1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers “Standing Firm in Our Testimony” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series

Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers

Standing Firm in Our Testimony

1 Thessalonians 5:12-28

Introduction

Clovis Chappell, a minister from a century back, used to tell the story of two steamboats. They left Memphis about the same time, traveling down the Mississippi River to New Orleans. As they traveled side by side, sailors from one vessel made a few remarks about the snail’s pace of the other. Challenges were made and the race began.

Competition became vicious as the two boats roared through the deep South. One boat began falling behind because it did not have enough fuel. There had been plenty of coal for the trip, but not enough for a race. As the boat dropped behind, an enterprising young sailor took some of the ship’s cargo and tossed it into the ovens. When the sailors saw that the supplies burned as well as the coal, they fueled their boat with the material they had been assigned to transport. They ended up winning the race, but burned their cargo.[1]

God has entrusted cargo to us, too. Our job is to do our part in seeing that this cargo reaches its destination. When we forget what God has entrusted us to do – we sacrifice the end result for our distraction right now.

Prayer

Mutual Love Leads to Peace (vv. 12-13)

We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.

One thing that we see from other examples of where Paul went into a city for the express purpose of sharing the gospel, was that leaders would were established very early. They all received the teachings of Paul, Silas, and Timothy at the same time, and all were saved, at the most, three weeks. These new leaders did not have seminary educations or years of experience – they had all received Christ around the same time. But some, were shown to have the gift of leadership.[2]

In the church everyone is on the same level, but the Bible teaches that we all have separate gifts given to us by God, so each person is to serve according to the gift they have been given. Every team needs a Coach. Since the church is Thessalonica was very young, and Paul had to leave quickly (after three weeks) he knew leadership had to be established. Robertson says, “We need wise leadership today, but still more wise following. An army of captains and colonels never won a battle.”[3]

The church leader’s responsibility involves labor (doing something to the point of being tired and exhausted). An example is Moses “so wore himself out, that when he was finally persuaded to delegate some of his responsibilities, it took no less than seventy men to pick up the duties that he laid down (Exodus 18:13-26). In this book we see Paul himself often worked at his tent making all day and then evangelized and preached at night.”[4]

They are leaders “in the Lord” so their character is one of growing in the Lord and emphasizing that walk in their lives, they are people who do the difficult things, “admonish” is correction through instruction (no one like to tell someone they are off track or doing something sinful).

He encourages the young church to respect and esteem these leaders. That peace is held in place by mutual esteem and love that we all express for each other.

“He wants the officials to be highly regarded, and not dismissed as of no account. . . he wants them to be loved, and not thought of simply as the cold voice of authority.”[5] Paul also tells us why we should be respectful, and love them (love is a choice not a pit we fall into). It is not based on their personality, likeability, or what they have done for us – but “because of their work.”

Leaders can do things that cause those they lead to lose respect for them, they can lead in such a way that make it hard to love them, they can admonish those they lead in such a way that they are not esteemed – But Paul is saying that if there is to be peace amongst them – then the church must follow the leadership.

The peace that we are to have among ourselves comes directly from leaders doing the work of leadership, and the church doing the work of the church. If the leaders lord[6] their positions over people the people won’t follow, then you are a leader of yourself.

The church is a volunteer army; how you run a company is vastly different than how you run the church. If, the followers won’t follow and everyone fights for their own ways and opinions, then there is no peace and nothing gets done.

(v. 13) “Be at peace among yourselves” – the among yourselves is Paul emphasizing both the leaders and followers doing what is needed to have peace in the church. Leaders be good leaders, the best leaders you know how to be. Church, do what you are commanded by Christ to do, be about the work of the church. Both make the effort to keep the peace.

There is a similar dynamic mentioned in Ephesians 6:1-4 “Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. 2 “Honor your father and mother” (this is the first commandment with a promise), 3 “that it may go well with you and that you may live long in the land.” 4 Fathers, do not provoke your children to anger, but bring them up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord.” Fathers have the authority over their children, but they should still be gentle, kind, and loving – there is a long-term goal of them following the Lord.

Another translation says, “exasperate” to, “irritate and frustrate (someone) intensely.” When the father uses his authority in a way that leads the children to be irritated, frustrated, and provoked – that anger leads to rebellion. At that point the long-term goal of them following the “discipline and instruction of the Lord” is not being accomplished.

The long-term goal of the leader of the church is that people will grow in their walk with the Lord, etc. but if they provoke the church to anger, then this long-range goal is not accomplished.

Be Patient with Other Believers (vv. 14-15)

14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

“Three groups seem to be reflected here: (1) those who had quit work, talking only of the Lord’s return, fanatics; (2) those who had lost heart because of some had died before that event; and (3) those who were morally weak, or those tempted toward immorality.”[7]

The “idle,” here refers to those who are disorderly, unbecoming behavior (after three weeks the early church already had people causing trouble and being disorderly). These are like soldiers who are out of step, the fanatics, meddlers, and loafers (4:11, 12; 5:12, 13; and cf. 2 Thessalonians 3:10).

The “fainthearted” could refer to those who needed comfort and were troubled because of the loss of their friends who had died in Christ (4:13), or confused about the return of Christ (5:1-11). They could be encouraged by what Paul has taught them so far in this book. But these people seem to be easily discouraged.

“help the weak” may be referencing “shrinking away from persecution (3:3-5), yielding to temptation to immorality (4:3-8),” or as Paul mentions in 1 Corinthians 8-10 could be referencing how they are exercising Christian liberty.[8]

(v. 15) In dealing with these challenging persons in the church, Paul says, “15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone” – When Paul says this, it is intended for the entire church to enforce – everyone should see that anyone repays evil, and all should seek to do good to people inside and outside the church. It is wrong to leave all this to pastors and elders.

Also, not only are believers not to repay evil for evil, but to look out for the good of the other person, to see how they may benefit them, to help them. The example we are to follow is Christ’s; “He loved Judas just as much as He loved John. He loved Pilate just as much as He loved Peter.

He loved the man who spat on in His face just as much as He loved the woman who washed his feet with her tears. He loved the dying thief who went to paradise, and He loved the dying thief who cursed Him.”[9] Jesus did no evil to anyone, He repaid no evil for the evil shown toward Him.

Watch Your Relationship with the Lord (vv. 16-22)

16 Rejoice always[10], 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies, 21 but test everything; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.

The spiritual temperature of the Christian is maintained at a proper level by finding things to rejoice about, continually praying, and finding opportunities to give thanks! Paul says that if we will have this type of attitude, then that “is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you”

(v. 17) “pray without ceasing” – Doesn’t mean you are always talking. A way to think about this is to have a good friend in the room. When things need to be discussed, you talk, but the relationship sometimes is content to just be silent, yet you know that everything is good between the two of you.

