Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. In this passage above, the spiritual instructions for spiritual growth are given through the power of the Holy Spirit: i)Our Holy life, ii) Our love life, iii) Our work life. Let us meditate on these spiritual virtues:

1. OUR HOLY LIFE

“For this is the will of God your sanctification; that ye should abstain from sexual immorality; that each one of you should know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification, and honour”(I Thessalonians 4:3,4). The teaching on sexual purity is very important in our spiritual life. We must be clean morally in thoughts, words and actions. What you see, what you hear and what you think determines your holy life. Sanctification is being set apart for God, while we are in living in this world. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness. Our Lord Jesus said: “ Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God” ( St. Matt.5:8).

An Important Example

The will of God is our sanctification. A minister of God registered for Ph.D. in Foundation Engineering, according to God’s instruction in the Bible in Matt.7:24-27, in a famous University in Chennai, Tamilnadu in 2007.He completed his course work successfully and comprehension examination. He did some experiments to complete his research work. But someone or evil forces( devils)persuaded him to do immoral act of sin and then get his degree. The Research candidate is a God fearing, Jesus word teaching honouring minister of God and Professor. Therefore like Joseph the saint in the Bible, lived a holy life and did not commit that sin, and ran away from temptation. He paid his fees for six years through his hard earned money from his teaching in a private engineering college. Also, he worked part time in that same university for three semesters teaching the following courses sucessssfully making at least 180 students passing their examinations:

1. Fluid Mechanics and Hydraulics Machinery for Mechanical Engineering Students
2. Basics of Structural Dynamics and aseismic Design for final year civil engineering students
3. In addition , he taught at least 25 different civil engineering courses for the past 13 years in five private engineering colleges to atleast 1300 students personally at U.G.and P.G. level.

After getting so much fees, hard work for the University growth for so many years of his young life, just because he lived a holy life, they cancelled his registration in 2013 July. Some of the Professors /Politicians or somebody( we donot know) received bribe( lot of money in millions) from foreign country for their bad activities and sin. May God Almighty forgive them in Jesus, he also forgave them and loves them till now. He is also praying for God’s intervention and justice. If one person repents( change of mind) and believes in Jesus, there shall be joy in Heaven. Jesus forgives them. Forgiveness and divine love go hand in hand. God bless them.

Holiness

Our body is the temple of God. The Holy Spirit is dwelling in our bodies. You should have a knowledge of how to honour your body in sanctification. We should not have passion of lust, like the gentiles who do not know God. The Bible says:” That no one should take advantage of and defraud his brother in this matter; because the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also forewarned you and testified. For God did not call us to uncleanness, but in holiness”( 1 Thessalonians 4:6,7). I pray that you will have godly reverence to these words of the Apostle Paul, and I urge you to live a holy life and fulfil the will of God. The next instruction for your spiritual life is :

2. OUR LOVE LIFE

“ But concerning brotherly love you have no need that i should write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; that indeed you do toward all the brethren who are in Macedonia. But we urge you brethren, that you increase more and more”( 1 Thessalonians 4:9,10).

One of the marks of a Disciple of Jesus is to love one another. That is why, the apostle said that they are taught by God. Jesus is that God. As a believer in Jesus, you should love your fellow believers and also, you should love to pray for the salvation of people, who do not know God and His Son Jesus:

1. Believers should love God
2. Believers should love one another and help one another, who are suffering
3. Believers should love all people irrespective of their belief or social status, so that they will come to know the knowledge of truth.

Our Lord Jesus said in the Gospel: “ A new commandment I give to you that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another ( St John 13: 34,35).

God loves you with an everlasting love. Jesus loves His disciples. Let us love Roman Cathalics, Protestants and Pentecostals with divine love. Let us also love the people of this world and do good works, specially those who are affected by the recent heavy rain and flood( novemeber 8 th to 15 2015 ) in Tamilnadu. They need food, clean water, House, clothes, medical service and material things. We are recreated, born again from above; let us love the people suffering in this present evil world. Let us believe that our God Jehovah Jireh is God our provider. “ And God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus “( Philippians 4:19). The third instruction of Apostle Paul is concerning our work life:

3. OUR WORK LIFE

“ That you also aspire to lead a quite life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing”( 1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).

