Monthly Archive for June, 1999

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1 Thessalonians 4:1

Published on June 20, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God…“
 
Chapter 4 begins the practical section of First Thessalonians. The first eight verses present the sanctified life.
 
Finally
The word “finally” does not introduce the conclusion to the book. Half of the epistle is yet to follow. Rather, Paul moves to the last remaining section of the book. There is a transition here from the historical to the exhortatory, the personal to the practical, the past to the prophetic and the apologetic to the application.
then,
With the word “then” Paul draws inferences from chapters 1-3.
brethren,
Paul appeals to the Thessalonians by affection. They are his brothers in Christ. They come from the same source — born into the family of God. Paul holds in tension affectionate appeal and authoritative admonition. He does not take any personal liberties but prescribes personal holiness.
we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus
This challenge is so significant that Paul uses two words to describe the importance of this message: urge and exhort. “Exhort” is a little stronger than “urge.”
Paul urges and exhorts them “in the Lord Jesus” — in the sphere of everything that Jesus represents. Jesus personally passed this down to the apostles and they to us. The apostles operate on the authority of Christ.
The Thessalonians lived in a culture that mixed sex with its religion. These new converts previously went to their temples for sex with temple prostitutes on a regular basis. Religion was very popular in those days! The Roman Empire was morally debauched during the first century. Men had wives for having children but they had their mistresses for pleasure. Paul will present a discourse on how to deal with our sex drives in this chapter.
that you should abound more and more,
The words “more and more” point to spiritual growth. It is not enough to exist as a Christian, we must move toward excellence. It is one thing to park ourselves in the Christian life but it is another thing to prevail in it. God wants us to move beyond the status quo. We should ask ourselves whether we are making any progress in the Christian life. We do not tell our spouses that we love them the day we get married and that is supposed to last them for the rest of their lives! Neither do we live the Christian life with one fell swoop. Each day with the Lord should be sweeter than the day before but it will take work.
Principle:
Status quo in the Christian life always means stagnation, deterioration and decay in holiness.
Application:
Doctrine precedes duty and precept precedes practice. The Christian life is not a set of rules but a set of principles. The design of the Christian life is to teach us God’s viewpoint on life by forming that viewpoint into principles. When we apply those principles by faith God transforms our lives.
Christians are no more fit for Heaven 25 years after they become Christians than they were the day they accepted Christ. God sanctified them completely the moment they received Christ as Savior in terms of positional sanctification. Progressive sanctification is an ongoing process.
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1 Thessalonians 3:13

Published on June 19, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 1 Comment
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“…so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints“
 
so that
 
Paul’s aim is that the Lord might strengthen the Thessalonians in practical holiness. Abounding love produces stability in the Christian community.
 
He may establish your hearts
The word “establish” means to support. God wants to fix hearts and make them secure in His love. God is in the business of making our hearts firm and strong in the faith. Our hearts need stability.
“And when they had preached the gospel to that city and made many disciples, they returned to Lystra, Iconium, and Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith, and saying, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:21-22).
“So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily” (Acts 16:5).
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11-12).
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
“For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth” (2 Peter 1:12).
blameless in holiness
To be “blameless” is not sinlessness. “Blameless” means to be free from all valid charge. A blameless person deals with any wrong in his or her life. This person does not cover sin. He or she keeps short accounts with the Lord. When it comes to holiness, it is God’s aim that we will be free from censure.
“Therefore, having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God” (2 Corinthians 7:1).
before our God and Father
The word “before” means that Christians will give account in the presence of God the Father at the Rapture. He will scrutinize our lives in unadulterated truth.
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
The word “coming” means arrival. At the arrival of Christ [the Rapture], God will evaluate us in His very presence. When we stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ, we will stand there blameless because of the cross of Christ. Sin will not be an issue there. The issue is reward.
with all His saints
All Christians will stand at the Judgment Seat of Christ. The word “His” indicates that God will claim us as His own at that judgment. A “saint” is someone set apart unto God as His own.
Principle:
Love becomes more stable as we exercise His love in us.
Application:
The more we grow in God’s love, our love grows stronger and more established. God does not call upon us to love in our own anemic love. God loves through us with His love, not human love.
“Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us” (Romans 5:5).
We do not have to manufacture love. All we have to do is hook up with God’s love. When we do this, we will live in blameless holiness.
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1 Thessalonians 3:12

Published on June 18, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 2 Comments
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“And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you…“
 
