1 Thessalonians Lesson 1: We Who Wait for Jesus :: By Sean Gooding

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Sean Gooding

Chapter 1:1-10

1 “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father; 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

6 “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost. 7 So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God; 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

This book was completed by or about 52 AD. Jesus had scarcely been gone back to Heaven for 20 years, and the church at Jerusalem was flourishing and exporting the Gospel via men like Paul, Timothy, and Silvanus. The Roman invasion of 70 AD was still some 20 years away, the Gospel was exported freely, and the churches were popping up everywhere. This church in Thessalonica kind of just popped up, we are told in Acts 17:2; Paul was there preaching for just 3 Sabbaths, about 21 days. There are some scholars who think he was there for a bit longer, maybe 3 months, but nonetheless, whether 3 weeks or 3 months, this church was quick to materialize. And it is obvious that Paul did as much as he could do, but there was more to be done after he left, and this letter was written just a few months after he left.

As with many Greek churches and converts, the idea of idolatry had to be dealt with. People, even many religions today, are accustomed to having some form of statue or idol to focus on. In many ‘churches’ even today, you can see idols that they claim depict Jesus, Peter, Mary, and a host of other Biblical characters. We need to be careful about this, but in our modern Baptist churches, we can be just as idolatrous of the piano, or the architecture of the new building, or whatever is more important than Jesus. We often hear that if we don’t have the youth group or the young adults or the youth program or whatever, we cannot get people to come and stay. All too often, programs can become idols, and we go to a church and seek the program at the risk of doctrine.

This young church was facing persecution already, and Paul wanted to help them to keep their hope up. The Gospel attracts attacks. It is impossible for the devil to stand by and not take on a new local church to see if he can crush it and thwart any expansion ideas that they have. So, by the guidance of the Holy Spirit, Paul, now in Corinth, writes this first letter to them to encourage them. And now, almost 2,000 years later, he is encouraging us. Let us take a look at what he had to say to them and now us.

  • God sees and knows your situation, verse 2-3

It is easy for us, myself included, to think that God has forgotten us or that God no longer cares for us because of the situation we find ourselves in. Often, these situations are not of our own making; rather, we are in a position that we are unable to fight, and no amount of pleading seems to work. We can’t get out. Paul writes to assure these young Christians that they are being prayed for every day. The situation they are in is being prayed about, and God knows what is happening. He has not abandoned you.

One of the hardest lessons to learn in life is that the vast majority of good things that happen are the fruit of some kind of suffering. It would seem that in the present, we humans are most productive under pressure. This seems to be the case even among the Lord’s churches. When things go well as they have for the past 50+ years here in North America, we see the expansion of churches all across the world. But hand in hand with that is a certain worldliness that has encroached into the local church.

Leisure breeds worldliness in churches, and persecution tends to thin the attendance but purifies the flock. People who are not truly saved rarely stick around for hard times in local churches. Shallow Christians have to make choices either to stay and grow or run and hide. But over the past 2,000 years of the New Testament church, persecution has done more to expand it than thwart it.

God will give us the grace to endure, and if necessary, to die for the cause and name of Jesus. We are to trust Him and stay the course. We are to trust that He knows who we are, where we are, and what we are going through. He has never been surprised, and we can trust His promise to never leave us or forsake us.

  • God’s election, verse 4

Knowing our election gives us security in troubled times. Election is such a divisive doctrine in the Lord’s churches today and even back in Paul’s day. There are many who believe that some are born to go to Heaven and others are born to go to Hell. This is the ‘Cole’s Notes version of Calvinism: God made some for Heaven and the rest for Hell. The Gospel is not really Good News to everyone, only to the elect of Christ. To all others, it is just bad news, really. Jesus did not die for you, you are not a part of the ‘whosoever’ in John 3:16, and Jesus is The Way for the elect but not for you.

From the very beginning, one of the defining things about mankind has been the ability to choose. God gave us this. God gave Adam and his wife the ability to choose obedience or not and to suffer the consequences thereof. And, God in His Omniscience promised a plan to redeem man from his bad choices in Genesis 3:15. Choice is the very foundation of Christianity.

Joshua 24:15, “Choose you this day whom you will serve.”

Elijah’s call, “If God be God, serve Him, but if Baal, serve him.”

