4/6 Life

We Grieve, but not without Hope
(1 THESSALONIANS 4:13-18)
 
Pause & Reflect
 
13 But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about those who are asleep, that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, through Jesus, God will bring with him those who have fallen asleep.

1. [v.13-14] *Biblical principle – DO NOT BE UNINFORMED – grieving without hope for those asleep: Since we believe that Jesus died and rose again, those who have died in Christ do not ever taste death. Rather, they fall asleep until it is time to awake when God the Father brings Jesus again with those who have fallen asleep in His Son. Although the Thessalonian Christian already knew this information, they were acting like they were never informed about it in their excessive and hopeless grief. They desired to put Jesus into their own timetable. Eventually, they became discouraged when He did not return in their lifespan. All the while, the corrupt idea began to spread – that Jesus may not have risen, or that He was late to appear, and the dead are not asleep, but lost forever.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – How influential and harmful is misinformation?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – At the heart of the resurrection and the gospel (good news) is the right information. Yet even the first witness to the resurrection – Mary Magdalene – presumed the body of Jesus was stolen (see JOHN 20:2). Likewise, the Corinthian Christians became weary as death kept prevailing, one dying person after another, thinking Christ had not been resurrected at all. Yet the apostle Paul writes to Corinth of what is of first importance – “that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve… to more than five hundred brothers at one time… to James… to all the apostles… also to me” (1 CORINTHIANS 15:3-8). How are you staying informed with the right news? How are you reminding yourself of what information is trustworthy and what is untrustworthy?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – The first scene Jesus left for us in His resurrection is an empty tomb with His graveclothes and facecloth neatly folded, and the stone entrance rolled away. Everything speaks of His absence – He is not there, but has risen. How are you looking for the living among the dead? How is your life still like a tomb with a stone entrance intact? How can you turn away from the tomb, let Jesus roll away the stone entrance, to see He is standing right before you?
   4. *FOCUS QUESTION #4 – Although Jesus has risen and conquered our death, we still grieve when exposed to death, especially those loved ones passed into glory ahead of us. But how can we grieve as those with hope instead of without hope? How can we carry sorrows with the hope of His joy? How can we go through difficult times with the trust He brings times of refreshing? Are our past loved ones dead or asleep, according to Scripture? Are they gone or more alive today than they ever were on earth? Will they never return or will God bring them with Jesus’ return?

 
15 For this we declare to you by a word from the Lord, that we who are alive, who are left until the coming of the Lord, will not precede those who have fallen asleep. 16 For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first.

1. [v.15-16] *Biblical principle – BE INFORMED BY THE WORD FROM THE LORD – those asleep will rise first when Jesus returns: Being informed correctly comes only by way of the word from the Lord through holy Scripture. Those who have passed into glory ahead of us in Christ are not forgotten and gone, for they will rise first when Jesus returns at the descent of the Lord Jesus from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of the archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. Those asleep in Chrit are first in line to be resurrected. There will be an order to how Jesus will raise the dead. So too, we who are alive until the coming of the Lord should not think otherwise about those who are asleep. Whether awake or asleep, we are together with the Lord. He “died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with Him” (1 THESSALONIANS 5:10).
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of his saints” (PSALM 116:15). The LORD cares deeply about those who fall asleep in Him and pass into glory. They will be resurrected first before the living. They will stand-up again – not in ghostlike fashion but in an imperishable immortal bodily fashion. All the saints will be, but those asleep and who have gone ahead are first in order. What can we learn from this priority that the LORD puts on those who have gone ahead of us into glory? What have you learned from those who have left a legacy for Christ through their passing life? How does this teach you to live life now for Jesus with fuller passion, urgency and obedience instead of later?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – The Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command – the archangel’s voice and the trumpet’s sound. At times, the return of Jesus Christ appears trivial and aloof, so far away and removed. Yet this unknown time and unknown hour comes like a thief in the night. He is risen, and He is returning. Can your heart say – come, Lord Jesus, come? Or does your heart say – later, Lord Jesus, later… stay away, Lord Jesus, stay away… next time, Lord Jesus, next time? How do you need to be realigned to say – come, Lord Jesus, come?

 
17 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. 18 Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1. [v.17-18] *Biblical principle – ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER WITH THESE WORDS – those alive will be caught up together with those awakened from sleep to meet the Lord in the air: Eventually, we will all be together – both the living and those awakened from their sleep – to meet the Lord in the air. Those asleep will rise first. Those live will then join them to be caught up together  in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, so we will always be with the Lord. For those of us alive and yet to pass into glory, this ought to be incredibly encouraging. We will meet our past loved ones in Christ. We also will meet the Lord Himself in the air, to always be with Him. God will suspend the natural law of gravity and take us to the realm of His clouds and air – to have that great union with the saints of ages past and with the Lord Jesus Himself.
   1. *FOCUS QUESTION #1 – Tell each other about a time that you went to a reunion (family, high school, college, church, old friends get-together). What made it a blessing? What made it sorrowful? One day, we will all pass into glory, but we will be reunited together. How can we make our reunion with one another in the clouds, together in the air as we meet the Lord Jesus Himself, a thrilling and joyful hope instead of a meeting to avoid? How must we live with each other now as the church in light of the reunion to come with our Lord?
   2. *FOCUS QUESTION #2 – We long to be reunited with our passed loved ones in Christ. The pain is real and deep. Yet is our longing to be with the Lord Jesus just as strong? Have you seen the risen Lord Jesus in the eyes, face, and life of your passed loved ones in Christ? How is their lives a reflection of Christ’s life with you?
   3. *FOCUS QUESTION #3 – Christian music artist Chris Rice wrote the song Untitled Hymn (Come to Jesus), where he describes the course of our life, until we fly to Jesus and meet Him in the air. Listen to this song along with the lyrics, and sense all that the Lord Jesus desires to be throughout your days.

