Weekend Sermon -- I Thessalonians 5:1-11

      Thank you for reading the message this week. I am feeling quite a bit better. I thank you for your prayers. 

     Last week, we began looking at a passage from I Thessalonians that is well-known and controversial. It is one of the main passages used by those who believe that the rapture and the Second Coming are two separate events separated by a seven year tribulation period. According to what we read in this text, and in other places in the Bible, this idea can't really be supported by the Scriptures. It appears plain that this passage and the teachings of Jesus, point out that those who believe in the Lord will meet Him in the air and return with Him when He comes in His Second Advent to rule and reign upon this earth. This happens at the same time. 

     In our section today, Paul tells us something very similar to what Jesus taught in such passages as Luke 12:35-59.  The return of Jesus Christ will come about suddenly. No one knows the day or the hour when the Lord will come again. It will come at a time when many least expect it to occur. 

     Over the course of Christian history, there have been attempts to predict or set a date for the coming of the Lord Jesus. All of these dates have come and gone, and Jesus has not returned. It is wrong to try and set a date for the coming of the Lord. No one knows. If someone says that they can tell you when Jesus will come, that person is someone who is not teaching what it right. They are not listening to what Jesus Himself had to say about the matter. 

     Jesus, and Paul in this passage, make it clear that we as believers are to live in such a manner that we are ready should Jesus appear at any moment. This has a couple of implications. First of all, since Jesus could come at any time, we need to be telling others about salvation through Jesus. We need to be about doing the things that Jesus did in this world. We are to be ambassadors for Christ in this world until the time that we die or the Lord comes again. 

     We must also be living our lives in such a way that we will not be ashamed should the Lord come suddenly. We would not want to be involved in some type of sinful behavior at the moment the Lord Jesus comes again. I can't think of anything more terrible. This means that we are to live lives of holiness that are pleasing to the Lord. We are to be doing right and not wrong. 

     One of the things that Paul says in this passage is that we are to be living lives of love. That is what is so important. We need to be loving God with all that we have within us, and we need to love our neighbors as ourselves. Jesus said that if we did this, we would be fulfilling all that is in the both the Law and the Prophets. I might add, that Jesus told us to do unto others as we would have done unto us. This is what we need to be doing so that Jesus will pleased with us should He come even today. 

      Many people scoff at the idea that Jesus is coming again. Peter spoke about this. The Bible says that one reason that Jesus has not yet returned is that God is not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance. The Lord in His mercy is waiting for people to have the opportunity to come to Him and realize His great love for them and for all the world. 

      Jesus will come again. That will be a great and glorious day. When He returns, Jesus will rule and reign in righteousness. There will be peace throughout the universe. There will be no more war, death nor disease. All of creation that is groaning in travail waiting for the day of redemption will be set free in new life. Everything will be returned to the Edenic state that existed before sin entered into this world. I hope that you are ready for that day. Amen. 

     Prayer Requests

     As I mentioned, I am feeling better. Please pray that I will continue to improve. 

     Florida has had a lot of damage as a result of the hurricane. Please pray that the people will receive the aid that they need. Also pray for those who are dealing with hurricane damage in Puerto Rico and Canada. Japan experienced a bad storm as well. 

     Continue to pray for an end to the wildfires in the western US.

     We need to keep praying for peace in the troubled areas of this world. Let us focus intently on praying for peace in Ukraine this week. 

     Many areas of the world are currently facing a great deal of financial hardship. Pray that people will get the help needed. 

     Pray for an end to the coronavirus. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Western Sahara and Vietnam. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue studying I Thessalonians. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a midweek post. May God bless you all. 

Book Review -- Together

      Recently, I had the privilege to look at and read a book called "Together" by Luke Adam Hawker. This book has fantastic illustrations, and an important text that tells us that even in when hard times come, we can make it through. No storm, whatever it may be, lasts forever. 

