Message 5 - 1 Thessalonians Chapter 4 – Walk To Please God And The Rapture Teaching – Part 2 Series

MESSAGE 5 - 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 4 – WALK TO PLEASE GOD AND THE RAPTURE TEACHING – PART 2

We will continue in this chapter and will consider the second Part. Paul has been speaking to these believers about living in persecution and how their lives should be lived. Earlier in the book he told them that we all have been delivered from the wrath that is to come from God (the Tribulation), and this chapter explains the Rapture of the Church that will deliver us from that wrath. No Christian enters the wrath of God. All true Christians are taken out before it comes.

[3]. THE CONDUCT OF YOUR LIFE

{{1Thessalonians 4:9 Now as to THE LOVE OF THE BRETHREN, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another, 1Thess 4:10 for indeed you do practise it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia, but we urge you, brethren, to EXCEL still more, 1Thess 4:11 and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you 1Thess 4:12 so that you may behave properly toward OUTSIDERS and not be in any need.”}}

Verse 9 is quite amazing, because even without teaching from men, God will cause the Christian to know that we are to love one another because we are all fellow members of the house of God. Over and over, we are told this truth of love towards our fellow believers, not a wishy-washy sentimentality, but a practical, out-working love. The Apostle John was reported in his very last days to have said over and over, “love one another,” and we know it is almost the major theme of his writings. Paul confirmed that these Thessalonians loved all the brethren through Macedonia, but in verse 10, he wants to see even a more excellent love; an excelling love.

This is the second time Paul uses “excel” having used it in verse 1. They are loving all the Macedonian saints but Paul desires even more love. I am not going to follow up on this in this message except to say love for fellow believers is paramount in the writings of Paul and John.

One commentator, Gill, goes on to expand on what love can do and says, [["we urge you, brethren, to excel still more"; in showing love to the brethren; which may be done both by administering to them in temporal, physical things, by assisting them in distress, by sympathising with them, and by giving them counsel and advice; and in spiritual things, by bearing their burdens, forbearing with them, and forgiving them; by admonishing them in love, by stirring them up to love and good works, by praying with them and for them, and by instructing and building them up in their most holy faith; and this increase, and abounding in the exercise of this grace, may respect not only the more frequent and fervent use of it, but also the larger extent of it to other objects; as not only to all the brethren in their own church, and to all that were in Macedonia, to which it did extend, but likewise to all the brethren in other parts of the world, and which are more distant and remote; and even to the poor saints at Jerusalem in particular; and accordingly we find that their love did abound unto them;”]]

In verse 11 Paul uses the same word in Greek as he did in verse 1 and it has the same meaning also. This time the NASB and NIV use “make it your ambition” but it concerns setting the mind. We must desire that in the Lord. In Romans, Paul mentions the renewing of the mind in Romans 12:1-2 and that is a sacrificial move. “Make it your ambition” is most important in the current world of failure, deception, growing socialism and WOKE philosophies.

This calls for a positive approach, a determination to achieve that. Christians are practical people (ought to be) not theorists who live in a fanciful world and full of ideas and advice for others but themselves do nothing in the practical area. A lot of hot air, a few Christians are.

THE QUIET LIFE

To attend to their own concerns, without interfering with the affairs of others, is what Paul tells them. No Christian should be engaged in a mob, in a political pressure group and activism. None should be identified with the popular protests which lead to disorder and to the disregard of the laws. To live peaceably in their own families, and to give no disturbance to other families, by bearing tales, whispering, and backbiting; to behave with quietness in the neighbourhood, town, or city, they dwell in, and to seek the peace thereof; and to lead a quiet and peaceable life, in all godliness and honesty, in the commonwealth, and under the government to which they belong; and not to create and encourage factions, divisions, animosities, and contentions, in their own church, or in any of the churches of Christ.