Be Steadfast In Awaiting The Day Of The Lord

The Comfort Of Christ’s Coming (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18)

But I (Paul) do NOT want YOU (Believers) to be ignorant, Brethren (Believers), concerning Those (Believers) who have Fallen Asleep (The Dead in Christ Jesus), lest YOU (Believers) sorrow, as others (Unbelievers), who have NO Hope.  For if We (Believers) Believe that Jesus (Jesus Christ) died and Rose Again, even so God (God Almighty) will bring with Him (Jesus Christ), Those (Believers) who Sleep in Jesus (The Dead in Christ Jesus).  For this We (Believers) say to YOU (Believers), by The Word of The Lord (Jesus Christ), that We (Believers), who are Alive and Remain, until The Coming of The Lord (Jesus Christ) will by NO means, Precede, Those (Believers) who are Asleep (The Dead in Christ Jesus).  For The Lord (Jesus Christ), Himself, will descend from Heaven with a Shout, with The Voice of an Archangel, and with The Trumpet of God (God Almighty).  And The Dead in Christ, will Rise first.  Then We (Believers), who are Alive and Remain, shall be Caught Up Together, with Them (The Dead in Christ Jesus), in The Clouds, to meet The Lord (Jesus Christ) in the Air.  And thus, We (Believers) shall Always be with The Lord (Jesus Christ).  Therefore, comfort one another, with These Words.

The Day Of The Lord (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11)

But concerning The Times and The Seasons, Brethren (Believers), YOU (Believers) have NO need, that I (Paul) should write to YOU (Believers).  For YOU (Believers), Yourselves, know Perfectly, that The Day of The Lord (Jesus Christ), so comes as “a thief in the night.”  For when they (Unbelievers) say, “Peace and safety!”, then sudden destruction comes upon them (Unbelievers), as labor pains upon a pregnant woman.  And they (Unbelievers) shall NOT escape.  But YOU (Believers), Brethren (Believers), are NOT in darkness, so that This Day (The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ) should overtake YOU (Believers), as a thief.  YOU (Believers) are All, Sons of Light (God Almighty) and Sons of The Day (God Almighty).  We (Believers) are NOT of the night, nor of darkness.  Therefore, let Us (Believers) NOT sleep, as others (Unbelievers) do, but let Us (Believers) Watch and be Sober.  For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk are drunk at night.  But let Us (Believers), who are of The Day (Sons of God Almighty) be sober, putting on The Breastplate of Faith and Love, and as a Helmet, The Hope of Salvation.  For God (God Almighty) did NOT Appoint Us (Believers) to Wrath, but to Obtain Salvation, through Our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for Us (Believers), that whether We (Believers) wake or sleep, We (Believers) should Live Together with Him (Jesus Christ).  Therefore, comfort each other and edify one another, just as YOU (Believers) also are doing.

God’s Final Judgment And Glory (2 Thessalonians 1:3-12)

 

We (Believers) are bound, to thank God (God Almighty) always, for YOU (Believers), Brethren (Believers), as it is fitting, because Your (Believers) Faith grows exceedingly, and The Love of Every One of YOU (Believers), all abounds toward each other, so that We (Believers), Ourselves, boast of YOU (Believers) among The Churches of God (God Almighty) for Your (Believers) Patience and Faith, in All Your (Believers) Persecutions and Tribulations, that YOU (Believers) endure, which is Manifest Evidence of The Righteous Judgment of God (God Almighty), that YOU (Believers) may be Counted Worthy of The Kingdom of God (God Almighty), for which YOU (Believers) also suffer; since it is a Righteous Thing with God (God Almighty) to Repay with Tribulation, those (Unbelievers) who trouble YOU (Believers), and to give YOU (Believers), who are troubled, rest with Us (Believers), when The Lord Jesus (Jesus Christ) is Revealed from Heaven, with His Mighty Angels, in Flaming Fire taking Vengeance, on those (Unbelievers) who do NOT Know God (God Almighty), and on those (Unbelievers) who do NOT Obey, The Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ.  These (Unbelievers) shall be Punished, with Everlasting Destruction, from The Presence of The Lord (Jesus Christ) and from The Glory of His (Jesus Christ’s) Power, when He (Jesus Christ) comes, in That Day (The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ), to be Glorified in His (Jesus Christ’s) Saints and to be Admired, among All those (Believers) who Believe, because Our (Believers) Testimony among YOU (Believers) was Believed.  Therefore, We (Believers) also pray always for YOU (Believers), that Our God (God Almighty) would Count YOU (Believers), Worthy of This Calling, and Fulfill, All The Good Pleasure of His (God Almighty’s) Goodness and The Work of Faith with Power, that The Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ, may be Glorified in YOU (Believers), and YOU (Believers) in Him (Jesus Christ), According to The Grace of Our God (God Almighty) and The Lord Jesus Christ.

