Saturday, September 30, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 30

Paul Reminds them How Christ 2nd Coming will Occur Part 3

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

Paul again turns back his discourse, his discussion, and his doctrine to these newly 'born again' believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ reminding them of what their perspective and their position is regarding the suddenness of Christ 2nd Coming to the earth by first saying this to them, "But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day should overtake you as a thief." (1 Thessalonians 5:4) (KJV). Paul declares to them that just like the man or woman (in the natural world) that has received a tip that their home is on a list of targets that a criminal organization plans to rob or burglarize would then fortify or beef up their home security, such is the case spiritually or in a spiritual manner for every believer in Jesus Christ, for they/we have been given inside information (literally and figuratively).

Literally because our Lord Jesus Christ has forewarned us in His Word of His 2nd Coming and the suddenness of said coming as with these words, "But of that day or that hour not a [single] person knows, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. Be on your guard [constantly alert], and watch {and pray;} for you do not know when the time will come. It is like a man [already] going on a journey; when he leaves home, he puts his servants in charge, each with his particular task, and he gives orders to the doorkeeper to be constantly alert {and} on the watch. Therefore watch (give strict attention, be cautious and alert), for you do not know when the Master of the house is coming--in the evening, or at midnight, or at cockcrowing, or in the morning--[Watch, I say] lest He come suddenly {and} unexpectedly and find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to everybody: Watch (give strict attention, be cautious, active, and alert)!" (Mark 13:32-37) (Amplified Bible).

Figuratively because we have the witness in ourselves just as the Apostle John declared with these words, "He who believes in the Son of God [who adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] has the testimony [possesses this divine attestation] within himself. He who does not believe God [in this way] has made Him out to be {and} represented Him as a liar, because he has not believed (put his faith in, adhered to, and relied on) the evidence (the testimony) that God has borne regarding His Son. And this is that testimony (that evidence): God gave us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who possesses the Son has that life; he who does not possess the Son of God does not have that life. I write this to you who believe in (adhere to, trust in, and rely on) the name of the Son of God [in the peculiar services and blessings conferred by Him on men], so that you may know [with settled and absolute knowledge] that you [already] have life, yes, eternal life." (1 John 5:10-13) (Amplified Bible).

With this as our evidence from the Word of God, then we clearly see why the Apostle Paul declares to these Thessalonian believers that they 'are not in darkness', for to be in darkness one would doubt or disbelieve all together that Jesus Christ will return to the earth to Judge. However, this same Apostle Paul wrote to the Colossian believers informing them of the great love and compassion shown to them and everyone of us who have put our faith in Jesus Christ alone for our salvation when he said this, "[The Father] has delivered {and} drawn us to Himself out of the control {and} the dominion of darkness and has transferred us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, In Whom we have our redemption {through His Blood,} [which means] the forgiveness of our sins." (Colossians 1:13-14) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "In the natural, when a man walks in darkness he cannot see where he is going and is in constant danger of serious injury or death by falling into a pit or off a cliff, etc., likewise in the spiritual, when a man walks in darkness he cannot or does not here the promptings of God the Holy Spirit steering him clear from sin that will sooner or later render to him devastating consequences, i.e. how having many female sexual partners could lead to sexually transmitted diseases like herpes, syphilis, and the worst of them all HIV/AIDS which can lead to physical death." Jesus Christ is the light that illuminates life here on the earth for every born sinner (which all human beings are) just as the Apostle John wrote with these words, "In Him was Life, and the Life was the Light of men. And the Light shines on in the darkness, for the darkness has never overpowered it [put it out or absorbed it or appropriated it, and is unreceptive to it]." (John 1:4-5) (Amplified Bible).

Paul declares to these believers in Thessalonica that, "Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness." (1 Thessalonians 5:5) (KJV). They were all 'children of light' and 'children of the day' by virtue of them hearing the Gospel of Christ and being convicted of their sin by God the Holy Spirit and being born again by Him just as our Lord Jesus Christ explained to Nicodemus must happen to every person in order to be with Him in Heaven forever, "Jesus answered him, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that unless a person is born again (anew, from above), he cannot ever see (know, be acquainted with, and experience) the kingdom of God. Nicodemus said to Him, How can a man be born when he is old? Can he enter his mother's womb again and be born? Jesus answered, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, unless a man is born of water and [even] the Spirit, he cannot [ever] enter the kingdom of God. What is born of [from] the flesh is flesh [of the physical is physical]; and what is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not [do not be surprised, astonished] at My telling you, You must all be born anew (from above). The wind blows (breathes) where it wills; and though you hear its sound, yet you neither know where it comes from nor where it is going. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit." (John 3:3-8) (Amplified Bible).

"They were favoured with the divine revelation of things that are unseen and eternal, particularly concerning the coming of Christ, and the consequences thereof. They were the children of the day, for the day-star had risen upon them; yea, the Sun of righteousness had arisen on them with healing under His wings." Matthew Henry

"All who are Christians. The phrase 'children of light' is a Hebraism, meaning that they were the enlightened children of God. Who live as if light always shone round about them. The meaning is, that in reference to the coming of the Lord they are as people would be in reference to the coming of a thief, if there were no night and no necessity of slumber. They would always be wakeful and active, and it would be impossible to come upon them by surprise. Christians are always to be wakeful and vigilant; they are so to expect the coming of the Redeemer, that He will not find them off their guard, and will not come upon them by surprise." Albert Barnes

"It is simple really, Christians are not any longer of the darkness, but we are now of the 'Light' because we now belong to Jesus Christ by virtue of His Blood washing us continually clean from all our sins (not ceremonially, but literally a spiritual bathing takes place within our souls 'when we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from all our unrighteousness' (1 John 1:9), for as Christ Jesus our Lord said concerning Himself and we His followers with these words, 'Once more Jesus addressed the crowd. He said, I am the Light of the world. He who follows Me will not be walking in the dark, but will have the Light which is Life.' (John 8:12) (Amplified Bible)" Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…









Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 29

Paul Reminds them How Christ 2nd Coming will Occur Part 2

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. KJV

Paul now reminds these new believers in Thessalonica how blessed they are knowing these facts, this truth, and this reality concerning the 2nd Coming of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ in sharp contrast to those who have yet to bow their knee in submission to Him during this open season of grace extended to all humanity. The time is coming very soon (not as human beings understand the word soon) that regardless of resisting or rejecting the promptings from God the Holy Spirit when lost men and women hear the Gospel of Grace preached and proclaimed to them that they will be forced to bow their knee to Christ Jesus just as Paul declared concerning Christ to the Philippian believers with these words, "And after He had appeared in human form, He abased {and} humbled Himself [still further] and carried His obedience to the extreme of death, even the death of the Cross!Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, That in (at) the name of Jesus every knee should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, And every tongue [frankly and openly] confess {and} acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:8-11) (Amplified Bible).

With this as our background, Paul states this concerning the neglectful sinner as well as the willfully obstinate sinner, "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." (1 Thessalonians 5:3) (KJV). The great Apostle Paul (of course under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit) makes perhaps (in my opinion) the most subtle, silent, but sure coming judgement of God the Father of human sinners here on this His earth that is found in the Bible. All of humanity has been eyewitness to the process of conception, pregnacy, and then child birth. The conception of a child takes place during the act of sexual intercourse between a man and a woman. In like manner in the spiritual realm the conception of human sin took place or occured when the first man and first woman disobeyed the command of God the Father and ate the forbidden fruit just as Paul declared with these words to the believers in Rome when he wrote this, "Therefore, as sin came into the world through one man, and death as the result of sin, so death spread to all men, [no one being able to stop it or to escape its power] because all men sinned." (Romans 5:12) (Amplified Bible). Note: "To any 'evolutionist' out there that may come across this and read it, if something came from nothing, then why does the 'something' that was before 'nothing' die and go back to 'nothing'." Next, in like manner, because sin has now entered the world and all men/women have sinned and are sinners just as Paul again wrote to the believers in Rome with these words, "Since all have sinned and are falling short of the honor {and} glory which God bestows {and} receives." (Romans 3:23) (Amplified Bible), then humanity is now pregnant with judgement for their sin that must be satisfied or paid for by themselves or by another (the Blood of Jesus Christ).

Finally, in like manner, the birth of God the Father's Judgement for human sin must happen just as a pregnant women will deliver her baby. When Paul writes, 'they shall say', he is referring to those we spoke of earlier as being resistant to the Holy Spirit or rejecting the Holy Spirit all together even as the Apostle Peter wrote of just such people in his second epistle or letter reminding them that God the Father's Judgement is certain and sure with these words, "To begin with, you must know {and} understand this, that scoffers (mockers) will come in the last days with scoffing, [people who] walk after their own fleshly desires And say, Where is the promise of His coming? For since the forefathers fell asleep, all things have continued exactly as they did from the beginning of creation. For they willfully overlook {and} forget this [fact], that the heavens [came into] existence long ago by the word of God, and the earth also which was formed out of water and by means of water, Through which the world that then [existed] was deluged with water and perished. But by the same word the present heavens and earth have been stored up (reserved) for fire, being kept until the day of judgment and destruction of the ungodly people. Nevertheless, do not let this one fact escape you, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years and a thousand years as one day. The Lord does not delay {and} is not tardy {or} slow about what He promises, according to some people's conception of slowness, but He is long-suffering (extraordinarily patient) toward you, not desiring that any should perish, but that all should turn to repentance. But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will vanish (pass away) with a thunderous crash, and the [material] elements [of the universe] will be dissolved with fire, and the earth and the works that are upon it will be burned up." (2 Peter 3:3-10) (Amplified Bible). Note: "We made reference to this passage of Scripture and requested that you read it in one of the last two studies/commentaries, but we felt it urgent to actually include the passage in this study/commentary for those who might not have gone back and found the passage and actually read it."

The Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul are both only declaring to us what our Lord Jesus Christ so greatly emphasized during His earthly ministry and that was and is the suddenness of His 2nd Coming to the earth. The Apostle Paul uses the English word 'sudden' here in this 3rd verse and it is translated by the Greek word aiphnidios (used only one other time in the New Testament besides right here) meaning (as a negative particle non apparent); unexpected, that is, (adverbially) suddenly: - sudden, unawares. The English word 'destruction' is translated by the Greek word olethros a primary word (to destroy; a prolonged form); ruin, that is, death, punishment: - destruction. The English word 'escape' is translated by the Greek word ekpheugo meaning to flee out: - escape, flee. In other words, just as a pregnant woman cannot escape or flee away from the sure fact that a baby will be taken from her womb suddenly or at a time she may not expect, so is the Judgement of God the Father for human sin sure and sudden upon this His earth and there is no escaping it except to flee to the Cross of Calvary where my Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ shed His Blood for you and for me and there only can a sinner 'flee from the wrath to come' (Luke 3:7).

"The impenitent and wicked world will be sunk in carnal security when He comes. They will regard themselves as safe. They will see no danger. They will give no heed to warning. They will be unprepared for His advent. So it has always been and it seems to be a universal truth in regard to all the visitations of God to wicked people for punishment, that He comes upon them at a time when they are not expecting Him, and that they have no faith in the predictions of His advent. So it was in the time of the flood; in the destruction of Sodom Gomorrah, and Jerusalem; in the overthrow of Babylon: so it is when the sinner dies, and so it will be when the Lord Jesus shall return to judge the world. One of the most remarkable facts about the history of man is, that he takes no warning from his Maker; he never changes his plans, or feels any emotion, because his Creator 'thunders damnation along his path,' and threatens to destroy him in hell." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…






Saturday, September 23, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 28

Paul Reminds them How Christ 2nd Coming will Occur Part 1

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

Paul now remembers their questioning of him when he was present with them concerning when all this that he just wrote of concerning our Lord Jesus Christ return to the earth would occur, but Paul wanted to remind them of exactly what our Lord, Master, and Savior told the first Apostles when they over stepped their boundaries of inquiry concerning the subject, so Paul first writes these words to them, "But of the times and the seasons, brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you." (1 Thessalonians 5:1) (KJV). In other words, as we declared in the previous study/commentary the Apostle Paul lived his life expecting to see the 2nd coming of Christ Jesus our Lord during his lifetime and so he taught everyone of these new believers in Thessalonica to live in like manner always anticipating that Jesus Christ could return at any moment, even then 2,000 years ago. Therefore, Paul writes these words here in verse 1, for as Bengel declares, "Those who watch do not need to be told when the hour will come, for they are always ready", and these words mirror the response our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ said Himself concerning those of us who follow Him, "Watch therefore [give strict attention and be cautious and active], for you know neither the day nor the hour {when the Son of Man will come.}" (Matthew 25:13) (Amplified Bible).

