WEBVTT 00:00:00.600 --> 00:00:05.000 Hey, I'm going to invite you this morning to turn with me to first Thessalonians chapter four. 00:00:05.600 --> 00:00:06.620 It was we're at together today. 00:00:06.820 --> 00:00:08.520 First Thessalonians chapter four, verse 13. 00:00:08.520 --> 00:00:15.720 In fact, we're on week five of a six week series we're going through in the book of Thessalonian Thessalonians, which is an incredible book 00:00:15.720 --> 00:00:17.530 of the Bible we've been studying together. 00:00:17.660 --> 00:00:24.740 Thessalonica represents the second church the apostle Paul established on his second missionary journey in the 00:00:24.740 --> 00:00:25.540 continent of Europe. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:27.900 So this is the second church he established in Europe. 00:00:27.920 --> 00:00:29.940 The first was Philippi, second Thessalonica. 00:00:30.540 --> 00:00:31.600 And then it goes on from there. 00:00:32.259 --> 00:00:39.620 But this church was established on the backdrop of persecution, if you remember, as we looked at Paul's life as 00:00:39.620 --> 00:00:44.190 he began his missionary journeys, Paul really faced persecution nearly everywhere that he went. 00:00:44.260 --> 00:00:47.950 There was a few places that were rare, but that became the norm that he would go through persecution. 00:00:48.260 --> 00:00:52.610 In fact, the town he was at just before Thessalonica and Philippi, he was beaten. 00:00:52.780 --> 00:00:53.900 He was thrown in prison. 00:00:54.220 --> 00:01:01.410 And when he was released, he then went on to the town of Thessalonica, Thessalonians or Thessalonica, and he established the church of the Thessalonians. 00:01:01.900 --> 00:01:07.700 And within just three weeks of him preaching in Thessalonica, he persecution breaks out again. 00:01:07.780 --> 00:01:14.750 And in this particular scenario, rather than the Apostle Paul enduring that persecution, he realized it was going to be better for the church if he moved on. 00:01:14.960 --> 00:01:20.590 And he goes on from there to Berea, faces persecution again, then on to Athens, then on to Corinth. 00:01:21.000 --> 00:01:23.400 And adversity followed him wherever he went. 00:01:23.580 --> 00:01:30.680 But this particular church, the church in Thessalonica, Paul had this growing concern for this church because he knew he was there for just a minimal 00:01:30.680 --> 00:01:31.790 amount of time. 00:01:32.340 --> 00:01:37.240 And so he actually sends Timothy back to this church to report to him what he discovers. 00:01:37.680 --> 00:01:42.840 And when Timothy comes back to the Apostle Paul, it is overwhelmingly encouraging. 00:01:43.120 --> 00:01:45.980 What Timothy discovered there, this church. 00:01:46.020 --> 00:01:53.220 Not only did this church find their faith in Jesus deeply enriched, it began to make an impact in the city and 00:01:53.220 --> 00:01:56.520 even beyond that, into what we refer to as modern day Greece. 00:01:56.600 --> 00:01:59.580 The gospel is going throughout all of Greece and even beyond. 00:02:00.300 --> 00:02:07.440 And the Apostle Paul is ecstatic to see how the gospel has moved in their life to transform their life and the world around 00:02:07.440 --> 00:02:08.190 them. 00:02:08.340 --> 00:02:12.880 And so he writes this book of Thessalonians, to continue to encourage this church. 00:02:12.940 --> 00:02:20.020 But not only is it an encouragement to them, it's becoming an encouragement to us here a couple of centuries later, to see how God worked in their midst, 00:02:20.100 --> 00:02:24.660 to challenge us in the 21st century and what it means to follow God. 00:02:24.740 --> 00:02:31.800 And so you see, when you read First Thessalonians chapter one, verse six, they were they birthed this church out of much 00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:32.800 affliction. 00:02:32.800 --> 00:02:33.570 It tells you. 00:02:33.660 --> 00:02:41.150 And in chapter two, chapter two, verse two of the same book, the Apostle Paul talks about his own struggles in being able to preach the gospel to them. 00:02:41.400 --> 00:02:48.540 So in this tremendous adversity, they had deep roots in Jesus, which, if we're being honest with life, that tends 00:02:48.540 --> 00:02:55.660 to be what makes us as individuals a lot more sturdy in the foundation, but beneath us as being 00:02:55.660 --> 00:03:03.020 challenged in that, especially in your own relationship with Christ, you finding out who Jesus is 00:03:03.020 --> 00:03:10.360 in the midst of trials, you're really challenged to discover why Christ really matters to you and therefore 00:03:10.360 --> 00:03:17.480 living in light of that, know that no matter what the circumstances of the world might throw at you will be faithful in Jesus, because 00:03:17.480 --> 00:03:21.810 what you have in Christ transcends anything this world can offer. 00:03:22.160 --> 00:03:27.140 And as we looked at this church, we discover what it means to find transformation in Jesus and living for him. 00:03:27.220 --> 00:03:34.420 In fact, last week when we got to the beginning of chapter four, we talked about what it means to live God's will. 00:03:34.420 --> 00:03:35.520 What is God's will for my life? 00:03:35.600 --> 00:03:42.020 And we discussed, some so many times we approach this as if we've got to find that dot, that one thing that God made me to do. 00:03:42.060 --> 00:03:44.950 And if I do that one thing, then God's going to be happy with me. 00:03:45.220 --> 00:03:48.400 But it really challenged us to think in terms of what God's will is not. 00:03:48.580 --> 00:03:52.090 Not in so much in what you're doing, as much as a relationship with him. 00:03:52.260 --> 00:03:57.500 And the reason for that is because there's nothing you're going to do in this world that's going to impress God. 00:03:57.680 --> 00:03:59.360 Not that God doesn't want you to do good things. 00:03:59.400 --> 00:04:00.510 He certainly does. 00:04:01.040 --> 00:04:04.090 But there's nothing you're going to do in this world that God can't do for himself. 00:04:04.160 --> 00:04:04.570 And he can't. 00:04:04.620 --> 00:04:07.480 He's going to do it better than you could ever think of doing it, right. 00:04:07.500 --> 00:04:09.380 I mean, God's not dependent on anything. 00:04:09.620 --> 00:04:10.250 He is sovereign. 00:04:11.120 --> 00:04:18.300 And so the purpose for which God has created you is not primarily established on what you do, but rather the primary reason for which God 00:04:18.300 --> 00:04:22.110 has created you is for relationship with him and through that to glorify him. 00:04:22.400 --> 00:04:25.460 In fact, that's what we discussed as God's will for your life. 00:04:25.600 --> 00:04:27.390 It's not it's not about religious performance. 00:04:28.480 --> 00:04:31.660 It's about a genuine relationship with Jesus. 00:04:31.820 --> 00:04:36.920 And out of that relationship then flows beautiful things in your life and the way that you live for him. 00:04:37.040 --> 00:04:44.080 In fact, when God created us in the beginning, the Bible tells us in Genesis one he made you in his image, which is distinguishing you from anything 00:04:44.080 --> 00:04:45.810 else God created in this world. 00:04:46.340 --> 00:04:46.940 Nothing else. 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:48.240 God has created us in his image. 00:04:48.240 --> 00:04:49.140 But you are. 00:04:49.140 --> 00:04:50.780 And what that means is that you're connected. 00:04:50.960 --> 00:04:53.450 You're created to be connected to God in relationship. 00:04:54.420 --> 00:04:55.970 And then it's through that relationship. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.540 You represent him in this world, in fact. 00:04:58.560 --> 00:05:05.680 God created us all to be royal priests, your royalty in the sense that you belong to a king, your priest, in the sense that you get to connect to God. 00:05:05.680 --> 00:05:07.090 That's the position of a priest. 00:05:07.440 --> 00:05:08.900 They're connected in relationship with the Lord. 00:05:08.900 --> 00:05:10.900 They represent people to God. 00:05:10.980 --> 00:05:18.300 And so as God's people, he calls you even in first Peter chapter three, if you read the chapter, Peter says you are a royal priesthood 00:05:18.300 --> 00:05:22.870 in Jesus, meaning God has called you in this world to represent him. 00:05:23.540 --> 00:05:30.820 But now as we get into first Thessalonians 413 to 510, this is the biggest chunk of scripture we're going to cover together in this book of Thessalonians. 00:05:31.420 --> 00:05:36.970 What we're going to discover is that while we come to know the Lord, it doesn't guarantee that everything's going to go well. 00:05:37.140 --> 00:05:37.260 Right? 00:05:37.300 --> 00:05:39.440 The church of Thessalonica is proof of that. 00:05:39.660 --> 00:05:43.180 And so as we get to see the challenges of this church, we're really going to look at a. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:48.960 But today Paul starts off this section with the word but this is a big but actually he's what he's going to talk about. 00:05:49.200 --> 00:05:51.380 We're going to start this section with a big but. 00:05:51.800 --> 00:05:59.090 And as we look at this what he's what he's going to encourage us in is saying, look, even when you theologically understand the reason for what you're created, 00:06:00.040 --> 00:06:04.660 you've got to also understand that there's going to come challenges in your own faith journey. 00:06:05.340 --> 00:06:07.160 And how you respond to that is critical. 00:06:07.160 --> 00:06:12.480 There's a way God wants us to put all that in perspective in how we live for the Lord. 00:06:12.540 --> 00:06:15.500 In fact, Paul is going to focus on this word called grief. 00:06:16.680 --> 00:06:20.340 He wants us to realize that in this world, we're going to experience a grieving. 00:06:21.200 --> 00:06:23.420 And that's completely normal, in fact. 00:06:23.420 --> 00:06:25.620 Romans chapter eight talks about this. 00:06:25.620 --> 00:06:29.280 Romans eight verse 22 tells us all of creation is groaning. 00:06:29.660 --> 00:06:34.280 And in Romans chapter eight verse 23, even our soul groans within us. 00:06:34.420 --> 00:06:41.460 And the reason it groans is because the curse of sin that we experience in this life, you see the destruction of sin and 00:06:41.460 --> 00:06:48.560 the decay of life, whether whether it's things around you falling apart or relationships and figuring, finding 00:06:48.560 --> 00:06:55.920 unhealthy relationships that you have or ultimately even in death, we experienced the destruction of 00:06:55.920 --> 00:06:56.560 life. 00:06:56.580 --> 00:06:58.400 And because of that, our soul grieves. 00:06:58.400 --> 00:07:00.960 You don't even have to tell us to be sad about those things. 00:07:01.080 --> 00:07:03.540 We just naturally experience it that way. 00:07:03.660 --> 00:07:11.060 And it's a way our soul is crying out to us to recognize who you grieve because you're made for so much more. 00:07:11.320 --> 00:07:13.690 But it's helpful for you to put that grief into perspective. 00:07:14.820 --> 00:07:18.840 Your life is made for so much more than than the decay of this world. 00:07:18.880 --> 00:07:20.650 And so how do we discover that hope? 00:07:21.120 --> 00:07:23.680 And this is what the Apostle Paul is encouraging us in. 00:07:23.720 --> 00:07:24.920 We're going to look at this together today. 00:07:25.500 --> 00:07:29.060 Paul's encouragement that deals with discouragement. 00:07:29.680 --> 00:07:33.270 And this is really an undersell, because we're going to talk about it in terms of death. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:36.980 Like how do we how do we do that in terms of death? 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:39.800 Because death for all of us is the ultimate enemy. 00:07:40.600 --> 00:07:46.200 And that's where we really understand that the curse of what this life is by death. 00:07:46.220 --> 00:07:48.520 Because you and me, we weren't made for that. 00:07:49.160 --> 00:07:51.160 It's why we grieve at the loss of life. 00:07:51.160 --> 00:07:53.550 Where we grieve at the loss really, of anything because. 00:07:53.880 --> 00:07:55.940 Because we weren't made for the loss of things. 00:07:55.960 --> 00:07:57.160 We were made for life. 00:07:57.520 --> 00:08:01.710 That's why Jesus says in John 14 six, I am the way, the truth, and the life. 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.820 And God doesn't just give life. 00:08:03.820 --> 00:08:06.970 He's life itself, and he made you to belong in him. 00:08:08.180 --> 00:08:12.180 Unfortunately, what humanity chose from the beginning is ultimately other than that. 00:08:12.800 --> 00:08:17.310 In the Garden of Eden, when God made Adam and Eve right? 00:08:18.000 --> 00:08:23.590 God says to Adam and Eve, don't eat of the fruit, because in the day you do it, you shall surely not die. 00:08:25.880 --> 00:08:27.700 God didn't make you for death. 00:08:28.740 --> 00:08:36.100 Death is what we choose when we reject the Lord, and rather choose to put ourselves in the position of Lord of our own life, thinking 00:08:36.100 --> 00:08:37.620 we know better than God. 00:08:38.039 --> 00:08:40.280 And ultimately it separates us from him. 00:08:40.659 --> 00:08:41.960 And it produces death. 00:08:41.960 --> 00:08:44.720 Not just physical death, but spiritual death. 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:52.920 It brings death to our life and we experience the, permeating effect of the curse 00:08:52.920 --> 00:08:56.320 of sin and the decay of life around us all the time. 00:08:56.340 --> 00:09:00.170 And the ultimate piece of that is seen in real death. 00:09:00.500 --> 00:09:07.680 And so when you think in terms of grieving, we can grieve in life for all sorts of reasons, but it's ultimately 00:09:07.680 --> 00:09:10.540 related to the loss of things. 00:09:10.540 --> 00:09:14.540 And the greatest extent of loss is experienced in death. 00:09:14.600 --> 00:09:16.460 And Paul here is going to talk to us about this. 00:09:16.500 --> 00:09:18.700 He's not he's not going to pretend like life isn't hard. 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:25.740 He's not going to tell you to stuff your feelings, but he really wants to help us put it into perspective in light of what we have in Jesus and 00:09:25.740 --> 00:09:26.740 the hope that is to come. 00:09:27.660 --> 00:09:31.170 So encouragement that helps us deal with discouragement. 00:09:31.940 --> 00:09:32.520 Let me give you a point. 00:09:32.640 --> 00:09:36.370 Number one, we should read some verses here in order to deal with discouragement. 00:09:36.420 --> 00:09:36.950 Here's what we need. 00:09:37.700 --> 00:09:39.520 Discover a greater hope. 00:09:41.040 --> 00:09:42.560 Discover a greater hope. 00:09:44.060 --> 00:09:46.840 It's not to say what you've gone through isn't important. 00:09:46.840 --> 00:09:47.390 It is important. 00:09:48.860 --> 00:09:54.250 But rather than let that define us, we need something that transcends it in order to be able to move forward. 00:09:55.140 --> 00:09:56.150 We need a greater hope. 00:09:57.080 --> 00:10:05.000 And you discover this idea, this theme over and over again in Scripture and in fact, in the book of Philippians 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:05.860 chapter one. 00:10:06.840 --> 00:10:08.520 And shalom, can you hold on? 00:10:09.020 --> 00:10:09.520 I'm not on. 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:10.750 There we go. 00:10:10.940 --> 00:10:12.210 Philippians chapter one. 00:10:12.600 --> 00:10:19.620 The apostle Paul here is really describing life, sort of like a blueprint and really looking at your own life in this 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:22.460 way, as if there's a building being built here and there's a blueprint. 00:10:22.520 --> 00:10:29.760 And sometimes when you look at a blueprint, some people look at a blueprint and they can't even imagine what that's going to look like because, well, they really need to see it in 00:10:29.760 --> 00:10:30.300 hand. 00:10:30.340 --> 00:10:37.420 Like, let me it's nice to see it on paper, but I really need to see it in person or sometimes you might go through the building process and you're thinking, man, I don't know 00:10:37.420 --> 00:10:38.470 that this is going to happen. 00:10:38.660 --> 00:10:40.300 Like, what confidence do I have? 00:10:40.320 --> 00:10:42.980 Especially when that blueprint your own life, right? 00:10:43.020 --> 00:10:50.200 And Paul says like this in Philippians verse six, and I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion 00:10:50.200 --> 00:10:52.130 at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:59.220 I mean, he's really writing this to remember a church in Philippi where Paul was imprisoned because of his faith. 00:10:59.280 --> 00:11:00.840 This is a church that endured persecution. 00:11:01.640 --> 00:11:08.600 And sometimes when you're going through adversity in life, it has this tendency of rocking you and you think to yourself, is this really going to work itself out? 00:11:08.920 --> 00:11:15.120 And Paul is saying, look, you keep entrusting yourself to the one who has proven all things, the one that will work it out. 00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:23.040 This will culminate in exactly what Jesus said trust the blueprint or in the book of Philippians or excuse me, Hebrews. 00:11:23.200 --> 00:11:23.280 He. 00:11:23.400 --> 00:11:26.680 He describes the idea of really a marathon runner here. 00:11:27.500 --> 00:11:32.160 And I don't know how many of you are runners in our congregation this morning. 00:11:32.440 --> 00:11:39.840 I don't describe myself as a runner, but sometimes I run like and sometimes depends how 00:11:39.840 --> 00:11:42.030 much I ate five minutes before that. 00:11:42.120 --> 00:11:45.290 But this in September, I'm going to go to Yosemite. 00:11:46.480 --> 00:11:49.800 I'm going to hike Half Dome and I found out it's like a 15 mile round trip hike. 00:11:50.320 --> 00:11:57.340 And I thought to myself, rather than suck, win the entire time and not appreciate the beauty around me, I should probably jog a 00:11:57.340 --> 00:12:02.340 little bit so I can I can soak in the beauty of life around me as I'm doing this hike. 00:12:02.340 --> 00:12:07.560 And so this summer I've been running, and every time I run, this is what happens to me. 00:12:07.580 --> 00:12:09.480 And maybe this is true for all runners. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:15.000 I could be the exception, I don't know, but I think about quitting in the midst of those runs. 00:12:15.040 --> 00:12:15.980 Like I'll set a goal for myself. 00:12:16.120 --> 00:12:17.280 I'm like, yeah, you should probably quit. 00:12:18.060 --> 00:12:23.320 And when I the moment I start thinking about quitting honestly, is when I take my first step. 00:12:23.940 --> 00:12:26.520 Like, I start immediately trying to talk myself out of this. 00:12:26.520 --> 00:12:27.260 Are you sure? 00:12:27.660 --> 00:12:29.730 You know, are you sure that you want to do this? 00:12:30.360 --> 00:12:33.320 And one of the things that helps is trying to put the next goal in front of me. 00:12:33.440 --> 00:12:35.470 What's the next goal if I can just get to the next hurdle? 00:12:35.660 --> 00:12:40.120 Because if I try to think about that entire journey all at once, I'm like, yeah, let's, let's not do this. 00:12:40.140 --> 00:12:43.800 Do you know, how do you know how much how much muffin top you got around your waist? 00:12:43.800 --> 00:12:47.160 And like, whatever you one mile is good. 00:12:47.180 --> 00:12:47.770 You don't need two. 00:12:47.940 --> 00:12:49.890 You know, you just start thinking through that. 00:12:50.180 --> 00:12:52.860 And Hebrews, it's encouraging that way in a spiritual sense. 00:12:52.860 --> 00:12:59.920 It's saying, therefore, since we've been surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and 00:12:59.920 --> 00:13:04.630 sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us. 00:13:04.920 --> 00:13:05.730 Looking to Jesus. 00:13:06.760 --> 00:13:07.510 I mean, here's what he's saying. 00:13:07.880 --> 00:13:10.660 The idea of marathon runner and a coliseum performing. 00:13:11.580 --> 00:13:19.000 And he's saying you've been surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, and they're really not a witness of you, but rather a witness to you saying, 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:20.280 you can do this. 00:13:20.320 --> 00:13:21.210 And here's how you know you do. 00:13:21.300 --> 00:13:25.190 You can do this because the people that have gone before, you have done this faithfully in the Lord. 00:13:25.520 --> 00:13:27.900 Hebrews chapter 11 list those people. 00:13:28.020 --> 00:13:29.000 But here's the key. 00:13:29.000 --> 00:13:30.490 It's not about looking to those people. 00:13:30.600 --> 00:13:32.080 Rather it's about looking to Jesus. 00:13:32.740 --> 00:13:34.040 That's your ultimate goal. 00:13:34.440 --> 00:13:37.140 Trusting in the sufficiency of who Christ is in your life. 00:13:37.540 --> 00:13:41.020 This is how you know, in the midst of the struggle of this world, you can move forward. 00:13:41.700 --> 00:13:47.720 If I gave it to you in another illustration, I don't know how many of you have ever seen the back of a tapestry. 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:47.720 You know I don't. 00:13:48.220 --> 00:13:48.920 It's not something. 00:13:49.180 --> 00:13:51.620 Lately I've been walking around saying I need myself a good tapestry. 00:13:51.900 --> 00:13:55.480 So maybe there's some of you that are not familiar with tapestry here. 00:13:55.500 --> 00:13:57.670 But if you ever take time to look at the back of a tapestry. 00:13:58.100 --> 00:14:02.540 Sometimes they look like you've allowed a five year old to go into your craft room and do whatever they want, like. 00:14:02.660 --> 00:14:03.740 Or maybe me. 00:14:03.760 --> 00:14:04.560 Let me. 00:14:04.560 --> 00:14:05.160 Same result. 00:14:05.200 --> 00:14:06.340 They can do the same thing, right? 00:14:06.360 --> 00:14:08.500 For those that have craft rooms, I don't even know what I'm talking about. 00:14:08.520 --> 00:14:09.440 I don't have a craft room. 00:14:09.440 --> 00:14:09.660 But. 00:14:10.220 --> 00:14:17.220 But if you let a if you let a kid loose on a craft in a craft room in the back of a tapestry sometimes looks like that until you until you 00:14:17.220 --> 00:14:17.900 turn it over. 00:14:19.520 --> 00:14:21.540 And then you see this incredible work of art. 00:14:23.020 --> 00:14:26.800 And sometimes in this world, in the brokenness of sin, life can feel that way. 00:14:27.800 --> 00:14:30.090 Thank God I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. 