The Great Apostasy (2 Thessalonians 2:1-12)

 

Now, Brethren (Believers), concerning The Coming of Our Lord Jesus Christ and Our (Believers) Gathering Together to Him (Jesus Christ), We (Believers) ask YOU (Believers), NOT to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from Us (Believers), as though The Day of Christ (The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ) had come.  Let NO ONE deceive YOU (Believers) by ANY means; for That Day (The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ) will NOT Come, unless The Falling Away, comes first, and the man of sin is Revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all, that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God, in The Temple of God (God Almighty), showing himself that he is God.  Do YOU NOT remember, that when I (Paul) was still with YOU (Believers), I (Paul) told YOU (Believers) These Things?  And now YOU (Believers) know what is restraining, that he may be Revealed in his own time.  For the mystery of lawlessness, is already at work; ONLY He, who now Restrains, will do so, until He is taken out of the way.  And then the lawless one will be Revealed, whom The Lord (Jesus Christ) will Consume with The Breath of His (Jesus Christ’s) Mouth and Destroy with The Brightness of His (Jesus Christ’s) Coming.  The coming of the lawless one, is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those (Unbelievers) who perish, because they (Unbelievers) did NOT Receive, The Love of The Truth, that they (Unbelievers) might be Saved.  And for this reason, God (God Almighty) will send them (Unbelievers), Strong Delusion, that they (Unbelievers) should believe the lie, that they (Unbelievers) All may be Condemned, who did NOT Believe The Truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

Stand Fast (2 Thessalonians 2:13-17)

 

But We (Believers) are bound to give thanks to God (God Almighty), always for YOU (Believers), Brethren (Believers), Beloved by The Lord (Jesus Christ), because God (God Almighty), from The Beginning, Chose YOU (Believers) for Salvation, through Sanctification, by The Spirit (The Holy Spirit) and Belief in The Truth (The Holy Bible), to which He (Jesus Christ) Called YOU (Believers), by Our Gospel (The Holy Bible), for The Obtaining of The Glory of Our Lord Jesus Christ.   Therefore, Brethren (Believers), Stand Fast and hold The Traditions, which YOU (Believers) were taught, whether by Word or Our Epistle (The Holy Bible).  Now, May Our Lord Jesus Christ, Himself, and Our God (God Almighty) and Father (God Almighty), who has Loved Us (Believers) and Given Us (Believers), Everlasting Consolation and Good Hope, by Grace, Comfort Your (Believers) Hearts and establish YOU (Believers), in Every Good Word and Work.

The Day Of The Lord (2 Peter 3:10-13)

 

But The Day of The Lord (The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ) will come, as “a thief in the night,” in which The Heavens will Pass Away with a Great Noise, and The Elements will melt with Fervent Heat; both the Earth and The Works that are in it (the Earth), will be burned up.  Therefore, since All These Things will be Dissolved, what manner of persons ought YOU (Believers) to be, in Holy Conduct and Godliness, looking for and Hastening The Coming of The Day of God (God Almighty), because of which The Heavens will be Dissolved, being on fire, and The Elements will melt with Fervent Heat?  Nevertheless, We (Believers), According to His (Jesus Christ’s) Promise, look for New Heavens and a New Earth, in which Righteousness Dwells (in God Almighty’s Immediate Presence).

 

Be Steadfast (2 Peter 3:14-18)

 

Therefore, Beloved (Believers), looking forward to These Things, be diligent to be found by Him (Jesus Christ), in Peace, Without Spot, and Blameless; and consider that The Longsuffering of Our Lord (Jesus Christ) is Salvation, as also Our Beloved Brother, Paul, according to The Wisdom given to him (Paul), has written to YOU (Believers), as also in All his (Paul’s) Epistles, speaking in them (Paul’s Epistles) of These Things, in which are some things hard to understand, which untaught (Unbelievers) and unstable (Unbelievers) people, twist to their (Unbelievers) own destruction, as they (Unbelievers) do also, The Rest of The Scriptures (The Holy Bible).  YOU (Believers) therefore, Beloved, since YOU (Believers) know this, beforehand, beware lest YOU (Believers) also fall from your own steadfastness, being led away with the error of the wicked; but Grow in The Grace and Knowledge of Our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  To Him (Jesus Christ) be The Glory, both now and Forever.  Amen.

