Book of 1 Thessalonians - Ch. 2, Vs. 1-20 (08/15/1999)

You can come back to your seat in the book of 1st Thessalonians we went through chapter chapter 1. Starting with chapter 2. I have a question for you. Does the Holy Spirit Overcome the enmity against God.

No. What does it do? It corrects. Turn to John 3 7. Read it out loud Greg when you find it All right the enmity against God Exists in the flesh. We must be born again. We have a new nature new spirit new life.

So the Holy Spirit does not overcome The enmity against God. He simply gives us a new life. Has nothing to do with the enmity against God the flesh still holds it. Now I have an assignment for you that You'll have about two weeks on and it is this.

Jesus died on the cross was placed in the tomb and Spent three days now, please understand that the Jews Counted any part of a day as being a full day so he was placed before six o 'clock one evening and Was absent from sight for all of the next day and then arose on the third day.

That's how they get to three days. But What I want you to research is what? Did he do during those three days? Did he just lay in the tomb or? Was there some activity that he performed? So I want you to research the law for the high priest in the tabernacle.

The High Priest, the Atonement Offering, and Christ in the Tomb

Now What did he do immediately after he finished with the once a year atonement offering? At the brazen brazen altar and the scripture is as follows. Leviticus 16 3 1613 excuse me 13 14 15 16 17 and 18 and 19.

Leviticus 16 13 through 19. Well, that's not all. 13 through 22 Will be all-inclusive. Then Luke 23 42 and 43. And Ephesians 4 8. Now, let me go over all of this one more time. An assignment I'm giving you that is due two weeks from today.

Is Write down a very short paragraph describing the actions of Jesus after he was placed in the tomb. Your scripture reference is Leviticus 16 13 through 16 22 plus Luke 23 Verses 42 and 43 and Ephesians 4 8.

Are there any questions about the assignment is. And I want just a short paragraph. I don't want an epistle any questions. Yes. Does the Holy Spirit overcome the enmity against God. Commerce only because we're in Jesus.

He's the overcomer. But the enmity against God still exists in the flesh. And he did not overcome it. He simply give us a new life make garden. Well, let's not get things. Mixed up we receive power to do lots of things.

And it is the Holy Spirit that gives us that power in Christ. But the question was did the Holy Spirit overcome the enmity against God. And back in Genesis 3 14 or 15 he makes the statement I will place enmity Between thee and the woman between thy seed and her seed and the state of enmity exists between the flesh and God.

We're not in the flesh any longer. We're born again. We are not sinners. As being in the flesh we still sin once in a while, but we're not sinners anymore. So he did not overcome the enmity that was in our life.

He gave us a new life. The enmity still exists between the flesh and God. Any questions about the assignment? Fine, then I will expect a short paragraph from everyone. Chapter 2 in the book of 1st Thessalonians.

Paul’s Ministry in Thessalonica Was Not in Vain

He says for yourselves brethren know our entrance in unto you that it was not in vain. Greg what would it mean to be in vain? Having no purpose to be empty. We did not come to you with advertised entertainment.

We did not declare to you something. That was like a novel. It was not a theory or our philosophy. We came to you with the Holy Word of God verse 2 but even after that we had suffered before and We're shamefully entreated as you know at Philippi.

We were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. Now Debbie it would seem to me That it would have been much easier for Paul If he had rationalized the situation and decided it would be better To be more careful to win friends and influence people.

Than it would to be run out of town, but the soft sell was not Paul's way. I Don't think it should be in presenting the gospel. Know this folks That the greatest sermon that you shall ever ever preach is your life as you live it in Christ, it's more powerful what you do than what you say.

Because You you know to a certain extent who hears you. But we never know who sees us verse 3 for our exhortation was not a deceit. Nor of uncleanliness. Nor in guile. Greg what is guile? All right? But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel.

Even so we speak not as pleasing men, but God which triath our hearts. Now if you look at first Thessalonians 2 for in the original Greek The word allow is really appointed. But as we were appointed of God To be put in trust with this gospel, and it was not to please men.

Brother David I Know you're still weak, but maybe I can answer ask you one question. Just off of the top of your head and just in this town. How many or what percentage of the sermons that will be preached today around 11 o 'clock.

That will be designed to please the congregation. What a tragedy the supreme purpose of our life should be not to please men, but what? To please God. Is it possible to please God great? He has revealed his will to us so it is possible to please God.

To please man is impossible as it's impossible to please all men. It is almost as impossible to please one man. Even God himself did not please all man. How blessed is the truth. That it is easier to please God than it is to please man.

What. Yes, why is it true that is. More possible to please that's poor English. Why is it possible to please man please God instead of man? What makes that? What? All right, there's another big reason.

