Thessalonians Episode 2

well uh good evening everybody once again as we gather for another wednesday midweek bible study streaming from cornerstone apostolic church of course uh it is a great day to serve the lord a great day to look into his word and our desire of course is every week to gather together to get into the scriptures and look deeper into the word of god and also as well we want to apply the word of god to what we learn so gather your families around co-workers wherever you are get somebody in there with you get your bibles out take notes uh if you got questions write them down so you can do some research later or let me know you can email or whatever at the church and be glad to try to help you try to understand a little better if i can if you can uh we need this time together right even if it's online we need this interaction to be able to go into the word and to gain knowledge and understanding on the things that the lord is showing us uh we represent the family of god in our community therefore we want to grow prosper we want to be a blessing to our community by being present in our community so we do what we can to get into the word and study and apply ourselves to it now we will begin with prayer of course uh pray for specific things that you know about family members jobs of co-workers finances physical things still the coveted sickness going on around us uh pray for cornerstone apostolic church okay pray for the city of chattanooga our community pray for the united states of america pray for the upcoming elections in just actually a few short weeks uh our military men and women that are protecting our freedoms pray for our first responders that every day put their lives on the line for us our missionaries all over the globe pray for them as well and as we go to the lord in prayer make sure that that you ask the lord for for open mind and and insight into the scriptures so that you can grow and you can help somebody else as well let's pray together lord one more time we gather together online and we look into your word we are hungry for you lord we are thirsty for you we believe that great things happen because of the word of god we believe there are promises in this book there are provisions there's strength there is encouragement there's guidance and direction force on day-to-day life lord i pray that you'd help us as we go one more time into the word let us gain knowledge from you lord i pray tonight for our nation i pray tonight for our city god bless chattanooga bless cornerstone apostolic church i pray lord for the upcoming elections in november i pray god for our nation lord that we would fear you and love and serve you i pray for missionaries around the globe wherever they are god bless them and give them revival or let them have an outpouring of your spirit our military men and women our first responders those every day god that are protecting us i pray for them i pray lord for our families and our friends connected to the church lord i pray for those in need physical mental emotional spiritual god i know you're an you're a god that's able to do anything tonight lord we believe and trust you for great things help us lord let us walk up right before you give us guidance and strength we love and honor you forever and we thank you in advance for what you're going to do in jesus name amen amen amen all right we are going to continue in the uh first letter to the thessalonians and first thessalonians we'll pick up tonight with chapter three these are really short three four and five are really short so we'll try to cover all three of these tonight in this lesson um just a little reminder about the last session we had uh this is a letter that was written by paul and you can see the hand of silas in timotheus is in this letter as well um they are in athens they've been asked to leave thessalonians so they are now in athens or thessalonica they're now in athens and they write these letters back of this letter back to the churches that are established there in the city big city uh port city a lot of things going on there's a lot of commerce a lot of travel in and out it is uh one of the the paths if you will for commerce and for merchandise and interstate commerce to go east to west so this is that this city in which paul and these brethren had established to work they you can tell by the letter the first two chapters we talked last week that now that paul and these guys really love the church and they wanted to be with them but because of the circumstance that they're in they're writing a letter and timothy is going to take this letter back to them and read it to all of those guys and the places in the house the home churches and what what not the but it's more difficult you already know is to write it than it is to be there in person and so this letter has a little bit of different tint to it because of the purpose of the letter um we're going to pick up with chapter 3 of first thessalonians verse number one says this wherefore when we could no longer forbear we thought it good to be left at athens alone and sent tamothius our brother and minister of god and our fellow laborer in the gospel of christ to establish you to comfort you concerning your faith verse 3 and that no man should be moved by these afflictions for yourselves know that we are appointed there into now again paul is outside the city he's in athens um he has a lot of confidence though in timotheus his fellow laborer he calls him he's working hand in hand with paul to establish this work and no doubt the trials the tests the separation um the the harsh words that the city threw at these guys uh what the officials in the city by the word of mouth or by people that are living there begin to bring these accusations to the city officials and of course from there they have to leave the city and they're sending this letter back and basically you can read in in this letter the tlc the tender loving care that these guys are trying to give to the church uh it's a growing church a thriving church but there are some questions there are some things that just like the other letters we discovered that uh they are still growing right the word afflictions is used in in a couple of instances here in this letter to the church therefore we got to believe that even though paul had been pushed out of the city in silas uh that there were still some affliction going on and some persecution even you could call it they may not have but we could look at it that way tonight uh in verse number seven notice this therefore brethren