Walking BY Faith on the Bridge OF Faith

June 9, 2022 at 12:06 pm | Posted in I Thessalonians | Leave a comment
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As Christians, the bridge that we are standing ON is all that is standing BETWEEN us and a long fall, followed by a sweeping-away in the current of water rushing by beneath our feet. Thankfully, though, the bridge on which we stand cannot waver in the wind; it cannot decay and rot; and it simply cannot collapse, even with the weight of all our baggage, faults, problems, and failures. It is the bridge of the faith of Jesus Christ Himself, and it is unchanging because He is unchanging. When He promises that you will do something and be something, you WILL do it and be it.

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

I Thessalonians 5:23-24

The bridge of the faith of Jesus Christ is a bridge we may never fall OFF, but it is a bridge we may fall ON. Therefore, in this series on I Thessalonians I have looked at three “legs” of the Christian life which strengthen our stand, and keep us from failing over on our own, or from being knocked over by the devil. These three legs are: God’s Spirit (the Holy Ghost); God’s Word (the Bible); and God’s body (the Church).

Here are previous lessons on the Book of I Thessalonians:

1. An Exemplary Church (1)
2. From Frequent Formal Faithful Following, Flows Full Foundational Fellowship (1:6)
3. Don’t Get Caught Up the Creek Without Your Oars (1:8-9)
4. The Joy of Maturity (2)
5. Trusted with the Treasure (2:4)
6. Quarterback Commandment No. 11 (2:2-6)
7. Quarterback Commandment No. 6 (2:9-12)
8. The Thousand Year Reign of King Jesus (2:9-17)
9. Strong Stable Standing (3)
10. Keep Walking until You Get Caught Up (4)
11. Marital Espionage (4:3-4)
12. God’s Specific Will for You (4:3-7)
13. Learning to Like Eternal Life (4:7-8)
14. Celebrating at a Funeral? (4:13)
15. Home Is Where the Soul Goes (4:13-18)
16. Comfort One Another (4:13-18)
17. Arose by No Other Name (4:14-18)
18. Quarterback Commandment No. 8 (4:16-17; 5:2-4)
19. Us and Them (5:1-11)
20. Beware the Father of the Furtive (5:4-5)
21. This Big Light of Mine (5:6)
22. The Helmet of Salvation (5:8)
23. T.K.O. Your Pastor (#1) (5:12-13)*
24. Quarterback Commandment No. 5 (5:12-14)
25. Seeing and Following Instead of Scratching and Stabbing (5:15)
26. Wake Up, Clean Up, and Dress Up (5:7-27)

*most-viewed entry in the category

Wake Up, Clean Up, and Dress Up

May 9, 2022 at 1:28 pm | Posted in I Thessalonians | 2 Comments
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For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I Thessalonians 5:7-8 (emphasis added)

Each day Christians should wake up (focus on serving Christ), clean up (ask the Spirit to cleanse and renew our thoughts), and dress up (put on the armor of God).

The breastplate of faith and love, and the helmet, the hope of salvation, remind us of:

And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

I Corinthians 13:13

Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25

Being part of a local church family is important because “born-again” Christians are like newborn babies, and babies do best in a family.

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

I Thessalonians 5:12-13

It is GOOD for Christians to be under authority. The result is harmony and unity in ministry, and more people involved.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

I Thessalonians 5:14 (emphasis added)

The result of not getting in the right position – of getting out of order – of not getting under authority – is being feebleminded, weak, and a drain on the patience of those charged by the Lord with overseeing you. You may have heard the expressions, “squeaky wheels get all the grease,” and “empty barrels make the most noise.” Sadly, in many churches 20% of the people do 80% of the work. A church is supposed to be a family, not a corporation.

 Rejoice evermore.

I Thessalonians 5:16

Express joy in serving the Lord even when things don’t seem to be going well.

Pray without ceasing.

I Thessalonians 5:17

Pray for those around you, especially your fellow church members.

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

I Thessalonians 5:18

Remind others to be thankful.

Quench not the Spirit.

I Thessalonians 5:19

Stir up and encourage your fellow church members to be loving, to exercise their faith, to have hope.

Despise not prophesyings.

I Thessalonians 5:20

Be the persons who says, “Hey, here’s what the Bible says, let’s do this.”

