1 Thessalonians 2:12

First Thessalonians, and we were going we are going to look at a Specific verse in chapter 2, but I want to read the first 12 verses and then Our thoughts tonight will stay.

Centered.

Mostly on verse 12. But in order to kind of set us up in our understanding, let's read from verse 1 of chapter 2 as Paul writes to to the church at Thessalonica. For you yourselves know brethren Excuse me that our coming to you is not in vain.

But after we had suffered before and was spitefully treated at Philippi as you know. We were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation did not come From receipt deceit or uncleanness nor was it in guile.

But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel even so we speak not as pleasing men But God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words as you know, nor a cloak of covetousness God is witness.

Nor did we seek glory from men either from you or from others that when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. But we were gentle among you just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children.

So affectionately longing for you. We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God But also our own lives because you have become dear to us. For you remember brethren Our labor and toil for laboring night and day.

That we might not be a burden to any of you. We preach to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses and God also how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves Among you who believe as you know how he exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you.

As a father does his own children. That you would have a walk worthy of God Who calls you into his own kingdom? And glory and may God bless his word. So as I said, uh Already this was. These are notes from a message that I preached just two weeks ago and it's fresh in my mind and it really what I really wanted to.

Uh draw out if possible in our time together tonight is this Thought that paul sets before him about having a walk worthy of God Who calls you into his own kingdom and glory? And let me just Try to get us real quick in in in setting the the background if you will as You might know already.

This was one of the earlier letters that paul wrote to one of the earlier churches that he established and certainly god used him. To establish the church of thessalonica as god did uh in many other places.

And what's interesting about.

Um.

First thessalonians and actually second thessalonians. Is that this this church was? Extremely dear to paul. And and I want you to just to see it and just look at the way he says it in verse 7 He says we were gentle among you just as a nursing mother.

Cherishes her own children. And and then even in verse 8 affectionately longing for you. We were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel but our own lives. And then he continues that how they labored and toiled and then you come down to verse 11.

As you know how we exhorted and comfort and charged every one of you as a father does his own children. And what's interesting to me about first thessalonians as well as second thessalonians. Is that many times?

Because of certain passages in both first thessalonians and second thessalonians. In first thessalonians is that that section that people will use for the rapture right first thessalonians chapter 4 and.

And and in that sense everybody focused or many many people will focus in on that passage. And then if you look at second thessalonians the passage. That deals with the man of sin and and the lawless one being revealed and and I do think at times.

When it comes to the two letters that he wrote to the thessalonian church. That we can miss the forest with cheese because again Paul really had a very deep-seated affection for this church um having spent time with them having established them and certainly in Now writing back to them to see how things are faring.

So I did want to mention that and that's the setting that that We need to keep in our mind that this was a very intimate Church with paul and that he really had not that he didn't have concern for all the churches but but this church was so dear to him and.

And again, I just don't want us to miss the fact that um as I said many people will run to it to try to build a doctrine of the rapture or or the the man of sin and. And certainly I don't want to deal with that tonight.

But um, let me start it to you this to think about it this way. If I had to give a Summary verse if you will of the christian life I do think that verse 12 would be high up on the list. Like in other words if we had to put together, uh Bullet points of what the christian life actually is.

What it entails. I do think verse 12 would be far far up on that list. Because really as you look at it and and hopefully as we discuss it shortly.

This.

This thought of Not only walking before god. But walking worthy Before god. And not only walking worthy, but walking worthy In his kingdom and for his glory, so I do think that this would be a verse that we could certainly use to summarize if you will or capsulate the the essence or the essential character of the christian life.

And again, not excluding all the other things that are laid out for us, but certainly I do think.

Um.

That this would be One that we could certainly use. I would also say this that this verse And I know we our time will be abbreviated. But this verse is not only.

Um.

Full of Doctrinal truth, but there's there's a lot of practice in this verse and I want to try to draw that out. In other words if we can In a sense dissect what he's saying here I do think we will find that there is a lot of doctrine in this Verse and there's a lot of practice in this verse and and I did want to make that point to us that um that we understand that doctrinal truths And practical application of doctrinal truths are absolutely essential.

That they're bound together. If you think about how the epistles are structured. If you think about how certainly paul Does it and even the other writers in the new testament particularly paul? And you could pick any one of his epistles whether it be romans or or Colossians philippians ephesians all that you will find the structure of it is that First paul will lay out what?

Doctrine.

He'll set before us the truths That are essential for us to understand not only Intellectually but But within the person of our lives. And then After he lays out the doctrine, what does he do? He then says something like therefore and and you can almost see the dichotomy of doctrine Followed by what practice?

Because again friends you cannot truly rightfully Separate doctrine from practice. And so I hope that we can extract some doctrine and some practice again. They are very very similar now I also want us To look at a couple other verses in the new testament from the hand of paul that will Show that this was not only something that he desired for the church of thessalonica That they would have a worthy walk.

But that this was really again paul's one of paul's great desires. Having established the church had god's established the church through paul. Having established it spent time there and then moving on in his missionary journeys.

There was this great desire for paul to see the churches that He was used by god for to grow and not only to grow but to have A walk that was worthy. And so let me let me ask you to look at a couple verses in there right next to each other.

Basically look in ephesians chapter 4 for a second. And again, it follows the same pattern if you were to read the first three chapters of ephesians. You're going to see a lot of doctrinal truths. Certainly the great truths laid out for us concerning um the sovereignty of god and how god chose us and and those things but if you look at the very First verse of the fourth chapter as paul will now move into the practical side if you will Look at verse one.

I therefore the prisoner of the lord beseech you to have a walk worthy of the calling. Which you were called Basically very similar right to what he says to the church of thessalonica. Not only that if you flip over to colossians chapter one.

Again.

Different churches. And as I said paul had great affinity and affection for all the churches but If you look in in colossians and Verse nine he says for this reason We also since the day we heard of it speaking of their faith We do not cease to pray for you and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all wisdom.

And spiritual understanding and here it is verse 10 that you would have a walk worthy of the lord Fully pleasing him being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of god. See there it is again.

So it's not an isolated thing that he writes solely to the thessalonican church. But this whole idea of and keep it in your mind as we go through this For these few minutes together this thought of not only walking but of walking in a Worthy manner.

And we'll deal with that whole thought of what what does it mean to walk in a worthy manner? And how is it to be Demonstrated in our life, but nevertheless, it's there and and I want to add that many people have for many reasons have this thought that you know, you come to christ and Things go.

Many people have maybe this experience. They're on fire at the beginning.

Right.

And sometimes they fall away just like the power of the seed and the sower right. And four seeds uh four different soils, but. But inevitably there is I do think uh at times We're on fire for the lord.

And then by and by things cool down and we go through some trials and tribulations and Things come into our lives and and then all of a sudden we say well I'm, just not as fired up. Well, I want to say this that.

This.

Thought of walking worthy before god Is not optional. In other words, I do think some people think that Walking worthy or walking in a way that's well pleasing to god is something we do for extra credit.

I guess what there is no extra credit in the kingdom of god, right? We were sinners we were saved by the blood of christ. We're now adopted children of god and and we're accepted in the beloved not not because of anything.

You know ourself even his brother keith brought up uh in his message on sunday, but but this whole thought that some people think that this this worthy walk is something that's only for certain people and Um, it's not really an obligation it is.

I don't know of any other way to walk before god, honestly. And i'm not saying that I walk in in that worthy manner all the time. But but that ought to be the desire of our hearts because that's what paul wanted for this church that they would walk worthy that they would Do something in a way that was well pleasing to god.

And again, as I say it is it is if you will I believe it's the goal we ought to strive for. Let me read to you what paul says in philippians, you don't have to turn that he says I press towards the goal for the prize of the upward call of god in christ jesus to me much of that striving much of what paul was seeking to Accomplish was that he himself Would walk worthy of god.

And and you can imagine with all the burden that he had all the ministry that he had and all the ups and downs and and enemies and and all his trials and tribulations. It still was something for paul.

He desired to walk worthy before god. And friends I say to you that that is really.

Um.

Where we ought to be at? I thought of this verse in hebrews where it says that.

Um.

We have been made partakers of the heavenly calling. And i'm going to go back to that thought in just a few but if you go back to first thessalonians. Read that verse. That's what it says. You would have a walk worthy of god who calls you into his kingdom.

And.

Glory.

So with that in mind, let me just make a few points on some of the different Aspects of these words in this verse and the first one is he says that you. And again important to know who he's talking to right context and I do think in We might have to uh, you might not totally agree with me, but I do think when he says that you He's got a double thought in mind and i'm just gonna.

That one he's talking to the church as a body and I think I can prove that by saying that he his Opening words and even in the first chapter is how their testimony Had gone out through the whole area, right and that they had.

Uh.

Shown and demonstrated. That they were desirous to follow on and press on and know in the lord. So I do think when he says that you that not only does he have the church as a body in mind but I also think that he's talking to the individuals.

