The following concludes my thoughts on chapter 5, for the sake of reference we’ll call it lesson 13. Starting with verse 12:
“And we beseech you , brethren, to know them that labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you. And esteem them very highly in love for their works sake.. And be at peace among yourselves.
Most people do not consider the things of another world at all, because they are asleep; or they do not consider them as they should, because they are asleep in the spiritual sense. Paul said to the Philippians in ch. 4 verse 5, “Let your moderation be known to all men,
The Lord is at hand.” We need to show our moderation in the light of the facts…Jesus is coming! Wake up! Shall Christians, who have the light of the blessed gospel shining in their faces, be careless about their souls, and unmindful of another world? We need the spiritual armour, or the three Christian graces, faith, love, and hope. Faith; if we believe that the
eye of God is always upon us, that there is another world to prepare for, we shall see reason to watch and be sober. True and fervent love to God, and the things of God, should keep us watchful and sober. If we have hope of salvation, let us take heed of any thing that would shake our trust in the Lord. How important that is. The enemy of our souls is always looking for an opportunity to cause doubts to arise, especially if we go by feelings. But when you don’t feel saved just turn to the written Word of God and lay hold of His promises. Declare it to the devil and to others also that you are saved, and you are God’s child…James said first of all submit unto God and then resist the devil and he will flee from you. We have ground on which to build unshaken hope, when we consider, that salvation is by our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, to atone for our sins and to ransom our souls. We should join in
prayer and praise one with others. We should set a good example for each other, and this is the best means to answer the cynicism of society. They will know that we are Christians by our love. Thus we shall learn how to live before Him, with whom we hope to live for ever. (1Th 5:12-15
The ministers of the gospel are described by the work of their office, which is to serve and honour the Lord. Minister means servant. It is their duty not only to give good counsel, but also to warn the flock of dangers, and reprove when it is needed. Then we should honour and love their ministers, because their business is the welfare of men's souls. And the people should be at peace among themselves, doing all they can to guard against any differences. These differences can lead to church splits and how we need to watch out for this sort of thing. How we need to seek peace with every thing within us. Paul says in another place “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope , through the power of the Holy Ghost.”Ro. 15:13 The God of hope will fill you with joy and peace if you believe in His Word. But love of peace must not make us wink at
sin. The fearful and sorrowful should be encouraged, and a kind word may do much good. We must bear and forbear. We must be long-suffering, and keep down anger, to all men. Whatever man do to us, we must do good to others.

We should rejoice more, in fact the apostle tells us to rejoice evermore. if we prayed more, If we pray without ceasing, we shall not want something for thanksgiving in every thing. We shall see cause to give thanks in everything. This verse 18 tells us that in everything we are to give thanks, in every situation, in every circumstance, no matter what it is and how hard that seems to be to us to understand. We don’t need to understand it but we do need to obey it.
“ Quench not the Spirit.” Christians are said to be baptized with the Holy Ghost and with fire. He worketh as fire, by enlightening, enlivening, and purifying the souls of men. As fire is put out by taking away fuel, and as it is quenched by pouring water, or putting a great deal of earth upon it; so we must be careful not to quench the Holy Spirit, by indulging carnal lusts and affections, minding only earthly things. Believers often hinder their growth in grace, by not giving themselves up to the spiritual affections raised in their hearts by the Holy Spirit. “Despise not prophesyings.” Notice it uses the plural “prophecyings” Not speaking about the gift so much but rather the utterances of prophecies. Do you find yourself judging the person sometimes who is uttering the prophetic word rather than judging the utterance?Also to understand the preaching of the word, the interpreting and applying the Scriptures. We must not despise preaching either, though it is
plain, and we are told no more than what we knew before. We must search the Scriptures. And proving all things must be to hold fast that which is good. We should abstain from sin, and whatever looks like sin, leads to it, and borders upon it. He who is not shy of the appearances of sin, who shuns not the occasions of it, and who avoids not the temptations and approaches to it, will not long keep from doing sin. (1Th 5:23-28)
And encourages them to persevere under all their sufferings for Christ, considering his coming at the great day of account.
The apostle prays that they might be sanctified more perfectly, for the best are sanctified but in part while in this world; therefore we should pray for, and press toward, complete holiness. And as we must fall, if God did not carry on his good work in the soul, we should pray to God to perfect his work, till we are presented faultless before the throne of his glory. We should pray for one another; and brethren should thus express brotherly love. This epistle was to be read to all
the brethren. Not only are the common people allowed to read the Scriptures, but it is their duty, and what they should be persuaded to do. The word of God should not be kept in an unknown tongue, but transplanted, that as all men are concerned to know the Scriptures, so they all may be able to read them. The Scriptures should be read in all public congregations, for the benefit of the unlearned especially. We need no more to make us happy, than to know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. He is an ever-flowing and an over-flowing fountain of grace to supply all our wants.

