“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

In this devotion, the text of 1 Thessalonians 4:3-12 relates the second area of our Sanctification: Our Practice for Christ.

The Apostle Paul, in writing to the Church in Thessalonica, listed the following under the Practice of the saved’s Sanctification:

1) Abstain from Fornication

2) Love the Brethren

3) Practice Daily Habits

4) Comfort One Another

First – Abstain from Fornication (verse 3b)

“For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:” (1 Thessalonians 4:3)

The Apostle goes on to explain in verse 4:

“That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.”

That is, you who are born of God the Spirit, those of you who know you are a son of God – you know that Christ lives in you; you know that you are a temple of God. And as such, you are to:

“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?” (1 Corinthians 6:19)

“For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.” (1 Corinthians 6:20)

To carry this out in body and in spirit, as the Apostle outlined for us, we are given specific instructions in 1 Thessalonians 4:

“Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:” (1 Thessalonians 4:5)

“That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.” (1 Thessalonians 4:6)

“For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” (1 Thessalonians 4:7)

The Apostle was teaching on the saved man’s Practice in Sanctification. The saved man’s calling is “not… unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.”

Paul has made it very plain as to what a Child of God is not to do. First, he is not to be unclean. That is, he is not to walk in the flesh; not to try to please the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life – which are the mandates of the “old man,” or the old sin nature. (See Romans 6 – 7; Ephesians 4:17-22). But he is to walk in holiness, or purity, or righteousness. (See Ephesians 4:23-24.)

“And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;” (Ephesians 4:23)

“And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.” (Ephesians 4:24)

In 1 Thessalonians 4:6, Paul gives a very grave warning to all fornicators and adulterers. You are not to defraud your brother (and adultery defrauds your brother); “because that the Lord is the avenger of all such.” (That is, God will judge all whoremongers and adulterers; Hebrews 13:4.)

Therefore, the saved man must be holy or he will be judged in this life.

Not only is the one who commits adultery guilty of “defraud” (“pleonekteō”; which means “to gain or take advantage of another”) against his brother; but he who does this also “despiseth” (“atheteō”; meaning “to reject, refuse, slight”); “…despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit” (1 Thessalonians 4:8).

Look at an additional warning in Hebrews:

“Of how much sorer punishment, suppose ye, shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden under foot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant, wherewith he was sanctified, an unholy thing, and hath done despite unto the Spirit of grace?” (Hebrews 10:29)

Doing “despite” to the Spirit of God is a sure way to bring God’s judgment upon you.

Therefore, the first step in the Practice of Sanctification is to be holy in body and spirit (the mind). God will only abide in a clean vessel, a pure vessel. So the saved man must possess his vessel in Sanctification and Honor, for:

“Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16)

If not, and if the believer defiles the temple of God:

“If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.” (1 Corinthians 3:17)

Then God will destroy, “him shall God destroy.”

Second – Love the Brethren (verses 9-10)

“But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.” (1 Thessalonians 4:9)

The love of God is shed abroad in the hearts of the Regenerated, by the Spirit of God (Romans 5:5). (Read the following Scriptures: John 13:34-35; 14:15; 1 John 3:11-24; 4:7-21; 2 John 5-6; Ephesians 5:2.)

Paul said, since God taught you that He is Love and He now abides in you; I don’t need to explain. But I do need to exhort you to do it toward “all the brethren which are in all Macedonia” (1 Thessalonians 4:10b).

Then he added, “but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more” (1 Thessalonians 4:10c).

This is also Part of the Will of God: (1) Be holy; (2) Love the brethren; and now thirdly…

Third – Practice Daily Habits (verses 11-12)

First, Paul answers the What: here he briefly explains what is to be done daily by those who are Sanctified (or those in whom Christ dwells; those who have been Regenerated).

“And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you;” (1 Thessalonians 4:11)

1) “Study to be quiet”; this means “be swift to hear, slow to speak” (James 1:19b). Solomon gives the answer as to why in Proverbs 10:19: a) “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin…” Solomon is saying, a man that is full of words, without restraint and use of wisdom, will lead to sin; b) “…but he that refraineth his lips is wise.” The reason being, it will save him from a multitude of sorrows and sin. (See Proverbs 15:1; 26:22; 29:20; Ecclesiastes 5:2, 7b.) Also see Solomon’s words in Ecclesiastes 10:

“The words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious; but the lips of a fool will swallow up himself.” (Ecclesiastes 10:12)

“The beginning of the words of his mouth is foolishness: and the end of his talk is mischievous madness.” (Ecclesiastes 10:13)

“A fool also is full of words…” (Ecclesiastes 10:14a)

Therefore, a Child of God should control his mouth. Psalms 141:3 and James 3:2-18 reveal that only by God living and abiding in a person, can the tongue be tamed.

