1Thessalonians 5 Study Guide & Breakdown
HOW TO AWAIT HIS COMING
1Thessalonains 5:1-11
5 But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. 2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape. 4 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. 5 You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night nor of darkness. 6 Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be [a]sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night. 8 But let us who are of the day be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.
NOTES
5:1-11: The Thessalonian Christians had been speculating about the return of the Lord and making their own predictions-sounds like that today many teachers, teaching their own will instead of God’s will: Paul tells them, YOU HAVE NO NEED – (v. 1) for that kind of information (indeed, it is not available!!!): Does A THIEF IN THE NIGHT – (v. 2) announce his coming??? The disciples had gotten the same kind of answers to their questions on the Second Coming from Christ Himself– (Matthew 24:36; Acts 1:6-7): And suppose we know the end; what is this to us??? As Christians we are called not to set dates but instead make ourselves ready to meet the Lord by being watchful and SOBER – (v. 6): Our place is to be ceaselessly aware of the primacy of God’s Kingdom and to have full control over our spiritual needs…
REMINDERS CONCERNING UNITY
ITHESSALONIANS 5:12-22
12 And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and [a]admonish you, 13 and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves.
14 Now we [b]exhort you, brethren, warn those who are [c]unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all. 15 See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
16 Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophecies. 21 Test all things; hold fast what is good. 22 Abstain from every form of evil.
NOTES
5:12-22: The requirements of a harmonious life in community include the honoring of sacramental leadership – (vv. 12-14), pursuit of good works – (v. 15), continual prayer and thanksgiving in worship – (vv. 16-18), and proper regard for the prophetic gift and spiritual discernment – (vv. 19-22):
5:12: THE GREEK TERM- For OVER YOU have a liturgical connotation: It is referring to the leader of the congregation in the eucharistic assembly: TO RECONGNIZE is a weaker translation of “TO KNOW” – (see- 1Thessalonians 4:5): In a healthy church, the people recognize their pastor as their leader in Christ and willingly follow his admonitions:
5:15: When is it proper to return EVIL FOR EVIL??? From the Sermon on the Mount – (Matthew 5:44) to the end of the NT, the answer is, NEVER!!!
5:19-22: THE HOLY SPIRIT is to be actively present in the life of the Church: But there is also a constant need for discernment and testing to avoid being misled – (1Corinthians 12-14):
PRAYER AND INSTRUCTIONS
1THESSALONIANS 5:23-28
23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[a] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.
25 Brethren, pray for us.
26 Greet all the brethren with a holy kiss.
28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
NOTES
5:23-27: NOTE the liturgical overtones about all the meetings: There (1): THE BENEDICTION- (v. 23), (2): INTERCESSORY PRAYER – (v. 25), (3): THE KISS OF PEACE – (v. 26), and (4): THE PUBLIC READING OF THE SCRIPTURES – (v. 27): THE PRACTICE OF A HOLY KISS – (v. 26) very early became part of the worship liturgy – (see, Romans 16:16; 1 Corinthians 16:20; 2 Corinthians 13:12; 1 Peter 5:14): Just prior to Communion, the faithful would exchange the kiss of peace, on one cheek and then the other, to show their reconciliation in Christ- Christ is in our midst and ever shall be!!!
5:27: THE BIBLE is to be READ aloud during corporate worship!!!
PSALM 46 (47) STUDY GUIDE & BREAKDOWN
47 Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph! 2 For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth. 3 He will subdue the peoples under us, And the nations under our feet. 4 He will choose our inheritance for us, The excellence of Jacob whom He loves. Selah
5 God has gone up with a shout, The Lord with the sound of a trumpet. 6 Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! 7 For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.
8 God reigns over the nations; God sits on His holy throne. 9 The princes of the people have gathered together, The people of the God of Abraham. For the shields of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted.
Psalm 46 (47)- Is a prophecy of Christ (THE END) and His Ascension to the Father – (v. 6): And the Man who Ascended is called GOD – (vv. 2, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10), LORD – (vv. 3, 6), MOST HIGH – (v. 3), and KING – (vv. 3-5, 7, 8-10); therefore Jesus Christ is co-equal with the Father: Also, the Ascended Christ is worshipped by the Church both as God and Man – (vv. 2, 7, 8), and with joy – (REJOICING, v. 2), with fear – (FEARSOME, v. 3) and with intelligence – (UNDERSTANDING, v. 8):
INTERCESSION (INTERCESSORY PRAYER)- Supplication to God on behalf of another person, Christ intercedes before God the Father on behalf of the repentant sinner, and God’s people intercede for one another – (See also – Isaiah 53:12; Jeremiah 27:18; Daniel 9:3-19; Romans 8:34):
KISS OF PEACE – A kiss given by one believer to another: It is a sign of Christian unity and fellowship… (see – also 1Corinthians 16:20): In the Divine Liturgy, the clergy and in some Churches, also the laity, exchange the kiss of peace before saying the NICENE CREED…
2 PETER 3:9
9 The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward [a]us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.
COLOSSIANS 4:2
Continue earnestly in prayer, being vigilant in it with thanksgiving.
“PEACE BE WITH YOU ALL, BE WATCHFUL, VILGNANT AND CONTINUE IN PRAYER THE DAY OF OUR LORD’S RETURN IS COMING UPON US THE TIMES WE FIND OURSELVES IN IS VERY INTERESTING…ONE LAST THOUGHT EVERY GENERATION IS CHOSEN AND HAS A PURPOSE SEEK THE LORD, LOOK UP AND SMILE BECAUSE OUR REDEMPTION DRAWS NEAR!!!”