Thanksgiving Celebrate God's Goodness Christian Website Banner

Be Informed v.13

Paul wanted the church in Thessalonica to be informed about death, life after death, and about the second coming of Jesus.

Know scripture! Be a life-long student of God’s Word! I’m challenged daily to see something new from God’s Word. Allow His promises to give you much comfort and courage!

1 John 5:13 “I write these things to you who believe in the name of the Son of God that you may know that you have eternal life.”

We must have a world view that trust God’s Word

Four Reasons God’s Word can be Trusted and we can stay informed

1) Fulfilled Prophecies
– more than 300 prophecies were fulfilled by Christ Himself at His first coming.
***
2) Unique Historical Accuracy
– Archeological confirmation shows this time after time!
***
3) Scientific Accuracy
– Many of the principles of modern science were recorded as facts of nature in the Bible long before scientist confirmed them experimentally. Is 40:22 roundness of the earth
***
4) Unique Structure
– 66 books, written by 40 authors, under direction of the Holy Spirit, over a period of 2,000 years, with perfect unity and consistency throughout. Nations and groups have tried to destroy it from its existence, but God continually refurbishes more copies that no one new existed. There has never been another ancient book that has survived so much with so many copies. (Dead Sea Scrolls)
***

Be Reborn v.14

Life after death awaits everyone. Hell=perish, eternal life=Heaven. Jesus shared with Nicodemus that you must be born again. Jesus makes it clear about Heaven and following Him to gain eternal life. Jesus tells us in John 14:1-6 about both!

Heaven

John 14:1-6 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 2 In my Father’s house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. 4 And you know the way to where I am going.”5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Hell

Matthew 25:45-46 “Then he will answer them, saying, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.’ 46 And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”

Mark 9:47-48 “And if your eye causes you to sin, tear it out. It is better for you to enter the kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into hell, 48 ‘where their worm does not die and the fire is not quenched.”

Be Transformed v.15-17

By being reborn and growing in Christ, you are rapture ready!

Rapture

– phrase meaning the church will be “caught up” or “ascend” into heaven upon Christ’s second coming.
***

Different Views When The Rapture will Occur

1) Pre-tribulation
– This view states that Christians will be raptured before they experience the reign of the Antichrist on earth (tribulation) 1 Thessalonians 2:6-8
***
2) Mid-tribulation
– The view that the Church will experience some of the tribulation before the rapture. Revelation 7:9, 14; 12:14, Matthew 24:10-27, 1 Thessalonians 4:16
***
3) Post-tribulation
– The view that the Church will go through the tribulation before being with Christ. Matthew 24:27, 29; Matthew 24:15-20, Revelation chapters 8-18
   ***

Be One That Informs Others v.18

We are the informer and God is the transformer!

2 Timothy 2:2 “and what you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses entrust to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”