Tag Archives: Christians

Day Of The Lord

Concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered to him, we ask you, brothers and sisters, not to become easily unsettled or alarmed by the teaching allegedly from us—whether by a prophecy or by word of mouth or by letter—asserting that the day of the Lord has already come. Don’t let anyone deceive you in any way, for that day will not come until the rebellion occurs and the man of lawlessness[a] is revealed, the man doomed to destruction. He will oppose and will exalt himself over everything that is called God or is worshiped, so that he sets himself up in God’s temple, proclaiming himself to be God. Don’t you remember that when I was with you I used to tell you these things? And now you know what is holding him back, so that he may be revealed at the proper time. For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by the splendor of his coming. The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, 10 and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.

2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Principles to help Christians prepare for the Day of the Lord……

**Give thanks for God’s goodness

**Trust God for vengeance

**Trust the Lord to set things right

**Pray earnestly that Christ will be glorified in us

Be ready, Child of God. Blessings upon you all!

Tony French

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Christ’s Return (1)

12 Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else. 16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-17

How do Christians prepare for the coming of the Lord? Paul answers this question in I Thessalonians 5. The principles the apostle gives are not to be taken as exhaustive. Rather, they are reminders of the proper disposition for the Believer as he/she awaits the return of the Savior.

Paul mentions the following for our obedience:

**Be Helpful (12-14)

**Be Respectful (12-13)

**Be Merciful (15)

**Be Joyful (16)

Be Blessed!

Tony French

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Prepare

1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. But you, brothers and sisters, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all children of the light and children of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be awake and sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 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.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

How do Christians prepare for the coming of the Lord? Paul gives us five principles to guide us in this matter. Be blessed this week as you await the arrival of the Lord!

**Be Ready

**Be Alert

**Be Self-Controlled

**Be Confident In the Lord

**Be Encouraging To Others

Tony French

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Treating Others Well (1)

10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

1 Thessalonians 2:10-13

How should we treat others? Who should we respond to those who are our brothers and sisters in Christ? Paul’s letters deal with this subject extensively. Here are three practices from 1 Thessalonians 2 that will help us behave towards others well.

**We should treat others rightly

**We should encourage and strengthen others

**We should help others to know the truth

Tony French

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What Kind of Church?

1Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 1:1-10

What are some marks that should be evident in the life of Christ’s church? Let’s examine a few today. And may God bless His church!

**We should be an Energetic Church

**We should be an Elect Church

**We should be an Exemplary Church

**We should be an Evangelistic Church

**We should be an Expectant Church

Tony French

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The Standard

1 One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Luke 6:1-5

Many folks have different opinions about the nature and character of Jesus. But what does the Bible reveal about Jesus? Luke 6 reveals important truths about Christ that we need to see. Today, we will explore one of these topics in detail.

**Jesus is the Standard

In a world where the Pharisees and Sadducees believed their interpretations were the ultimate standard, Jesus boldly declared Himself as the true measure of Scriptural hermeneutics. He is the one who defines, fulfills, and perfects the law.

This truth serves as a powerful reminder for us today. How often do we, like the religious leaders of Jesus’ time, elevate our preferences and traditions to the level of Scripture? We must be cautious not to add to or subtract from God’s Word. Jesus alone is the head of the church, and His Word is our ultimate authority.

Tony French

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Divine

1One Sabbath Jesus was going through the grainfields, and his disciples began to pick some heads of grain, rub them in their hands and eat the kernels. Some of the Pharisees asked, “Why are you doing what is unlawful on the Sabbath?” Jesus answered them, “Have you never read what David did when he and his companions were hungry? He entered the house of God, and taking the consecrated bread, he ate what is lawful only for priests to eat. And he also gave some to his companions.” Then Jesus said to them, “The Son of Man is Lord of the Sabbath.”

Luke 6:1-5

Who is Jesus? That question is important and needs to be answered by everyone. We will examine a characteristic attributed to Jesus in Luke 6 today.

