Sermon Tone Analysis

1 Thessalonians 5:11

What to do Until Jesus Comes

 

Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

John Wesley was on one occasion challenged as to what he would do if he knew that the next day were to be his last day on earth.

In effect, the old warrior replied that he should maintain the precise schedule that he had already set for himself.

If you really believed that Jesus would return tomorrow, what would you do differently from what you are now doing?

Would you maintain the same schedule you have set for yourself?

Would you adjust your plans, whether because you are uncomfortable at the thought of confronting the Lord with certain less spiritual activities fresh in your mind or because you are clearly ashamed of the manner in which you are occupying yourself?

The question is more than academic.

Christians are united in belief that Christ the Lord shall return to earth.

There exists disagreement about the timing of that blessed event and disagreement concerning details of interpretation of the revelation He has given.

Nevertheless, a foundational tenet of the Christian Faith is that Jesus is coming again and those who are truly born from above are not in the least hesitant in embracing that truth.

This great truth serves to mould our character so that we are conformed to the image of Christ, as is attested by the Word [*1 John 3:2,3*].

In one verse, strategically situated at the conclusion of a marvellously insightful revelation concerning the coming of the Lord, Paul addresses the disquieting question of what to do until Jesus comes.

Focus on that one vital verse with me that together we may learn how to please Him and that together we may learn how to glorify His Name.

Christians Are to be Aware of Christ’s Will for Their Lives — Therefore, Dio;, in that Greek tongue, is one of those wee words which is too easily overlooked.

The word prepares us to apply the information gained from the arguments which have preceded.

An old adage reminds us that whenever we see a *therefore* we are to ask what it is *there for*.

We are being prepared to apply the information provided in the preceding discussion.

Therefore, let’s review the studies from previous expositions of this letter.

In light of the teaching of Christ’s return the Thessalonians were concerned whether their loved ones who had died would be included among the raptured saints.

Paul addressed their concern with marvellously detailed instruction of the purpose and the plan of Christ’s return.

There are other revelations concerning the return of Christ, but few are more precise in detail than that provided in the closing verses of *chapter 14* of this book.

We are compelled to confess that through reading *1 Thessalonians 4:13-17* we are encouraged!

The admonition of *verse 18* is readily fulfilled for us.

We need but apply the instruction to one another in order to make the instruction complete.

Having addressed the immediate concern of the Thessalonians concerning the events surrounding the return of Christ and the removal of His saints from the earth, Paul next pointed to the distortion which had brought them to the point of despair.

It was precisely because they were so focused on attempting to know the timing of Christ’s return that they had failed to realise the purpose of His return; they were unbalanced.

Just so, any Christian who is so intently focused on timing of Christ’s return that the purpose of His coming is ignored is destined for serious error and heartache.

Do you recall where the previous message concluded?

As I drew the exposition of *1 Thessalonians 5:4-11* to a close, I made the following statements in application.

Look back over the chapter, noting the manner in which Paul applies doctrine to the cares of the Thessalonians.

It is not merely Christ’s return to which he refers.

That truth in isolation caused the Thessalonians anxiety and concern instead of reassurance.

It is instead the further truth that the One coming for us is the same One who died for us and who rose again.

Paul emphasises the cross of Christ, the resurrection of Christ, and only then the return of Christ.

These three great events - crucifixion, resurrection and return - must all be united, and the ultimate objective is that we may live with Him.

The foundation of the Christian Faith is that Jesus died and rose again.

This is the essence of the Good News.

Dying and raised from the dead we are brought into union with Jesus the Lord.

When he comes He will receive us to Himself and we shall be with the Lord forever.

Our coming King is none other than our crucified and risen Saviour.

We have nothing to fear in either death or judgement.

Indeed, we may be certain that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord [*Romans 8:38,39*].

The will of God is that we should submit to Christ the Lord, that He should reign over us, and that He should be glorified through the manner in which we live out our life.

We might say the will of God is that we should become so familiar with the presence of Jesus His Son that the way in which we live is but the living out of the life of Christ.

The will of God is that we express the life of Christ through our manner of living.

More specifically, the will of God is revealed in several places through the Bible.

It is the will of God that we should be thankful [*1 Thessalonians 5:18*] and that we should be sanctified especially as concerning morality [*1 Thessalonians 4:3*].

It is the will of God that we should be mature and assured [*Colossians 4:12*].

It is God’s will that we should be dependable [*Ephesians 6:6*].

It is the will of God that we should be generous with our possessions and our very lives [*2 Corinthians 8:5*].

It is the will of God that you should believe in Christ the Lord [*John 7:17*].

Appealing to the Word of God we can precisely know the will of God for each of us.

By the simple expedient of reviewing the Word of God we know these particular matters to be the will of God.

We do not need to pray about whether we should be thankful or pure; this is the will of God.

