Someone has said:

• There are just a little over 783,000 There are just a little over 783,000 words in the King James Version of the words in the King James Version of the Bible.Bible.

• WORDS…and these are words of God!

• 2 Tim. 3:16,17

• We find instruction, wisdom, understanding, comfort, guidance,

• Direction, from the words of God!

Wonderful Words of Life!

• Sing them over again to me, • Wonderful words of life• Let me more of their beauty see, • Wonderful words of life.

• Words of life and beauty• Teach me faith and duty,• Beautiful words, wonderful words• Wonderful words of life.

• Christ, the blessed One, gives to all• Wonderful words of Life.• Sinner, list to the loving call,• Wonderful words of life.

• All so freely given• Wooing us to heaven• Beautiful words, wonderful words,• Wonderful words of Life.

• Sweetly echo the gospel call,• Wonderful words of Life,• Offer pardon and peace to all,• Wonderful words of Life.

• Jesus only Savior• Sanctify for ever;• Beautiful Words, wonderful words• Wonderful words of Life.

I Thess. 4:13-18

• 13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.

• 14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.

• 15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.

• 16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:

• 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• 18 Wherefore comfort one another with comfort one another with these words.these words.

In all 5 chapters of I Thessalonianseach closes with this thought:

•JESUS IS JESUS IS COMING COMING AGAIN…AGAIN…

I Thessalonians 1:9-10

• 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

• 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

I Thessalonians 2:19-20

• 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 our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?coming?

• 20 For ye are our glory and joy.

I Thessalonians 3:12-13

• 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

• 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.Jesus Christ with all his saints.

I Thessalonians 4:17-18

• 17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air:to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.

• 18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.

I Thessalonians 5:23

• 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.Jesus Christ.

We want to be ReadyWe want to be Readyfor Jesus’ Coming!for Jesus’ Coming!

• That’s why this sermon is so important:

• Building Up the church….Building Up the church….

Paul Prayed For ThemPaul Prayed For Them

• 1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

• 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our making mention of you in our prayers;prayers;

The church was the Elect of GodThe church was the Elect of God

• 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

• 4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your your election of God.election of God.

The Power in the Word of GodThe Power in the Word of God

• 5 For our gospelour gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

• 6 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in having received the word in much afflictionmuch affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost.

The church was spoken ofThe church was spoken ofhighly by othershighly by others

• 7 So that ye were ensamplesye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

• 8 For from you For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith your faith to God-ward is spread abroadto God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

Proof of Idol WorshippersProof of Idol WorshippersChangingChanging

• 9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idolsye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

• 10 And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

“whosoever will let him take the water of life freely” Rev. 22:17

WE ARE TO BUILD UP THE CHURCH

The Early N.T. Church Grew…The Early N.T. Church Grew…

• Acts 2:41 About 3,000• Acts 2:47 Added to the church daily• Acts 4:4 The number of the men was • about 5,000.• Acts 5:14 And believers were the more• added to the Lord ,multitudes • both of men and women• Acts 6:1 Number of the disciples was• multiplied.• Acts 6:7 ..a great company of the priests• were obedient to the faith.

What does it take toWhat does it take toBuild up the church?Build up the church?

Revelation 3:15-16 Church at Laodicea Neither cold nor hot = just lukewarm Vomit / spew thee out of my mouth

1 Corinthians 11:30 “For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.”

Spiritual

Ephesians 4:15 “But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

Possible to backslide1 Cor. 10:12 NKJV “Therefore let him who

thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.”Jas. 1:16 “Do not err, my beloved brethren.”

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” Jas.4:17

James 5:19-20

19.“Brethren, if any of you do err from the truth, and one convert him:

20. let him know,that he which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death, and shall hide a multitude of sins.

Backslider

James 5:16 “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.”

1 John 1:9 KJV “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

Confess = to declare or admit oneself guilty

Why do people not come to worship God?Why do people not come to worship God? Many times ,they have other things to do thatMany times ,they have other things to do that are more important to them…are more important to them…

Entertainment - hobby - Watch TV

What if you came to work only ½ the time ?What if your car only started ½ the time ?

Absentee’s

“Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching.” Hebrews 10:25

Definition = a rumor, report, tattle, or behind the scenes information especially of an intimate or personal natureJames 3:2-11 “full of deadly poison

James 4:11 “Do not speak evil of one another, brethren”

Prov.11:13 “A talebearer revealeth secrets:…”

Prov. 26:20 “Where there is no wood, the fire goes out; And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases.”

Gossipers

James 1:19 “Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:”

Eph. 4:29 “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth,…”

Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:”

Sinned against one another - mad - no dealings

Psalms 133:1 - “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

1 John 4:20 “If a man say, I love God, and hateth his brother, he is a liar: for he that loveth not his brother whom he hath seen, how can he love God whom he hath not seen?”

Out of Fellowship

Ephesians 4:26 “Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:”

Matthew 18:15 (ESV) “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault,go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother.”

Get together and clear up anything that is between you!

Depressed, blue, sad, unhappy,

Ever said: What’s the use of even trying?

Psalms 6:6 “I am weary with my groaning; all the night make I my bed to swim; I water my couch with my tears.”

Discouraged

Philippians 4:6 NKJV “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; ”

Philippians 4:13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Psalms 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man….. And in his law doth he meditate day and night.”

Takes work from all members all the time

“I have planted, Apollos watered; but God

gave the increase. 7 So then neither is he

that planteth any thing, neither he that

watereth; but God that giveth the increase.”

1 Corinthians 3:6-7

Lukewarm - - - - - - - - - Fire UpSleepers - - - - - - - - - - Wake UpKnow and Love Truth - - Speak UpBacksliders - - - - - - - - - Confess UpAbsentee’s - - - - - - - - - Show UpGossipers - - - - - - - - - Shut UpOut of Fellowship - - - - - Make upDiscouraged - - - - - - - - Look Up

The Thrill of Meeting GodThe Thrill of Meeting God