1 Thessalonians

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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Acts 16-18

Acts 16:1-10 – Paul’s Second Mission Journey Begins

Paul had the heart of evanglism.  He not only shared the gospel with the people, but wanted to go back to visit the towns to encourage and lead the people to be disciples.  He knew shallow faith would not sustain them.  There had been a disagreement between Paul and Barnabas over Mark.  Paul felt Mark was unreliable since he had deserted them in the past and didn’t want to take him with them on the journey.  Barnabas wanted to take him, because he believed in giving second chances.  It’s a good thing God gives us second chances – even third and fourth chances.  The actions of both men ultimately moved God’s work forward spreading the gospel twice as fast to more people.  Later Mark proved himself to Paul by his ministry.  He also wrote the Book of Mark.

Paul took Silas, Timothy and Luke with him on his second missionary journey.  We know Luke went because he wrote the book of Acts and in 16:10 he says “… we got ready…” indicating he was with them.  How did the missionaries know where to go?  The Holy Spirit led them (Acts 16:6-10).  We learn God’s guidance when we listen to Him.  (Proverbs 3:6) “In all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” 

One way God leads is by opening and closing doors.  Paul was confident in his calling and he didn’t stop his journey just because the Holy Spirit would not allow them to enter Bithynia (Acts 16:7).  God spoke to Paul in a vision calling him to go to Macedonia.  He surrendered to God’s Spirit.  Are you surrendering to God’s Spirit?  Sometimes God says “No”.  Paul had that experience and was obedient.

Principle:  God’s way of leading is step by step.

Have you experienced God opening and closing doors? 

How alert are you with the Holy Spirit’s leading?  

Where do you need God’s direction today?  If Jesus is your Lord, all He asks is for you to do the next right thing. 

Acts 16:11-17 – 17:15 – Ministry in Macedonia

When they reached Philippi, they found Lydia and other women gathered there to listen to their teachings.  Lydia and her household believed and were baptized. 

Also at Philippi, Paul and Silas met a slave girl who was possessed by evil spirits and predicted the future.  Paul knew this was a danger to the word of God and commanded the evil spirit leave her.   Where God is at work the enemy is on a mission.  Satan can appear as an ally or with attacks.  When the owner of the slave girl realized that their hope of making money was gone, they seized Paul and Silas and took them to the authorities.  They were beaten and put in prison. 

Is there an evil influence you need to get away from?

In prison they didn’t complain to God.  Instead they prayed and sang hymns to God as the other prisoners listened.   I can just picture Satan in a panic, because he knew God was at work.  Suddenly a miracle happened.  A violent earthquake shook the prison and the doors were opened and all the chains became loose.  The jailer awoke and was going to kill himself thinking the prisoners had escaped.  When he turned on the lights, he saw Paul and Barnabas still there and asked what to do to be saved.  Acts 16:31 - “believe in the Lord Jesus and you will be saved – you and your household.”   This doesn’t mean if you believe, your household will be saved.  It means if you and you household believe, all will be saved.  The jailer was filled with joy because he now believed in God.  This is an example of how God uses good out of evil and how blessings can come through troubles.  When the Holy Spirit moves among people, there will be opposition by evil powers.

The jailor took them to his house, fed them and cleaned their wounds.  When morning came, the magistrates released them and they were told to go in peace.  Paul reminded them he was a Roman citizen and they had no right to treat him that way and they had broken the law.

Paul and Barnabas left Philippi and went to Thessalonica then to Berea.  In Berea they met with some of the same similarities as in previous places.  They always went to preach in the synagogue.  Some people believed and some agitated the crowns and stirred up people.

There were some differences though.  There the people received the message with great eagerness and even examined the scriptures to see if what Paul said was the truth.  That’s a great lesson for us all.  We should examine God’s word for ourselves and not just take the word of others as truth.

Principle:  God fulfills His plans in unexpected ways.

