DAILY REMINDER – Today, December 13’s Bible reading is 1 Thessalonians
1-5.
NEXT DAY REMINDER – Tomorrow, December 14’s Bible reading is 2
Thessalonians 1-3. May God bless you with the reading of His WORD.
1 THESSALONIANS Introduction
The Apostle Paul founded the church in Thessalonica during his second
missionary journey in which he spent three weeks prior to his time being
abruptly interrupted due to Jewish opposition. There was very little support
for them during a time when they were encountering heavy persecution.
Nevertheless, Paul was happy to hear the report that they remained steadfast in
their faith. He wrote his letter of encouragement to them as well as answered
questions they had regarding the resurrection of the dead about 51 A.D. according to most scholars. Eschatology (study
of death, judgment, and the final destination of the soul) is a predominant
theme in both Thessalonian books. The second coming of Christ is another theme
in this book as he also expounds on Godly living, defusing tensions, and
answering false allegations.
1 THESSALONIANS MOMENT – (13DEC19) “Do not quench the Spirit. Do
not treat prophecies with contempt but test them all; hold on to what is
good, reject every kind of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:19-22). Paul
had written to the church in Thessalonica to keep them encouraged during their time
of intense persecution. They were new converts, for Paul had planted the church
there but was unable to stay as long as he planned due to encountering great
opposition. Nevertheless, he sent Timothy to see about them and was pleased
with the report that he received regarding their steadfastness in the faith. Paul
gave them words of encouragement so they would be hopeful despite their challenging
circumstances and regarding the Day of the Lord’s return.
The Apostle Paul wrote that the Lord’s return would be like a thief in
the night where people would be caught off guard. He warned that they would be
speaking of peace and safety, but sudden destruction would come on them. Those
who are in Christ are children of the Light because we know what is coming and
that we are to wait with great anticipation, but those in the darkness are
asleep and will be caught unaware. Paul reemphasized some of what he had
written to the Ephesians’ church as to putting on the armor of God – their breastplate
of faith, love, and their helmet of salvation. Paul reminded them that those
who are in Christ were not appointed to His wrath, so rather alive or in death,
we will be united with Him. Paul addressed another issue and that was about
prophecies and not regarding them in contempt. Yet, he said to be careful and
test to see if they are from the Lord.
There are many voices in the world who claim to receive words
from the Lord. Although we are not to reject prophecy, we are to test all words
to see if they come from God. The Bible says: “You may
say to yourselves, ‘How can we know when a message has not been spoken by the Lord?’ If what a prophet proclaims in the name of the Lord does not take place or come true, that is a message the Lord has not spoken. That prophet has spoken presumptuously, so do not
be alarmed” (Deuteronomy 18:21-22). Everything
a prophet says that comes from the Lord must come to past and line up with the
Word of God. If what a person speaks fail to do those two important things,
then you will know that it is not the Lord who has spoken. Therefore, many self-proclaimed
prophets are prophesying peace and safety for the United States and the world.
This does not line up with the Word of God, for we are living in the last days
where there will be no peace and safety regardless of how many peace treaties
the nations sign. From North Korea to China to Russia and Iran – nations have tried
to have peace talks but unsuccessfully. The Bible says: “Why do
the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth rise
up and the rulers band together against the Lord and against his anointed,
saying, ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles.’ The One
enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. He rebukes them in his
anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, ‘I have installed my king on
Zion, my holy mountain’ ” (Psalm 2:1-6). Nations can try to have peace,
but it will not happen for the antichrist must arise out of the chaos.
Another thing that many Christians in the west believe
inaccurately is that they will not have to encounter persecution but will be
raptured before that day come for us because of the text saying that we are not
appointed to God’s wrath. Yet, we must pay close attention to what the Bible
says. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to
receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake
or asleep, we may live together with him” (1 Thessalonians 5:9-10). This text does not mean that we will not be persecuted which is
from the enemy. Some of us may lose our jobs, homes, freedoms, and even our
lives, but as the text says, rather we are alive or in death, we will be with Christ.
Paul wrote: “So we make it our goal to please him, whether we are at home
in the body or away from it” (2 Corinthians 5:9). Therefore,
Jesus did not say that we would not experience persecution as some prophecy
teachers are teaching, but we are not subject to the wrath of God which will be
poured out on the whole earth, which we will go into in the book of Revelation.
What is important for us to know is that we are to remain faithful until the
Lord comes for us rather through death or a rapture event. Something to ponder….
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