The three Hebrews boys chose not to worship Nebuchadnezzar’s idol. Daniel chose to pray in Daniel 6. We can go on and on, but the choice is the very foundation of the Gospel. God has chosen the route for one’s salvation that is in Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. See Romans 10: 9-10, John 3; 16-18, also John 14:6, “No one comes to the Father except through me [Jesus].” God’s election is about the method of salvation, NOT who gets saved. We have the choice to be saved, but only in Jesus; there is no other way. It is easy in times of persecution to think that maybe we are not saved. Maybe if we were saved, this kind of trouble would not come our way, and we would not be in this kind of hurt. Saved people live lives full of fun, money, no pain, and no suffering.

The devil wants you to think that you are not saved, and maybe if you just got saved again, added to the truth, or do whatever, the pain will go away. But Paul reminded these young Christians to look at the pure Gospel and have confidence in it. Did you place your faith in the person of Jesus? Did you trust His full payment for your sins? Did you trust that He rose from the dead? Then, according to Romans 10: 9-10, you are saved. Hold on; God has you.

Paul reminded them of the power they saw when he was there and that even at the very beginning, there was trouble as the Gospel was changing them (see verses 6-7). Don’t give up now: God has just begun a work in you.

  • God is using you to spread the Gospel, verses 8-9

As I mentioned earlier, persecution and external troubles seem to somehow inspire expansion. The Gospel thrives in trouble. I can see that one of the reasons is that there is no fake profession in the midst of death threats. People have to choose Jesus in the midst of understanding that they could die when they choose Him. I think of our brothers and sister in Afghanistan and other places like China and many Muslim countries. They have to choose Jesus in the face of great danger, and they have to know that the choices they make can affect their kids and cause them great damage, loss, and pain.

But these Thessalonian churches or this one church had begun to export the Gospel to Macedonia. These were, for all intents and purposes, baby Christians, but they understood their responsibility to send the Good News of Jesus out to the world around them, and they did it at great personal risk.

When was the last time you shared the Gospel with someone?

I had the privilege of helping a young man ask Jesus to be his Saviour a few months ago, and I try to share the Gospel with those who will listen. But what about you? Are you actively sharing the Gospel? Are you prepared to share the Gospel? Do you have verses memorized, and can you take a person who wants to know on the journey from lost to saved? Christians in Thessalonica could and did in the midst of great persecution. Maybe what we need here in North America to expand the Gospel is persecution.

  • God wants you to focus on Jesus, verse 10

I saw a great meme on FB the other day that there are no verses that command us to look for the anti-Christ. We can see the signs and know the times, but we are to focus on Jesus and His return. We are to live ready to meet Jesus. Paul encouraged these young Christians at Thessalonica to keep looking for Jesus. Keep focused on Jesus, and this will carry you through a lot of hard times.

This is not different for us today; Jesus and His return should be the focus that we have in all aspects of life. Do you want to be a better husband? Focus on Jesus’ return. Do you want to be a better dad? Focus on Jesus’ return. Do you want to be a better pastor, friend, worker, servant, and citizen? Focus on Jesus’ return. My family and the church I grew up in believed in the rapture so much that sometimes if my mom and I got separated in the grocery store, I would wonder if she had been raptured and I was left behind. The return of Jesus has been drilled into my psyche since I was a kid. You need to drill it into your kids, your church, and your mind. Jesus is the focus, His return is the focus, and this will carry us through some of the hardest times of life.

God bless you,

Dr. Sean Gooding
Pastor of Mississauga Missionary Baptist Church

PS: I will be away on vacation next week, and there won’t be any Bible study sent out.

How to Connect with Us

On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/MississaugaMissionaryBaptistChurch

Online: https://www.mississaugamissionarybaptistchurch.com/ (under construction)

Email: missionarybaptistchurch76@yahoo.ca

Where Is God? :: By Nathele Graham

Published on: by RR7 Category:General Articles, Ron & Nathele Graham

Tough times are nothing new. Whether in your personal life or in the general troubled times in the world, a common gripe is, “Where is God in this mess?”

Whether or not we see Him, we can be sure He’s right there on His throne. We can also be sure we matter to Him. Remember, God knows the end from the beginning. He will sometimes allow turmoil because the bumpy road may be the only way to get to the final destiny. It also might be the only way to get our attention. Pride may get in the way, and we don’t hear His voice leading us. Instead of following His lead, we do things our own way, which never works out for the best. When that happens, God allows our misdeeds to serve as lessons that mold us.

