From 1 Thessalonians 5:14-24 emphasizes that believers should not be disillusioned, defeated, or dejected, but rather live as children of the day. It explains that the "day of the Lord" will come as a thief in the night, but those who are children of light are not in darkness and should therefore be sober and watchful. The message highlights that while we may experience periods of unknown purpose, darkness, or unanswered prayer, God's plan will ultimately be revealed, and we are called to live in the enjoyment of His presence. The sermon concludes by urging believers to appreciate their elders, warn the unruly, and cultivate the character of Christ by not rendering evil for evil, but by rejoicing evermore, praying without ceasing, and holding fast to that which is good.
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one Thessalonians we will read from verse 14 now we exalt you brethren warn them that are unruly comfort the feeble-minded support the weak be patient toward all men see that none render evil for evil unto any man but ever follow that which is good both among yourselves and to all men rejoice evermore pray without ceasing in everything give thanks for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you quench not the spirit despise not prophesying, prove all things, hold fast that which is good, abstain from all appearance of evil, the very God of peace sanctify you holy.
I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it. brethren pray for us greet all the brethren with a holy kiss i charge you by the lord that this epistle be read unto all the holy brethren the grace of our lord jesus christ be with you all amen just a brief word of prayer oh god and father we sing so often speak lord For thy servant Herod, speak just now some message to meet our needs that thou only dost know.
O speak, Lord, through thy holy word, and may I see some wonderful truth thou hast to show to me. And what we sing, we pray, in the Saviour's name. If there is one verse in this wonderful chapter that always captivates me, it's the verse which is number 27. I charge you by the Lord that this epistle be read unto all the Holy Brethren. You see, it seems to me the apostle sums up the writing of this wonderful letter by daring to say he is not just writing elected few.
He is not just directing his marks to some that others will say they needed that message. I'm sure you would never be one of those people, would you? I mean you'd never walk out of a meeting or a service and say, do you know that just suited brother so-and-so? That just suited brother sister so-and-so? But just in case that we would but just in case we would the apostle dares to say he wants this to be read to all the holy brothers so there is something in this epistle is there not for every one of us God is not speaking to an isolated you but he's speaking to all men and women now I want us to look at the epistle and as we go through it and we will only be able to deal with it in somewhat of a brief manner but as we go through it I wonder if I may just point out one or two simple thing it seems to me that in those first three verses the apostle is saying don't be disillusioned now I repeat that it seems to me he's saying don't be disillusioned and
then it seems to me in verses 4 to 8 he is saying and don't be defeated and then it seems to me when we come to verses 9 9 and 11 or 9 to 11 he is saying and don't be dejected if there are three things that mar our Christian experience and the joy of the Lord in our soul surely these are the three things that men become disillusions that men become defeated and men become dejected but praise God God doesn't want any of these things from our Christian experience.
Of course, the disillusion here is the disillusion that so often comes to men and women when they think of the coming of the Lord. Over these past few years, there have been more books come from the press on the coming of the Lord than almost any time since this subject gripped the hearts of the church. But the great tragedy is this. But it depends what book you're reading as to what you think is going to happen. This is one of the thrills of listening to Mother Morgan as he's opened the word and has kept strictly to that which the word of God has to say. I'm not saying about his illustrations, but for those American ones, I've sat with my mouth open.
But there it is. I do know this anyway. I do know that never have there been days when there have been more books published. on this matter. And the Apostle dares to say to the church in those opening verses, but of the times and seasons brethren, ye have no need that I write unto you. For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night. By the way, did he tell you? If what the 17th chapter of Acts says is true and the Apostles spent three Sabbaths in Thessalonica they got onto the meat of the word pretty quick, didn't they?
