-marital sex and any other perversion of God’s design for mankind. Gen. 2:24–25 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh. The man and his wife were both naked, and they felt no shame. The word Paul uses here for sexual immorality is a broad Greek term, porneias; it is the root of this word we get our word pornography from. It is a term that includes all sexual sin. Think about the time the Thessalonian believers lived in, sex was loosely practiced, much like today. They had friends with benefits in the sense that they could go to one of their pagan temples and have sex with the prostitutes there and it was considered an act of worship to their gods.

But to the Christian the will of God is clear; holiness and sexual immorality can not be practiced together. Unlike the food regulations of the Jews, this can not be appealed to as a freedom we have in Christ. 1 Cor. 6:12-20

Every believer needs to take their self control up a notch in this area of life. Believers must never be the victim of circumstances of their fleshly passions. Teens in a heated situation, making out. Every sexual desire can be controlled by the believer through God’s power by the Holy Spirit in us. Gal. 5:16 So I say, live by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature. This means when we are tempted to commit sexual sin we need to choose a way out that is holy and honorable to God. 1 Cor. 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.   Everyone else is doing it! Vs 5 God has called us to be separate from the way the world lives. Worldly people have no self control or self discipline because they belong to and are controlled by the ruler of the kingdom of the air. Eph. 2 We are to be holy because we know what God has done for us in Christ and His love for us in that. We understand that we were once bound over to eternal damnation but God in Christ made a way for us to be saved. We have turned from death to life in Jesus, a new way, God’s way. We are now no longer to live the old way but the new way in Christ, according to God’s will for us. Knowing God is basic to living a holy life.

Vs 6 Would you want to deliberately hurt someone? Paul has made it clear in these verses that believers must live pure and holy lives. Doing so will help us grow in our love and understanding of who God is and what He has for us. 2 Pet. 1:3-9 Paul points out for us in verse 6 the consequences for the other person involved in our immoral acts. He uses the word brother loosely meaning another person. The other person is the victim of wrong sexual activity. Sexual immorality wrongs the other person in the forbidden act which God condemns. Adultery for example. When we willingly participate in immoral sexual acts we are calling judgment down upon ourselves from God. Heb. 13:4 Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral. Those who will not take no for an answer, by word or action, are fanning the flames of judgment to come upon themselves. Bill Clinton and his no sex statement. Sexual immorality, whatever kind, is sin and God will punish it. Paul even takes away the loop holes by saying all such sins will be punished. If we fear the wrath of God we need to abstain from all such sins because we know God condemns them. Luke 12:5 But I will show you whom you should fear: Fear him who, after the killing of the body, has power to throw you into hell. Yes, I tell you, fear him.

Vs 7 When God called us to Himself; He called us to be holy, separate from the ways of the world. We are now to live for Him, to please Him. God will give us all we need to live the holy life He called us to, if we allow Him to be head over us. He is willing to work in us because He will receive all the glory for it in our lives. Jesus came to take what was unclean and impure so to clean us up and make us useful for His kingdom purposes. Col. 1:21-23

Vs 8 Understand this, what is being taught is not man made rules but God given direction for holy living. If you don’t like what is said then take it up with Him. When God calls us into relationship with Him He calls us to be holy, set apart for Him. But, He does not ask us to be something we cannot be. He gives us all we need to be what He calls us to be. He gives us the Holy Spirit, His love and power poured out into our lives so we can live holy lives for Him, being all He desires us to be. The Holy Spirit helps us to put to death the misdeeds of the flesh so to live a holy life. Rom. 8:13 For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live, So, let’s take it up a notch and allow the Holy Spirit to work in us making us holy and useful for the Lord, abstaining from all sexual immorality. Benediction: 2 Pet. 1:10-11

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I think it is safe to say that all of us here have probably been to a movie theatre. What do they do when you are sitting waiting for the movie to begin? They play coming attractions for us to watch. What is the purpose of the coming attractions? They are there as a teaser to make us look forward to movies that are yet to come.

Do they work? When you see them don’t you say, “I would like to see that one or this one?” Yes, they spark our interest so we are looking forward to see those movies.

This is part of the advertising plan that the movie theatres have to get people interested in the movies that are coming so the people would come back to see them later on.

