Tell Me What’s Going on in this age?
1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
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. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.
When the people in this world or even in the House of God despise you because you choose not to indulge yourself in the sexual behavior of today, don’t allow those things to bother you. Because whom God has given His Holy Spirit to, they are holy and they have the power of the Holy Ghost to endure all these sexual behaviors. It is so easy these days to get caught up in some form or another of sexual depravity. It is so easy to get caught up in someone else’s sin. Those who are the Children of God have to be very careful whom they talk to, who they hang around with, whom they associate with, what they look at, where they go, and whom they listen to. Because Satan is trying his best to lure the Children of God into a snare. If you look at it, a snare does not kill the creature; its like when you have a snare to catch a rabbit or deer, it does not kill the creature, it holds the creature at bay. It keeps them from running away, from moving from their spot, so that when the hunter comes, he can capture it. So the snare delays your walk in Christ. And what men and women of the Church don’t understand is that Satan is not trying to kill you, he just wants to catch you up to put a snare or stumbling block in your way, because if he can put a snare around you, he’ll keep you from pursuing your growth and understanding in the knowledge of God. So don’t count it all strange when you enter into diverse temptations. Those are diverse snares. But when you overcome those diverse temptations, you will have the ability to go through to help someone else to come out of those snares in their life. You will become a living witness of the Word.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-11
But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; And that ye study to be quiet,
Sometimes, we have to know how to keep our mouths shut. Sometimes, we need to be quiet, so that we can hear what another individual is saying. Because a lot of times, their heart is speaking concerning an issue. Not their mouth. That is the problem with the Children of God today. They open their ears to someone telling them mess, but close their ears to someone telling the truth. The Children of God today would rather hear a lie about a thing than to hear the actual truth.
Its good to be quiet, because a lot of times when God is trying to talk to us, we can’t hear Him because we’re over talking Him! It’s what we call reasoning out God. In other words, we’ll reason something out 1st before we hear the Word of God. So we need to study to be quiet. Be abased in every situation. Some of us can’t get along with anyone on our jobs because we don’t know how to keep our mouths quiet. We’re mad at other employees because they said something to us we didn’t like. So now we have to get revenge. So we open our mouths and express ourselves. Most of the time the Children of God will tell someone they’re mad with “I’m saved,” as though that gives them license to speak and condemn someone. You don’t need to utilize salvation to attack someone. God never put us down on this Earth to attack our fellow man. As a matter of fact, He speaks against that all the time. In His statement to Peter, after he’d cut off the ear of the High Priest’s assistant, He said to Peter, put the blade away. If you live by the sword, you will die by the sword.
Your mouth is like a sword. It will cut people up, it will kill people. It takes no hostages. God said with a kind word have a drawn thee. Ain’t no kindness gone to come outta your flesh. There is no kindness that will come out of your flesh. You need to study on how to keep silent, how to keep quiet. It’s important that you hear the end of a matter before you speak. When you speak, make sure you speak from the Word of God, and not from your mind.
1 Thessalonians 4: 11
And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;
We can’t be about someone else’s business. We are always up in side of some else’s mind and business. Ain’t got nothing to do with you. One of the first words that comes out of our mouth is “I just gave my opinion.” But no one asked your opinion. Keep you mouth quiet, mind your own business. The next word people may say is “Well I feel, I know better.” When a person says out of their mouth “I feel,” then its not God’s will, its that individuals will. Your feeling is based on your thought, how you want things to be. Then you begin to judge others according to your understanding, and not God’s understanding according to His word. Study to be quiet.
1 Thessalonians 4:12-14
That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
You can’t be worried about the dead. Let the dead take care of themselves. If they died in Christ, they are a raised in their dead. If they died without Christ, they will be raised without Him and go to Hell.
1 Thessalonians 4:15-16
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:
If they died in Him, the will be raised in Him. So why are you worried about what the dead are doing? Keep quiet, study to be quiet. Don’t go out asking off the wall questions or off the wall things. You are bringing up mess to hold others from the truth. Study to be quiet.
1 Thessalonians 4:17-18
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.
1 Thessalonians 5:1-2
But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
Its so important that we be not concerned about the things going on around us because we are liable to get caught up with those things, and we’ll be like the 5 virgins who were not wise, and be left behind, because we are so entangled with the things of this world and life. I tell you brothers and sisters in Christ, don’t allow your family members to get you caught in your past. Don’t allow, yourself to be hung up with what someone has done to you in the past. Even if its not in the past and happening now, don’t allow that to lock your growth in Christ, and turn your walk off. You can’t allow old mess to become new mess in your walk. You can’t allow old mess to become new mess in your walk in Christ.
