1 Thessalonians 5 (2)

Pray Psalm 45.6, 7.
Your throne, O God, is forever and ever;
A scepter of righteousness is the scepter of Your kingdom.
You love righteousness and hate wickedness;
Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You
With the oil of gladness more than Your companions.

Read 1 Thessalonians 5.7-11.

Reflect.
1. How is salvation like a helmet?

2. In what sense do we hope to “obtain” a salvation which we already possess? 

Meditate.
Paul isn’t saying we should never sleep. A good night’s sleep is the Lord’s gift (Ps, 127.2). He’s calling us to live wide awake, so that, the Lord’s return ever before our minds, our hearts won’t veer from the path of sanctification.

To that end, Paul instructs the Thessalonians to guard their hearts with the breastplate of faith and love. When faith in Jesus and love for God and neighbor are our guiding affections, our hearts will not easily be distracted from the Lord’s priorities or overcome by doubt. And when salvation protects our minds like a warrior’s helmet protects his head, we won’t be susceptible to every wind of doctrine that wafts by, enticing us to doubt the Gospel and believe the ways of the world.

God has appointed us for salvation. We are saved if we believe in Jesus; we are being saved as we press on in our sanctification; and we will be saved when the Lord returns and we are transformed and taken to be with Him forever. Keep this great hope in mind, and cherish it always in your heart, and the ways of the world will hold little allure, and its threats will not divert you from your course.

Again, here is another tool in our encouragement tool box. We are to encourage and build one another up by helping each other keep our breastplate and helmet on at all times. We should preach the Gospel to one another, urge one another on in our walk with and work for the Lord, and help one another keep focused on the glory that is yet to come.  The Thessalonians were doing this, and Paul insisted they must continue.

He says the same to us.

Prepare.
1. Who encourages you in your walk with and work for the Lord? How do they encourage you?

2. Is it your regular practice to talk with other Christians about the Gospel? How might you do more of this?

3. How can you tell when you are being lulled to sleep and losing focus on the things of Christ? What should you do when you recognize this is happening to you?

Do you see how everywhere Paul puts the health of the community into the hands of each individual? “Exhorting one another daily,” he says, “while it is called today.”Do not then cast all of the burden on your teachers, and do not cast everything on those who have authority over you. You are able to edify one another. He says this in writing to the Thessalonians, “Edify one another, just as you are doing.”  John Chrysostom (344-407 AD), Homilies on Hebrews 30.1

Give me grace, O Lord, so that today I might encourage…

Pray Psalm 45.1-12.
Today, Jesus rides forth conquering and to conquer (Rev. 6.2). He goes out with you (Matt. 28.20) and for His glory (1 Cor. 10.31). Meditate on the beauty and power of Christ as you pray, and let verses 10-12 renew you in your commitment to the Lord.

Sing to the Lord.
Psalm 45.1-12 (Manoah: When All Your Mercies, O My God)
O my heart, let now a pleasing theme overflow to praise the Lord; 
My song I pledge to You, my King, and dedicate my words. 

You of all men are the fairest, Lord, and Your lips are flush with grace; 
Thus God has blessed You evermore before His holy face. 

Your sword gird on Your thigh, O Lord, in splendid majesty; 
Ride out, resplendent in Your Word, to glorious victory. 

For meekness and for righteousness Your Right Hand shall prevail. 
Your foes shall come to deep distress when You their souls assail. 

Your throne, O God, is evermore, and upright is Your reign; 
Though wicked men Your soul abhor, Your righteousness must gain. 

Your God has thus anointed You with oil of gladness great. 
Your robes are rich with rich perfume; sweet music gilds Your way. 

In gold the queen at Your right hand, with princesses around, 
Resplendent with You takes her stand while glories great abound. 

Let none keep us from hearing You; desire our beauty, Lord! 
We bow, submitting humbly to Your ever-faithful Word. 

T. M. Moore

Where do 1 and 2 Thessalonians fit in the unfolding of God’s covenant? Order our workbook, God’s Covenant, and find out how all Scripture fits within this redemptive framework (click here).

Forward today’s study to some friends, and challenge them to study with you through this series on 1 and 2 Thessalonians. Each week’s lessons will be available as a free PDF download at the end of the week. Get a copy for yourself and send the link to the download to your friends. Plan to meet weekly to study Paul’s ministry and prepare for your own.

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Except as indicated, Scripture taken from the New King James Version. © Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All psalms for singing adapted from The Ailbe Psalter. All quotations from Church Fathers from Ancient Christian Commentary Series, General Editor Thomas C. Oden (Downers Grove: InterVarsity Press, 2006).All psalms for singing are from The Ailbe Psalter (available by clicking here).