WEBVTT 00:00:04.160 --> 00:00:08.640 Hello, I'm Pastor Creighton, and thank you for tuning in to Usung Churches Podcast. 00:00:08.800 --> 00:00:15.439 We're a gospel centered church in Port Perry, Ontario, proclaiming the true and life-giving word of Jesus as we love and serve our neighbors. 00:00:15.599 --> 00:00:18.320 May God bless you today through his life-giving word. 00:00:19.359 --> 00:00:24.879 The second lesson is from 1 Thessalonians chapter 5, verses 1 through 11. 00:00:25.600 --> 00:00:28.000 About the times and the seasons. 00:00:28.320 --> 00:00:39.439 Brothers and sisters, you do not need anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 00:00:39.759 --> 00:00:49.520 When they say peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them, like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 00:00:50.000 --> 00:00:56.640 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 00:00:56.960 --> 00:01:00.880 For you are all children of light and children of the day. 00:01:01.200 --> 00:01:04.719 We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 00:01:05.120 --> 00:01:12.000 So then let us not sleep like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:18.959 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 00:01:19.280 --> 00:01:30.159 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled and put on the armor of faith and love and a helmet of the hope of salvation. 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:44.319 For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 00:01:44.560 --> 00:01:50.879 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up as you are already doing. 00:01:51.120 --> 00:01:52.719 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:52.959 --> 00:01:54.239 Thanks be to God. 00:01:54.640 --> 00:01:58.640 Sisters, brothers, let's encourage one another and build each other up. 00:01:58.799 --> 00:02:00.000 Let's pray. 00:02:02.959 --> 00:02:05.760 Lord Jesus, you've called us to yourself by grace. 00:02:05.920 --> 00:02:08.719 We pray now by grace you would build us up. 00:02:09.039 --> 00:02:22.800 Give us reason for hope and confidence that we would find encouragement to live out the Christian life, to make our spiritual pilgrimage, and to encourage one another to do the same. 00:02:23.120 --> 00:02:29.280 Let the words of my mouth, the meditation of all of our hearts, be always pleasing in your sight, O Lord, our Rock and Redeemer. 00:02:29.599 --> 00:02:30.240 Amen. 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:31.919 Please be seated. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.479 Boy, a whole new perspective on things up here. 00:02:43.599 --> 00:02:45.120 All right, friends. 00:02:45.599 --> 00:02:51.759 Well, let's imagine for a moment we decided we're gonna run a marathon together. 00:02:52.159 --> 00:02:58.479 And here we are, we've done our training, we've done our preparation, and now we're, I don't know, how long is a marathon, by the way? 00:02:58.560 --> 00:02:59.439 I probably should have looked that up. 00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:00.240 Five miles? 00:03:00.400 --> 00:03:01.280 Four miles? 00:03:02.080 --> 00:03:03.520 26 miles? 00:03:04.080 --> 00:03:06.240 We're most of the way through it. 00:03:06.800 --> 00:03:09.120 We're getting to that last mile. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:23.680 And, you know, naturally, because I'm gonna be at least somewhat realistic in this illustration, we're shoulder to shoulder, getting to that last mile, making that final turn, and I'm saying to you, this is just too much. 00:03:23.919 --> 00:03:27.120 My legs are burning, my joints ache. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:29.840 This is not what I signed up for. 00:03:30.080 --> 00:03:31.520 I'm going home. 00:03:32.240 --> 00:03:38.159 Now, as we make that final turn, you're feeling everything that I'm feeling in that moment. 00:03:38.639 --> 00:03:47.840 Except you see your family, you see your friends, you see your loved ones gathered along the side of the road, holding up signs and cheering out. 00:03:48.080 --> 00:03:48.960 Keep going. 00:03:49.199 --> 00:03:50.159 Don't stop. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:55.520 I mean, already you can see the difference that a little encouragement makes. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:58.479 A little encouragement goes a long way, doesn't it? 00:03:58.639 --> 00:04:05.120 A little encouragement can even counteract all those voices of discouragement that you find around you. 00:04:05.199 --> 00:04:14.000 And maybe you found that at a certain point in your life, you had someone come alongside you and say, don't give up, don't stop, keep at it. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:18.319 And maybe you'd say that made all the difference as you look back. 00:04:18.560 --> 00:04:20.879 The spiritual life is no different. 00:04:21.199 --> 00:04:23.839 Discouragement is easy. 00:04:24.160 --> 00:04:28.800 Discouragement is like gravity, it just has a way of pulling you down. 00:04:28.879 --> 00:04:30.399 That's the way it works. 00:04:30.720 --> 00:04:36.959 Encouragement takes commitment, takes effort, takes intentionality, doesn't it? 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:45.439 Now we've been going through the one another commands in the New Testament, asking the question what does it mean to be a gospel-centered church? 00:04:45.600 --> 00:04:53.120 And not just a gospel-centered church, but a church that is putting the gospel into action, putting it into practice one with another. 00:04:53.519 --> 00:05:02.079 We found that foundationally, a church that puts the gospel into action is a church that loves one another committedly. 00:05:02.319 --> 00:05:04.959 We show up for one another, we're there for one another. 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:07.680 When we gather, we say, I'm gonna be there. 00:05:07.920 --> 00:05:11.920 We bring something with us, and we have something to offer one with another. 00:05:12.160 --> 00:05:18.480 We love one another, and then everything else is almost built, as it were, on that single commandment to love one another. 00:05:18.560 --> 00:05:23.199 It finds expression in serving one another and forgiving one another. 00:05:23.519 --> 00:05:29.680 And this Sunday we find that loving one another is also a call to encourage one another. 00:05:29.920 --> 00:05:32.800 Did you see that in Thessalonians 5.11? 00:05:33.040 --> 00:05:37.360 Encourage one another and build each other up as you're already doing. 00:05:37.519 --> 00:05:41.360 That's what Paul writes to the church in Thessalonica. 00:05:42.319 --> 00:05:45.759 The church in Thessalonica needs encouragement. 00:05:46.079 --> 00:05:50.079 Because just like us, discouragement is easy. 00:05:50.319 --> 00:05:58.560 The church in Thessalonica has experienced a number of deaths recently in their congregation, and they're feeling rattled and discouraged by that. 00:05:58.800 --> 00:06:02.720 They're also rattled and discouraged by the idea of Christ's return. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:04.160 Are we ready for that? 00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.360 When he shows up, is he going to be happy with us? 00:06:07.680 --> 00:06:09.920 Because we're not so sure he will be. 00:06:10.240 --> 00:06:17.600 The Thessalonians need encouragement, and not just from the Apostle Paul, they need to encourage one another on an ongoing basis. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:26.079 And friends, as a church family, so too do we need to encourage one another because the Christian life can be hard, can't it? 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.680 And discouragement can be so easy. 00:06:30.079 --> 00:06:31.680 So we need to encourage one another. 00:06:31.839 --> 00:06:36.959 A church that puts the gospel into action encourages one another. 00:06:37.199 --> 00:06:38.480 And encourages to what? 00:06:38.639 --> 00:06:40.160 What do we encourage each other to? 00:06:40.319 --> 00:06:41.519 That's the question we want to ask. 00:06:41.680 --> 00:06:47.839 And Paul, I think, has at least three answers for the Thessalonians, and he would have three answers for us as well. 00:06:48.160 --> 00:06:51.439 Encourage one another to be vigilant. 00:06:51.759 --> 00:06:58.079 Encourage one another to be self-controlled, and encourage one another to be confident. 00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.120 Be vigilant, self-controlled, and confident. 00:07:01.279 --> 00:07:12.000 Encouragement can make all the difference in life, in marathons, and in the spiritual life as well, in longevity and in joy along the way. 00:07:12.160 --> 00:07:16.079 So open up your Bibles with me to 1 Thessalonians chapter 5. 00:07:17.360 --> 00:07:25.600 Let's have a look at what it means to encourage one another as a church that puts the gospel into action. 00:07:30.879 --> 00:07:32.240 Chapter 5. 00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:48.240 About the about the times and seasons, Paul begins, brothers and sisters, you don't need anything to be written to you, for you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. 