      I hope that you will get a copy of this book and read it. Pay attention to the well-done drawings. One way that this book spoke to me, and I'm not sure the author intended it this way, was how the man and the dog made it through together. This reminded me of my friend Toby. When the two of us were together, I felt that we could make it through anything. Since he's been gone, times have seemed harder. As I've mentioned before, if he were still around, life as it is now would be a lot different. 

     This book shows us that together as a community, we can make it through. We can help each other in many different ways as we deal with difficulties. 

Verses For The Week

 I John 4:18 -- "There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear. For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love."

II Timothy 1:7 -- "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control."

Weekend Sermon -- I Thessalonians 4:13-18

     I want to thank the Lord for giving me the opportunity to post the sermon this week. I have been feeling better some days and about the same other days. However, I believe that I am getting better as the days pass. Thank you for taking the time to read the sermon this week. 

     We have been studying the book of I Thessalonians for awhile now. Last time, we saw that Paul encouraged the believers to have love for one another. He encouraged them to grow in love. We also saw that we are to try as much as we can to be at peace with others so that we might be a good witness for the Lord Jesus in this world. 

     In our passage today, Paul starts out on a different topic. Apparently, there must have been some in the church who were wondering what was going to happen to those who had died before the coming of the Lord. Paul and the Apostles taught that Jesus could return at any moment. They expected Jesus to return soon. So, the people had legitimate questions about what would happen to those who had died. 

     Paul wanted to reassure the believers. He wanted to make sure that they knew that those who had died in Christ were just not dead and gone. When Jesus comes again to this earth, the dead in Christ will arise and meet the Lord in the air. Those still alive at the coming of the Lord will also meet the Lord in the air. 

     As we discuss this passage, let's start out by addressing the issue of what happens to a person who knows the Lord when that person dies. When a person dies, that person's soul goes immediately to be with the Lord Jesus. We know this from other passages in Scripture. For instance, Jesus told the thief on the cross that today, he would be with Jesus in paradise. When Jesus gave the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, these two men went immediately to their eternal destinies. The rich man went to Hell, and Lazarus went to Heaven. 

     Paul talks about what happens to the believer after death in other epistles. In I Corinthians 5:8, Paul tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. In Philippians 1:23, Paul is debating whether he should stay on earth or go to be with the Lord. He desired to go to be with Christ. 

     The Bible is very clear that people's souls do not sleep in the grave until Jesus returns. So, what is Paul saying? When Jesus returns, one of the things that will happen is that all those who have believed in Jesus will receive a glorified body like the glorified body of Jesus. One place in Scripture where this is spoken of is Philippians 3:21. We receive a glorified body at this time, because when Jesus returns to this earth, we will come with Him, and the Bible says that we will rule and reign with Christ on this earth. 

     Some people look at this passage as a text to support the belief in the rapture. I believe that this is talking about the rapture, but not in the way that many popular prophecy teachers teach. I believe that it is clear from the teaching of Jesus Himself, that He will come again. When He returns, He will judge the world at that time and set up His Kingdom that will have no end. 

     At the beginning of the Second Coming of Christ, the trumpet will sound. All of those who have ever believed in Jesus as Lord will be caught up and gathered behind the Lord as He comes back to earth. We will accompany Him as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. That is a great day that I am looking forward to. 

     We will be forever with the Lord. Those have believed in Jesus need not fear death. Wherever Jesus is, that is where we will be too. We can encourage one another in these dark days with the knowledge that Jesus is coming, and He will make all things new. 

     The world is getting worse and worse. That is what the Bible said would happen. Often, things look bleak. However, Jesus Christ has overcome the world. He is coming. Place your trust in Him. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray that I will get to feeling better. I still have a ways to go before I am back to normal. Thank you. 

     Continue to pray for peace in the world. Ukraine, Syria, Yemen and Ethiopia all need our prayers. Wherever you know there is war, pray for peace. 

     Please pray for those in Puerto Rico who experienced another hurricane. Pray that they will receive the aid that they need.  Also, pray for others in the path of this same storm system. 

     I know that Japan was hit by a bad storm. Pray for the people in Japan. 

     Continue to pray that the needs of the people of Pakistan will be met. I can't believe how terrible the floods where there. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of China and Morocco. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current sermon series. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a midweek post. May God bless you all. 

Book Review -- Lucky Boy

       The book I am reviewing today is entitled "LuckyBoy". It is written and illustrated by Susan Boase. This is a children's book that tells the story of dog who starts out being stuck in the backyard and being paid little attention by his owners. 

       As the story progresses, the dog decides to do a little backyard exploring. He finds a small hole under the fence and digs until he is able to make it to the other side. On the other side of the fence was a lonely man who had recently lost his wife. He was thrilled to find the little dog in his yard. 

      I won't give away any more of the story. I will say this is a great story on a couple of different levels. It points out that a dog shouldn't just be placed in the backyard and forgotten about. A dog should be part of the family. When the right dog and the right person do find each other, true magic happens. 

      I highly recommend this book. It was fun to read, and the illustrations are all very well done. 

Verses For The Week

 I Corinthians 15:22 -- "For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive."

Romans 8:11 -- "If the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, he who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through his Spirit who dwells in you."

Weekend Sermon -- I Thessalonians 4:9-12

      I am glad to be able to post the sermon this week. I've not had a very good week. As I told you previously, I have been sick. I actually had Covid. I recovered from that, but then I came down with a bad lung infection. I'm on a lot of medicine, but I am doing some better. I want to thank everyone for reading the blog and the sermon this week. 

     In last week's message, we saw that it is the Lord's desire that we be sanctified. That means that we are completely set apart from this world so that we might serve the Lord to the fullest extent possible. We are to work as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to remove the sinful behaviors from our lives. We are to look to Jesus as our guide in all things. We follow Him as Lord, and we do the things that He did and what He commanded us to do. 

     In our sermon today, we see that Paul speaks about the believers in Thessalonica growing in their love for one another. Paul tells them in verse 9 that they have been taught by God to love one another. This is the new commandment that Jesus gave to His disciples. He told them in 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." Jesus taught us to love the Lord with all of our soul, might and strength and to love our neighbors as ourselves. If we follow Jesus' commandment's of love, we will not have to worry about doing what is right and avoiding what is wrong. When we love God and love others, we have fulfilled the Law and the prophets according to the Lord Jesus. 

     Paul commended the church in Thessalonica because they did have love for one another as well as all of those who were a part of the family of God. Just as we saw in the previous verses, Paul does not want the people to be content where they are. He urges them to grow in love. They are to love more and more. 

     This is all part of becoming more and more like Jesus as we grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. Jesus was the man of love. He loved us and gave Himself for us. When we love others in a sacrificial way as Jesus did, we become more like Him. This allows us to have a greater impact in our ministry for the Lord in this world. 

    I believe that one of the best ways to love others is to remember the words of Jesus. He told us to do unto others as we would have done unto us. If we treat others in this way, we will act out of love and help others. When we seek to serve others instead of ourselves, we are demonstrating the love of Jesus in this world. 

     Now, Paul goes on to tell the people that they are to lead quiet lives, mind their own business and work with their hands. We should all try to live at peace with everyone. We should seek the ways of peace, but we must also as followers of Jesus seek the ways of justice. This sometimes requires us to confront the powers of oppression in a loving and Christ-like manner. 

     We are to mind our own business. This to me means that we are not to be involved in an unwanted way in other people's affairs. If we are asked to help others, then of course we should, but we shouldn't try to run everyone's life for them.

     Work with your own hands I don't believe implies that Christians have to do some sort of manual labor. I believe that this statement is part of Paul's overall directive to avoid unnecessary controversy and to tend to one's own affairs as far as possible. 

     Acting in love for one another and living lives that are pleasing to the Lord are important so that we can be an influence on others. When others see that we are living for Jesus, it will cause them to want to know more about the Lord we serve and worship. Let us all strive to love one another and live for Jesus in this world. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please pray that my health will improve. Thank you. 

