2010-03-21
1 Thessalonians - Don't Quench the Spirit
Steve Lane

A. Review/Introduction
1 Thessalonians gives us a good picture of a vibrant, growing church and individual.
Encourage one another. Build up one another. Respect your elders.
Admonish, encourage, help, be patient. Love one another!
1 John 4: 7-12,20

B. Love is the Motive

1 Thessalonians 5: 15
Be very careful with relationships, as they are important to God, and to the mission.
Therefore, we must do things that don't come natural.
agathos: NIV - kind; NAS and ESV - good. (Titus 2: 5)
A pretty good description of love: seeking after the good for others. Genuine kindness.

A test if you are walking in the light: 1 John 4
If you are walking with Jesus, being Jesus to others, walking in the light.
If you are on the path, you will love the brethren. You will love the lost.

C. This is God's Will for You: Always be Joyful, Pray and be Thankful

1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 18
It is connected to the previous verses, and the message of...
Always stay on the path. Much is at stake!
These three are connected! Be joyful.
Pray continually: not living distracted, always on the verge of prayer.
Give thanks in all circumstances. And ungrateful or complaining Christian. (Romans 8: 38)

D. Don't Put Out the Fire!

1 Thessalonians 5: 19 - 22
Don't do the things I have warned you about, and do the things we have talked about. Take care!
The fire is burning. Do not put it out! Respond to the Word and direction.
Prephets in the early church had many functions in speaking God's word to the people: applying scripture supernaturally to a situation, or direction of the church.
Do not quench the fire by ignoring the prophetic word, but use discernment.

What is God doing? He is building unity, love partnerships - faith, love, hope.
The next step: reach out together to bring in the harvest.
Most of us assume the harvest is the easiest part. But, it requires the most intensive labor, and we can quench the Spirit with a lack of willingness for the sacrifice or intensity.

E. Continue to be Conformed to the Image of Christ. Jesus is Coming Back!

1 Thessalonians 5: 23 - 24
The emphasis is the whole person. (Romans 12: 1)
Spirit: part that was dead and is now alive.
Soul: emotions, will and personality.

F. Greet One Another

1 Thessalonians 5: 25 - 26
Paul needed the prayers of the churches. What about us?
A sincere greeting of brothers and sisters who have been apart - even for a short time.