This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:10
10 And [kai] to wait for [anemeno] his [autos] Son [huios] from [ek] heaven, [ouranos] whom [hos] he raised [egeiro] from [ek] the dead, [nekros] even Jesus, [Iesous] which [ho] delivered [rhoumai] us [hemas] from [apo] the wrath [orge] to come. [erchomai] KJV-Interlinear
10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. NASB
Paul hits upon this key subject in Thessalonians, that is the return of Christ.
He is not referring to the Second Advent, because it is we who will accompany Him back to this earth at His Second Advent. In order to return with Him, we have to have already been with Him. Here is the reference to what has become known as the doctrine of the Rapture.
More will be covered regarding the Rapture in chapters four and five of this letter.
In short, the Rapture is the removal of all believers from the world, thus delivering them from the ‘wrath to come.’ The wrath, is the judgment upon humanity during the Tribulation. The Tribulation is the name given to the seven year period which remains in the history of the dispensation of the Age of Israel. Note that the wrath comes after the Rapture, not before it. We believers will be removed from the world, so that we will not be a part of that judgment period.
In the dispensations of history, the previous dispensation was the Age of Israel. Daniel listed its final calendar in his seventy weeks prophecy. In his seventy weeks prophecy, seventy weeks of seven year periods were left for that dispensation, or 490 years. Since Daniels time, only sixty-nine of those weeks (of seven years) have passed, or 483 years. The last week of seven year periods, was interrupted by our dispensation.
The last seven years, or called the seventieth week of years, or also called the Tribulation, remains still in the future and will not resume until our dispensation, the Church Age, is completed.
Our current dispensation is also called the Age of the Bride, the Age of the Royal Family, the Church Age. All are synonymous terms.
In his (Daniels) prophecy, the Messiah was to come, grow up, be sacrificed, ascend to glorification in heaven and then return to assume control and rule over the earth for a one-thousand year period. Only the last part, the return to rule, has not yet occurred.
Our dispensation began after the crucifixion and our dispensation, which was the mystery dispensation not mentioned in the Old Testament, has continued for these last 1979 years (2009 minus 30) and counting.
The prophecies of the Old Testament apply to the dispensations belonging to the Old Testament or referred to in the Old Testament, including the Millennium, which was also mentioned. The prophecies do not apply to our dispensation, which was the mystery dispensation and therefore hidden from revelation to history until Christ revealed it during His First Advent ministry.
When Christ referred to our dispensation, the Church Age, He identified it as an age of historical trends, as a time when the nations would be made (arranged) into the footstool for His feet. So, our dispensation is one of historical trends, of examples, of the arrangement of the nations readying them for the final seven year period of mans rule in this world.
The Rapture is imminent. It could happen at any time. The Thessalonians lived their daily lives with that foremost on their minds. The fully expected it to occur during their lifetime.
However we know now that God has been arranging the nations into the array that they are supposed to be in, for the resumption of the final seven years of the dispensation (the Age of Israel) which we interrupted.
It is this doctrine, the Rapture, which was foremost in the minds of the Thessalonians and of which was spoken about throughout the region, as mentioned in the previous verses.
I might mention too, that our dispensation is without prophecy except for the final event of our dispensation, the Rapture. Since the rapture is and always has been imminent, then no functioning prophecy could exist within our era. Otherwise, the Rapture would be dependent on other events.
However that does not preclude the trends of events of history, that contribute to the arranging of the nations and peoples, and knowledge, and the various increases that have been mentioned elsewhere in the Bible. Trends are non-specific events that are general in nature, such as the increases in population, the increases in knowledge, or the formation of powers north, south, east and west of Israel, and so forth.
The restoration of Israel is a Millennial prophecy, not what occurred in 1948.
And these trends also include the formation of the state of the world (economic, political, social, etc.) as it evolves up to the point immediately prior to the Rapture.
The Rapture is a portion of the divine plan of God the Father, who raised His Son, Jesus Christ, and with that same promise and power, will raise all of us from the dead if we are to die prior to the Rapture, along with those believers who will remain alive at the time of the Rapture.
Now, these dates and events are already set in the future. They are certain and will occur as stated. Nothing in this world can destroy the world or humanity and certainly no social or political program can or will change that future date. In fact all that occurs in history now, is driving right toward its occurrence.
Man in his arrogance and spiritual rejection, is following Gods plan to the letter, and following mans own destiny to his own destruction.
Showing posts with label 1 Thessalonians 1. Show all posts
Showing posts with label 1 Thessalonians 1. Show all posts
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:9
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:9
9 For [gar] they [apaggello] themselves [autos] shew [apaggello] of [peri] us [hemon] what manner [hopoios] of entering in [eisodos] we had [echo] [echo] unto [pros] you, [humas] and [kai] how [pos] ye turned [epistrepho] to [pros] God [theos] from [apo] idols [eidolon] to serve [douleuo] the living [zao] and [kai] true [alethinos] God; [theos] KJV-Interlinear
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, NASB
The nature of the life style of the Thessalonians was such a dramatic change from the rest of the world and from history, that it was noticeable by everyone.
Prior to the First Advent of Christ, history was composed of empires and kings, and all amounted to tyrants of one sort or another.
From the Assyrian empire to the sixth empire of Rome (Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires), these made up the history of the world prior to Christ.
After Christ came, then things changed almost immediately as indicated by this letter of Pauls to the Thessalonians.
The Cross occurred at the Passover Feast approximately 30 A.D. That is the accepted date of the crucifixion, and since no calendars existed back then as they do now, we cannot be certain of the exact date. That is a good thing, because once exact things are known or presumed, then people have a tendency to worship them rather than Christ.
Just as the nature of the Thessalonians was noticed, so too history changed after the Cross.
In our dispensation, which began at the Feast of Pentecost which was fifty days after Passover, and has continued until now, for some 1979 years (2009-30), the struggle has not been of empires, but of nations.
Today there are well over 200 nations in the world and no empires. I think that 204 nations participated in the last Olympics and few more did not.
With this expansion of the nations, prosperity has exploded just within the last century, and the Word of God has spread throughout the world. But even with this dramatic change in history, the world is still ruled by kings, dictators and tyrants, and there is one more category added to the mix – socialism.
Socialism is not a face per se, but a philosophy which hides the faces of its tyrants, and behind it they try to create only two classes of people – the extremely high (themselves) and the extremely low. With this approach, very few can rule and control very many.
The United States has been a breath of fresh air in the world in the last 233 years. Being a republic, the forces of tyranny have been thwarted, and the nation has become a place of sanctuary and hope for the many people who look for some hope for themselves.
Christianity has set this country apart from the rest of the world, and as such the world has benefited from its ingenuity, its innovation, its prosperity, and its freedom.
Go to any country in the world and ask anyone what country other than their own, they would like to visit, or what country they know much about, or what country is high on their list of favorites (or hated) and they will state the United States. And why? Because of our Christian heritage.
The name of Jesus Christ is the best known name in all of the world. More people know more about the details and stories of the Bible, than of any other religion.
Wherever in this world, you find the name and doctrine of Christ, then there you will find prosperity and blessing.