That's it. Man-changes fluctuates every time you see them. God does not. I'd like for it to really sink into us this morning. Well I'm having a hard time hearing. That's right. And He'll take care of all of it.

What I want us to really understand the best of our ability today is that God has never changed Brother Fred. He's exactly the same today as he was before eternity if that's possible. He never changes in any fashion at all.

If he did we would not exist verse 5 for neither at any time used we flattering words. As you know nor a cloak of covetousness as God is our witness. He involves God in this statement. Nor of men sought we glory.

Neither of you nor yet of others. When we might have been burdensome as the Apostles of Christ, but we were gentle among you. Even as a nurse and the word nurse here as reference to a nursing mother. Being gentle and cherishing her children.

So being affectionately desirous of you. We were willing to have imparted unto you not the gospel of God only. But also of our own souls because you were dear unto us. That's a wonderful statement. Paul intended more than just to Preach the Word of God.

He expressed his own feelings toward these people. That's the way it should be. Let's talk about flattery for just a moment, what does flattery do to you as the receiver? Inflates. What. It also confuses.

Because you really don't know what to say our friends brother David lots of times or. More dangerous than our enemies. God pity the church or the work of God that must depend upon men who require flattery and Compliments before they give their support to the work.

They might as well not give it a cloak of covetousness. Not money covetousness. This is a cloak of many colors. There are men who covet. Honor fame position. Each one of us need to search our hearts and uncover anything that would lead to that.

Again, flattery is like a very very thin worn-out cobweb. It won't even catch a fly. It becomes easier to bear our afflictions when we know the good success of our ministry. But that can be accomplished without flattery.

Don't brag on individuals brag on God when a teacher or preacher or worker knows the Success of what he's doing. It puts new spirit in the ministry. Puts new life to the message. And he becomes more active.

In the Lord, it's a killing thing for a student to turn away from the teaching. And I've had one. Perhaps more but I know of one. And it hurts verse 9 for ye remember brethren our labor and travail for laboring night and day.

Because we would not to be chargeable unto any of you we preached on you the gospel of God. What does he mean? Joy by working night and day. Truly, what do you think? That is true, dude. No, not truly.

Dennis who's that sitting by you? This one, oh, I didn't see him. I thought she was here by herself. Is it Roger. What do you say. I Give up. I've forgotten the question now. Well, what does it mean here when Paul says they work night and day.

Well, that's what it seems like it would mean but you have to know Paul you have to know what he did go back. For you remember brethren our labor and travail. For laboring night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you.

Paul supported himself. He took nothing from the churches. Wherever he went he found work usually as a tent maker. And that's what he means. And in verse 9, he gives a brief statement to that fact he doesn't talk about it much.

He did not let his personal upkeep stand in the way of his teaching the Word of God. Boy, I think that is really something. It's my belief that all preachers should do the same today. I'm so thankful that our pastor proves this point.

I must confess something. I Don't guess I have to but I'm going to. For years I have taught this very same idea that I thought every preacher ought to have to work in the world first of all to keep them from becoming isolated from people.

And you know when we joined out here when we came out here. I Found a preacher that did exactly that and I almost resented it it was such a shock such a change and Such a different way of operating and yet it was the same thing.

I've been teaching. How do you explain that? I can't. Yes. But it is absolutely true. But Paul never received any honorary degrees. He had pure motives all degrees are man-made by the way. I've never found in the Bible any place where Jesus was addressed as Dr. Christ.

Walking Worthy of God’s Kingdom and Glory

Verse 10 ye are witnesses and God also how Holy and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believed. Again he calls on God to witness this. As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged.

Every one of you as a father does his children that Ye would walk worthy of God. Who has called you into his kingdom and glory? Walk worthy. Debbie help me understand that. What's it mean? Walk worthy of God.

Someone else what? Live well that doesn't help me understand much.

In the physical world in the world. What they do reflects upon the name of the family. Absolutely. Proverbs says the child left alone will make his mother ashamed. God never leaves his children alone and so Paul is just saying that we should walk worthy of the name that we carry.

I must. Again I don't have to but I will. Something that I found out about my grandfather. Not very many years ago. I never met the man. Mother and dad just never talked about the past family any so I knew nothing.

But they and I were going through some old papers that we had accumulated after mother passed away. And we found a letter from my grandfather. And be I don't remember to whom he addressed it. But in the letter He had stated that He had been married the second time after grandmother died.

He found him another woman. But he said in the letter that the next morning he took her back. Because she. Because she was not worthy to bear the name of Fisher. Now, he didn't go into explanations. But I remember those words she was not worthy to bear the name of Fisher.

