How We Can Encourage One Another! – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
How We Can Encourage One Another! – 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 7, 2020
We’ve been talking a lot about encouraging one another lately and I think it is something we all need to hear. And with all that has been going on in the news recently many think that this is the forerunner of the end of days, but I assure you it is not. Rather it is the outcome of a world that has turned its back on the holy things of God. As Christians we need to focus on the One who holds the world in the palm of his hands. We need to encourage one another!
Paul wrote a young church about the concerns he had for its future. They needed to focus on whom they had put their faith and trust in, how they should walk in him, and how they could encourage one another to live as God desired them to in a world that seemed to be destroying itself. Let’s learn this morning how we can encourage one another…
READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The death of a young man at the hands of those in society we should be able to place our trust - is unthinkable. Rioting will not solve the problem of sin. True peace can only come from the Prince of Peace. The truth is that darkness cannot cast out darkness only light can; even one small candle makes the darkness flee. This is true for the sins of mankind as well. The Light of the World, Jesus came to destroy the darkness of sin and Paul teaches us that…
I. We can encourage the world with the light of the truth! (Vv. 1-5)
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
1. I always laugh when I hear about a new book, sermon, or the latest televangelist who has another insight as to when Jesus will return or if they think the latest strife represents the end of the world. Jesus told his own disciples, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36 NIV)” Paul understood this and therefore writes the Thessalonians “brothers, about the times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”. All Christians know Jesus will return, he promised he would but we do not know the exact day or hour. No one, no self-proclaimed theologian, prima donna preacher, or worried individual knows when Jesus will return. Neither did the Thessalonians because they knew full well that just like a sneaky cat burglar who no one knows when or where he will strike Jesus will return. In fact just when people are thinking “‘peace and safety’ destruction will come on them suddenly”! Just like when a woman who is giving birth cannot escape her “labor pains” people “will not escape” the coming of the Lord. Paul understood this. What is even more important is to remind ourselves the truth that what occurs in this life to us personally is only a temporary trial or tribulation, it is momentary. And like Paul all Christians should declare that “to live is Christ and to die is gain! (Philippians 1:21 NIV)” This is why Paul writes the Thessalonians “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.” We are not part of the sin-darkened world. If we have trusted Jesus with our lives then the ungodliness of the world around us should not surprise us! We live in the light of Christ not in the darkness of the sinful world. Therefore that since we are the children of God, “sons of the light” of the gospel truth, we live in the daylight! “We do not belong to the night or to the darkness!” We can encourage the world with the light of the truth!
EXAMPLE: We are often fascinated with death, dying, or destruction. We go to the movies to be frightened. Even my grandkids play “zombies”. It is a sad commentary however when believers allow their “dark side” to rule the truth of the gospel. Do not get caught up in meaningless discussions of when the world will end, instead remember that we can encourage the world with the light of the truth!
Just like we do not know the day or hour when we will die, we do not know when the Lord will return. Christians are not to walk around like a bunch of zombies; like the walking dead, unthinking, in a trance, and uncaring except when we will get our next meal! Life is more than this. Paul writes that…
II. We can encourage others with the strength of our faith! (Vv. 6-8)
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep[s] at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
1. Paul wanted his readers to live better lives than they were. He did not want them to wake up every day afraid nor did he want them to forget who they lived for. The rest of the world only cares for their own selves; what they will eat, drink, or wear. Uncaring, unthinking, and mind-numbed: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” Christians should be wide awake, ready, and self-controlled. In the midst of a world that is going to hell in a hand basket believers should be prepared and set to go. This was the logical conclusion to what Christians believe. If Jesus is going to return what are we doing right now to show others, the world, or an indifferent society that our faith matters? “For those who sleep, sleep[s] at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” Christians should be about their Master’s business. Now Paul didn’t mean that we are to forget about our families, friends, communities, or one another; we should be about the Lord’s business as we live in the world! Far too often Christians spend way too much time trying to be blessed, that they are not a blessing to the world around them! We display inconsistency of faith when we worry more about us than being concerned for those around us who need the Lord. We should be the ones showing an undisciplined and disjointed world the reliability of faith. Paul writes, “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Our faith and hope are like spiritual armor that shields us in our walk with God in this world. We should be the ones who are “self-controlled” because of our faith. Therefore we can encourage others with the strength of our faith!
EXAMPLE: Peaceful protests have been co-opted by those who hide their faces with masks, those who espouse violence to get their way, and those who think chaos is the answer to destroy America. Chaos, strife, and violence only come from evil. The sin-darkened world sees faith as a weakness but Paul reminds us that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV)” Our strength comes from the Lord and we can therefore encourage others with the strength of our faith!
What will you do with the day God has given you? Actually this is the wrong question; it should be what will you do with the eternity God has given you? Christians do not live for the moment, they live forever. Paul would remind us that…
III. We can encourage one another with eternity! (Vv. 9-11)
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1. When we trust Jesus with our lives we have crossed over from the chains of this existence into the freedom of eternity. Whether we live or die we live for the Lord. This life is momentary and in fact “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s why Jesus came! We who believe no longer have the wrath of God on us like the rest of the unbelieving world because of our sin, but rather we have received the wonderful glorious truth of salvation through Jesus! Paul would write: “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NIV)” In a sense Christians are the “Walking Dead” as I mentioned before in that we died to our sins and live in Christ! Paul would reiterate the truth all of us should know and be strengthened by every living moment of our lives: Jesus “died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” As I have said before that as human beings we can forget who we are in Jesus and what we have become because of him. John the Apostle reminds us that “to all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12-13 NIV)” which means that every day we walk in the heritage of God as his child! Paul writes, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” We can encourage one another with eternity!
EXAMPLE: The phrase “today is the first day of the rest of my life” actually comes from a poem by an unknown author: “Today is the very first day of the rest of my life. This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it… or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss; good and not evil; success and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it. I will try just for today, for you will never fail until you stop trying.” Paul would remind us that every day we can encourage one another with eternity!
Conclusion:
We can encourage the world with the light of the truth! We can encourage others with the strength of our faith! We can encourage one another with eternity!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
By Pastor Lee Hemen
June 7, 2020
We’ve been talking a lot about encouraging one another lately and I think it is something we all need to hear. And with all that has been going on in the news recently many think that this is the forerunner of the end of days, but I assure you it is not. Rather it is the outcome of a world that has turned its back on the holy things of God. As Christians we need to focus on the One who holds the world in the palm of his hands. We need to encourage one another!
Paul wrote a young church about the concerns he had for its future. They needed to focus on whom they had put their faith and trust in, how they should walk in him, and how they could encourage one another to live as God desired them to in a world that seemed to be destroying itself. Let’s learn this morning how we can encourage one another…
READ: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
The death of a young man at the hands of those in society we should be able to place our trust - is unthinkable. Rioting will not solve the problem of sin. True peace can only come from the Prince of Peace. The truth is that darkness cannot cast out darkness only light can; even one small candle makes the darkness flee. This is true for the sins of mankind as well. The Light of the World, Jesus came to destroy the darkness of sin and Paul teaches us that…
I. We can encourage the world with the light of the truth! (Vv. 1-5)
Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
1. I always laugh when I hear about a new book, sermon, or the latest televangelist who has another insight as to when Jesus will return or if they think the latest strife represents the end of the world. Jesus told his own disciples, “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. (Matthew 24:36 NIV)” Paul understood this and therefore writes the Thessalonians “brothers, about the times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night”. All Christians know Jesus will return, he promised he would but we do not know the exact day or hour. No one, no self-proclaimed theologian, prima donna preacher, or worried individual knows when Jesus will return. Neither did the Thessalonians because they knew full well that just like a sneaky cat burglar who no one knows when or where he will strike Jesus will return. In fact just when people are thinking “‘peace and safety’ destruction will come on them suddenly”! Just like when a woman who is giving birth cannot escape her “labor pains” people “will not escape” the coming of the Lord. Paul understood this. What is even more important is to remind ourselves the truth that what occurs in this life to us personally is only a temporary trial or tribulation, it is momentary. And like Paul all Christians should declare that “to live is Christ and to die is gain! (Philippians 1:21 NIV)” This is why Paul writes the Thessalonians “But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day.” We are not part of the sin-darkened world. If we have trusted Jesus with our lives then the ungodliness of the world around us should not surprise us! We live in the light of Christ not in the darkness of the sinful world. Therefore that since we are the children of God, “sons of the light” of the gospel truth, we live in the daylight! “We do not belong to the night or to the darkness!” We can encourage the world with the light of the truth!
EXAMPLE: We are often fascinated with death, dying, or destruction. We go to the movies to be frightened. Even my grandkids play “zombies”. It is a sad commentary however when believers allow their “dark side” to rule the truth of the gospel. Do not get caught up in meaningless discussions of when the world will end, instead remember that we can encourage the world with the light of the truth!
Just like we do not know the day or hour when we will die, we do not know when the Lord will return. Christians are not to walk around like a bunch of zombies; like the walking dead, unthinking, in a trance, and uncaring except when we will get our next meal! Life is more than this. Paul writes that…
II. We can encourage others with the strength of our faith! (Vv. 6-8)
So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep[s] at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.
1. Paul wanted his readers to live better lives than they were. He did not want them to wake up every day afraid nor did he want them to forget who they lived for. The rest of the world only cares for their own selves; what they will eat, drink, or wear. Uncaring, unthinking, and mind-numbed: “So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled.” Christians should be wide awake, ready, and self-controlled. In the midst of a world that is going to hell in a hand basket believers should be prepared and set to go. This was the logical conclusion to what Christians believe. If Jesus is going to return what are we doing right now to show others, the world, or an indifferent society that our faith matters? “For those who sleep, sleep[s] at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night.” Christians should be about their Master’s business. Now Paul didn’t mean that we are to forget about our families, friends, communities, or one another; we should be about the Lord’s business as we live in the world! Far too often Christians spend way too much time trying to be blessed, that they are not a blessing to the world around them! We display inconsistency of faith when we worry more about us than being concerned for those around us who need the Lord. We should be the ones showing an undisciplined and disjointed world the reliability of faith. Paul writes, “But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.” Our faith and hope are like spiritual armor that shields us in our walk with God in this world. We should be the ones who are “self-controlled” because of our faith. Therefore we can encourage others with the strength of our faith!
EXAMPLE: Peaceful protests have been co-opted by those who hide their faces with masks, those who espouse violence to get their way, and those who think chaos is the answer to destroy America. Chaos, strife, and violence only come from evil. The sin-darkened world sees faith as a weakness but Paul reminds us that “the foolishness of God is wiser than man's wisdom, and the weakness of God is stronger than man's strength. (1 Corinthians 1:25 NIV)” Our strength comes from the Lord and we can therefore encourage others with the strength of our faith!
What will you do with the day God has given you? Actually this is the wrong question; it should be what will you do with the eternity God has given you? Christians do not live for the moment, they live forever. Paul would remind us that…
III. We can encourage one another with eternity! (Vv. 9-11)
For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
1. When we trust Jesus with our lives we have crossed over from the chains of this existence into the freedom of eternity. Whether we live or die we live for the Lord. This life is momentary and in fact “God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ.” That’s why Jesus came! We who believe no longer have the wrath of God on us like the rest of the unbelieving world because of our sin, but rather we have received the wonderful glorious truth of salvation through Jesus! Paul would write: “‘Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?’ The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. (1 Corinthians 15:55-57 NIV)” In a sense Christians are the “Walking Dead” as I mentioned before in that we died to our sins and live in Christ! Paul would reiterate the truth all of us should know and be strengthened by every living moment of our lives: Jesus “died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him.” As I have said before that as human beings we can forget who we are in Jesus and what we have become because of him. John the Apostle reminds us that “to all who received [Jesus], to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God--children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God (John 1:12-13 NIV)” which means that every day we walk in the heritage of God as his child! Paul writes, “Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” We can encourage one another with eternity!
EXAMPLE: The phrase “today is the first day of the rest of my life” actually comes from a poem by an unknown author: “Today is the very first day of the rest of my life. This is the beginning of a new day. I have been given this day to use as I will. I can waste it… or use it for good, but what I do today is important, because I am exchanging a day of my life for it. When tomorrow comes, this day will be gone forever, leaving in its place something I have traded for it. I want it to be gain and not loss; good and not evil; success and not failure; in order that I shall not regret the price I have paid for it. I will try just for today, for you will never fail until you stop trying.” Paul would remind us that every day we can encourage one another with eternity!
Conclusion:
We can encourage the world with the light of the truth! We can encourage others with the strength of our faith! We can encourage one another with eternity!
----
This article is copyrighted © 2020 by Lee Hemen and is the sole property of Lee Hemen, and may not be used unless you quote the entire article and have my permission.
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