Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need to have anything written to you. 2 For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “There is peace and security,” then sudden destruction will come upon them as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of the darkness. 6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1Thessalonians 5:1-11
A. The Day of the Lord: Event of Contrast: 1 Thess. 5:1-2, Acts 1:6-8, Matt. 24:44, Acts 14:20-22
1. Of destruction
2. Of deliverance
TODAY
B. The Day of the Lord: People of Contrast
1. Unbelievers walking in darkness to be met with destruction: 1 Thess. 5:4
2. Believers walking in light to be met with deliverance: 1 Thess. 5:5
C. The Day of the Lord: How Then Shall We Live?
1. Be spiritually alert in life: 1 Thess. 5:6a, 1 Cor. 16:13, Gal. 6:1, 1 Tim. 4:16, 2 John 8
– The chief place of watchfulness is the heart for it determines what we think on, who we attach our affections to, and thus how we live. Prov. 4:23
– The chief means of watchfulness is prayer (personal and corporate) for it keeps us oriented in the real world – the spiritual and eternal. Matt. 26:41, Col 4:2, Rev. 3:14-17
2. Be spiritually-minded about life: 1 Thess. 5:6b-8a, 1 Peter 4:7, Mark 5:1-15, 2 Tim. 3:1-5
3. Be spiritually-equipped for life: 1 Thess. 5:8, 1 Thess. 1:3
– the breastplate protects the heart: right affections: Rom. 13:11-14
– the helmet protects the head: right thinking: 1 Peter 1:13, Col. 3:1-3