We bear the name of God. In his son Christ, we must walk worthy we must Must show to the World This name of Christ. That it is something to uphold. And then he goes on and says that God is one has called you unto his kingdom and glory.

Who can tell me the true meaning of the word kingdom. Or then I'll call on someone. Greg, oh, that's pretty good. As the word kingdom is used in the New Testament, it can be reduced to one word. What.

Authority the word kingdom always means authority. And of course, it's the authority of God. He were called in to his authority. Take heed of backsliding. Walk not as those in darkness but walk in light.

For this cause also thank we God without ceasing. Because when you receive the Word of God, which you heard of us. You received it not as the Word of men. But as it is in truth the Word of God which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Effectually. Greg, what does that mean? Produces a result. Isaiah 55. What is it. David 11. Somebody look that up. Really? It shall accomplish that for which I purpose it. For ye brethren became followers of the churches of God which in Judea are in Christ Christ Jesus for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen.

Even as they have of the Jews. Fred can we expect to suffer? As long as we live in this world. Yes, we as Christians for Christ's sake. I believe that 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and their own prophets and have persecuted us and They pleased not God and are contrary to men.

Now, please understand something. Even though it says who has killed the Lord Jesus. They thought they had and it's written from their viewpoint of thinking no one killed the Lord Jesus. He gave his life.

He released his soul back to the Heavenly Father himself. And if anyone slew him it was God the Father 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved. This was a situation That is hard to believe.

Remember this church had two churches we in one. One was the Gentile Church. The other was Jewish Church and they both met at separate times in the same facility. Wherever that was. But they'd have nothing to do with each other.

This was the way of life with the Jew and the Gentile from time immemorial almost so. They've carried it over into the church and still they'll have nothing to do with each other and they would forbid.

The Judaizers now would forbid Paul and his group to even speak to the Gentiles. That they may be saved to fill up their sins always for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost the Judaizers. But we brethren being taken from you for a short time in presence.

He has such a strange way of saying things. He says we've been gone now for a while. Not in heart though Endeavored the more abundantly to see your face with great desire Debbie with great desire. He wanted to see them again.

He wanted to look in their eye. Do you realize how important that is? I? Was thinking one time as we were flying to Idaho to visit with her sister and husband and all of the family up there. That here we were.

Wanting to go to Idaho and we were in the plane going. And Then I decided no, it wasn't that we wanted to go to Idaho. We wanted to go and visit Ina and Ed and then the thought come no, that's really not the reason.

We want to go and be with them personally close and see them. But then that was not really the reason either. And it finally come down to the fact. I wanted to look in their eyes. I Wanted to see their eye when I spoke to them.

We don't think much about that. But it's extremely important. And getting more so to me since I can't see me on about the fourth row but To look in someone's eye, which is the window of the soul. I Think Fred the older you grow in the Lord.

And the more sensitive we become to the influence the Holy Spirit. The more we're able to discern the spirit and even thoughts of that person by their eye 18 wherefore we would have come unto you even I Paul once and again, but Satan hindered us for what is our hope our joy and our crown of rejoicing.

Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming. I discovered something about myself this week and I don't mean to be talking about myself all of the time and I hope I don't anymore but I've read a great many books after the great minds of People in the world and I have several books in my library.

My study but brother David the older I get and the more I see joy. The only place I can find it is in God's Holy Word. None of the rest of it means anything to me anymore. Just his word. We're a little early, but I'm going to close with this statement and then I hope you have some questions.

Satan Cannot Be Persuaded by Man

Can Satan be Persuaded. Can Satan be persuaded. Anyone can answer. Then you would have to answer. Yes. Got one. Yes. Got a yes to know in the same family. Got a yes, and I know in the same family. What do I mean by what.

Yes got another no. Jesse. What? No, you can just answer yes or no. The reason comes later. Can Satan be? Persuaded by man. He cannot be persuaded. Now comes Fred's explanation of it. Say. His purpose is to overcome Christ really, all right.

That's true, but don't ever think you can persuade Satan because you cannot. All right, are there any questions about the lesson this morning. Well, that's commanding we can command them. Because. Someone else someone else said something.

I want to find.

We should pray to the Lord himself. Talk to say that's why I.

The only thing we can do is in Christ. We can do nothing on our own. I hope none of us are still at the level of thinking Satan made me do this. That's right. I mean You're right, certainly they don't understand that's right.

Well Man is incurably trying to blame others. Never himself. Yes, and if you ever played tennis and you missed the ball, you look at the racket. Let's stand and we'll be dismissed. Whenever you do anything, it's because you want to Stand with me and I'll ask Greg to dismiss us, please.