Studies in 1 Thessalonians #6- What are we Appointed For?
Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11
Read with me 1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11….
To finally meet up with your destiny must be a very satisfying moment in your life!
"The boy who will one day be king" is a title that you don't always expect to wear if you are a
prince but it tells of a purpose that you are being geared towards!
I can imagine that if I was in that kind of a situation, my whole life would be one of
considering all of the things that might happen on the way to the throne!
What if the one before me does something stupid and our family loses the crown?
What if the people revolt just as I am about to ascend the throne?
What if tragedy strikes and I don't make it that far?
And so on and so on it could go!
Now, in theory you are destined to become king, but in reality (at least in your mind)
there are a lot of things that could stop this from taking place! Until the day actually was to
happen, we couldn't be secure in the thought!
Some people actually look at the Christian's crown (2 Timothy 4:6-8) in a similar fashion!
We are destined to be crowned, but a lot of things could happen along the way, so we just won't
stand too confident today of it.
Now, this great church has got some heavy questions on their minds. As we looked at last
week, Paul has just gotten done encouraging them to remember to live holy lives. To control
their own bodies and not engage in sexual sins of any kind. (1 Corinthians 7 is a good source
for God's will in this area- let each have their own spouse and then the single to get married if
they can't exercise self-control) God's call is to holiness and if we reject this call, we are
actually rejecting God!
Beginning in verse 13 now of chapter 4, Paul gets to the Christian's destiny and wants to
clear up any misconceptions in respect to it.
So, Paul now that we know to continue to live proper lives before God what about the future?
Listen to what Paul says,
Vs.13- Here is the question, Paul, what happens to the people who have died before the return of
Jesus?
This is difficult, if those who believe in Jesus are to never die, what happens to those who have
died? (John 11:26)
Will they somehow be lost, or in a state of nothingness when Christ does come?
What happens to my husband who lived in the faith of Jesus but is no longer around?
Well, I don't want you to sorrow as those without hope! What?
People who die in Jesus have hope! This is really important to take with us to a Christian's
burial:
somehow Paul is going to bring to our attention the fact that a Christian who is dead, still has
great hope! Now before jumping on these Christians for this needed explanation, remember they
were a young church experiencing a lot of problems and before this didn't have a 1 Thessalonian
letter to reference!
Vs.14-18- what is the hope Paul?
Well the hope stems from what happened that weekend at Calvary when the whole universe was shaken
up! Since Jesus died and rose again, all of God's children shall go through the same!
(John 5:28,29) Listen, a dead Christian has great hope! (1 Corinthians 15:12-19)
Not only that, the dead in Christ will not be behind the ones still alive when he comes! This by
the way comes from the Lord himself!
Listen, he says, you are under heavy affliction because of your faith in Jesus (1:6), some of you
are now dying and this is causing some concern. A dead Christian is not equal to a dead
non-believer. In fact, a dead Christian will be equal to the living ones! What a scene!
As children of God we need to always be thinking about this day. What is going to take place on
the day Jesus comes back?
Where will the dead in Christ be?
What about those of us still alive?
Will I ever see my husband, my child, my grandpa, and my friend again?
Let's try to envision the scene:
Everybody is going to know when he comes
There's gonna be a great shout in the air and along with it the voice of the archangel and the
trumpet of God!
Imagine looking up and seeing our Saviour and King descending out of heaven towards us. (1
Corinthians 15:51,52)
Then what?
The dead in Christ shall rise first!
The living have no precedence over the dead! There is a reason Revelation 14:13 was written.
Then what?
The living will be caught up in the air forever with the Lord! What a reunion that's gonna be!
Do you look forward to that day today?
The day you will see the loved ones who have gone on! Paul says, this is to bring comfort to
everybody there!
Oh, how we need that comfort don't we?
How we need to be reminding each other that we will be together again with all the redeemed
including those closest to us when Jesus returns!
When's it going to be Paul?
What do we need to be concentrating on?
Are Christians going to receive what they are destined for?
5:1,2- Nobody knows when this will take place!
It's going to be a surprise to people! (Matthew 24:36) There are some things about Christ's
return we can know for sure and then there are other things we can't know at all so get out of
trying to worry about knowing it!
5:3-6- Here's the point, people won't be expecting it and some people won't be believing it
could happen right then! (Matthew 24:44) So, as children of God who walk in the light, live
properly today! Why?
You should live with the knowledge that Jesus could come any moment! Listen, unbelievers in
Jesus will be unprepared for it, but believers should not be caught off-guard! What did Jesus
tell his followers in his last teaching moments before the cross?
BE READY! Matthew 24:45-51
What about us?
Are we busy preparing for eternity daily?
Are we thinking and praying about the final day on earth?
Do we live in full expectation that judgment could be right around the corner?
Do we understand that all the bank accounts, homes, cars, luxuries, securities we have could
instantly be shown for its true worth: NOTHING SPIRITUALLY?
Is Jesus welcome to come at any moment?
(Here's the catcher: What if we're not concerned about our standing but a loved one's? That's a
difficult question, we don't want any loved one to not make it. What we are asking however is
what is under your control. Is that ready to meet Jesus? The other thing is somehow God will
see to it that we are still well taken care of even emotionally)
5:7,8- How do we get prepared?
Here they are again- faith, love & hope (1:3) Let these three cardinal virtues protect you for
that day! Keep living in faith, keep love on fire and the hope of salvation in your heart!
5:9-11- now, what is our destiny as children of God?
Well, what was God's goal in calling you through the death & resurrection of His Son?
Listen Christian, God did not call you to suffer His wrath! The reason God invited you to become
His child through His grace was not just so you would stumble and not make the grade! God
appointed you to obtain salvation!
So, since Jesus died for us, whether we live or die we will live together with Jesus!
(Phil.1:20,21, John 11:25,26)
These again are our comforting words-
whether we live or die; we will live with Jesus. We will some day arrive at our destiny!
Are we prepared to meet God?
What are we appointed to?
What are you appointed to?
If you are not in Christ, you do not have the hope of salvation! (2 Thess.1:7-9)
If you are in Christ, you have this hope-
whether you live or die; you will be with Jesus forever!
Which would you rather have?
Come, get into Christ as we stand and sing? (Galatians 3:26,27)
Back to lessons page.
Back to home page.