Paul reminds them of what he taught them before he departed from them concerning the suddenness, that is, how this 'Day of the Lord' will happen without warning, therefore, those who are prepared will not be taken by surprise or off guard, but the unprepared will be locked out or shut out of the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ forever (in Hell), just as the parable of "The Wise and Foolish Virgins" illustrates, "THEN THE kingdom of heaven shall be likened to ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish (thoughtless, without forethought) and five were wise (sensible, intelligent, and prudent). For when the foolish took their lamps, they did not take any [extra] oil with them; But the wise took flasks of oil along with them [also] with their lamps. While the bridegroom lingered {and} was slow in coming, they all began nodding their heads, and they fell asleep. But at midnight there was a shout, Behold, the bridegroom! Go out to meet him! Then all those virgins got up and put their own lamps in order. And the foolish said to the wise, Give us some of your oil, for our lamps are going out. But the wise replied, There will not be enough for us and for you; go instead to the dealers and buy for yourselves. But while they were going away to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were prepared went in with him to the marriage feast; and the door was shut. Later the other virgins also came and said, Lord, Lord, open [the door] to us! But He replied, I solemnly declare to you, I do not know you [I am not acquainted with you]." (Matthew 25:1-12) (Amplified Bible).

A thief does not announce before hand to the person or persons or place or places that he or she is going to steal from when and where he will perform this act of thievery, but instead the time and place of his or her unlawful deed is known only to them, therfore, in like manner is the 'Day of the Lord' upon the earth, so it is Paul's desire to instill in these Thessalonian believers and we believers today and of every generation and era the practice of being steadfast and immovable from our work for the Lord Jesus Christ and our watchfulness concerning His 2nd coming just as again our Lord Jesus Himself implored us to do and to be by what He says here, "But of that [exact] day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father. As were the days of Noah, so will be the coming of the Son of Man. For just as in those days before the flood they were eating and drinking, [men] marrying and [women] being given in marriage, until the [very] day when Noah went into the ark, And they did not know {or} understand until the flood came and swept them all away--so will be the coming of the Son of Man. At that time two men will be in the field; one will be taken and one will be left. Two women will be grinding at the hand mill; one will be taken and one will be left. Watch therefore [give strict attention, be cautious and active], for you do not know in what kind of a day [whether a near or remote one] your Lord is coming. But understand this: had the householder known in what [part of the night, whether in a night or a morning] that the thief was coming, he would have watched and would not have allowed his house to be undermined {and} broken into. You also must be ready therefore, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour when you do not expect Him." (Matthew 24:36-44) (Amplified Bible).

"The thing is certain that Christ will come, and there is a certain time appointed for His coming; but there was no need that the Apostle should write about this, and therefore he had no revelation given him; nor should they or we enquire into this secret, which the Father has reserved in His own power. Of that day and hour knoweth no man. Christ Himself did not reveal this while upon earth; it was not in His Commission as the Great Prophet of the Church: nor did He reveal this to His Apostles; there was no need of this. There are times and seasons for us to do our work in: these it is our duty and interest to know and observe; but the time and season when we must give up our account we know not, nor is it needful that we should know them. Note, There are many things which our vain curiosity desires to know which there is no necessity at all of our knowing, nor would our knowledge of them do us good." Matthew Henry

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…






Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 27

Paul Encourages & Comforts them with the Certainty of Christ 2nd Coming Part 3

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord. Wherefore comfort one another with these words. KJV

Paul finishes his reassuring these saints in Thessalonica of the certain, confident, and concrete evidence that our Lord Jesus Christ Himself will come back for them and for us who trust Him today and for every true believer 'in Christ' of every generation and era by first declaring that those believers alive still on the earth (of whatever generation it might be) will hear and see Christ Jesus our Lord personally as he says here, "Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord." (1 Thessalonians 4:17) (KJV). Notice how Paul uses emphatically the plural pronoun 'we' as if he expected to be alive at and during the 2nd coming of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ. This was not written from snobbery or entitlement or embelishment of his own virtue or status before Jesus Christ, but it was written (as we declared in the last study/commentary) from a heart or inner man of one who fully expected to see Christ come on the Clouds of Glory with the Holy Angels (Matthew 25:31).

We must say here that the message is also giving these believers assurance that our Lord Jesus received or picked up each one of their/our loved ones who died 'in Christ' just as we found brother Stephen (the first martyr) received by our Lord Jesus Christ personally as recorded for us by Dr. Luke with these words, "Now upon hearing these things, they [the Jews] were cut to the heart {and} infuriated, and they ground their teeth against [Stephen]. But he, full of the Holy Spirit {and} controlled by Him, gazed into heaven and saw the glory (the splendor and majesty) of God, and Jesus standing at God's right hand; And he said, Look! I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at God's right hand! But they raised a great shout and put their hands over their ears and rushed together upon him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him, and the witnesses placed their garments at the feet of a young man named Saul. And while they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive {and} accept {and} welcome my spirit! And falling on his knees, he cried out loudly, Lord, fix not this sin upon them [lay it not to their charge]! And when he had said this, he fell asleep [in death]." (Acts 7:54-60) (Amplified Bible).

Note: "I believe that every true believer in Christ Jesus sees Him personally at the moment of their death welcoming them, that is, their unique soul/spirit into Heaven with Him. Such as Solomon says with these words of wisdom, 'Then shall the dust [out of which God made man's body] return to the earth as it was, and the spirit shall return to God Who gave it.' (Ecclesiastes 12:7) (Amplified Bible)" The little English phrase 'shall be caught up' is translated by one Greek word harpazo meaning to seize (in various applications): - catch (away, up), pluck, pull, take (by force). This definition is where we get the Doctrine ' The Rapture' from, even though the English word 'Rapture' is found no where in the Bible. The Doctrine of the Rapture means the future event when Christian believers are suddenly removed from the Earth before the second coming of Christ and this Doctrine is disputed by many, even among many believers.

However, I cannot see how anyone can deny this at all for throughout the Gospels our Lord Jesus Christ assures those of us who belong to Him that we will not go through the 'Great Tribulation' that will occur on the earth after His 2nd coming to the earth as He says here, "But in those days, after [the affliction and oppression and distress of] that tribulation, the sun will be darkened, and the moon will not give its light; And the stars will be falling from the sky, and the powers in the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in clouds with great (kingly) power and glory (majesty and splendor). And then He will send out the angels and will gather together His elect (those He has picked out for Himself) from the four winds, from the farthest bounds of the earth to the farthest bounds of heaven." (Mark 13:24-27) (Amplified Bible).