00:14:31.040 --> 00:14:33.900 Lord, how in the world do I know this is going to work itself out? 00:14:34.960 --> 00:14:37.200 And the Bible has passages that we looked at. 00:14:37.220 --> 00:14:42.710 And let me give you one more that just reminds you over and over again of the faithfulness of the Lord. 00:14:43.300 --> 00:14:46.000 Trust the master craftsman, right? 00:14:46.000 --> 00:14:48.510 You may not be able to see the light of the tunnel, but you know. 00:14:48.760 --> 00:14:49.380 You know what? 00:14:49.660 --> 00:14:50.940 Who holds tomorrow. 00:14:50.940 --> 00:14:53.460 You may not know what it holds right, but you know who holds it. 00:14:54.280 --> 00:14:57.380 And so therefore, it's this encouragement to continue to trust your life in him. 00:14:57.380 --> 00:15:00.940 Second Corinthians 417 for this is light, momentary affliction. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:02.510 Putting it all in perspective. 00:15:03.680 --> 00:15:10.920 It's preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen, but to the things that are unseen, for 00:15:10.920 --> 00:15:14.150 the things that are seen or transient, but the things that are unseen or eternal. 00:15:15.260 --> 00:15:17.960 And this is what the Apostle Paul is encouraging us to. 00:15:17.960 --> 00:15:21.920 In this passage, first Thessalonians 413, he says it like this. 00:15:23.320 --> 00:15:30.320 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as those who do not 00:15:30.320 --> 00:15:30.880 have hope. 00:15:31.720 --> 00:15:38.780 Let me say a couple of things as we look at this passage, because what Paul is doing here, he's saying like this world is it's got difficulty and I don't 00:15:38.780 --> 00:15:40.240 I don't want to take away from that. 00:15:41.280 --> 00:15:48.320 So if you're going through adversity like it's important as the body of believers and the brokenness of this world to learn to grieve in a healthy way, 00:15:48.520 --> 00:15:49.220 and we should grieve. 00:15:49.280 --> 00:15:53.340 In fact, we should grieve better than anyone because we understand where this grieving comes from. 00:15:53.340 --> 00:15:58.480 It's in the destruction of sin because we alienated ourselves from God by choosing a different path. 00:15:59.720 --> 00:16:06.760 And so the curse of sin is upon this world, and so we better than anyone should have a true perspective of what grief, what drives grief, and why 00:16:06.760 --> 00:16:07.320 we grieve. 00:16:07.660 --> 00:16:10.550 And when people are going through difficult times to weep with those who weep. 00:16:11.560 --> 00:16:16.000 But at the same time to not leave it there, to put it into perspective of the greatness of who God is. 00:16:16.380 --> 00:16:17.870 And this is what Paul is saying. 00:16:18.380 --> 00:16:19.760 In fact, he's doing it like this. 00:16:19.760 --> 00:16:23.120 He's saying I don't want you to be uninformed, brother. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:28.420 Meaning here in the early church, you got to remember the New Testament is still being written. 00:16:29.120 --> 00:16:29.240 All right. 00:16:29.280 --> 00:16:31.240 And Paul was only three weeks with this church. 00:16:31.900 --> 00:16:38.190 You know, I think as a as a follower of Jesus, we live in the best time period you could ever live in order to be a follower of Jesus. 00:16:38.420 --> 00:16:42.090 And the reason for that is because the resources that you have as a Christian in order to follow Jesus. 00:16:43.100 --> 00:16:45.520 And they didn't have the full New Testament at this time. 00:16:45.620 --> 00:16:46.880 You hold it in your hands today. 00:16:47.300 --> 00:16:50.140 For much of church history, that was impossible for Christians. 00:16:50.200 --> 00:16:51.740 But now you have the entire Bible. 00:16:52.000 --> 00:16:53.400 And so he's writing to the church of Thessalonica. 00:16:53.560 --> 00:16:58.160 He's saying you're uninformed and he's not saying, look, you're being stubborn or you're just foolish. 00:16:58.200 --> 00:17:02.330 He's saying, look, you haven't learned this in your faith journey yet, and you need to learn this. 00:17:02.880 --> 00:17:05.710 And I would say it's the same true for you and for me. 00:17:05.859 --> 00:17:08.020 Like they're not being stubborn and fighting against the Lord. 00:17:08.020 --> 00:17:10.900 They have this willing heart to really want to learn and soak it up. 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:12.980 And Paul's saying, look, this is your next step right now. 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:15.060 This is this is where you could really learn and grow. 00:17:15.060 --> 00:17:18.940 That's going to help you exponentially in your faith journey in the struggles of this world. 00:17:19.220 --> 00:17:20.780 And it's the same for you and for me. 00:17:20.900 --> 00:17:22.260 But here's my fear. 00:17:22.859 --> 00:17:26.380 Like there's a part of us where we're uninformed sometimes and we just need to learn. 00:17:27.119 --> 00:17:31.440 But I think more in this century, it's not so much that we're uninformed because we have a lot of information. 00:17:32.800 --> 00:17:37.000 It's a matter of just taking the time to learn about the God who's made himself available to us. 00:17:37.680 --> 00:17:38.560 Maybe I could say it like this. 00:17:38.680 --> 00:17:39.300 It's laziness. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:43.650 It can really impact our own relationship with the Lord. 00:17:44.000 --> 00:17:51.500 And what Paul is really essentially saying here is good theology is critical for the life of the believer because it dictates 00:17:51.500 --> 00:17:53.150 how you respond to the circumstances. 00:17:53.340 --> 00:17:54.250 You find yourselves. 00:17:54.700 --> 00:17:55.630 And the church of Thessalonica. 00:17:56.380 --> 00:17:58.220 They've come to Paul with a question. 00:17:58.220 --> 00:18:00.500 Timothy's reported to Paul, and this is where the church. 00:18:00.600 --> 00:18:01.580 Is this what they're doing? 00:18:01.580 --> 00:18:02.380 It's so great. 00:18:02.380 --> 00:18:04.980 But in this particular area, they're struggling right now. 00:18:04.980 --> 00:18:06.640 So, Paul, could you speak into this? 00:18:07.240 --> 00:18:12.640 And so Paul's saying it's you're all struggling, but it's not because you're rebellious. 00:18:12.640 --> 00:18:14.800 It's just because you're still learning. 00:18:15.420 --> 00:18:21.000 And here's where you need to learn, brothers, about those who have fallen asleep and they're not literally sleeping. 00:18:21.100 --> 00:18:23.000 This is this is the word for death. 00:18:23.060 --> 00:18:27.770 They're saying for those who have died, there's this concern that they have the Church of Thessalonica. 00:18:28.060 --> 00:18:33.960 They're paying a consequence for their faith in Jesus, and some might even be paying the ultimate consequence of becoming a martyr. 00:18:34.940 --> 00:18:37.440 And they're worried about what does that mean then for them? 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:43.260 And so he's saying, look, there's a there's a place to grieve in that because, well, your soul wasn't made for death. 00:18:43.280 --> 00:18:44.360 It was made for life. 00:18:44.360 --> 00:18:46.210 And you should understand that more than anyone. 