we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith for we now live if ye stand fast in the lord see how paul is telling them look we we understand the stress the the afflictions and all but we're okay out here as long as we know that you're okay uh as long as we know that you'll persevere and you'll keep moving forward you'll stand fast in what you've been taught that group of of believers remember these are not big churches they're not big edifices if you will at this point they're still meeting in homes and in at the gates if you will they're still meeting in parks or wherever they could so these are still relatively small starting groups the last thing that paul or silas any of these guys would want is for them to pour themselves into these people walk away from it because of the circumstance and then everything fall apart so again the writer's saying here if you guys are standing in there our faith is strong because we're believing for you i want to encourage you is what paul said i want to encourage what you're doing keep pushing forward keep doing the things of god verse 12 continues i'll notice this and the lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men evan even as we do towards you to the end he may establi he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before god even our father at the coming of our lord jesus christ with all his saints the prayers that that these leaders are trying to get these guys to understand what they're praying they have a purpose okay um increase we want you guys to increase therefore we are praying for you we want you to abound we want what you're doing to flourish and have fruit for the laborers they they love them and and notice here a very interesting point is that uh the people around them the trademark of these followers of jesus was their love for the city for the people and for each other their ability to connect one with another it's very powerful it's the same in 2020 believe it or not the church still has a positive great influence in the communities in which churches are planted uh it should be a positive force to where people love each other and they reach to the community and they help and and they intercede for the city and and they they make sure that they're part of what's going on in their communities that keeps the faith moving flowing uh forward as people connect themselves to the love and the kindness and the things going on in church it continues here in chapter number four first thessalonians verse 1 furthermore then we beseech you brethren and exhort you by the lord jesus that ye that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please god so you would abound more and more for ye know what commandments we gave you by the lord jesus paul ensures that they understand that if there's afflictions and there's trials and there's tests what what paul continuing here in chapter four uh we want you to know that you've got to walk in this doctrine in this teaching you've got to be found living the commandments that were given to you okay this is going to separate you from the things going on in your cities and and continuing here in verse 3 for this is the will of god even your sanctification that ye should abstain from fornication that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor not in the lust of concupiscence even as the gentiles which know not god that no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter because that the lord is the avenger of all such as we also have forewarned you and testified for god hath not called us unto unto uncleanness but unto holiness he therefore that despiseth despise not man but god who hath also given us his holy spirit capital s so the the writer paul is ensuring that they understand that they got to keep the faith all right and the reason is is because they've been sanctified they've been washed they've received the spirit of god they've got this holy vessel now and therefore as much as the community the people around neighbors other places if you will of worship if i'm sure there were some uh that they they can do what they do everyone else in the city can do what they do but the church folk the followers the disciples the believers here they've been bought with the blood of jesus christ and if they're not careful they if they don't keep growing if they're not careful what will happen is the influence and things of the world can seep in can begin to make their way into this body of new believers it's the same thing today if it's going on out in the world very possibly it could edge its way into the church um the lord according to what the writer says is the avenger of all such things god is watching things god knows how things are coming about and he didn't call us to be unclean he called us to be holy and he when when things happen in the church when things happen in outside the church or in the communities understand that god's holy spirit is working in us and this is the important part that paul is trying to get to that that silas is trying to make sure these brethren understand in your afflictions in your trials in your test the difficulties that you're facing here where we've been pushed outside the city so we understand that there are challenges there and in fact you could might would say that it's impossible but the truth of the matter is is that it's not it's it's interesting that the instruction says to abstain from fornication that's the working of the flesh because that works against the spirit possessing your vessel with sanctification on in other words you've got to be able to take responsibility for your actions and the things that you do god wants you to be holy so you got to learn every day the the job is to learn how to possess how to hold on to yourself you don't let the things come in from outside and try to tear down the holy things that god is building in you don't let that happen 2020 this echoes even into today's world if you will his spirit is leading us in all the elements in life everything about what we're doing in the church outside the church as a family of god as believers and followers of jesus we are doing things because his spirit is leading and guiding us notice here first thessalonians 4 verse 9 but as touching brotherly love you need not that i write unto you for ye yourselves are taught of god to love one another there's that love word again and indeed you do it toward all the brethren which are in all macedonia but we beseech you brethren that you increase more and more love each other more ready and that you studied to be quiet and to do your own business and to work with