The little English phrase 'to meet' is translated by one Greek word apantesis meaning a (friendly) encounter: In other words, this catching away or being caught in the clouds to meet our Lord Jesus Christ will be a wonderful experience for each one of we true believers who are alive on the earth during this time, not a time of mourning or sorrowing as our Lord Jesus Himself says will be the case for all the tribes of the earth that mocked at His 2nd coming, "Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in the sky, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn {and} beat their breasts {and} lament in anguish, and they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds of heaven with power and great glory [in brilliancy and splendor]." (Matthew 24:30) (Amplified Bible), even as these words of our Lord Jesus Christ were affirmed by the Apostle Peter read (2 Peter 3:1-10).

Paul wants them to be at ease concerning their loved ones who have already died and he wanted to reassure them that they had not missed the 2nd coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and so he concludes with this exhortation after his above explanation, "Wherefore comfort one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:18) (KJV). That is, with these rock solid assurances in mind comfort one another concerning your dead loved ones keeping yourselves free from worry, grief, or sorrow, just as the Psalmist says with these words, "But God will redeem me from the power of Sheol (the place of the dead); for He will receive me. Selah [pause, and calmly think of that]!" (Psalm 49:15) (Amplified Bible).

"We should endeavour to support one another in times of sorrow, not deaden one another's spirits, nor weaken one another's hands, but should comfort one another; and this may be done by serious consideration and discourse on the many good lessons to be learned from the doctrine of the resurrection of the dead, the second coming of Christ, and the glory of the saints in that day." Matthew Henry

"The verb does not elsewhere occur in the New Testament. In all these instances there is the idea of either foreign force or violence effecting that which is done. What force or power is to be applied in causing the living and the dead to ascend, is not expressed. Whether it is to be by the ministry of angels, or by the direct power of the Son of God, is not intimated, though the latter seems to be most probable. The word should not be construed, however as implying that there will be any reluctance on the part of the saints to appear before the Saviour, but merely with reference to the physical fact that power will be necessary to elevate them to meet him in the air. Will their, bodies then be such that they will have the power of locomotion at will from place to place?" Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…


Saturday, September 16, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 26

Paul Encourages & Comforts them with the Certainty of Christ 2nd Coming Part 2

1 Thessalonians 4:15-16 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep. For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: KJV

Paul makes it clear to them that he is not speaking his own ideology, imagination, or idea, but that what he writes here to them is the word he has received directly from their/our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and so he says, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep." (1 Thessalonians 4:15) (KJV). The Old Kings English word 'prevent' Paul uses here is translated by the Greek word phthano which is a primary verb meaning to be beforehand, that is, anticipate or precede; by extension to have arrived at already. In other words, Paul makes it clear to them and to us that their/our loved ones who haved died 'in Christ' are already with Christ, that is, their souls are with Him right now in Heaven, but when our Lord Jesus returns to the earth to set up His Eternal Kingdom on the new earth, then He will resurrect our dead loved ones bodies and fashion, forge, and formed them into 'new glorified bodies' for them to live in eternally with Him and then shall the Lord Jesus Christ catch those 'in Him' who are still alive on the earth up in the air to meet Him and likewise fashion, forge, and form for them a 'new glorified body' just as Paul wrote with these words explaining this truth and miraculous work of our Lord Jesus to the Corinthian Church, "But I tell you this, brethren, flesh and blood cannot [become partakers of eternal salvation and] inherit {or} share in the kingdom of God; nor does the perishable (that which is decaying) inherit {or} share in the imperishable (the immortal). Take notice! I tell you a mystery (a secret truth, an event decreed by the hidden purpose or counsel of God). We shall not all fall asleep [in death], but we shall all be changed (transformed). In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the [sound of the] last trumpet call. For a trumpet will sound, and the dead [in Christ] will be raised imperishable (free and immune from decay), and we shall be changed (transformed). For this perishable [part of us] must put on the imperishable [nature], and this mortal [part of us, this nature that is capable of dying] must put on immortality (freedom from death)." (1 Corinthians 15:50-53) (Amplified Bible).

The Apostle Paul lived everyday of his life on the earth as if our Lord Jesus Christ would return at any moment, therefore, it is completely understandable that he would teach those new converts in Thessalonica to believe and live in like manner, but with this in mind, it was also now necessary for Paul to correct them when they had been disturbed by some false teachers or false apostles that had made them think Christ had already returned to the earth the 2nd time. Even the Apostle Paul (as great as we see him) was not given by our Lord Jesus Christ the time table or the agenda of what our Lord Jesus had planned for the future just as our Lord Jesus Himself declared to the first Apostles when they over stepped their boundaries of inquiry concerning His future plans when He said this to them, "So when they were assembled, they asked Him, Lord, is this the time when You will reestablish the kingdom {and} restore it to Israel? He said to them, 'It is not for you to become acquainted with {and} know what time brings [the things and events of time and their definite periods] or fixed years and seasons (their critical niche in time), which the Father has appointed (fixed and reserved) by His own choice {and} authority {and} personal power.'" (Acts 1:6-7) (Amplified Bible). Paul now asserts, affirms, and avows that it will be Christ Jesus Himself who raises the bodies of our loved ones whose souls are with Him in Heaven and it will be Him who calls their bodies out of the graves and forms them into incorruptable eternal bodies fashioned to live with Him forever as he says with these words here, "For the Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:" (1 Thessalonians 4:16) (KJV). First let us remind ourselves about the English word 'Lord' which is translated by the Greek word kurios meaning supreme in authority, that is, (as noun) controller; In other words, our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is the One True and Only God who made everything there is visible and invisible and it is He that is Sovereign, that is, the Greatest in status, authority or power and it is He that has determined the time He will end all rebellion here on the earth and establish His Eternal Kingdom, therefore, no medium or witch or wizard or fortune teller or psychic (all satanic and of the devil) knows jack, beacuse the devil knows jack.