However, when you do not find Christ and Christianity, then you find stone-age attitudes and tyranny.
We know from our studies that this world is heading for an end to our dispensation (the Rapture), and the restoration of the interrupted dispensation (the Age of Israel). That means a return to the age of empires or the seventh empire which is commonly known as the revived Roman Empire.
In our dispensation we have seen the collapse of Rome, the dark ages and the rebirth of nations and prosperity. Even though there have been bumps (opposition) along the way, the trend has always been Christianity followed by blessing.
And as we near an end to our dispensation, and no one knows when that will be, we have the opportunity to observe the world trying to move from many nations to one common government (empire tyranny). We also know that this will occur with the Anti-Christ ruler to be revealed in the Tribulation, we just do not know when it will take place, nor the sequence of events that will lead up to this change in the world. However these past several months seem to be a good pattern for demonstrating how that process will occur.
I would like to make one observation, and really it is a speculation of sorts. We are probably very lucky that we have the leadership that we have in our current government, but not for the reasons you might think. They seem to want to make changes very rapidly, and for that reason they will probably fail. That is our bail out if you will.
When history tries to make or force rapid changes, then people tend to rise up in opposition and those changes cease or slow down dramatically. If we had any other mix of leadership, then the changes might well have occurred at a slower pace, but none the less they would have occurred.
Remember one important principle. Jesus Christ controls history. If the time for a one world concept is here, then Christ will allow it, however, if the time is not yet to be, then nothing in this world will force it or accomplish it.
The salt of the earth, believers in this world, are the biggest single hindrance to evil. And while believers are positive and advancing in their spiritual lives, then they will assume the responsible role in public affairs, and dramatic changes, especially evil ones, will either be stopped or postponed.
We cannot prevent the ultimate course set by God, for history, however we can set the course for our own personal lives. And even if no one in this world sees our example, there are many millions, billions, and perhaps trillions of angels who will know each of our names.
History has already demonstrated that Christianity promotes diversity, individuality, and success. Anything else always fails.
One last note for this lesson. Most of us, and that includes me and my family, are feeling the stresses of this down turning economy. We are all behind on our bills and all losing something that we had before.
However know one thing. Jesus Christ controls history and no matter where He leads you, or no matter what impact this economy has on your life, stick with your daily studies, prayers, and trust in Him, and He will give you the unique opportunity to observe history unfolding right before your very eyes, while keeping you safe and secure, one way or another.
Your greatest opportunity for accelerated spiritual growth comes in times of trouble. That is where your faith and spiritual muscle become their greatest.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:9
9 For [gar] they [apaggello] themselves [autos] shew [apaggello] of [peri] us [hemon] what manner [hopoios] of entering in [eisodos] we had [echo] [echo] unto [pros] you, [humas] and [kai] how [pos] ye turned [epistrepho] to [pros] God [theos] from [apo] idols [eidolon] to serve [douleuo] the living [zao] and [kai] true [alethinos] God; [theos] KJV-Interlinear
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, NASB
The nature of the life style of the Thessalonians was such a dramatic change from the rest of the world and from history, that it was noticeable by everyone.
Prior to the First Advent of Christ, history was composed of empires and kings, and all amounted to tyrants of one sort or another.
From the Assyrian empire to the sixth empire of Rome (Assyrian, Egyptian, Babylonian, Persian, Greek, Roman empires), these made up the history of the world prior to Christ.
After Christ came, then things changed almost immediately as indicated by this letter of Pauls to the Thessalonians.
The Cross occurred at the Passover Feast approximately 30 A.D. That is the accepted date of the crucifixion, and since no calendars existed back then as they do now, we cannot be certain of the exact date. That is a good thing, because once exact things are known or presumed, then people have a tendency to worship them rather than Christ.
Just as the nature of the Thessalonians was noticed, so too history changed after the Cross.
In our dispensation, which began at the Feast of Pentecost which was fifty days after Passover, and has continued until now, for some 1979 years (2009-30), the struggle has not been of empires, but of nations.
Today there are well over 200 nations in the world and no empires. I think that 204 nations participated in the last Olympics and few more did not.
With this expansion of the nations, prosperity has exploded just within the last century, and the Word of God has spread throughout the world. But even with this dramatic change in history, the world is still ruled by kings, dictators and tyrants, and there is one more category added to the mix – socialism.
Socialism is not a face per se, but a philosophy which hides the faces of its tyrants, and behind it they try to create only two classes of people – the extremely high (themselves) and the extremely low. With this approach, very few can rule and control very many.
The United States has been a breath of fresh air in the world in the last 233 years. Being a republic, the forces of tyranny have been thwarted, and the nation has become a place of sanctuary and hope for the many people who look for some hope for themselves.
Christianity has set this country apart from the rest of the world, and as such the world has benefited from its ingenuity, its innovation, its prosperity, and its freedom.
Go to any country in the world and ask anyone what country other than their own, they would like to visit, or what country they know much about, or what country is high on their list of favorites (or hated) and they will state the United States. And why? Because of our Christian heritage.
The name of Jesus Christ is the best known name in all of the world. More people know more about the details and stories of the Bible, than of any other religion.
Wherever in this world, you find the name and doctrine of Christ, then there you will find prosperity and blessing.
However, when you do not find Christ and Christianity, then you find stone-age attitudes and tyranny.
We know from our studies that this world is heading for an end to our dispensation (the Rapture), and the restoration of the interrupted dispensation (the Age of Israel). That means a return to the age of empires or the seventh empire which is commonly known as the revived Roman Empire.
In our dispensation we have seen the collapse of Rome, the dark ages and the rebirth of nations and prosperity. Even though there have been bumps (opposition) along the way, the trend has always been Christianity followed by blessing.
And as we near an end to our dispensation, and no one knows when that will be, we have the opportunity to observe the world trying to move from many nations to one common government (empire tyranny). We also know that this will occur with the Anti-Christ ruler to be revealed in the Tribulation, we just do not know when it will take place, nor the sequence of events that will lead up to this change in the world. However these past several months seem to be a good pattern for demonstrating how that process will occur.
I would like to make one observation, and really it is a speculation of sorts. We are probably very lucky that we have the leadership that we have in our current government, but not for the reasons you might think. They seem to want to make changes very rapidly, and for that reason they will probably fail. That is our bail out if you will.
When history tries to make or force rapid changes, then people tend to rise up in opposition and those changes cease or slow down dramatically. If we had any other mix of leadership, then the changes might well have occurred at a slower pace, but none the less they would have occurred.
Remember one important principle. Jesus Christ controls history. If the time for a one world concept is here, then Christ will allow it, however, if the time is not yet to be, then nothing in this world will force it or accomplish it.
The salt of the earth, believers in this world, are the biggest single hindrance to evil. And while believers are positive and advancing in their spiritual lives, then they will assume the responsible role in public affairs, and dramatic changes, especially evil ones, will either be stopped or postponed.
We cannot prevent the ultimate course set by God, for history, however we can set the course for our own personal lives. And even if no one in this world sees our example, there are many millions, billions, and perhaps trillions of angels who will know each of our names.
