Bible Study Series, 'Moving Into My New House", 1 Thessalonians 5

 

MOVING TO MY NEW HOUSE

 

1 Thessalonians 5:1–28

 

SIGNS PRIOR TO CHRIST RETURN

V:1. Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, "Peace and safety," destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.

A. Paul is following his discussion of the second coming of the Lord

     In chapter  4.

   1. Jesus will come again and take the entire body of believers, the

       dead in Christ first and than all who are alive to be with Him for

       an eternity in heaven.

   2. Following that will be a seven year tribulation period during which  

       Satan will deceive the world

       a. There will be three and half years of peace in which Satan will

          establish himself as the world leader, the antichrist, commanding

          worship of him alone.

       b. The next three and a half years Christ will be a war with Satan where

          there will be wide spread destruction over the entire world.

          Daniel 9:25-27 and Revelations 12:6-9

B. From time to time some religious organizations will claim an

    exact date of the end getting prepared to exit the world.

    only to find out they were wrong as the day passes.

  1. This group is prepared for the end of the world, they got

      the date wrong.

  2. According to the text no one knows when Christ will return

      because He will come as a thief in the night.

  3. There is a second group who will not be concerned about the second

       coming of Christ.

  4. When Christ returns, unbelievers will see peace in the world.

  5. According to the text while some see peace, the signs of Christ’s

      impending return will be in plain sight.

  6. In  Mark 13  Christ gave us the signs

    

     Mark 13:8

     Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will   

 

     be earthquakes in various places, and famines. These are the beginning of

     birth pains.

 

7. It is my belief that we have all those signs today.

8. We must remember to God a day is as a thousand years.

 

OUR POSITION IN CHRIST, DAY PEOPLE

V:4.  But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.

A. Paul describes two types of people; brothers and sisters in Christ and

     brothers and sister in darkness.

   1. There are believers and non believers.

   2. There are those we live in the light of Jesus Christ.  

   3. There are those who are totally influenced by Satan, and

        live in darkness.

   4. There are those who know the truth.

   5. There are those who live by the lies of Satan.

B. All believers are sons of the light.

   1. Since we know Christ can return at anytime, we should be

       ready to meet Him in the sky.

   2. We should be in a state of readiness for Christ return.

       a. Be alert, on the look out for Christ’s return.

       b. Be self controlled, live a life of righteousness

       c. Get rid of every hindrance that draws you away from the

          light.

 

LIVING IN THE LIGHT

V:8.  But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

A. Self controlled is the wiliness to be obedient to the Word.

    1. Put on the full armor of Christ.   Ephesians 6:11-18

    2. Our armor is not physical, but spiritual.

        a. Faith and love as a breastplate

        

      The Roman breastplate covered a soldier from his neck to his waist and    

       protected most of his vital organs (cf. Eph 6:14). That is what

       Christians' faith and love does that to our heart.

           

      Faith in God protects inwardly and love for people protects outwardly.            

      These two graces cannot be separated; if one believes in God he will also   

       love other people (cf. 1 Thess 1:3; 3:5). These attitudes equips  

       Christians to stand ready for the Rapture.

 

      b. Hope of salvation as a helmet

          Hope is the confident expectation of God fulfilling His

          promises.

    

         The hope of salvation guards our heads from attacks on our

         thoughts.

         The salvation we look forward to is deliverance from the wrath to   

         come, when the Lord returns.

         (from Bible Knowledge Commentary/Old Testament Copyright © 1983,       

          2000 )

 

 

GODLY BEHAVIOR

V:12. Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.

A. God gave us pastors, men after His own heart.

    1. We are commanded to respect our pastors.

    2. We are commanded to hold our pastor is highest regard.

    3. We are commanded to be in love with our pastors because

        of their work.

    4. These are not options, they are commands from God.

B. We are commanded to live in peace with everyone.

    1. We are to summit ourselves to the admonishment of the pastor.

    2. Admonish means to reprove gently or warn.

    3. One of the jobs of the pastor is to push us into the same mind

        as Christ.

