1 Thessalonians Series - The Thessalonian's Fatih

                      

The Thessalonians’ Faith

1 Thes. 1:1-10

A little background from the book of Acts, chapter 17. Paul,  Silas, and Timothy had been in Phillippi for several weeks and had just been delivered out of a prison by God. They were in Troas, waiting on the Holy Spirit’s direction. Paul had received a vision of a man in Macedonia begging for God to send Paul to help them. The call to Macedonia would send Paul, Silas, and Timothy through Thessalonica, where they will meet with more hostilities against the gospel, but it also gave them time to plant the seeds of the gospel (1 Cor. 3:6-9) into the hearts of “some Jews and many God-fearing gentiles and quite a few prominent women.”

Paul is sending this letter from Corinth. Let’s look at the first portion of the text, “Grace and peace to you. We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul always knew the importance of God’s grace and peace in his own life and ministry and in the lives of those in whom God had made him a messenger and apostle. For it was by grace that all came to salvation (Eph. 2:8-9), and it was the peace of God and their faith that was a shield of protection. (Phil. 4:7)  

Paul wanted the new fledgling church to know that they weren’t forgotten and he was bathing them in prayer as a parent for their children. Thanking God for their open hearts and minds to the mystery of Christ Jesus (Eph.3:7-9), and the faith, love, and endurance inspired by hope, all of this in Jesus Christ the Lord.

And an open heart and mind go hand in hand in faith. Paul knew the repercussions of a mind separated from the heart. For the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah both had to warn the jewish nation of this problem. “These people come near to me with their mouths and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me…You are always on their lips but far from their hearts.” (Isa. 29:13, Jer. 12:2) 

Second, Paul knows the love of God that sent the Lord Jesus to the cross as the atonement for the sins of mankind, and a love they are to have for one another that few have comprehended.  “I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. (Eph. 3:17b-19)

Third, the young church was learning the endurance of faith. For it was still fresh in their memories the persecution of Jason and others for the sake of the gospel (Acts 17:6-9). This hope was instilled in them by the Holy Spirit when they believed and it enabled them to stand firm against the onslaught of the enemy's attacks. “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit…You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what he has promised.” (Rom. 15:13, Heb. 10:36)

Application - Oh how the church today needs these words of encouragement and exhortation. What is life if it is not through Jesus Christ and in the Holy Spirit. God’s favor rests on all who believe in Christ Jesus for salvation, and the foundation of our faith is love, hope, and endurance in Christ Jesus. 

Paul told us we will face persecution when we walk in faith. “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” (2 Tim. 3:12) For it is with a mind and heart that are in-line and in sync with the voice of God and his Word that are able to stand firm in the faith. "Conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." (Philippians 1:27)

And it is in love that we grasp the depth of our commitment to one another and to our Lord Jesus Christ. This love isn’t about feelings, it is about a life relationship. “And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us…And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in them.” (Rom. 5:5, 1 John 4:16)

This brings us to hope that inspires endurance. We cannot stay in the race of faith as Paul put it without hope. It is what draws us on to the finish line. We know that what we have hope for we will see, “Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.” (Rom. 5:2-5)

Next, Paul exhorts the Thessalonian church to a deeper faith. Let’s look at the next portion of the text, “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,  because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”

Chosen, an interesting term, one in which is divine favor. The Thessalonicans had undergone a riot when Paul taught the gospel in the synagogue and to the gentiles. It was said that those opposed to the gospel and Paul went and rounded  “up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.” This was the atmosphere around the beginning of the church in Thessalonica, but they remain steadfast to the truth of the gospel. It doesn’t state any of the manifestations of the Holy Spirit in Acts 17, but Paul mentions that there were works of God done and that the joy of the Holy Spirit was given to them. They didn’t waiver against oppression by the riot or being arrested and charged for treason against Rome, for the charge of serving a king other than Caesar. 

They were all in, fully and wholly committed to faith in Christ. Paul stated that they were models of humility and faith to all those who believed in Macedonia and Achaia. 

Application - Scripture says about those who are invited to the marriage supper “For many are called, but few are chosen.” (Matt.22:14)  It is true. For many have heard the gospel message and responded with a lackadaisical mentality whether to respond to God’s call. If we pick and choose what we want to believe and do, we will totally miss the divine favor we received when we wholly and fully believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. When persecution comes to them, laziness and an apathetic attitude will keep them from entering into the presence of our Lord and the fullness of his blessing and grace. 

God has a firm grip on your life as you fully trust him in every area, nothing left hidden or concealed. He has chosen us to walk in his Spirit (Eph. 5:2), by his Word (1 Jn. 2:6), and we will yield to the Spirit in the presence of God who strengthens us, cares for us because we submit to his authority and are developed into his character.

