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Give Thanks in All Circumstances First read of the above Scriptural command may generate such responses as: “Are you crazy?” and/or “You do not understand my circumstances”. Both responses and some other shocking responses can and should be expected from any one of us. After all, we are only human and what God is commanding us to do is contrary to normal human behavior which is to constantly complain and gripe. As we celebrate the biggest holiday in the USA – Thanksgiving Day, we should reflect on these words of Paul inspired by the Holy Spirit that he spoke to the Thessalonians. From our previous studies, remember that these are final words of a five chapter letter to the Thessalonians. Therefore Paul has reason to say what he is saying. Going back to the beginning of the Letter and the middle will help us understand why Paul is instructing the Thessalonians to give thanks. “For we know, brothers and sisters[b] loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you

Grieve and Live with Hope What is the fate of all who have died believing in Christ? Just like then and now, Apostle Paul addresses the Thessalonians regarding the second coming of Christ and what will happen to those who have “slept” (died) in Christ. The Thessalonians may have experienced some deaths among them since they last saw Paul and were concerned about the fate of those that have died. We can guess that the Thessalonians asked, if Christ comes for us that are living what about those who have already died believing in Christ? This is a very legitimate question. As we study this section of chapters 4 and 5, the key premise is in verse 4:14. “For we believe that Jesus died and rose again”. Another translation says, “For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again”. This is the crux of the matter for life. Do you believe this basic and fundamental doctrine of the Christian Faith – that, Jesus died and rose again? We may have intellectual assent in this but there comes a time w

Mind your own Business Continuing on the theme of sanctification and practical Christian living in holiness, Apostle Paul gives further instructions to the Thessalonians on loving other believers, not being an idle busybody but rather working hard to contribute to the good of the society. In the last study, we understood that God’s will for the Thessalonians (and for us today) is to be sanctified. One area that required immediate attention for the Thessalonians (and for us today) was dealing with sexual immorality and cultivating the discipline of controlling one’s own body since our bodies are the temple of the Holy Spirit. Sexual sin (which is any behavior to satisfy/gratify sexual desires outside of marriage) is actually sin against God and against one’s own body (1 Corinthians 6:18). It is a command for purity both for the married and unmarried and Jesus said, even our lustful thoughts can get us into this category of sin. Someone said, “Satan’s not-very-subtle strategy is often to

Abstain/Avoid Sexual Immorality I approach our current study of chapter 4 of Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians with utmost humility, trepidation, sadness and with much prayer. Why? You only need to look around and also watch the latest news to understand the reason. In particular, there are all kinds of sexual immorality exposures, confessions and accusations of the hidden practices of men and women in the world-wide Christian community. There is probably one going on and rocking your local church and/or your immediate family at this time. For me personally, I come with this sense of unease having learned recently of a highly respected pastor of a mega church who has confessed to sexual immorality. Though I have never met this pastor, I respected him because he was gifted and taught sound doctrine (including this subject for our study). I would listen to him on the radio. He has been off the air since his confession. Recalling from previous chapter 3, Apostle Paul said to t

Our Faith and Prayer - Study 10/21/10 This past week, the World celebrated the successful rescue of the 33 Chilean miners who were trapped underground for 70 days. Now talk about being raised from the dead and this is it. For the first 17 days, the miners were in utter darkness before there was breakthrough to supply them light. Subsequently, they have been sharing their experiences and what mattered most to them while “buried alive”. One of the miners, Mario Sepulveda said, “I was with God and with the devil. And I reached out for God”. What a true confession of faith when nothing else matters. When all is said and done, what matters most to you and what is of the greatest concern for yourself and the people in your life? Apostle Paul helped us answer this question as he wrote his beloved Thessalonians. In our current chapter 3, five times he spoke and inquired about their faith. Repetition in Scripture often signifies importance and that was the case here. When you are concerned and

I can’t stand it any longer! - Study 10/14/10 Is this where you are right now in your most important relationships – your marriage, your children, with your boss and some neighbors and some friends? The pain is so much and festering and definitely there is something standing on the way between you and the loved ones that is causing and engineering the pain. You may not even understand it all. So what are you doing or not doing about the situation? Paul and company were in the exact same position in relating to and caring for the Thessalonians. Have you really come to say these words, “I cannot stand it any longer”? This may be our best words ever - an admission of helplessness but not defeat. Until we say these words, we really cannot invite God to do something about our situation. Paul knew very well that "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." (2 Corinthians 12:9). What did Paul do and not do when Satan stood on the way between him and

