1 Thessalonians

1 Thessalonians

Summary: Thessaloniki a major trade city under the governing of the great Marc Anthony. Paul stopped here on his way to Athens for a few weeks. After leaving he was a bit worried about how the small church was fairing in the large trade city. Sending Timothy to check up Paul finds out there where a
few things he needed to address. This letter was the corrective guidance. This is what I discovered:

Things I Noticed:

1. Our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in part and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. (The word comes with Conviction.)
2. So we speak not to please man, but to place God who tests our hearts.
3. For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed-God is witness. (We do not come with slick gimmicks or promises.)
4. We worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you. (They asked for no money or collection plate.)
5. For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor, not in passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.
6. The Lord is an avenger. (Take that Iron Man.)
7. God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.
8. For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep. (Fallen Asleep means dead.)
9. That we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep.
10. For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.  (End time prophecy.)
11. 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. (What cost will that peace and security come at?)
12. So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let use keep awake and be sober. (Let us not acts as if we are dead but alive and focused.)
13. Having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. (More armor something to compare to Ephesians.)
14. For God has not destined us for wrath.
15. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies, but test everything: hold fast what is good. Abstain from every evil.

Taking the sights and sounds of Thessaloniki I will be here for a bit since. Number is still what I am meditating on. My birthday just passed and it was celebrated well with my wife. The next part of my Journey takes me to here so relax and enjoy with me.
Till we meet again, Read up, Post up, and Shalom.