Pastor Phil Andrukaitis, June 4, 2023
The Apostle Paul’s First Letter to the Thessalonians
General Theme: Living Righteously While Waiting Patiently for Jesus to Return
Sermon Title: God’s Early Warning System – The Bible
Sermon Text: First Thessalonians 5:1-11
Subject: Spiritual watchfulness
Complement: When people ignore the warnings in God’s Word, they will perish in the day of judgment.
Dominating Idea: Watchfulness keeps us safe and strong.
Overview & Review
I. Spiritual leaders prove their concern for the church. (1:1a)
II. Spiritual leaders provide care for the church. (1:1bc)
III. Spiritual leaders pray for the church. (1:2-10)
IV. Spiritual leaders pattern a life of loving service unto the church. (2:1 – 3:13)
V. Spiritual leaders prescribe exhortations for the church. (4:1 – 5:28)
A. Exhortations regarding practical sanctification (4:1-12)
B. Exhortations regarding eschatological concerns (4:13 – 5:11)
1. What happens to Christians after they die?
2. What about “The Day of the Lord”? Our Focus Today
C. Exhortations regarding ecclesiastical [church] responsibilities (5:12-22)
Introduction
Did you know that “as of May 2021, the US earthquake warning system can issue earthquake alerts to cellphone users in California, Oregon, and Washington state? The MyShake app is an early warning system that aims to let people know about incoming shaking, so they can have at least a few seconds to find a safe spot to ride out the earthquake. The alert system is successful because communication systems are now faster than the speed of shaking waves moving through the ground.
“The earthquake early warning system could also give residents in the Pacific Northwest as much as 80 seconds of warning ahead of shaking from a magnitude of nine earthquake along the Cascadia Subduction Zone. This is a monstrous fault zone off the West Coast. The last time this monstrous fault zone erupted with a huge magnitude occurred on January 26, 1700, sending catastrophic tsunamis throughout the Pacific Northwest and to Japan, thousands of miles away.
“Most recently, this earthquake early warning system experienced a test run in Los Angeles County last September, when a magnitude 4.5 earthquake hit the South El Monte area. This earthquake triggered an alert which was sent to 2.2 million mobile devices.”[1]
Transitional Thoughts
While the California state government has developed this early warning system, God has also provided an early warning system – the Bible – to reveal His devastating judgment that will jolt the entire world. Those who hear and obey the Bible, will find shelter in God before His judgment falls on this world. Those who refuse to hear and obey the Bible will perish in the coming judgment.
I believe our nation and our world are living in the “last days” as God has thundered, paradidomai (3860). What does this word mean? It means, “To give over into (one’s) power or use”. In other words, when individuals have “given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity” (Ephesians 4:19), God will give that person over to their wicked desires. In other words, God says in effect, I have given you over to your own depraved minds (Romans 1:24-28).
“Can God save America?” Of course. However, this is the more relevant question, “Will He?” Listen carefully my church family. While we were exhorted last weekend by our dear brothers (Lumber River Quartet) to be a faithful witness wherever God leads us, I believe America’s greatness will NEVER rise to where it once soared.
Maybe, God will grant another reprieve (perhaps after 2024 election); however, as long as governmental officials, merchants, educators, and our country’s citizens…
…massacre unborn children in the mother’s womb
…deliberately distort the biblical view of the family
…normalize sexual perversions (LGBTQ+),
…promote self-indulgence even if economic practices destroy families, even a nation,
…exercise lawlessness in the marketplace and on the streets,
…pervert justice through the weaponization of governmental agencies, and
…corrupt the minds of children while mutilating their bodies to advance their ideology,
…our nation will experience the full wrath of God.
Historical records show that while no earthquake has ever measured beyond the Chilean earthquake of May 22, 1960, with a magnitude of 9.5, the coming judgment of God – the Day of the Lord – will include earthquakes that will wipe away every island and no mountains are to be found (Revelation 16:20).