History has already demonstrated that Christianity promotes diversity, individuality, and success. Anything else always fails.
One last note for this lesson. Most of us, and that includes me and my family, are feeling the stresses of this down turning economy. We are all behind on our bills and all losing something that we had before.
However know one thing. Jesus Christ controls history and no matter where He leads you, or no matter what impact this economy has on your life, stick with your daily studies, prayers, and trust in Him, and He will give you the unique opportunity to observe history unfolding right before your very eyes, while keeping you safe and secure, one way or another.
Your greatest opportunity for accelerated spiritual growth comes in times of trouble. That is where your faith and spiritual muscle become their greatest.
Friday, July 24, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:8
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:8
8 For [gar] from [apo] you [humon] sounded out [execheomai] the word [logos] of the Lord [kurios] not [ou] only [monon] in [en] Macedonia [Makedonia] and [kai] Achaia, [Achaia] but [alla] also [kai] in [en] every [pas] place [topos] your [humon] faith [pistis] to [pros] God-ward [theos] is spread abroad; [exerchomai] so [hoste] that we [hemas] need [chreia] not [me] [echo] to speak [laleo] any thing. [tis] KJV-Interlinear
8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. NASB
Sounded forth, means the sound of a trumpet that is heard far and wide, and its sound echoes beyond the immediate place of the trumpet.
In other words, their Christian faith and daily activities were not spread abroad by means of missionary service, but simply became obvious and known as a matter of their daily activities.
Their Christian activities were voluntary in that they pursued them of their own volition. Likewise, their Christian activities were spread far and wide by involuntary means in that they were observed by travelers who came through the region, as well as observed by others when the locals traveled abroad.
So, without any attempt to bring attention to themselves, they were noticed. And thus the gospel of Christ and the message of the scriptures became known to others.
If you notice on a map, the region of Greece and Turkey were well situated for commerce and travel between Africa, Asia, Persia (Iran and India and beyond) and Europe. Tremendous traffic went through that region and as such, Christianity was spread throughout the world in a relatively short period of time.
Thessalonica became known near and far, not only for their trade, but for Christianity. And so much so that when Paul traveled, the reputation of the Thessalonians and Christianity was already known in the places he visited.
Note quickly, that this letter to the Thessalonians, may have been the first written letter of the New Testament. James may have been written in the late 40’s A.D., but that isn’t certain. Therefore, without any formal writings, other than the Old Testament scriptures. The news of Christ and the crucifixion was spread far and wide by word of mouth alone.
It was spread by the Apostles, by others who adopted Christianity as their faith, by hearsay, and general talk amongst travelers. And from that effort alone, Christianity spread rapidly. The remaining books of the New Testament were not formally assembled at the time of this writing (most did not even exist yet) and would not be assembled as a set of books for several hundred years.
By comparison, we have tremendous advantages over those folks, and certainly have no excuses with regard to our opportunity for advancement in our spiritual life.
The knowledge of doctrine and the Thessalonians preceded Pauls travels in his day. How much more so today, with regard to the awareness and availability of Christianity throughout the world. Folks today should be far more advanced in their spiritual lives than folks from the ancient world. And yet we are not. Why is that?
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:8
8 For [gar] from [apo] you [humon] sounded out [execheomai] the word [logos] of the Lord [kurios] not [ou] only [monon] in [en] Macedonia [Makedonia] and [kai] Achaia, [Achaia] but [alla] also [kai] in [en] every [pas] place [topos] your [humon] faith [pistis] to [pros] God-ward [theos] is spread abroad; [exerchomai] so [hoste] that we [hemas] need [chreia] not [me] [echo] to speak [laleo] any thing. [tis] KJV-Interlinear
8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. NASB
Sounded forth, means the sound of a trumpet that is heard far and wide, and its sound echoes beyond the immediate place of the trumpet.
In other words, their Christian faith and daily activities were not spread abroad by means of missionary service, but simply became obvious and known as a matter of their daily activities.
Their Christian activities were voluntary in that they pursued them of their own volition. Likewise, their Christian activities were spread far and wide by involuntary means in that they were observed by travelers who came through the region, as well as observed by others when the locals traveled abroad.
So, without any attempt to bring attention to themselves, they were noticed. And thus the gospel of Christ and the message of the scriptures became known to others.
If you notice on a map, the region of Greece and Turkey were well situated for commerce and travel between Africa, Asia, Persia (Iran and India and beyond) and Europe. Tremendous traffic went through that region and as such, Christianity was spread throughout the world in a relatively short period of time.
Thessalonica became known near and far, not only for their trade, but for Christianity. And so much so that when Paul traveled, the reputation of the Thessalonians and Christianity was already known in the places he visited.
Note quickly, that this letter to the Thessalonians, may have been the first written letter of the New Testament. James may have been written in the late 40’s A.D., but that isn’t certain. Therefore, without any formal writings, other than the Old Testament scriptures. The news of Christ and the crucifixion was spread far and wide by word of mouth alone.
It was spread by the Apostles, by others who adopted Christianity as their faith, by hearsay, and general talk amongst travelers. And from that effort alone, Christianity spread rapidly. The remaining books of the New Testament were not formally assembled at the time of this writing (most did not even exist yet) and would not be assembled as a set of books for several hundred years.
By comparison, we have tremendous advantages over those folks, and certainly have no excuses with regard to our opportunity for advancement in our spiritual life.
The knowledge of doctrine and the Thessalonians preceded Pauls travels in his day. How much more so today, with regard to the awareness and availability of Christianity throughout the world. Folks today should be far more advanced in their spiritual lives than folks from the ancient world. And yet we are not. Why is that?
Thursday, July 23, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
6 And [kai] ye [humeis] became [ginomai] followers [mimetes] of us, [hemon] and [kai] of the Lord, [kurios] having received [dechomai] the word [logos] in [en] much [polus] affliction, [thlipsis] with [meta] joy [chara] of the Holy [hagios] Ghost: [pneuma]
7 So [hoste] that ye [humas] were [ginomai] ensamples [tupos] to all [pas] that believe [pisteuo] in [en] Macedonia [Makedonia] and [kai] Achaia. [Achaia] KJV-Interlinear
6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. NASB
The believers in Thessalonica followed the pattern of teaching that comes from the Word of God. In so doing, they, in effect, imitate the pattern of life of Paul and those who were with him, and even of Jesus.
The Bible is called the mind of Christ. The Biblical principles of truth, are the pattern by which Christ lived his life in the First Advent, and for all of eternity for that matter. Truth never changes, it is immutable.
And since the Holy Spirit is the principle agent for the communication of truth, and since truth is the foundation for happiness, then the Holy Spirit is likewise the agent for happiness.
The Thessalonians lived through difficult times. Their story is found in Acts 17, where Paul set the city into an uproar by teaching doctrines different than what the Jews there had believed. The Jews of the region were typically anti-Christ, and still looking for their own deliverer.
After Paul arrived and taught grace and Christ, they rebelled and allied themselves with the unbelieving gentiles and together, rather than promoting Jewish traditional beliefs, used Caesar as their trump card against Paul and the Christians. They tried to set Christianity as an anti-Rome movement.
