Thoughts From 1 Thessalonians - Day 6

  "How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?"   1Thes. 3:9

             It's easy to lump this verse in with all the others in this whole theme of "to lead someone to salvation and then actually see them following Christ is the greatest pleasure one can have here on this planet." If we rush through it, we miss the other greatest pleasure one can have on this planet which leads to the previous greatest pleasure one could experience on this planet.

       Paul definitely has great joy in seeing "his children" growing up. Don't we all? What a pleasure. As tough as it can be to raise kids, now that it's done we wish we could time travel back and relive moments but we can't so we relive it through our grandkids. The thing we miss in this verse is that Paul has this joy... "in the presence of our God"!

      Do you ever go to church and certain days you are overwhelmed with the presence of God and other days you are going through the motions? Or the same goes for your quiet times? Isn't this the greatest thing in life when you bask in the presence of God? When Paul is praying or worshipping, his mind goes to his children in the faith and it sends his heart into an attitude of thanksgiving and offering praises to God which is rewarded with an overdose of God's presence. When your week is filled with the cares of this world and you go to a place where you might find God's presence ... crickets. But when you are about His business and living for His kingdom, hang on because you are going to experience what we are made for.

       The question is, are you looking for the presence of God?

Thoughts From 1 Thessalonians - Day 5

" So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord." 1 Thes 3:1-8

            I can hear my dad (who is in Heaven) saying, "Now that's really living". He loved to say that quote and I feel like it was in response to usually something food related. An exotic chocolatey warmed dessert with ice cream melting over the top and after the first bite, "Now that's really living"! If the good things on Earth are just a foretaste of what Heaven is going to be like, I wonder what he is saying, "Now that's really living", to now?

          We see in this passage what would get Paul to say that in verse 8. If I could paraphrase Paul would be saying, "So they rushed to Jason's house looking for me to assault me and possibly kill me in mob violence, but when they couldn't find me, they beat you guys up? I warned you that people don't like Christ followers. But Timothy tells me that this didn't dissuade you at all and you are still grateful for me and the gospel and are following the Lord even stronger! When I heard that, I clasped my fingers behind my bald head, leaned back in my chair and said to Timothy, 'Now this is really living'".

        What is going on in your process of following Christ that elicits that response? Maybe basking in the presence of God as you worship. Maybe you have led someone to the Lord recently. Maybe you are discipling someone and seeing them grow. Someone came to me after class the other day and said she was just at a friend's daughter's 10 year birthday party. Her friend, who is 50 said I went to this doctor I didn't know (me) pregnant and 40 years old looking for him to recommend termination. Instead he prayed with me. Now I'm a Christian, and I have a 10 year old daughter to celebrate! Now that's really living! Aaaah 

Thoughts From 1 Thessalonians - Day 4

 

"Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.13 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. 14 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 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy." 1 Thes. 2:8-20

                We talked earlier on about how Paul would present the good news and a few would believe and he would disciple them as long as God let him. In this passage we get a glimpse of his discipling methods which we should model both in discipleship groups and even raising kids to follow Christ.

                First of all, he loved them. He didn't see baby Christians who kept messing up or just didn't get it as a nuisance but like they were his own flesh and blood and they were technically because as believers we are all one family. He encouraged, comforted and urged them. Who are you discipling? Do you  love them or are you annoyed by their lack of follow through.

               Second, he spent major time with them. He didn't Zoom conference once a week but went to where they were. He lived among them. If we are talking about discipling youth, he went to their games and practices.

               He taught them the word of God. How to study it, memorize it, interpret it. As I disciple some youth I've been tempted to give them some books to read that have been formative in my life. Maybe later. Right now let's get to know the Word of God.

              You've heard it said, "do as I say not as I do." This is the worst thing you can do in discipleship. Model Christ-like behavior so that they can imitate you.

               For me, this is convicting. There are a dozen things I'd rather do than sit with people and converse. I was amazed when my wife had someone over the other day and they talked for 3.5 hours. How is that possible or even fun? However, people is what the kingdom is made up of and we must learn to crave their company.

Thoughts From 1 Thessalonians - Day 3

" You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 2 We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. 3 For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority." 1 Thes. 2:1-6

         This is how Christianity started out. People who were intimately associated with Jesus and/or His teachings, went out to people who weren't and told them the good news. Then, if they were able to form a group of believers, the apostles would teach them more than just the good news but how does Jesus want us to live and even modeling it so the new believers could become imitators as we read in the last passage.

         Now we have to be careful of error creeping in. Paul knew the truth, he got it directly from the Lord and the disciples and he was saying "you can trust what I'm saying." Fortunately, we have the Bible and we can check teaching that we are hearing against the Bible.

        Now we have to be careful of impure motives. preachers can make a good living by being guest speakers. If you get a book deal or a huge following on social media or podcasts you are set. Ulterior motives creep in. Paul made sure they knew that wasn't the case with him.

        Now we have to be careful of people trying to change the gospel so as not to offend anyone. Don't mention sin, hell, judgement, sexual sins, abortion, politics, substitutionary atonement, the wrath of God, etc. Speakers flatter people and tell them how wonderful they are.

       We need to keep it simple. We are sinners separated from the God who made us and loves us. He sent His Son, Jesus, To pay the penalty for our sins on the cross and if we believe that and receive that free gift of forgiveness, He cleanses us and sends His Holy Spirit to live inside us to give us power to transform and eternal life in Heaven with a restored relationship with our maker. Some will believe but most won't but we don't need to change that message to have more people like us or improve the acceptance rate. We just proclaim the Good News as Jesus did.