 

RESPONSIBILITY TO EACH OTHER

C. Paul highlights our responsibility to each other.

     1. We have an attitude of not getting in anyone’s business.

     2. We also have the attitude of not wanting anyone in our

         business. In fact, Paul tells us to mind our own business.

        ( 1 Thessalonians  4:11)

          Our business is the growth and development of every Christian.       

     3. In love, we are to be counselors to each other.

        . The word idle means unruly or disorderly.

           a. Those who neglect their duties, should be stirred to action.

           b. God never told anyone to sit down and He would bring

               them a plate.

               Jesus prepares a table before us. But we have to do the work

               to get to the plate.

           c. All of us have been given gifts and talents to serve.

    4. We are to encourage the weak.

         a. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are to

             come along side the weak with support.

    5. We are to work on our attitude of patience.

        a. Everyone of us are unique and grow at different rates.

         b. We have to learn to be tolerant of others as we

              promote their spiritual growth.

    6. Leave vengeance to the Lord, not paying eye for an eye.

        a. Be the bigger person showing kindness to everyone. 

    

PURSUE HABITUAL GODLINESS

V:16.  Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

19 Do not put out the Spirit's fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

A. Be joyful always.

    1. My Dad had a saying that sticks with me:

       “ Everyday is a Holiday if you want it to be.”

        There is a way to make the best out of each day.

    2. Being joyful is not the absent of sadness or problems. It is being able

        to see the good in your circumstances.

B. Pray continually.

    1. Prayer is our direct line of communication with God.

    2. Prayer gives us access to God’s power.

    3. The prayers of a righteous man avails much.

    4. God knows your situation but He requires you to trust Him.

C. Be thankful and grateful for all situations

     1. If you start your day off being thankful, you will see the good

         in your situation.

     2. God promises to make circumstances turn out for your good.

     3. It is God’s will that we go through the circumstance of life.

D. Do not put out the Holy Spirit fire in you.

     1. It is the Holy Spirit that warms the hearts, enlightens our minds

         and powers the righteous behavior in our lives.

     2. It is the Holy Spirit that guides and directs right decisions.

     3. It is the Holy Spirit guides our understanding of God’s Word.

     4. It is the Holy Spirit that comforts us in troubled times.

     5. It is the Holy Spirit that convicts us of our sins.

     6. It is the Holy Spirit that bring God’s Word to our

         remembrance for daily use.

     7. The Holy Spirit indwells us and is the God in us.

     8. There is a difference between the indwelling of the spirit

         and being filled with Spirit.

         a. The indwelling of the Spirit takes place the moment you

              accept Christ as your personal Savior.

         b. The filling of the Holy Spirit is being submissive to the

              direction of the Spirit on a daily basis.

      9. Without the Holy Spirit, there is no power to do God’s work.

 

DAILY ENCOURAGEMENT TO EACH OTHER

23 May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

A. We must see God as the author of peace.

     1. He is not the God of confusion.

     2. He is not the God of distress.

     3. He is not the God of sadness

     4. He is not God of your hurts.

     5. He is the GOD OF PEACE

B. God wants the very best for us.

   1. He wants us sanctified through and through.

       That pushes out all sin

        That clothes us with love

   2. Watch this, three parts to us, we got a spirit, soul and a body

       a. The spirit is our connection with God.

       b. The soul is the seat of all our emotions.

       c. The body is the temple of the spirit and the soul.

       d. When we don’t respect our bodies, we are destroying

           the temple.

C. When Jesus shows up the Father wants us blameless.

    1. The only way to be blameless is to submit yourself to the

        Holy Spirit and let Him order your steps.

    2. You been called by God to be in the body of Christ.

        a. You didn’t choose Him, He chose you.

        b. God chose you for this pandemic.

    3. Jesus is faithful and will do it.

       a. Do what?

       b. At His second coming, Jesus will step out on a cloud

           and change you in an instant to immortality to be with

          with Him though out eternity.

 

OUR DAILY OBLIGATIONS

V:25.  Brothers, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers with a holy kiss. 27 I charge you before the Lord to have this letter read to all the brothers.

28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.

A. We are commanded to pray for our pastor.

    1. It is so important that God repeats it over and over.

    2. The devil is ready to do battle with our pastor.

    3. The adversary don’t like the idea of our pastor lifting

        up Jesus.

    4. We got to be there with our pastor supporting his lifted hands.

B.  We are commanded to greet each other with a holy kiss.

      The holy kiss denotes affection with kindness and love.

    1. We do that when we meet on zoom.

    2. What about the members that don’t show up on zoom?

         a. Have we reached out to them?

         b. It our responsibility. It is in the text.

C. It is up to us to share the Word taught with other members not

     in our classes.  It is in the text.

    1. We must pray God’s favor on the Church body.

    2. Joy, peace and prosperity is a good prayer, in Jesus name. 

  

 

IN SUMMARY;  GETTING READY FOR HEAVEN

 

KNOW THE SIGNS OF CHRIST RETURN

 

KNOW YOUR POSITION IN CHRIST; DAY PEOPLE

 

LIVE IN THE LIGHT

 

PURSUE GODLY BEHAVIOR

 

ENCOURAGE BROTHERS AND SISTERS

 

   

Rev. M. Mitchell

 

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Growth Through Problems, "Exodus 18:13-26, 9/27/2020

 

OUR GROWTH THROUGH PROBLEMS

 

Exodus 18:13-26

 

Moses father in law had heard about what God had done for

Israel through his leadership. He probable heard about the victory

over the Amalekites .  Moses father in law, Jethro , the priest of

Midian set down and talked about what God had done to free

The Hebrew people from Egypt.

 

Moses father in law brought Moses’ wife and two sons with him,

When Moses started for Egypt, he took his family with him.

The Bible does not tell us when Moses sent his wife and sons back

to his father in law. Some suggest that it was after the first conflict

with the Pharaoh of Egypt.

 

MOSES THE MAN OF GOD.

Moses had been taught about God by his father in law.

He labored for 40 years as a shepherd in Midian under his

father in law.

 

He met God and establishes a relationship with God at mountain

side next to the burning bush that was not consumed by fire.

After Some personal objections, he became obedient to God.

 

MOSES THE FAMILY MAN

It is best when we leave our jobs, we leave the problems

On the job at the job site,

 

If we bring our problems home we may end up damaging

our family life. If I bring my problems home. I may take them

out on the family. If I am mad, I may end up mad at the family.

If I am frustrated, I may take my frustrations out on the family.

When I should be listening to the family who need my attention

I may end up not listening at all.

 

Moses could not separate the job from the family. He had the

threats and rejections by the Pharaoh. He had the complaints

And rejection of the people he was commissioned to help.

 

God does not tell us why Moses wife and sons went back to Midian.

But it shielded them from all the problems of a troubled people.

 

MOSES THE LEADER

V:13.  The next day Moses took his seat to serve as judge for the people, and they stood around him from morning till evening. 14 When his father-in-law saw all that Moses was doing for the people, he said, "What is this you are doing for the people? Why do you alone sit as judge, while all these people stand around you from morning till evening?"

15 Moses answered him, "Because the people come to me to seek God's will. 16 Whenever they have a dispute, it is brought to me, and I decide between the parties and inform them of God's decrees and laws."

A. As a leader we have to follow God’s commands.

   1. Moses did not have an easy job.

   2. He was sent to the Pharaoh of Egypt who would not listen

       because God harden his heart.

   3. He was dealing with a people who were angry with him because

       the Pharaoh made their work more difficult each time Moses

       came with a word from God.

B. Despite the increasing burden on Moses, he continued to be

     obedient to God’s commands.

   1. The time frame of the ten plagues may have been two weeks to two         

       months. God does not give us an exact time frame.

   2. Faith in the power of God gives us the strength to

       endure as God works His plan.

C. As the leader, Moses was judge over all the civil matters.

   1. Every time the people wanted something, they complained

       to Moses and accused him of bringing them to the desert to

       die.

