Part 3 // EPISTLE TO THE THESSALONIANS

1 Thessalonians 5:1–11 ESV

1 Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.

Title: THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT. (Thessalonians)

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PRAY

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THIS IS PROBABLY ONE OF PAULS FIRST OR EARLIEST LETTERS:

LETS TAKE ANOTHER LOOK AT THE MAP

LETS LOOK AT OUR MAP AGAIN! MOVING EAST NOW.

THIS IS THESSALONICA - THIS IS THE REGION CALLED MACEDONA!

Acts 16:9-10 “9 And a vision appeared to Paul in the night: a man of Macedonia was standing there, urging him and saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” 10 And when Paul had seen the vision, immediately we sought to go on into Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.”

WHY DID PAUL PLANT A CHURCH IN THESSALONICA?

well it was similar in the sense to corinth it was a port town, it was on a busy roadway (a popular roman road) that meant trade would be happening and Thessalonica was a GREAT spt for a church...

BUT THE REAL REASON WAS THE HOLY SPIRIT DIRECTED HIM TO GO AND PLANT A CHURCH IN THESSALONICA But paul had burning passion because of a Vision he had - Do you remember the vision that Paul had?

acts 17, Paul goes to Thess & establishes a church

There is a synagoge, this would be similar in nature to corinth however must more established and with a bit more history and government but still a mostly GENTILE - FULL OF THE UNSAVED PLACE.

acts 17:1-3 “1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 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.””

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Key Themes of 1st & 2nd Thessalonians

“2nd Coming of Christ”

“the wrath of God”

“Comfort & peace for Believers”

“Holiness & Sanctification” & the Will of God.

“Practical Living & Work”

Time of writing - around 50 AD.

Key words

Faith - 12 Times

joy 7 Times

love 6 Times

comfort 6 times

Revealed 4 times

Ket verses:

1 Thess 2:9 “9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

1 Thess 5:15-18 “15 See that no one repays anyone evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to everyone. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

1 Thess 4:3 “3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;”

2 Thess 3:16 “16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

This church paul founded, he bounced out of there and he left people there to lead the church and disciple new believers, He loved this church as well just like he did the Corinthians. This was another great - His apostleship was being questioned

1.LIVE WELL - GIVE IT EVERYTHING YOU’VE GOT

There was Persecution which was leading to IDLENESS..... Which was because they’d lost HOPE.

Paul speaks of his example about WORK. about Being USEFUL and to busy yourselves… Live for the moment - don’t down the tools but rather pick them up in HOPE-FILLED anticipation....

HERE IS WHAT PAUL IS SAYING: WHAT YOU DO, IT MATTERS

BUT WHAT YOU DO, AND HOW YOU DO IT MATTERS: You are an EXAMPLE that people will imitate!

1 Thessalonians 4:1–12 (ESV)

1 Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk (DO LIFE) and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus. 3 For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; 4 that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, 5 not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God; 6 that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things, as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you. 7 For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness. 8 Therefore whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

9 Now concerning brotherly love you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love one another, 10 for that indeed is what you are doing to all the brothers throughout Macedonia. But we urge you, brothers, to do this more and more, 11 and to aspire to live quietly, and to mind your own affairs, and to work with your hands, as we instructed you, 12 so that you may walk properly before outsiders and be dependent on no one.

1 Thess 5:14 “14 And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all.”

2 Thess 3:11-12 “11 For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies. 12 Now such persons we command and encourage in the Lord Jesus Christ to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.”

BE EARTHY, BE HOLY, BE IN THE MIX WITH THE WORLD>

BE IN THE WORLD BUT NOT OF THE WORLD, BUT STILL BE IN THE WORLD>

There are christians out there who think that they need to be like a turtle and keep their head in the shell of the community and the “safe” people.

Paul is saying that non-participation is NOT AN OPTION.

IDLENESS IS NOT AN OPTION.

DOING NOTHING IS NEVER AN OPTION FOR A BELIEVER

THERE IS MUCH WORK TO DO!

luke 9:62 “62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.””

luke 9:62

Luke 9:62 The Message

62 Jesus said, “No procrastination. No backward looks. You can’t put God’s kingdom off till tomorrow. Seize the day.”

YOU NEED TO DO SOMETHING WITH YOUR HANDS.

Q: WHAT IS YOUR LIFES WORK? WHAT HAS GOD CALLED YOU TO DO IN THIS LIFE? AND PERHAPS SOME OF THE ASASIGNMENTS CHANGE FROM SEASON TO SEASON BUT WERE ALL CALLED TO SOMETHING - AND THAT MEANS WORKING AT IT

have you ever wondered what THAT IS/BECAUSE IT’ll HELP YOU LIVE OUT YOUR DAYS WUTH MEANING

Whatever you do, do it well, and WALK PROPERLY BEFORE OUTSIDES and be dependant on no one.

When you go to work, and you do it properly and you get your paycheck and you tiuthe and you take care of your family and you do the things in quiet that no one see’s: God see’s it - and he uses it to SHOW HIMSELF to the people in your WORLD>!

ITS WHY PAUL GOES A BIT RAMBO In vs 10 of 2 Thess.

