Meet Him in the Air.

History

Paul, Silas, Timothy. Leaving Philippi (singing in jail)

Leave to Thessalonica (Acts 17)

Acts 17:1–3 ESV

Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Only 3 weeks

Conversions

Some Jews

Many Greeks

Women in leadership positions (not the main point, but worthy of note)

Opposition

Acts 17:5–9 ESV

But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go.

Paul and Silas to Berea, more conversions

Thessalonian opposition, Paul is sent away and Silas and Timothy remain behind.

Brings us to the letter

Timothy is reporting that the church is doing well.

However it is still Thessalonica - opposition, persecution, probably death.

This is the EARLY Church - many doctrines not formed.

What happens when you die.

There was great persecution

Great enough to send Paul and Silas (who sand after being flogged and put in prison) running

We are living in a time like no other time that I can recall.

The church is being restricted.

Even among Christians there is great division and opinion about things that are not worth being divided about.

What this message is not:

It is not about wearing or not wearing a mask.

It is not about 6 ft.

It is not about who’s life matters

...

We Will ALWAYS Be with the Lord

1 Thessalonians 4:13–18 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.

So You Don’t Have to Grieve

The Christians grief is different from the “other’s grief.

You have a great hope… they don’t

ASLEEP

Same as Lazarus - he is not dead, he is asleep

Why dont We Have to Grieve

The One who has all the power and authority to raise him from the dead.

This Comes from A Word from the Lord.

In that day you couldn’t turn to Thessalonians.

Those who have “fallen asleep” are taken up first.

Why? Maybe as a moment of comfort - grandma made it...

Again - asleep

Why - The Lord Himself will defend.

a cry of a command

Joel 2:11 ESV

The Lord utters his voice before his army, for his camp is exceedingly great; he who executes his word is powerful. For the day of the Lord is great and very awesome; who can endure it?

Voice of an Arch Angel

Sound of a Trumpet

Matthew 24:31 ESV

And he will send out his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other.

1 Corinthians 15:52 ESV

in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.

Note (Dead in Christ) - uses the word dead because in the real word dead is final… But in the REAL REAL world we are but asleep

We Will Always be With Him.

Dead 1st

Alive second

but in the end---- All beet him.

WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH HIM

ALL AUTHORITY

ALL WISDOM

ALL KNOWLEDGE

ALL PRESENT

CAN WE PLEASE JUST SPEND OUR TIME ENCOURAGING EACH OTHER

iNSTEAD OF REGURGITATING WHAT THEY FLEW OUT.