Peace & Security
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning. Welcome to Church Online.
Last week, we finished 1 Thessalonians in our “Read the Instructions” series, where we are studying Paul’s instructions to this new church to help our church grow in Christ. And the passage we discussed included these verses...
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. 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.
For being some who didn’t always appreciate online sermons, I’ve grown to love Church Online - for many reasons. But one downside is Church Online requires my sermons to be shorter, because we typically have a lower attention span online than we do in person. I need to be a little more clear, concise, and strategic about what I preach. Unfortunately, that means sometimes I can’t go as deep as I’d like...
Maybe you’ve noticed that...
Last week, we had a friend come over to watch Church Online. Btw, if you haven’t done that, try it - if you’re comfortable and can do it safely. Anyways, after the sermon, my friend and I were discussing the sermon more. We were going deeper! And I even told her, “I wish I had the time to talk about all of this for Church Online!” She agreed!
And then I also mentioned one of the purposes of Life Group. Life Groups are places where we can further discuss the sermon - go deeper - with one another. So, if you want to go deeper, join a Life Group!
Anyways, as I was thinking about last week’s passage, I realized there things I wanted to “explicate.” Oooo - You like that $5 word? I’ve been watching a lot of Madam Secretary on Netflix and they use big words on that show. It’s helping me expand my vocabulary.
“Explicate” means to develop an idea or principle in detail…aka, “Go deeper.” There are things in 1 Thess 5 I want to go deeper on that I believe would help our church in these crazy times. So, if you’re ready dig in, say “I’m ready!”
Body:
Body:
Look here at verses 2-3:
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.
If you remember from last week, Paul is encouraging the Thessalonians to be ready. The world isn’t ready for Jesus to return, but the church should be!
But let’s zero in on the phrase “peace and security.” Raise your own hand (or type the “raised hand” emoji in the comments) if you want “peace and security” in your life. Peace and security are good! Everyone wants that! I believe it’s even biblical! The book of Hebrews says...
Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
Our present world (both in and out of the church) is begging for “peace and security.” Look at the major issues in our world, from riots to racism to COVID. We want “peace and security.” That’s what we’re fighting for, protesting for, sacrificing for! And while these are all good things, let me challenge us with this thought...
Circumstantial peace and security aren’t the highest values in God’s economy. Their presence in the world aren’t always evidence of God’s will being done.
Circumstantial peace and security aren’t the highest values in God’s economy. Their presence in the world aren’t always evidence of God’s will being done.
You see, in verse 3, as Paul discusses “end times,” the implication is not only did the people desire “peace and security,” they found it! The world will be at peace. Everyone will feel safe! The hope of the world will be in these ideal circumstances. And yet, in that moment, sudden destruction will come. Why? Because they weren’t READY for what REALLY MATTERS- they weren’t READY for JESUS!
And I wonder if there’s an application for us?
We put a lot of hope in politics.
We put a lot of hope in financial security.
We put a lot of hope in comfort.
We seek after them as if the potential “peace and security” they bring indicates God’s blessing. But Paul’s clear - our hope can’t be in this! It needs to be in Jesus! Look at what the prophet Isaiah says...
You keep him in perfect peace
whose mind is stayed on you,
because he trusts in you.
Let me phrase that a little differently, “REAL peace and security (perfect peace) is available to those who constantly seek God, because they are living by faith.”
When we live by faith, we don’t focus on circumstances. We won’t elevate “peace and security” above our faith in God. We simply trust God, knowing He is with us, no matter what the circumstances are like. Because He is with us, we are ready for anything!
And let me share something I was convicted about when I was studying this...
The prophet Isaiah says I will get “perfect peace” when I set my mind - my hope - on God. But do you know what I do when I want some “peace and security” in my life? I watch TV or movies.
Now, TV and movies aren’t bad, but why are they the first thing I run to after a long day? It’s because in my flesh, “I believe the entertainment, the tuning out, the escape, brings my comfort and relief - some “peace and security.” You know what that is? That’s idolatry. That’s putting hope in something other than God!
