1 Thessalonians 5
6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober.
7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.
8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
11 Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing.
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you,
13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
So often when we hear teaching about the coming of the Lord, we only hear about the details of what will occur. We hear about the Lord descending from heaven and catching believers away, we hear facts about the antichrist, and the tribulation that the world will endure. Yet after sharing the facts with us, Paul uses the word “therefore”. You noticed when we began our reading today that we began with the word “therefore” which seems like a strange way to begin reading. Let’s look at what “therefore” is there for. Let’s back up and follow the flow of thought here.
1 Thessalonians 4
15 For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep.
16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.
18 Therefore comfort one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 5
1 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.
2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.
3 For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.
4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief.
5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness.
THEREFORE
Let me give you the definition of therefore:
Therefore “in consequence of that; as a result of; the introduction of a statement resulting from, or caused by, what immediately proceeds”
That is why it sounded so strange to begin our reading today with “therefore” because what follows “therefore” is a continuation of what preceded the “therefore”. (I know you are “therefore” thoroughly confused!)
Paul was not the only one who taught us that the end time events need to have an impact on our lives in the here and now. Listen to what Jesus said after He told of all the events that would occur just before He returns to set up His kingdom.
Matthew 24
42 “Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming.
43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into.
44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.”
Listen to what Peter said after he wrote about the end time events.
2 Peter 3
10 But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.
11 Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness,
12 looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat?
13 Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
14 Therefore, beloved, looking forward to these things, be diligent to be found by Him in peace, without spot and blameless;
Jesus used “therefore” Peter used “therefore” and Paul used “therefore”. Let’s look at how the return of the Lord should affect us according to 1 Thessalonians 5
THEREFORE
· let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober
Paul warns us about spiritual lethargy and insensitivity. It wasn’t that they we physically sleeping too much, but spiritually they had fallen in to a lethargic state. The tense of the verb says, “let us not go on sleeping” but let’s be awake and let’s be aware of what is happening. You don’t want to be caught unaware at the Lord’s return, and you don’t want to have regrets because you could have done so much more. Remember when we were studying Colossians we heard Paul’s advice us to redeem the time…do all you can while you can.
· put on the breastplate of faith and love
Perhaps because the Roman Empire had a military presence everywhere, so it was real easy to Paul to use a couple of illustrations that everyone would be able to relate to. A breastplate was a piece of armor that protected a soldier from his neck to his waist, so it protected his vital organs. As a believer the breast plate that protects our vitality is faith and love.
Faith is what protects me inwardly
Love is what protects me outwardly
· put on as a helmet the hope of salvation
The hope of salvation protects us from discouragement, depression, and despair. (The 3-D’s). When you live your life with the understanding of the Lord’s return, it changes your perspective.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
· comfort each other
Be an encourager! Be the water-boy. You understand that when Jesus talked about giving a cup of cold water in His name, He was not just talking about water, but of refreshment, support, and encouragement.
· edify one another
In every interaction we have we can choose to tear down or build up. Paul’s advice; BUILD UP. In the construction field; demolition is much easier than construction. So, you are not allowed to swing wrecking balls or drive bulldozers anymore!
· recognize those who labor among you and esteem them very highly in love
In the next verses, Paul used a three-fold description of the ministry of a pastor:
1) laboring, working to the point of exhaustion
2) overseeing, literally standing before the flock to lead them in the way of righteousness
3) admonishing, instructing in the truths of God’s Word
Paul said, because of what they do, hold them in the highest regard because the are being obedient to the call of God.
· be at peace among yourselves
Remember, peace just doesn’t happen.
Peace must be pursued
Hebrews 12:14 Pursue peace with all people... “give peace chase as if in a hunt”
Peace takes effort
Romans 12:18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men.
Put forth the effort to be a peace maker!
· warn those who are unruly
Those who are idle and neglecting their duty need to be stirred up to action.
· comfort the fainthearted
Those who are in fear and doubt need to be cheered up and cheered on!
· uphold the weak
Those who are morally weak must be helped and supported…not judged and cast away.
· be patient with all
Be patient with fellow believers, unbelievers, former believers
· See that no one renders evil for evil
If you see someone taking vengeance into their own hands…take their keys. Friends don’t let friends get consumed by revenge!
· pursue what is good
Even if wrong is done to you, don’t lose sight of what is good and right. Keep doing what is right.
Galatians 6
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
10 Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all, especially to those who are of the household of faith.
We can’t just talk about end time events, those end time events have to have an affect on our present day lives! There is always a “therefore” that needs to impact us.
Let me leave you today with one final thought from the verses we looked at today.
9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
God has not destined us for wrath, and that is exactly what the tribulation period is, listen to what is said during that time:
Revelation 6:17 “For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”
Before the wrath comes, Jesus made this promise to the faithful believers living in Philadelphia (not Pennsylvania)
Revelation 3:10 “Because you have kept My command to persevere, I also will keep you from the hour of trial which shall come upon the whole world, to test those who dwell on the earth.”
Let me remind you of the promise Jesus made in Luke 21
Luke 21:36 “Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man.”
We have not been appointed to wrath, or the way I have always put it. If you look at the church as being the Bride of Christ, what kind of groom beats up his bride before he marries her?