Paul Describes Faithful Living

• In Philippi, Paul and Silas shared the gospel with some women who had met to pray outside the city and as a result, God opened Lydia’s heart to listen and respond to the gospel

• She believed in Jesus and was baptized, along with her household

• Later, Paul and Silas were beaten and put in prison for preaching about Jesus

• Paul and Silas were able to share the gospel with the jailer, and the jailer and his household were saved

• Today we are going to look at Paul’s letters to the believers in Thessalonica

• 1 Thessalonians 4:1 – we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God

• Paul was encouraging them to keep on living faithfully for God

• They were growing in faith, love, and hope, and Paul wanted them to continue enduring persecution

• What does persecution mean? – the mistreatment of individuals, particularly for their religious beliefs

• It encompasses various forms of suffering, including physical harm, social discrimination, and mental anguish, often directed at those who follow Christ and adhere to God's teachings

• So… how did Paul encourage the Thessalonians who were being persecuted?

• 1 Thessalonians 4:16 – the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first

• 1 Thessalonians 4:17 – Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord

• 1 Thessalonians 4:18 – Therefore comfort one another with these words

• What does all that mean?

  • The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God – this is when Jesus will return as He has promised

  • And then the dead in Christ will rise first – believers who have died will rise from the grave and go to heaven

  • Then we who are alive and remain will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we shall always be with the Lord

• So… for believers… 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10 – God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him

• What does wrath mean? – intense anger, often associated with God's response to sin and disobedience

• What does awake mean in the above verse? – alive

• What does asleep mean in the above verse? – dead

• But… what about the people that don’t believe, those who haven’t accepted Jesus as their savior? – they will be left behind

• Is it too late for them? – no, they can still believe and accept Jesus as their savior – as long as they are alive