Another example, is Nehemiah was given the opportunity to ask the Persian emperor for permission to go to the Promised Land to rebuild the walls in Jerusalem. Nehemiah 2:4-5 “Then the king said to me, “What are you requesting?” So I prayed to the God of heaven. 5 And I said to the king, “If it pleases the king, and if your servant has found favor in your sight, that you send me to Judah, to the city of my fathers’ graves, that I may rebuild it.” This was a short, “Lord help me” prayer.

Remember the church was experiencing persecution, and had lost loved ones because of this persecution. This is the opposite of what we see the Israelites doing in the book of Exodus, when they were murmuring (Exodus 16). So, in the darkest of times, “this is the will of God.”

The next section deals with balance. “Not quenching the Spirit” deals with spiritual gifts. Apparently, someone had been exercising their spiritual gifts in such a way that the leaders said, “nope, we are not going to allow that to happen,” therefore stopping someone from using their spiritual gifts and ministering to the church body. It was like throwing water on a ember.

It probably, had something to do with prophecies, “Those who were caught up in the idea of the Lord’s return evidently claimed a spirituality above that connected with preaching or prophesying”[11]

“Wherever God plants wheat, Satan sows his tares. Wherever God established His church, the devil erects a chapel. And so, too, wherever the Holy Spirit enables certain men to perform miracles of healing, the evil one distributes his “lying wonders.” And wherever the Paraclete brings a true prophet upon the scene, the deceiver presents his false prophet.”[12] You especially didn’t like the prophecy if you were a meddler, loafer, or a fanatic.

So, in order to make sure we don’t make a mistake we shut all prophesying down. Instead of just shutting things down, and therefore “quenching the Spirit,” the church should test everything (against the Scriptures). If it’s good then keep doing it, if it’s evil then abstain from it. They had to distinguish truth and error. Have fervor for the Lord, but also have common sense.

(v. 22) “Abstain from every form of evil.” – this is broad blanket verse that regardless of what it is in our life that may be contrary to the will of God, it should be taken out of our life.

Even with this short list (rejoicing, being thankful, praying, not repaying evil, etc.), it is impossible for the new believer to live the life that God requires in their own strength, Therefore, we must stay close to Jesus. John 15:4-5 says, “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. 5 I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”

God is Faithful (vv. 23-24)

23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

Sanctify means “the realization or progressive attainment of likeness to God or to God’s intention for men. It may be regarded both as a status conferred by divine grace and as goal to be aimed at.”[13]

Paul is saying that God is working in the life of the believer so that they are becoming more like Christ (here and now), and that his process will be completed when Christ returns. It is God who sanctifies the whole person, and the believer has a part in working in partnership with God in the process.

“From Acts we learn that sanctification depends on reception of the Holy Spirit. This implies turning away from the world (Acts 2:40), and presupposes forgiveness of sin (2:38; 26:18). More positively, reception of the Spirit confers power to perform miracles (2:43; 3:6; 4:12-16, etc.), moral power (4:31-37), and generally the courage to witness to Christ (2:32-36; 4:31; 5:32).”[14]

We also see that sanctification is your entire being, “whole spirit and soul and body.”

Conclusion

The story is told that Andrew Jackson’s boyhood friends just couldn’t understand how he became a famous general and then the President of the United States. They knew of other men who had greater talent but who never succeeded. One of Jackson’s friends said, “Why, Jim Brown, who lived right down the pike from Jackson, was not only smarter but he could throw Andy three times out of four in a wrestling match. But look where Andy is now.”

Another friend responded, “How did there happen to be a fourth time? Didn’t they usually say three times and out?” “Sure, they were supposed to, but not Andy. He would never admit he was beat—he would never stay ‘throwed.’ Jim Brown would get tired, and on the fourth try Andrew Jackson would throw him and be the winner.”

Picking up on that idea, someone has said, “The thing that counts is not how many times you are ‘throwed,’ but whether you are willing to stay ‘throwed.’”

The Christian life is a battle. Scripture often speaks of God’s children as soldiers, and we should not expect to have things always be calm and peaceful. The question is not whether we ever fail, but whether we get back up when we do. Proverbs 24:16 says, “For a just man falleth seven times, and riseth up again: but the wicked shall fall into mischief.”[15]

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[1] https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/steamboat-race

[2] John F. Walvoord, The Thessalonian Epistles (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dunham Publication, 1968) 90.

[3] Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 9 (Kansas City, Missouri; Beacon 494.

[4] John Phillips, Exploring 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Kregel Publications, 2005) 139.

[5] Leon Morris, The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM B Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1959) 167.

[6] Matthew 20:25ff.

[7] Clifton Allen, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 284.

[8] Robert L. Thomas, The Expositor’s Bible Commentary, Volume 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 1978) 289. Also see Romans 14:1-15:6; 1 Corinthians 8-10.

[9] Phillips, 144.

[10] Shortest verse in the Bible, in the New Testament Greek, Walvood, 95.

[11] Allen, 284.

[12] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, Exposition of 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Book House, 1987) 140.

[13] George Arthur Buttrick, Dictionary Editor, The Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible Volume 4 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1980) 211.

[14] Buttrick, Dictionary, 211.

[15] https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/get-up-again

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers Standing Firm in “The Day of the Lord” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series

Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers

Standing Firm in “The Day of the Lord”

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Introduction

A college professor had the mysterious habit of removing a tennis ball from his jacket pocket as he walked into the lecture hall each morning. He would set it on the corner of the podium. After giving the lecture for the day, he would once again pick up the tennis ball, place it into his jacket pocket and leave the room.

No one ever understood why he did this, until one day a student fell asleep during the lecture. The professor didn’t miss a word of his lecture while he walked over to the podium, picked up the tennis ball and threw it, hitting the sleeping student squarely on the top of the head.

The next day, the professor walked into the room, reached into his jacket, removed a baseball… No one ever fell asleep in his class the rest of the semester![1]

Prayer

No Need For Times and Dates (v. 1-2)

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

The phrase “times and the seasons” is a saying that essentially means “when”[2] – So Paul is saying, “Now when the day of the Lord happens . . .” you already know all you need to know, it will come like a thief in the night.” It’s also important to note that the phrase designates the same event that is mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 4:15; Christ’s return.[3]

(v. 2) “you yourselves are fully aware” – This phrase lets us know that they have already received instruction on Christ’s return. During the three weeks before Paul, Silas, and Timothy had to leave, Jesus’ return was foundational to the lessons that they taught them. Paul didn’t know how long that he would be there, but surely, he expected to be there more than three weeks.

Remember, they had to leave because Acts 17:4-5 tells us that “And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd.” If I were to ask you, what are the foundational principles that someone needs to navigate life in the Christian faith, what are those foundational lessons?

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 emphasizes what will happen to those who have already placed their faith in Christ (dead in Christ will rise first, then those still living will be caught up into the air, they will all be together), and 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 is how the same event will appear from the perspective of those that have not placed their faith in Christ.