   2. All of us have some desert time that God leads us through

       to grow us  to the responsibility of freedom.

   3. We must rely on God for justice and provisions.

   4. Moses felt the brunt of the people’s complaints and the burdens

       of judging their civil matters.  

 

 

 

 

MOSES THE LISTENER AND TEACHER

V:17. Moses' father-in-law replied, "What you are doing is not good. 18 You and these people who come to you will only wear yourselves out. The work is too heavy for you; you cannot handle it alone. 19 Listen now to me and I will give you some advice, and may God be with you. You must be the people's representative before God and bring their disputes to him. 20 Teach them the decrees and laws, and show them the way to live and the duties they are to perform. 21 But select capable men from all the people — men who fear God, trustworthy men who hate dishonest gain — and appoint them as officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 22 Have them serve as judges for the people at all times, but have them bring every difficult case to you; the simple cases they can decide themselves. That will make your load lighter, because they will share it with you. 23 If you do this and God so commands, you will be able to stand the strain, and all these people will go home satisfied."

A, God gives us work, but He also gives us helpers.

    1. Sometimes it takes someone on the outside to show us the help

       God provides.

    2. We can get so busy doing what we do that we for get to ask God for

         help.

B. When we need help God will send someone to give us advice.

    1. Jethro, Moses father in law saw the extreme pressure Moses

       was enduring.

    2. Moses father in law knew that took much work was detrimental to

        to his health.

    3. Moses had many people around him but he did not see them as

        his help.

    4. Jethro the priest of Midian, knew how to delegate authority,

 

GOOD ADVISE

C. People have to be trained to take responsibility.

    1. As the leader we must take charge of the people as God’s representative

        use them as God provides.

    2. As a leader you have to choose the right people.

        a. Choose people who fear God.

        b. Choose people who are trustworthy

        c. Choose people who hate dishonest gain

        d. Choose men who are capable

   3. Teach men how to do your job.

      a. Teach them the decrees and the laws of God,

      b. Show them the way to live.

      c. Show them how to perform the duties.

4. Organize the chosen group in leadership positions.

    a. Appoints them as official judges of the people

       reporting to you.

    b. Appoint some over thousands

    c. Appoint some over hundreds

    d. Appoint some ore fifties

    e. Appoint some over tens

D. Moses was advised to let them judge every simple case.

   1. Every difficult case, Moses instructed them to bring to him.

   2. This organizational advice removed most of the

       burden of civil judgment from Moses to responsible

       men.  

  3. We can all take a lesson from Jethro.

 

MOSES AS A DELEGATOR

V:24. Moses listened to his father-in-law and did everything he said. 25 He chose capable men from all Israel and made them leaders of the people, officials over thousands, hundreds, fifties and tens. 26 They served as judges for the people at all times. The difficult cases they brought to Moses, but the simple ones they decided themselves.

A. You cannot be too proud to ask for help.

    1. As a leader, when your assignment from God is too much for

       you, don’t be to proud to delegate to others.

    2. God grows you into the leader He wants by presenting you

        with challenges.

B. Because Moses listened to God’s word from his father in law,

     he went from a  one man show to a true leader of men.

  1. We can always learn something from others.

  2. Moses utilized the help that was in front of him.

      

MOSES THE BENEFICARY OF GOOD ADVICE

V:27 Then Moses sent his father-in-law on his way, and Jethro returned to his own country.

A. We should be grateful when other see our troubles and offer advice.

    1. You never know who God will use to help you.

    2. Moses had not considered asking his father in law for advice,

        but God saw his need.

B. God knew the right time to bring his wife and sons back to him

     for comfort.

   1. If we are faithful in our duties, God will be faithful with His

       blessings.

   2. Make use of the advice God gives to others for you.

 

 

Rev M. Mitchell

 

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

 

For more lessons, follow me on facebook and

Visit my blogs; revmmitchell.com

And goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

 

This Week's Sunday School Lesson, "Take A Stand For God", Exodus 17:8-15, 9/20/2020

     

TAKE A STAND FOR GOD

Ex 17:8-15

STAND WITH CONFIDENCE

V:8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, "Choose some of our men and go out to fight the Amalekites. Tomorrow I will stand on top of the hill with the staff of God in my hands." 

