The Day Rises: ‘Before we Finish’ (1 Thess 5)

The Day Rises: ‘Before we Finish’ (1 Thess 5)

[00:00:00] Good to see you all. Uh, my name is Tim. How about I pray for us then We’ll, we’ll get going. Lord God. Thank you for your word. Thank you that you spoke through the Apostle Paul all those years ago and you are speaking to us today through your word. We thank you that in your word you teach us, you instruct us, you correct us, and you encourage us and I pray that you’ll do that again for us this morning.

[00:00:24] Ah, amen. Uh, as some of you may know, this is the final, uh, final, um, well, as you would see in your Bibles, you have ’em open. This is the final chapter in the, the book of one Thessalonians, which we’ve been working through over the last, um, few months on and off. There’s been a few detours from, uh, from working through it sequentially, but this is the final chapter and it’s, uh, yeah, my honor to, my, my privilege to, to bring it to us, um, this morning.

[00:00:52] Thanks, Dan. It should be a big picture. Next one. That’s it. Oh. [00:01:00] So, uh, there was a bit of a theme of weddings, uh, and, uh, anniversaries this morning. Uh, Katie and I had our wedding anniversary, uh, about three weeks ago. Uh, my wife there, Katie in the blue, uh, yeah, we’re married about, uh, just over three, three years ago.

[00:01:14] Uh, and it was a wonderful time of, of, of celebration and, uh, remembering the wonderful day that it was. Uh, we got ba uh, engaged back in 2017 and we decided that a six month engagement was the right amount of time to get ready for the big day. Uh, if any of you are married or you have known, or you know, someone who is married, you’ll know that, uh.

[00:01:37] Putting a wedding together is, um, a huge task. There are a myriad of activities which need to be to be done. You need to decide on the date. Of course, you need to book the church. You need to, to book the, the wedding reception venue. You need to buy suits, buy flowers. Decide what type of wine selection you get.

[00:01:55] There’s a myriad of things that you need to do to get ready for the big day. [00:02:00] Uh, in addition to these, perhaps it was just a, a vanity thing. I decided that I wanted to be fit and healthy. If I couldn’t be fit and healthy for that day, I figured when would I be? So I was exercise four or five times a week, ate really well.

[00:02:14] Yeah, my exercise was generally during my work, lunch breaks. Don’t tell my boss about that one. Um, but yeah, so I got myself ready physically for that day. In addition to, to that I also needed to get. Uh, need to understand what would our life look like together? Where would we live? Would we buy a property?

[00:02:36] Would we rent, would we have one car, two cars? Which sofa would be used? So many decisions and more important than all of that was of course to, uh, to, to prepare our relationship for that day. To, to understand and to discuss what we wanted our, our marriage to look like in the years to come. So we spent a lot of time working together on deciding, [00:03:00] uh, what we wanted our, uh, working on our relationship so that we would, when the day came, we would be ready in a sense.

[00:03:08] My whole life, our whole lives, for that six month that those six months was, was geared towards, was looking forward to, uh, and revolved around that one day. So that when that day came, we would be ready. Now, in the passage that, uh, Nick read for us a moment ago, uh, Paul is instructing the church in the Thessalonica how they can get ready for their big day, but of course it’s not a wedding that he’s speaking about, but rather something much, much more important, much bigger.

[00:03:40] But in a similar way, he’s saying that their whole lives should, should revolve around preparing themselves for that big day. And so this morning, uh, we’re gonna look at, well, what is that big day that he’s talking about? And, and how should they prepare for it? Thanks. Next slide. Now the [00:04:00] phrase, the day of the Lord is one which has a rich, uh, history in the Old Testament.

[00:04:05] And Stuart, um, uh, described a lot of this a couple of weeks ago, and Paul would not have used this, this phrase lightly. After all this, there’s a lot of other phrases that Paul could have used. He could have used the. The day of the Return of Christ or the last trumpet he uses in one Corinthians, I think it is, or, or the Judgment Day.

[00:04:24] He specifically chooses this, um, this phrase to, to communicate something about, um, something about, uh, what he’s trying to teach them. So on the day of the Lord, we learn that on this day, God himself, Yahweh will decisively intervene in history. Uh, he will, uh, restore Israel to. Uh, to the head of the nations, he will bring blessings on them and he will punish their enemies.

