👨🏻‍💼👋That’s Wonderful Carl 🙇🏻‍♂️

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does.

—William James

2 Thessalonians 1:1 (KJV) Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2 Thessalonians 1:2 (KJV) Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The Apostle Paul begins his second letter to the Thessalonians as he did his first letter. With greetings, but this letter will be different. The first letter was about their faith, this second letter will be about encouragement during persecution because of their faith.

I remember the day I trusted in Christ Jesus as my savior. Oh what a day that was. I was so excited and I wanted others to have what I had just received myself. It was so simple just believe that Jesus Christ paid your sin debt. So I began telling my family, my friends and others I came in contact with. I remember standing in line at a drug story to pay for whatever I went there to get. I heard this lady tell the cashier about something and she said these words “I would sell my soul for that! I then told her about what the Lord had done for me and she too could be made free if she only trusted in Christ. Well that didn’t go over to good. She didn’t trust Christ at that time so my only hope is she thought about what was said and trusted Christ later. I was young in my faith and believed the whole world could be saved. My theology was right: the whole world can be saved, the Bible says so but one must believe and this is where the problem arises. It’s not in what Christ Jesus has done for us. It is where we as a people will believe and trust in what has already been done for everyone that has ever been born into this world. Many believed in their good behavior and their faithfulness in helping others. While all that is wonderful it’s just not enough. That’s what Carl at the ER in Monroe Georgia had placed his trust in. Carl was asked if he knew Christ as his personal savior to which he replied yes. Then Carl heard these words. That's great Carl, tell me about it. Carl said that he went to Church as much as his job would let him because he worked a lot of Sundays. He went on and said he was kind and helpful to others. He said that he gave money to organizations that were helping children and vets. He said he loved his wife and has been faithful to her. Then he said I consider myself to be a good person. Then he received a great smiling admiration, that’s wonderful Carl. Then Carl was asked if that was all it takes to go to heaven and your sin be forgiven then why do you think Jesus Christ died on the cross? I mean Carl, if you could do it yourself then why did Christ come into this world and then died? I don’t know said Carl. Then Carl was given this answer 

1 Timothy 1:15 (KJV) This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

To save who?  Sinners! The simple message is we were all born into a world full of sin and our nature is to sin and that makes us sinners. There is none good and the Bible tells us that.

Mark 10:18 (KJV) And Jesus said unto him, Why callest thou me good? there is none good but one, that is, God.

Carl, it didn’t say we didn’t do good things but it did say good things don’t make us good. Why?

Romans 3:23 (KJV) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

It wasn’t long before Carl bowed his head and asked Christ to come into his heart. Then the excitement flooded his face and he was grateful for what Christ had done for him. As life goes on the way our excitement is expressed is not the same. The day your son or daughter was born oh what a day of excitement for you and your wife. You are a proud dad, excitement is all over your face. Why you’re even passing out cigars; can you still do that any more? You know that may be taboo and you might be asked to leave the hospital. I’m not talking about cigars, I'm talking about the excitement. But as time goes on the excitement settles down but the memory of the moment doesn’t. You never forget the day that child was born and there will be many more days of excitement that will come. That’s the way it is about the day you were saved from your sins. It's a day you’ll never forget, that's for sure.  But just as the day your child was born, you still remember the excitement you felt but that same excitement isn’t an everyday event. The one thing you know is that you remember that day you were forgiven of your sins. Since that day there have been many more days of excitement you have enjoyed. Why? Because of the change.

2 Corinthians 5:17 (KJV) Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. Just as that new born child will make mistakes and will disappoint you at times. The question is what will you do? Stop loving them? Throw them out? Course not you will correct them for their benefit you will keep loving them and working with them. That is what our Heavenly Father does with His children. You might think God does not care nor love you anymore because of the things you have done, places you have been or the things you have said. You are wrong! What would you do if your child came to you and said I’m sorry? Why don’t you do the same thing with your Heavenly Father? Father I’m sorry!

💲Counterfeit 💵

We must lay before him what is in us; not what ought to be in us.  C.S. Lewis

Paul, as he closes his letter he asked these good people to not just pray for him but those that are also with him. 