Acts 17:16-18:22 – Ministry in Athens and Corinth

Paul then went to Athens alone and waited for the others.  He was tired and greatly distressed.  His heart was probably crushed, because the city was full of idols.  This was the greatest city in the world, but the people were lost.  They were atheists and materialistic.  They were probably like the New Age movement today.  The people spent all their time doing nothing but talking about and listening to the latest ideas.  There was an altar with an inscription:  TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.  The Athenian people were intellectuals and refused to accept the doctrine of the resurrection.  When they heard about the resurrection, some sneered, some refused the good news about Jesus and the resurrection; however some wanted to hear more and some became followers. 

Does that sound like some people today?  We all know people who are very intelligent and think they don’t need God.  They refuse to listen and accept the gospel.

Paul was prepared and gave them a brilliant message that God was sovereign and in control and that God commands they should repent.  In Acts 16:24-31 Paul gives the message of the foundations of Christianity:

God is a living person – verse 25.

God is not live in temples built by hands, but He created everything – verse 24.

God controls the universe – verse 24.

God controls geographical boundaries – verse 26.

God overrules historical events – verse 26.

God is not distant from His creation, but near to each person – verse 27

God can never be worshiped through statues or images – verse 29.

God commands sinners to repent – verse 30.

God will judge the world through Jesus Christ – verse 31.

Paul’s message is a model for sharing the gospel.  He started on common ground meeting them with compassion and connecting with them.  Then he focused on God and who He is, our Creator and His supremacy.  He shared the truth about sin and that God’s grace is greater than sin.  Then he told them to trust God for the results.

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth.  Many of the women were prostitutes and the city was considered “sin city”.  There the Jews opposed him and became abusive.  Paul said “…. Your blood be on your own heads!  I am clear of my responsibility.  From now on I will go to the Gentiles” (Acts 18:6).  God encouraged Paul while he was in Corinth by telling him “Do not be afraid; keep on speaking, do not be silent.  For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city” (Acts 18:9-10).  God encourages us, too - through scripture and through our Christian friends with support, their prayers, and their encouraging words. 

How prepared and willing are you to speak to those around you?

How has His word encouraged you?

Principle:  God leads those committed to His truth to places His truth is needed.

Join me here next week for our study of the book of Acts.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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Hebrews 11-13

Hebrews 11 – Faith Examples

This week study is on FAITH.  Like oxygen is air to nourish to the body, faith nourishes the soul.

Some call chapter 11 the “Hall of Faith”.  What is faith?  Faith is to have a confidence and assurance in something without having tangible proof.  The word faith is used loosely today.  Some people today think if you have enough faith in something, it will happen.  It’s almost like they will it to happen.  It’s really just wishful thinking.  Heb. 11:1 says “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.”  Faith is belief, trust, loyalty to God.  Faith has action. 

True faith is belief in God and acting on that belief.  It’s having complete trust in God, His Word, and His promises.  It’s knowing that He is in control.  It’s trusting that He died on the cross for us and was raised on the 3^rd day.  Even demons have belief in God and tremble, but they are not saved.  It’s believing God created the universe.  It’s believing in God’s holiness and requires sinners to accept Jesus’ sacrifice for their sins making Him their Savior.

Where does faith come from?  Faith comes from God.  “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” – Eph. 2:8-9.

Saving faith is threefold:

1.       Content – Believing in something

2.      Warming of the heart – loving response to God

3.      Commitment – following after Christ.

Many in the Old Testament had faith.  This chapter gives us examples of true faith.

·         By faith Able offered God a better sacrifice.  God is holy and establishes a way man is to approaches Him.

·         By Faith Enoch was taken by God and did not experience death.  Enoch teaches us there is life after death.  He walked with God and was personally rewarded.

·         By faith Noah in holy fear built an ark to save his family.  He teaches us about the judgment of God.

·         By faith Abraham was called by God to leave his home and go to a foreign land.  By faith Abraham became a father in his old age. 

·         By faith Abraham obeyed God when he was told to sacrifice his son.  He trusted God’s word.  He believed God when circumstances seemed impossible.  God called him to go into a foreign land.   

·         By faith Isaac, Jacob, and Joseph lived and trusted God in His promises.

·         By faith Moses identified with his suffering people and chose to be with them instead of having the riches of the Egyptians.  He looked ahead to his reward.

·         By faith the prostitute Rahab acted boldly.  She was an unlikely person to be in the Hall of Faith.  She didn’t know much, but she believed and acted.  She was saved by her faith.  She became the mother of Boaz who was an ancestor of Jesus.

All these examples given of Old Testament believers were not admired in their time because of their faith, but were persecuted.  None received what God promised in their lifetime.

Principle:  Jesus is the superior object of our faith.

How is God calling you to believe what is hoped for and certain of what you do not see?

Does it give you hope that your faith could change the world like those in the Old Testament?

How would you describe your faith?

How would others describe your faith?

Hebrews 12 – Faith Tested

Chapter 12 tells us how to live our faith while our faith is being developed. 

God has personally marked our race in the line of faith.  Every race requires perseverance.  There are four steps listed that urge us to take to persevere in difficulties –

1.       Fix your eyes on Jesus – That’s our actions and our attitudes.  Get rid of everything that makes you doubt.

2.      Welcome discipline – This is not punishment, but acts of a loving parent training his child the way he should go.  If we are believers, God considers us His sons.  As a father disciplines a son, God disciplines us because He loves us.  He tells us to endure hardships as discipline.  It may be painful at the time, but it produces a beautiful harvest of righteousness and peace.  He is the King Righteousness and King of Peace.  His discipline develops our character like Christ.  Have you seen God’s discipline?  What refining process is He developing in you?

3.      Handle our relationships with others right – Reacting with people is a BIG ole life test!  Sanctification is not optional.

Trust in the promises of God.  Consider the Old and New Covenant.  “See that you do not refuse him who speaks….” (Heb. 12:25).  There will come a time when the earth will be shaken.  This refers to the great earthquake that will occur to end the present world and where God’s Great White Throne Judgment will occur.  “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (Heb. 25:28)  Freedom and peace come by trusting God completely without fear, because of He is unstoppable and unshakable.

Is your life shaky? 

What do you count on for security?

What is hindering your faith? 

What does it take for you to further trust God?

Are you wrapped up in anger or unforgiveness?

Principle:  God is pleased when we trust what He says.

Hebrews 13 – Faith Expressed

Hebrews 13 gives us ways our faith can be put into action.

·         Be loving – Keep on loving each others.  Entertain strangers. 

·         Be sympathetic– Remember those who are suffering, those in prison, and those who are mistreated.

·         Be pure – Guard your marriage and be faithful to your spouse.

·         Be content – Keep your lives free from the love of money.  Be satisfied with what you have.

·         Be loyal – Don’t be persuaded by false teachings, but stand firm in your faith. 

·         Be bold – Don’t be afraid to speak the truth and worry about what others may think of you.

·         Be worshipful – Praise God in all things.

·         Respect your leaders who speak the truth – Imitate their faith, submit to their authority, and be supportive.  Remember that Jesus is the real true leader and head of the church.

Principle:  Faith in Jesus equips us to do God’s will.

How can we grow in faith?

Ask God to increase your faith.

Focus on obeying God. 

Spend time reading and hearing God’s Word.

Spend time with other believers.

To sum up the book of Hebrews:  A life of faith pleases God.  Faith is reflected in our choices.

Trust that He is developing your faith.  May we become a cloud of witnesses for God. 

Jesus’ example of faithfulness is encouraging to us.  “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” – Heb 13:8.

Join me here next week as we go back to the study of Acts 15.  --  I encourage you to trust in Jesus.

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