Good day to you,
and welcome back to Daily Bread. As we continue our study of Paul’s first
letter to the Thessalonians, he teaches a little more about the
End
Times.
There is no need
for me to write to you about the times and the seasons (of the End Times),
because you know perfectly that the day of the Lord (the day Christ returns)
will come as a thief in the night (Matthew
24:43). When they say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction will
come upon them as pains upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape (Isaiah
13:6-9).
This is definitely
something to watch for and be prepared, as Jesus warned in
Matthew 24:42.
In Ezekiel 13:16
it says that there will be no peace for Jerusalem and in
Jeremiah 6:14
and 8:11 it says that they will claim there is peace, but there is no peace.
We could talk
about peace and we could talk about war and we could look at the statistics
of war and peace until the cows come home, but the bottom line will remain
the same, nobody knows the day or the hour that Jesus will return. We’re
seeing most all of the things that prophecy predicted would happen leading
up to the End Times and Jesus said that when you see all these signs, the
end would occur during that generation.
That brings up an
interesting question. Why don’t people want the End Times to happen in their
lifetime? Here are some possible reasons:
They don’t believe their Faith is strong enough.
They don’t want to experience the Great Tribulation.
They have reconciling to do with someone.
They have reconciling to do with God.
One or all of the things above scares them.
There are easy
solutions to these problems. First and most importantly, reconcile with God.
There is no good reason to wait a second longer. Being close to God will
increase Faith. If reconciling with another person is the issue, ask for
God’s help through Christ and don’t wait. More than one person could be
saved in this instance. As for the Great Tribulation, learn about it.
Knowing about something takes the fear out of it. Find out what happens to
believers during the End Times. It’s really not so scary. What’s scary is
what happens to those who do not believe.
Paul calls
believers - children of the light. He says, You are all the children of the
light, and the children of the day, we’re not of the night or of darkness.
So let’s not sleep, as others do, but let’s watch and be sober, because
those who sleep, sleep in the night, and those who are drunk are drunk in
the night (Matthew
25:5, 13). But let us, who are children of the day, be sober, putting on
the breastplate of Faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation
(Ephesians
6:11-18). Because God hasn’t assigned us to wrath (He’s not saving His
anger for us), but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who
died for us, so that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with
Him.
Now Paul concludes
his letter with sort of a list of things to do or remember. These things
should be on our lists as well.
Encourage and
edify (build up, support) one another. And we ask you to recognize those who
work among you and are over you in the Lord (your shepherds), and admonish
(advise) you, and to treat them very highly in love for their work’s sake.
And be at peace
among yourselves.
This is a sad
thing, but so very often, it isn’t believers and non-believers who are at
odds with one another, but Christians often aren’t at peace among
themselves! What kind of example is that? That doesn’t represent Jesus, and
He is who we claim to represent in everything we do. We should really take
Paul’s advice on this one, because it may mean the difference when it comes
to making an impression on a lost soul. Get along. Forgive. Love.
Now,
we exhort (guide) you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the
fainthearted, support the weak, and be patient toward all. See that none
render evil for evil, but always follow that which is good, both among
yourselves and to all.
Rejoice
evermore. Pray without ceasing.
Let’s talk about
this one for a little bit. How on earth can one pray without ceasing? Yes,
it is a figure of speech, and you can’t literally pray 24/7 without ceasing.
But the idea is honorable and we can increase our prayer time. Think about
this ... You think without ceasing, don’t you? And how much of the time is
it just idle thoughts? Why not try and dedicate your spare thinking time to
prayer? Think to God instead of thinking to yourself. Pray for people you
know. Pray for people you don’t know. Pray to understand God’s will for you.
Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray to make a difference for Him. Pray
that you glorify Him in everything you do. How about this, just talk to God
like He’s your best friend. Ask Him what’s in His heart. Tell him about your
successes and failures and dreams. Ask Him to answer your prayers and your
questions. Spend time listening for His answers, that’s praying too. Praise
Him in your thoughts. Sing to Him, thank Him. When you get a parking place
close to the front of the supermarket, whisper a little thanks to Him. It
may seem silly, but maybe a little thanks will bring you more little
surprises from Him. He’s not your imaginary friend, He’s your invisible God,
and He’s real and He’d love a constant line of communication with you. How
many years has He waited for you to get acquainted with Him and talk with
Him frequently, heart to heart? Pray without ceasing!
In everything give
thanks, because this is the will of God in Jesus Christ concerning you.
Quench not the
Spirit. What’s that supposed to mean? Well, the sign or symbol of the Holy
Spirit is fire. Remember John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize you
with the Holy Ghost and with fire. Quenching the Spirit would be putting out
the fire or disregarding or ignoring the Holy Spirit. Here is a wonderful
study that will help you to get to know the Holy Spirit better,
The
Introduction.
Despise not
prophesying. (Heed prophecy.) Prove all things, keep that which is good.
That means test everything and make sure it is truth before you believe it.
Abstain from
(avoid) all appearance (every form) of evil. Keep away from it and pray that
it stays far away from you. If there’s a lion in a cage - you don’t go in
the cage! Don’t even get close! In order to avoid it, you have to recognize
it. Know your enemy. If you suspect something is evil (television shows,
books, drugs, alcohol, thoughts, the list is endless because satan finds his
way into everything) stay away. Choose good.
And may the very
God of peace sanctify you through and through, and I pray to God that your
entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless (pure) until the coming of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
Faithful is He
that calls you, and He will also do it (bring you to Him).
Brethren, pray for
us.
Greet the brethren
with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read to all
the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
We should always nurture
our Faith as though it’s newborn, like Paul is teaching the church of
Thessalonica, simply, because it is. Every day is a new day, every moment a
new moment to learn more and grow closer to the Lord. Paul’s letters are so
valuable in reminding us of things that are easily forgotten in our lives
because the world comes between us and God. Read Paul’s writings often and
refresh your Faith in the wisdom that he shares with us in the Bible through
the Word, Jesus Christ.
Congratulations on completing this study of The First Epistle of Paul the
Apostle to the Thessalonians. Join us again next time as we adventure into
Paul’s second letter to the Thessalonians, right here at Daily Bread. Pray
without ceasing! God Bless.
