1 Corinthians 1: 18

PRAYER THOT: Help me to be pure and productive as I wait for Jesus to come from heaven for me.


I Thessalonians 2 vs19 

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?

For further study - I Thessalonians 2:1-20

As we read the second chapter of I Thessalonians today, I am reminded that Paul is writing this letter to brand new Christians who at the time of the writing of the letter were only three weeks old in the Lord. One thing I love about Paul in all of his letters is the straightforward approach of helping those he led to the Lord to grow in the Lord.

Paul's message was not one geared to please men but instead to lift up and to honor Jesus Christ, verse 4. Even though Paul was straightforward, he was also gentle even as a nurse that cherished her children, verse 7.

Paul expected these new young converts to walk worthy of the Lord. Throughout all of Paul's writings we see time and time again that we are to walk right and to walk worthy of the Lord.

He exhorted them and us also to walk right, but he also teaches us in his letters how to walk right. Paul, the “father figure” to these Thessalonians, was responsible before the Lord to train them up to serve the Lord.

There is a great thought found in our key verse for today. It is the truth of the “crown” each of us can receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ if we are involved in the ministry that Paul had. Paul’s ministry was soul-winning.Verse 16 declares that the “crown” that we can receive for being a soul-winner is the “Crown of Rejoicing”, verse 19.

This “crown” is one of 5 crowns we can receive at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul who also wrote II Corinthians, in chapter 5, verse 9, that he was ambitious to receive all the crowns he could get. The reason for getting these crowns is not to be able to brag about them but to be able to lay them at the feet of Jesus Christ as He sits on His throne in heaven, Revelation 4:10.

We return the crowns received from Christ at the Judgment Seat back to Him in thanksgiving for what He has done for us. Each of us can receive that crown of Rejoicing as we lead needy people to Jesus Christ and see them trust Him for eternal salvation.

PRAYER THOT: Help me, Lord, to be in the business of soul-winning for the sake of those who need a Savior today.

I Thessalonians 3 vs13 

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

For further study - I Thessalonians 3:1-13

When the Apostle Paul wrote his first book to the Thessalonians they had only been Christians about three weeks when they received the letter. As we read our devotional, the extended reading reveals Paul's great desire to once again be with these he had led to the Lord.

He repeats time and again that he wants to be with them to help in their spiritual growth, verses 2, 5, 6, 10 and 11 . Paul had the desire to see his new converts mature in the Lord.

This is a great example to all of us, even those of us who are so-called "professional ministers". Have you known a "minister" who gets so busy that he has no time for ministering to the "flock"? That is a tough question for me to answer. I don't know about you, I do know about me. I need to spend more time following Paul's example.

Paul actually shares with us that ministering to others is a real joy, verse 9. I love that thought from the previous chapter in I Thessalonians 2:19-20. Those who Paul had led to the Lord are a ‘rejoicing to him’, they are his glory and joy. Notice that there is a “crown” at the Judgment Seat of Christ which we will receive, the "Crown of Rejoicing," for being a soul winner, I Thessalonians 2:19.

By the way, Paul had trained up a "helper", a "fellow laborer", a young man named Timothy. Paul was ministering one-on-one with Timothy and at the same time wanting to minister to the Church inThessaloniki.

I get tired just reading about Paul's ministry, what a schedule he had. He worked, looking for the privilege of establishing the hearts of these new converts. He wanted them to beunblameable in holiness before God the Father at the second coming of Jesus Christ, with all of His saints.

Paul sets the bar high for us to reach up to as we follow his example of ministering to all people. A motivation for this is the reality that we will stand before Him and it will be revealed what we have done for Him and among His people, the Christians that we have opportunity of ministry with today.

PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, give me the hunger to minister to people so that they might be established in their hearts, unblameable in holiness at the Second Coming of Christ.

I Thessalonians 4 vs17

 

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.

For further study - I Thessalonians 4:1-18

I could hardly wait to get to this chapter in 1 Thessalonians for our devotional time. The "hope" of my life and indeed the main prayer of my life is that the Rapture will happen in my lifetime.

I have traveled across this world telling people of the Rapture and then teaching the prophetic passages of His Word to help everyone that I have contacted to understand that today could well be the day of the Rapture.