And may the Lord make you increase and abound
The phrase “make you increase” means to make to abound, to superabound. The word carries the idea of multiplying. Paul prays that Thessalonian love will come in abundance by multiplying. The Lord is the source of multiplying love. A love that increases is a stronger love this year than last year.
The second word “abound” means to be superabundant. Christians are to love each other in an extraordinary way. Christians love in a different way than non-Christians love each other. God expects Christians to excel in love. Mature Christians love more than in the expected way. Their love is a surpassing love. Love that is full to the brim is one thing. Love that overflows the container is another. People get the over-flow of our love.
“And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment…” (Philippians 1:9).
The combination of these words for superabundance reinforces the intensity of Christian love.
in love to one another
Not all Christians love one another. Anyone can love the loveable. It is more difficult to love cantankerous and challenging people. There is little credit for loving the lovely. When we love the unlovely, that is a different issue.
“But concerning brotherly love you have no need that I should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; and indeed you do so toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia” (1 Thessalonians 4:9-10).
and to all,
Christians should not restrict their love simply to one another. It should reach out to those who do not know Christ.
just as we do to you
Paul and his team claim to be models of love. Just as they loved the Thessalonians, the Thessalonians are to love one another.
Principle:
The more we are beloved the more we should love.
Application:
God requires mutual love between Christians and a love that extends beyond the Christian community. The Lord gives us the capacity to love one another. We cannot take a seminar on Christian love. This love comes from God. The Lord has to do it in us.
True love tells the truth, not half truths. We do not say things about each other that are half-true, or, as the case may be, half false. We do not spread gossip about one another. It grieves the heart of God to watch believers fighting with each other.
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. “By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
“These things I command you, that you love one another” (John 15:17).
“Owe no one anything except to love one another, for he who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8).
“Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal…. And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love” (1 Corinthians 13:12-13).
“And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8).
Some of us cannot even love our relatives much less our enemies.
“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ “But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, “that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust” (Matthew 5:43-45).
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1 Thessalonians 3:11b

Published on June 17, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you“
 
direct our way to you.
 
The word “direct” comes from two words: down and straight. “Direct” literally means to make straight, lead, set right, guide aright. Paul prays that God would direct a straight path back to Thessalonica. In his second book to the Thessalonians, Paul asks God to lead their hearts to love for God and patient waiting for the Rapture.
 
“Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ” (2 Thessalonians 3:5).
 
Believers need God’s direction in ministry. Paul prayed for open doors so that God would direct him to certain situations. Paul placed his plans into the hands of God because he knew that he was incapable of managing his ministry by himself.
Paul sees God as managing the universe. If God sovereignly supervises events and people, then Paul can place his life into the hands of a sovereign God. This is what it means to have faith. We place faith in God’s management of the universe. We do not have to know the future; we only have to know the One who does.
“O LORD, I know the way of man is not in himself;
It is not in man who walks to direct his own steps” (Jeremiah 10:23).
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will guide you with My eye” (Psalm 32:8).
“Commit your way to the Lord,
Trust also in Him,
And He shall bring it to pass” (Psalm 37:5).
“The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD,
And He delights in his way” (Psalm 37:23).
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart,
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He shall direct your paths” (Proverbs 3:5-6).
On the basis of the book of Acts (chapter 17; 18:18, 19:10; 20:31), Paul did not return to Thessalonica for at least five years. God finally answered his prayer in Acts 20:1.
“After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia [province where the city of Thessalonica was located]” (Acts 20:1).
God does not give us immediate answers to our prayers. Only He knows His plan. God does not work by our plan.
Principle:
We cannot dictate to God our plan.
Application:
God orders our steps and stops. At times He gives us the green light, at times the caution and yet at other times the red light. If we run God’s red lights, we might have a calamity. We obey God’s signals so that we know for sure His direction for our lives.
We must pray that God will direct our ways and open doors.
“For a great and effective door has opened to me, and there are many adversaries” (1 Corinthians 16:9).
“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 2:12).
“And to the angel of the church in Philadelphia write,
These things says He who is holy, He who is true, ‘He who has the key of David, He who opens and no one shuts, and shuts and no one opens: “I know your works. See, I have set before you an open door, and no one can shut it; for you have a little strength, have kept My word, and have not denied My name’” (Revelation 3:7-8).
We cannot trust ourselves when it comes to the will of God. The Devil has many clever counterfeits of God’s will. He loves to imitate God’s plan.
“For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of His Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers, making request if, by some means, now at last I may find a way in the will of God to come to you” (Romans 1:9-10).
We cannot make our plans and expect God to bless them. We need God’s guidance. We get our marching orders from God’s Word. Therefore, we must know the principles of God’s Word if we are going to know His will.
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1 Thessalonians 3:11

Published on June 16, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you”
 
Paul lifts up a prayer of invocation for the Thessalonians in verses 11-13 to close his burden of verse 10. He makes this intercession to both God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
 
