Day & Duties

Day & Duties

We all need reminders to Don’t Give Up !  It comes as a part of trying to live a life for God in the midst of a world that doesn’t try to live for God.  We have seen in Paul’s letter to the church in Thessalonica that God sets apart the believers to be different for His purposes, so we need to encourage each other—in the now and in eternity.  This morning we see that Paul lays out the end of his letter with some strong words about the Day & Duties that they are to focus on.

I Thessalonians 5:1-3

Don’t Give Up:  The Day Is Coming

   “the day of the Lord”—after Rapture & judgment begins

   -Paul had taught them about the ages and events leading up to this

   -was a genuine fear among people about this

    Isaiah 13:9-11—very real destruction—no one hides from Him

   -will come like a thief in the night—non-believers will not expect it

   -will claim “peace & safety” but destruction will come

     -like birth pangs upon a woman

     -they will not escape—strong phrase leaving no mistake

I Thessalonians 5:4-11

Don’t Give Up:  Be Sober

   -the believers don’t have to worry—they are not of darkness

   -contrast between light & dark—of God or of the world

   v.6—do not sleep as others do = spiritual lethargy & insensitivity

     -not the asleep that = death

   -be alert & sober—exercise self-control in the Lord

   -darkness is time for sleep & drunkenness—can’t respond as should

     -controlled by other forces—not alert & sober

   -being of the “day”—put on breastplate--faith & love / helment-salva

     -God’s protection provided, but I have to use it

   -believers don’t face wrath in day of the Lord—they have salvation

   -those who belong to Him are guaranteed to be w/ Him—alert or not

   v.11—encourage & build each other up with the truth of God

I Thessalonians 5:12-22

Don’t Give Up:  Follow God’s Plan

   -Paul requests that they appreciate the leaders in the church

     -most likely lay leaders that “diligently labor”

   -told to respect them in love very highly because of their work

   -“live in peace with one another”-take care of own business

   -Paul urges them to:

            Admonish the unruly—the idle that neglect daily duties

            Encourage the fainthearted—those timid in their faith

            Help the Weak—not leaning on the Lord for needs

            Patient with all men—showing them God’s love

   -instructs them not to return evil with evil but seek good

   -“rejoice always”—comes from relationship w/ God, not circumstan.

   -“pray w/o ceasing”—attitude of prayer—conversations w/ Him

   -give thanks in everything—it is God’s will

   -don’t quench Holy Spirit with ungodly living

   -don’t despise prophecy—must be sure it matches God’s Word

     -examine everything—hold fast to what is good

   -abstain from every form of evil—God’s definition

I Thessalonians 5:23-24

Don’t Give Up:  Depend On God

   -God is peace and sanctifies us entirely to preserve us w/o blame

   -He is faithful and will bring Jesus when time is right

I Thessalonians 5:25-28

Don’t Give Up:  Grace Doesn’t Compare

   -requests that they pray for Paul, Timothy, & Silvanus

   -greet brothers with holy kiss

   -challenges them to make sure all believers there hear the letter

   -Desires grace of Lord Jesus Christ to be with them

     -nothing compares to experiencing God’s grace!

Don’t Give Up:

The Day Is Coming

Be Sober

Follow God’s Plan

Depend On God

Grace Doesn’t Compare