We'll look together at the description of how the Rapture will play out in a moment, but first just a word or two about Paul's message to this people in Thessalonica who he had led to the Lord just three weeks before he wrote this letter to them.

Paul tells these new Christians, as well as us long-time Christians, that we will "abound" if we will walk with the purpose of "pleasing God," verse 1. Paul then tells them, and us, what the will of God is for our lives, verses 3-12.

No longer do we have to say "I wish I knew the will of God for my life." The best way to be in God's will is to follow the instructions in these verses.

Now to the Rapture, actually the word "rapture" is not used in this passage, in fact the word rapture is not used in the entire Bible. Don't be concerned about that, the word "trinity”, the term for God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit is not used in the Bible. The truth of the matter is that the word "Bible" is not used in the Bible.

The word "rapture" comes from the Latin word for the phrase "caught up" in verse 17. The Latin word, "rapturo," in verse 17, is how we get the word Rapture. I Corinthians 15 says, "in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye", we will be caught up to be with the Lord.

Verse 14 says that only saved people go to be with the Lord at the Rapture. Verse 16 says that those Christians, which have already died, they will be the first ones to respond to the Lord's shout, the sound of the trumpet and the voice of the archangel.

It is after the "dead in Christ" have been raised and start towards heaven that the rest of us Christians move from this earthly home to a heavenly home, never to leave the Lord's presence, forever, verse 17.

This event, the Rapture, could happen at any moment and with the prophetic events recorded in God's Word seemingly coming to pass, the Rapture could happen today. Even so come, Lord Jesus.


PRAYER THOT: Lord, my hearts desire is for the Rapture to happen in my lifetime. Help me to live every day as if it would be today.


I Thessalonians 5 vs23 - 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 Jesus Christ.

For further study - 1 Thessalonians 5:1-27

What a great passage of scripture we come to for today's devotional. It is very prophetic and at the same time very, very practical. Let's look at the practical first in our devotional reading. Again, space will not allow me to mention all of the practical verses in I Thessalonians 5, but only a few of the most practical.

Starting in verse 16 we come upon some great "nuggets of truth". Verse 16, "rejoice evermore", is one of the shortest verses in the Bible. This is an exhortation from Paul which follows the truth of the Rapture, 4:13-18.

I Thessalonians 4:18 tells us to comfort each other with the truth of the Rapture. The understanding of the truth of the Rapture, and how close it could be to taking place is what gives us the ability to "rejoice evermore". The next verse, verse 17, tells us to "pray without ceasing".

If we walk in a constant attitude of "prayer," that will play a key role in helping us to conform into His image and prepare ourselves for His soon return. "In everything give thanks," verse 18, is one of the best bits of advice you or I could receive.

God seems to move closer to us when we thank Him for all things, even for heartaches and troubles. Besides," this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning each of us." The very best for each us is to be in the center of God's will, "give thanks in all things."

When Paul exhorts us to "quench not the Spirit", verse 19, he's telling us to stay away from sin in our lives, that's what quenches the Spirit. We need daily the "Spirit of God" to empower us for daily living and service.

Verse 22 is an exhortation that helps us to grow closer to the Lord. We do this by "abstaining from all appearances of evil". That which appears to be evil, that which is in front of us or within us, our own appearance that seems evil, as seen by the world, that is what we are to abstain from every moment of every day.

Paul's prayer for us is that our whole being, spirit, soul and body, be preserved "blameless" as we await "the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ", verse 23.

Now quickly a glance at several of the "prophetic thoughts" from this passage. Notice verse 3, when they say "peace and safety", those are the words that help us to recognize that the Lord's judgment, the Tribulation Period, and our Lord's soon return to earth is getting very close.

In the first verses of this chapter, verses 1-8, Paul is assuring the recipients of this letter that the Rapture hasn't happened yet because we are not in the "Day of the Lord". The "Day of the Lord" refers to the time of judgment leading up to the Lord's Second Coming. The "Day of the Lord"

does not start until after the Rapture has happened.

Verse 9 assures us of the fact that when we leave this earth, responding to the shout of the archangel, the sound of the trumpet, the Lord's call for us to join Him in the air, I Thessalonians 4:16-17, at the Rapture, we will do so before the seven year period of time of judgment begins.