This is how it turns out for us in this passage we are looking at today. Paul is laying down some coming attractions for the Thessalonian believer’s to look forward to. They are topics he is about to take up in the latter part of his letter to them. Part of his discipleship plan for them.

The first part of his letter has dealt with his love and concern for the Thessalonian believers, the defense of his ministry amongst them, his character and way of living, his desire to see them again so to supply them with what they were still lacking, vs 10. Movies available on PPV the same day as in Theatres. But why wait if he can begin to instill in them more truths of God that will build them up in the faith.

So, in these next 3 verses Paul gives some coming attractions of the things he will be teaching them in the latter part of his letter.

But he starts it out as a prayer to God, the Father and the Son, Jesus. They alone have the ability to answer his prayer and make way for him to go to see the Thessalonian believers again.

Paul knew that his plans meant nothing if they were not in line with the will of God. James 4:13-17

Notice here that Paul places Jesus at an equal stance with the Father. In his mind and according to the scripture they are one, equal in every way. John 10:30 I and the Father are one.”  Col. 1:15-20 The God-head alone has the authority to answer our prayers; no one else can give us the answers we truly need.

They did answer Paul’s prayer to be able get back to see these folks again, about 5 years later. 2 Cor. 2:13 I still had no peace of mind, because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I said good-by to them and went on to Macedonia. How often do we make plans and leave God and His will for us out of them? Can we wait upon the Lord for His will no matter how long it takes?

Vs 12 If you were reading this letter for the first time and having read 1:2-3, would you say that these people had a love problem, that they were lacking in Christian love? Many would say they were great examples of loving Christians. But Paul prays that they would increase in their love to over-flowing. Not just to other believers but to everyone, even to those who are persecuting them. Matt. 5:43-48

Christian love is a trait that every Christian should have, even to the overflowing. There can never be an excess of Christian love for others. This is a coming attraction for what Paul will soon begin to teach them in his letter. The picture here is of a well filling up till it over flows out of its walls bringing refreshing to others. Philemon 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints. Is this the kind of love we have for others? When we are with them do they feel refreshed by our love and concern for them?

Do we think we have enough love now and don’t need to work on it? Are our lives a coming attraction that people can’t wait to see us again because our love is overflowing?

Vs 13 Paul asks that the Lord would strengthen these new believers in the faith. Only God can reach down into our souls and bring the strengthening we need. Phil. 2:13 The result of strengthening in the faith is to be blameless before God. Blameless, how can we a sinful people be blameless before God? We can do so by dealing with our sin as soon as God reveals it in our lives. Christ has made a way for us to be cleansed by His sanctifying death for our sin. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

When we deal honestly with our sin it will help us to be done with it. 1 Pet. 4:1-3 If we deal with our sin we will then be free of any charge against us by another person or even the Accuser himself.

Is there sin in our lives we have not dealt with yet? Are there others who could come to us and make accusation because we have not dealt with it before God?

Paul also prays that they may be holy before God when the time of judgment comes. Being holy is a separating of ourselves from the world and its desires and consecrating ourselves to God alone.

1 John 2:15-17  If people were to look at us and our lifestyles would they see people set apart for the Lord or just another worldly person?

When we are tempted by the world and its ways we need to remember that Jesus could return at any moment. If He does and we are caught up in some sin we are committing, how will we feel?

Phil. 2:14–15 Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe

Do we live this way or are we putting off what we should be doing because we figure the Lord won’t be here today so I can do what I want and then confess it and do what He wants later? Why do you think God didn’t tell us when Jesus would be back for us? 5:1-2

God knows if we knew when Jesus was returning we would put off what we should be doing to the last minute; because of the sin nature in us. But, if we don’t know, then Jesus could return this very moment and what state would He find us in, blameless and holy or in sin neck deep?

These are just the coming attractions of what Paul has to teach the Thessalonian believers and us in the next couple of chapters.

Will we take heed of them and put them into practice so we can grow in love, faith, be blameless and holy before the Lord Jesus when He returns for us?

Benediction: 1 Pet. 1:13–16  Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

To Listen ‘Open Message from Title’ and click on Listen Now  or To Save: Right Click and ‘Save Target as’.    I hate to be the bearer of bad news for some and good news for others, but school begins soon. When you think of school what comes to mind? What if I were to ask you about the 3 R’s? What do they make you think of? Reading, wRiting and aRithmatic, right? Why are the 3 R’s so important when it comes to schooling? They are the foundation of all our education to follow and the things we will use most in life ahead.

One could say they are the foundation we will build the rest of our education and life skills upon. Without these basic foundational principles we will struggle through life and there will be trials that come because we don’t have the basic tools to overcome them.

It is the same for our walk as Christians as well. There are foundational principles that we will need to help carry us through our Christian walk helping us to be victorious and mature believers. I call them the 3 R’s of our Christian walk, Raising our hearts before the Lord in love because He loved us 1st and made a way for us to enter into relationship with Him. The 2nd R is to Raise our minds to Him so we might learn and grow in our faith through our knowledge of Him and the 3rd R is Raise our hands to Him in praise, which includes adoration, confession, thankfulness and supplication. These 3 R’s will help ground us in the faith so we can face the trials of life head on with the Lord on our side. We get these through discipleship, when someone is willing taking the time to disciple us, teaching these foundational principles. This is what Paul, Silas and Timothy did for the new believers in Thessalonica that helped carry them through their trials.

Vs 1 Paul was concerned for the new believers in Thessalonica. He did not know how well he had laid the foundation of discipleship amongst them because he had to leave abruptly. His situation prevented him from returning to find out personally. So, he sends Timothy back to them to encourage them and find out how they are doing.  They had been forced to leave Berea separately and came together again in Athens to decide to spread out again to see how the churches were doing and then for Paul to wait for them to return in Corinth. Timothy heads off to Thessalonica, Silas, most likely to Philippi while Paul investigates Athens before he moves on. They were all to meet in Corinth at a later date. Acts 18:1-5

The spiritual well being of the new believers in Thessalonica mattered greatly to Paul, he wanted to make sure they had a good foundation in the Lord.

Vs 2 Timothy may have been sent to them because he would have had the least notoriety of the group. Even though he was young he had been discipled by Paul and was capable of the task. 2 Tim. 2:2  And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others. Paul considered Timothy well equipped to serve the Lord in the work they were called to.  Timothy’s mission was to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonian believers, making them more firm and solid in the faith. He was to strengthen their wills so to fight the good fight of the faith, both individually and as a body. 1 Tim. 6:12 Fight the good fight of the faith. Take hold of the eternal life to which you were called when you made your good confession in the presence of many witnesses.  One part of the mission of the apostles was not only to win converts to Christ but also to ground them in the faith, discipling them so they could then disciple others as Jesus directed. What happens when people are saved and not discipled?

Vs 3 Timothy, by further discipling the new believers, would help them be able to stand through the trials they were facing. He would help them trust the Lord through the trials by teaching them more about who God is and what He wants for us. Too often when trials come our way we begin to doubt if we are in God’s will. Jesus warned us that we could be in God’s will and still face trials of many kinds. John 15:18–19 “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you. 2 Tim. 3:12 In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,   Live fire exercises in military.  Timothy would try to help these new believers understand that God will use these trials to build them up in the faith. Then He would be able to use them in greater ways. 1 Pet. 1:3-9

When we disciple others we must help them understand that trials will come and the reason they come is to help us grow in faith. If we are doing something wrong then it is up to God to show us and He will.

Vs 4 Paul had taught the folks there that persecution could come, that they should expect these trials, and it turned out that way. His reminding them of his teaching would stir their memories of those instructions and help them not be anxious about them.  John 16:4 I have told you this, so that when the time comes you will remember that I warned you.

Vs 5 Paul gets back to his point, he sent Timothy because he was very concerned for the new believers’ spiritual welfare. He did not know how well they had been able to face the persecution. Would they walk away from the Lord and return to paganism? Were they standing firm in the faith or did Satan tempt them away by putting doubt in their minds as he tried to do with Jesus or even as he did with Adam and Eve? Paul saw Satan using the persecution of these new believers as a way to lure them away from the faith and God’s will for them to persevere on through the trials.

