I am Pregnant -
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 of Christ in a believer must be evidenced in all aspects of his/her lifestyle including work ethic. You cannot hide nor fake pregnancy. It must eventually show.
Are you pregnant and do you know it? Is the trinity represented in the person of the Holy Spirit living in you and are you expecting the soon return of Jesus Christ? Then let’s live accordingly. This is the gist of Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians. This world is not our permanent home.
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
1Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.[b]
2We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You 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. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul was obviously the writer (verse 1) of the Letter and it is believed to have been written about A.D. 51. As you recall from Acts 17 when the church was established, Paul was with Silas and Timothy but Paul was chased out of town by trouble makers. Silas and Timothy have now come to report to Paul on how the church was doing. Paul now writes to encourage the new Thessalonians believers in their trials; instruct them on godly living and good work ethic. He also encourages them on the hope for the believers who have died and on future end and coming of Jesus. It is believed that this may have been the first of all the letters of Paul in the New Testament.
2. The Thessalonians were characterized by their foundation – “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” vs.1. Foundation is the most important. These days, people are claiming to be part of Christ’s Church but they are not founded in God but in their own will power. “In God” is a work of grace and not a work of man lest we boast. “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you”, or “elected by God” vs. 4. You and I may struggle with understanding election but it is all over the entire Bible. Jesus himself confirmed it. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” John 15:16. Are you “in God” and understand that God chose us from the nothingness of ourselves for His purpose?
3. Those who understand the work of Grace and election, totally depend on God for everything. They are full of hope and expectant (pregnant). They depend on the “Holy Spirit” and have “deep conviction” (vs. 4) of sin in their lives. They extend grace to others and forgive others just as God in Christ has forgiven us. They are thankful to God for everything including other believers in Christ vs.2. Paul was grateful for the Thessalonians knowing where they had come from. They “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” vs. 9. This is one of the mark/measure of true conversion to Christ. We cannot hold on to our “American idols” of love of money and fame.
4. The people of Grace like the Thessalonians are not people of “mind over matter” as is taught in many so called churches of today. They do not “name and claim it” and just “concentrate your mind and you will get it”. The Thessalonians were people who were said to have ‘endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” vs. 3. They endure the “morning sickness” knowing that there is more at stake and that there is a big prize of the baby at the end that is immeasurable. If we do not have this mindset we will only live for today to gratify our lusts. We will run from one Church to the other looking for one to baptize our lusts and help us satisfy them by all means (see James 4:1-5).
5. Pregnant women are advised to stay away from caffeine and alcohol and other foods. I believe it is not just only for the sake of the baby but so that their judgment will not be impaired. We must depend on God’s counsel and eat God’s diet (His WORD) if we are expecting Him. When you are expectant, you eat the good food more often than before because you are hungrier. Lord Jesus, grant us more hunger for you and your Word for in them there is life. You are the bread of Life, satisfy us more than anything else.
Are you expecting the soon coming of Jesus? Are you pregnant? “Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” vs.10. Jesus is coming for sure. Only those who believe in Him will escape the coming “wrath” resulting from sin. Are you ‘in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”? Let’s live as such and let our actions and our “work be produced by faith and our labor prompted by love” of God that is in us. Our work is not done to please God because He is already pleased with us by the work of Christ on the Cross. We only respond to His love by our works. Amen
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 of Christ in a believer must be evidenced in all aspects of his/her lifestyle including work ethic. You cannot hide nor fake pregnancy. It must eventually show.
Are you pregnant and do you know it? Is the trinity represented in the person of the Holy Spirit living in you and are you expecting the soon return of Jesus Christ? Then let’s live accordingly. This is the gist of Paul’s Letter to the Thessalonians. This world is not our permanent home.
1 Thessalonians 1: 1-10
1Paul, Silas[a] and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.[b]
2We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
4For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. 6You 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. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.
Here are my observations in addition to the ones you may have:
1. Paul was obviously the writer (verse 1) of the Letter and it is believed to have been written about A.D. 51. As you recall from Acts 17 when the church was established, Paul was with Silas and Timothy but Paul was chased out of town by trouble makers. Silas and Timothy have now come to report to Paul on how the church was doing. Paul now writes to encourage the new Thessalonians believers in their trials; instruct them on godly living and good work ethic. He also encourages them on the hope for the believers who have died and on future end and coming of Jesus. It is believed that this may have been the first of all the letters of Paul in the New Testament.
2. The Thessalonians were characterized by their foundation – “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” vs.1. Foundation is the most important. These days, people are claiming to be part of Christ’s Church but they are not founded in God but in their own will power. “In God” is a work of grace and not a work of man lest we boast. “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you”, or “elected by God” vs. 4. You and I may struggle with understanding election but it is all over the entire Bible. Jesus himself confirmed it. “You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit” John 15:16. Are you “in God” and understand that God chose us from the nothingness of ourselves for His purpose?
3. Those who understand the work of Grace and election, totally depend on God for everything. They are full of hope and expectant (pregnant). They depend on the “Holy Spirit” and have “deep conviction” (vs. 4) of sin in their lives. They extend grace to others and forgive others just as God in Christ has forgiven us. They are thankful to God for everything including other believers in Christ vs.2. Paul was grateful for the Thessalonians knowing where they had come from. They “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” vs. 9. This is one of the mark/measure of true conversion to Christ. We cannot hold on to our “American idols” of love of money and fame.
4. The people of Grace like the Thessalonians are not people of “mind over matter” as is taught in many so called churches of today. They do not “name and claim it” and just “concentrate your mind and you will get it”. The Thessalonians were people who were said to have ‘endurance inspired by hope in the Lord Jesus Christ” vs. 3. They endure the “morning sickness” knowing that there is more at stake and that there is a big prize of the baby at the end that is immeasurable. If we do not have this mindset we will only live for today to gratify our lusts. We will run from one Church to the other looking for one to baptize our lusts and help us satisfy them by all means (see James 4:1-5).
5. Pregnant women are advised to stay away from caffeine and alcohol and other foods. I believe it is not just only for the sake of the baby but so that their judgment will not be impaired. We must depend on God’s counsel and eat God’s diet (His WORD) if we are expecting Him. When you are expectant, you eat the good food more often than before because you are hungrier. Lord Jesus, grant us more hunger for you and your Word for in them there is life. You are the bread of Life, satisfy us more than anything else.
Are you expecting the soon coming of Jesus? Are you pregnant? “Wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath” vs.10. Jesus is coming for sure. Only those who believe in Him will escape the coming “wrath” resulting from sin. Are you ‘in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”? Let’s live as such and let our actions and our “work be produced by faith and our labor prompted by love” of God that is in us. Our work is not done to please God because He is already pleased with us by the work of Christ on the Cross. We only respond to His love by our works. Amen
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