1 Thessalonian 4:13-5:28

Introduction

new here announcement

happy to be with just high school, as the middle school guy I don’t get that a lot so I get excited because I get to dig a little deeper

I’ll be quick because of business meeting at 7:30pm in case anybody wants to go to that

we’ll be finishing up our series in 1 Thessalonians as we do 4:13-5:28. I’m going to move fast because there is a lot to go over and unfortunately, I will not be able to go over everything in this passage like I would love to, if you have any questions about digging deeper, please reach out to me

1 Thessalonians 4:13–5:28 ESV

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. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 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. 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. 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. Therefore encourage one another with these words. 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. We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. 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. Brothers, pray for us. Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. I put you under oath before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

Obviously, this section has a lot about Jesus’ return which is a topic that tends to make people uncomfortable because it’s a lot for us to wrap our minds around, but this passage should help with that

“Encourage One Another With These Words”

My points tonight are going to be quotes of scripture to help remind you of what we talked about tonight as you all go home or go to the business meeting

the first point is “Encourage One Another With These Words” because end times stuff can be uncomfortable to talk about, even for your average Christian.

To be afraid of end times doesn’t necessarily mean that you’re a bad Christian or you’re not saved, but it is something you can develop confidence in by reading the scripture. Paul addresses these concerns in this section for those that struggled with the same fears as he commands them to encourage one another with the reminder that Jesus is returning

The Thessalonians were very confused about how Jesus was going to return. Many were quitting their jobs and that’s why you see Paul telling them to get jobs in previous verses, but Paul feels like he needs to clarify.

He describes what it will look like through the inspiration of the Spirit. For those with vivid imaginations like myself, think about how Jesus will be come riding in on the clouds and we’ll hear a cry from an angel and a trumpet sound. Those who have placed their faith in Christ will be called up and then those who have placed their faith in him will be taken up into the sky with Him.

You will one hundred percent know that it is happening

Marybeth and I talk a lot about how we used to get scared sometimes that Jesus returned and we missed it. Like have you ever woken up from a nap and you left your room and nobody was home and you started to wig out because you thought Jesus left you? Are we the only ones who have thought that?

But Paul ends this description of the Day of the Lord by saying, “we will always be with the Lord.” This is what we encourage one another with.

For those like myself that need to be encouraged every now and then about Jesus’ return, I want to change your thinking from worrying about the details to focusing on the Savior, the one we will always be with.

You don’t have to wrap your mind around deep Theological discussions about the book of Revelation in order to understand that everything is going to be ok because He’s going to wipe every tear from our eyes and we will be with our God for all eternity.

“The Day of the Lord Will Come Like a Thief in the Night”

Moving in to chapter 5, Paul warns the unbeliever and the Christian alike that the Day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

The Day of the Lord is actually an Old Testament reference as God spoke through the prophets to describe the coming judgment of Israel who had strayed from Him, but these prophecies also pointed us towards an ultimate day of judgment where all of humanity would be held responsible for their sins because God is not just the God of His people but the God of the universe.

This Day of the Lord is the day where all of those that placed their faith in Christ will be declared forgiven, the debt of our sins will be paid, and our race will be complete.

But it will come when you least suspect it

Paul compares it to a woman giving birth. You can look for the signs and you may know the general timing of it, but when it comes there is no turning back

no turning back for the Christian, for the Athiest, Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim. What’s done is done

But how are we preparing for this?

Paul says in verses 5-7

1 Thessalonians 5:5–7 ESV

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.

Paul warns not to fall asleep or to become a dormant Christian. This is one who forgets his goals and his mission as a Christian.

Matthew 25:1–13 ESV

“Then the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them, but the wise took flasks of oil with their lamps. As the bridegroom was delayed, they all became drowsy and slept. But at midnight there was a cry, ‘Here is the bridegroom! Come out to meet him.’ Then all those virgins rose and trimmed their lamps. And the foolish said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out.’ But the wise answered, saying, ‘Since there will not be enough for us and for you, go rather to the dealers and buy for yourselves.’ And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, ‘Lord, lord, open to us.’ But he answered, ‘Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.’ Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour.

Christians, wake up! The bridegroom is coming soon! Don’t let it catch you off guard because you will find yourself outside of the marriage feast.

“That’s not fair!” you may think, but those who are truly friends of the groom are going to be excited for his coming as they prepare

“Do Not Quench the Spirit”

Paul finishes out his letter with final instructions for the Thessalonians on how they should act and protect themselves spiritually

He tells them to awake those that are asleep in their faith, encourage those that are fearful of Jesus’ return, live holy lives seeking to do good for one another, praying without ceasing (continuously walking with the Lord in everything), rejoicing always, not quenching the Spirit (or shoving down the Holy Spirit with sin; you can’t lose Him but you can shove Him away), test everything (test all prophecies by remembering them when they happen), hold fast to what is good, and abstain from evil.

This sounds like a lot, but we are not doing this alone

The Holy Spirit will guide you and keep you as you grow in your faith. You’re going to fail at times! Paul doesn’t say you need to be perfect, but you need to be growing and looking forward to the Day of the Lord.

Don’t quench the Spirit and shove Him down in your life

Conclusion