Oh! By the way, I've got to fly! Oh, what's your ear? No, no, no. Pardon? there we are I mean I could have stood there all the time and sort of endured it but I'm not going to isn't it remarkable that they had a grasp of divine and great truth it seems to me to be saying that you do not need to be on the road for many years and distilled as only comes with years of study in the knowledge of the scripture to appreciate the fact that Jesus Christ is coming back again to appreciate the fact that God has not left this world alone the man that they nailed upon a cross and as the blood and spittle ran down his face they cried we'll not have this man to reign over us he will reign he who's right it is to reign and we can appreciate that each one of us here this very morning.
He doesn't want us to be disillusioned. He doesn't want us to be disillusioned first about the event. He is not speaking now, he has done that in the fourth chapter, he is not speaking now about the rapture. He is speaking now about that which he dares to call the day of the Lord. It is the day of the Lord that will come as a thief in the night. It is structure, as one who is in chavelle at the birth of a child. And I think it does us good just to sit down and contemplate those things.
May I be permitted just to take five minutes and remind you of your Sunday school Bible class lesson. I think it's important, especially amongst younger folk, that we shall keep in the back of our mind the more outline of God's prophetic plan. It is not difficult to remember it. There are many things we don't understand. There are some things that to us will be dim as we gaze at them. But there are great points which are so. And you know that God has spoken in his word of day. Periods of time. Not 24 hours, but periods of time.
We are today living, says 2 Corinthians. six and two in the day of salvation what a day to live in to be able to tell men and women that Jesus saved to how it's for that he's a wonderful Savior but the day of salvation is going to come to its close and the day of salvation is coming to its close with the day of Christ Philippians 1 and 6 1 Corinthians 1 and 8 The day of Christ, the day of Christ, as you know, never has any statement concerning earth.
Whenever the day of Christ is mentioned, it is associated with heaven. It begins with the rapture of the church. The church is caught up to face the blessing Christ at the judgment seat. The rewards are given out, and every man shall receive praise of God. There is the marriage supper of the land. There is the presentation to the Father. And all this happens in the day of Christ. While the day of Christ is in heaven, upon earth there is another day. It is the day of Jacob's trouble.
When Jeremiah writes of the day of Jacob's trouble again and again and again, before us the fact that it's Israel, it's Jacob. This happens not in heaven but on earth. But the day of Jacob's trouble and the day of Christ come to their conclusion at the same time. When he shall come, the day of the Lord, he shall come in great power and glory. And there shall be ushered into this scene, the day of the Lord, that day that begins with to Peter 3 and 10. That day of a thousand years of rain.
Oh, what a glorious day that will be. The day of the Lord. The day of the Lord. But remember the day of the Lord comes to its close. I feel like shouting hallelujah. Oh, I do. The day of the Lord comes to its close. The day of the Lord comes to its close with the great day of our God. But eternal state. Oh, brethren, sisters, I feel almost like having a while and talking about the eternal state. The difficulty is I don't know much about it. I'd like to talk about it, though, wouldn't you? If you want to know something about the eternal state, I'll tell you what to do.
Go home and read the opening chapters of Genesis because that's where the eternal state is. What God planned in the beginning or percrust in the beginning and sin and Satan marred one day is going to be fulfilled so the devil hasn't got a victory he's a defeated foe blessed be his name we're waiting for the day when he shall be completely dealt with one day on Calvary his power was dealt with one day his person is going to be dealt with I like that verse don't you you know, if I hear my grandchildren say one to another, shut up.
Ooh. I need to sing the chorus, let me be a little kinder. I hate that expression. And yet I love it in the Bible, don't you? And he'll shut him up. Ooh. Praise God there's coming a day when he's going to shut him up. And what a day that eternal day will be. And the fulfillment of all the purposes of God will be seen and God shall be all in all oh brethren sisters don't be disillusioned about things remember that while there may be even among godly Bible loving men some slight difference of interpretation in prophetic things remember that these are the great points the day of salvation the day of Christ, the day of the Lord, the day of our God.
