with Elder Elico Manenji
✝️In this chapter, the Apostle Paul continues with the exhortation of the second coming of Christ. He says it will be sudden and at a time least expected, as a thief in the night. So he exhorts believers to be watchful and sober so that they will not be taken by surprise.
He beseech the believers to respect their spiritual leaders and teachers who are truthful and watch against falsehood of other false teachers and leaders who put the second coming at a distant future. He exhorts them to be patient, long-suffering, watchful unto prayer and render thanks to God in every situation.
Believers should cherish the influence of the Holy Ghost on their souls and show respect for all the divine prophetic communications and messages. They are to consider and carefully examine everything submitted to them for their belief and to hold steadfastly to all that is good and true. The believers should avoid every appearance of evil.
1️⃣1 Thessalonians 5:1 11: The second coming of the Lord would be sudden and at an unexpected time when the righteous and faithful will receive their reward.
⏹️ The Apostle says, the second coming of Christ is marked by well-known landmarks, it may appear to be distant yet it is so near to alter its position seeming now distant, now near, that they that push the landmark or remove its landmarks will be taken by surprise as the coming if the thief in the night.
The prophet Jeremiah says, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended, and we are not saved"(Jeremiah 8:20).
⏭️The Second Coming will be terrible to the wicked for they will not escape the wrath of God but believers should be vigilant and on the ground of a moral transformation, they must be constant in prayer.
The Apostle Peter says, "But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night; in the which the heavens shall pass away with a great noise, and the elements shall melt with fervent heat, the earth also and the works that are therein shall be burned up"(2 Peter 3:10).
⏭️ They should not live like the drunkard, neither should they be immersed in the sleep of sin and unconcern, neglecting duty, and never thinking of judgment, but let believers watch and be sober.
The Apostle Peter says, "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walks about, seeking whom he may devour"(1Peter 5:8).
⏹️The Christian believer should always put on his armor to fight against the enemy and constantly watch against his deceptive schemes.
The Apostle says, " Finally, my brothers, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places"(Ephesians 6:10-12).
⏭️The Christian life is not one of luxurious ease but rather should be one filled with the graces of faith, love, and hope, they should put on the breastplate and helmet of salvation to protect the two most vital parts which are the head(mind and conscience) and the heart (reason and desires) to complete the armour of the soul.
The Apostle says, "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father"(1Thessalonians 1:3).
2️⃣1 Thessalonians 5;12-28: Believers should show respect for spiritual leaders and should have the spirit of patience and forbearance, meekness, benevolence, rejoice and pray always.
⏹️There are faithful and unfaithful ministers, the first are worthy our respect and honor and the latter are not worthy our attention. The faithful ministers are called to be over you in the Lord by a Divine appointment and by your own choice not as task masters, nor by mere human patronage.
The Apostle says, "Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God"(1 Corinthians 4:1).
⏭️ The influence even of faithful ministers over God's flock which is His heritage should one full of care, watchfulness and responsibility.
The Apostle says, "Only let your conversation be as it becomes the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel"(Philippians 1:27).
⏫The employment of the ministerial office is to _“admonish you.”_
Ministers are builders, they are watchmen, they are teachers, and soldiers of the cross to uplift the standard and banner of the Cross.
They are labourers together with Christ to prepare a people to meet their Lord. Such are worthy respect and honor as they continue to show the landmarks of His coming and never to.postpone His coming.
The prophet Joel says, "Let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep between the porch and the altar, and let them say, Spare your people, O LORD, and give not your heritage to reproach, that the heathen should rule over them: why should they say among the people, Where is their God?"(Joel 2:17).
⏹️In the struggle of faith, the Apostle gives personal exhortations as, _“Rejoice evermore, Pray without ceasing, In everything give thanks, Quench not the Spirit, Despise not prophesying and All things work together for good."_
The Apostle says, "Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer"(Romans 12:12).
⏭️God requires the sacrifice of praise from us as He did from the Jews.
Therefore let us not say, God will not hear us. God Himself says, “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God"(Psalm 50:23).
🅰️Appeal
As the Apostle Paul prayed on behalf of the Thessalonians for their sanctification, so should true ministers pray for the Church that God would sanctify them wholly.
That they might be preserved blameless, be wholly sanctified, that the whole person may be sanctified and that the whole person, spirit, soul, body may be preserved until He comes.
The Apostle prays that they may be found more perfect and that the good work of grace may be fully established in them until Christ comes.
The Apostle says, "To the end he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints"(1Thessalonians 3:13). Amen!!!
Elico Manenji
(+263712952704)
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