Thoughts From 1Thessalonians - Day 2

2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

1Thes. 1:2-10

      I have been on multiple mission trips and led over 100 to the Lord both here and abroad and yet wonder how many of these will greet me in Heaven? In Sunday School we just looked at the unjust steward in Luke 16. The bottom line was use your worldly resources in such a way that they further the gospel so when you die, the people who got saved from the use of "your" wealth will be there to welcome you. How many people will welcome me? I won't know till I get there. Is there any way to tell, while we are visiting this planet, who is truly saved? Not completely as the parable of the wheat and tares explains. Are there some signs that a tare has turned into wheat? Yes there are as seen in this passage. There are 7 that I see.

              First, they will begin to work. They will want to use their spiritual gifts for the body of Christ. Service prompted and energized by the Holy Spirit indwelling them.

               Secondly, there should be a new hope. They should start living from the perspective that Jesus is coming back and this world is passing away and we aren't discouraged by all we see on TV or social media but encouraged by a new hope.

               Third, a deep conviction that manifests itself in prayer, Bible study, worship, Church attendance, etc. Basically the faith got to your core and you want to get past the surface belief.

              Fourth, new inner circle friends. You are an imitator of Christ and even more humbling, fellow believers who are further ahead of you in their walk with Christ. You get a new peer group and the common denominator, you are all imitators of Christ

                Fifth, new God. In the past you had gods/idols. You may have worshipped money, comfort, pleasure, adoration, physical appearance, power, sports, entertainment, but now you worship Jesus and nothing really else matters.

             Sixth, this new found joy and hope endures. 6 months/ a year later people are saying, I can't believe how this person changed!

             Lastly, witnessing. Reproduction is something life does. Jesus said that if we confess Him before men, He will confess us before the Father.

            So, as a new believer do we write down this checklist and "work out our salvation with fear and trembling?" That is a thought but ideally, if the Holy Spirit has transformed you from a tare to a wheat, it should happen organically. His wheat DNA is inside you making you do "wheaty" things. Surrender to His control.

               

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Thoughts From 1 Thessalonians - Day 1

 Paul, Silas and Timothy,

To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

Grace and peace to you.  1:1

        In Acts 17:1-10 we see Paul on his second missionary journey going to Thessalonica and as usual preaches in the synagogue and reasons with them that Jesus is the messiah. He reasoned with them from the Bible that they had, the Old Testament in Greek - the Septuagint, that the Messiah did not come to be a political deliverer but to suffer, die on a cross, and rise again. If you think the Old Testament was just for Jews and not Gentiles, think again, because a large number of gentiles including prominent women were converted/persuaded. During the week they stayed at Jason's house, which I like to call Jason's Deli, and he taught from there. I wonder if he made tents and while working engaged people in conversations.

        Anyway, a number of people were believing, enough so that the religious leaders stirred up a mob to get at Paul but he couldn't be found and because of the danger he moved on to Berea. This is how the church of Thessalonica started and Thessalonians was written to answer some questions that they had because Paul couldn't stay long.

       I meet with some 11th grade boys from church to disciple them and i said to them, "I know, I believed Christianity because I was raised in a Christian home. (on a side note, it's interesting that our political affiliations also seem to cling to us) At your age I began to question do I really believe this or have I been brainwashed? I had to find answers for the questions I had about Christianity to assure myself that it is the truth. Do you have any doubts or questions that I might be able to help you with?" One of the boys said, "When I have questions I just go to YouTube and Cliff answers them." I figured out that he meant Cliff Knechtle with "Give me an answer" ministries. The first 2000 years of Christianity did not have access to the immediate answers that we have today. Just think, if the Thessalonians could do that, we wouldn't have 1&2 Thessalonians. Wouldn't that be a shame! On the other hand, what a blessing to be able to have doubts immediately put to rest.

     The internet has great dangers for youth but also great faith strengthening tools. Lets teach our youth how to use the internet!

Messing With Satan

 "And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from the evil one" Matt. 6:13

Back in the 90's as I was directing my 4 kids into following Christian music artists, a guy came on the scene named Carman. He did theatrical, well produced music videos and concerts and the concerts were free. We went to see him at Thompson Boling arena in Knoxville and it was packed. He even set a record for having the largest Christian concert ever, somewhere around 78,000. A lot of his "schtick" was bossing Satan around and telling him that he was a loser thanks to the blood of Jesus as seen in this video

  The problem was that Satan is not to be trifled with. First of all, most of us don't even need to bother with him because we are living lives that are not threatening to him in the least. In fact, many "Christians" are living lives that are helping his cause because people are saying, "If that's a Christian, I don't want to be one."

         Second, Satan is not omnipresent so his sends his demons to defeat us. Most of us aren't enough of a threat that we'd even experience him in our lifetimes. Someone like Martin Luther, who started the reformation, felt tormented by Satan and was said to have thrown an inkwell across the room at him, leaving a mark on the wall. Insane? Maybe. But just maybe, Luther was such a danger that Satan didn't trust sending the underlings but came in person. Satan asked permission to sift Peter. He asked permission to destroy Job. Jesus tells the disciples to pray for deliverance from Satan because they were going to become world changers and would be attacked. In fact, His high priestly prayer in John 17 was filled with prayers for protection for His disciples because He wouldn't be around for three days to keep Satan away from them. Most of us don't pose that kind of threat. Pray we do.

         Thirdly, he is more powerful than us. I don't think we can drop kick him, tell him to bite the dust, or boss him around. Jude says, 

"they reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!” Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand..."

    So if even the strongest archangel, who could wipe us out immediately, didn't mess with Satan, what makes us think we can?

       So what's my point. Don't mock Satan. Don't relish a confrontation with him. Pray for protection. Be humble. Don't be afraid because God's more powerful but don't be like the 7 sons of Sceva who just a minion said, "Paul I know but who are you?" Don't think you are something you aren't.