quick destruction

Posted on November 25, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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quick destruction

1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 5:1 About the times and the seasons: Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you
1 Thessalonians 5:2 because you yourselves know quite well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.
1 Thessalonians 5:3 When they are saying, “Peace and security,” then quick destruction will come on them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

quick destruction

Paul had been encouraging the Thessalonians who had lost loved ones by reminding them of the hope of Christ’s return. He will come suddenly and violently back to this planet, with booming shouts and loud trumpet blasts. His coming is certain and swift, but nobody knows when.

This same truth which is a comfort for the believer should send shivers down the unbeliever’s spine. This swift resurrection and reunion for the saint also means swift retribution for the reprobate. The Lord will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night, like labor pains on a pregnant woman. The result will be quick destruction, from which there is no escape.

Lord, your coming will be awesome for us, but awful for the unbelievers all around us. Show us how to rescue them from the quick destruction that awaits them.

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with the Lord

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

 

 

with the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:16 because the Lord himself will descend from the sky with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first.
1 Thessalonians 4:17 Then we who are still 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.
1 Thessalonians 4:18 Encourage one another with these words, then.

with the Lord

Lots of folk talk about going to be with the Lord, but they seem to think it will happen when they die. Paul could have said that the believing dead were with the Lord, and that would have settled it for the curious Thessalonians. But he didn’t say that. In fact, he said that the dead were asleep (verses 13 and 15), and that they would not rise until Jesus descended.

When we face our own death, or the death of loved ones, we need encouragement. But our encouragement should be in line with what the Bible actually says. The second coming is the blessed hope.

Lord, thank you for the promise of a resurrection and reunion at your return.

 

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in the same way

Posted on November 23, 2021 by Jefferson Vann
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1 Thessalonians 4:13-15 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:13 We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, concerning those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve like the rest, who have no hope
1 Thessalonians 4:14 because if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, in the same way, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.
1 Thessalonians 4:15 You see, we say this to you by a word from the Lord: We who are still alive at the Lord’s coming will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep

in the same way

Paul wanted the Thessalonian Christians to know that their dead would not be abandoned. They were presently asleep, but their sleep was not to be an eternal one. Christ was raised from the dead, and they would have victory over death in the same way.

Now, there are those who teach that believers have victory over death in a different way. They follow a long-standing tradition that teaches that death is not really death, but a crossing the Jordon to eternal life immediately after death. That was not how Jesus got victory over death. He stayed in that tomb until he was raised from it.

And that is the way that Paul says the Thessalonian Christians will find their victory. He told them that “the Lord himself will descend from the sky with a shout, with the archangel’s voice, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise…” (verse 16).

Lord, we thank you for the promise of a resurrection just like Jesus experienced, and an eternal victory over death like his.

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brotherly care in one direction

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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brotherly care in one direction

1 Thessalonians 4:9-12 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:9 About brotherly caring: You don’t need me to write you because you yourselves are taught by God to care about one another.
1 Thessalonians 4:10 In fact, you are doing this toward all the brothers and sisters in the entire region of Macedonia. But we encourage you, brothers and sisters, to do this even more,
1 Thessalonians 4:11 to seek to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you,
1 Thessalonians 4:12 so that you may behave properly in the presence of outsiders and not be dependent on anyone.

brotherly care in one direction

Paul encouraged the Thessalonian Christians to keep on caring for one another, and keep finding ways to express their love, because that mutual love among the congregations would draw others to Christ.

But Paul warned against the temptation to take advantage of other peoples care — their desire to help and be generous. Instead, he told the Thessalonians to seek to live independent of other people’s charity. Depending on the financial help of others would make the outsiders (non-Christians) assume that people were joining churches just to receive support. So, it would act against the cause of Christ and the mission of the congregation.

Lord, give us the generosity to care for one another, and the independence to do so without bringing shame on the congregation, and turning people away from the gospel.

 

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invitation to consecration

Posted on November 21, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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invitation to consecration

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:7 For God has not invited us to impurity but to live in consecration.
1 Thessalonians 4:8 Consequently, anyone who rejects this does not reject a human, but God, who gives you his Sacred Breath.

invitation to consecration

Living the consecrated life in reference to our sexuality is a possibility for every Christian. God invites us to be consecrated to him in that way. We can still refuse his invitation, but if we do, we need to know that the choice is not without consequence. Paul calls it rejecting God.

As some point in our future, we will stand before the judgment, and all our choices will be evaluated. That is not the time to discover that promiscuity or homosexuality is wrong, after all.

Lord, help us to flee impurity and live lives consecrated to your preference.

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God’s sexual preference

Posted on November 20, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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God’s sexual preference

1 Thessalonians 4:3-6 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:3 For this is God’s preference, your consecration: that you keep away from sexual immorality,
1 Thessalonians 4:4 that each of you knows how to control his own body in consecration and honor,
1 Thessalonians 4:5 not with lustful passions, like the Gentiles, who don’t know God.
1 Thessalonians 4:6 This means one must not transgress against and take advantage of a brother or sister in this manner, because the Lord is an avenger of all these offenses, as we also previously told and warned you.