1 Thessalonians 5:25 (KJV) Brethren, pray for us.

The Apostle Paul didn’t think he was beyond needing prayer, he realized he too needs prayer. One of the tricks of our enemy is to get us to think that if I ask for prayer it will show I’m weak. NO! We must pray one for another, it’s our duty and privilege to do so. As I have said I have a good friend that prays for me everyday. I have told him how much I appreciate it but those words seem so cheap in the magnitude of what he does. I mean here’s a man who cares enough about me that everyday he spends part of his day lifting me up before the Lord. There is no way you can buy such faithfulness. He never says “I prayed for you today, how about taking me to lunch or sending me a few bucks or even praying for me please.” No he just shows his Christ like attitude and the only thing he ever does is text me a number 7 to let me know he has prayed for me. When I look at his name all I see are 7’s. Eternity will show me and him both how much his prayers really meant. It’s not a weakness to ask others to pray for you, it's a weakness not to ask them to.  Paul also says continue in being faithful unto the coming of the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 (KJV) And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Because  1 Thessalonians 5:24 (KJV) Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. Oh by the way don’t forget to read this epistle to all the brethren.

1 Thessalonians 5:27 (KJV) I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

We need to read God's Holy Word so that we might know ourselves what it says. I remember the story of the young man who was in classes so he could become an expert in detecting counterfeit money. He was asked one night by another man what a counterfeit bill looked like? To which the young man replied I have no idea I have never seen one. How then do you expect to be able to know if it is counterfeit? He then said that I look at and study real money so that when I see a counterfeit bill I will know it immediately. If you and I would see and understand that principle, if we were to read and study God’s Word daily we too would catch the counterfeits. 

😇A Nice Man☺️🤝

There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting others up.

In verse 12 the Apostle Paul writes telling the 

Thessalonian believers know those that labor among them. In verse 13 Paul says that they were to think very highly of those who are laboring among them, Paul says in verse 14 that those that have put their trust in the Lord Jesus Christ are to encourage each other. Those who are strong in the Lord are to comfort and support those that are weaker as well as be patient toward all men. Then Paul tells them to not get so upset that you lower yourselves to the level of rendering evil for evil.

Now Paul goes on naming qualities we all should support. 

1 Thessalonians 5:16 (KJV) Rejoice evermore. Are we?

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (KJV) Pray without ceasing. Do we?

1 Thessalonians 5:18 (KJV) In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. Are we giving thanks? 

1 Thessalonians 5:19 (KJV) Quench not the Spirit. Do we?

1 Thessalonians 5:20 (KJV) Despise not prophesyings. Do we despise what God has revealed?

1 Thessalonians 5:21 (KJV) Prove all things; hold fast that which is good. Just test the things of and see.

1 Thessalonians 5:22 (KJV) Abstain from all appearance of evil. Are we?

Paul covered a bunch of things that if we were to learn to do them, oh what a better world this would be.  In Matthew chapter 5 just above verse 3 there is a caption that reads “The Beatitudes” the 

be- attitudes, does this mean that these are the attitudes that need to be? From verse 3 to verse 11 each one of those verses start off with “Blessed are that word blessed carries the meaning of happy. What would it be like in this world if we just changed our attitude on somethings? Have you ever gotten a phone call and the caller is hiding behind the premise of wanting to help you? Then they began asking questions, when you fail to answer a question that doesn’t fit in with their program they hang up on you. Yeah, no I’m sorry you don’t qualify or any other reason they just hang up. Remember that those who care don’t just cut you off, that is being rude and that is an attitude that needs to be changed, it’s just not acceptable. I was in a restaurant with my wife not long ago and we met a very nice man. He greeted us and said a few kind words. Then he told us that the people who work here in this restaurant are wonderful people. Then he spoke to another man then to another man and woman. I noticed it didn’t matter what they looked like, how they were dressed he spoke to everyone in the restaurant. When he left he said this to everyone that he passed by “have a good day” as he smiled. After he was gone my wife said to me “what a nice man.” I noticed something else about that nice man. He didn't say much about himself and you know what? I don’t know if anyone asked him his name. It is sad to say, you don’t see people like that everyday. Why did I write about that nice man? Well he was doing exactly what the Apostle Paul was writing about. We need to understand that we don’t always have to know what others are going through to comfort and encourage them. We can do that by being, as my wife said, a nice man. As I tell my special needs grandson “everybody needs a Pat on the back.  