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

I Thessalonians 5:21

Be the person who also says, “Hey, the Bible says we shouldn’t do that, so let’s not do that.” 

Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 5:22-23

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

I Thessalonians 5:27

This letter was to be read to the WHOLE church at Thessalonica together. If I said that the church didn’t need to hear any prophecies from the Bible, faithful Christians would say that I was in error, that I shouldn’t despise prophesying. If I said we don’t need to be led by the Spirit in corporate worship, faithful Christians would tell me not to try to quench the Spirit. But how often do we tell children they are too young and distracting to hear the preaching of God’s Word in the company of the entire local church assembly? How often do we send them off to play games so we can concentrate on “adult worship?” We must not send them a message that we don’t really trust the power of God. They go to school most of the year, and most of their education does not consist of songs and games and puppets. Mostly they sit at desks and the teacher teaches and they are expected to learn. Yet which is more important?  What they learn in school or what they learn in church? What is more powerful? The teaching of reading, writing, and arithmetic, or the preaching of God’s Word?

Home Is Where the Soul Goes

April 13, 2022 at 9:17 am | Posted in I Thessalonians | 2 Comments
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Charles Whiting lived in Irvington, New York. He was a little over 80 years old in 2005, when his wife, Catherine, died. NBC News reported that Mr. Whiting “stayed connected” to his wife after her death, through his Verizon phone. Specifically, he would call his own phone every day “to hear his wife’s voice saying ‘the Whitings aren’t home.’” One day, though, Verizon upgraded his service, and the voice message was lost.  Mr. Whiting “immediately called Verizon and waited for an hour for help. He got disconnected, so he called back. After another 90 minutes, he said he was told he couldn’t get the message back and that he would just have to record a new one.” Mr. Whiting felt devastated.

The story has sort of a happy ending because some sympathetic Verizon employee eventually found the old recording. However, we might wonder if Mr. Whiting, the grieving widower, has access to a better source of comfort than a short voicemail message.

Certainly, there are few things in this world as distressing as the death of a loved one. The Bible holds no condemnation or rebuke for those who feel sorrow at such a time. However, the Bible holds great hope for those whose loved ones have died a physical death after receiving the salvation of Jesus Christ.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.  For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 4:13-18

When a Christian dies, his or her Christian survivors feel sorrow, but not the sorrow of “others which have no hope.” For we have the greatest Hope of all:  the Lord Jesus Christ. He will one day reunite all those who have died in the faith, and this is a great source of comfort, and even joy, in the midst of grief.

I would have loved to have been present when two of my all-time favorite preachers met at a Bible conference many years ago. Vance Havner’s wife had recently died, and Warren Wiersbe, seeking to comfort him, told him, “I was sorry to hear about you losing your wife.” 

“She’s not lost,” Havner replied. “Something can’t be lost when you know right where it is.”

Arose by No Other Name

March 22, 2022 at 1:48 pm | Posted in Biblical names, I Thessalonians | 2 Comments
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The word “arise” is found in the Bible 149 times. It is a command, many times given by God, to tell someone to get moving, get busy, go somewhere, and do something. I am so thankful for those who have heeded the Word of the Lord and have “arisen” early on Sunday mornings, and have come to a corporate worship service at a local Christian church to meet together, fellowship, study, and encourage others. For those of you who are reading this, and have visited, or diligently attended, a Biblically faithful church service or Sunday School class, you have been used of God to strengthen and bless me and others personally, and that is a reason to rejoice!

As we continue on with our study of I Thessalonians, there is an even better reason to rejoice described in Chapter 4.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall­ rise first:

I Thessalonians 4:14-17 (emphasis added)

The words “rose” and “rise” in these verses, referring to Christ’s Resurrection, and to the resurrection of the bodies of those who have died in the Christian faith, are from the Greek word anistemi, and are related to the word used in the command “arise,” so often given in the Bible. It literally means “up” (ana) and “to make stand or rise” (istanai). It is from this word that we get the name “Anastasia.”

