I Thessalonians 5:12-28  Paul's final words in this 1st letter to the Thessalonians are about how they should conduct themselves.  Challenging words ....

v12-13  Appreciate, esteem, and love those in leadership positions in the church.  Easy to do when these men are wise, faithful, and fair.  Not so easy to do when they are.. human, imperfect, and seem to show favoritism to others... Regardless, we are to "Live in peace with one another".

v 14 - Four things:
1. "..admonish the unruly" - to caution or gently reprove..calling attention to those who are undisciplined or insubordinate.

2. "encourage the fainthearted" I love the word "encourage" in the greek "parakaleo" call near, or invite, pray for , comfort; ( parakletos - the Comforter, the Holy Spirit has this same root..) fainthearted - is actually "little-spirited" or feebleminded, puny in spirit or mind.  When we lack faith or hope or love, we need our brothers and sisters in Christ to come along side of us, draw near to us and comfort us, to pray for us, and to encourage us.

3. "help the weak"  "antechomai" - to hold fast to or support those who are strengthless, feeble, impotent, sick..

4. "be patient with all men"- be long spirited, forbearing, long-suffering - toward all.

v 15 - "See that no one repays another with evil for evil, but always seek after that with is good for one another and for all men."  Paul expands on this a little in Romans 11 where he exhorts us to  "bless those who persecute you";  "never pay back evil for evil to anyone," but "respect what is right in the sight of all men"; and to not take our own revenge, leaving that for God while we feed our hungry enemy and give them something to drink if they are thirsty. v 21 sums it up for us "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good."  For when we seek the good of those who have done evil to us, we overcome !

v16-22  -
"Rejoice always;
pray without ceasing;
in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. 
Do not quench the Spirit;
do not despise prophetic utterances, but examine everything carefully;
hold fast to that which is good;
abstain from every form of evil." 

"Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you and He also will bring it to pass." ( v23-24)

What a wonderful prayer! Without His help, His Spirit at work in us to sanctify us, how could we ever do these things that are pleasing to our Lord?  But He is faithful to bring to pass that which He calls us to do!  Such a precious promise!

Father in heaven, be exalted and glorified in all the earth!  May Your Name be honored and blessed forever and ever.  Come and reign over us, our God. We are citizens of Your Kingdom in heaven and long for the day when You will send the King Jesus to come to earth to reign forever.  May Your will be done fully in our hearts and lives today, we pray in His Name. Amen.

I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11   Paul addresses the subject of Christ's return here, making these points:

v 14 - Jesus died and rose again , this is Truth, likewise, those who have "fallen asleep" in Him will be with Him; they will "precede" those who are still living at Christ's coming ( v15);  and "the dead in Christ shall rise first" (v16).   This truth is meant to give us hope, comfort, and encouragement.

V 16 " For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet of God.."

V15-17  Those who are alive at His coming will "be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air.."   

We are to be ready for that day, for it will come unannounced, like when a thief comes in the night.
How can we be ready?
By staying in the Light. 
We are not in darkness - v4
We are not of night nor of darkness - v5
We must not sleep like those who are in darkness.
We must not be drunk like those who are in darkness and night.
We must stay alert and sober. 
We must be properly dressed - in faith, love, and hope. 
For we are destined for salvation not wrath, in the Lord Jesus Christ. 

Sometimes I find myself staring at the clouds and thinking about what it will look like when they are rolled back like a scroll...In the quiet of this moment, I listen for the shout, the voice, and the trumpet - sounding the joyful return of our Savior.  One day, He IS coming and it will be a glorious day!

Father in Heaven,  You alone know the day of Christ's return, when the dead in Him will be raised, when the living believers will be caught up in the clouds, meeting Jesus in the air.  O how we long for that day! We live in a world where the darkness seems to be growing stronger, yet we do not fear for Jesus is the Light of the world and He has overcome all darkness!  May we be ready, Lord God, standing firm in faith, abounding in love, and abundant in hope.  Praise and thanksgiving I offer to You, my God and Father.  Amen.

I Thessalonians 4

The Word here "exhorts" us to "excel still more" in walking in ways that please God.. having received the instructions, the commandments given "by the authority of the Lord Jesus".
This is God's will for us, Paul writes, " your sanctification". 

