Book of 1 Thessalonians - Ch. 1, Vs. 2-10 (10/12/2003)

The Thessalonians’ Faith, Love, and Hope in Christ

We're going to start with verse 2. Dennis the Verse 1 that I wanted you here for. I'm going to hold off another week. Because I want Brian in on it also. What. First Thessalonians. So come to verse 2 in first Thessalonians.

We give thanks to God always for you you all. Making mention of you in our prayers. Paul was in a very unique. Let me get my headphones on. Paul was in a very unique situation. He was exactly where the Lord wanted him.

We know that from study. And he gives thanks To God always for you all. I doubt if there was a day went by that Paul didn't mention the Thessalonians. Making mention of you in our prayers. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love and Patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God and our father.

Now Paul in essence is saying I couldn't forget you if I wanted to your work of faith Greg. What does he mean work of faith? David. Where do you have to be in order to work this work of faith? In Christ.

Now take note of that Paul is telling them that they are in Christ. You cannot be outside of Christ and work the work of faith. Now the world says they can but in reality you cannot. We cannot hope to work The work of God to any benefit unless we are in God by Jesus the Christ.

We learned last week that we're in God in Christ. Your work of faith. Your active ever working faith. Give me an example of this faith Dennis. All right. Joy how do you know that you're saved. You tell me you are but how do you know it?

At least At least I can almost recognize him. You're active ever working faith. You answered correctly Dennis. And labor of love continually laboring. Dennis what does labor bring to mind? We're in first Thessalonians verse 2.

Your work is always in the sight of God and his son Jesus Christ David. Now, I don't want just a yes or no answer. I want you to explain to me how we cannot be out of the sight of God. All right, I Like to think of it as everything being at once in his sight.

Now, let me ask you a question Bob. Are you ready? Do you labor because you love or do you love because you labor? Are you sure? Too too easy. I shake you loose. Dennis which is it? Do you love do you labor because you love or do you love because you labor?

Is that right Greg? David is that right? Well, you're all wrong. Well, oh, you're right. When you begin your work, it's because you love. When you love your work, it's because you did it. They who do not this labor.

Do not love faith works. Love labors hope patiently suffers all things. What do I mean by? Patiently suffering Greg. I wish I could get that over to you and myself also. Patience is not setting down waiting.

God's Election and the Meaning of Being Chosen

Patience is an active verb. I am patiently waiting is not exactly right. I'm patiently working. Verse 4. Knowing brethren beloved. Your election of God now knowing brother and beloved your election of God.

What does they mean first of all? Dennis. Election of God that he hold a run-off someplace. All right, David. Why did God elect us? But it had to be he couldn't write it that way it had to be so that we would understand.

But I want you to understand that God did not make a choice. He doesn't have to choose. There is no choice in his vocabulary. In fact, he has no vocabulary. I've got to go back to verse 1 for briefly.

How is it joy? Tell me how is it? That. Everything man knows come out of God. All right. Dennis God had to elect us. Excuse me. Because of what I tricked you a little bit. God doesn't have to do anything.

But in man's sight he had to elect us Bob because we were lost. We were lost past tense. Now that's us looking at it at one time. We were his David. Then Adam lost us and Jesus found us therefore the election to never be lost again.

At one time we were his God. Then Adam lost us and Jesus found us therefore the election. To never be lost again to never be lost again. That rings in my ears and we take it so lightly. But it's a truth.

The Gospel’s Power, the Holy Spirit, and the Christian’s Fourfold Witness

Five. For our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and In much assurance as you know, what manner of men we were among you for your sake. The Christian has four methods of God speaking to him.

Let's see if we can find them. What's one of them. Bob. Bible it's the Bible as you read it. What's another one. Dennis the Holy Spirit as he speaks to us and presses it on our mind. What's another one.

David, all right. Circumstances in which you fell into you think it's by accident. All right. There are no accidents In the world maybe but that's because of their thinking. Katie what's another method?

That's right. Can you think of another one Greg. All right. First by the word as you read it. Second by the word as the Holy Spirit impresses it on your mind. Three as it is preached by men for There's another Long-standing word as it has come down through the character of men.

Followers of Christ, Affliction, and Becoming an Example

That have spoken to us in all ages by your very character. Six and ye became followers of us and of the Lord. Having received the word in much affliction. With joy of the Holy Ghost now, there's there's two words here that Don't go together Greg.

Much affliction with joy. No since you you don't know anything about affliction. Take a wild guess at it. What does he mean? Yes, all right. Bob what does he mean much affliction? All right, you ever have anybody oppose your stand.

That's right Dennis. Have you been? Afflicted because of your stand. Greg have you been wrongly afflicted? Yes. Joy, have you been wrongly afflicted by the world? That's right. The afflictions in your mind.

All right. We're fast losing In our society. Our isolation. There was a time 50 years ago. 60 years ago. When we're proud to be a Christian, but now It's changed. Christian has changed and we need to Come back to being a follower of Jesus Christ.

They became followers of the Lord. He is the perfect example. Yes. Sad to say but that's true. Our Lord is a perfect example. We must Strive to imitate him and we should be followers of others no further.

Than they are followers of Christ. How are you going to know? Bob when they are or are not a follower of Christ. All right. There's something else most powerful. What is it David that That sets us apart from the world.

Yes, all right. You will grow by the time you're 80 or 90 or a hundred. You'll grow to be able to recognize a Christian when you see them. You cannot know them by just watching them. We know by knowing the truth.

And where is that truth in God? We find it when we are in Jesus the Christ. He has opened the truth to us seven. So that ye were in samples to all that believe in Macedonia and Acacia. Now this word in sample that's come up before.

Dennis what does it mean? Yes, there's a difference in in sample an example if if your Bible has translated it they have Missed the boat. All right, that's pretty good. Greg give us the Definition of in sample.

All right, and it's. It carries with it the act of hammering the stamp with a hammer. Hard and it produces an ends in sample a little bit different than an example in sample. Is the impression left after the stamp has been struck with repeated blows?

By a hammer. David have you been struck by repeated blows? That's what these people were to the world. And in sample, that's what we are to the rest of the world if we are what God wants us to be in samples.

Living as an Imprint on the World and Remembering Christ Above All

After you have gone on to be with Jesus. Will the people remember you Katie? All right. Bob after you have gone on to be with Jesus. Will the people remember you which is the most important? To remember You or Christ?

Christ. I Could care less whether you remember my name, but don't forget the words that I spoke to you. You won't know the answer. Until after you're gone. Then it'll be known live by only by those that are left.

So see we have but the present right now. It doesn't last. But we can make it true. Bob let's talk about this word present. That's a favorite subject of mine. Define for me the this. The sharp edge that represents presence.

Present. No, yes present meaning right now. Define this word present. What is it? All right, that's all true. But by the time you said it was past. No. That doesn't make any difference. Dennis. Define the present.

Well on nano section the second is a passage of time. Greg you're the. I won't say what you are. But define for me the present. That's pretty good David. Define for me this present time on which we live.

Do you see how difficult it is to get a hold of the present. Speed has nothing to do with it yet our whole life exists on that Non-existent present. It's what I do right now. And by the time I said now it's past.

Come back to present. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Acacia. But also in every place your faith to God word is spread abroad. So that we need not to speak anything.

Where true grace is rooted in the heart it will be seen in the people of like faith. I should say faith not like faith. Because they are in Jesus the Christ in God also. And by the way, you have no choice in this matter true grace being rooted.

What's that mean David? You are grounded in Jesus? For they themselves show us what manner of entering and we had unto you and How you turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God. How does one turn to God from an idol.

Dennis how does one turn to God from an idol? All right? Joy, how do you turn to God from an idol? All right? David how do you turn to God from an idol? Greg how do you turn from turn to God from an idol?

I've listened to each one of you. No, all right. You don't. You cannot turn to God from an idol. If you could you wouldn't exist. Many people think they have following God now instead of an idol. But that's not true.

Each one of your answers you spoke something that related to someone else not you. You cannot turn you turn all right. But it is God that does the turning in in Jesus Christ. John 644. Somebody turned to that right.

Quick. Have a sword drill. First one jump up and run up and down the aisle. Yes. What does the word draw mean. Dennis what does the word draw mean? Greg tell us What does the word draw mean? Against your will it is to be what?

Drug. It is What it is to be drug? By a superior force. Irresistible superior force. David in John 644 no man can come to me. No one except The father which has sent me draw him. And I'll raise him up.

You see there will be None that will be lost. For Jesus said he would raise us up on that last day and That last day being the last day of this age or this world. Verse 10. And To wait for his son from heaven.

Whom he raised from the dead. Even Jesus Which delivered us from the wrath to come? God will send his son back for us that believe. When the times ripe when will that be David? That's right. No one knows.

And if you hear somebody telling you when it will be. You're just wasting your time. Jesus the Christ is the cause of the deliverance of Believers from the wrath to come he redeemed us once. He delivers us continually and will deliver all That believe.

To expect a future state of glory and resurrection of the body according to the gospel doctrine. After the example of Jesus Christ who was raised from the dead and ascended into heaven. Ever to appear in the presence of God for us or to thee is not put there without reason and By wrath is meant that vengeance and punishment.

With which the Lord will in time judge and he's going to judge the world in his Terrible wrath. All right. Is there anything that you'd like to go back to or? Ask or question your work of faith. How can we work the work of faith joy?

All right. It is not our faith. It's his. That's right. David what's the difference in work and sight? That's right. How is it or where is the scripture that says we? We will not my words now we will not know when we are working for God.

Can you find a scripture to support that Greg? You see when we work the work of faith. We don't know it when you do know it. You need to question it. All right. Is there anything else? Well, let's turn to four and straighten knowing brother be brother and beloved your election of God.

Knowing brother brother and knowing brother and beloved your election of God. Sure, I think we can. Yes, I Would I would be hesitant to that's right. To ever say that I discern that person as a Christian.

He may be and it may not be but Paul Paul. Yes, David, her son came out and the rock got hot and dried the plant. Because it had no root. Dennis dismisses, please.