your own hands as we commanded you that ye may walk honestly towards them that are without and that you might have lack of nothing study to be quiet what does that mean put yourself in a position that says i can temper my attitude i can learn about who jesus is what his purpose was here on earth and how he his love and his compassion and his passion for others around him caused him to many times believe even in silence okay now again 2020 this is an incredible challenge because we believe as people we have the right to be heard we have we we have the ability to yell out what we think and to stand firm for what we are and what the letter here to the church the reason it was written it's the same thing that's happening today in our generation is the world can snuff out all of the good and the positive things that the spirit of god is trying to work in us therefore you have to learn how to be quiet and you have to learn how to possess your vessel so that it doesn't blow up and get out of whack if you will learn how to be holy and do holy things okay don't be a busybody can i is that a term that we understand still today don't be a a rumor starter don't be somebody that backbites and don't be somebody that bellyaches and complains to somebody just so it begins to sow seed of doubt and questions and fear the testimony that each of us have the testimony of what god's done in our lives that is what this city that is what your community needs to see god has done a great work in all of us do we agree on that sure therefore we can't allow the negative and the stuff of this world to come in that's what paul's telling the church there they're outside the city but they're trying to keep encouraging and blessing and sending prayer support if you will to the church now apparently some of the members of that group that's in thessalonia uh they had questions concerning the people that have died that have been buried they're learning again they're they're trying to get this down and so um aunt so and so grandma whoever grandpa this uh there's there's kinds of of questions that are beginning to come up if you will about how their lives are supposed to be different but yet those who came before not so much so notice this and paul is trying to head this off and he's trying to give some some clear direction for the lord this is verse 16 for the lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout with the voice of the archangel with the trump of god and the dead in christ shall rise first then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together to meet them in the clouds to meet the lord in the air and so shall we ever be with the lord wherefore comfort one another with these words notice this the lord himself that's that rapture the lord himself he is going to come and catch the saints away the dead will rise those that are alive will be in the clouds will meet and together will go the truth is is that that is god's plan for humanity dead or alive okay it's true that many folk can question this how is it going to happen i don't know how can this be true how can it happen this way when you're dead you're dead i don't know i do know this the word of god's never lied there are things that have happened in my life that i could not explain but i know they happened it's the same thing then with with the rat with the going away if you will of the church he's addressed it now notice he didn't address this in particular with these other letters so far that we've written or that we've read that he wrote excuse me uh but there was an influence in this town that the church of thessalon thessalonians that those guys needed to understand about those that have come before those that will come after how is this going to be dealt with evidently there had been questions as well with well if what you tell us is true and jesus came he lived he died he rose from the grave he went into heaven said he was coming back then where is he and do we need to be worried that he hasn't come yet okay so paul continues here and in first thessalonians 5 verse 1 but of the times and the seasons brethren you have no need that i write unto you for yourselves know perfectly that the day of the lord so cometh as a thief in the night verse 3 for when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travel upon a moment with child and they shall not escape the meeting in the air brings questions of course so paul again the writer and silas these guys are pinning these words the times and seasons these are activities that are actually happening around you and every generation reads this same set of verses and they say what is times and seasons surely in every generation there have been times and there have been seasons i think we would all agree 2020 there's times that we can read in the word there's seasons we can see change happening in the spirit world and the church and the world around us okay the truth is though is this it's very important to note there's not a specific hour or moment that's mentioned because you don't know when that is the only thing we have by declaration is it will happen like a thief in the night thieves don't announce they're coming they don't typically don't announce what they're coming to take they simply plan and then they move when it's the best convenient safest time for them that makes sense the same thing is going to happen with the church if the lord god said to us as the church i'll be there tomorrow afternoon about three in the afternoon then we would do everything we could do to get ready but if that's the case then we would do it out of fear instead of relationship and love understand that the thief in the night you don't know when be diligent though be be constantly looking i know it could be happening happen any moment those who plan and prepare for that they will not be surprised by it uh verse 6 says in in chapter 5 therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober for they that sleep sleep in the night they that be drunken are drunken in the night but let us verse 8 says who are of the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for in helmet the hope of salvation for god hath not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our lord jesus christ verse 10 who died for us that whether we wake or sleep we should live together with him wherefore comfort yourselves together and edify one another even as ye all even as also ye do watch out for the sleepy the non-attentive attitude okay sober that means be watchful constantly noticing looking study the word realize the seasons and times and then