When Jesus was born, He was carried out of the cave by Mary or Joseph, but when He rose again, He carried us out, out of our spiritual death, and gave us new life. Through the birth of His only begotten Son, God was preparing to manifest His saving grace in you and me.
We should always remember that we are the Church of the living God, the body of Christ, and the bride of Christ. We represent Christ in the world until the trumpet sounds and the angel announces that the King is Coming for His people. As the Church, we are to shine the light of God’s love into a dark and broken world. But we can only do this when we stand together, work together, and honor one another. We do this by warning those who are unruly, comforting the fainthearted, upholding the weak, and being patient with all.
Look at verse 1. When Paul writes, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren,” it probably indicates that he was responding to a question that the Thessalonians sent to Paul through Timothy. They may have wanted to know how long they would have to wait until Jesus returned. Paul said, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.” It appears that he had already instructed them on the Second Coming of Jesus when he was with them, but he was willing to put this teaching from the Lord in writing.
Paul knew that he could provide the information they were missing and help them be at peace with the passing of fellow followers of Jesus Christ. He said, “I don’t want you to lack knowledge about the coming of Christ, ‘lest you sorrow as others who have no hope.’” Paul was about to drop some knowledge that would give them hope concerning the deceased Christians. In verse 14, he said, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus."
Paul said that the Thessalonian Christians had been taught, and were still being taught, by God to love one another as the family of God. But how was God teaching them to love one another, and how does it continue to happen in the church today? What methods does He use, and are we listening to the lessons God is teaching? This is important because love for God and one another is at the very heart of the Christian faith. In fact, if we cannot love God and love one another, then we cannot be a follower of Jesus.
Several years ago, many people were wearing bracelets with the letters WWJD on them, which stood for “What Would Jesus Do?” The bracelets were intended to encourage the wearer to consider what Jesus would do in any given situation before making a decision or doing something. I don’t see those bracelets much anymore. I think a lot of people had to take them off over the last few decades before they could vote.
Holiness is not a harsh word; it is God’s love language. Holiness makes fellowship and relationship with God possible. The words “be holy” occur thirty-nine times in the Bible. Apostle Peter said, “as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct” (1Pt 1:15), and the writer of Hebrews warns that without holiness, “no one will see the Lord” (12:14).
Some will say that Paul’s warning was a negative confession and should not have been spoken. Some Church Growth “experts” tell us we will never grow a church by telling people at the outset that when they become believers in Jesus Christ, they will face opposition from Satan and secular society. Instead, they say we should keep it positive. Promise them peace and prosperity or health and wealth, but never tell them that in the world there will be tribulation or that those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
We can have faith to move mountains, but that does not negate the fact that this is war; it is a struggle against spiritual opposition. Though the outcome is not in doubt, the fact remains that while we can always be victorious, there is no victory without a battle. Furthermore, in verse 18 of our text, Paul tells us that while Satan cannot defeat us, he can hinder us. How does Satan hinder Holy Spirit-baptized, faith-talking, and Bible-walking believers of Jesus Christ? Paul doesn’t tell us exactly how Satan hindered him. However, we can surmise some things from the Bible that hint at the ways Satan can hinder God’s people.
When we share the Gospel of Jesus Christ, we are engaged in a supernatural act. Neither the message nor the power is our own, and the outcome is not dependent upon our elocution or rhetorical skills. When we open our mouths “to tell the old, old story, of Jesus and His love,” the Holy Spirit empowers us to be witnesses (Ac 1:8). So, we can be sure that God’s word will accomplish what God has purposed, it will not return void (Is 55:11).
