1 Thessalonians 5:12-22

A1 Scriptures

B1 "And we request of you, brothers, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and instruct you, and to regard them beyond all measure in love, because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. Now we exhort you, brothers, admonish the disorderly, encourage the discouraged, be supportive of the weak, be patient toward all. See that no one pays back evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue that which is good, both for one another and for all. Rejoice always! Pray without ceasing! In everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophecies. But test all things; hold fast that which is good. Abstain from every form of evil. " (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, EMTV)

B2 "We beg you, our friends, to pay proper respect to those who work among you, who guide and instruct you in the Christian life. Treat them with the greatest respect and love because of the work they do. Be at peace among yourselves. We urge you, our friends, to warn the idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back wrong for wrong, but at all times make it your aim to do good to one another and to all people. Be joyful always, pray at all times, be thankful in all circumstances. This is what God wants from you in your life in union with Christ Jesus. Do not restrain the Holy Spirit; do not despise inspired messages. Put all things to the test: keep what is good and avoid every kind of evil. " (1 Thessalonians 5:12-22, GNB92)

A2 Outline--Some last minute rules

B1 Regarding leaders in the congregation

C1 Respect them

C2 Love them in the Lord

C3 Be at peace

B2 Regarding fellow Christians in the congregation

C1 Admonish the disorderly

C2 Encourage the discouraged

C3 Support the weak

C4 Be patient

B3 Regarding all humans

C1 No revenge

C2 Always rejoice

C3 Pray without ceasing

C4 Give thanks in everything

C5 Don't quench the Holy Spirit

C6 Don't despise prophecies

C7 Test all things

C8 Keep tightly to what is good

C9 Abstain from every form of evil

A3 Notes

B1 Leaders

C1 Types

D1 "And He gave some as apostles, and some as prophets, and some as evangelists, and some as pastors and teachers, for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry, for the building up of the body of Christ, " (Ephesians 4:11-12, EMTV)

D2 Apostles--the 12 that Jesus chose plus the few others recognized by the 12 during their lifetime. After the 12th died (John) there were no more apostles because there was no one to certify that person to be an apostle. Consider this.

D2 Prophets--the early church had a number of prophets and prophetesses. There are none now because there are no apostles to certify them.

D3 Evangelists--those whom have the gift of preaching the Gospel. We are all responsible to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ but these have a special gift, a drive, to preach. This may be in an area that has not heard the Gospel or in an area that has.

D4 Pastors--leader of local congregation. God gifts them to teach, lead, console, counsel, pray, evangelize, and many other things.

D5 Teachers--have the gift of explaining things so that people can easily understand.

D6 Elders, bishops, overseers, etc. refer to the same as pastor.

D7 Deacon and deaconess help with finance, counsel, and other personal, family, or congregational needs.

C2 Congregation's duty towards

D1 Respect them

E1 Treat them well

E2 Pray for them

E3 If disagree, approach them respectfully, not threateningly

D2 Love them in the Lord

E1 Pray for them to have

F1 Safety

F2 Wisdom

F3 Skill

F5 Fruits of the Spirit

E2 Help them by

F1 Assisting in tasks

F2 Not making life hard for them as in whining, refusing to obey Scriptures, etc.

D3 Be as peace

E1 Don't argue

E2 Don't fight

E3 Tell the truth

D4 They still may sin, so they may need rebuke. Galatians 2:11, 1 Timothy 5:20, John 16:23, etc.

B2 Regarding fellow Christians in the congregation

C1 Admonish the disorderly.

D1 Admonish is to point out errors.

D2 Disorderly is not following the order of the Scriptures and causing disruptions in the congregation.

D3 Disorderly may also refer to those who disobey the clear teachings of the Scriptures.

C2 Encourage the discouraged by

D1 A visit

D2 A letter

D3 A card

D4 A good deed as take them to the store

D5 Listen to them

D6 Pray with them

C3 Support the weak

D1 Tenderhearted, those who get discouraged easily

D2 Those who struggle with temptation

D3 Those who are sick and infirm

C4 Be patient

B3 Regarding all humans

C1 No revenge

D1 Financial

D2 Verbal

D3 Physical

D4 Slander

D5 Libel

C2 Always rejoice

D1 In things are pleasant then thanking God for it.

D2 In things that are unpleasant then thanking God that He has not left you, nor forsaken you (Hebrews 13:5) and that nothing can separate us from God's love (Romans 8:31-39).

C3 Pray without ceasing

C4 Give thanks in everything

D1 If things are good

D2 If things are bad. We still pray, because it could be worse, and God will help us.

