Category Archives: Thessalonians

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Newsflash: Jesus To Return On May 21

“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.”
(I Thessalonians 5:2)

This is Friday, May 20, 2011, and according to radio host Harold Camping, Jesus is coming back this Saturday.  Apparently, he and his friends has discovered “that WE CAN KNOW from the Bible alone that the date of the rapture of believers will take place on May 21, 2011 and that God will destroy this world on October 21, 2011.”

Maybe—maybe not.  I personally think Harold is a misguided soul, but one thing I do know is that Jesus is coming someday—which I think, and hope, will be very soon.  Another thing I know is that we ought to be living like he is coming back tomorrow.  Scripture makes it pretty clear that we ought to be living with our bags packed.

The Apostle Paul talks quite a lot about the return of Christ in both of his Thessalonian letters. He concludes the first letter by reminding his readers that this great event will happen when people least expect it—“like a thief in the night.” That means, as believers, we must therefore live each and every moment expecting the unexpected. We are to live with our bags packed, so to speak, ready to leave for our true home—heaven—at a moment’s notice.

What does it mean to live in such a way? Paul gives a checklist of sorts in the final verses of this letter. Perhaps you’ve used a checklist to make sure you have the right things packed in your suitcase before going on an extended trip. As you prepare for this journey home—which by the way, will be an extended trip with no return—here is your spiritual checklist to help you be ready:

Be alert:  I Thessalonians 5:6—be on the lookout; remain on guard as to Christ’s return and the evil conditions of the time in which it will take place.

Be self-controlled: I Thessalonians 5:6 & 8—keep your life, your passions, your desires and fleshly drives in check.

Be armed: I Thessalonians 5:8—put on the armor of faith (conviction), love (self-sacrifice) and hope (the assurance of your salvation).

Be edifying: I Thessalonians 5:11—instead of finding flaws in others, build them up and help them to be ready for Christ’s return.

Be respectful: I Thessalonians 5:12-13—treat your spiritual leaders—ministers and lay leaders—with high regard and deep love. Give them respect not because of their position, educational achievements or popularity, but because of the nature of their work.

Be peaceful: I Thessalonians 5:13—seek peace actively, not passively, with fellow believers.

Be involved: I Thessalonians 5:14-15—get involved with others by warning the idle, motivating the timid, helping the weak, being patient with everyone, and exhibiting kindness rather than retaliation toward those who’ve hurt you.

Be joyful: I Thessalonians 5:16—maintain an attitude of joy no matter what.

Be prayerful: I Thessalonians 5:17—stay in God’s presence continually.

Be thankful: I Thessalonians 5:18—not only in good times, but even in bad times exhibit an attitude of gratitude.

Be sensitive: I Thessalonians 5:19-20—develop a sensitivity and an appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ; especially as it relates to prophecy.

Be discerning: I Thessalonians 5:21—be knowledgeable of the Bible so that everything can be tested against it.

Be diligent: Thessalonians 5:21—cling to the truth of God’s Word, being quick to obey it.

Be pure: I Thessalonians 5:22—moral purity should continually characterize your life.

Be surrendered: I Thessalonians 5:23-24—be wholly dependent on God and cooperative with the Holy Spirit to bring about sanctification and blamelessness in your life—body, soul and spirit.

Be interceding: I Thessalonians 5:25—regularly intercede for others before the throne of God.

Be friendly: I Thessalonians 5:26—love and affection must be demonstrative, and an outward expression of your inner affection for fellow believers.

Be unselfish: I Thessalonians 5:27—take responsibility to share God’s truth with other believers.

Be gracious: I Thessalonians 5: 28—live in the light and reality of God’s grace, personally, relationally and continually.

Are you ready to go, or do you need to do some more packing? Jesus may come today, so make sure you’re ready for the journey.  And if he comes tomorrow, I’ll see you in a pretty cool place.  If he doesn’t, then I’ll see you in another pretty cool place—church this Sunday!

Maranatha!

“Our deepest calling is not to grow in our knowledge of God. It is to make disciples. Our knowledge will grow—the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised, will guide us into all truth. But that’s not our calling, it is His. Our calling is to prepare the world for Christ’s return. The world is not ready yet. And so, we go about introducing a dying world to the Savior of Life. Anything we do toward our own growth must be toward that end.” ~Jeffery Bryant

 

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Enduring Love

Read II Thessalonians 3

“May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s
love and Christ’s perseverance.”
(II Thessalonians 3:5)

Thoughts… Paul’s desire for the Thessalonians—which of course, is God’s desire for all believers—is really quite simple: To love like God and to patiently endure like Jesus.

