Through the Bible - 1 Thessalonians

Lord, I do pray that you would help us to set our minds upon You and Your Word now and to consider these great things that we have before us in this small letter. I pray that You would continue to teach us, Lord. Continue to transform us by the renewing of our minds. And, Lord, that we would grasp more and more of how awesome You are. As Paul would often pray for the early churches, that they would be strengthened in wisdom and knowledge, I pray that You would strengthen us in the same things. I ask that You would continue to give us insight into Your Word as we go through it line upon line. So teach us from Your Word here in 1 Thessalonians tonight. We just give You this time. Direct it, we pray, in Jesus' name. Amen.

How many of you read 1 Thessalonians this week? Alright, good. 1 Thessalonians is a great book. Just five chapters, but very, very powerful. As you read through it, one of the things you may have noticed is that a key theme of this book is the day of the Lord and the return of the Lord. In fact, at the end of each chapter, the author, Paul the Apostle, focuses on the day of the Lord.

In verse 10 of chapter 1, he says, "And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from wrath to come." So Jesus has delivered us from the wrath to come, and we wait for Him to appear from heaven, to come once again from heaven.

Then, at the end of chapter 2, in verses 19 and 20, it says, "For what is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?" We are looking forward to that day when He will come.

Again, at the end of chapter 3, the last verse there states, "To the end that He may establish your hearts, unblameable in holiness, before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all the saints."

At the end of chapter 4, the last several verses, the last five verses of chapter 4, deal with the second coming of our Lord. He says there in verse 18, "And wherefore, comfort one another with these words."

Finally, at the end of chapter 5, in verse 23, Paul says, "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly."

And I pray, God, your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul was writing to this church and speaking quite a bit about the second coming of our Lord, something that the early church 2,000 years ago was looking forward to. This is something that we today continue to look forward to, as Jesus counseled us to be watchful unto the end.

Remember, he told his disciples just before he ascended into heaven, in Matthew chapter 28, to go into all the world and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. He is constantly directing them to this whole idea of the end of the age, the last days, his return, and his coming.

Now, that's a very interesting topic, and it's something that Calvary Chapels have been discussing for a long time, since the beginning of Calvary Chapel. If you've been a part of an evangelical church for any length of time, you've heard about the last days and the second coming of our Lord. It's typically a pretty hot topic and something that a lot of people are interested in. That's why our Wednesday nights have been filling up here the last few weeks as we've been talking about prophecy and end times prophecy. There is a lot of predictive prophecy in the Bible that deals with the second coming of our Lord.

What I find interesting is that Paul, when he planted this church, was the missionary who went to the city of Thessalonica and started this church. He taught them about the second coming of the Lord, but he was only with them for three weeks. He wasn't there very long. In fact, turn in your Bibles to Acts chapter 17, because that's where we get the background of this church in Thessalonica.

You'll remember that Paul, in his first missionary journey, primarily went with Barnabas up to the region of Galatia. After they had gone through Galatia and planted churches in Lystra, Iconium, Derbe, and all those different cities, Paul and Barnabas went back to their home base, their church in Antioch. After some period of time, Paul and Silas went out on the mission field in Acts chapter 16. They were trying to move back up into the region of Asia Minor and press east, but the Holy Spirit pushed them west.

They came to Troas, which was right on a body of water, and they couldn't go any further west without getting on a boat. The Lord directed them to go into Macedonia. They went into Macedonia, and the first city they visited was Philippi. They weren't there for very long, but they planted a church there. Then Paul and Silas were beaten up and kicked out of the city.

From Philippi, they continued on their travels and came to Thessalonica. In Acts chapter 17, we read in verse 1, "Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews." You remember that when they came into Philippi, there was no synagogue there; there weren't really any Jews in that city. However, here in Thessalonica, there is a synagogue of the Jews.

Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and for three Sabbath days, he reasoned with them out of the Scriptures. Now, what day is the Sabbath day? Saturday. So, for three Saturdays, he went into the synagogue and reasoned with them from the Scriptures, opening and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen again from the dead, and that this Jesus whom I preach unto you is Christ. Some of them believed and consorted with Paul and Silas, and of the devout Greeks, a great multitude, and of the chief women, not a few.

Notice that there really weren't many Jews who followed what Paul was preaching, but among the devout Greeks, there was always an area in the synagogue where God-fearers could come. They were non-Jews, but they were allowed to listen to the word of God being spoken and to follow the worship of the one true God in the synagogue. When they heard what Paul had to say, they eagerly accepted it, and a great multitude of them, along with chief women, responded positively.

However, the Jews who did not believe were moved with envy. They took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort—this is a rather polite way of saying these guys weren't the nicest people. They gathered a company, set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the people. It appears that Paul, Silas, and whoever was with them were staying at the house of Jason by this point in time. When they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, "These that have turned the world upside down have come here also."

Underline that in your Bibles. I think that is such a cool testimony that Paul and Silas had: "These that have turned the world upside down." In my opinion, the world is already turned upside down, but these guys were turning it right side up. To those living an upside-down life, when their life gets turned right side up, they think it's upside down. If you can make sense of that, then you're tracking pretty well. It was just a wrong understanding because of the fall.