Now may our God and Father Himself,
Paul not only calls God “God” but he also calls him “Father.” The attitude of Paul’s approach to prayer is to look to God as Father. Like a son to a father, he presents his prayers to the Lord.
The mood of the Greek word here expresses a wish [optative]. Paul does not know how God will answer his prayer. He expresses his prayer in the form of a desire to leave himself open to God’s will.
The word “Himself” is very emphatic in the Greek. Answered prayer always comes within God’s sovereignty. The more we recognize our finiteness, the more we place ourselves into God’s hands. It is the Father Himself who must undertake for us. Only an omnipotent God and a concerned Father can remove Satan’s roadblocks and shelter us from his attacks.
and our Lord Jesus Christ,
Paul in addition appeals to the sovereignty of the Lord Jesus Christ in prayer. Note how Paul naturally associates the Lord Jesus Christ on the same plane as God the Father. Both the Father and the Son are equally God. Both equally participate in answering prayer.
This sentence has two subjects [the Father and Lord Jesus Christ] and one verb [direct] showing the unity of the Father and Son as one in essence. Not only does the Lord Jesus Christ share the same position as the Father but He also joins the same work as the Father.
Principle:
The more we orient to God, the more we cast ourselves upon His sovereign providence for guidance in our lives.
Application:
God providentially orders all events of the universe. Therefore, He can change circumstances in answer to prayer. None of us knows what tomorrow may bring but God does. The only certainty we have is that God is in control of everything. He providentially manages the universe. He cares about us and about our future.
The opposite of trusting the Lord is anxiety or worry. Anxiety never resolves anything. If anything, anxiety compounds our problems. Worry will not heal cancer or pay our bills. It might give us ulcers, however. Living by faith means we put our problems in God’s providential hands. We commit ourselves to Him.
Christians do not depend on chance or luck to make their way through life. Non-Christians must go it alone. They sweat it out and hope that by chance it will work out for the best. That is why some people sublimate with booze and drugs. They need something or they will go crazy. They are not satisfied with their lot in life. They are never satisfied with their salary or their investments. They know life is short so they are afraid of getting old. They must bear surgery, disease and undertakers by themselves. They escape into pleasure and amusements. The Christian trusts in the providence of God.
“Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator” (1 Peter 4:19).
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1 Thessalonians 3:10c

Published on June 15, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 2 Comments
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1 Thessalonians 3: 10 “…night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?”
 
 
what is lacking in your faith?
 
“Lacking” means want, deficiency. Timothy’s trip to Thessonalica found some deficiency or shortcoming in the faith of the Thessalonians. There was an area of faith where the gospel team was not able yet to impart to the Thessalonians.   The Christian never reaches a point of absolute completion of their faith. If we stop growing then we plateau in our walk with the Lord. 
 
The word “faith” isolates the area where they needed equipping. Christians need constant development in their knowledge of God’s Word, its formation into principles and application to experience. This is how we exercise our faith. 
 
PRINCIPLE: All Christians have some areas where they need to grow. 
 
APPLICATION: There is no place of perfection here on this earth. We should not pray to free from problems but that God would show us how to cope with problems. We should pray that we would equip our faith to meet whatever problem we might face. 
 
There is always more ground to possess spiritually. We all have serious deficiencies that prevent us from obtaining a well-rounded faith. 
 
Paul prayed many years after he became a Christian that he would grow in his walk with the Lord. 
 
Phil. 3: 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.”
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1 Thessalonians 3:10b

Published on June 14, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?”
 
that we may see your face
 
Paul made five requests for the Thessalonians:
1) to see the Thessalonians face to face,
2) to complete what is lacking in their faith,
3) to deliver them from Satan’s obstruction,
4) that their love might enlarge to others,
5) to establish their hearts unblamable in holiness.
Paul’s first request in his extraordinary prayer was that he might see the Thessalonians in person
and perfect
The second request Paul made in prayer was that he might have the opportunity to “perfect” the faith of the church in Thessalonica. The word “perfect” means to make fit, to equip, prepare, to render complete, to furnish completely, put in order, restore. “Perfect” comes from two Greek words: down and to mend or repair. Secular Greek used the term “perfect” for setting bones, and for manning a fleet or outfitting an army so they would be thoroughly prepared to go to war. The New Testament uses this word for mending fishing nets (Mark 1:19).
“Brethren, if a man is overtaken in any trespass, you who are spiritual restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted” (Galatians 6:1).
“And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ…” (Ephesians 4:11-12).
“Now I plead with you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment” (1 Corinthians 1:10).
“Therefore I write these things being absent, lest being present I should use sharpness, according to the authority which the Lord has given me for edification and not for destruction” (2 Corinthians 13:10).
“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you” (1 Peter 5:10).
Principle:
Our faith needs development.
Application:
It is one thing to express faith in the Lord Jesus’ death on the cross for salvation but it is another thing to grow in that faith. Are you growing in your faith? Is your level of faith the same it was the day you became a Christian?
“Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:1-3).”…but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen” (2 Peter 3:18).
We grow as we apply the principles of God’s Word to our experience. We move from spiritual infancy to spiritual adulthood, into maturity. Certain spiritual childhood diseases will infect our Christian lives if we do not mature in our faith. Many new Christians operate on their emotions and move into pseudo-spiritual experiences that have no basis in biblical truth.
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1 Thessalonians 3:10