By implication, that opposition continued on for a while and herein Paul makes reference to their afflictions as a result of that opposition.
The region of Asia Minor was divided into two districts. The north (roughly Northern Greece-Turkey) was called Macedonia, whose capital was Thessalonica, and the region to the south was called Achaia (roughly Southern Greece-Turkey) whose capital was Corinth.
So, their name, the movement of Christianity, as well as their reputation and lifestyle was well known throughout the entire region. And this is noteworthy because at the writing of this letter, Christianity was relatively new to the region. The Cross had occurred only about twenty years earlier, and the news of Christ had already spread rapidly.
And more than that, there were not any New Testament scriptures in existence at that time. So the spread of Christianity was by word of mouth only, at a time in history where communication was certainly not like it is today. And making things even more difficult, there was a rebellious movement in the air, in Judah, to get rid of the Romans altogether. The Jews did not want the Romans, nor even the developing followers of Christ.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
6 And [kai] ye [humeis] became [ginomai] followers [mimetes] of us, [hemon] and [kai] of the Lord, [kurios] having received [dechomai] the word [logos] in [en] much [polus] affliction, [thlipsis] with [meta] joy [chara] of the Holy [hagios] Ghost: [pneuma]
7 So [hoste] that ye [humas] were [ginomai] ensamples [tupos] to all [pas] that believe [pisteuo] in [en] Macedonia [Makedonia] and [kai] Achaia. [Achaia] KJV-Interlinear
6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. NASB
The believers in Thessalonica followed the pattern of teaching that comes from the Word of God. In so doing, they, in effect, imitate the pattern of life of Paul and those who were with him, and even of Jesus.
The Bible is called the mind of Christ. The Biblical principles of truth, are the pattern by which Christ lived his life in the First Advent, and for all of eternity for that matter. Truth never changes, it is immutable.
And since the Holy Spirit is the principle agent for the communication of truth, and since truth is the foundation for happiness, then the Holy Spirit is likewise the agent for happiness.
The Thessalonians lived through difficult times. Their story is found in Acts 17, where Paul set the city into an uproar by teaching doctrines different than what the Jews there had believed. The Jews of the region were typically anti-Christ, and still looking for their own deliverer.
After Paul arrived and taught grace and Christ, they rebelled and allied themselves with the unbelieving gentiles and together, rather than promoting Jewish traditional beliefs, used Caesar as their trump card against Paul and the Christians. They tried to set Christianity as an anti-Rome movement.
By implication, that opposition continued on for a while and herein Paul makes reference to their afflictions as a result of that opposition.
The region of Asia Minor was divided into two districts. The north (roughly Northern Greece-Turkey) was called Macedonia, whose capital was Thessalonica, and the region to the south was called Achaia (roughly Southern Greece-Turkey) whose capital was Corinth.
So, their name, the movement of Christianity, as well as their reputation and lifestyle was well known throughout the entire region. And this is noteworthy because at the writing of this letter, Christianity was relatively new to the region. The Cross had occurred only about twenty years earlier, and the news of Christ had already spread rapidly.
And more than that, there were not any New Testament scriptures in existence at that time. So the spread of Christianity was by word of mouth only, at a time in history where communication was certainly not like it is today. And making things even more difficult, there was a rebellious movement in the air, in Judah, to get rid of the Romans altogether. The Jews did not want the Romans, nor even the developing followers of Christ.
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:5
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:5
5 For [hoti] our [hemon] gospel [euaggelion] came [ginomai] not [ou] unto [eis] you [humas] in [en] word [logos] only, [monon] but [alla] also [kai] in [en] power, [dunamis] and [kai] in [en] the Holy [hagios] Ghost, [pneuma] and [kai] in [en] much [polus] assurance; [plerophoria] as [kathos] ye know [eido] what manner of men [hoios] we were [ginomai] among [en] you [humin] for [dia] your [humas] sake. KJV-Interlinear
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. NASB
Your perception, knowledge and understanding of the scriptures comes to you by means of the Holy Spirit.
Certainly you read or hear these words online, on the radio or television, and so forth, but it is the Holy Spirit that makes them clear and perspicuous, and therefore easy to understand, regardless of your intelligence level or lack of it.
When it comes to hearing and understanding the Word of God, the playing field is leveled by the Holy Spirit.
In this world, there are two systems of perception – the temporal system and the spiritual system.
The temporal system can be summed up in the term – philosophy or the study of existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, justice, morals and so forth. There is also the mysticism and mythology approach to these subjects.
Philosophy approaches these subjects by means of empiricism, logic, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, and so forth. Philosophy is limited by the study of facts, and the subsequent interpretation of facts. Philosophy and all such approaches to truth cannot reach into the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm is beyond human abilities.
In the temporal world, your perception and therefore your knowledge and understanding are limited to your empirical data, your life’s experiences, your logic, and so forth. The temporal world is looking at life in total darkness.
In the spiritual world, God makes everything clear and obvious to all, such that there is no uncertainty about the subject you are considering. The spiritual world is looking at life in total light.
To illustrate this, suppose you are standing in a totally dark place. You cannot see the end of your nose. Someone says, ‘Look, a tree.’ You look and see nothing. So you approach the tree, feel the tree, smell the tree, and because everyone agrees, it must be a tree.
In total light, someone says, ‘Look an ornamental gate.’ While in the darkness you thought it was a tree. But in darkness everyone agreed, and so you had no frame of reference to disagree with the accepted view.
That is the difference between knowledge acquired academically through the temporal world, and knowledge acquired spiritually through the communication function of the Holy Spirit.
While you have to be at least alive and breathing in order to understand temporal knowledge, you only have to be in fellowship (only believers can be in fellowship) in order to understand truth.
Since so many folks are either unbelievers or out of fellowship believers, then God uses parable concepts (temporal examples) in order to teach spiritual principles. This helps people to become saved, to get into fellowship through confession, and to learn doctrine, at least indirectly.
So, no one is left out, nor left behind. And this accomplished without horrendous bureaucracy and cost.
Doctrine comes to each person through the power of the Holy Spirit. Doctrine is clear and the truth of doctrine is evident by virtue of its own character. It is seen in the light and therefore needs no testing or proof, or support apparatus.
Doctrine is communicated by people. However, the content of the things taught by people is sorted out by the Holy Spirit. You do not need to know the person, or the source of their information when you pursue your study of the Word of God, daily, and in a legitimate manner. In time, the concepts taught will be validated or invalidated, but not by the person, but by the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual information comes to you in a supernatural fashion and does not depend on your intellect or perceptive abilities.
The teacher of doctrine is unimportant. I would venture to guess that ninety-nine percent of all who read this study haven’t a clue as to who I am. And that is as it should be.
The content of what is being taught is important, and God makes it all clear to anyone and everyone who approaches their Bible study with an open mind.
If I were to say that there were virgins waiting for you in Paradise, you would know that this is not true, for several reasons. First, paradise is an empty place. Second, the availability of virgins implies sin, and God never condones sin. Third, everyone who leaves this life will go to Torments and there wait for the Lake of Fire, or they will go to heaven. Fourth, no one in the afterlife will be a slave to anyone else. And fifth, where would all of those virgins come from anyway? What of their life?
