JESUS CHRIST IS COMING!

We’ve opened probably Paul’s first inspired letter, written to faithful new believers in Thessalonica where Christianity first flourished in Europe, only to find it is written by three guys!... Paul, Silus and Timothy.  At the end of the letter they charge the Thessalonians: it must be read everywhere!  

Wow, this letter is very important – but why?                                                                                  

After reading through rich commendations and encouragement – “patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” – to no ordinary ‘ekklesia’ but ‘in God the Father and in our Lord Jesus Christ’, we find EVERY CHAPTER speaks about the coming again of our Lord Jesus Christ…

• “…wait for His son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” 1:10
• “Our hope, our joy…Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?” 2:19
• “…at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” 3:13
• “…be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ” 5:23

That’s right… none of us can afford to be distracted by idols, or be slack in service, divided among ourselves, swamped with sorrow, cheating sexually, or just plain unruly – we need to be ready - ALWAYS!

Here is the key to the letter in chapter 4…

“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…” v15

Yes, all Christians have been enjoined ‘by the Word of the Lord’ to be always ready. ‘Coming’ is from the Greek word ‘parousia’ and represents a process of: anticipation, arrival, presence and effect.

While we anticipate, let’s look closer at chapter 4…….NEXT.

EARTHLY or HEAVENLY?

This letter from apostle Paul to Philippi is full of joy in the Lord - in fact...

“Rejoice in the Lord always, again I say: Rejoice!”

Yup, Jesus Christ is our joy, our focus, our boast, our faith, our righteousness, our calling, our transformation....                                                                                                                  

Is that all?  No way!...we get much more about our minds. Even Euodias and Syntyche may be giving each other a piece of their mind, not seeing eye-to-eye about something.

So what are our minds meant to focus on? Earthly things?

How about whatsoever things are: true, honest, just, pure, lovely, good report, virtuous, praise-worthy. That doesn’t seem to leave room for the world’s entertainment, let alone its pornography. 

Are there any warnings?  You bet there are!          

Beware of those evil workers and those earthly-minded ‘christians’.                    

Where is our citizenship? Heaven!

So what is the goal in all this?

To know Christ – the power of His resurrection, the fellowship of His sufferings, as conformed to His death.

"The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen"