Verse: But examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thess 5:21,22

Background: Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian church from the city of Corinth, just a few months after having preached in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. Paul was forced to leave the city, but Paul felt the need to receive a report from the newborn church in Thessalonica, so he sent Timothy back to serve and minister to the new believers there. 

Paul wanted to check on the state of the Thessalonians’ faith, for fear that false teachers might have infiltrated their number. However, Timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting Paul to pen 1 Thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers.

Lesson: Paul heard a good report about the church, but he is still instructing them in many things and asking them to be diligent. Chapter 5, verse 12 onwards, is the final instruction or greeting. Toward the end, verses 21 and 22, Paul explains the 3-foundation focus that will answer the question—what to hold on to and what to abstain from.

Application:

• Careful: But examine everything carefully; 1 Thess 5:21 In verse 20 Paul is talking of prophetic utterances, but even that Paul is telling examine that also carefully. Then how much more do we need to examine carefully our ministries, our daily routines, and what we spend time on?
• Hold: hold fast to that which is good; 1 Thess 5:21 – The World is full of evil, pain, suffering, and many things we are not even able to explain. In the in-midst of all this battle call to the Lord’s disciple is to hold fast to good, no compromises, no excuses, and no negligence, we walk holy for we have a Holy Father.
• Abstain: abstain from every form of evil. 1 Thess 5:22 – Moral decline, glorification of sin, mocking bible, availability and opportunity to sin has gone up, but a child of God should abstain from every form of evil, – even the form. Anything that can lead you to sin.

Verse: Ps 105:5 – The word of God “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles”

Background: David wrote this Psalm as a hymn and gave it to Asaph so people could sing while carrying up the ark from the house of Obed-Edom, we read this from 1 Chr 16:7. Let us meditate on the initial portion of this great testimony. 

Lesson: What should we really remember? 3 thoughts from Psalms 105.

• Rejoice – David starts a detailed testimony by asking the people to proclaim what the Lord has done and to tell His wonderful deeds, “Give praise to the LORD, proclaim his name; make known … what he has done. Sing to him, … tell of all his wonderful acts” Ps 105:1,2. Let us also every day start our prayer by describing what the Lord has done for us. Proclaiming powers His presence in our life.
• Return – When we are weak let us seek the Lord and look to Him alone for strength, “… let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice. Look to the LORD and his strength; seek his face always” Ps 105:3,4. In our past, we made wrong choices and were weak, but now let us seek the Lord who is our strength.
• Remember – In tough times let us remember and meditate on the wonders the Lord has done, let us testify His miracles “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, …” Ps 105:5,6 In the past the Lord did great things for us, so let us “Remember the LORD your God. He is the one who gives you the power to be successful “ Deu 8:18

Final Thought: Let us have a simple prayer – Father Lord; my eyes are on you, if not for you who else I have. In the past you have made me see many victories, I rejoice in you Lord for you are my strength. When I do not know what to do, Lord you alone are my guide.

Verse:  So then, brothers and sisters, stand firm and hold to the traditions you were taught, whether by what we said or what we wrote. 2 Thess 2:15

Background: Paul wrote his first letter to the Thessalonian church from the city of Corinth around AD 51, just a few months after having preached in Thessalonica on his second missionary journey. Upon leaving Thessalonica under duress, Paul, Silas, and Timothy traveled to Athens by way of Berea. But after a short time in Athens, Paul felt the need to receive a report from the newborn church in Thessalonica, so he sent Timothy back to serve and minister to the new believers there. Paul wanted to check on the state of the Thessalonians’ faith, for fear that false teachers might have infiltrated their number. However, Timothy soon returned with a good report, prompting Paul to pen 1 Thessalonians as a letter of encouragement to the new believers.

Lesson: What is Paul trying to teach about traditions to church from 2 Thess 2:15- In this verse, “tradition” refers to the instruction in the gospel and the ethical practices that result from it. Paul encourages his readers to hold firm to these traditions and to avoid those who do not follow them – What were the apostle traditions to be followed? Paul taught those in detail in the letter, with few references