Yet when you think about it, this is deeply profound. In light of all that Paul has said in this letter about the duties of Christ-followers during the difficulties of the last days, we Christians desperately need the Lord to lead our hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God.

Though “love” in our world is a concept terribly misunderstood, misused and even abused, and in that corrupted state, overused, we would do well to make a study of God’s love in Scripture in order to gain a correct understanding of it. To truly understand love, we must begin with God’s love, since God is love. He authored love, he is the very expression of love, and he is the sole source of true love. God thinks love, he feels love, and he acts in love—he cannot help himself, for love is what he is. In order for us to be led into a full expression of God’s love, we first need to understand it—if one can truly ever understand the depth of his love.

Not only do we need to study God’s love in Scripture, we need to study God’s love as it is expressed in the person of Jesus Christ. Perhaps the highest expression of that love is seen in the patient endurance of Christ. Jesus is the consummate visible, physical, literal expression of God’s love, and in particular, his death on the cross for unworthy sinners like you and me is the ultimate definition of enduring love.

The love of God expressed through his Son, Jesus Christ, was not some sort of fair weather, sentimental, feel good sort of love, it was a tough love that hung in there when there was absolutely no reason, apart from his own loving nature, to hang in there. Yet he hung in there, literally, hanging on the cross for our sins.

That’s the kind of enduring love to which we have been called.

So how does your love measure up to that standard? Not very well, you say. Me neither!

How do we develop that kind of enduring love? Study it—for sure. Ask for it—of course. But mostly, we must surrender our will to the only one who can transform us into that kind of patiently loving people—the One who directs our hearts into “God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.”

Prayer… Lord, bring me into a deeper understanding of your love—and may I be radically transformed by it. May the testimony of my life be that I became the expression of your enduring love.

One More Thing… “Love means loving the unlovable—or it is no virtue at all.” —G.K. Chesterton

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Don’t Be Gullible

Read II Thessalonians 2

“Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day
of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they
claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter
supposedly from us. Don’t be fooled by what they say.
(II Thessalonians 2:2-3)

Thoughts… Paul is speaking specifically about the coming of the Lord, warning his readers not to be alarmed and misled by the constant and “creative” barrage of new information coming to them about the end times.

Of course, what Paul teaches specifically has a general application as well.  Not only are we hit from time to time with supposed “new teachings” regarding the Lord’s coming, i.e., “88 Reasons Why Jesus Will Return in ’88,” (I’m fairly certain the author of that one was off a bit), in general, there seems to be new doctrinal teachings du jour that we have to sort through.

Paul’s advice—and mind:  Check it out in the Word.  Whenever you hear of some new revelation, a new practice or phenomenon, a “word” from the Lord, go to the Bible to see if it lines up with the clear teaching of Scripture.

That’s what the Berean Christians of Acts 17 did.  Verse 11 of that chapter says, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.”

Although the Thessalonian believers were amazing Christians in so many ways—just go back and read I Thessalonians 1:4-10—apparently they were also fairly gullible.  They seemed to be easily swayed by every wind of doctrine.  Not the Bereans!  They filtered everything through the Word of God, and if it didn’t line up with orthodox doctrine, they tossed it into the spiritual trash heap.

Let me encourage you to be Berean-like in your faith.  Know the Word of God and test everything you hear against it—even what I have to say.  If you will do that, you will not be misled as false teachings increase in these last times.

Prayer… I will keep your Word, O Lord, as a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my pathway.  I will read and meditate upon it daily.  I will seek to live out its precepts fully.  I will measure every sermon I preach and every sermon I hear against it—it will be the plumb line by which everything gets measured.  Mostly Lord, I will honor your Word supremely in my life.

One More Thing… “The Holy Scriptures tell us what we could never learn any other way: they tell us what we are, who we are, how we got here, why we are here and what we are required to do while we remain here.”  —A. W. Tozer

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The Best Kind Of Intercession

Read II Thessalonians 1

“We constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy
of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good
purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may
be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the
grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
(II Thessalonians 1:11-12)

Thoughts… I pray for people—everyday. I assume you do too.  Often the focus of our prayers is for their comfort and success—and that is not necessarily a bad idea.  But wouldn’t the better way to pray for them be as Paul prayed for these Christian in Thessalonica?  The priority of his intercession for them was that God would count them worthy of the calling that he had placed on their lives, and that he would fulfill divine purposes through them.  He prayed that through God’s power and their submission to that power Christ would be glorified in them and they would be glorified in Christ.

