1 Thessalonians 5:3-11 (Part B)

We know when the second coming is going to happen is oldest at the time. The events that will be taking place is really all we will be getting wiped out.

We know that we won't be here part of talking about the rapture and I don't know why I all I do some of them just get excited.

So many Christians legally love the Lord so much to get carried away by the feelings in the IVs coming back in this in God's is don't do that.

This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Thessalonians. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching.

Now here**he's going to begin in Isaiah chapter 13 today but he'll then continue first Thessalonians chapter 5 this edition cross reference radio. He says, and they shall not escape the target of the day of wrath.

There's no place to go.

There's nowhere to hide from these things.

Isaiah 13 not again we read. Behold, the day of the Lord comes cool with both wrath and fierce anger, to lay the land desolate, he will destroy its sinners from it. That is the day of the Lord. Now most of the time we go to the Scripture we talk about salvation and the Holy Spirit gives the spirit all will now it's all about wrath. That is our assignment from the Lord. Now I also mentioned this morning that there are those who mock this size not coming in all Scripture. Well Peter the apostle addresses this in his second letter he says. Knowing this first, that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts and saying, where is the promise of his coming for since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.

They do continue as they have from creation.

On the surface, but if you look a little bit you find out. Things are moving to a conclusion that has been prophesied. We are seeing prophecy being fulfilled. Verse four a continues. But you now is that disjunctive conjunction. He makes the distinction between the believer and unbelievers is what you brethren are not in darkness so that this day should not overtake you as a thief and emphatic difference is established throughout Scripture between the nature and the destiny of believers and the nature and doom of unbelievers darkness here in the verse four refers to the world's ignorance of God's person and purposes, and plans because they wanted that way Peter pointed out, he says, walking according to their own lusts, they want to satisfy themselves on whatever it is that they enjoy now. Unbelievers may be listening to this and they are saying either 121 or two things may be 1/3 is happening either. They're saying to themselves. You know I don't like the conviction of the Holy Spirit in the ready to to go out turn it off or they're responding to him.

I sensed God calling me saying wake up this is happening.

You are not made for this. You deserve better than this. Why be judged.

Ezekiel put it this way, turn, turn. Why should you perish. Ephesians chapter 4 verse 18 having their understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their heart. The apostles had to deal with the same things we do, and people will believe it. Don't want it have no evidence the premises wrong. Therefore, there conclusion the outcome is wrong. Their way of thinking is like a broken compass is going to point in the wrong direction. So long as it is broken it will never give them true direction. He continues in verse forces so that this day should overtake you as a thief's against sudden but not without warning. Attempts to pinpoint the precise time of the Lord's coming for his church are wrong. Scripture prohibits that it is dubbed as I said thus I command you not to do it.

He says it in a different way. But it's the same result. Matthew 2513 watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour in which the Son of Man is coming and we know we know when the second coming is going to happen. He's told us that the time.

The events that will be taking place.

Israel, the Army will be getting wiped out. We know that we won't be here for that part of it is talking about the rapture and I don't know why I all I do some of them just get excited.

So many Christians legally love the Lord so much to get carried away by the feelings and they began IVs coming back in this in God's is don't do that. He knows Sutter like you know the parents buy gifts with will hide them from behind them will be willing to hide the means don't touch them will child's nature's going to recon mission and try to locate and an open know once when I was a kid I did. I felt so bad that I do that I never did it again but anyway Lord says, don't go looking for this.

I've hidden this from and is not wrong to recognize the stage is being set. The props are being put in place.

You know what act is coming and nothing wrong with seeing that happening is just something wrong in saying the curtain will go up in 30 seconds. We don't have that privilege.

Matthew 24 verse 32 Matthew 24 that section of Scripture with Jesus is teaching the disciples about the end times you cannot get a chronological outline just from that section of Scripture you have to do detective work and bring in other things that he has said about that time, he gives them a condensed class there, but he says this he says now learn this parable from the fig tree is learn this parallel story this thing that runs right beside what's going to happen. This microcosm of truth is going to have a greater fulfillment. That's what he saying he says learn this parable from the fig tree when its branch has already become tender and puts forth leaves, you know that summer is near.

So you also, when you see these things, know that it is near at the doors.

The fig tree is Israel we know that wealth every time we see the fig tree in parable in old and New Testament speaks of Israel and so we know this is when you see Israel begin to come to life and have fruit while the leaves on the trees of the fig tree says they have got fruit and we see that Israel became a nation again in 1948 and two very fruitful we know the stage is being set. We are in the last of the last days, unlike ever before. I don't think the world can sustain the technological advances that we are seeing a lot.

I think the blessing from the Tower of Babel teaches that God's is listening.

We leave them with one language. They are going to destroy everything.

Now the world against rebuilding the Tower of Babel, they once again have a common language and a common goal, and God is on the outside of it. That is the definition of the world is not what we have or have not in common with the world.

It makes them different from us. It's cool, we have not in common that is Jesus Christ.

And so when he says that they will not overtake believers when he said that they should not overtake you because you're in the light. He saying because the Lord comes for his church as a thief in the night just like in the parable of the 12 virgins with their lamps.