     As I am sure you are aware, Queen Elizabeth II died this week. Pray for the people of the UK and for her family at this time. 

     Pray for an end to coronavirus and other terrible diseases and sicknesses around the world. 

     Please continue to pray for peace in troubled areas of the world. Pray for Ukraine, Libya, Syria, Yemen, Ethiopia and Congo. Pray for peace between Armenia and Azerbaijan. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those living in the nations of Burkina Faso and Turkey. Pray that many will come to know of the love of the Lord Jesus.  

     Next week, we will continue in our current study. I will post the verses on Monday. If I feel up to it, I will post something midweek. May God bless you all. 

     

Verses For The Week

 I'm sorry to be posting the verses late. I've been dealing with health issues again.

James 1:5 -- "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

Matthew 7:24 -- "Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house upon the rock."

Weekend Sermon -- I Thessalonians 4:1-8

      I want to thank the Lord for another opportunity to post the sermon. Thank you for taking the time to read the message. I hope that all of you are doing very well. 

     Last week, we finished up with chapter three in our study of I Thessalonians. In today's message, we will begin studying what the Lord has to teach us in the first section of chapter four of I Thessalonians. 

     In the first verse of chapter four, the Apostle Paul reminds that people that when he was with them, he instructed them in the way that they should live in order that they might have lives that were pleasing to the Lord. Paul was encouraged by the fact that the members of the church in Thessalonica were following his teachings and they were living for the Lord Jesus. However, Paul wanted them to take the next step so to speak. He wanted them to keep progressing in their walk with the Lord. He wanted them to do more and more for the Lord. 

     Verse three is an important verse. It states, "It is God's will that you should be sanctified," What does all this mean?

     The Christian life is a process. When a person comes to trust Jesus as Savior and Lord, that person is starting a journey. We aren't all that we should be the moment that we accept the Lord. We begin a process of growth. We begin to become more and more like Jesus each and every day. 

     As we progress in the Christian life, the ultimate goal is to live a life of holiness that is pleasing to God and to become more and more like Jesus. This involves removing from our lives those behaviors and attitudes that are displeasing to God. We lay aside our sin. On the other hand, becoming more like Jesus doesn't just mean not doing certain things, it means doing the things that Jesus did while He was here on this earth. 

     In our passage today, Paul focuses on sexual ethics. There is a certain pattern of behavior that is expected in this regard according to the Scripture. The Bible is quite clear that believers are not to engage in sexual activity outside of the bonds of marriage. However, there is much more to living one's life for Jesus than this one area of moral behavior. 

     We are to be sanctified. That means that we are to be set apart to the Lord. We are to live for Him, and He is to live His life in and through us. Day by day, we grow in the grace and in the knowledge of the Lord. 

     It should be our goal that the longer we are followers of Jesus, the less our lives are beset by sin. In the church that I was raised in, there was a belief that one sinned every day, and we had God's grace that forgave us. I don't think that this is the right teaching according to the Bible. If we do sin, the Lord does forgive us. However, our attitude should be not to be sinning all the time. I believe, and I believe that this is the teaching of Scripture, that as we grow in the Lord, we sin less and less. We won't ever be perfect this side of Heaven. But it should be our goal as we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to live lives free from sin. 

     The best way that I know to live a life that is free from sin is to first of all immerse yourself in the Word of God. Read and study the Bible thoroughly especially the four Gospels. Also, be in prayer every day. Spend time with the Lord Jesus. It is also vitally important to go about one's life doing good. If we spend our time doing the right things that please the Lord and make this world a better place, we won't have time to succumb to the sin that can so easily beset us. 

     The Christian life is a journey. It is a journey of growth in the Lord. As we are on this journey, we must keep our eyes fixed upon Jesus. If we follow His example, we will not go wrong. Amen

Prayer Request

     I am having a lot of trouble with my back and hip joints. Please pray that I will get to feeling better. Please pray for my uncle who is dealing with cancer and another family member who is having trouble with her legs. Thank you.

