1 Thessalonians

Living to Please God (1 Thessalonians 4)

Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

How ought we live? We ought to live in such a way as to please God.

It is easy to live seeking to please yourself, or others, or your family, or your boss, or your flesh. But Jesus commands, first and foremost, I want you to live so that you please the Lord.

Living pleasing to the Lord is not a once off.

“But I made a decision to follow Jesus years ago!” some will say. “But I AM already born again” others will say.

Pleasing God is not an ongoing state of being. It is something we do (or don’t do) by how we live day by day. As long as we live, we must aim to live pleasing to Him. So how do we do that?

Some ways we can live pleasing to God:

Live by faith – Hebrews 11:6 says without faith it is impossible to please God. When we choose the way of faith, we please Him.
Resist temptation – Every time we say no to temptation, we choose the way of the Spirit and that is pleasing to God.
Walking in Love – When we act out of love we are demonstrating God’s heart to others. We are choosing His way over ours and it pleases Him.
Our Attitude – When we set our desire upon please Him, that in itself brings joy to His heart and is pleasing as we value Him first.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for showing me how to live. I ask that you would strengthen me so that I would live in such a way as to please you, day in and day out. Thank you Father, in Jesus name, Amen.

Increasing in Love to the End (1 Thessalonians 3)

1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 says:

…may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

These verses talk of God pouring out His love in our hearts that we may love others in increasing measure. I don’t know about you, but that is convicting to me!

Paul goes on to give us a reason for this exhortation. He says, it is so that “your hearts blameless in holiness before our God”. A heart abounding in love is going to be made holy before God! Wow.

But there is a greater context to this again. This holiness that comes from the outpouring of God’s love is being perfected in preparation for the second coming of Jesus!

I’ll put it this way. Why does God want our hearts full of love and so, blameless in holiness before Him? Because He is preparing us – His people – for the return of His Son, Jesus.

Jesus is coming for a pure and spotless bride. He is wanting to find a people with loving and holy hearts before their God. That is what is required of the the bride.

PRAYER: Father, pour out your love in my heart. Fill my heart Lord with your love. Let me know your love and hunger after your love more and more. Create in me a pure heart Lord, in Jesus name, Amen.

Boldness in Tough Times (1 Thessalonians 2)

1 Thessalonians 2 verse 2 says:

But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

Even in times of conflict and when under attack, Paul, Silas and Timothy still acted with boldness in their God and in the gospel message.

When conflict comes and when difficulties arise, our first reaction is to shrink back. Our emotions tell us to pull back and take the safe option. But that is not what God in looking for.

The man or woman of God who remains bold in tough times is the person who is aware that God is at work.

Instead of sensing danger, they sense opportunity
Instead of being intimidated, they are invigorated by the battle
Instead of seeing the enemy at work, they see God at work

Boldness comes from knowing our God. The more we know Him, the more we know He is good and able to overcome every difficulty and opposition.

The person who knows their God knows that suffering and hardship will be turned around for our good. And so they can step out in boldness.

PRAYER: Father, I thank you for working in my situation. I thank you you have overcome the world. I ask and receive boldness today to keep on the assignment you have for me. In Jesus name, Amen.

The Word of God Performs Its Work (1 Thess 2)

Your Word

1 Thessalonians Chapter 2 verse 13 says:

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

When you receive the Word as being from God and when you believe in the Word as God’s – then the Word begins to be at work within you. It is when we accept that we accept the Word “for what it really is” that is begins to “perform its work” in us.

It is the work of the Word of God to align us to the Truth and purposes of God.

The Word of God is given to bring salvation from sin, sickness, death and hell.
The Word of God is sent to bind up the broken hearted and heal the afflicted.
The Word of God is sent to loose the chains of sin, addiction and Spiritual oppression.
The Word of God is sent to illuminate truth and expose the lies of the kingdom of darkness.
The Word of God is given to bring life and life more abundantly!

There are many great and wonderful benefits to the work of the Word of God in us. We are blessed because of it.And when others see it they have cause to give thanks to God.

But this only happens when it is recognised this is not from man alone; this is from God! That is, it is not just words, it is THE Word that is working life, freedom and victory in our lives, by the grace of God.

PRAYER: Father God, I invite your word and truth to work in my life. Father I want your outcomes and results to be evident in my heart and life. I love you Father, Amen.