Because of sin, the world has been turned upside down. Man thinks that good is bad and bad is good. Just as we see when God speaks to Isaiah the prophet in the Book of Isaiah, they call evil good and good evil; they turn darkness to light and light to darkness. That is the way this world is.

When Paul, stirred by the Holy Spirit, brought the gospel to these people, the gospel transformed lives. Many of you here tonight know that God has transformed your life and continues to do so, and what a blessing it is. The testimony of the people in the city was that they had heard about Paul and Silas and their ministry. They said, "These guys have turned the world upside down, and they've come here also." Whom Jason has received, and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.

This is really interesting because here the Jews are again trying to buddy up with Caesar. You may remember another place in the New Testament where this happened. When Jesus was standing before Pilate, the chief priests said, "If you let this guy go, then you're no friend of Caesar's. There is no king but Caesar." When Pilate asked, "Isn't this your king? You want me to kill the king of the Jews?" they replied, "We have no king but Caesar." There is a kind of political expediency here. They had no problem aligning themselves with the Roman Empire when it served them well, but they didn't like being under Roman rule. Yet, they would use that to their advantage whenever they could.

Again, we see these Jews in that city moved with jealousy. As a result, they tried to use the ear of the Roman consul, the main guy there, to help them get rid of Paul and Silas. This is interesting because Paul, in Romans, tells us that it is our job as Christians to stir up the Jews by jealousy. They should see the relationship we have with God, that we know the Messiah, and that they would recognize the blessings we have received from God. In some way, they would be stirred up by jealousy.

These individuals were concerned that they would lose the power and influence they had in that city, so they wanted to get rid of Paul and Silas. They accused them of teaching decrees that were contrary to Caesar and claiming that Jesus is the king. They troubled the people and the rulers of the city when they heard these things. After taking security from Jason and the others, they continued their efforts against Paul and Silas.

They let them go, and so we read on in verse 10. Paul and Silas didn't really want to leave the city, but the brothers who had come to the Lord there asked them, "Listen, we want you to leave because this doesn't look like it's going to be a good thing for you." By night, they constrained them to depart.

Now, you've got to recognize that Paul, as you follow his ministry in the Book of Acts, was a real pastor. He didn't just want to get a group of converts that followed him or his message; he wanted to win souls to Christ. Once he did, he didn't just impart to them the word. As you'll read in the letters he writes to this church, he says, "We gave unto you even our own soul." He was tender to them, like a mother with a nursing child, or he treated them like a father with a child, as you will see in chapter 3 of this letter. Paul looked at this church as if it were his own family.

Now they're saying, "You need to leave. You need to go." You can imagine that there was some sort of anxiety within him as he had to separate himself from this new church that he had just birthed. He didn't feel that he really had an opportunity to spend much time there to ground them in the Scriptures. After only a month, a very little time of being there, he had already told them about the second coming of the Lord. Paul was very diligent to teach the word of God to the people there, and yet now they're saying, "You've got to leave." There was some difficulty for Paul as he went, and you really see that as he writes this letter to the church at Thessalonica.

After Paul left Thessalonica, he went down into Berea, and from there he eventually made his way down to Corinth, where he spent almost two years. It is from Corinth that he wrote the letters to the Thessalonians. These are some of Paul's early letters. The very first letter that Paul wrote—anybody remember what it was? It was Galatians. After Paul had left Galatia on his first missionary journey and then returned to Antioch, a group went into Galatia, mixed up the church, and seduced them into legalism. Paul had to write his letter to the church at Galatia to challenge that.

This is very likely his second letter, Thessalonians. In about 50-51 AD, while he was in the city of Corinth, he wrote these two letters.

He really emphasizes the second coming of the Lord, but we can get an idea of the theme of this book or the real push of his letter to the Thessalonians very early on. Look at verse 1 of chapter 1 with me, if you would. He starts this letter out as he starts out so many of his letters: Paul, Silas, and Timothy, unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope. We looked at this just briefly last week in Colossians as well—the marks of maturity in a Christian, in a follower of God: faith, hope, and love. Once again, we see these aspects being spoken of here to this church. He says, "We remember without ceasing your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our Father."

Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God, for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. You became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost.

Notice that these people in this city received the word readily. They were just ready to receive it. It was like water to a traveler who had been going through the desert. It was like for the sailor on the sea who had been looking for land; he had been in a storm for so long, and finally, he sees the land. Here was the same sort of thing for these people in Thessalonica. Remember, it was the Gentiles within the synagogue who received it with all readiness. They were really ready to take it, hungering and thirsting for the truth of the gospel.

They had heard the law; I mean, that's what the Jews were—they were experts at the law. These Gentiles had sat under the teaching of the law, and the law makes us ready for grace. Imagine that these Thessalonians, these Gentiles, had heard the law constantly, but they didn't measure up to the law. Why? They weren't Jews, and they hadn't completely converted to Judaism. So, could you imagine, if you would, that here is this legalistic standard laid before you, and yet there's like a locked door in front of you? You can't enter into it.

They were ripe and ready for the grace of God to come in. When Paul came in and preached the gospel, these people received it with all readiness, even in the midst of affliction. As you read through this book, you recognize that the church in Thessalonica was going through some sort of tribulation or persecution. Some believe that it was even a financial difficulty, which is interesting considering our own day and the things that are going on in our nation.

They became followers of us, Paul says, and of the Lord, having received the word with much affliction and with joy of the Holy Spirit. They became examples to those who believed in Macedonia and Achaia. From them, the word of the Lord sounded out not only in Macedonia and Achaia but also in every place. Their faith toward God spread abroad so that we need not speak anything.

Not only did these people receive the word with all readiness, but they instantly became witnesses to others of their faith and love toward the Lord. They showed us what manner of entering in we had unto them, how they turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, who delivered us from the wrath to come.

It is important to underline that in verse 10, Jesus is the one who delivered us from the wrath to come. It is interesting that Paul uses the past tense for the verb "delivered," even though it is something that hasn't happened yet. He has already delivered us from the wrath to come. How so? Because Jesus took the wrath upon Himself for us; He stood in our place and has taken God's wrath upon Himself.

We will see this same theme come up again at the very end of this book in 1 Thessalonians 5:9, which says God has not appointed us unto wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. These people received the word of God with all readiness, became witnesses of the truth of God, and turned to God from idols. That is repentance right there. They turned away from the things they were seeking after before they began to follow the Lord and to wait for His Son from heaven.

As Peter speaks about, we haven't seen Him, but we love Him. We look forward to His coming and depart from everything of this world to follow after Him by faith. You remember when Thomas said, "Unless I see the wounds in His hands, I'm not going to believe. Unless I stick my hand..."

In his side, I won't believe. Then Jesus comes the next week and says, "Here, behold my hands and my feet. Stick your hand in my side." There, Thomas says, "Oh, my Lord and my God." He makes this great confession of faith. Jesus said, "Oh, blessed are you that believe, but even more so blessed are they that, having not seen, believe."

We have not seen the Lord Jesus yet, but we look forward to His coming, as did this group of believers here. They were readied by the law; they received the Word of God with all readiness. They became witnesses of the truth. They turned away from what they were following previously and waited patiently upon the Lord, even in affliction, even in difficulty.

That is one of the key signs of a person who has become a true convert in the Lord. Remember the parable of the sower? Jesus tells that story about a sower who went out to sow seed. Some of the seed fell on stony ground, some among the weeds, and some among the thorns. The other seed fell on the ground that was ready to receive it.

You remember one of those was the one that fell on the shallow ground, the stony ground. It sprang up quickly, but then the sun came and burned it out. When Jesus explained that parable to His disciples, He said those on the stony ground are the ones who received the Word with all joy. But then trials came, and it burned it out.

That is always the case whenever we begin to follow the Lord. When a person follows the Lord, they can bank on experiencing trials and tribulation. Remember, Jesus promised that in this world you will have much tribulation. He did say, "Be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

When we go through tribulation, it's a test. It's only a test, like that funny sound that comes on the TV from time to time or the radio. If only we could hear that little sound in our heads when we hit tribulation and trial, maybe it would remind us that this is a test. It's only a test, and it's to prove us, to try us, to show us that we truly are tried and true.

There are some who go through trials and tribulation. They begin to follow the Lord, but when the cares of this world come, or whatever it is, the sun burns it out, and they don't want to walk with the Lord anymore. They think, "I thought I was going to have love, joy, peace, and all that great stuff, and yet now I have trials and tribulation. This whole Jesus thing doesn't work."

Have you ever met anybody like that? Have you ever had anyone tell you, "I tried that; it didn't work for me"? I've had so many people tell me that when I talk with them about the Lord. They say, "Oh, I tried that; it didn't work for me. I'm glad it worked for you, but it didn't work for me." Well, obviously, they received the wrong kind of good news. But here, this church...

Trials and tribulations came, and when they did, they didn't burn out. However, something else did happen. They seemed to have expected that they wouldn't have to go through that, that they would be taken out before it happened. Paul, when he writes both First Thessalonians and Second Thessalonians, explains to them that wrath and tribulation are not the same thing. This is one of the great misunderstandings that I believe even the evangelical church, especially the evangelical church in our day, has here in America. Specifically, American evangelical Christians tend to think that we will never experience any sort of difficulty because we're not appointed to wrath. They associate wrath and tribulation as the same thing, but they are not.

If wrath and tribulation were the same, Jesus would not have told us, "In the world, you will have much tribulation." This church was going through difficulty and experiencing tribulation, but somewhere they had misunderstood the teaching of the second coming of the Lord. They figured they were not supposed to go through this. So, Paul writes to them to encourage them, saying, "No, you haven't missed it, and you're not appointed to wrath." He states this right at the very beginning in chapter 1: "Listen, Jesus has delivered us from the wrath that is to come."

For you yourselves know, brethren, in chapter 2, verse 1, that our entrance unto you was not in vain. Even after we had suffered before and were shamefully entreated, as you know, at Philippi, we were bold in God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. He says, "You know when we came to you, we came probably still bruised and beat up from the beating that Paul and Silas had received at Philippi."

He continues, "Listen, we came to you. You know how difficult it was when we were in Philippi. If God would never allow us to go through tribulation, then why did Paul get beat up in Philippi? Why was he shipwrecked? Why was he beaten so many different times with rods and whips? If we're never going to experience any sort of difficulty, trials, and tribulations in this world, then Paul must not have been a Christian." Yet, obviously, we know that's not the case.

He says, "When we came to you, we preached the word of God with boldness, even when we faced difficulty in Thessalonica." Remember, the Jews stirred up people against them of the baser sort in Acts chapter 17. But he says in verse 3, "For our exhortation..."

Our preaching was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor of guile. But as we were allowed by God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God. Remember the words of the early disciples in the Book of Acts, when they stood before the Sanhedrin? In Acts chapter 4 and specifically in Acts chapter 5, they said, "Shall we obey God or man? Who do you want us to obey?" Here, once again, Paul speaks the same sort of thing: we haven't come to please men, but to please God.

I think this is an important lesson for the church in America to learn today. The message of the gospel is offensive to those who are perishing; it is a stumbling block to those who are going to hell. It should be. We don't want them to go to hell; we want to set some sort of stumbling block in front of them so they don't continue on their way to hell. Paul says, "I'm not here to please men," and he certainly didn't please men. Paul was not the kind of person who followed daily polls to see what all the people thought. Should I speak about this today? No, the polls say no, so I won't say anything that upsets anybody. I don't want to say anything to hurt anybody's feelings.

No, as you follow the ministry of Paul in the Book of Acts and his letters, he had no problem offending people. We don't seek to offend people just to ruffle feathers. If we offend people because of our personality or our attitude, then it's not a good thing. But if we preach the Word of God with all boldness and it offends people, challenging them in the direction they're going on their way to hell, then so be it. That's a good thing. He says we have come to obey and please God, and we're not looking so much to be pleasing to men.

This whole idea of being pleasing to God is something that's seen a couple of times in this passage. Paul even encourages the church in chapter 4, verse 1. Furthermore, when we were going through the Book of Philippians a couple of weeks ago, you'll remember that Paul spoke about being united in Christ and endeavoring to keep unity. He used Jesus as an example, then Timothy, then Epaphroditus, and then himself. He said, "Note those who so walk as you have us for an example." Here in Thessalonians, again, Paul speaks in the same sort of way. He said that we were endeavoring to be pleasing to God; we are not seeking to please men, but to please God. Then he encourages or exhorts this church.

In chapter 4, verse 1, it is stated that we should desire to be pleasing to God. This is an important aspect of our faith. How many of you know how to please God? Hebrews chapter 11 tells us that without faith, it is impossible to please Him. For he that comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is the rewarder of those who diligently seek Him.

When I asked how many of you know how to please God, your mind may have started to think, "If I do A, B, C, D, E, F, and G, then I'll please God." However, notice what we read in Hebrews chapter 11. It speaks just before that of Enoch: "By faith, Enoch was translated that he should not see death and was not found because God had translated him." Before his translation, he had this testimony that he pleased God.

So, how do we please God? It is simple: faith. Faith is pleasing to God. From faith, all these other works come. Remember, Paul told the church that he saw in them, "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith," as stated in verse 3 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. Our works and all the things we do stem from our faith, but it is our faith that is pleasing to God, not the works that stem from that faith. The works are a byproduct of faith.

In Philippians chapter 2, we see that it is God who works in you to will and to do His good pleasure. If we can grasp that the works are a byproduct of faith, and that faith is what pleases God, we can better understand Paul's desire to be pleasing to God. He did not merely seek to please men.

It is very hard to be a people pleaser because you will always please some people some of the time, but not all the people all the time. It is impossible to please everyone all the time. You all know this, especially around the holiday season. It can be tough to please everybody, given the different family members and groups that want to see you.

Remember, Paul told servants in Ephesians and Colossians not to be those who try to be men pleasers. We are seeking to please God, and out of our desire to be pleasing to God, the works will follow. It is the faith that is the important aspect. Paul exhorted the church to be pleasing to God and to abound more and more. The whole concept of being pleasing to God revolves around our faith.

From our faith comes our actions. Remember, out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Jesus said in Mark that it is from the heart that evil thoughts and evil actions spring forth. If God gives us a new heart by faith, then new works are produced from that new heart—a desire to obey God and follow Him and His Word.

In chapter 2, Paul expresses our desire to be pleasing to God and not to men, because it is God who tries our hearts. I have that circled in my Bible: God, who tries our hearts. Has your heart been tried? In Jeremiah 17:9, a verse we have discussed many times, it states that the heart of man is desperately wicked; who can know it? However, verse 10 says that God searches the hearts of man and tries our hearts. David, in the Psalms, would say, "Try my heart, know my heart, try my reins in my heart."

What are the things that are in our hearts? Oftentimes, we don't really know until something interesting happens. God allows us to go through fiery trials, which have a unique way of bringing forth the things that are in our hearts. Whatever it may be—sometimes it's wrath, sometimes it's anger, sometimes it's malice—these deep-seated issues may not be recognized until we face a trial.

