As requested...

Here's the talk I did for the NWP course, it's on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11...

Let me know what you think!

A few weeks ago, I was watching Neighbours when there was a knock at the door. Now if you knew me, you’d know that Neighbours is a big deal to me! As everyone else in my house was out, I had the internal battle of whether to answer the door, or do what I wanted to - and just ignore them to carrying on watching. My conscience got the better of me, and I answered the door to see 2 young women standing there, and was greeted with the following question:

“Are you aware that Jesus is going to return very soon?”

I was slightly taken aback, and despite being one who enjoys discussing with Jehovah’s Witnesses from time to time, I was deeply regretting the decision to leave Karl and Susan and answer the door. It wasn’t long before the 2 ladies had taken me to 5 or 6 Bible references which they claimed backed up their theory that Jesus would return over the next 12 months.

Everything they said concentrated on when Jesus would return, not at all mentioning how I should be living in anticipation. The passage we just read does exactly the opposite.

As Christians, it is important that we’re aware of what the Bible teaches about the second coming of Christ. Obviously, in this talk, I don’t have the time - nor the knowledge - to discuss every theory or the doctrine of the second coming, but neither do I think that’s what this passage is teaching.

In this section of Paul’s letter to the believers in Thessalonica, he moves on from simply encouraging the believers, to dealing with the specific questions or concerns that they have. Previously answered questions include those about purity, love and work, along with the first half of issues surrounding the return of the Lord Jesus, in which Paul reassures the believers of the eternal destiny of those believers who have died.

Chapter 5 verses 1-11, which we are looking at today, are underpinned by Paul’s prayer at the end of chapter 3. In this prayer, Paul longs for their love to increase and overflow for each other; and for their hearts to be strengthened so that they will be blameless and holy on the last day. Throughout the whole letter, his instruction and teaching has an overwhelming feeling of encouragement and longing for the believers.

In this section, we find Paul teaching the Thessalonians three things: first, to be aware, second, be awake and finally be assured.

Be aware, that although you don’t know when the day is coming, it is coming!

Be awake, and ready for when it comes.

And be assured, that when it arrives, you will be saved.

So firstly – Be Aware, looking at verses 1 to 4.

Paul encourages the Thessalonians by confirming what they know, stating he has no need to tell them when Jesus is returning, because they’re aware that they can’t know! In fact, no one knows, even in Matthew 24, Jesus says only the Father knows when the Lord Jesus will return again. And it sounds as if the Thessalonians are well aware of this. Paul goes on to tell them some of the things we can know about the second coming; That it will be unexpected, like a thief if the night – verse 2, and that it will be sudden and inescapable, like labour pains – verse 3.

My Grandma’s waters broke while having her photo’s taken sitting on Santa’s knee at a Christmas fair! – I’m sure she would be able to relate to the analogy used by Paul.

But note Paul’s use of the word ‘they’ – ‘they will not escape’, ‘destruction will come upon them’. Verse four reiterates his point; he tells the believers that they will not be surprised on that day, for they are not in darkness. Their lack of surprise isn’t because they will know when it will be, but rather that they are constantly anticipating it happening. No one expects a thief to come into their house on a particular night. But anyone who locks their door before they go to sleep is anticipating it may happen. And this is what Paul is trying to explain to the believers, don’t worry about when it is, just be ready when it does.

So what does it mean to be ready?

How should we living in anticipation of the return of Jesus at any possible moment?

Well this brings us onto Point Two – Be Awake, verses 5 to 8.

Here we find another powerful illustration separating those who believe from those who don’t. Following on from v4, Paul tells the believers that they are children of the day, and of the light. We know that when Jesus said in John chapter 8 that he was the light of the world, he also said that those who followed Him no longer walked in darkness but instead have the light of life.

Being in Jesus means being in the light, and that makes us aware of things, we see things that those in darkness can’t. On the other hand, he describes those who are unbelievers to be of the night and of the darkness. And what do people do at night? Verse 7 says, they get drunk and they sleep. Here Paul is warning the Thessalonians to be awake and to be sober, or as the NIV translates it, be alert and self controlled. Paul says it in a way that implies it’s not of us, as believers, to be asleep or drunk, as we are not of the night.

We belong to the day, we should be alert, awake, active, self controlled! This is of our very nature.