Fellow Believers, both Peter and Paul, are referring to The Same Event, “The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ!”  The Day of The Lord Jesus Christ is Coming, YOU (Believers) are Ready, but is Your Spouse, are Your Children, Your Other Family Members, Your Friends, Your Church Family, Your Neighbors, etc.? 

Folks, I’m NOT picking out individual verses, to make my point, and I truly encourage each of YOU (Believers), to delve into Your Copy of The Holy Bible, and see what God Almighty Reveals to YOU (Believers).  In fact, I will always encourage each of YOU (Believers), to do this.  I do it myself.  Whether it’s something I’ve read, been told, or something I want to know more about, I delve into my favorite translation of The Holy Bible, usually online.  Understanding The Scriptures of The Holy Bible requires reading them, IN CONTEXT.  Misunderstandings arise, from taking Scriptures (The Holy Bible, verse or verses) out of context, i.e., by taking them, and looking at them, individually.  We (Believers) may misunderstand, misinterpret, or misuse them, destroying their True Intent and more importantly, their True Purpose.  A good rule of thumb, is when in doubt about the particular use of a verse(s), go read it in The Holy Bible, in its (verse or verses) complete context, then pray for Wisdom.  YOU (Believers) may also wish to consult a Fellow Believer or Fellow Believers.

Resist Temptation

Satan Tempts Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11)

Then Jesus (Jesus Christ) was led up by The Spirit (The Holy Spirit) into the wilderness, to be tempted by the devil.  And when He (Jesus Christ) had fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights, afterward He (Jesus Christ) was hungry.  Now when the tempter (the devil) came to Him (Jesus Christ), he (the devil) said, “IF YOU (Jesus Christ) are The Son of God (God Almighty), Command that these stones become bread.”  But He (Jesus Christ) answered and said, “It Is Written, ‘Man shall NOT live by bread alone, but by Every Word that proceeds from The Mouth of God (God Almighty).’”  (See: Deuteronomy 8:3)   Then the devil took Him (Jesus Christ) up into The Holy City (Jerusalem), set Him (Jesus Christ) on The Pinnacle of The Temple, and said to Him (Jesus Christ), “IF YOU (Jesus Christ) are The Son of God (God Almighty), throw Yourself (Jesus Christ) down.  For it is written: ‘He (God Almighty) shall give His Angels Charge over YOU (Jesus Christ),’ and, ‘In Their (God’s Holy Angels) Hands, They (God’s Holy Angels) shall bear YOU (Jesus Christ) up, lest YOU (Jesus Christ) dash Your (Jesus Christ’s) Foot against a stone.’”  (See: Psalm 91:11-12)  Jesus (Jesus Christ) said to him (the devil), “It Is Written again, ‘YOU (the devil) shall NOT Tempt The Lord, Your God (God Almighty).’”  (See: Deuteronomy 6:16)  Again, the devil took Him (Jesus Christ) up on an exceedingly high mountain, and showed Him (Jesus Christ), All The Kingdoms of the World and their glory.  And he (the devil) said to Him (Jesus Christ), “All these things I (the devil) will give YOU (Jesus Christ), IF YOU (Jesus Christ) will fall down and worship me (the devil).”  Then Jesus (Jesus Christ) said to him (the devil), “Away with YOU, Satan!  For It Is Written, ‘YOU shall Worship The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), and Him (God Almighty) ONLY, YOU shall Serve.’”  (See: Deuteronomy 6:13)  Then the devil left Him, and behold, Angels (God’s Holy Angels) came and Ministered to Him (Jesus Christ).