And we're looking forward to that day. And here he speaks of the ushering in of the day of the Lord. He says, don't be disillusioned about the event. I'm talking of the day of the Lord. And he says, don't let's forget the effect that when the Lord comes back for his own, the dead shall rise. The believers that remain are removed we are reunited and rewarded but in the day of the Lord hearken and when they shall say peace and safety then sudden destruction cometh upon them as travail upon a woman with child and they shall not escape I thank God I'm not going to be there I hallelujah for there's no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus be boy be boy I was saying just the other day and I was surprised how afterwards two or three brethren came to me I made this statement I'd like to make it again because when folks sort of come to me questioning I like to repeat themselves but
I made the same I said it's important for us to remember this that nowhere in the Bible are we told that sin can be forgiven hallelujah the sinner can be forgiven that sin must be punished and that's why Jesus Christ went to hell that's why he died that's why the psalmist said he has not dealt with us according to our sin nor rewarded us according to our iniquity but he dealt with another and I thank God that though the day of the Lord will usher in such blessing to us and to heaven we won't be there to face that sudden destruction Maybe we'll come with him.
Shall I tell you what will happen then? Well, ask me when the day arrives. Let's move on. He does not want us to be disillusioned. He does not want us to be defeated. Verses 4 to 8. But ye brethren are not in darkness that that day should overtake you as a thief. ye are all the children of light and the children of day ye are not of night nor of darkness therefore let us not sleep as do others but let us watch and be sober for they that sleep sleep in the night and they that are drunken are drunken in the night but let us who are of the day be sober putting on the breastplate of faith and love and for helmet the hope of salvation for god hath not appointed after all but to obtain salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ oh thank God for that he says don't let's be defeated he says we're not children we're not children of the night we're not children of darkness we're children of the day and we're children
of light there seems to be so much darkness in the world is that right I think you will grant me if we read our Bible are days of darkness for many of God's people. I say there was that darkness of an unknown purpose in the story of Job. Oh, as day passed into day and his wealth had gone and his family had gone and his health had gone and even his wife turns and says, Oh, curse God and die. Say goodbye to God and die. Oh, I say, what darkness there was.
Lord, why is it happening to me? What's your purpose? I don't understand. But light cometh in the morning. Hallelujah. You were taught, were you not, and it has been said by every preacher that one of the great things about the story of Job is that when it was all happening, Job didn't know the first chapter. and Job didn't know the last chapter. But hallelujah, he came to know the last chapter and received double for all that he'd lost. We are not children of the night. And if sometimes there comes upon us the darkness of an unknown purpose and we wonder why it's happening to us.
Brethren, sisters, we're not children of the night. We're not going to dwell there. God's going to bring us out. And we'll understand it better. by and by you know I was most interested I was most interested at well where I've been in in in Durham North Northgate I was along there for the first week with little children you know I had a great time with the young students just hobby and in their handicraft the girls were doing some what do they call it no not crochet mystery.
No, no, you wouldn't know, brother. You wouldn't know. Yes, sir. Ah, yes. Cross stitch. Cross stitch. Embroidery, isn't it? Boy, yeah, embroidery. And, you know, they had this little thing, and they were, ooh, dearie me, it was wonderful, really. Didn't prick themselves at all. I'd have pricked myself the first time. But there it was. They were doing this. And I picked one up, and you know, it was an absolute jumble. I couldn't make head to tell me. I thought, well, this girl's not getting on very well. And then I turned it round. I've been looking at the back side. And when I turned it round, do you know what they were doing?
What was it they were doing? Oh, you weren't there, were you? God is love. Oh, on the back side, it was just a jumble of praise. no you couldn't read God if love on the back when you turned it over see light gets like that sometimes doesn't it it's such a jumble sometimes silk and threads full of lovely colors but such a jumble no purpose that one day we'll turn it over and we'll read God is love God is love if there was a darkness indeed of an unknown purpose there was the darkness of an unknown pathway.