C5 Don't quench the Holy Spirit. We quench the Holy Spirit

D1 In these three things. "And when He comes, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I am going to My Father and you see Me no more; " (John 16:8-10, EMTV)

D2 In these three things. "...for the kingdom of God is not eating and drinking, but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit. " (Romans 14:17, NKJV)

D3 In this one thing. "...that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit. " (Romans 15:16, NKJV)

D4 In this. "And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. " (Ephesians 4:30, NKJV). We grieve the Holy Spirit when we sin in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds. We grieve the Holy Spirit when we do not believe the plain, normal sense of the Scriptures.

D5 The Holy spirit does give joy in tribulation. "And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, " (1 Thessalonians 1:6, NKJV)

C6 Don't despise prophecies

D1 There are no prophets today because there are no Apostles to tell us who is true or false. See above discussion.

D2 This would refer to that church specifically and the early church in general.

C7 Test all things

D1 The standard to test against is the Bible in its plain, normal sense.

D2 We are to test all things.

D3 Doctrine, lifestyle, fellowship are important. There is a standard. It is not a church standard that we live by but the Scriptures themselves.

D4 For example

E1 "...not to be quickly shaken from your mind, nor be disturbed, neither by spirit nor by word nor by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ has come. " (2 Thessalonians 2:2, EMTV)

E2 ""I know your works, and your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you tested those who say that they are apostles and they are not, and you found them to be false; " (Revelation 2:2, EMTV)

E3 "Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, who received the word with all readiness, each day examining the Scriptures to see whether these things might be so. " (Acts 17:11, EMTV)

C8 Keep tightly to what is good

D1 Good is defined by what God calls good.

D2 We are to be consistent.

D3 To do this in thoughts, desires, words, and deeds.

C9 Abstain from every form of evil

D1 Evil is defined by what God calls evil.

D2 We are not to do these things.

D3 Evil can be appealing, but in reality it is deadly.

Strengthen the Churches

"And he passed through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches. " (Acts 15:41, EMTV)


 




 

What does "strengthening the churches" mean?


 

The Greek word is ἐπιστηρίζω

B1 This means to make stronger.

B2 It is used 4 times in the Bible.

B3 The trees in the Biosphere 2 fell under their own weight from etiolation and no stress wood. The wind causes the trees to grow this type of cells which strengthen the tree. Our word here has the idea of strengthening in this sense. The winds and battering from skeptics, enemies, false apostles, false prophets, and false teachers might overwhelm the local congregation, thus Paul wanted to return to the congregations and strengthen them.

How do we strengthen the churches/congregations?

B1 Many of the epistles written in the New Testament were written for this purpose.

B2 The congregations would be strengthened by

C1 Handling disagreements according to the Scriptures

C2 Handling misunderstood doctrine according to the Scriptures

C3 Correcting people who preach false doctrine.

C4 Correcting people preaching a wrong Gospel

C5 Warning about false teachers.

C6 Handling people who are at odds with each other

C7 Clarifying what was taught earlier (in their first visit)

C8 Preaching against sin that might have arisen in the church

C9 Encouraging the brethren to continue in the faith. Discouragement may come

D1 from persecution

D2 from trials

D3 from failures

D4 from successes

D5 from believing there is no success in their sharing the Gospel

D6 from seeing no answer from prayer

D7 from remembrances of past sin

D8 from still struggling over present temptation to sin

Christians and churches need strengthening today in the nearly overwhelming flood of false doctrine, false teaching, and false teachers. We are strengthened by reading and studying the Bible every day. We also need fellowship and prayer. Without this we might fail the faith.

10 ways Christians are to handle disagreements

"Therefore a sharp disagreement arose so that they were separated from one another. And Barnabas, taking along Mark, sailed to Cyprus. " (Acts 15:39, EMTV)

What are we to do when we have a sharp disagree, an all-out argument, and fight?

 

An argument is very stressful on the body and has physical and psychological effects?

B1 Physical

C1 Stress hormones released

D1 Cortisol

D2 Epinephrine

C2 These hormones affect

D1 Immune system—lowering its effectiveness

D2 Cardiac system

E1 Raise blood pressure

E2 Make heart work harder for the heart

E3 Raise blood sugar

B2 Psychological

C1 Depression

C2 Anxiety

B3 Image

 

By Gdudycha (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

 

What are we supposed to do in a situation like this?

B1 Both to pray.

C1 For each other

C2 About the situation

B2 Blaming others does not help, so don't.

B3 Walk apart and cool off for awhile. Talk about it tomorrow. Get some sleep.

B4 Think is this situation really that important to get angry, then affect our testimony, work, and witness.

B5 Point out the pros and cons together

B6 Define together the goal, then how to reach that goal

B7 Be humble instead of an attitude of "because I said so."

B8 In this case discuss why it would be better to have John with them or why it would not.

B9 Read 1 Corinthians 13:1-13 together to learn about love.

B10 Consider

C1 "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! It is like fine oil on the head, running down on the beard, running down Aaron's beard onto his robes." (Psalms 133:1-2, HCSB)

C2 "Then Abram said to Lot, "Please, let's not have quarreling between you and me, or between your herdsmen and my herdsmen, since we are relatives." (Genesis 13:8, HCSB)

C3 "By this all people will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another." " (John 13:35, HCSB)

C4 "Now I urge you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree in what you say, that there be no divisions among you, and that you be united with the same understanding and the same conviction." (1 Corinthians 1:10, HCSB)

C5 "...diligently keeping the unity of the Spirit with the peace that binds us. There is one body and one Spirit — just as you were called to one hope at your calling — one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all." (Ephesians 4:3-6, HCSB)

C6 "...fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal. Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus," (Philippians 2:2-5, HCSB)

C7 "Let brotherly love continue." (Hebrews 13:1, HCSB)

C8 "Now finally, all of you should be like-minded and sympathetic, should love believers, and be compassionate and humble," (1 Peter 3:8, HCSB)

C9 "We know that we have passed from death to life because we love our brothers. The one who does not love remains in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life residing in him. This is how we have come to know love: He laid down His life for us. We should also lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has this world's goods and sees his brother in need but closes his eyes to his need — how can God's love reside in him? Little children, we must not love with word or speech, but with truth and action. This is how we will know we belong to the truth and will convince our conscience in His presence," (1 John 3:14-19, HCSB)

The Greek word for the disagreement is παροξυσμός

B1 It is a strong word for disagreement.

B2 It is a disagreement with strong emotion.

B3 Some other uses in the New Testament

C1 "And in Athens, while Paul waited for them, his spirit was provoked within him when he saw that the city was full of idols." (Acts 17:16, EMTV)

C2 "...does not behave disgracefully, does not seek its own, is not provoked to anger, thinks no evil;" (1 Corinthians 13:5, EMTV)

C3 "And let us consider one another for the stirring up of love and of good works," (Hebrews 10:24, EMTV)

B4 In modern Greek it is used among other things for the word "seizure."

As soon as Paul and Barnabas had become Christians were they perfectly mature in the faith, or did they still have to learn? Do Christians need to learn? Who does this teaching? (The Holy Spirit)


 

Hopefully this will help us to handle a disagreement in a more godly way. If we fail, then we confess our fault and ask forgiveness. This takes humility.

Bible Study

1 Thessalonians 5:1-11


 

A1 Scriptures

B1 "But concerning the times and the seasons, brothers, you have no need that I should write to you. For you yourselves know accurately that the day of the Lord so comes as a thief in the night. For when they say, "Peace and safety!" then sudden destruction comes upon them, just as labor pains upon the woman that is pregnant, and they shall by no means escape. But you, brothers, are not in darkness, so that this Day should overtake you as a thief. You are all sons of light and sons of the day. We are not of the night, nor of darkness. Therefore let us not sleep, as others do, but let us watch and be sober. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, are drunk at night. But we, since we are of the day, let us be sober, putting on a breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. For God did not appoint us to wrath, but to the obtaining of salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us, in order that whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with Him. Therefore comfort each other and edify one another, just as you also are doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, EMTV)

B2 "There is no need to write you, friends, about the times and occasions when these things will happen. For you yourselves know very well that the Day of the Lord will come as a thief comes at night. When people say, "Everything is quiet and safe," then suddenly destruction will hit them! It will come as suddenly as the pains that come upon a woman in labor, and people will not escape. But you, friends, are not in the darkness, and the Day should not take you by surprise like a thief. All of you are people who belong to the light, who belong to the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. So then, we should not be sleeping like the others; we should be awake and sober. It is at night when people sleep; it is at night when they get drunk. But we belong to the day, and we should be sober. We must wear faith and love as a breastplate, and our hope of salvation as a helmet. God did not choose us to suffer his anger, but to possess salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, who died for us in order that we might live together with him, whether we are alive or dead when he comes. And so encourage one another and help one another, just as you are now doing." (1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, GNB92)

http://fav.me/d2x1lfy

A2 Outline--Day of the Lord

B1 Unknown but imminent

B2 Characteristics of that day

C1 Comes as thief in the night

C2 People are proclaiming "Peach and Safety."

C3 Sudden destruction

B3 Characteristics of Christians

C1 Not in darkness

C2 Sons of light and sons of the day

C3 Not sons of night or sons of darkness

C4 Are alert and sober

C5 Have breastplate of faith

C6 Have love

C7 Have helmet (hope of salvation)

B4 God's promise

C1 We are not appointed to wrath

C2 We are appointed to obtaining deliverance

D1 Through the Lord Jesus

D2 Who died for us

D3 Whether we are dead or alive we will live with Him

B5 Our responsibility

C1 Comfort each other

C2 Edify each other

C3 Just like you are doing

A3 Notes

B1 Day of the Lord (For reference see especially John F Walvoord's commentary on First Thessalonians).

C1 Judgment

C2 Best understood especially in the context of 1 Thessalonians 5 is

D1 Judgment day just after the rapture and coincides with the Tribulation Period.

D2 Judgment against Israel primarily but also the whole world.

D3 Today is the Day of Grace.

E1 A sinner is not punished but given opportunity to repent.

E2 God wants people to repent, not get punished.

C3 Other days of punished also as that of the end of the Millennium.

D1 Israel's punishment and destruction by Assyria (Amos 5:18-20).

D2 Judah's punishment and destruction by Babylon (Zephaniah 1:14-18).

D3 The end of the world (2 Peter 3:10).

C4 For information about the return of the Lord.

C5 The Day of the Lord is the opposite of the Night of the Thief.

C6 Jesus promised to come back.

D1 For the believers as in John 14:3.

D2 For the unbelievers as in Acts 17:31.

B2 Characteristics of that day

C1 Comes as thief in the night

D1 Suddenly without signs or warning which is why no date can be set. Compare Acts 1:7.

E1 Keeps us expectant for His coming.

E2 Keeps us reading and studying the Bible.

E3 Keeps us praying.

E4 Keeps us spreading the Gospel.

E5 Keeps us living to please Jesus (following His rules).

E6 Keeps us reminding people that they need to repent, believe, trust into, and confess the Lord Jesus today.

E7 Keeps us reminding ourselves and others that the most important thing we can have taken is our soul.

E8 Keeps us prepared for Jesus's arrival. (Hebrews 10:31)

D2 There are hints though that the time is close.

E1 Lawlessness shall increase.

E2 Gathering of Israel.

E3 Continued sin by Israel (breaking God's laws)

C2 People proclaim "Peace and Safety."

D1 Reality is more important than a belief system. We can be told that everything is better in society, unemployment is down, crime is down, there are great revivals of Christianity every day, but what is the reality. This is why Christianity as defined by the Bible is best. The Bible is the only source of 100% truth. The Bible is to be read and studied in its plain, normal sense.

D2 Truth is important. Delusions must be avoided. Death and destruction are coming.

D3 The world is getting more evil (breaking God's laws more frequently).

D4 There are people who do not, will not, believe that Jesus is coming as in "well, they have always said that, and it has NOT happened." 2 Peter 3:3-4

D5 People in general will believe that peace and safety is present, but it has not.

E1 People are still self-seeking sinners.

E2 Lack of peace inwardly. "There is no peace," says the LORD, "for the wicked." " (Isaiah 48:22, NKJV)

E3 The inward sin and self-seeking leads to no peace in society either.

C3 Sudden destruction

D1 Suddenly and without warning

D2 Destruction as in a building or one's health. Compare Luke 20:12-13.

D3 We are warned ahead as in this very passage of Scripture. Let us be ready.

D4 Reality will be upon them.

D5 They now know it was a false peace, but now it is too late.

B3 Characteristics of Christians

C1 Not all are listed of coarse but some maybe appropriate for the Thessalonians.

C2 Not in darkness.

D1 Darkness is not only for evil, for sin, but also for ignorance.

D2 The Apostle does not want for them to be in darkness about the Day of the Lord.

C3 Sons of light and sons of the day.

D1 Sons of God, forgiven, and engrafted into the vine of the Lord Jesus. It is those who have their names in the Lamb's Book of Life.

D2 Light and day describe a time that we can see more clearly.

D3 This is not only physical but also spiritual clearness of vision.

C4 Alert and sober

D1 Alertness as a hunted animal who knows the enemy is near. Our enemy is satan, complacency, procrastination, and sin.