We can become spiritually arrogant, thinking we have everything under control, until we go through a trial. Suddenly, those hidden issues come to the surface, and we see them. Sometimes we feel embarrassed by them. Have you ever been in that position? Perhaps I am the only one, but there have been times when something arises, and I am shocked to find that I got angry or said something I shouldn't have said. It was a particular fiery trial that brought it to the surface. Why? Because God already knows it is there and wants us to recognize it so we can confess it to Him. He can then continue to cleanse and purge it from our lives. Remember, He is purifying us, and so He puts us in that fiery trial to try our hearts.

In verse 5, Paul states that at no time did we use flattering words. I think this is an important verse for anyone who wants to share the truth of the Word of God. Paul emphasizes that they did not try to use flattering words to win people over. That is the way the enemy operates—using cunning deception. People can be easily deceived, but Paul asserts that they did not come to deceive anyone.

Verses before, Paul states that he did not come with deceit, uncleanness, or guile. He did not try to use flattering words, nor did he cloak his intentions with covetousness, for God is his witness. He did not seek glory from men. When he came to them, he did not use flattering words; he sought to glorify the Lord, not to gain glory from them or others.

Though he might have been burdensome as an apostle of Christ, he was gentle among them, like a nursing mother cherishing her children. Being affectionately desirous of them, he was willing to impart not only the gospel of God but also his own soul, because they were dear to him. Paul's passion for these believers in the church is evident in this chapter. He loved them, took care of them, and gently tended to them like a mother does a nursing child. They were willing to share not just words or the gospel, but their very lives, because the people there had become dear to him.

This explains why, when he was suddenly separated from them, he was truly desirous of them, as you will see in chapter 3. He reminds them of their labor and travail, stating in verse 9 that he worked night and day so as not to be a burden to any of them. He preached the gospel of God to them while taking care of his own needs, as his occupation was that of a tent maker.

He was a great witness, not just in his words but in his deeds. Paul lived in a way that served as a witness to the people he preached to. He exhorted, comforted, and charged every one of them as a father does his children. In verse 7, he used the terms of a mother, and now in verse 11, he refers to the terms of a father. The gentle tending of a mother is important, but so is the exhortation and charge of a father in leading the church.

Why did he do these things? Why was he gentle among them? Why did he challenge, encourage, and exhort them? Verse 12 gives us the answer: that they would walk worthy of God, who has called them into His kingdom and glory. The whole reason Paul did this was to raise up mature believers.

Believers in Christ are called to walk worthy of the Lord, the one who has called them into His kingdom. For this cause, we also thank God without ceasing. When you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you did not receive it as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually works in you who believe. God's word works in us; it works effectually.

Remember Isaiah chapter 55, where God says, "My words will not return void; they will accomplish the work that I sent them forth to do." God's word will transform us as we faithfully and diligently study it. We should read the word of God not just on a Sunday night, Saturday night, or Sunday morning, but daily. As we immerse ourselves in the Scriptures, the word of God is in us, and it transforms us. How shall a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed to the word of God, which is a light unto our path. It directs us in the way that we should go. His word works in us effectually for those who believe.

For you, brethren, became followers of the churches of God, which are in Judea, in Christ Jesus. You also have suffered like things from your own countrymen, just as they have from the Jews. The Jewish Christians in Jerusalem and Judea were persecuted by the Jews there. Similarly, the Gentiles who became Christians in Thessalonica were also persecuted by their own countrymen, by the people who lived in their own city. These were the same people who killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and they have persecuted us. They do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles so that they might be saved, thus filling up their sins always. The wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.

Notice that in verse 10 of chapter 1, it is stated that we believers in Christ have been delivered from wrath. In chapter 5, verse 9, it says that God has not appointed us to wrath. However, in verse 16 of chapter 2, we read that the wrath of God is going to come upon those who persecute the body of Christ, those who seek to hold back the word of God and hinder the truth. The wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth, as stated in Romans chapter 1. Here was a group of people trying to suppress the truth. Look at verse 16: they forbid us to speak to the Gentiles so that the Gentiles might be saved. Paul says the wrath of God is going to come upon them because they...

Suppressing the truth is a fearful thing. As we look at our nation today, there are people who are seeking to suppress the truth, and God's wrath is going to come upon them. We are not appointed to wrath; you and I will not go through the wrath of God. However, the wrath of God will be revealed from heaven upon all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth.

In verse 18 of chapter 2, Paul expresses his desire to visit the Thessalonians: "We would have come unto you, even I, Paul, once again, but Satan hindered us." He then asks, "What is our hope, our joy, our crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." Paul emphasizes that this is his expectation and hope—standing in the presence of the Lord someday, along with the Thessalonian believers.

Paul wanted to be in their midst to minister to them, but he couldn't go there because Satan had hindered him. In chapter 3, verse 1, he states, "Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens, and we sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith." Paul felt he could no longer bear the uncertainty about their well-being, so he sent Timothy to care for them.