Would I be right in saying that's the story of Joseph? What a story is the story of Joseph, and yet he didn't know the pathway. He went out to serve his father. He went out to serve his brethren. He went out with provision and news. And all they did was to take him and throw him down into a pit. They dragged him away and sold him as a slave. They put him into prison. darkness of an unknown pathway whatever is the Lord doing with me and yet light cometh in the morning where he became the provider of that which would save a nation the blesser of countless multitudes you wonder sometimes the pathway you're going listen we're not children of the night we're not children of the night we're children of the day and God's not going to leave us in the night.
I say there's another one, isn't there? You've had this one, sister, haven't you? You've had the darkness of unanswered prayer. You've had that one. We've all had that one, haven't we? There's someone we've prayed for. There's something we've prayed for, and we've melt, and we've cried to God. And if ever there was anyone that knew the darkness of that, it was Mary and Martha, it wasn't them. Their brother, he was the provider for the family. He was the one they loved. He's dead. And worse than that, the Bible says his body's thinking. But when the Lord could have done something, when he was still alive, no task may be in pain, they sent for the Lord and the Lord wasn't very far away.
He could have come and he could have arrived in time, but he didn't do it. oh Lord you've answered so many people's prayer I've seen you do so many wonderful things for other people but Lord I need you now Lord our brother say unanswered prayer we're not children of the darkness we're just Children of the light, children of the day, and isn't it wonderful that although tragedy came, when he came he performed the miracle of miracles, Lazarus was raised from the dead and you and I stand back today and say, what a savior able to raise even the sinking body of a man!
Jesus had never done that to Lazarus. We could never have said it now, could we? You see, he's not only looking at us, he's looking at others, he cares for the whole body. Isn't it wonderful when sometimes we feel, well, Lord, maybe you're using me to bring glory to your name in the lives of others? Oh, isn't it easy for a person who hadn't said very much and thought like that? Shall I tell you something? It's a dear brother, we see him about the conference grounds, don't we? He's pushed in a chair. Have you heard him complain?
Every time I see him, I say, how are you? Oh, very well. God bless him and his wife. Do you mean to tell me they have a prayer? Of course they have. Maybe it doesn't bring them any comfort, but I want to tell them this. They've been a blessing to me this week. a blessing to me I say don't let speak of peace don't let be as those who sleep those who sleep I was telling the children you know the story of Samuel let me story Samuel's name and he was asleep and God called him Samuel and I told the answer you know that's exactly in it that's exactly the description of those of us who don't know the Lord and I said to the boys and girls you go to bed you put your head on the pillow and you're asleep and suddenly the one that loves you more than she loves her own life comes into your bedroom and looks at you you don't even know she's there the man who provides for you who cares for you comes in and looks at you and you don't even know he's there it doesn't mean mommy stop loving you it doesn't mean daddy stop
caring for you I said to the children it just means you don't know it and there are some Christians and they're asleep they're Christians they're in the family but somehow they've forgotten that God cares they've forgotten that God loves they're not living in the enjoyment of it they're asleep he says don't be asleep let's get out and enjoy the Lord but day by day no wonder later on he says in all things give thanks let's enjoy the Lord you know this is one of the tragedies I find among so many Christians that we gather like this and don't we enjoy it and we sort of say one to another well you know I'm going to the meeting and I'm going to meet with the Lord should I go to something I met with the Lord before I came to the meeting I hope I brought him with me he told me he'd never leave me nor forsake me he told me he'd come into my heart I remember years ago when Billy Graham sent around some of these calendars and they sent a calendar of a picture of Mrs.
Graham at the sink or was she on it. Anyway, it was a picture of their sink. And above the sink in the kitchen was this slogan. Divine service held three times a day here. And I said to Mary, I said, you know, my dear, we have our Bible really morning and evening. But they have it three times a day. And she looked at me, you know, like she had the habit of doing, cut you down the size. And she said, it doesn't mean that. Well, what does it mean? It means that when she does the washing up, that's divine service.
Is that right? Does it mean we just live with the board in meetings, then we don't live with him very long, do we? But if we live with him moment by moment, hallelujah, this is what he says, don't be defeated and don't be dejected. For he says this, that whether we wank or sleep, we shall live together. This is the reason because he died. I think that's important, verse 10, don't you? I think that is most important, for he dares to say this, pardon me, that winds He dares to say this, who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.
I want to ask a question. Most of the commentators say this, don't they? say that what he's speaking of is that whether we die, we sleep, or whether we're alive, when Christ comes, then all will be well. Why do they suddenly change the sleep, which is not the sleep of death in the previous verses, now to a sweep of death. I want to tell you this, I don't believe in a partial rapture. I don't believe when the Lord comes back, it will depend on my faithfulness. Where do I go? I believe it will depend on the fact that Christ died for me.
And there from that alone. And I praise God for that fact. And I'm not going to be, I'm not going to be dejected. I'm going to walk through this scene and say, Lord, when I see you, I want to be able to say, oh God, I made so many mistakes. I tell you so many points, but I did the best I could. I did the best I could. And Lord, if I'm here at all, it's all because of you. What you've done. Don't be dejected, brethren. Let's go forth when our face is shining and our backs upright. Let's go forth to enjoy the Lord. Then he goes on and he dares to tell us to do something else.
For having dealt with the fact of our disillusionment and our defeat and indeed our dejection, then he goes on and tells us something to do. Oh, tells us not what to do. Tells us don't, don't, don't. Now he tells us there's something for you to do. And first of all, you are coming to the Bible reading this afternoon, aren't you? For verse 12 he says this, you appreciate your elders. you appreciate your elders and I think this is wonderful we beseech you brethren to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and to esteem them very highly in love for their work's sake and be at peace among yourselves I think that's one those who love us and care for us and admonish us do you know yesterday day.
And dear welcome, if we went too far, forgive us, sir. We didn't mean him. We didn't mean it. But yesterday, it seems that most of us were reminded that there's a time that the youth folks have come for a holiday as well as a conference, and we've no way to keep you here longer than we should, you know. The man that admonished us was a man who loved us. And I'll tell you something, I wouldn't have taken it from him if I didn't know that. and this is it isn't it that in the assembly of God's people there are those that rule over us and correct us and correct us thank you sir for the correction thank you for the correction I say not only does he dare to say we must appreciate our elders esteem them very highly in love for their work sake thank you esteem them highly But he goes on and he gives not only an appreciation of elders, but advice for the unruly.
He says, you warn them. You warn them. We don't often see that, do we? Do you know, in the years I've known the Savior, I have never seen in the home field any public warning giving to God's Father. Public correction. I've seen it in the mission field. don't say where. But I was in one assembly where an elder in the meeting was told to be in the meeting. He lost his temper and smacked his wife. And I could see him now as he sat there.
And he was publicly with you. And then he went further. And they said, because of his action, no longer would be a candidate of an elder. And then you should have heard his wife who's reported it. No, no, no, no! She didn't want the hag. She didn't mind him being rebuked, but didn't want him to take him from the company of elders. But those that are unruly rebuked. I say it goes further. He says, not only appreciate elders, not only advise the unruly, but acquire the character of the Lord. Oh, please, has nothing to say about it.
No one can put it better than God's put it. I don't need to preach it. I don't need to proclaim it. All I need to do is read it. Let's turn then to verse 15. See that none render evil for evil unto any man. But ever follow that which is good, both among yourselves and all men. May I say it? Let us be a little kinder. Let us be a little blinder to the faults of those around us. Let us praise a little more.
Let us be when we are weary, just a little bit more cheery. Think a little more of others and a little less of me. Don't render evil free. If someone does and says something to us that's hurtful, don't let spring back say something hurtful to them. And I tell you, brethren and sisters, it's not easy to do that, is it? And if you had my character, you'd know it's not easy. You'd know it's not easy. But oh, praise God, it's possible for Christ died. It's no good men looking saying, I can't help it. Of course I can't help it. I was speaking the other day about this business we call Kemper, you know. Just in case you didn't know, we've got a queen in our country and I'll go in just in case you need to know now if she came down to our village everyone would be out on the street to look at just imagine for a moment she walks down the street and suddenly she snaps on my toe with high heels I wouldn't lose my temper would I you know what I do every time I preach I say, do you see that, Poe?
