THE TRUMP SHALL SOUND
The first thing I want to tell you about your life and your year to come: it’s okay if it’s messy. Life is always messy. Always. How your soul works is actually a messy process. How relationships work is a messy processes. But can I tell you this? God is not afraid of your mess, so don’t be afraid to bring your mess to Him.
The book of Thessalonians is a messy book. It’s all about Paul trying to reach into a place that is so messed up – so many things wrong – and he’s fighting to bring the kingdom into a monster mess.
The Thessalonian church was not only enduring persecution from the outside and a slew of wandering philosophers offering a different worldview, it was dealing with back biting, mobs and all kinds of non-Kingdom junk. Sounds like us today trying to overcome the very same enemies.
Brother Paul understood those people wanted to please God. They wanted to progress and have victory. So he gave them two things that he did to answer the mess in his own life. Here’s how Paul answered a mess in his life:
1) Remember that Jesus is coming back again.
2) Operate in faith, hope and love.
Pretty simple, huh? Jesus promised to not only be where we are – and He is thanks to the Holy Spirit living in us – but to be in our future. To come back and make everything right. Until then, have faith in Him, hope for his glorious appearance and love the people around you until you hear the trump sound. That’s when everything changes.
…in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed. – 1 Corinthians 15:52
FROM MY SERMON SERIES FIRST THINGS
TODAY’S PROPHETIC THOUGHT
I do not hate your mess. I actually love it and want you to invite My Peace into it. Peace is when I have dominion over something. Give Me dominion over your problems and see how I change you.