1 Thessalonians 4

1 Thessalonians 4:1

The emphasis to this church doing well is: “Do better. Continue on. Mature even more in your faith.”

1 Thessalonians 4:2

In chapter 4, Paul deals with the issue of love. “Your love is to be not lustful, sensual, or immoralbut pure,” he says. Considering how young in the faith the church at Thessalonica was, it is easy to understand why they needed to be reminded not to fall into the immorality of the world that surrounded them. Verse 1Th_4:6 does not refer to business practices, but speaks of sexual matters. “I got a piece of her,” the world says regarding sexual union. That’s exactly right. Whenever sexual intimacy takes place outside of marriage, a piece of one’s soul is taken away, simply to fulfill a lustful desire. You see, physical intimacy is not simply two bodies expressing passion. It’s the essence, the souls of two people being made one. Consequently, if it’s done outside of marriage, people are defrauded, deceived, and cheated out of what would have otherwise been theirs to enjoy. The repercussions go on and on. When Absalom launched a coup against his father, David’s trusted advisor Ahithophel sided with the rebellious Absalom. Why? Why? David must have wondered. How can it be that Ahithophelthe brains behind all the political machinations in my kingdomwould rebel against me? Why would he side with my rebellious son? If you carefully read the genealogies, you’ll find a possible answer. Ahithophel was the grandfather of a woman named Bathsheba (2Sa_23:34). Because David had defiled his granddaughter, animosity must have simmered inside Ahithophel year after year. Finally, when he saw his opportunity, he sided with Absalom. “Be sure your sin will find you out,” Moses writes (Num_32:23). It’s not that God will find you out. When we accept Jesus as Savior, His blood completely washes us. God doesn’t track us down; our sin does. In this case, if you defraud someone sexually, you’ll reap a crop of destruction. The consequences might be immediate, or they might come a couple decades down the road. No one gets away with sin. Ask David. “Aha!” you say. “I knew I was justified in being angry with that guy who defiled my wife,” or, “I knew I was right to resent that girl who cheated on my brother. I’m never going to forgive him or her. Ahithophel didn’t.” Look what happened to Ahithophel. He hanged himself (2Sa_17:23). No matter the extent of someone’s sin, I must never be the one who commits the greater sin of bitterness. Ahithophel didn’t forgive David, and what happened? War ensued. Ahithophel could have advised Absalom differently. His bitterness resulted in a worse tragedy than David’s sin with Bathsheba. The war that followed brought about the deaths of twenty thousand (2Sa_18:7). Lest I sit here piously and think I have reason to be angry with my boss, spouse, or kids, I must realize the sin of unforgiveness will cause me to get hung up like Ahithophel. It will damage others in the process. If, on the other hand, you are one who has defrauded someone, if you are one who has sinned, who has blown itjoin the club. This church is packed with sinners because every one of us has had a point of failure in our lives. What are we to do? We’re to say, “I failed, Father, but I confess my sin and turn from it. Use the scars of the repercussions I know are sure to follow to draw others to Your grace and forgiveness.” It was the wounds Jesus bore for our sin that convinced Thomas of the reality of His Resurrection (Joh_20:27-28). So, too, the scars of our sin can witness to the reality of His grace in our lives. “If you refuse this word,” Paul says, “you’re not rejecting us, but God.” Pure Vessels A Topical Study of 1Th_4:3-8 As a pastor, one of the questions I am asked most frequently is, “How can I know God’s will?” I’m glad I can answer that question with real certainty: God’s will is that none should perish, but that all should come to repentance (2Pe_3:9). God’s will is that we continually give thanks (1Th_5:18). As we see in our text today, God’s will is that we possess our vessels in purity. The word “vessel” means “container” or “pitcher.” In the Old Testament, vessels contained wine for a drink offering to the Lord (Numbers 15). In the New Testament, we ourselves are earthen vessels, containing the treasure of Christ Jesus (2Co_4:7). Paul tells us we are to keep our vesselsour bodiespure. In Daniel 5, we see what happens when a holy vessel is used in an immoral manner. The year was approximately 539 B.C. Belshazzar partied in Babylon as thousands of Medes and Persians besieged the city. “Hah! I’m not afraid,” Belshazzar boasted. “After all, Babylon is surrounded by walls three hundred fifty feet high, eighty-seven feet thick.” As the party continued, Belshazzar decided to drink from the holy temple vessels Nebuchadnezzar had taken when he conquered Jerusalem. In the midst of the revelry, a hand appeared and wrote on the wall, “Mene, mene, tekel, upharsin,” which meant “You’ve been weighed in the balance and have been found wanting. Tonight your kingdom will crash down