I & II THESSALONIANS, I & II TIMOTHY

It's Sunday!  Oh, how I love Sundays!  It is going to be a wonderful day and I will enjoy every moment of it.  Today, I start a new series:  "It's all about the Fruit", using John 15:1-8.  Fruit-bearing... our ordained purpose!  Today, I read in the epistles of Paul to the Thessalonians and to Timothy and here are a few things that I jotted down as I read and re read the passages: 1) PRESERVED BLAMELESS- I Thess. 5:23 says:  "And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our LORD Jesus Christ."   Notice that Paul is praying for their body, soul, and spirit to be "preserved blameless" until Christ's coming and at Christ's coming.  Now, to be "preserved blameless" means that at Salvation, Christ made you "blameless" (there is no other way!).  If this verse were by itself, you might come away with the idea that though Paul was praying they would be "preserved blameless" that it was up to them to accomplish it. (If you cannot make yourself blameless; how can you keep yourself blameless?)  BUT, the next verse makes it clear that someone else must also KEEP us blameless.  Look at verse 24:  "Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it."  Do what?  Preserve you blameless, that's what!  Praise God that Christ made us blameless by Salvation, and keeps us blameless in that He ever interceedeth for us at the right hand of the Father! 2) EVERLASTING CONSOLATION- II Thess. 2:16 says:  "Now our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God, even our Father, which hath loved us, and hath given us everlasting consolation and good hope through grace,"  I love that phrase... everlasting consolation!  This is what God will give us in Heaven.  Don't worry and fret about your trials on this earth... in Heaven, God has "everlasting consolation" waiting for us!  Yeah!! 3) PATIENT WAITING- II Thess. 3:5 says:  "And the LORD direct your hearts into the love of God, and into the patient waiting for Christ."  Also note I Thess. 1:10 "And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."  Jesus is coming... but let us be patiently waiting for Him and serving Him in the mean time! 4) DECIDE YOUR USE!  2 Timothy 2:20-21  "But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.  21  If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work."   This is stating some important truths: a. First, a great house has different kind of vessels.  Some for honor (china plates) some for dishonour (garbage cans).  b. Second, if we purge ourselves from the sins of the flesh, and depart from iniquity, that we can be a vessel of honour, "meet" for the Master's use!  This means that God can use us in any way that pleases Him.  This should be the goal of our lives... to please Him!  c. Thirdly, our vessel is our bodies.  1 Thessalonians 4:4  "That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;"  Our bodies are the vessels that hold our souls and spirit, and the indwelling Holy Spirit that lives in our spirit.  We should hold our bodies in honour and sanctification. (This means to be "set apart", from the world, unto God.) d. Fourthly, we determine the use of our vessels to the extent that we purify ourselves so that God can use us any way He sees fit.  Well, I got off to preaching and putting in sermon ideas, but these came to me this morning as I was reading these 20 chapters.  God's Word is so full of truth and such a blessing to read and absorb.  May God grant you a wonderful Lord's day today!   Pastor Mike Mutchler