Be Sober 12.07.08

Hello My Friend/Guest,

Today we are studying the book of I Thessalonians, please read Chapters 1-5 in your Bible or you can Click Here to read them. If the link does not work you can copy and paste this link into your browser: biblegateway.com/passage/?search=I%20Thessalonians%201-5&version=9

Today we are reading about Paul's warning against false teaching; pleasing God; witnessing to unbelievers; walking in the light, and the coming of Christ. Today's message focuses on the importance of being sober.

The book of I Thessalonians is the 13th book/8th epistle of the New Testament and contains 5 chapters. The author of the book is Paul and it was written to the believers of Thessalonica. The purpose of the letter is to assure the people that Jesus is coming back and to correct and false teaching. What we are to learn from the book is that Jesus is in fact coming back and that our comfort should focus on the glorious hope of His return.

I Thessalonians teaches us that we are to live to please God. Paul reminds us, "Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe." (I Thessalonians 2:10-13). We are all God's witnesses and are to live according to His Will, giving Him glory for all things. This does not mean that we can not have hobbies or other interests, but it does mean that God must come first before all these things.

Paul continues, "Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified. For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (4:1-7). We are to put to death all vices that keep us from living Christlike. Now, we are all in different phases of our Christian walk, some are newly born again while others have been for quite some time. God does not expect those who have just accepted Jesus to completely change over night, He knows it takes time, but He does want you to take the steps to become Christlike.

The certainty of the believer's eternal life with Christ is based on the physical resurrection of Jesus Christ. Paul assured us, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (4:14-18).

The return of Christ will be the greatest event since His ascension, there are no words to adequately describe His glorious return. "For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all 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 do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be 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 an helmet, the hope of salvation. For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ, Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him." (5:2-10). We have no way of knowing when the appointed time of Christ's arrival will be so we can not wait for what we think is the right time to accept Jesus into our lives. Therefore, we need to put aside anything that hinders us from bringing Him into our lives. Remember, we are the light of the world therefore, we must be alert and sober awaiting that appointed time.

This is the joyous anticipation of every Christian who is faithfully preparing and waiting for the triumphant return of our Redeemer. "Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do. And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you; And to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake. And be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men. See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men. Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing. In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." (5:11-18).

Today's Prayer:
Dear God,
I will call upon you, for you are worthy to be praised, and I will be saved from my enemies. My heart rejoices in you. I trust in your holy name. I rejoice in you; I trust in you; I shout for joy because you defend me. I thank you that you bless and surround me like a shield. You are my God and I am one of your sheep for whom you extend your hand of protection. You are my refuge and my strength in the day of trouble. I will sing your praises forever. In Jesus' name.......Amen.

Have a wonderful day/night.
God Bless & Merry Christmas,
Christina

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