1 Thessalonians 4

1. Finally, my brothers we beg you, and pray that you will keep on walking in a way that pleases God as we taught you -and as you are already doing.

Life is a decision: do we please ourselves or please the Father? John 8:29

2. Do you remember the teaching we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus?

Immorality was a way of life in the so-called worship of idols in Thessalonica.

Do you not know that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take away the members of Christ and make them members of a prostitute? May it never be!
1 Corinthians 6:15

3. It is God's will that you be set-apart. That means a complete break with sexual immorality.

But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death. Revelation 21:8

4. Everyone of you should learn how to control himself keeping your body pure and treating it with respect.

Like a city that is broken into and without walls is a man who has no control over his spirit. Proverbs 25:28

5. Do not allow your body to fall victim to lust like the Gentiles who do not know God.

So she seduced him with her pretty speech and enticed him with her flattery. He followed her at once, like an ox going to the slaughter. He was like a deer caught in a trap, awaiting the arrow that would pierce its heart. He was like a bird flying into a snare, little knowing it would cost him his life. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death. Proverbs 7:21-27

6. Do not defraud your brother in these things, because the Lord will repay all those who do these things just as we warned you before.

The English word "defraud" means to promise something that you do not provide.

We can do this when we wear immodest clothing. Some people do this when they put a Christian symbol in their business but they cheat the buyers.

7. God has not called us so that we can stay immoral, but to be set-apart.

Because it is written, “YOU SHALL BE HOLY, FOR I AM HOLY.” 1 Peter 1:16

8. Whoever rejects this teaching is not rejecting a man's idea, but is rejecting God's command.

This verse is talking about verse seven, in case anybody does not want to hear what was said about holiness.

Sometimes we have to remind people that we are telling them what God said, and not our own words.

9. You do not need me to write anything to you about brotherly love, because God has taught you to love each other.

All your sons will be taught of the LORD. Isaiah 54:13

This is how people can tell if we are Christians.

“By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another. John 13:35. See also 1 John 2:27.

10. And you are showing love to all the brothers who are in Macedonia and I am urging you to do even more!

Sometimes we are tempted to say, "I have done enough, let somebody else do it."

11. Live quietly and mind your own business. Work with your hands just as we taught you.

The desire of the lazy man puts him to death, because his hands refuse to work.
Proverbs 21:25

See also Proverbs13:4, 20:4, 18:9, 2 Thessalonians 3:11, Philippians 2:4

12. So that the outside world will respect your life and you will have the things you need.

Get a job so you can have the things you need for your family.

But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. 1 Timothy 5:8

13. We do not want you to have doubts about those who have fallen asleep so that you will not grieve as those who do not have any hope.

They thought their friends missed the rapture or the second coming

14. If we believe that Jesus died and rose again then we can believe that God will just as surely bring all those who are asleep in Jesus with Him when He returns

Unbelievers are sad when their friends pass away because they believe there is nothing after life. We do not return with Jesus without them, but they were with Jesus before us and we all come back together with Jesus.

15. Here we have a definite message from the Lord. It is those who are still living when He comes not be ahead of those who have fallen asleep before them

Shall not precede -They thought that their friends who had died would stay behind on the earth and not get to go to heaven. See
1 Corinthians 15:52

16. With one word of command, and one shout from the angel, and one blast from God's trumpet, the Lord Himself will come down from heaven!

Jesus said, the resurrection of the just which includes Old Testament believers. Luke 14:14

Some old versions translate John 14:2 in a way that causes people to think that Jesus is creating a big house for them personally to live in when they get to heaven.

First of all, Revelation 21:10-23 explains how we will live in heaven. What Jesus was talking about was a new body. Paul explains the details of what our new body will be like in Corinthians 15:35-49.

17 – 18

Those who have died in Christ will be the first to rise and then we who are still living will be swept up with them into the clouds to meet the Lord in the air and after that we will all be with Him forever. So use this message to encourage each other.

It will happen in a moment, in the blink of an eye, when the last trumpet is blown. For when the trumpet sounds, those who have died will be raised to live forever. And we who are living will also be transformed. 1 Corinthians 15:52