1 Thessalonians 3-5
The Will of God
and the Rapture
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TMS Numbers 23:19 God Doesn't Lie
or a son of man, that he should change his mind.
Has he said, and will he not do it?
Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Observations
Satan is the father of lies, but God is the father of truth. Satan and people can't be trusted, but God is forever trustworthy. He doesn't repent (as in go back on His promises). If God said He'd do it, He will. If He said it would happen, it will. He speaks galaxies into existence, so nothing is too difficult for Him. The only difficulty He has is with us choosing to believe and follow Him or not. Hebrews 11:6 indicates that faith is believing that God is who He said He is, and will do what He said He'd do. So why do we have difficulty believing Him? Because Satan deceives, distorts, and distracts us. By continually focusing on what God has revealed, we can keep His revelation in our thinking, and trust Him to fulfill His good desire for us.
Application
If we doubt God, we're being deceived by the devil and headed for discipline and destruction; if we trust all that God has said, it will be all good.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, thanks for being so true and faithful and trustworthy; may I never doubt Your power or promises, but may I stake my life on Your word. Amen.
1Thessalonians 3-5 The Will of God and the Rapture
Paul wanted the Thessalonians to be blameless at the coming of Christ not just for their benefit, but his reward. He tells them how to live according to the will of God so they will be pleasing to Christ when He returns. Paul also gives the major teaching about the Rapture and how believers should minister to each other in light of it.
1Thessalonians 3 Blameless in Holiness at His Coming
Timothy’s Visit
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 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. 5 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.Timothy’s Encouraging Report
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.Application
If we abound in our love toward each other, we'll do well when Christ returns.
Prayer
Lord, thanks that following You is worth it, regardless of the cost; help me love others as You have loved me. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 4 The Will of God and the Rapture
Living to Please God
1 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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 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. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you. 9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.The Return of the Lord
13 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. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.Application
God's will is our sanctification/holiness; develop it as you await His return.
Prayer
God, thanks that You know what's best for me, and have communicated it in a way I can understand; don't let me be deceived but help me delight in doing Your will. Amen.
1 Thessalonians 5 Sanctified Compeletely
The Day of the Lord
1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 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. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 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. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.Christian Living
12 We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. 14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.Final Blessings and Instructions
23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. 25 Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.Application
God wants all that we are to be holy, including our ambitions, thoughts, attitudes, values, feelings and actions, because that is what is best for us.
Prayer
Lord Jesus, may every aspect of my life be brought into conformity with Your will for me, so I may be blameless at Your return. Amen.
Digging Deeper
God in a nutshell: God has a perfect will for His people that extends to every aspect of their life. He is faithful to provide all we need to bring it about if we submit to Him in every way, every day.
Build-a-Jesus: The Lord Jesus, the Messiah will return as promised, first for His Bride, the Church, and then to set up His Millennial Kingdom after the Tribulation.
Us in a nutshell: We are to be holy and blameless at the return of Christ if we know and do all that His Spirit has revealed as His will for us.
Where to go for more
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