 Specifically, Paul says, " abstain from sexual immorality... possess your own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion like the Gentiles who do not know God" ( v3-5)  Adding,  that "no man transgress and defraud his brother in the matter... For God has not called us for the purpose of impurity, but in sanctification." 

Paul also urges the believers to "excel still more"  in loving one another.  They are doing well in that area, for God Himself is teaching them to love one another,  but the urgency to keep excelling is Paul's heart for them.

Thirdly, Paul writes, "make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in need."  ( v11-12)

God's desire for us is our sanctification - holiness: physically, emotionally, and economically.

To please the Lord, then, we must "possess" our own "vessel".  The word vessel is actually talking about equipment or goods - or a wife!  But, the same word is used in II Timothy 2: 20-21 where Paul says that there are vessels of honor and dishonor in a household...and a man who is cleansed of wickedness, "will be a vessel of honor, sanctified, useful for the Master, prepared for every good work".  To possess means to own it.  It is more than just self -control, although that is a very important part of it, we are commanded to take the work of purifying our lives very seriously.  To become pure so that we are vessels of honor.  Then we are "useful for the Master"!

We are sanctified, purified in our hearts, as we excel in loving one another.  Love that abounds more and more is the request that Paul most often prays for his churches.  This is absolutely vital in our walk if we want to please the Lord.

We are also to live set apart, or pure, lives, economically  - quietly taking care of our families, making a living by honest work,  not dependent on others (outsiders).

Father in heaven, thank You for providing these simple yet profound instructions for a life that pleases You.  May we excel more and more in purity, love, and honest living.  May we please You in all we do.  Sanctify us entirely, preserving us completely, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus.  We praise You, Lord, that You are faithful, for as You have called us to sanctification, You will also bring it to pass. Amen!

I Thess. 3

Paul professed his love for the people in Thessalonica in Chapter 2.    His love for them was like a mother, who is gentle and tenderly cares for her own children and  like a father, who exhorts, encourages, and implores his own children to walk worthily.  He had a "fond affection" for them, not only giving them the gospel, but "our own lives" as well. He called them his "glory and joy".

Here in Chapter 3 Paul tells them how much he longed to see them again.  He was concerned for them because of the afflictions he knew they were experiencing.  His deepest concern was that their faith would falter.  So, he sent Timothy to them, to encourage and strengthen them, as to their faith.
Paul rejoiced when Timothy returned with the good news that their faith and love continued. ".. for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord." 

We feel this way too, especially for our family members and close friends... This is my daily prayer for my children and grandchildren - that they would "stand firm in the Lord".   Paul's prayer in verses 11-13 is another good model for us:

"Now may our God and Father Himself

and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you. 

and may the Lord cause you to increase and 

abound in love for one another, and 

for all men, just as we do for you;

so that He may establish your hearts

unblamable in holiness before our God and Father

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints."

Father, Holy One of Heaven, direct our lives according to Your perfect wisdom and love.  Cause us to increase in our love for one another. Establish us in perfect holiness before You.  Prepare us for the day of our Lord's return .  Mighty God, fill us with Your Spirit and with faith, that we also may stand firm in You.  We ask this in the Name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, Amen. 

I Thessalonians 2

Paul and his friends:
Spoke the gospel with boldness amid opposition.
They did not allow error, impurity, or deceit; pleasing God, not man, in presenting the Truth.
They did not come with flattery or greed.
They did not seek glory for themselves, not did they assert their authority.
They worked day and night, so they would not burden the people.
They were "gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children." 
They "were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children."
They were devout, upright, and blameless towards the new believers.

Paul's one desire was to see the new Christians "walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory." ( v12)

The believers in Thessalonica:
Accepted the Word of God.
Were transformed by the word of God which "performs its work in you who believe." (v13)
They became imitators of the churches in Judea.
They endured suffering at the hands of their own countrymen.
Were Paul's "glory and joy". 

The work of the Word of God - the "energeo" - active, efficient, effectual, operative, powerful Word - transforms the believer, the one who has accepted the Word as God's message and not the word of men. Paul spoke the gospel, he proclaimed the gospel, he imparted the gospel..he was entrusted with the gospel... and he lived according to the gospel in every way.  The Word of God was active, effectual and powerful in his life and ministry.

