"And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the believers who have died will rise from their graves. Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. So encourage each other with these words."
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
The Apostle doesn't claim any special knowledgeable or have a special word. A lot of people who say they are Christian talk anything but the word of God. It would save us a lot of stress if we used the Lord's authority. God gives us areas to work in his authority. There are some areas that are not our individual authority. Jesus taught 2 disciples on the way to Emmaus the authority of the scripture.
The Jewish people thought Jesus would down the Roman empire and they would be the rulers of the world. But this was contrary to what God said.
Ephesians 4:11-16 "Now these are the gifts Christ gave to the church: the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, and the pastors and teachers. Their responsibility is to equip God’s people to do his work and build up the church, the body of Christ. This will continue until we all come to such unity in our faith and knowledge of God’s Son that we will be mature in the Lord, measuring up to the full and complete standard of Christ. Then we will no longer be immature like children. We won’t be tossed and blown about by every wind of new teaching. We will not be influenced when people try to trick us with lies so clever they sound like the truth. Instead, we will speak the truth in love, growing in every way more and more like Christ, who is the head of his body, the church. He makes the whole body fit together perfectly. As each part does its own special work, it helps the other parts grow, so that the whole body is healthy and growing and full of love."
2 Chronicles 7:14-17 "Then if my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sins and restore their land. My eyes will be open and my ears attentive to every prayer made in this place. For I have chosen this Temple and set it apart to be holy—a place where my name will be honored forever. I will always watch over it, for it is dear to my heart."
We can't make ourselves right. Jesus makes us right. Do we believe that if we humble ourselves and pray and seek God's face and turn from our wicked ways, God will hear from heaven and will forgive our sins and restore their land.
God is calling us (his people; his church) to accountability
Comments
Post a Comment