So, through truth, you were able to sort this false concept out, together with its inconsistencies.
Doctrine originates from God. Doctrine is communicated by God. And your spiritual life is accomplished by God.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:5
5 For [hoti] our [hemon] gospel [euaggelion] came [ginomai] not [ou] unto [eis] you [humas] in [en] word [logos] only, [monon] but [alla] also [kai] in [en] power, [dunamis] and [kai] in [en] the Holy [hagios] Ghost, [pneuma] and [kai] in [en] much [polus] assurance; [plerophoria] as [kathos] ye know [eido] what manner of men [hoios] we were [ginomai] among [en] you [humin] for [dia] your [humas] sake. KJV-Interlinear
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. NASB
Your perception, knowledge and understanding of the scriptures comes to you by means of the Holy Spirit.
Certainly you read or hear these words online, on the radio or television, and so forth, but it is the Holy Spirit that makes them clear and perspicuous, and therefore easy to understand, regardless of your intelligence level or lack of it.
When it comes to hearing and understanding the Word of God, the playing field is leveled by the Holy Spirit.
In this world, there are two systems of perception – the temporal system and the spiritual system.
The temporal system can be summed up in the term – philosophy or the study of existence, knowledge, truth, beauty, justice, morals and so forth. There is also the mysticism and mythology approach to these subjects.
Philosophy approaches these subjects by means of empiricism, logic, metaphysics, ethics, aesthetics, and so forth. Philosophy is limited by the study of facts, and the subsequent interpretation of facts. Philosophy and all such approaches to truth cannot reach into the spiritual realm. The spiritual realm is beyond human abilities.
In the temporal world, your perception and therefore your knowledge and understanding are limited to your empirical data, your life’s experiences, your logic, and so forth. The temporal world is looking at life in total darkness.
In the spiritual world, God makes everything clear and obvious to all, such that there is no uncertainty about the subject you are considering. The spiritual world is looking at life in total light.
To illustrate this, suppose you are standing in a totally dark place. You cannot see the end of your nose. Someone says, ‘Look, a tree.’ You look and see nothing. So you approach the tree, feel the tree, smell the tree, and because everyone agrees, it must be a tree.
In total light, someone says, ‘Look an ornamental gate.’ While in the darkness you thought it was a tree. But in darkness everyone agreed, and so you had no frame of reference to disagree with the accepted view.
That is the difference between knowledge acquired academically through the temporal world, and knowledge acquired spiritually through the communication function of the Holy Spirit.
While you have to be at least alive and breathing in order to understand temporal knowledge, you only have to be in fellowship (only believers can be in fellowship) in order to understand truth.
Since so many folks are either unbelievers or out of fellowship believers, then God uses parable concepts (temporal examples) in order to teach spiritual principles. This helps people to become saved, to get into fellowship through confession, and to learn doctrine, at least indirectly.
So, no one is left out, nor left behind. And this accomplished without horrendous bureaucracy and cost.
Doctrine comes to each person through the power of the Holy Spirit. Doctrine is clear and the truth of doctrine is evident by virtue of its own character. It is seen in the light and therefore needs no testing or proof, or support apparatus.
Doctrine is communicated by people. However, the content of the things taught by people is sorted out by the Holy Spirit. You do not need to know the person, or the source of their information when you pursue your study of the Word of God, daily, and in a legitimate manner. In time, the concepts taught will be validated or invalidated, but not by the person, but by the Holy Spirit.
Spiritual information comes to you in a supernatural fashion and does not depend on your intellect or perceptive abilities.
The teacher of doctrine is unimportant. I would venture to guess that ninety-nine percent of all who read this study haven’t a clue as to who I am. And that is as it should be.
The content of what is being taught is important, and God makes it all clear to anyone and everyone who approaches their Bible study with an open mind.
If I were to say that there were virgins waiting for you in Paradise, you would know that this is not true, for several reasons. First, paradise is an empty place. Second, the availability of virgins implies sin, and God never condones sin. Third, everyone who leaves this life will go to Torments and there wait for the Lake of Fire, or they will go to heaven. Fourth, no one in the afterlife will be a slave to anyone else. And fifth, where would all of those virgins come from anyway? What of their life?
So, through truth, you were able to sort this false concept out, together with its inconsistencies.
Doctrine originates from God. Doctrine is communicated by God. And your spiritual life is accomplished by God.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:4
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:4
4 Knowing, [eido] brethren [adelphos] beloved, [agapao] your [humon] election [ekloge] of [hupo] God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; NASB
Election by God is a permanent selection. Just a being born alive (human life), into this world is a permanent arrangement. The only question is where, when, and how you will be spending your afterlife. Your physical life is of course limited, but your next life will go on forever. Whether in heaven or the Lake of Fire depends on your decision regarding Christ.
Long ago, in eternity past, God laid out a plan. After considering an infinite number of plans, God selected the one plan for history, that best benefits each and every individual who will ever be a part of history.
For those who accept Gods plan (faith in Christ), a proprietary election is made in their behalf.
God looked down through the tunnel of time and saw every person who would ever believe in Christ and made available for them a permanent place in heaven. And permanent means forever.
Without interfering in your decision to believe in Christ, or to reject Him, God allowed you, and every individual, to come to each persons own decision regarding Christ.
You did not have to know the name of Christ in order to be saved. Most folks who lived prior to the Cross, had no name to look to. They only looked to a promised Savior. Likewise folks all around the world throughout history, had a heritage of prophetic promises regarding a Savior. They need only have believed in that promised Savior, to be saved.
Knowledge of Adam and Noah and Abraham and Moses and so forth certainly help to give one some perspective, but that knowledge does not save, and is not required in order to be saved.
Here Paul indicates the election which was made in eternity past, for each individual believer in Christ. Note that one does not take office before being elected, and even having been elected, there is a form of swearing in process (faith in Christ) which must also occur.
In eternity past, God decided your place in history, saw your decision, elected you, and then waited for history to confirm your decision to believe.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:4
4 Knowing, [eido] brethren [adelphos] beloved, [agapao] your [humon] election [ekloge] of [hupo] God. [theos] KJV-Interlinear
4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you; NASB
Election by God is a permanent selection. Just a being born alive (human life), into this world is a permanent arrangement. The only question is where, when, and how you will be spending your afterlife. Your physical life is of course limited, but your next life will go on forever. Whether in heaven or the Lake of Fire depends on your decision regarding Christ.
Long ago, in eternity past, God laid out a plan. After considering an infinite number of plans, God selected the one plan for history, that best benefits each and every individual who will ever be a part of history.
For those who accept Gods plan (faith in Christ), a proprietary election is made in their behalf.
God looked down through the tunnel of time and saw every person who would ever believe in Christ and made available for them a permanent place in heaven. And permanent means forever.
Without interfering in your decision to believe in Christ, or to reject Him, God allowed you, and every individual, to come to each persons own decision regarding Christ.
