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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...