We need not question whether God wants us to be mature and assured; this is clearly revealed in the Word.

It is not necessary to pray whether we should be dependable or generous; this is the will of God.

We need not ponder whether God’s will is that we believe on His Son; this is the command of God.

There is one further issue concerning the revealed will of God: God *does* want His people to be aware of His plans for the future.

While He has not provided detailed timing of the events, we know in broad terms the sequence of events which shall yet transpire before Christ returns.

We may be confident that God’s will is that His people should live forever [*1 John 2:17*] and that they should be rewarded [*Hebrews 10:36*] when they have stood firm and lived their lives in confidence.

This knowledge is given to equip His saints to serve productively and to encourage them in times of trial.

The knowledge of events at Christ’s coming ought to result in lives which reflect His glory instead of driving us to either despair or setting us on a fruitless search for more detailed information than He has chosen to provide us.

The remainder of the message is an explanation of how we can fulfil the will of God since we now understand His work.

Christians Are to Encourage One Another and to Build One Another Up — Encourage one another and build each other up.

Any one of us can readily attest that the world can be a tough and unfriendly place in which to live.

It is distressingly easy to be hurt in the world.

It is far too easy to be overwhelmed by fear arising from the threats which are slung about so casually in the world.

The emotions we experience, and especially the emotions which attend the days of our distress at the death of loved ones, can tear us apart.

Such experiences can leave us dispirited and depressed and feeling alone against the wide world at times.

Fear traumatises and disorients us and we begin to panic.

Who among us has not known at one time or another such fear and sense of panic.

There is one great antidote to the pressures and cares arising within the world which is available to each of the people of God.

God intends His church to be a community of comfort.

Knowing the will of God we are responsible to encourage one another in light of Christ’s imminent coming and to build each other up in the Faith.

These responsibilities are among the reciprocal commands so common throughout the Word of God … commands I wish to consider for a moment by reminding you of their breadth and of the manner in which they are to be obeyed.

Among the reciprocal commands addressing Christian relationships are those which command loving devotion to one another [e.g.

*Romans 12:10*] and directing that we /live in harmony with one another/ [e.g.

*Romans 12:16*].

Related instructions command us to accept one another [*Romans 15:7*], /to greet one another/ warmly [*Romans 16:16*], to /seek unity,/ to/ /agree with one another/,/ and to avoid divisions [*1 Corinthians 1:10*], to seek to express equal concern for each other [*1 Corinthians 12:25*], to be /kind and compassionate to one another/ and to forgive grievances against one another [*Ephesians 4:32*], to /live in peace with each other/ [*1 Thessalonians 5:13*], and to joyfully /offer hospitality to one another/ [*1 Peter 4:9*].

Other reciprocal commands in Scripture insist that we avoid passing judgement on one another [*Romans 14:13*], teach us to serve one another in love [*Galatians 5:13*], command that we seek ways to spur one another on toward love and good deeds [*Hebrews 10:24*], command that we patiently wait for one another at the Lord’s Table [*1 Corinthians 13:33*], command that we confess our sins to one another and command that we pray for one another [*James 5:16*], command that we submit to one another [*Ephesians 5:21*], command that we/ /bear with each other [*Colossians 3:13*], and command that we/ /teach and admonish one another [*Colossians 3:16*].

All these commands can be summed up by the one command in our text: Encourage one another.

If we do these things we will indeed encourage one another.

What I would have you focus on first is this knowledge that we need one another.

The church is a community.

It is possible to worship alone, but it is not healthy.

It is possible to be a Christian in isolation from other Christians, but it is not likely that we will long continue active and vibrant in our faith and practise.

With so many reciprocal commands I am driven to the conclusion that we need one another.

I am further driven to the conclusion that the primary value derived from participation in this community we share as fellow members of the Body of Christ is encouragement and mutual edification.

Among the people of God I draw encouragement being built up as we invest our lives in one another and as we practise these reciprocal commands.

The commands have greatest value as they are practised *mutually*.

I emphasise the collegiality of the Christian Faith since this is where we derive the greatest value.

Now think of the specific commands.

As I read this *eleventh verse* in the Greek language, I make the observation that the imperative which is translated in our text as encourage one another is identical to the command in *4:18* which is translated identically in our text, but which is translated into English as comfort one another in many translations.

The reason for this is that the verb employed is the Greek verb parakalevw.

You may recognise the verb as sounding similar to the noun Christ used when speaking of the Holy Spirit who was to come, paravklhto".

In older translations of the Bible, that noun was frequently translated by the English term *Comforter*, a term which is still much in evidence when speaking of the Spirit of God.

The context of *4:18* makes it clear that comfort for the bereaved, the grieving, is in view.

The context of *5:11* suggests something different, and the term encourage, therefore, appears more accurate.