Our Lord Jesus commanded us to work in His vineyard. It is His will that you should work as Teacher, Professor, Doctor, Engineer or any other good work in this world. The Bible outlines the above ethical concepts in our work life:

1. You aspire to lead a quite life
2. You mind your own business
3. You work with your own hands.

These are apostolic command to believers. These three commands cover our spirit, soul and body. When we work genuinely, we have peace in our inner man, our mind become brilliant and our body is exercised unto good health. Our total personality is developed and our full potential is achieved. The result is good behaviour and prosperity in our life:

1. You may walk properly toward those who are outside... Good organisational behaviour
2. You may lack nothing...Divine Prosperity

Finally, let me quote a Old Testament promise concerning our spiritual, intellectual and social life:

“ This Book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night , that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous and then you will have good success ( Joshua 1:8).

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.

Outline Survey of First Thessalonians/p>

1. Pauls’ personal reflections on the Thessalonians, 1;1- 3:13
   1. Paul’s commendations for their growth,1:1-10
   2. Paul’s founding of the church,2:1-16
   3. Timothy’s strengthening of the church, 2:17- 3:13
      1. Satan hinder’s Paul, 2:17-20
      2. Paul sends Timothy,3:1-5
      3. Timothy’s encouraging report, 3:6- 10
      4. Paul’s desire to visit them,3:11-13
2. Paul’s instructions to the Thessalonians,4:1- 5:28
   1. Directions for growth,4:1-12
   2. Revelation concerning the dead in Christ,4:13-18
   3. Description of the Day of the Lord,5:1-11
   4. Instruction for holy living, 5:12-22

CONCLUSION ...5:23-28

PRAYER:

Father God, i come to your presence with boldness to receive grace and peace. Thank you for the doctrinal teaching by the Apostle and help me to live practical life in holiness. Cleanse us by the precious blood of Jesus my Lord. I know my body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. I need your grace to live a holy and successful life. Help me to love one another and forgive others as i have received forgiveness from you. Bless my work life with good behaviour and divine prosperity. I will lead a quite life, minding my own business, working with my own hands. Thank you Father God. I ask this prayer in name of Jesus my LORD. Amen.

Prayer Requests:

1. Prayer for the needs of our Bible College... own building, printing of books, furniture, computers, staff and workers. JESUS THE PRINCE OF LIFE BIBLE COLLEGE.
2. Pray for the needs of the people of Tamilnadu, who are affected by the present heavy rain and flood water.( November 8 – 15 th 2015)
3. Pray for the salvation of souls in Tamilnadu and our country and nations of the world.

DONATE: You are welcome to pray and donate for the above needs of the people. Make a donation today by M.O./ Cheque / Demand Draft in favour of C.PETER CHANDRAN payable at Chennai.

Details of INDIAN BANK, SIRUSERI I T PARK

Bank: INDIAN BANK

Address: F-13, I MAIN ROAD SIPCOT I T PARK SIRUSERI KANCHEEPURAM 603103 State: TAMIL NADU District: KANCHEEPURAM (Click here for all the branches of "INDIAN BANK" in "KANCHEEPURAM" District) Branch: SIRUSERI I T PARK Contact: 044 27470500

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MICR Code: 600019144

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Savings Account Number: 601806564

For further details contact:
Dr.C.Peter Chandran, Ph.D.,
The Living God Ministries
#46/61, First Floor, Ravi Electronics,
East Jones Road, Saidapet,
Chennai - 600 015. T.N. India.

Visit web: www.thelivinggodministries.org.
Email: peterchandran@hotmail.com, Prayerline: 9445113726