If we are alive when it happens, we can only speculate on how great our wonder will be as the Lord causes the bodies of our dearly departed loved ones to “rise” up to meet Him in the air. It appears that we will not have much time, though, to stand around being amazed, for we will quickly follow! Are you ready for this great event: the coming of the Lord Jesus for His bride, and the rapture of the Church? John the Revelator’s proclamation was:

He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22:20

Many Christians today invoke this prayer – “Come quickly, Lord Jesus” – as an expression of their desire to escape the troubles, trials, and wickedness of our world today. At a time when we have seen the President of the greatest nation on earth inaugurated to the strains of a homosexual marching band, and when professing Christian pastors attempt to call down God’s blessings on proponents of abortion, those who harbor such a desire to depart can hardly be blamed.

However, it seems that the desire for Christ’s imminent return must almost be tempered by the realization that we know so many who have not yet trusted Christ. We want them to believe the Gospel and be saved before it’s too late. Perhaps there is more to the “come quickly” than just a longing to leave behind a bad situation. We know that our entrance into the Lord’s presence in Heaven will be the ultimate fulfillment of our sanctification. Those who truly love the Lord want to be more like Jesus every day. He is coming back for a spotless bride, a pure church. Rather than bemoaning how ungodly the world is becoming, it may be beneficial for those who are saved to focus on becoming more godly ourselves.

In any event, the day of Christ’s appearing and the day of the church’s arising is described for us in the Bible for a very specific reason:

Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 4:18

Us and Them

March 7, 2022 at 4:56 pm | Posted in I Thessalonians | 3 Comments
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I Thessalonians Chapter 5 begins with a “but.”

But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

I Thessalonians 5:1

We should be comforted by the promise that Jesus is coming back, BUT this is not an excuse to wait and watch passively. It is a reason to get busy.

I Thessalonians Chapter 4 ends with a message of comfort, but there are contrasts in Chapter 5 between “us” and “them.”

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

I Thessalonians 5:3 (emphasis added)

We say that pregnant women are “expecting.” This should be a happy time – a time of hope – but between the hope of expecting and the joy of birth there comes a time of labor and travail. There have always been people who believed they were peaceful and safe, but they were not actually ready to meet the Lord. In evangelism we sometimes ask people if they would like to go Heaven when they die (they sometimes say “Of course!”), but a better question might be, “Are you ready to meet the Lord?”

But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

I Thessalonians 5:4-5 (emphasis added)

Children of the light have no business in darkness. Children of darkness detest the light. They don’t want to come into the light because the light exposes their deeds – and their deeds are evil (John 3:19-20).

For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

I Thessalonians 5:7

God is light. In Him there is no darkness at all (I John 1:5). In fact, the very first creation that God recognized as “good” was the creation of light (Genesis 1:4).  

As believers, we will be united with our Christian loved ones who “sleep” in the Lord, BUT there is a time of travail coming, so we must stay busy, stay awake, stay alert, stay vigilant, stay sober, stay in the light, keep walking with the Lord, imitating Him, and finding our comfort in Him.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

I Thessalonians 5:9-11 

Keep Walking until You Get Caught Up

February 24, 2022 at 11:04 pm | Posted in I Thessalonians | 7 Comments
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Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

I Thessalonians 4:1 

In the first three chapters of I Thessalonians we see the stabilizing legs of the Christian life, but Christian living means more than just standing. It means moving forward – walking. We need God’s Spirit (the Holy Spirit), God’s Word (the Bible), and God’s body (the church) in order to be stable in our stand, but these legs not only stabilize our stand – they also walk.

We need to know how operate our legs in order to walk. When a child first learns to walk, he will often hold onto an object to help himself stand, but when is ready to take a step – perhaps to reach out for his father – he will let go of the object and reach for the person he loves more than the thing which is helping him stand. There is a “letting go,” but – even more than letting go – there is a desire to get to his father. When you want God more than the world, you will let go of not only sin, but also vanity.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus’s His sustenance – what made Him full, what satisfied Him – was to do the will of His Father (John 4:34; 8:29). When we do God’s will, we “abound more and more.” We take a step, walk, walk quickly, run, leap, and bound.

For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.  For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;

I Thessalonians 4:2-4

God gives negative commands (“abstain from fornication”) and positive commands (“possess your vessel in sanctification and honor”). Like a car battery that won’t let a car “start up” and “run right” unless it has both a negative and a positive charge, we need both types of commands. We are to be holy and SEPARATED FROM the world, and CONSECRATED UNTO God.

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

I Thessalonians 4:5

The term “Gentiles” here is not intended as an ethnic insult. The Thessalonian Christians were no longer primarily either Jews or Gentiles when it came to their true spiritual identity, but Jewish people – even prior to coming to Christ – had been commanded under the Old Testament law to abstain from fornication. A typical Gentile pagan gave no thought to the sinfulness of fornicating.

There is an admonition here that Christians should “possess their vessels” in the sense of controlling their bodies, and in the sense of husbands taking care of – even loving possession of – their wives.

Christians have the Spirit, so we need to empty out the fleshly desires and BE CONTROLLED BY the Spirit. We have the Body of Christ, so we need to do things which honor and help the Body, even if it means denying our own BODILY pleasures.

For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

I Thessalonians 4:7

Our election comes with a calling. Personal holiness and purity are seen as old-fashioned and out of style in today’s world, even in today’s church, but they are not out of style with God. He wants a pure Church, and He wants pure fellowship.

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

I Thessalonians 4:9

Because the Church is a body, God wants us to be unified. When we WALK, we need to be WALKING together. Being born again changes our ontology – the nature of who we are in Christ. If you are born of God, you have the ability to LOVE.

And when his brethren saw that their father loved him more than all his brethren, they hated him, and could not speak peaceably unto him.

Genesis 37:4

Why could Joseph’s brothers not speak peaceably to him? They had vocal chords, lips, tongues, teeth. They knew the same language. The problem wasn’t with their anatomical ability to produce sound or their understanding of language. The problem was in their hearts. Because of their hatred of him, they could not force themselves to speak kindly to him, even for appearances’ sake, and even though doing so would have avoided conflict and trouble. It is simply not in the nature of our fallen flesh to love others selflessly. However, it is in the nature of regenerated, Spirit-filled hearts to love like that.

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

I Thessalonians 4:11-12

Christians are to stay busy, but they should not be busybodies. Having God’s Spirit, we can and should operate in the Spirit to remain holy and to move close to God. Having God’s Body, we can and should show love and be unified, thereby being good witnesses to unbelievers. Having God’s Word, we can and should comfort our fellow believers as they walk.

But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.  For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.  For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

I Thessalonians 4:13-15

The souls of people who have died in Christ are not literally “sleeping” until He returns. Their bodies are sleeping, but not their souls. When a Christian loved one dies, we don’t sorrow as those who have no hope. Sometimes, when comforting a grieving family member, we will say, “I’m sorry for your loss,” or a widow might say, “Last year I lost my husband to a disease,” but we haven’t really “lost” our Christian family members and friends when they die. They are not lost because we know where they are: with the Lord.

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

I Thessalonians 4:17

The Greek word for “caught up” (what some people call “raptured”) is rich in textured meanings. It is translated from the Greek word harpazo, which in Latin was raptus (hence, rapture), meaning to catch away speedily. The event described here will happen in the twinkling of an eye. We should be living in a general state of readiness when it happens. Once it does happen, there will not be time to stop doing something wrong, or to start doing something right.

Rapture can also mean to seize by force. Prayerfully, we would not have to be dragged by force out of this world the way Lot had to be dragged out of Sodom.

Rapture can mean the arrival of someone claiming what is rightfully His. Jesus will one day visibly make it plan that He has already done the work of redemption, and that He will finally and completely “redeem” everything that is God’s, the way a groom lovingly but purposefully takes hold of his bride. “Do you TAKE this woman..?”

Rapture can mean to relocate quickly. We will leave this world which is not our home and take up residence where our rightful citizenship is.

Finally, rapture can mean to rescue from danger – just in the nick of time – before the Tribulation. Enoch walked with God and he was not, for God took him – he was “caught up” into Heaven without dying – and then the rain started.

Strong Stable Standing

January 31, 2022 at 3:58 pm | Posted in Biblical standing, I Thessalonians | 5 Comments
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And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

I Thessalonians 3:2-3 (emphasis added)

Paul left the church at Thessalonica, which created a new situation for the believers in Thessalonica – a troubling situation – but he wanted them to have peace, so he sent Timothy to “establish” them: to strengthen, comfort, and stabilize them. He didn’t want them to be “moved” – to be knocked down, spiritually speaking. Three things will help to “establish” or “stabilize” us in our walk with Christ, and will keep the circumstances that God may be allowing the devil to use against us from knocking us over. If we are truly established, obstacles can be experienced as slight bumps, rather than as major obstructions that completely topple us.