[00:04:53] That’s what they expected. Uh, this is what the people of Israel expected on the day of [00:05:00] the Lord, and they also expected that they would be on the winning side of this event. They would be the ones receiving this dication and blessing. However, in the Old Testament book of Amos, which is the first time we see mention of this phrase, day of the Lord, Amos declares that their expectation of blessings and vindication, uh, is misplaced rather in very vivid imagery.

[00:05:28] Uh, Amos describes how this day of the Lord for them will be a day of darkness and of judgment on them and of destruction and weeping. They thought that because they had enjoyed God’s favor in the past that they would then enjoy God’s favor in the future. But God declares in Amos, and these are very strong words, he says, I hate, I despise your religious festivals.

[00:05:57] Your assemblies are a stench to me. [00:06:00] Even though you bring burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Even though you bring choice offerings, choice fellowship offerings, I’ll have no regard for them away with the noise of your songs. I will not listen to the music of your hearts. Now, clearly there was religious activity and religious fervor perhaps in uh, amongst the people of Israel, but God did not accept this religious activity.

[00:06:32] That’s a scary thought, isn’t it? We’ve been singing this morning. And, and doing some of those, uh, similar things, but the people of is, uh, the people of God were not preparing in the way that was acceptable to him, which meant that they would face this judgment. However, in contrast to these, these bleak passages, there are always also, um, a glimmer of hope.

[00:06:54] The Book of Amos and Zephaniah, uh, continues by describing that this [00:07:00] glimmer, yeah, this glimmer of hope against this dark backdrop. Although there would be judgment carried out on Israel, and we see that historically that, that that was the case, whether it’s, uh, with Babylon, um, sending them into exile, uh, or, or the Persians or the famines.

[00:07:18] There was judgment on Israel, but there was also this promise of restoration. So therefore, the stakes for getting ready for the law for the day of the Lord in, in the way that is acceptable to him. It’s therefore very, very important. So the obvious question is, how should we get ready for this day if the people of Israel were not getting ready properly, how should we in the lead up to the wedding?

[00:07:45] I thought carefully about how, uh, to get ready for this day. And so let’s think about that now. Thanks. Next slide. Now in the later part of chapter five, Paul teaches, uh, the people of Thessalonika that is [00:08:00] in their relationships. That they can prepare for this day, their relationships with their church leaders, their relationships with each other within the church, their relationships with people outside the church, and lastly, their relationship with God and his word.

[00:08:20] So firstly, uh, the relationship with the leaders in verses uh, 12 and 13, which were read out a moment ago. Paul asks. Uh, the members too, acknowledge those who work hard amongst you, who care for you in the Lord, and who admonish you, hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. So to prepare for the day of the Lord, one of the aspects we need to do is to submit to and to honor our church leaders.

[00:08:50] Our leaders deserve this honor and support, not because of any, uh, particular personal achievements, although. Of our leaders do have many [00:09:00] achievements, uh, but because of the spiritual function that they exercise in the Lord, notice that our, our leaders care for us in the Lord, so that their leadership role is in some way an extension of God’s leadership over us.

[00:09:17] Now, I notice that our leader’s role, uh, includes admonition, and this is something that, that, that Toby touched on a few, few weeks ago. When done correctly, a leader, um, uh, it’s a leader’s responsibility to lead and serve the community in a way that that honors God and his word, even when that may involve, uh, rebuking or bringing, uh, a difficult message to someone.

[00:09:43] And so that might make the hearers uncomfortable and may require a difficult, uh, process of repentance and change. Now I think this, this word of encouragement is particularly, uh, important to us in our stage as a church with the, uh, [00:10:00] the recent appointment of four new elders who are our leaders in, in, in our church, Toby, Dan, Liam and Chris joining, uh, Stewart and Dave, um, as leaders and we, um, including myself, we who are not elders, uh, it’s our, it’s our honor and duty to acknowledge them.

[00:10:19] In their work and their leadership over us, their, their role in our community is critical, um, is critically important within our community. So, as Paul writes, let us hold our leaders in the highest regard because of their work and because of their role. Let us honor and love our leaders in a way that allows them to do their job and their, their work amongst us.

[00:10:45] Let us encourage them in their work as Paul describes in. Chapter two, as they deal with us as a father, deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting, and urging us li uh, to live lives worthy of [00:11:00] God who calls us into his kingdom. So how about I give that a go now? How about I try and, uh, express our, uh, how I acknowledge our leaders?

