1 Thessalonians 4-5

This is an interesting couple of chapters of scripture if you really take time to look it.  It seemingly changes gears a couple of times, where you think that Paul is talking about radically different concepts.  I actually don't think this is the case though, because of his encouragement found in chapters 2-3.  Chapters 2-3 urges the Thessalonian church to be completely sold out to the teaching that was brought to them by their leaders and the apostles.  It displays the value of what it means to follow sound instruction and Paul completely desires for the church in Thessaloniki to do just that.  I actually think he continues in the same concept throughout the final two chapters that we see in this letter.

Paul actually begins with what was set up in Chapter 3 with a calling for the church there to "receive from us the way that you ought to walk and to please God".  The calling for the church, and in turn to all believers is to walk in a way that pleases God.  We must do this.  He then lists out some specific sins (sexual immorality & drunkenness) that would have been troublesome within their culture, church, and even individual families.  Although the list is not comprehensive, it goes to show that Paul is outlining that the way that they should please God is to fight sin within themselves and their church body.  This being said that even in the face of persecution, pain, suffereing, and death that the church itself should be so much lead by the Spirit of God, that it should be united to the point of needing nothing from anyone and the people living in "quiet minds" with all of the affairs of their life.  All of this for the purpose of what follows in the next few passages.

Paul uses this calling to walking in the way of God to display the purpose of enduring until the day of his return.  Although death, persecution, and suffering has happened to them, there is even a level of joy within their mourning.  They are called not to mourn as those of the world, but to mourn with hope.  Hope that one day, we will be raised.  Raised to what?  I am glad you are asked.  Raised to life, even those who have feared and loved God before us, to be with him in his presence.  This folks is what Paul is outlining has the hope and the reward for the endurance for the Thessalonian church.  That same hope that encourages us even to this day.  In that day, 1 John 3:2 states, "Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is."  That is the hope for the Christian.  To see him and be like him.  Paul insisted on displaying this to them so much, he sent Timothy to show them and exhort them in the way that they should walk with this anticipation.  

The great part of this passage is that if we are in Christ, we to can wait with eager expectations.  Expectations that even through pain, suffering, and even death that one day Christ will return and it will be his and he will make it new.  We will not mourn in that day.  The application is this, that we should walk in the way of Lord thus ushering in this new kingdom.  Following and trusting in the teachings of prophets, apostles, and even through the instructions of our elders in Red Door today.  The goal is that we usher in this kingdom by fighting the temptations of our flesh in reflection of a good holy God to endure until he returns.  This a something to set our attention towards as a church.