Podcasts about first thessalonians

“I believe,” the father cried — before the doubt. A sermon on Scripture's most poignant confession and its meaning for today's doubters. Click here to read the sermon I Believe — Help My Unbelief! Mark 9:14–29 It is great to be with you here today. I want to give all these musicians a hand — thank you, Keith, and thank you to everyone up here. I love all the instruments, and even Michael Jessup is making a joyful noise over there. God bless you guys. I want you to know first and foremost that I am praying for Pastor Christopher, for his family, and for Yates Baptist Church during this time of transition. I also want some of you to know — I'm sure some of you are thinking, who is Marty Childers, and what is Tri-West? It used to be called Yates Baptist Association. We had to change our name because things kept getting confused. People would come to our building looking for you, and people would come here looking for us, and checks got crossed, and a lot of things happened. So that is one of the reasons we changed the name. We are Triangle West, the western part of the Triangle Baptist Network. We say Tri-West. But more than that, I want to give you a real quick infomercial, because I want you to know who we are as Tri-West. I have had the privilege for the last almost ten years — Mike, in October it will be ten years — to work with this association. I have had the privilege of working with many people from this church, and I just want you to know that we are all about strengthening, planting, and resourcing the local church to fulfill the Great Commission. Strengthening, planting, and resourcing the local church. When I first got here, if I'm really honest, a lot of associations in North Carolina had their own plans, and they did a lot of things, and they asked the churches to come along and help them execute those plans. But we said no — we want to flip the script, because God's Plan A is the local church. So the association wants to do everything we can to help the local church fulfill the Great Commission. As a part of that, we are helping revitalize churches, and we are helping to plant new churches. In fact, just in the last year and five months, we have seen four new church plants start in our area — in Durham, in Chapel Hill, in Hillsborough, where I live. And your participation in our association actually helped fund some of those things. Just recently we voted to send five thousand dollars to a youth camp in Haiti that Yates Baptist Church has been supporting for many, many years. As you are a part of this network, you are also helping church planters in Oaxaca, Mexico — two weeks from today I will be in Oaxaca with about thirty-five students, and I am looking forward to that. Your participation also helps us with a Farsi-speaking church in Armenia, which is a story I would love to come back and tell you more about. As we participate together as a network of about sixty-five churches in the greater Durham area, we can do more together. We are trying to help churches not to be silos, not to be isolated, but to look around and say, hey, you are doing that too — let us see how we can collaborate. I want you to open your Bibles, or your apparatus, to the Gospel of Mark, chapter nine. We are going to be looking at verses fourteen through twenty-nine. I am going to read through verse twenty-four first, and then I want you to keep your Bibles or your phones open there, because we will come back to the rest of the passage a little later. Mark, chapter nine, beginning at verse fourteen: And when they came to the disciples, they saw a great crowd around them, and scribes arguing with them. And immediately all the crowd, when they saw him, were greatly amazed and ran to him and greeted him. And he asked them, "What are you arguing about with them?" And someone from the crowd answered him, "Teacher, I brought my son to you, for he has a spirit that makes him mute. And whenever it seizes him, it throws him down, and he foams and grinds his teeth and becomes rigid. So I asked your disciples to cast it out, and they were not able." And he answered them, "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you? Bring him to me." And they brought the boy to him. And when the spirit saw him, immediately it convulsed the boy, and he fell on the ground and rolled about, foaming at the mouth. And Jesus asked his father, "How long has this been happening to him?" And he said, "From childhood. And it has often cast him into fire and into water, to destroy him. But if you can do anything, have compassion on us and help us." And Jesus said to him, "'If you can'! All things are possible for one who believes." And immediately the father of the child cried out and said, "I believe; help my unbelief." (Mark 9:14–24, ESV) [Prayer] Father, we thank you for this time to worship you. We thank you that we have had this moment to lift songs to you. We are here to praise your name, but we are also here to be taught, and to be encouraged, and to be challenged to live the life that you have called us to live. So Father, I pray that you would use this passage, that you would use this Scripture, and that you would teach us the things we need to learn today. Father, I pray that we would listen as your Spirit teaches us. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Do you believe? Charles Blondin was a famous French acrobat who made international history as the first person to cross Niagara Falls on a tightrope, on June 30, 1859. He successfully traveled along a more than thousand-foot-long, two-inch-thick cable suspended 160 feet above the raging waters. Over the next few years, Blondin crossed Niagara Gorge more than 300 times, consistently raising the stakes each time with a new dangerous theatrical variation of his walk. He walked across on stilts. He put himself in a body sack and went across. Once, in the middle of the gorge, he set up a small stove and made an omelet, then lowered it down to someone waiting in a boat on the water below. One day after crossing, he brought out a wheelbarrow. He asked the crowd: how many of you think I can push that wheelbarrow across? Hands went up. How many of you think I can take a person across in it? Hands went up again. Who wants to volunteer? Silence. Do you believe? You will notice that we started in verse fourteen, right in the middle of the chapter. It opens by saying "they came to the disciples" — but who is "they"? That is Jesus, Peter, James, and John. They had just come down from what we call the Mount of Transfiguration. We do not know exactly which mountain it was, but it was a mountain, and they were descending from a moment in which Peter, James, and John had seen a glimpse of God's glory. For just a moment — the text does not give us the mechanics of how it happened — Jesus' humanness seemed to be peeled back, and they saw him in white, blinding in its intensity. Peter had wanted to stay there. But as they came down the mountain, they walked straight into chaos. How many of you have had a mountaintop experience and then come back to find that life hits you? It seems like almost every time I go on a mission trip, I come back so full, and then I hit the muck of life — the junk, the everyday things that have to happen. That is exactly what is happening here. They descend from the mountain and walk into confusion. At the bottom, Jesus finds a desperate father — and Happy Father's Day, we will come back to that in a moment. He finds a tormented child. He finds nine frustrated disciples. He finds a crowd who may be looking for a spectacle, just waiting to see what is going to happen. He finds religious leaders ready to argue. This is the context into which Jesus steps. Do you believe? These are the final months of Jesus' earthly ministry. He had been with his disciples for three years. He had fed the five thousand, he had fed the four thousand, he had done many miraculous things. And now he comes down from the mountain and walks directly into a crisis. I believe that a crisis is an opportunity for God to show up. I believe a crisis is where God does some of his best teaching. Some of you are thinking back to situations in your own life — maybe this past year, maybe a decade ago, maybe a long time ago — when you were in a situation you did not understand at all, and now, looking back, you can see it clearly: oh, that is what God was doing. A crisis is where God shows up. The first thing I want to share with you today — and for those of you who take notes, feel free — is that this is a story about faith. The boy's father had come looking for Jesus, but Jesus was not there. Still, he was encouraged, because some of Jesus' disciples were right there — maybe they could help his son. He would have been glad had they succeeded. For whatever reason, their efforts were lacking. And by the time Jesus and the three disciples arrived, an argument was already going on. The first question Jesus asks is, "What are you arguing about?" I can imagine the disciples going up against the scribes, and then — as these things tend to escalate — the disciples maybe turning on each other. Well, we were not able to cast it out because you said the wrong words. You lifted your hand wrong. You did not do it the way we did last time. You know how that goes. Our enemy is always looking to divide us. And then Jesus responds. His response is pretty heavy. "O faithless generation, how long am I to be with you? How long am I to bear with you?" He asked a version of that question several times throughout the Gospels. The one that always comes to my mind is when they were crossing the Sea of Galilee and a great storm came up. Jesus was asleep in the back of the boat. The disciples came and woke him: "Master, Master, don't you care? We're going to die!" Jesus stood up, spoke to the wind and the waves, and the sea went calm. But then he turned to his disciples and asked, "Where is your faith?" (cf. Luke 8:25, ESV). Do you believe, or do you not? I do not know where you are today, but I want to ask you the same question. Where is your faith? How is your faith? On our phones we can check the weather. I have not found an app yet to check my faith — today it's pretty low, today it's high. How is your faith? Now, we can be very judgmental on this father, because we already know what he is about to say. We know he is going to say, "I believe; help my unbelief." And we tend to fall hard on that second part — on the unbelief. But before he said "help my unbelief," he said "I believe." Before he admitted his doubt, he declared his faith. I think this is one of the most poignant statements in all of Scripture. The man — this father — pulls back the mask, pulls back the curtain. He is being transparent. He is open and honest. He is saying: I believe, I want to believe, I really, really want to believe, but I am struggling to believe. His honesty matters. We have to remember that we are on this side of the resurrection — he was on the other side. He did not have the whole story. And he was struggling, but he wanted to believe. Maybe some of us are struggling today. Maybe some of us have been there. "I believe; help my unbelief" (Mark 9:24, ESV). I felt that way this week. Maybe you have too. Did you notice, though, that he said "I believe" first? That was his first statement. He did not lead with I'm really struggling, but I'm trying. He led with I believe. And I think that matters enormously. It is also interesting that he says to Jesus, "If you can, have compassion on us and help us." I almost wish there were a question mark in Jesus' response — "If you can?" — as if he is saying, do you know who you are talking to? And then he goes on: "All things are possible for one who believes" (Mark 9:23, ESV). That is the first thing I want you to remember. This is a story about faith. By the way — this is a book about faith. The second thing I want to share is that this is also a story about failure. We do not like to talk about that, do we? We would prefer to talk about success stories. We would prefer to talk about how the walls of Jericho came tumbling down (cf. Josh 6:20), about how Moses led the Israelites through on dry ground (cf. Exod 14:22), about Daniel in the lion's den (cf. Dan 6:22), about Jesus raising a little girl who had died (cf. Mark 5:41–42). We love those wonderful, powerful stories of the Bible. But guess what? This book also includes a lot of stories about failure. The Scripture reminds us that we will fail. When I was working with the International Mission Board — I think it was our first or second year — we kept hearing a phrase over and over: freedom to fail. We don't like to fail. But sometimes we don't accomplish things simply because we are not willing to try. I believe — and I know there are a lot of Duke fans in this room, so we can debate this later — that Michael Jordan is the greatest basketball player of all time. But he missed so many shots. Great home run hitters have hit many home runs, but they have struck out many more times. You will not accomplish things if you don't try. This passage reminds us that there are going to be moments of failure. There will be failures in our families. There will be failures in our marriages. There will be failures at work, in our personal lives, in our churches. But I think that is precisely where God wants to show up. He wants to remind us that he not only has the answer — he is the answer. Scripture tells us that God wants to use our weakness so that he can demonstrate his strength (cf. 1 Cor 1:27, ESV). What greater moment of weakness is there than when we fail? When you are in the pit, when you are down in the dumps — that is a theological term, by the way — God is saying, let me show you what I can do. This is a good reminder that we are human. Sometimes — and be honest with yourself here — sometimes we can get puffed up. We do something well, and then we do it well again, and we are just on a roll, and we think, man, I have got this. But there will be moments when we fail. When we do, we need to realize that God is there. Just do not allow your failures to become distractions. Do not allow your failures to pull you into a pity party. Do not allow your failures to keep you stuck in that moment of depression, believing there is no hope. I keep hearing a phrase lately that I have to say I hate: "pessimistic Christian." That is an oxymoron. Who should have more hope than we do? Nobody. This passage reminds us that we will pass through moments of failure. Hebrews tells us that without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb 11:6, ESV). So in our greatest time of need — when we fail, when things are not going right, when things are not going the way we planned — God is still in charge. We need faith most precisely in those moments. I love the character of David. I love David — but I wrestle with the fact that the Bible calls him a man after God's own heart (cf. Acts 13:22; 1 Sam 13:14), even though he committed adultery, tried to cover it up, committed murder, and tried to cover that up too, until Nathan came and confronted him (cf. 2 Sam 12:1–13). He thought he had actually gotten away with it. But the Bible calls him a man after God's own heart not primarily because of who David was, but because of who God is — and secondarily because David truly repented. His heart changed. He did horrendous, terrible things, and then he came before God and said, I am sorry. I messed up. I have done this terrible thing. We see in the Psalms, over and over, David saying something like: Lord, where are you? Have you abandoned me? My enemies are all around me, looking to destroy me. And then three or four verses later: but I will worship you, I will praise you, because you are the only true God, and you will be my refuge and my strength (cf. Ps 22:1, 27–28). David did that over and over because he had a heart that was willing to be honest — just like this father was willing to be honest. I believe; help my unbelief. Here is something interesting about this story. Just a few chapters earlier in Mark, Jesus actually gave his disciples authority to heal and to cast out unclean spirits. In chapter six, verse thirteen, they had healed many people, and they had cast out many demons (Mark 6:13, ESV). They had the power. But now, a little later, their faith is flagging and they have begun to argue. And here is the problem: when we begin to argue, the ministry stops. Recently there was a gathering in Orlando at the Southern Baptist Convention. I am sure you saw the news stories. The news stories always find the things we are arguing about and run with them. The truth is, there were nearly a hundred missionaries appointed and sent out to go all over the world. There were a lot of great things happening. But when we argue, the world watches, and the world is going to publicize it as much as it can. I read one theologian who put it this way: "Accept the rebuke from God as a gift that exposes your need." When Jesus says to his disciples, "How long am I going to have to put up with you?" — I think he says that to me sometimes. I am pretty sure he says it to all of you too. We do not like to admit that we have needs. But that is what David did. And that is what this father does. He has exhausted every possibility to find healing for his son, and now he is standing in front of Jesus. The third thing I see here is that this is a story reminding us that we are in a fight. You do not hear a lot about this today, but we are in spiritual warfare. I know people are going to say that sounds strange. But it is biblical. The Bible talks a great deal about this. We served as missionaries overseas for twenty-seven years, and we saw things happen that I can only describe as illogical and unnatural. Another time I will come back and tell you more about that. But when I say illogical and unnatural, I mean things like a little boy who died at the bottom of a pool, and two weeks later I saw him running down the aisle of the church. We saw both good and bad. But this much is clear: we are in a spiritual battle. I know a lot of people today do not like to talk about Satan. I read all the time that more and more people in the church do not actually believe in the devil or in demonic reality. I am pretty simple, Mike — whatever this Book says, I try to believe it. And the Scripture tells us that Lucifer was an angel who fell from heaven because of pride, because he wanted to be like God. The Scripture tells us that the enemy and his demonic presence are at work in this world. That is why we have so much trouble. Now, I do not want to get into a debate about whether this particular boy was possessed or oppressed, or whether what was happening was epilepsy or something else. In fact, the passage uses the word "spirit" throughout, and my Spanish Bible says "demonic spirit." Whatever was happening, something was happening, and the father was looking for help. Jesus is about to heal this young boy. He asks the father how long this has been going on. The father says, from childhood — and that the spirit had often cast the boy into fire and into water to destroy him. I hesitate to share a personal example here, but I want to. Melissa and I have four grandchildren. Our oldest grandson is named Elijah. Elijah is just so cool — but he is different. He has been diagnosed with autism and is non-verbal. He can say a few words once in a while. When I read about this boy who was mute — the one the world was probably looking at strangely — I think of my grandson. If Elijah were here today, he might run up to some of you and smell your hair. That is one of the things he loves to do. He might run up and hug a random person. Most of the time, people hug him back — but more and more lately, people just look at him as if something is wrong with him. He is awkward. He is lanky. He moves differently. And when I think of this story, I think of that father watching his son go through something like this, day after day, week after week, year after year, desperate to find help. So where did he go? He went to Jesus. That is what you and I should do. When Jesus arrives, the spirit responds immediately. It sees Jesus and it throws the boy into convulsions. It recognized what was standing there. That is the nature of spiritual warfare. Our enemy seeks to destroy you and me. He seeks to destroy your testimony. He seeks to destroy the image of God that is in you and in me. He wants you to see the worst in each other instead of the image of God in each other. He seeks to divide us. He will do whatever it takes to get us off track. But I want to remind you: our God is more powerful. The fourth thing I see in this passage is that it is a story about freedom — because God brings freedom. He heals this young man. When Jesus commands the spirit to leave, look at what happens, beginning in verse twenty-six: After crying out and convulsing him terribly, it came out, and the boy was like a corpse, so that most of them said, "He is dead." But Jesus took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. (Mark 9:26–27, ESV) What I love about this is the variety in how Jesus heals throughout the Gospels. Sometimes he heals in an instant. The centurion said, just say the word, and it is already done (cf. Matt 8:8). There are times he heals lepers and sends them to the priest, and they are healed as they go (cf. Luke 17:14). There is one time he heals a blind man and it actually takes a second touch before the man can see clearly (cf. Mark 8:22–25). What I want you to see is that sometimes God heals in an instant, but sometimes it is a process. It was not immediate here. The boy fell down and convulsed and rolled on the ground. Sometimes it is a process. We do not know whether what happened between the command and the boy arising from the ground took ten seconds or ten minutes. But the spirit came out — the text says so plainly — and I want you to know that sometimes we are waiting for God to show up and do something, and he is already at work. It is just not on our schedule. He is working. He is bringing healing, he is bringing redemption, he is bringing all those things. Just not on our timetable. I love what the passage says next. The boy was on the ground, and they all thought he was dead. But Jesus reached down and took him by the hand and lifted him up, and he arose. There is something in that word — arose — that is not accidental. It foreshadows the morning when Jesus himself, after the cross and the grave, arose. He has power over death. So we do not have to fear it. I talk to people almost every week who are afraid of dying — people in their thirties, in their forties. But as Christians, we do not have to be afraid, because we have hope. That reminds me of Peter. Do you remember when Peter was out on the water with the other disciples and Jesus came walking to them on the sea? Peter said, Lord, if it is you, tell me to come to you on the water. And Jesus said, come on. And Peter got out of the boat — Peter, not Jesus — and he was walking on the water too, until he noticed the waves, and the wind, and his circumstances. And he began to sink, until Jesus grabbed him and pulled him up (cf. Matt 14:28–31, ESV). If we fix our eyes on our circumstances, we are going to sink. But if we fix them on the Lord, all things are possible to the one who believes (cf. Mark 9:23, ESV). The fifth thing I want to share — and I will admit this one stretches the alliteration a little bit — is that our first priority should always be prayer. A little later in the passage, beginning at verse twenty-eight, we read this: When he had entered the house, his disciples asked him privately, "Why could we not cast it out?" And he said to them, "This kind cannot be driven out by anything but prayer." (Mark 9:28–29, ESV) Your translation may say "prayer and fasting." Either way, the idea is focused, concentrated, committed prayer. I have heard a statement a lot lately, and I love it: prayer is not part of our strategy — prayer should be our strategy. I actually tried to Google who said it. I could not find a clear source, so I am not going to claim it. But it is a great statement. Let me ask you something. When you have failures, when you have struggles, when you are dealing with a difficult situation — is prayer the first thing you do, or is it your last resort? Here is something worth noticing. Go back this afternoon and read this passage slowly. You will see that Jesus talks with the disciples, he talks with the father, and the boy is healed. But there is no moment in the text where I see Jesus kneel and pray. There is no recorded prayer. I do not think he is saying you have to stop every minute and formally pray. What he is saying is what First Thessalonians says: we are to pray without ceasing (cf. 1 Thess 5:17, ESV). We are to live a life of prayer. We are to be in constant communion with God, in a way that makes us conduits of the Holy Spirit's work. I love the fact that he says this kind can only come out through prayer, but we do not see him stop to pray — because he was already living that life. We know that many times Jesus would take his disciples somewhere and say, stay here, watch and pray, and he would go away and pray. And he would come back and — I am not going to say this is any of you, because I don't see anyone sleeping this morning — but they were asleep. There is a tension there worth sitting with. There are a lot of great theologians who have thought deeply about prayer. Augustine said that prayer is the language of the heart's yearning for God. Martin Luther, who would get up before sunrise to pray for three or four hours before he even opened his Scripture — and then pray for three or four more hours afterward — Martin Luther said, "The less I pray, the harder things seem to get. The more I pray, the more I see God move." Could you pray a little bit more? Could you begin developing a lifestyle of prayer? I want to close with a story from about thirty years ago, when I was serving in Santa Cruz, Bolivia. I had gone to a meeting of pastors at First Baptist Church in Santa Cruz. I was leaving with my good friend Eladio Alvarez. Eladio and I walked out of the building and looked down the one-way street. Nothing was coming. I started to step out into the road. And just as my momentum was carrying me into the street, something pulled me back. A truck — going the wrong way on that one-way street, at about fifty miles per hour in a thirty-five-mile-per-hour zone — went flying by. Whatever hair I had was flying. Eladio and I both turned white. I said, man, you just saved my life. And he said, no, no, I didn't do anything. I said, no — I was stepping into the street and you pulled me back. He said, no, you were about to step in, and then you just awkwardly jumped back on your own. We went back and forth on this for a while. Finally he said, you know what happened? You got grabbed by an angel. I said, I don't know about grabbed — but something supernatural happened. My momentum was into that street, and all of a sudden I was standing on the curb. I got on a bus and went home. When I walked in, the light on my phone was blinking — and this was one of those regular phones, not a cell phone, so those of you under forty, feel free to Google it. The message said: this is Bobby Long from Central Baptist Church in Hickory, North Carolina. That's my home church. Bobby said, I woke up this morning about five-thirty, and I just had this uneasy feeling that you were in danger. So I have been praying for you. He said, at seven-thirty I still didn't have any peace, so I started calling the deacons. We set up a prayer chain. We have been praying for you for the last three hours. Please call me collect. It cost about five dollars a minute back then. But I called him. And I said, Bobby, your prayers were answered. When I told him the story, he could not believe it. About the same time I was stepping into that street, almost four thousand miles away, a group of people were praying. When God brings someone to your mind, stop. When God puts a person or a situation on your heart, stop and pray. Prayer is not part of our strategy. Prayer is our strategy. This kind can only be driven out by prayer. What are you facing today? What difficult situation are you carrying? Our God is powerful. We have to have faith even in our failing moments. We have to know we are in a fight — but our Lord has the power to bring freedom. [Prayer] Father God, I thank you so much for this passage. I thank you for this Scripture that reminds us of who you are and what you do. Father, I thank you that you are all-powerful. I thank you that you have the power to heal and to cast out every unclean spirit, and that you have the power to do anything in everything. Father, we pray right now that we would realize that we must confess, just like this father did: Lord, we believe. Help our unbelief. Help our unbelief to grow, and help our faith to be strengthened. Help us to grow in faith. And Father, I pray that we would do that by praying. I pray right now for Yates Baptist Church — that you would bring them together as one body, that you would unite them, that you would fill them, that you would direct their path, and that you would use this church to reach many, many families, to reach many people who might walk out of darkness into your light, not because of who they are, but because of who you are. So Lord, we pray in the name of Christ that you would do your will and your way and in your time in this place. In Jesus' name I pray, amen. Works Cited Augustine. Expositions of the Psalms 33–50 (Enarrationes in Psalmos). Translated by Maria Boulding, OSB. Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2000. (For Ps. 37.14.) Augustine. Expositions of the Psalms 121–150 (Enarrationes in Psalmos). Translated by Maria Boulding, OSB. Hyde Park, NY: New City Press, 2004. (For Ps. 125.8.) The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. 2011. Wheaton: Crossway Bibles. Luther, Martin. Luther's Works: Vol. 31, Career of the Reformer I. Edited by Harold J. Grabe. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1957. (For writings on prayer's necessity.) Luther, Martin. Luther's Works: Vol. 54, Table Talk. Edited by Harold J. Grabe. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1967. (For reflections on prayer and God's activity.) Luther, Martin. The Large Catechism. Translated by John W. Doberstein. Philadelphia: Fortress Press, 1961. (For teaching on prayer as essential.) © 2026 Marty Childers. All rights reserved.

Every fall, the witchcraft calendar peaks — and most believers feel it without knowing why. A strange heaviness. A lid on your prayers. A fog over your thinking. Lance Wallnau says that pressure isn't random, and it isn't weakness. It's a signal to fight. This is how you fight back. In this episode, Lance breaks down exactly how to stir up the warrior anointing inside you when spiritual suppression feels heaviest — why you need to pray out loud, pray strong, and refuse to let your feelings mute your spirit. He unpacks the biblical pattern behind October's spiritual warfare, why the angelic realm is actually more active during this season, and how to use the enemy's resistance like a gymnasium to get spiritually stronger. In this episode: * Why October/November is one of the most spiritually charged seasons on the calendar * The Timothy principle: how to stir up dormant anointing you've stopped using * Why praying out loud changes the atmosphere — not just your mood * How to break the "lid" of suppression over your mind, body, and bloodline * Isaiah 60 + First Thessalonians 5: the prophetic blueprint for warriors in dark seasons * The breastplate of faith and love — why your prayer life collapses without both * "Occupy till I come" — what that word means in the Greek and why it changes everything The enemy peaks his activity in specific seasons. So does God. You're not called to survive this one — you're called to take territory in it. Podcast Episode 2148: How to Pray Like a Warrior When the Witchcraft Season Hits | don't miss this! Listen to more episodes of the Lance Wallnau Show at lancewallnau.com/podcast

Return Of The King Part #2 of Series: Heaven Changes Everything Pastor Kerry Shook 2 Phases of Christ's Return The Rapture The Reign WHAT WILL HAPPEN WHEN CHRIST RETURNS? JESUS CHRIST HIMSELF WILL COME BACK IN THE CLOUDS IT WILL HAPPEN INSTANTLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST WE WILL MEET CHRIST IN THE AIR WHAT WILL HAPPEN AFTER CHRIST'S RETURN? WHAT ARE THE SIGNS OF CHRIST'S RETURN? HOW SHOULD I LIVE BECAUSE OF CHRIST'S RETURN? RELEASE YOUR FEARS RENEW YOUR FAITH REFOCUS YOUR PRIORITIES Scriptures: First Corinthians 15:51-58, First Thessalonians 4:16-18, First Thessalonians 4:16a, First Thessalonians 4:16b, First Corinthians 15:52, First Thessalonians 4:16c, First Thessalonians 4:17, Matthew 24:21, Revelation 3:10, Matthew 24:5-8, Matthew 24:14, Second Timothy 3:1-5, First Corinthians 15:54-55, First Corinthians 15:57, First Corinthians 15:58b, Revelation 16:15, Revelation 1:3, Matthew 28:18-20, Acts 22:16, First Corinthians 15:58 Topics: Heaven, Love, Hope

Heaven Changes Everything Part #1 of Series: Heaven Changes Everything Pastor Kerry Shook Heaven Is A Place Of SO MUCH MORE Heaven Is A Place Of NO MORE Heaven Is A Place Of ONE WAY Scriptures: First Corinthians 2:9, Matthew 6:9-13, First Corinthians 2:7-10, Colossians 3:1, Second Corinthians 5:1, First Corinthians 13:12, Revelation 21:4, Revelation 21:5a, John 14:6, Ephesians 2:8-9, John 1:12, First Thessalonians 1:8-9, Second Peter 3:9, Matthew 28:19, Luke 9:26 Topics: Heaven, Love, Hope

“Am I really becoming the man I want to be?” Summer is the perfect time to slow down and honestly reassess the direction of our lives. Are your priorities leading you toward the life, faith, marriage, and legacy you actually want… or are you just staying busy? This week on the Known Legacy Podcast, Bill and Travis sit down with author Ryan Tinetti to talk about his powerful book, The Quiet Ambition. Ryan shares the importance of pursuing the right priorities, finding purpose beyond achievement, and building a life that truly matters. If you've been feeling stretched thin, distracted, or wondering if success is costing you what matters most, this episode is for you. Get Ryan's book here: https://www.amazon.com/Quiet-Ambition-Scriptures-Surprising-Antidote/dp/1514011891 Get your own Wake up Guide and seven day reset: https://mailchi.mp/knownlegacy/the-wake-up-guide Join our weekly mens study - Adrenaline Shot - every Thursday morning at 6:45 am Central. https://soldiersforfaith.com/bible_study/soldiers-adrenaline-shot/ Join the Brotherhood on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1EZL78qtya/ Pick up your own copy of More Than You at www.morethanyoubook.com Chapters (00:00:01) - Known Legacy Podcast(00:01:37) - Known Legacy: Kicking Start Your Journey(00:03:35) - Question of the Day(00:07:26) - Bill's Trauma(00:08:08) - Ryan Tonetti(00:09:54) - Ryan O'Brien on Becoming a Pastor(00:12:41) - Ambition in the Book(00:15:26) - Pastors on the Panic Attack(00:19:45) - Am I Doing Enough?: A Personal Challenge(00:21:09) - A Little Verse from First Thessalonians(00:24:46) - One Square Inch of Silence(00:27:18) - How to carve out a moment of quiet in your life(00:29:46) - Treaty: To Tend Your Own Business(00:33:27) - My Calendar Won't Allow It(00:37:48) - Wendell Berry on Think Little(00:39:37) - Fast 5: Donor's Money(00:40:51) - Legacy and Stewardship(00:41:38) - Ryan Anthony on Working With Your Hands

We begin a series through First Thessalonians and we focus on what a healthy church looks like when the gospel takes root. We note the letter likely ranks among Pauls earliest and that a young congregation rose quickly under gospel influence. We describe three marks that reveal gospel vitality: faith that produces work, love that prompts labor, and hope that sustains endurance. These marks do not function as mere externals but flow from a transformed heart that believes, acts, and waits in confident expectation.We emphasize that the gospel arrived not merely as words but with power through the Holy Spirit, producing deep conviction and genuine repentance. The Thessalonians listened to reasoning and teaching, then lived out the message in ways that exposed idolatries and redirected loyalties. Their public witness grew from both proclamation and lifestyle; their example spread through Macedonia and Achaia until their faith became widely known.We highlight the cost and the testimony of suffering lived with joy. Severe opposition did not silence them; the Spirit supplied joy that sustained witness amid hardship. Their imitation of the apostles and of the Lord created a contagious pattern of discipleship: they received the message, practiced it, and thereby modeled Christlike community for neighboring regions.We call for sober self-examination. The measure of church health does not rest on buildings, budgets, programs, or attendance alone. We challenge ourselves to ask whether our faith produces obedience, whether our love prompts sacrificial labor, and whether our hope endures under pressure. We invite deeper reliance on the Spirit so our words and deeds align and so our daily life becomes a clear testimony to Jesus.We conclude by urging full surrender and persistent expectation of Christs return. The same Spirit who empowered the Thessalonians works among us now; with that power and surrender, our ordinary gatherings and ordinary lives can display the gospel visibly. We must practice mutual encouragement, embrace the Spirit's enabling, and wait with joy for the Lord's coming so our witness proves both faithful and fruitful.

Maranatha: Our Lord is Coming! The Rapture of the Church    In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also. (John 14:1-3) The scene is etched forever in the sacred record of Scripture. It is the night of betrayal. The Passover supper has been eaten. The traitor has gone out into the darkness. The eleven remaining disciples sit in stunned silence as the weight of impending loss presses upon their souls.    Their Master has spoken plainly of His departure. He has washed their feet. He has given them the new commandment of love. And now, with the shadow of Gethsemane already falling across His face, the Lord Jesus Christ turns to address the deepest fear in their hearts. He does not offer vague religious platitudes. He does not speak in the language of uncertainty. Instead, He utters words that carry the full force of divine certainty, words that have echoed down through two thousand years of church history as the unbreakable promise of His personal return.   Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.   These verses stand as the cornerstone of the doctrine of the Rapture of the church, the blessed hope that has sustained persecuted saints, comforted grieving families, and ignited holy urgency in every generation of believers. Yet the full power of this promise is often missed in English translation.    The blazing heart of the passage lies in the Greek construction of the words “I will come again,” and it is there that the exposition must linger with scholarly precision and devotional weight. The verb translated “I will come again” is the present indicative active of the Greek word erchomai—literally, “I am coming.” It is not the simple future tense that one might expect for a distant event.  It is the present tense employed in a manner called the futuristic present tense. This is no grammatical accident. It is a deliberate choice by the Holy Spirit through the pen of the apostle John.    In classical and Koine Greek, the present tense can be used to describe a future action when that action is viewed by the speaker as so certain, so inevitable, and so imminent that it is as good as already unfolding before the eyes. The futuristic present tense does not weaken the promise; it intensifies it. It lifts the event out of the realm of mere prediction and plants it squarely in the realm of divine declaration. Jesus does not say, “I might come someday if conditions allow.”  He declares with the full authority of the Son of God, “I am coming.” The present tense shouts certainty. It breathes imminence.    It carries the weight of a future so fixed in the eternal counsels of the Godhead that the Speaker can speak of it as already in motion.   This futuristic present is not unique to this verse, but its placement here is profound.    The same construction appears elsewhere in the Gospel of John when Jesus describes events that are absolutely assured in the divine plan. The grammar itself becomes a theological hammer, driving home the truth that the return of Christ for His own is not a distant possibility but a present reality in the mind of the Savior.    He is even now, from the vantage point of eternity, in the act of coming. The promise is so certain that the tense of the verb collapses the future into the present. This is the grammatical foundation upon which the entire doctrine of the Rapture rests. The Rapture is not an afterthought in the plan of God.        It is the next great event on the divine calendar for the church of Jesus Christ, an event so fixed and so near that the Lord Himself can announce it in the present tense: “I am coming.”   The Rapture of the church is the personal, visible, and audible return of the Lord Jesus Christ in the clouds to receive unto Himself every believer, both living and dead, and to take them to the place He has prepared in the Father's house. It is distinct from the Second Coming, which will occur at the end of the Tribulation when Christ returns to earth in power and great glory to judge the nations and establish His millennial kingdom.  The Rapture is the moment when the Bridegroom comes for His bride before the wrath of the Lamb is poured out upon a Christ-rejecting world. It is sudden. It is secret to the world but glorious to the saints.    It is the fulfillment of the promise given in the Upper Room, and it stands as the great hope of every blood-bought child of God.   No passage of Scripture unfolds this event with greater clarity and comfort than the words of the apostle Paul in First Thessalonians chapter four, verses thirteen through eighteen.    These verses were written by divine revelation to correct the ignorance of the Thessalonian believers concerning those who had died in Christ. The apostle writes: But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him. For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words.   Consider the weight of each phrase. The apostle begins by lifting the veil of ignorance. Death is not the end for the believer; it is merely sleep for the body while the spirit is present with the Lord.    The sorrow of the Thessalonian Christians is real, but it is not hopeless sorrow. It is sorrow anchored in the resurrection of Jesus Christ. Because He died and rose, those who sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. The dead in Christ are not left behind. They will not miss the Rapture.    Their spirits, already in the presence of the Lord, will be reunited with their resurrected bodies at this moment.   Then comes the heart of the revelation: “For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord.” This is not human speculation. This is not apostolic opinion. This is direct revelation from the ascended Christ Himself.  The Lord Himself shall descend from heaven. Notice the personal emphasis. It is not an angel. It is not a representative.    The Lord Himself— the same Jesus who walked the shores of Galilee, who hung upon the cross, who burst from the tomb, who ascended from the Mount of Olives—He Himself shall descend. And He shall descend with a shout.    The Greek word for “shout” is keleusma, a military command, a royal summons, a cry of authority that will pierce the heavens and shake the graves.    Accompanying that shout will be the voice of the archangel and the trump of God. The trumpet does not signal judgment here; it signals assembly. It is the signal for the final gathering of the redeemed.   The sequence is precise and powerful. The dead in Christ shall rise first. Their bodies, sown in corruption, will be raised in incorruption.    The graves will surrender their prey. Then—and only then—we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them. The word “caught up” is the Greek harpazo, a word that means to seize, to snatch away by force, to carry off suddenly. It is the same word used in Acts 8:39 when the Spirit caught away Philip, and in Revelation 12:5 when the man child is caught up to God.    It pictures a violent, irresistible removal from this earth. No believer will be left behind. No one who has trusted Christ will miss this moment. Living and resurrected saints will be caught up together in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. The meeting place is not on the earth. It is in the air, in the clouds, the very atmosphere where the Lord will receive His own unto Himself exactly as He promised in John 14:3.   And then the final, glorious declaration: “and so shall we ever be with the Lord.” Not for a thousand years. Not for a million years. Forever. The Rapture is not a temporary event.    It is the beginning of an eternal union. The bride will be taken to the place prepared in the Father's house, and there she will remain with her Bridegroom throughout the ages of ages. This is the comfort with which the apostle commands believers to comfort one another. It is not a doctrine for debate. It is a doctrine for consolation in the face of death and for courage in the face of life.   The same apostle who received this revelation also unfolds the mystery of the bodily change that will occur at the Rapture.      In First Corinthians chapter fifteen, verses fifty-one and fifty-two, he writes: Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.   This is the mystery that was hidden in ages past but is now revealed. Not every believer will die. There will be a generation of Christians alive at the moment of the Rapture. Those believers will not sleep; they will be changed.      The change will be instantaneous—“in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye.” The Greek word for “moment” is atomos, from which we derive the English word “atom.”    It means an indivisible unit of time, the smallest possible fragment of a second. Faster than the eye can blink, faster than the mind can comprehend, the transformation will occur.  The corruptible will put on incorruption. The mortal will put on immortality. The bodies that have groaned under the weight of sin and sickness will be glorified, conformed to the image of the risen Christ.    The trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised, and the living will be changed. This is the power of the Rapture. It is not a gradual process. It is a sudden, sovereign act of God that will leave the world stunned and the saints transported.   The early church lived in the constant expectation of this event. They faced persecution, imprisonment, and death with the cry of “Maranatha” upon their lips. That single Aramaic word, preserved for us in First Corinthians chapter sixteen, verse twenty-two, carries the heartbeat of New Testament Christianity: If any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be Anathema Maranatha.   “Maranatha” is not a curse. It is a prayer. It is a declaration. It means “Our Lord, come!” or more literally, “The Lord is coming!”    The persecuted believers of the first century did not merely believe in the return of Christ as a distant doctrine. They cried out for it as the solution to every trial. They lived every day with the expectation that before the sun set, the trumpet might sound and the Lord might appear. That same expectant cry has been the distinguishing mark of every faithful generation since. The futuristic present of John 14:3 fueled their hope. Jesus is not merely going to come.    He is coming. The present tense makes the future certain and the certain future near. Additional passages of Scripture reinforce this truth with unyielding clarity. The apostle Paul describes the Rapture as the believer's “blessed hope” in Titus chapter two, verse thirteen: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. It is not the appearing of wrath. It is the appearing of the great God and our Savior. It is blessed because it delivers the church from the hour of trial that is coming upon the whole world.    It is glorious because it reveals Christ in His full majesty to those who love Him.   The apostle also writes in Philippians chapter three, verses twenty and twenty-one: For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself.   The word “conversation” means citizenship.    The believer's true home is in heaven, and from that heavenly realm the Savior is expected at any moment. The transformation described here is the same as that in First Corinthians fifteen. The vile body—literally the body of humiliation—will be fashioned like unto His glorious body.  The power that will accomplish this is the same power that will one day subdue all things under His feet. Nothing is too hard for the One who spoke the universe into existence.   The doctrine of the Rapture is further confirmed in the closing words of the New Testament.    In Revelation chapter twenty-two, verse twenty, the ascended Lord Himself declares:   He which testifieth these things saith, Surely I come quickly. And the response of the apostle is immediate and fervent: Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.   Once again the language of certainty and imminence rings out. “Surely I come quickly.”    The same Lord who used the futuristic present in the Upper Room now seals the entire canon of Scripture with the promise of His soon return.   This constellation of biblical texts forms an unbreakable chain of truth. The futuristic present of John 14:3 is the grammatical foundation.    The detailed revelation of First Thessalonians four is the doctrinal exposition. The mystery of First Corinthians fifteen is the physiological description. The cry of Maranatha is the devotional response. The blessed hope of Titus two is the purifying motivation. The citizenship of Philippians three is the practical orientation. And the final prayer of Revelation twenty-two is the expectant climax.   Taken together, these passages challenge every believer to live in the white-hot expectancy of the Lord's return. The Rapture is not a doctrine to be debated in academic halls while life drifts on in complacency. It is a command to holiness.  The apostle John makes this explicit in First John chapter three, verses two and three: Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.   The hope of seeing Christ and being made like Him is not an abstract idea. It is a sanctifying force. The one who truly believes that Jesus may come at any moment will not toy with sin. He will not waste his days on the trivial and the temporal. He will purify his life with the same purity that characterizes the Lord Himself.    Expectancy produces urgency. It produces separation from the world. It produces devotion to the Word. It produces zeal for the gospel. It produces love for the brethren.  It produces a life lived with eyes fixed on the eastern sky.   The early church understood this. They did not build elaborate systems of prophecy to delay the return of Christ. They did not resign themselves to the idea that the Rapture was for some future generation. They lived as though today could be the day. That same spirit must characterize every generation of believers until the trumpet sounds.    The futuristic present tense in John 14:3 is not a curious footnote for Greek students.  It is a divine declaration that resounds through the corridors of time: “I am coming.” The Lord is coming. Maranatha.    The Bridegroom is on the way.   The Rapture will be a moment of indescribable glory. In one atom of time the graves of the righteous dead will burst open. Bodies long decayed will be reconstituted in splendor. The living saints will feel the sudden surge of immortal power coursing through their veins. Then, together, they will be caught up. The clouds will become their chariot. The air will become the meeting place.  The Lord Himself will receive them. No more sorrow. No more pain. No more death.    Only the eternal embrace of the One who loved them and gave Himself for them. The place prepared in the Father's house will at last be occupied by the redeemed of all ages.    The marriage supper of the Lamb will begin. The church will be presented faultless before the presence of His glory with exceeding joy.   Until that day, the Scriptures call every follower of Christ to live in the light of this imminence. The doctrine of the Rapture is not an escape clause for the lazy. It is a summons to vigilance. It is a call to watchfulness.    It is a mandate to occupy until He comes.    The believer who has fixed his hope on the appearing of Christ will order his life accordingly. He will speak the truth in love. He will labor while it is day. He will warn the wicked. He will strengthen the weak. He will lift up the hands that hang down. He will keep his garments unspotted from the world.  He will cry out with the saints of old, “Maranatha—Our Lord, come!”   The futuristic present tense of John 14:3 still echoes across the centuries. Jesus is not planning to come. He is coming.    The grammar itself testifies to the certainty. The supporting texts confirm the details. The early church embodied the expectancy. And the Holy Spirit today stirs the hearts of all who will listen with the same urgent cry: the Lord is coming. Maranatha. Even so, come, Lord Jesus.  The promise stands. The place is prepared. The trumpet is ready. The Bridegroom is at the door.   Let this truth sink deep into the soul. Let it shape every decision. Let it fuel every act of obedience. Let it purify every motive. The Lord Himself shall descend. The dead in Christ shall rise.    The living shall be changed. The redeemed shall be caught up. And so shall we ever be with the Lord. This is the Rapture. This is the blessed hope.    This is the promise of John 14:1-3, sealed by the futuristic present tense and proclaimed by the infallible Word of God.    Maranatha. Our Lord is coming. Amen.

