So, this morning we are going to write a little about Paul’s writings and how they have been placed in our Bibles.
Paul’s thirteen (13) letters are arranged in our modern Bibles according to the length (from the longest to shortest) of each letter, they are not arranged chronologically as to when they were written (from the earliest to the last).
There is some variance as to which book was written first and which one was second, but with that said, we should remember that it was Jesus Christ that CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach this entire world what God wants for us to know.
I get that above statement from the book of Acts.
Acts 9:15
‘…But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
‘…The Lord said to Ananias, Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
‘…But the Lord said to him, Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel…’ ESV (English Standard Version)
‘…The Lord said to him, Go, because I have chosen him to serve me, to make my name known to Gentiles and kings and to the people of Israel…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
‘…But the Lord said to Ananias, Go! This man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel…’ NIV ( New International Version)
‘…But the Lord said, Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel…’ NLT (New Living Translation)
Jesus made it clear that He CHOSE Saul of Tarsus to teach the entire world His Message.
I have wondered for several years why this verse has been missed by so many that consider themselves Christians.
Help me voice this message to those, that you meet.
Let others know the words that are found in the Word of God.
Jesus wants to give us the GIFT of Life, but we MUST believe what He is telling us in His written Word, the Word of TRUTH.
Ephesians 2:8 ‘…For by GRACE are ye SAVED through FAITH; and that not of yourselves: it is the GIFT of God…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
Remember what is waiting for you by speaking out loud, what is found in the Word of God.
Romans 10:9 ‘…that if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved…’ AKJV (Authorized King James Version)
So, getting back to 1 Thessalonians, the main message is that Paul is telling the church at Thessalonica how much he notices them living their lives in holiness, love and hope. Paul is telling us, the reader of 1 Thessalonians how we should live a life of holiness, and live our lives full of love and hope while we patiently wait for the return of Jesus Christ.
We don’t know when God the Father is going to turn off the light switch and this earth, as we know it, is going to be completed and come to an end, but we should always be ready for when that event does take place.
Readily awaiting eternity so we will be in the presence of Jesus forever.
There may be a few of you that are going to ask if that will be difficult, and assuredly I can answer, YES.
But I also know from what has been written in the pages that fill our Bibles, it will most definitely be worth it.
Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians around 50–51 AD from Corinth, 1 Thessalonians is likely the earliest surviving letter of the Apostle Paul.
He wrote this letter to commend the young, persecuted church, and answer their questions regarding the afterlife, and encourage them to continue living steadfast Christian lives.
The apostle Paul is writing to teach us, living today in the 21st century, what Jesus wants for us to know.
During his second missionary journey, Paul, along with his companions Silas and Timothy, arrived in the bustling Macedonian city of Thessalonica. Although he had early success sharing the gospel, local opposition accused the new Christians of defying the Roman emperor by serving ‘another king, Jesus.’ This intense persecution forced Paul and his companions to sneak out of the city under cover of night for their own safety.
Paul traveled onward to Athens, but he remained deeply concerned for the welfare of the new, vulnerable believers, that he had to leave behind. He sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to check on the church and help strengthen their faith. When Timothy returned, he brought Paul encouraging news: the Thessalonian believers were standing firm and remaining faithful.
1 Thessalonians 1
vs3 ‘…For we remember before our God and Father how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm…’
vs4 ‘…Our friends, we know that God loves you and has chosen you to be his own…’
vs5 ‘…For we brought the Good News to you, not with words only, but also with power and the Holy Spirit, and with complete conviction of its truth. You know how we lived when we were with you; it was for your own good…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
In history, time wise, this was roughly 20 years after the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
I look back throughout time, and I see where man’s religions have taken a compete 180 degree change from what this world actually seen in the 1st century.
Replacement theology, where most religions teach today that we have replaced the Jewish nation of Jesus’ day, that entire idea is nowhere written in the Word of God, it is nothing but a man-made belief.
There is a denomination that follows the writings that were by the apostle Peter.
They lock themselves in a room and elect a man that will be their religious leader, they practice man-made beliefs and they do not follow God’s lead that has been written in His Word.
We could go on and on and continue with denomination after denomination, but we NEED to realize, THERE IS ONLY ONE GOD.
Instead of READING the Word of God and FOLLOWING His lead, so many of these man-made denominations choose to teach the words that they themselves want to teach, they even write their own words to be read aloud and in front of their congregations.
We are not told that we should do that.
The apostle Paul sent Timothy to check up on the church at Thessalonica and check up on them … but what do you think would happen if Paul could send him to check on this world today, what would he think?
Here is what Timothy told the apostle Paul after his visit, checking up on the church at Thessalonica.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 ‘…Now Timothy has come back, and he has brought us the welcome news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always think well of us and that you want to see us just as much as we want to see you…’ GNT (Good News Translation)
What do you think that Jesus would say about us today IF He looked down on this earth?
