1 Thessalonians 4:1-8

1 Thess 4:1-8

Living to Please God

INTRODUCTION: What is sin? Where does the concept or the law come from that make a sin a sin? Social consensus or agreement? Does it come from a countries laws, history, and traditions? To understand this passage we need to keep in mind that the concept of sin comes not from humans but from God. In Gen 2:15-17. Here we find a law given by God, “don’t eat from this tree.” Sin is the Biblical term for disobeying God. Though committing a sin might hurt other people, break the law of the state, or be socially unacceptable, what makes it a “SIN” is that God said so. When Adam and Eve sin in the garden it is because they choose to do something God told them not to. They failed to submit to God.

1. CALL TO SANCTIFIED

A. IT’S GODS WILL VS 3, NO SURCHING NEEDED

B. LIVING TO PLEASE GOD VS 1

C. HOLY AND HONORABLE VS 4 AND VS 7

D. NOT ABOUT POLITICAL CORRECTNESS OR SOCUAL NORMS OR ACCEPTANCE.

2. AVOID SEXUAL IMMORALITY

A. IN THEIR CULTURE IT WAS THE MOST PREVOLENT AND ACCEPTED SIN.

B. SEXUAL SIN URTS MORE THAN YOUR SELF

a. HURTS THE LIVES OF THE PEOPLE YOU HAVE SEX WITH

b. HURST MANY OTHERS THROUGH STD’S

c. HURTS EVERYONE AS SOCIETY DEGRADEDS

d. HURTS PEOPLE WHO ARE USED IN THE PORN INDUSTRY

e. HURTS YOUR CHILDREN BY DISTROYING A STABLE FAMILY

f. COST MONEY TO FIGHT INCREASED CRIME.

g. COST MONEY TO DEAL WITH MEDICAL ISSUES, ABORTIONS, STD’S, AIDS, MENTAL HEALTH, ABUSE.

h. COST MONEY FOR TRIALS AND COURT CASES.

i. HURTS YOU AS SEX IS DEGRADED FROM THE BEAUTFUL GIFT WANTED IT TO BE, TO JUST ANOTHER BODLLY FUNCTION.

C. RAPE, PROMISCUTIY, SEX OUTSIDE OF MARRIAGE, INCEST, HOMOSEUALITY, PORNOGRAPHY, ECT……

3. SUBMISSION TO GOD

A. IT IS NOT A QUESTION OF RIGHT OR WRONG BY SOCIETIES, OR EVEN OUR OWN STANDERDS, LAWS OR POLITICAL CORRECTNESS.

B. BACK TO GEN 2:15-17 DON’T DO THIS

C. WHAT WILL YOU SUBMIT TO GOD?

a. YOUR LIFE STYLE

b. YOUR MONEY OF FINACAL PRATICES

c. YOUR TOUNGE

d. YOUR ATTITUDE

e. YOUR TIME

f. YOUR SEXUALITY

D. WE ALL FACE TEMPTATIONS THROUGH DESIRES WHICH GOD TELLS US TO SUBMIT TO HIM.

a. SOME HAVE THE DESIRE TO STEAL

b. SOME DESIRE TO CHEAT PEOPLE

c. SOME HAVE THE DESIRE TO LIE

d. SOME HAVE THE DESIRE TO MURDER

e. SOME HAVE THE DESIRE TO COMMIT ADULTRY

f. SOME HAVE THE DESIRE TO HAVE SEX OUTDISE OF MARRIAGE

g. WE ALL FACE DESIRES TO DO THAT WHICH GOD CALLS US TO SUBMIT.

h. SO THE QUESTION IS NOT WHAT IS YOUR SEXUAL DESIRE OR ORINTATION, THE QUESTION IS WILL YOU SUBMIT IT TO GOD?

i. WE CAN NOT LOOK DOWN ON ANY ONE GROUP BECAUSE WE ALL FACE THE SAME QUESTION. WHEN GOD SAYS “DON’T DO THIS” WILL WE SUBMIT OUR DESIRE TO GOD?

CONCLUSION: Where are you today? Is there a place in your life that you’re failing to submit to God? Are you fighting a sin that just seems to be a part of you? God knows this. Jesus still loves you. Jesus died for you. We try our best to submit to God and God honors our intention and our effort. Do not give up, keep fighting temptation, and live in the forgiveness of Jesus who died for you. Make it your goal each day to live that day to please God.

