Book of 1 Thessalonians - Ch. 1, Vs. 1-10 (08/04/1999)

The Opening of 1 Thessalonians and Paul’s First Writings

All right, the study this morning begins the book of 1st Thessalonians Chapter 1 and eventually verse 1. This is the first Writings of Paul. It was written sometime between 52 and 53 AD. Greg that was a long time ago.

Let me repeat something for you that I said sometime ago, but If you're like me, you've forgotten. To live above with Saints. I love that will be glory. But to live below with some I know that's a different story.

A man may go to heaven without health wealth honor learning friends. But he can never go to heaven without Christ. Rome had a somewhat different policy With the captured people. It was different from other nations for example, it seems like We try to Americanize all the people throughout all the world as though that was the very best.

But Brian Rome was a little bit wiser. I think a City, which was a Roman colony gradually adopted The Roman laws custom and ways and this way these colonies would become very much like Rome in time. Thessalonica Was in the center or the heart of the Roman Empire and the chief city was Macedonia.

It was first named a Therma After the hot springs that are there. But in 316 BC Cassandra Who was one of the generals that divided up the Empire of? Alexander the Great he took Macedonia made Thessalonia his home base and He renamed renamed the city Therma in memory of his wife Thessalonica.

She Was a half-sister of Alexander. And the city is still in existence today but as it is now known as Thessalonica Thessalonica Thessalonica, I'll get it in a minute. Thessalonica. Paul established this church on his second missionary journey.

It grew swiftly. That is until the Jews stirred up the rabble rousers of the city. And they were after Paul and Silas. So that they had to flee by night and we have a record of that very briefly in Acts 17 33.

So Paul departed from among them. There was a problem in the church that Paul addresses in this epistle. It was divided into two sections. Joy, they had a Jewish church and a Gentile church and they both met separately.

It's thought now by some of the learned doctors that First Thessalonians was written to the Gentiles and second Thessalonians to the Jew starting now with verse 1. Paul and Sylvanius and Timotheus under the Church of the Thessalonians.

Faith, Love, and Hope in the Thessalonian Church

Which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace from God our Father. And The Lord Jesus Christ we give thanks to God always for you. Making mention of you in our prayers.

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith. Your labor of love and Patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of God our Father and our Father. Here we have the Trinity of graces. Can anybody pick it out in verse 3?

That's right faith. The work of faith is the response of the soul to the Word of God. You might want to make a note of that. I'm sure it will come up on a test later. The work of faith is the response of the soul to the Word of God.

When a man responds to faith or to the Word he Then walks by faith. When a man responds to the Word of God. He then walks by faith. A faith that is not being lived will make itself very clear. Also a faith that is being lived will make itself very clear.

You'll be able to see it in the life of the one that's living it as believers. We need to realize that the work of faith is acting on the Word. The work of faith is acting on the Word. Who knows what the work of God is?

Well turn to John 6 29. Let's see if we can determine. Jeannie do you see it? Tell us. Read the verse to me. That's as close as we can come to ever doing anything. And even that belief Brian has given to us.

Now we have faith we have love. Fred can you see love? Can you can you see you see love? All right. There's a difference. Can you see faith you can see faith? Alright, you can see the response of faith love.

The work of love. Let me give you an example. A small girl Was carrying a very heavy, baby. And a man passing by noticed that and said isn't that baby too heavy for you? What. I thought she was signaling something.

Yes, oh. Well, then I don't need to say it. A Little girl was carrying a very heavy, baby and a man passing by said isn't that? Baby too heavy for you. She said no, he's my brother. That's love. Not heavy you can be weary of work.

I think we'd all agree. But never weary of working. We're talking in reference to God go to Genesis 2 2, please. That's right. Yeah, that's an awesome verse isn't it. Hmm. This is the work you remember they had come to him and asked him what?

Can we do to inherit eternal life? And of course under the law they were. That this is all they knew and they always had to do something. But he said no the work of God is to simply believe on the one that has been sent.

Awesome Genesis 2 2. Now we we see in this verse something very striking in Comparison to us Greg. Would you read 2 2 for us? What's the difference in that and our work? Well, that's true, but there's something a little more potent.

He rested what? From his work on the seventh day. He rested from his work. What do we do? That's right. We rest in our work. We're never through. He finished all of the creation. Oh, no, no, no. But he had done all that he was going to do in the way of making everything and that was finished and he rested from It.

Living the Christian Life Without Mere Talk

Now someone else said something. You pretty much did say something. No, I think he's gonna allude to the same thing. Do you ever hear anyone say that? Well, I'm a dedicated Christian. Where I try to live the life that God wants us to.

Maybe we've said that ourself. That's wrong instead of trying to do it just do it. Instead of talking about it just do it when you were younger and I hope it was when you were younger. Either you would say or hear someone say boy when my ship comes in I'm gonna do this and do that or when I get rich.

I'll do this and that. Yes, just do it. No, we're not All right. No, no, no, no what I'm. The point I'm trying to make is and we'll get to you in a minute is that don't talk so much. There is. That's my biggest problem.

There is a satisfaction. That comes was just talking about what you're going to do. So don't do that because if you talk about what you're going to do and Then when it comes the opportunity to do it and you don't you have to go back and explain to everybody why you didn't do it whereas if you never talked about it and Whether you do it or do not do it.

You do not have to explain why. So just don't talk so much. We all like to talk and It's really not necessary now. Well when it does you plan to do great things, I'm sure. The point I was trying to get over was and I think Brian got close to it.

We we do not stand up and say I'm a dedicated Christian but You you take the attitude or that's the basis of your thinking that I'm a Christian and Better than so-and-so. Just just be what you not what you claim to be just be what you are and The let the people decide then whether you're dedicated Christian or not.

That's not for us. We Fred can we and I'm not picking on you, but you're so obvious to me this morning. Can you make an unbiased decision concerning anything. Well, maybe joy can. Is there anyone here that can make an unbiased decision.

That's right. So no one can make an unbiased decision. Can God if he had to make decisions that they would be totally unbiased and he tells us that over and over so Every decision we make is biased now.

We have to make decisions, but just I want you to know that. You're starting out with a handicap. Now we come to the word hope. I like the term assurance for myself. Because we know we are his and Because we know we have eternal life and because we know he will never leave us.

We have this assurance that Someday soon We will leave all of this and be forever with him. The assurance of that. Go to Hebrews 13 5, please. Not that I think I have to explain but I hope you don't mind me having a little coffee up here it helps my throat and I'm gonna have to talk a lot today, so.

That's the reason for it Hebrews 13 5. Brian read it to me. I Like the amplified of that and I meant to bring mine this morning, but it has a Triple Negative in it where it says here. I will never leave you.

He says in it. I will not. I will not. I will not ever under any Circumstances ever leave you. If you have access to an amplified Bible I would like for you to look up Hebrews 13 5 and read it. Because it is tremendous.

So he has promised us. He will never leave us. Can we sin so Humongous a sin that God stops loving us. Verse 4. Knowing brethren and beloved your election of God and there it is. The people of Thessalonica knew that they were elected by God.

Why is why do so many Christians have such a problem with that today. I Think it's because over the last hundred years 75 years We've been brainwashed into thinking that God loves everybody therefore He's just waiting on people to accept him.

The Power of the Gospel and the Holy Spirit

Verse 5. For our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance that as you know. What manner of men we were among you? For your sake. Not for my sake, but for your sake.

We were of a certain type. He what he's saying is that we're just human. We're humans just like you. All we can do is say words. But we gave out the Word of God and his word even spoken by me Is powerful, I believe the inerrant Word of God can cause a penetration into your heart and life.

In such a way that it will change your heart and life. And it is the Word that does it. To teach the Word of God is not to just relate mere facts. That's one reason I could never lecture to me that borders on just facts.

But to use the unseen power that lies within these words. Now Greg, we don't put the power there. It is there in the Word. You cannot see it. You cannot buy it. You cannot gain it by education. It's in the Word.

Without the Holy Spirit. The gospel is merely words. It is the Holy Spirit. That makes it powerful while we're talking about the Holy Spirit. There was a discussion Friday night in early part of class.