Those that were ready at the midnight call went out to meet him now if you're struggling Christian. You said I love the Lord Jesus.

I know he is my Savior. There is no other worship none other but him but I'm not ready because I fail too much. I trip up by sin. I just can't seem to get get ahead. God replies to that is already put the answer in the lifeboat is in the Scripture says there is now no condemnation for those in Christ Jesus you would have to say that if we were perfect we'd say you're the tellers that we know that the department not perfect made perfect with pronounced perfect by what Jesus is done for us. You have to remember, Jesus died for only one kind of person that one and for no other type of person did he die now.

You're foolish enough to go comparing yourself next your neighbor all the people in jail you have added God cyclical. He's going to compare you to his son Jesus Christ is always a good man competitor who compared to you know Jesus but your neighbor you say, compared to my neighbor in your dirty you say competitor Jesus I'm dirty and there's hope. And so I want to take some scriptures and just point this out. The Scripture says Mark's gospel chapter 2 verse 17 Jesus said to them, those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick.

I do not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. Jesus as your dirty and you sick without Savior purpose of him being a Savior. So purpose of the cross. That's why said father if possible, take this cup from me was not possible. Son, if they're going to get saved you gotta drink the whole thing. And that's what happened to be a mockery of the crucifixion to six.

What there's other ways to be saved without Christ, there is.

What about want to hear comes all of the what about so they want to sort of disqualify with God is revealed. Let me tell you the hardest case you can think who goes to death without receiving Jesus Christ will be judged fairly by Jesus Christ, and that is beyond you and me. God never does wrong, he is not sinister is not someone who is failed to think of something. He has a completely together.

That's what makes him God, your God is smaller than that is not God at all. Romans chapter 3 verse 10 as it is written, there is none righteous, no not one noted.

Isaiah says about man's righteousness is to God as filthy rags and it's a very strong Hebrew word that not going to go into voices filled the writing is really bad. In verse 23 of Romans chapter 3 says for all of sin and fall short of the glory of God. What matter if you're a boat sinking in and you drown 10 feet before the life jacket or or life preserver or 2 inches.

What difference does it make you done and that's what God is saying that a matter of degree.

It's a matter of state you're in a state that is lost. Romans chapter 10 verse 13 whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved. So we go back to that individual is says I'm a strong enough I we direct stumbled thoughts of my have impure thoughts and pure actions, and God says do you call upon me in earnest. See if our being enraptured or being saved from judgment depended on our perfection. Our Christian perfection.

We all would be left behind. We would all be judged whether it is death, the rapture, but on the other hand, if our being enraptured depends on the death and resurrection of one mightier than I which is Jesus Christ in every believer will be saved. That's witchhunt was trying to say he is so clean. He is so far above me that I'm not worthy to untie his shoes. These process pictures are put in Scripture on purpose. What happens is you can get so exposed to them in trouble in life.

At the same time that you begin to see able Scripture doesn't have power to change my circumstances right here right now that's what I need God's history don't listen to me.

God does. That happens to everyone. What happens at that moment is what matters the most. That's what it's all about, not whether you got the job of the promotional you are comfortable of this happened, or that didn't happen. Read the Scripture find out how many people God let die.

Out of all the people that died in Scripture, not one extra person died they all died this curse is the promise day that you eat of the street you will die since he would drop dead at that moment you can die into Satan telling the same lied to Eve that he tells everyone of us. Jesus doesn't love you yes and your Effect. I know though but when our feelings are being crushed is hard to get to that place. So God is given the church sermons sort of clear Joe chill out of it so you don't die is giving you friends that sharpen you iron to iron is so important to be a good Christian friend, which can fake it is gotta be in love with Christ. You can't fake being a good friend. You will be a bad one and I believe our enemies are better than stupid friends. Don't be stupid friend, one that just says anything one that just is about nothing be that one that is centered on Christ Jesus. He says here in verse five we become children of the light. You are sons of light and sons of the day that happens the moment we believe in Jesus Christ Holy Spirit is imparted to us again. The distinction is made throughout Scripture between a cane and enable annoy in the drown a lot in the parish of Solomon Gomorrah.

But does this throughout Scripture and the world's response without Christ, is that they fuss and the hiss and the sea and they spew will not come and repent. They hate the idea that Jesus is the only way it is the objection of the spiritually dead wrong. That's what is happening.

You are dealing with a person who doesn't know the Lord and we are here to throw at that everything we can, so that they can come to Christ. We just want to introduce them to Jesus that don't honest Satan is one of his masterpieces is the apostate church is the church that has the name has the emblems has the rituals just doesn't have Christ Jesus talked about the church at Laodicea that parallels the end time apostate church. I'm at the door on knocking to get in.

You think I'm in there I'm out here and you are open to let me in, but if you do open. You'll be apostate. No more will he open will they not don't know so this idea of things being absolutely absolute is bothersome to those who are outside of the Lord's truth. You know, there are two ways to be right-handed.

You're the right-handed warrior, your left-handed there's not two ways to be right-handed and this idea that there are absolutes is essential to our preaching the gospel to say to a lost world.

