Encouragement in the Last Days

Three Weeks.  That’s all it took.   Three sermons.  They got it.   Three messages.  It sunk in.  Paul the apostle on his second missionary journey stopped in a little synagogue and Acts 17 says     “ as his manner was for three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that Jesus whom he preached is Christ.”   The bible says some believed and I love the King Jimmy  as it says  “certain lewd fellows of the baser sort”  rose up against them.    That is always the case with truth.  And it is certainly the case with Jesus.  Some respond and some don’t.  Some believe and some fight against.   And through it all the church today continues to flourish.4
 
Today’s Blog is for my fellow believers in the church.  And my message is the same message that Paul wrote to the church at Thessonalika and I believe it is the message we need in what I truly believe is the last days.  So he tells these precious saints four things:
 
1.  Establishes them in the truth
2.  Exhorts them to personal holiness
3.  Encourages them in the midst or persecution
4.  Instructs them to look for the soon return of Jesus.
 
Lets look at these points.   Number 1.  God wants us to know Him.  Jesus himself in John 17:17 said Sanctify them by truth  Thy word is truth.    Peter in his epistle said thou you know these things I am going to keep reminding you until you are established in them.   It is not just saying the prayer and asking the Lord into your heart but truly enjoying your walk with Him,  letting him guide you and bless you and reveal himself to you.
 
Number 2.  Be Holy.  Holiness truly leads to happiness.  If you get close to the Lord you take on his characteristics.  Moses came down the mountain glowing.  You through the Holy Spirit have the power to live a holy live.  Holiness scares people.  They don’t know what to do with it.  May God cause to desire this holiness in our personal lives.
 
Point Number 3.  Encouragement in the midst of the struggle.  This is the one I find it most needed in the church today.  In the world in general.  Something has caused people to give up.  To go back.  To not plug in.  Understand this saint God wants you to be encouraged.  To truly know you don’t have to do this alone.  The church is simply made up of people in love with Jesus and desiring to know him more.  Join a body of believers and let the Lord encourage you thru his people.
 
And the final point is this.  Look for the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  The people who look for and long for the return of the Lord.  we call it the rapture   Where we will meet the Lord in the air and forever be with the Lord  Paul tells the believers in Chapter 4 of Thessalonains that this wil bring comfort to them.  I hope and pray it brings comfort to you.  Jesus goes to prepare a place for you and if he goes he will come back.  That where he is you may be also.  He who has this hope purifies himself.
 
So thank you Paul for those three weeks in Thessalonika.  They bless me.  How I need to be established in truth.   How I need to strive for holiness.  How I thank God for your encouragement that you give me thru your people and by your spirit. And like the book ends in Revelation.  We say Come Quickly Lord Jesus.   I can’t wait until I see you face to face.
 
So be encouraged fellow bloggers (hopefully believers)   Our redemption draws nigh….
 
Pastor Mike
Brookings Christian Fellowship
 

living in the last days

Just got back from an awesome pastor’s conference and was blessed to know the theme was “Pastoring in the Last Days.”    It was  going thru the book of First Thessalonians and I am so blessed everytime I read this book.   paul writes to the church at Thessalonika and reminds them that they should be

1.  Established in the truth

2.  Exhorted to holiness

3.  Encouraged despite persecution

4.  instructed to look for his soon return

As i went over the outline i saw it as a picture of what the Lord wants his church and believers to be about today.  We need to be established in the truth.  Growing in the grace and knowledge of our Lord.  Grasping more of his word and understanding and applying it to your life.   We need to be exhorted to holiness.   I really believe that this is the main point of what we sometimes forget and are not informed of when we surrender our lives to the Lord.  We are instructed to be holy.  To desire holiness in our lives.  To get close to the Lord and have his “wholeness” inside of us.   And here’s the great part.  Holiness scares the World.  They don’t know what to do with it.  They are afraid of it.  May we truly be exhorted to live in Holiness.   Encourage believers in the midst of persecution and even others even in the midst of martyrdom.  Maybe we do not see that in the U.S. but my bible reads all who live godly will suffer persecution.  paul’s heart was to encourage those who were going thru it.   how we need to encourage and pray for our christian brothers and sisters who are going through it.  Our brothers in China and India and other places.

 

My favorite part of course is looking for the soon return of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  Instructed others of the imminency of our Jesus.    paul put it this way in Titus Chapter 2:13   Were looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ.  He’s coming   We’re looking   Lord have your way in our lives.

 

 

God had me studying this book three months ago and I truly know it is his heart.   I need to be established in his truth.   John 17:17  sanctify them by truth thy word is truth    get to know his Word and Established in it      Exhort each other to holiness   Live holy lives   Encourage people  Encourage each other despite the persecution we go thru     and  Look for Jesus   Keep your eyes open   He’s coming    so……………………………………………………………………………………………occupy till I come

 

Bigfala Mike