1 Thessalonians 5

• 1Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 
• 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 
• 3 For 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. 
• 4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 
• 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. 
• 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. 
• 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 
• 8 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. 
• 9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, 
• 10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. 
• 11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. 

We see from reading the above scriptures that we are to comfort one another with the hope of the coming of the Lord. Verse 9 states clearly that God has not appointed us to wrath but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ. Whether we are alive at His coming or have died, we will live together with the Lord if we are found "in Christ" on the day of His return. 

The "day of the Lord" mentioned in verse 2 is a day of judgment and not comfort. That is when the wrath of God is poured out over the unbelieving world that has rejected the gospel and stubbornly continues in sin without repentance. When the people of the earth are talking of peace and safety while continuing in sin, sudden destruction will come. 

Paul is stating clearly that this wrath is not for the faithful believers who continue in the faith without wavering. Verse 4 states that we should not be walking in darkness that the day of wrath will come to us as a thief like it will come upon the rest of the world. To be sober means to be awake spiritually. We are to be found without spot or wrinkle. We are cleansed by the word and sanctified so that we are without spot or wrinkle when He returns. This never means that we escape the wrath of men but we do escape the wrath of God poured out upon the world as a whole.

• Ephesians 5:26 That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, 
• 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. 

Verse 8 says that we are to put on the breastplate of faith and love and for a helmet, the hope of salvation. 

• Jude 1:20 But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, 
• 21 Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. 

We don't have to concern ourselves with when the Lord is returning or whether there will be a rapture before, during or after the tribulation but we need to concern ourselves with being ready spiritually. 

• Luke 12:42 And the Lord said, Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his lord shall make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of meat in due season? 
• 43 Blessed is that servant, whom his lord when he cometh shall find so doing. 
• 44 Of a truth I say unto you, that he will make him ruler over all that he hath. 
• 45 But and if that servant say in his heart, My lord delayeth his coming; and shall begin to beat the menservants and maidens, and to eat and drink, and to be drunken; 
• 46 The lord of that servant will come in a day when he looketh not for him, and at an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him in sunder, and will appoint him his portion with the unbelievers. 

We are to be found faithful when the Lord returns. We are to occupy when He comes. 
If we are called to preach, we should be preaching, if we are called to be an under shepherd over the flock, we better be faithful in that. Whatever we are called to do, we must be faithful. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:12 And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; 

Submit to faithful ones who are over us in the Lord. A faithful servant is not to Lord over and dominate anyone but to be apt to teach, gentle and patient. The word of the Lord must be preached and taught faithfully. We must be submissive to the word of God and not be rebellious against a faithful leader that God places over us. 

If we are so unfortunate to be under a charlatan, of course we must continue to follow the Lord and leave that situation. This must be done in much prayer to make sure we are not the ones in the wrong. 

I count is a privilege that I have always had good pastors. I have not always agreed with them on every point but I could see that they had a heart to please God and do their work faithfully with no intention to purposely deceive. 

What are some things that would cause one to be asleep spiritually?

1. Being too wrapped up in the material things. Love of money, love of pleasure and being worldly minded. 
2. Being selfish, wanting one's own way or wanting to control others. 
3. Neglecting to pray in the spirit, not recognizing that we need to depend on God and not try to go it alone. 
4. Neglecting the study of the word so that it is not hidden in our hearts making us more likely to return to the sin Jesus died to save us from.
5. Neglecting to assemble ourselves with other faithful believers to worship God together. 
6. Forgetting that we are saved from sin and returning to unbelief, doubt and lack of love. 
7. Being obsess or wrapped up in other things, even good things to the point of neglecting our quality time we need with the Lord. 

God left us with a great cloud of witnesses both in some working and laboring for Him today, those that gave us the written word we call the bible even sacrificing their lives to do so, and those that we read about in the bible.

• 1Thessalonians 5:13 And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. 

Follow peace with all men and holiness without which no man shall see the Lord. Most places where the word says man, it means mankind which includes women. Think highly of other believers and prefer them to one's self. Never seek to be exalted above another believer. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. 

We must be patient and comfort those that have not come into the spiritual understanding of the word and the things of the spirit. We are all learning but some are quicker to receive than others. That does not make one better than the other. 

There are always trouble makers that desire to have their own way. There also may be some that will disagree and may even be right in what they believe but wrong in how they handle the disagreement. We can cause trouble even when we are right about something if we allow a root of bitterness to enter our hearts because of the disagreement. If we act in this manner, we will appear to be the ones in the wrong even if we were right in our theology in the beginning. We never should compromise sound doctrine but there is a right way and a wrong way to express our disagreement. God can really use our knowledge to bless the congregation of the Lord if we do all things by love and much, much prayer. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. 
• 16 Rejoice evermore. 

Remember to rejoice in the Lord and be thankful for His salvation, the infilling of His spirit and for good fellowship with other believers. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:17 Pray without ceasing. 