The concept of a day of judgement is found throughout the entire Bible as far back as Amos (5:18), “Thus we find ‘the day of God (2 Peter 3:12), ‘the day of Jesus Christ’ (Phil 1:6), ‘the day of Lord Jesus’ (1 Cor. 1:8). It may be simply ‘that day’ (2 Thessalonians 1:10), or ‘the last day’ (John 6:39), or ‘the great day (Jude 6).”[4] And from all of these verses we see two things 1) it is coming, there is a certainty to it and 2) it will be quick and unexpected.[5]

So what does Jesus’ coming back and gathering the church (dead in Christ and the raptured believers) have to do with the Day of the Lord? “The point is that just as the translation of the church is the end the day of grace it also marks the beginning of the Day of the Lord.

In other words, one event seems to do two things: it serves as the closing of one day and the beginning of the other.”[6] The name itself “The Day of the Lord” tells us that it’s His day, the days where mankind had a choice and rebellion against God are over.

In spite of Mark 13:32-33 “But concerning that day or that hour, no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. 33 Be on guard, keep awake.1 For you do not know when the time will come.” Many over the years have tried to guess when Jesus would return and have made predictions, and even whole religions and cults have developed as a result of their predictions.[7] The point of all the verses that point to Christ’s return are not clues so you can predict it, but warnings to be ready now.[8]

The World Promises Peace and Safety (v. 3)

3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

The phrase pax et securitas was a popular slogan used by the Romans. They promised peace and security to those that submitted to their rule and military power, “it was seen as Rome’s gift to those it conquered, virtually equivalent to an offer of deliverance or “salvation” from turmoil and danger.”[9]

Ezekiel 13:10 “Precisely because they have misled my people, saying, ‘Peace,’ when there is no peace . . .” The world will always offer a counterfeit security to what Christ offers through his death on the cross.

This promise of salvation from any coming danger was an illusion; Paul does not want the church to be fooled. Only our relationship with Christ will deliver us from the judgement that accompanies Christ’s return.

Moffatt says the lost world will be saying to itself, as “‘when all’s well’ and ‘all is safe’ are on the lips of men’”[10] They will never see it coming and will be completely taken by surprise.

The pregnant woman in other places is used to illustrate pain, but here it is indicating that when the time has come, the baby must come forth. The day of the Lord with its’ accompanying destruction can-not be escaped.

Be Alert and Have Self-Control (vv. 4-8)

4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.[12]

The picture that Paul gives us is as a thief moving around in the dark, then suddenly the lights are turned on, or the sun peaks over the horizon at dawn, and the thief is exposed. Believers are warned here to pay attention and to be ready.

Alertness and self-control is contrasted with drunkenness and darkness. As believers we must remain disciplined to remain sober, this is contrasted with the drunkenness. You can’t be alert and aware of what is going on, if you are drunk.

This passage has a parallel in Matthew 24:42-44 “Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”

(v. 4) “children of light, children of the day” – in Semitic languages generally to be a “son” of something is to have the characteristics of that thing or person.[13] Believers as children of light or day, have the characteristics of the light or the day. Jesus’ followers have moved from the activities that are done at night (stealing, drinking, drunkenness), to activities that are done in the light (having sober judgement, being alert).

The imagery of light and darkness deals with knowledge and the acting on that knowledge. If you don’t know Jesus then you stumble around in darkness and do things that bring wrath upon you. While Christians know Jesus, therefore that knowledge allows then to freely walk around in the light of day – they do not need to fear this day, only to be ready for when it arrives.

“Christians are characterized by light. Therefore, we can have nothing to do with the deeds of darkness.”

(v. 8) “having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation”[14] – Paul uses the example of a soldier’s armor in other places, but here he gives only two pieces and they are defensive. If we understand Paul’s use of the soldier as a sentry or guard, who stands watch – then he would need to be sober to be of any use.[15]

“His great concern is, will they be living such lives of faith, courage, love, sobriety, and service that Christ’s advent will be an occasion not of fear, but of joy? Will they be awake or asleep? Will they be well-trained soldiers at attention, breast-plated, helmeted, sword in hand and wits about them, ready to obey instantly the words of command, to will they be unarmed and sprawling asleep in the barracks?”[16] (similar to Christ’ command to the disciples in Mark 13:33).

Paul is warning the Christian to be protected against the surprise of Christ’s return. We must be found doing what Christians are called to do, faith, love, and hope. Paul again gives the three essentials of Christianity, faith, love, and hope – and typically ends with the one he wants us to focus on, which is “the hope of salvation.”[17] We currently experience our salvation through Christ, but it is also a hope – something we fully acquire in the future.

The pieces of armor are given to us by God, but we must take the action of[18], “having put on” and it is given in the aorist tense (a one-time completed act), meaning because you have already put on faith, love, and hope – while you are wearing these things you are protected against the surprise.

“What Paul desires is that the readers, instead of being filled with vain curiosity or getting all excited, shall be prepared.”[19] The Boy Scout motto is “Be Prepared”, and the foundational philosophy behind the organization is that if you give boys a certain skill set you can prepare them for just about any situation they may encounter in life, and teach them to ask the right questions to figure it out.

There are “preppers” who stock pile food and supplies in the event of a future catastrophe or zombie apocalypse. For the Christian, we can feel at ease in being prepared for Christ’s return by putting on “put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation”. We don’t sit around and stare into the sky waiting for His return, we are actively following the teachings and commands that He has given us until He returns.

The problem comes when you stop living in faith, expressing love, and lose hope of salvation that the danger comes. The Thessalonians, and every believer, have nothing to fear from the Coming Day of the Lord, but should inspire us to live according to our calling.

Therefore, you can be a believer and metaphorically sleep, meaning, “to live as if there will never be a judgement-day. Jesus gives this same idea in Matthew 25:3,8 “For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, . . . And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’”

“let us keep awake and be sober” does not mean that you will be able to predict Christ’s return, or see it before others do, it means that if you are spiritually awake and alert, then your life will not be wasted doing things that you will be ashamed of when Christ returns, you will be found faithfully doing what you are supposed to be doing. How do I know, what I am supposed to be doing – read the instructions (Bible).

Salvation Not Wrath (vv. 9-11)

9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

God has a purpose and plan for our lives, we need to be alert and sober so that we don’t miss that calling. Paul reminds us that our ultimate destiny is not one of wrath, “For God has not destined us for wrath,” instead we will obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.

All other religions that have ever existed tells you what actions you need to take in order to go to heaven, be a god, whatever. If you want to be saved, then do these things – be good, go to church, learn this secret handshake, etc.

Christianity, is the only religion that tells you what God has already done, so that you may be saved. Our salvation is obtained, “through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us,” Jesus did what was required in order for a person to be saved. He then offers this salvation as a gift, to those who place their faith in Him as that only means of salvation.