00:18:47.540 --> 00:18:55.600 But at the same time, it doesn't end there for you and for me, because we as God's people, we have a greater hope, and 00:18:55.600 --> 00:18:58.080 that's what we need to carry us through the day. 00:18:58.080 --> 00:19:03.280 Yes, the circumstances are real, but the circumstances don't dictate who you are. 00:19:03.340 --> 00:19:04.900 There's something that transcends it. 00:19:05.080 --> 00:19:06.370 It's a hope that goes beyond. 00:19:06.860 --> 00:19:10.220 Which is why when you read the rest of the Bible, this is critical for us. 00:19:10.220 --> 00:19:15.700 Like you look at Romans 822 and 23, creation groans, our soul groans. 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:21.000 Genesis two verse 17, don't eat of the fruit, because the day you do, you shall surely die. 00:19:22.080 --> 00:19:29.100 But then when you get to Genesis three, you see the promise of redemption, the fact that a messiah has promised to come, who will come from 00:19:29.100 --> 00:19:36.370 the seed of a woman, born of a virgin, who will suffer a hill wound, but he will also crush the head of the serpent. 00:19:36.780 --> 00:19:39.760 And we come to see that as Jesus, who is ultimately our substitute. 00:19:40.760 --> 00:19:44.560 He takes our place on the cross so that we can be liberated in him. 00:19:44.580 --> 00:19:45.800 We can find freedom in him. 00:19:45.820 --> 00:19:52.820 So the Old Testament is this prophetic statement of the ultimate Messiah who would come for us to liberate us and bring 00:19:52.820 --> 00:19:56.770 freedom, so that when you turn to the New Testament, you discover this in the Gospels. 00:19:57.300 --> 00:20:04.420 Then when Jesus is made flesh, he goes and preaches this kingdom of liberation for you and for me, so that we can discover that life 00:20:04.420 --> 00:20:05.780 in him for which we were created. 00:20:06.280 --> 00:20:13.380 And so when you see the stories of the gospel, you can only see Jesus proclaiming that he redeems your soul, he rescues your soul, but he 00:20:13.380 --> 00:20:17.660 demonstrates the work of that kingdom by also doing miracles in the lives of people. 00:20:17.920 --> 00:20:19.100 He heals them. 00:20:19.100 --> 00:20:26.260 In fact, Jesus said it like this the word that we often use to reflect this idea as the word ransom or redeemed in 00:20:26.260 --> 00:20:27.160 the New Testament. 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.820 That word is a slave word. 00:20:29.580 --> 00:20:30.920 It's saying you were. 00:20:30.920 --> 00:20:36.170 You belonged to the slave market and you need to get this rescued or saved salvation. 00:20:37.020 --> 00:20:38.500 And there is one who ultimately came. 00:20:38.880 --> 00:20:40.080 Who ransomed you? 00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:40.120 He. 00:20:40.240 --> 00:20:42.240 He purchased you off the slave market. 00:20:42.240 --> 00:20:48.020 He redeemed you from the curse of sin ultimately demonstrated through death. 00:20:48.020 --> 00:20:50.620 Jesus bought you from that. 00:20:50.660 --> 00:20:54.520 And so that word redemption is the salvific word for you and for me. 00:20:54.620 --> 00:20:56.620 Recognizing we all need this. 00:20:56.780 --> 00:21:04.000 That's why Jesus said in Mark ten verse 45 of The Son of Man came not to not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life 00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:05.440 as a ransom for many. 00:21:06.300 --> 00:21:13.440 There's this random story in the in the Gospel of Luke, chapter 13, starting in verse ten, of this woman who had an ailment for 18 00:21:13.440 --> 00:21:17.830 years that kept her hunched over, she couldn't stand up straight and she was in tremendous pain. 00:21:19.020 --> 00:21:25.900 And after 18 years, Jesus comes to her and says in verse 12 he says, woman, you have been made free. 00:21:27.400 --> 00:21:31.300 And that word free is that word for redemption, ransomed. 00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:31.820 And it tells you. 00:21:31.940 --> 00:21:36.980 And immediately she stood up, and as soon as she stood up, the religious leaders started arguing with Jesus. 00:21:37.020 --> 00:21:40.100 I can't believe you did this on a Sabbath, you know? 00:21:40.100 --> 00:21:47.120 And it's like how it's to get us to recognize in the Gospels how stupid we can be sometimes that when redemption 00:21:47.120 --> 00:21:54.140 is made known in our lives, we'd rather argue over technicalities and religion than to let the liberation of Jesus be made known in our life. 00:21:55.220 --> 00:22:02.490 And this woman has been made free, and that physical freedom is the indicator of the ultimate freedom that Jesus would bring for you and for me. 00:22:02.900 --> 00:22:09.940 That salvation, that rescue, and the ultimate destruction of this life around us is 00:22:09.940 --> 00:22:11.290 seen in death. 00:22:11.580 --> 00:22:18.040 This is why in first Corinthians 15 verse 55, the apostle Paul says, oh, death, where is your sting? 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:23.340 And it's really saying, you're no longer master over me as if I was your slave. 00:22:24.100 --> 00:22:27.460 Because while we may die in this world, that's not the end of us. 00:22:28.280 --> 00:22:31.380 We have redemption in Jesus, who is our great rescuer. 00:22:32.740 --> 00:22:39.860 And that hope puts it in perspective that we can still grieve in the brokenness of this world because we recognize as people we 00:22:39.860 --> 00:22:41.140 weren't created for this. 00:22:42.280 --> 00:22:44.390 We were made for something so much more. 00:22:45.260 --> 00:22:47.770 And that life is found in Jesus Himself. 00:22:47.800 --> 00:22:49.320 He is the way, the truth, and the life. 00:22:49.520 --> 00:22:56.580 And that Jesus didn't give up on us, but rather he pursued us by offering his life for us so that we could be liberated from the brokenness of sin, 00:22:56.580 --> 00:23:01.980 which ultimately separated us from God and brings the destruction of our soul and body. 00:23:02.180 --> 00:23:08.760 But Jesus brings liberation to all of that, which then helps us put the grief of this world into perspective, the greatness of who he is. 00:23:08.760 --> 00:23:09.930 We need a hope that transcends. 00:23:11.440 --> 00:23:16.200 I got 15 minutes left for the rest of these points, but point number one is really important, right? 00:23:17.980 --> 00:23:25.040 So as you think about this idea of ransom, salvation and death, I mean, those are themes in Scripture, and I hope you're 00:23:25.040 --> 00:23:29.580 seeing the significance of those even as you read in your own Bible, like when you read that word like that. 00:23:29.640 --> 00:23:36.680 I hope you see the grand story of all of that being told, because this is particularly important to your own life and the hope that you carry 00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.320 in this world. 00:23:37.400 --> 00:23:38.300 So that let me give you a point. 00:23:38.340 --> 00:23:44.500 Number two, we recognize the greater hope is found through the resurrection. 00:23:45.940 --> 00:23:47.640 It's found through the resurrection. 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:50.880 And this is where Paul goes is saying, don't grieve as though you don't have hope. 00:23:50.880 --> 00:23:53.480 It's okay to grieve when someone dies. 00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:53.680 Grieve. 