E1 "Be sober, be watchful; your adversary the devil walks about as a roaring lion, seeking someone he may devour. " (1 Peter 5:8, EMTV)

E2 "And what I say to you, I say to everyone: Be on the alert!" " (Mark 13:37, LEB)

D2 Sober is not drunk. One who is drunk has their judgment off kilter. One must be not drunk to have the fastest reactions and quickest decisions for our own and others safety.

C5 Have breastplate of faith

D1 The breastplate covers all the vital organs.

D2 Our breastplate is faith.

E1 Faith is

F1 Believing God

F2 For example, God states we are sinners, so if we have faith we agree

E2 Faith shows itself in

F1 Trust

F2 Patience

C6 Have love

D1 A recurring theme in Scripture.

D2 Love is not looking for something for us but in choice looking for the best in others.

D3 The best for them would be according to Scriptures so lying to save another from punishment would be wrong.

C7 Have helmet which is the hope of salvation

D1 Hope is different than faith.

E1 Faith is believing God.

E2 Hope is the wish and desire for something.

D2 The hope in this passage is the hope for salvation from God's wrath shown during the Day of the Lord (the Tribulation Period).

D3 It is to be with Jesus forever.

C8 The importance of faith, hope, and love which are the pre-eminent graces of God.

B4 God's promise

C1 This involves faith (believing God) and hope (that it will happen today)

C2 We are not appointed to wrath.

D1 We deserve wrath because of our sin and rebellion against God.

D2 Jesus suffered for our sins, taking the penalty of God's wrath for us.

C3 We are appointed to obtain deliverance.

D1 Through our Lord Jesus (because of His redemption).

D2 Who died for us.

D3 A great comfort that it doesn't matter if we die before He returns or are still living when He returns. We are delivered from His wrath and will be with Him forever.

C4 This is such a blessed hope and comfort.

B5 Our responsibility

C1 Comfort each other

C2 Edify each other

C3 Just like you are doing

Paul’s First Journey

Paul's First Journey


 

A1 Objectives

B1 Describe how God used Paul to share the gospel in Iconium.

B2 Explain how the people responded to the gospel in Lystra.

A2 Scriptures

B1 Acts 14:1-20

A3 Notes

B1 Iconium

C1 City

D1 History

E1 The area was inhabited by 2,000 BC, so after the flood and about the time of Abraham.

E2 It has always been inhabited since.

E3 It has frequently been a capital of the area.

E4 It has a higher elevation that is dry.

E5 The winters are cool and dry with the summers hot and dry.

E6 The summer nights cool off quickly due to the low humidity.

E7 Most rain comes in Spring and Fall.

D2 Now

E1 Called Konya

E2 Population over 1.1 million

C2 Missionary Journey

D1 Fifth stop

D2 Iconium is about 45 miles southeast of Antioch.

D3 Paul and Barnabas

D4 Preached first in the Synagogue.

B2 Lystra

C1 City

D1 Approximately 19 miles south of Iconium.

D2 No one lives there now.

C2 Missionary Journey

D1 Sixth stop.

D2 Paul visited there 2 times. One time was on his first missionary journey and one on his second.

B3 Journey

C1 Somewhere between 46-50 AD

C2 Lasted about 2 years

C3 Traveled about 1,500 miles.

A4 Questions

B1 What did God want for the Gospel? (He wanted it to spread).

B2 What are some ways that He did that? (Philip's preaching, Christians going other places by persecution or choice, etc.)

B3 Christians went voluntarily preaching in various places. How did Paul do this? (His missionary journeys).

B4 Who were the two main preachers? (Paul and Barnabas).

B5 I thought Mark was with them? (He left in Acts 13:13 to return to Jerusalem. The last town he was in with them was Perga).

B6 Why did Mark leave them?

B7 Where did Paul and Barnabas first go when they got to the city? (Synagogue)

B8 In Acts 13:50 who persecuted Paul and Barnabas in Antioch? (Jews and certain women of the elite Greeks). Why?

B9 Do religious people persecute Christians today? What kind of Christians persecute those who take the Bible seriously and want to live by its rules?

B10 In Acts 14:1 who heard the Gospel?

B11 Why did the disbelievers do what they did? Why didn't they repent and believe?

B12 Were they disbelieving or disobeying? The Greek word means disobey but as A. T. Robertson writes regarding this passage--

C1 That were disobedient (ο απειθησαντες). First aorist active articular participle, not the present απειθουντες as the Textus Receptus has it. But the meaning is probably the Jews that disbelieved, rather than that disobeyed. Strictly απειθεω does mean to disobey and απιστεω to disbelieve, but that distinction is not observed in Joh 3:36 nor in Acts 19:9; Acts 28:24. The word απειθεω means to be απειθης, to be unwilling to be persuaded or to withhold belief and then also to withhold obedience. The two meanings run into one another. To disbelieve the word of God is to disobey God."