00:07:48.480 --> 00:07:58.319 When they say peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them like labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:00.959 That's encouraging stuff, right? 00:08:02.240 --> 00:08:03.839 What's Paul's point? 00:08:04.879 --> 00:08:08.639 Well, Paul's describing the day of the Lord, right? 00:08:08.800 --> 00:08:12.720 This is a very loaded phrase from the Old Testament prophets, especially. 00:08:12.879 --> 00:08:18.319 You find it in the book of Amos, but you find it in places like Zephaniah, especially in chapters one and three. 00:08:18.480 --> 00:08:24.959 Let me just read a portion of Zephaniah that I think gives us a flavor of what it is that Paul's talking about describing the day of the Lord. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:31.439 Zephaniah chapter 1, the great day of the Lord is near, near and rapidly approaching. 00:08:31.920 --> 00:08:38.080 That day is a day of wrath, a day of trouble and distress, a day of destruction and desolation. 00:08:38.879 --> 00:08:40.879 I will bring distress on mankind. 00:08:41.039 --> 00:08:48.480 That's the Lord speaking, and they will walk like the blind because they have sinned against the Lord. 00:08:49.600 --> 00:08:54.639 Paul is dealing with a matter of fear and confusion for the Thessalonians. 00:08:54.799 --> 00:09:01.759 They know about the day of the Lord, but it's something that stirs great trepidation, great fear, great anxiety. 00:09:01.840 --> 00:09:04.080 And can you blame them if you read something like that? 00:09:04.320 --> 00:09:08.320 But the day of the Lord has two sides to the coin, you could say. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:16.799 The day of the Lord is going to be a day where God intervenes dramatically and determinately in the affairs of the human race. 00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:23.120 God is going to personally answer all evil and suffering and put it to an end. 00:09:23.279 --> 00:09:34.240 It's going to be past tense, while at the same time God conclusively rescues and redeems his people and invites them to dwell with him forever. 00:09:34.480 --> 00:09:45.440 And so just as the day of the Lord is a day of wrath against all evil and sin that opposes God's will, so too is the day of the Lord a great day of celebration for those who trust the Lord. 00:09:45.679 --> 00:09:46.960 Zephaniah chapter 3. 00:09:47.120 --> 00:09:54.399 On that day, that same day, you will not be put to shame because of everything that you have done in rebelling against me, says the Lord. 00:09:54.639 --> 00:10:04.000 He goes on to say, Be glad and celebrate with all your heart, daughter Jerusalem, the Lord has removed your punishment, he has turned back your enemy. 00:10:04.320 --> 00:10:08.320 The Lord your God is among you, a warrior who saves. 00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:11.440 He will rejoice over you with gladness. 00:10:11.679 --> 00:10:19.919 He will be quiet, he will quiet, pardon me, he will be quiet in his love, he will delight in you with singing. 00:10:20.240 --> 00:10:22.240 What an amazing image, isn't that? 00:10:22.559 --> 00:10:25.279 I mean, we're New Song Church and we love singing. 00:10:25.600 --> 00:10:31.759 But the first person to sing, the first song that will be sung, is God singing over us, his people. 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:33.279 Isn't that amazing? 00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:36.000 That inspires us to sing, doesn't it? 00:10:36.559 --> 00:10:38.320 This is the day of the Lord. 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:48.559 Yes, it's a day where God will visit his wrath on all evil that opposes his will, and yet it will also be a day of great celebration and salvation for those who are in the Lord. 00:10:48.639 --> 00:11:02.320 And Paul understands, in light of Christ, the day of the Lord that was anticipated by the Old Testament prophets refers also to Christ's return in glory to judge the living and the dead, and his kingdom will have no end. 00:11:02.399 --> 00:11:04.240 Isn't that what we just confessed? 00:11:04.559 --> 00:11:12.080 Christ's return will be the day of the Lord, and it will be a sudden return, is what Paul writes in verse 3. 00:11:12.240 --> 00:11:16.720 When they say peace and security, then sudden destruction will come upon them. 00:11:16.960 --> 00:11:18.879 Kind of like the guy who built the barn, right? 