Night and Day

1 Thessalonians 3:10 - Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 - We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

1 Thessalonians 5:13 - Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.

1 Thessalonians 4:3-9,11-12,18; 5:1-2,5,10,14-21,24 - It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God; and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you. For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject man but God, who gives you his Holy Spirit. Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other…Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody…Therefore encourage each other with these words…Now, brothers, 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…You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness…He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him…And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not put out the Spirit's fire; do not treat prophecies with contempt…Test everything. Hold on to the good…The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it.

Conclusions:

• The triad of faith, hope and love is found often in the New Testament
• Faith produces action
• Hope is not unfounded wishful thinking, but firm confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ and His return
• Hold those who are over you in the Lord in the highest regard, not merely because of personal attachment or respect for their high position, but in appreciation for their work
• Living in peace applies to Christian in general, but in 1 Thessalonians 5:13 they probably refer especially to right relations between leaders and those under them
• Some of the things lacking in the Thessalonians were of a practical nature, such as moral and disciplinary matters.
• Some things lacking in the Thessalonians were doctrinal, such as confusion over Christ’s return

Application:

• Do you have firm confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ and His return?
• Do you have a right relationship with your leaders?
• is your faith lacking in moral, disciplinary or doctrinal matters?