God has not appointed Christians to partake of the "wrath" to come, that seven-year period of judgment. As we see the revealed events of the Tribulation Period seeming to be about to happen we can look up with great anticipation of His shout for us to join Him in the heavenlies. Praise the Lord for these practical and prophetic truths.

PRAYER THOT: Thank you Lord for such practical information and exhortation for our daily living and the prophetic truths informing us of the end times and how to recognize the day in which we are living as the days just prior to the Rapture.

I Timothy 1 vs15

This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

For further study - I Timothy 1:12-20

The key verse for our devotional reading today,I Timothy 1:15, was written by Paul near the end of his ministry. His statement speaks volumes of how the apostle had grown in his own life during almost 30 years of ministry.

I am reminded that early in Paul's ministry he referred to himself as "the least of the apostles," I Corinthians 15:9. About half way through his thirty years of ministry, Paul realized that he was "the least of the saints," Ephesians 3:8. Now, towards the end of his ministry, Paul realizes that he is the "chief of all sinners."

It is true, that the closer we get to Jesus, the worse we see ourselves to be. Remember, the way we get close to Him today is by talking to Him and allowing Him to talk to us.

We talk to Him in prayer, which Paul tells us to do, “without ceasing”. The Lord talks to us through His Word, and this is one of the reasons to have a time everyday when you study the scriptures.

First and Second Timothy are referred to as the "pastoral epistles." The author of these "pastors' manuals" gives his young partner in the ministry, Timothy, the instruction that must be passed along to the leaders of the churches that are springing up all over the known world at that time.

Young Timothy is to travel to these churches and assist them in the selection of a leadership team and the training of these newly elected leaders in the proper method of administration in the local church.

God has selected to reach the world through local churches that are planted around the world. The Lord has a way and a plan that these churches must minister.

In both First and Second Timothy, Paul gives the warning to the churches, and all of us that read his instructions, He tells us that the Lord's Return is near. Paul believed that the time when Christ would call us to be with Him in the Rapture was very close at hand.

Remember, when Paul was writing to the Thessalonians about the Rapture, I Thessalonians 4:15-18, he kept using the word "we," believing that in his lifetime he would see the Rapture of the Church. That was almost 2000 years ago. How much closer we must be to the Rapture now.

That is why Paul wanted the church to be operating in a godly fashion, thus Paul's instruction to young Timothy. He charges Timothy to remember his instruction and his study of prophecy, and to "war a good warfare," I Timothy 1:18.

That is how we must live and administer our churches, always moving forward in light of the soon coming of Jesus Christ. The evidence is very clear, The Rapture can happen at any moment, perhaps today.

PRAYER THOT: Lord, help my attitude to be as Paul's was, just a sinner saved by grace awaiting the shout to join You in the heavenlies.
I Timothy 2 vs1 

I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men.

For further study - I Timothy 2:1-8

Each passage of scripture we select for our daily reading is always laden with additional spiritual application beyond what we focus on for the reading and in my prophetic prospective for that days reading. This is true in today's reading as well.

We are exhorted to pray in our key verse and we are told how to pray. I'll look at this in a moment. Please notice the next verse in our expanded reading, verse 2. The focus of our prayers is to be our political, governmental leaders. We are to pray for them first, before the pastor, the missionary and the evangelist. In other words, pray for the “minister in the government” before the “minister in the church”.

Let me get back to the "how to's" of prayer found in verse 1. “Supplications” are mentioned first in the different aspects of prayer. This is specifically asking for something to happen. Then there are the "prayers." These are prayers that are offered on a 24/7 basis, it's praying without ceasing, I Thessalonians 5:17.

“Intercessions” are prayers we offer to God and are on the behalf of someone who needs to have their name or situation mentioned before the throne of God. The last mentioned type of prayer, “giving of thanks”, should actually be the first prayer offered up to God. We must thank Him before we present our petitions to Him.

Notice again, who we are to pray for first. We are to pray for the kings and all those who are in authority first. These would be political, governmental officials that direct human government in the direction God wants it to go. Remember, God brought human government into existence, Genesis 9:6.

God will use human government, governmental leaders, Revelation 17:17, to accomplish His will and set the world stage for the final drama to play out. In essence, we're talking about God's “prophetic plan” will unfold as He uses human government to direct the world towards the end times.

Therefore, we are to first, pray for those who have the authority. He is preparing this world for the return of His Son and all that follows, as foretold in Bible prophecy.

PRAYER THOT: Help me to remember my priority in my prayer life.

I Timothy 3 vs15 

But if I tarry long, that thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.

For further study - I Timothy 3:1-16

As I sat reading through I Timothy 3 before I took time to rehearse some of my thoughts on our devotional reading for today, I realized what I was reading was a manual for how every man should live his Christian life.

I understand that I Timothy is one of the Pastoral Epistles written by Paul to help guide the young leadership of the first century church in the world at that time. Young Timothy was being trained by Paul and then dispatched across the then-known world to help build up the new churches. Remember, many of these churches had been started by the Apostle Paul.

Paul lays out the qualifications for both the "spiritual leaders" of the church and those who are to be spiritual, as well, the "servants" (deacons) at the churches. The leaders are the "bishops", the "overseers", that lead every church to become what the Lord requires them to be in the final analysis, as dictated by His Word.

Paul starts with a "true saying." "If any man desires the office of 'overseer', he desires a good thing." When I read that, I realized that all men "must desire" the office of "overseer" because it is a "good thing."

Please read the list of qualifications, as I did. Now, let me point out several things from these qualifications. Verse 3 says one in leadership should be "someone not given to filthy lucre." This is some one that does not have as his main focus the acquisition of large amounts of money.

Verse 7 says this man, "overseer", as every man, should have a good report from "them" which are from without the church. We cannot be leaders of the Church and have a bad testimony among those who are not in the Church, those not saved.

Starting in verse 8 we see the qualifications of the "deacons" those who God sets aside for "service in the church," the local gathering of born-again believers. Verse 13 indicates that an "overseer" of the church as well as the "servants", they both must have great "boldness" in the faith.

Paul was addressing the leadership of the Church, in these new local groups of born again people who were coming together to learn the ways of the Lord and then going out to win lost people to the Lord. Paul referred to these "bodies of believers" as the "church of the living God".

Notice that Paul, in verse 15, doesn't say that the "church" is the source of all truth, but the "safeguard", the pillar and ground of the truth. The "source of truth" is not the church but the Bible, God's Holy Word, which is "absolute truth". Paul wrote that the leadership of the church is the "caretaker" of all of God's truth.

Paul refers to Jesus as He who was "received up into glory", verse 16, and is coming again, soon. But until then the "church safeguards" the truth and spreads it to a needy people around the world.

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to study the qualifications of a man who desires leadership as I endeavor to lead our ministry under Your direction and, at the same time, live my life out as a Christian.

I Timothy 4 vs6

If thou put the brethren in remembrance of these things, thou shalt be a good minister of Jesus Christ, nourished up in the words of faith and of good doctrine, whereunto thou hast attained.

For further study - I Timothy 4:1-16

Paul's instructions to Timothy, a young co-laborer with the Apostle, were based upon the understanding that the Lord is coming soon even though history tells us that was not the case. Paul lived his life and ministry as if the Rapture could happen at any moment and especially in his lifetime.

This is evident in his statement, "we shall be caught up", in I Thessalonians 4:17. Therefore, his instructions to young Timothy were given with that urgency. In fact, Paul believes the "Rapture" is very close in his time as indicated in verse 1.

There were those who at Paul's time in history were departing from the faith. They were not only departing from the faith but were "giving heed", accepting, "seducing spirits", evil spirits and "doctrines of demons." Paul was sending Timothy to the churches the Apostle had started to warn them that the “Last Days” were upon them.

Timothy was to put the churches in remembrance of these things and then make sure they were being nourished in the Word and "good doctrine." Timothy was to help the churches exercise themselves in godliness. That was even better than physical exercise.

It is interesting to note the instructions to Timothy from Paul about his own personal study and application of true biblical doctrine, verse 6, 13 and 16. Timothy was to watch against the "doctrine of demons," verse 1.

Many people are afraid of "doctrine." They say "doctrine" divides and causes division in the “Body of Christ”. This is not correct. The Word of God which was "breathed" into the authors of the Bible, II Timothy 3:16, is "profitable for doctrine." The truth be known, the true doctrines from the Lord unites, it does not divide. Doctrine is the principles that the Lord gives to us to know His plan and direction in all matters.