A. In the previous lesson, God engineered acceptance of His authority

     Among the elders of Israel by allowing them to witness the miracle

     Of water coming out of a rock, enough for two million people.

   1. The dry river bed of Rephidim was probably filled with water

       making it another oasis. 

   2. The influential elders probably convinced the people that God

        was with them.

B. God introduced Joshua as the next general of Israel. 

   1. We must remember that God has a plan for our replacement.

   2. Any leader should prepare someone to replace himself.

   3, God may be preparing you to be elevated to another level.

   3, Joshua replaced Moses after his death.

C. The Amalekites were descendants of Esau, the twin brother

     Jacob stole the birthright from.

    1. Amalek was the grandson of Esau who became the

        enemy of Israel.

    2. The Amalekites saw the oasis and came to fight Israel to take

         control of the water, and their possessions.

D.  The heart of the Israelites went from complaining about God

       to fighting for God.

     1. Joshua being obedient to Moses, chose men to fight the Amalekites.

     2. It should be noted that this is the first time the Israelites were involved

         in a battle.

     3. There was the possibility of death, but we hear of no complaints.

          a. All of the other miracles were seeds that God planted in the hearts

              of the Israelites.

          b. This miracle of water from the rock became the growth that 

               produced faith in the Word.

E. Praise is an important part of our walk with Jesus

     1. Before we go out to face the enemy we should praise God.

     2. We should encourage ourselves with the confidence that God

          will fight our battles.

     3. The staff of Moses represented the presence, power, and authority

         of God.

     4. If God is with you, who can stand against you.

GO INTO BATTLE WITH PRAISE

V:10 So Joshua fought the Amalekites as Moses had ordered, and Moses, Aaron and Hur went to the top of the hill. 11 As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. 

A. It is good to have a praise team.

     1. The team should support and encourage each other.

     2. You can get weary in well-doing. 

     3. God selects people to comfort you.

     4. Aaron and Hur were there when Moses got tired.

B. God reminds us that any success we have is due to Him.

    1. As long as Moses held His hand with staff toward the Lord

        there was success.

    2. God selected a high place where the Israelite men could be encouraged

        by the sight of Moses’ hands in the air.

    3. In your heart, God should be high and lifted up.

    4. Your testimony about God is important to other believers.

    5. Others may be encouraged by your lifted hands to God.

   

CONTINUED PRAISE BRINGS VICTORY

V:12 When Moses' hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up — one on one side, one on the other — so that his hands remained steady till sunset. 13 So Joshua overcame the Amalekite army with the sword. 

A. All of us are part of God's team against the adversary, Satan.

     1. Even though the Israelites had no experience in fighting a battle,

         God wanted them on the front line.

     2. We can fight the battle against injustice and self-serving politicians   

         with  our vote.

     3. We have people holding up the banner for justice, but the power is 

          in the vote.

B. While it is day, we must be on the battlefield of the Lord.

     1. Success doesn't always come immediately.

     2. The Israelites under Joshua’s command had to fight all day.

     3. Victory came in the evening time.

     4. You and I must stay on the battlefield of the Lord until He

          brings us victory.

MEMORIALIZE THE VICTORY AND RECOGNIZE THOSE WHO SERVE

V:14 Then the Lord  said to Moses, "Write this on a scroll as something to be remembered and make sure that Joshua hears it, because I will completely blot out the memory of Amalek from under heaven." 

15 Moses built an altar and called it The Lord  is my Banner. 16 He said, "For hands were lifted up to the throne of the Lord. The Lord  will be at war against the Amalekites from generation to generation." 

A. Look at how God rewarded Joshua's obedience and courage with the Word.

    1. Joshua's victory was the start of a personal relationship with the 

        LORD. 