Notice in verse 5 of chapter 3, he reiterates, "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent Timothy unto you to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labor be in vain." It seems that it was not really the rest of the group; it was Paul who could not stand it anymore. He had to send Timothy because he was a pastor who longed for these people to be strengthened in their faith. He wanted to ensure they were rooted and grounded in the truth.

Paul was not just a fly-by-night evangelist who preached the gospel and left a whole bunch of unfathered children wondering what to do next. He wanted to make sure that this church was equipped. As you look at Paul's ministry, this was always the case. He was not just a man who preached the gospel and departed; he was a man who wanted people to be strengthened and equipped. That is why we have these thirteen letters in our Bibles—because he wanted the church to be equipped. He did not recognize, and he did not know...

Two thousand years ago, when he penned these thirteen letters, we are still being equipped by his ministry today. Thank God that He imparted to him the heart of a pastor to equip the saints. He could not stand that there was a group of Christians in the city of Thessalonica who had no one to direct, teach, and equip them. Being separated from them prematurely drove him nuts. He was in Athens, unsure of what to do, so he finally sent Timothy there. Why? Because he wanted to know that his labor was not in vain.

We have discussed this many times before. We see this concern in Galatians chapter 4, and Isaiah speaks about it in Isaiah chapter 49. The worry of having labored in vain is significant. How would we know if we have labored in vain? If you were a farmer, you would know if you labored in vain if you did not bring forth any harvest. You weeded everything, tilled the ground, and pulled all the rocks out of it. Just like we read in Isaiah chapter 5, God tells the story of His vineyard. He secured the vineyard by putting a hedge around it, placing a tower in the middle, and establishing a winepress in the midst of it. He selected the best possible vines to plant in His vineyard and made everything ready, yet it brought forth sour grapes, wild grapes. God then asks, "What should I do with my vineyard?"

In Isaiah chapter 49, we find a very interesting passage. I believe it offers a glimpse into the Messiah's mind as He was in the Garden of Gethsemane, expressing, "I have labored in vain." Yet Paul says he does not want to be one who labors in vain, which is why he sent Timothy.

When Timothy came from you to us, he brought us good tidings. He delivered good news, but there was also an important aspect regarding the end times and the second coming. This letter to the church at Thessalonica can be divided into two parts. The first three chapters deal with Paul's experience while he was with the church in Thessalonica and after he left. Chapters 4 and 5 focus more on his exhortation and instruction to the church. The first three chapters recount all the things he went through and his view of this church, while the last two chapters emphasize exhorting them to stand strong and be pleasing to the Lord.

As we saw in chapter 4, verse 1, there is a declaration about the second coming of the Lord in chapter 4, verse 13. This is our expectation; it is what we look forward to. Paul also discusses this in 1 Corinthians, chapter 15. These are the two primary passages, along with 2 Thessalonians, chapter 2, that deal with the second coming and what we call the rapture of the church. These are the different things that we anticipate and look forward to.

Notice what Paul says after he gives many exhortations to them to walk honestly, to study, and to be quiet. He encourages them to increase more and more in good works, to be pleasing to the Lord, and to abound more and more. He instructs them to abstain from fornication and to learn how to possess their vessels in sanctification and honor, using their lives in a way that glorifies God. He also advises that no man defraud his brother.

In verse 13, he states, "But I would not have you be ignorant, brethren." These words are important because Paul uses that exact phrase four times in the New Testament, indicating that he does not want them to be ignorant about certain matters. In 1 Corinthians, chapter 12, he says he does not want them to be ignorant about spiritual gifts. In Romans, chapter 11, he mentions that he does not want them to be ignorant about the Jews and the plan that God has for the children of Israel in the future. Here, in 1 Thessalonians, chapter 4, he emphasizes that he does not want them to be without understanding or knowledge about this topic.

This is not just Paul's opinion or idea; he clearly states that this is the word of the Lord. In verse 15, he says, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord." It is important to underline that this is not merely Paul's opinion.

In verse 13, he continues, "I don't want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that you sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." Falling asleep refers to death. He expresses that he does not want them to be ignorant about those who have died. It is clear that some members of the church in Thessalonica had died; they were believers, and the church was uncertain about how to consider these events. Paul had told them about the second coming of the Lord, and they were concerned.

These brothers and sisters who had died had missed it all. They only knew that Paul told them the Lord was going to return. Now, with the death of brother so-and-so, they wondered what they were going to do. Poor guy, he missed the second coming. Paul reassured them, saying, "Don't sorrow as those who have no hope." This is a great passage, one that I use at many different funerals and memorial services, especially for believers. It is hard to use at a memorial service for someone who is not a believer, but we do not sorrow as those who have no hope.

Just as with David in 2 Samuel chapter 12, when he lost his son, he got up after the loss, cleaned himself off, and went to worship the Lord. He ended his fast and asked his servants to bring him food. His servants were baffled by his actions. David explained, "Well, my child cannot return to me, but I will go to him." He did not sorrow as one who had no hope.

This does not mean that we do not sorrow; we still grieve when someone dies, but not as those who have no hope. Why? If we believe that Jesus died and rose again, then even so, those who sleep or die in Christ will God bring with Him. Paul emphasizes that if we believe Jesus was raised from the dead, then those who die as believers should not worry. Christ will bring them back with Him when He returns.

This was the concern of the church. Paul had told them about the second coming, and when someone in the church died, they thought that brother had missed it. Paul reassured them, saying, "Don't worry about it. When Jesus returns, He'll bring that brother with Him."

It is good to read through 1 Corinthians chapter 15 when studying this topic, as it provides more clarity about the resurrection. Additionally, 2 Corinthians chapter 5 tells us that to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. Paul is clarifying this to the church at Thessalonica, filling in the blanks of things they did not receive when he taught them. He states that if we believe Jesus rose from the dead, then those who have died in Christ will God bring with Him.

Paul continues, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord." This was not just Paul's opinion; it was something God revealed by revelation. He explains that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord shall not precede those who have fallen asleep or died. Those who are still alive when the Lord returns will not precede those who have fallen asleep.

Absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God. The dead in Christ shall rise first. This is that great verse that so many people in the evangelical church look to with great anticipation, expectation, and hope. The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout and with the voice of the archangel.

What does it mean to have the voice of the archangel? I believe it just means a strong shout, a shout of victory and triumph. But what does an archangel's voice sound like? The only thing I can think of from the Scriptures is in Isaiah chapter 6, when Isaiah is caught up into heaven and hears the voice of the seraphim saying, "Holy, holy is the Lord; the whole earth is full of His glory." They say "holy" back and forth all through eternity. Isaiah mentions that the doorpost was shaken by the voice of the angel.

Now, I'm not completely sure, but I'm pretty sure that the building standards in heaven are a little bit better than those here on earth. I can only imagine that the temple in heaven must be a grand and awesome structure. Yet, the voice of the archangel caused the doorpost to tremble and shake. So, here it says, with the voice of an archangel, a triumphant shout, the Lord will cry, and the trump of God, the trumpet of God, shall sound. The dead in Christ shall rise first.

Again, we are not going to precede those who have died because to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. They are with the Lord, and they are going to return with Him. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up. The word "caught up" there is the word "harpazo" in Greek. In the Latin translation, the Vulgate, the word is "rapturos." We shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

That is a great and awesome expectation that we have. He says, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." The prophetic promise is a comfort to you and me, and it is always a comfort for those going through trial, tribulation, and difficulty. Anytime we are going through difficulty in this life, we should recognize that this is not all there is. We should recognize that there is coming a day when we shall ever be with the Lord. Even if we die here, to be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord. But if we are alive and remain until the time that He returns, that would be pretty fun.

It says we're going to be caught up. Now, I don't fully know what that means to be caught up. We're told in 1st Corinthians, chapter 15, that it will happen in the twinkling of an eye. It's going to happen very quickly. The church has come to call this the rapture of the church, and it's caused a lot of discussion within the body of Christ about when it will take place as it relates to end-time events.

There are the pre-trib rapture view, the mid-trib rapture view, and the post-trib rapture view. I'm not going to tell you what to believe, and I'm not going to tell you what I believe as it relates to these views. Calvary Chapel typically teaches the pre-trib rapture view, but I think it's very important for the body of Christ to recognize all three views.

In 2nd Thessalonians, as we'll see when we get into it hopefully next week, we're going to see that there's going to be a great falling away in the last days. This event, the day of the Lord, is not going to happen until the falling away happens first. In 2nd Thessalonians, chapter 2, the falling away is the apostasia, which speaks of Christians departing from the faith.

I have a concern that, if—I'm not saying that it will—but if the rapture didn't happen at the beginning of the tribulation and the church started to go through the tribulation, and then there's a temple being built in Israel, and then there's this charismatic world leader that comes on the scene and starts to do all these things, and then all kinds of crazy things are happening on the earth—earthquakes, famines, and all this stuff—some people within the body of Christ might say that the whole pre-trib rapture thing was not true, and that we lied to them and don't know what we're talking about. This could lead to people departing from the faith.

I believe wholeheartedly that there is an event called the rapture of the church, and I believe that there's enough scripture throughout the Bible to make it somewhat unclear about the exactness of when it happens. Why? Because we need to be watching, waiting, and looking. I've heard it said before, and I think it's a very good way of saying it: we pray for pre-trib and prepare for post-trib.

What we're going to see as we get into 2 Thessalonians next week is that this church in Thessalonica, when they determined that the second coming was coming quickly, stopped working and stopped serving. Paul had to write 2 Thessalonians to say, "Get going; the work's not over." That's a real danger. Some of you remember because you were a part of the body of Christ in the late 70s and early 80s when a book came out that said, "88 Reasons Why the Rapture Is Going to Happen in 1988" or something like that.

I don't know why everybody thought that the Lord was going to return in 1981 or 1988. Many believed that 1981 would be the year the Lord would come and rapture His church. As a result, people dropped out of college, stopped working, and just waited. They forgot to read 2 Thessalonians, which says to get to work because there remains much land to be possessed and a lot of work to be done.

Oh, I sure do hope that the Lord comes seven years before the tribulation for His church, calls us up, and we are raptured to have the marriage supper of the Lamb. I think there's a good case that can be made for that; however, we need to be about the Father's business until that time. We should comfort one another with these sayings.