Vs 6 “But” What Paul had feared is not what happened. The 3 R’s they received from Paul and his companions in discipleship had taken deep root in their souls. Col. 2:6–7 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.  Timothy comes with wonderful news of their faith in Christ, standing firm in the faith. In fact, they don’t doubt Paul’s love and concern for them at all but they themselves long to see Paul as much as he longs to see them. When they think of Paul, Silas and Timothy they have fond memories of them.

Vs 7 What Paul had intended Timothy to do for them what they had done for him, Paul is strengthened and encouraged by them. What a relief for Paul to know that the time spent discipling was worth all his efforts and they had formed bonds of love that would last. Vs 8 Paul had achieved what he had started out to do; not only did they have a relationship with Christ but they were standing firm in the faith through his efforts to disciple them. 2 Tim. 2:15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a workman who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth. This kind of faith built through discipleship will continue to carry them through the trials ahead in life.

Vs 9 Paul raises his heart up to God in praise for the faith and perseverance of these new believers. Only God could do this work in them. Phil. 2:12-13 Paul knew he could only plant the seeds of faith in them, it was up to God to make them grow. 1 Cor. 3:6–7 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God made it grow. So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow. But someone needs to plant them.

Vs 10 Even though things were going well with these new believers Paul still wanted to return to them. He not only wanted to see them but also continue the work of discipleship he had begun. They still needed more instruction to grow further in the faith.

His desire was to supply what was still lacking in their knowledge of God. 2 Pet. 1:3–4 His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. Paul goes on in his letter, as we will see, to teach them some of the things they are still lacking.

One thing they lacked was a mentor who could come along side of them to teach by example. One whom they could witness the 3 R’s of discipleship active in his life, where they could see the devotion and faithfulness to God in praise, thanks, instruction and prayer.Still, Paul sets the example of one who prays with a sincere heart for them night and day so that they would grow in Christ.

Paul had laid a foundation in their faith through discipleship that would help them grow and stand firm in the faith for years and years to come. We all need to realize that this is something we need in our lives as well, to learn and grow in our faith through discipleship and then to disciple others as well so they can stand firm in the faith through the trials that come in this world.

To set the example of faith before others as mentors and to be humble as learners as well to grow up in Christ.

Benediction: 1 Cor. 3:10-15

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Those of you who are parents, parent figures or hope to be parents, to have kids one day, what is the hope you have for your children? Whether yours personally or figuratively.

I believe every one of us desires that our children grow and mature, building a deep relationship of love and respect with us. We want them to mature, be productive and even have kids of their own that will go on to do the same.  I talk to many parents who desires that their children do better than they did, financially, physically, maturity, socially and education-ally. Every one of us has hopes for those we love and care for. Even as a pastor I have these hopes for those who come along side me in the ministry. They become my kids, spiritually, which I want to see grow in Christ in relationship, in faith and in love. To be used greatly by God for His kingdom.

This is the hope Paul had for the believers in Thessalonica. In the beginning of this letter to them he had given an extensive defense of his ministry. He reminded them of how he and his companions had conducted themselves before them. How they loved and invested themselves into the lives of these new believers. He even answers some of the accusations his enemies were making against him.  It seems these enemies even went so far as to say Paul did not care about them, that is why he never came back to see them again, that he had gotten all he wanted from them would be the accusation. So, Paul writes to tell them why he has not been able to return and reaffirm his love for them again. Vs 17 Paul begins this verse with a ‘But’ because he wants to show the contrast between him and those in the previous verses who would do anything they could to keep others from hearing the gospel. Paul was willing to do all he could to proclaim the gospel and then help those who come to faith grow in that faith because of his love for them and for the Lord. Paul uses enduring terms here that reveal his feelings for these believers. He calls them brothers, making himself equal to them. He describes his having to leave them as if orphaned, forced to go, out of his control. As he was, Acts 17:10.

Soldier sent off to war away from their family. He felt cut off from them as a parent does from their family when they are torn away by circumstances or uncontrollable events or tragedies. He had hoped that his departure would only be temporary, never the less, it broke his heart to be dragged away from them. How do you feel when away from loved ones? Paul may have been away physically but his heart was still with them continually.

Many times he had tried to get back to see them again out of his longing for them. Even though his return would be dangerous, he desired to go. His enemies waited to pounce upon him there in the city if he did return. But he was still willing to risk it so he could help these loved ones grow in faith and love for the Lord.