    2. When we do our job, God says well done while we yet live.

    3. God will get your ready for the next step of your journey with Him.

B. As a leader, it is your job to encourage those who serve with you.

    1. Bless the workers with a Word from the Lord.

    2. Don't overlook the work of dedicated servants, boast about it.

C. Make a memorial to the Lord for each victory and proclaim it at

     The alter. 

   1. God was with you in past battles and He will be with you in futures     

       battles. 

   2. The Lord is our banner.

   3. Let us praise the Lord with lifted hands.

D. Notice the texts says that was not the last battle that Israel would fight   

     against

     The Amalekites, there would be more.

    1. God promises more victories for His servants.

    2. Satan is relentless in his efforts to destroy your relationship with the  

        Lord.

    3. Throughout your lifetime, there will be many battles against Satan 

        and his demons.

    4. If we are faithful and obedient we will be victorious.

    5. We must remind ourselves that the Lord Is Our Banner.

THANK GOD FOR BEING OUR BANNER

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church

5510 West Sam Houston Parkway North

Houston, Texas 77041

For more lesson, follow me on facebook and visit my

Blogs:revmmitchell.com and goodnewsrevmitc.blogspot.com

Bible Study Series: 1 Thessalonians 4: Are You Ready For The Good Times

 

ARE YOU READY FOR THE GOOD TIMES

 

1 Thessalonians   4

 

   

BE DETERMINED TO PLEASE GOD MORE

V:1.  Finally, brothers, 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. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

A. The primary focus of a Christian, should be to please God.

     1. Our life with Christ began at the cross.

     2. His death on the cross was his Fathers pleasure.

    

         Isa 53:10

         Yet it pleased the Lord  to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when   

          thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he

          shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord  shall prosper in   

          his hand.

 

       3. It is God’s pleasure to see us live a life of righteousness.

B. We should never get to the point where we think there is no

      room for improvement.

    1. Paul urges us to continue in our efforts to please God.

    2. The very best we can do is noting more than a filthy rag

        before God.

    3. The Word is our supreme authority,

    4. When we are obedient to the Word, we please God.

 

VALUE FAMILY

V:3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.

7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit

A. Paul is speaking of adultery and sex outside of marriage.

    1. The Greeks practiced open marriages

      2. In  Corinth, the Greeks worship the  goddess of the temple

          Aphrodite which housed temple prostitutes.

      3. Open marriages was also practiced by Hebrews.

         a. Starting with Abraham and Sarah;

            Impatient to have a baby, Sarah gave Abraham Haggar to

            have a child.

 

      4. Jacob’s uncle, Laban promise Rachel in marriage for 5 years

         of service. Laban substituted Leah on the wedding night.

          a. Both Leah and Rachel gave Jacob their maidens to have

              children.

       5. King David committed adultery with wife of one his dedicated

              soldiers.

        6. King Solomon had 500 wives and 300 concubines.

        7.  Paul gave clear warning for disobeying God’s commands.

 B. Marriage was the first divine human institution created by God.

    

           Gen 2:24

           For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united   

           to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

 

      1. God made it plain that marriage is sacred and not to be interrupted by   

          family members or outsiders.

      2. For the two to become one flesh is a permanent bond.

    

         Mark 10:9

         What therefore God hath joined together, let not man put asunder.

 

C. The foundation of the Church is marriage.

    1. Christ is the bride groom and we are His bride

    2. We are all part of the body of Christ.

    3. We are all married to Christ.

    4. The body is the Temple of the Lord.  1 Cor 3:17

        

          Col 3:12

          Put on therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, bowels of   

          mercies, kindness, humbleness of mind, meekness, longsuffering;

 

           Eph 5:27

           That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot,

           or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without

           blemish.

 

    5. If we do not honor our own bodies, we are not honoring God.

    6. Faith holds the entire Bible as true and applicable to you.

            

        Heb 11:6

        And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who   

        comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who

        earnestly seek him.

 

 

 

LOVE THE BROTHERS IN CHRIST MORE

V:9 Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

A. Whatever we are doing that is good, God wants us to do more.

     1. God is love, therefore, He commands us to be a model of His

         love.

