Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

 (2Th 1:1)  “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:”  Words have meaning. And God, Who gave us language, means what He says and says what He means. I  draw your attention to the word, “church”. This is a particular church. At this time there is no “universal church”, as so many speak of “the church”. The church is a gathered assemble; that is what the word means. You cannot have an unassembled assembly. God will some day call out of this world, gather together, into one assembly – church.  

 (1Th 5:24)  “Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.”   Do what? Context: preserve your body, soul, and spirit blameless unto Jesus’ coming to get us. Many put this back upon the believer with their doctrine – “I have to be faithful, preserving myself.” This is wrong. My salvation is not about my ability or consistency of works; it is all about the faithfulness of He Who promised. Will a true believer continue as faithfully as they can? Yes. It is the evidence of true salvation. Notice how the two go together, (Eph 2:8) “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: (9)  Not of works, lest any man should boast. (10)  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.”   

(1Th 5:23) “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Praise God the Lord Jesus is coming! He is coming first to take His Own redeemed, those who turned from their sins giving Him their heart. Those He will give gloried bodies like unto His Own! What a glorious day that will be. Here’s the thing. It could be today. If He were to come this very moment, would you be ready? I mean ready. Saved? No sin between you and Him? Looking forward to it?

(1Th 5:23) “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”   Notice the prayer, the blessing here pronounced: “sanctify you wholly”; “be preserved blameless” until the Lord comes for you (“for you” being implied). Notice it is God doing the sanctifying and the preserving. We cannot in this sinful body do either. It is Jesus Christ that saves and saves completely! He and He alone should receive the glory for your life!

(1Th 5:23) “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.”  Notice the mention of the “spirit”. This is made alive when one repents and gives their heart to Jesus by faith believing in His death in their place, paying for their sins, and then His resurrection. The Bible teaches all who are lost are dead spiritually.Heaven – a spiritual place. Want to go there? You must then be made spiritual. Jesus said, “Unless a man be born of water (physical birth) and of the spirit (spiritual birth) he cannot enter the kingdom of God.” Do you need proof in yourself? This new life gives you new desires, first and foremost for the things of God. Do you have that?

 (1Th 5:23)  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; ….” Since we are fully set apart through the salvation experience and made citizens of heaven (Phil 2:19), this must be referring to “practical sanctification”. That is, our daily walk with God as we live in this world. Our old nature sins against God and those sins need to be confessed and forsaken. That what the Scripture means when it says, (Jas_1:27) “Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this,……..to keep himself unspotted from the world.” Lord, give us such a heart!

(1Th 5:23)  “And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; ….” To “sanctify” means to separate unto God. Anything separated unto God becomes holy in His sight; it becomes His. In the salvation experience, one is put in Christ moving us from a position outside of Christ to “in” Christ, making us “sanctified”. Tomorrow we will write more regarding what is being said here.

(1Th 5:22)  “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  I have heard people react to this verse by saying, “No one has the right to judge me.” Friend, there is a difference between judging and drawing a conclusion. Moreover, the world is full of problems in both our lives by those who make assumptions. The point is, this is the way it is. The souls of those around us are more important to the Lord than what we desire to do that appears evil. Others before self. Souls before pleasure.  

(1Th 5:22)  “Abstain from all appearance of evil.”  The believer is to be very much concerned of their testimony. It is important what people think regarding you, for you no longer represent you upon this earth but your Lord. We are to seek to avoid even the appearance of doing wrong. Our Lord’s reputation is at stake! Are you guarding it?