00:23:53.740 --> 00:24:01.290 You should grieve better than anyone because you know we weren't made for death, but grieve knowing that there's also a greater life. 00:24:02.280 --> 00:24:10.040 Verse 14 for since we believe that Jesus died and rose again can I just tell you how foolish 00:24:10.040 --> 00:24:12.140 the first half of the gospel story is? 00:24:13.020 --> 00:24:20.220 That's why the Bible says in first Corinthians chapter one, the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness, and to the world that looks so stupid 00:24:20.220 --> 00:24:25.820 that you would follow someone that died and especially call him, calling him your King and God. 00:24:27.240 --> 00:24:30.040 And the cross is the most humiliating way to go. 00:24:31.360 --> 00:24:33.950 And yet you say the one you follow died that way. 00:24:34.580 --> 00:24:35.640 How foolish are you? 00:24:36.560 --> 00:24:36.700 All right. 00:24:36.760 --> 00:24:37.650 The preaching of the cross. 00:24:37.760 --> 00:24:39.510 First Corinthians one is to them that perish foolishness. 00:24:39.820 --> 00:24:40.780 I believe it's verse 18. 00:24:41.960 --> 00:24:45.260 But to us who are saved, it is the power of God made known. 00:24:45.260 --> 00:24:46.410 It's why it's the anthem of Christianity. 00:24:46.780 --> 00:24:54.200 Because we see in the darkest day of history where our God dies, became the symbol of resurrection, hope that 00:24:54.240 --> 00:24:56.860 the grave didn't defeat him. 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:59.940 The greatest enemy we have is people didn't overcome him. 00:25:00.380 --> 00:25:02.280 And because he lives, we can live too. 00:25:02.900 --> 00:25:04.220 And so this is the hope of the resurrection. 00:25:04.820 --> 00:25:08.640 This is why it's important for you and for me to see the significance of this in all of the Bible. 00:25:08.780 --> 00:25:12.760 When you look at the Old Testament, you see the prophetic statement of one who will come. 00:25:12.760 --> 00:25:19.980 I mean, Isaiah 53 we read in Scripture last week, it's a prophetic passage, an entire chapter, Isaiah 53, declaring how 00:25:19.980 --> 00:25:23.920 the Messiah would suffer for us and that we would find freedom in him. 00:25:24.380 --> 00:25:31.730 And then when you get to the New Testament, you discover Jesus preaching that message, and he was ultimately executed by professional executioners. 00:25:31.760 --> 00:25:33.390 If anyone in history died. 00:25:33.400 --> 00:25:34.680 He certainly died. 00:25:34.680 --> 00:25:36.380 Thrown in a grave for three days. 00:25:36.480 --> 00:25:37.970 I mean, he was dead beyond dead. 00:25:39.220 --> 00:25:41.420 And even the disciples gave up on him. 00:25:43.560 --> 00:25:49.860 But yet they returned back to Jesus with such a passion that they willingly gave their life as martyrs. 00:25:49.860 --> 00:25:50.160 Why? 00:25:50.800 --> 00:25:53.290 Because they couldn't deny they had seen a dead man walking. 00:25:54.340 --> 00:25:59.660 And for this purpose, this truth claim it changed everything for them. 00:26:00.660 --> 00:26:02.170 And it's the same for you and for me. 00:26:02.280 --> 00:26:09.300 The resurrection of Christ is paramount to our identity, what we have as God's people and the hope that we walk with in this world. 00:26:09.340 --> 00:26:16.460 It helps us put everything into perspective that no matter what the circumstances of this world may bring, I have a greater hope that transcends it 00:26:16.460 --> 00:26:22.140 all because of what Jesus has done for you and for me, so that we can get to point number three. 00:26:22.220 --> 00:26:22.620 How about that? 00:26:22.640 --> 00:26:23.150 We'll move faster. 00:26:23.640 --> 00:26:30.360 Rejoice that resurrection gives unending hope to all of God's people rejoice. 00:26:31.680 --> 00:26:36.960 That resurrection gives unending hope to all of God's people. 00:26:37.240 --> 00:26:38.580 And this is what Paul says. 00:26:38.580 --> 00:26:40.280 Look, he says, even so, through Jesus. 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:45.040 God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:26:45.040 --> 00:26:47.380 That's the that's the way of saying it again. 00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.560 Those who have passed away. 00:26:49.420 --> 00:26:56.030 And so he's writing to the church, and they're really worried that, they really strongly believe Jesus is going to return at any moment. 00:26:56.140 --> 00:26:57.600 Church at Thessalonica believes that. 00:26:57.640 --> 00:27:05.240 So they're passionately going around saying, Come to Jesus because he can come back at any moment, and they're just sharing what Jesus has done, the liberation from sin 00:27:05.240 --> 00:27:06.660 and the Messiah. 00:27:06.720 --> 00:27:10.650 But then here comes their concern is that before Jesus comes back, some of them are dying. 00:27:11.780 --> 00:27:14.680 Now they're worried what's going to happen to us, right? 00:27:14.740 --> 00:27:16.200 God, what is what is my future? 00:27:16.200 --> 00:27:21.220 And so the Apostle Paul is explaining this to them, is that God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. 00:27:21.320 --> 00:27:21.580 So? 00:27:21.780 --> 00:27:24.080 So when people have passed away, don't fret over that. 00:27:25.220 --> 00:27:27.060 Don't lose ultimate hope over that. 00:27:27.060 --> 00:27:29.000 And instead he encourages you this way. 00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:29.780 He says. 00:27:29.780 --> 00:27:36.860 Verse 15, for this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left unto the coming of 00:27:36.860 --> 00:27:39.900 the Lord, will not proceed those who have fallen asleep. 00:27:40.320 --> 00:27:47.600 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of 00:27:47.600 --> 00:27:48.300 God. 00:27:48.300 --> 00:27:50.060 And the dead in Christ will rise first. 00:27:51.760 --> 00:27:58.960 Now, theologically, I want you to know, as Christians, we believe the moment you pass from this world, you go straight 00:27:58.960 --> 00:28:01.500 to the presence of God, right? 00:28:01.500 --> 00:28:06.120 So like in Luke 23, the thief on the cross is promised by Jesus. 00:28:06.140 --> 00:28:07.770 You will be with me this day in Paradise. 00:28:07.880 --> 00:28:08.830 He put his faith in Christ. 00:28:09.560 --> 00:28:13.060 And Jesus promises in Luke 23, you will be with me this day in Paradise. 00:28:13.120 --> 00:28:18.740 I think it might be verse 43 in that chapter, but the thieves promise Paradise. 00:28:18.840 --> 00:28:26.020 And Paul tells us in second Corinthians chapter 12, verse 1 to 4, that Paradise is the same as the 00:28:26.020 --> 00:28:27.500 celestial presence of God. 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:28.420 It's the third heaven. 00:28:28.420 --> 00:28:33.980 It's straight into the presence of the Lord, which, as followers of Jesus, that is what we all believe in, right? 00:28:34.020 --> 00:28:39.780 As Christians, biblical Christians, we believe in one heaven, which is the celestial kingdom and the promise. 00:28:39.780 --> 00:28:43.600 Just as the thief received that the moment we leave this world, we go straight to the presence of the Lord. 00:28:44.720 --> 00:28:49.440 The Bible says in Second Corinthians five eight, to be absent from the body is to be present with the present with the Lord. 00:28:50.260 --> 00:28:53.520 Paul says a similar thing in Philippians chapter one, verse 21 to 23. 00:28:54.160 --> 00:28:55.940 To be straight in the presence of Jesus. 00:28:56.640 --> 00:28:57.680 So we pass in this world. 00:28:57.680 --> 00:28:59.120 We're straight in the presence of the Lord. 00:28:59.240 --> 00:29:04.770 But in this passage, what Paul is also saying is, and there's also the resurrection of your body to be with the Lord. 00:29:05.300 --> 00:29:09.440 Meaning, when God made you in his image, he made you both physically and spiritually. 