Satan Tempts Jesus (Luke 4:1-13)

 

Then Jesus (Jesus Christ), being filled with The Holy Spirit, returned from the Jordan and was led by The Spirit (The Holy Spirit) into the wilderness, being tempted for Forty Days, by the devil.  And in Those Days He (Jesus Christ) ate nothing, and afterward, when they (Those Days) had ended, He (Jesus Christ) was hungry.  And the devil said to Him (Jesus Christ), “IF YOU (Jesus Christ) are The Son of God (God Almighty), Command this stone to become bread.”  But Jesus (Jesus Christ) answered him (the devil), saying, “It Is Written, ‘Man shall NOT live by bread alone, but by Every Word of God (God Almighty).’”  (See: Deuteronomy 8:3)  Then the devil, taking Him (Jesus Christ) up on a high mountain, showed Him (Jesus Christ), All The Kingdoms of the World, in a Moment of Time.  And the devil said to Him (Jesus Christ), “All this authority, I (the devil) will give YOU (Jesus Christ), and their glory; for this has been delivered to me (the devil), and I (the devil) give it to whomever I (the devil) wish.  Therefore, IF YOU (Jesus Christ) will worship before me (the devil), all will be Yours (Jesus Christ’s).”  And Jesus (Jesus Christ) answered and said to him (the devil), “Get behind Me, Satan!  For It Is Written, ‘YOU shall Worship The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), and Him (God Almighty) ONLY, YOU shall Serve.’ ”  (See: Deuteronomy 6:13)  Then he (the devil) brought Him (Jesus Christ) to Jerusalem, set Him (Jesus Christ) on The Pinnacle of The Temple, and said to Him (Jesus Christ), “IF YOU (Jesus Christ) are The Son of God (God Almighty), throw Yourself (Jesus Christ) down from here.  For it is written: ‘He (God Almighty) shall give His Angels (God’s Holy Angels) Charge over YOU (Jesus Christ), to keep YOU (Jesus Christ),’ and, ‘In Their (God’s Holy Angels) Hands, They (God’s Holy Angels) shall bear YOU (Jesus Christ) up, lest YOU (Jesus Christ) dash Your (Jesus Christ’s) Foot against a stone.’”  (See: Psalm 91:11-12)  And Jesus (Jesus Christ) answered and said to him (the devil), “It has been said, ‘YOU (the devil) shall NOT tempt The Lord, Your God (God Almighty).’”  (See: Deuteronomy 6:16)  Now when the devil had ended every temptation, he (the devil) departed from Him (Jesus Christ), until an opportune time.

Remember The Lord Your God (Deuteronomy 8:3)

“So He (God Almighty) humbled YOU (God Almighty’s People), allowed YOU (God Almighty’s People) to hunger, and fed YOU (God Almighty’s People) with manna, which YOU (God Almighty’s People) did NOT know nor did your fathers know, that He (God Almighty) might make YOU (God Almighty’s People) know, that Man shall NOT live by bread alone; but Man lives by Every Word, that proceeds from The Mouth of The Lord (God Almighty).”

Safety Of Abiding In The Presence Of God (Psalm 91:11-12)

“For He (God Almighty) shall give His Angels charge over YOU (God Almighty’s People), to keep YOU (God Almighty’s People) in all your ways.  In Their (God’s Holy Angels) Hands, They (God’s Holy Angels) shall bear YOU (God Almighty’s People) up, lest YOU (God Almighty’s People) dash Your Foot against a stone.”

Note how the devil, Satan, misuses these Scriptures (Psalm 91:11-12).

 

Caution Against Disobedience (Deuteronomy 6:16)

“YOU shall NOT tempt The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), as YOU tempted Him (God Almighty), in Massah.”

Caution Against Disobedience (Deuteronomy 6:13)

“YOU shall fear The Lord, Your God (God Almighty) and Serve Him (God Almighty), and shall take Oaths in His (God Almighty’s) Name.”

 

Jesus Predicts His Death On The Cross (John 12:27-31)

 “Now My (Jesus Christ’s) Soul is troubled, and what shall I (Jesus Christ) say?  ‘Father (God Almighty), save Me (Jesus Christ) from this Hour’?  But for this purpose I (Jesus Christ) came to this Hour.  Father (God Almighty), Glorify Your (God Almighty’s) Name.”  Then a Voice (God Almighty’s) came from Heaven, saying, “I (God Almighty) have both Glorified it (God Almighty’s Name) and will Glorify it (God Almighty’s Name) again.”  Therefore the people who stood by and heard it said that it had thundered.  Others said, “An Angel has spoken to Him (Jesus Christ).”  Jesus (Jesus Christ) answered and said, “This Voice (God Almighty’s) did NOT come because of Me (Jesus Christ), but for your sake.  Now is The Judgment of this World; now, the ruler of this World (the devil, Satan) will be Cast Out.