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:21.120 Everything's alright, I'm going to relax and take it easy. 00:11:21.200 --> 00:11:22.720 I got this all under control. 00:11:23.919 --> 00:11:32.480 And yet, if we're not vigilant, mindful, prepared, Christ's return will come unexpectedly, suddenly. 00:11:33.759 --> 00:11:38.799 And so Paul is writing to Thessalonians saying, Really, you don't need to know much more than that. 00:11:39.120 --> 00:11:45.200 In fact, you know, I think what Paul is trying to say to Thessalonians is much the same that he would say to us. 00:11:45.440 --> 00:11:53.919 Any preacher, myself included, who gets out the calendar and points to it and says, This is when Jesus is coming back, that's a preacher you need to switch off. 00:11:54.480 --> 00:11:58.159 Not even the Son knows, only the Father knows that day that he will return. 00:11:58.320 --> 00:12:02.960 All we need to know, along with the Thessalonians, is that Christ will return. 00:12:03.120 --> 00:12:07.039 And therefore we need to be spiritually prepared for it. 00:12:07.360 --> 00:12:08.879 We need to be vigilant. 00:12:09.039 --> 00:12:10.559 That's Paul's point here. 00:12:10.720 --> 00:12:13.759 He gives a couple of images for how suddenly this day will come. 00:12:13.840 --> 00:12:15.360 It'll come like a thief in the night. 00:12:15.519 --> 00:12:18.480 It'll come like labor pains on a pregnant woman. 00:12:18.559 --> 00:12:22.480 And both of these images really just highlight the need for preparedness. 00:12:23.120 --> 00:12:28.639 We'd be foolish to think that we're immune from a thief breaking in to steal, so we lock our doors. 00:12:28.879 --> 00:12:34.799 A pregnant woman knows the due date is coming and takes every effort to prepare, right? 00:12:35.200 --> 00:12:39.360 You already know, Paul is saying, Christ will return suddenly. 00:12:39.600 --> 00:12:42.399 So stay awake, verse 6. 00:12:42.639 --> 00:12:45.440 Be vigilant, be prepared. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:53.840 Friends, I think we can be vigilant by reminding ourselves of Christ's return often. 00:12:54.240 --> 00:13:03.200 I think one of the things that this means is that Christianity, our Christian faith, is not so much a backward-looking faith as a forward-looking faith. 00:13:03.440 --> 00:13:08.960 It involves both, yes, but I think sometimes it's easy to get the impression that Christianity always looks backward. 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:10.879 It always looks at what has happened. 00:13:10.960 --> 00:13:14.720 It reminds us of Bible stories that took place in the past or whatever else. 00:13:14.879 --> 00:13:16.639 And yes, there is that dynamic. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:23.279 We need to look back and be reminded of what God has said and done in history, revealing himself and his will for us. 00:13:23.440 --> 00:13:35.039 But all of these things cultivate assurance to us that God keeps his promises and that his promises will be fully realized when he comes again in glory. 00:13:35.200 --> 00:13:37.440 Ours is a forward-looking faith. 00:13:37.679 --> 00:13:45.919 We look forward to that day when our faith will be made sight, and our Lord Jesus comes in glory, and we will live with him forever. 00:13:46.159 --> 00:13:46.799 Amen. 00:13:47.759 --> 00:13:50.240 Ours is a forward-looking faith. 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:55.039 And so we're vigilant when we think about eternity and when we think about it often. 00:13:55.200 --> 00:14:06.240 I wonder if we would do well for every time we meditate on the cross and the resurrection, and we do well to meditate on the cross and resurrection, but to remind ourselves that Christ will come again. 00:14:06.639 --> 00:14:10.080 And then to ask ourselves, Am I prepared? 00:14:10.399 --> 00:14:13.440 Am I ready to meet my Lord when he comes? 00:14:13.759 --> 00:14:14.559 Be vigilant. 00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:21.759 Ours is a forward-looking faith, and we can encourage vigilance together when we remind one another of this fact. 00:14:22.000 --> 00:14:38.720 As we pray for one another, as we converse with one another, as we comfort one another in sorrow and in times of difficulty, we remind each other that one day all of this will be past tense, and our Lord Jesus will come and we will dwell with him forever. 00:14:38.960 --> 00:14:46.799 We can be that for one another, along the side of the road, encouraging one another as we make this pilgrimage of faith to meet our Lord Jesus. 