1 Thessalonians
Acts 17:1-9 tells of Paul, Silas and Timothy’s visit
to Thessalonica where they taught and proved to them Jesus’ death and
resurrection, but with opposition they had to leave. Later Paul heard about the conditions there
since he left so he wrote this letter to the Thessalonians to encourage them
and to teach them more about Christianity.
In his letter he teaches them about Jesus’ second coming and tells them
that they should continue working hard until he comes. Each chapter refers to the return of Christ –
1 Thess. 1:10, 2:19, 3:13, 4:14-16, 5:2,
4, 8, 23.
Do you ever
feel your faith has grown stale? This letter to the Thessalonians is the perfect
remedy. Focus on Christ’s return. It provides ways of encouraging growth in
maturity and provides hope. By clinging
to our hope in Christ, we can see clear results in our lives: avoiding sexual
immorality, refusing to defraud others, appreciating other Christians, refusing
to repay evil for evil, rejoicing always, praying without ceasing, and giving
thanks in all things.
1 Thessalonians 1 – Faith That Works
The Thessalonians
faith, labor of love and patience of hope gave them the power to live strong
Christian lives. They became models to
other believers. They turned to God from
idols to serve the living and true God.
Paul tells them to wait for Jesus to return from heaven.
Paul is a great
encourager. He encouraged the Thessalonians
recognizing their faith and that they are imitators of Paul and his companions
and of the Lord in spite of their severe suffering. They welcomed the message with joy given by
the Holy Spirit. Their faith was known
everywhere.
When have you
taken time to encourage someone?
Principle: The
Holy Spirit empowers a life of faith, love, and hope to make Jesus Christ
known.
How is your
life making Jesus known to another?
Is your
quality of faith and lifestyle a good model for other believers?
Would you
feel good if others became like you?
1 Thessalonians 2 – 3 – Love That Labors
Paul, Silas and
Timothy’s work took root and grew there because:
They spoke as
approved men of God and were not trying to please men, but God. –
1 Thess. 2:4
They never used
flattery or cover up a mask of greed. – 1
Thess. 2:5
They did not
look for praise from men. – 1 Thess. 2:6
They were
gentle. – 1 Thess. 2:7
They worked hard
so as to not be a burden. – 1 Thess. 2:9
They dealt with
the Thessalonians as a father deals with his children, encouraging, comforting and
urging them to live lives worthy of God. – 1
Thess. 2:11-12
When you
speak the gospel, how do people know you are doing so out of pure motives?
Paul’s heart was
to train the Thessalonians spiritually.
He wanted to meet their God-given potential. His intense love and concern for those he
helped to receive Christ is evident in chapters 2 and 3:
He longed to see
them. – 1 Thess. 2:17
He was concerned
about their faith and didn’t want them to be unsettled by their trials.
– 1 Thess. 3:1-5
He prayed for
them day and night. – 1 Thess. 3:10
He prayed for
them saying, “May the Lord make your love increase and
overflow for each other and for
everyone else, just as ours does for you.
May He strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in
the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy
ones.” – 1 Thess. 3:12-13 (This is a wonderful prayer to pray for yourself
and for others.)
He prayed that
their faith would increase, that they would build one another up in love, and
dwell on the hope of Jesus’ return knowing He could come at any moment.
Who are you
concerned about and long to see?
Who do you
pray for their faith to increase?
Principle: God’s
love should prompt Christians to labor on behalf of others in preparation of
Christ’s return.
1 Thessalonians 4 -5 – Hope That Endures
How are you
encouraging someone else to live a life worthy of God?
Intentionally
reach out and encourage some, love someone who is hurting, call someone, send
them a note, and pray for them.
Paul tells them (and
us) how to live in order to please God – They should avoid sexual immorality,
learn to control their own bodies in a way that is holy and honorable, and that
no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. – 1 Thess. 4:3-6
Sexual
immorality does not please God. It’s
outside of God’s will. Statistics from a
Gallup poll reported 53% said it was ok to have pre-marital sex. 50% of men polled and 20% of women were
addicted to pornography. Pornography
also hurts innocent people. When we
reject God’s Word and instructions, we are rejecting God.
How does this
conflict with our present day culture?
How is your
behavior to be different than that of the world?
1 Thess. 4:13-18 Paul reminds them there is hope because of
the second coming of Jesus. In verse 13
the word asleep is used to describe Christians who have died and the
word awake is used to describe Christians who will be resurrected. In verse 17 the words caught up is
another word used for rapture. The Lord
will come down from heaven with the sound of the trumpet call of God and the
dead will rise. Those of us who are left
will be caught up together with the dead and in the clouds and meet Jesus in
the air and we will be with the Lord forever!
So the Thessalonians should encourage one another with these words.
At this
remarkable event Jesus will descend with a shout/voice/trumpet or sum audible
signal. It will not be a secret even
though many people may not understand the sound or its meaning when it happens. Remember on the road to Damascus in Acts 9,
Paul heard a heavenly voice. His
companions heard the sound but didn’t understand its meaning. So the entire world may hear this heavenly
sound but have no idea what its meaning is.
Believers will be gathered together – the dead and the living and all
will meet the Lord in the air.
This scripture
is the basis for the New Testament doctrine of the rapture. The word rapture is not mentioned in the
Bible, but rapture means caught up. Some
believe this fits into the sever-year Great Tribulation referred to in Matthew 24:21. There are several beliefs when this will
happen, but it will happen. You can
count on it.
Paul said we
should comfort one another. The truth of
the return of Jesus for all believers is to be a source of comfort for all
Christians.
1 Thess. 5:9-10 - God has not appointed us to suffer wrath,
but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ and we are to live
together with Him.
God has not
appointed us to suffer wrath, but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus
Christ and we are to live together with Him. – 1 Thess. 5:9-10
This encourages
me, because I will not get what I deserve.
He has saved me from that. Praise
God! We are destined to face trials as
believers. We need spiritually-sound
people around us when we face those trials.
We don’t know
when He will return, but we need to be ready.
Paul gives them (and us) final instructions:
They should respect those over them who are
in the Lord and hold them in highest regard in love because of their work. – 1 Thess. 5:12-13
They should warn those who are idle,
encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with
everyone, don’t pay backs wrongs, always try
to be kind, be joyful, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances, don’t put out the
Spirits fire, don’t treat prophecies with contempt, test everything, hold on to the good and avoid
every kind of evil. – 1 Thess. 5:14-22
We can do these
things, because God is the God of peace and He sanctifies us. He is faithful and He will help us do
it.
How much do
you pray?
Are you
thankful in all circumstances?
What
instructions is God giving you today?
Will you be
ready when Jesus returns?
How does
Christ’s return someday affect your behavior?
Principle: God
is pleased when believers live according to His Word, surrender to His spirit,
and expect Christ’s return.
Are you patiently
waiting and living for the return of Jesus?
Join me here
next week for our study 2 Thessalonians. -- I
encourage you to trust in Jesus.
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