Weak and wounded sinner, Lost and left to die
Oh, raise your head for Love is passing by
Come to Jesus, Come to Jesus
Come to Jesus and live
 
Now your burden's lifted, And carried far away
And precious blood has washed away the stain
So, sing to Jesus, Sing to Jesus
Sing to Jesus and live
 
And like a newborn baby, Don't be afraid to crawl
And remember when you walk sometimes we fall
So, fall on Jesus, Fall on Jesus
Fall on Jesus and live
 
Sometimes the way is lonely, And steep and filled with pain
So if your sky is dark and pours the rain
Then cry to Jesus, Cry to Jesus
Cry to Jesus and live
 
Oh and when the love spills over, And music fills the night
And when you can't contain your joy inside
Then dance for Jesus, Dance for Jesus
Dance for Jesus and live
 
With your final heartbeat, Kiss the world goodbye
Then go in peace, and laugh on Glory's side
And fly to Jesus, Fly to Jesus
Fly to Jesus and live
 
The central truth of this word was –
You are informed today!
(1) We grieve, but not without hope
(2) Jesus is alive, and so are those asleep in Him
(3) The Lord Jesus is coming again to bring those asleep and those awake to meet Him together in the air
(4) Encourage one another with these words

– *How has the LORD spoken to you today through this?
 


Apply & Be Doers of the Word
 
(1) Jesus says, “Everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die. Do you believe this?” (JOHN 11:26). We will not taste death, but keep on living with the Lord at all times. Make plans for that. Talk about that with your family and friends. Just like you will plan for retirement, or write out a will to whom your possessions will be inherited, or not hesitate to discuss with your doctor about your aging health condition, or down-size your cluttered items to make life simplier, or even consider end-of-earthly life issues, plan out and talk about eternal life with Jesus to your family and friends. Even in eternity, it may be a long time before we realize that we’ve fallen asleep and passed into glory! The pleasure of being with our risen LORD will be so great that even the thought of our earthly lives may not pass our minds very often. So before eternity arrives, make sure you have a plan in how you are preparing for that coming eternal life with Jesus and His people. A plan involves how you spend the time, possessions, investments, church etc. all things (however small or great) that God entrusted to you. A plan involves how to live now in light of the eternal future with Jesus.
 
(2) Don’t make too much of your grief! Grieve, but not without hope. Keep your tears momentary. Keep sorrow at a distance. Bring what grieves you daily to Jesus on prayerful knees. Write-out what is grieving you on a notepad, and prayerfully speak against each one in the power of Jesus’ name. Renew your mind away from grief and onto the gladness in Jesus. Release it to Jesus. Do not carry its weight any longer. Do not seek excessive attention for others and their sorrow for you. Seek only the attention of your heavenly Father, who sees you and lifts you up in due time.
 
(3) Take out all misinformation and fake news that infiltrates your day through leisure, devices, screens, and shows. Start each day informed correctly and rightly with Scripture. Narrow what enters the attention of your mind and focused energy. Narrow it on information from the foundation of His Word. Yet do not let it remain solely information. Make use of it as wisdom from God. Speak against the misinformation and news of the world with the good news and informed word from the Lord. Look at the world around you through the lens of holy Scripture, the lens of Christ. Discern what is on His heart and what is not.
 
(4) This weekend, encourage four different people with an encouragement from Jesus’ resurrection. Greet them with, “He lives!” instead of a “Hello!” and “He has risen!” instead of a “Goodbye!” Don’t just give fake complements, but speak God’s promises over their lives (ex. “God has promised you…. His eternal life, His joy… in His only Son”) and see the ways it transforms your hope in Christ.
 
 

Holy Spirit Moment & Group Prayer
Take a moment to invite the Holy Spirit to fill you, and pray for one another.
 
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. (1 THESSALONIANS 5:16-18)
 
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (PHILIPPIANS 4:6-7)
 
Bear one another's burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something, when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But let each one test his own work, and then his reason to boast will be in himself alone and not in his neighbor. For each will have to bear his own load. (GALATIANS 6:2-5)
 
For the body does not consist of one member but of many... The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and on those parts of the body that we think less honorable we bestow the greater honor, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving greater honor to the part that lacked it, that there may be no division in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honored, all rejoice together. Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. (1 CORINTHIANS 12:14, 21-27)
 
- Park’s (JP, Maria – Julia, Ben, Abe)
- Park’s (Hanna, Jim-Bob – Samuel, Sophie)
- Huh’s (John, Angela – Athena, Eliana)
- Choe’s (Chong, Kate – Stella)
- Park’s (Ben, Hanna – Evelyn, Louie)
- Jeng’s (Jonathan, Nara – Emma)
- Yi’s (Jonathan, Christina – Samuel, James, Ethan)
- Gee’s (Waywah, Gloria – Emilee, Melanie)
- Kim’s (David, Josephine – Elliot, James)
- Jun’s (Kevin, Sarah – Ellie, Ella)
- Shin’s (Jay – Ethan, Ivy, Iris)
- Lee’s (Andrew, Heather – Amanda [Jake], Kristen)
- Krief’s (Miki, Mr. Krief – Noa, Mya)
- Chung’s (Chester, Ashley – Joy, Jonah)