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帖撒罗尼迦前书［第4章］
Book of 1 Thessalonians 4

【带着盼望，敬虔度日】

主讲：区箴唤实习传道

10/02/2023

引言：

一个人活着，如果知道他所在面对的困难最终会有一个美好的结局，那么他就知道他的忍耐不是徒然的，他就能够有一个坚持下去的盼望。

帖撒罗尼迦前书多次提到基督徒要有基督再来的盼望，其实就是告诉我们基督徒面对考验去忍耐和持守，并不是徒然的。因为我们最终能够得着救恩，并且也会得着神的奖赏！

一、过敬虔爱主的生活

1. 活出分别为圣的生活（V1-8）
当我们已经在竭力去过讨神喜悦生活的时候，我们就要继续持守下去，尤其是性上面要持守圣洁。当年帖撒罗尼迦教会面对整个淫乱的大环境，而如今其实我们社会在性道德上也是越来越败坏。所以我们一定要捉住这段经文所提醒我们的，要靠主去过圣洁的生活！

2.活出端正有爱的生活（V9-12）
我们当效法帖撒罗尼迦信徒当年不仅对本地教会，还有对着马其顿众教会的爱心。同时我们也当活出端正的生命，做好自己日常生活中的本分。如此，主必要充足地供应我们一切的所需。

二、持守主再来的盼望（V13-18）

其实之所以我们要敬虔爱主地去生活，是因为我们有‘基督再来，信祂之人必要复活’的盼望。如果我们不明白这一点，我们就会跟不信的人一样，活着和死了都没有指望，在地上的日子也就随便地耗费，去放纵过生活了！

总结：

今天虽然我们要持守过敬虔爱主的生活，会面对许多的考验和试炼，但是这一切都是值得的，因为我们清楚地知道，我们有‘主再来，赐给我们永恒生命’的盼望。所以因着爱主，我们就有力量去忍受这些的考验和试炼，并带着这份盼望去等候主的再来！  

1 Thessalonians 4: Live a life of godliness with hope
GK611 Morning Devotion
10/02/2023
Speaker: IP Moses+ Rev David Tan

Introduction:

When a person is alive, if he knows that the difficulties he is facing will eventually have a happy ending, then he will understand that his perseverance is not in vain, and so he will have hope to persevere.

First Thessalonians mentioned many times that Christians should have hope of Christ’s return. In fact, it tells us that it is not in vain for Christians to persevere and endure in the face of trials. Because we shall eventually be saved, and we will also be rewarded by God!

I. Live a life of godliness and love for the Lord

1. Live a sanctified life (V1-8)
When we are already striving to live a life that pleases God, we must continue to persevere, especially in terms of sexual holiness. Back then, the Thessalonian church faced a situation of promiscuity, and now our society is actually becoming more and more depraved in terms of sexual morality. Therefore, we must grasp what this passage reminds us to rely on the Lord to live a holy life!

2. Live a decent and loving life (V9-12)
We should imitate the love that the Thessalonian believers showed not only for the local church but also for the churches in Macedonia. At the same time, we should also live a righteous life and do our duty well in our daily life. In this way, the Lord will supply all our needs sufficiently.

II. Holding fast to the hope of the Lord’s return (V13-18)

In fact, the reason why we have to live devoutly and lovingly for the Lord is because we have the hope that "Christ will return, and those who believe in Him will be resurrected". If we do not understand this point, we will be like the unbelievers, who have no hope be it life or death, and spend our days on earth carelessly, living a life of indulgence!

Conclusion：

Although we have to persevere in living a life of godliness and love for the Lord today, we will face many tests and trials, but all of them are worth it because we clearly know and look forward to the promise of "the Lord’s return and give us eternal life". Therefore, because we love the Lord, we have the strength to endure these tests and trials and wait for the return of the Lord with this hope!