I hate spelling.

You can do it. Yeah. No, I can't. At least ann's not here. Ann would always say that's not right.

Um that he's talking to the individuals. Look and I do think if you think about it friends I do think that that is a real.

Uh.

Part.

Of walking worthy before god. In other words That a body a church body a local body. Now i'm not talking about the if you want to use the term the universal church. That's that's spread out through space and time that that's a different discussion I'm talking about and I do think the emphasis in the new testament Scriptures in the epistles is that they're directed to local churches.

And that that is where paul um spends most of his thought not to the exclusion of the universal church, but That you and I would realize that when he says that you so the charge is to both the church as a.

Body.

And.

The individuals which make up the body and that makes sense, right? Aren't we not also? Christ is what he's the cornerstone. We're built upon that. We're built upon the cornerstone and the foundation of the apostles and prophets and we're living stones in that temple.

So I certainly can see how this would apply and then we can actually You could defend this or promote this by what paul talks about in first corinthians when he talks about the body and and the head. And the different parts that make up the body.

So certainly he's directing this this exhortation to walk worthy to the body. Then also as individuals because if you think about it Christianity true christianity walking before god is a very individualistic thing, isn't it?

And that you and I Ought to keep these things in well-balanced and I do think this is where a lot of people miss the forest for the trees.

By the way.

That some people are so caught up in this that they neglect their own souls walk before god or the other way around that they're more concerned about this and.

This is.

This is like extra credit. If I do anything good in the body, it's extra credit. No, it's not. I don't believe it is that that christ died for who the church. What is the church comprised of? Individuals, so I do think that even just looking at these first two words that you can build upon that even this thought about the doctrine of the church and and how that is, uh to be understood.

That christianity has if you will a dual relationship. And and that's why and I thought of this verse where in philippians it says let your conduct. Philippians 1 27 you can look at it later if you want.

Let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of christ. And I say to you that a worthy walk is to be done Internally, and maybe I could do it that way that this to great extent. This is external. This is what people say When we gather together, right and this is also Internal that we we cannot neglect either one of these.

Back to your two rails. Yeah. Yeah, yeah, and and again.

If you.

Go off the rail. You're going to go into the ditch on one side or the other, right? The same thing is true in In many of the doctrines, but I did want to impress upon us the need for us to keep these things in perspective.

Because you know how you hear people say I don't need the church.

Yes, you do. Yes, you do.

I'm good with just me and god. No, you're not. Because he didn't just die for you. He died for the church. And that means that you are and then you can go. We could spend a whole lot of time just breaking off on that into the one and others.

Well, what does paul mean when he talks about exhort one another be long-suffering with one another. Love one another be compassionate to one another. Forgive one another. Uh, do not forsake the gathering together of one another.

I mean those those are just. Is that extra? No, that's part of the worthy walk. And many people neglect one for the sake of the other or Both and neither one of those are good, so. That's just the first two words Of verse 12 that you would have a walk and so let's move on a little bit.

I'm going to abbreviate some of my notes because again, I had an hour and a half to preach and a lot less time to go through tonight, but. And again, I don't usually do this. I just want you to know that.

Very very seldom. Do I use a message twice? I just don't do it. But this one was fresh in my mind and I just thought it I guess it's just been Floating around and so I thought maybe i'd bring it forth.

But it's interesting, isn't it how he then says this that you? We established hopefully that he's talking to Both the church and the individuals who comprise the church and then he says that you would have a walk.

And I thought about that and I stopped there for a minute and I thought about okay. Let's think about this for a minute. What is a walk? When I say walk What comes to your mind.

Conversational. What. Okay, um, bow-legged canter. I got gate recognition software. How about this?

And when you think about a walk It insinuates movement.

Right.

What else does it insinuate? Yeah, here's something I thought about it insinuates. Life. What. What determines the difference. What makes the distinction between animate and inanimate Movement. That's how we determine life, right?

And not only that but Within this thought of walk even for a bow-legged.

Saint.

There has to be this.

Progression.

I mean.

Yeah, it's okay to run on the treadmill. But you just looking at the same wall that you're looking at for an hour. I mean, there's no progression but one of the things about walking is there has to be.

It.

Demands Progression it demands movement. So when you think about that, sir, I don't say destination. Yeah, it's got good. John it's got a destination in mind or it's got a. We will use the word that paul used got a goal.

Right.

I mean, I don't know why those people get on those bicycles with those funny little suits and those Little klingon hats and drive and ride their bikes for miles and miles. But I guess they got a destination.