My brothers and sisters, over one-half of the earth’s population will perish in the coming Day of the Lord. Therefore, our Savior does not want us to be caught up in the values and lifestyle of this world. God does not want His followers to nurture Satan’s lies in their minds but to renew their minds with the Word of God. Let us heed God’s early warning system – namely His Word, as Peter said it well when he wrote:
“For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And if the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner? Therefore, let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.” (1st Peter 4:17-19)
Several weeks ago, this pulpit addressed three truths about the Day of the Lord as revealed in 5:1-3.
1. The Day of the Lord is a date that remains secret with God.
2. The Day of the Lord will come suddenly, without warning, assurance, protection and escape.
3. The Day of the Lord is characterized as “God’s Day in Court,” being associated with condemnation, desolation, and restoration.
So that the church would not be taken by surprise, as when a thief suddenly and unexpectedly breaks into a someone’s home, Paul encouraged the Thessalonian believers to maintain a spiritual watchfulness, especially as God’s coming judgment upon this world draws closer every day.
That said, here are four principles to support the dominating idea,
Watchfulness keeps us safe and strong.
I. Spiritual watchfulness reveals the nature of Christ. (1st Thessalonians 5:4-5)
II. Spiritual watchfulness reflects the lifestyle of Christ. (1st Thessalonians 5:6-8)
III. Spiritual watchfulness rejoices in the salvation from Christ. (1st Thessalonians 5:9-10)
IV. Spiritual watchfulness revitalizes the believers in Christ. (1st Thessalonians 5:11)
I. Spiritual watchfulness reveals the nature of Christ (1st Thessalonians 5:4-5).
“But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief.
For you are all children of light, children of the day.
We are not of the night or of the darkness.”
(1st Thessalonians 5:4-5)
A. Believers are not children of darkness.
B. Believers belong to the Light of the world.
Here are five purposes as to why God transferred sinners from the kingdom of darkness to the kingdom of light:
1. To turn others from darkness to light
2. To remind believers of their sanctification
3. To beware of the spiritual battle against demonic forces
4. To walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
5. To proclaim the excellencies of Jesus
II. Spiritual watchfulness reflects the lifestyle of Christ (1st Thessalonians 5:6-8).
“So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober.
For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation.
(1st Thessalonians 5:6-8)
Since believers have been given such heavenly blessings and hope, their conduct [manner of living] ought to reflect the Person of Christ while revealing the believer’s character. After all, people live what they believe. Or if we reverse this axiom, the same is true: Our lifestyle reveals our beliefs.
If people profess to know Christ but godly fruit is consistently absent, then that person ought to consider Paul’s words written to the Corinthian Church: “Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Prove yourselves…” (2nd Corinthians 13:5a). Jesus taught that the “fruits of our life” reveal our character and destiny (Matthew 7:15-23).
Therefore, Paul exhorted the Thessalonian Church to behave properly, so as not to be caught off guard at the Parousia, and to be spiritually watchful much in the same way Jesus lived His life. How?
A. Do not become spiritually lazy.
The call to spiritual watchfulness is a call to guard one’s heart, not a physical watchfulness – gazing into the heavens for the coming of the Lord. Paul writes, “…let us not sleep…” The word “sleep” is katheudō (Strong’s#2581) means “carnal indifference to spiritual things.” It is a condition of insensitivity to divine things involving conformity to the world.[2]
In other words, don’t become lethargic to the things of God; neglecting to cultivate spiritual disciplines (i.e. devotional time with God; praying; reading and meditating on Scripture; witnessing; fasting; etc.).
God did not save sinners so that they may remain in their ignorance, unbelief, and dominated by sin, which would eventually lead to rebellion against Him. This behavior is expected of unbelievers because it is their nature. But, not so for Christians who are “sons of God,” “sons of light”; the things of darkness have no place in the life of a Christian. Read Romans 13:12-14.
