That Day

1 Corinthians 3:10-13 - According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw—each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done.


2 Thessalonians 1:5-10 - This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

2 Timothy 4:8 - Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that Day, and not only to me but also to all who have loved his appearing.

Jeremiah 23:28-29 - Let the prophet who has a dream tell the dream, but let him who has my word speak my word faithfully. What has straw in common with wheat? declares the Lord. Is not my word like fire, declares the Lord, and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?

2 Corinthians 5:10 – For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may receive what is due for what he has done in the body, whether good or evil.

Application:

· Will my work stand the test of divine judgment or will it be worthless?
· Will my work stand the test or will it disappear?
· Do I recognize God? Have I accepted His gospel or have I rejected His royal invitation?
· God’s glory is seen in what I am.
· Will I be awarded a crown of righteousness on that Day?
· Speaking the Word faithfully feeds and nourishes.
· The Word tests the quality of my work. The Word judges the thoughts and attitudes of my heart.
· I am responsible for what I have done with my life as a Christian.

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

On The Day Of Our Lord Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 1:4-8 – I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus, that in every way you were enriched in him in all speech and all knowledge—even as the testimony about Christ was confirmed among you—so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ.


Philippians 1:6,9-11 - And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ…And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

1 Thessalonians 5:2 - For you yourselves are fully aware that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.

Application:

· It is God who initiates salvation, who continues it and who will one day bring it to its consummation
· Do I approve what is morally and ethically superior? Am I without any mixture of evil? Have I failed morally or spiritually?
· The day of the Lord will be the consummation of all things
· Is the Holy Spirit enabling me to minister to the needs of the church, Christ’s body?

All Scripture verses taken from ESV

The Time Of My Favor...The Day Of Salvation

2 Corinthians 6:1-2 - As God’s co-workers we urge you not to receive God’s grace in vain. For he says, “In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you.” I tell you, now is the time of God’s favor, now is the day of salvation.


1 Corinthians 15:2 - By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain.

Isaiah 49:8-9 - This is what the LORD says: “In the time of my favor I will answer you, and in the day of salvation I will help you; I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land and to reassign its desolate inheritances, to say to the captives, ‘Come out,’ and to those in darkness, ‘Be free!’ “They will feed beside the roads and find pasture on every barren hill.

John 8:56 - Your father Abraham rejoiced at the thought of seeing my day; he saw it and was glad.”

Application:

· Those who turn back from Christ show that their initial, apparent reception of God’s grace was not real but in vain.
· If I am not persevering in the Christian faith, this is an evidence that I did not have saving faith in the first place
· The day of salvation is now
· Abraham rejoiced that he would see the day of Christ

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Day Of Battle

Zechariah 14:1-3 - A day of the LORD is coming, Jerusalem, when your possessions will be plundered and divided up within your very walls. I will gather all the nations to Jerusalem to fight against it; the city will be captured, the houses ransacked, and the women raped. Half of the city will go into exile, but the rest of the people will not be taken from the city. Then the LORD will go out and fight against those nations, as he fights on a day of battle.


Joel 1:15 - Alas for that day! For the day of the LORD is near; it will come like destruction from the Almighty.

Zechariah 13:8 - In the whole land,” declares the LORD, “two-thirds will be struck down and perish; yet one-third will be left in it.

Exodus 14:14 - The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.”

Application:

· Is the day of the Lord near? Am I already in His presence, blessed by Him and saved through Him?
· God is merciful in the midst of judgment
· Even though I may be armed for battle and march out boldly, the victory will be won by God alone.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Day Of Small Things

Zechariah 4:6-7,10 - So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”… “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”


Haggai 2:23 - “‘On that day,’ declares the LORD Almighty, ‘I will take you, my servant Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will make you like my signet ring, for I have chosen you,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”

Revelation 5:6 - Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth.

Application:

· God oversees the whole earth and is therefore in control of all situations.
· The Holy Spirit is the seal guaranteeing my future inheritance
· Jesus has been victorious and will have all power because of His death and resurrection
· Do I understand that my resources for overcoming obstacles comes from an outpouring of God’s Spirit?
· Faith in the power of God’s Spirit can overcome opposition and my unwillingness to persevere.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

That Day

Zechariah 3:10 - “‘In that day each of you will invite your neighbor to sit under your vine and fig tree,’ declares the LORD Almighty.”


Isaiah 2:20 - In that day people will throw away to the moles and bats their idols of silver and idols of gold, which they made to worship.

Zechariah 4:1,6-7,10,14 - Then the angel who talked with me returned and woke me up, like someone awakened from sleep…So he said to me, “This is the word of the LORD to Zerubbabel: ‘Not by might nor by power, but by my Spirit,’ says the LORD Almighty. “What are you, mighty mountain? Before Zerubbabel you will become level ground. Then he will bring out the capstone to shouts of ‘God bless it! God bless it!’”… “Who dares despise the day of small things, since the seven eyes of the LORD that range throughout the earth will rejoice when they see the chosen capstone in the hand of Zerubbabel?”… So he said, “These are the two who are anointed to serve the Lord of all the earth.”

