1 Thessalonians 4:1-12. Living to Please God.

1 Thes 41-12 Life Together HCC Paul’s 2nd missionary journey: hope, faith and love 1 Thes 4 page 2 1 Thessalonians literary structure Chapter 1-3 A celebration of faithfulness Thanksgivi ng prayer Chapter 4-5 A challenge to grow Prayer for Endurance Prayer of Hope 1 Thes 4 page 3 Community living that is pleasing to God Good job… do more Sanctified body Ambitious to be quiet… and work with your hand As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (4:1-2) (4:9-12) 1 Thes 4 page 4 Introduction to a life pleasing to God 1 Thes 4:1-3 1 Thes 4 page 5 What do you do to please the one you love? Good job… do more As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. Reflecting on your life at HCC. How do you feel? (4:1-2) 1 Thes 4 page 6 Are we following a list of to-do’s? What not to do What not to do 1 Thes 4 page 7 You are not your own… 1 Thes 4 page 8 Insert or Drag and Drop Photo then Send to Back for overlay effect Sanctified body 1 Thes 4:3-8 1 Thes 4 page 9 Sanctified…. don’t be like the pagans Sanctified body You should avoid… Sexual immorality… Lust like the pagans… Taking advantage of a brother or sister It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit. Sex is… To be enjoyed within a monogamous, heterosexual, marriage 1 Thes 4 page 10 Holiness metaphor 1 Thes 4 page 11 Holiness – burning bush and Moses -- Exodus 3:2 “Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” 5 Source: Bible Project 1 Thes 4 page 12 Seraphim: ”Your guilt is taken away and sin atoned for” – Isaiah 6 “Woe to me!” I cried. “I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” 5 Source: Bible Project 1 Thes 4 page 13 Jesus cleans and sanctify us Source: Bible Project 1 Thes 4 page 14 The joy of physical attraction -- Song of Songs Source: Bible Project 1 Thes 4 page 15 David and Bathseba – 2 Samuel 11 One evening David got up from his bed and walked around on the roof of the palace. From the roof he saw a woman bathing. The woman was very beautiful, 3 and David sent someone to find out Source: Bible Projecther. about 2 1 Thes 4 page 16 Ambitious… to be quiet 1 Thes 4:9-12 1 Thes 4 page 17 Ambitious to be…quiet? Ambitious to be quiet… and work with your hand What is your biggest ambition? Do you lead by serving? What is one practical way you can serve your brother and sister? Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody. (4:9-12) 1 Thes 4 page 18 We’re called to live counter-culturally 1 Thes 4 page 19 We’re called to live as a community 1 Thes 4 page 20 How would Paul write to HCC? Good job… do more Sanctified body How are we doing as a community? Where do we need to do more? Are we meeting your needs? What are you doing for the community? Have you seen sanctification happening in your life? Are you challenging yourself to lead a holy life? What do you need to work on? Ambitious to be quiet… and work with your hand What are you ambitious for? Do you lead by serving? Are you serving one another in practical ways? 1 Thes 4 page 21 Prayer for Generosity Lord, teach us to be generous, to serve you as you deserve, to give and not to count the cost, to fight and not to seek for rest, to labor and not to look for any reward, save that of knowing that we do your holy will.1) 1) Frequently attributed to Ignatius of Lorola (16th Century) but probably written in late 19th century 1 Thes 4 page 22 Insert or Drag and Drop Photo then Send to Back for overlay effect Backup 1 Thes 4 page 23 Questions to consider 1 Read 1 Thes 4:1-12. What stands out in your mind? 2 Christians are called to believe as well as doing? What are some of the beliefs discussed in the sermons you are challenged to do? 3 "It is God's will that you should be sanctified." Sanctification can be seen as the growth into Christ-likeness. As you look back over your life, how do you see sanctification happening in your life? 4 Philadelphia is "brotherly love" in Greek. Paul wrote about communal love in the church should be valued? Do you view church as your family? Why or why not? If not, what would help you view our church as family? 5 6 Paul urged the Thessalonian church to “have ambition that leads to a quiet life”. It's about our internal state, that we were not agitated or anxious, but that we were still and knew that God was God (Ps 46). How is your internal state right now? Is it “quiet”? Why or why not? Paul also urged the Thessalonian to “work with their hands” (11). Working with our hands is the external work, which allows us to love and serve others in practical ways. But, we can all do small things with great love.” How are you being faithful with the “little things” in your life, especially during this pandemic? 1 Thes 4 page 24 Love is intense and powerful, but maybe perverted – Song of Songs Source: Bible Project 1 Thes 4 page 25 Philadelphi a Loyal Love Ahavah Agape 1 Thes 4 page 26