I saw a sign!  Not a sign from God though–but a sign in front of a church building that said, “Church for Sale”. I couldn’t believe my eyes. Who in their right mind would sell the church, but wait! Who in their right mind would think that they have a right to sell the church! The church doesn’t belong to any man, it was bought and paid for by the blood of Jesus. 

You may guess that I am making a play on words, but there is a real, and powerful application here concerning the Church of Christ, the authority or lack of which its members have and don’t have. Fact is the church belongs to Jesus, is headed only by Jesus who possesses all authority over it.  We can’t change one little thing about the church that we read about in the Bible. We cannot add to it, nor take from it. We worship as commanded, we work as commanded, and we are organized as commanded. Bottom line, we have no say in how the church is to worship and work. 

Paul begins with the subject Pray, “Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. 3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ” (2 Thess. 3:1-5).
Still, when you think of the power of a strong prayer life you must realize that it is our primary access for divine assistance, divine intervention. Remember how often and how much Jesus prayed—It must have been important to Him! Here Paul will ask for prayers in different categories. • First, Paul says. . .

Apparently, there were some members who are claiming that the day of the Lord has already come and gone. This was and still is a false teaching. To say such means Jesus will not come again, that we have no hope or expectation of any future Day of the Lord.
Paul wrote the saints in Thessalonica, “Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, 2 not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of [a]Christ had come.” (2 Thess. 2:1-2). 
Brethren and friends, if Christ has already come then, where was I and why didn’t I see Jesus “coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him” (Rev. 1:7), how did I miss Jesus, “come in the glory of His Father with His angels” (Matt. 1:16:27), and why do the many false “churches” that teach this damnable heresy, still practice the Lord’s Supper (1Cor. 11:26)?

In psychology there is a response to suffering and danger: The fight or flight response is an automatic physiological reaction to an event that is perceived as stressful or frightening. The perception of threat activates the sympathetic nervous system and triggers an acute stress response that prepares the body to fight or flee. When we are targeted by wicked people because of our faith, it is a natural inclination to want to give up our faith. When our faith is under trial and pressure leads to the temptation to no longer walk by faith in God. The we turn to self-preservation and self-pity rather than holding to hope in God for our deliverance. This is what we see Paul encouraging these Christians in Thessalonica about in the opening of this second letter, Thanksgiving For Faith (1:3-4), Evidence of God’s Righteous Judgment (1:5), God will repay and relieve (1:6-7), Judgment Pronounced (1:8-10), and God’s Purpose (1:11-12).

We have everything we need to be kingdom ready. . .

I must admit that I am that guy, who picks up a book and turns to the last page to get the conclusion. Even when I was handed my first Bible, I turn to Revelation 22 and read John: He spoke ”of the pure river of water of life, clear as crystal, proceeding from the throne of God and of the Lamb, of tree of life and how the leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. of the throne of God and of the Lamb and His servants shall see His face. He speaks of the promise of Jesus, “behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me”, “And the Spirit and the bride say, “Come!” And let him who hears say, “Come!” And let him who thirsts come. Whoever desires, let him take the water of life freely. Then the wonderful words, “I Am Coming Quickly” and “Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Rev. 22).

What wonderful hope we have, and all reason to be ready for that day, all reason to strive to be exactly what God wants us to be. Paul wrote, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify[d] you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Thess. 5:23). That is the ultimate goal, to be blameless with the LORD at His coming! Paul outlines four attitudes they needed to adopt, so that they might be blameless at the coming of the Lord. Let us see them revealed . . . 

It is no surprise to the working Christian that when you speak the oracles, the mind of Christ you will be called a fool. . . among other things. God has in some way defined what a fool is for example David said, “The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, They have done abominable works, There is none who does good”  (Psalm 14:1). Concerning one who cannot fathom the great works and deep thoughts of God is, “A senseless man does not know, nor does a fool understand this” (Psa. 92:6). Solomon wrote, “The lips of the righteous feed many, But fools die for lack of wisdom” (Prov. 10:21). The only reason the “lips of the righteous feed many”, is because they are “spiritually discerned” or able to understand spiritual things which come solely from the written word of God (Rom. 10:17). The majority of the religious world today must feel or think that God’s word, and even God Himself is just is out of date, old fashion or not up with the times, for what other reason could they have for making adjustments to “improve” God’s plan? 

Of course, we know better, because we have the mind of Christ Paul wrote to the Philippians, “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5). From here we will learn from three scriptures that tell the beloved in Christ what to imitate. . . 

Because Jesus rose to life from death, defeating death, we have confidence that so shall we who are in Christ—rise also at His coming. And so, we live in this world, but not as the world, rather as victors in Christ—awaiting the Day that Jesus will deliver the church to the Father in heaven—and put an end to everything that is connected to sin. Please in your bibles follow along beginning at the first verse of chapter 5 where Paul reminds the Thessalonians, “But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.” (1 Thess. 5:1) but, most important, Paul turns their attention to the things they must be doing to prepare for that Great Day when the Lord does come. Prepare Yourselves. For it is not “When” but How Christ Will Come, “2 For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. 3 For when they say, “Peace and safety!” then sudden destruction comes upon them, as labor pains upon a pregnant woman. And they shall not escape.” (1 Thess. 5:2-3).

Are you ready?

Living for the things of this world are fleeting and temporary, because we will all face death, and we all know, you can’t take it with you! But, living for eternity offers what this world cannot, a place in Heaven. That faith is powerful—and when we walk worthy, when we walk to please God, we have confidence and will not easily be shaken by the troubles we face because of our faith. We rejoice because we know we will be lifted into eternity, and finally see the face of the of God our Father.
“16 For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
Please listen in as this thought is expanded. . . 

On the day of Pentecost God poured out His Spirit and the early Christians received the Salvation Spirit by calling on the name of the Lord Jesus “And everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. 22 “Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know.” (Acts 2:21-22). In Acts 22:16 Paul “…arise and be baptized washing away thy sins, calling on the name of the Lord.” 

WALK TO PLEASE GOD
Paul wrote, “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” (1 Thess. 4:1). To please God we must live holy and blameless. To please God we must abstain from sexual immorality, from adultery, from the everyday filthy language. We must seek the will of God, which is our sanctification, we must be holy as He is holy, putting all manner of sin away from us. To make certain your spirit, is aligned with God’s will concerning everything you read, you watch, and do. Make war against the television—which society is used by our enemy the devil, especially focused at our young people. Reality shows like Too Hot to Handle, Love Island, Big Brother, The Bachelor, The Bachelorette, Keeping Up With the Kardashians.  Or cartoons, the Family Guy, the Simpsons… “Family Games Shows”, like Survivor, Hell’s Kitchen, or the RuPaul’s Drag Race that has nothing whatsoever to do with drag cars racing. Shows, that portray adults as fools, pour filth down the throats of young people, attitudes of laziness, sensual dress, introduce homosexuality as normal, and sensual relationships between the unmarried, drugs, alcohol, and disrespect for God just to name a few.