Early to Bed, Early to Rise

Notes: Early to Bed, Early to Rise
1 Thessalonians 4:13
1 Thessalonians 5:1
SPEAKER:
Levi Lusko
WORSHIP TEAM:
Harvest Worship Band
Sunday, July 10, 2016 — 12:00 p.m.

Who can heal America? Jesus Christ!

Of we want to be like God, we won't see skin color, we will see the blood of Jesus Chirst.

Colossians 3:11 NLT
[11] In this new life, it doesn't matter if you are a Jew or a Gentile, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbaric, uncivilized, slave, or free. Christ is all that matters, and he lives in all of us.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 NKJV
[13] But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. [14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. [15] For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are asleep. [16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. [17] Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord. [18] Therefore comfort one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:1-2 NKJV
[1] But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you. [2] For you yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night.

Paul couldn't be with the church in Thessalonica, so he wrote them.

Paul says in almost all letters, the main point. Jesus died, Jesus rose, and Jesus will come again.

John 14:1-3 NKJV
[1] "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. [2] In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. [3] And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also.

1,845 mentions in the Bible about the comings of Christ.

The enemy will oppose all the unities of the church.

Every time Paul planted a new church, he was attacked.

Just like in our lives, if we are on the move for Christ, we will be attacked.

1 Thessalonians 4:16 NKJV
[16] For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

1. Not being clear will lead to unwarranted fear.

Unclear thinking will lead to unnecessary grieving.

The Message puts it like this:
1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 MSG
[13-14] And regarding the question, friends, that has come up about what happens to those already dead and buried, we don't want you in the dark any longer. First off, you must not carry on over them like people who have nothing to look forward to, as if the grave were the last word. Since Jesus died and broke loose from the grave, God will most certainly bring back to life those who died in Jesus.

2. Because of Jesus, death is only temporary.

Our bodies will be raised in power.

The grave is only temporary.

1 Thessalonians 4:14 NKJV
[14] For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus.

Because Christ rose, we can know that the same thing will happen to us.

The Cross of Christ is the payment, and the resurrection of Christ is the receipt. 

Jesus will either come with us or for us.

If you come with Jesus on that day, He is first coming for your body.

If you are still alive when Jesus comes again he will take you and you will be transformed on the spot.

1 Thessalonians 5:10 NKJV
[10] who died for us, that whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with Him.

2 Corinthians 5:15 NKJV
[15] and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.

Ephesians 2:2 NKJV
[2] in which you once walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience,

"When"is not the question "what" is.

1 Thessalonians 5:1 NKJV
[1] But concerning the times and the seasons, brethren, you have no need that I should write to you.

"You have no need" to know. Get busy doing Gods work now.

1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 NKJV
[11] that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, [12] that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.

Get to work, go back to your job so people don't need to support you, give back to the world.

Our goal is to get as many people to Heaven as possible. We don't pull back from the world as a church we are to go into the world.

The "what" is the holy living. The "what " is living for the glory of God.