You did not have to know the name of Christ in order to be saved. Most folks who lived prior to the Cross, had no name to look to. They only looked to a promised Savior. Likewise folks all around the world throughout history, had a heritage of prophetic promises regarding a Savior. They need only have believed in that promised Savior, to be saved.
Knowledge of Adam and Noah and Abraham and Moses and so forth certainly help to give one some perspective, but that knowledge does not save, and is not required in order to be saved.
Here Paul indicates the election which was made in eternity past, for each individual believer in Christ. Note that one does not take office before being elected, and even having been elected, there is a form of swearing in process (faith in Christ) which must also occur.
In eternity past, God decided your place in history, saw your decision, elected you, and then waited for history to confirm your decision to believe.
Monday, July 20, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:3
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:3
3 Remembering [mnemoneuo] without ceasing [adialeiptos] your [humon] work [ergon] of faith, [pistis] and [kai] labour [kopos] of love, [agape] and [kai] patience [hupomone] of hope [elpis] in our [hemon] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ, [Christos] in the sight [emprosthen] of God [theos] and [kai] our [hemon] Father; [pater] KJV-Interlinear
3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, NASB
The believers in Thessalonica, were strong in their spiritual pursuit as indicated here through Pauls words.
Their work of faith indicates their strength of confidence in doctrine and of the unseen God that they had only heard about, and not speculation or beliefs of convenience or invention.
Their labor of love, since love represents the content of doctrine, indicates their consistency in their studying and learning of the scriptures, and their understanding of what they are studying. Not enticements of charm or lofty words of human promises.
Their steadfastness of hope compliments their faith in that they look to God with confidence for things that are real and secure in life, and not for things that are simply wishes or unreasonable expectations.
Spiritual maturity is the acceptance of one’s circumstances in this world, and the process of working through your circumstances by means of the doctrinal viewpoint. It is not the wish of immediate relief in the hope for the Rapture, or being whisked off to heaven in order to escape the trials of this world, such that you do not have to face them.
Much of the spiritual growth process comes from your experiences in this world, and how you respond or react to them.
Whether in prosperity and forgetting God, or in adversity and crying out to God, when you have established a pattern of ignoring God throughout your life, or whether in prosperity and placing God before your blessings, or in adversity and looking to God with confident assurance, then your approach to God in your spiritual life is established by your own attitude and thinking.
Your lifestyle pattern is that which you have chosen to follow regardless of your circumstances. And your chosen pattern is that which establishes your spiritual life, or lack of it.
With spiritual resources, you are well able to face any and all circumstances that life can throw your way. Without spiritual resources, prosperity will lead you astray and adversity will find you helpless and without Gods help.
Jesus Christ is our one and only link to God the Father. God the Father is the ultimate target of all religion and philosophy, who reject Christ as their path to Him.
Thus mans arrogance (the will of dust) rejects Gods rules (infinite truth and power) and makes mans rules (the power of dust) as an equal to those of God (the infinite essence of God).
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:3
3 Remembering [mnemoneuo] without ceasing [adialeiptos] your [humon] work [ergon] of faith, [pistis] and [kai] labour [kopos] of love, [agape] and [kai] patience [hupomone] of hope [elpis] in our [hemon] Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ, [Christos] in the sight [emprosthen] of God [theos] and [kai] our [hemon] Father; [pater] KJV-Interlinear
3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, NASB
The believers in Thessalonica, were strong in their spiritual pursuit as indicated here through Pauls words.
Their work of faith indicates their strength of confidence in doctrine and of the unseen God that they had only heard about, and not speculation or beliefs of convenience or invention.
Their labor of love, since love represents the content of doctrine, indicates their consistency in their studying and learning of the scriptures, and their understanding of what they are studying. Not enticements of charm or lofty words of human promises.
Their steadfastness of hope compliments their faith in that they look to God with confidence for things that are real and secure in life, and not for things that are simply wishes or unreasonable expectations.
Spiritual maturity is the acceptance of one’s circumstances in this world, and the process of working through your circumstances by means of the doctrinal viewpoint. It is not the wish of immediate relief in the hope for the Rapture, or being whisked off to heaven in order to escape the trials of this world, such that you do not have to face them.
Much of the spiritual growth process comes from your experiences in this world, and how you respond or react to them.
Whether in prosperity and forgetting God, or in adversity and crying out to God, when you have established a pattern of ignoring God throughout your life, or whether in prosperity and placing God before your blessings, or in adversity and looking to God with confident assurance, then your approach to God in your spiritual life is established by your own attitude and thinking.
Your lifestyle pattern is that which you have chosen to follow regardless of your circumstances. And your chosen pattern is that which establishes your spiritual life, or lack of it.
With spiritual resources, you are well able to face any and all circumstances that life can throw your way. Without spiritual resources, prosperity will lead you astray and adversity will find you helpless and without Gods help.
Jesus Christ is our one and only link to God the Father. God the Father is the ultimate target of all religion and philosophy, who reject Christ as their path to Him.
Thus mans arrogance (the will of dust) rejects Gods rules (infinite truth and power) and makes mans rules (the power of dust) as an equal to those of God (the infinite essence of God).
Sunday, July 19, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:2
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
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1 Thessalonians 1:2
2 We give thanks [eucharisteo] to God [theos] always [pantote] for [peri] you [humon] all, [pas] making [poieo] mention [mneia] of you [humon] in [epi] our [hemon] prayers; [proseuche] KJV-Interlinear
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; NASB
When times are good, prayers are as absent as rains in the desert. And when times grow worse, then prayers are as empty clouds in the middle of a famine.
This is due to the lack of knowledge, the lack of understanding, and the lack of wisdom in people who have failed in their spiritual lives.
When times are good, the spiritual learning process should be intensified such that the bad times will be avoided or postponed. And then when times grow worse, then prayers will cause a flood of relief, shortening the bad times and restoring the good.
One of the missing links in the spiritual lives of most folks, is their prayer abilities. Failing to learn Bible doctrine, means failing to develop prayer skills. And failing to learn prayer skills, means a short-circuited spiritual life.
All prayer must be offered while one is in fellowship. The fellowship status exists when you confess your sins to God the Father. Any prayers offered while out of fellowship is like an empty rain cloud. No benefit comes from it.
All prayer must be directed to God the Father. He is the only authorized recipient of prayer. Prayers are never offered to Jesus, never offered to any human being. Certainly never offered to Mary, or Joseph, or ancestors, or angels, or animals, or fish, or birds, or natures forces, or suns, or moons, or planets, or anything else.
All prayer must be consistent with Bible doctrine. You cannot be disobedient in doctrine, and expect answers to prayers. Repeat, you cannot be disobedient in doctrine, and expect answers to prayers. God has roles for us all, and in those roles, we must look first to Gods will, and not our own.
When your eyes are on your own ideas, when your eyes are on your own prejudices, when your eyes are on human enticements, human controls, human endeavors, human desires, then your prayers will be empty and useless.
You must first seek God. And you accomplish that by pursuing a daily Bible study, by learning Bible doctrine, by applying doctrine to your daily life, by understanding Gods principles, and by coming into possession of Gods wisdom through that learning process. You must learn Gods purpose for your life, and the role He has set out for you in your life. Charting your own course will get you nothing but disaster.