00:29:09.720 --> 00:29:11.660 That makes up the entirety of who you are. 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:14.140 And we think about the world that is to come. 00:29:14.200 --> 00:29:17.730 God reunites your spirit and body together to be with him forever. 00:29:18.500 --> 00:29:23.420 And the Apostle Paul is saying, not only those who are alive when Jesus returns, experience that. 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:30.960 But even those who have passed away to the point with those who have passed away will be resurrected from the grave first, their body united with their spirit. 00:29:31.260 --> 00:29:32.560 And then he goes on and says it like this. 00:29:33.160 --> 00:29:38.620 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. 00:29:39.220 --> 00:29:40.980 And so we will always be with the Lord. 00:29:41.580 --> 00:29:44.340 Therefore encourage one another with these words. 00:29:45.380 --> 00:29:48.500 So this idea of a cloud is similar to the thought of a glory cloud. 00:29:48.540 --> 00:29:54.880 When you read throughout Scripture, God is covered in cloud, and that's the Shekinah presence of the Lord. 00:29:55.100 --> 00:29:56.270 And here's what he's saying. 00:29:57.020 --> 00:30:01.580 Whether you've passed away or you're still alive, here's the comfort that you get. 00:30:01.920 --> 00:30:03.980 You're never outside of Jesus. 00:30:04.700 --> 00:30:10.980 If you're in Jesus, Jesus is always aware of where you are, and Jesus desires for you to be with him. 00:30:11.700 --> 00:30:18.800 In fact, when you pass in this world, that's the promise in this passage of the end of verse 17, so will always be with the Lord. 00:30:20.280 --> 00:30:24.600 And so whether you think of a loved one who's gone on before you or yourself today. 00:30:24.600 --> 00:30:25.330 Here's the promise. 00:30:26.080 --> 00:30:30.560 It's the same promise you have today that you would know Christ and walk with him. 00:30:30.560 --> 00:30:35.860 And as you enter into eternity, you would continue to have the intimacy of that relationship with the Lord. 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:38.200 And he says, use that to encourage one another. 00:30:39.160 --> 00:30:43.940 And the same thing that determines my future determines right now, right? 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:46.300 Today I wake up and follow Jesus. 00:30:47.320 --> 00:30:49.790 That's the best thing I can do with my day and tomorrow. 00:30:49.840 --> 00:30:52.500 I don't have to worry about tomorrow because I know who holds tomorrow. 00:30:53.020 --> 00:30:56.250 And when I get to tomorrow, I'm going to wake up and just follow Jesus. 00:30:57.380 --> 00:31:00.830 And when I'm entering into eternity, I'm going to still be with Jesus. 00:31:01.800 --> 00:31:03.540 And so he's encouraging whether. 00:31:03.680 --> 00:31:09.740 Whether it's someone that's passed on or it's you today, if you're in Christ, you're in Christ forever. 00:31:10.560 --> 00:31:16.240 And continue to use that to put into perspective the difficulties that you might endure today. 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:24.160 But because it allows not the circumstance to dictate who you are, but rather your identity in Christ that transcends it all so 00:31:24.160 --> 00:31:25.830 that we can move as people with hope. 00:31:25.900 --> 00:31:32.620 Though in the momentary affliction we might have grief in the brokenness of this world, we have a greater hope that transcends who we are. 00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:36.680 So that let me get to this last next point here. 00:31:37.140 --> 00:31:39.140 Let live out. 00:31:39.140 --> 00:31:39.580 Excuse me. 00:31:39.580 --> 00:31:40.920 Your resurrection hope. 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:43.220 Live out, then your resurrection hope. 00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:45.150 And I'm going to do this in like five minutes. 00:31:45.160 --> 00:31:47.040 We're going to cover ten verses in five minutes. 00:31:48.360 --> 00:31:53.740 But here he explains to us, what does that look like in our life if we're to live out that resurrection hope? 00:31:54.500 --> 00:32:00.560 And in verse one, now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 00:32:01.220 --> 00:32:08.320 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night, while people are saying there is peace and security, then suddenly destruction 00:32:08.320 --> 00:32:10.580 will come upon them with labor pains. 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:12.930 Come upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape. 00:32:13.300 --> 00:32:18.280 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:20.260 For you are all children of light. 00:32:20.380 --> 00:32:21.180 Children of the day. 00:32:21.180 --> 00:32:23.540 We are not of the night or of the darkness. 00:32:24.640 --> 00:32:26.980 So he's encouraging you to how to live in light of this. 00:32:26.980 --> 00:32:27.980 Let me let me say it like this. 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:35.560 If I go back for just a minute to verse 17 when it talks about in verse 17 that you're going to be caught up with the Lord, 00:32:35.560 --> 00:32:39.000 this is where Christians might use the word rapture, right? 00:32:39.680 --> 00:32:40.180 There are going to be rapture. 00:32:41.120 --> 00:32:45.560 The Latin word rapture or the Greek word. 00:32:45.730 --> 00:32:51.460 I think it is or is what it is that you're going to be caught up together with the Lord in him. 00:32:51.520 --> 00:32:53.740 And some people like to put this in a timeline, right? 00:32:53.740 --> 00:33:00.760 Like I want to tell you exactly how it breaks down and every detail that you need to know, and you know, that can be a good thing to go through 00:33:00.760 --> 00:33:04.820 and try to discover how the end of life is going to play itself out. 00:33:04.920 --> 00:33:09.580 But here's what Paul wants you to know how it really what really ultimately matters is that you're going to be with Jesus. 00:33:10.740 --> 00:33:12.310 And in light of that, and then how to live. 00:33:13.400 --> 00:33:15.100 And here's what he's saying for you and for me. 00:33:15.180 --> 00:33:17.700 This is the next couple of points in your notes. 00:33:18.760 --> 00:33:21.940 First is to be thankful that you have the light of day. 00:33:23.580 --> 00:33:24.940 Be thankful that you have the light of day. 00:33:26.120 --> 00:33:26.640 What are you saying? 00:33:26.780 --> 00:33:27.240 Is this. 00:33:27.760 --> 00:33:31.740 There are some people walking in this world that don't understand what God's doing. 00:33:32.540 --> 00:33:34.540 In fact, they may not have any faith in the Lord at all. 00:33:34.540 --> 00:33:35.800 And when they die, that's it. 00:33:36.860 --> 00:33:38.990 And how terrible a way to live your life. 00:33:39.080 --> 00:33:42.620 There is no ultimate weapon that death gets the final victory over you. 00:33:43.940 --> 00:33:43.980 But. 00:33:44.060 --> 00:33:48.350 But you and understanding who Jesus is and what he's done for you, that's not where you have to stay. 00:33:49.500 --> 00:33:56.110 And so, in the brokenness of this world, thank God that you don't have to let brokenness be the end, that you get the beauty of the light of day. 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:59.090 To understand that and to put that into perspective. 00:34:00.180 --> 00:34:03.700 So Paul is saying, walk with that perspective in this world. 