Vs 18 What is God’s will for any believer, especially a new one? His will is that we grow in knowledge, understanding and relationship with Him. 2 Pet. 1:3-11

What is the goal of our enemy Satan for us? John 10:10 The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy;  The enemy’s desire is to destroy our relationship with God, keeping us from growing in maturity and faith. He will block and sidetrack our growth any way he can, even getting us so busy with other “important” things so we fail to take the time needed to grow in our relationship with Christ, as we should.  Tyranny of the urgent. He will use every resource available to him to do so. Eph. 2:1–2 As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins,  in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient.   This is exactly what he did to prevent Paul from getting back to see the folks in Thessalonica to help them grow in Christ. Acts 17:13   WWII allies bombing bridges. Paul says that Satan stopped him from going to see them. The word used for stopped refers to destroying the road ahead so to sidetrack or block the way, blowing up the road or bridges to stop the advance of an enemy upon one’s territory. Acts 17:13 When the Jews in Thessalonica learned that Paul was preaching the word of God at Berea, they went there too, agitating the crowds and stirring them up. They may also have threatened Jason and the others with him who posted bond that if Paul returned they would have to forfeit the money putting them in a financial bind. Paul loved them to much to do anything to hurt them.

God allowed this to happen for reasons we don’t know or understand. But be sure that God’s plan was not thwarted at all. God was not responsible for their actions in any way just as He is not responsible for the sin committed by any of His creatures but He permits them.   God has given mankind freewill and will not intervene when it becomes inconvenient for us. But He works to give us the perseverance and strength to get through those trials. James 1:2-4

God is growing us up in Christ through them. Paul realized this. Rom. 8:28–29 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. Paul had done all he could to see these beloved in the Lord but was not able to go. Vs 19-20 Paul’s deep love for these new believers comes through here; he gives a rhetorical question to show the intensity of his love for them. He asks what would be the greatest blessing he would have when he stood before the Lord at the judgment seat. It was them; they were everything that was worth anything to him. They were his hope, like the parent who desires to see their child grow in maturity, being productive and having a family of their own to do the same for. They were his joy, filling his life with light as he pondered where they had come from and what they had grown to be in the Lord, and then even what they could be for the Lord, by His grace upon them. They were his crown, the symbol of God’s blessing on his life and ministry, the evidence that God had called Paul to the task and blessed his obedience to it.  Things you give up as a parent for your children.  They were his glory and joy because all he had suffered was worth it to see them grow in Christ and be used by Him.  2 Cor. 3:2 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody.

Paul made it clear that the Thessalonian believers were greatly loved and important to him, hopefully dispelling any thoughts of others that he didn’t care about them or what happened to them. When Timothy returned with the questions and concerns which Paul is addressing, Paul must have been over joyed at the thought of these folks carrying on even amongst the trials they were facing. He would have felt like John in 3 John 3–4 It gave me great joy to have some brothers come and tell about your faithfulness to the truth and how you continue to walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

I wonder what the people and Pastors who loved us in the faith and desired we grow would say about us today. Would they feel like Paul because we are the letter written on their hearts that we have been faithful to Christ no matter what?

Would we be a joy to them because of our desire to grow and be a blessing to others?

Are there others we have shared our faith with that will be a crown for us in heaven?

Have we allowed the enemy to sidetrack us from the ministry God has laid out for us because we chose not to persevere but give up?

Are we being sidetracked by what seems important so to be lacking in our growth in the Lord, spending time with Him daily in prayer and study of the Word?

My hope is that we are those children that have been torn away from our spiritual parents but still continued to grow anyway.

If we have the opportunity to be the spiritual parent to others I hope we will love them and invest in them as Paul did even through the disappointments and hurts.

Benediction: 2 Cor. 3:2–3 You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everybody. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

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Have you ever been told by someone you are going to go somewhere with them and it was not a place you really wanted to go? The person who was taking you felt like they were dragging you along kicking and screaming instead of accepting of where you were going. Let’s say someone tells you they are taking you to WashingtonDC and it is the last place you want to go, what would you do?  Now: Let’s say you get a personal invitation to go to WashingtonDC from the President, what would you do then? Would you feel special that the President had personally invited you to go there? If so, what is the difference between the 2 invitations you received?