One of your mandates from God is to pray. Prayer is the artillery of the spiritual life. Without artillery fire from a distance, no enemy can be defeated when in close. And anything that lacks Bible doctrine is the enemy of God, and the enemy of your spiritual life.
Man is but a speck of dust, and dust cannot defeat anything. However God gave us prayer, and through prayer, everything can be accomplished through the power of God.
Now the most important aspect of prayer. It must be offered through Christ. We have no access to the Father except through Christ, and therefore, only believers have the right to prayer, and only believers in fellowship will be heard.
Your prayer life is the ship that remains afloat in troubled seas, and this life is trouble from birth until death.
Therefore, prayer must be daily and nightly and as often as you can muster your thoughts. Prayers do not have to be lengthy, nor even in writing, nor even voiced into spoken words. The best and most powerful of prayers are those which are spoken from the heart in the silence of your own thoughts. People do not need to hear your prayers. Only God needs to hear them.
We had a study some time ago regarding Moses holding up his arms. When the arms were held high, the battle went well for the Israelites. When his arms became weary and began to fall, the battle did not go so well. Your prayers are your arms held high. Pray and pray often and keep on praying while in fellowship and while in obedience to Gods will for your life, and your spiritual life and your life will go well. Slip away from this practice and your life will slip into difficult times if not defeat.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:2
2 We give thanks [eucharisteo] to God [theos] always [pantote] for [peri] you [humon] all, [pas] making [poieo] mention [mneia] of you [humon] in [epi] our [hemon] prayers; [proseuche] KJV-Interlinear
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; NASB
When times are good, prayers are as absent as rains in the desert. And when times grow worse, then prayers are as empty clouds in the middle of a famine.
This is due to the lack of knowledge, the lack of understanding, and the lack of wisdom in people who have failed in their spiritual lives.
When times are good, the spiritual learning process should be intensified such that the bad times will be avoided or postponed. And then when times grow worse, then prayers will cause a flood of relief, shortening the bad times and restoring the good.
One of the missing links in the spiritual lives of most folks, is their prayer abilities. Failing to learn Bible doctrine, means failing to develop prayer skills. And failing to learn prayer skills, means a short-circuited spiritual life.
All prayer must be offered while one is in fellowship. The fellowship status exists when you confess your sins to God the Father. Any prayers offered while out of fellowship is like an empty rain cloud. No benefit comes from it.
All prayer must be directed to God the Father. He is the only authorized recipient of prayer. Prayers are never offered to Jesus, never offered to any human being. Certainly never offered to Mary, or Joseph, or ancestors, or angels, or animals, or fish, or birds, or natures forces, or suns, or moons, or planets, or anything else.
All prayer must be consistent with Bible doctrine. You cannot be disobedient in doctrine, and expect answers to prayers. Repeat, you cannot be disobedient in doctrine, and expect answers to prayers. God has roles for us all, and in those roles, we must look first to Gods will, and not our own.
When your eyes are on your own ideas, when your eyes are on your own prejudices, when your eyes are on human enticements, human controls, human endeavors, human desires, then your prayers will be empty and useless.
You must first seek God. And you accomplish that by pursuing a daily Bible study, by learning Bible doctrine, by applying doctrine to your daily life, by understanding Gods principles, and by coming into possession of Gods wisdom through that learning process. You must learn Gods purpose for your life, and the role He has set out for you in your life. Charting your own course will get you nothing but disaster.
One of your mandates from God is to pray. Prayer is the artillery of the spiritual life. Without artillery fire from a distance, no enemy can be defeated when in close. And anything that lacks Bible doctrine is the enemy of God, and the enemy of your spiritual life.
Man is but a speck of dust, and dust cannot defeat anything. However God gave us prayer, and through prayer, everything can be accomplished through the power of God.
Now the most important aspect of prayer. It must be offered through Christ. We have no access to the Father except through Christ, and therefore, only believers have the right to prayer, and only believers in fellowship will be heard.
Your prayer life is the ship that remains afloat in troubled seas, and this life is trouble from birth until death.
Therefore, prayer must be daily and nightly and as often as you can muster your thoughts. Prayers do not have to be lengthy, nor even in writing, nor even voiced into spoken words. The best and most powerful of prayers are those which are spoken from the heart in the silence of your own thoughts. People do not need to hear your prayers. Only God needs to hear them.
We had a study some time ago regarding Moses holding up his arms. When the arms were held high, the battle went well for the Israelites. When his arms became weary and began to fall, the battle did not go so well. Your prayers are your arms held high. Pray and pray often and keep on praying while in fellowship and while in obedience to Gods will for your life, and your spiritual life and your life will go well. Slip away from this practice and your life will slip into difficult times if not defeat.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
1 Thessalonians 1:1
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:1
1 Paul, [Paulos] and [kai] Silvanus, [Silouanos] and [kai] Timotheus, [Timotheos] unto the church [ekklesia] of the Thessalonians [Thessalonikeus] which is in [en] God [theos] the Father [pater] and [kai] in the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ: [Christos] Grace [charis] be unto you, [humin] and [kai] peace, [eirene] from [apo] God [theos] our [hemon] Father, [pater] and [kai] the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ. [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. NASB
Paul means, small or little. Silvanus means, who loves the forest. And Silvanus often times called Silas means, three. Timothy means, honor of God, valued of God.
The story of the Thessalonians is found in Acts 17. When Paul was there, a rebellion caused him to leave that city. Silas and Timothy were sent back to preserve and maintain that starting church and later they returned to Paul.
It was upon this occasion of good news that they brought to Paul, that this first letter of encouragement was written to the Thessalonian Church.
The central theme of this letter is ‘waiting.’
The Thessalonians were in a bit of a hurry for the final judgment, and of course little did they know that it was not to occur for nearly 2000 years, and we are still waiting for the next Biblical event (the Rapture) to occur.
But waiting not only applies to the final judgment, it applies to your daily individual life as well. Folks want things to happen fast or right now, in their life. And for the most part, most of us do not listen enough, nor learn enough until we are much older in our life before we learn that there is a great deal of history unfolding right before our eyes.
History not only has to unfold for the world as a whole, but that whole is really the collective histories of every individual who has, is, and will live on this earth. And steadily, day by day, God brings it all together, one piece at a time.
It usually takes us years or decades or longer before we can see how history is being fitted together.
Satans, ultimate goal is one world government. Ruled by him of course. That counters the one world rule of Christ which will occur in the Millennium. Satan has to be first though.
He began his rule by trying to destroy humanity before Noah’s flood, but that didn’t work. He tried to build up empires from the Assyrian Empire to the Roman Empire. But those six empires did not work (review our study in Revelation).
There is only one empire remaining, the seventh, for Satan, but he has to wait until God has assembled the nations, and aligned them up in every detail, for Satan’s final attempt. But this is jumping ahead a little in our study.
The Thessalonians are addressed in the Father and through the Lord, Jesus Christ. There is but one God and Savior, one plan and one history, one faith and one ultimate destiny for those who have believed in the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.
Many plans and philosophies float around this world, but many are the plans of man, and of them all, none will ever succeed.