Now, I’m not saying we can’t enjoy entertainment.
What I am saying is we can’t value “peace and security” over God.
If God doesn’t treat “peace and security” as the highest values in the Kingdom, we shouldn’t either!
The highest values in the Kingdom are faith-based. Trusting in God! That’s why bring TRUE “peace and security.” That’s what truly gives hope.
Because there’s a difference between God’s peace and the world’s peace. Jesus said...
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.
Let’s stop putting our hope in the world’s “peace and security,” and start living by faith in God!
For we live by faith, not by sight.
Next… Let’s dig into verse 8
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.
As Paul encourages the church to be READY, he uses military terms to paint a picture: Be ready like a soldier. Put your armor on and prepare for battle. But here’s something to consider...
A soldier only puts armor on when there is a threat - when they NEED to be ready.
I grew up in San Diego, which has a large military presence. There are a lot of soldiers walking around. But with no armor on. Why? Because there is no threat. But if they were in a combat area - where there IS a threat - you better believe they’d have their armor on.
Paul instructs the church to ALWAYS have your armor on because...
Life is hard, even when we have hope.
Life is hard, even when we have hope.
In addition to the false hope circumstantial “peace and safety” brings, Jesus also never guaranteed this life will be easy. He doesn’t promise the church “peace and security!” My life verse (which I realize I share often, so you probably know it) is...
I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
Jesus promises peace, but not in worldly circumstances. In this world, He actually promises tribulation. If you will, He promises that in this life, there will always be a threat. The Thessalonians understood this. They were suffering for their faith! Hard times are reality!
The maturing process in life involves learning how to deal with reality. We must accept that life is hard. And it doesn’t help to pretend trials and evil doesn’t exist - to willingly ignore bad things because you want to be “positive.”
I don’t know about you, but knowing what to EXPECT actually helps me be READY. If I have false expectation of “peace and security” and then sudden destruction happens, I’m unprepared and that messes me up! But if I know I need to armor-up because I’m EXPECTING a threat, then I’m ready for the trial.
Here me now… I’m not saying Christianity requires us to be pessimists. We not obligated to walk around with cardboard signs saying, “The end is near!” just because we’re EXPECTING hard times. No, we EXPECT tribulation, but we live with hope! We have armor on, but they are:
The breastplate of faith and love.
The helmet of hope and salvation.
Let me explain how this works:
We expect trials. We armor up. We’re ready for them.
But the armor we put on is faith, love, and hope.
We have faith that God is in control. We trust Him!
We believe He loves us and His love casts out fear.
And we have hope that no matter what happens.
Which brings us to this final verse...
For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ,
My final point for this morning is:
We should live as those willing to risk it all for Christ!
We should live as those willing to risk it all for Christ!
Those who over-value worldly “peace and security” have all their hope placed in this life alone. They believe “peace and security” will help them avoid death at all costs. They fear death. Why? Because I believe most people know deep all that awaits them is God’s wrath. His holy judgment of their sin and rebellion.
But the church doesn’t have to worry about God’s wrath. Because of Jesus, we have the hope of salvation. This should radically impact our perspective in life. It means we don’t live in fear, because there’s nothing left to fear! We don’t worry about “peace and security” because all our hope isn’t in this present life! If we die, we’re good. That sounds super weird, but it’s true!
Paul said...
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul lived by faith. That means WHATEVER Jesus called Him to - no matter the risk - he was ready to DO IT! And he was challenging the Thessalonians to live the same way.
And this challenge sits before us today. Are we too concerned about “peace and security?”
Do we just want to have nice things.
Do we just want life to be easy.
Do we just want to be comfortable.
Do we just want to be circumstantially safe.
Church, as nice as those sound, if that’s all we care about, we disqualify ourselves from the abundant life - a life filled with faith and divine purpose. The life God created us for!
We can’t be content with “peace and security!” The church is too important for that! We have too high a calling! Let me share a story that helps us understand why...
Leonard Ravenhill tells this story in one of his books...
