God Will Do It (1 Thess 5:14-28)

(1) You who know the gospel of God’s grace - redeemed by the Spirit and the blood - we exhort and encourage you to live differently and lovingly, manifesting your salvation.  Use FORGIVENESS received to help the church, living in harmony with God - “Now we exhort you, brothers, warm them that are unruly, comfort the faint-hearted, support the weak” (vs14). 

The disorderly must be warned that their actions don’t show the love of Christ, and He cannot be loved in word only.  The faint-hearted need comfort. They need constant pointing to Christ, the Strength.   God‘s promises and love demonstrated by you work to help the weak and fearful. 

(2) Be patient with all.  Never go “eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth”, but LOVE in response to hate.  Good works will overcome the bad of others - “Be patient toward all.  See that none render evil for evil unto any; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all“ (vs14-15). Always be right, even when people are wrong with you.  Respond properly, not only to believers, but love all men.

(3) Always rejoice in Christ, and never think the door of prayer is closed.  Christ’s blood has made access to God OPEN unto you continually (Zech 13:1).  1 Thess 5:16-18 says, “Rejoice ever more.  Pray without ceasing.  In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you”.  Be thankful for what you have in Christ, always.  He can remove everything - health, family, etc - and still be just.  However, He will never take away the covenant promises, Christ, and the hope of heaven.

(4) The Spirit must reign and not the human.  He must be obeyed in the gospel, as He points us to Christ, so that we BELIEVE on God’s Son and love as commanded - “Quench not the Spirit“ (vs19).  Even when your conscience is grieved, now Christ‘ DEATH is enough for God to be gracious, and don‘t despise it or turn away.  He adds, despise not prophesyings.  Prove all things; hold fast that which is good” (vs20-21).  Hear the word of God opened and declared.  But, only believe, “Thus says the Lord”.

(5)  If it is wrong, don’t do it.  Don’t support false religion, but turn from it to godliness and God’s people.  We have been called to newness of life - “Abstain from every form 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.  Faithful is he that calls you, who also will do it“ (vs22-24).

Blamelessness isn’t perfection in the flesh; it is sincere heart-belief, manifested in the life - “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all, even as we do toward you: to the end He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints” (1 Thess 3:12-13).  He hasn’t called us to be perfect, but He has commanded us to be true.  I’m not a perfect pastor, but I am without blame, awaiting His coming again.   God will do all that is required in newness of life.  This is our confidence before God.

Lastly, pray for those who bring Christ to you, love each other intimately, and know that your gospel must be believed by all - “Brothers, pray for us.  Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.  I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brothers.  The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.  Amen” (vs25-28).  If they are holy, they’ll trust and obey the same Christ, walking by the same grace, not merit, and not human strength.  So be it to you!

Be At Peace Among Yourselves and Be Ready (I Thess 5:1-13)

The times and seasons - the exact and the non-exact date - are hidden from us completely, so that no man, not even the Son of Man, knows the day and the hour - “But of the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night” (vs1-2). We cannot be sure, but here are things we can be sure of, or signs of the times: 

1.  It will come as a surprise and take all who are not ready.  Believers won’t know when He’s coming, but we’ll be looking for Him by faith, living as commanded: we wait in hope and hope reveals itself in conduct, like a man waits for his wife in faithfulness.

2.  When unbelievers are confident they’re safe without God, when Christ in the truth of His gospel is ignored without prick of conscience, then they’ll die in their sins with blasphemy in their mouth - “For when they shall say, Peace and safety, then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape” (vs3).

3.  The brethren are taught to be ready.  I know He may come for me at any moment, so I prepare by faith and obedience to meet Him.  I live pleasing to Him for His glory, so that when He returns, He sees me believing - “But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief” (vs4).

We are God’s children, enlightened and living for Christ. We have the Spirit to teach and equip us NOW, and we’re ready to meet Him in peace.

There is no need to prepare, no last minute arrangements, and no turning up the radio to blind the thoughts of Judgment. We TRUST Christ, love Him, and love His people - “You are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness” (vs5).