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13

1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 “Finding strength in others”

INTRODUCTION: Last night we were at a function and they honored our armed forces, lots of clapping and cheering. I thought if you want to honor them live a good and decent life, pay them fairly, take care of their wounds when they come home. (saving Private Ryan) tom hanks pulls Ryan to him and as he dies he says “earn this” At the end of his life Ryan ask his wife to “Tell me I’ve lived a good life, been a good person” Paul express his joy in ministry when he finds the Thessalonians living for Jesus.

1. WHAT THEY GIVE UP

A. PAUL SUFFERD FOR THE THESSALONIANS, (VS 7) (VS 10) (1:9-12)

B. PASTORS

a. FAMILY, leave your family, always a visitor, not there for holidays

b. FRIENDS, alone!, shaky friendships and even no friendships, dangerous friends.

c. FINACIAL STABILITY, for having a master’s degree, pay is low, voted on, and balances the budget.

d. AN ENDLESS POPULARITY VOTE, the feeling that at any time you could be voted out. You’re often faced with doing what is right or making people happy. The way you talk, the cloths you where and entire life feels like the America’s got talent show.

e. CONSTANT MOVING OR JOB STAGNATION pastors have to make a choice they can move a lot and get up to a large church, or they can stay and try to grow the church they are in and face job stagnation.

C. CHURCH VOLINTEERS

a. TIME WITH THEIR FAMILIES give up vacation time to work with youth, give up hours of free time to plan lesions, watch children, cut grass weed flowers, make decorations, minister to people in need, lots of time unseen and unspoken.

b. HARD WORK AND NO PAY volunteers get no money, and often no budgets to help them.

c. CRITISIZING VOICES FOR THEIR WORK OR DECSIONS volunteers face people who will criticize their decisions and hear from people who are sure they can do things better but never will.

2. WHY THEY DO IT

A. BECAUSE THEY LOVE GOD

a. Love and appreciation for what Jesus has done for us.

B. BECAUSE THEY ARECALLED BY GOD

a. Feel that god has personally called and gifted them to serve.

C. FOR LOVE OF PEOPLE

a. Because their heart is moved with compassion for the lost.

b. Because they want to help people grew in their lives

3. WHAT THEY GET (READ 6-13)

A. THEY MAKE A DIFFRENCE IN A LIFE

B. THEY SEE THE CHURCH GROW

C. THEY SEE THE PEOPLE THEY HAVE TOUGHT AND SERVED FOLLOW THEM

D. THEY SEE PEOPLE LIVING A LIFE OF FAITH

CONCLUSION: Live the life of faith which others have made possible for you. Take up the cross of service to God and join us. Find your reward in a life or lives you have changed.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-20

1 Thes 2:17-20 “Adversary of the Gospel

INTRODUCTION: Today is July 4^th, Independence Day. We celebrate the birth of our nation, yet most people seem to forget the 10 years that separate the Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the signing of the Constitution in 1787. I want to point out some similarities to Paul’s life and the revolutionary war and our own lives.

1. WE FACE AN AVISARY

A. SATAN STOPPED HIM

a. PAUL BELIEVES IN SATAN

b. PAUL ATRIBUTES THE POWER TO STOP HIM TO SATAN

c. JESUS BELIEVE IN SATAN

TEMPTED IN THE DESERT

PARABLES OF THE WEEDS, RECOGNIZES SATANS ATTACK

2. A SHORT HISTORY LESSION

A. Nathanael Greene and Daniel Morgan beaten by Cornwallis

B. George Washington beaten and on the ropes at the battle of New York retreats to Valley Forge.

C. In the winter of 1776 and 77 he crosses the Delaware Rive and wins at Trenton

D. Fighting ends in 1781 with the Surrender of Cornwallis at Yorktown

E. British troops leave New York in Nov of 1783

F. Constitution is signed 1787

3. OUR BATTLES TODAY

A. ATTACKED IN YOUR MARRIAGE

B. ATTACKED THROUGH YOUR FAMILY

C. ATTACKED THROUGH PHYSICAL ILLNESS

D. ATTACKED THROUGH YOUR WORK

E. ATTACKED THROUGH YOUR FINNACES

F. 2 COR 4:8 - 18

G. ROMANS 5:2-11

H. VICTORY WILL COME

CONCLUSION: There is an adversary who seeks to defeat and destroy us. We may feel like we are losing the battle today. But victory is yours, Jesus has won it, guaranteed it with His very life. Do not surrender but claim the victory for it belongs to you.