The Queen's Denial. Not much good saying we can't help losing our temper. Not really. Not really. He says, don't you render evil for evil. He says, you rejoice evermore. Good. I can rejoice evermore. I've caught the fly. Wow. The difficulty is, I've just said, don't render evil for evil.
But brethren, sisters, please. He says, rejoice evermore. Isn't it grand to rejoice? Haven't we so much to rejoice for? I mean, you look out there. you remember that old story I told you about the Welshman who who sold cheddar gorge in my country for the first time he took his hat off and he held it to his chest and he said well done God well done do you feel like that aren't there so many things to rejoice don't you feel like rejoicing when you just meet with one another God for just a week has permitted us to have such wonderful fellowship we may have to go back into the world to face those who reject the Savior but isn't it grand that he just shows us what it can be just wets our appetite or rejoice ever more pray without ceasing father that doesn't mean for you to do that in the prayer meeting but it does mean it does mean that we shall be constantly in the attitude of prayer constantly in the attitude of prayer I love that I love that I remember the story of a very dear brother away in Holbert in Tasmania.
He was there in the meeting and the brother got up and started to pray and he took them for what we call a cook's tour, you know. Started off in Tasmania, went over to Australia, came up right around the world and carried on for 20 minutes. And when he sat down, the brother arose and in rather a squeaky voice, he said, Dear Lord, our brother has forgotten the cannibals in the Solomon Islands. Bless the cannibals in the Solomon Islands. Whatever my wife thinks I've gone on praying, too long she says Solomon Islands no but be in the attitude of prayer be in the attitude of prayer he says quench not the spirit it's easy to quench the spirit isn't it you see that young fellow and he he's just enjoying the Lord he stands up and leads the Saints in worship and and and somehow he gets mulled up a little bit you know he talks about the father who died on the cross I mean and he and he and he and he and afterwards quench not the spirit I have a high priest in glory that presents my worship to the father and
I need him don't let us be critical when someone does the best they can let's say in for what we can say. Quench not the spirit, despise not prophecies, prove all things, hold fast that which is good, abstain from the smallest of evils. And he dares to say this, and our God will sanctify you, spirit, soul, and body. I say, you Thessalonians, read it to everyone. Read it to everyone God grant that each one of us may find ourselves doing our bit to make the assembly with which we are connected a model church amen Brother Ford,
come on, lead this. will be the last time they sing it for you. Oh, I got the right one. Come on, Joe, back. Thank you. Is this the first one? Yes, let me be a little kind. Lead. That's your lead. That's your lead. That's your link of the word. Oh. Let's enjoy it. . . . . . . . . How do I do?
. . . . . Let me be when I am weary, of the little Lord hear me. Take a little of honor, and let the little of me be. Be a little favor when my friends will be with me, with my brother who is me, with me too.
Let me think about all my favor. Let me sing it like that, oh, let me sing it like that, oh, let me sing it. Let me sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it, sing it. On the river of the mighty sea, for God of the holy air is now, give the waters what shall be. Let's ask Brother Kent to lead us to his own grace and full of grace.
Our God and our Father, we come before thee. Truly our hearts are moved by this message to be a little comfortable. kinder to each other and to be model Christians in our assemblies to make our gatherings before they model gatherings for this world. Oh, Father, speak to each one of our hearts through this message. Let it not be snatched away by the things that go on today and after this meeting. Apply these things in our hearts and lives and let Christ in us be seen and let us be that thou hast have us to be in this world.
Strengthen us now and keep us and cause us to ponder these things and be all that thou hast have us to be, Father. Thank you for this message thou hast given us that we might work for the approved of God to agree in Jesus' name we pray. Amen.