1 Thessalonians 5:3-4
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.
You are aware of the light, and know what is going on in this world. There is nothing going on in this world that should surprise, upset or cause you to turn back. So there shouldn’t be anything of this life that should catch you unaware.
1 Thessalonians 5:5-8
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.
Now if you look at that correlation. A helmet protects your head, which is where your thoughts and brain are at. The helmet is the hope of salvation. In your mind, your goal and your one hope is in Christ. That is your protection because in Christ you are a new creature, old things are passed away. Let that be your helmet so when other things come against you, you know the truth. When other lies come at you, you know the truth. When anything exalts itself against the Word of God you know the truth.
1 Thessalonians 5:9
For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,
For God has not appointed the Children of God who worship and love Him to receive the damnation that is coming upon this world.
1 Thessalonians 5:10-11
Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.
The Church today is guilty of attacking their brothers and sister, what the Bible calls biting and devouring one another. If you are busy attacking your brothers and sisters in Christ, not only have you become a hindrance to the Word of God being spread, your hindering someone else’s salvation. This is abomination to God. “I don’t like this,” and “I don’t like that.” Study to be quiet. We don’t need to hear your opinion, everything is not going to go your way, but God’s way. You have to study to be quiet.
1 Thessalonians 5:12
And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;
To know them that labor among you. We have an 8 weeks course, about knowing them that labour among you. Who is over you? Do you have someone that has the best interest of God over you, or do you have someone over because your friend likes them, or you hear someone else speak highly of them? Do you know them? This is personal, reason being is because your life depends on it. You have to know them that labour among you whether brothers or sisters, the Bishops, Pastors and Ministers. Because if they are wrong and lead you down the wrong track, you cannot do what God has purposed you to do. Sometimes, we go years being in a particular ministry or belief system, only to find out that late in your life, they’ve been teaching you wrong. If you aren’t getting the truth the unmitigated Word, then its time for you to leave that ministry, or call to question of your leaders, “What is going on? I don’t feel I’m getting fed.” If they are true leaders of God, then they will find out what will meet your needs. If they say this is all we have for you, then you need to leave. Go where you can grow. Ask God to lead and guide you to the right place, so you can grow to your potential in Him.
1 Thessalonias 5:13-14
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.
This 14 verse is an awesome verse.
1 Thessalonians 5:15-28
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. Quench not the Spirit. Despise not prophesyings. Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from all appearance of evil. And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Brethren, pray for us. Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
Those from the 18th to the 28th verse, you need to read that and reread it over, and get an understanding. Christ doesn’t want us to quench the Spirit. Don’t halt the spirit God has placed in you. Don’t keep it from trying to perceive or stop it. Don’t quench the spirit of someone else. Prophecy comes to you from the prophet of God to warn, encourage, enlighten and guide you. Don’t say anything without proving all things. Hold fast to the things that are good. Don’t allow things that aren’t good for you to come into your life and hold fast to that. Sometimes you have to let it go. If they aren’t good for your growth and soul, you have to let your friends go. If its a lifestyle you’re trying to become accustom to, if its causing you not to pray, or spend time with your Lord and Saviour, or come to church its got to go. It also says abstain from all appearance from evil. If you know it doesn’t look good, why are you hanging around it, why are you even near it? “But everyone else in my job is going and I’m a part of that job.” Well i’m sorry. If they are going to be partying and drinking then, you shouldn’t be there because its evil. Anyone who sees you will associate you with that. You have to be in oneness with Jesus. Those who aren’t are against Him, so you have to be in oneness. You want to be presented before God blameless.
Its very important that we love and spend time with God, sometime during our lives. Its very important that we spend sometime. Its just like if you have a relationship with your wife or husband, they know time builds relationship. As you build a relationship, trust is built. They know that you can go here or there and you won’t be influenced by your surroundings, and the love won’t be lost. Spending time, builds character, builds trust. So its very important that you spend time with you husband your wife, and with your Lord and Saviour and also with the Body of Christ. The Bible says fail not to assemble yourself together. You draw strength in numbers. Someone may be going through something that you can help them with, and vice versa. Its very important to remember, study to keep quiet, listen first.
James 1:19
Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath: