“Quench not the Spirit”...the Wayfarer 9/27/13

“Quench not the Spirit”
9/27/13

 “Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.

 (1 Thessalonians 5:16-19)

Today, we go to Paul’s epistles to the Thessalonians, and again to guidance given both to that body, and to us as well.

Most of Paul’s writings are advice, stern warnings, praise, and admonition to the various churches and people to whom they were written.

All of them apply equally to “The Church” as it exists today, and if followed, will grow the faith and belief of all who take the time to read them, and put those teachings into practice!

I urge the reader to again read the complete book to gain both perspective, and appreciation for the advice and admonitions given, but for brevity, and attention span, I will only cover the last two chapters of this first letter to the Thessalonians.

          “Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.

For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:

That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honor;

Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:

That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified

(1 Thessalonians 4:1-6)

Paul, after already having imparted advice on many things to the church established by and for the Thessalonians in the previous chapters, continues with his guidance and warnings.

He begins this chapter by reminding them that they have already been given all the necessary advice, and commandments, and that all that has been given comes through Christ Jesus himself.

He goes on to state that it is God’s will that His people remain sanctified, and not participate in the orgies and parties that were so common to the Romans among whom they lived, with whom they worked, and by whom they were governed .

The same applies to His people today as it did when this was written!

Christians are daily bombarded with the temptations of the world around them, and some almost eagerly succumb to the teachings and practices of those around them, despite having been given all the needed information through the gospels of what is expected of us!

Our workplaces, our communities, towns, cities, and nation are all filled with the same pagan beliefs, and practices that abounded then. Most are merely called by a different name to justify political correctness.

Paul laid out fornication as something to be abstained from. It is instead, today, glorified and even rewarded by those who govern us. This is why we see so many unwed mothers giving birth, so many abortions, so little care and edification given to biblical teachings in our society. 

Our entertainment venues, media “news”, our schools, and even many churches encourage every single thing that our bible teaches is an abomination to God himself.

Political correctness and the misleading teachings in our society lead to that concupiscence that Paul wrote about.

For those, like me, who was unfamiliar with this particular word, and Paul having been highly literate, and singularly eloquent, I turned to Zondervan’s, which defines this word as: “intense longing or yearning for what God would not have us to have or be. It does not refer to sexual desire only.”  This term applies to ambitions beyond those which will honor and glorify God to those which will only honor and glorify man instead!

Paul could easily have been viewing our society, all those centuries ago, when he mentioned not defrauding our fellow man!

Fraud is rampant throughout all the “civilized” societies and penetrates even the bastions of our faith through the teachings, and guidance, of those seeking only to enrich and glorify themselves.

Business dealings that once were straight forward, and honest are now characterized once more by the Roman rule of deception, in as much as is possible, to gain the greatest wealth on any such deal made. Our laws have returned to the concept of "Lassez faire", as long as it doesn't affect the majority, cheat at will! 

Paul reminds us that all such acts will be avenged by none less than God himself!

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.

He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another,

And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;

And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;

That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.

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.

(I Thessalonians 4:7-13)

Paul reminds the church, once more, that we are to be a unique and peculiar people, separating ourselves from the practices of those around us who are ungodly, while at the same time showing the love demanded of us by Christ in order to win those souls, instead of participating in their ungodliness.

Paul, once again in the 11^th verse reminds them that we are to earn our living, not rely on others for it, and to give to those who have nothing, promising that we shall not lack for ourselves by so doing!

The opening portion of that verse also tells us to study to be quiet… Not loud and boisterous and demanding of others! We are to do our own business, not envy or worry about the business of others! To quote an old southern teaching, "Keep your nose out of other folks business!" We have more than enough to worry about  just doing the business and correcting the faults of the one we face in the mirror!

The 13^th verse is to remind us of the hope and certainty of the resurrection, and that grief for those who have already passed should be surpassed by the joy of the knowledge of the certainty of eternity!

“For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them 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

(1 Thessalonians 4:14-18)

This is the promise of the rapture, and the resurrection, boiled down to the few words contained in these few verses, to remind us of the prize to come, as was promised by Jesus himself, who cannot lie!