**Jesus is Divine

Within the span of two chapters in Luke, Jesus makes two extraordinary claims that only God Himself could make: the authority to forgive sins and lordship over the Sabbath. These weren’t vague references but clear declarations of His divinity that the religious leaders understood all too well.

This truth is foundational to our faith: Jesus is fully God and fully man. From His birth to His ascension, He never ceased being God. While His glory was veiled in human flesh during His earthly ministry, His divine nature remained intact. He is, was, and always will be God.

Tony French

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Serve The Lord

Dear Christian, are you serving the Lord? Are you willing to serve through your local church and your daily life? What often separates service from non-service is a willing heart in the life of the believer. God will use us for His glory if we are willing to serve.

The Word of God reveals several important truths in regards to service for the Christ-follower. Let us examine a few today.

The Bible encourages us to serve. We are commanded to serve the LORD with gladness in Psalm 100:2 and in other passages. Christians are exhorted to serve as Jesus did. (Matthew 20:28)

Believers are equipped to serve as well. Paul tells us that we are all given spiritual gifts that are to be used in service to the church. (1 Corinthians 12:11) Are you seeking to discover and use your gifts to build up the body of Christ?

 God enables Christians to serve as He works in and through us. The Scriptures tell us for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. (Philippians 2:13) There is a measure of mystery to how God works in our lives. We will not comprehend all that God is doing at times. But, we can rest assured that He will enable us to serve in our local context.

We are encouraged to serve. God has equipped us to serve. And the Lord has enabled us to serve. May we commit to serving Christ the rest of lives!

Tony French

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Live Wisely

2 While the sun and the light, The moon and the stars, Are not darkened, And the clouds do not return after the rain; 3 In the day when the keepers of the house tremble, And the strong men bow down; When the grinders cease because they are few, And those that look through the windows grow dim; 4 When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low; When one rises up at the sound of a bird, And all the daughters of music are brought low; 5 Also they are afraid of height, And of terrors in the way; When the almond tree blossoms, The grasshopper is a burden, And desire fails. For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets. 6 Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed, Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well. 7 Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it. 8 “Vanity of vanities,” says the Preacher, “All is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 12:2-8

The Preacher warns us one last time to live wisely because death will come to us all. These verses are filled with metaphors that detail the brevity and sure end of life……

In the day when the keepers of the house tremble,

And the strong men bow down;

When the grinders cease because they are few,

When the doors are shut in the streets, And the sound of grinding is low;

For man goes to his eternal home, And the mourners go about the streets.

Remember your Creator before the silver cord is loosed,

Or the golden bowl is broken, Or the pitcher shattered at the fountain, Or the wheel broken at the well.

Then the dust will return to the earth as it was, And the spirit will return to God who gave it.

These metaphors represent fading human vitality and life’s end.  Youth fades, bodies break down, spirits fail, and death comes to all.

Thanks be to God for our salvation. These events will transpire in our lives. We possess everlasting life and a place in heaven.  Death will not be the end for us. Rather, it will be the fulfillment of all that God has promised us. Death awaits, but Christ will be with us every step of the way and will lead us home.

Tony French

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God’s Justice

God is just. His justice is spoken of frequently in Scripture. There is coming a day when Christ will judge the world in holiness and righteousness. In that day, every wrong will be made right. On the Day of Judgment, every injustice will be corrected. Here are a few thoughts about God’s justice.

Psalm 33:5 He loves righteousness and justice; The earth is full of the lovingkindness of the LORD.

Psalm 37:28 For the LORD loves justice And does not forsake His godly ones; They are preserved forever, But the descendants of the wicked will be cut off.

Psalm 101: 1 I will sing of lovingkindness and justice, To You, O LORD, I will sing praises.

Luke 18:7 Now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them?

Let us be thankful for our God who will is just and pure. Thank you for reading this post. May God bless you all!

Tony French

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