1 Title: Living in the Light f Christ s Return (Part 3) Our Behaviur in Anticipatin f Christ s Return Scripture: 1 Thessalnians 5:-24 Speaker: Senir Pastr Prince Guneratnam INTRODUCTION T be living in a prepared state fr Christ s return, ne has t change ne s behaviur. What mtivates the change is ne s belief that Christ will return. 1 Jhn 3:2-3 NKJV 2 Belved, nw we are children f Gd; and it has nt yet been revealed what we shall be, but we knw that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, fr we shall see Him as He is. 3 And everyne wh has this hpe in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. In 1 Thessalnians 5:4-11, Paul instructs us as believers anticipating Christ s return t: Live as children f the light (Vs 4-5) Be spiritually alive (Vs 6-7) Live in Gd s prvisin f His grace (Vs 8-10) Be an encuragement t ne anther (Vs 11) 1 Thessalnians 5:-24 NKJV And we urge yu, brethren, t recgnize thse wh labr amng yu, and are ver yu in the Lrd and admnish yu, 13 and t esteem them very highly in lve fr their wrk s sake. Be at peace amng yurselves. 14 Nw we exhrt yu, brethren, warn thse wh are unruly, cmfrt the fainthearted, uphld the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that n ne renders evil fr evil t anyne, but always pursue what is gd bth fr yurselves and fr all. 16 Rejice always, 17 pray withut ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; fr this is the will f Gd in Christ Jesus fr yu. 19 D nt quench the Spirit. 20 D nt despise prphecies. 21 Test all things; hld fast what is gd. 22 Abstain frm every frm f evil. 23 Nw may the Gd f peace Himself sanctify yu cmpletely; and may yur whle spirit, sul, and bdy be preserved blameless at the cming f ur Lrd Jesus Christ. 24 He wh calls yu is faithful, wh als will d it. Paul cntinues t address ur behaviur Twards thse wh labur in the Lrd (Vs -13) Twards thers (Vs 14-15) Twards Gd (Vs 16-22) Finally, Paul s benedictin and exhrtatin (Vs 23-24) OUR BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS THOSE WHO LABOUR IN THE LORD 1 Thessalnians 5:-13 NLT Dear brthers and sisters, hnr thse wh are yur leaders in the Lrd s wrk. They wrk hard amng yu and give yu spiritual guidance. 13 Shw them great respect and whlehearted lve because f their wrk. And live peacefully with each ther. 1 Thessalnians 5:-13 NKJV And we urge yu, brethren, t recgnize thse wh labur amng yu, and are ver yu in the Lrd and admnish yu, 13 and t esteem them very highly in lve fr their wrk s sake. Be at peace amng yurselves. T labur (NKJ) - is t have a Gd given ministry. T labur ver yu and admnish yu in the Lrd - is t be in the five-fld ministry Gd gives t the church. Ephesians 4:11-14 NLT Gd s ministry gifts t the Church 11 Nw these are the gifts Christ gave t the church: the apstles, the prphets, the evangelists, and the pastrs and teachers. Their respnsibility is t equip Gd s peple t d his wrk and build up the church, the bdy f Christ. 13 This will cntinue until we all cme t such unity in ur faith and knwledge f Gd s Sn that we will be mature in the Lrd, measuring up t the full and cmplete standard f Christ. 14 Then we will n lnger be immature like children. We wn t be tssed and blwn abut by every wind f new teaching. We will nt be influenced when peple try t trick us with lies s clever they sund like the truth.
2 Wh are they? - Apstles, Prphets, Evangelists, Pastrs and Teachers (V 11) What purpse? Fr equipping, edifying, unifying t maturity (V -13) What is the result? Then we will n lnger be immature like children. We wn t be tssed and blwn abut by every wind f new teaching. We will nt be influenced when peple try t trick us with lies s clever they sund like the truth. (V 14) There are 3 exhrtatins fr the believer twards thse wh labur ver them: The believer is t recgnise them (V ) (NKJV) T recgnise is t knw the value f the call f Gd upn their life and which therefre cmmands respect and appreciatin. Matthew 22:14 NKJV Fr many are called but few are chsen. Hebrews 13:7 NKJV Remember thse wh rule ver yu, wh have spken the wrd f Gd t yu, whse faith fllw, cnsidering the utcme f their cnduct. 1 Thessalnians 5:13 NKJV And t esteem them very highly in lve fr their wrk s sake. Be at peace amng yurselves. The believer is t esteem them very highly in lve fr their wrk s sake (V 13 NKJV) T esteem in lve is t hld dear with affectin T be esteemed fr their wrk s sake (the Lrd s wrk) serving Christ. Philippians 2:29 NKJV Receive him therefre in the Lrd with all gladness, and hld such men in esteem. The believer is t be at peace amng yurselves (V 13 NKJV) T be at peace is nt nly amng believers but leaders t. Differences f pinins, methds and apprach r presentatins are nt licenses t murmur, rebel and be negative. Thse wh labur in the Lrd are nt t lrd ver Gd s peple but serve in Christ s example. Thse wh labur in the Lrd, shuld nt be seekers f psitin and bastful r t be hired servants. Jhn 10:-14 NLT Jesus tells us, wh is a hired servant A hired hand will run when he sees a wlf cming. He will abandn the sheep because they dn t belng t him and he isn t their shepherd. And s the wlf attacks them and scatters the flck. 13 The hired hand runs away because he s wrking nly fr the mney and desn t really care abut the sheep 14 I am the gd shepherd; I knw my wn sheep, and they knw me, Jb 7:2 NKJV Jb tells us a hireling lks fr rewards Like a servant wh earnestly desires the shade, and like a hired man wh eagerly lks fr his wages. OUR BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS OTHERS (VS. 14-15) Paul mentined 5 behaviurs twards thers. 1 Thessalnians 5:14-15 NLT 14 Brthers and sisters, we urge yu t warn thse wh are lazy. Encurage thse wh are timid. Take tender care f thse wh are weak. Be patient with everyne. 15 See that n ne pays back evil fr evil, but always try t d gd t each ther and t all peple.
