The Dead Shall Rise: 1 Thessalonians 2:19-3:8

1 Thessalonians 2:19 "For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?"

This sermon from American Pastor J.D. Montieth explores Paul's epistles to the Thessalonians in a series titled The Dead Shall Rise. This sermon, the seventh in the series, 1 Thessalonians 2:19-3:8, continues in the epistle and highlights the mark of a true minister: "Here is the mark of a true minister: it is that those whom God has given him care over, might abide in Christ’s presence at His coming. This was the apostle’s hope, and would ultimately be his own joy and crown of rejoicing at Christ’s coming. It is this full and complete salvation of God’s people, which will be the minister’s crown. Hence, a day of victory and celebration when the labor it took to both bring people to Christ, as well as help them remain in Him, is rewarded by God in Heaven.

"There is nothing that Jesus cares more for than the saving of a man’s soul. It was for this purpose He died, and it is still the primary purpose of His heavenly ministry today. 

"Religious bonds are the strongest bonds, when it is faith in God’s Son and God’s Spirit that forms them. True Christians also will bear no greater allegiance, nor loyalty to, than towards those who are also themselves Christ’s. Spirit is thicker than blood, and spiritual ties, greater than earthly ties, when also men share the same heavenly Father and Lord and are bound together by the same Holy Spirit. 

"Labor is the result of sincere faith in Christ. Thus, if men do not labor, and are not willing to expend sacrifice for the gospel, it is hard to conclude that they possess any deep faith. Consider as well, that if men will not labor for something, you can know that they do not really value it as important.

"Ask a man to endure long hours at business, for his own personal gain, and he will gladly spend himself. But ask him to suffer for Christ, and the extension of the gospel and rarely will he respond favorably. Yet, those who will not deny himself for Christ, shall never be glorified with Him. All Christianity demands that men, after being saved, must endure some form of tribulation. There is no road that leads to Heaven, which will not entail bearing reproach, or suffering some form of persecution, because of faith in the Son of God.

""There shall not any man be able to stand before thee all the days of thy life: as I was with Moses, so I will be with thee: I will not fail thee, nor forsake thee." It is because God is both with and in His people, that no worldly force can overcome them. Hence, it is never human strength that propels and allows a man to continue in the midst of persecution, but only the power of God’s Spirit. God is the strength of His people’s hearts, and time shall prove that His presence was more than sufficient in sustaining their ability to persevere."

Broadcast live on 05/29/2022