Wouldn’t you feel special that the President had personally invited you while the other is just a regular person? The regular person was in a sense forcing you to do what they wanted, so you go kicking and screaming while the invitation came from a greater authority which made it more significant and acceptable.

Would the President have asked you personally or would he have sent someone to bring the invite?

Paul began this letter to the Thessalonian believers with great thankfulness to God for the way they had received the Gospel. He was full of joy for how God worked mightily in them by the power of the Holy Spirit to change their hearts and lives. He was even amazed that the work God was doing in them was being reported to him by others who didn’t even know them personally. 1:8-9.

They were reporting how God was changing these new believers.

In this next section Paul again gives thanks to God, not for how the message was received but how these people in Thessalonica had welcomed the Gospel, not as man’s word or opinion but as God’s own invitation to them to enter into eternal life with Him.

Vs 13 Paul praises God because these folks had welcomed his preaching with open hearts and glad spirits, not following kicking and screaming as he dragged them along.  They realized that he wasn’t bringing them some manmade philosophy or made up message but he was delivering an invitation from God. Paul and his companions were sent to the Thessalonian people as messengers from God with His very own words to them.

The Gospel, the good news of Jesus is not something man could make up. In fact if you were to look at all the other religions of the world you can see the very difference between Biblical Christianity and other religious attempts to get to God. When man tries to make their own way to God it always involves works. Man’s gospel is a works gospel which teaches people that they have to work and sacrifice in order to get good enough to be acceptable to God where as in the true Gospel God says that He knows we can not do it for ourselves so He came as a man, Jesus Christ, and accomplished for us what we could not.

Rom. 3:21-26  These new believers in Thessalonica were open to the witness of the Holy Spirit to them and felt the conviction He brought home to their hearts. They did not go kicking and screaming resisting what God wanted to do in them but went accepting.

I wonder at times if we realize that when we are out there witnessing for Christ we are not preaching man’s word or philosophy but God’s own words, announcing the truth of God as He revealed it to us in His word. When we speak God’s word we are speaking forth life changing power. This is why when the OT prophets proclaimed God’s word it was considered God’s Word and there is power in it going out. 1 Sam 3:19 The Lord was with Samuel as he grew up, and he let none of his words fall to the ground.

Do we even realize the power of God’s word? Consider creation itself; Genesis 1:3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.

God’s word has the power to create and to destroy; Is. 54:16 “See, it is I who created the blacksmith who fans the coals into flame and forges a weapon fit for its work. And it is I who have created the destroyer to work havoc;  John 1:1–4 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.

Paul saw for himself how the word of God went to work in these new believers in Thessalonica. The word went to work giving them forgiveness of sins in their past and continued to work in them changing their lives.  Why do we need to take all your antibiotics?  God’s word is like medicine for the soul, continued intake of it brings healing to sin-sick souls, when it is received by faith.

Vs 14 How do you know if you are getting better after being sick? Paul encourages the new believers by reminding them how the Word worked in them, just as it works in all who receive it by faith. Often when we receive God’s word by faith we will find ourselves the victims of criticism and attacks by unbelievers. This is a common to all true believers.  The lie of Satan is that we are being attacked because we are misled when the reality is when we are criticized and attacked for our faith it is a common experience for all true believers. Those who refuse to believe the truth of the gospel don’t want to accept what it says or the truth of it at work in us so they get angry and attack those who bring the good news.

This was true of the Thessalonian believer’s as well. They were facing the same kind of attacks and suffering that the believers in Judea were facing. The non believing Jews in Judea persecuted and abused the believers just as the new believers in Thessalonica were being abused by the non believing Jews and their own countrymen.

Vs 15 Paul had suffered the same kinds of things just as Jesus did, but they even killed Jesus and the prophets when they brought God’s word to them. People who refuse to receive the grace of God drove Paul and the apostles as well as many other believers out of Judea, because of their faith. These people continued to sin against God, refusing His word and Jesus paid with His life for them. Those who set themselves against others who believe God’s word are really setting themselves against God Himself. Acts 26:14-15 These people not only hurt themselves but hurt others as well, the non-believers who may have been open to the truth of God because they make it harder for them to come to faith.