It is only when we yield to God that we can stand for God, and it is in yielding that the works of the Holy Spirit can be manifested and the work of God be done and completed. As we fully commit our lives to God in faith and works (actions), we will receive the reward of faithfulness and be workman unashamed and a model of humility to other believers and the world. “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matt. 5 :16) 

It was the testimony of their faith in Christ that was the message that resounded and resonated in the hearts and minds throughout their country and neighboring Achaia. Let’s read the final portion, “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.”

The testimonies of the Lord’s grace and the message of salvation in Christ Jesus was passed on to all who were hearing and believing. The work and gifts of the Holy Spirit were in action, the gift of hospitality and the fruit of the Spirit were evident. 

The turning away from idols was no small thing, for it went against the very culture of the world, for idols and shrines were everywhere, even in the homes. The evil spiritual world was being turned on its head and crushed. The cleansing of the yeast of sin to idolatry must have been thorough, and the freedom from the lifestyle of idolatry was liberating. They now served the One True God and his Son Jesus Christ. They were now unmanacled and unyoked from sin that bound them. “Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.” (Heb. 12:1) 

They now waited for the promise of the Blessed Hope, the return of the Son from heaven, Jesus who would rescue them from the coming wrath of God upon a sinful world.

Application - Is your faith in Christ resounding in the world around you? Are you throwing off the yoke of sin, the shackles that have bound you from living fully for God? Idolatry is ever present in our world today (Col.3:5-10), and I’m not talking about just wooden or metal icons. We have made many things in our lives idols that control us, even if it is subtle and seemingly unobtrusive. We can have them stored in closets, garages, even in our yards and driveways. It is something that has our utmost affection and adoration, it is difficult to part with because of its sentimentality or our love for it. I know of this, for there have been things that God said to get rid of and it was difficult to obey, or I wanted to discuss it with God. God knows our hearts and minds, especially what we cherish. He must be first, and without rivals in our lives. This is the faith that conquers sins, and breaks the chains that keep us from living full and yielded lives in Christ Jesus. For one day, our Lord will return and we who are watching and waiting for the Blessed Hope, committed and walking by the Spirit will be caught up to live with him for eternity.

Is your faith fully in Christ Jesus? Are you free from the bondage and chains of sin? Are you ready to meet Jesus in the air? If not, God is calling, today is the day to be free in salvation in Christ.

I’m again including the ABC’s of salvation (JD Farag). Please, Jesus, God the Son, came to this world to save all who would believe and trust in him. He desires to reveal himself to you, He is the Light that overcomes the darkness of this lawless world. He hears your prayers, and all authority in heaven and earth have been given to him. He will answer you if you will truly believe. And he wants to empower you with the Holy Spirit. If you haven’t asked him to be your Lord and Savior, today could be that day.

 First, A - Admit that you are a sinner. This is where that godly sorrow leads to genuine repentance for sinning against a righteous God and there is a change of heart, we change our mind and God changes our hearts and regenerates us from the inside out. Romans 3:10 - As it is written: "There is none righteous, no, not one." Romans 3:23 - For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. (We are all born sinners which is why we must be born spiritually in order to enter the Kingdom of Heaven). Romans 6:23 - For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. The bad news is that the wages of sin is death, in other words our sin means that we have been given a death sentence, we have the death penalty hanging over our heads, that's the bad news. But here's the good news: The good news is that the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. Ephesians 2:8-9 - For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith —and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast. Second, B - Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ died for your sins, was buried, and that God raised Jesus from the dead. This is trusting with all of your heart that Jesus Christ is who he said he was. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord," and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved. Third, C - Call upon the name of the Lord. Every single person who ever lived since Adam will bend their knee and confess with their mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Lord of lords and the King of kings. Romans 14:11 - For it is written: "As I live, says the Lord, Every knee shall bow to Me, And every tongue shall confess to God." Don't wait until later — do this now. Romans 10:13 - For "whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved." "O God, I am a sinner. I'm sorry for my sin. I want to turn from my sin. I believe Jesus Christ is Your Son; I believe that He died on the cross for my sin and that He was buried and You raised Him to life. I have decided to place my faith in Jesus Christ as my Savior, trusting only in His shed blood as sufficient to save my soul and to take me to heaven. Thank You, Lord Jesus, for saving me. Amen."

Please share this with someone this week, the Lord knows that we and they need it.

If you would like other lessons, please go to http://pmdinhisservice.blogspot.com 

Until next week, In His Service Mike Davis

I am developing a new webpage on Spiritual warfare. Please give it a look. I’m adding answers each week to questions that pertain to our time today.  Thank you

http://uss-warfare3.webnode.com