[00:11:12] So, Dave Stewart, Toby Dam, Liam and Chris, thank you for your work amongst us. Uh, for your work to encourage us, uh, to comfort, to challenge, and to admonish us your, uh, the people. Um, that’s your duty to, to lead here. May we hold you in the highest regard because of the at times difficult work that you, you do amongst us as you seek to care for us in the Lord.

[00:11:43] I think that over the last few months, our church has shown great maturity in this, in this area. I think of the, there’s some, the key key changes which we’ve, uh, gone through as a community, whether it’s the, the appointment of, um, the, the new leaders or whether it’s combining [00:12:00] two services into one or everyone moving, um, locations of the service.

[00:12:05] And for the afternoon, moving to the, the morning. There’s been so many changes, which have happened over the last. Few months. And I think our community has really shown, um, that we, in some ways we’re, we’re very good at this, we’re very good at, um, submitting to our leaders and to, uh, and to honoring their direction and their leadership over us.

[00:12:23] So I think that’s a, a wonderful, um, wonderful to read this passage and to see how we are able to, um, to to honor our leaders. But may that be even more the case, um, in the future. Now, Paul’s exhortation is not just. Uh, for the members of the church to their leaders, uh, but also the, the community that is preparing for the day of the Lord understands that it is their responsibility, uh, the responsibility of all members of the church to live in peace with one another, to warn those who are idle and disruptive, to encourage the disheartened, [00:13:00] to help the weak, and to be patient with everyone.

[00:13:04] Firstly, we are to live at peace with one another. This is relating, uh, related to the previous encouragement, uh, to honor our leaders. A, a community which deeply honors its leaders, uh, is one where it’d be much easier and natural, uh, for its members to live, uh, to live at peace with one another, creating a climate of goodwill, uh, Paul, and also encourages, uh, the members of the church who are idle and disruptive.

[00:13:31] Uh, this is a mem, uh, yeah. Uh, an instruction for the members of the church itself. Now, lots of commentators on this, this passage think that, uh, Paul is specifically, uh, speaking to, uh, members of the church who expect the day of the Lord to come very imminently, whether it’s in the next couple of days, weeks, or months.

[00:13:52] And so the thinking goes is that, well, Jesus is gonna come back soon in the next few days, so let’s just sit around [00:14:00] and wait for it to happen. If Jesus is gonna come back in a couple of days time, let’s. Get the popcorn, put our feet up and, and wait for the fireworks. What’s the point in, in striving, uh, for the good of those around us if everything’s gonna end anyway?

[00:14:16] Now, I don’t think this is really a line of thinking that we here are, are particularly tempted to fall into. I think though we are probably tempted to fall into the, the other extreme, which is, well, Jesus hasn’t come back in almost 2000 years. He’s probably never going to, let’s just. Live our lives and carry on and pretend it’s not gonna happen.

[00:14:36] That’s something which I, I’m sure, um, often fall into and might be the same for you. Also, notice the, the outcome is, is somewhat similar for the people who expect the, that Jesus is gonna, uh, return in the next few days. The outcome is that they’re not gonna use their gifts, uh, and their service in the service of the [00:15:00] church and others.

[00:15:01] Rather they’re just gonna sit back and wait on the other end. Or in a similar way, if we’re so busy all the time not expecting that Jesus is gonna come back anytime soon, then we would be tempted to not use our gifts and our service in the service of the community. And so, either way, on either end of the spectrum, the church misses out on the valuable contribution that, that those people that we can give to the community of believers.

[00:15:31] Next, the, the weak are also mentioned. It’s, it’s not clear whether Paul is talking about physically weak or, or spiritually weak or maybe both. Uh, the community of believers is to, is to support and be patient with them. It can be very difficult to be patient with, with the weak. Uh, we have the phrase compassion fatigue.

[00:15:53] Uh, particularly when someone, when you’ve been a alongside someone for, for many. Weeks or months, and there [00:16:00] doesn’t seem to be any discernible improvement or even gratitude. It’s very difficult to, uh, yeah, to, to, to support, um, people in their time of need, uh, when that time is, goes for a long time. However, even if, uh, if there is imperceptible, um, improvement or, um, yeah, or improvement, uh, believers, uh, must be patient with those in their weaknesses.