Audio Transcript Today. And I’m going to be preaching a message from the Bible in order that we would hear God speak to us. So the passage that we’re going to be studying is First Thessalonians. So if you have a Bible, go ahead and open up to the Burke, the book of first Thessalonians. It’s like right in the middle of the New Testament. So there’s Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and there’s first and second Philistines, Thessalonians. And if you don’t have a Bible, there should be some blue Bibles in, around on the chairs. You can grab one of those and open up. Because I’m just going to be reading through this passage verse by verse as I preach through it. So first Thessalonians, chapter 5. I’ll be reading verses 1 through 11. Here’s what the word of the Lord has for us today. Says now, concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman. And they will not escape. 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. And we are not of the night or of the darkness. 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 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. Therefore, encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing. Please pray with me and we’ll get started. God, thank you that you speak through your word, even through the folly of man like me. God, I pray. Please keep me from error and help. Help me to speak what you have for us this morning. And I pray, Lord, that you would give each person here a heart to receive your word and ears to hear what you are saying. And so God meet with us here as we look at your word and study it together. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. Okay, so before I jump into this passage, on the day of the Lord, I’M going to read to you two different poems that are written in the 1800s concerning the return of Christ. And each of these are from two different perspectives of when Christ returns. So just listen to these poems. This first one is called the Advent by Christina Rossetti. It says, watchmen, what of the night? The stars are dim and the morning is at hand and we must watch for him. Watchman, what of the night? The night is long Wait till the day star arise with shout and song. Where are the lamps? They are trimmed and burning bright. Where is the bridegroom? He cometh in the night. Is there a cry? Yes, there is a sudden cry the bridegroom is at hand, his hour is nigh the bridegroom comes, he comes to claim his own. The winter is quite past and the flowers are blown the time of singing birds is come at last the night is wearing out and the day is past. It’s the first poem. Here’s the second poem. That’s called the Food. Foolish Virgins by Alfred Tennyson. Here’s what it Late, late, so late and dark the night and chill Late, late, so late but we can enter still Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now, no light had we for that we do repent and learning this the pride groom should Surely we’ll relent Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now no light so late and dark and chill the night O let us in, that we may find the light. Too late, too late, ye cannot enter now have we not heard? The bridegroom is so sweet O let us in. Though late to kiss his feet no, no, too late, ye cannot enter now now both of these poems speak of the sobering event that is the day of the Lord. Some will be found awake in the light with their lamps burning bright, but others will be found asleep in the dark. And these poems reflect the somber reality of the parable of the Ten virgins that Jesus. Jesus teaches concerning his coming. And it also reflects what our passage is speaking about today. And when the Son of Man comes, what will he find? Which will you be? When the Lord returns and when we have to give an account for our souls, will you be sober and awake in the light, or will you be drunk and asleep in the dark? My hope is that studying this passage this morning will give you the answer as we study this passage. So that being said, look with me at First Thessalonians, and before I do that, I’m going to give you a little bit of context concerning this passage. So First Thessalonians was written to the new believers in Thessalonica, only a few months after Paul and Timothy had to leave due to persecution. The church at Thessalonica was very young and they were without any leaders. And therefore Paul wrote this letter to encourage the Thessalonian church, to remind them that sanctification in the midst of persecution was God’s will for their lives. And he desired to clear up any confusion about the Lord’s second coming. So about a month ago, I preached on 1 Thessalonians 4, 4 verses 13 through 18, concerning the state of those who die in the Lord, and about Jesus’s second coming, when he will bring his people to himself. The Thessalonian believers at the time were confused about what was happening when a believer died and if they would experience the Lord’s second coming or not. And so in our last passage, Paul affirmed the Thessalonians that, yes, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep, and those who are alive will not precede those who have fallen asleep at the coming of Christ. Rather, the Lord himself will descend with a shout and with a sound of the trumpet. The dead in Christ will be raised first, and then those who are alive will be caught up together with them to always be with the Lord. And so, after clearing up this confusion, Paul now has more to say in chapter five concerning the day of the Lord. And so, before I get into this, I’m just going to mention that some Christians view this passage as a separate event from the gathering of God’s people that is talked about in chapter four, which is known as the Rapture. And so those that view this as two separate events, this is called dispensational premillennialism. And other Christians view the gathering of God’s people in chapter four. And then what we’re about to read here in chapter five as the same event. And this view would be called historical premillennialism. Or there’s also other views that take these two events to be the same one. And so all of these views, both of these arguments that are made from historical premillennialism and dispensational premillennialism, they both have reliable theologians that back behind them with strong biblical arguments. I personally tend to think that this is the same event when Christ returns, based on what Paul describes in 2nd Thessalonians chapter 2. But I also find myself going back and forth at times. So regardless of your eschatological view, your end time view on this, the main point is that Jesus will return on the day of The Lord, which is what our passage is looking at here. So look with me at verses one through two. God’s word says now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, which side note, brothers here is referring to brothers and sisters in Christ at Thessalonica. Brothers and sisters, you have no need to have anything written to you, for you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. The day of the Lord mentioned here is referring to the great day of God’s judgment upon all mankind. And this will be after the tribulation, when all the earth will be judged and God will melt the elements of the earth in his wrath in order to wipe it clean of all of its evil and make all things new. Second Peter 3:10 says this. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and on that day the heavens will pass away with a loud noise and the elements will burn and be dissolved, and the earth and the works on it will be disclosed for the wicked and the ungodly. This will be a terrifying day, for God is holy and he is a consuming fire against all unrighteousness. But for the righteous who have faith in Christ, the day of the Lord will come with rejoicing and praise to God as justice is established on the earth once and forevermore. And so concerning the times and seasons, that our passage begins with the day of the Lord, Paul says he has nothing more to write to these Thessalonians about this. And this is likely because Paul already taught the Thessalonians that no one knows the times or the seasons when the day of the Lord will occur. Not even the Son of God knows. Only the Father knows when Christ will return and when finality will come to the earth. And so Paul had also taught the Thessalonians that when the day of the Lord comes, it would be like a thief in the night. And so these are chilling words meant to wake up everybody who hears them. And so Jesus himself said that he would come like a thief in the night in the Gospels. And so Matthew 24:40,44 says this. Then two men will be in the field, one will be taken and one left. Two women will be grinding at the mill, one will be taken and one left. Therefore stay awake, for you do not know on the day that the Lord is coming. But know this, that if the master of the house had known in what part of the night the thief was coming, he would have stayed awake and would not have let his house be broken into. Therefore you also must be ready for The Son of man is coming at an hour that you do not expect. So Jesus compares his second coming to that of a thief breaking into a home in the middle of the night. When a person least excited, and this is how the majority of the world will experience the second coming of Christ. It will be sudden and completely unexpected and it will leave each person empty handed before the judgment seat of God. And just as the poem I read to you at the end, there will be a sober reflection that it is too late to now enter in to God’s kingdom with Christ when He comes. And so verse three gives us more insight onto this saying. While people are saying there is peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains upon a pregnant woman and they will not escape. Here we learn that there will be a false sense of peace and security before the day of the Lord’s coming. And this sense of peace and security, it will not come from the Lord, but it will be found in the world through one’s possessions or through a trust in the government, or trust in a world leader. It will be a misplaced peace and security. And Jesus taught that just as people were eating and drinking and marrying in the days of Noah, on the day when the flood came and swept them away, so will be when the Christ returns on the night the thief arrives. The world’s false sense of peace and security will not be able to keep them from the hour that their souls must give account to the living God. Our passage says sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains. Just as labor is inevitable once labor has begun, so the sudden judgment of God will inevitably come upon the earth and there will be no escape. These words are terrifying to hear. Just as the words in the poem that I read a couple weeks ago. We had a major storm that rolled through in the area with warnings of severe hail and multiple destructive tornadoes that could roll through the area. And at one point as this storm was going over all of Dane county and all throughout the Midwest, in the middle of the dark clouds and the continuous booming thunder which I think many of you here experienced, there was sirens that began to sound in the middle of the storm and echo across the Madison area, warning that a tornado has been sighted and to seek shelter immediately. Immediately. These verses and others like it that we’re reading here, it’s like the sound of tornado sirens. They are warning all who will listen that impending destruction is coming like a thief in the night, and if one is not prepared and ready for his coming, there will be no escape which is Deeply chilling and sober words in this passage. But to take a shift from this heaviness, we get to verse four. In verse four, we get to some very much so needed Good news. Verse 4 says, but you believers in Thessalonica, you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief, for you are all children of the light, children of the day. We’re not of the night or of the darkness. So here Paul brings some much needed clarification. The day of the Lord is not going to surprise believers as it will surprise the rest of the world. And this is because the Thessalonian brothers and sisters are not in darkness, but instead they are children of the light. Now, what exactly is Paul saying here? 2Nd Corinthians 4, 6, I think gives us a pretty clear understanding of what Paul is saying. And here’s what it says. For God, who said, let light shine out of darkness, he has shown in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. So what Paul is saying is the same God who said, let there be light has now brought light into man through faith in him, and Jesus himself is the light of the world. When a person places their faith in Jesus, the light of Christ is made manifest within them as God gives them a new heart and new desires to follow God’s word. Through faith, God’s people become children of the light that they may walk in good works, that the Holy Spirit enables them to do, works that reflect Christ and bring spiritual light upon the earth. And in contrast, the world is described as living in darkness, and this represents spiritual darkness. As people live in rebellion against God and unable to walk in godliness and unable to understand the truth of God’s word. In the darkness, the world rejects God and seeks pleasure without him by living for their passions of the flesh, which results in sin and death. But children of the light, they do not live this way because they have seen Christ and they have come to the knowledge that Jesus is the Lord. And they devote their lives to following Christ and from putting away darkness and putting away sin. Sin hides itself in the dark, but righteousness shines brightly in the light of day. God’s people are not of the night or of the darkness any longer. They have turned from darkness and now live in Christ’s glorious light. And because God’s people live in the light, they know Christ and they know Jesus is going to return. Therefore, God’s children will not be surprised or caught