Charlie Peace was a criminal. Laws of God or man curbed him not. Finally the law caught up with him and he was condemned to death. On the fatal morning in Armley Jail, Leeds, England, he was taken on the death-walk. Before him went the prison chaplain, routinely and sleepily reading some Bible verses. The criminal touched the preacher and asked what he was reading. “The Consolations of Religion,” was the reply. Charlie Peace was shocked at the way he professionally read about hell. Could a man be so unmoved under the very shadow of the scaffold as to lead a fellow-human there and yet, dry-eyed, read of a pit that has no bottom into which this fellow must fall? Could this preacher believe the words that there is an eternal fire that never consumes its victims, and yet slide over the phrase without a tremor? Is a man human at all who can say with no tears, “You will be eternally dying and yet never know the relief that death brings”? All this was too much for Charlie Peace. So he preached. Listen to his on-the-eve-of-hell sermon.
“Sir,” addressing the preacher, “if I believed what you and the church of God say that you believe, even if England were covered with broken glass from coast to coast, I would walk over it, if need be, on hands and knees and think it worth while living, just to save one soul from an eternal hell like that!”
He’s right! If we truly believed what we say we believe, we’d risk it all for God’s mission! And it’d be worth it because God would be using our lives for what really matters - bringing people the gospel. But too often we’re prioritizing “peace and security.” That’s not only idolatry, it’s unloving. How can we willing sit comfortably by as people perish? We KNOW our eternal future is secure. Because of the blood of Jesus, our sins our forgiven and we NEVER have to face God’s wrath. Jesus faced that for us!
...But that’s not the case for our unbelieving friends, family, and neighbors. As they passionately seek after “peace and security” in this world, sudden destruction awaits them. They’re headed for God’s wrath and they don’t even know it! It’s our job to tell them! But too often we’re seeking “peace and security!”
Forget that! Let’s deny ourselves, pick up our cross, and follow Him! Let’s lose our life, so we can find it! Lets risk it all for Jesus and for God’s rescue mission to the world!
So, that money you’ve been holding onto because it gives you a little financial security, invest it in the Kingdom! It’ll be worth it.
Commit to that time-consuming opportunity that could help people know Jesus, even though you’re tired and would rather experience the peace of your bed. It’ll be worth it.
Lay down and sacrifice those dreams and personal preferences that would give you more personal comfort. Who cares if people think you’re crazy. It’ll be worth it!
Right now, if you’re watching this at 10am, I’m actually at the Glastonbury High School field helping coach football… on a Sunday. Some of you are like, “What?!? How dare you!!! A pastor!” I know, I took a risk. I even took a risk sharing this with you. But it’s worth it!
Right now, I’m with families who don’t know Jesus. Families who likely put their hope in “peace and security.” I get to spend Sunday with them. I want to empower our church to do the same. Do whatever God is calling you to do so people can know Him. Because I’m not skipping church. I’m being the church. I’m believe God’s calling me to be the salt of the earth. Salt doesn’t make a difference when it’s safe, but stuck in the salt shaker!
Jesus did stuff like this too...
In the greatest way, He gave up heaven and left His glorious throne to be with us sinners (He left the holy place to bring hope to the unholy)… and it was worth it! And I believe since we are His body, His followers, His disciples, we too should willingly give up “peace and security” for a radical life of faith. To take risks as we obey God by faith, so others can find the hope in Jesus.
Response:
Response:
As we close, I want to summarize our time:
Church, don’t put your hope in circumstantial “peace and security.”
Have a realistic expectation about the difficulties of this life.
Risk it all for Jesus. It’ll be worth it.
Let’s pray:
Father, would you transform our minds this morning. We are sorry that too often we think like the world. We live as if there is no God in heaven. We seek only after our own desires and comfort (that peace and security). That’s idolatry. And we repent. Instead, help us to live by faith. Knowing that even when life is hard, we can trust you. Help us to know this life isn’t about us. Our life belongs to You. And we can risk it all for you - and it’ll be worth it. Help us to embrace this so we can be ready and confident to live the life you called us to. And we ask these things in Jesus name, amen.
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Have a great day - God bless you!
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