Jesus is the Author and Finisher of our Contentment Chronicle (2)

Intro:

What is a chronicle?

It is a story or an epoch. If you look up the definition of a “chronicle” it would be defined as, “a factual written account of important or historical events in the order of their occurrence.”

Chronicle of Contentment

Paul commands the Thessalonian believers to have a thankful heart posture, but what is the story that Paul is telling them will lead to a thankful heart posture? The story, or chronicle, is of contentment.

Personal Contentment

Your life and my life stories shape how we see God, man, and Christ in the midst of your circumstances.

Contentment In Community

The Story of contentment is not just individual but corporate. The believer, then, must abandon individualism and embrace a community life where the community is called to be shepherded, to engage with each other, and to accept the challenge to love each other in a self-sacrificing and Christ-glorifying way.

Text for Sermon

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 (ESV)

Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you.

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

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.

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.

For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness.

So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.

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.

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,

who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Our Story is Centered on the Redemptive Work of Christ

Our Story is bigger than yourself

1 Thessalonians 5:2–3 ESV

For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 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.

Jesus warned his disciples to stay awake in the garden Gethsemane

1. Paul urges the church to stay awake and watchful for the day of the Lord

This is a reference to Jesus’ teaching of his return.

Therefore, stay awake, for you do not know on what day your Lord is coming. 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. Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Christ is returning—are you prepared?

We make the mistake of believing out story is about us

A Self Centered Story sounds great, but ends in disaster

Ways we make the contentment story about about us

My peace and tranquility

While this sounds great, this isn’t real life. Life has peaceful moments, but brokenness, hardship and despair will also be in our story.

Since we have turmoil, we turn to false peace. Examples:

Addictions: The calm of a high or a few too many drink, the ecstacy of a sexual thought or action, the diversion of a screen

Security:

If I have this amount in the bank, If I’m married to a successful stable spouse, If I have great vehicles, and an amazing house, If I can retire successfully

Success:

Meeting career goal, having perfect accomplished and successful children, Having community influence,

If grace has really changed our hearts, we don’t ultimately care if life goes the way we want it, as long as we have Him. (Jesus) The joys of acclaim, wealth, and power are nothing compared to the eternal acclaim, wealth, and power we have in Him.

Our Story is bigger than you

1 Thessalonians 5:4–6 ESV

But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.

In Christ we are children of light

There is metaphor here to dwell on

It is night around us and people are acting in dark ways

1 Thessalonians 5:9–10 ESV

For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.

We were children of the night, but through belief in Jesus we have become children of the light

Here you are in the middle of the world’s night—but the spirit of Jesus within you is telling you it’s already daytime.

What does this mean?

1 Thessalonians 5:7–8 ESV

For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 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.

Let us put on faith, love, and hope in Christ

I can have peace in the storms because I have faith Christ will hold me close.

I don’t have to fear for my safety and security—Christ is my hope.

I am loved and accepted by Christ, I don’t need to achieve anything else

Our Story is bolstered in a Christ-centered community.

1 Thessalonians 5:10–11 (ESV)

Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Our Story is Written and Finished by our Faithful God.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 ESV

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. He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.

May God sanctify you completely

May you be kept blameless

God will be faithful—he will surely do it