HCBC 10-12-14
The Difference Between Night & Day
1 Thess 5:4-11
Characteristics of a growing Church
Faith that shows itself in deeds
Love that produces hard work
Hope that results in perseverance
Characteristics of growing Christians
Caring – Concerned – Comforting – Committed
The Beginning of the End 4:13 – 18
Rapture of the Church
Tribulation Period
2nd Coming and Millennial Reign of Jesus Christ
Judgment of the Lost
Eternity
The Day of the LORD
1 Thess 5:1-3
A Day of Judgment!
The Times
The Truth
It is an unexpected Day!
The Trouble
It is sudden!
It is destructive!
It is inclusive!
The Difference Between Day and Night
1 Thess 5:4-11
4 But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to
surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of
light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of
the darkness.6 So then let us not sleep, as others do, but
let us keep awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep,
sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at
night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be sober,
having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a
helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not
destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through
our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that
whether we are awake or asleep we might live with
him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build one
another up, just as you are doing.
I. Children of Light vs Children of Darkness
vs 4 – 5
But you are not in darkness, brothers, for that day to
surprise you like a thief. 5 For you are all children of
light, children of the day. We are not of the night or of
the darkness.
Jn 1:1-9 In the beginning was the Word, and the
Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He
was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were
made through him, and without him was not any thing
made that was made. 4 In him was life, and the life
was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the
darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was
John. 7 He came as a witness, to bear witness about
the light, that all might believe through him. 8 He was
not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.
9 The true light, which gives light to everyone, was
coming into the world.
Jn 3:16-21 “For God so loved the world, that he
gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should
not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send
his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in
order that the world might be saved through him. 18
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but
whoever does not believe is condemned already,
because he has not believed in the name of the only Son
of God. 19 And this is the judgment: the light has come
into the world, and people loved the darkness rather
than the light because their works were evil. 20 For
everyone who does wicked things hates the light and
does not come to the light, lest his works should be
exposed. 21 But whoever does what is true comes to the
light, so that it may be clearly seen that his works have
been carried out in God.”
Eph 5:7-14 Therefore do not become partners with
them; 8 for at one time you were darkness, but now you
are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light 9 (for the
fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and
true), 10 and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord.
11 Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but
instead expose them. 12 For it is shameful even to
speak of the things that they do in secret. 13 But
when anything is exposed by the light, it becomes
visible, 14 for anything that becomes visible is light.
Therefore it says, “Awake, O sleeper, and arise from
the dead, and Christ will shine on you.”
1 Pet 2:9-12 But you are a chosen race, a royal
priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own
possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of
him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous
light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are
God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but
now you have received mercy.
11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to
abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war
against your soul. 12 Keep your conduct among the
Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you
as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify
God on the day of visitation.
II. Awake vs Asleep
vs 6 – 7
So then let us not sleep, as others do, but let us keep
awake and be sober. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at
night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night.
Rom 13:11-14 Besides this you know the time, that the
hour has come for you to wake from sleep. For
salvation is nearer to us now than when we first
believed. 12 The night is far gone; the day is at hand.
So then let us cast off the works of darkness and put on
the armor of light. 13 Let us walk properly as in the
daytime, not in orgies and drunkenness, not in sexual
immorality and sensuality, not in quarreling and
jealousy. 14 But put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make
no provision for the flesh, to gratify its desires.
Mt 24:42-44 Therefore, stay awake, for you do not
know on what day your Lord is coming. 43 But
know this, that if the master of the house had known in
what part of the night the thief was coming, he would
have stayed awake and would not have let his house be
broken into. 44 Therefore you also must be ready, for
the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.
our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that
whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him.
Tit 2:11-12 For the grace of God has appeared,
bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to
renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live
self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present
age,
A sober person exhibits self-control, lives a serious,
balanced, calm, steady life, and maintains proper
priorities.
In contrast to the drunkenness that surrounds night
people, day people are sober.
To be sober means to be free from the influence of
intoxicants.
To be sober is to be alert!
What makes one sober?
Eph 5:18-21 And do not get drunk with wine, for that
is debauchery, but be filled with the Spirit, 19
addressing one another in psalms and hymns and
spiritual songs, singing and making melody to the Lord
with your heart, 20 giving thanks always and for
everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord
Jesus Christ, 21 submitting to one another out of
reverence for Christ
III. Salvation vs Wrath
vs 8 – 9
But since we belong to the day, let us be sober, having
put on the breastplate of faith and love, and for a
helmet the hope of salvation. 9 For God has not
destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through
Putting on faith, hope, and love!
1 Cor 13:13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these
three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Thess 1:2-3 We give thanks to God always for all of
you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3
remembering before our God and Father your work of
faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our
Lord Jesus Christ.
Because we have put on faith, hope, and love, we are no
longer destined for wrath!
We have obtained salvation through our Lord, Jesus
Christ!
meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging
one another, and all the more as you see the Day
drawing near.
Because He died for us, we live with Him!
We live with Him whether we are awake or asleep,
dead or alive!
Jn 3:36 Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life;
whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but
the wrath of God remains on him.
IV. Encourage One Another
vs 11
Therefore encourage one another and build one
another up, just as you are doing.
Because of the fact that the Day of the Lord will not be
a surprise to us…
Because of the fact that we are not people of the night,
but people of the day…
Rom 15:4-6 For whatever was written in former days
was written for our instruction, that through endurance
and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we
might have hope. 5 May the God of endurance and
encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with
one another, in accord with Christ Jesus, 6 that together
you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of
our Lord Jesus Christ.
“…and build one another up…”
Acts 20:31-32 Therefore be alert, remembering that for
three years I did not cease night or day to admonish
every one with tears. 32 And now I commend you to
God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build
you up and to give you the inheritance among all those
who are sanctified.
Because of the fact that we are sober and self-controlled
instead of drunk and distracted..
Because of the fact that we have eternal life instead of
wrath…
Rom 15:1-2 We who are strong have an obligation to
bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please
ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his
good, to build him up.
We can encourage one another and build one another
up!
“…as you are doing.” (as in 4:18)
Heb 10:24-25 And let us consider how to stir up one
another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to
Who needs encouragement?