upon you.” Sure enough, after damming the Euphrates River, the Medes were able to crawl beneath the wall surrounding Babylon and into the city. Once there, they were able to capture Belshazzar’s kingdom right out from under him. Being baptized 20 years or 6 summers ago with no growth since then indicates a dubious commitment from the very beginning. Struggling, then failing to keep oneself pure, however, although it compromises ministry, joy, effectiveness, etc, does not jeopardize an already existing relationship with Christ. How do we possess our vessel? I suggest three ways… Run to the Congregation But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour. If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master’s use, and prepared unto every good work.2Ti_2:20-21 Through Paul, God says, “You can choose to be a vessel of honor or dishonor. You can choose to be a beautiful vase or a spittoon. The key is to purge yourself from iniquity.” How? Read on… Flee also youthful lusts: but follow righteousness, faith, charity, peace, with them that call on the Lord out of a pure heart.2Ti_2:22 If you find yourself in a situation of temptation, do what Joseph did when Potiphar’s wife grabbed him. “Lie with me,” she said. Joseph fled youthful lusts. He ran for his life (Gen_39:12). “But Joseph got thrown into prison,” you say. Yesbut then he became prime minister of Egypt, where he was “meet for the Master’s use.” One day, I saw some Canadian geese flying overhead in a perfect “V.” Why do geese fly in this formation? The reason is ingenious. You see, while the geese in the back are cruising, they’re honking to the geese in the front, saying, “Keep it up in the front. You guys are doing great.” Then, when the front boys get tired and drop to the back, the geese in the back work their way toward the front. The geese now in the back honk encouragement to them. For the geese to make it all the way to nice weather, they must encourage one another. They can’t leave the flock, or they’ll tire out. If you say, “I’ll flee from temptation, but I don’t really need to be with other Christians,” you’re in for real problems because you’ll never make it alone. Run from temptation to the congregation. Run to the place where there are people who love the Lord and want to walk with Him. Run from sin to the saints. Receive the Bread of Heaven Where were the Old Testament vessels of purity found? They were on the table of shewbread (Lev_24:5-6). If you’re struggling with lust or involved in immorality, go to the New Testament table of showbreadthe table of Communion. Confess your sin and say, “Father, I’m struggling with these images. I’m struggling with these passions. I need Your Son to live in me as I eat of His body. As I take this cup, Lord, I thank You that I am forgiven by Your blood.” Perhaps you’ve been taught that if there is sin in your life, you cannot come to the Communion table. That’s like a doctor saying to the emergency room patient, “Come back when you’re not bleeding so much.” Where else are we to find forgiveness but at the Lord’s table? The word “unworthily” in 1Co_11:29 doesn’t refer to us, for we are never worthy of the privilege of Communion. It refers to the act of Communion. In other words, the one who takes the Cross lightly is the one who takes Communion unworthily. He who comes to the table saying, “Lord, I need You in my life. I confess that I have failed. Thank You for Your forgiveness. I choose to turn away from my sin. Give me Your grace, Lord. Help me this day,” places great worth on Communion and will be forgiven completely: strengthened uniquely. Each time you come to the Lord’s table and confess your sin, you will find your struggle becoming a little easier. Watch. You’ll see. Refuse the Bread of Earth Jesus said hellish temptations “do not come out but by prayer and fasting” (Mat_17:21). Isaiah said the same thing. Is not this the fast that I have chosen? to loose the bands of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free, and that ye break every yoke?Isa_58:6 Fasting is essential for those struggling with lustful temptations of the flesh. You see, my stomach is constantly saying, “It’s burger time, buddy. You can’t miss a meal. You can’t deny your flesh.” When I say, “I’m not giving in to you, stomach,” self-denial spills over into other areas of my flesh as well. Why could Jesus say, “I will not turn these stones into bread; I will not seek exaltation by jumping from the pinnacle of the temple; I will not receive the gift of all the earthly kingdoms?” He had been praying and fasting for forty days (see Matthew 4). May I challenge you to consider fasting? During the time you would have been eating, pray. Whether you fast for a meal or a day, it is an absolute key to overcoming the flesh. Run to the congregation in the moment of temptation. Receive the bread of heaven at the table of Communion. Refuse the bread of earth through prayer and fasting. If you do, you will be fulfilling God’s will for your life. You will be exceedingly blessed in your marriage, your family, and your ministry.