Vs 16 One who takes the attitude “live and let live” is less dangerous to others than those who will do all they can to keep others from hearing the truth of God. But the unbelievers in Thessalonica would do anything they could to keep others from hearing the truth of God. Doing this they were heaping upon themselves additional sin for which God would punish them. Luke 17:1–2 Jesus said to his disciples: “Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.

Enough rope to hang themselves.  God has set limits to how much sin a person or people group is allowed to accumulate before He sends His wrath or judgment against them. He will not judge before the limit is reached.  Gen. 15:16 In the fourth generation your descendants will come back here, for the sin of the Amorites has not yet reached its full measure.”  The unbelievers there were hastening their judgment by persecuting the new believers.

Paul next makes reference to God’s wrath having come upon them. We really don’t know what he meant by this but we can make some educated guesses;  Paul may have been made aware by the Lord of the destruction that would be coming upon Jerusalem in a few years. He may have had in mind the fact that the majority of Jews who refused to believe in Jesus, Matt. 23:37-39, that God had turned His back on them to reach out to the Gentiles so to make a new body of believers, the church, who were made up from Jew and Gentile alike, but on equal footing because of Christ.

Eph. 2:13-18  Paul could also have been thinking about the wrath of God that comes, as a fact, on everyone who fails to believe in Jesus.

John 3:36  Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on him.”

These at the Tribulation and resurrection of the dead will know the eternal wrath of God on them. Paul, also, could have said this so these new believers would know that God was not ignorant to their plight but was waiting for the right time to judge for the actions against them. 2 Thess. 1:6-10

We really don’t know what Paul has in mind here but we do know that those who persecute believers are fighting against God and His wrath will come upon them and greater so if they hinder others from coming to trust in God’s truth for mankind.  They will go kicking and screaming into eternal damnation.

How do we fit into this whole picture? Do we hinder others from coming to Christ because we refuse to trust God’s word and let it go to work in us? Are we living in a way that turns people off from wanting to know God? Have we been the ones persecuting others for their faith in God and His word? What will the consequence be? Are we trusting in God’s word and allowing it to work in us?

Are we suffering because we stand for Christ? Then take encouragement from this word to the Thessalonians.

God knows and cares.

Benediction: Col. 3:15-17

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Have you ever been instructing someone about something, telling them how they should do it and they turn to you and say, “That is not how you do it”? You tell them do as I say and not as I do. Is that the way you should teach others, especially our children or grandchildren, setting a wrong example for them? What would they call you for acting like that?

Shouldn’t it be “Do as I do” setting the example of how it should be done as well as we telling them that is how it should be done? Wouldn’t this type of teaching have a greater influence on others? Would it not also free us from accusations that we are being hypocrites because they can check out for themselves remembering how we have lived and acted before them?

One of the problems Paul faced with the Thessalonian believers was that his enemies were accusing Paul of preaching with wrong motives and with improper conduct, being a hypocrite.

It was not unusual in that day, as now, that people were out there touting some new philosophy so to take advantage of people for financial reasons, to get the quick buck, plus in that day with paganism practiced so widely, for sexual favors as well. If you hear enough negative spin on someone, whether true or not, doesn’t it make you suspicious?  Paul’s enemies figured if they cast enough doubt on Paul and his companions they might turn some people away from following the Jesus that Paul was proclaiming.

So, Paul reminds his readers of how he lived and acted when he was with them, so to clarify his motives. In fact he reminds them some 6 times about how they were witnesses of how he lived. He says ‘you know vs 1, 2, 5, 11; you remember vs9; you are witnesses vs 10. He refreshes their memory by getting them to think through his example before them when he was with them. Reminding them that he taught them to do as he did.

Vs 1-6 He asks them to think about his time with them, it was not unfruitful. The miraculous changes in their lives are evidence of the effect of the gospel had on them. 1:7-9  Then think about all Paul and Silas went through in Philippi, beaten and humiliated terribly. Acts 16:22-24  They were treated as common criminals but when they leave there they are compelled by God to go to Thessalonica and proclaim the gospel there, even when the persecution begins there as well.

If they were charlatans, fakes, they would not have suffered and continued on proclaiming the message they had just been persecuted for. But God gave them the strength and boldness needed to continue on. They were obedient to Jesus’ command Matt. 10:23 When you are persecuted in one place, flee to another.