God’s sexual preference

God has created each of us with a wonderful, powerful body, capable of two possible sexualities. Each of us has the preference to choose our own sexuality.

We can choose to allow our bodies to control us, becoming slaves to whatever lustful passions emerge from our depraved minds. If we make that choice, then we are choosing to act like the Gentiles. who have no knowledge of God. We are practicing practical atheism — dishonoring God as if his preference does not matter. Pornography or other forms of entertainment which encourage lustful passions only feed this practical atheism.

Also, it leads to a second sin of transgression, because our lusts will lead us to violate the bodies of other men and women, taking advantage of either their weakness or the mutual willingness of their depraved minds.

Thirdly, the choice to follow our lustful passions makes God our judge. He is obligated to avenge our transgressions. He does not want to do that, but he must because he is a just and fair God. He has to punish us for crossing the line.

As I said, God has created each of us with a wonderful, powerful body, capable of two possible sexualities. Each of us has the preference to choose our own sexuality. We can make the right choice. We can choose God’s sexual preference, which is consecration.

Consecration means remaining single if possible. But if they cannot remain single and stay in control, then a husband and wife must practice their sexuality within the confines of their marriage (1 Corinthians 7:2,8,11,32,34; Ephesians 5:28,33). That is the only choice that honors God, avoids transgression, and prevents punishment.

Lord, we consecrate ourselves to your preference.

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keep at it

Posted on November 19, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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keep at it

1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 4:1 Beyond this then, brothers and sisters, we ask and encourage you in the Lord Jesus, because as you have accepted instruction from us on how you should live and please God – as you are doing – do this even more
1 Thessalonians 4:2 because you know what commands we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

keep at it

Having established that the Thessalonians are living by faith, care for each other, and hope (confident expectation of the Lord’s return), Paul assures them that they are living to please God, so they should keep it up. His marching orders for them are “keep at it.”

Christian, do you wonder if you measure up to God’s standard? Just keep doing what you know pleases Him each day. Do not allow fear or guilt to paralyze you. God has invested his Holy Spirit in you. He will accomplish what he wants in your life. Keep yielding to Him, and when he appears, he will be pleased.

Lord, we ask for your Holy Spirit to exhibit his fruit of perseverance in our lives. Help us to keep at it.

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praying for absent friends

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

 

praying for absent friends

1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 3:11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And may the Lord cause you to increase and overflow with care for one another and for everyone, just as we do for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:13 May he make your hearts blameless in devotion before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his devotees. Amen.

praying for absent friends

Paul’s prayer for the Thessalonians is a good example of a prayer for absent Christian friends. Here is my paraphrase:

Lord, I miss my friends. It has been too long since I have seen them and enjoyed their company. I ask you in your providence to bring us back to each other. Reunite us, so that we can be mutually encouraged and worship you together again.

In the mean time, I ask that you provide friends and fellow believers for them to share their lives with, caring for each other as deeply as I care for them.

May they grow more like you, and more deeply committed to you, as we all wait for our ultimate reunion when our Lord Jesus returns.

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whew!

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

whew!

1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and care. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and suffering, we were encouraged about you through your faith
1 Thessalonians 3:8 because we are alive now, if you stand firm in the Lord.
1 Thessalonians 3:9 How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you,
1 Thessalonians 3:10 as we pray very intensely night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?

whew!

I was tempted to translate the words “because we are alive now” in verse 8 as simply “whew!” because that is what Paul is implying. His concern for the Thessalonians had practically stopped his heart. Now that he has good news about how the congregations are doing there, he and the others on his team can be alive again.

When you invest yourself in the spiritual lives of a people, there is no feeling like the relief of knowing that they are growing strong in the Lord, even in your absence. There is no gladness like that of seeing evidence of godly lives and successful ministries in those you have discipled.

Lord, we pray today for those believers that we have left behind, and ask you to ensure their continued growth and health.

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what Paul could not stand

Posted on November 16, 2021 by Jefferson Vann

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what Paul could not stand

1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 (JDV)

1 Thessalonians 3:4 In fact, when we were with you, we told you in advance that we were going to experience suffering, and as you know, it happened.
1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this reason, when I could no longer stand it, I also sent him to find out about your faith, fearing that the tempter had tempted you and that our labor might be for nothing.

what Paul could not stand

Paul and his team were facing a period of suffering and persecution. They could hold up under that alright, because they knew that they had been appointed to it, and it would be to God’s glory. But what Paul could not stand was being separated from the believers in Thessalonika, and not knowing how they were doing.

For Paul, the worst thing was not suffering for his faith. The worst thing would be losing people to the enemy because he could not be with them to support them.

Look around you, Christian. There are people God had brought into your life who need you. They are your mission — a people to whom you are significant. Love them, pray for them, support them. Let them know how much they mean to you.

Lord, help us to take our eyes off our troubles, and put them on our mission — the people you gave us to love.

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