1 Thessalonians 4:9

Most of us have difficulty following the admonition to be quiet. Winston Churchill told the story of a man who was always chattering. “Sir Winston,” he chirped, “I haven’t told you about my grandchildren yet.” “And for that,” Churchill answered, “I am deeply grateful.” We can be conversationalists, but we shouldn’t be chatty. We should study to be quiet. If you’re not quiet, chances are you’ll be talking about other people’s business. What is Paul’s solution? Get a job. If you’re one who’s prone to chatter, get to work. Find something practical to do. “I don’t need to work. I’m financially secure,” you might be saying. Great! Volunteer to pull weeds at your church. It’s real quiet where the weeds are growing, and you’ll be minding your own business!

1 Thessalonians 4:13

Paul changes gears in this third and final section of his first epistle. After remembering their past and refocusing their present, Paul will reveal the future of the Thessalonians. We are not to be ignorant concerning spiritual gifts (1Co_12:1). We are not to be ignorant of Satan’s plans and strategies (2Co_2:11). We are not to be ignorant of the mystery that Israel will eventually be saved (Rom_11:25-26). Here, Paul says we are not to be ignorant concerning the Rapture. The following would be an especially comforting message to the Thessalonians, who, evidently, were concerned that fellow believers who had died would miss the Rapture. Mario, a father of six, was one of the pastors at a mission base in Honduras. Along with a bunch of other folks from the nearby town, Mario was watching a soccer game a couple of weeks ago. Suddenly, a lightning bolt hit the stands, claiming the lives of eighteen people. Mario was one. Reports came back that although Mario’s wife was brokenhearted, she was full of joy because unbelievers began to open up to the gospel. They saw the hope of her joy and peace in the midst of her sorrow. Occasionally, I have the opportunity to officiate at funerals where the family and friends are not believers. Such services are emotionally wrenching. When I officiate at services for believersfor those who see the big picturethere is incredible peace along with their sorrow.

1 Thessalonians 4:14

In other words, “Believers who have died are presently in heaven.” Some falsely teach that when believers die, they remain in the casket until the Rapture. What did Jesus say to the thief on the cross next to Him? He didn’t say, “You will sleep for a couple thousand years and then you’ll be resurrected.” No, He said, “Today you’ll be with Me in Paradise (Luk_23:43). The moment someone leaves his body at death, an amazing thing happens. He moves into eternity where there is no time. There’s no past, present, or future. It’s just all one great big “Now” because eternity transcends time. How do I know this? Albert Einstein hypothesized about heaven without even knowing it. His theory revealed that if one could ever travel at the speed of light, time would cease. Therefore, because God is light, time ceases in His presence. Thus, from the perspective of those in heaven, the Rapture has happened, and we’re already with them in heaven. How can this be? Think of it this way: Here I am watching the Rose Parade on Colorado Boulevard. You find me watching the parade, and say, “Hey, Jon, good to see you. Listen, did the General Electric float go by?” “Yeah. It was great,” I say. “Ooh, I missed it. I really wanted to see it,” you say. “Well, you can still see it if you go down Colorado Boulevard,” I explain. “In other words, if you go to ’the past’ that’s already passed me, what’s fresh for you will be something I’ve already seen.” If you came to me and asked what was coming up in the parade, I would say, “I don’t know. You’ll have to go to the future, to where the parade begins.” On the other hand, I could say, “Let’s just get in the Goodyear blimp, and we’ll be able to see the whole parade simultaneouslypast, present, and future.” That is the best illustration I know to describe the concept of eternity. You see, we’re down here on the curb watching the parade of life, wondering what’s coming. From heaven’s perspective, like the view from the Goodyear blimpit’s all one big Now. From heaven’s perspective, the Rapture has already happened. From our perspective, however, we’re still waiting on the curb. I say this because many of us have dealt with the departure of loved ones. Personally, I do not believe that heaven could be heaven if a husband left his family behind and wondered how they would survive, or if a mother left her kids behind and worried about their well-being. That is why I suggest to you that heaven can only be heaven if we’re all there simultaneously.

