THESSALONIANS Chapter 4 - Living To Please God

Living To Please God

Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live

In order to please God,

As in fact you are living.

Now we ask you and Urge you in the Lord Jesus

To do this more and more.

2 You know what instruction we gave you

By the authority of the Lord Jesus.

3 IT IS GOD'S WILL THAT YOU SHOULD BE HOLY;

That you should avoid Sexual Immorality;

4 That each of you should learn to control his own body

IN A WAY THAT IS HOLY AND HONORABLE,

NOT IN PASSIONATE LUST LIKE THE HEATHEN,

WHO DO NOT KNOW GOD;

6 And that in this matter

No one should wrong his brother

Or take advantage of him.

THE LORD WILL PUNISH MEN FOR ALL SUCH SINS,

As we have already told you and Warned you.

7 FOR GOD DID NOT CALL US TO BE IMPURE,

BUT TO LOVE A HOLY LIFE.

8 Therefore, he who rejects this instruction

Does not reject man but God,

WHO GIVES YOU HIS HOLY SPIRIT.

9 Now about brotherly love

We do not need to write to you,

FOR YOU YOURSELVES HAVE BEEN TAUGHT BY GOD

TO LOVE EACH OTHER.

10 And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.

Yet we Urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.

11 Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,

To mind your own business

And to work with our hands,

Just as we told you,

12 SO THAT YOUR DAILY LIFE

MAY WIN THE RESPECT OF OUTSIDERS

AND SO YOU WILL NOT BE DEPENDENT ON ANYBODY.

The Coming Of The Lord

13 Brothers, we do not want you to be Ignorant

About those who fall asleep,

Or to Grieve like the rest of men,

WHO HAVE NO HOPE.

14 We believe that Jesus died and rose again

And so we believe that God will bring with Jesus

Those who have fallen asleep IN HIM.

15 According to the Lord's own Word,

We tell you that we who are still alive,

Who are left till the Coming of the Lord,

Will certainly not precede

Those who have fallen asleep.

16 FOR THE LORD HIMSELF

WILL COME DOWN FROM HEAVEN,

WITH A LOUD COMMAND,

WITH THE VOICE OF THE ARCHANGEL

AND WITH THE TRUMPET CALL OF GOD,

AND THE DEAD IN CHRIST WILL RISE FIRST.

17 AFTER THAT, WE WHO ARE STILL ALIVE AND ARE LEFT

WILL BE CAUGHT UP WITH THEM IN THE CLOUDS

TO MEET THE LORD IN THE AIR.

AN SO WE WILL BE WITH THE LORD FOREVER.

18 Therefore, encourage each other with these words.

(1 Thessalonians 4)