3 1 Thessalnians 5:14-15 NKJV 14 Nw we exhrt yu, brethren, warn thse wh are unruly, cmfrt the fainthearted, uphld the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that n ne renders evil fr evil t anyne, but always pursue what is gd bth fr yurselves and fr all. Twards ne anther in the church Warn the unruly (V 14) NKJV (lazy NLT) Unruly is a military term referring t thse wh break rank. They are nt in the place they belng and are nt faithful in: Fellwship - with ne anther, a student f the Bible, prayerful Obedience under Christ s Lrdship Service a witness, a sul winner and a disciple Cmfrt the fainthearted (V 14) NKJV (timid NLT) We are nt t despise, mck r rebuke them but be an encuragement and surce f supprt. Matthew 14:26-29 NKJV Jesus walking n water 26 And when the disciples saw Him walking n the sea, they were trubled, saying, It is a ghst! And they cried ut fr fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spke t them, saying, Be f gd cheer! It is I; d nt be afraid. 28 And Peter answered Him and said, Lrd, if it is Yu, cmmand me t cme t Yu n the water. 29 S He said, Cme. And when Peter had cme dwn ut f the bat, he walked n the water t g t Jesus. Ephesians 6:10 NKJV Finally, my brethren, be strng in the Lrd and in the pwer f His might. 2 Timthy 2:1 NKJV Yu therefre, my sn, be strng in the grace that is in Christ Jesus. The believer is t uphld the weak (supprt the spiritually weak) (V 14) NKJV Spiritually weak - thse whse rts f faith are nt firm in the grund - they need strnger cmpaninship t lean n. They need teachers, mentrs and encuragers. Acts 20:35 NKJV I have shwn yu in every way, by labring like this, that yu must supprt the weak. And remember the wrds f the Lrd Jesus, that He said, It is mre blessed t give than t receive. Rmans 15:1 NKJV We then wh are strng ught t bear with the scruples f the weak, and nt t please urselves. 1 Crinthians 9:22 NKJV T the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have becme all things t all men, that I might by all means save sme. The believer is t be patient twards all (V 14 NKJV) T be patient is the ppsite f being shrt-tempered James 1:4 NKJV But let patience have its perfect wrk, that yu may be perfect and cmplete, lacking nthing. James 5:7 NKJV Therefre be patient, brethren, until the cming f the Lrd. See hw the farmer waits fr the precius fruit f the earth, waiting patiently fr it until it receives the early and latter rain. Rmans : NKJV Rejicing in hpe, patient in tribulatin, cntinuing steadfastly in prayer. The believer is t see that n ne renders evil fr evil (V 15 NKJV ) (T be a testimny and a witness)
4 We are t be Christ-like in ur behaviurs the light and salt f the earth. Rmans :17 NKJV Repay n ne evil fr evil. Have regard fr gd things in the sight f all men. 1 Peter 3:9 NKJV Nt returning evil fr evil r reviling fr reviling, but n the cntrary blessing, knwing that yu were called t this, that yu may inherit a blessing. Leviticus 19:18 NKJV Yu shall nt take vengeance, nr bear any grudge against the children f yur peple, but yu shall lve yur neighbr as yurself: I am the LORD. Prverbs 24:29 NKJV D nt say, I will d t him just as he has dne t me; I will render t the man accrding t his wrk. OUR BEHAVIOUR TOWARDS GOD (VS 16-22) Paul mentined 7 behaviurs twards Gd: 1 Thessalnians 5:16-22 NLT 16 Always be jyful. 17 Never stp praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, fr this is Gd s will fr yu wh belng t Christ Jesus. 19 D nt stifle the Hly Spirit. 20 D nt scff at prphecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hld n t what is gd. 22 Stay away frm every kind f evil. 1 Thessalnians 5:16-22 NKJV 16 Rejice always, 17 pray withut ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; fr this is the will f Gd in Christ Jesus fr yu. 19 D nt quench the Spirit. 20 D nt despise prphecies. 21 Test all things; hld fast what is gd. 22 Abstain frm every frm f evil. Rejice always (V 16 NKJV) Luke 10:20 NKJV Nevertheless d nt rejice in this, that the spirits are subject t yu, but rather rejice because yur names are written in heaven. Deuternmy :7 NKJV Gd has blessed us And there yu shall eat befre the LORD yur Gd, and yu shall rejice in all t which yu have put yur hand, yu and yur husehlds, in which the LORD yur Gd has blessed yu. Pray withut ceasing - always (V 17 NKJV) Gd answers prayers. Prayer is a relatinship f cmmunin and fellwship. Luke 18:1 NKJV Then He spke a parable t them, hat men always ught t pray and nt lse heart. 1 Thessalnians 5:17 NKJV Pray withut ceasing. In everything give thanks (V 18 NKJV) We dn t thank Gd fr bad things that happened but fr His strength, grace and wisdm. Philippians 4:6 NKJV Be anxius fr nthing, but in everything by prayer and supplicatin, with thanksgiving, let yur requests be made knwn t Gd.
