Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

(1Th 5:11)  “Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.”  I remind you this is written to (1Th 1:1)  “Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians…..”  If you forsake God’s plan through the local New Testament Church and lie to yourself saying, “I can worship anywhere – at home, in a park, etc.” then you are disobedient to God and rob yourself and others of what is written in verse 11. Our Lord said He would build His church. God’s plan is through the church where He provided pastors and teachers and bestowed gifts upon his people to minister. Any other method of seeking to be “spiritual” to the casting away of faithful attendance is disobedience and will not be blessed. We will each give an account of ourselves before Him. Ask yourself if your excuse will hold water.

 (1Th 5:5) “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.  AND  (1Th 5:10) “Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.”  Context proves this is written to the saved, Children of Light. The call is to watch and be sober, living for His glory (faith), seeking the souls of others (love). Verse 10 proves it is not the watching, the obedience that saves – salvation is already possessed (again, Children of Light), we will live together with Him. That fact should not keep us from being obedient, but should motivate our hearts to obedience.

 (1Th 5:9) “For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,”   Since we are “appointed”, already given, heaven instead of hell, we are to live like it! We are to live in this present world as those appointed to salvation: wise as to living in the last days, the tremendous wrath and devastation of the Tribulation Period before us; by faith hold to the truths revealed in the Bible; in love looking past each person’s outward offense to the very need of their soul.

(1Th 5:8) “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”   Put on the breastplate of faith and love. How does love protect the heart; when we love greatly we can be hurt greatly?  Answer: love is not an emotion as much as a determination that no matter what the response from another, we will obey the command of God to love. Love does not look after self, but is focused upon the best for someone else. That focus protects our heart, for we are neither disappointed nor upset by their response, for it is their good not ours we are seeking.

 (1Th 5:8) “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”  Put on the breastplate – protect your heart. Faith protects the heart, for faith believes all the Lord has said and stands upon it: “I will never leave nor forsake thee”; “Thou shalt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed (focused) on Thee”; etc.. It seems that a lot of those professing faith have a head knowledge of Scripture that doesn’t reach the heart to stay. Their heart remains exposed to unbelief, the greatest of insults of God.   

(1Th 5:8) “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”  “The hope of salvation”: the word “hope” is not to be understood in the same way it is used today. We “hope” for things that may or may not happen – I hope to win the Reader’s Digest drawing. “Hope” in Scripture means “a looking for a sure coming event”. I place that helmet on my head letting it guide my thoughts and actions.  

(1Th 5:6)  “Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober. (7)  For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.”  Because man lives in the moment, he thinks he has gotten away with sin against God:  (Psa 94:7) “Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.”  He has not. Our country has decided not to enforce our laws, but God will enforce His! There is a coming day of judgment. Be not as the lost of this world. Do right before God!  

(1Th 5:5) “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness. (6)  Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.”  Take close notice of what this is saying. The lost are of the night, not the saved. What do people do at night? Sleep. When it come to spiritual things, this world is sleeping. Since you still are in the flesh and live in this world, be careful not to sleep along with them. Watch yourself, live for the Lord, we sober (right thinking).  

(1Th 5:5) “Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.”  Is it determination of mind that makes one the children of light and the other the children of darkness? Is it infant baptism and thus the choice of religion? Neither. It is a supernatural work done upon individuals old enough to understand on the cross of Calvary Jesus bore their sin. He died and rose again the third day to give life to those whose hearts leads them to repent. Repentance is a desire not to sin against God any more – period. Nothing held back. He then bestows the Gift of Everlasting Life, spiritual life making them Children of Light.