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians 1:1
1 Paul, [Paulos] and [kai] Silvanus, [Silouanos] and [kai] Timotheus, [Timotheos] unto the church [ekklesia] of the Thessalonians [Thessalonikeus] which is in [en] God [theos] the Father [pater] and [kai] in the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ: [Christos] Grace [charis] be unto you, [humin] and [kai] peace, [eirene] from [apo] God [theos] our [hemon] Father, [pater] and [kai] the Lord [kurios] Jesus [Iesous] Christ. [Christos] KJV-Interlinear
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. NASB
Paul means, small or little. Silvanus means, who loves the forest. And Silvanus often times called Silas means, three. Timothy means, honor of God, valued of God.
The story of the Thessalonians is found in Acts 17. When Paul was there, a rebellion caused him to leave that city. Silas and Timothy were sent back to preserve and maintain that starting church and later they returned to Paul.
It was upon this occasion of good news that they brought to Paul, that this first letter of encouragement was written to the Thessalonian Church.
The central theme of this letter is ‘waiting.’
The Thessalonians were in a bit of a hurry for the final judgment, and of course little did they know that it was not to occur for nearly 2000 years, and we are still waiting for the next Biblical event (the Rapture) to occur.
But waiting not only applies to the final judgment, it applies to your daily individual life as well. Folks want things to happen fast or right now, in their life. And for the most part, most of us do not listen enough, nor learn enough until we are much older in our life before we learn that there is a great deal of history unfolding right before our eyes.
History not only has to unfold for the world as a whole, but that whole is really the collective histories of every individual who has, is, and will live on this earth. And steadily, day by day, God brings it all together, one piece at a time.
It usually takes us years or decades or longer before we can see how history is being fitted together.
Satans, ultimate goal is one world government. Ruled by him of course. That counters the one world rule of Christ which will occur in the Millennium. Satan has to be first though.
He began his rule by trying to destroy humanity before Noah’s flood, but that didn’t work. He tried to build up empires from the Assyrian Empire to the Roman Empire. But those six empires did not work (review our study in Revelation).
There is only one empire remaining, the seventh, for Satan, but he has to wait until God has assembled the nations, and aligned them up in every detail, for Satan’s final attempt. But this is jumping ahead a little in our study.
The Thessalonians are addressed in the Father and through the Lord, Jesus Christ. There is but one God and Savior, one plan and one history, one faith and one ultimate destiny for those who have believed in the one and only Savior, Jesus Christ.
Many plans and philosophies float around this world, but many are the plans of man, and of them all, none will ever succeed.
Friday, July 17, 2009
1 Thessalonians - Introduction
This study is from an on going online Daily Bible Study at:
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians
Introduction
Possibly the first letter written by Paul, Thessalonians was written in the early 50’s A.D.
Thessalonica was an ancient city, named after the daughter of King Philip, father of Alexander the Great. The former name of the city was Thermae, which was defeated by Philip in his victory over the Thessalians.
Thessalonica was located on the coast, a seaport in today’s western Turkey and remained so until conquered in the 1400’s by the Turks
The story of the Thessalonians picks up in the early 50’s A.D., when Paul and Silas visited the city and introduced the gospel to the people there, Acts 17.
The Jews there were set into an uproar when Paul taught that the gentiles could possess the same salvation benefits but without the requirements of the Levitical laws. Thus Paul was run out of town, escaping to Athens and from there, on to Corinth.
Hearing good news from Timothy and Silas, regarding the success of their conversions of gentiles (not so much in the Jewish folks), it was then that Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians and that was followed shortly thereafter by the second letter.
These letters were written to comfort and encourage the Thessalonians, and to give them instructions in the spiritual life, and to clarify some of the mistaken beliefs that they had of the day of judgment. The subject of 1 Thessalonians is ‘waiting.’ And the subject of the second letter is ‘sin.’
1 Thessalonians Outline (New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
I. Salutation (1:1)
II. The exemplary church (1)
A. Gratitude for the Thessalonians (1:2-4)
B. Operation of the gospel among them (1:5-10)
III. The exemplary minister (2)
A. Paul's ministry at Thessalonica (2:1-12)
B. The Thessalonians' response (2:13-16)
C. The apostle's subsequent relations with the Thessalonians (2:17-20)
IV. The exemplary brother (3)
A. Apostolic concern and their welfare (3:1-8)
B. The apostolic intercession (3:9-13)
V. Exemplary walk (4)
A. The walk described (4:1-12)
B. The coming of Christ, the dynamic of a holy walk (4:13-18)
VI. Exemplary watchfulness and the Day of the Lord (5:1-24)
A. The Day of the Lord and the need for watchfulness (5:1-11)
B. Duties of church and private life (5:12-22)
C. Prayer for sanctification (5:23-24)
VII. Conclusion (5:25-28)
DailyBibleStudy.Org | Daily Bible Study Index Page | Daily Bible Study Online E-Book Library
1 Thessalonians
Introduction
Possibly the first letter written by Paul, Thessalonians was written in the early 50’s A.D.
Thessalonica was an ancient city, named after the daughter of King Philip, father of Alexander the Great. The former name of the city was Thermae, which was defeated by Philip in his victory over the Thessalians.
Thessalonica was located on the coast, a seaport in today’s western Turkey and remained so until conquered in the 1400’s by the Turks
The story of the Thessalonians picks up in the early 50’s A.D., when Paul and Silas visited the city and introduced the gospel to the people there, Acts 17.
The Jews there were set into an uproar when Paul taught that the gentiles could possess the same salvation benefits but without the requirements of the Levitical laws. Thus Paul was run out of town, escaping to Athens and from there, on to Corinth.
Hearing good news from Timothy and Silas, regarding the success of their conversions of gentiles (not so much in the Jewish folks), it was then that Paul wrote the first letter to the Thessalonians and that was followed shortly thereafter by the second letter.
These letters were written to comfort and encourage the Thessalonians, and to give them instructions in the spiritual life, and to clarify some of the mistaken beliefs that they had of the day of judgment. The subject of 1 Thessalonians is ‘waiting.’ And the subject of the second letter is ‘sin.’
1 Thessalonians Outline (New Unger's Bible Dictionary)
I. Salutation (1:1)
II. The exemplary church (1)
A. Gratitude for the Thessalonians (1:2-4)
B. Operation of the gospel among them (1:5-10)
III. The exemplary minister (2)
A. Paul's ministry at Thessalonica (2:1-12)
B. The Thessalonians' response (2:13-16)
C. The apostle's subsequent relations with the Thessalonians (2:17-20)
IV. The exemplary brother (3)
A. Apostolic concern and their welfare (3:1-8)
B. The apostolic intercession (3:9-13)
V. Exemplary walk (4)
A. The walk described (4:1-12)
B. The coming of Christ, the dynamic of a holy walk (4:13-18)
VI. Exemplary watchfulness and the Day of the Lord (5:1-24)
A. The Day of the Lord and the need for watchfulness (5:1-11)
B. Duties of church and private life (5:12-22)
C. Prayer for sanctification (5:23-24)
VII. Conclusion (5:25-28)
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