First, God has given us His Spirit (I Thessalonians 1:6). Second, He has given us His Word (I Thessalonians 2:13). Third, as we see in Chapter 3 , He has given us His Church: other believers who worship and serve and physically meet together.

For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

I Thessalonians 3:8 (emphasis added)

He encouraged them to be stable, strong, resistant to being knocked down (using an architectural term), and that would encourage Paul and Timothy and Silas and the other churches. Believers encourage other believers by continuing to be faithful.

Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

I Thessalonians 3:10 (emphasis added)

A table with three strong legs (the Spirit, the Bible, and the Body) will stand and be stable, but prayer is necessary as well.

Showing people that you are living for the Lord is a way of loving other people because it encourages them to see your example, but it is also encouraging to TELL other people that you see Christ in THEM. We do not glory in ourselves, but we see glory in our “knowledge” of Him (Jeremiah 9:23-24) – not our intellectual knowledge, but our personal relationship knowledge.

Paul was concerned about the FACT of the Thessalonian believers’ stability, and he was concerned about the QUALITY of this stability.

To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

I Thessalonians 3:13 (emphasis added)

God wants blamelessness and holiness in His people, and the emphasis in this verse is on the coming of Jesus Christ with His saints, so we see that what’s pleasing to God is conformity to Christ. When you see the world going downhill fast is your “even so, come, Lord Jesus” an expression of your desire to get out of trouble, or an expression of your longing to be more like Jesus?

Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;

I Thessalonians 3:1

Paul felt like he couldn’t stand it any longer. He needed to find out how His fellow believers were doing. He wanted to strengthen them, but he also wanted to see them strengthening themselves in the Lord. It wouldn’t be much fun planting a crop and working a field, thinking that you were NEVER going to see the harvest or taste the fruit of your labor. It wouldn’t be much fun taking care of sheep and seeing individual sheep prosper and grow, but never getting to see the whole flock together. It wouldn’t be much fun to tend a vineyard, pruning, keeping the vines off the ground, chasing away all those little foxes, gathering together the grapes, trampling them out, pouring the juice into new skins, and then never getting invited to the wedding reception where the product is consumed and where there is celebration, love, and joy.

That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

I Thessalonians 3:3

We should not be moved by afflictions, because we are appointed unto them. There is no guarantee under the New Testament that faithful, godly believers will have health, wealth, worldly prosperity, recognition, or even good relationships IN THIS LIFE. However, there are quite a few verses that promise trials, trouble, persecutions, affliction.

The Joy of Maturity

January 12, 2022 at 3:52 pm | Posted in Biblical joy, I Thessalonians | 4 Comments
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It appears from I Thessalonians Chapter 2 that some people verbally attacked Paul after he left Thessalonica, so he addressed some of the things they had been saying by reminding the church members of the integrity of his message and his methods. It is interesting to see the maturing process of these Thessalonian Christians – how they were growing up in the faith.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

I Thessalonians 2:7-8

There are comparisons between the way children need parents to care for them, and the ways Christians need a church and spiritual leaders in that church to care for them. First, parents sacrifice for their children.

But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

I Thessalonians 2:2

Second, parents are patient with their children.

But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

I Thessalonians 2:7

Third, parents provide nourishment for their children.

So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

I Thessalonians 2:8

Fourth, parents provide protection for their children.

For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

I Thessalonians 2:5-6

As Christians, the Gospel and its ministry have been entrusted to us. If you have been faithful for very long, there is a likelihood that someone is looking up to you spiritually. If we think of ourselves as spiritual parents, we will remember that there are parental characteristics we need to practice.

1.  Parents need to be persistent.

For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

I Thessalonians 2:9

2. Parents need to be consistent.

Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

I Thessalonians 2:10

3.  Parents need to be insistent.

As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

I Thessalonians 2:11

4.  Parents need to be resistant.

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

I Thessalonians 2:12

Knowing that those over whom God has given us spiritual care are first and foremost HIS children, we can expect the best out of them. Growing up can be painful, but it can also be joyful.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

I Thessalonians 2:13

There is joy in receiving the Word – in learning new things about God – and there is joy in Christian socialization.

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

I Thessalonians 2:14

It is important for Christians to be around other Christians. Growing Christians, like growing children, need to be socialized. I often see people claiming to be mature in the Word, but refusing to go to church. I have my doubts, though, about their effectiveness in living out the Word.

There is a joy in pleasing those who have authority over you.

For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? For ye are our glory and joy.

I Thessalonians 2:19-20

There is joy in pleasing God and seeing Him receive glory. There is joy in learning new things and living new things. There is pain, but also joy, in investing yourself in the life of others and spending time with others. There is joy in trying to please those whom God has placed over us. There is joy in trying to give glory to God. There is joy in growing up.

An Exemplary Church

December 14, 2021 at 4:52 pm | Posted in I Thessalonians | 3 Comments
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Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I Thessalonians 1:1 (emphasis added)

Note the “church” in Verse 1; there was a local church assembly. The start of the church at Thessalonica is described is in Acts 17. It is possible that I Thessalonians is second oldest epistle in the Bible (possibly predated only by Galatians).

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

  Acts 17:1-3 

Thessalonica – originally named Therma for the hot springs nearby – was renamed after Alexander the Great’s sister, “Thessalonike,” which meant “Thessalian victory,” Nike being the mythological god of victory. It is possible that Paul was only there for three Sabbaths. Thugs were hired by the Jewish religious leaders there to rile everybody up, and Paul and Silas had to leave by night.

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.

I Thessalonians 1:4

The Thessalonian believers understood that they had been saved BY THE LORD. He chose them – He elected them. The Lord shares the title of Savior with NO ONE. These Thessalonian Christians were not saved out of Judaism for the most part. They were saved from idol-worship.

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

I Thessalonians 1:9-10

They turned from their idols, and they were persecuted by the gentiles. They suffered for Christ.

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

I Thessalonians 1:6

They were exemplary in their obedience, and their faithfulness in suffering encouraged other churches to follow their example.

So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

I Thessalonians 1:7

They were also exemplary in their enthusiasm and soul-winning. They expected Christ’s soon return, but they were not idle or fearful.  They were excited and busy. They knew that on the day of accounting they would not present to the Lord their vain idols. They had a LIVING hope in the LIVING God.

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

I Thessalonians 1:3

They placed a high value on their status as CHILDREN OF GOD. They were NEW CREATIONS – HIGHER creations, redeemed for a greater purpose than they could have imagined before they were redeemed. No vain amusement or material possession of this world could fulfill them. By the same token, no persecution, trial, trouble, or temporary circumstance of this world could make them truly miserable. They were too joyful for that, because their joy was in a Treasure that is greater than any earthly treasure.

And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

I Thessalonians 1:6 (emphasis added)

Celebrating at a Funeral?

July 17, 2019 at 10:08 am | Posted in I Thessalonians, Q&A | 6 Comments
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Question: Someone in my family died, and this person had a strong salvation testimony and lived for many years the way the Bible says we would expect a Christian to live. The funeral was more like a party than a funeral. Everybody was laughing and joking, and they even played upbeat party music. Is this okay, since everybody agreed that the person had gone to Heaven?

Answer: Well, I don’t want to say it was NOT okay. There is certainly a sense in which it is okay to celebrate when we believe someone we love has gone to Heaven. But I wouldn’t want to tell people they are not supposed to grieve when someone they love has died, either. I Thessalonians 4:13 says, “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.” Some people take that to mean we shouldn’t sorrow at all when a Christian dies, but I think it means that it is okay to sorrow, just not the same way we would sorrow over someone that died without ever having trusted Christ. After all, Jesus Himself wept when Lazarus died (John 11:35), and He knew He would bring him back to life!

There are two considerations that might temper the celebratory atmosphere at the funeral of a Christian. One is compassion for those in attendance who may not feel like celebrating (Romans 12:15). It would be callous to act irreverent in the presence of people who are going to miss the person who has died. Two, the Bible makes it clear that death itself shouldn’t be frivolously talked about as some “natural, circle-of-life, blessing-in-disguise” occurrence. Death is caused by sin (Genesis 2:17, 3:6; Romans 5:12, 6:23). Death is an adversarial invader into God’s originally “very good” (Genesis 1:31) creation. Every time someone dies, we should grieve over the fact that we ourselves engage in behavior that our Creator deems worthy of death, and a funeral is a stark illustrated sermon on the seriousness of sin and its consequences.

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