God’s WRATH is keeping quiet, waiting for us human beings, to seek His GRACE.
The day is quickly approaching, whenever that day has been determined by God our Father, when enough is enough.
These words written by the apostle Paul have been given to us to teach us what God wants for us to know.
Paul’s thirteen (13) books should be opened every day, especially on Sunday mornings instead of spewing the words that in some cases, have been purchased online and sold because they sound good.
Instead of worrying about what sounds good, we should seek those words that God is telling us.
We are SAVED through FAITH.
FAITH in what God is telling us.
Not in faith in what we want to hear, BUT FAITH IN THE WORDS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN US.
His Word, our Holy Bibles has been given to us by the Holy Spirit so that we would know.
Just because human words are not found in the particular version of the Bible that we are reading, that doesn’t mean that idea is false, maybe it simply means we’re using the wrong words.
Our Bibles in the English language, does not use the word ‘RAPTURE.’ What is commonly used, are the words ‘CAUGHT UP,’ or ‘TAKEN UP.’
Starting in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, we are given the events that will occur at the RAPTURE.
The Body of Christ, Jesus’ church is going to be removed from this earth, and the seven (7) years of Tribulation is going to follow this departure.
These verses should be studied by us daily, so we are ready to go.
Ask yourself: ARE YOU READY?
You better be like a boy scout and ‘BE PREPARED.’
You better OPEN the Word of God and READ.
1 Thessalonians 4
vs13 ‘… My friends, we want you to understand how it will be for those followers who have already died. Then you won’t grieve over them and be like people who don’t have any hope…’
vs14 ‘…We believe Jesus died and was raised to life. We also believe that when God brings Jesus back again, he will bring with him all who had faith in Jesus before they died…’
vs15 ‘…Our Lord Jesus told us that when he comes, we won’t go up to meet him ahead of his followers who have already died…’
vs16 ‘…With a loud command and with the shout of the chief angel and a blast of God’s trumpet, the Lord will return from heaven. Then those who had faith in Christ before they died will be raised to life…’
vs17 ‘…Next, all of us who are still alive will be taken up into the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the sky. From that time on we will all be with the Lord forever…’
vs18 ‘…Encourage each other with these words…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Ask yourself out loud: ARE YOU READY?
Continuing in the book, Paul’s message continues to GET US READY.
1 Thessalonians 5
vs1 ‘…I don’t need to write you about the time or date when all this will happen…’
vs2 ‘…You surely know that the Lord’s return will be as a thief coming at night…’
vs3 ‘…People will think they are safe and secure. But destruction will suddenly strike them like the pains of a woman about to give birth. And they won’t escape…’
vs4 ‘…My dear friends, you don’t live in darkness, and so that day won’t surprise you like a thief…’
vs5 ‘…You belong to the light and live in the day. We don’t live in the night or belong to the dark…’
vs6 ‘…Others may sleep, but we should stay awake and be alert…’
vs7 ‘…People sleep during the night, and some even get drunk…’
vs8 ‘…But we belong to the day. So, we must stay sober and let our faith and love be like a suit of armor. Our firm hope that we will be saved is our helmet…’
vs9 ‘…God doesn’t intend to punish us, but wants us to be saved by our Lord Jesus Christ…’
vs10 ‘…Christ died for us, so we could live with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes…’
vs11 ‘…This is why you must encourage and help each other, just as you are already doing…’ CEV (Contemporary English Version)
Our ONLY response can be that we BELIEVE.
READ His Word so that you will know.
Stop following what this world has taught us for nearly 2000 years now, and FOLLOW Jesus’ lead.
OPEN your Bible and READ His Word.
I want to invite you to join me in my pursuit to follow in Jesus’ footsteps.
I love ALL of y’all.
Here is a reading plan I’d like to suggest for the one searching to find God in the 21st century:
Day 1 – Galatians 1-6, 1Thessalonians 1-5
Day 2 – 2Thessalonians 1-3, 1Corinthians 1-8
Day 3 – 1Corinthians 9-16
Day 4 – 2Corinthians 1-13
Day 5 – Romans 1-10
Day 6 – Romans 11-16, Philippians 1-4
Day 7 – Colossians 1-4, Ephesians 1-6
Day 8 – Philemon 1, 1 Timothy 1-6, Titus 1-3, 2Timothy 1-4
Day 9 – Acts 1-7
Day 10 – Acts 8-13
Day 11 – Acts 14-20
Day 12 – Acts 21-28
The entire Bible, ALL SCRIPTURE has been given to us by God (2TIM3:16), but NOT ALL Scripture has been meant for us ALL to follow … we are told we MUST know how to RIGHTLY DIVIDE the truth of God (2TIM2:15).
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