Forge Church

Timothy's report back to Pul and Silas indicated that the churches in Thessalonica were struggling in their practice of sexual purity in the midst of a sexually charged atmosphere in the city. Paul writes a new code of Sexual ethics for Christians, founded on the Old Testament, but extended and empowered by Holy Spirit.Second, he writes to help the Ekklesias keep their head down, stop meddling, and work for their keep.

The storyline of Paul and Silas sending Timothy back to Thessalonica has been laid out through 3 previous podcasts. Now, in this passage, we get to hear Paul's emotions expressed after Timothy returns with a good report. That is is exulting the Lord for the state of the churches in Thessalonica would be an understatement.

Timothy has returned from Thessalonica with a report on how the new churches are faring under persecution. Immediately, Paul dictates a letter to those Ekklesias, using reminder language. Timothy has reported that the surrounding populace of Thessalonica views Paul and Silas as shysters, eager for financial gain, as power grabbers, and as morally perverse. Paul writes back that his witness is God Himself, and then he follows that with instructions for the new believers regarding how to walk as godly ones in the midst of slander. Paul finishes this section with a list of charges against the Jews for harassment against the spread fo the Gospel.

Paul, Silas, and Timothy co-send a letter to the Ekklesias in Thessalonica, knowing fromTimothy's report that there has been Joy in suffering, and explosive evangelism. Word of their turning from idols to the living and true God has spread out across the seas, over the roads, and personal reports. Paul and his team know that the conversions of the believers are the real deal.Their faith, love and home abound

Having been beaten by rods until bloody in Philippi, Paul and Silas, with Timothy, limp down the Via Egnatia 90 miles to Thessalonica. On arrival, Paul preaches on 3 sabbaths, and see quick conversion of some jews, God-fearers, and leading women in the city. The Jews start a riot, charging that Paul and Silas are proclaiming a king other than Caesar. The missions team is slipped out of town during the night, shortly, Paul send Timothy back to find out about the needs of the new assemblies in Thessalonica. When Timothy returns to Paul and Silas in Athens, Paul writes a letter of encouragement and answers questions that we know as 1 Thessalonians.

Zechariah recounts the Lord's continuing refining process with Jerusalem and Judah. Promises are made that what they have lost to invading armies will be given back. When the surrounding armies strike Jerusalem, Christ returns to earth, and his feet touch the Mount of Olives, which splits north and south, opening a valley for the people in Jerusalem to flee from the armies. Then the Lord sets a plague loose in the midst of the invading armies, causing them to destroy one another. Finally, the gentile nations left after Armageddon will come as pilgrims to worship and bow down to the Lord in Jerusalem.

Chapter 13 of Zechariah opens with another outpouring...an anointing upon the House of David in that now all sin and impurity would be washed away. This is followed by the LORD's declaration that all idols and false prophets will be removed from the land, along with the unclean spirit that animates the false prophets. When former false prophets attempt to hide, they will be discovered. The last three verses are distinctly Messianic, as the Lord awakens the sword against His Shepherd and Associate. The LORD sets out to test and refine a remnant of Israel.

Chapter 12 of Zechariah begins with a prophecy from the LORD. There is a big shift from chapter 11 that spoke of the judgment on rebellious Judah, but now Chapter 12 speaks of the LORD's protections of all Israel from all the nations who rise to war against Jerusalem. The House of David will be anointed with Grace and Supplication. Then all the nation will repent and mourn when they see the One that they had pierced.

Chapter 11 of Zechariah is one of the most difficult to interpret in the Hebrew Scriptures. It begins with raging flames taking down the cedars of Lebanon, the cypress, and the oaks of Bashan. Zechariah is ordered to shepherd Judah, a flock that is to be killed. The broken, the lame, the widow, the orphan, the poor flood to him, but the rest of Judah despises the Prophet. He chooses two shepherd staffs, signifying the LORD"S grace and the future unity of Judah and Israel. Having rejected by Judah, Zechariah symbolically chops up one staff, asks for his severance pay...and is given 30 pieces of silver....a pittance. This chapter turns Messianic. looking forward to the betrayal of Jesus by Judas Iscariot.

Through out the first section of this chapter, the LORD pours out his anger at Judah, and then at the leaders of Judah for the sustained worship of idols. His judgment will fall on those leaders. There is a shift in which the LORD prophesies that both Judah and Israel will have mighty men, formed into an unstoppable force under His leadership. The chapter finishes with His promises to bring back His people from Assyria and from Egypt.