I remember one night as a 15 year old, waking up to find my little brother, 11 at the time, sat on my bedroom floor reading a book. As it was 3 in the morning, I was slightly taken aback. I had a full but bizarre conversation with him, his eyes were open, he looked like he was awake. Of course, he wasn’t, he was sleepwalking, or sleep reading, I suppose! And in a sense, that’s what Paul is warning against. Don’t walk around looking awake when actually you’re sleeping – be alert! Be self controlled! Jesus could return at any moment, and we need to ensure that when He does, our lives reflect our relationship with God. Verse 8 goes on to tell us how to do this, and here we see 3 words which Paul has spoken about and implied throughout this letter: faith, hope and love.

Paul lovingly instructs the believers to put on the breastplate of faith and love. Faith in God, faith in His return, faith in His promises and in His word. Love – love for the brothers, overflowing, as he prays in chapter 3, for each other, encouraging each other and building each other up. When we think of the return of Jesus, what do we think is important? That we’ve kept each of the 10 commandments perfectly, that we’ve attended enough Bible studies that week? Or do we think of keeping strong in our faith and loving others? Because this is what Paul says is important.

Along with one more thing: hope. Hope of salvation. For the Christian, hope is certain, not just a pipe dream! The return of Jesus isn’t something that happens around us, it’s something that intrinsically involves us. It involves the salvation of those who are in Christ Jesus. Which brings us to our third point and final three verses.

Be Assured verses 9 to 11.

Why should the believers have hope in the day of the Lord? Because they are not destined for wrath, but to receive salvation through Jesus Christ. What a hope that is! Here Paul is reminding the Thessalonians what they already know about what Jesus has done for them – again, using the contrast of those who are destined for wrath, against what it means to be in Jesus.To be spared the deserved wrath of God because Jesus has died for the sins of those who believe in Him – so that they may have eternal life with him.

Paul reiterates in verse 10 what he has said in the previous chapter of his letter, that those who are alive or dead at the return of Jesus will live with him. And it’s important that we know this too.

Not only should we be aware that we won’t know when Jesus comes, or be awake and self controlled in anticipation, but we should also be assured that we have nothing to worry about when it happens! If we, like the receivers of this letter, are believers in the Gospel we can look forward to Christ’s return with full confidence! And so, we come to the application of Paul’s letter, verse 11.

‘In the light of all I’ve told you about the return of Jesus’, says Paul, ‘encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing’.

Remind each other that Jesus will return: when times are hard, when it feels like there is no end to the persecution you’re experiencing.

Remind each other to be self controlled and awake: don’t live your life as if Christ has just left us to it, constantly behave like Christ could return any minute.

And most important of all, remind each other that there is nothing to fear at Jesus’ return – that we are destined for salvation and eternity with God.

The application of this letter is exactly the same for us as believers today.

We still don’t know when Jesus will return, but we do know that we are to expect him at any time, and we know that we are to ensure we aren’t caught unaware, like those who are asleep. Let’s make sure we’re living lives which are self controlled, and lets encourage each other to be alert and ready for the return of our Lord. But most of all, let us encourage each other about what Jesus has done for us on the cross, and what that will mean for us on the day when Jesus returns.

having never written a talk in my life...

... i have 4 to write in the next 3 weeks.

first, a talk on 2 Kings 5 for Mini Kids (4-7 year olds) next Friday (21st)... i don't even know the story, must get on with this. I guess this one is slightly easier as it's just a case of getting the story and the point across, it's not like Justin Mote is watching over me to critique my theology and application. Praise God for that! (hehe) that said, I need to do it right.

second, my North West Partnership talk (Thurs 27th), which is on 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11. I'm systematically trying to work my way through the "tools" we've been given for working out what it's saying and also how to write the talk. I'm so glad we got all this teaching before we had to write the talks! I'd have completely had no idea. Anyway my current position is that I get what it's saying, but I'm not sure of the application and I can't think of any relavant illustrations. They'll come, we assume. On the same theme as before, I'm glad I'm not a boy and therefore Justin Mote isn't critiquing me. I'm not scared of him or anything, it's just his brain is BIG. I'm sure the lady who leads our group's brain is also big, but she's very smiley and says criticising in a very kind way. I can deal with that.

third, i'm doing a seminar at Liverpool City CU's houseparty (Sat 29th) on living with non-Christians. I'm a little happier about this, or at least the content. I just need to get that bizarre combination of Bible study and talk that a seminar requires. I've done some work on this, it just needs padding out. It's weird being asked to lead a seminar. I only "left" CU like 5 months ago.

and fourthly, i'm speaking briefly (10 mins or so) at the Widowers group at Bridge (3rd Dec). Haven't decided what to speak on yet, it's more of a thought for the day than a full on talk, but needs to be relevant and sensative. Considering something about God never leaving us... Dunno yet.

So... nothing like everything coming at once!