Far too few heed these words, today, taking little or no notice of the fact that they are a spirit, and one that must face an eternity eventually.

The soul is not often mentioned, or even given any thought, in our “Busy society”, bent only on the accumulation of wealth and power. These things will mean nothing as each of us faces a judgment at the end of our life here on earth, that determines our reward or punishment at the end of that life. The one we face will be eternal, instead of temporary, as are the rewards there as opposed to the paltry rewards to be found while here.

 I know I promised brevity at the beginning of this dissertation, and I will attempt to be as brief as possible. However the last of these two chapters is equally important to today’s message!

“But of the times and season, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you.

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief.

Ye are the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

For they that sleep,sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,

Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.

Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.

And we beseech you, brethren, to know them which labour among you, and are over you in the Lord, and admonish you;

And to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. And be at peace among yourselves.

Now we exhort you, brethren, warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.

See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves, and to all men”

(1Thessalonians 5:1-15)

Paul reminds us, as did Jesus; that no man knows exactly when the Day of Judgment will arrive, and that we must keep our eyes constantly on the prize, living each day as though it could be that day!

He reminds us of how rapidly carnage and destruction may fall upon us, and tells us not to listen to those proclaiming “Peace and safety”. (Chamberlain also once proclaimed, “Peace in our time!”, and just how many still remember how well that turned out?)

Paul repeats the warnings given us in Proverbs; and in the Gospels as well, not to slumber! It is far too easy to listen to all the ungodly that have no fear of God; and no consciousness of their own eternal soul, thus falling prey to their habits and teachings!

Our world is drunken, and rowdy, and rebellious, continually because too many fall prey to the deception of those who don’t know, and don’t want to know God, simply because they would rather take their own “pleasures” that eventually lead to death, and eventual damnation!

Paul reminds us that we are not appointed unto wrath, but rather the promise of love!

We are to comfort each other… that means assembling with those who believe to gain strength and faith.

We are to be there to warn those that intentionally, or inadvertently depart from the teachings and love taught by Christ.

We are to show that love to ALL, and not to plot revenge against those who offend and persecute us. The best defense we have is our love, and showing that love!

This brings us back to the opening verses:

Rejoice evermore.

Pray without ceasing.

In every thing give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

Quench not the Spirit.

Despise not  prophesyings.

Prove all things; hold fast that which is good.

Abstain from all appearance of evil.

 
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Faithful is he that calleth you,who also will do it.

Brethren, pray for us.

Greet all the brethren with an holy kiss.

I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren.

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Paul sums up what we, as God’s people, are to do while on this earth! We are to rejoice for the promise of the resurrection, pray constantly to meet the requirement of love, established by Jesus himself, give thanks for all we are given and are able to accomplish, instead of complaining about what we don’t have and can’t do.

When our Spirit speaks, we are to listen!

 Conscience tells you immediately if something is not within what is allowable by God!

 We are to question all things to find out if they are in fact of God, or another means of deceiving us into avoiding His will for us.

Paul finishes off by issuing his blessing given to the people of the church, and reminds them of the faithfulness of God, and that their faithfulness in return is expected and demanded by Him, as is ours!

The closing verses' statement that the epistle be read to the brethren, is to remind us that we are all subject to failure, particularly when proper guidance is not received and followed, and to give a foundation for that  guidance.

If all “churches” followed this guidance, there would be no strife among us.  All would be dedicated to following Christ’s commandment of love, and the commandments given us by His Father, instead of the divisive politically correct laws of men followed by so many today.

I close with a reminder of the promise given at the end of the 4^th chapter in those last few verses quoted, as well as admonishing all to heed the guidance given throughout the 5^th chapter with emphasis on that 5^th verse.

I salute all in the name of my Savior, and I remain, as I always have and must, that same simple sinner saved by grace through faith in Him, unworthy and willing soldier in His service beyond the last breath taken on this world I temporarily inhabit!

2 Timothy 1:12 King James Version (KJV)

¹² For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.

Amen and Amen
the Wayfarer