Listen, God has established that there are absolutely and there are some things that are gray zones there.

Many of those things in life as we call them but how can there be two ways. If there is one truth can't be considered is important that the individual resolve this.

I know when I became a Christian I was so happy to ditch every foul idea about God that swirled about my head before he reached me, and this is what is I think the mark of the Christian. One of the marks of the Christian is that once they are born again.

Everything else is gone. Ethnic identity, their color of their skin.

The language that they speak all of that goes way down to the bottom. The only thing that stands up salvation. They have been the recipient of so God makes no room at the cross synthetic gods and neither do we. We should have no respect for error because God does not have respect for error. There's not an auxiliary Savior, or an auxiliary salvation or auxiliary church. There's one is one Lord and God over that church and his name is Jesus Christ and if you want people to go to hell. Just don't tell them about Jesus Christ. Well, he also says we are not of the night or of darkness in the you know, the longer you save the less I think understanding you have this kind of thinking we look at liberalism today. Political liberalism, and we just scratch our heads. Why is it that anything decent. They hate, they seem content with burning down the house they live in upon themselves. It's a madness. It's a sickness that certainly is demonically energized, engineered, and maintained, and we look at this and we just say this is madness.

Well that's what the Angels must be saying when they see human beings bury the evidence that this inescapable concerning the person of Christ Jesus. We are so susceptible to this, that even you will been born again for decades know that Satan has a return visit. His follow-up visits for you. He has hope that he is going to cause you to fall away from the faith and goddesses that should never happen. There is no reason for that. And so verse six we continue says therefore that space and everything is been say let us not sleep as others do, but let us watch and be sober. How can we sleep when we know what's going on. One of the beauties of prophecy. As you know what's happening you know what's going on. You're awake to these things.

Some of you remember that show the inaudible, the invasion of the body snatchers.

You know, there were those that were going on they could see what was happening that, for the sake of making the point is what's going on.

Hopefully with Christians, we are alive and we are watchful this word that he uses here in verse six, where he says therefore let us not sleep as others that word in the Greek for others is an interesting lesson in it.

It really means remaining ones it really reads this way all build up in a moment. He says therefore let us not sleep, as the remaining ones. That is the ones left behind.

That's the meaning of that in the Greek, the Greek scholars tell us that there are three words used for others there as follows those of the same kind like you're in the team that different people but the same team same time there is Hess Ross.

Those of a different kind in all apples and oranges. And then there is alloy parts, which is used here those of the remaining ones or remnant the rest. That's with that Greek word means. This properly translated others in the context of everything Paul is saying to us, and so he is reading that verse five again he says therefore let us not sleep, as those left behind is prophetic. It is anticipatory. Ephesians chapter 3 verse two, among whom also we all once conducted ourselves in the lust of the flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, just as the others same Greek word there. Ephesians 2 verse three Paul uses just as those left behind.

So when you hear someone say limited why I think the churchgoing suffered great tribulation. It is like as it did. How do I untie this Gordian knot. How do I unscramble find it. Doesn't have it, you know, if you you don't get it, doesn't mean you going to go to hell.

You're free to disagree with this, to me, clear teaching of the church and not perish for but prophecy matters in the more you understand God's program, the more useful you become in God's program and the more you push it away. I mean listen.

There are Christians that they put the same energy they put into their career or their family or their portfolio or their hobby or whatever it is they put some of that energy into God's house the church the local church which is part of the universal church be fierce as an army with banners we have in this church. I think we have an extraordinary amount of believers.

Nebuchadnezzar could walk around his kingdom look out to see the gold in the marble and all the things eluted from other countries at the hanging Gardens of Babylon is good and safe.

This is not a great babble and I have built pastor of a good church to walk around and see the people in this like cold marble in the hanging Gardens's business, not the great church.

God is building you appreciate what God has done you know what it does. You know how it counts.

You know that it is meaningful and continues in verse six he says, but let us watch and be sober. Sober is exact to the Greek. Don't be filled with the wrong stuff. All restaurants of the stuff that alters your state of consciousness reliability that renders you harmful to others. A menace and unstable. We are all vulnerable to stimulants that intoxicate us spiritually and physically put on talking spiritually because Paul is talking spiritually of course, at this point, we must avoid nod nod nod like some of you might be doing right now. Nod inducing pleasures.

Luke's gospel chapter 12 verse 13. Let your waist be girded and your lamps burning, and you yourselves be like men who wait for their master. Can you not love that even if you going to tough times. As a Christian you say listen, I know that's required of me. When I'm done with this tough time. I'm getting back up on the wall where I belong going to serve verse 70 continues for those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night come out of my veil around Congressman.

Sleep is used metaphorically to identify the living dead.

Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of first Thessalonians cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry. Visit our website cross reference radio.com once you're there you will find additional teachings from Pastor Rick. We encourage you to subscribe to our podcast. When you subscribe, you will be notified of each new edition of cross reference radio. You can search for cross reference radio in your favorite podcast app as well. That's all we have time for today, but we hope you'll join us next time. It's Pastor Rick continues to teach through the book of first Thessalonians, right here on cross reference rate