00:14:46.960 --> 00:14:49.519 Because isn't that the goal of the Christian life? 00:14:49.759 --> 00:14:57.279 The goal of the Christian life is not behavior modification, it is meeting our Lord and Savior who loves us. 00:14:57.600 --> 00:15:01.120 So be vigilant, Paul says to the Thessalonians. 00:15:01.759 --> 00:15:10.879 Encouraging vigilance means we ought not to be surprised when the Lord comes, but we do have to let our vigilance shape our character. 00:15:11.120 --> 00:15:13.679 Let's look at verses four to eight. 00:15:14.159 --> 00:15:16.559 Be vigilant, that's how we encourage one another. 00:15:16.799 --> 00:15:19.759 Be self-controlled, that's how we encourage one another as well. 00:15:19.919 --> 00:15:26.080 But you, brothers and sisters, are not in the dark, Paul writes, for this day to surprise you like a thief. 00:15:26.559 --> 00:15:30.639 You are children of the light and children of the day. 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:34.000 We do not belong to the night or the darkness. 00:15:34.240 --> 00:15:41.039 So then let us not sleep like the rest, but let us stay awake and be self-controlled. 00:15:41.200 --> 00:15:47.679 For those who sleep sleep at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night. 00:15:50.639 --> 00:15:52.240 Yeah, I'm gonna stop there. 00:15:54.480 --> 00:15:56.000 Remember who you are. 00:15:56.240 --> 00:15:58.159 That's what Paul is saying here. 00:15:58.480 --> 00:16:04.000 Remember who you are as you vigilantly wait for that day of the Lord for Christ's return. 00:16:04.159 --> 00:16:05.440 Don't forget who you are. 00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:07.519 And who are we, Paul says? 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:13.200 You are children of light and children of the day, verse 5. 00:16:13.840 --> 00:16:21.279 Light throughout Scripture represents God's holy and pure and dazzling and resplendent character. 00:16:21.519 --> 00:16:29.360 To be in the light is to be in God, as it were, to be to accord with God's character and with his reign in the world. 00:16:29.519 --> 00:16:35.600 To be in darkness is to be outside of God's will or outside of God's reign, or it's a deprivation of light. 00:16:35.679 --> 00:16:37.759 And we see that throughout Scripture, don't we? 00:16:37.919 --> 00:16:41.600 That's why in John chapter 8, Jesus can declare that I am the light of the world. 00:16:41.759 --> 00:16:45.279 He is the fullest revelation of who God is. 00:16:46.080 --> 00:16:51.679 So to be children of the light is to say, you and I belong to Christ. 00:16:51.840 --> 00:17:04.720 If we trust him as our Lord and Savior, and if he is the light of the world, then we are children of the light, called to bear his resemblance, much like a child bears the resemblance of her father or her mother, right? 00:17:05.200 --> 00:17:10.480 We bear out Christ's character in the world as children of light. 00:17:10.799 --> 00:17:14.319 And Paul repeats, we're children of light, children of the day as well. 00:17:14.480 --> 00:17:23.680 I mean, in one sense, he might just be hammering home the same idea, but I do think Paul is referring back to the point he's just made, that we live as people prepared for the day of the Lord. 00:17:23.920 --> 00:17:30.480 We are people characterized by that hope, that future hope that will be realized when Christ comes again. 00:17:30.720 --> 00:17:34.720 We are people who live in anticipation of that day. 00:17:35.039 --> 00:17:37.359 We are children of the light who belong to Christ. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:41.039 We are children of the day who look forward to Christ. 00:17:41.279 --> 00:17:42.559 That's what defines us. 00:17:42.720 --> 00:17:44.240 That's who we are. 00:17:44.640 --> 00:17:52.319 And if that's who we are, then Paul is reminding us as Christians to be who you are, live out who you are. 00:17:52.559 --> 00:17:57.200 If we belong to Christ, then let your behavior reflect Christ. 00:17:57.440 --> 00:17:58.559 Be self-controlled. 00:17:58.720 --> 00:18:02.319 Paul repeats that twice in verses 4 and verse 6. 00:18:02.559 --> 00:18:06.720 Be self-controlled, which I don't take to mean Christians ought to be no fun. 00:18:06.880 --> 00:18:07.839 You know what I mean? 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:20.240 I think when we consider uh, well, Zephaniah 3, which we just read, and we consider the fact that all the whole story of Scripture leads us to this great wedding celebration and perfect union with God in Christ. 00:18:20.480 --> 00:18:24.160 Christians should be those who know how to celebrate like no one else. 00:18:24.480 --> 00:18:27.599 Christians should be joyful, Christians should be full of celebration. 