The little English phrase 'shall descend' is translated by one Greek word katabaino meaning  to descend (literally or figuratively): - come down. In this case it means a literal coming down from His (Jesus Christ) Throne in Heaven to the earth just as the angels told the first Apostles when they witnessed our Lord Jesus Christ ascent into Heaven from earth, "And when He had said this, even as they were looking [at Him], He was caught up, and a cloud received {and} carried Him away out of their sight. And while they were gazing intently into heaven as He went, behold, two men [dressed] in white robes suddenly stood beside them, Who said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing into heaven? This same Jesus, Who was caught away {and} lifted up from among you into heaven, will return in [just] the same way in which you saw Him go into heaven." (Acts 1:9-11) (Amplified Bible). The sound of our Lord Jesus' voice as He descends will be unlike any sound we have ever heard in our world here on the earth, but we will recognize that it is Christ Jesus our Lord.

"That great hope helps us to bridge the dark gorge of present separation. It leaves unanswered a host of questions which our lonely hearts would fain have cleared up; but it is enough for hope to hold by, and for sorrow to be changed into submission and anticipation. As to the many obscurities that still cling to the future, the meaning and the nature of the accompaniments, the shout, the trumpet, and the like, the way of harmonising the thought that the departed saints attend the descending Lord, with whom they dwell now, with the declaration here that they rise from the earth to meet Him, the question whether these who are thus caught up from earth to meet the Lord in the air come back again with Him to earth,—all these points of curious speculation we may leave. We know enough for comfort, for assurance of the perfect reunion of the saints who sleep in Jesus and of the living, and of the perfect blessedness of both wings of the great army. We may be content with what is clearly revealed, and be sure that, if what is unrevealed would have been helpful to us, He would have told us. We are to use the revelation for comfort and for stimulus, and we are to remember that ‘times and seasons’ are not told us, nor would the knowledge of them profit us." Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Wednesday, September 13, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 25

Paul Encourages & Comforts them with the Certainty of Christ 2nd Coming Part 1

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him. KJV

Paul now turns his attention and focus to many in the Church who had concerns for those loved ones of theirs who had already died before the Lord Jesus Christ return. The exact reason for Paul going into this discourse here is not made known here in Paul's letter, but it is perhaps that some of them were being mis-led or mis-guided into thinking that the 2nd coming of Christ had already taken place and that they had missed it and were left behind here on the earth (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5) and if this were true they had developed concerns about what happened to their loved ones who died already. Paul was always teaching the truth concerning our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ as much as he was preaching the Gospel of Christ, for Paul knew that in order for these new believers in Thessalonica to flourish or grow vigorously spiritually, then they must be taught the deep truths of Christ and the Word of God, so here he declares to them these words to comfort them in their time of confusion and concern, "But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope." (1 Thessalonians 4:13) (KJV). Paul wanted them fully informed of the truth concerning the 2nd coming of Christ and how it concerns their loved ones who have died already, so here he uses the little English phrase 'to be ignorant' which is translated by one Greek word agnoeo meaning not to know (through lack of information or intelligence); by implication to ignore (through disinclination): - not understand.

The somewhat lengthy English phrase 'them which are asleep' is translated by one Greek word koimao which means figuratively to decease: - to be dead. The little English phrase 'ye sorrow' is translated by one Greek word lupeo which means to distress; reflexively or passively to be sad: - cause grief, grieve, be in heaviness, be sorrowful. In other words, Paul writes to them to inform them that despite the false information they had been given by others trying to shake their faith or to cause them pain and anguish over the state of their loved ones who had died, he wants them to know or to have super knowledge of the true state or condition of their loved ones who have died in Christ. Paul declares that it is those who have no personal relationship with Jesus Christ and no certainty that all their sins (past, present, and future) are forgiven who have no hope, that is, no confident expectation of what will happen to them at their death and what has happened to their loved ones who have already died. This is the very reason many then and today seek out mediums to try and get a word of knowledge from their dead relatives, but this is not possible as declared by the Scripture, "For the living know that they will die, but the dead know nothing; and they have no more reward [here], for the memory of them is forgotten." (Ecclesiastes 9:5) (Amplified Bible) and futher proof that no 'so called' medium ever calls up a person from the grave as declared by these words from Scripture, "As the cloud is consumed and vanishes away, so he who goes down to Sheol (the place of the dead) shall come up no more." (Job 7:9) (Amplified Bible).

It is Paul's desire that these Thessalonian believers then and we believers 'in Christ' today and of every generation and era be assured that our pilgramage and sojourn here on the earth is but a short journey on our way home to heaven to be forever/eternally with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ and that we never be moved away from our confident expectation/hope of this truth as the Apostle Paul declared to the Corinthian Church with these words of wisdom, "Now He Who has fashioned us [preparing and making us fit] for this very thing is God, Who also has given us the [Holy] Spirit as a guarantee [of the fulfillment of His promise]. So then, we are always full of good {and} hopeful {and} confident courage; we know that while we are at home in the body, we are abroad from the home with the Lord [that is promised us]. For we walk by faith [we regulate our lives and conduct ourselves by our conviction or belief respecting man's relationship to God and divine things, with trust and holy fervor; thus we walk] not by sight {or} appearance. [Yes] we have confident {and} hopeful courage and are pleased rather to be away from home out of the body and be at home with the Lord. Therefore, whether we are at home [on earth away from Him] or away from home [and with Him], we are constantly ambitious {and} strive earnestly to be pleasing to Him. For we must all appear {and} be revealed as we are before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive [his pay] according to what he has done in the body, whether good or evil [considering what his purpose and motive have been, and what he has achieved, been busy with, and given himself and his attention to accomplishing]. Therefore, being conscious of fearing the Lord with respect {and} reverence, we seek to win people over [to persuade them]. But what sort of persons we are is plainly recognized {and} thoroughly understood by God, and I hope that it is plainly recognized {and} thoroughly understood also by your consciences (your inborn discernment)." (2 Corinthians 5:5-11) (Amplified Bible).

Therefore, Paul makes it easy and clear for them to understand where their focus should be and that is not on the words of high minded fallible men who think themselves to be something or someone of great wisdom and knowlegde, but instead to always keep their/our focus on the infinite, infallible, and incredible One True God (who cannot lie) as Paul so says it here with these words, "For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him." (1 Thessalonians 4:14) (KJV). This these Thessalonian believers most certainly believed and everyone of us (true believers) today and of every generation and era believe this, for this must be so for anyone to ever be saved by Christ as the Apostle Paul wrote with these words to the believers in Rome, "Because if you acknowledge {and} confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and in your heart believe (adhere to, trust in, and rely on the truth) that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved." (Romans 10:9) (Amplified Bible). If we believe that God the Father raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, then surely we must trust that He will raise every true believer 'in Christ' from the dead and bring them with Him at His 2nd coming to the earth to set up His Eternal Kingdom.

"Death affects the mere individual; but the coming of Jesus the whole Church; at death our souls are invisibly and individually with the Lord; at Christ’s coming the whole Church, with all its members, in body and soul, shall be visibly and collectively with Him. As this is offered as a consolation to mourning relatives, the mutual recognition of the saints at Christ’s coming is hereby implied." JFB Commentary

"These disciples anticipated the speedy return of the Lord and feared lest those who had died would be worse off than they: The Apostle bade them dismiss such fears, because they who remained alive until the coming of the Lord would have no precedence over others who had died. Paul assures them that they who had fallen asleep were with Jesus, and that they would accompany Him when He came again; To those who needed to be raised, Jesus would be 'the Resurrection'; to those who were living, He would be 'the Life.' They that believed in Him, though they had died, yet would they live; and they who lived till He came would never die." F. B. Meyer

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…

Saturday, September 9, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 24

Paul Urges them to Lead a Life Void of Offense & Walk Honestly

1Thessalonians 4:11-12 And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you; That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing. KJV

Having shown delicate praise to these relatively new believers in our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ for their sincerely felt and expressed love for one another, the Apostle now turns his focus (for them) on those who are not their brothers and sisters 'in Christ' and upon how they should live in this world (no longer belonging to the world) (John 15:19). Paul's desire for them is to live a life (along side those outside of Christ) that is absent of offending them by first saying, "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;" (1 Thessalonians 4:11) (KJV). The little English phrase that begins this verse 'that ye study' is translated by one Greek word philotimeomai which means to be eager or earnest to do somethng; to strive or exert much effort or energy in doing something. The little English phrase 'to be quiet' is translated by one Greek word hesuchazo which means to keep still, that is, refrain from meddlesomeness or being a busybody or nosy person intruding/interfering into other peoples affairs or business uninvited. In other words, the Apostle Paul did not want to see them waisting their time and energy meddling in other people's personal lives which would label them to those outside of Christ Jesus our Lord as insensitive, intrusive, and interferers rather than people that 'lived peaceably with all men' (Romans 12:18) and in so doing turn those outside of the Church off to their faith in Christ.

Paul goes on to instruct them and us today to be diligent in our own business/work showing ourselves as proper, purposeful, prominent members of society by our hard work in our own affairs as he declares with the use of the English phrase 'to do your own business' which is translated by one Greek word prasso which is a primary verb; to “practice”, that is, perform repeatedly or habitually by implication to execute, accomplish, etc. In other words, the Apostle Paul is calling for these Thessalonian believers and we believers today and of every era and generation to mind our own business, that is, to be quietly and steadily continuing our own business despite any difficulties and in turn, refraining ourselves from meddling in the business or affairs of others. Note: "It is the desire of the devil to meddle in the affairs of others as we are told in Scripture that he is the 'accuser of the brethren' as the Apostle John writes concerning him in the Book of Revelation with these words, 'Then I heard a strong (loud) voice in heaven, saying, Now it has come--the salvation and the power and the kingdom (the dominion, the reign) of our God, and the power (the sovereignty, the authority) of His Christ (the Messiah); for the accuser of our brethren (the devil), he who keeps bringing before our God charges against them day and night, has been cast out!' (Revelation 12:10) (Amplified Bible)."

In order to represent themselves well to the unbelievers, Paul saw and recognized their being hardworking and not lazy and slothful (Proverbs 12:24) as another proof to the unbelievers that this faith 'in Christ' was not something that brought a man downward, but the opposite, faith in Christ inspires, invigorates, and increases the man's desires to work hard as if he is working for Jesus Christ just as Paul wrote to the Colossian believers with these words urging them on, "Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men" (Colossians 3:23) (Amplified Bible). To be diligent in one's business acclaims the Apostle was to be one who walked wisely and not foolishly as Paul declares with these words now to the Thessalonian believers, "That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing." (1 Thessalonians 4:12) (KJV). Note: "Decently - That they may have no pretence to say, (but they will say it still,) 'This religion makes men idle, and brings them to beggary.'" (John Wesley)

In other words, in this verse Paul is saying to them and to us today that one of the best ways to live in a noble manner with those outside of relationship with our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ is to work hard in whatever your business might be and in so doing you will demonstrate that faith in Jesus Christ does not make one so Heavenly minded that he or she becomes of no earthly good, but just the opposite, for it is the desire kindled within to want to provide for your family and even to give to those whom our Lord Jesus places on your heart who need earthly help (many in war torn parts of Africa dominated by devil motivated thugs like Boko Haram today would be so thankful for one room that many of us have in our homes of many rooms) (Ephesians 4:28). Note: "So far from needing to beg from others, we ought to work and get the means of supplying the need of others. Freedom from pecuniary (relating to or involving money) embarrassment is to be desired by the Christian on account of the liberty which it bestows." (JFB Commentary)

"Their expectation of the immediate coming of Christ led some enthusiasts among them to neglect their daily work and be dependent on the bounty of others. The expectation was right in so far as that the Church should be always looking for Him; but they were wrong in making it a ground for neglecting their daily work." JFB Commentary

"Salvation in Christ Jesus our Lord does not exclude us from being diligent in taking care to our temporal needs down here on the earth, such as food, shelter, and clothing, doing this does not make us less spiritual or faithful to our Lord Jesus Christ, but neglecting to be persevering in these things will cause us to resort to doing things that will make us unfaithful to Christ Jesus our Lord such as stealing or cheating others in order to have these temporal needs met, let us pray daily for the Wisdom of Agur as he declared to the Lord God two things he wanted from Him, 'Two things have I asked of You [O Lord]; deny them not to me before I die: Remove far from me falsehood and lies; give me neither poverty nor riches; feed me with the food that is needful for me, Lest I be full and deny You and say, Who is the Lord? Or lest I be poor and steal, and so profane the name of my God.' (Proverbs 30:7-9) (Amplified Bible)." Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

"It is the most desirable thing to have a calm and quiet temper, and to be of a peaceable and quiet behaviour. This tends much to our own and others' happiness; and Christians should study how to be quiet. We should be ambitious and industrious how to be calm and quiet in our minds, in patience to possess our own souls, and to be quiet towards others; or of a meek and mild, a gentle and peaceable disposition, not given to strife, contention, or division. Satan is very busy to disquiet us; and we have that in our own hearts that disposes us to be disquiet; therefore let us study to be quiet. It follows, Do your own business. When we go beyond this, we expose ourselves to a great deal of inquietude. Those who are busy-bodies, meddling in other men's matters, generally have but little quiet in their own minds and cause great disturbances among their neighbours; at least they seldom mind the other exhortation, to be diligent in their own calling, to work with their own hands; and yet this was what the Apostle commanded them, and what is required of us also. Christianity does not discharge us from the work and duty of our particular callings, but teaches us to be diligent therein." Matthew Henry

"That ye may be able to get your bread by honest labor, which God will ever bless; and be chargeable to no man. He that is dependent on another is necessarily in bondage; and he who is able to get his own bread by the sweat of his brow, should not be under obligation even to a king. I do not recollect whether, in any other part of this work, I have given the following story from the Hatem Tai Nameh. Hatem Tai was an Arabian nobleman, who flourished some time before the Mahommedan era; he was reputed the most generous and liberal man in all the east. One day he slew one hundred camels, and made a feast, to which all the Arabian lords and all the peasantry in the district were invited. About the time of the feast he took a walk towards a neighboring wood, to see if he could find any person whom he might invite to partake of the entertainment which he had then provided. Walking along the skirt of the wood, he espied an old man coming out of it, laden with a burden of faggots (a bundle of sticks and branches bound together); he accosted him and asked if he had not heard of the entertainment made that day by Hatem Tai. The old man answered in the affirmative. He asked him why he did not attend and partake with the rest. The old man answered: 'He that is able to gain his bread even by collecting faggots in the wood, should not be beholden even to Hatem Tai.' This is a noble saying, and has long been a rule of conduct to the writer of this note. Adam Clarke

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…







Wednesday, September 6, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 23

Paul Urges them to Continue Loving One Another

1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more; KJV

Paul having just concluded his exhortation for them to abstain from fornication, not deceiving their brother in Christ by fornicating with his wife which shows their genuine love for their brother, now urges them on in their love for one another just as our Heavenly Father so loves them/us and they/we are His Beloved so Paul first says this to them, "But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another." (1 Thessalonians 4:9) (KJV). The first thing that was poured into the hearts of these Thessalonian sinners and we sinners today and of every generation and era was the 'love of God' (Romans 5:5) which is unlike all human love combined together in this world, His love is utterly unworldly, therefore, this is why Paul just declared to them/us that the idea of saying you love your brother in Christ, yet you are willing to fornicate with his wife (which is surely to cause him emotional and spiritual hurt and pain) is absolute nonsense.

When Paul says here, 'as touching brotherly love', the first little English phrase 'as touching' is translated by one Greek word peri meaning figuratively with respect to; used in various applications, of place, cause or time and the second little English phrase 'brotherly love' is translated by one Greek word philadelphia meaning fraternal affection: - brotherly love (kindness), love of the brethren. In other words, Paul is saying that the cause of your restraining yourselves/ourselves from fornicating with another brother's wife is their/our affectionate kindness and love that should be their/our desire to show continually to other members of their/our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ Body the Church just as Paul wrote concerning this concept to the Corinthian Church with these words, "So that there should be no division {or} discord {or} lack of adaptation [of the parts of the body to each other], but the members all alike should have a mutual interest in {and} care for one another. And if one member suffers, all the parts [share] the suffering; if one member is honored, all the members [share in] the enjoyment of it." (1 Corinthians 12:25-26) (Amplified Bible).

These Thessalonian believers and we believers today and of every generation and era are 'Divinely Instructed' by our Heavenly Father through the Holy Spirit and the Word of God that we are to love one another just as the Apostle John wrote to the brethren with these words, "Beloved, if God loved us so [very much], we also ought to love one another. No man has at any time [yet] seen God. But if we love one another, God abides (lives and remains) in us and His love (that love which is essentially His) is brought to completion (to its full maturity, runs its full course, is perfected) in us!" (1 John 4:11-12) (Amplified Bible), therefore, we cannot have this love perfected 'in us' if we defraud our brother 'in Christ' by fornicating with his wife, this destroys His love 'in us' and weakens the unity of the Spirit by hurting other members of Christ Body the Church. Paul now commends these Thessalonian believers on elevating and advancing and even furthering their love out from their local body of believers to believers in all of the region of Macedonia as he declares with these words, "And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;" (1 Thessalonians 4:10) (KJV).

The Thessalonian Church made an effort of reaching out to other believers 'in Christ' showing and expressing their love to them and for them in what ever real world ways they could just as Paul had already acknowledged of them at the very beginning of his letter with these words, "So that you [thus] became a pattern to all the believers (those who adhere to, trust in, and rely on Christ Jesus) in Macedonia and Achaia (most of Greece). For not only has the Word concerning {and} from the Lord resounded forth from you unmistakably in Macedonia and Achaia, but everywhere the report has gone forth of your faith in God [of your leaning of your whole personality on Him in complete trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness]. So we [find that we] never need to tell people anything [further about it]." (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8) (Amplified Bible).

Paul was here giving to them a delicate praise for their love for the brethren, not only in their own local Church, but that they extended their love for believers everywhere just as he gave praise to the Colossian Church for the exact same motives with these words, "We continually give thanks to God the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah), as we are praying for you, For we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus [the leaning of your entire human personality on Him in absolute trust and confidence in His power, wisdom, and goodness] and of the love which you [have and show] for all the saints (God's consecrated ones)" (Colossians 1:3-4) (Amplified Bible). Even though Paul praises them for their great love for one another and for all the saints in Macedonia, he concludes by using the little English phrase 'more and more' which is translated by one Greek word mallon an adverb meaning more (in a greater degree) or rather: - better, far more or so much the more. Love for fellow redeemed sinners in the Body of our Lord Jesus Christ (for Paul) was a lesson that would never be truly learned down here on the earth, so he was always and at all times exhorting and encouraging every believer he encountered to increase even more and more in it.

