Living in the Last Days

Pt. 1: Life In Three Dimensions 1 Thess. 1:1-10

By Louie Marsh, 2-22-2026

"16But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 17" 'And in the last days it shall be, God declares, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh…(Acts 2:16a, ESV)

TO LIVE IN THE LAST DAYS I NEED…

Three Graces to MOTIVATE me.

1) FAITH

"3remembering before our God and Father your work of faith… (1 Thessalonians 1:3a, ESV)

Work = a job or task

· Faith brings us into SALVATION.

"8For by grace you have been saved through faith… (Ephesians 2:8, ESV)

· Faith looks BACK. (TO THE CROSS)

"20I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me." (Galatians 2:20, ESV)

· Faith always produces ACTION.

"26For as the body apart from the spirit is dead, so also faith apart from works is dead." (James 2:26, ESV)

2) LOVE

"3…your…labor of love… (1 Thessalonians 1:3b, ESV)

labor = to cut, beat and used of working bread dough

· Love is my response to GOD LOVING me.

"19We love because he first loved us." (1 John 4:19, ESV)

· Love looks at the NOW.

"17But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?" (1 John 3:17, ESV)

· Love keeps me GOING through the tough times.

"18Little children, let us not love in word or talk but in deed and in truth." (1 John 3:18, ESV)

3) HOPE

"3…and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ." (1 Thessalonians 1:3, ESV)

· Hope keeps me from GIVING UP.

"4For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope." (Romans 15:4, ESV)

· Hope looks AHEAD.

"24For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience." (Romans 8:24–25, ESV)

· Hope is just as IMPORTANT as faith & Love.

[1 Cor. 13; Gal. 5:5-6; Col. 1:4-5; Heb. 10:22-24; 1 Pet. 1:22-23; 1 Thess. 5:8]

4) AIDS TO COMMUNICATE God's plan

· The CONTENT of the gospel.

"5because our gospel came to you not only in word…(1 Thessalonians 1:5a, ESV)

· God's POWER

"5… but also in power…(1 Thessalonians 1:5b, ESV)

· BEING FILLED with the Holy Spirit.

"5… and in the Holy Spirit..." (1 Thessalonians 1:5c, ESV)

· A vital FAITH in Christ.

"5… and with full conviction." (1 Thessalonians 1:5d, ESV)

5) Necessary RESPONSES TO GOD

· I must TURN from my idols

"9For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols…(1 Thessalonians 1:9a, ESV)

· I must live to SERVE God alone.

"9…to serve the living and true God," (1 Thessalonians 1:9b, ESV)

· I must LOOK FORWARD to Christ's return.

"10and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come." (1 Thessalonians 1:10, ESV)