1 Thessalonians serries - Live the Walk, Not Just the Talk

 

Live the Walk, Not Just the Talk

1 Thessalonians 2:1-12

Paul, Silas, and Timothy recalled the persecution for the gospel in Philippi, yet they were dependent on God, the helper and source of their strength as they stood firm against those who opposed them even in Thessalonica. So let's begin with the first portion of the text, “You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority. Instead, we were like young children among you.”

Paul addressed the Thessalonians as family. He had come not as a dictatorial authoritarian, or as a flashy salesperson. They came in humility and with the authority of God through the Holy Spirit, their motives were pure to bring the message of faith, hope, and love in Christ Jesus. They didn’t use any manipulative methods, or with any type of evil scheme as those who came in order to make money off of religious idols or religious tokens. 

Paul came with the gospel of Jesus Christ and in the power of the Holy Spirit. He stood in the approval of God to bring the good news of salvation through Jesus. Paul lists the feigned methods of the religious charlatans who called themselves apostles that traveled the Roman ruled world. Paul didn’t try to please people but God into whom they were accountable (Psalms 139:23). They didn’t flatter the people with nocuous (poisonous) words that were the seeds of the enemy of God, nor did they put on the mask of hypocrisy of those who were shaming people out of money, feeding their sin of greed. They took no form of payment but paid their own way by the means of God’s provision as a testimony before the people of God’s approval. Last, they didn’t come because of the praise of people, nor did they seek it. They came as true apostles (sent ones) in the authority of Jesus Christ, and as children who are obedient to their Father who delights in their obedience and submission to the Holy Spirit.

Application - In our world today, Jesus told us to “Watch out that no one deceives you. For many will come in my name, claiming, ‘I am the Messiah,’ and will deceive many.” (Matt. 24:4-5)

We are given the commission to take the gospel to the world (salvation through no one else but Jesus Christ, who came into the world without sin, lived, taught, and died as the sacrificial Lamb of God for the sins of all mankind who would believe in him, and he was resurrected from the grave and has ascended into heaven and will return for his church and establish his kingdom, but this is not what the world wants to hear. We are not to come as authoritarians, but as ones who bring Good News of faith, hope, and love in the Lord Jesus Christ. Neither are we to be flashy and use smooth words from the Father of lies, who speaks words that are contrary to the Word of God. Nor are we to be involved in money making schemes to fleece the sheep of God’s fold, feeding the sinful desire of greed.

We are sent in the same love that God the Father sent his Son, we are empowered by the Holy Spirit to proclaim the Good News, to proclaim freedom from sin, to bring healing and set the oppressed by the enemy of God free. We were commissioned (Matt. 28:20) to take this to our world, and as we sow the seeds of the gospel of Jesus, some “watered it, but God has been making it grow.” And “The harvest is the end of the age, and the harvesters are angels.” (Matt. 13:6)

Lastly, Paul’s love for God and for all those who were given to him was like a parent. Let's read the text portion of the text, “Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”

 

 Paul uses the analogy of a nursing mother. A mother knows her children. If they cry or laugh a mother would know her child’s voice. A loving parent will literally give their lives for the wellbeing of a child. Paul's desire was to share the truth of the risen Lord Jesus Christ, for he and his companions were living testimonies of the grace and power of faith in Christ Jesus. They didn’t place any burdens in the way of the people to come to Christ. They live in holiness (set apart), in righteousness (in the sanctified integrity of a life covered by the blood of Jesus), and blameless (innocent of a guilty consciousness before God and man) in order for those who were believing in Christ would not stumble because their attitudes or actions. Paul considered the believers as his children, and he as the Father who desires to encourage, comfort, and demonstrate a life worthy of God the Father, and worthiness of the name of Jesus Christ, and he walked in the counsel, guidance, and submission to the Holy Spirit.

Application - We are to look at the people we are serving as family, and we do it like a caring parent. God the Father sees us as his children, and he sees those to whom we are to share the Gospel of Jesus as children. Just as Jesus didn’t come as one lording over them, but as Lord the one who came to give them life and that eternal if they will believe, and the love of the Father. We are to walk in the same attitude and manner as Jesus and Paul. They should see that we place no burdens on them, that our lives of holy service to God is evident. Sanctified integrity is a must if people are going to believe the Word of God that is being portrayed in our own lives. We must be blameless of the corrupt practices used in the world today. For any of these things can be stumbling blocks that keep people from knowing and giving their lives in faith to Jesus Christ for salvation. LIke a father or mother with their children, people should be encouraged in their faith to pray, read his Word, and to love one another as he loves us. If we can do this, we will have lived worthy lives before God and them, and they too must live lives worthy of God. Jesus Christ’s kingdom is not of this world, it is a spiritual kingdom. “Jesus replied, “Very truly I tell you, no one can see the kingdom of God unless they are born again.” (John 3:3) “Jesus answered, ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.’”(John 18:36),

“We exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. (1 Thes. 2:12) Jesus said “... to them, “You are from below; I am from above. You are of this world; I am not of this world.” But when our Lord Jesus returns to this earth, he will establish his Kingdom on a new Earth with the resurrected saints, and after the great white throne judgment, God will establish heaven as well on earth with the  New Jerusalem. “But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything done in it will be laid bare. Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat. But in keeping with his promise we are looking forward to a new heaven and a new earth, where righteousness dwells.” (2 Peter 3:10-13) Peter spoke wisdom and truth to all who would listen about these times, “what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives  as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.”

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