😎Words Of Comfort 🤗

1 Thessalonians 5:7 (KJV) For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

I have noticed that two kinds of people are being written about. There are the people of the night and people of the day.  There are also distinctions between the two. In verse 5 we read of children of light and of the day. In verse 7 we read of others who sleep in the night and are drunk in the night.

We are living in dark times with those who are bold. We have come a long way from the preaching of the Apostle Paul with the power of God upon him. We still read and hear of preachers being locked up but it’s not usually for preaching the gospel. I’ll not waste time writing about all of that you already know. Paul is writing about those who live in light and those who live in darkness. Those in the light are sober and those in the night are drunk. He warns  in verse 6 that those of the day not to go to sleep. When one is asleep they are not aware of the things going on around them. Paul says be alert, be aware and then in verse 10 Paul says do something about it. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 (KJV) But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation. The first thing Paul tells them to do is to be “sober”, clear minded, know what you know, don't be slurred in your talk. Let those around you see your “faith” and also your “love” for others especially those who are living in the night of the day. Paul goes on and says live in the certainty and surety of your salvation. Why is that Paul?

1 Thessalonians 5:9 (KJV) For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Don’t walk around being unsure, doubting for you will never convince others you are of the day. We read of no people of the afternoon. Afternoon is between day and night and we read of no such thing. Therefore be and walk as God’s children of the day in the light be sure. Who are the people of the day? What do they believe? Who have they placed their trust and confidence in? 

1 Thessalonians 5:10 (KJV) Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him. They believe that Jesus died for them to pay their sin debt. They believe and trust so much in Jesus that it doesn’t matter whether they are asleep or awake we as God’s children will all live together. Now that you have trusted Christ Jesus for your salvation you should not just live so others will see but;  1 Thessalonians 5:11 (KJV) Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

When is the last time you have received words of comfort from another believer? I hope often but then on the other hand how often have we ourselves given out words of comfort to others. Do we not believe it is possible? Go encourage someone today, give them a pat on the back 👋

💡Light Not Dark 🌑

There is a crack in everything that’s how light gets in. 

1 Thessalonians 5:5 (KJV) Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Back in verse 4 we read God’s children are not in darkness. Well if we are not in darkness where does that leave us? Well some are in light. No that’s not so we read “Ye are all the children of light” one day we were all in darkness until  

2 Corinthians 4:6 (KJV) For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. Light overcomes darkness. Then we read has shined in, that’s past tense which means there was darkness but light has overcome the darkness. Then we are told what the light does “to give the light of the knowledge.”   KNOWLEDGE comes how?  Webster says knowledge is A clear and certain perception of that which exists. Learning; illumination of mind. 

Where do you think the best place to get learning, being taught would be? Learning comes first by being taught and then by experience. The more you do what you have been taught the better you become. Paul says we are all the children of light. Hallelujah! Then he goes on to say who we are “the children of the day” because “we are not of the night” What could change that? Three things.

1. 1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; Going to sleep there is no learning or experience 
2. but let us watch People get overtaken when they aren’t watching.
3. and be sober. When people are not clear in their thinking they can’t think straight.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV) Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. Don’t become inactive. In other words don’t keep quiet about what you know. Don’t go to sleep at the switch!

👨🏾‍🦯Not In Darkness🏃🏿‍♀️‍➡️

 Darkness cannot drive out darkness: only light can do that.

1 Thessalonians 5:4 (KJV) But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief.

“But ye,” then we are told who the ye are “brethren” brethren born of the same womb. The Apostle Paul is saying brothers you are not living in darkness or in other words you have a relationship with Christ Jesus. Brethren you know what is coming because you know who Christ is. You and I live in a different time and you and I have a the guide book of life the Bible to read and learn, so you and I should know more than these in Thessalonica. Therefore we too should not be walking in “darkness” that the day of the Lord should overtake us like a thief in the night. We have got the Book and it’s plain to what’s a head. I would be the first to say I don’t know it all, I can’t comprehend it all, it is way too big for my tin cup thinking mind. Now that being written I believe what I read. The Lord Jesus Christ is coming back. We can read about that in I Thessalonians 4 starting in verse 13 and how it will take place. It really doesn’t matter where I believe it or not although I do but either way believe it or not it is going to happen. Today I’m not walking around in darkness, I know because my Bible tells what’s ahead of me. It’s great to know what is ahead. I was stationed for a time in Fairbanks Alaska and back in those days with sports you saw the games on TV a day late. In other words if the Giants played the Rams we wouldn’t see the game until the next day, but you could listen to it on the radio the same day they played. One day as we were watching a football game that had already been played, one guy spoke up and said the Giants are going to win, they are playing great. Another guy spoke up and said no the Rams are going to win. The other guy said do you want to place some money on that? The other guys who already knew the Rams had won the game  yesterday said sure how much. That’s the confidence we have so therefore we are not in darkness to this future advent. No matter what you see going on today we KNOW there is a better day coming. Therefore we are not in the dark.

🏃‍➡️Running Toward The Back Wall🏃‍♀️‍➡️

 All should strive to learn before they die, what they are running from, and to, and why.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 (KJV) For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

As I read that verse the word “escape” caught my attention. Webster said this about the word “escape”  To flee from and avoid; to get out of the way; to shun; to obtain security from; to pass without harm; as, to escape danger. 

When I was young my Daddy had me helping him rebuild the back porch. It was 12 or 15 feet from the ground. It was about 14 steps up to a small porch about a 3X3 with rails around 3 sides. I was on the ground when I heard my Dad yelling for me to run. I just took off running without looking to see why. As I ran I heard this loud crash behind me. Somehow the porch had come loose from the house and fell to the ground and it hit hard and loud. Had  I first looked around to see why I was to run I would have been hit by the falling porch. I had escaped danger and avoided harm and a trip to the ER thanks to my Dad. Sometimes as I’m thinking back over my childhood and the protection and the many escapes, I often think why did I so quickly listen to my Dad without question? Was it because I knew he loved me and if he said run there must be a reason for saying such. I’m not sure. In the verse before us we read of no escape. Before we read of the no escape we read this “as travail upon a woman with child” that’s an interesting word picture. First we read about the thief in the night, then about peace and safety. Then Boom, destruction❗️🗯️ It comes so fast like a thief and like a woman giving birth. What is this verse teaching us? The day of the Lord cometh and cometh fast. It would be nice if this world had peace and safety but it’s not going to happen no matter how hard we work at it. 

2 Timothy 3:13 (KJV) But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived. The race for power is a strong addiction and no matter who or what gets in the way it must go.  This world is in a destruction mode and is gaining momentum everyday. The Apostle Paul is telling us today to wake up, look around, what do you see? The Lord is Coming! He is our only escape. If you were in a building that somehow it caught on fire and there was only one door out what would you do? Hopefully you wouldn’t run toward the back wall. Oh no you would run to the only door there was to escape. Now with that word picture in your mind read this.  

John 10:7 (KJV) Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.

John 10:9 (KJV) I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.

Are you running toward the back wall?

⏳Time Where Did It Go⌛️

 My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?

1 Thessalonians 5:1 (KJV) But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 (KJV) For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

The time or season we have no idea of when the Lord will return and call His people away. Then Paul goes on and says but you know that the day of the Lord is coming and the way He comes will be like a thief. A thief doesn’t let you know when he is coming. A thief makes sure you aren’t aware of his showing up. Well when this world is not thinking or paying  attention, thinking all is well He will come. The problem is that this world just keeps getting further and further away from God so that when He comes it’s like a thief in the night. Many will scratch their heads and say “what happened.” Then Paul goes on, he says but you know, the Lord is not going to be a surprise because you know The Lord is coming, you are looking for His return. I’m afraid that many Christian look at the return of Christ as their death. They know it’s coming but not today I have plenty of time. 

1 Corinthians 15:51 (KJV) Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,

1 Corinthians 15:52 (KJV) In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.

We may not have as much time as we think! When it happens it will be fast.

