The last words from Paul The most important words we need to know- I Thessalonians 4

Open Read some of the last words in the appendix.

Dig Key verse: I Thessalonians 4:1.. To please God… Read I Thessalonians 4 Last words are mostly the most important words – v1a – finally. Our life goal is: 1) To please Him. a) It’s the living that the Thessalonians had been practicing and they should continue – v1b Question: How do we live a life that would play Him today? 2) Other than that, they needed to live a sanctifying life in v.3.

Continued.. a) What Paul mentioned was sexual purity in v3b. b) He explained what it means: b.1) control the body holy and honorable in v4b. b.2) It means not practicing like the heathen passionate lust in v.5a. Question: How should we live today a pure sexual life for this sexual indulging society of today?

Continued.. 3) Paul gave the reason why we should stop doing that in v.6. a) It would damage the relationship among the brothers in v.6a. b) Ultimately we should know God will judge in v6b. c) We should realize God’s calling is for us to remain pure and holy in v7. d) If we do, i.e. ignore the instructions, the persons are actually rejecting the Holy Spirit living in them in v8. (What’s the consequence of rejecting the indwelling Holy Spirit in us?)

Continued.. 4) Continue to practice brotherly love in v. 9. a) They had been doing it successfully and Paul encouraged them to do more and more in the areas in v.10. 5) Live an industrious life: a) industrious life means not be a busy body, talk more than walk, gossiping etc. - a quiet life in v.11. b) live with our hands and not just with our mouths – there’re more talker in the church today than walker – serve others, do things for others without noticing etc. in v11b. c) know that such practices, i.e. industrious life, will be respected not only without the church body but also those who don’t know Christ in v.12.

Continued.. Paul’s most important last word of “why” we practice what we are taught and “what” makes us to do so – because we’ve a blessed hope. How should we see our lost love one,i.e. those who die? 1) He began with the word of encouragement about the dead in Christ: a) we shouldn’t be ignorant in v.13. Ignorant means something we should’ve known all along – about the dead in Christ.

Continued.. b) We shouldn’t be grieving as much when we see the lost love one in Christ in v13. c) The grievous attitude mentioned is like those who don’t know Christ in v.13b. Paul explained why: a) The Lord, Christ, will bring along those who believe Christ’s resurrection. The “bring along” means “keep them companied”. b) According to the words of God, this will occur:

Continued.. There will be a time of His coming back. If we’re still alive during that time, we won’t go ahead of those who had died in the Lord in v.15b. The Lord will come back from heaven with Archangel’s voice and God’s trumpet, the dead will rise from the dead in v.16. Then, it will be those who are still alive and they will be caught up with the first resurrected saints to meet the Lord in the mid-air in v.17.

Continued.. Then, from that time on we will be with the Lord for good. Hence, use these words to comfort each other for the dying saints in v18.

To sum up The important of Christian living: 1) Know our goal of living – to please Him. 2) Live a sanctifying life – practicing sexual purity. 3) Practice brotherly love 4) Live an industrious life for the Lord 5) Always remember what death to us and our lost love ones are – He’ll be back to get the lost love saints and the still living ones, if He’s late of coming back; and we’ll be living with the Lord for good from that time on.

"I have a long journey to take, and must bid the company farewell." Walter Raleigh ( ), English explorer "If this is dying, I don't think much of it." Lytton Strachey ( ), British writer "Dear me, I believe I am becoming a god. An emperor ought at least to die on his feet." Vespasian (9-79 AD), Roman emperor "Either that wallpaper goes, or I do." Oscar Wilde ( ), Irish dramatist. As he lay dying in Paris "I feel nothing, apart from a certain difficulty in continuing to exist." Bernard de Fontenelle ( ), French philosopher. "Why are you weeping? Did you imagine that I was immortal?" Louis XIV ( ), Well known French king, as his servants cried for him.