The church father Irenaeus said, “He became what we are not, in order that we might become what he is.”[20] Christ lived a sinless life, so that through a relationship with him we right become righteous. So it’s salvation, but from what? What are we being saved from? We are being saved from God’s wrath.

The final eruption of Mount St. Helens in May of 1980 was not a sudden event. For two months prior to the massive blast—the most deadly and destructive in American history—earthquakes and volcanic activity signaled a major event was underway. Authorities had plenty of time to sound the alarm and warn those living nearby of the looming danger. Yet despite the seriousness of the threat, some people chose to disregard the warnings.

Probably the best known of those who refused to evacuate was Harry Randall Truman. The eighty-three year old man was the owner and caretaker at the Mount St. Helens Lodge at Spirit Lake. He had survived the sinking of his troop ship by a German submarine off the coast of Ireland during World War I, and he was not about to leave just because scientists thought there was danger. Truman told reporters, “I don’t have any idea whether it will blow. But I don’t believe it to the point that I’m going to pack up.” On May 18, 1980, Truman and his lodge were buried beneath 150 feet of mud and debris from the volcanic eruption. His body was never found.[21]

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[1] https://www.preaching.com/sermon-illustrations/illustration-staying-alert/

[2] Acts 1:7

[3] Michael Holmes, The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing, 1998) 166.

[4] Leon Morris, The New International Commentary on the New Testament, The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; WM. B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., 1984) 152.

[5] Similar list given by FF Bruce, Word Biblical Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Waco, Texas; Word Books, 1982) 109.

[6] John F. Walvoord, The Thessalonian Epistles (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Dunham Publication, 1968) 81.

[7] Jehovah’s Witnesses, Seventh Day Adventists,

[8] “Leith Samuel remarks, ‘if there is one thing certain about the timing of the Lord’s return it is this, that we cannot be certain of the timing’ . . . ‘you know perfectly well that no one knows.’” Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; W.B. Eerdmans Publishing House, 1984) 96.

[9] Holmes, 167.

[10] Morris, 153.

[11] Frank E. Gaebelein, General Editor, The Expositor’s Commentary, Volume 11 (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Publishing House, 1978) 282.

[12] The prophet Isaiah also used the imagery armor in Isaiah 59:17 ff. Paul may have borrowed this concept to make his point.

[13] Morris, 156.

[14] In explaining why some pieces of armor are mentioned and others are not, “In Ephesians 6:10 ff. the soldier’s armor was for conflict with evil. Here it is for guard duty as they awaited the Lord’s return.” Clifton Allen, Gen. Ed., Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 283.

[15] Gaebelein, 284. See also AT Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, vol. 4, 35. & Clifton Allen, Gen. Ed., Broadman Bible Commentary, Vol. 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 283.

[16] George Arthur Buttrick, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1955) 308.

[17] See notes on 1 Thessalonians 1:1,2

[18] Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians, Vol. 9 (Kansas City, Missouri; Beacon Hoill Press, 1965) 490.

[19] William Henriksen, The New Testament Commentary, Exposition of 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Book House, 1987) 123.

[20] David Williams, New International Biblical Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Peabody, Massachusetts; Hendricksen Publishers, 1992) 91.

[21] https://ministry127.com/resources/illustration/get-out

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers “Standing Firm in Christ’s Return” 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series

Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers

Standing Firm in Christ’s Return

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

Introduction

Jesus said in John 14:1-6 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” The teaching of Christ’s return is a foundational Christian doctrine, and it is important that we understand because it affects how will live now.

In this section of 1 Thessalonians, Paul seems to be responding to a question that the church asked. We don’t know the question; we only get Paul’s response to the question. His euphemism of “who are asleep” and have “fallen asleep” instead of the word died, may give us some clue to the question, but ultimately, we just don’t know.

But what we get from Paul’s response is a source of hope and an understanding of death that changes how we live our lives. We are not a people who live as though we have no hope (or that this is all there is), we live in a faith where we will see those loved ones again who have placed their faith in Christ (and that place will have no famine, disease, hatred, all the things that sin has corrupted will not be there). Christ will remove us from this corrupted place and place in a specially prepared place. Our perishable bodies will be replaced with the imperishable.

Jesus’ return is “mentioned 318 times in the 260 chapters of the New Testament, and average of one reference in every twenty-five verses. In the Old Testament, the majority of prophecies relating to the Messiah have to do with His second coming.”[1]

“Charles E. Fuller used to say of this great passage that it is Paul’s exposition of John 14:1-3. The Lord’s words “I will come again” are matched by Paul’s explanation “The Lord himself shall descend from heaven.” The Lord’s promise “I will receive you unto myself” is matched by Paul’s explanation “Then we. . . .shall be caught up together . . . to meet the Lord in the air.” The Lord’s statement “That where I am, there ye may be also” is matched by Paul’s statement “so shall we ever be with the Lord.” And the Lord’s announcement “Let not your heart be troubled” is matched by Paul’s “Wherefore comfort ye one another with these words.”[2]

Prayer

Standing Firm in How We Grieve (v. 1)

13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.

“in contemporary paganism it was too often viewed as a sleep from which there would be no awakening; ‘The sun can set and rise again/But once our brief light sets/There is one unending night to be slept through.”[3] Paul says that people who believed this were people “who have no hope.”

There is a fundamental difference between the typical pagan and a Christian attitude toward death. Paul does not say that the Christian does not grieve or should not grieve, but “not to grieve as others do.” Christians grieve in that we will be separated from them until eternity. The world grieves because they will never see them again.

Standing Firm in Being Reunited (v. 14)

14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

When we die, we go to be with the Lord. 2 Corinthians 5:8 “Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.” Another translation says, “to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord.” So, v. 14 tells us that those who have already fallen asleep (who have a relationship with Christ) go to be with the Lord, and will come back with Christ. There is no fear in falling asleep. For the Christian there is no need to fear. When we breathe our last here, we awake in eternity.

Paul’s words to address the church’s concern are rooted in what Christ has already done. The future resurrection of those “who have fallen asleep” is directly linked to Christ’s own resurrection from the dead. Our hope is not based on assumption, but on the historical truth of Christ’s resurrection from the dead. Paul says, if you believe in the resurrection of Christ, then also believe that Jesus will bring those who have fallen asleep back with Him when He returns.

Standing Firm in An Eternal Home (vv. 15-17)

15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.

Verse 15 gives us a little insight as to what the question the church had may have been – there may have been a fear that those who are dead, that when Christ returns, will some how miss out, or in some way not be able to participate in this event.