off guard when Christ arrives. They will be ready with lamps burning in the night, and they’ll be ready to meet their groom and be brought to his side. Those living in darkness, they ignore the warnings and do not expect or desire the day of the Lord to come, which is why it surprises them. But God’s people, they hear the tornado sirens and they turn to Jesus for shelter by the grace of God. So children of the light live in the day where they expect their Savior to return, and their hearts long for his coming to make all things new, where darkness and sin will rule no longer. And so, that being said, my first application from this passage for believers here is, live as children of the light. If you have faith in Christ, the light switch, the spiritual light switch in your life has been flipped on. No longer do you live in darkness where sin is your master, Jesus is your master, Jesus is your guide in this day. His Word is a lamp to your feet that you may walk in a different way from how the world walks and stumbles in darkness. Because you are children of the light, you’re gonna look different. And that is actually okay. Jesus wants us to live differently and to shine our light bright so that others may see our good works and glorify our God who is in heaven. The time for dwelling in darkness is over for the believer, and the time for living for Christ in the light has just now begun. So, so, fellow brothers and sisters in Christ, just like the Thessalonians, live as children of the light, for you no longer live in darkness. You are free to walk in the light of Christ and good works that glorify him. Moving on to verse 6, it says so then 6 and 7 says so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us keep awake and sober. For those who sleep, they sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. And so if anybody here is already starting to fall asleep a little bit, this is to you, go ahead and wake up, be sober. Don’t let my sermon put you to sleep. No. So Paul here, he’s like, further emphasizing the difference between believers who are children of the light and then non believers who are living in darkness. Paul says that those who are living in the dark spend their time sleeping at night and getting drunk at night. What’s important here is that Paul isn’t talking about what physical sleeping and drunkenness does. He’s actually using these as metaphors to communicate that unbelievers are spiritually asleep and drunk. And as they live in darkness, so those living in the darkness without God and without the light of Christ, spend their time spiritually asleep at the wheel. Sleep and drunkenness are both states where reality is distorted and one is not able to fully understand what is going on around them. Unbelievers are oblivious to spiritual truth that is found in God’s word through faith in Christ. They have no awareness of what God’s will is for their lives or any true understanding of that Jesus is going to return and demand an account for their soul. Instead, they live in sin and drown out God’s truth through being intoxicated with what the world has to offer. But Paul, as already pointed out, that’s not who we are referring to. Believers. We are not of the night or spiritually asleep at the wheel. Rather, God’s people are alive and are awake. Therefore, let us not hit snooze on the things of God and sleep spiritually as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. Highlight underline Circle this in your Bibles because I think this is the most important application in our passage today. Keep awake and be sober Because God’s people are children of the day and understand the will of God and they understand the will of God and that Jesus is going to demand an account for the way that we live. So we must keep spiritually awake and remain spiritually sober. As I said before, the day of the Lord being related to a thief in the night is meant to sound the alarm in our minds and nudge God’s people to stay awake and to be alert. Time and history is moving towards one end and that is the day of the Lord. Today, if you find yourself distracted by things of the world or just like kind of living on autopilot going from day to day, then hear the word of the Lord to you this morning. Keep awake and be sober. God has work for you to do today to honor him and to point others to Christ so that they may turn from darkness into light. Be aware of God’s will for your life and be ready for Christ to return so that when he does, you may hear him say these good words that are well done, my good and faithful servant. And when I say understand God’s will, I mean his revealed will through His Word applied to each day. So what Christ asks us to do and the ways he calls us to love one another and to love God. If the day of the Lord changes nothing about how you live day by day, you may be spiritually asleep at the wheel and drunk on the world. While I was working at a collegiate ministry in New Mexico called the Christian Challenge, back when I was a young Buck. Shortly after I’d graduated, there was a staff meeting where I was working at this collegiate ministry, and we had to make some big decisions on where we were going to send college students on summer mission trips with our partner missionaries. And one of the partner missionaries actually got kicked out of the country only months before the trips are going to happen. And so, as this happened, there were some other providential opportunities that had presented themselves, but were certainly a large pivot from what the ministry had originally planned for. And so in the middle of our meeting, the director named David, who was sort of a mentor to me, he said something that I will not forget. He said, what is God doing through all this? He didn’t say it out of anger or out of doubt, but he said it in, like, curiosity and in wonder, like, what is it that the Lord is doing among us? In this unforeseen pivot is the Lord closing one door, one partnership, and now opening another to proclaim the Gospel to another nation? And as David asked these questions to all of us in our staff meeting, it kind of just like snapped me out of my narrow focus where I was just thinking, how do we fix this? Where do we send students? But David, he was thinking, what is the will of God in this circumstance? And what is it that God is doing today in my life? What is it the Lord is doing here that we may keep in step with him and his plans so that he would be glorified? Therefore, just as David was awake and sober of the situation, we too should keep awake and be sober and pondering, what is it that the Lord is doing in my life today? For the Lord is among us, and he is preparing to come on that great and mighty day. Do we perceive it or are we asleep? Moving on to verse eight, it says, 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. Here Paul gives some practical applications for us on how God’s people are to remain sober before the day of the Lord. They do this by putting on the breastplate of faith and love and the helmet that is the hope of salvation. Here Paul attaches these virtues to pieces of armor similar to the armor of God that’s found in the book of Ephesians. And so faith and love are to be central to a believer’s life, like a breastplate and hope of salvation protects one’s mind from fears or doubts, knowing for certain that they are saved in Christ. And so Paul communicates that these pieces of armor keep a believer soberly aware of God’s will and his truth in their lives. These three virtues are mentioned together in other letters as vital virtues that work together in one’s life as they walk with Christ. For one’s faith angers oneself to Christ, bringing salvation and sanctification that results in good works. One’s love grows their affection for God and for their neighbor to fulfill the greatest commandment. And one’s hope of salvation spurs them on towards what lies ahead, knowing salvation is guaranteed through the finished work of Christ on the cross. Each of these virtues are a gift from God, and each of them keep a believer soberly fixed on Christ and on his return. So moving to verses 9 through 10, God’s word gives us an incredible truth to end on. So verse nine look with me in your Bibles it says, 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. Now, talking about God’s wrath is generally an uncomfortable topic. Therefore, the day of the Lord is not an easy day to process, and this passage is not easy to process. For the day of the Lord is when God’s wrath is poured out on all ungodliness and wickedness on the earth. But throughout this passage, Paul again and again affirms God’s people that the day of the Lord will be different. For those who have found in Christ, the day of the Lord won’t surprise them like a thief in the night. You are not children of darkness or of the night. You are not asleep or drunk on the world. You are alive, awake and sober. Children of the light. Why? Verse answer gives us why. For God has not destined his children of wrath. Sorry, his children of the light for wrath, but he has destined us for salvation through Jesus Christ who died for us and now is alive. This is such a sweet assurance to hold onto. It is a verse that you could memorize and really meditate on day by day because its promise is so sweet to God’s people. And it is my last application from this passage Christian remember, you are not destined for wrath, but for salvation through your Lord Jesus Christ. Even when life is difficult or you’re enduring something that is really heavy or difficult in your life. Hear God tell you this morning I have not destined you for wrath, but for salvation in Jesus Christ. For God’s people who believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, judgment and wrath are not what God has in store. Instead, a beautiful inheritance awaits God’s people, forgiveness of sin, new hearts that beat for God, new lives that are restored and made whole, a new glorified body, joy in the presence of Christ, peace that endures, love that never fails, and eternal life with God and with his people that will never end. That, Christian, is what you are destined for through faith in Christ. Verse 10 also affirms what Paul had previously said in chapter 4, that those who are asleep, which Paul is now no longer talking about, the same sleep as those in darkness, but those who have died with faith in Christ, those who have died and are now asleep as believers, they are also destined for salvation. This means that whether you are awake with faith in Christ or asleep from death with faith in Christ, you will live with Christ in His presence. Death cannot change what God has done for his people. Whether awake or asleep, you are destined to live with Christ in the end when he returns. And if you’re here and you know you are walking in darkness apart from God, then I have some really, really good news for you. All people are born into this world, living in darkness, asleep to the things of God and drunk on the distractions and pleasures of the world. All of us here in this room begin this way. We are separated from God and deserving God’s just wrath that deals with evil, evil that is within us. Yet a light has dawned on the earth in the form of a man. And this man was God himself. He performed many signs and wonders in fulfillment of the scriptures. And he lived a perfect life without sin and with his pure and righteous life. This God man willingly love. He laid down his life for you and for me on the cross. He endured the wrath of God so that all who believe in him by faith could be brought from darkness into light. He bore our sins. He paid our penalties on the cross so that man could be reunited with a holy God and become children of of the light. This God man, this is Jesus the Christ who has died for us. And if anyone, including today, anyone here, turns away from their sin and believes in Jesus as the Lord of their life for the forgiveness of their sins, they will be forgiven and new life will begin in the the light. That’s what happened to the Thessalonian believers when they turned from idols to serve the living God. And it can happen for you if you will believe. For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. Our passage then ends on verse 11 that says, Therefore encourage one another and build one another up just as you are doing so. My final encouragement to you from this passage is the exact same thing. Red Village Church Continue to encourage one another here that the day of the Lord is coming near and keep encouraging one another to stay awake and to be sober. Keep building one another up through faith and love and hope that is found in the salvation we have in Christ. Remind one another that God has not destined us for wrath, but for salvation in Christ. Keep sharing the gospel, keep gathering as the family of God at church. Keep reading your Bible and keep praying to the Lord about all things. Live as children of the light together that God’s kindness and love may be put on display so that many who put their faith in him may be ready for the day of the Lord when he returns. That being said, please pray with me, Lord, this passage is sobering and thinking about your coming. And yet there is great hope that is found in Christ through your finished work on the cross, offering forgiveness and a place of shelter from the wrath that we poured out on the great day of the Lord. And so I pray for everyone here. God, help us to be ready to be awake, to be sober. Help us Lord, to continue in doing the things you call us to for your will and for your glory. And God, if any here do not know you, I pray that today would be the day that they would turn from their sin and put their faith in Jesus as their only hope of salvation and as a means of new life to walk in your marvelous light. And God, I pray, be glorified with the rest of our time as we gather here this morning. In Jesus name we all pray. Amen. The post The Day of the Lord – 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-11 appeared first on Red Village Church.

