Lord’s Day, Vol. 8 No. 3
Faithful Is He that Calleth
1 Thessalonians 5:23-24. 23 And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.
A very warm welcome to loved ones and friends to Blessed Hope Bible-Presbyterian Church’s 6thAnniversary Thanksgiving Service. The comforting words of prayer to the church in Thessalonica is selected for our meditation.
The call of God in Christ Jesus to salvation and sanctification and service as we await our glorification. The gospel was preached. Souls were saved and nurtured in the faith. These believers are exhorted to keep on believing!
1 Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The transforming power of the gospel and the sanctifying power of God’s Word to guide the believer’s life is the Apostle Paul’s personal testimony. He shares this faith to the people of Thessalonica leading to the salvation of souls and the establishment of this local church.
It is his prayer that the church will be kept pure and preserved till the day of Christ’s return. A prayer uttered in the will of God sees God’s prevailing power unleashed in the believer’s life attesting to God’s grace, goodness and greatness of whom he praises. Because God is faithful, He will also see to it that He protects and preserves His witness for His glory – Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:(Philippians 1:6).
This prayer brings comfort to God’s people – comfort in God’s power to help them live holy lives and be witnesses of His glory.
(1) God’s Prevailing Peace (v23a)
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly;…
When sin is subdued, God’s peace prevails in the heart. This is God’s greatest gift to His people.
Romans 5:1 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
God’s power is able to cause His people to prevail and triumph over sin, Satan and the world. The word “wholly” means “in every way complete, perfect”. What assurance!
Our Lord Jesus taught His disciples to pray – And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: Thine is the kingdom, and the power and the glory, forever. Amen.(Matt. 6:13-14).
Jesus assured His disciples inJohn 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
Our text tells us emphatically, “the very God”, that is, God Himself, will see to it that He grants us His peace as we are set apart more and more in every area of their lives to conform to the image of His Son.
(2) God’s Preserving Power (vv23b)
… and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The word “blameless” means “no legitimate ground for accusation” [MacDonald] unto the Second Coming of Christ. What assurance!
The psalmist in psalm 121 gave this assurance to God’s people when he likewise exhorted in Psalm 121:3-8. 3 He will not suffer thy foot to be moved: he that keepeth thee will not slumber. 4 Behold, he that keepeth Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep.5 The LORD is thy keeper: the LORD is thy shade upon thy right hand. 5 The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night. 6 The LORD shall preserve thee from all evil: he shall preserve thy soul.7 The LORD shall preserve thy going out and thy coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.
God preserves His people not only on earth and preserves them through all eternity from all evil. We can therefore, trust Him to lead His church into the future to accomplish His goodwill for His glory till He comes. Amen.
Yours lovingly,
Pastor Lek Aik Wee