(v. 16) The body of flesh is in the grave. But Paul in 1 Corinthians 15:48 ff. shows the necessity of a heavenly body. . . but two things are clear. The Christian dead are with Christ now. At the Lord’s return, they will be raised bodily with a spirit-controlled body (see 1 Corinthians 15:42-44).”[4]

(v. 16) Paul gives us an order of how Christ’s coming will happen, “16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God” The Lord’s return will be grand, and He will return in triumph and glory. “One word of command, one shout from the Archangel, one blast from the trumpet of God and God in person will come down from heaven.[5]

The last words of Jesus on this earth was the Great Commission” Matthew 28 “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.” Then thousands of years of silence – his next words in this world is a shouted command. Thousands of years of patiently waiting for as many people to receive the gospel as possible.

Jesus shouts three times in the Bible, and each time it’s loud enough to raise the dead. “The first time is at the tomb of Lazarus, John 11:43-44 “When he had said these things, he cried out with a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out.” 44 The man who had died came out. . .” The second shout was while he hung on the cross in Matthew 27:50-53 “And Jesus cried out again with a loud voice and yielded up his spirit. 51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split. 52 The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, 53 and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many.” And Paul records Jesus’ third shout when he returns. This shout covers the entire planet – All the dead in Christ, throughout all of time, and from every location in the world rise.

No one who has placed their faith in the one true God, and His Messiah will be left behind. What about, In 2003, Bethany Hamilton went surfing in the morning with her best friend and her best friend’s father and brothers while they were in Hawaii. While they were out surfing, a tiger shark attacked Hamilton and bite her left arm, severing it.

What about, In 2019 Disneyland shut down the Haunted Mansion because someone was seen dumping a powdery grey substance from one of the dune buggies. It was later determined to be the ashes of a loved one that wanted their remains spread at Disneyland and that was their favorite ride. What if our bodies are not whole?

Genesis 1:1 says, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.” When we look through the telescope into the night’s sky and see billions of stars, which represent vast uncountable solar systems, each with orbits, gravity, stars, and time itself. – God can find that girl’s arm, and put back the bodies of the cremated.

(v. 17) “will be caught up together” caught translates “to seize, snatch,” it’s where we get the word rapture[6] The word is used to describe Philip’s sudden disappearance after he baptized the Ethiopian eunuch (Acts 8:39).[7]

“to meet the Lord in the air”— this same word for meeting is used for God’s meeting with Abraham (Gen. 14:17), with David (2 Sam. 19:16), and with the Israelites at Sinai (Ex. 19:17). It means a formal reception of a visiting dignitary, in which a delegation of citizens or city officials would go out to meet the guest on his way to the city and escort him back into town with the appropriate pomp and circumstance.[8]

The resurrected dead and raptured living together will meet the descending Lord, “in the air” and accompany him in glory and honor the rest of the way to earth. The living and the dead will end up together. All brokenness will be corrected, all disease will be gone, all deformity will be gone, human beings will have a glorified spirit body.

You will recognize the person by their spirit, even though their appearance may be radically different. You won’t be young, or old (yet fully mature without decay) – you will be made perfect in how God made you and intended for you to be.

“Within its protective casing, the caterpillar radically transforms its body, eventually emerging as a butterfly or moth. … First, the caterpillar digests itself, releasing enzymes to dissolve all of its tissues. If you were to cut open a cocoon or chrysalis at just the right time, caterpillar soup would ooze out.”[9]

Also while the caterpillar experiences metamorphosis, “it can remember experiences it learned as a caterpillar.”[10]

This is a picture of how, even though we have a new spirit body, we will remember our time on earth. At the moment mentioned in 1 Thessalonians, when Jesus has returned, the saints are raptured into the sky, and the dead in Christ have risen – Jesus is not returning to convert. Matthew 25:31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” When Jesus returns, He is coming in judgement, the “Day of the Lord.”

(v. 17.) “and so we will always be with the Lord” – Once Jesus returns, believers will never be separated from Him again.

Hebrews 11:13-16 is discussing the Christian “Hall of faith,” (Abel, Enoch, Noah, Abraham, etc.) “These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore, God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.”

These were followers of God who realized that this earth was not their home, and they were strangers and exiles. In John 14, and here is Hebrews 11 we see that God has prepared a place for us, we will be with Jesus forever, and we will all be together with those we love who have placed their faith in Christ.

Standing Firm in Encouraging Others (v. 18)

18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

Where before there had been grief, fear, and despair, Paul encourages believers to encourage one another with the truth that they will all be together (living and the dead) and that they will be with the Lord forever.

Paul is equipping the church on how to encourage one another. For the church in Thessalonica, they were experiencing persecution, and some of their number had been killed. How do you encourage a fellow believer who has lost someone they dearly love? You tell them the truth – Christ has risen from the dead, therefore all those who place their faith in Christ will all be together with the Lord in eternity.

In Genesis 22:19 “After these things God tested Abraham and said to him, “Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 2 He said, “Take your son, your only son Isaac, whom you love, and go to the land of Moriah, and offer him there as a burnt offering on one of the mountains of which I shall tell you.”

In death and having to make decisions surrounding death, it is our understanding of God and His Word that helps to make the best decisions that we can. Hebrews 11:19 tells us that “He [Abraham]considered that God was able even to raise him [Isaac] from the dead,” It was Abraham’s understanding of God, that made it possible for him to be obedient even in the most difficult of times. We can comfort eachother with God’s Word, because even when the truth is often hard to bear, we can be certain that God is loving, merciful, and good.

If in some tragic event you were to die today, can you say with certainty that you will go to be with Jesus? This moment is all we have to decide if we wish to have a relationship with Christ and the comfort of His presence in our lives, or to reject his gift of salvation and run after the world with its’ temporary pleasures. Would you like to meet Christ today?

____________________

[1] John Phillips, Exploring 1 & 2 Thessalonians, An Expository Commentary (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Kregel Publications, 2005) 112.

[2] Phillips, 112.

[3] Michael W. Holmes, The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan Press, 1998.

[4] Clifton Allen, General Editor, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 280.

[5] Allen, 281.

[6] Latin rapere

[7] Phillips, 123.

[8] Homes, 151.

[9] https://wonderopolis.org/wonder/what-goes-on-inside-a-cocoon#:~:text=Inside%20a%20chrysalis%2C%20a%20caterpillar,itself%20from%20the%20inside%20out.&text=The%20fluid%20breaks%20down%20the,to%20form%20the%20new%20body.

[10] https://theconversation.com/curious-kids-do-butterflies-remember-being-caterpillars-99508

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers “Standing Firm in Sanctification” 1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series

Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers

Standing Firm in Sanctification

1 Thessalonians 4:1-12

Introduction

Before we jump into today’s text, I want you to turn to Exodus 3:3-5. It says, “And Moses said, “I will turn aside to see this great sight, why the bush is not burned.” 4 When the LORD saw that he turned aside to see, God called to him out of the bush, “Moses, Moses!” And he said, “Here I am.” 5 Then he said, “Do not come near; take your sandals off your feet, for the place on which you are standing is holy ground.”

