Terry Storch

Writing about life, leadership, faith, and anything else I find interesting.

1 Thessalonians 5 - Purpose

 

1 Thessalonians 5 - Purpose

As I mentioned in the introduction, 1 & 2 Thessalonians are Ecological epistles. This is a huge word that just means letters about the end times. We jumped into that in chapter 4, and we are deep into it here in chapter 5. The Day of the Lord is coming, and Paul is laying that out clearly to the Thessalonians. In very plain language, Paul is telling them not to worry. 

“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:9-10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Paul brings some contrast here in chapter 5, them and us. We and they. God did not appoint us to suffer wrath...Earlier in v2, here is the contrast, destruction will come on them suddenly...

When the Day of the Lord comes, the results will be very different for believers and non-believers. Here is a theme I am seeing and can have as a key takeaway. The Day of the Lord is coming, and for all those who are far from God, the future looks dark. This reality should give us some purpose in our lives, some motivation to in our daily lives to rob Hell and grow Heaven. This is a crucial purpose of being imitators of God. This we read is a key purpose to win the respect of outsiders with our daily lives. This is a reason we encourage one another with these words and build each other up. It’s not about us; it is always about others, about serving and about leading people to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Yes, to avoid hell and destruction, but it's about so much more than that as well. 

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews”- ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭2:13-14‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody.” -‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:12‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore encourage one another with these words.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4:18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” -‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

We would be broken hearted and motivated to bring people the Gospel and live changing message of Jesus Christ. Saving them from eternal separation from Christ...but we should also make sure we listen and apply Paul’s closing instructions as well. We must make sure that we understand that we are often times the hardest person to lead, and we must lead ourselves to become fully devoted followers of Christ. Help the weak, be patient with everyone...do not pay back wrong for wrong...do what is good for each other...

“Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:13-15‬ ‭NIV‬‬

These are practical ways to live out our walk with Christ, to be Jesus to others. Do our lives reflect this? Are we walking out our faith in Jesus? 

“Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

And let me close with this one.

“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it.” - ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:23-24‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Sanctify! This is the goal, and this is what he will do! Sanctify us through and through... What does this mean? Here is a little something from a commentary I read this morning.

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you wholly: The idea behind the word sanctify is “to set apart” – to make something different and distinct, breaking old associations and forming a new association. For example, a dress is a dress, but a wedding dress is sanctified – set apart for a special, glorious purpose. God wants us to be set apart to Him.

God wants us to be set apart to HIM, and he will do it. So, remember. Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will...and may God himself sanctify us through and through...he will do it!

Amen 

other writing
John 20 - The Gospel

John 20 - The Gospel

The Gospel, the Good News! Jesus, Son of God, was born of Mary, lived as the Son of Man, died, and rose to life to rescue the world and bring about a new life. The central message of the gospel. Jesus, the centerpiece! John 19 & 20 cover the brutal death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus.

In this scene, I can not imagine how the disciples felt. John describes them as overjoyed...but those words just fall short of what I can imagine this moment was like.

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

John 19 - The Magnitude of the Cross

The day of Jesus' crucifixion fulfilled 28 Old Testament prophecies. Scripture was fulfilled! Beyond that, trying to wrap my mind around what happened this day, on the cross, and fully grabbing the magnitude of the cross is mind-boggling.

Sure, we can dumb this down or simplify it to a place where I just don’t believe it is anywhere near accurate. We can get into penal substitution and argue over was God full of love or was God full of wrath and hate that he killed his son. To me, John 3:16 is pretty clear on the love part.

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

John 18 - Jesus levels an army

In John 18, we come to the great betrayal. Judas came with the soldiers, officials, and chief priest and Pharisees. We know the scene. But this morning, I saw something I don’t remember reading and surly don’t remember learning about.

“So Judas came to the garden, guiding a detachment of soldiers and some officials from the chief priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches, lanterns and weapons. Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?” “Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭18:3-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 - The Lords Prayer

John 17 is Jesus looking heavenward and praying to God the Father. So much beauty and mystery in this prayer. One thing that jumps out to me is that Jesus, fully God, and fully man prayed. Jesus is God fully. Why did he need to pray, He was One with the Father, He was God...and yet he prayed. This is so powerful;

“And now, Father, glorify me in your presence with the glory I had with you before the world began.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭17:5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

John 16 - What does it take to believe?

By the end of John 16, Jesus had done countless miracles, preached some amazing sermons, transformed so many lives, and developed a close and personal relationship with his disciples. So, when reading these verses, I am just utterly confused on so many levels.

“I came from the Father and entered the world; now I am leaving the world and going back to the Father.” Then Jesus’ disciples said, “Now you are speaking clearly and without figures of speech. Now we can see that you know all things and that you do not even need to have anyone ask you questions. This makes us believe that you came from God.” “Do you now believe?” Jesus replied.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:28-31‬ ‭NIV‬‬

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

John 16 - Undervaluing God in Spirit

Jesus’ time on earth is quickly coming to a close, and he finishes up his last sermon or teaching to his disciples as they walk to Gethsemane. This final teaching was a heavy one that no doubt left his disciples with a heavy heart. Jesus said it this way;

“...None of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ Rather, you are filled with grief because I have said these things.” - ‭‭John‬ ‭16:5-6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jesus goes on to say;

John 15 - Constant Growth

John 15 - Constant Growth

We were built for growth, constant growth. From birth, all the way until our death, we were designed by God for constant growth. The problem is, we often can find ourselves stuck in a belief, a phase, or a part of life where we stop growing.

One of the most brilliant investors embodies this understanding. Charlie Munger, at 96 years old, is still learning and growing as a person. I love this quote:

“Knowing what you don’t know is more useful than being brilliant.”
- Charlie Munger

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 - The Gift of Peace

John 14 opens with Jesus, saying, Don’t let your hearts be troubled. And the chapter closed down with Jesus saying Don’t be troubled or afraid.

A message that needs to resonate with our spirit and our inner self. This was such a good reminder, reading through John 14 over and over. This passage lifted off the screen.

“But when the Father sends the Advocate as my representative—that is, the Holy Spirit—he will teach you everything and will remind you of everything I have told you. “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart…

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

John 14 - Troubled Hearts

The world today seems so volatile and chaotic. Everywhere you look, whatever we read and see on TV just seems to be troubling. Last night, I noticed my lovely wife Tweeted this;

“I can’t be the only one who watches the news and is simply embarrassed right now, right? (Dear Jesus, we tap out. Come on back.)”

I find this first humorous, but then I also find it sad. It’s true, watching the news as a Christ-follower is pretty embarrassing. In John 14, we see Jesus…

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

John 13 - Unselfish Concern

Summarizing John, chapter 13, looks like this. The Lords Supper takes place. Jesus washes the disciple's feet. Jesus calls out Judas, and Satan enters him. Night comes, Judas leaves, and Jesus says he must go, and where I am going, you can not come. To cap it all off, Jesus also calls out Simon Peter and tells him that he will deny and completely disown Jesus three times. Whoa, a really full chapter, and historical day.

Nestled in the wrap up of the day is the parting message Jesus leaves his disciples, a message Jesus is sharing with us right now.

 
thoughtsTerry Storch