The Three Things About Which God Wants All Christians Informed

We have come to the Rapture passage in First Thessalonians, but since we just talked about the details of the Rapture, I thought we would approach these last 6 verses of Chapter 4 a little differently.

6 times in the New Testament, Paul uses this phrase or its equivalent:

“I would not have you to be ignorant.”

In three of those instances, Paul gives Christians in the church three specific things about which they must be informed, and I thought we would take a look at those three things before we finish First Thessalonians.

1. A Christian is to be informed of the tactics of Satan.

2 Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

The Christian is to be aware of the Devil’s strategies and tactics so that we can be aware of Satan’s deception.

Here are some verses that tell us about Satan in the New Testament, in particular, how Satan works in the church.

1 Peter 5:8 “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:”

Ephesians 6:10–12 “Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.”

Jude 4 “For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”

2 Corinthians 11:13–15 “For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.

And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.

Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.”

Satan is at work in the modern church, and the Bible says that we are to be aware of that fact.

Paul is telling us not to be ignorant of the devices Satan uses so that we can be on guard. Christians in the church are to be alert. The New Testament church is supposed to be sober-minded. In other words, Christians are to be clear-headed alert to Satan’s attacks.

Notice our passage again.

2 Corinthians 2:11 “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

In context, devices means cunning plans.

Satan’s methods in the church are so subtle that usually we miss his attacks until it is too late. Chasms that appear in the church do not happen overnight. They develop with each of Satan’s subtle attacks, and Paul is telling us that it requires our awareness to recognize and resist him.

Satan’s goal is to destroy a church’s testimony and to block your spiritual growth.

Now, Paul wants us to be informed about Satan’s methods because we can stop him dead in his tracks. The question becomes this.

How do we resist the tactics of Satan within the church?

A. Test the spirits.

1 John 4:1–3 “Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God:

Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God:

And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world.”

B. Protect the body of believers by wearing the armor of God.

Ephesians 6:11–17 “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;

And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God:”

Dear friend, how could Satan possibly attack if we are wrapped in the armor of God?

Paul says that the only offensive weapon we need is the Word of God.

In another broken record statement from me. If you ignore personal Bible study, you will not defeat Satan in your life, and you will always be open to his attacks.

C. Submit to God.

James 4:7 “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.”

The indication, by the wording, you cannot resist Satan’s attacks, and you probably cannot notice Satan’s attacks if you are not submissive to God.

It is 100% possible to overcome the attacks of Satan within the church, but true Christians in the church need to be aware of his tactics, and we need to be on guard defending ourselves from the attacks.

2. A Christian is to be informed about using his or her spiritual gifts.

1 Corinthians 12:1 “Now concerning spiritual gifts, brethren, I would not have you ignorant.”

Now, I am going to tell you this once again, and I guess I am repeating what Paul says.

You, if you are truly saved, were gifted by the Holy Spirit with a spiritual gift to serve the body of Christ and to complete the works Christ has for you.

Ephesians 2:10 “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”

The spiritual gifts are given by God as He chooses not as we may want. God gives you the gift or gifts that best allow you to best serve both the body of Christ and Him.

Romans 12:4–6 a“For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office: So we, being many, are one body in Christ,

and every one members one of another. Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us,

Now, here is how I say what Paul says.

No one is saved to sit. In the New Testament, in this current church age, when a person is saved, he or she is saved to do the works of Christ, and God makes it possible for you to do that if you will only submit.

No church will ever be 100% effective until 100% of its saved members are using their supernatural spiritual gifts serving the body and completing the works of Christ.

If you ask me what your spiritual gift is, do you know what I am going to say? At first, I am going to say I do not know, so the question becomes how one identifies his or her spiritual gifts.

How do you identify your spiritual gifts?

Examine the Scripture.

Pray for guidance from the Holy Spirit.

Seek advice from more mature Christians.

Do not seek out mature Christians until you study the Scripture and pray about it.

If you earnestly seek to discover your spiritual gifts, God will reveal them to you.

3. A Christian is to be informed concerning the return of the Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–14 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.”

A Christian is supposed to have a growing-knowledge of end-time events, and Paul even suggests, by the wording, that your knowledge of end-time events should parallel your knowledge of the Resurrection.

Let me ask you a question.

Is your knowledge of future events as great as your knowledge of the Resurrection?

Dear friend, Jesus Christ is returning to gather His church. That gathering will take place in the air as we meet Him.

1 Thessalonians 4:16–17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.”

Later, Jesus Christ is going to return to earth with His saints to establish His earthly kingdom.

Revelation 14:1 “And I looked, and, lo, a Lamb stood on the mount Sion, and with him an hundred forty and four thousand, having his Father’s name written in their foreheads.”

Revelation 19:11–16 “And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he doth judge and make war.

His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on his head were many crowns; and he had a name written, that no man knew, but he himself. And he was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood:

and his name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean.

And out of his mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it he should smite the nations: and he shall rule them with a rod of iron: and he treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God.

And he hath on his vesture and on his thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.”

Do you recognize the difference between the Rapture and the Second Coming in Scripture? Why not?

Paul says that Christians should be informed regarding the end-time events, but why are we to be informed?

A. Christians are to be informed about end-time event to avoid the deception of false teachers.

2 Peter 2:1 “But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction.”

Matthew 7:15 “Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.”

Revelation 22:18–19 “For I testify unto every man that heareth the words of the prophecy of this book, If any man shall add unto these things, God shall add unto him the plagues that are written in this book:

And if any man shall take away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part out of the book of life, and out of the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.”

How can you know if someone is adding things to end-time events if you do not have a knowledge of end-time events?

I am serious when I say this. If you dedicate yourself to studying God’s prophecies, it will not take you long to be informed, and you will easily recognize false teachings.

B. Christians are to be informed because Christians have a hope that lost people do not have.

1 Thessalonians 4:13–15 “But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.”

Our hope as Christians is based completely on the Resurrection.

As Jesus Christ rose from that tomb, in the same way, one day, I am going to rise.

Acts 1:11 “Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.”

The hope we have as Christians is based upon the Resurrection, and we are to be informed about that hope.

C. Christians are to be informed about end-time events as a motivation to live more like Christ.

As I have studied the New Testament more and more, there is a definite correlation between the expectation of Christ’s return and the way we live.

Pay close attention to this passage.

Titus 2:11–13 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

Paul clearly states in Titus that as we are looking for the return of Christ we will be motivated to live soberly, which is single-minded, righteously, and godly in this present world. Is that what Paul says in Titus?

A Christian that lives in the hope of the Resurrection will live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

It is obvious in the New Testament that looking for and anticipating Christ’s return will motivate us to live like Christ, and Paul said we need to be informed of that fact.

D. Christians are to be informed about the return of Christ to comfort other Christians.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”

No matter how bad things get, we can comfort each other with

the incredible news that Jesus Christ is coming for us, and that can happen any time. In her despair, I can look at my Sister, Linda, eye-to-eye and tell her that she will have a reunion one day with both her father and mother because of the Resurrection. AMEN!!!

Remember the context for this verse.

We have talked about the persecution being faced by the Thessalonians, yet in all that persecution, the Thessalonians became a model church, and they could comfort each other with the promise of Christ’s return, a promise made possible by His Resurrection.