Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "The Hope of Salvation" – Saturday, 8 November 2014 - Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11

Kansas City, Missouri, United States - Reflecting God – Embrace Holy Living - "The Hope of Salvation" – Saturday, 8 November 2014 - Scripture: 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 I don’t think, friends, that I need to deal with the question of when all this is going to happen. You know as well as I that the day of the Master’s coming can’t be posted on our calendars. He won’t call ahead and make an appointment any more than a burglar would. About the time everybody’s walking around complacently, congratulating each other—“We’ve sure got it made! Now we can take it easy!”—suddenly everything will fall apart. It’s going to come as suddenly and inescapably as birth pangs to a pregnant woman.
4-8 But friends, you’re not in the dark, so how could you be taken off guard by any of this? You’re sons of Light, daughters of Day. We live under wide open skies and know where we stand. So let’s not sleepwalk through life like those others. Let’s keep our eyes open and be smart. People sleep at night and get drunk at night. But not us! Since we’re creatures of Day, let’s act like it. Walk out into the daylight sober, dressed up in faith, love, and the hope of salvation.
9-11 God didn’t set us up for an angry rejection but for salvation by our Master, Jesus Christ. He died for us, a death that triggered life. Whether we’re awake with the living or asleep with the dead, we’re alive with him! So speak encouraging words to one another. Build up hope so you’ll all be together in this, no one left out, no one left behind. I know you’re already doing this; just keep on doing it.
"The Hope of Salvation" by Stan Toler
The use of bicycle helmets reduces the risk of head injuries. Yet studies have shown that fewer than half of all bicyclists, whether adults, teenagers, or children, actually wear helmets. Now, more than 20 states and scores of localities have enacted laws requiring children of various age groups to wear helmets.
In Paul’s day, no one rode bicycles, but soldiers knew how important it was to wear a helmet. One blow to the head could result in disorientation or even death. Protecting the head was an important defensive strategy in war.
Paul had many opportunities to study Roman armor. Soldiers were everywhere in the Roman Empire. As he watched these soldiers, it occurred to Paul that God has provided the hope of salvation as a helmet for those who are engaged in spiritual warfare. The enemy loves to disorient us with false teaching or distorted ideas that confound us and render us useless.
Conversely, putting our hope in the salvation provided by Jesus gives us an assurance that inspires us to move forward in His name. Be sure to put on your helmet today.
Hymn for Today:

"Faith Is The Victory" by John H. Yates
1. Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.
Refrain:
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
2. His banner over us is love,
Our sword the Word of God;
We tread the road the saints above
With shouts of triumph trod.
By faith, they like a whirlwind’s breath,
Swept on o’er every field;
The faith by which they conquered death
Is still our shining shield.
Refrain:
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
3. On every hand the foe we find
Drawn up in dread array;
Let tents of ease be left behind,
And onward to the fray.
Salvation’s helmet on each head,
With truth all girt about,
The earth shall tremble ’neath our tread,
And echo with our shout.
Refrain:
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
4. To him that overcomes the foe,
White raiment shall be giv’n;
Before the angels he shall know
His name confessed in heav’n.
Then onward from the hills of light,
Our hearts with love aflame,
We’ll vanquish all the hosts of night,
In Jesus’ conqu’ring name.

Refrain:
Faith is the victory!
Faith is the victory!
Oh, glorious victory,
That overcomes the world.
Thought for Today:

“Than they get in all their shopping sprees.
At day’s end I’m ready for sound sleep,
For you, God, have put my life back together."(Psalm 4:7-8).
Prayer Needs:
For the development of Christian leaders in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
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