“But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good, to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive” (Genesis 50:19).

Let’s take a look now at the story of Jacob’s twelve sons. The sons were a bit unruly. Their sibling rivalry probably came from Jacob having sons from 4 different women. Ten of those boys brought much trouble to Jacob, but not Joseph. He was Jacob’s favorite and was a bit spoiled. Joseph was the son of the woman Jacob loved, which was the reason behind the favoritism.

God knew there would be a drought, and His chosen people needed protection, so He allowed things to occur which would eventually prove to be fortunate. The older sons were away tending the flocks, and Jacob sent Joseph to check on them.

“And when they saw him afar off, even before he came near unto them, they conspired against him to slay him” (Genesis 37:18).

They despised their younger brother. Only Reuben stood up for him and said not to kill Joseph but throw him into a pit. They decided to sell him to a group of Midianites. Joseph was sold to them for twenty pieces of silver, and off he went to Egypt. The brothers had taken a special coat that Jacob had given to Joseph, dipped it in goat’s blood, and told Jacob they had found the coat. Jacob was heartsick at the thought that Joseph had been killed by a wild animal. Jacob mourned for many days. If only Jacob could have seen beyond his grief and trusted God to have a greater plan, he may have found some comfort.

“And the Midianites sold him into Egypt unto Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh’s, and captain of the guard” (Genesis 37:36).

This would prove to be a blessing. “And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

When things look bleak, remember those words, and remember to love God.

Jacob’s sons continued to disgrace him, but Joseph’s life was better than he could have hoped for. “And the LORD was with Joseph, and he was a prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian” (Genesis 39:2).

Joseph may have been spoiled by Jacob, but he had also been taught to honor God. Even though he was in a land where pagan gods were worshiped, Joseph only served God Almighty. Potiphar saw that the God Joseph served allowed everything Joseph did to prosper. We can learn from that. No matter where we live, if we honor Jesus, others will see our faith.

“And Joseph found grace in his sight and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand” (Genesis 39:4).

Potiphar gave Joseph, a slave, a high honor. From that time on, the LORD blessed Potiphar’s house because of Joseph.

Things seemed to be good for Joseph, but Satan always wants to make trouble for anyone who serves God Almighty. In Joseph’s case, Potiphar’s wife took a liking to Joseph and tried to seduce him. Joseph refused her advances, and she wasn’t pleased. She continued trying to seduce him, and he continued to refuse. Eventually, she accused Joseph of trying to rape her, and Joseph was sent to prison.

Where was God in all this trouble? “But the LORD was with Joseph and shewed him mercy and gave him favour in the sight of the keeper of the prison” (Genesis 39:21).

Joseph probably couldn’t see any great plan of God in his life, but he still did his best for those in authority. In this case, the keeper of the prison put Joseph over all the other prisoners. Once again, under Joseph’s hand, all went well. Eventually, the king’s butler and baker managed to get thrown into the prison. One night, each had a dream. They both thought their dream was prophetic, and Joseph said he would interpret the dreams. Joseph said the butler’s dream showed he would be released from prison and returned to his position in Pharaoh’s house. Joseph asked the butler to remember him when he was restored. The baker’s dream wasn’t so happy. The baker would be hung, and birds would eat his flesh.

All of this might seem insignificant, but these dreams, as interpreted by Joseph, came true. The butler did remember Joseph and his ability to interpret dreams, but only after two years had passed.

Pharaoh had dreams that upset him. He dreamed of seven fat cows and seven skinny cows. The fat cows fed in the meadow, but the skinny cows ate the fat cows. Then he dreamt of a stalk of corn with seven ears on it. Then seven thin ears also grew and devoured the healthy ears. Pharaoh wanted to know what the dreams meant. None of the magicians of Egypt could give a good answer.

“Then spake the chief butler unto Pharaoh saying, I do remember my faults this day: Pharaoh was wroth with his servants, and put me in ward in the captain of the guard’s house, both me and the chief baker: and we dreamed a dream in one night, I and he; each man according to the interpretation of his dream. And there was with us a young man, an Hebrew, servant to the captain of the guard; and we told him, and he interpreted to us our dreams; to each man according to his dream he did interpret. And it came to pass, as he interpreted to us, so it was; me he restored unto mine office, and him he hanged” (Genesis 41:9-13).