Clssians 3:17 NKJV And whatever yu d in wrd r deed, d all in the name f the Lrd Jesus, giving thanks t Gd the Father thrugh Him. Psalms 50:14 NKJV Offer t Gd thanksgiving, and pay yur vws t the Mst High. Psalms 92:1 NKJV It is gd t give thanks t the LORD, and t sing praises t Yur name, O Mst High. 5 D nt quench the Spirit (V 19) NKJV T quench t stifle r hinder the Hly Spirit by neglect, disbedience r prcrastinatin and sinning Ephesians 4:30 NKJV And d nt grieve the Hly Spirit f Gd, by whm yu were sealed fr the day f redemptin. Jhn 14:26 NKJV The Hly Spirit is a teacher But the Helper, the Hly Spirit, whm the Father will send in My name, He will teach yu all things, and bring t yur remembrance all things that I said t yu. D nt despise prphesy (V 20 NKJV) Prphecy is a gift f the Hly Spirit. It is fr exhrtatin. 1 Crinthians 14:3 NKJV But he wh prphesies speaks edificatin and exhrtatin and cmfrt t men. Test all things (V. 21) NKJV T test is t prve. Faith is nt blind. Faith is based n slid rck f Gd s Wrd. D nt believe every spirit 1 Jhn 4:1 NKJV Belved, d nt believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are f Gd; because many false prphets have gne ut int the wrld. Abstain frm every frm f evil (V. 22) NKJV T abstain frm every frm f evil may lk like a pssibility f evil. Prverbs 14:5-6 NLT 5 An hnest witness des nt lie; a false witness breathes lies. 6 A mcker seeks wisdm and never finds it, but knwledge cmes easily t thse with understanding. Prverbs 4:27 NKJV D nt turn t the right r the left; remve yur ft frm evil. THE BLESSINGS OF THE CHRIST-LIKE LIFESTYLE OR BEHAVIOR (VS 23-24) 1 Thessalnians 5:23-24 NLT Paul s benedictin and exhrtatin 23 Nw may the Gd f peace make yu hly in every way, and may yur whle spirit and sul and bdy be kept blameless until ur Lrd Jesus Christ cmes again. 24 Gd will make this happen, fr he wh calls yu is faithful. 1 Thessalnians 5:23-24 NKJV 23 Nw may the Gd f peace Himself sanctify yu cmpletely; and may yur whle spirit, sul, and bdy be preserved blameless at the cming f ur Lrd Jesus Christ. 24 He wh calls yu is faithful, wh als will d it. Gd s presence is with us t keep us sanctified (hly set apart) (V 23) 2 Crinthians 13:11 NLT Dear brthers and sisters, I clse my letter with these last wrds: Be jyful. Grw t maturity. Encurage each ther. Live in harmny and peace. Then the Gd f lve and peace will be with yu.
6 Gd s lve and peace with us will keep us jyful, cause us t mature, be an encuragement and t live in harmny and peace. We are set apart, bdy, sul and spirit t be accepted and rewarded at the cming f the Lrd (V 23) 1 Thessalnians 3:13 NKJV S that He may establish yur hearts blameless in hliness befre ur Gd and Father at the cming f ur Lrd Jesus Christ with all His saints. 2 Peter 3:14 NKJV Therefre, belved, lking frward t these things, be diligent t be fund by Him in peace, withut spt and blameless. Gd will be faithful in ding what He said (V 24) 2 Thessalnians 3:3 NLT But the Lrd is faithful; he will strengthen yu and guard yu frm the evil ne. Hebrews 10:23 NLT Let us hld tightly withut wavering t the hpe we affirm, fr Gd can be trusted t keep his prmise.