2 Thess 3:10 “10 For even when we were with you, we would give you this command: If anyone is not willing to work, let him not eat.”

(So.... WHat you do right now in this time, it matters, its a witness… it matters to GOD.

2.DONT WORRY - JESUS IS COMING BACK FOR ALL OF US

ITS NOT GONNA BE LIKE LAST TIME

AND THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU’LL MISS IT!

There will be a trumpet, We’ll cget caught up in the air!

There was a sense with this church that was highly persecuted that they had missed it - and the fact that there was so much persecution meant that God had forgotten about them!

This is all gonna end one day: and Paul assures the church that its going to end well not just for those already passed but for ALL:

& maybe you have (like i have) wondered what will happen to people who have already gone on before us?

This is a normal concern - But God says DONT WORRY i know the beginning from the end, I have taken care of SIN & Eternal life is avaiulable through the Ressurection of Jesus CHRIST!

Pauls EPISTLE the the Thessalonian church is where we get SO MUCH hope and comfort about how all this is gonna end!

IT ENDS WELL!!!

1 Thess 4:13-18 “13 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. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 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. 16 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. 17 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. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.”

Paul says: THE FOMO IS REAL (THE FEAR OF MISSING OUT)

BUT JESUS IS MORE REAL.

HE WILL BRING US ALL OUT AT THE RIGHT TIME AND WE WILL END UP IN THE RIGHT PLACE!

“WHAT PAUL TEACHES HERE IS THE GREAT PARAOUSIA” - THE GREAT MEETING OF OUR KING.

The Greek word parousia (παρουσία, parousia) means “presence” or “arrival.”

FOUNDATIONAL TRUTH ABOUT CHRIST & AND THE COMING OF JESUS

JESUS WAS / He was God in the beginning

JESUS IS / HE is continually with us and the promised Holy Spirit if a continual fulfilment of that

JESUS IS TO COME / We believe and confess that our King will come again!

We have already seen his “parasia” his presence, his coming, his presence via the holy spirit

But HE IS ALSO COMING.

The way he first came, is not like he will come again.,

Hes’ coming back 100%, Sword in hand, and He is coming back VICTORIOUS and He’s coming back to GET YOU.

James 5:7-8 “7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

Phil 1:6 “6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.”

BUT LETS MAKE SURE WE ALLOW THE WORDS OF JESUS TO GIVE US PERFECT CLARITY: JESUS SPEAKING

Matt 24:36 “36 “But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.”

AND THIS IS WHERE WE GET THE COMING OF JESUS CLARIFIED THROUGH THIS LETTER TO THE THESSALONIANS!

TEACHING MOMENT: PAUL is saying to the church: this isn’t for you to KNOW, but it is for you to live your lives READY.

truth: WE DON’T KNOW WHEN, BUT WE CAN LIVE READY

(nathan: Live like Hes coming back today, but plan like He’s not coming back in your lifetime)

THIS IS WHAT THE THESSALONIANS NEEDED TO KNOW: SO WHAT WILL THE DAY OF THE LORD LOOK LIKE? The APostle PAUL TELLS THEM… AND WE ARE ALSO BEING TOLD THAT NOW

HEAVEN IS COMING TO EARTH!

The new Jerusalem is how the book of revelation ends. and The Lord HIMSELF, will come and WE WILL BE CAUGHT UP and TAKEN THERE WITH HIM.

AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE THE FINAL THEME & FINAL MESSAGE, FINAL TAKEAWAY

3.HIS COMING THEN, SHOULD BRING YOU PEACE NOW

1 Thess 5:11 “11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”

PAUL SAYS THIS: DONT FEEL ABANDONED… BECAUSE YOUR NOT!

So be ASSURED… BUT REASSURE AND ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER WITH THESE WORDS!!!

these would have been AMAZING WORDS of COMFORT! Amazing PEACE would have transferred to them

Here is what we KNOW from 2,000 years of church HISTORY: THE CHURCH WILL BE PERSECUTED AS LONG AS JESUS IS STILL COMING BUT GODS JUSTICE WILL PREVAIL & THAT SHOULD GIVE YOU COMFORT AND PEACE NOW

What had happened is that people had lost HOPE.

When someone loses HOPE, they Lose LIFE.

People had STOPPED GOING TO WORK. Which is why HE MENTIONS HIS OWN WORK

1 Thess 2:9 “9 For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.”

SOMEONE STOPS GOING O WORK BECAUSE THEYVE LOST HOPE!

“Where there is LIFE, there is HOPE”. But when Hope is lost - people lose themselves in the GREAT STORY of Gods great goodness and his love and mercy and forgiveness!

JESUS IS COMING BACK

YOU HAVENT MISSED IT - DONT FEAR MISSING OUT!

GODS GOT YOU

AND THIS SHOULD BRING YOU PEACE!

2 Thess 3:16 “16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all.”

WAITING ON JESUS SHOULD ALSWAYS BRING US PEACE!

Its supposed to give you PEACE that you are waiting on Jesus

THERES HOPE TODAY.. BECAUSE WE HOPE IN THE ETERNAL GOD… JESUS CHRIST!

THE SAME YESTERDAY< TODAY AND FOREVER!