C2 Both the majority text and the Textus Receptus have απειθουντες, not απειθησαντες.

C3 Thus strictly it would be translated "would not believe" in this context as in John 3:36 and Acts.19:9 and Acts 28:24.

C4 What about atheists or any other disobedient, disbelieving person? Should we still pray for these people?

B13 Why were Paul and Barnabas so bold?

B14 Why were they doing signs and wonders? Why doesn't this happen today? What are signs and wonders?

B15 Does the Gospel divide? Why?

B16 The city was divided between those supporting the Jews and those supporting the Apostles. Why are they called apostles?

(The 12 that Jesus choose are the Apostles of Jesus Christ. He choose them. They saw him teach, preach, do miracles, get arrested, die, and living after the resurrection. The other apostles are Apostles of the church. These were specially gifted men that the 12 Apostles of Jesus Christ recognized as apostles. After the Apostles of Jesus Christ died, there was no one to authenticate anyone else. There are no real apostles today, just false ones. Revelation 2:2).

B17 What type of treatment did the unbelievers come up with? (To abuse them physically, verbally, and emotionally. They were also going to stone them).

B18 How do we react when we are persecuted?

C1 We are to pray for ourselves.

D1 God help me not to deny you.

D2 God help me not to sin against my persecutors. (All sin is against God. We are to not want to do any sin that would displease God, no offense against them, as much as possible).

D3 God forgive them. I forgive them.

C2 We are to pray for our enemies.

D1 God have mercy on them that they may repent and trust in Jesus.

D2 God open their eyes to see what they are really doing (disobeying God's rules).

D3 We are not to pray for them to die or be hurt, etc., because then they have no opportunity to repent and trust in Jesus.

B19 What did the preachers do? (They heard about the plot and ran away to three different cities). Is it OK to flee in this situation?

B20 Who was born at Lystra? (Timothy, Acts 16:1).

B21 Acts 14:8. Whom did the preachers meet? (A man lame from birth). How far had this man walked? (0 feet, for he was "lame from birth").

B22 What does "seeing he had faith" in Acts 14:9 mean?

B23 Why did Paul say? ("Stand up straight on your feet").

B24 Is this what happens when modern faith healers hold meetings? (No)

B25 How many of the people at Lystra saw this healing? (Many)

B26 What we their reaction? (They proclaimed that the Apostles were gods and were going to worship and sacrifice to them).

B27 What would be your reaction?

B28 If you were in Paul's sandals, would you have refused worship? What about most people?

B29 By refusing these honors and worship what opportunity did the Apostles have? (To preach the Gospel).

B30 What points did Paul bring out about God when refusing the people's worship?

C1 Our God is the living God.

C2 Our God has let Gentiles live their own life.

C3 Our God has shown us good by giving us food and rain.

C4 Now what you need to do is repent. (To turn from idols)

B31 Why did the people of Lystra stone Paul?

C1 The Jews from Antioch and Iconium riled them up.

C2 They were mad at Paul for saying that their idols were useless things.

B32 Was Paul really dead or passed out?

B33 What did Paul do?

C1 He stood up.

C2 He went into the city.

C3 He left the next day.

B34 Was Paul brave or foolish to go back into the city?

B35 Questions from others?

C1 What was different in Paul's preaching at Lystra compared to other cities?

C2 What caused the lame man to have any hope of walking?

C3 Do we have a pattern of the Gospel we share; is it always the same? Is it better to not have a pattern or have a pattern?

C4 Was it wise to proclaim the Gospel in such a public place? What about today?

B36 What are some things we learned today?

NAR

NAR= New Apostolic Reformation



It is a belief that there is a new reformation, a reformation not of a rejection of the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope but the restoration of Apostles and Prophets to bring all of mankind into God's Kingdom.

They believe

1. All Christians need to be under the authority of God's Apostles and Prophets.


2. 
   
   Apostles and prophets, but especially prophets, receive their instructions from God directly so. See more here.
   
   
   
   
   1. Apostles (generals) are the highest authority and are the governing position.
   
   
   2. Prophets are primarily those who receive new revelation.
   
   
   3. Thus the Apostles and prophets receive revelation, and the Apostles implement and teach these revelations.
   
   
   
   


3. They are clear in what they want to influence. See here, here, and here.


4. They believe in five offices of the church apostle, prophet, evangelist, pastor, and teacher.


5. They believe in the Seven Mountain mandate. They are to have dominion, not just influence over these areas. These are government, media, family, business/finance, education, church/religion, and arts/entertainment. See here, here, here, and here.


6. 
   
   The Gospel
   
   
   
   
   1. Of the Kingdom is that Jesus in His death and resurrection has instructed the church to take dominion over the world.
   
   
   2. Of salvation is repentance and faith in Jesus for salvation.
   
   
   3. Both are necessary.
   
   
   
   


7. They believe in dominion which is taking authority over the world and society in every aspect to prepare it for the return of Jesus. This is done in many ways by primarily by the signs and wonders done by the apostles, prophets, and their followers. Dominionism is not just influencing the world and society but being in charge of society. See here. See also here. Contra: here, here,


8. Most believe in Spiritual Warfare, which is to cast out demons, territorial spirits, who control some city, state, or country. See here, and here.


9. Many believe at the end there will be a great transfer of money from unbelievers to believers.


10. Many believe there will be a great revival at the time of the end. Many, many people will believe in Jesus and be saved.


11. The Manifest Sons-of-God. These believe that over the years of many prophecies which they have given will transform them eventually to be a superman being with increased power to overcome sickness and death. They will accomplish God's will on earth.

These are the main distinctives.

A long list of articles at Deception in the Church will help you see their errors Biblically.

This leads me to the main point of my article.

Holly has written on her blog, Spirit of Error, an article about "The Response SC."

She writes,

On Saturday, June 13, thousands of Christians are expected to gather at a coliseum in South Carolina for a prayer rally called "The Response SC." Many seem unaware that this event is about much more than simply praying and fasting on behalf of the nation. It's organized by leaders of the controversial New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) movement and has–as a pivotal part its agenda–a revolution of church and civil government led by NAR apostles and prophets.

This is preaching the Dominionism theology. How many people there at that rally know this?

She adds,

Read the guide for yourself to see the multiple statements alluding to the necessity of apostolic government, including a statement urging individuals to "Repent and receive God's forgiveness for walking outside of God's established government and leadership both within the church and within society." Pause and think about that last statement. In other words, failure to submit to apostle-led church government is a sin requiring repentance. Some of the statements even seem to suggest that apostolic government should extend its rule beyond the church to civil government.

The approach of the New Apostolic Reformation (NAR) is subtle and dangerous. Avoid it.

An apostle

1. The word in Greek has not only the idea of messenger but an official representative.


2. The Lord Jesus choose 12 men to be an Apostle. Matthew 10:1-4


3. He commissioned them for a job. Matthew 10:5-15, Acts 1:2


4. They were witnesses of all did and taught. Acts 1:22-23


5. They had been with Jesus from the first. Acts 1:22-23


6. They had seen, touched, and heard Jesus throughout His ministry. 1 John 1:1


7. There are also Apostles of the Churches (see 2 Corinthians 8:23, some translations have messengers but the word is apostles). Paul was one (Romans 1:1) though some feel that he should have been the replacement for Judas Iscariot. Paul was not chosen by Jesus at the start of His ministry but was chosen by God (Acts 9:15). Paul states that he was the last of the apostles to see Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:8). The Apostles in Jerusalem approved of him (Galatians 2:7-8). Barnabas was called an apostle (Acts 14:14). These were apostles because the living Apostles of Christ were able to examine and approve them. The Apostles of Christ do not live on earth anymore, so there is no one to approve someone who calls himself/herself an apostle today.


8. 
   
   2 Corinthians 11:13 states another type of apostle—a false apostle. This type is really an apostle of satan who pretend to be Apostles of Christ. Interesting that both are mentioned in this one verse. These false apostles are
   
   
   
   
   1. Deceitful
   
   
   2. Pretenders (pretending to be the Apostles of Christ). They talk and act like real apostles but have subtle lies and actions to lead astray from God's truth.
   
   
   3. Compare Revelation 2:2, 2 Corinthians 4:2, 2 Corinthians 2:17, Romans 16:17-18, 2 Peter 2:1, and Mark 13:22.
   
   
   
   

Concerning the belief that there are apostles and prophets today see here, here, and here.

The safest position is the Bible is the only 100% source of truth. We need to read it, study it, believe it, and live it. There are no apostles today. Those who claim this are leading people astray.