The Call to Parenting - Study 10/7/10 You don’t have to have given birth to a child to be a great parent. A modern example for us is mother Teresa who had no biological child of her own but was mother and father to thousands of kids in Calcutta India. We see Paul playing the same role of parenting – being a mother and father to the Thessalonians. When it is comes to the bottom line of our real job as responsible citizens of God’s kingdom, we are all in the parenting business. Do you have anything else to boast of at the end of life except the lives of people you and I have touched and nurtured? The prize and crown of this life is the people God have used us to nurture and draw close to him. Apostle Paul came to this conclusion regarding the Thessalonians. Do you have any other measure of success in life? If it is not this, then you must rethink it. Could your measure of success be the houses, cars and gold we own? If they are, then God really feels sorry for us because we are going

Please Quit Pretending - Study 9/30/10 I once played an acting role in a skit portraying the life of a new arrived immigrant from the Middle East. I assumed a Middle Eastern name and spoke in broken English with deep intonation and accent. I was very good and received accolades for my ingenuity in acting. I enjoyed it and it made me feel proud of what I can accomplish by acting. It is the same for people in Hollywood. It is a world of make-belief. You end up trying to improve on your last act so that people will like and praise you. It is like being on drugs and it is unsustainable because you want more. No wonder most of them in Hollywood eventually crash into pieces of broken lives along with the lives of others they have broken. In real life, there is some acting of various sorts. Sooner or later, our acting become obvious to others before it becomes obvious to us. Every acting and pretending comes down to living a life that is not original and true to who we really are. We act a

The Power of God's Word - Study 9/23/10 Many things produce power. Machines work with power produced from batteries or electricity. There are also more advanced sources of power like the laser beam which is a concentration of light that can split any object. All of those are mechanical powers There are also natural powers like that of lightening, turnados and hurricanes. We will never forget in the recent times the power of hurricane Katrina that almost wiped out the city of New Orleans. There is however the power of words. We know it because sometimes people have said things to us that knocked us out. The effect of those words sometimes feel more than using a hammer to hit us. In today's study we will see the power of the Godspel for transformation. It is the greatest power there is because it is the power of the Word of God. The Thessalonian Church received God's word and hence received His power that brought change in their lives. Have you listened and received God

I am Pregnant - Study 9/16/10 Yes, literally, I am pregnant. The Thessalonian Church was pregnant too and they knew it. In March 2010, there was a woman from Kentucky that carried a baby for nine months and did not know that she was pregnant until the baby was born. The husband did not know either. This sounds incredible to believe but it is a true story. In one sense it is sad but thank God the baby was delivered and in good health. This couple missed all the joy and excitement of a coming baby. I also submit to you that this woman did not eat and do things and/or avoid doing certain things that come with pregnancy. One of the major themes of Apostle Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians addresses their great desire and EXPECTATION of the soon return of Jesus Christ for His Church (the second coming). As we are introduced to the Letter today, we will encounter two other reoccurring themes - their work/walk on faith and their labor of love for one another and all people. The presence

Born in Adversity – The Thessalonian Church We will begin next week our study of the first and second Letters of Apostle Paul to the Thessalonians. Before we get to the Letters, we would like to know how the Church was started and established. For this, we go back to the Book of Acts where the Church was planted. Listen to Paul, “You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit” 1 Thessalonians 1:6. Is this your story? Do you have the joy from the Holy Spirit regardless of your sever sufferings? May God’s joy be your strength. Acts 17: 1-15 1When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. 2As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3explaining and proving that the Christ[a] had to suffer and rise from the dead. "This Jesus I am proclaiming to you

The Ultimate Deliverance As we come to the end of the Book of Daniel, we see our ultimate destiny. Why did God make us? We were created so that we can be with God forever without any separation. Are you looking for any other deliverance? This is it. Will your name be found in the Book of Life – those who have been delivered? Daniel’s name was found and I pray the same for you and me. Daniel 12: 1-13 1 "At that time Michael, the great prince who protects your people, will arise. There will be a time of distress such as has not happened from the beginning of nations until then. But at that time your people—everyone whose name is found written in the book—will be delivered. 2 Multitudes who sleep in the dust of the earth will awake: some to everlasting life, others to shame and everlasting contempt. 3 Those who are wise [a] will shine like the brightness of the heavens, and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever. 4 But you, Daniel, close up and