1 Thessalonians 5:5-11, 14-22 – ‘For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be “clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing. ‘… ‘Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. Do not scoff at prophecies, but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil. ‘
God’s Strategy for Victory – METT-TC
1 Thessalonians 5:5 – ‘For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. ‘
METT-TC
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- represents mission variables and stands for Mission, Enemy, Terrain, Troops, Time, and Civil Considerations.
- There are slight variations in various doctrinal publications that discuss METT-TC between the US Army and the US Marine Corps, but the overall idea is shared between both fighting organizations and has been adopted by NATO as well.
A Call to Action:
1 Thessalonians 5:6-10 – ‘So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. ‘
Practical Application:
1 Thessalonians 5:14-15 – ‘Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. ‘
The origin of METT-TC is largely attributed to the United States Military, but it is unknown how exactly it came into existence and has yet to be attributed to any single author.
1. Mission (METT-TC)
1 Thessalonians 5:16 – ‘Always be joyful. ‘
2. Enemy (METT-TC)
1 Thessalonians 5:17 – ‘Never stop praying. ‘
3. Terrain and Weather (METT-TC)
1 Thessalonians 5:18 – ‘Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. ‘
4. Troops and Support Available (METT-TC)
1 Thessalonians 5:19 – ‘Do not stifle the Holy Spirit.’
5. Time Available, Space, and Logistics (METT-TC)
1 Thessalonians 5:20 – ‘Do not scoff at prophecies, ‘
6. Civil Considerations (METT-TC)
1 Thessalonians 5:21-22 – ‘but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. Stay away from every kind of evil.’
Ephesians 5: 10-20 NLT – ‘Carefully determine what pleases the Lord. Take no part in the worthless deeds of evil and darkness; instead, expose them. It is shameful even to talk about the things that ungodly people do in secret. But their evil intentions will be exposed when the light shines on them, for the light makes everything visible. This is why it is said, “Awake, O sleeper, rise up from the dead, and Christ will give you light.” So be careful how you live. Don’t live like fools, but like those who are wise. Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days. Don’t act thoughtlessly, but understand what the Lord wants you to do. Don’t be drunk with wine, because that will ruin your life. Instead, be filled with the Holy Spirit, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, and making music to the Lord in your hearts. And give thanks for everything to God the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. ‘ –