We must never stop praying. Pray for the gospel to go forth into all the world unchanged from what the apostles preached and what Jesus preached. Beware of getting too dependent upon money for the spreading of the gospel. Yes, it takes money but when we have to spend all our time raising funds, we are not preaching the gospel. We must pray that God show us the right way to spread the gospel. It's tempting to just give to a TV ministry thinking they are spreading the gospel and neglect our own missionaries that actually go and live among the people they are preaching to. They still need workers in the field and support. We must make sure that we pray diligently before giving our finances to someone just because they claim they are spreading the gospel. Make sure that the gospel is what they are spreading. 

The prosperity gospel is not what Jesus or the apostles preached. They didn't say that if you give money, you will be healed, saved or anything like that. Jesus said that tribulation will come at the preaching of the gospel. He said it would divide households and bring offense. He said it would cause persecutions. He didn't say life would be great and all problems would be solved. The power of sin is broken in the life of one who gives His heart and soul to Jesus Christ but the troubles and trials of this life still may continue with us. We get victory over sin yes, we are promised eternal life, yes but we are never promised riches, no trouble or no persecution for living as a Christian.

The difference is that we have a power within us that brings us joy even when we are persecuted or in some kind of difficulty. We can have love, joy, peace and many things that God gives us by His spirit. The Holy Spirit is the riches Jesus promises to us when we believe. The true gifts and blessings of God are spiritual things that no one can take away from us. It is so great that the things of the world are not worthy to compare to the true riches given to us by Jesus Christ. We must turn away from the teaching that "to gain in this life is godliness". That is false and that is wrong. 

God's got something much greater than what we think is great. God has something that will last for eternity, not something that thieves can steal, courts can rule away from us and when we die we can't take it with us. 

We need to hear testimonies of how God saved someone from sin and granted them eternal life, not testimonies of how God caused someone's book to sell or how their business became successful. How about hearing how God delivered some poor soul from drugs, alcohol or pornography? I want to hear how God brought a person who was in the depths of sin into the light of the gospel. 

There are people who even as I write are in prison, are separated from their families and who are even beaten or killed for preaching the gospel. Do we think they want to hear about how God is making someone rich when they are suffering for the gospel's sake?

Most of the giving Jesus talked of was giving to the poor anyway. It was not giving to someone who already had an abundance. 

• Matthew 10:8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give. 

We are to freely give the word of God that God has given to us. The seed we sow is the word. The gospel is given to all, rich or poor. The poor cannot give what he doesn't have so the giving spoken of in the gospels are mostly to give the word of God that we have received. If we give to a  ministry thinking we are giving to spread the word, we better make sure that the word is being spread and not some other gospel that will not save any soul. Please do not misunderstand what I'm saying. I believe in giving to those that labor in the word of God. It is fun to give if we give from our hearts. I just don't believe in guilting people who do not have much to give. Paul said as one purposes in their hearts.

• Matthew 16:24 Then said Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. 
• 25 For whosoever will save his life shall lose it: and whosoever will lose his life for my sake shall find it. 
• 26 For what is a man profited, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? or what shall a man give in exchange for his soul? 

Saving the soul is the main reason Jesus came to die for sins. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. 
• 19 Quench not the Spirit. 

We need to worship in spirit and in truth and must never suppress the worship of God by the Holy Spirit. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:20 Despise not prophesyings. 

Whether the prophesying is done by preaching, a message brought forth by the gift of prophesy, an interpretation of tongues, or even a testimony, we are not to despise it. Prophesy is not just warning of future events. Prophesy is also comfort, exhortation, teaching and other things pertaining to the truth. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:21 Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. 

We are to judge prophesies. (Not judge the speaker necessarily but judge whether they are speaking truth.) No true teacher from God will be afraid of his words being compared to what the bible says. 

I certainly would not want anyone who reads my words to take them as gospel without making sure it is right. We even have to watch when someone uses a few scriptures as proof text for what they speak or write. I know I use scripture as proof text many times but we must make sure it lines up with the scriptures as a whole and that we are not using the scripture out of context. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil. 

My dad use to say, if we doubt something is right or wrong, it is better to avoid it. 

• 1Thessalonians 5:23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 

This is something we seldom hear. The doctrine of sanctification should not have disappeared. We are to be blameless when Jesus comes. We can only be blameless if we allow the spirit of God to work within us sanctifying us and bringing into the fullness of the Holy Spirit in obedience and love. 

Being filled with the spirit is an ongoing process. We can be filled with the spirit everyday. It is not just a one time experience, it is all the time. Once the Holy Spirit comes into our innermost being, He is there to stay and abide with us forever. We must continue on with the Lord, praying always in the Holy Spirit. DC

• 1Thessalonians 5:24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. 
• 25 Brethren, pray for us. 
• 26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss. 
• 27 I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. 
• 28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.