Traditions

1. Approval Of God:  but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts. 1 Thess 2:4 – To live a life according to the gospel to be approved of God.
2. Example Lived: You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers; 1 Thess 2:10 – A true witness is a devout and blameless person in private and public life
3. Walk Worthy: So that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. 1 Thess 2:12 – We represent Jesus so we ought to live a life worthy of God 
4. No Disturbed: so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 1 Thess 3:3 – Tough times and pain, peace of the Lord rules our heart and we will not be disturbed
5. Cautious of tempter: For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be for nothing. 1 Thess 3:5 – Do not live a careless life, but resist the devil and be cautious of the devil’s schemes.
6. Stand Firm:  for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 1 Thess 3:8
7. Earnest Prayer:  as we keep praying most earnestly night and day that we may see your faces, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? 1 Thess 3:10 – Lifestyle of earnest prayers
8. Established at heart:  so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. 1 Thess 3:13 – Ministry and fellowship the primary goal is for His people to be blameless in holiness

Verse: My God will reject them because they have not obeyed him; they will be wanderers among the nations. Hosea 9:17

Background: Hosea prophesied judgment and wrath of God to the people of Israel and they returned but partially, it was not intentional or sincere, what was the reason – Why did the Lord reject even when Ephraim returned? Lord himself explained through the prophet Hosea, let us learn a few

Reasons: Why did the Lord reject even when Ephraim returned?

1. Temporary Decisions: What shall I do with you, O Ephraim? What shall I do with you, O Judah? Your love is like a morning cloud, like the dew that goes early away. Hosea 6:4 – Any decision to be faithful was very momentary
2. Ignorance of God’s standards: But they do not consider that I remember all their evil. Now their deeds surround them; they are before my face. Hosea 7:2 – Taking sin lightly and thinking the Lord does not take sin seriously and losing the standards of the Lord’s judgment
3. Ignored Sins: The pride of Israel testifies to his face; yet they do not return to the Lord their God, nor seek him, for all this. Hosea 7:10 – Even when the Lord convicted them of their sin, they never came back to change their ways.
4. Wrong Reason to weep: They do not cry to me from the heart, but they wail upon their beds; for grain and wine they gash themselves; they rebel against me. Hosea 7:14 – Wept for worldly loss and blessing, never wept for sin , never wept for repentance
5. Confession without consecration: They return, but not upward; they are like a treacherous bow; their princes shall fall by the sword because of the insolence of their tongue. This shall be their derision in the land of Egypt. Hosea 7:16 –   Confession of mouth was not to live a consecrated life, confession never led to transformation
6. Incapable to Change: I have spurned your calf, O Samaria. My anger burns against them. How long will they be incapable of innocence? Hosea 8:5 – This is so scary, Lord telling through the prophet this people can never or are not capable of living a blameless life
7. Mere words: They speak mere words; with false oaths they make covenants. So judgment springs up like poisonous weeds in the furrows of a field Hosea 10:4 – Words were many without any actions

Verse: Jesus said “While I was with them, I protected them and kept them safe” John 17:12

Background: John 17 is a profound display of Jesus’ love and concern for His followers. His prayer provides encouragement for believers, both in the unity He desires for us and in His intercession on our behalf. Through Jesus’ words, we gain insights into the divine relationship between the Father and the Son and the purpose of Jesus’ mission on earth. The High Priestly Prayer leaves us with an invitation to deeper unity, faith, and love in our journey with Christ.

What did Jesus pray for us? — Verses 20-26: Jesus Prays for All Believers

Finally, Jesus prays for all those who will come to believe in Him through the disciples’ message. He prays for unity among future believers, that they would share the divine unity He experiences with the Father. He also prays that future believers will witness His glory.

John 17 offers an intimate look at the depth of Jesus’ prayer life and His concern for believers. Here, Jesus prays to God the Father, demonstrating His divine nature and His unity with the Father. This chapter is often called “The High Priestly Prayer,” as it captures Jesus’ heartfelt intercession for Himself, His disciples, and all future believers.

Thought

We are so scared of our future, our jobs, our needs, our health, etc. Here Jesus is telling God the Father, I have kept them safe. Our loving Father wanted Jesus to keep His children safe. Today also He has appointed His angels to protect, Jesus to intercede for us, and the Holy Spirit to lead, what a loving Father, but still we are fearful.

Lord said “Before they call I will answer; while they are yet speaking I will hear” Isa 65:24. Even before a word was in our mouth Lord knew it. We see while Eliezer was praying for a bride for Issac, Rebecca came to draw water. It looks like the Lord had already prepared the answer beforehand. Yes, Angel told Daniel “Do not be afraid, Daniel, for from the first day that you set your heart on understanding this and on humbling yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to your words.” Daniel 10:12 and the word says “At the beginning of your supplications the command was issued” Daniel 9:23. Our Father already has prepared the answer.

Prayer

Lord, sorry for limiting you many times by looking at my problems and getting worried. Lord, I praise you for you are; a prayer answering God. Amen.