During those two years, did Joseph wonder, “Where is God”? Instead of feeling sorry for himself or getting mad at God, Joseph just kept on serving the LORD. So should it be with us. We may think God has forgotten us, but if we continue to serve Him faithfully, we will eventually understand that He’s always been with us.

Joseph was taken from prison and led to Pharaoh. When Pharaoh told him that he had heard Joseph could understand dreams, Joseph showed no false pride but gave glory to God. “And Joseph answered Pharaoh, saying, It is not in me: God shall give Pharaoh an answer of peace” (Genesis 41:16).

The dreams were told, and Joseph interpreted the dreams as a warning about a coming famine. There would be seven good years followed by seven years of famine. God was showing Pharaoh what would soon happen. Joseph went on to tell Pharaoh that he needed to plan for the seven years of famine by choosing a man to oversee storing grain so that when the famine hit, they wouldn’t starve.

“And Pharaoh said unto his servants, Can we find such a one as this is, a man in whom the Spirit of God is?” (Genesis 41:38).

Joseph had faithfully served God, and now even Pharaoh recognized the Spirit of God in Joseph. God always knows the bigger picture. There was a bigger reason for all of this than protecting a pagan nation.

I wonder how many times Joseph had felt as if God had abandoned him. God hadn’t. In fact, Joseph had an important reason to be where he was. He would save God’s chosen people. Because Joseph did all things to honor God, everyone recognized God in him. Now, Joseph was second only to Pharaoh in power. Joseph had learned humility, and that power didn’t go to his head. He continued to do his best.

“And Joseph was thirty years old when he stood before Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went throughout all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 41:46).

He accomplished a lot in thirty years, and all was for God’s glory. The interpretation of Pharaoh’s dreams was correct, but because Egypt was prepared, they had more than enough food to help other countries.

“And all countries came into Egypt to Joseph for to buy corn; because that the famine was so sore in all lands” (Genesis 41:57).

Are you beginning to see that God was with Joseph and had His hand over his life? God foresaw everything, and Joseph was the one chosen to save nations.

The wonders don’t stop there. Jacob and his family were also hit hard by the famine. He had heard that Egypt had corn to sell and sent Joseph’s ten older brothers to buy some. Pharaoh had changed Joseph’s name to an Egyptian name, Zaphnathpaaneah, which means “treasury of the glorious rest.” When the brothers came to buy the food, they didn’t recognize their brother after so many years, and his Egyptian name was unrecognizable. Joseph was shocked to see them and didn’t make his identity known right away. He did get even with them a bit, but eventually, he had a feast prepared for them.

When Joseph entered to join them at the feast, he asked about Jacob, then saw his brother Benjamin, whom Joseph insisted be brought to Egypt. He had to leave the room in tears. Joseph was full of emotion. Had he felt anger towards the ten who had sold him to slavery? Seeing Benjamin was overwhelming. The next things that happened are very complicated. Joseph gave them food but planted a cup in Benjamin’s sack. He said that Benjamin was a thief and was to be his slave. They begged for Benjamin to be set free, admitted the evil they had done to Joseph, and said it would be too much for their father to lose another son.

Joseph had enough. He sent all of his servants out, then revealed his true identity to his brothers. It was a very touching family reunion. Joseph is a great example of seeing God’s hand working in circumstances that seem bad.

“And Joseph said unto his brethren, Come near to me, I pray you. And they came near. And he said, I am Joseph your brother, whom ye sold into Egypt. Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and He hath made me a father to pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt” (Genesis 45:4-8).

God used Joseph to preserve the nation of Israel, and the whole world has been blessed. It was through that nation that Jesus Christ, the Messiah, was born.

When trouble comes your way, do you question God or get angry with Him?

As we read about Joseph, we can clearly see God’s hand leading all the way. We don’t always see how troubles in our own life can possibly work for good, but if God is honored, you can be assured that God is working everything for good. You might ask, “Where is God” as a pandemic is destroying lives. Where is God as the US abandons Afghanistan, and we watch as pure evil comes to power with people being tortured and killed? I have no idea what good can come out of it, but I do know that God hasn’t turned away.

Prophecy is moving forward, and it won’t be long until God calls all Christians Home in the Rapture. Put your faith in Him today, and honor Him in all you do. Even if you question “Where is God,” if you believe in the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, you can rest assured that God is with you in all things.

God bless you all,

Nathele Graham

twotug@embarqmail.com

ron@straitandnarrowministry.com

All original scripture is “theopneustos,” God-breathed.

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