4.  Others are unprepared, but STIR yourself up and be ready: don’t play with your eternal soul. This isn’t something I can fix after the Day is set and I’m before God. I cannot plea bargain or ask for another chance: this is once in eternity, and we must treat it as such, even though others don’t - “Therefore, let us not sleep as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  For they that sleep sleep in the night [unprepared]; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night [overly in love with this world] (vs6-7).

Don’t let their BLINDNESS make you blind, or their indifference make you live for yourself instead of Christ.  Don’t say, “They’re having fun, and I’m not” and join in the wickedness because the Judgment is no longer pressing to you.  Be ready always, even if the world lives ignorantly.  Meet God as one prepared, not as a fool.  Live for eternity in thankfulness - rather than over-indulgence in this world - perfecting FAITH and love down here.  Live as seeing the Invisible - “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for helmet, the hope of salvation.  For God has 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” (vs8-10).

(a)  We need faith to make it: believe on the Lord and keep on believing. Never stop.  We are not to START only, but to FINISH is the goal: keep on walking by faith, trusting His good news.

(b)  Love each other. As you need love, you will need faith.  If we don’t need love, then our faith will be fleshly, and we’ll take “forgiveness” without cleansing, which is delusion.  But, if I must LOVE you, then I’ll believe God to cleanse me so I can.

(c)  Keep hoping in what is real.  The God of everlasting judgment has DECREED from eternity that we’d be blessed and never cursed.  Therefore, live in knowledge of your calling, knowing heaven is sure for you.  Don’t put it out of your mind as if it is something to be earned; remember it’s God’s gift, He gave it to you, and He’ll see you to the end.

(d) This is through Christ only.  No need to go anywhere else for strength, hope, power, or a reason for His love. He gives it FREELY for Christ’s sake, so receive it freely.  The blood is the confidence of the believing, and it PRODUCES the persevering faithfulness that we need. To be godly we ALWAYS look to God in Christ, reconciled to us.

5.  Let’s help and encourage each other - “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and build up one another, even as also you do” (vs11). Christianity is no individual sport. Your relationship with God manifests itself in your love to His church; it REVEALS who you are. Don’t say, “I’m OK” and care not for others. Being OK = love, and love = caring for others, encouraging, supporting, and building up His church.

FINALLY

Know your teachers, leaders, pastors, and elders. Know them intimately in love for their works’ sake - “And we beg you, brothers, to know them which labor 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.  Be at peace among yourselves” (vs12-13). Don’t just know their names, or know when they preach, or even know their message, but know THEM, so that you love them obediently to the word.

They labor to preach the gospel, being SENT by God, and they’re known by their labors, so that what they preach is God-taught from them to you.  He doesn’t teach the lazy, so He sets men aside to labor in His word, labor to preach it FAITHFULLY, and labor to see results.  This labor is to be rewarded by love, not disrespect or light-esteem.  They have headship, and many can’t abide authority, but God gives authority in every area of life. We SUBMIT one to another, we submit wife to husband, children to parents, church to pastor, people to government, etc.  God bows us to Christ, and then we bow to others in response (1 Cor 11:3).

Don’t be mad at admonishment; it is par for the course and part of godly ministers’ job. They must tell you “Thus says the Lord” faithfully, and wherever we’re wrong, they correct with authority. They are NOT to say, “All is well”, but they are to show you how all shall be well and how to improve.  

Where there is order and proper estimation of men, there is also God-given peace.  Pastors are not lords to be blindly followed, but as servants of the Most High, they TEACH and lead by example in what we are to do (1 Thess 5:13).  Having learned HOW to live, we have peace living God’s way.

“Comfort One Another” (1 Thess 4:13-18)

“Wherefore, comfort one another with these words” (vs18)

We comfort each other with the truth of the gospel, and there is no other comfort from God.  For the BELIEVER, there is hope in Christ, and for the unbeliever, there is no hope after death, and there is no real comfort in this life. We don’t speak idle words like, “It’ll work out”, but we know our Father works all things after the counsel of His will.

If you’re in Christ, then you’ll die well, and we ENVY those who’ve gone before us. They are WITH Christ, which is far better.

If you’re an unbeliever, then you die like a beast only to be punished eternally, and there is NO hope for you - “Man that is in honor, and understands not, is like the beasts that perish” (Ps 49:20).  All of your good things have been received in this life, and in the world to come, nothing but torment shall afflict you forever (Rev 14:11).

If a believer dies, then we’ll meet again in heaven, when Christ comes in glory - “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.  For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.  Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess 4:15-17).  It is not the end of the believer, and God’s goodness will only begin in its perfect enjoyment.  You are with the Lord, and He’s faithful to repay you for all that He and you suffered.

The comfort of the believer is Christ Himself and the truth of His word, no matter the circumstance.  Paul said “For this we say to you by the word of the Lord”, and, “comfort one another with these words” (vs15, 18). When we suffer, it is the Father who loves us.  When disappointment happens, it is God who gives obedient strength to love Him in the moment (1 Sam 3:18).  When hardships are endured, it is God - who only does good and wisely - that comforts our heart, in knowing what the bible teaches.

Therefore, child of God, if you want comfort, then find it in the truth of the gospel. Don’t go to drunkenness, the psychiatrist (except for meds), the unbelieving friend, or to “mind over matter”. Go to the written revelation of God and believe what He says to meet your condition. He has good news for you, where you are.

If you’re in bondage, be comforted that He sent you to Babylon for your good, and He’ll bring you out for His glory and your joy, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an hoped for end” (Jer 29:10).  If you suffer from failures, be comforted by the forgiveness of sins.  If someone comes to Christ and then falls away, be comforted that the sheep will hear His voice and follow Him (John 6:37-39). 

In everything, don’t be like those who have no hope, who see circumstances, but they can’t see God’s gospel - “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you 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” (1 Thess 4:13).  Be knowledgeable of God’s goodness and use this ointment in every situation, until you leave this world, to be eternally comforted without pain or fear.

“More and More” (1 Thess 3:12-4:12)

“But as touching brotherly love, you need not that I write unto you: for you yourselves are taught of God to love one another.  And, indeed, you do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that you increase more and more” (vs9-10).

Abound more and more in love and good works.  Don’t stagnate and think of yourself as “arriving”, but grow in grace, and flame on in the Lord.

The gospel changes us, and we’re to change and be changed continually, conforming into the likeness of the Son.  The joy of salvation is LIVING the gospel; it isn’t theory or sinning that grace might about; it is using God’s love to make us loving by the promises and forgiveness of sins.

Five things are mandatory for obedience:

1.  The fear of the Lord and the warnings. Without this, we sin that grace might abound, and we deny the gospel message, living as we please.

2. The blood of the Lord cleanses us from all sin, and He is why we’re accepted of God, by faith in Him.

3. The promises of grace, not only of pardon, but also of power and the ability to conquer sin, that God is with us by the Spirit.

4.  The command: the gospel isn’t merely a promise, but God “commands all men every where to repent”, and without the command, we don’t do God’s will; we do ours.

5. The reward: there must be a blessing in God’s will, if we will do it - the reward of heaven, peace, and life more abundantly.  If I know there’s JOY in obedience, I have conviction to honor God by it.

These are mandatory to growth, and we see them here in 1 Thess 3:12-4:12.

1. The command - “for you know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus” (vs2)

2.  The blood of Christ and acceptance with God - “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus” (vs1)

3. The promise - “For God has not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.  He therefore that despises, despises not man, but God, who has also given unto us His Holy Spirit“ (vs7-8)

4.  The warning - “That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in [adultery], because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified“ (vs6)

5. The reward - “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you; to the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” (1 Thess 3:12-13)

God is honored by obedience: do this, and blessings are yours.

“Abound More and More“ (1 Thess 3:6-4:1)

“And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all, even as we do toward you…Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God, so you would abound more and more” (1 Thess 3:12, 4:1).

The honor of the ministry is helping others; it is joy for every child of God to serve in the kingdom. We give ourselves that others may believe unto the end, not merely PREACHING the gospel but discipling, praying for, and caring for saints until they make it home.  Stories of “evangelists” who love preaching but not people, so they were called to “evangelism” rather than pastoring, are wrong.  All biblical preaching has a love for God and man, expressed in desire to see people persevere. We do what we can to help in prayer, support, preaching, and example. We live that they know God until they leave this world for glory, having conquered Satan and endured to the end - “To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints“(1 Thess 3:13).

