Paul teaches us by a revelation that the "day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night." He presses on to give instructions on how we should live in the world as sons of the light and sons of the day since we do not belong to the darkness. His wording does not leave women out, it actually puts both male and female on level ground before the cross. Remember Gal 3:28, "There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus." In that day daughters did not have the same status as heirs, it was the sons that were the heirs to their earthly fathers. In Thessalonians 5 Paul is teaching that men and women are equal before God in Christ!
1 Th 5:2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.
1 Th 5:5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.
1 Th 5:8-11 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.
So "the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night," and we who are in Christ, are all sons of the light and since we are sons of the light verses 5-8 give instructions as to how we should live. My concern, my pain, my burn at this moment is that I believe that there are many who would say that they are a Christian and they are horribly deceived, horribly deceived! As Jeremiah put it "there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot."
Jeremiah 20:9 If I say, “I will not mention him, or speak any more in his name,” there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot.
Mark, don't you think that you are being a little harsh? Don't you think you are over reacting a little? If I am then what do you do with Matt 7?
Matt 7:21-23 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’
How could so many be so deceived? The gate is narrow, the path is hard! “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it (Matt 7:13).
Still, how could so many be deceived? Do you remember Matt 22:29 where Jesus replied, “You are deceived because you do not know the Scriptures or the power of God.
There is a pandemic disease that has left our churches, yes churches, in ruins...it is the disease of not knowing God's Word. This is what I cannot keep quiet about! More than likely, if you don't know HIS Word you don't know HIM!
Jeremiah 4:19 My anguish, my anguish! I writhe in pain! Oh the walls of my heart! My heart is beating wildly; I cannot keep silent, for I hear the sound of the trumpet, the alarm of war.
Jeremiah 23:9 Concerning the prophets: My heart is broken within me; all my bones shake; I am like a drunken man, like a man overcome by wine, because of the Lord and because of his holy words.
Ezekiel 3:14 The Spirit lifted me up and took me away, and I went in bitterness in the heat of my spirit, the hand of the Lord being strong upon me.
I love what the disciples said in Acts 4:20 "For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” So my genuine question is...can you or I have an genuine encounter with the Lion of the Tribe of Judah, can you catch a glimpse of the King of kings and Lord of lords and not be radically different. Is it possible to see HIM and continue living in mediocrity? Is it possible to have a burning bush experience in your spirit, or a Damascus road experience and continue a complacent, uncaring life?
All I know is that "there is in my heart as it were a burning fire shut up in my bones, and I am weary with holding it in, and I cannot." I "cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.” I burn to know HIM through HIS Word and HIS indwelling power!
Pursuing HIM together!
love,
m