Note how Jesus Christ calls the devil (Satan), “the ruler of this world”, in John 12:31.

 

Loving God Under Trials (James 1:12-15)

Blessed is the man (Believers) who endures temptation; for when he (Believers) has been Approved, he (Believers) will receive The Crown of Life, which The Lord (Jesus Christ) has Promised, to those (Believers) who Love Him (Jesus Christ).  Let NO ONE say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God (God Almighty)”; for God (God Almighty) cannot be tempted by evil, nor does He (God Almighty), Himself, tempt ANYONE (to sin).  But each one (Believers, Yet-To-Be-Believers, and Unbelievers) is tempted (to sin) when he is drawn away (by the devil, Satan), by his own desires (to sin) and enticed (to sin).  Then, when desire (to sin) has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, brings forth death.

Two Key Verses (Which state the same Command.)

Matthew 4:10

Then Jesus (Jesus Christ) said to him (the devil), “Away with YOU, Satan!  For It Is Written, ‘YOU shall Worship The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), and Him (God Almighty) ONLY, YOU shall Serve.’ ”

Luke 4:8

And Jesus (Jesus Christ) answered and said to him (the devil), “Get behind Me, Satan!  For It Is Written, ‘YOU shall Worship The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), and Him (God Almighty) ONLY, YOU shall Serve.’ ”

Fellow Believers, when We (Believers) are tempted by sin, to sin; We (Believers) have many resources, at Our (Believers) disposal, to aide Us, in Our Fight, Our Battle.  We (Believers) have God Almighty, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, The Holy Bible, Our Church, Our Pastor, Our Deacons, Our Spouses, Our Family, Fellow Believers, and yes, Ourselves.  God Almighty’s Word, The Holy Bible, is One of The Most Valuable Tools, in Our (Believers) Arsenal!  When We are tempted, We MUST delve into God’s Word!  When Unbelievers challenge Us (Believers), asking why We Believe, We have God’s Word, to explain Our Faith, but We (Believers) leave proving it (Why We have such Faith, such Trust in The Truth) to them (Unbelievers), up to God Almighty and Jesus Christ.

For It Is Written, “YOU (Believers) Shall Worship The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), and Him (God Almighty) ONLY, YOU (Believers) Shall Serve!”

Always, Always, Always, keep God Almighty, as Your First Priority!  Always, Always, Always, Worship The Lord, Your God (God Almighty), and Serve ONLY Him (God Almighty)!

Finally Believers, may God Almighty, Jesus Christ, The Holy Spirit, God Almighty’s Word (The Holy Bible), and Fellow Believers, always give YOU strength, in your times of need.  Amen.

Fishers Of Men

Jesus Christ Chose Twelve Specific Men, to Share His Message

Each would Take Up His Cross and Preach The Gospel, His Message

To spread The Good News of Salvation, to one and All

They Witnessed Jesus die, upon The Cross, Once for All

Do YOU even remember the names of each of These Men

Each One Handpicked by Jesus, to be His Fishers of Men

There were brothers, John and James, brothers, Peter and Andrew

Philip, Thomas, Nathanael, also called Bartholomew

Matthew and Judas or Jude, also called Thaddaeus

Simon the Zealot and James, the son of Alphaeus

And finally The Betrayer, Judas Iscariot

Each of These Men, helped pave The Way, for The Holy Spirit

Each of Them were Highly Blessed, to know Jesus Christ, First-Hand

Yes, They Followed Jesus and Fulfilled His Every Command

And Judas Iscariot, had The Most Difficult Task

Question, Could YOU have done it, if Jesus Christ were to ask

For without The Betrayal, there would be NO Sacrifice

Then Jesus could NOT have Paid in Full, The Ultimate Price

Yes, These Men Shared with the World, The True Hope of Tomorrow

How a Greater Good could come, from a moment of sorrow

And most of These Men Witnessed Jesus Christ’s Resurrection

Except for Judas, who died before The Resurrection

These Men Shared Their Experiences, so that We would know

How much God Loves Us, and just how far Jesus Christ did go

These Men saw what they did to Jesus, yet They still spoke out

That They would truly put Their Lives on the line, leaves NO doubt

The Disciples were Chosen, as YOU were, by Jesus, too

Fishers of Men, Preaching The Gospel, is now up to YOU