[00:16:29] Paul Next, uh, instructs the, the community, uh, to prepare for the day of the Lord in their relationship with those outside the church. He’s, he writes, make sure that nobody pays you back. Wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. This is reminiscent of Jesus’ teaching in, in Matthew five, where he says, love your enemies.

[00:16:53] Bless those who curse you and pray for those who mistreat you. This instruction is not just, [00:17:00] uh, for the church, uh, to, to not pay back, um, others, other church members. Wrong for wrong, but anyone who has sinned against them. Let’s also remember who Paul is writing this to this church in Thessalonika. They have good reason, uh, to to be bitter and to be angry at those who have wronged them.

[00:17:22] Uh, we read in Acts 17 about when Paul actually visited this church, uh, and, uh, established the church and preached in their synagogue, um, when he was there. Uh, when it became clear that, uh, Paul was teaching about Jesus being the Christ, the leaders in Thessalonika formed a mob. They set the city in uproar and they attacked the house of a man named Jason, who was a recent Jewish convert.

[00:17:50] Uh, when I weren’t able to find Paul and his associates Silas at Jason’s house, they dragged Jason and some other brothers before the city [00:18:00] authorities as well as this. We, we read in one Thessalonians chapter one that, that many members of the church had turned to God from idols to serve the one true and living God.

[00:18:15] Now this would’ve meant in that context much more than, uh, just changing how and where they, they worshiped one day a week. The, the Christians total rejection of, uh, of the, their former Pagan religious, uh, practices would evoke feelings of resentment and anger in the non-Christians. Uh, amongst their family and friends, the, the exclusivity of these Christians, their seemingly arrogant refusal to participate in any worship of any God except their own, uh, deeply wounded public sensibilities, citizens of thessalonika, worried that their Greek gods, uh, who they [00:19:00] believe they relied on for blessing might punish them.

[00:19:03] After all, Thessalonika was only about 50 miles from Mount Olympus. To the southeast, they could actually apparently see Mount Olympus from Thessalonika, which is apparently where these gods dwelt. And so the people of Thessalonika would be, uh, would be worried that, that these Christians might be subjecting them to disease feminine, uh, famine and natural disasters because of their rejection of these, um, these gods.

[00:19:31] And also turning from, uh, to God from idols. And the Imperial Roman cult might also, uh, jeopardize, uh, the, the whole city standing in the eyes of Rome. The, the Church of Thessalonika enjoyed a very privileged status. It’s a free Roman city, and so that might also be jeopardized. So it’s in this context that Paul encourages the church to never pay back.

[00:19:56] Wrong for wrong. That would’ve been a hard command. [00:20:00] Surely, some of these members of the church that were reading this letter might have known some personally. Some of the people who attacked Jason, or maybe Jason himself, was reading this letter and dragged him outta this house and arrest him. Do not repay them wrong for wrong.

[00:20:18] Those who had subjected them to much affliction because of their love of Christ, do not repay them wrong for wrong. Those who would try to harm and perhaps kill Paul for his attempt to bring them the good saving news of Christ, do not repay them wrong for wrong. This is surely a challenge to, to them and to us.

[00:20:45] If we are truly prepared for this day of the Lord, then we will not repay wrong for wrong. Quite the opposite, as Paul continues always seek to do good. To one another and to everyone. I wonder if there’s [00:21:00] people in your life, um, who have done you wrong, who have genuinely sinned against you and you still holding onto bitterness and anger and resentment.

[00:21:11] Maybe this is something which was done against you days ago, weeks ago, and that anger and bitterness is, is sharp and raw. Or maybe it’s something which was done months, years, decades ago, and that, um, that that anger and that bitterness is, is deep and settled and cold. Perhaps someone in your family or friend or a coworker do not repay them wrong for wrong, but seek to do good to one another and to everyone.

[00:21:47] This is hard to hear. But it’s surely exactly what Paul is talking about. If we are to be ready for this day of the Lord, we must forgive. We must forgive, [00:22:00] and we must work for the good of those around us. Paul continues, rejoice always, pray continually. Give thanks in all circumstances for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

[00:22:15] Again, remembering that this church is a church who was familiar with great affliction. Paul is telling them to rejoice always and give thanks in all circumstances for that’s God’s will for them in Christ Jesus. Now, the last set of staccato like instructions, uh, the Paul gives, uh, around knowing and pursuing the truth of the gospel.

