Commit to Holiness and Integrity

Holiness is reflected as we live with Christlike Integrity God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

Intro: WE SHOULD LIVE TO PLEASE GOD! A life that pleases God is committed to holiness and love of fellow Christians. Paul wrote to the church in Thessalonian, instructing them to align their lives with God’s will, which was for their sanctification and continued growth in love one for another.

John 13:35 NKJV

By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”

LIVE TO PLEASE GOD

Exhortation To Please God

1 Thessalonians 4:1–2 NKJV

Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God; for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Way back in Chp 3 Paul encouraged the church, to increase their love for God and others, so that (they,we) one day can stand before God, “unblameable in holiness.” Paul was encouraging the church to continue to walk and please God. In other, this is how you should live:

“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 1:6

“For in the gospel the righteousness of God is revealed—a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written: ‘The righteous will live by faith.'” – Romans 1:17

“For the entire law is fulfilled in keeping this one command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'” – Galatians 5:14

“Just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” – Matthew 20:28

Paul’s appeal for and to them was to continue in their faith and letting them know it could only be done “through the Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul understood they were a young church, so encouraging them was all about them entering God’s “kingdom and glory,” but they needed to walk in holiness.

Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:14

But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. Gal 5:16

For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. Ro 8:13

Believers are saved for a purpose to show forth God’s glory and character (Matthew 5:16; 1 Peter 2:9). In 1 Thessalonians 4, Paul instructs Christians to live a life pleasing to God so that we fulfill our God-ordained mission. Paul writes, “Make it your goal to lead a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we instructed you before. Then people who are not believers will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others”

How To Please God More and More

1 Thessalonians 5:15–22 NKJV

See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.

First, we are not to seek revenge in response to evil but respond to evil with good.

Second, when facing opposition, we are to rejoice evermore

Third, pray without ceasing

Fourth, no matter what we face, we are to give thanks to God.

Paul doesn’t tell them to give thanks for everything, Paul isn’t telling them they must be thankful for the difficulties they were encountering; instead, he is challenging them to be thankful in any circumstance. Paul recognized that the secret of contentment isn’t found in circumstances. Rather, there is contentment in recognizing it is Christ who strengthens us for whatever we might face.

Philippians 4:11–13 NKJV

Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Obey the will of God.

Regarding Christian worship. The church must not quench the Spirit.

In the original text, the verb for “quench” speaks of suppressing fire or stifling a flame. The Holy Spirit is like a fire dwelling in each believer. When Paul writes, “Do not quench the Holy Spirit,” he is cautioning Christians not to suppress the fire of God’s Spirit that burns within us.

In his instructions to the Thessalonian church, Paul exhorts the believers to “rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:16–22, NKJV). The command to not despise prophecies comes in between the calls to not quench the Spirit and to test all things. In following these instructions, we can strike a perfect balance in discerning the messages we hear.

verse:

Despise not prophesyings To despise something is to reject, disregard, or treat it as if it has no value. Believers are called to test all things, including prophecies (1 Thessalonians 5:21), but we do not despise true prophecies. The NIV reads, “do not treat prophecies with contempt.”

How could the church do this:

By discerning what the Lord is saying, by testing all things by the spirit.

but to not despise genuine prophecies. To despise prophecy would be to quench the Spirit (verse 19)

Believers must test prophecies against God’s Word and make sure the person proclaiming the message is not a wolf in sheep’s clothing

Hold Fast to what is good:

we examine every message against Scripture to determine its validity. To “hold fast to that which is good” means to “be diligent,” “cling to,” or “take a firm grasp of” that which is good. God’s Word tells us what is good and worthy of grasping firmly.

Philippians 4:8 tells us to keep our mind fixed on “whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable.” We are also to hold fast to the Lord (Deuteronomy 10:20; Joshua 23:8), which means loving Him, walking in obedience to Him, and serving Him with all our heart and soul (Joshua 22:5). Believers continue holding fast to His Word until He returns (Revelation 2:25; cf. Proverbs 4:4; 1 Corinthians 15:1–2).

ABSTAIN FROM SIN

God’s Will: Your Sanctification

1 Thessalonians 4:3–6 NKJV

For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in passion of lust, like the Gentiles who do not know God; that no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter, because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified.

Sanctification is God’s desire for His children. We are to be set apart from the ways of the world, so that we can be used by God for His purposes, obviously this encompasses living to God’s standard.

1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;”

Romans 12:2 “And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.”

Paul was concerned with the new believers sexual purity. Why, they were living in Sin City, a lot of sexual immorality.

Christians were to obstain from fornication. Sex outside of marriage.

Paul cautioned that every Christian, should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor.

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians to show self-restraint in a manner uncommon among Gentiles who do not know God.

 For this is the will of God, that you be sanctified [separated and set apart from sin]: that you abstain and back away from sexual immorality; 4 that each of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor [being available for God’s purpose and separated from things profane], 5 not [to be used] in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God and are ignorant of His will;

6 and that [in this matter of sexual misconduct] no man shall transgress and defraud his brother because the Lord is the avenger in all these things, just as we have told you before and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private]. 8 So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation]. AMP

Paul counseled Christians to control their sexual appetites so they would not sin against or exploit their brother or sister in Christ by having sinful relations with them.

