I Thessalonians 4:1 - 12
I. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO PLEASE GOD
I Thessalonians 4:1dear brothers and sisters, we urge you in the name of the Lord Jesus to live in a way that pleases God, as we have taught you. You are doing this already, and we encourage you to do so more and more. [NLT]
a. A CONSISTENT LIFE PLEASES GOD
Hebrews 11:5 By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death; he could not be found, because God had taken him away. For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. [NIV]
b. A GENEROUS NATURE PLEASES GOD
Hebrews 13:16 do not forget to be kind and liberal; for with sacrifices of that sort God is greatly pleased. [Wey]
c. TRUE WORSHIP PLEASES GOD
John 4:23 the time is coming, and is even now here, when the true worshippers will give worship to the Father in the true way of the spirit, for these are the worshippers desired by the Father. [BBE]
II. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LOVE THE SAINTS
I Thessalonians 4:9 as regards brotherly love, you don’t need any written instructions. God himself is teaching you to love each other, 10 and you are already extending your love to all the Macedonians. Yet we urge you to have more and more of this love, [Philips]
a. OUR LOVE OF THE SAINTS PROVES DISCIPLESHIP
John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." [NIV]
b. OUR LOVE SHOULD BE PURE AND FERVENT
I Peter 1:22 Now you can have sincere love for each other as brothers and sisters because you were cleansed from your sins when you accepted the truth of the Good News. So see to it that you really do love each other intensely with all your hearts. [NLT]
c. OUR LOVE SHOULD INCREASE
I Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. [NIV]
III. OUR RESPONSIBILITY TO LIVE BEFORE SINNERS
I Thessalonians 4:11 & 12 This should be your ambition: to live a quiet life, minding your own business and working with your hands, just as we commanded you before. 12 As a result, people who are not Christians will respect the way you live, and you will not need to depend on others to meet your financial needs. [NLT]
Make it your aim to live a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to earn your own living, just as we told you before. 12 In this way you will win the respect of those who are not believers, and you will not have to depend on anyone for what you need. [Good News]
a. WE SHOULD MANIFEST A NEW LIFE
Romans 6:4 We were dead and buried with him in baptism, so that just as he was raised from the dead by that splendid revelation of the Father’s power so we too might rise to life on a new plane altogether. [Philips]
b. WE SHOULD MANIFEST THE LIFE OF THE SPIRIT
Galatians 5:16 . Let your lives be guided by the Spirit, and then you will certainly not indulge the cravings of your lower natures. [Wey]
c. WE SHOULD MANIFEST THE LIFE OF CHRIST
I John 2:6 Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Christ did. [NLT]