[00:22:42] Paul writes, do not quench the spirit. Do not despise prophet prophecies, but test everything and hold fast to what is good. Abstain from every form of evil. A people who are ready for the day of the Lord. Pursue knowledge of God [00:23:00] and honor his gifts, particularly as they relate to knowing and loving God.

[00:23:08] Uh, the people of God are also to be discerning, not just accepting any, any teaching which comes by, uh, but testing it against the truth that, uh, revealed in the Bible, including this sermon. I say every, every teaching should be tested against the truth of the Bible. And what is the outcome of this, of this, of this knowledge and discernment?

[00:23:31] Is it knowledge for the sake of knowledge or interest? No. The outcome of this knowledge for the Thessalonian Church is that they abstain from every form of evil. Right. Knowledge and understanding of God leads to Right. Living and, um, yeah. Right. Living. And this is similar to, uh, to the idea that, that Paul writes to the church in Philippi.

[00:23:55] He writes, and this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and [00:24:00] more in, what do you think it would be? If you are writing this letter, you’d say, may your love abound more and more in emotion or passion? No, he’s saying, may your love abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight so that you’ll be able to discern and, and discern what is best and maybe pure and blameless for the day of Christ.

[00:24:28] Proper knowledge of God brings proper living. Now as we read these instructions, um, the readers of this letter and ourselves also might feel overwhelmed. We won’t do a show of hands ’cause I know what the answer would be, but which of you could say that you rejoice always, certainly not me. Which of you could say that you pray continually?

[00:24:54] Certainly not me. Or give thanks in all circumstances or test [00:25:00] everything or abstain from every form of evil, certainly not me. And remember, what was, what we were looking at at the, at the start, uh, of this, this talk that we are, Paul is saying that this is how you get ready for this day of the Lord. If we are not doing these things perfectly, will we be on the wrong side of the day of the Lord?

[00:25:21] Like the Israelites were warned of.

[00:25:26] For those who us who are could, who can admit that we don’t get anywhere near this, near this Mark verses uh, 23 and 24 of great reassurance and they should be on the slide there. Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ.

[00:25:54] The one who calls you is faithful. He will surely do [00:26:00] it. The one who calls you is faithful and he will surely do it. It may seem like a, a contradiction, but after instructing the church to act in a godly way to their leaders, to the other members of the church and to outsiders, Paul reassures ’em that ultimately it is God who will do this.

[00:26:21] It is he the one who changes us. So that we can live in accordance with these lofty standards that he has just described. God is faithful and he will do it. Reflecting on what this day of the Lord will be like becomes remarkable. How wonderful, uh, and incredible, uh, the saving work of Jesus Christ really is.

[00:26:47] And I’m sure we all had time over Easter to, to reflect on this incredible truth. Remember the prophets. Of Amos and Zef and I and others wrote that the day of the Lord will be fearful and terrible of [00:27:00] desolation and despair. Yet Paul writes confidently in chapter four that the current, the coming of the day of the Lord is a reason for again, what do you think it would be the coming of the day?

[00:27:13] This fierce and day the Lord is one of encouragement, not fear. It is because as Paul writes in verse 14, Jesus died and rose again. That we can be confident and sure that the coming of the Lord will be a day of blessing in Christ because Jesus died and rose again. As Paul uh, writes in chapter one, we know, uh, that he has delivered us, that Jesus delivered us from the coming wr.

[00:27:44] Now as we close, um, I, I’ve, I’ve often wondered about, uh, the last verse of. The well-known hymn it is. Well, and I think we’re gonna sing it in a moment, in the last verse, uh, of this incredible, uh, hymn, uh, the [00:28:00] writer, uh, the writer of this hymn writes, oh Lord, haste the day when our faith shall be sight, talking about the coming of the day of the Lord.

[00:28:09] Of course, oh Lord has the day when my faith shall be sight, the clouds be rolled back like a scroll. The Trump shall resound. And the Lord shall descend even so, it is well with my soul. The clouds be rolled back like a scroll. The Trump shall resound and the Lord shall descend even so it is well with my soul.

[00:28:36] Clearly this writer, the writer of this hymn, understands that because Jesus died and rose again, we can have complete assurance. That the coming of the day of the Lord will indeed be a day of blessing and vindication. Even though we are not faithful, God is faithful. He will surely do it. [00:29:00] Surely this is a reason to be joyful in God, pray continually and give thanks to close.

[00:29:07] Let me just read those wonderful words out again. Now, may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely. And may a whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful. He will surely do it.