The gospel is FRUIT producing - producing men and women that seek Christ’s fruit in others, not satisfied with ourselves, but desiring to see others make it too - “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith“ (1 Thess 3:10).  This is love, and this is the cup that we’re to drink, the fountain of life: not only chosen, but CHOSEN to serve people with the gospel, enduringly and perseveringly, loving to the cost of ourselves that others may live - “And he said, The God of our fathers has chosen you, that you should know his will, and see that Just One, and should hear the voice of his mouth.  For you shall be His witness unto all men of what you have seen and heard“ (Acts 22:14-15).  This spirit of Christ is in the believer.  Let it arise. Let the new man free to live.

John G. Paton, commenting on his father’s influence in his life, which brought him to Christ and then the mission field of New Hebride Islands, wrote, “The "closet" was a very small apartment betwixt the other two, having room only for a bed, a little table and a chair, with a diminutive window shedding diminutive light on the scene. This was the Sanctuary of that cottage home. Thither daily, and oftentimes a day, generally after each meal, we saw our father retire, and "shut to the door"; and we children got to understand by a sort of spiritual instinct (for the thing was too sacred to be talked about) that prayers were being poured out there for us, as of old by the High Priest within the veil in the Most Holy Place. We occasionally heard the pathetic echoes of a trembling voice pleading as if for life, and we learned to slip out and in past that door on tiptoe, not to disturb the holy colloquy… Though everything else in religion were by some unthinkable catastrophe to be swept out of memory, or blotted from my understanding, my soul would wander back to those early scenes, and shut itself up once again in that Sanctuary Closet, and, hearing still the echoes of those cries to God, would hurl back all doubt with the victorious appeal, "He walked with God, why may not I?"

You too are created to manifest God, to be like Him, to love.  Be who you are and devote yourself to riches eternal, salvation of sinners, and the higher things of life - “Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you“ (1 Thess 3:11).  Distractions are every where, and the Lord is our power to inch by inch, movement upward by movement upward, glorify the God of glory by living like His Son, to save sinners, honor His name, and do good to people because God is great to us.

“Satan Hindered Us” (1 Thess 2:18)

 “Wherefore, we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us” (vs18).

The Lord can’t be hindered in His purpose, but His saints can be hindered by the devil, according to His will. Satan can stop nothing God plans to do, but he can ruin our plans, and we’re to fight against him by knowledge, knowing it was no “accident” but an evil being who hindered us from helping God’s people. 

Remember, therefore, when difficulties come, that we are NOT to quit, as if trouble wasn’t promised - “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For truly, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and you know” (1 Thess 3:3-4).

So many think that Christianity is easy, but early joy gives way to trials, persecutions, and disappointments in doing God’s will (Hos 6:3-4).  I’ve seen many leave the gospel over a man or woman that they were attracted to.  Worshipping God offended the unbeliever, so the professed saint, chose peace in the home and pleasure over the Son.  It is quite foolish.

Don’t think this world is easy or that trouble stops because you’re saved, but PRESS ON to know the Lord and keep on believing Him when difficulties appear.  He who defeated Satan at Calvary, and who cast him out in regeneration, is He that defeats Satan in the day by day struggle (Luke 11:21-22). He cannot tempt or hinder us above what we can handle by God’s power, and there is grace sufficient.  Paul told Timothy, “Be not you therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be you partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God” (2 Tim 1:8). 

There is abundant power to overcome obstacles, so they don’t have to make us fear or quit. They don’t rule God, He accounts for them, and He shall save you from them all, “Who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we trust that he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor 1:10). Trust God when attacked by Satan, but don’t join teams with him, submitting to his evil will and missing out on your hope.  Don’t leave the fountain of waters for broken cisterns that cannot satisfy or save - “For my people have committed two evils; they have forsaken me, the fountain of living waters, and hewed them out cisterns, broken cisterns, that can hold no water” (Jer 2:13).  Don’t leave God for Satan, simply because the battle is hot.