"I know your works, and your labor, and your endurance, and that you cannot bear those who are evil. And you tested those who say that they are apostles and they are not, and you found them to be false; " (Revelation 2:2, EMTV)

Bible Study

 

A1 Scripture

B1 "Now we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, concerning those who have fallen asleep, lest you be sorrowful as those who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, thus also God will bring with Him those who sleep in Jesus. 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 shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep. Because the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. 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 so we shall always be with the Lord. So then comfort one another with these words. " (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, EMTV)

B2 "Our friends, we want you to know the truth about those who have died, so that you will not be sad, as are those who have no hope. We believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will take back with Jesus those who have died believing in him. What we are teaching you now is the Lord's teaching: we who are alive on the day the Lord comes will not go ahead of those who have died. There will be the shout of command, the archangel's voice, the sound of God's trumpet, and the Lord himself will come down from heaven. Those who have died believing in Christ will rise to life first; then we who are living at that time will be gathered up along with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will always be with the Lord. So then, encourage one another with these words." (1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, GNB92)

A2 Outline--Addressing concerns

B1 About those Christians who have already died

B2 About those Christians who are still alive

B3 About Advent

C1 The Lord himself

C2 Announcements

D1 Shout of the archangel

D2 God's trumpet

C3 The order

D1 The dead rise first

D2 The living are caught up to heaven second

C4 The place--the clouds

C5 The location--with the Lord

C6 The comfort

A3 Notes

B1 About the Christians who have already died

C1 Some thought that the Christians who died had no hope of resurrection and heaven.

C2 Some thought that the resurrection who take place long after the rapture, thus there was no hope of being together with these saints for a long time.

C3 The state/condition of the dead.

D1 Death is because of sin. (Romans 6:23)

D2 God wishes for repentance of sinners (1 Timothy 2:4).

D3 Since no one seeks God (Romans 3), God, himself, initiates salvation by opening our eyes and hearts to our true condition (Acts 26:18), its punishment (Ephesians 2:1, Revelation 21:8), salvation by faith (Ephesians 2:8-9), trusting in the Lord Jesus for salvation (Psalm 2:12, Ephesians 1:12-13), confession (Romans 10:9), and calling on the name of the Lord (Romans 10:13).

D4 At that point one is saved from God's terrible anger/wrath (Romans 5:9)

D5 There is consciousness after death (Luke 16:19-31, Luke 23:43, 2 Corinthians 12:1-10, 2 Corinthians 5:1-8, Matthew 27:52 (bodies that slept, not souls)

D6 After death, the Christian's body goes to compost, but his spirit goes to God (Acts 7:59, 2 Corinthians 5:8, Philippians 1:23)

D7 For those who do not believe

E1 Die (Hebrews 9:27)

E2 Temporal punishment (Gehenna part of Sheol/Hades)

E3 There is a resurrection (John 5:28-29, 1 Corinthians 15:42, Revelation 20:5-6)

E4 Lake of Fire (Second Death, hell) Revelation 20:14, Revelation 21:15)

E5 Never ending punishment (Matthew 18:8, Matthew 25:41, Matthew 25:46)

E5 There is no annihilation or any temporary punishment (Revelation 19:20, Revelation 20:10)

C4 Paul clarified with the truth.

D1 There is a resurrection.

D2 There is hope.

B2 About the Christians who are still alive

C1 Exempt from God's wrath

C2 Forever with God

B3 Advent (specifically the Second Advent, here also Parousia)

C1 Parousia

D1 Means presence and depending on context refers to a return or arrival

D2 Often translated coming as in

E1 "...so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." (1 Thessalonians 3:13, EMTV)

E2 "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 shall by no means precede those who have fallen asleep." (1 Thessalonians 4:15, EMTV)

E3 "And then the lawless one will be unveiled, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth, and will destroy by the brightness of His coming." (2 Thessalonians 2:8, EMTV)

D3 Coming

E1 First coming as in 2 Peter 1:16

E2 Second coming

F1 Part 1--The Rapture

G1 For His people--1 Thessalonians 4:17

G2 Before the Tribulation--1 Thessalonians 5:9

G3 Not visible and is instant--1 Corinthians 15:50-54

G4 Imminent and no special events

H1 Titus 2:13

H2 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18

H3 1 Corinthians 15:50-54

F2 Part 2--Second Coming

G1 With His people--Revelation 19:14

G2 At end of tribulation--Revelation 19:14

G3 Visible to all--Revelation 19:11-21

G4 Certain signs must be fulfilled

H1 2 Thessalonians 2:4

H2 Matthew 24:15-30

F3 For further information see here and here

C2 The Lord--this is Jesus

C3 Shout of the archangel