get in there and say okay god if i see what's going on around me i can attach that to this and i can notice that things are happening i can notice that even in 2020 quickly things are beginning to connect and and things are falling into place the way the word of god says that they will when you do that listen to me as the as the body of christ then you can begin to edify one another listen hang in there jesus is coming to get us listen don't give up now times and seasons say that it's going to happen anytime you need to stay connected listen don't don't stop coming to church now you keep on plugging you keep on moving forward the reason is is because when the trials the afflictions the tests the the burdens of life happen it can be very easy for us to simply give up and walk away then we can't do that come too far too far to put it all down now don't fall asleep in this hour but watch now the the the ending of first thessalonians chapter five there's been several verses here but i've real i need to read these because very important okay verse 12 and we received your brethren to know them which labor among you and are over you in the lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in the love in love excuse me for their works sake be at peace among yourselves now we exhort you brethren warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble minded support the weak be patient toward all men see that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all men rejoice ever more pray without ceasing and everything give thanks for this is the will of god in christ jesus concerning you you hear it quench not the spirit despise not prophesying prove all things hold fast that which is good abstain from all appearance of evil and the very god of peace sanctify you holy and i pray god your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless blameless unto the coming of our lord jesus christ faithful is he that calleth you who also will do it wow i had to read these because there's several spots here very very important notice this is towards the end of chapter five this is the end of this letter okay and these brethren are saying okay we're trying to encourage the church trying to help the church they've got issues going on that the city the the the politicians the neighbors whatever those things are still happening in there the afflictions they're called notice how this now comes to light the very end of this particular letter a lot of truths that you and i both we we gotta hold to these okay know those who you're following and esteem them highly in love okay i need to know you love me as a pastor you need to know others love you as a saint as a as a member of a church we're working we're pulling one to another esteem one another means to have respect and honor one for another all right uh let peace be among you don't be backbiting and trying to get at one another don't return evil for those who first show you evil doesn't matter inside the church and outside you hear it rejoice ever more pray without ceasing and everything you should be giving thanks for because that's god's will for your life don't despise the prophesyings don't quench the spirit prove all things keep keep keep hold on the good things of god stay away from the appearance of evil there's there's 16 or 17 phrases here just just very short blurbs it's almost like oh by the way when the truth is this this is some some teaching mom and dad these are phrases and short ones that you could have your kids put in their memory bank you can instruct your children to do you need to pray you need to rejoin rejoice you need to keep your mind holy you need to prove all things you need to esteem those that are responsible for you the author establishes with the church members first and foremost in all of this letter god's faithful to you and even if we can't be with you we're writing to you to encourage you to let you know that god is still be god god will still be god in all of this situation therefore continue to move forward in him in a consistently constant basis he is able to perform all the words that are in this book he's able to perform every promise everything that he's told you god is able to put it together for you he's able to do that but you've got to learn to live in every situation as if you are doing it solely for him because you want to please him because he's coming back to take you home and we're going to close down this lesson tonight this is this is an excellent letter for us to study and to look at a lot of direct information if you will the interesting again part of this is these guys are outside the city riding into they're not in jail they're not in prison but they are very loving and with all respect and honor that they can they're trying to help these guys it's i'm glad they wrote this letter because it helps me today in our generation um there are truths in this word that are that will last forever you need to learn those you need to put them in your mind in your heart store these things up inside of you you can use them every day be encouraged as we pray our prayer our closing prayer tonight i want you to pray a prayer of encouragement into your home and to your family your children your spouse your neighbors praying a word of encouragement to them that somehow through all of the stuff going on out there they can still follow hope and follow the word of god and they can fall in love with the things of god and god can still accomplish his work in each one of us pray with me would you lord for your word we are thankful for our time together lord we are indebted to you i thank you for the church family for all that we've looked at and studied and read tonight and looked into the details of we thank you for that lord i speak encouragement right now to the church i speak encouragement lord to the saints of the church god the the moms and dads the children the students the college kids the the grandparents i speak a word of encouragement to them i speak encouragement to neighbors and coworkers and friends and family members that god if we'll stay true to you and will continue faithfully lord serving you you'll bless you'll open doors you'll make things happen because the church will be victorious and we believe that with all of our hearts i pray god tonight lord as we close out this lesson that you would speak to us and help us this week to encourage somebody to to let them know we're praying for them we love them god i know that your word is for us we'll serve you love you forever because you are jesus in your name we pray jesus amen amen