What was it that made this ground holy? If we take a microscope and compare it with surrounding soil samples, will they be different? If we had come two days before, the burning bush miracle, would it still be holy? What about later, when Moses had left, would it still be holy ground? The root word for holiness is separation. The ground became holy simply because God separated it as the unique place that he could reveal Himself to Moses.

Wilkerson says, “holiness requires separation from one thing and separation to a different thing. Holiness requires division; until the Lord set that part from the rest of the desert, He couldn’t call it holy.”[1] We are called to be holy, set apart from the rest of the world, to be used for a holy purpose.

Prayer

Determined to Keep Doing the Right Thing (vv. 1-2)

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

(v. 1) “how you ought to walk and to please God” – and “that you do so more and more.” In this opening introduction Paul says three things, 1) He reminded them of the instructions about Christ that he and the other missionaries had given them while they were there, 2) how they were doing well in following those instructions, 3) and how they must continue to “walk” in those ways more and more (and verse 11).

The Thessalonian church was living under the weight of persecution, critics telling them they are not correct in their teaching, the Jewish community spreading false rumors about them, and they were very new in their faith – it would have been easy just to stop, but Paul tells them to “do so more and more.”

(v. 2) “For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus” – instructions signifies an order passed along a line of soldiers, and it is often used for military order.[2] This order has been passed down through the Lord Jesus.

Determined to Keep My Body Under Control (vv. 3-8)

3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

In life there are times when we are not sure what the will of God is (take this job, move to this city, marry this person, take the promotion, etc.), so we pray, and try to apply Biblical precepts. But here, the instructions that Paul gives are not precepts, or suggestions – but for their continued growth as a Christian, the church in Thessalonica must follow “the will of God.” It is summarized in one word, “sanctification,” or “holiness.”

(v. 3) “abstain from sexual immorality” – this command is given against the backdrop of a society where it was very common to have just about any kind of sexual sin, “including prostitution, adultery, or fornication.”[3] “He had been brought up in a world where polygamy, concubinage, homosexuality, pederasty (pedophilia), and promiscuity were accepted as a matter of course . . . Many of the religious cults were frankly sexual in character, . . . and sacramental fornication as part of the worship.”[4]

The gods themselves were given over to their sexual desires and using their power or position to take advantage of humans (becoming swans, etc.) “Pagan religions regarded sexual freedom and promiscuous practice as natural and normal.”[5]

“The general attitude is frequently illustrated by a quotation from Demosthenes’s oration Against Neaera: ‘We keep mistresses for pleasure, concubines for our day-to-day needs, but we have wives to produce legitimate children and serve as trustworthy guardians of our homes.’”[6]

There are a couple of words we need to define. Porneia, “sexual immorality” is a broad term that includes both adultery (sexual intercourse involving a married person and someone other than his or her spouse) and fornication (sexual intercourse involving individuals who are not married).

The biblical context for sexual intercourse is heterosexual marriage. Holy living, with respect to sexuality, involves disciplined fidelity to one’s spouse for those who are married and disciplined abstinence for those who are not.[7]

In our culture sexuality that goes counter to God’s will is seen as normal and should be accepted (just as in the Thessalonian culture). But let the church be clear, 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 “Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, 10 nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.”

Can a homosexual be a Christian? “the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God” . . . . “who practice homosexuality” – to become a follower of Christ everyone must repent of their sin (as defined by the Bible), and follow Christ. There is an admission that it is wrong, and seeking Christ and His kingdom, first. Homosexuality is clearly given as a sin in this list.

It does not say that the desire to sin will just go away. As with any sinful desire, everyone must, through the Holy Spirit’s power, fight against it in our lives.

Just because you have the desire doesn’t make it ok to act upon the desire. Also, am I putting myself in a position where I am allowing myself to be tempted by something that I know I am tempted toward? Boy and girl in the backseat of a car., ex.

Why focus on homosexuality when the 1 Thessalonians 4 passage doesn’t include it? Because in our culture today, we don’t have too much confusion over adulterers, greedy, drunkards, etc. these are understood as bad, but to enter into the homosexuality area, then we start talking about hate speech, gender pronouns, gender fluidity, etc.

(v. 4) “each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor” – Holiness is a set-apart life style. Honor has the idea of how you treat other people. The Christian is respectful of the other person, and how they will be impacted by the relationship. The Christian is to act in such a way that others recognize they are different and have their lusts and body under control. He shows how the lost world live in “passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God” and contrasts against the Christians who live with holiness and control.

We all know of people who have been impacted by their decision to go outside of God’s plan for us, (one’s spouse, children, marriages, potential future spouses, the congregation, etc.)

When Kimberly and I were in seminary I worked at a Christian High School. The vice principal (my boss), who was a seminary student as well, took a second job at a local convenience store. His daughter was in two of my classes. One Monday after school an emergency faculty meeting was called and we were informed that the vice principal was fired due to infidelity (with a woman at the store). His daughter, who was normally energetic, outspoken, very intelligent – her grades dropped, she kept her head down on her desk most of the time – it was devastating. When we go outside of God’s plan for our sexuality the results are devastating. (v. 6) “that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter”

“For Paul, sexual activity is not just an inconsequential private activity involving consenting adults; on the contrary, it has an impact on both one’s relationship with God (cf. 1 Cor. 6:12-20) and with other people; therefore, it ought to be exercised in a way that is respectful of both.”[8] The Christian takes into account what is best for the long-term well-being of one’s friend/date/partner, rather than what feels good or seems right at the moment.

(v.7) “For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness[9]” – The word holy means “set apart,” and is this rooted in the very character of God, Leviticus 11:44 “For I am the LORD your God. Consecrate yourselves therefore, and be holy, for I am holy.” Because we follow the one true God, and his command to us is to be set apart, we then set ourselves apart from the world and how is exists.

“. . . for the Christian to fall short of a life of holiness is him to deny the divine purpose in saving him in the first place.”[10] You were set apart (unto salvation) to be holy.

(v. 8) “Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God” – When we don’t regard these commands from God, we disregard God. The person who takes sexual sin lightly, who sees is as something that does not matter much, is in effect, treating God as of no account.[11] They are disregarding His plan for the family, marriage, relationships, gender – the order He has established.

(v. 8) “who gives his Holy Spirit to you” – God does not just define the standard that his followers are to live; he also provides the power by which one can live. He gives us the Holy Spirit to live in such a way that pleases God. Phillips says, “It is not for nothing that the Spirit God gives us is called the Holy Spirit.”[12]

In our culture today we are right back in the Garden of Eden, standing at the tree and staring at the forbidden fruit with Adam and Eve. (v. 3) says, “3 For this is the will of God” – Man’s choice is and will always be, “who decides what is right and wrong?” Does God set the standard or does mankind decide for himself what is right and wrong? There is much confusion today regarding sexual orientation, gender, marriage – “Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians offer a biblical antidote to our current confusion.”