In chapter 5, Paul gives this great teaching. He states that concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, he has no need to write to them. Times and seasons are prophetic landmarks that speak about the coming of the Lord. Paul says he doesn't want them to be ignorant about this. In verse 1 of chapter 5, he emphasizes that he doesn't have to write to them about it because they know this very well.

For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night. This verse has caused the church for many years to say that the rapture will happen like a thief in the night, and we will be taken without knowing when it happens. I have a concern with that idea because it takes this verse out of context. In the context, Paul says that they know perfectly that the day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, "Peace and safety," then sudden destruction comes upon them, as travail upon a woman with child, and they shall not escape. Who is "they"? Well, read on. But you, brethren, that would be the body of Christ, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

The day of the Lord comes as a thief in the night upon those who are not watching and ready. But you, brethren, are not of the night; you are of the day. Therefore, that day should not overtake you as a thief. You are the children of light and the children of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. Therefore, let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch. It all comes back to watching.

And waiting and being about the business of the Lord, therefore let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep, sleep in the night, and they that are drunken are drunken in the night. But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet, the hope of salvation.

There again is that faith, hope, and love. We need to grow into maturity in Christ. Why? Well, God has not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. We are not going to go through the wrath of God. Praise the Lord! We will not experience the wrath of God. The wrath of God is going to be revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth.

But those that are watchful and preaching the truth will not experience the wrath of God; they are not appointed to wrath. There is one that is appointed to wrath, and we are not them. We are to be watchful and ready, expecting the coming of the Lord and about the business of the Lord here on the earth. The Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we should live together with Him. Whether you're alive when He comes or you have died and are already with the Lord, we will be with Him together.

Wherefore, comfort yourselves together and edify one another, even as you also do. Once again, he says to comfort yourselves with this truth. This church was concerned that their brothers and sisters who had died already missed the coming of the Lord. Paul says that's not the case, and that's the important teaching of 1 Thessalonians 4 and 5. He says those that die are with the Lord; we are not going to precede them. Those that are awake or alive, we are all going to be with Him together. So comfort one another with these words.

We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord, and those that admonish you. Esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake, and be at peace among yourselves. I like those two verses; you can study those on your own.

But now we exhort you, brethren. He says the Lord will return; He is going to come for His church one day. Those that have died are with the Lord, but we still have an exhortation for you: warn those that are unruly, comfort the feeble-minded, support the weak, and be patient toward all men. See that none of you render evil for evil, but ever follow after that which is good, both among yourselves.

Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In everything give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophesying. Prove all things; hold fast to that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil.

As Paul finishes up this letter, he gives them a series of exhortations. These are the things that you are to do. Yes, the Lord is going to return. Yes, one day He will take His church out of the world, and we look forward to that. But until then, there is work to be done. Be patient. Esteem one another highly. Comfort the feeble-minded. Support the weak. Strengthen those who are weak and correct those who are unruly. Abstain from every appearance of evil.

The very God of peace sanctify you wholly. Sometimes we can try to grab lists from the Scriptures of things we are to do, thinking that if we just do these things, then we will be holy. We neglect the fact that it is God who sanctifies us completely and wholly. The lists will not make you holy and righteous; the Lord will.

So, Paul prays for this church. Yes, these are the works that you are to do, but works that are pleasing to God proceed from faith that is pleasing to God. He says, "The very God of peace sanctify you completely." I pray God your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, who also will do it. Would you underline that in your Bibles?

Paul told the church at Philippi in Philippians chapter 1, verse 6, "Being confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus." Faithful is He who calls you.

Brethren, pray for us, Paul said. I would, as I have many times when I've taught through Thessalonians, throw that out to you: brethren, pray for us. Pray for those who lead you in the body of Christ, who teach you. Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren, unto all the saints. I charge you: read this to all the saints.

That is why we study through this book to this day, because Paul said, "I charge you, read it, study it, know it." The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

Let's stand and pray.

Father, we do thank You for the fact that You are faithful and that You will complete the work that You started in us. You are a great and awesome God. You are able to sanctify us completely—body, soul, and spirit—and preserve us blameless until the day that You come.

Lord, we thank You that You are even working in us right now to will and to do Your good pleasure. I pray that we would be excited. Lord, give us just an expectation and an excitement for Your coming. I also ask that You would give us boldness to preach the truth of the Gospel until You do come.

Continue to sanctify us and help us to walk in righteousness until You come. We should not just check out and go find a mountaintop to sit on and wait until You come. Instead, let us re-engage in the work that You've called us to, all the while praying, "Lord Jesus, come."

We look forward to Your soon return, and we believe that it will be soon. However, even if You don't return to rapture Your church in our lifetime, each of us will have that encounter with You where we breathe our last in this life and breathe our first in eternity. Just as with Stephen in Acts chapter 7, as he was dying and about to be absent from this body, he was immediately present with You, for he saw the heavens open and saw You standing, waiting for him.

Each of us will see that one day, Lord, and we look forward to that. In Jesus' name, Amen. Thank You for listening.