I. Introduction

A. Illustration – – Jonathan Busch writes, John Wesley was asked what he would do if he knew his Lord would return at that time the next day. He said in effect, "I would go to bed and go to sleep; wake up in the morning, and go on with my work, for I would want Him to find me doing what he had appointed" (as cited on SermonCentral.com). That’s what Paul is writing about in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, so let’s read it together, and I’m reading from the New International Version.

B. 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11 from the NIV – Now, brother, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

C. A lot of this can seem downright depressing, so how can Paul command us to encourage one another? Let’s take a closer look and find out.

II. The End Is Near!!!

A. Paul starts this passage with some words that our politically correct society would find to be alarmist. Now, brother, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. Come on, Paul! That kind of inflammatory speculation just won’t fly in today’s society! How does that fit in with our God who is love? How can He do that, destroy those who deny His coming? The problem is that everyone on earth will have the opportunity to receive Christ and turn their backs on sin before He comes again, which is what “the day of the Lord” means. Okay, so if Christ is coming again to judge the world, why don’t we need to know when? Acts 1:7 – He said to them, “It is not for you to know the times or dates the Father has set by His own authority.” Knowing when is God’s business. Our business is to keep a look out for those who are saying everything’s great while doing everything we can to bring them to Jesus.

B. Paul goes on to tell us a little bit about who we are. Verse 4 - But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. What does it mean that we’re not in darkness? Paul is talking about the spiritual darkness that controls us when we’re under the control of the devil. Before we have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ, we’re living in a spiritual darkness that infects every aspect of our being. But once we enter into relationship with Jesus Christ by asking Him to forgive us our sins and receiving Him into our heart and life, we switch sides. Nothing infuriates Satan more than when someone switches sides and finds freedom in Christ. That’s why there’s such a strong contrast between light and darkness in this passage. When we have Jesus Christ in our hearts and lives by the power of the Holy Spirit, we can see truth as clearly as if we’re walking in broad daylight. We are children of the light so we keep in mind constantly the truth that Jesus will come again to judge the world, and so we live accordingly.

C. Verse six - So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. Living as though Jesus could return at any time means we stay awake and alert spiritually and keep our bodies and minds under strict self-control. Satan likes to lull us to sleep spiritually, so our defenses are down when he tempts us. “Oh, it’s not that bad. You can think of lots of other people who do much worse things than that. You’re a normal person, and it doesn’t hurt normal people to indulge every once in a while.” Recognize those whispers? The problem is that once we give in to temptation, we’re much more susceptible to sinning that way again and again, and before we know it we’re living in darkness because we’ve kicked Jesus out by sinning and not repenting of it. We get duped into a little bit of darkness, and pretty soon it’s nighttime for us spiritually. Paul tells us to stay alert and awake and self-controlled for good reason – so when Jesus comes back we’ll be ready.

D. Paul heads us down the home stretch with verse eight - But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. If we want to keep from becoming spiritually casualties, we’ve got to gear up for a fight. We stay prepared for the spiritual battle by doing everything we can to feed our faith in God, His love working in us, and the hope we have of eternal life. That requires an eternal perspective. We’ve got to keep reminding ourselves that Jesus is coming back someday. When we remember that, we’ll stay focused on fighting the spiritual battle that is before us. It doesn’t matter if we’re alive or dead physically when Christ returns; what matters is if we’re alive or dead spiritually. I want to be alive spiritually, and I’m sure you do too.

E. That’s why Paul wrote verse eleven: 11 Therefore, encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. Since it’s easy to lose perspective and forget that Jesus is coming again, we’re commanded to encourage one another with this truth and to keep building up each other in that teaching. Did you know that the Greek for encourage also means comfort? That adds a layer of meaning to this verse. Paul’s telling us that, because the battle is tough and we’re going to get knocked around a bit, we’ve got to comfort one another with the truth that Jesus is coming back some day to judge the world and to reward those who remain faithful to Him. When Kim went to Romania in 1997 for three weeks, I was waiting for her return. I did pretty well until she called me when I think she had about a week to go. From then on, it was tough. My whole focus was that Kim was returning in a few days. And boy, did those days seem long for all three of us! When we finally saw her at the Portland airport, I could hardly believe it was actually her, that the day I’d anticipated had finally arrived. What a great reward! It took me a few days to remember that she was home, because when she was out of sight it was easy to think her return had been a dream. Ladies and gentlemen, it is no dream that Jesus is returning. I don’t know when it will be. No one does. But all of us have to keep encouraging each other and building each other up in this truth so that we’ll be ready and bring as many people with us as possible when He returns. That’s what encouraging one another as Christians is all about – an eternal perspective!

F. Illustration – Our Daily Bread says that The word "maranatha" is a Syriac expression that means: "Our Lord comes." It was used as a greeting in the early church. When believers gathered or parted, they didn't say "hello" or "goodbye," but "Maranatha!" If we had the same upward look today, it would revolutionize the church. O that God's people had a deepening awareness of the imminent return of the Savior! (as cited on SermonCentral.com)

G. Illustration - G. Campbell Morgan, a preacher from the last century said “To me the second coming is the perpetual light in the path which makes the present bearable. I never lay my head on my pillow without thinking that: maybe before the morning breaks the final morning may have dawned. I never begin my work without thinking perhaps he may interrupt my work and begin his own” (as cited on SermonCentral.com).

H. Will He find us ready and encouraging one another when He returns?

III. Communion

A. Please bow your heads and close your eyes out of respect for each other’s privacy. Let’s just spend a few quiet moments listening to the Holy Spirit speak to our hearts about encouraging one another.

B. One of the ways the early church kept reminding one another of Christ’s return was through communion. The bread and the juice remind us of Christ’s sacrifice for us of His body and blood. But they do more than that. The bread as body and juice as blood remind us that Jesus died and rose again so that He can come again in all His glory. I’d like the ushers to come and take the bread and juice and pass them out so we can celebrate Jesus’ return together!