First Thessalonians, Second Thessalonians, and Revelation frame a call for a spiritually vibrant remnant that endures until Christ gathers the alive and remaining. Scripture defines being alive as more than physical breathing; it describes those filled with light, engaged with the Holy Spirit, and resisting complacency. The New Testament warns that prophetic seasons will not surprise the vigilant. The mystery of lawlessness already works, yet a restraining presence holds the full reveal of the lawless one in check until the restrainer is taken out of the way. That restraint functions through the Holy Spirit dwelling in the spiritually alive, whose steadfast presence delays the full outbreak of deception.

Luke 21 situates the destruction of the temple as a fulfilled prophecy: the magnificent stones and overlay of gold once admired would be thrown down and scattered. Historical events—Titus surrounding Jerusalem, the siege, the burning of the temple and molten gold seeping into the stones—illustrate how prophetic words come to pass with precise, painful clarity. The Greek verb harpazo, translated rapture, carries the forceful meaning to seize or snatch away; Scripture records several precedents of being taken by God, including Enoch, Elijah, and the ascension of Jesus. First Thessalonians sharpens the focus by distinguishing between mere biological life and true spiritual aliveness: those who are alive and remain are described as vibrant, engaged, and a remnant rather than a mass.

“Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” (1 Thessalonians 5:18 NLT) In her remarkable book The Hiding Place, Corrie ten Boom relates an amazing story about the importance of being thankful. Corrie and her sister Betsie were held in a concentration camp known as Ravensbrück, where they lived in barracks that were plagued by fleas. Fleas were everywhere—in their hair and on their bodies. One day Betsie told Corrie they needed to give thanks for the fleas. Corrie thought Betsie had gone too far. She couldn’t imagine thanking God for fleas. But Betsie insisted, reminding her sister that 1 Thessalonians 5:18 says, “Be thankful in all circumstances” (NLT). Still, Corrie didn’t want to thank God for the fleas. But as it turned out, Corrie and Betsie were trying to reach the other women in their barracks with the message of the gospel, and they had been holding Bible studies. They found out later that because of the fleas, the guards would not go into those barracks, and therefore, the women were able to have their Bible studies. As a result, they had the freedom to minister to numerous women. So, God can use even fleas. If the Bible said, “Be thankful in some circumstances,” I would say, “No problem there!” But it says, “Be thankful in all circumstances.” And that’s not an easy thing to do. Yet it’s necessary because “this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.” It’s also beneficial. Our attitude does, in fact, impact our circumstances. Being thankful won’t change events that have occurred, and it won’t prevent trials and suffering from coming our way. But when we lead with a spirit of thankfulness and joy, we change our relationship to our circumstances. We see them in a different light. We see them in the context of the big picture of God’s faithfulness. This isn’t simply a matter of choosing to be a “glass half full” person or to “always look on the bright side of life.” It’s a matter of choosing to see God at work in our lives, no matter how bad our circumstances get. It’s a matter of wrapping ourselves in His presence when life threatens to overwhelm us. It’s a matter of staying in constant contact with Him during trials and never losing sight of the awesome privilege of being able to do so. Maintaining a spirit of thankfulness will not only impact our lives, but it will also impact the lives of others in our orbit. Nothing speaks louder about the life-changing potential of the Christian faith than a believer who remains faithful and thankful when things go bad. First Thessalonians 5:18 doesn’t say we should be thankful for all circumstances, but rather in all circumstances. There are many things that happen that I’m not glad about. But I am glad that, despite the tragedies, God is still on the throne, and He is still in control of all circumstances that surround my life. Reflection question: What would being thankful in all circumstances look like in your life? Discuss Today's Devo in Harvest Discipleship! — The audio production of the podcast "Greg Laurie: Daily Devotions" utilizes Generative AI technology. This allows us to deliver consistent, high-quality content while preserving Harvest's mission to "know God and make Him known." All devotional content is written and owned by Pastor Greg Laurie. Listen to the Greg Laurie Podcast Become a Harvest PartnerSupport the show: https://harvest.org/supportSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1 Thessalonians 4:1–9 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity. Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow!

1 Thessalonians 4:1-9 / March 17-19, 2026 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity.Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow!

Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions.Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity.Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29?v=20251111

1 Thessalonians 4:1–9 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity. Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow

1 Thessalonians 4:1-9 / March 17-19, 2026 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity.Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow!

Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions.Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity.Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29?v=20251111

1 Thessalonians 4:1–9 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity. Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow!

1 Thessalonians 4:1-9 / March 17-19, 2026 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

1 Thessalonians 4:1-9 / March 17-19, 2026 Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. From the Series: Contagious Christianity read more

Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions. Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity.Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow!

Does the word holiness intimidate you? Have you ever wondered about the will of God? First Thessalonians 4:1–9 clarifies both questions.Join Pastor Chuck Swindoll in a look at God's will for our sexual lives. In a world bent on shouting a different message, listen to God's truth to find peace and purity.Press on toward holiness by following God's way. Experience the blessing that will follow! To support this ministry financially, visit: https://www.oneplace.com/donate/82/29?v=20251111

You can read the whole text here: https://dougapple.blogspot.com/ +++++++ I'm Doug Apple...and my heart is on fire. (Luke 24:32) This is a great and terrible phrase: “fully involved.” It's terrible when you're talking about a fire. When a fire is fully involved, it means the entire structure is on fire, flames are visible in all areas. No one is going in. No one is getting rescued. All they can do is try to put out the fire and see what's left. But it's a great phrase when you're talking about someone's level of commitment. If you are dating someone and heading for marriage, you want them to be fully involved. When you hire someone, you want them to be fully involved in the success of the company. When your team spends millions of dollars for a new player or coach, you want them to be fully involved in making your team a winner. And when it comes to my walk with God, this is how I want to be: fully involved. Like a fully involved fire has completely engulfed the structure, I want my fire for God to completely engulf my life. A fully involved fire has spread to every room; every space is on fire. A fully involved fire is obvious to outsiders because they can see the flames through every window and door and even through the roof. In Mark 12:30 Jesus said, “You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.” That's fully involved. Romans 12:11 tells us to be “fervent in spirit, serving the Lord.” Jeremiah 29:13 talks about seeking God with all of our heart. In Revelation 3 Jesus warns against being lukewarm, or in other words, not fully involved. Hebrews 12:29 says, “Our God is a consuming fire.” In Matthew 3:11 John the Baptist said that Jesus would baptize people “with the Holy Spirit and fire.” When the Holy Spirit came in Acts chapter two, there was a fire that separated and rested on each of the disciples in the upper room. Revelation 4:5 describes a scene with seven lamps of fire which are the seven Spirits of God. I don't want to contain this fire. First Thessalonians 5:19 says, “Do not quench the Spirit.” I want the consuming fire of God to be fully involved. I want outsiders to see the evidence of the Spirit's fire in every space of my life. Not just one day a week. Not just when I'm doing something religious, but all the time, in every space…the fire of God is involved. FULLY involved. May God bless you today. I'm Doug Apple.

Want to reach out to us? Want to leave a comment or review? Want to give us a suggestion or berate Anthony? Send us a text by clicking this link!A hard headline at dawn and a holy invitation at hand: we step into Ember Saturday with fasting, prayer, and a clear-eyed look at how grace meets a restless world. We keep the focus tight—covenant fidelity in Deuteronomy, the lived texture of Christian charity in First Thessalonians, and the mountain light of Matthew's Transfiguration—then move into a grounded guide on confession that trades clichés for clarity.We talk about why frequent confession should never become just a routine, how absolution is Christ acting in the soul, and why naming motives behind venial patterns exposes the roots of anger, pride, and acedia. You'll hear practical steps for a better examen, what to share when you're not confessing mortal sin, and when to book an appointment so those in crisis aren't left waiting. Along the way, we hold together two anchors of Lent: intimacy with God through honest repentance and solidarity with others through fasting and intercession.The thread tying it all together is simple and demanding: hear him. The Father's command on the mountain becomes the plan for the week—listen to Christ in Scripture, in conscience, and in the quiet of the confessional. Let the Precious Blood wash the past and brace the future. Make space for family, keep Ember Saturday with abstinence, and pray for peace, priests, and vocations while the world trembles. If you're ready for a Lent that actually reshapes your habits and steadies your heart, this conversation will give you both vision and tools.If this resonates, subscribe, share with a friend who needs hope, and leave a review so others can find the show. What one practice will you keep today to ground your heart in Christ?Support the showNeed seafood for Lent? Check out https://shoplobster.com/ and use code AB10 to get 10% from Maine's ONLY Catholic lobster company.Check out our new sponsor, Nic Nac, at www.nicnac.com and use code "AB25%" for 25% off of your first order!********************************************************Please subscribe! https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCKsxnv80ByFV4OGvt_kImjQ?sub_confirmation=1https://www.avoidingbabylon.comMerchandise: https://avoiding-babylon-shop.fourthwall.comLocals Community: https://avoidingbabylon.locals.comFull Premium/Locals Shows on Audio Podcast: https://www.buzzsprout.com/1987412/subscribeRSS Feed for Podcast Apps: https://feeds.buzzsprout.com/1987412.rss

For years, much of the end-times conversation has centered on the “imminent” economic collapse as the trigger for a unified digital currency. If a steady stream of urgent headlines and countdown-style warnings has kept you constantly on edge, it may be time to step back and reconsider the framework you've been handed.Episode 8 examines why routine financial stress and the latest economic headlines cannot produce the kind of global alignment so many keep predicting.It also looks closely at the tone Scripture uses when it speaks of the Rapture. First Thessalonians 4 doesn't say brace yourselves. It says comfort one another. The blessed hope was given to produce peace and endurance — not a steady diet of fear, anxiety or stress. If you've been worn down by urgency that keeps resetting, then this episode is a must for you.Grateful you're here.— Pablo------------------------------------------Subscribe to receive future broadcasts and articles at:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.serpentsndoves.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠-------------------------------------------Share.Forward this post, repost it, or pass it along to someone who might need it.Support.This broadcast is listener-supported. If you're in a position to help sustain it, you can do so here:⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Buy Me a Coffee⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (one-time or monthly)⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠PayPal⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ (direct donation)

If we want to be people God blesses, we must embrace and embody the characteristics described by Pail in First Thessalonians. Paul was writing to a church he had only spent about a month with, yet during that short time, he discipled them in a tremendous way. My prayer is that what we are studying will be more than information for you. It must become life-changing wisdom. Scripture tells us plainly how this church lived, what they believed, and what they were preparing for. So let's look at this passage together so we can learn from the church God loves.

First Thessalonians 4:3 declares, “God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” How challenging it is to pursue holiness in our world.Tune in to hear Pastor Chuck Swindoll discuss the spiral toward sexual promiscuity, the consequences in the aftermath, and the steps toward freedom from bondage. God calls believers to pursue holiness because He has our good at heart. Renew your commitment to sexual purity today!

First Thessalonians 4:3 declares, “God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” How challenging it is to pursue holiness in our world.Tune in to hear Pastor Chuck Swindoll discuss the spiral toward sexual promiscuity, the consequences in the aftermath, and the steps toward freedom from bondage. God calls believers to pursue holiness because He has our good at heart. Renew your commitment to sexual purity today!

First Thessalonians 4:3 declares, “God's will is for you to be holy, so stay away from all sexual sin.” How challenging it is to pursue holiness in our world.Tune in to hear Pastor Chuck Swindoll discuss the spiral toward sexual promiscuity, the consequences in the aftermath, and the steps toward freedom from bondage. God calls believers to pursue holiness because He has our good at heart. Renew your commitment to sexual purity today!

In this session Steve introduces the apostle Paul's letters to the Thessalonians. - [28 minutes]

The sermon centers on the transformative power of surrendering one's life to God, rooted in the biblical principle that humility precedes divine blessing and pride leads to destruction. Drawing from First Thessalonians 5:16–18, it emphasizes that gratitude is not merely an emotion but a deliberate act of obedience, even in painful circumstances, as a response to God's sovereignty. The message deepens through a study of Proverbs and James, revealing pride as the root of all sin and the primary obstacle to spiritual vitality, while humility and submission to God's will open the door to His grace and protection. The preacher illustrates how pride manifests in self-reliance, resistance to God's direction, and relational strife, and calls listeners to examine their hearts, release control, and trust God with every area of life—including relationships, finances, and future plans. Ultimately, the sermon urges a life of dependence on God, where personal ambition yields to divine purpose, and true fulfillment is found not in self-fulfillment but in surrender to the Lord's will.

