Confidence: A Beautiful Thing
1 Thessalonians 5:1-11
1. Christians Shouldn’t Be Shocked by the End Times. (Vs. 1-5, Matt 24:4-8)
Matthew 24:4-8, “Jesus replied to them, “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, saying, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and they will deceive many. You are going to hear of wars and rumors of wars. See that you are not alarmed, because these things must take place, but the end is not yet. For nation will rise up against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines, and earthquakes in various places. All these events are the beginning of labor pains.”
2. Stand Ready in Christ Jesus:
a. Be Spiritually Sober. (Vs. 6-8a, Phil 4:5b-7)
Philippians 4:5b-7, “The Lord is near. Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
b. Be Ready for Battle. (Vs. 8b)
Isaiah 59:17, “He put on righteousness as body armor, and a helmet of salvation on his head; he put on garments of vengeance for clothing, and he wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.”
c. Be Confident. (Vs. 9-11, Rom 8:33-34, John 3:36)
Romans 8:33-34, “Who can bring an accusation against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies. Who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is the one who died, but even more, has been raised; he also is at the right hand of God and intercedes for us.”
John 3:36, “The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.”