1 Thessalonians 4:15

There are those who contend that the trump of God mentioned here refers to the seventh trumpet of Revelation, which signals the Rapture (Rev_11:15). Thus, they reason the church will be present on earth during the Tribulation. Such is not the case. The trumpets of Revelation 8-11 are blown by angels, whereas the trump of 1 Thessalonians 4 is the trump of Godthe trump Paul refers to as “the last trump” (1Co_15:52). God sounded the first trump when He gathered the Jews at Mount Sinai (Exo_19:16). He will sound the last trump before He gathers those who become believers during the Tribulation. “In this world you will have tribulation,” declared Jesus (Joh_16:33)from Satan, from the flesh, from the world. The Tribulation of Revelation 6-19 is the time when God pours out His wrath and judgment on a Christ-rejecting, sinful world. Certainly the Father is not saying, “Throughout your life, you’ll face tribulation from Satan, the flesh, and the worldand then you’ll experience Tribulation from Me.” That’s just not it. As believers, we will not go through the Tribulation. And that is a comforting word, indeed. Reasons for the Rapture A Topical Study of 1Th_4:15-17 On July 20, 1969, astronaut Neil Armstrong left the Apollo Lunar Command Module and became the first human to set foot on the moon. Perhaps you recall his classic line, “One small step for man; one giant leap for mankind.” Let me tell you something, gang. The leap Armstrong referred to cannot hold a candle to the leap you’ll be taking when the Lord comes in the clouds to rapture His church. “Wait a minute,” you say. “I have a problem with this because I don’t see the word ‘rapture’ in the Bible.” That’s because you’re using the wrong Bible! You see, the New Testament was written in Greek. The phrase in verse 1Th_4:17, translated “caught up,” is the Greek word harpazo, which means “to be grabbed by the collar and taken up with force.” When the New Testament was translated into Latin, translators used the word raptus for harpazofrom which we get our word “rapture.” What is the purpose of the Rapture? I suggest there are four. To Take up God’s Children Before World War II, Japan and Germany called their ambassadors away from America and back to their respective home countries. So, too, before the Lord declares war on the sin of our planet, He will take usHis ambassadorshome (2Co_5:20). You can’t pick up a newspaper or turn on TV without agreeing that the world is in a terrible state and needs to be judged. Before God judges our Christ-rejecting, sinful world, He will take His kids home to heaven. If my house was infected with termites and I had to fumigate, even if my kids were being a bit rebellious or difficult, I would still make sure they were out of the house before the tent went up and the gas was pumped in. If earthly parents are concerned about our children’s safety, how much more is our heavenly Father concerned about the safety of His children? To Shake up the Heathen Not only will the Rapture ensure our safety, it will also bring about salvation. On the day of Pentecost, Peter spoke of the day when the sun shall be darkened, the moon shall turn to blood, and whoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved (Act_2:17-21). There are family members who have listened to you share Jesus, but don’t believe in Him. There are friends who have heard your testimony and say, “That’s all well and goodfor you.” There are co-workers with whom you’ve shared the plan of salvation who seem only to turn a deaf ear. The day is coming when we will be suddenly taken up and all your words will make perfect sense. “Well, if that’s the case,” you say, “I’ll just wait until you guys disappear. Then I’ll know what you said is true, and I’ll receive Jesus as my Savior.” If you cannot receive Jesus Christ in this day of grace, what makes you think you will be able to stand for Him in that time of intense persecution? Those who acknowledge Jesus as Lord in the Tribulation will be savedbut they’ll lose their heads in the process (Rev_20:4). Lifesaving technique dictates that if a drowning person fights against him, a lifeguard must knock him out in order to save him. So, too, the Tribulation is God’s knockout punch to the heathen in order to save them. To Wake up a Nation In referring to the Tribulation as “Jacob’s trouble” (Jer_30:7), Jeremiah makes it clear that it has a specific purpose for the nation of Israel. Israel will at last recognize her Messiah during the Tribulation. When thou art in tribulation, and all these things are come upon thee, even in the latter days, if thou turn to the LORD thy God, and shalt be obedient unto his voice; (For the LORD thy God is a merciful God;) he will not forsake thee, neither destroy thee, nor forget the covenant of thy fathers which he sware unto them.Deu_4:30-31 How will this come about? Two witnesses will preach in the streets of Jerusalem, which some commentators believe could be Elijah and Moses (Revelation 11). One hundred forty-four thousand Jewish Billy Grahams will preach throughout the world (Revelation 7). Angels will preach in the skies (Revelation 7). When Jesus returns with ten thousand of His saints, all of Israel will lift up their eyes and say, “Where did You get those wounds?” “In the house of My friends,” He will answer (Zec_13:6). Then the entire nation of Israel shall be saved (Romans 11). What a glorious day that will be! To Make up the Millennium At creation, God covered the earth with a blanket of water that filtered out the ultraviolet rays (Psa_104:6). That is why Adam, Methuselah, and Enoch lived nine hundred years or more. It was a perfect, wonderful environment. But when the world became so evil in the days of Noah that God had to flood it by breaking the protective water canopy, man’s lifespan dwindled to only seventy to ninety years. The Tribulation will purge the world of the depravity that permeates our planet to such a degree that even ecology will be restored in the Millennium. That is why the mountains shall break forth into song, and the trees of the field shall clap their hands (Isa_55:12); the wolf will lie down with the lamb (Isa_11:6); and men will live as long as they did in the days of Genesis (Isa_65:20). As the funeral procession made its way through the streets of Nain, Jesus had compassion on the bereaved mother. “Do not weep,” He told her. Then, although it would have rendered Him ceremonially unclean, Jesus touched the coffin and said to the young man inside, “Arise” (Luk_7:11-15). Gang, the day is coming when Jesus will say to us, “Arise! Come up here,” (1Th_4:16-17). Up we’ll go. “Oh, but my heart is so hard,” you say. “I’m a believer, but my heart is like stone.” It couldn’t be harder than the heart of the young man in the coffinhe was dead! That didn’t prevent him from rising and speaking at the sound of Jesus’ voice. If you’re a believer, you will not be left behind. Your heart will be softened; your lips will flow with praise; you will be free. Maybe your heart is not heavy. Maybe it’s broken. The broken-hearted mother lost her only son. The ultimate “only Son,” Jesus Christ, showed compassion to her. A man recently said to me, “Jon, I’m so sorry you lost your daughter.” I had to say, “You know what? I didn’t lose her. I know right where she is. She’s in heaven, and I’ll see her again.” You who are broken-hearted, be comforted. If you’re missing a loved one, like the widow of Nain, rejoice. You will soon be reunited forever. Jesus is coming, and He will soon call us to be with Him. Comfort one another with these words, gang. Keep talking about His coming. Keep looking for His coming. Whether we’re hard or heavy-hearted, His coming is the ultimate answer for every heart.