Determined to Have a Good Reputation (vv. 9-12)

9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

In these verses, Paul is telling the church to “keep a low profile, to give attention to their own affairs, and to stay busy,” and then gives reasons why.

“brotherly love” – “to do this more and more” – the Greek pre-Christian word “brotherly love” (Philadelphia) was always used in reference to siblings in your own family. But Christians called each other brothers and sisters, so a brotherly love is referenced here. They were showing a Christian brotherly love toward others believers throughout Macedonia.

But also concerning “brotherly love” is how we live our lives and how our lives effect the lives of other believers. The church was undergoing persecution in Philippi and here is Thessalonica.

“Some of them were disposed to become idlers – turbulent and meddlesome. In consequence, they created a very unfavorable impression upon outsiders. This affected adversely the standing of the entire church in the community.”[13]

(v. 11) “aspire to live quietly”[14] and “mind your own affairs” both have very similar meanings. Paul is pointing out that what you choose to do in the public arena, could very well affect the church, so whatever you choose to do, it should be influenced by a “brotherly love” because that decision may affect others in the church. In the Thessalonica church doing things in the public, may draw attention not only on that person, but also on Christians as a whole – which during that day may cost them their lives.

We see this same idea in Philippians 2:4 “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

“It is our appointed duty to say something of his behalf if he is being exploited, tyrannized, tempted, or corrupted. Yet it is easy to be a busybody. Moffatt speaks of a man’s busy life becoming “an empty ado” (Psalm 39:6).[15]

“work with your hands[16], as we instructed you” – Paul has already given them instruction before about working. Here in chapter 4, is an idiomatic expression found several times in the Old Testament,[17]in which the emphasis falls not on “hands” but on “work.” So Paul says that we must be careful in how we live so because it will affect other believers, but also, our actions also affect how the world sees Christians as well.

John R. W. Stott observes, “It is an expression of love to support others who are in need; but it is also an expression of love to support ourselves, so as not to need to be supported by others.”

“So that . . .” (v. 12) “you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.” They needed to behave the way Paul has described so that the gospel will not be discredited. Barclay says, “When we Christians prove that our Christianity make us better workmen, truer friends, kinder men and women, then and only then are we really preaching. The important thing is not words but deeds, not oratory but life.”[18]

______________________________

[1] Bruce Wilkerson, Personal Holiness in Times of Temptation (Eugene, Oregon; Harvest House Publishers, 1998) 24.

[2] Leon Morris, Tyndale New Testament Commentaries, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; William B. Eerdmans Publishing, 1984) 80.

[3] Michael Holmes, The NIV Application Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan, Publishing, 1998) 125.

[4] Arnold E. Aithart, Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 9 (Kansas City, Kansas; Beacon Hill Press, 1965) 475.

[5] Clifton Allen, General Editor, The Broadman Bible Commentary, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 278.

[6] F. F. Bruce, Word Biblical Commentary, 1 & 2 Thessalonians (Waco, Texas; Word Books Publishers, 1982) 87.

[7] Holmes, 131.

[8] Holmes, 126.

[9] Paul views holiness “as a future goal, (a state or condition of holiness, as in 3:13), a past gift (5:23), and a journey (a process leading to a state of holiness, as in 4:3) to which God calls us (4:7). This view of holiness also helps us to understand how Paul can use the term as an overarching one-word summary of God’s will for his people (4:3). Holmes, 130.

[10] Airhart, 478.

[11] Morris, 85.

[12] Airhart, 479.

[13] George Arthur Buttrick, General Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1955) 299.

[14] “The citizens of the ancient city of Shechem had a traditional belief that in the silence of the night there could be heard the fascinating music of the deeply buried streams flowing under the city.” Buttrick, 299.

[15] Buttrick, 299.

[16] Paul comes back to “work” in 2 Thess. 3:6-13.

[17] Duet. 2:7-8; Job 1:10; Ps. 89:17; Jer. 1:16; Isa. 5:12

[18] Airhart, 481.

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers “Standing Firm In Service to Christ” 1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

1 Thessalonians Sermon Series

Standing Firm: Foundational Doctrine For New Believers

Standing Firm In Service to Christ

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

Introduction

Paul, Silas, and Timothy, having left because of persecution, have written a letter to the new church in Thessalonica where they are essentially answering the criticism of “Paul and his associates are deluded individuals who for selfish reasons and with trickery are trying to exploit the people.”[1]

I. How Far Are You Willing to Go to Share the Gospel? (vv. 1-2)

For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

(v. 1) “our coming to you was not in vain” – the word vain can mean something without content, or does not have a result. Paul is expanding what he said in 1:5, “You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.” Another way of interpreting vain is “empty-handed.”

Later in the text he defends his ministry with them and says that he was not trying to take something from them (leaving them empty-handed) instead he was bringing them something. As in the parable of the bad tenants in Mark 12:3 “And they took him [the servant of the owner sent to get the fruit] and beat him and sent him away empty-handed.”[2]

No builder (as Paul was) likes to have his work torn down, or to spend his time in vain. By the way, it is very hard to build; it is very easy to tear down what someone else has built. It was not a waste of time for the missionaries to share the gospel in Thessalonica. It is not a waste of time to share the gospel, especially amongst conflict.

(v. 2) Paul had moved from Philipi (Acts 16:12-40) to Thessalonica, and it was there they faced a very similar situation, “we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi.”

“we had boldness in our God” – Paul, Silas, and Timothy are going (all by themselves) into a major trade city, standing up in the Jewish temple and preaching about Jesus. That is bold. Then as a result of that boldness of preaching and sharing who Jesus is, there erupted “much conflict.” Then, they preached all the more.

Our boldness is not in our ability, or our group size, or how much money is in the bank. Our boldness is not rooted in anything that we can do or have control over – our boldness is in our God.

Matthew 14:28-31 “And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.” 29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind,5 he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out, “Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?”

We don’t have to come up with what to say, it’s God’s gospel, not ours – “to declare to you the gospel of God.”

“to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict” Conflict has its roots in agoni (agony) and was an athletic term of striving in games. It could refer to both mental and physical agony.[3] Paul was in agony, striving in battle, to declare the gospel. We don’t quit when things get hard, reaching a lost world with the gospel will always be hard.

II. What is Your Motive in Sharing the Gospel? (vv. 3-8)

3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. 8 So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

(v. 4) “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel” – We who have been saved, and especially we who have been given this great gift of freedom, must remember the supreme trust that God has given us – the trust of His Word, the gospel. Paul says, in light of this awesome trust and responsibility, “so we speak.”

Jeremiah 1:10 “See, I have set you this day over nations and over kingdoms, to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant.”

We must be on guard that we never lose the wonder and weight of the gospel. We must not allow our hearts to get used to the gospel – when the net is being drawn at the end of the service is not the time to gather your coat.