🕵️‍♂️Without Doubt 🦮

 Grieving hearts need comforting words from a truthful source.

1 Thessalonians 4:18 (KJV) Wherefore comfort one another with these words. 

Paul tells his readers to “comfort one another” You yourself may have heard these words at a graveside of a loved one or friend right before their body is lowered into the ground. The first thing the Apostle Paul writes about is the assurance of those that have placed their trust in The Lord Jesus Christ. Even though their body is in the grave they are ok and with the Lord. Then Paul tells those that are still living and grieving the loss of their loved one, it’s ok, you’ll be together again. Then Paul goes on to tell those with broken hearts to “comfort one another with these words.” Words from the scripture will always comfort the broken hearted. Better than that, words from the scriptures will continually comfort those that believe they are true. Day after day I write of the truth from the scriptures. Truths I have put my trust in because I know they are true. Let me share one. My dad, my hero, the man that taught me so much, the doctors gave him little time to live. They said it like this “your dad will seem all is well but it’s not and when his time comes it will happen fast, and it did. Oh my! I was really concerned about what they said. First, I was about to lose my dad, my hero. Second, I was concerned about his salvation. He was a good man without doubt but good isn’t enough to get one to heaven. He was in the hospital and on a day in October I sat down and wrote him a letter that I would deliver to him that night. First I apologize for things I did without consulting him and mom thinking it wouldn’t trouble them. Like going and joining the military with a war going on where almost 60 thousand were killed, more than that were wounded and yet way more than that were mentally wounded for the rest of their life. Maybe being a World War II Vet he could have given me something to think about. Then I ran off and got married without a word to just name a few. Then I began to write and tell him about the day that The Lord Saved me. Then I finished up by telling him I was concerned about his salvation. I left that letter with him that night as I left his hospital room. At 11:30 that night he called me. He said he had read my letter and trusted Christ as his savior and two months later he was in heaven. It’s not what we have done, it’s who we have trusted. So when my Dads body was lowered into the cold grave I knew according to the scriptures that I have learned to trust in I would without doubt see him again. Those scriptures have not only assured me but have comforted me over and over again. 

Next time we start in Chapter 5 where Paul writes of the thief in the night.   

🎩It’s Not Magic 🐇

 It’s not the events of our lives that shape us, but our beliefs as to what those events mean.

1 Thessalonians 4:15 (KJV) For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

After The Apostle Paul says “others which have no hope” Then he says “For if we believe” he says here in verse 15 “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord” Where do you think Paul is getting all of his understanding? He tells us “by the word of the Lord” Now the reason many don’t know is because they know little or nothing about God’s Word. Acts 1:10 (KJV) And while they looked stedfastly toward heaven as he went up, behold, two men stood by them in white apparel;

Acts 1:11 (KJV) Which also said, Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into heaven? this same Jesus, which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have seen him go into heaven.

This same Jesus not another, not a look Like, not an imposter but this same Jesus “which is taken up from you into heaven, shall so come in like manner”

The Jesus we read about in our Bibles is coming back. We hear that Jesus is coming; I know you have seen someone holding a sign that reads “Jesus is coming soon.” Maybe someone said the words “Jesus is coming soon.” Maybe you have heard the word “Rapture.” Maybe someone has told you that the word “Rapture” is not in the Bible. Well you heard right it’s not but what if I told you the principal of the word “Rapture” is. The word Rapture means  “A seizing by violence or by force.” 

1 Thessalonians 4:16 (KJV) For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: The dead? Where are the dead? Many are 6 feet underground. If you have ever been to the cemetery and watched a casket being lowered into a concrete vault then a lid placed on the vault, then dirt packed on top of all that. Here we read that “the dead in Christ shall rise first” I don’t think it will be a quiet happening in the graveyard. Why do I say that? Because the Bible says this 1 Thessalonians 4:17 (KJV) Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Afterwards people who are alive will follow suit. I think all those that are alive one minute and gone the next, well I believe it will be noticed by those left behind. You are talking to someone and then they are gone. An airplane pilot is suddenly gone, oh my! Don’t you think it’s going to be a notable event? I think so.