497 - Les Feldick Bible Study - Lesson 2 Part 1 Book 42 - The Body Of Christ Removed From the Earth

https://lesfeldickbiblestudy.com Through the Bible with Les Feldick LESSON 2 * PART 1 * BOOK 42 The Body of Christ Removed from the Earth Now as we come out of the ending of our last program we’ll pick right up in verse 15 where Paul is speaking of the Jews there in verse 14, who had been opposing him every step of the way. He makes reference to the Jews in verse 24 of the ones who had killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us. In other words, we know that all the way up through Israel’s history that even though they were the covenant people, they were God’s favorite people, yet they were just as rebellious as any other race of people. Here of course it’s epitomized by the Jew because Paul himself was one, and a thought just comes to mind, and if Monte was here, he’s say, "Here we go again." I want you to remember that Paul never lost his love for his kinsmen according to the flesh, the Jewish people. Let’s begin in verse 1, and look how the apostle pours out his heart. Romans 9:1-3 Moses. Satan knows that if he can destroy Israel, then he’s got the battle between him and God won. So consequently remember also that the Jewish people are under a constantly Satanic attack because of their position in the world. Now back to I Thessalonians, chapter 2. I had to do that so people couldn’t say, "Well Paul hated the Jews." No he did not, he had a love for the Jewish people like no one else. So Paul is making reference here to his kinsman. I Thessalonians 2:15a "Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us;…" Down in some deep, dank dungeon, because Israel didn’t like Jeremiah’s message. I Thessalonians 2:15b-16 Now let’s go back to the Book of Acts, chapter 13, and we’ll see that from the onset of Paul’s ministry to the Gentiles, this was what he was up against. I think we can begin with verse 4 so that you can get the background of how Paul had constant opposition from the Jewish people. Now you’ll remember in the earlier verses of the chapter, they were commissioned from Antioch to go on their missionary journey, but here in verse 4 well pick it up. Here we have a Gentile now who is getting exercised now by the Holy Spirit to hear the Word of God. Now look what happens in verse 8. Acts 13:8 "But Elymas the sorcerer (a Jew) (for so is his name by interpretation) withstood them, seeking to turn away the deputy from the faith." "Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, 10. Now at this point we see Paul exercising some of his early apostolic powers which later on he no longer makes reference to, but now he uses that power, and he says – Now come back with me to I Thessalonians chapter 2, and moving on into verse 17. I Thessalonians 2:17a "But (Paul writes) we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart,…" Everywhere we go we find believers who have such a love, we can understand how Paul felt about these folks he had brought out of darkness and into the light of his Gospel of I Corinthians 15:1-4. Again come back to the Book of Acts chapter 17, and let’s begin with verse 1, and then we’ll pick up with the account beginning with verse 5. Now verse 7. Acts 17:7 10. And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea:…" Now verse 18. I Thessalonians 2:18 "Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us." Now verse 19. I Thessalonians 2:19 Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?" Do you know what Paul is making reference to? Now verse 20. I Thessalonians 2:20 I Thessalonians 3:1 Now verse 2. I Thessalonians 3:2a "And sent Timotheus, (Timothy) our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you,…" See this is what new believers always need. To teach them these basic truths. Now finishing the verse. I Thessalonians 3:2b "As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby:" See Paul says in the Book of Hebrews 5:12-13, "that the problem was that too many believers never get off the baby bottle." I Thessalonians 3:3 There have been millions upon millions of believers that went through horrible torture, and never relinquished their faith. I wonder how many American believers could do that today? I hope you realize that we’ve been so blessed these last couple hundred years, because most of Christendom has had to suffer for their faith, and Paul makes that even plainer in Galatians chapter 4. Now back to I Thessalonians chapter 3. I Thessalonians 3:4 Tribulation was for those people abject persecution even to the losing of their life. So Paul had warned them, and in the time that had lapsed from the time he left them till he writes this letter, they had evidently come under intense persecution. Now verse 5. I Thessalonians 3:5a #LesFeldick #BibleStudy #Bible