Paul is defending their ministry of sharing the gospel against several false accusations (he was deluded, they were just in for the money, they were just like other charlatans going around from city-to-city selling their religion). For us, Paul gives us a list of characteristics that we should not follow our attempts to exercise the trust of sharing the gospel with the world:

from error or impurity

(v. 3) Paul reminds the Thessalonians that his “appeal” to them did not involve delusion (i.e. and error on Paul’s part), “impure motives” or trickery (a word that deals with how he preached) – a trio of words that reflect traditional charges against traveling charlatans of various sorts.”[4]

or any attempt to deceive – no deceptive practices were used to catch them, like a fish on a hook. They did not seek to trick them into believing in Christ.
not to please man, but to please God
words of flattery
nor with a pretext for greed – “a cloak of covetousness” a disguise to cover up greedy desires.
seek glory from people

In contrast to these things, Paul says we should imitate him, “gentle among you, like a nursing mother” This is Paul who was once Saul of Tarsus. In his early years was brutal, and held the coat of those stoning Christians. He hunted them down like animals and put them in prison. But Christ changed this brutal man’s heart, and now he sees these new Christians as precious children. Paul is a new creature in Christ, he was experienced the effects of the gospel and wants others to experience it as well. 2 Cor. 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.”

The second characteristic that Paul shows to be very important in their evangelism strategy is “we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves” – “With the delivery of his message he delivers his heart, for they are truly dear to him.” We must give ourselves and our words to the message of the gospel. We must be two handed in our giving; with one hand we give the gospel, and with the other we give ourselves. “They held back nothing in their ministry.”[5]

This giving of ourselves is another expense – this hear-and-soul involvement with people is costly.[6] (v. 8) “being affectionately desirous of you, . . . because you had become very dear to us.” Lost people’s lives are messy, and if we are to live out the gospel in front of them, then they become apart of our lives. Many people want to drop a tract in a public restroom, or on the table after you eat out and call that evangelism. That’s not what I see in the New Testament – true evangelism costs you something.

III. Are You Willing to Work Twice-As-Hard So Someone Else Can Hear the Gospel? (vv. 9-12)

9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. 11 For you know how, like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

In order to not be a burden to this new church, the missionaries burdened themselves, “we worked night and day.” They may have started in the early hours, or worked late into the night, probably at tentmaking (Acts 18:3), in order to be financially independent. They would preach and teach during the day, and at other times labor at making tents (early mornings, or late at night).

Paul, Timothy, and Silas bore the weight of taking care of their expenses while doing the work of evangelism because of its’ importance (and so that no one could accuse them of wanting to profit from their message).

In verse 7 Paul describes their leadership as being “gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children” and here in verse 11 “like a father with his children, 12 we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you” Paul is using it as a reference to how more mature believers are to treat those they are discipling.

But it also is a window into the relationship between parents and children and why two parent homes, led by a father and mother, is so important. Women tend toward nursing and care, fathers tend toward exhortation, encouragement, and charging.

Paul says that he gives not only the gospel, he also gives his life. He is compassionate and loving, while at the same time challenging, encouraging, and exhorts them in how they live their lives – all being done with boldness and in spite of much conflict. This is the example that we are to follow in our sharing of the gospel with the world. They are watching to see if being a Christian is what you say it is.

Now Paul continues to show how they were seeking to make disciples for Christ. Once a person received Christ, Paul, Silas, and Timothy, “like a father with his children” he did three things:

- “we exhorted each one of you” –
- “encouraged you”
- “and charged you”
- To “walk in a manner worthy of God” –

Paul is thankful for the church following their (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) example, but it is important to see what he is pointing them to follow. The worthy walk has nothing to do with what you eat, or what you wear, so . . .

How does Paul, Silas, and Timothy model a walk that is “worthy of God?” (4 ways)

Paul, Silas, and Timothy model a clear set of priorities. Life requires decisions and choices. These decisions are based on our goals and the priorities we have in our lives. If we are to walk in a manner worthy of God, then God, the gospel, and the things He prioritizes are clearly our priority and goals.

They model a concern for the integrity of the gospel. Paul and the missionaries worked hard against any accusations against what they did not want to be accused of being in it for the money or being greedy, or any other false accusations. While it shouldn’t be true, it is very difficult to separate the message from the messenger.

They model a clear sense of love and commitment to those to whom they ministered. “Among the more subtle hazards faced by those engaged in ministry is the temptation (often unconscious) to meet personal needs by ministering to others, or to do things for people in order to win their approval or to get them to like us. We are glad to serve or minister to others as long as we somehow benefit from it, or as long as it doesn’t cost us too much of our precious time, energy, and/or money.”[7]

They modeled a down-to-earth work ethic.[8] The goal of Paul, Silas, and Timothy was not boost their own reputations, by winning praise, and they didn’t lord their authority over people. Rather, their ministry goal was the well-being of others. They believed that when people receive the gospel their lives will be better – here and now, and for all of eternity, so they were willing to do whatever it took for that to happen.

IV. Are You Willing to Learn Something New? (vv. 13-16)

13 And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. 14 For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind 16 by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

(v. 13) “the word of God, which is at work in you believers.” – Work has its root in the word energy, like a battery – when Paul, Silas, and Timothy leave, the word of God is still working (keeps on working) in the believer’s lives.

(v. 14) “For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews” – The Pharisees “They kept before the nation the glowing story of past greatness, and summoned it to be faithful to the noble traditions of the fathers. They were faithful in church attendance; engaged in severe and frequent fasts; were generous, for they were meticulous tithers; had fiery patriotic fervor; and were the most popular and influential of the Jewish parties.

But they were guilty of one thing which carried with its train a succession of ugly vices – their minds were closed because patterns and preconceptions. They knew everything. They were never wrong, but everyone else was. They were the possessors, guardians, and interpreters of God’s law.”[9]

The Pharisees are not an ancient religious group long-gone, they are still among us. Every congregation has them, and we must be on guard that we do not become one.

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[1] William Hendriksen, New Testament Commentary, Thessalonians, Timothy and Titus (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Baker Publishing, 1987) 59.

[2] Hendriksen, 60.

[3] Clifton J. Allen, General Editor, The Broadman Bible Commentary, 2 Corinthians-Philemon (Nashville, Tennessee; Broadman Press, 1971) 270.

[4] Michael Holmes, The NIV Application Commentary, 1&2 Thessalonians (Grand Rapids, Michigan; Zondervan, 1988. 61.

[5] Allen, 271.

[6] Arnold E. Airhart, Beacon Bible Commentary, Volume 9 (Kansas City, Missouri; Beacon Hill Press, 1965) 454.

[7] Holmes, 73.

[8] Ibid, 74.

[9] George Arthur Buttrick, General Editor, The Interpreter’s Bible, Volume 11 (Nashville, Tennessee; Abingdon Press, 1955) 278.