MESSAGE 19 - 1THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 5:24 – THE LORD IS FAITHFUL AND WILL BRING IT ALL TO PASS
{{1Thessalonians 5:24 “Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.”}}
Of whom is this verse 24 speaking? Who is the faithful One who has called? A person who is faithful will carry out his word, and bring to pass what he has promised. We can’t go dividing up the Trinity but I really do feel that this verse follows on in Paul’s mind from the previous verse which is this one – {{1Thessalonians 5:23 “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely, and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”}} In that case, the verse speaks of the God of peace, the One who sanctifies us, and preserves our spirit, soul and body complete until the Rapture. At the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ, God will bring it all to pass: that is, all the promises made, and all that He has kept in His hand. You know, you are in the Father’s hand. If you truly belong to Christ you are always securely in the Father’s hand.
These two verses I am now quoting are two of the strongest security verses in the bible (speaking of the sheep in the Lord’s flock). {{John 10:28 and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish, and no one shall snatch them out of My hand. John 10 v 29 My Father who has given them to Me is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. You are in the hand of the Lord Jesus Christ and in the hand of the Father. Please accept that through faith. Claim it by faith. You are secure in Him. You are sanctified by the Spirit and kept by the Father and the Son, preserved complete, without blame, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. That is why the God of peace allows you to walk in His peace, but sometimes, on the roads of difficulty, and with some serious stumbles at times.
Returning to the questions that began this message – “Of whom is this verse 24 speaking? Who is the faithful One?” It says, “Faithful is He who calls you” and the Father calls you through the conviction ministry of the Holy Spirit, into the fellowship with the Son. Possibly, one of the best known verses about God calling us is this one from Peter in his first letter – {{1Peter 2:9 “but you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies (excellence) of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvellous light.”}} As I said, we can not really divide up the Trinity, but we know in our calling to salvation, the Father and Son and Holy Spirit were, and are, all vitally involved, and will preserve us, and bring all the promises given to us, to pass.
What are the promises? What are the promises that God has given to His children, and which will come to pass? I could outline some of these, but for now I want to place the promises into categories. Here we go –
1. ALL THE PROMISES FAITHFULLY MADE TO ISRAEL
Being the earthly people of God, Israel has had hundreds of promises and prophecies over the years given by God, and every one of them has been fulfilled in regard to those ones that concerned judgement on Israel, and particularly the coming of the Messiah 2000 years ago. God was faithful and brought these to pass. However, as most of you know, many promises have not come to pass yet. Large chunks of Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel and the Minor Prophets, and Matthew 24, and Revelation are still to see fulfillment. God’s time clock stopped with Israel nationally in the early chapters of the Acts, when the message was rejected, and Stephen was stoned. God is faithful to Israel, called “My Son” by Jehovah, but His working again with that nation, will not start again until the Church is taken away in the Rapture. Then will come to pass all that the faithful God has promised – national salvation and restoration; security of land and expansion of land; Israel becomes the chief nation of the world, and in a grouping, Egypt and Assyria and Israel are in a special relationship; the temple will be rebuilt in the Millennium and the Messiah reigns as King of kings and Lord of lords over the whole earth from Jerusalem.
2. ALL THE PROMISES FAITHFULLY MADE TO THE CHURCH
The Church is very special, having been purchased by the blood of Christ on the cross. What are these promises that will come to pass by a faithful Saviour? There is the Church’s redemption from the world when the Lord Himself comes to call His Bride at the Rapture, when all the saints of every age rise with new spiritual, resurrected bodies; there will be the preparation of the Church so that it becomes spotless and pure in heaven, with all the blemishes and worthless efforts of Christians in this life, burnt up; the Church will be presented as the Lamb’s Bride at the marriage supper of the Lamb at the start of Revelation 19 and will spend eternity with her Head forever; God has prepared a special home for the Bride called “The New Jerusalem” of immense proportions which will be in association with a New Heavens and New earth where righteousness dwells.