Application:

· Do I see the futility of worshiping idols?
· Do I understand the obstacles that face me are not overcome by conventional resources? Do I understand my resources come from an outpouring of God’s Spirit?
· Do I realize faith in the power of God’s Spirit can overcome mountainous obstacles, including opposition and unwillingness to persevere?
· God’s work may start in small and unobtrusive ways, yet reach a glorious conclusion!!! God oversees the whole earth and is therefore in control of every situation!!!
· Do I serve the Lord of all the earth?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Day Of The Lord

Amos 5:19-22 - It will be as though a man fled from a lion only to meet a bear, as though he entered his house and rested his hand on the wall only to have a snake bite him. Will not the day of the LORD be darkness, not light—pitch-dark, without a ray of brightness? “I hate, I despise your religious festivals; your assemblies are a stench to me. Even though you bring me burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Though you bring choice fellowship offerings, I will have no regard for them.

Jeremiah 48:44 - “Whoever flees from the terror will fall into a pit, whoever climbs out of the pit will be caught in a snare; for I will bring on Moab the year of her punishment,” declares the LORD.

Obadiah 15 - “The day of the LORD is near for all nations. As you have done, it will be done to you; your deeds will return upon your own head.

Jeremiah 7:21 - “‘This is what the LORD Almighty, the God of Israel, says: Go ahead, add your burnt offerings to your other sacrifices and eat the meat yourselves!

Psalm 40:6 - Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—but my ears you have opened—burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.

Jeremiah 14:12 - Although they fast, I will not listen to their cry; though they offer burnt offerings and grain offerings, I will not accept them. Instead, I will destroy them with the sword, famine and plague.”

Micah 6:6 - With what shall I come before the LORD and bow down before the exalted God? Shall I come before him with burnt offerings, with calves a year old?

Application:

· Divine judgment, once determined, is unavoidable.
· Will the Day of the Lord result in my judgment or my salvation?
· My sacrifices are worthless if my deeds are sinful.
· Am I obedient to God's moral law?
· Sacrifice is to no avail when unaccompanied by repentance.
· It does no good to offer sacrifices without obedience.

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Day Of Christ

Philippians 2:14-17 - Do everything without complaining or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life—in order that I may boast on the day of Christ that I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service coming from your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you.

Philippians 1:4-6 - In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

1 Corinthians 9:27 - No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

2 Corinthians 6:4-10 - Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses; in beatings, imprisonments and riots; in hard work, sleepless nights and hunger; in purity, understanding, patience and kindness; in the Holy Spirit and in sincere love; in truthful speech and in the power of God; with weapons of righteousness in the right hand and in the left; through glory and dishonor, bad report and good report; genuine, yet regarded as impostors; known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

Conclusions:

• Paul is confident, not only of what God has done for the readers in forgiving their sins, but also of what He has done in them
• The day of Christ Jesus is His return, when their salvation will be brought to completion
• It is God who initiates salvation, who continues it and who will one day bring it to its consummation
• In 1 Corinthians 9:27, Paul uses the figure of boxing to represent the Christian life, in serving Christ
• Paul does not aimlessly beat the air, but he severely disciplines his own body in serving Christ
• Paul realizes that he must with rigor serve the Lord and battle against sin
• If Paul fails in this battle against sin, he may be excluded from the reward
• The reference “I am being poured out” may be to Paul’s entire ministry as one large thanksgiving sacrifice
• It is more probable that Paul refers to his present imprisonment, which may end in a martyr’s death
• Paul’s life would then be poured out as a drink offering accompanying the sacrificial service of the Philippians
• The Old Testament background for drink offerings is the daily sacrifices
• Genuine faith is active and working
• Paul is making many rich in Christ
• True wealth does not consist in worldly possessions but in being rich toward God
• The believer, even if he has nothing of this world’s goods, nevertheless has everything in Him who is Lord of all

Application:

• Are you confident of what God has done in you?
• Do you serve the Lord and battle against sin with rigor?
• Do you rejoice in tribulation?
• Do you have everything in Him who is Lord of all?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

Now

Philippians 1:4-6 - In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Acts 2:42 - They devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.

Acts 16:30-32, 34 - He then brought them out and asked, "Sirs, what must I do to be saved?" They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house…The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family.

Acts 28:28 - "Therefore I want you to know that God's salvation has been sent to the Gentiles, and they will listen!"

Conclusions:

• The apostles’ teaching included all that Jesus Himself taught, especially the gospel, which was centered in His death, burial and resurrection
• The apostles’ teaching was a unique teaching in that it came from God and was clothed with the authority conferred on the apostles
• Today the apostles’ teaching is available in the books of the New Testament
• The fellowship is the corporate fellowship of believers in worship
• The breaking of bread is the Lord’s supper
• Acts emphasizes the importance of prayer in the Christian life—private as well as public
• The jailer had heard that Paul and Silas were preachers of a way of salvation
• Now with the earthquake and his own near death, the jailer wanted to know about the way
• Believe in the Lord Jesus is a concise statement of the way of salvation
• Paul and Silas explained the gospel more thoroughly to the jailer and to all the other members of his household, and they all believed in Christ and were saved
• Filled with joy is the consistent consequence of conversion, regardless of circumstances
• God’s salvation has been sent to the Gentiles is the main thought of the book of Acts
• The gospel is meant for all
• Paul was a chosen vessel to carry the message to Gentiles as well as to Jews

Application:

• Have you devoted yourself to prayer?
• Are you filled with joy about your conversion?
• Have you devoted yourself to God's Word?
• Have you devoted yourself to fellowship of believers in worship?
• Have you devoted yourself to the Lord's Supper?
• Have you listened to God's salvation?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

The Lord Almighty

James 5:4-5 - Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and self-indulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

Genesis 17:1 - When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless.

Ezekiel 16:49 - " 'Now this was the sin of your sister Sodom: She and her daughters were arrogant, overfed and unconcerned; they did not help the poor and needy.

Jeremiah 12:3 - Yet you know me, O LORD; you see me and test my thoughts about you. Drag them off like sheep to be butchered! Set them apart for the day of slaughter!

Luke 16:22-23,30 - "The time came when the beggar died and the angels carried him to Abraham's side. The rich man also died and was buried. In hell, where he was in torment, he looked up and saw Abraham far away, with Lazarus by his side…" 'No, father Abraham,' he said, 'but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.'

Conclusions:

• Thirteen years had passed since Ishmael’s birth
• The Hebrew for God Almighty (El Shaddai) perhaps means “God, the Mountain One”, either highlighting the invincible power of God or referring to the mountains as God’s symbolic home
• God Almighty was the special name by which God revealed Himself to the patriarchs
• After Abram’s and Sarah’s attempt to obtain the promised offspring by using a surrogate mother, God appeared to Abram
• The Lord made it clear that if Abram was to receive God’s promised and covenanted benefits, he must be God’s faithful and obedient servant
• Abram’s faith must be accompanied by the obedience that comes from faith
• The sin of your sister Sodom highlights social injustice rather than immoral perversion
• Jeremiah asks that his wicked countrymen receive the fate they had sought for him
• Jeremiah’s request arises not so much out of a desire for revenge as the vindication of God’s righteousness
• The Talmud mentions both paradise and Abraham’s side as the home of the righteous
• Abraham’s side refers to the place of blessedness to which the righteous dead go to await future vindication
• Its bliss is the quality of blessedness reserved for people like Abraham
• Hades is the place to which the wicked dead go to await final judgment
• That torment begins in Hades is evident from the plight of the rich man
• The location of Abraham’s side is not specified, but it is separated from Hades by an impassable chasm
• Hades includes the torment that characterizes hell
• Some understand Jesus description of Abraham’s side and Hades in a less literal way
• The story of the rich man and Lazarus may suggest that Lazarus was intended, but Luke’s account seems to imply that Jesus was speaking also of His own resurrection
• If a person’s mind is closed and Scripture is rejected, no evidence—not even a resurrection—will change him

Application:

• Are you God's faithful and obedient servant?
• Are you arrogant, overfed and unconcerned?
• Do you seek vindication of God's righteousness?
• Are you prepared to go to the place of blessedness?
• Are you doing what you need to do to keep from being tormented for eternity?
• Is your mind closed?

All Scripture verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible

The Day

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2,5,7-8 - 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…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 self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

Ephesians 6:14-15 - Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.

Isaiah 59:17 - He put on righteousness as his breastplate, and the helmet of salvation on his head; he put on the garments of vengeance and wrapped himself in zeal as in a cloak.

Romans 13:12 - The night is nearly over; the day is almost here. So let us put aside the deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

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.

Conclusions:

• Christians do not simply live in the light, they are characterized by light
• Character, not brute force, wins the battle, just as in the case of the Messiah
• The warrior’s character is his defense
• God Himself is symbolically described as putting on a breastplate of righteousness when He goes forth to bring about justice
• The Lord’s armor is compared to the believer’s armor in the battle against Satan
• God’s vengeance is part of the day of the Lord
• The day of the Lord is the consummation of all things
• There will be some preliminary signs, but the coming of the Lord will be as unexpected as that of a thief in the night
• The night is the present evil age
• These texts do not mean that the early Christians believed that Jesus would return within a few years
• Early Christians regarded the death and resurrection of Christ as the crucial events of history that began the last days
• Since the next great event in God’s redemptive plan is the second coming of Jesus Christ, the night, no matter how long chronologically it may last, is nearly over
• The day is the appearing of Jesus Christ, which ushers in the consummation of the kingdom
• Faith produces action
• Hope is not unfounded wishful thinking, but firm confidence in our Lord Jesus Christ and His return

Application:

• Are you characterized by Light?
• Is character your defense?
• Are you wearing the Lord's armor in the battle against Satan?
• Are you ready for the Lord's coming?
• Have you put on the armor of light?
• Do you have firm confidence in the Lord Jesus Christ?

All Scripture verses from the NIV

Conclusions derived from the NIV Study Bible

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?