Week 19: 1 Thessalonians 5:24

Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.

1 Thessalonians 5:24

Hey fellow promise movers!  Man do I have some outstanding praises to report.  I will have to get to it a little later in the week though.  I have been so blessed by our Mighty God that I just don't have any time to get into it right now!!

This promise is fairly simple, so I won't make you read a whole lot of my blabbing(sighs of relief going up around the world).  I absolutely love this verse.  We could make this the verse that this group is all about.  If God isn't faithful, we are wasting our time moving on His promises.  If He isn't faithful and only keeps some or even most of His promises, this group would be completely hit or miss.

The only reason we are able to move on these promises week in and week out - and expect results - is because HE is faithful.  I love the description of Jesus we read from Revelations 19:11, "...and He who sat on it is called Faithful and True..."

Here's the only catch.  You can believe God is faithful all you want.  You can believe it more than anyone else in the entire world.  You CANNOT see the promise fulfilled though until you MOVE!  James 1:22 tells us, "But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves."  I can believe every single word that Jesus said.  I can believe it with all my heart, soul, mind and strength.  But what good am I if I never DO what He says?  What kind of love is that?

So this is a huge promise.  What is God's promise to you?  It could be anything.  A child, a financial need, a job, salvation for yourself, a loved one?  Whatever His promise is to you - He is faithful.  Like Revelations says...it's one of His names...what He goes by.  He is literally called, Faithful and True.  He will bring it to pass!

So how do we cash in on this promise?  We move from being hearers of the Word to doers of the word.  We'll keep it contained to 1 Thessalonians 5 as a great place to start for this week.  Starting in verse 16 we get some great advice as to how we can actively live for Christ.

1. Rejoice always - yes, even when you don't feel like rejoicing.
2. pray without ceasing - yes, even if it makes you look crazy.
3. in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus - emphasis on the words IN EVERYTHING
4. Do not quench the Spirit; do not despise prophetic utterances - God might tell you to do something you don't want to.  He might be leading you somewhere you don't want to go.  Don't stop the Spirit with your reservations.  He's God...He's got you covered!
5. Examine everything carefully; hold fast to that which is good; abstain from every form of evil. - be very cautious what you let have a hold in your life.  Like the song says, "Oh, be careful little eyes what you see/ears what you hear/mouth what you say/feet where you go"

There is even a little additional promise added on in verse 23, "Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ."  In all honesty, that's the better of the two promises.  When we do what Christ says, He sanctifies us ENTIRELY!  As flawed as we are, we are no longer because Jesus Christ has promised us His sanctification...He has transferred His holiness to us.  And how do we know we can trust Him?  Because "Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass"!

What are you waiting for?  Let's MOVE!