00:18:27.680 --> 00:18:34.640 It doesn't mean all parts of life are worth celebrating, but it does mean we have a hope that will defeat the darkness. 00:18:34.880 --> 00:18:39.920 And therefore, we have good reason to celebrate and good reason to have hope. 00:18:40.160 --> 00:19:00.720 It doesn't mean that Christians are no fun being self-controlled, but it does mean that in light of Christ's return, we conduct ourselves soberly, or perhaps you might say dispassionately, or perhaps we could say this: Christians conduct themselves presently as disciplined in light of our future hope. 00:19:00.880 --> 00:19:04.559 I mean, if you're a marathon runner, it requires discipline, doesn't it? 00:19:04.799 --> 00:19:10.160 I mean, if I just think I can jump into a marathon, I don't even know how long a marathon is, apparently. 00:19:10.400 --> 00:19:16.400 If I think I can just hop in on a marathon without any preparation or training, I'd be fooling myself. 00:19:16.720 --> 00:19:22.480 But if I want to live in light of the goal of the marathon, then I need to discipline myself accordingly, don't I? 00:19:22.799 --> 00:19:24.960 And the spiritual life is much the same. 00:19:25.200 --> 00:19:29.839 If the goal is to meet our Lord Jesus, am I conducting myself? 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:37.680 Am I letting my character be shaped by his word as such that my character increasingly conforms to that of Christ? 00:19:37.920 --> 00:19:52.799 We talk about sanctification as a work of the Holy Spirit who shapes our will and our conduct to look more and more like Christ so that we can reflect Christ more and more to one another and to the world. 00:19:53.119 --> 00:20:00.400 Be self-controlled is to say, you belong to Christ, you are children of the light, therefore be like Christ. 00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:02.640 Exhibit his character. 00:20:03.039 --> 00:20:12.559 Control those sinful urges in ourselves that lead us away from Christ, and instead give yourself wholeheartedly to being his disciple. 00:20:13.200 --> 00:20:20.960 We are self-controlled when we commit to studying God's word, to applying it to our hearts, to studying it one with another. 00:20:21.200 --> 00:20:36.480 We exercise self-control when we conform our character to his, even when that's a difficult thing to do, even when the selfish or the greedy thing is an easier thing to do when we decide against it for the sake of Christ, we are conforming our character to his. 00:20:36.960 --> 00:20:40.799 We're exercising that self-control that Paul is exhorting us to. 00:20:41.039 --> 00:20:48.480 But we also encourage self-control one with another as we participate in the life of the church together. 00:20:48.720 --> 00:20:57.039 When we get together to study the Bible, we are saying one to another that this is worth it, and that you are invited to do the same. 00:20:57.440 --> 00:21:08.240 We pray with one another, we worship with one another, we are together being formed as a community of faith into greater and greater conformity into Christ's character. 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:12.640 And we need one another as we do that because we cannot do it alone, can we? 00:21:12.880 --> 00:21:14.720 We need one another. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:19.759 And we need one another to come alongside one another in encouragement. 00:21:20.400 --> 00:21:24.160 Be self-controlled is what Paul is encouraging us to. 00:21:24.319 --> 00:21:26.160 Be vigilant, be self-controlled. 00:21:26.319 --> 00:21:41.039 But encouraging self-control means our character, even though our character reflects the one to whom we belong, our character itself cannot be the hope, our hope, or our reassurance before him. 00:21:41.440 --> 00:21:43.839 I mean, let's bear in mind why Paul is writing this letter. 00:21:43.920 --> 00:21:54.400 He's writing a letter to a church community that's experienced death, that is experiencing all sorts of confusion and anxiety and fear around this possibility that Christ will return. 00:21:54.480 --> 00:21:57.279 And maybe Christ returns and he is not happy with us. 00:21:57.440 --> 00:21:59.519 Because in our heart of hearts, we have to admit. 00:22:00.079 --> 00:22:01.440 We've sinned against him. 00:22:02.960 --> 00:22:08.160 Paul is writing to a church community in need of encouragement. 