     Please pray for the royal family and the people of the UK and the Commonwealth as they are grieving the loss of Queen Elizabeth II. She did a great job as a leader, and she will be greatly missed. Pray for King Charles III during this time. 

     Pray for those in Pakistan dealing with the terrible flooding. Pray that the people will get the aid that they need. 

     Continue to pray for peace in this world. Remember to pray for Ukraine, Syria, Libya and Yemen. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those who live in India and Kosovo. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue our study in I Thessalonians. I will post the verses on Monday. I will try to post a review midweek. This week, I wasn't feeling up to it. May God bless you all. 

Verses For The Week

 Colossians 3:23 -- "Whatever you do, work heartily, as for the Lord and not for men."

Matthew 11:28 -- "Come to me all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

John 6:27 -- "Do not labor for the food that perishes. but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on Him God the Father has set His seal."

Weekend Sermon -- I Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:13

      Thank you for taking time to read this week's sermon. I hope that you are all doing well and are in good health. I am feeling a little bit better each day, and I thank the Lord for that. 

     Over the course of the last few weeks, we've been studying what the Lord has to teach us from Paul's epistle to the Thessalonians. Last week, we looked at most of chapter 2. Today, we will finish chapter 2 and all of chapter 3.

     As we saw, Paul left Thessalonica and carried on with his missionary journeys. However, he never forgot those in the churches that he founded. He was always concerned with the fact that they remain strong in the faith and progressing in their relationship with the Lord. 

    Paul had the desire to go and visit the church in Thessalonica again, but he was not able to make the return journey himself. He wanted to make sure that the people were doing well, so he finally decided to send Timothy, his associate, to the church in order to find out how the people were doing and to send word back to him. 

    Paul was encouraged to hear back from Timothy that the people were doing well. They were following the way of Jesus even in the midst of persecution. They had not fallen into false doctrine, and the church was strong. 

     I would like to focus on a couple of statements that Paul makes toward the end of chapter 3. In verse 11 he states, "May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you."

     Love is what the Christian faith is all about. As Paul says in I Corinthians 13, without love, we have nothing. Paul wanted their love for the Lord to increase day by day. We grow in our love for the Lord when we spend time with the Lord in prayer. We grow in our love for the Lord when we see His power working in us and through us. 

     Paul wanted the people's love to increase for each other. One of the way's that the Bible says that others will know that our faith is true is that they will see that we have great love for one another. When those in the body of Christ love one another and help one another, people are attracted to that kind of faith. On the other hand, when they see people in the church bickering, dividing and acting hateful towards one another, it turns people away from wanting to follow the Lord Jesus. 

     We are also to love those who are in this world. We show our love in two ways. First of all, we show our love for the world by going into all the world and preaching the Gospel to every creature as we have been commanded by the Lord, We also show our love by helping people and trying to help to make this world a better place. There are a lot of people in this world who need our help. Let us find a way to act in love to those who are hurting. 

     At the end of the chapter, Paul urges the believers to live holy and blameless lives right up to when the Lord Jesus returns to this earth. That is just what Jesus has told us to do. We do not want to be living in such a way that we would be ashamed when the Lord returns. We don't want to have shame when the Lord comes, we want to rejoice because the King has returned in power and great glory. 

     Let us love the Lord, one another and those in this world that God has made. Let us live in such a way that the Lord will be please with what we have done when we stand in His presence one day. Amen. 

Prayer Requests

     Please continue to pray that I will keep feeling better. Thank you. 

     Pray for the people of Pakistan experiencing flooding, and pray for those having problems because of flooding in Mississippi. 

     Continue to pray for peace in the troubles areas of this world. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Syria, Yemen, Libya and Ethiopia. 

     For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Somalia and Saudi Arabia. Pray that many will come to know Jesus. 

     Next week, we will continue with our current study. I will post the verses on Monday, and I hope to have a midweek posting. May God bless you all.