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2 What is Your Reaction? 1 Thessalonians 5:1 - 5:9

3 How would you react? Chapter 5 –“You won’t be surprised” –“So be on your guard” –“Not asleep” –“Stay alert” –“Clearheaded” –“Encourage One Another”

4 What is on your mind? Living in the Shadow of Eternity? MOST –What’s the MOST important event of your life? –Where is your affection for today?

5 What would you change? What if you knew that Jesus was coming sometime this year? –Live each day fleshly with an eye to the future; Live each day spiritually as if it’s your last. – Consider the ant… – Living Spiritually with reckless abandon

6 Mark 13:34-37 eachof his slaves instructions about the work they were to do Don’t let him find you sleeping I say to you Watch for him! The coming of the Son of Man can be illustrated by the story of a man going on a long trip. When he left home, he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do, and he told the gatekeeper to watch for his return. You, too, must keep watch! For you don’t know when the master of the household will return—in the evening, at midnight, before dawn, or at daybreak. Don’t let him find you sleeping when he arrives without warning. I say to you what I say to everyone: Watch for him!”

7 Obedience Expected Jesus has expectations of us – “he gave each of his slaves instructions about the work they were to do” Everyone of us has a ministry “Let others do it” “I’ll do it when I have time” – We are not of the night

8Consequences Judgment at His return –Treat your fellow slaves with love -Matthew 24: Left out of the Wedding –Matthew 25 –Burying your Talent –Matthew 25

9 Losing Focus 1.The Spirit of Sleep “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?” 2 Peter 3:3-4 … “What happened to the promise that Jesus is coming again?”… Barclay Quote: “…The spirit which leads to disaster is the spirit which says there is plenty of time…”

10 Losing Focus 2. Treasures lie here or above? Colossians 3:1-4 set yourheartson things above Set your minds on things above Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory.

11 Gaining Proper Focus 1.Practice an Eternal Perspective! 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 present troubles are small won’t last very long seen istemporary unseen is eternal For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

12 Gaining Proper Focus 2. Use Your Imagination! 1 John 3:2-3 has this hope fixed on Himpurifies themselves Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be we know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And anyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies themselves, just as He is pure.

13 Gaining Proper Focus Jesus Fixed Hope John 17:4-5 bring me into the glory we shared I brought glory to you here on earth by completing the work you gave me to do. Now, Father, bring me into the glory we shared before the world began. –Hebrews 12:2-3

14 Gaining Proper Focus 3. Live in Love 1 John 4:16-17 So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment because we live like Jesus We know how much God loves us, and we have put our trust in His love. God is love, and all who live in love live in God, and God lives in them. And as we live in God, our love grows more perfect. So we will not be afraid on the day of judgment, but we can face him with confidence because we live like Jesus here in this world.

15 Live in Love Romans 13:10-11 Do this Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfillment of the law. Do this, knowing the time, that it is already the hour for you to awaken from sleep; for now salvation is nearer to us than when we believed.

16 Live in Love 1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 increase and abound in love at the coming of our Lord Jesus and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 1 Thessalonians 5:8 “Breastplate of Faith and Love” Hebrews 10:23-25

17 Gaining Proper Focus 4. Encourage one another! –Remind each other of that day –In our verbal prayers Hebrews 10:23-25 especially now that the day of his return is drawing near Let us think of ways to incite one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

18 He is Coming! My Deliverer is coming – My Deliverer is standing by He will never break His promise though the stars should break faith with the sky My Deliverer is coming

19 Paul’s Benediction Closing of 2 Thessalonians Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful.

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