Paul tells Timothy that he should be reading, meditating and continuing that which he had learned from Paul and then pass it along to others for their benefit. Remember, these instructions were given in light of the times in which they were living, "the latter times."

We are living in the “Last Days” and it would do us good to heed Paul's instructions to Timothy and appropriate them for ourselves.
PRAYER THOT: Dear Lord, help me to discern true doctrine from Your Word, make it applicable to my life and share it with others on a daily basis.

I Timothy 6 vs11 - But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

For further study - I Timothy 6:1-15

Paul was giving young Timothy, in his first letter to him, such timely tips for how to live in troublesome times and he tells his young ministry partner to share these truths with others.

That exhortation is applicable for us in the troublesome times we find ourselves living in today. Paul was so practical with these principles. He tells Timothy to be a "servant", verse 1, and to give honor to his leader.

Verse 2 is the exhortation to teach these truths to others. And notice, in verse 3, it is doctrine we are to teach. Many today shy away from teaching doctrine because they say "doctrine divides" which is the exact opposite, "doctrine unites" us all under what God wants for us.

We can have contentment by the measure of our "Godliness", or God-likeness, verse 6. Verses 7-8 remind us that we brought nothing into this world and we take nothing out of it when we leave, either at death or at the Rapture. Therefore, be content with the provision of food and clothing that God gives us.

Notice how practical Paul is about money. We should not strive to be rich and the "love of money" is the root of all evil. Notice Paul did not say having money and being rich was wrong. But striving to be rich thus having a love for money is what is bad.

In fact, God has given some in the body of Christ the "gift of giving", Romans 12:8, and therefore that person must have money to give. The people with this gift would be those who do not strive for riches or have a love for money, but God blesses them so that they can give to support His work.

I love the next couple of verses that challenge us to flee, follow and fight. Verse 11 says a man or woman of God will "flee" the evil things, and "follow" after right living, becoming God-like, having faith, hope, patience and meekness.

Verse 12 says, then we are ready to "fight", to fight the good fight for the Lord. Paul concludes by saying we do this until the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, "the King of Kings and Lord of Lords and only Potentate", verse 15.

Paul tells us that Jesus is coming and it could be soon, so live in light of that truth, until ...

PRAYER THOT: Help me Lord, to flee evil, follow righteousness and fight the good fight until You call me into the heavenlies.

II Chronicles 3 vs. 1 - Then Solomon began to build the house of the LORD at Jerusalem in mount Moriah, where the Lord appeared unto David his father, in the place that David had prepared in the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite.

For further study - II Chronicles 2:1-18

The promise God made to King David was that his son would build the Temple in Jerusalem after his death, II Samuel 7:12-13. Our devotional passage for today records, at least, the near-term fulfillment of that prophecy.

The promise to David was also a prophecy that will be fulfilled, in the long-term, by Jesus Christ, Zechariah 6:12.

Notice the location where Solomon built the Temple, Mount Moriah, 3:1.

This was the same location where Abraham offered his son Isaac, Genesis 22:2. It is also the piece of real estate that King David had purchased, with cash money, the threshing floor of Ornan the Jebusite, I Chronicles 21:18-30.

That sacred piece of land is today occupied by the Muslim building, the “Dome of the Rock”. One day it will be where the next Jewish Temple stands. Those preparing to rebuild the Temple believe God will remove the Dome of the Rock to make way for the rebuilding of the Temple.

These religious Jews preparing to erect that next Temple have prepared everything for the operation of the next Temple. There are thousands of Jewish men, of the tribe of Levi, who are studying the “priestly duties”

so that they can operate the next Temple. They have the “priestly garments”, all of the “implements” for operating the Temple, even the “harps” are pretty much ready for the Levites to play when the Temple is in place.

The Sanhedrin has re-formed and are now making “rulings” as they did 2,000 years ago. Basically, the Jewish people are ready to start construction on the next Temple. They eagerly await the removal of the Islamic structure so they can start the work.

There is only one other thing that must happen before they start the construction of the Temple - the Rapture - which could happen at any minute - let's keep looking up!
Prayer Thot: Lord, help me to be ready for the Rapture to happen at any moment, which could well be the case with all that is happening for the construction and operation of the next Jewish Temple.
II Chronicles 5 vs14