"Though these Thessalonians had in some sense no need of an exhortation to brotherly love, as if it were wholly wanting, yet they must be exhorted to pray for more, and labour for more. There are none on this side of heaven who love in perfection. Those who are eminent in this or any other grace have need of increase therein as well as of perseverance unto the end." Matthew Henry

"The ancient world was honeycombed with rents and schisms, scarcely masked by political union. In the midst of a world of selfishness this new faith started up, and by some magic knit warring nationalities and hostile classes and wide diversities of culture and position into a strange whole, transcending all limits of race and language. The conception of brotherhood was new, and the realisation of it in Christian love was still more astonishing. The world wondered; but to the Christians the new affection was, we might almost say, instinctive, so naturally and spontaneously did it fill their hearts. Paul’s graceful way of enjoining it here is no mere pretty compliment. The Thessalonians did not need to be bidden to love the brethren, for such love was a part of their new life, and breathed into their hearts by God Himself. They were drawn together by common relation to Jesus, and driven together by common alienation from the world. Occasions of divergence had not yet risen. The world had not yet taken on a varnish of Christianity. The new bond was still strong in its newness. So, short as had been the time since Paul landed at Neapolis, the golden chain of love bound all the Macedonian Christians together, and all that Paul had to exhort was the strengthening of its links and their tightening. That fair picture faded soon, but it still remains true that the deeper our love to Jesus, the warmer will be our love to all His lovers. The morning glow may not come back to the prosaic noonday, but love to the brethren remains as an indispensable token of the Christian life. Let us try ourselves thereby." Alexander MacLaren

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…



Saturday, September 2, 2017

Paul's Exhortations to the Thessalonian Church Volume 22

Paul's Exhortation to the Church @ Thessalonica for Purity/Chastity Part 3

1 Thessalonians 4:7-8 For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness. He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit. KJV

Paul concludes his exaltation, exhortation, and encouragement of abstinence from fornication by these Thessalonian believers then and we believers today and of every generation and era by reminding them and us this reality, rule, and right of God the Father concerning every son and daughter He adopts as His own, "For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness." (1 Thessalonians 4:7) (KJV). The little English phrase 'hath not' is translated by one little Greek word ou which is a primary word; the absolutely negative adverb; no or not: - never, or cannot. In other words, this creation that includes all of the stars, planets, solar systems, galaxies that are out there and even God the Father's greatest creation 'man' are all subject to Him and must abide by His precepts. Therefore, since He has forgiven us eternally through the sacrificial death, buriel, and resurrection of our Lord, Master, and Savior Jesus Christ, then He gets to declare to us what His desires for us are and are not, for it is for our good that He desires us to refrain from fornication because it only brings harm to us.

The temporary sexual gratification does not override the long term destruction that breaking these spiritual laws of God bring to a person, just ask any man or woman who contracted HIV through having sex outside of marriage, surely they would agree now with our Heavenly Father, for this is why the Apostle Paul told the Corinthian believers these words in order to prevent such scenarios like this from occurring, "But if they have not self-control (restraint of their passions), they should marry. For it is better to marry than to be aflame [with passion and tortured continually with ungratified desire]." (1 Corinthians 7:9) (Amplified Bible). The English word 'uncleanness' is translated by the Greek word akatharsia meaning impurity (the quality), physically or morally: - uncleanness. The English word 'holiness' is translated by the Greek word hagiasmos meaning properly purification, that is, (the state) purity; concretely (by Hebraism) a purifier: - holiness, sanctification.

In other words, God the Father through God the Son (Christ) and by God the Holy Spirit has called us out of the realm of the darkness of fornicating with many women for only the purpose of gratifying our sexual lust and appetites into His marvelous light of faithfulness in pleasing one wife sexually every day gratifying our sexual desires and her sexual desires in the boundary that our Heavenly Father sets up for our good and wholeness, for in being  sexually faithful to your one wife, you completely eliminate the possibility of the contraction of any of the many sexually transmitted diseases that are in this world. This is our Heavenly Father's surpreme love for His adopted sons and daughters that motivates these exhortations from Paul to these believers in Thessalonica and to us today as we also we remember these words Paul wrote to the Colossian believers, "So kill (deaden, deprive of power) the evil desire lurking in your members [those animal impulses and all that is earthly in you that is employed in sin]: sexual vice, impurity, sensual appetites, unholy desires, and all greed {and} covetousness, for that is idolatry (the deifying of self and other created things instead of God)." (Colossians 3:5) (Amplified Bible).

Paul now declares to these believers in Thessalonica that he is not speaking by his own authority or for his own agenda or for his personal appeasement, but instead he declares this to them, "He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us His Holy Spirit." (1 Thessalonians 4:8) (Amplified Bible). The long English phrase 'He therefore that despiseth' that begins this verse is translated by one Greek word atheteo meaning to set aside, that is, (by implication) to disesteem, neutralize or violate: - cast off, despise, disannul, frustrate, bring to nought, reject. In other words, Paul says you are not despising my desires or precepts or commands, you are not violating my will for your sexual behavior, you are not rejecting my rule over you, but you are despising, you are violating, and you are rejecting God the Father who has forgiven you of your sins, who has adopted you into His Eternal Heavenly Family as sons and daughters and most important who has sealed you/us as His own by giving to you/us His Spirit to cry out to Him Abba Father and just like every son and daughter want to please their earthly father in all that they do in their lives, how much more should you/we want to please our Heavenly Father more so.

We recall Paul saying these words to the believers in Rome, "For if you live according to [the dictates of] the flesh, you will surely die. But if through the power of the [Holy] Spirit you are [habitually] putting to death (making extinct, deadening) the [evil] deeds prompted by the body, you shall [really and genuinely] live forever. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For [the Spirit which] you have now received [is] not a spirit of slavery to put you once more in bondage to fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption [the Spirit producing sonship] in [the bliss of] which we cry, Abba (Father)! Father! The Spirit Himself [thus] testifies together with our own spirit, [assuring us] that we are children of God. And if we are [His] children, then we are [His] heirs also: heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ [sharing His inheritance with Him]; only we must share His suffering if we are to share His glory." (Romans 8:13-17) (Amplified Bible).

"He is the creator of male and female, and the institutor of marriage, and He has called men and women to this state; but the end of this and all the other callings of God to man is holiness, not uncleanness. And they who use the marriage state as He directs, will find it conducive to their holiness and perfection." Adam Clarke

"Margin, 'rejecteth.' That is, he who disregards such commands as these which call him to a holy life, is really rejecting and disobeying God. Some might be disposed to say that these were merely the precepts of man, and that therefore it was not important whether they were obeyed or not. The Apostle assures them in the most solemn manner, that, though communicated to them by man, yet they were really the commands of God." Albert Barnes

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...

Sincerely in Christ,

Clifford D. Tate, Sr.
Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…