Study, or discipline, yourself; yield your tongue to God; keep a clean heart, “…for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).

2) “To do your own business”; that is, mind (or tend to) your own business. Stay out of other men’s matters:

“But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men’s matters.” (1 Peter 4:15)

Take care of your home first; order your own life first. If a believer tends to his own church, his own family, and himself; he will not have time to be a busybody.

Spiritually, keep yourself clean before God, and in Gospel order.

3) “To work with your own hands”; first, Paul was instructing them not to be lazy and dependent upon someone else to provide for their needs:

“For even when we were with you, this we commanded you, that if any would not work, neither should he eat.” (2 Thessalonians 3:10)

Also, Paul said to the Church at Ephesus, that the men should labor “to support the weak” (Acts 20:35). That is, to be able to give to the needy.

In summary of the What in daily Sanctification, Paul says – be quiet, tend to your own business, and work.

Then Paul gives the Why:

“That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without, and that ye may have lack of nothing.” (1 Thessalonians 4:12)

1) “That ye may walk honestly toward them that are without”; that is, you must be a good witness of Jesus Christ to those outside the Church. To make it plain: Pay your bills. Mind your own business, don’t be a busybody. Treat your neighbor as would honor Christ. Your word must be your bond. You are not to be a deceiver, a liar, or a thief – but an honest person; upright in all your dealing with those not in the Church.

2) “And that ye may have lack of nothing”; if you will carry out your daily life as God instructs, seeking first the Kingdom of God, then all your needs will be supplied (Matthew 6:33). Honor God; and God will bless you. You will not need the welfare system of the world; for God will provide all of your needs.

In conclusion to “Practice Daily Habits” – God has a designed order for you, as a believer, to walk in Sanctification, to walk in Faith, to walk in Christ. You are to walk even as He walked (1 John 2:6). You are to pattern your daily life after Christ; He is your Pattern. And you are to be a pattern to the world around you; to your Church and to your family and friends.

When you walk as Christ walked, you will be His Ambassador; you will be His Witness of Sanctification, set apart in Christ. This is proof that you are His Child; that He lives in you; and that you have His Power operating in you. You do not look to this world to supply your needs, but to Christ, your Provider. (Amen!)

Fourth – Comfort One Another

In the conclusion of the Practice of Sanctification, Paul adds verses 4-18:

“Wherefore comfort one another with these words.” (1 Thessalonians 4:18)

What “words”?

1) First, in 1 Thessalonians 4:13-17, Paul speaks of the Coming (or the Parousia) of Christ (His Second Coming). Paul said, don’t worry about those that already “sleep” (verses 13-14); for Christ will bring them with Him when He comes. Also, we who are alive will be caught up together with them in the clouds, “…to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:17).

2) Second, Paul said, “Wherefore comfort yourselves together...” (1 Thessalonians 5:11). First it was to comfort one another; now, in 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11, Paul said “comfort yourselves.” Why?

“But ye, brethren, are not in darkness, that that day (Christ’s Second Coming) should overtake you as a thief.” (1 Thessalonians 5:4)

Why not?

“Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.” (1 Thessalonians 5:5)

We have been appointed unto Salvation, not appointed to wrath:

“Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober.” (1 Thessalonians 5:6)

“For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.” (1 Thessalonians 5:7)

“But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” (1 Thessalonians 5:8)

“For God hath not appointed us to wrath, but to obtain salvation by our Lord Jesus Christ,” (1 Thessalonians 5:9)

“Who died for us, that, whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” (1 Thessalonians 5:10)

Paul knew that Christ’s Second Coming was two-fold – first of Judgment; second of Salvation to the faithful. Wrath to the wicked evil-doers; and rewards to the faithful.

So, Paul said, comfort one another that He is coming soon. And second, comfort yourselves that you are His Child, Sanctified in Christ and Christ in you, who died for you. So “whether we wake or sleep, we should live together with him.” Hallelujah!

“Wherefore comfort yourselves together, and edify one another, even as also ye do.” (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

Therefore, the Proof of your Sanctification is your Practice – in holiness; in brotherly love; in your daily behavior; and in your hope, your comfort, of Christ’s return.