00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:18.160 And Paul knows that to say, if you are vigilant enough and if you are self-controlled enough, then Christ will, you know, tolerate you enough to invite you into his kingdom. 00:22:18.400 --> 00:22:22.000 That is not the source of our confidence on the day of the Lord. 00:22:22.160 --> 00:22:22.640 What is? 00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:24.160 What is our source of confidence? 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:30.640 Because that is what Paul is encouraging us to be vigilant, to be self-controlled, but ultimately to be confident. 00:22:30.960 --> 00:22:36.240 Man, if if you are a Bible highlighter, Bible underliner, I hope you get your pen out right now. 00:22:36.960 --> 00:23:05.119 Verse 8, since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, there it is again, and put on the armor of faith and love and a helmet of hope of salvation, for God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, so that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. 00:23:06.400 --> 00:23:10.319 Be confident is Paul's exhortation. 00:23:12.720 --> 00:23:17.519 We are not destined for wrath, Paul writes in verse 9. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:19.440 And isn't this what we're afraid of? 00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:30.720 At the end of the day, aren't we afraid that when God shows up, when we stand before him conclusively, he will look us up and down and go, I don't think so. 00:23:31.440 --> 00:23:36.400 And we face his anger, and we face his rejection, and we face his condemnation. 00:23:36.480 --> 00:23:38.799 Isn't that what we are most afraid of? 00:23:38.960 --> 00:23:48.799 And probably somewhere deep down, because we know somewhere deep down we have not even lived up to our own standards of conduct, let alone God's standards of conduct. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:52.799 Don't we know deep down that that's what we deserve somewhere? 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:56.480 Boy, it leaves us anxious and fearful, doesn't it? 00:23:56.559 --> 00:23:59.039 A lot like the Thessalonians are right now. 00:23:59.440 --> 00:24:04.720 And yet, Paul wants to remind us we are not destined for wrath. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.799 We are not destined for wrath. 00:24:06.880 --> 00:24:14.559 It's not about applying ourselves to pious religion or impeccable morality to earn God's favor. 00:24:15.759 --> 00:24:19.920 We have an assurance that we are not destined for wrath apart from anything we do. 00:24:20.000 --> 00:24:22.319 And what makes Paul so sure? 00:24:22.559 --> 00:24:32.000 Verse 9 again, God did not appoint us to wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us. 00:24:33.200 --> 00:24:35.759 What is our confidence on the day of the Lord? 00:24:35.920 --> 00:24:42.079 It is nothing we bring to the Lord, it is everything that the Lord has done for us in Christ. 00:24:43.839 --> 00:24:53.119 Our salvation is as sure as the cross, is as sure as the resurrection, is as sure as his ascension, and is as sure as his return. 00:24:53.359 --> 00:25:00.880 Our confidence is not in what we have done for God's sake, it is in what God has done for our sake in Christ. 00:25:02.160 --> 00:25:09.680 When we appear before Christ, we have reason to be sure, hope-filled, and confident. 00:25:10.799 --> 00:25:14.160 But it's not because of what we've done, anything we've done. 00:25:14.400 --> 00:25:17.920 It's everything to do with what Christ has done for us. 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:36.000 I learned recently, it's kind of an interesting fact, at least I found it interesting, that if you're caught in a raging forest fire, if the fires are just ri, you know, absolutely surrounding you, do you know the safest place you can be? 00:25:36.240 --> 00:25:41.759 The safest place is to run to where the fire has already wrought its devastation. 00:25:42.000 --> 00:25:44.640 To run towards the ash and burnt trees. 00:25:44.720 --> 00:25:45.359 And do you know why? 00:25:45.519 --> 00:25:47.920 Because fire doesn't burn twice. 00:25:48.400 --> 00:26:02.319 In a way, Paul is saying the safest place you can be when God's wrath burns rightly against evil and sin and everything that opposes him, do you know the safest place we can run is where God has already visited his wrath. 00:26:02.559 --> 00:26:04.160 And that's our Lord Jesus. 00:26:04.319 --> 00:26:05.440 That's the cross. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:15.279 He willingly took our sin on himself completely on the cross, where God visited his wrath conclusively on him. 00:26:15.440 --> 00:26:22.079 So when we run to Christ, we run away from wherever God will visit his wrath at everything that opposes him. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:31.519 We run to the surest and safest place there can be, and we run knowing that we will not just be met by Jesus' toleration of us. 00:26:31.759 --> 00:26:33.759 We're met with arms of love. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:37.920 Because Christ was pleased to die for us. 00:26:38.559 --> 00:26:43.759 He was pleased to take the wrath that we deserve upon himself. 00:26:43.920 --> 00:26:49.359 We have every reason to be confident when we look to Christ and Christ alone. 00:26:49.519 --> 00:27:00.079 The Puritan preacher Thomas Goodwin puts it this way: Consider that Christ offered himself more willingly than ever thou didst sin. 00:27:01.680 --> 00:27:03.200 Let me say that again. 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:24.640 Consider that Christ offered himself more willingly than ever thou didst sin, no matter how eagerly we have transgressed against God's will, against God's commands, no matter how habitually or how often, Christ was even more eager to die for you and I out of his great love for us. 00:27:25.759 --> 00:27:39.599 We are not met with God's condemnation, because when we are in Christ, we are in the surest place we can be, and we have every reason to be confident in God's love and mercy to us. 00:27:40.160 --> 00:27:42.000 Isn't that an assurance? 00:27:42.720 --> 00:27:45.519 Isn't that a confidence that we have before Him? 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:48.799 And we as a community point one another to that hope. 00:27:48.960 --> 00:27:54.079 We don't say to one another, you know, if you just tried harder, God would be a little bit more happier with you. 00:27:54.319 --> 00:28:03.680 We point each other to Christ as the only one who can satisfy God's law and God's wrath and has done on our behalf. 00:28:03.920 --> 00:28:18.960 When we come to the Lord's table, we come as those who are reminded that Christ's body was broken for us and his blood shed for us, that he has done for us everything that needs doing so that we can be confident before God in Christ. 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:21.599 We need that encouragement, don't we? 00:28:21.839 --> 00:28:34.640 Because otherwise we will be thrown back on ourselves over and over again to just keep applying ourselves to the same religiosity and to the same morality that gives us no assurance before God. 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:42.559 We need our Lord Jesus and the confidence that he gives, because spiritual discouragement is easy, isn't it? 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:45.119 And the Christian life can be difficult. 00:28:45.920 --> 00:29:00.720 But our obligation is to encourage one another, not to try harder, but to look to him, to be vigilant because he will come again, to be self-controlled because we belong to him, and we ought to behave, therefore, like him. 00:29:01.599 --> 00:29:10.240 But ultimately, because we have reason to be confident before him because of his great love for us shown on the cross. 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:17.599 A church that puts the gospel into action encourages one another in all of these ways. 00:29:18.559 --> 00:29:31.519 So, friends, let's find reason to walk the spiritual journey with longevity and with joy because we have confidence in our Lord Savior and Savior. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:36.960 Let's encourage one another and build each other up, just as we're doing. 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:37.920 Amen. 00:29:39.599 --> 00:29:42.160 We hope that you've been blessed by God's Word today. 00:29:42.319 --> 00:29:47.680 If you live in the Port Perry area, we hope that you'll come and worship with us in person on Sunday at 10 a.m. 00:29:48.079 --> 00:29:51.519 If you'd like to learn more about Newsong Church, we'd love to connect with you. 00:29:51.680 --> 00:29:56.480 Please find our contact information at newsongportperry.ca and reach out to us. 00:29:56.720 --> 00:30:01.920 Newsong's ministry is entirely funded by the generous giving of those who worship and journey with us. 00:30:02.079 --> 00:30:10.240 If you feel called to support our ministry with a financial gift, please go to newsongportperry.ca slash giving to make your contribution. 00:30:10.480 --> 00:30:13.119 Go in peace to love and serve the Lord.