They got a goal in mind whether maybe I don't know. They usually end up at the same place they do and they wear those funny suits too.

Whatever.

I probably have offended half the bike riders in in northern florida, but nevertheless a worthy walk Is something that we do? In and even running. Because what is running? It's just quicker walking. Right if you break it down, it's it's still movement.

There's still Progression it still insinuates life and there still has to be a goal. Almost like forrest gump, right? He just got up that day and I just feel like running. Yeah, right he got san diego and he says well I think i'll just stop.

Movement progression. What's interesting is That this word walk is tied together with the very next word That you would have a walk worthy now i'm not.

A.

Grammar.

Uh guru.

But I do know the difference between an adjective and an adverb so an adjective describes A noun and the adverb describes a verb, right? Got through that.

But.

The adverb here is worthy. And and what he's doing is he's describing the walk. So in other words, it's giving character To the type of walk that paul is desirous to see this church. Follow through it that they would have a walk worthy of god.

And if you look up the root word of worthy it basically means That which is suitable well that which is appropriate or that which becomes us. So just think about it. We have been called and we'll spend a few minutes if we can on that.

We have been called out of darkness into light. And therefore we ought to have a suitable walk in our lives.

That.

Demonstrates.

That we are walking in a way of pleasing god it's not. It's not something that you can just say. Um, oh well, um. I'll give god, you know. This much of my time this much of my effort.

Uh.

A worthy walk really is a walk that's suitable. It's almost like what paul says in romans 12. Right, we present our bodies, which is the reasonable service of our minds, right? To to do that to follow the perfect.

Why. To glorify god. To give god the honor. To give god the glory. So again, a lot of this is driven by What really is the movement of our hearts. And again, the reason why I stress this whole idea of doctrine and practice is because many many people have much doctrine in their heads.

But.

Sometimes it goes no further than their heads. And it doesn't work its way out in the life and again doctrine without practice.

Is no.

No bueno. It's not right. It's not right. They go together. They're locked together. They're in union. Certainly as it was jesus always spoke the truth never spoke. Uh why never never spoke anything opposed to god and yet.

You look at the life of christ right and again doctrine practice and so this whole idea of walking worthy of god. And and and if you wanted to you could think about this this idea of how. This word worthy really means.

Um, as I said suitable or appropriate it really comes from the same word and and. If you think about it and one of the interesting things in the book of revelation if we ever get through it with brother.

Mike.

Um.

Is.

That that word worthy is going to come up a number of times in the book of revelation. Right and just think of this one. It says in revelation four worthy is the lamb who was slain to receive honor and glory, right?

Does it not? Become christ to receive all the honor. And all the glory and all the majesty. Yes, it's suitable for him. And guess what it's suitable for him alone. And that is the same root word that paul uses when he says that you and I.

As he's using the church at thessalonica to teach us that we ought to individually walk in a suitable manner. And that we also ought to walk as a body suitable and in a worthy manner. And again, I stress that idea of.

Um.

There really is no such thing as a lone ranger christian. I'm, not saying there aren't a lot of lone ranger christians but really there is. There's something wrong if you're a lone ranger christian. We ought to be united because again, we are one body in christ with the emphasis being on the local church.

And again, I realize in that day When we are all at his feet.

Then.

There will be a local church Right made up of every saint in space and time gathered together in one place because that's the whole point Of a church body the ecclesia. The called out ones is what? They are visibly gathered In a locality wherever that locality would be and so certainly here that locality happens to be.

Um at thessalonica, so. Not. It's the same word that's used to describe christ on how he is worthy and alone worthy suitable. And so Paul charges them and this is this is something to think about. Look what he says That you would have a walk worthy of god.

And again just stop for a minute and think it's not worthy of someone. It's not even worthy of something Worthy of god.

Listen.

It becomes us To walk in a manner that honors god. You know, a lot of people get caught up in um, I belong to so-and-so church. And and i'm not saying it's wrong i'm thankful and I tell people I belong to sovereign grace family church.

But there are some people that get take that to an extreme. Well, you know, I belong to So and so i'm not going to mention any because i'll probably get blasted for saying something but I belong to this church.

Or I belong to this denomination. You ever hear that one, right? I'm a baptist. I'm a presbyterian. I'm a methodist. I'm episcopalian. And then you ask him like well, how's your walk before the lord?

Oh.

I haven't been to church in 48 years, but you know, i'm a i'm an episcopalian. What do you what do you expect? This is listen friends. We are to walk worthy before.

God before the creator.

Before the one who sustains us. And I said this sunday in my prayer and I.

