Chapter 5

Please read the chapter thoroughly at least once, and write down any questions you have or any verses that stick out to you.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=1%20Thessalonians%205&version=ESV

STUDY

• How will the day of the Lord come?

• God has not destined His followers for wrath, but for what?

• What should we do to those who labor among us and admonish us in the Lord?

• What is the advice given in verse 14?

• When should you rejoice?

• When should you rejoice?

• What does this text say about prophesy?

APPLICATION

• Are you awake?  Are you sober?  Are you ready for Jesus' return?

• Who in your life teaches you about Jesus and admonishes you in the Word? Do you respect them and hold them valuable in your life?

• Who in your life is idle (undisciplined)? Fainthearted? Weak in faith? How can you encourage and walk along side of this person? Ask God how you can be a godly influence in their life.

PRUNING ME

        I have learned recently that not everyone is in the same place spiritually. We are all learning different things, at different rates and in different ways.  There are people in my life who I would consider weaker in faith than I,  who are undisciplined and fainthearted.  I have no problem obeying verse 14 to admonish and encourage them.  My problem is being patient with them, like it says at the end of the verse.  Admonishing and encouraging do not mean to try to get them on the same "level" you are... it means walking with them where they are at, challenging them to grow, and encouraging them to walk closer with Jesus.  And by "admonish" it doesn't mean play guilt trips on someone, hoping they feel conviction from you.  Pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to them what is true and let the Holy Spirit do the convicting.  "Admonish" doesn't mean condemn them, making them feel unholy or of worse sin than you are who are "walking righteously" (obviously not), it means to advise, counsel, warn... all which should be done in love.  Jesus is love, so if we admonish without love, we are doing it without Jesus.  If Jesus is who we are meaning to lead them to, we should follow His example and should show grace as He was gracious.  I know I have hurt many people with my pride of spirituality, my self-exaltation and my "know-it-all attitude".  I have been put in my place.  And thank God, that He is so gracious to me, in teaching (admonishing) me to be more like Jesus.  I have learned that I don't know it all, that I am guilty of pride- not a character of God, and I lack grace and I have realized that just because God has shown me something, doesn't mean He is showing everyone else the same thing or at the same time.  I have to stop playing God by trying to change people and change them in my timing, because I just get in God's way.  It is HIM who changed me, and it is also HIM who will change others.  I just need to pray about joining Him, not trying to take over.  

• Leanne