KJB Daily Devotion – Following Jesus Through Every Chapter
Date: Monday, November 28, 2016
Chapters: I & II Thessalonians
Message: Why Are You Sleeping?
Hello My Friend,
The Books of I Thessalonians and II Thessalonians are written by Paul and was first addressed to the believers in Thessalonica, but is written to all believers. The time he wrote these letters is approximately 54AD. The purpose of the first one was to assure the people that Christ is returning and to correct any false teaching. What we are to learn from the book is that Christ is indeed returning, until then we need to be godly examples and seek comfort in this life while awaiting our eternity with Him and His glorious return. “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” – 1 Thessalonians 3:13. The purpose of the second was to instruct believers awaiting the return of Christ while going through tribulation. What we are to learn from the book is that it is important to understand that tribulation will come, and is for obtaining the glory of Christ. “Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.” – 2 Thessalonians 2:14.
When Jesus died on the cross it would have been enough to bring permanent salvation to all who believe, but He did not stop there, He arose three days later to prove not only that death cannot stop God, but that all who believe will live forever too, but here is the key, we have to await His return. So, what about those who have physically died already? Their souls are awaiting His return in heaven. The city of Thessalonica was large, thriving, and very populated, but the newly converted Christians were facing much persecution because of their faith, Paul commends them for their faith, assures them that their serving Him is not vain, reminds them that Christ is returning, and is coming for all His people, dead (sleeping) or alive.
“But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. 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. 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: 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.” – I Thessalonians 4:13-17.
“and the dead in Christ shall rise first:” What a scene that will be, talk about the walking dead? Only we will not be zombies. Every single soul that received Christ will reunite with its body, and receive a glorified, immortal body. “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. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.” – I Corinthians 15:52-54.
No matter what we do in this life, we must remember that everyone is going to spend eternity in one of two places, the Kingdom of God or lake of fire. We do not need to believe in God to know that the world is being destroyed and will only get worse before Christ returns. The world somehow thinks if they control everything it will prolong life and save the planet. Making people follow strict diets, gun control, climate change, sending them to Mars, and even denying that God exists will never stop His judgment, which is why we as Christians cannot be running around with the world, we have work to do. Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and all of us to live in a manner that is pleasing to God toward all mankind for the sake of the Gospel.
“For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. 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. But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night. 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 Thessalonians 5:2-8.
“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others;” There is a reason why we are to live a godly life after we are saved, it is not to keep our salvation, it is to show the world that they need Christ too. Are we going to face tribulation for walking in our faith? Yes, sometimes we will, but think about this? Tribulation comes to every single person, saved or not, it is God’s grace that keeps us from getting what we deserve when we sin. I mean, when we truly stop to think about all the things we have done over the years and how God protected us we can truly see the grace of God. Paul reminds us that our faithfulness through tribulation strengthens our relationship with Christ.
“Seeing it is a righteous thing with God to recompense tribulation to them that trouble you; And to you who are troubled rest with us, when the Lord Jesus shall be revealed from heaven with his mighty angels, In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power; When he shall come to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired in all them that believe (because our testimony among you was believed) in that day. Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power: That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” – II Thessalonians 1:6-12.
“When he shall come to be glorified in his saints,” Who are His saints? Those who are saved. Yes, every single person who receives Christ as their Saviour before their physical death is a saint, and it has nothing to do with our good works nor do we have to be dead a hundred years to become one. Once we receive Christ we are perfect in Him, our souls that is, but the more we walk with Him He perfects us through trials and tribulation. The reason behind all the tribulation is that Christ wants to be glorified in you, but not only that, He wants to glorify you by being faithful to Him through all of it. And for those who cause a problem, we need not to worry about them, because they will have their own tribulation to face, and judgment too. “For it is written, As I live, saith the Lord, every knee shall bow to me, and every tongue shall confess to God. So then every one of us shall give account of himself to God.” – Romans 14:11-12.
Yesterday was a very trying day for me, I swear the more blessings you receive from God the more the devil puts a damper on your faith, and this comes after much tribulation to begin with. The culprit behind all tribulation is actually not God, it is the devil, and the sooner we realize that, the better we will be able to handle the situation with God. Paul encourages us not to give up hope and reminds us where the devil is going.
“Let no man deceive you by any means: for that day shall not come, except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition; Who opposeth and exalteth himself above all that is called God, or that is worshipped; so that he as God sitteth in the temple of God, shewing himself that he is God. Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness. But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:” – II Thessalonians 2:3-4,9-13.
“And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion,” I got into a debate with some people because I made a comment that I did not like bad language. They were literally attacking me over something so silly, and I never directed my comments to anyone or told them to stop talking that way. This is how the world thinks, if they are doing it everyone else does, and how dare you disagree with them. Some people are beyond knowing Christ as their Saviour and will never accept Him, they will even go to extremes to try to stop you from speaking about Him. This is why God gives them up to their own delusions, as much as He would like every soul to be saved, He will not waste His time with them, He is more concerned about us than them. “And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.” – Romans 1:28,32. I actually feel sorry for them because they are too stubborn to lose one ounce of their pride and turn to Christ.
Jesus Christ Magnified: “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:” – I Thessalonians 4:16.
Today’s Prayer: God, You save us from hell the second we believe that only Your Son can save us from the punishment we face for our sins. You have called on all believers to take a stand in our faith and allow Christ to be Lord of our lives. May we, by example and word, say to the lost that we serve not the god of this world, but a King who is King of kings, Lord or lords, the Almighty and living God Himself. Let us not be corrupted into believing or following those who have no intention of knowing Your Son, give us the strength to remain faithful no matter what affliction we face, and give us Your power to resist the devil. I ask these things in Jesus’ name. Amen.
God Bless You, I am praying for you,
Christina
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