Say it again.

Just think about it we breathe god's air.

We eat god's food.

We behold god's majesty in the creation. I was reading this morning on my own in psalm 50 and it talks about how god knows every bird. On every mountain. That's who we are to walk worthy before the one Who who knows it all?

The one who is truly worthy. It becomes us to honor god with a worthy walk. We behold god's majesty. Listen god's given us relationships all these things that god has So generously poured out on us. And that's why I think paul says worthy of god.

Worthy of god because god is the only one right. Remember what he says. I will not share my glory with another. And so you and I ought to consider in our lives That this god that Calls us to walk worthy is not just the god of men's imaginations.

And you know, everybody's got a god. Even I know the fool has said in his heart. There is no god, but even the fool has to have a god to deny. And so there really is no one that doesn't believe in some kind of a god.

And they might very well be their own god or think they are their own god. But listen, we this is the true god. This is this is the god who has Who alone inhabits eternity? Can you imagine if we really set our minds on that that god has no beginning?

No end. God is never diminished. God has never increased. God has always been God. And I don't know about you, but to me that just Same yesterday today and forever. Who alone dwells in the light. What?

Paul says that no man can approach. That's who we are to walk worthy before. So again, it's not an issue of just to impress others.

Or.

Just to gain some sort of merit or extra credit. Listen. For the great love which he loved us Even when we were dead in sin and trespasses God so loved us That he called us out of the deadness of sin bondage that we were in.

Now I realized that if you were brought up in a christian house That might not appear as.

Pointed.

Because you have been surrounded by If you will the christian doctrine and christian practice.

But you.

And I and everyone Were as dead as lazarus was in the grave and god in his great because God was not obligated was it? God was not obligated to save us. God was not obligated to do anything for us. That's why it gets me so riled up when I hear people say.

And we're going to get into it shortly here just for a moment about this whole idea of the doctrine of election and calling. And and it's not fair. And and and. How could god do that save some and not save others.

And and and. My response is going to be the same until god takes me home. That's not the wonder the wonder is that god saves any of us, right? Right because none of us are worthy. None of us deserve an iota.

From god, we are the indebted ones to him. He's not indebted to us. It's all by his gracious provision. And it all comes to us through the savior who alone is worthy. Let me uh, um. Let me just read you.

You don't have to turn. Yeah, i'm gonna read something from revelation 5 and. Because here's my point. I want to show you how worthy this one is the lord. Jesus christ who is god come into flesh. And I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll written inside and on the back sealed with seven seals and I saw A strong angel proclaiming with a loud voice who is worthy to open the scroll and loose its seals.

And no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth was able to open the scroll or to look at it. And so I wept much. Because no one was found worthy to open and read the scroll or to look at it. One of the elders said to me do not weep.

Behold the lion of the tribe of judah the root of david has prevailed to open the scroll. And loose its seven seals. And I looked and behold in the midst of the throne and of the four living creatures.

And in the midst of the elders stood a lamb as though it had been slain. Having seven horns and seven eyes which are the seven spirits of god Sent out into all the earth and he came and he took the scroll.

Out of the right hand of him who sat on the throne. Now when he had taken the scroll the four living creatures and the 24 elders fell down before the lamb. Each having a harp and golden bowls of incense.

Which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a song saying you are worthy. To take the scroll and open the seals for you were slain And have redeemed us to god by your blood out of every tribe and tongue and people and nation Made us kings and priests to our god and we shall reign.

On the earth.

Friends. We ought to walk in a suitable manner in a way that becomes The grace of god because he is worthy of it from us. And when you think about and again, as I said to you, this was a charge that paul gave to Almost every church and I would say he did and you could probably dig out the scriptures and And find it in every single epistle that he wrote and not only that but it was paul's again.

It was paul's desire.

Listen.

You and I will Seek to walk in a way pleasing to god by the measure Of the grace that god gives us And the desire we have to out of a debt of love. Give back. Now people will say that's not true. Some people have this much and some people have that much and I realize that and god gives everyone a measure of faith.

But listen. Anyone who knows he's been slay saved from the prison house of sin Will out of a heart that is indebted in love give back to god. And give back to him freely and fully because it becomes Him to receive it.

Now, I only got a few minutes left. So I want to at least try to get this out. I want you to look at something. That you would verse 12 again that you would have a walk worthy of god who calls you Into his own kingdom and glory.

And I do think we need to settle here for a second.

Um.

Because I do think we would do great damage to this scripture not only to this scripture, but to to all that it Sets before us if we do not understand.