This will be lesson 12 from 1 Thessalonians ch. 4:13-18 and ch. 5:1-11

This will be lesson 12 from 1 Thessalonians ch. 4:13-18 and ch. 5:1-11

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 KJV

13But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18Wherefore comfort one another with these words
King James Version (KJV)

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
2For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
3For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
4But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
6Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
7For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
8But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
9For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
10Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
11Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
King James Version (KJV)

What comfort in these two passages and as we read them, they cause us to be drawn closer and closer to our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. They also cause an alarm bell as it were to go off inside of me when I think about those who may not be ready should Jesus come tonight. friend or family member who is asleep in the spiritual sense. Paul says, “we are not of the night nor of darkness. Let us examine ourselves…let the Holy Spirit shine His light upon us and look into our hearts and see if there is anything there that would hinder us from being ready when the trumpet of God sounds . The Happy Goodmans sang a song which contained a line that stated that one day the trump would sound so loud it would wake the dead. And that is just what Paul, that great Apostle of the Lamb states here in ch. 4:16…the trump will sound and the dead will rise. This is what Paul preached concerning the rapture. Remember what the angels said in Acts chapter 1”This same Jesus shall come in like manner as ye have seen Him go.” Why stand ye gazing?” Are we as a people just gazing or,like the women at the tomb are we telling His disciples that He is risen? Ca n the world see that we believe? I reflect back to our missions convention last October. One of our Spanish brothers presented a report on missions ministry in North Africa and he illustrated that scripture in Acts 1:11.
Let’s be a people doing, going and ready to do what He would have us do. Let us continue in prayer for the lost, especially our loved ones.

lesson 11 from 1 Thess ch, 4

In the last blog entry I asked this question… was Paul being a bit facetious here and using this inscription as an opening to proclaim the Gospel? Let’s investigate this passage further in Acts 17. beginning with verse 24 “ Acts 17:24-32 (King James Version) 24God that made the world and all things therein, seeing that he is Lord of heaven and earth, dwelleth not in temples made with hands; 25Neither is worshipped with men's hands, as though he needed any thing, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things; 26And hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; 27That they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him, though he be not far from every one of us: 28For in him we live, and move, and have our being; as certain also of your own poets have said, For we are also his offspring. 29Forasmuch then as we are the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man's device. 30And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 31Because he hath appointed a day, in the which he will judge the world in righteousness by that man whom he hath ordained; whereof he hath given assurance unto all men, in that he hath raised him from the dead. 32And when they heard of the resurrection of the dead, some mocked: and others said, We will hear thee again of this matter” Page4 /Whenever Paul preached or mentioned the resurrection he found himself being persecuted. To the Corinthians he says in 1 Cor. 1:17-31, the end of the chapter from the King James Version, here it is “1 Corinthians 1:17-31 (King James Version) 17For Christ sent me not to baptize, but to preach the gospel: not with wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect. (it seems that when man tries to bring the Gospel to his or her own private interpretation, it makes the Gospel of no effect) 18For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent. 20Where is the wise? where is the scribe? where is the disputer of this world? hath not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? (truly this is the case…it makes about as much sense to argue the case with God as it does to deny the Word) 21For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe. 22For the Jews require a sign, and the Greeks seek after wisdom: 23But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumbling block, and unto the Greeks foolishness; 24But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God, and the wisdom of God. 25Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. 26For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: 27But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; 28And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: 29That no flesh should glory in his presence. 30But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: 31That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord. So the answer to my question is Paul being facetious or is he using this inscription TO THE UNKNOWN GOD, HE USES IT as an opportunity to once again preach the Gospel of God I think you can see here in these two passages that I have quoted that if there is one thing that makes the devil mad it is the resurrection….the preaching of the cross. That was what Paul got so much trouble from the enemy for, when he mentioned the resurrection. Satan can tolerate us talking about Jesus as a good man, a good teacher with good morals. Just don’t mention the cross or the resurrection, he hates that truth. This call from 1 Thess ch. 4 is a call , a plea really for purity and holy living. Get ready he is saying and we need to be ready and have our lamps all trimmed in preparations for the rapture commonly known as the “catching away/”…the wedding of the bride united with the groom, we shall see the king when He comes. (Lord, only You can make us ready...we just need to submit ourselves to your will.) Verse 7 tells us that “God did not call us to uncleanness but rather he called us to holiness. Paul says that we have been called to holiness Preparation for the rapture. In the 8th. Verse if we reject his teaching, don’t think it is man that you are rejecting…rather you are rejecting God. And He has given us His Holy!, His Holy!Spirit…The Spirit of God is HOLY…HE IS THE Holy Spirit. And he said, “be ye holy even as I am holy! Verse number 9.If we are going to receive more of God, we need to live a brotherly and orderly life. In order to achieve that level, that standard of holiness, we need to get the truth of this message from Paul down into our hearts and let it become our life. So many times we hear people asking for the will of God, wanting to know what God’s will is for their life. Paul says, “ For this is the will of God (for your life) even your sanctification….sanctification means to be separated, set apart for pure and holy living, it means to be separated from things profane. It means to be consecrated to God. “Consecrate me now to thy service Lord by thy power of grace divine, let my soul look up with a steadfast hope ‘til my will be lost in thine. And that is where God wants us to be, with our will lost in His will. Do I think that I am in that place? No, I’m striving to attain, but so was the Apostle Paul. Look what he says in his letter to the Phillipians reading from ch. 3 verses 12-16: Pressing Toward the Goal 12 Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. 13 Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, 14 I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. 16 Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule,[a] let us be of the same mind.” We will be judged I believe by the light that we have, nevertheless we are all to walk by this rule of increasing more and more, in the will of God, sanctified, set apart unto holiness in the LORD. We are to walk circumspectly and not as fools, redeeming the time because the days are evil. We must be ready, we need to have our lamps filled with oil. What a tragic thing it would be to have our lamps go out just at the midnight hour just as the bridegroom shouts? And we are standing there in the darkness? And the cry goes forth GET READY FOR THE BRIDEGROOM COMES! I don’t understand all of that yet but I know that we must be prepared, we need to watch and pray, Jesus said. He said that “men ought always to pray and not faint.” He asks the question, “when the Son of Man comes…….will He find faith in the earth?” Will He find faith in you? Will He find faith in me? Let us resolve, make a resolution in our hearts…..yes Lord, by God’s grace I am resolved to seek your face until You come! I have quoted a lot of scripture in these blog entries for which I make no apology...it is the best thing I can do.