02/28/21 – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.
5:2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
5:3 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.
5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.
5:5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.
5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.
5:7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
5:8 But 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.
5:9 For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
5:10 Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
5:11 Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
1
I am amazed every day how much more wicked the world has become from the day before, and how much more brazen the evildoers grow. We also see more signs of the Lord’s hand at work, but the lost ignore that because they don’t want to know the truth.
Matthew
16:1 The Pharisees also with the Sadducees came, and tempting desired him that he would shew them a sign from heaven. 16:2 He answered and said unto them, When it is evening, ye say, It will be fair weather: for the sky is red. 16:3 And in the morning, It will be foul weather to day: for the sky is red and lowering. O ye hypocrites, ye can discern the face of the sky; but can ye not discern the signs of the times? 16:4 A wicked and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given unto it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas. And he left them, and departed.
This incident took place just after the times that Jesus fed the multitudes. The Pharisees had seen that and many other signs, but they wanted Jesus to give them a sign on their terms.
I had a friend I worked with years ago that was about to lose his job. The company we worked for had already let me go and they were about to close the plant. The economy wasn’t doing very well at the time either. A lot of people were looking for work. I asked him one day how his search was going. He told me that he had three job offers, but he was waiting for a sign from God. I told him God was offering him a choice, but he was too busy looking for a sign. Often when God opens a door, He expects us to take a step to go through it.
2
People think they have all the time in the world. Some say they believe in God and may even say they plan to follow Him someday. They may say they’re just sowing their wild oats while they’re young. None of us have the promise of tomorrow. We have to get about our Father’s business while it is still day. We can’t get sidetracked thinking those around us are getting ahead or because we see the wicked appear to prosper.
Psalm
37:7 Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. 37:8 Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil. 37:9 For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. 37:10 For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. 37:11 But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. 37:12 The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. 37:13 The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming.
I expect we all know people that have done wrong by us or other people we love. It can be easy to let that fester into hate and wrath. We can’t do that. We have to turn those people over to the Lord. He will either put them through a rough enough time to save them, or He will repay them far more than we ever could.
3
Along with all the advertisements for sin and indulgence, we hear the message that man can save himself; that peace can come about by the efforts of men; that science will solve our problems, feed the hungry and heal the sick. One day, all these lies will be centered on one person. He will tell the world that he has all the answers, and many will be so brainwashed by our society that they will believe him.
2 Thessalonians
2:5 Remember ye not, that, when I was yet with you, I told you these things? 2:6 And now ye know what withholdeth that he might be revealed in his time. 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way. 2:8 And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of his mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of his coming: 2:9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 2:10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 2:11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 2:12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. 2:13 But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth: 2:14 Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 2:15 Therefore, brethren, stand fast, and hold the traditions which ye have been taught, whether by word, or our epistle.
The world we know is melting away day by day. There is a new world rising based on the belief that man is his own god, and whatever each of us believes is right. That is, unless you believe that God is right. Then they don’t want to hear you.
4
The day is not yet lost. There have been dark days before in history and God has granted revival and pulled us back from the edge. We all have the light of God’s word inside us. We have to share that light with those around us.
John
12:35 Then Jesus said unto them, Yet a little while is the light with you. Walk while ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you: for he that walketh in darkness knoweth not whither he goeth. 12:36 While ye have light, believe in the light, that ye may be the children of light. These things spake Jesus, and departed, and did hide himself from them.
In many parts of the world, it is illegal to talk about God and Jesus. People risk their lives every day to spread the word. It seems almost unbelievable that could ever happen in this country, but look at the news. If you believe there is one standard of what is right and what is wrong, then you are labeled as a hater. They say you can believe anything you want, but that only applies to those who believe the same way they do.
5
All through time, some have used the word of God as an excuse to war and hate. We can’t do that either. There are battles to be fought, but we are not to fight them using the tools of the enemy. Hatred and violence don’t help people see that God loves them. We have to stand on the word of God and allow that light to reach those who will listen.
1 John
1:5 This then is the message which we have heard of him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all. 1:6 If we say that we have fellowship with him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ his Son cleanseth us from all sin. 1:8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1:9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 1:10 If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.
Many look at the outside world and think they should shut them out because they’re sinners. We are all sinners and only by the grace of God are we able to say anything different. We can’t judge others no matter how they look to us. The world is drowning in false beliefs. We have to reach out the hand of truth. What they do with it is on them. We are responsible for what we do with the light we’ve been given.
Ezekiel
33:7 So thou, O son of man, I have set thee a watchman unto the house of Israel; therefore thou shalt hear the word at my mouth, and warn them from me. 33:8 When I say unto the wicked, O wicked man, thou shalt surely die; if thou dost not speak to warn the wicked from his way, that wicked man shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand. 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.
6
Keep your eyes open. The world is trying to fill your mind with the lies of the enemy. Get into the word. It will guide you in how to protect yourself and how you are to help others. We are each given some measure of the light. We have to be faithful to be working in that light.
Luke
12:35 Let your loins be girded about, and your lights burning; 12:36 And ye yourselves like unto men that wait for their lord, when he will return from the wedding; that when he cometh and knocketh, they may open unto him immediately. 12:37 Blessed are those servants, whom the lord when he cometh shall find watching: verily I say unto you, that he shall gird himself, and make them to sit down to meat, and will come forth and serve them. 12:38 And if he shall come in the second watch, or come in the third watch, and find them so, blessed are those servants. 12:39 And this know, that if the goodman of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched, and not have suffered his house to be broken through. 12:40 Be ye therefore ready also: for the Son of man cometh at an hour when ye think not.
The sky could split open any minute and we’d all be caught up with Jesus, or we could have something happen and not make it to see tomorrow. Either way, we have to be ready because we don’t know when our time will be up.
7
The world thinks that God isn’t real or doesn’t care because He hasn’t acted in their lives. They mistake His patience and longsuffering for license to do what they want. They think they can hide their wicked actions if no one see them, but the darkness of their own sin keeps them from seeing the light.
John
3:18 He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. 3:19 And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. 3:20 For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. 3:21 But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God.
While it is day, that is while we are here, we have to let the Spirit guide us to clean up our sinful nature. The more we can put aside our own pride and the desires of the flesh, the more we’ll be able to stand in the light without fear.
8
We will fight many battles while we’re here. We have to use the armor God has provided and He will keep us safe. The breastplate of our faith in God and His love for us will keep our hearts safe, and the knowledge that we’re saved through Jesus will protect our minds.
Ephesians
6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
We said earlier we’re not to use hatred and violence to fight. However, we are to stand in the power of God’s might. When we take our stand and let God fight our battles, He will prevail.
9
God doesn’t want any of us to fail. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. The world just doesn’t want to accept the free gift they’re being offered. God loves and cares for all of us and has already paid the price to redeem us.
Acts
17:29 Forasmuch 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. 17:30 And the times of this ignorance God winked at; but now commandeth all men every where to repent: 17:31 Because 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.
The Pharisees were seeking a sign, and in the end they got the biggest sign they could have asked for. They still rejected Jesus, and many today still reject God in spite of all the obvious signs around us.
10
We don’t have to wait until judgment day or when we die to enjoy our new life in the Lord. Even though we may have battles yet to fight here, we can rejoice even in hardship because we know that God has already won the victory.
Psalm
118:16 The right hand of the LORD is exalted: the right hand of the LORD doeth valiantly. 118:17 I shall not die, but live, and declare the works of the LORD. 118:18 The LORD hath chastened me sore: but he hath not given me over unto death. 118:19 Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD: 118:20 This gate of the LORD, into which the righteous shall enter. 118:21 I will praise thee: for thou hast heard me, and art become my salvation. 118:22 The stone which the builders refused is become the head stone of the corner. 118:23 This is the LORD’s doing; it is marvellous in our eyes. 118:24 This is the day which the LORD hath made; we will rejoice and be glad in it.
Each day and each hour is a gift from God. We have to keep our eyes open so we can find the purpose He has in giving it to us.
11
We are not alone. God is with us, and so are all other fellow believers. We are all one in the Spirit and we should remember that. Anything we do that hurts someone else hurts us, and anything we do that helps them is also helping ourselves. We all stumble and fall sometimes. We have to help those around us stand when they trip and lift them up when they fall. I often remind myself that I’m not perfect and I know that some days I’m the one that needs lifting up.
Ephesians
5:14 Wherefore he saith, Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light. 5:15 See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. 5:17 Wherefore be ye not unwise, but understanding what the will of the Lord is. 5:18 And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; 5:19 Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; 5:20 Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ; 5:21 Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.
Whether we’re talking about the end of this world or the end of our own lives, we’re all a little closer to that day than we were yesterday. We have to be working while it is yet day because the night is coming.