Being Prepared for the Day of the Lord 1Thessalonians 5:1-11 Presented by Bob DeWaay May 14, 2006

Quantitative and Qualitative Time 1Thessalonians 5:1 Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you

Times and Epochs Acts 1:6,7 And so when they had come together, they were asking Him, saying, “Lord, is it at this time You are restoring the kingdom to Israel?” He said to them, “It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority;”

The Day of God’s Judgment Will be Sudden, Certain, and Unexpected by the World 1Thessalonians 5:2 For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night.

The Day of The Lord The day of judgment (2Peter 2:9) The day of wrath (Romans 2:5) The day of redemption (Ephesians 4:30) The day of God (2Peter 3:12) The day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6) The day of the Lord (1Corinthians 5:5) That day (2Thessalonians 1:10) The great day (Jude 1:6) The Last day (John 6:39)

Like a Thief Matthew 24: Therefore be on the alert, for you do not know which day your Lord is coming. But be sure of this, that if the head of the house had known at what time of the night the thief was coming, he would have been on the alert and would not have allowed his house to be broken into. For this reason you be ready too; for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not think He will.

False Peace Precedes Sudden and Inevitable Judgment 1Thessalonians 5:3 While they are saying, “Peace and safety!” then destruction will come upon them suddenly like birth pangs upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

The Message of False Prophets Jeremiah 6:14, 15 And they have healed the brokenness of My people superficially, Saying, 'Peace, peace,' But there is no peace. “Were they ashamed because of the abomination they have done? They were not even ashamed at all; They did not even know how to blush. Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; At the time that I punish them, They shall be cast down,” says the Lord.

Believers Have God’s Light 1Thessalonians 5:4, 5 But you, brethren, are not in darkness, that the day should overtake you like a thief; for you are all sons of light and sons of day. We are not of night nor of darkness;

We are Exhorted to be Alert to Spiritual Danger 1Thessalonians 5:6, 7 so then let us not sleep as others do, but let us be alert and sober. For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.

The Church is Warned as Well Revelation 3:3 “Remember therefore what you have received and heard; and keep it, and repent. If therefore you will not wake up, I will come like a thief, and you will not know at what hour I will come upon you.”

Sons of Light Living in a World of Darkness Need Preparation for Battle 1Thessalonians 5:8 But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation.

Appointed to Eschatological Salvation 1Thessalonians 5:9, 10 For God has not destined us for wrath, but for obtaining salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him.

We are to Encourage One Another with the Truth and In Christian Love 1Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another, and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Applications Resist the Peace offered by False Prophets Be Prepared for the Day of the Lord Be Prepared for the Battle Now

Resist the “Peace” of False Prophets Jeremiah 27:14, 15 So do not listen to the words of the prophets who speak to you, saying, “You shall not serve the king of Babylon,” for they prophesy a lie to you; for I have not sent them, declares the Lord, but they prophesy falsely in My name, in order that I may drive you out, and that you may perish, you and the prophets who prophesy to you.

There is Only One Way to Peace Romans 5:1 Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, Romans 5:9 Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him.

False Prophets Offer Peace Without Reconciliation to God Isaiah 48:22 “There is no peace for the wicked,” says the Lord.

Be Prepared for the Day of the Lord Mark 1:14, 15 And after John had been taken into custody, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, “The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.”

Be Prepared for the Battle Now Ephesians 6:14, 15 Stand firm therefore, having girded your loins with truth, and having put on the breastplate of righteousness, and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace;

Be Prepared for the Battle Now Ephesians 6:16, 17 in addition to all, taking up the shield of faith with which you will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles of the evil one. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.

Next Week’s Sermon Genesis 43 Joseph’s Brothers Return with Benjamin