"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES"

"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT THE WILL OF GOD FOR OUR LIVES"

1st Thessalonians 4:1 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;”

1st Thessalonians 4:2 “for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

1st Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;”

(Taken from today's reading in The One Year Bible 10/11/14)

Some explanatory thoughts, application, questions and a prayer:

Paul had founded this church, but was only able to be with them for 2-3 weeks, and had to leave for his safety because of persecution.
He gave them a very good grounding in the Word of God while he was with them, but they had questions about living the christian life which made their way to him, and this letter contains the answers to many of those questions. These 3 verses deal with an aspect of the will of God. It's important to remember that the converts in this Greek city of Thessalonica had lived in a culture where immorality was the norm, not the exception. But now as believers, God called them to live as citizens of heaven, and to behave accordingly. May these verses help you understand God's will for your life, and maybe you can help someone else understand the will of God also. We live in a culture that encourages what the Bible calls sin.

1. Believers can be exhorted and encouraged in the Lord Jesus.

1st Thessalonians 4:1 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;”

Paul was speaking as a christian to christians.
He was urging or encouraging them in their walks.
He was doing so in the name of the Lord, or in accordance with the will of God
He was encouraging them to live in such a way that it was pleasing to the Lord.

2. Believers are to abound more and more just as they have been taught.

1st Thessalonians 4:1 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more, just as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God;”

1st Thessalonians 4:2 “for you know what commandments we gave you through the Lord Jesus.”

Once we come to faith, we are alive in Christ.
We are like newborn babies full of life but needing to grow.
As newborn babies in the Lord, we feed on the Word of God for our growth.
Growing is something that ought to keep on keeping on until we leave this world.
That's what Paul was encouraging them to do.
To abound yet more and more.
Meaning to continue putting into application what You have been taught and learned.

3. The will of God also includes our sanctification (or being holy), and abstaining from sexual immorality.

1st Thessalonians 4:3 “For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you should abstain from sexual immorality;”

God wants us to be holy.
Being holy means to live our lives for God.
Being holy means to be set apart for God's will and purposes.

God's will and purposes include our avoiding sexual immorality.
In other words we should steer clear of all sexual sin.
The world's way of living does not reveal the will of God for our lives.
One thing we can learn about the world's way of living is that it's generally the opposite of God's will.

The world does not look on sexual activity as immoral for the most part.
The Lord knows what is moral and what is immoral.
Sexual immorality only gives momentary pleasure at best.
Sexual immorality will most assuredly bring pain, sorrow, and destruction in it's wake.
That's why God wants us to avoid it, and live our lives for Him, where we find true and lasting pleasures.

Questions:

1. Have you been a believer long enough to see the truth of what is said in these verses?

2. Can you see how God wants you to keep on growing, and that it will bring him pleasure?

3. Do you know why God is pleased when you live in accordance with His will?

4. Do you think its because He knows what is best for you and how His will brings blessing into your life?

A Prayer:

Father, we are so delighted to even be able to call You Father. What a joy You have brought into our lives. We are not orphans, nor are we under the control of the evil one any longer. You have graciously and with rich mercy changed our lives. Thank you for the new life You have given to us. We want to abound more and more just like You have said in these verses. We also want to avoid what is harmful and wrong. Please help us to live in a way that is pleasing to You. And thank You for knowing what is best for us and wanting what is best for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia.