1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-8 - PREPARED FOR THE DAY OF THE LORD

1 THESSALONIANS 5:1-8

PREPARED FOR

THE DAY OF THE LORD

1 Thessalonians 5:1 But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. 2 For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.

The Thessalonians had already been taught that not even Jesus, in His humanness, was privy to the  exact day and hour the Father has planned for His return.

Matthew 24:36 (NIV) But about that day or hour no one knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father.

Paul was reiterating what Jesus Himself had taught about the surprise nature of His return:

Matthew 24:42-44 (NIV) Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come. 43 But understand this: If the owner of the house had known at what time of night the thief was coming, he would have kept watch and would not have let his house be broken into. 44 So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him.

1 Thessalonians 5:3 For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.

Historically, false prophets painted bright prospects for Israel when in reality God’s judgment was eminent.   Teachers, especially the Antichrist, will falsely proclaim peace and safety when the unbelieving world is on the cusp of God’s full wrath.  There will be no rescue for those who have not trusted Jesus as the Son of God, those who have rejected the Gospel, when the sudden annihilation and permanent, eternal judgment comes.

1 Thessalonians 5:4 But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief. 5 Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

Those who have trusted, surrendered to, and have relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, have no reason to be concerned about the day of the Lord.  Jesus is our protector, defender, and strong tower.  Jesus sacrificed His life on the cross to save us from the penalty of our sin, the wrath of Holy God who cannot tolerate sin.  He brought us out of darkness into the Light.

1 Peter 2:9 (NASB) But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;

Jesus is The Light, and those of us who follow Him are lights in a darkened world.

Matthew 5:13-15 Ye are the salt of the earth: but if the salt have lost his savour, wherewith shall it be salted? it is thenceforth good for nothing, but to be cast out, and to be trodden under foot of men. Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on an hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. ...

We are to let our lights, our lives, shine to draw men into His light.

Matthew 5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

1 Thessalonians 5:6 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.

John MacArthur Study Bible:

Because Christians are in the light, they should not sleep in spiritual indifference and comfort, but be alert to the spiritual issues around them.

Christians should not live in careless oblivion, not conscious of what is happening in the world around them.  They should be alert to pray and to share the Good News with those in danger of the wrath of God, those who are lost, wandering aimlessly through life. 

1 Thessalonians 5:7 For they that sleep, sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.

Night symbolizes darkness, evil, and separation from the ways of God.  Drunkenness is a loss of self-control, a lack of proper inhibitions. Those who do not know Jesus are controlled by their sinful natures.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Like a soldier, the Christian is to be alert, quick-thinking, prepared for spiritual battle. We should not be walking around in a perpetual fog, oblivious to the darts Satan continually shoots our way.  We are to clothe ourselves with faith (reliance on Jesus) and love (the evidence of a relationship with Jesus).  We must not be satisfied as Christians with a “fake it until you make it” attitude.  You cannot fake righteous living as it comes from the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  As you walk in faith and the love of Christ, you will have no desire or need to muster up or fake your testimony to the Lord’s work in you.

Webster’s 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language

HOPE, noun [Latin cupio.]

1. A desire of some good, accompanied with at least a slight expectation of obtaining it, or a belief that it is obtainable. hope differs from wish and desire in this, that it implies some expectation of obtaining the good desired, or the possibility of possessing it. hope therefore always gives pleasure or joy; whereas wish and desire may produce or be accompanied with pain and anxiety.

2. Confidence in a future event; the highest degree of well-founded expectation of good; as a hope founded on God's gracious promises; a scriptural sense.

Our helmet is made strong enough to withstand the attacks of the Enemy as we fix our eyes on Jesus. When we focus our minds as Paul describes in Philippians 4:8, we are hardening the helmet which became ours when we first came to Christ. Salvation is ours the moment we trust Jesus, but the continued assurance of that salvation when Satan would try to make us doubt comes from keeping our focus steady on the Lord.

Philippians 4:8 (NIV) Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Jesus’ finished work on the cross and resurrection from the dead secured our salvation. Filling our minds with the thoughts described above are like a protective lining in the helmet. This protects us from the unending onslaught of evil happenings in the world.

The church will be its most effective when individual believers are tapping into the power of the faith, love, and hope that comes from our relationship with our Lord Jesus Christ.

QUESTIONS:

1. Review the armor of the Lord found in Ephesians 6:10-17. 

2. What did Paul use for the breastplate in Ephesians? 

3. What did he cite as the breastplate in 1 Thessalonians 5:8?

4. How do these two descriptions of the protection for our vital organs relate to one another?

5. Are you trusting in Jesus and dwelling in His word in order to allow His love and hope flow through you?