Matthew 4:17 says that Jesus "began to preach and say, 'Repent for the kingdom of heaven is at hand'" Then in verse 23 we read that He went about "teaching in their synagogues , and proclaiming the gospel of the kingdom..."   The gospel, the good news from God is this - His Kingdom is here!
When we hear this and believe - this is faith.  Hebrews 4:2 "For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard."  It is those who hear the Word and believe it that enter into His "rest", His kingdom.  This is the good news, the gospel that Jesus preached and that Paul taught.

Father, bless Your holy Name!  You are wonderful beyond description.  Your grace and mercy towards us is overwhelming. Thank You for bringing Your kingdom here. Thank You for providing rest through Jesus Christ, Your beloved Son.  Thank You, Jesus, for suffering death for us, that we might have life in the Kingdom of God.  Fill me again with Your Spirit, Who gives wisdom and righteousness, through the Word of God. Transform my life that I may always walk in a manner worthy of the One who has called me into His Kingdom.  In Jesus' name I ask this Father, amen.

I Thessalonians 1

Paul's greeting in this letter to the Thessalonians is positive and encouraging. He commends them for their:
"work of faith"
"labor of love" and
"steadfastness of hope"

He calls them "brethren beloved by God", chosen by God..
He speaks of how they received the gospel "in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction". 
They were like Paul, receiving "the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit". 

The church in Thessalonica had become an example to others.  Their faith in God was reported everywhere. They had "turned from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come." 


How does my church compare with the church in Thessalonica, as we look at this passage?

What works of faith are being done?
What labors of love?
What steadfast hope?
Do we act like those "beloved by God"?
Have we received the gospel with power, the Holy Spirit , and full conviction?
Do we serve a the living and true God?
Are we waiting for Jesus?

Do we have a reputation as a church where faith in God is found?

We can look at this individually also..
Am I doing works of faith? labors of love?
Do I have steadfast hope?
Have I received the gospel with power, the Holy Spirit, and full conviction?
Am I serving the living and true God?
Am I eagerly awaiting the Lord Jesus?
Do I have a reputation of one who has put my faith in God?

Father in heaven,  I am Yours.  I fall far short of Your high calling, my Lord.  Come and fill me Holy Spirit, complete in me all that You desire.  Sanctify me completely, Lord.  That I might be known as Your beloved child, one who serves You with a whole heart.. who loves You with all my heart and soul and spirit and strength. I ask this in Your Name, Jesus, amen.

II Chronicles 33-36
Manasseh, the son of Hezekiah became king at the age of 12.  He ignored his father's reforms and his father's God, turning back to the evil of his grandfather.  He was even worse.  He worshiped every idol and desecrated the temple.  He practiced witchcraft and sorcery.  He "misled Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to do more evil than the nations whom the Lord destroyed before the sons of Israel."  When God spoke to Manasseh, he paid no attention.  Finally, the king of Assyria came against Judah and Manasseh was taken away captive with a hook in his nose and chains binding him.

But, in his captivity, Manasseh repented.  He humbled himself before God and prayed. And God had mercy on Manasseh and returned him to Jerusalem.  Manasseh removed the false idols and altars and restored the sacrifices to the Lord.

When Manasseh died, his son Amon became king.  He did not learn from his father, but did evil, never humbling himself before the Lord. "Finally his servants conspired against him and put him to death in his own house."

Josiah, Amon's son, was only 8 when his father was killed.  But, he "did right in the sight of the Lord, and walked in the ways of his father David and did not turn aside to the right or the left." Josiah, we are told, ".. while he was still a youth,.. began to said the God of his father David;"  Josiah, once again got rid of every false idol, repaired the temple, celebrated Passover.. humbled himself before the Lord.  When the book of the Law was found in the process of the restoring the temple, Josiah heart the Word and wept before the Lord.

But, after Josiah, came Joahaz, who was taken to Egypt after 3 months.  His brother, Eliakim/Jehoiakim was set up as king by the king of Egypt.  He did evil.  Nebuchnezzar came in next, taking him into captivity.  His son Jehoiachin was next in line, 8 years old, doing evil.  He also was taken to Babylon. Zedekiah, was next, but he did evil also, rebelling against God.

The people would not listen to the prophets.  "But they continually mocked the messengers of God, despised His words and scoffed at His prophets until the wrath of the Lord arose against His people, until there was no remedy."  The Chaldeans came.  They destroyed the temple and broke down the walls of Jerusalem.  The Word of the Lord was fulfilled.