1 Thess 5:23-24, Give Peace a Chance – Jump All In.

Sunday May14, 2023

Main passage:

1Th 5:23-24

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

Theme: God gives peace like a river to those who submit all aspects of life to Him.

1. God of peace; one of many titles for God. Is there a reason Paul uses it here?
   1. The peace of God in the OT (shalom) is revealed as an all-encompassing submission to His will in all people and all over the world.
   2. 1Th 5:23 – reveals God’s same design in each of us: sanctify you entirely; preserved complete.
2. What is God’s peace? Ultimately, it is every part of you and your world under holiness (like God).
   1. False teachers promise peace but give none, Jer 6:14.
      1. There is no peace for the wicked, Isa 48:22.
   2. Luk 2:14 – peace to men with whom God is pleased.
   3. Isa 26:3 -  You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in You, all whose thoughts are fixed on You. (NLT)
   4. Isa 9:6 – Jesus Christ is the Prince of peace and His government shall be peace. (new world)
3. God wants His peace with us and in us, every part of us, all the time (not sparingly).
   1. Peace was established with the believer and God at the cross, Col 1:20; Isa 53:5 (reconciliation).
   2. 1Th 5:24 – God who calls you is faithful. God chose each believer before the foundation of the world.
      1. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you have to be sanctified entirely.
      2. No one believer is left out of this heavenly calling. It is not just for some.
      3. If you fail to do it, it is your own fault. Not the fault of others who lack peace.
   3. 1Th 5:24 – He will do it. God is omnipotent. He is the agent of sanctification. Since that is true, what can prevent it?
      1. “Sanctify you entirely” – what does a partial sanctification look like?
         1. A believer who has a sanctified Bible study life but lives immorally.
         2. A believer who lives morally but fails to sanctify their knowledge (no Bible learning).
         3. When we leave parts of our lives (our morality, humility, forgiveness, service, etc.) outside of God’s will, we are robbing ourselves of God’s peace, Col 2:18.
      2. “Preserve you completely” – God will protect the maturity you have attained in every area of life (spirit, soul, body), 1Pe 4:19; 2Jo 5; 2Ti 1:12.
         1. A believer who gains maturity but then turns to lies concerning some area of life (Galatians; Corinthians).
         2. Eph 5:18- dissipation.
4. Application: How will God sanctify entirely and protect completely? Short answer – His power (1Th 5:24, “He will do it.”).
   1. The real question – “What must I do to allow God’s power to work in me and through me?”
      1. Heaven (perfect peace) came to earth and give us His peace, Joh 14:27; 16:33.
      2. Follow His way in all things, Col 3:17; Luk 9:23-24.
      3. Do not fear the storms of life, Mat 7:25; Luk 8:22-25 (“where is your faith?”)
      4. Pray when temptation to wrong thinking (anger, worry, etc.) robs your peace, Php 4:6-7.
      5. Extend peace to others, Mat 5:9.
         1. Be like God. When Adam fell, he did not call out to God but God called out to him.
      6. If you are stuck in a conflict (home, work, etc.) know that peace is your problem, not theirs, Joh 14:27; 16:33.
         1. We are not in heaven yet. We do not have resurrection bodies yet. We must overcome with love, Mat 5:44.