Over the past week. We have walked verse by verse through the book of 1st Thessalonians. Have you ever really spent a lot of time in this book? Well, I had not, but now I want to spend time in it more and more. It is truly rich with deep truths of encouragement for the souls of those who believe, especially if in the midst of affliction.
On the first day we were taught a lot of fancy Bible words that I don’t really know yet. They did say that the words were not important only the concepts. Which I do think I kind of understand, but have in no way have I mastered. They we will talking through them more as the weeks continue. So, that is good. Then we read through Acts. On Tuesday we read through 1 Thessalonians about 8 times in several different ways including praying, and then we were given our assigned text.We had Wednesday morning to prepare. Wednesday afternoon the Expositions began. It was very humbling to have the privilege of teaching through 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 for about 10-15 minutes. It was most exciting to hear the second year trainees share with such heart and soul, as well as, expositional skill. I am thrilled to get to grow in learning how to expositionally communicate the truth to unreached peoples.
Here is a glimpse of what I learned.
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.
This passage repeats the concepts of those who have fallen asleep, because the 1st Thessalonians church is suffering great affliction and persecution, and fellow brothers and sisters in the faith were dying. In America we don’t get much of this, but just imagine. As you meet to worship with your local body of believers each week more and more faces are missing because of death from persecution. We understand grief and loss of loved ones, but not near to the same capacity of what happens in the midst of persecution. A lot of the church across the world really experiences this, yet we can barely relate to it. Much less think about it, and connect to it. However, it is a huge characteristic for many faith communities. So, Paul leaves the Thessalonians with the greatest moment that will ever come to them. He shares with them the great Hope. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.
Then later a huge promise.
SO WE WILL ALWAYS BE WITH THE LORD.
And that is the greatest place.. Being with the Lord. We are with Him now! As a believer you can seek the Lord, and He is there. One day you will be with the Lord in perfect peace, communication, and harmony. Until then continue to connect and
be with the Lord.
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