The people saw for themselves the sincerity of Paul’s heart and motives. The message he brought was truth. His enemies accused him of making it up to take advantage of others. But Paul proved out what he was teaching in the scriptures and was not trying to trick anyone into believing some falsehood. He told the truth and let them decide for themselves.  His motives were pure because he cared about where they would spend eternity, in heaven or in Hell, where there would be eternal torment and punishment.   Not afraid to tell others about a sale, why not the gospel?

If Paul had been trying to trick the people into believing something for personal gain he would not have told the hard truth that brought persecution from others but would have made up something everyone would love to hear. 2 Tim. 4:3 For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.

Instead, Paul and his companions tell the truth of God, the truth that God had entrusted to them. Paul viewed himself as one who had been entrusted by God with the message of salvation. 1 Cor. 9:16–17 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! If I preach voluntarily, I have a reward; if not voluntarily, I am simply discharging the trust committed to me.   This is the same gospel that God has committed to us to proclaim as well. 2 Cor. 5:18-6:2  If they don’t like what we have to say about this we can simply tell them that this is what God’s says and if they don’t like it they can take it up with Him.

This was not the job Paul sought after but the call he received from God and Paul took it seriously. Do we? This is why Paul would not preach from wrong motives, he knew he would have to face God for them if he had. Jer. 17:10 “I the LORD search the heart and examine the mind, to reward a man according to his conduct, according to what his deeds deserve.”

Vs 5 Paul asks them to remember how he spoke to them, never with a false face, as a hypocrite, nor did he try to take advantage of them by getting something from them for himself. God would be his judge and witness in this. He and his companions were not seeking praise from the Thessalonians or anyone else. Their desire was to live to please God as he states in vs 4. Phil. 3:7-11

Paul was willing to deliver the truth to any and all who would receive it, free of charge. Even though he had the right to expect something from them in support,  1 Tim. 5:17–18 The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching. For the Scripture says, “Do not muzzle the ox while it is treading out the grain,” and “The worker deserves his wages.”   Instead of expecting something from them he gave of himself, taking care of them, expecting nothing in return.

Vs 7-9 Paul and his companions took care of the Thessalonians believers like a mother cares for her child. The reference here is to a nursing mother caring for her little child.  Things a nursing mom has to avoid? This included the responsibility of watching their own actions so not to do anything that would harm the new believers. This meant that Paul and his companions were careful to live godly lives before the people so they would not make them spiritually sick by doing wrong things before God and them. Eph. 5:15–16 Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil.  Do as I do.  They did not try to take advantage of the people but instead shared with them, not only the gospel but their very selves. They gave whatever they had to help the new believers.

Genuine love shows itself through meeting not only spiritual needs but physical ones as well. James 2:14–17 What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, “Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.

Paul never expected the new believers to take care of him so he worked hard to provide for his needs and the needs of others as well, so not to be a burden. 2 Thess. 3:7-10  We know from Acts 18:3 that Paul’s trade was tent making so he would have worked making tents daily and preaching the gospel at night to them, after a long days work. Vs 10-12 These verses summarize all Paul has been saying, the people should remember and be witnesses to the facts as God is, that their behavior and motives were pure.

Their inner conviction from God led them to live holy lives before all the people in Thessalonica. They lived as God would have them to, in righteousness, asking the people to do as they did and not just how they say.  Doing so, no one could accuse them of wrong doing, they would be blameless.  They trained up the believers by word and example, as a father would their child, with loving discipline. This included strong positive appeals to do right with encouragement and comfort so to cheer them on and inspire good behavior and faithfulness to God.

God had called them to be His people, to be heirs of the eternal kingdom, sharing His glory with them. What a privilege and blessing to look forward to and responsibility to live up to as well. This is why Paul and his companions set the example as they did, showing the believers to do as they do and show how it should be done, by God’s power through the Holy Spirit in them.

This is the same power we have available to us today and the same call we have on us today; to live as examples for others to see and follow as we obey the leading of the Holy Spirit and God’s holy commands. How are we doing? Are we open to accusations because we live by the saying, “Do as I say and not as I do”, or are we setting the example being free from accusation, saying do as I do?

Benediction: 2 Tim. 1:13–14 What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you—guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.