3. ALL THE PROMISES FAITHFULLY MADE TO CHRISTIANS AS INDIVIDUALS
God has not left us as orphans or without resources in the world. The Lord said, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you”. The Lord sent the Holy Spirit to be our Guide, Helper, Comforter, Teacher, and our Instructor in truth. Our Saviour has made so many promises to us all of which are being fulfilled and enacted daily, and will be in the future. He has promised rewards for faithfulness and service, even a crown for all those who are looking out for Him in His coming (Rapture) – {{2Timothy 4:8 “In the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”}}
He has promised a place where there will be joy inexpressible and full of glory, and there is even a touch of that now in our earthly bodies. He has promised the completion of salvation when we will be removed and saved from the very presence of sin. Most of all we will one day look on His face, that same face that was marred beyond recognition on the cross for our sins. We will not see that marred face but one shining in the excellence of eternal glory.
GOD WILL BRING IT TO PASS IN SPITE OF ATHEISTS AND MOCKERS
All these are great and powerful promises, but God is faithful who will bring all of them to pass. Agnostics and atheists think they are very smart in setting God aside and in their mocking because they don’t see God’s promises being executed. Let them wait until the seals are broken in heaven in Revelation 6, and the judgements are poured out on this earth, and the mountains are falling. Then we will see.
The Apostle Peter warned of this day of contemptuous critics as he saw our times in prophecy – {{2Peter 3:3-10 “Know this first of all, that in the last days mockers will come with their mocking, following after their own lusts, 2Pet 3:4 and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming for ever since the fathers fell asleep, all continues just as it was from the beginning of creation?” 2Pet 3:5 When they maintain this, it escapes their notice that by the word of God the heavens existed long ago and the earth was formed out of water and by water, 2Pet 3:6 through which the world at that time was destroyed, being flooded with water, 2Pet 3:7 but the present heavens and earth by His word are being reserved for fire, kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. 2Pet 3:8 Do not let this one fact escape your notice, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 2Pet 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance, 2Pet 3:10 but the day of the Lord will come like a thief in which the heavens will pass away with a roar and the elements will be destroyed with intense heat, and the earth and its works will be burned up.”}}
All that will come to pass. God is faithful. He is faithful to you. In this inspired chapter 3, Peter included three verses after speaking about all this we just read, that we must take to heart, not with mental assent only, but with practical Christian living. Here they are – {{2Peter 3:11 “Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, WHAT SORT OF PEOPLE OUGHT YOU TO BE in holy conduct and godliness, and the second one - 2Pet 3:14 Therefore, beloved, since you look for these things, BE DILIGENT TO BE FOUND BY HIM IN PEACE, SPOTLESS AND BLAMELESS, and the third one is this - 2Pet 3:18 but GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE OF OUR LORD AND SAVIOUR JESUS CHRIST. To Him be the glory, both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.”}}
HOW IS THE LORD FAITHFUL?
I am going to give you a number of ways that demonstrate the faithfulness of God and these are straight from scripture:
1. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS CALLING INTO FELLOWSHIP –
{{1Corinthians 1:9 “GOD IS FAITHFUL, through whom you were called into fellowship with His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.”}} Our calling into fellowship is our placement into the Church of the living God. The Lord promised that if He be lifted up (speaking of the cross) He would draw all men unto Himself, but only a few respond to that drawing by the Holy Spirit.
2. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN THE HEAT OF TEMPTATION
{{1Corinthians 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man, AND GOD IS FAITHFUL who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, that you may be able to endure it.”}} The faithfulness of God sets limits on temptation, and also, He works His will to seek relief for us. As we live our lives, most of the time we are not aware of God’s faithfulness in deliverance, but it is there all the time.
3. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN OUR BATTLE WITH THE DEVIL AND HIS AGENTS
{{2Thessalonians 3:1 “Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord may spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you, 2Thess 3:2 and that we may be delivered from perverse and evil men for not all have faith, 2Thess 3:3 BUT THE LORD IS FAITHFUL, and He will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.”}} God’s faithfulness provides strength and courage in the battle against evil, and He also protects His children in this battle. We may think the battle is too hard but it is the Lord’s battle! I know God does this but I believe the angels have a role as well as indicated by this verse speaking about angels – {{Hebrews 1:14 “Are they not all ministering spirits sent out to render service for the sake of those who will inherit salvation?”}}
4. GOD IS FAITHFUL, WHICH IS TRUE OF HIS CHARACTER
{{2Timothy 2:11 “It is a trustworthy statement: For if we died with Him, we shall also live with Him. 2Tim 2:12 If we endure, we shall also reign with Him. If we deny Him, He also will deny us. 2Tim 2:13 If we are faithless, HE REMAINS FAITHFUL for He cannot deny Himself. God will remain true to His promises, unlike some of us who treat promises lightly and become faithless in our commitment to God, and sometimes to one another. God stands by His faithfulness! What a blessed assurance that is!
5. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN HIS HIGH PRIESTLY MINISTRY
{{Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, that He might become a merciful and FAITHFUL HIGH PRIEST in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”}} This verse is a gem of scripture for the Lord Jesus Christ ministers for us always and He does it as a Great High Priest who is both merciful and faithful. He intercedes for you all the time, in joy, sorrow or trouble, and some of us have a lot of sorrow because of circumstances we are in. So merciful and so faithful!
6. GOD IS FAITHFUL TO HIS CHURCH
{{Hebrews 3:5-6 “Now Moses was faithful in all His house as a servant for a testimony of those things which were to be spoken later, Heb 3:6 but CHRIST WAS FAITHFUL as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence and the boast of our hope firm until the end.”}} The Lord Jesus is God of course, so it is correct to say God is faithful to His Church; the Head being Christ, who is God. Moses was a faithful man in the ministry he had as head over the nation in the exodus from Egypt. In a similar way, though much more excellent, Christ is Son over His house, the Church and totally faithful in serving His Church.
7. GOD IS FAITHFUL UNTIL THE END
{{Hebrews 10:23 “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for HE WHO PROMISED IS FAITHFUL.”}} We are required to hold to our testimony without doubting or wavering, our testimony focusing on the hope before us. God is faithful in all that is promised and will bring it all to pass. All we must do is trust and commit ourselves to Christ as Noah committed himself to the ark for his keeping.
8. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN FORGIVENESS AND CLEANSING
{{1John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves, and the truth is not in us. 1John 1:9 If we confess our sins, HE IS FAITHFUL and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”}} This beautiful verse tells us, that upon confession of sin, our faithful and righteous Saviour forgives us and cleanses us from all the unrighteousness our sins have caused. The Lord’s faithfulness works with His love and desire and mercy (as in High Priest earlier). When we slip up, He is there in forgiveness when we confess.
9. GOD IS FAITHFUL IN WITNESS AS THE RESURRECTED ONE
{{Revelation 1:5 “and from JESUS CHRIST, THE FAITHFUL WITNESS, the first-born of the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth. To Him who loves us, and released us from our sins by His blood –.”}} The witness here is the Lord’s ministry on earth when He witnessed every moment to the father’s glory as a sinless, humble Servant. He stands as the faithful witness and as the First fruits of the Resurrection and the King over the whole earth.
10. GOD IS FAITHFUL AND TRUE
{{Revelation 19:11 “I saw heaven opened and behold, a white horse, and HE who sat upon it IS CALLED FAITHFUL and True, and in righteousness He judges and wages war.”}} This verse does not tell us any aspect the Lord is faithful in. Rather, it sets forth the Lord Jesus Christ in two of His magnificent eternal names – FAITHFUL and TRUE - in all things He is faithful, and in all things He is true. He can only come in vengeance and glory because He IS Faithful and True.
THE CLOSING APPLICATION TO ALL OF US
Sometimes the night is too long and the day is too hard. God promised he will bring it to pass, but the trial is fierce and the opposition is too strong. But wait! For 19 centuries Your people have been persecuted and butchered, tortured by every device from hell by the Romans and the Roman Catholic church. When one reads of the unbelievable horrors and tortures perpetrated by emperor, priest and pope it makes the stomach sick. You can read of these in an innumerable number of places.
These people hoped for their redemption when the Lord would bring it to pass but it did not happen in their lifetimes. They were called on to be faithful to a faithful God and lay down their lives as testimony for their faith. Their numbers are in the millions. Even today Christians everywhere are martyred for the cause of the gospel while extreme numbers are now persecuted and dishonoured and poorly treated for their faith, and I am speaking of the western world. In the last 10 years the west has become hostile for Christians and many suffer loss of employment and privilege and position for the Name of Christ. All this in the last 10 years. No matter what don’t take your eyes off your Lord. He is faithful who will bring it to pass.
If the Lord tarries for another 10 years then martyrdoms will occur. The hatred of the world against Christ and His followers is horrendous. I believe the Rapture of the Church is very close when the Lord comes to take home His precious Bride, that Body of believers. I do not set dates but I think this will happen before another 10 years are up.
The Lord bless you all.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