00:34:04.540 --> 00:34:07.110 Understand what that means for you and for me. 00:34:07.600 --> 00:34:13.639 And then he goes on in verse six and says, so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 00:34:13.639 --> 00:34:16.820 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk or drunk at night. 00:34:16.820 --> 00:34:19.480 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober. 00:34:19.540 --> 00:34:27.080 Having put on the breastplate of faith and love for the helmet of the hope of salvation, for God has not destined us to wrath, but obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus, 00:34:27.520 --> 00:34:31.580 who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live with him. 00:34:31.580 --> 00:34:34.790 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 00:34:35.760 --> 00:34:36.360 So here's what he's saying. 00:34:36.360 --> 00:34:37.679 You have the hope of the future of knowing. 00:34:37.679 --> 00:34:39.010 No matter what happens, you're with Jesus. 00:34:40.100 --> 00:34:40.120 But. 00:34:40.260 --> 00:34:42.600 But here's what Paul wants us to know. 00:34:43.239 --> 00:34:45.980 Like, it's great to talk about the future of a resurrection, right? 00:34:46.360 --> 00:34:48.100 That one day you'll be with Jesus forever. 00:34:49.800 --> 00:34:53.139 But that resurrection power when you come to Christ happens in you. 00:34:53.179 --> 00:34:55.949 Now, you get life in Jesus now. 00:34:56.460 --> 00:34:59.260 So it's not about, well, one day, we'll look to the future. 00:34:59.260 --> 00:35:01.940 It's saying, no, you get to live in light of that. 00:35:01.940 --> 00:35:07.750 Now that not only does God care about your future, God cares about you now and that resurrection life in you now. 00:35:07.800 --> 00:35:09.240 You get to live through that now. 00:35:09.260 --> 00:35:16.360 So you see not only a God who is concerned for tomorrow, for you and what you have in him, but he also cares about where you are right now. 00:35:16.360 --> 00:35:23.440 And so Paul is encouraging us because of that walk with this breastplate of righteousness and this faith that 00:35:23.440 --> 00:35:26.920 is strong meaning don't waste your life, but use it for his glory. 00:35:26.960 --> 00:35:28.450 And he compares us the idea of drunkenness. 00:35:28.680 --> 00:35:34.720 He does the same thing in Ephesians five where he says, don't be drunk with wine, which is dissipation, but be filled with the Spirit of God. 00:35:34.800 --> 00:35:40.340 And what he means is this your life is like a cup, and when you're drunk with wine, which is dissipation, you're just wasting. 00:35:40.500 --> 00:35:41.660 You're just spilling it out. 00:35:42.320 --> 00:35:46.680 But when you're filled with the spirit, it's the power of God made known in you to make a difference in this world. 00:35:47.780 --> 00:35:52.280 When you think in terms of death, yes, there's death, there's grief, there's suffering, there's struggle. 00:35:52.280 --> 00:35:53.330 Those things are true. 00:35:53.480 --> 00:35:54.980 We should bear one another's burdens. 00:35:54.980 --> 00:35:56.340 Galatians chapter six. 00:35:57.200 --> 00:35:58.600 But that doesn't define us. 00:35:59.540 --> 00:36:02.100 Something far more powerful, something far greater. 00:36:02.780 --> 00:36:03.410 And it's personal. 00:36:03.560 --> 00:36:10.820 It's tangible, made known in the flesh of Christ as he gave his life for you, so that you could experience the joy of a life giving relationship with him now 00:36:10.820 --> 00:36:15.460 and forever, so that no matter what happens, you're always with Jesus. 00:36:16.740 --> 00:36:19.760 If I ended this way just a couple of minutes and be done. 00:36:20.340 --> 00:36:27.560 You know, when I look throughout church history, some of the most powerful people in church history that made tremendous impact were people that never 00:36:27.560 --> 00:36:29.830 let go of this truth that we talked about today. 00:36:31.120 --> 00:36:35.700 The guy on the top right who has an impressive beard that I hope to grow one day is a man named Polycarp. 00:36:37.000 --> 00:36:39.920 Polycarp was an individual who was born the same year. 00:36:39.960 --> 00:36:45.190 I believe the apostle Peter was martyred, and Polycarp went on to give his life. 00:36:45.200 --> 00:36:46.280 When he was 86 years old. 00:36:46.280 --> 00:36:49.250 He was martyred for his faith in Jesus in the middle of the second century. 00:36:50.360 --> 00:36:57.360 But the thing that compelled Polycarp was to know that death was not his last defeat, or had no ultimate 00:36:57.360 --> 00:37:01.000 authority over him, but rather it was just an usher to something greater. 00:37:01.900 --> 00:37:03.820 A Perpetua and Felicity in the bottom right. 00:37:03.860 --> 00:37:05.160 They were martyred in the third century. 00:37:05.380 --> 00:37:06.740 They were in their early 20s. 00:37:06.820 --> 00:37:14.120 Felicity was a very wealthy woman who gave up her wealth to follow Jesus, and ultimately led to the end of her life, or even on the far left. 00:37:14.160 --> 00:37:17.850 So you see early church history on the right, but on the on the far left. 00:37:18.200 --> 00:37:20.670 You have a guy on the bottom left by the name of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. 00:37:21.080 --> 00:37:21.980 The same thing. 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:22.540 Who? 00:37:22.540 --> 00:37:23.120 Nazi Germany. 00:37:23.120 --> 00:37:23.650 He was a pastor. 00:37:23.880 --> 00:37:31.340 Nazi Germany tried to silence him, but he refused to continue to preach the gospel, which led to his death in a concentration camp or in the top. 00:37:31.360 --> 00:37:34.840 Top left is a is a couple by the name of John and Betty Stam. 00:37:34.980 --> 00:37:41.420 John and Betty Stam were missionaries to China that ultimately met their martyrdom in there in their mid 20s. 00:37:41.520 --> 00:37:48.030 They followed after Jesus and people asked them, like, you're going to a country that could martyr you for your faith. 00:37:48.080 --> 00:37:54.960 And ultimately communistic soldiers arrested them, marched them in the streets in a shameful way, and beheaded them. 00:37:54.980 --> 00:37:58.460 But being asked about their concern, Betty responded this way. 00:37:58.460 --> 00:38:05.560 Before she left, she said, afraid of what to fill the Spirit's glad release, to pass from pain to perfect peace, 00:38:06.020 --> 00:38:08.120 the strife and stain of life to cease. 00:38:08.640 --> 00:38:14.560 Afraid of that, even John, the year that they were executed for their faith. 00:38:14.580 --> 00:38:15.220 He said this. 00:38:15.220 --> 00:38:18.080 He wrote this to a students in a Bible college. 00:38:18.080 --> 00:38:19.100 He said. 00:38:19.100 --> 00:38:21.140 What does it matter what men think or say? 00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:25.170 We have the resurrection life of Christ in us. 00:38:25.400 --> 00:38:29.300 Death can only be the gateway to glory. 00:38:31.620 --> 00:38:38.700 When you have no concern about the struggles that this world might throw at you become a powerful individual for the sake 00:38:38.700 --> 00:38:39.660 of Christ in this world. 00:38:41.140 --> 00:38:47.920 When what you have in Jesus matters more than anything, the glory of Christ is made known through your life. 00:38:49.040 --> 00:38:56.140 This is what Paul is encouraging the church in Thessalonians to think of a greater encouragement in the midst of the discouragement in 00:38:56.140 --> 00:39:00.580 this world, because no matter how dark the days may be, the greater the light you have in Christ.