God’s Call: Holiness

1 Thessalonians 4:7–8 NKJV

For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Therefore he who rejects this does not reject man, but God, who has also given us His Holy Spirit.

 For God has not called us to impurity, but to holiness [to be dedicated, and set apart by behavior that pleases Him, whether in public or in private]. 8 So whoever rejects and disregards this is not [merely] rejecting man but the God who gives His Holy Spirit to you [to dwell in you and empower you to overcome temptation]. AMP

BE HOLY

But like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves in all your conduct [be set apart from the world by your godly character and moral courage]; 16 because it is written, “You shall be holy (set apart), for I am holy.” AMP

We are called unto holiness....

The call of God is not without ethical expectations. These expectations are consistent with God’s standard for salvation which does not tolerate “uncleanness” but has as it’s aim holiness.

Paul prayed that his audience would have their hearts established “unblameable in holiness before God, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This was important to Paul (and God) because without holiness, “no one will see the Lord. Heb 12:14

The Spirit’s presence and power will empower us to live set apart lives and grow in holiness which is a sign of Christian commitment and maturity.

LOVINGLY INFLUENCE OTHERS

Abound in Love to One Another

1 Thessalonians 4:9–10 NKJV

But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia. But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more;

KNOWN BY THEIR LOVE

Paul was thankful to God for the Thessalonian church’s labor of love toward the Lord and others.

Their spirit of love for the brothers and sister’s in Christ was so well know that even believers in Macedonia had heard of and experienced their love.

They learned this love from God:

John 13:34 NKJV

A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.

A New Commandment: Love One Another

John 13:34 – “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another.”

Context: Jesus gave this command during the Last Supper (John 13), shortly before His crucifixion. After humbly washing the disciples’ feet (John 13:1–17), He raised the standard of love—not just as they loved themselves (Leviticus 19:18), but “as I have loved you.”

The New Standard: “As I Have Loved You”                   Jesus’love is:

Self-sacrificing – “Greater love has no one than this...” (John 15:13)

Servant-hearted – He washed their feet (John 13:14–15)

Forgiving – Even Judas was treated with grace

Unconditional – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

This love is not based on emotion, but a deliberate act of obedience.

A Mark of Discipleship                                         “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” – John 13:35

This love is our testimony to the world. It is especially vital within the body of Christ—even when inconvenient or difficult.

1 John 4:7–8 – Love is of God

Romans 12:10 – Prefer one another in brotherly love

A Mutual Love Among Believers    

“...that you also love one another.”

This is a reciprocal love that flows in every direction—pastor to member, teacher to student, and believer to believer.

Practical – Meeting needs (Acts 2:44–45)

Patient & kind – (1 Corinthians 13)

Forgiving – (Ephesians 4:32)

Why Is This Crucial?

Reflects Christ to the world

Preserves unity in the Church (Ephesians 4:1–3)

Proves spiritual maturity (1 John 3:14)

Reveals God’s presence

Application for Today

In a world growing cold in love (Matthew 24:12), the Church must shine brighter. This command is not just a feeling—it’s a lifestyle of sacrifice, service, and Spirit-led obedience.

Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.”  1 John 4:11

Let this command move us to higher devotion, not just in teaching, but in how we live out love—especially within the household of faith (Galatians 6:10). In doing so, we reflect the heart of the One who first loved us.

Love One Another by Working

1 Thessalonians 4:11–12 NKJV

that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Paul pointed out that there was some able bodied among them not willing to work, to meet their own needs, or the needs of others in the church.

Those who could work, but chose to remain idle would have become an unnecessary burden on the rest of the Christian community.

Work is an integral part of life, and though the fall made this activity more challenging (Genesis 3:17–19), it existed prior to the fall as a responsibility of humankind. As soon as God created Adam, He gave him a job: “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it” (Genesis 2:15).

God instituted work as a part of human existence, and we should celebrate that by being efficient in whatever legal and ethical profession we have. Paul’s instruction in 1 Thessalonians 4:11 goes back to creation, and, when we work, we achieve one of God’s purposes for making humans.

The lazy individual will become a nuisance to others, and, if the lazy one is a believer, it can affect his gospel witness. Laziness reveals a lack of character and is a path to ruin. As the biblical proverb states, “Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth” (Proverbs 10:4). Common sense confirms that hard work is a better path. Numerous proverbs in the Bible extol the value of work and caution against laziness (see Proverbs 6:6–11; 12:24; 20:4). Additionally, in his second letter to the Thessalonians, Paul addresses the issue of laziness in the community, “For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat. For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.

Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living” (2 Thessalonians 3:10–12, ESV). Furthermore, in his instructions to Timothy concerning widows, Paul lists idleness as a reason against enrolling young widows in the support program, preferring that they remarry (1 Timothy 5:11–15).

The church, not the government is the one to attend to the needs of those unable to care for themselves.

Paul’s concern was that the brothers and sister in the church were adequately cared for, saying “that ye may have lack of nothing”.

But he also wanted the church to be respected, not to bring reproach on the name of Christ.