Satan deceives you, and peace with him is no peace at all.  You must believe, that in spite of unbelief and sin, God is greater, on your side, and you have power against your foes (2 Kings 6:16).  You will not be defeated, and you will win.

Faith Works, Love Labors, and Hope is Patient (1 Thess 1:3)

“Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father” (vs3)

“Work of Faith” (1 Thess 1:3)

Faith works. Faith isn’t dead ideology and speech; faith is more than head-knowledge; it works for God’s glory and people’s good. It produces good in us that is visible, as we sacrifice, give, worship together, and do things that build the church and makes us visible as God’s elect, “knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God” (vs4).

The gospel came PRODUCING holiness, which EVIDENCES its power - “For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in much assurance; as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us, and of the Lord“ (vs5-6).  The gospel is KNOWN by its fruit, meaning I know what you believe by what you do - “Yes, a man may say, You have faith, and I have works: show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works“ (James 2:18).  Show me the gospel exalted and people living to make Christ beautiful, and I’ll see a place where I want to be, a place that has Jesus the Lord in truth.  Show me your faith by your works, and these did; they LOVED God in words and ACTIONS.  Faith works.

“Labor of Love” (1 Thess 1:3)

Love labors; it does more than talk; it actually does good.  Love is expressed in actions, which are more than “nice sermon”, etc.  The actions of love are painful to the lover and yet helpful to the loved - “Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends“ (John 15:13); Love lays down its life with deeds, and receives more in the process, for in God, as you sow, you reap, and as you give, you get more abundantly - “Be not deceived; God is not mocked: for whatsoever a man sows, that shall he also reap“ (Gal 6:7).  God’s math is to serve, so you will get; GIVE, so you will gain.  God’s way is to humble yourself, so you’ll be exalted - “And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted” (Matt 23:12).

Love is the fruit of pardon received and humbleness given to us by God, that the “least of all the saints” has been GRACED to preach the riches of Christ, that one who is depraved is ALSO blessed beyond imagination - “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this GRACE given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ“ (Eph 3:8).  This paradox of men is clear to you and me; we LOVE Him because He loves us as vile and depraved, giving us LIFE at the cost of Christ, whom He slew in our place.  This redemption is the motive for love; helping and serving is the fruit.

“Patience of Hope” (1 Thess 1:3)

Patience and hope are together.  You are not godly in your hope, if you leave the gospel to get what you‘re waiting for.

I know a man who lost a wife, then, after sorrowing, expected to marry another child of God, who eventually revealed herself to be lost and hard, though religiously Calvinistic and amiable to some good preaching.  He didn’t pursue the compromise - the cutting off of the offence - in order to have her, but he preached the gospel as he knew it was true, and parted from her as he must - “And I, brethren, if I yet preach circumcision, why do I yet suffer persecution? Then is the offense of the cross ceased“ (Gal 5:11).  Instead, he is WAITING on his salvation and inheritance; he is not, like Esau, taking matters into his own hands to ease the flesh - “Lest there be any fornicator or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright“ (Heb 12:16).  My friend stands by the gospel, and waits on God to answer his prayers, and for Him to provide. 

The believer waits on God and OBEYS God as he waits - “I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait, and in his word do I hope“ (Ps 130:5).  He waits for heaven OBEDIENTLY, he waits for the end of trials, obediently, and he waits for sinlessness obediently, while he fumbles and falls here.  He is waiting on God his Beloved, so he won’t be with another - “For I am jealous over you with godly jealousy: for I have espoused you to one husband, that I may present you as a chaste virgin to Christ“, and faithful to Him (2 Cor 11:2). He gives Christ His due by waiting on Him to provide by the means that He has promised, knowing that He gives us Himself, food, and raiment, which is plenty - “And having food and raiment, with these, we shall be satisfied” (1 Tim 6:8).

“Peace Among Yourselves” (1 Thess 4:12-13)

“And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor 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. Be at peace among yourselves”. (vs12-13)

We’ll have peace, if we esteem God’s ministers for their work’s sake. It has NOTHING to do with who is the most gifted; it has to do with RECEIVING them as MESSENGERS of God, not in a competition of skills, but in actually viewing them as sent by God to live and preach Christ.