B. Maintain spiritual alertness.
Paul writes, “…let us watch…” The word “watch” is grēgoreō (Strong’s #1127), which means to maintain a spirit of vigilance and expectancy towards the things of God. It is the opposite of being indifferent to God and His Word. While every believer will live with Jesus, when He calls us home, those who have “slept” [remained lax towards the things of God] will suffer loss. Read 1st Corinthians 3:15; 9:27 and 2nd Corinthians 5:10.
It’s interesting to trace this word in the NT and identify some of the areas where Christians are to maintain spiritual alertness:
…against false teachers (Acts 20:28-31)
…towards their lives of faith (1st Corinthians 16:13)
…regarding our prayer life (Colossians 4:2)
…concerning the “things of God” (1st Thessalonians 5:6)
…against the devil (1st Peter 5:8)
…towards the spiritual life in the church (Revelation 3:2)
…towards the Scriptural truths received (Revelation 3:3)
C. Be Self-Controlled.
The third way in which Paul exhorts the Thessalonian Church is, “…and be sober.” The word, “sober” nēphō (Strong’s #3525) means to be free from all intoxicants of the world. In other words, Christians are alien ambassadors, not worldly citizens, seeking to grab all the gusto of this life, but to do God’s will and fulfill His purposes.
In the context of this passage, Paul is obviously not referring to drunkenness (though there are several other passages that condemn drunkenness) but by way of an analogy, exhorting Christians to be under the control of God, not the values of this world (Read 1st John 2:15-17).
Spiritually speaking, believers are “morning people” of God; they are not sleepwalkers intoxicated by the world [Keith Krell]. Rather, unbelievers, spiritually speaking, are those people who “sleep” (indifferent to the things of God), who “watch” out for themselves not exercising spiritual alertness, and who “get drunk” (being intoxicated by this world) because they are of the night and darkness.
Reemphasizing the same truths in verse 7, Paul calls out to the Christian community with a cry: To arms! To arms! by having each believer “put on” enduō (Strong’s #1746) the armor of God. God does not dress us with the armor; He equips us. It is up to each believer to put on the armor of God every day. The best way for Christians to prepare themselves for the Lord’s return is not to guess at dates but to remain spiritually alert and well protected [Andrew W. Young].
D. Put on the armor of God
While Paul identifies only two vitally important pieces of armor in this letter, the rest of the armor is identified in his letter to the Ephesians.
…Breastplate of faith and love (breastplate of righteousness)
…Helmet of hope of salvation
…Belt of truth
…Shoes of the Gospel
…Sword of the Spirit (Scripture)
…And an attitude of praying and watching
When our faith is weak, our love grows cold and our hope turns to despair. My brothers and sisters in Christ, when we ignore God’s call to arm ourselves for spiritual battle and allow ourselves to become spiritually lazy, dull of heart, and not maintain proper priorities, our testimony is worse than unbelievers. No wonder God is grieved.
III. Spiritual watchfulness rejoices in the salvation from Christ (1st Thessalonians 5:9-10).
“For God has not destined us for wrath but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
Who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him.”
(1st Thessalonians 5:9-10)
This portion of Scripture reveals two reasons why Christians will be delivered from the wrathful Day of the Lord and eternal death.
A. Christians are not appointed to wrath.
God has not “appointed” tithēmi (Strong’s #5087) Christians to experience divine wrath. The word, “appointed” reinforces the idea that God chose us before the foundations of the world were established. Believers have been called by God (Romans 8:28-30) and predestined to be God’s sons (Ephesians 1:4-5).
Second, the word “wrath” orgē (Strong’s #3709) is not the same as the synonym, thumos (Strong’s #2372) which means an outburst of anger. The text says, “For God did not appoint us [Christians] to wrath.” The word “wrath” is orgē is not a sudden outburst but a settled, abiding condition of the mind whereby God takes revenge over an extended period of time. This sounds like the Great Tribulation that will be unleashed on earth prior to Christ’s return where He rules over this world from Jerusalem for 1000 years.