We explore Advent as "WAIT Training" - celebrating Jesus' first coming while anticipating His return. Living between two gardens, in the "now and not yet," presents unique challenges, especially when joy feels just out of reach.Joy is more than a feeling. Kay Warren defines it as "the settled assurance that God is in control of all the details of my life, the quiet confidence that ultimately everything is going to be all right, and the determined choice to praise God in all things."Scripture reveals Jesus as a man of great joy. People wanted Him at their parties. Children ran to Him. He came "feasting and drinking," fully engaged with life. We find joy by staying close to Jesus and abiding in His ways (John 15:10-11).We must also choose joy. James 1:2-4 calls us to "consider it pure joy" when facing trials. First Thessalonians 5:16-18 exhorts us to "rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances." Corrie Ten Boom gave thanks for fleas in a concentration camp, discovering later that those very fleas kept guards away, allowing Bible readings to continue.Sometimes we avoid joy because of its vulnerability. Nicole Zasowski reminds us that protecting ourselves through pessimism or cynicism doesn't remove the sting of potential loss - it only robs us of hope and delight. Gratitude spoken out loud helps us tolerate joy's vulnerability.We don't get exemptions from suffering, but God's grace meets us in every circumstance. As we practice this WAIT training, remember: our faithfulness in waiting matters less than God's faithfulness in coming. His Spirit offers joy right now, and our joy will be complete when Jesus returns.URF WEBSITE: ➤ http://www.urfellowship.comSOCIALS: ➤ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urfellowship/➤ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/urfellowship

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: 1 Thess 4-5; 3 Tim 1-3 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to the Daily Radio Bible podcast for November 29th, 2025! In today's episode, Hunter invites us to journey together through 1 Thessalonians and 2 Timothy, unpacking themes of hope, resilience, and faithful living. As we continue our daily walk through Scripture, we're encouraged to let the Bible point us to the living Word—Jesus Christ—and to warm our hearts at the fire of His love. Hunter reflects on Paul's letters, urging us not to give in to spiritual escapism but to stay engaged in the work God has called us to do. You'll hear reminders about living quiet, purposeful lives, loving others well, and embracing the responsibilities we have as believers in a broken world. Today's episode closes with heartfelt prayers, a reaffirmation of our mission as God's people, and a gentle nudge to keep going—even when the journey gets tough. Whether you're seeking encouragement, practical wisdom, or simply a companion on your spiritual path, this episode offers a grounded space to reflect, pray, and remember: you are deeply loved. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Don't check out—engage with the work God has given you. Sometimes, when life gets challenging or overwhelming, we might be tempted to step back, to spiritually "check out," looking for an escape from the world's troubles. In today's reading from First Thessalonians and Second Timothy, we hear about believers in the early church who were being rattled by false teachers predicting an imminent end—telling them to abandon the daily work and wait passively for Jesus' return. History shows that this impulse toward apocalyptic escapism isn't new. But what does God actually call us to do in these moments? The apostle Paul urges us not to be idle, not to sell out or check out, but to roll up our sleeves and step forward into the calling God has placed on our lives. Yes, Jesus is coming back. Yes, the end is near. But until that day arrives, we have a purpose—a responsibility to proclaim the message of reconciliation, to invite the world to come back to God. There are people, all around us, waiting to hear, waiting to see, waiting to be set free. Paul encourages the Thessalonians, and us, to continue in love and acts of kindness, not just within the church, but as a witness in the world. He reminds us not to grow weary in doing good, not to seek justification for escapism, but to live fully the life God is calling us to. Whether it's through caring for those in need, showing respect to spiritual leaders, or living out the truth of Scripture, we are called to pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love, and peace—engaging, not withdrawing. Let the mark that distinguishes us be this: that we are people who engage. That we are a full expression of the love of God. That our lives, our families, and our communities are rooted in God's joy and strength, manifesting his kingdom here and now, even as we look ahead to his return. That's a prayer for my own soul. That's a prayer for my family, for my wife, my daughters, my son. And that's a prayer for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Click here for the DRB Daily Sign Up form! TODAY'S SCRIPTURE: Matthew 28; 1 Thess 1-3 Click HERE to give! Get Free App Here! One Year Bible Podcast: Join Hunter and Heather Barnes on 'The Daily Radio Bible' for a daily 20-minute spiritual journey. Engage with scripture readings, heartfelt devotionals, and collective prayers that draw you into the heart of God's love. Embark on this year-long voyage through the Bible, and let each day's passage uplift and inspire you. TODAY'S EPISODE: Welcome to another episode of the Daily Radio Bible! On this November 28th edition, Hunter warmly invites us to journey together through the Scriptures on day 333 of the Bible reading plan. In today's episode, we find encouragement in the powerful resurrection account from Matthew 28 and receive wisdom and comfort through the first three chapters of First Thessalonians. Hunter guides us through these impactful passages, highlighting the hope, love, and joy found in Christ, and closes with heartfelt prayers for overflowing love, strength, and gratitude. Whether you're gathering around God's Word for insight, comfort, or daily encouragement, this episode is a reminder that you are not alone—God is with you, and you are deeply loved. So grab your Bible, find a quiet spot, and join Hunter for a time of reflection, prayer, and gratitude on this beautiful day. TODAY'S DEVOTION: Grow and overflow in love. That's the prayer that is being prayed over us today in 1 Thessalonians. "May the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow." That's the kind of heart God is seeking to cultivate in us: a heart blazing with his abundant love, pouring out not just for some but for all. And the result of this overflowing love is that we are made strong, blameless, and holy, able to stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again. But how do we get there? Hunter reminds us: it's only by our union with Christ. It is his life in us—the Living Word—who alone can grow that kind of heart. He alone can strengthen us, make us blameless and holy, because he is the source of such love and the one who holds the words of life. That's who you are now: strong, blameless, holy, because you are found in Christ. So live into that reality today. Agree with it. Say amen to it. Let your heart rise into his love. Let this prayer echo in your own soul, for your family, for your loved ones, and for all who cross your path: that God's love would grow and overflow, making hearts strong, blameless, and holy, all by the power and presence of Christ dwelling within us. Let's let this prayer shape the way we see ourselves and one another. May gratitude fill our days, may the joy of the Lord be our strength, and may we never forget this: you are loved. That's the prayer for my soul, for my family, and for you. May it be so. TODAY'S PRAYERS: Lord God Almighty and everlasting father you have brought us in safety to this new day preserve us with your Mighty power that we might not fall into sin or be overcome by adversity. And in all we do, direct us to the fulfilling of your purpose  through Jesus Christ Our Lord amen.   Oh God you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth and sent your blessed son to preach peace to those who are far and those who are near. Grant that people everywhere may seek after you, and find you. Bring the nations into your fold, pour out your Spirit on all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom through Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.   And now Lord,  make me an instrument of your peace.  Where there is hatred let me sow love. Where there is injury, pardon.  Where there is doubt, faith. Where there is despair, hope.  Where there is darkness, light.  And where there is sadness,  Joy.  Oh Lord grant that I might not seek to be consoled as to console. To be understood as to understand, to be loved as to love.  For it is in the giving that we receive, in the pardoning that we are pardoned, it is in the dying that we are born unto eternal life.  Amen And now as our Lord has taught us we are bold to pray... Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven, give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our tresspasses as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not unto temptation, but deliver us from evil, for thine is the Kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. Loving God, we give you thanks for restoring us in your image. And nourishing us with spiritual food, now send us forth as forgiven people, healed and renewed, that we may proclaim your love to the world, and continue in the risen life of Christ.  Amen.  OUR WEBSITE: www.dailyradiobible.com We are reading through the New Living Translation.   Leave us a voicemail HERE: https://www.speakpipe.com/dailyradiobible Subscribe to us at YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@Dailyradiobible/featured OTHER PODCASTS: Listen with Apple Podcast DAILY BIBLE FOR KIDS DAILY PSALMS DAILY PROVERBS DAILY LECTIONARY DAILY CHRONOLOGICAL  

Remembering With Gratitude, with Rev. Dr. Steven Koski. Series: Love Takes Flight A Spacious Christianity, First Presbyterian Church of Bend, Oregon. Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 1.1-2.Curious about life, legacy, and what really matters? Join us this Sunday—online or in-person—for an inspiring message and a welcoming community. We'd love to have you with us, wherever you are on your journey.Join us each Sunday, 10AM at bendfp.org, or 11AM KTVZ-CW Channel 612/12 in Bend.  Subscribe/Follow, and click the bell for alerts.At First Presbyterian, you will meet people at many different places theologically and spiritually. And we love it that way. We want to be a place where our diversity brings us together and where conversation takes us all deeper in our understanding of God.We call this kind of faith “Spacious Christianity.” We don't ask anyone to sign creeds or statements of belief. The life of faith is about a way of being in the world and a faith that shows itself in love.Thank you for your support of the mission of the First Presbyterian Church of Bend. Visit https://bendfp.org/giving/ for more information.Keywords:Fred Rogers, National Press Club, silence, gratitude, legacy, Tuesdays with Maury, ALS, love, faith, First Thessalonians, community of faith, adversity, cloud of witnesses, Barbara Brown Taylor, generosity., presbyterian, church, online worship, bend, oregonFeaturing:Rev. Dr. Steven Koski, Rev. Sharon Edwards, Becca Ellis, Brave of Heart, GuestsSupport the show

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God.  And the dead in Christ will rise first.” That's First Thessalonians four, sixteen, and this is Something Good Radio. Well, the church in Thessalonica had been misinformed about the Second Coming of Christ, and had now grown concerned that their loved ones who had departed were no longer able to be saved.  Paul clearly and emphatically addressed those false teachings, and then, for good measure, he added some additional thoughts on the subject of Christ's second coming.  

“We also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the Word of God.” Well, the Apostle Paul wrote those words to the Thessalonians, a body of believers who had turned from idolatry and begun to worship the true and living God. Paul commended for their strong faith, and yet he also needed to point out a few areas of concern. 

Joel 1-4; Psalm 90; Proverbs 19:19-24; First Thessalonians 5

Joel 1-4; Psalm 90; Proverbs 19:19-24; First Thessalonians 5

Micah 5-7; Psalm 89; Proverbs 19:13-18; First Thessalonians 4

Micah 5-7; Psalm 89; Proverbs 19:13-18; First Thessalonians 4

Micah 1-4; Psalm 88:39-53; Proverbs 19:7-12; First Thessalonians 3

Micah 1-4; Psalm 88:39-53; Proverbs 19:7-12; First Thessalonians 3

Amos 5:4-9:15; Psalm 88:20-38; Proverbs 19:1-6; First Thessalonians 2

Amos 5:4-9:15; Psalm 88:20-38; Proverbs 19:1-6; First Thessalonians 2

Amos 1:1-5:3; Psalm 88:1-19; Proverbs 18:18-23; Colossians 4:2-18; First Thessalonians 1

Amos 1:1-5:3; Psalm 88:1-19; Proverbs 18:18-23; Colossians 4:2-18; First Thessalonians 1