Published on June 13, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?”
 
night and day
 
Paul and his partners prayed for the Thessalonians night and day. The team offered consistent prayer for these people, believing that God would answer their prayers. The Thessalonians were hardly ever out of their prayers.
 
praying exceedingly
The word “praying” means to desire, to long for. Paul asks with a sense of urgency that he might see the Thessalonians face to face. “Exceedingly” is a double compound word emphasizing the intensity of the prayers of the gospel team. Paul’s prayer was fervent prayer. The word “exceedingly” expresses strong praying – superabundant praying. He prayed beyond normal measure for this request. This is extraordinary prayer over what one would normally pray. Paul prayed with extensive earnestness.
Principle:
Some situations need extraordinary, superabundant praying.
Application:
Have you ever entered extraordinary, superabundant praying? If not, try it. Carve out extra time for this special need in your life or the life of someone else and pray “exceedingly.”
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1 Thessalonians 3:9

Published on June 12, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God…”
 
For what thanks
 
Paul asks a rhetorical question. What adequate thanks can Paul offer to God for the blessing he received from Timothy’s report? He knows that all credit goes to the Lord. He feels totally incapable of giving thanks to God in a manner that would do justice to the way God worked in the lives of the Thessalonians.
 
can we render to God for you,
The word “render” has the idea of to give back as an equivalent, to requite, recompense. It has the idea of a complete return. Paul wants to give a complete return of thanks to God for the Thessalonian Christians. Paul owes God an obligation for bringing the Thessalonians into his life. How can we return God’s goodness to us? He was a man of gratitude to God.
“What shall I render to the LORD For all His benefits toward me?” (Psalm 116:12).
Paul knows that he played a role in the lives of the Thessalonians but he also knows that it was God who did the essential work.
for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God
True joy comes from true values. Paul was full of joy because of what God did in the lives of the Thessalonians.
The word “before” in the phrase “before our God” has the sense of Paul rejoicing in the presence of God. He is the source of all blessing. God did the doing so God gets the glory. Paul’s joy endures God’s penetrating eye. His joy stood in the presence of God. Paul’s joy is before God and his thanksgiving is to Him. God is the ultimate author of spiritual victories and joy. He is the One to whom gratitude is due.
Principle:
God does the doing so God gets the glory.
Application:
Christian workers need to be careful that they do not view their ministries as their personal success. We must give God the glory for His work among our people. We need to get a perspective on our role in the scheme of eternal things. None of us can adequately thank God for how He uses us.
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1 Thessalonians 3:8

Published on June 11, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord“
 
For now
 
Now, under the state of affairs of seeing the vigorous faith of the Thessalonians, the gospel team engenders a certain outcome — spiritual animation in the form of encouragement.
 
we live,
The news of the vitality of the faith of the Thessalonians put life and vigor in Paul’s own ministry. This was a further catalyst to Paul’s future ministry.
if you stand fast in the Lord
The condition for the flourishing and reviving of Paul’s ministry is the Thessalonian steadfastness in the Lord. The words “stand fast” carried the idea of standing firm. Standing in the Lord gives sustaining power.
Standing also carries the idea of standing on guard against falling. It is Paul’s heart to see the Thessalonians stabilized under pressure.
“Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it” (1 Corinthians 10:12-13).
Principle:
Stability comes from the Lord, not self.
Application:
God often puts cheer into our hearts just at the time we need it. When life seems dark, God puts someone or something into our lives to encourage us. In view of this encouraging word, we can move on to further challenges.
We cannot allow people to move us off our spiritual moorings. If we keep our eyes on the Lord, that is 20/20 vision. Things will get blurry if we try to focus on people.
Christians stand firm because of God’s promises.
“Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong” (1 Corinthians 16:13).
“Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness…” (Ephesians 6:13-14).
Standing in faith is standing in the Lord. Faith looks to the Lord and the Lord gives us the strength to move on.
“Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel…” (Philippians 1:27).
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
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