Those men gifted should be esteemed and their ministry honored. Christ should be TRUSTED and honored through their mouth. It isn’t about the man; it is about the Man whom we preach, the Son.

If you love your pastor and other preachers through the gospel, not in self-exalting preacher worship, then you’ll also have peace among yourselves. Notice that PEACE and order go hand in hand (1 Cor 14:33-34). I must be under my pastor FOR the right reasons: the gospel - not because I fear or honor him instead of Christ, but I esteem him highly in love because of Christ, so that I love him for what he preaches, which means that his message of Christ my Savior is important: he is an instrument of honoring God in my hearing, so I can believe (Rom 10:17).

There won’t be peace for you wives, employees, etc, without order. Don’t think that you can rule your life and have peace with God. Remember, when David showed himself mighty to save (1 Sam 17)? Afterwards, Jonathan loved him as his own soul, stripped himself, and gave David all glory and honor, knowing that he SHOULD and would be king (1 Sam 18:1-4). Contrary to this, Saul envied and hated David (after receiving him at first) because he loved his own authority and being king more than he loved the one whom God exalted (1 Sam 18:6-15). This is the same with Christ: if we know He is worthy of worship, then bow to Him, and be at peace. Live as COMMANDED, and peace will be yours. If we rebel against authority, wanting to be king instead of Jesus, then we’ll have problems with God, contentions with men, and peace will be gone.

The only peace is under order and authority: we must obey God to have the PEACE that He gives, and when obedience isn’t first, then peace will fly away too - “first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace” (Heb 7:2).

“Comfort One Another” (1 Thess 4:13-18)

“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brothers, concerning them which are asleep, that you 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 to you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain to 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.” (vs13-18)

Comfort the saints with the gospel of God’s grace. We have tears and trials, but don’t let anything make you believe that salvation is limited and cannot help these ails. Don’t say, “Hope is lost”, and don’t say, “I don’t know what to say”. You have the word of God to preach and hear: you have the gospel to encourage and BE encouraged thereby. And, don’t refuse your comfort (Ps 77).

Just as there is comfort in death, there is comfort in every area of life, as all things work together for good to them that love God (Rom 8:28). We may have sinned, which is why death comes upon us, but through the Lord Jesus, it has lost its sting, so that DEATH is no more an enemy to fear; it is something God uses to bring us to Christ, rather than away (1 Cor 15:54-57). That most feared thing is fearless to us now, because we shall come back with Christ, safe and sound. The curse and wrath are gone, and God loves us and counts our death as precious (Ps 116:15).

The word of God, O child of Christ, is the comfort that God gives, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep through 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 shall not come before them which are asleep” (1 Thess 4:14-15). Don’t be comfortless because you and I refuse to hear and believe the truth. Don’t refuse the word of God when life has you miserable: that is the lure of sin and deception of Satan, that by doing things my way, blocking God out of my mind and using trouble to EXCUSE rebellion, I can improve my life. Tears and pain are included in the life of saints, and God’s given us the gospel of Jesus Christ to keep and comfort us. Don’t forsake it because of pain; draw near and you’ll get God’s comfort and be able to help others.

This world is NOT about you. We are COMMANDED to comfort, rather than forsake and neglect each other - “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also you do” (1 Thess 5:11). Just like we need to hear good things, we need to preach them to others. Hear the command, “Comfort one another” (1 Thess 4:18). Do not be so selfish as to care about yourself, while God’s children struggle in need. If you’re in need, then COME to hear Christ and be comforted. If you have comfort in Christ, then come to encourage someone else. Love will cause you and I to do what is right. We have a responsibility, and more than that, we have a Christ who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we are His - “For God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by out Lord Jesus Christ“ (1 Thess 5:9-10). This obligation is nothing to those who taste of Christ; it is the LEAST I could do. If He died for and loves me - choosing me out of this world and dying for my sins before God - the sin that I have in me now, then I should be obedient enough to help others because He loves me.

This is the Will of God, That You Abstain from Sexual Immorality (1 Thess 4)

This is an outstanding message by John Piper on sexual purity. It works well for singles and married people.

He has several sermons on this topic from desiringgod.org

Best to you..

http://www.desiringgod.org/ResourceLibrary/Sermons/ByDate/2002/108_This_is_the_Will_of_God_for_You_That_You_Abstain_from_Sexual_Immorality/

Direct Our Way (1 Thess 3:11)

“Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you” (1 Thess 3:11).

Prayer involves the helplessness of the person praying. The obstacles are strong, disappointments are GREAT, and yet God is controlling everything for good. So, we’ve SUFFERED and broken heartedness has abounded by our chastisements and our suffering for righteousness’ sake. Either way, God makes us BOW to Him, saying, “You’re the Boss. You rule. You do as you wish in heaven and in earth. You have mercy on your own and do things your way. You are not allowing anyone to reign except the Lord and the commandments He COMMANDS us to keep. You are obeyed and you are in charge.” We learn this from the Lord, learn how weak we are to do anything to ease our condition, and so we PRAY unto God for everything. Paul may have thought, “I can get there” earlier, but now he prays, “Now God himself and our Father”, reconciliation and power, “and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you” (1 Thess 3:11). “God, you do for me and these saints. These are your people, it is your will that we persevere by the word, so get Christ unto them by the means appointed. We want to go help, but our will shall not triumph. Your will shall be done”. This is the language of 2 Cor 1, “But we had the sentence of death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves, but in God which raises the dead: who delivered us from so great a death, and does deliver: in whom we TRUST that he will yet deliver us” (2 Cor 1:9-10). The God of glory shall take care of us and His people, regardless of how things appear to be working out. But, He makes us taste of “near death” and trouble BEYOND your and my ability to conquer. We will be TRUSTING Him and looking to Him alone. We won’t have any strength or anything that we can do. By this, God will help His people, humble His people, and improve His people to minister God in Christ, rather than human glory and strength.

We are here for God’s glory, and we will be taught to honor Him in every aspect of life, learning the truth of His word.

Pleasing God and Not Men (1 Thess 2:3-12)

“But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which tries the hearts” (vs4)

We don’t please men nor win man’s favor by preaching Christ. We preach in love to God and for man’s eternal welfare. We are not currying favor or using Christ to exalt ourselves; in what we do, we help people by TELLING them truth, regardless of what they say or feel (Eph 4:15). We are not slaves of numbers and applause; we preach FAITHFULLY, so that people can know God, can be saved, and so that we can be saved too.

The heart motive will determine the attitude of the message. Some, preach in love, others, to make themselves regarded. God’s elect are BLESSED with men taught of God to FAITHFULLY serve the gospel, so that you and I may honor Christ, so that WE may teach others also (2 Tim 2:2). They must be paid, but they seek no pay (1 Cor 9:16). They MUST be esteemed, but they use their position to serve.

The gospel magnifies men, changing us from CORRUPTERS who care only about gain, into SERVANTS who love God and people. We are SERVING people by faithfulness to Christ, no matter what.

“We Behaved Ourselves Among You That Believe” (1 Thess 2:10)

“You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and unblamably we behaved ourselves among you that believe”

Behavior is important. Paul charges the Thessalonians to see his conduct as EVIDENCE that he’s of God, and we must have this evidence too: the scriptures must DECLARE us saved, or we don’t know Christ. It isn’t enough to have a gospel message, no matter how “true”; we must have the message unto good works, the WHOLE counsel of God (Acts 20:27). Those incomplete people who preach and do only part of God’s word need to hear the whole counsel and be taught that EVERY word of God is pure, not only to talk but also to do. The bible is a radical message of NEWNESS of life, and we’re to walk in the new, REJECTING the old constantly (Rom 6:4). Paul gives illustrations of what true religion and preaching is: make sure that you know God this way and be sure that your leaders do (1 Thess 2:1-12). Do not have a Christ that doesn’t PRODUCE these MANDATORY things in His people. Make sure the conduct matches the message, in spite of trials, and you have God for sure.