Now that is an altogether higher form of intercession!  And when you think about it, isn’t it really far better than asking God for another person’s happiness and comfort?  Isn’t it truly more noble than praying for someone’s success?  At the end of the day, wouldn’t that person be better off if God’s power had enabled them to accomplish his purpose, that their achievements would have been those inspired by the Holy Spirit rather than their own spirit, and that their efforts had caused a good word to be spoken about God rather than themselves?

I don’t know about you, but if that could be said of my life by the end of this day, I would take that over the usual definition of a good day any day!

As you are prompted to pray for another today, take Paul’s approach.  In fact, why don’t you just use Paul’s prayer—I don’t think he would mind.

Oh, and by the way, if you are taking the time to read this Blog today, I just want you to know that I am praying Paul’s prayer for you. If you have made the effort to get this far, know this: I am lifting your name and your cause before our gracious Father.  I am praying Paul’s Thesslonian prayer for you:  That you will be counted worthy of your calling and strengthened with supernatural power to carry out the good purposes that the Holy Spirit is prompting you to fulfill.  My deepest prayer for you is that through your life, Jesus Christ will be glorified.  And I also pray that you will know something of his glory in your own spirit at some point during this day.  May his blessings rest upon you in very real ways today, and as you lay your head down on your pillow tonight, may you hear him whisper in your ear, “Well done, good and faithful servant.  Enter into my Father’s rest.”

Prayer… Lord, you see the dear person who is reading this.  Fulfill this Thessalonian prayer in their life.  Bless them with every form of spiritual abundance and enlarge their capacity for faith.  Let your hand be with them today.  Keep them from causing harm, and keep them from being harmed. Make them a trophy of your grace and a conduit of your glory.  In Jesus name I pray, amen.

One More Thing… “Let your prayer for temporal blessings be strictly limited to things absolutely necessary.” —St. Bernard

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Checklist For The Journey Home

Read I Thessalonians 5

“For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return
will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night.”
(I Thessalonians 5:2)

Thoughts... Both Thessalonian letters devote a great deal to Christ’s return. Paul concludes this first letter by reminding his readers that this great event will happen when people least expect it—“like a thief in the night.” So as believers, we must therefore live each and every moment expecting the unexpected. We are to live with our bags packed, so to speak, ready to leave for our true home—heaven—at a moments notice.

What does it mean to live in such a way? Paul gives a checklist of sorts in the final verses of this letter. Perhaps you’ve used a checklist to make sure you have the right things packed in your suitcase before going on an extended trip. As you prepare for the journey home—which by the way, will be an extended trip with no return—here is your spiritual checklist:

  • Verse 6: Be alert—be on the lookout; remain on guard as to Christ’s return and the evil conditions of the time in which it will take place.
  • Verses 6 & 8: Be self-controlled—keep your life, your passions, your desires and fleshly drives in check.
  • Verse 8: Be armed—put on the armor of faith (conviction), love (self-sacrifice) and hope (the assurance of your salvation).
  • Verse 11: Be encouraging—instead of finding flaws in others, build them up and help them to be ready for Christ’s return.
  • Verses 12-13: Be respectful—treat your spiritual leaders—ministers and lay leaders—with high regard and love. Give them respect not because of their position, educational achievements are popularity, but because of the nature of their work.
  • Verse 13: Be at peace—seek peace actively, not passively, with fellow believers.
  • Verses 14-15: Be involved—get involved with others by warning the idle, motivating the timid, helping the weak, being patient with everyone, and exhibiting kindness rather than retaliation toward those who’ve hurt you.
  • Verse 16: Be joyful—maintain an attitude of joy no matter what.
  • Verse 17: Be prayerful—stay in God’s presence continually.
  • Verse 18: Be thankful—not only in good times, but even in bad times exhibit an attitude of gratitude.
  • Verses 19-20: Be sensitive—develop a sensitivity and an appreciation for the work of the Holy Spirit in the body of Christ; especially as it relates to prophecy.
  • Verse 21: Be discerning—be knowledgeable of the Bible so that everything can be tested against it.
  • Verse 21: Be obedient—understand what the Word of God says, and be quick to obey it.
  • Verse 22: Be pure—moral purity should continually characterize your life.
  • Verses 23-24: Be dependent—be wholly dependent on God and cooperative with the Holy Spirit to bring about sanctification and blamelessness in your life—body, soul and spirit.
  • Verse 25: Be an intercessor—regularly intercede for others before the throne of God.
  • Verse 26: Be friendly—love and affection must be demonstrative, and an outward expression of your inner affection for fellow believers.
  • Verse 27: Be unselfish—take responsibility to share with other believers the truth of God’s Word.
  • Verse 28: Be gracious—live in the light and reality of God’s grace, personally and relationally.

Are you ready to go, or do you need to do some more packing? Jesus may come today, so make sure you’re ready for the journey.

