August 14 2016 Prevailing To The Coming Of Christ

PREVAILING TO THE COMING OF CHRIST

1 Thessalonians

Timothy’s Report
• They were loyal in the persecution.
• They were Doctrinally pure.
• They were concerned.

Five views of Christ’s Second Coming

1. The view of the new Christian.

Chapter 1

Three things about the Church from verse 3

• Their work produced by faith.
• Their labor prompted by love.
• Their enduring hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.

Three things they did in light of His coming

Verse 9 They turned to God from idols.

Question:
• Does the coming of Christ’s second coming change your lifestyle?
• If He were to come today would it change your lifestyle at this very moment?

Verse 9 Began to serve the living God.

Question:
• Does the coming of Christ motivate us to begin to find a Ministry that we can do for Him?
• If Jesus were to come today, would He find us doing something profitable for His Kingdom?

Verse 10 They are to wait for God’s Son.

Question:
• Are we at peace with ourselves in the midst of the storm that is around us?
• Are we holding steady?

2. The view of the worker in the Church.
Chapter 2

Verse 20 – Indeed you are our glory and joy.

Question:
When Jesus comes back, am I going to have any crowns?

3. The view of the Brother.

Chapter 3

Verse 12 – May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as it does for you.

Two aspects of love

• We are to increase in love.
• We are to overflow in love to others.

1 John 4:20 – If anyone says, I love God, yet hates his brother, he is a liar.

Question:
• Are your relationships all cleared up?

4. The view of the one who is suffering.

Chapter 4

Verse 14 – We believe Jesus died and rose again and so believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in Him.

5. How the Christian is to conduct himself.

Chapter 5

Verse 1 Exact time not important.

Verse 2 Coming will be a surprise.

Verse 3 No escape from the event.
   
Verse 4 & 5 Don’t be surprised.

Verse 6-8 Be alert, sober, prepared.

Verse 9 Be our final salvation.

Verse 10 No Christian left behind.

Verse 11 Encourage one another.

Verse 12 & 13 Respect the Spiritual leaders.

Verse 14 Meet the needs of the body.

Final Instruction

July 10 2016 Discovering Inner Adequacy

DISCOVERING INNER ADEQUACY

John 14:16 – (Jesus) and I will pray the Father, and He will give you another helper, that He may abide forever.

1. Inner adequacy completes inner transformation.

Ephesians 3:17 – I pray the Holy Spirit in fullness will strengthen your inner man.

2. Inner adequacy is given for effective living.

1 Thessalonians 1:5 – (Paul said) our Gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power.

3. Inner adequacy is still available.

John 17: - (Jesus) But all who would come to believe on Him.

Acts 1:14 – They all joined together constantly in prayer.

Matthew 17:20 – (Jesus said) If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain move from here to there and it will move.

4. Inner adequacy enables us to always trust God.

Jeremiah 17:7-8 – Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord and has made the Lord his hope and confidence.  He’s like a tree planted along a river bank, with roots reaching deep into the water, not bothered by heat, nor worried by long months of drought.  It stays green and goes on producing fruit.