The point is clear: God has not appointed His “sons” and “daughters” of light to experience a prolonged wrath against sin. Jesus took our punishment for sin upon Himself and suffered God’s wrath in our place.
B. Christians are appointed to salvation.
Scriptures clearly teach that God elected some sinners for eternal life, according to His good pleasure (Ephesians 1:4-5). Through the general call of the gospel, those individuals whose names were written in the Book of Life (Revelation 20:12), will respond to the effectual call of the Holy Spirit and obedience in Christ. Those who are predestined to God’s salvation will be called with His irresistible grace and justified by God (Romans 8:30).
Clearly, Jesus died for us [Christians]. Therefore, whether believers are spiritually sleeping or awake, the Christian’s salvation is not dependent upon our manner of life but all of God. God’s purpose for the believer is to be united with Christ, in this life and ultimately in death.
Therefore, whatever condition the believer may be experiencing when the Lord comes for the Church or when the believer dies, that believer will go home to be with the Lord. Read Romans 8:1.
IV. Spiritual watchfulness revitalizes believers in Christ (1st Thessalonians 5:11).
“Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing.”
(1st Thessalonians 5:11)
A. Comfort One Another.
The word, “comfort” is parakaleō (Strong’s #3870) meaning to come alongside another person to produce the desired effect. In the context of this passage, we are called to encourage and comfort each other when tragedies enter our lives.
B. Edify One Another.
The second act is to “edify” oikodomeō (Strong’s #3618) meaning to promote spiritual growth within the community of faith. Believers are to restore other believers who have been overtaken by sin (Galatians 6:1-2). Believers have been given eternal life and the hope of salvation. Since we have been blessed by God, let us live up to the calling of God (Ephesians 4:1).
Conclusion
In his work, “Words to Winners of Souls,” Horatius Bonar [1808 – 1889] writes, take heed to thyself. Your own soul is your first and greatest care. You know a sound body alone can work with power, much more a healthy soul. Drawn from this work, here are four applications by which the child of God is to care for his soul.[3]
1. “Keep a clear conscience through the blood of the Lamb.” Our conscience is the soul’s warning system. Moreover, our conscience belongs to Christ. Therefore, our conscience needs to be…
2. “Keep up close communion with God.” A believer cannot minister out what he does not have within his soul. Fellowship with God comes first, then fellowship with others.
3. “Study likeness to Him in all things.” Give yourself to prayer and get your texts and thoughts from God. Someone has said, we cannot keep what is on the inside from showing up on the outside. Read Proverbs 23:7).
4. “Read the Bible for your own growth first, then for your people.” Just as the disciples exhausted all their resources when it came to feeding the multitudes before turning to Jesus, so must each of us rely NOT on our own strength, wisdom, and resources; rather, let us go to God – first. Read His Word then feed and serve others in Jesus’ name.
There are only two classes of people in all the earth:
…saved and lost;
…saints and sinners;
…believers and unbelievers;
…children of God and children of the devil;
…forgiven sinners and condemned sinners;
…those who live in the light and those who love darkness, because the darkness hides their sin.
There are only two destinies for people:
…heaven or hell;
…Abraham’s bosom or the Lake of Fire;
…Kingdom of God or the domain of darkness;
…heavenly comfort or everlasting torment.
If the Holy Spirit and the Scriptures have enabled you to see the light of God, then surrender your life to Christ. Call out to Jesus Christ Who died for you and was resurrected from the dead. He will forgive you and bless you with eternal life. Do not turn away from God’s early warning system. Come unto Jesus, now, and be saved.
[1] https://www.preachingtoday.com/search/?query=an%20early%20earthquake%20warning%20system [doc online]; “An Early Earthquake Warning System,” accessed 2023, May 30.
[2] Vine, W.E., Vines Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, Inc., 1996), p. 41.
[3] Horatius Bonar, “The Four Ways of Spiritual Watchfulness,” [doc online]; http://headdibs.blogspot.com/2004/08/four-ways-of-spiritual-watchfulness.html, accessed, 2023, May 2.
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