Prayer… Lord, I long to see you. Perhaps it will be today! But whether it is today or a hundred years from now, empower me through the Holy Spirit to live this day in a state of readiness, ready to go home at a moments notice.

One More Thing…“Our deepest calling is not to grow in our knowledge of God. It is to make disciples. Our knowledge will grow — the Holy Spirit, Jesus promised, will guide us into all truth. But that’s not our calling, it is His. Our calling is to prepare the world for Christ’s return. The world is not ready yet. And so, we go about introducing a dying world to the Savior of Life. Anything we do toward our own growth must be toward that end.” —Jeffery Bryant

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The Sermon Of Your Life

Read I Thessalonians 4

Make it your goal to live a quiet life, minding your own business
and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before.
Then people who are not Christians will respect the way you
live, and you will not need to depend on others.”
(I Thessalonians 4:11-12)

Thoughts… In Paul’s day, some of the believers were so convinced that Jesus was going to come back at any moment that they simply quit life and waited. They quit showing up to work, they quit earning a living, they quit taking care of stuff around the house. Why bother? Jesus was coming back. So they just waited. And they became a burden for everybody else. Others had to do their work. Others had to provide food for them. Others had to take care of the things they were supposed to do.

We have words for people like that: Irresponsible, irritating, lazy. And they are terrible witnesses for Christ. I haven’t seen too many people in our day who have quit life and are just sitting around waiting for Jesus to return to rescue them from the daily chores of life. But I have seen a fair number of people who are terrible witnesses for Jesus. Not so much because they don’t give an adequate verbal witness—they talk a good game. They just don’t play it.

Their lives don’t match their language. Seekers can’t see Jesus because their lifestyle gets in the way of their language, their work ethic clouds their witness, their nosiness and noisiness is incongruent with their beliefs. They cut corners, do sloppy work, show up late, gossip—working as unto the Lord is not something that describes them. Sinners can’t see the purity, reverence, industriousness and excellence of their Christian faith simply because those Christ-like values are consistently missing from their actions.

Your life is a sermon. The question is, what is it preaching? Paul is saying that your life—your behavior, attitudes, words and world-view—at all times must generate respect for your Lord. People are watching you, and whatever they see in your life day in and day out paints a picture of your Jesus.

Hope you are painting a masterpiece!

Prayer… Lord, help me today to so live that when people look at me, they will see you, and be attracted.

One More Thing… “Preach the Gospel at all times and when necessary use words.” —St. Francis of Assisi

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Go Ahead, Make My Day!

Read I Thessalonians 3

Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were
encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we
really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
(I Thessalonians 3:7-8)

Thoughts… Paul had been the one who led the believers in Thessalonica to faith in Christ. He had established the church there, and then his work needed to be duplicated in other cities, so he moved on. But the great Apostle Paul was worried.

Paul was very much concerned that the Thessalonican’s experience with persecution and hardship would dampen the fires of their faith. Like a father worrying over his children’s heath and welfare, Paul worries that they will be unsettled by their tribulations (vv. 2-3), he is afraid Satan might tempt them to bail out on their faith because of these difficulties, and as a result, he fears that his efforts in leading them to Christ and establishing them in a church will be rendered useless (v. 5).

As it turns out, however, these believers are weathering their storms quite well, and in spite of their newness in the faith, they have a level of spiritual maturity that is remarkable. News reaches Paul that he can tick the Thesslonicans off his worry list because these Christians are doing just fine—and this just makes his day. In fact, the very first thing you notice in chapter three is Paul’s longing to be with them (as opposed to his need to visit the Corinthians for disciplinary reasons—see II Corinthians).

The Thessalonicans are a perpetual example of the kind of faith we ought to exhibit. Our lives should be lived in such a way that we become a continual source of joy for those around us, especially our spiritual leaders. When we exhibit an unwavering devotion to God, receptivity to his Word, and determination in the face of adversity, we become a source of thanksgiving rather than anxiety to those who are looking after us.

Does your spiritual leader take pleasure in the genuineness and quality of your Christianity? Is your spiritual life a source of encouragement to other believers? Can the people who love you check you off their worry list, knowing you have a faith that endures in the face of difficulties?

People who love you—especially your spiritual leaders—are watching your life. So go ahead, make their day. Give them good reason to check you off their worry list—they’ve got enough other folks to worry about who don’t quite get it yet!

Prayer… Dear Father, make me a source of encouragement to those who know and love me. May I be for them a continual cause of joy rather than worry, even as I endure difficulties.

One More Thing… “Joy is not the absence of suffering. It is the presence of God.” —Robert Schuller