     2. We cannot love (agape, a love feast) our brother unless we

         love (agape) God first.

     3. The word Paul used for brotherly love is philadelphia which is

         affection or kindness.

         a.  In this verse agape is word Paul used for God’s love.

         b. The problem with brotherly love is it is selective.

             We chose the time and the person we want to be kind to.

         c. Agape love covers everybody all the time; friends and enemies.

      4. We have to know agape love before will know philadelphia love.

B. There is never an end to the more God does for us.

     1. There should never be an end to the more we do

          for God.

     2. The love God has for His elect is eternal.

 

 

 

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

V:11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, 12 so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.

A. At he very least, God expects us to be role models for others follow.

    1. It should gives us joy that others see in us ways to improve.

    2. Our lives should be an open book to the Lord’s righteousness.

B. Paul gives us four characteristics to follow.

    1. Live a quite life.

        a. We don’t have to be boisterous about anything but the

             Lord Jesus.

        b. But even in claiming our belief in Jesus, we can do it in a

            manner, not upsetting to others.

        c. We can quietly disagree without saying a word.

        d. We can keep our opinions to ourselves, but let our actions

             do the speaking.

  2. Mind your own business.

     a. Gossip is a way of intruding in the life of others

     b. Stay out of the gossip circle by turning the conversation

         to Jesus

     c. Be at peace with what you have, taking care of your family

         and business.

     b. Wish everyone the best, praying for their success and prosperity.

3. Work with your hands.

    a. Be busy doing everything you can to improve your life.

    b. Lend a helping hand to others when you see a need,

    c. Serve the Lord with kindness, gladness and compassion.

    d. We can win the respect of others by always doing the right

         things

4. Try not to be dependant on anyone.

    a. Trust the Lord in all your situations.

    b. Pray without ceasing, so that you are always under His

        guidance and directions.

     c. Be grateful and use what God has given you wisely.

 

BE ENCOURAGED BY THE SECOND COMING

V:13. Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope. 14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. 15 According to the Lord's own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever. 18 Therefore encourage each other with these words.

A. Put your hope, that is your confident expectation in the second coming

      Of Jesus Christ.

   1. Whatever is going on around us, is under the Lord’s control for

        His divine purposes.

   2. Your birth and your death is in the hands of Jesus.

      a. He determined the day you were born and the day you will die.

      b. Many have died before us, but their fate was controlled by the Lord.

B. Paul gives us the order of the second coming of the Lord.

    1. Our hope, that is our confident expectation of our eternal resurrection

       is based and proven by the death and resurrection of Jesus.

    2. Jesus death and resurrection was foretold 700 years before it happen

        (Isaiah 53:10).

    3. The Lord will descend from heaven as He did the first time,

        not as a baby, but in His resurrected glorified state with all power

        over heaven and earth in His hands.

    4. The Lord will step out in mid air and call all those who died in the Lord

        into a resurrected body to be with Him.

    5. The Archangel will speak with Christ or for Christ awaking all the                  

        dead in Christ.

    6. The trumpet will be a battle call to victory for all those who believe

         in Christ.

    7. At the second coming of Christ, the entire Church body of believers

        still alive with be change in an instant into resurrected and gloried

        bodies to be with Christ forever.

C. It is the job of the Church to encourage everyone with the good news

     Of the second coming of Christ.

   1. Weeping may endure for a night, but there will be joy in the morning.

   2. Problems are designed to get us ready for the good times.

   3. We have to go to a physical death to get to eternal life.

    

          1 Cor 15:52-53

          In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the    

          trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we

          shall be changed.

          For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put  

          on immortality.

 

 

SUMMARY    HOW TO STAY ENCOURAGED

 

BE DETERMINED TO PLEASE GOD MORE AND MORE

 

PLACE YOUR HIGHEST VALUE ON FAMILY

 

LOVE MORE AND MORE

 

MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS

 

BE CONFIDENT IN THE SECOND COMING OF CHRIST

 

 

          THANK GOD FOR THE GOOD NEWS

 

 

Rev. M. Mitchell

Asst Pastor Of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church