Before everyone got there and it was concerning Jesus is leaving his station in heaven and coming to earth and He left his prerogative in heaven. What does it mean his prerogative? That the prerogative means he has Like school principal.

It was his prerogative to do certain certain. He had the power to do it. He left all of that in heaven and he came to earth born of a woman Without man and Everything he did while he was on earth was by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Now, let's be sure you understand the indwelling spirit and the power of the spirit power of the same spirit. There's only one Holy Spirit. Before the crucifixion Jesus at one time in the upper room. I think it was Anyhow, it was just his disciples and he breathed on them and say said receive ye the Holy Ghost.

That was the indwelling spirit. And at that moment they received the indwelling of the Holy Spirit. Then a little bit later. He told the same group to wait in Jerusalem until The Holy Spirit comes with power.

It's not a different spirit. It's the same spirit, but it was with power and that was at Pentecost. We all have the indwelling Holy Spirit those that are born again that belong to him. We have the indwelling Holy Spirit then at times When it is necessary the power of that spirit is available.

When we are studying when we are Devoting our life when we are walking in the spirit pleasing to God. We are exercising our gift and it is the power of the spirit that does it. It is the Holy Spirit that does it and the power Then makes it possible for you to do things That you perhaps never thought of.

That you would never do any other way. It is by the power of the spirit. I'm not talking about raising the dead or laying on the hands. I'm simply Saying that speaking from my own experience there have been Statements that I have made in classes Brian that I never thought of before had never heard them until I spoke them.

That is the power of the Holy Spirit. Because it was needed at that time. Affection or affliction, excuse me and joy Are about as far apart as the East is from the West. Would you not agree with that affliction and joy.

Yet there have been countless Saints Who have endured tragedy and at the same time had the joy of the Lord in their heart. Only God can do that. Find if you can or if you dare a person today that is enjoying the world's entertainment and Suffering for God at the same time you won't find one.

Becoming an Example to Others Through Suffering and Witness

Now we come to verse 6. And ye became followers of us and of the Lord. Having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost. So that ye were in samples to all that believe in Macedonia and Acacia.

This morning I brought An illustration. I'll have to move away from the microphone a little. This word in sample. It's not a word that we see very often. And I'll have to move up here. Not table down.

And in sample is not strictly an example. And in sample is this I take the head of the nail and of course, you know, it has left the impression of the head of that nail. That is an example and in sample.

Is the results that are seen? After the object has been struck with a die. By the force of a heavy object. You take a die in that case. It was the nail. He says In seven so that ye were in samples Six and you became followers of us and the Lord having received the word in much affliction With joy of the Holy Ghost that made an ensample out of them.

They they had the very impression upon their life That came with a heavy blow in sample. Would that we were all in samples. Greater than example any questions. Any thoughts? I don't want to rush through this verse 8.

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. The reputation of these people Had gone throughout all the Roman Empire.

Brian that's a great testimony to the life that they were living. I Would that the same thing would happen to everyone here in this church? That by quietly going about our duty in obedience unto God. We leave an impression on the world.

Yes. But do we know when we leave this impression, let me tell you a story I don't think I've told you before but just a simple little act a Very close friend of ours in Dallas had retired from a telephone company and when we know him only after he had retired, but I I don't know exactly what his position was.

But every time they had a banquet or anything, he was required to be there and they always served liquor. Well, he wouldn't drink liquor but He would give him a Coke bottle he drank Cokes what he'd do and he never thought anything about it, it's just that he was not going to drink their liquor and He wanted to be able to join in the conversation so forth and have something in his hand like they did only it was a coke very simple.

Years later another retired telephone employee told him that He went home from that meeting. When he saw Mac doing that and he said he told his wife that if Mac can do that I can too. And from that moment on he started doing the same thing.

And he said because of that I got active in our church and today I'm a deacon working for the Lord in the church. Because Mac refused to follow the crowd. We never know folks what I'm saying. Simple little things that we do or that we do not do almost unconsciously sometimes.

That's why it's so important that your way of life be Christian verse 9 for they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you and how ye turn to God from idols to serve the living and true God and To wait for the Son from his Son from heaven.

Whom he raised from the dead even Jesus. Which delivered us from the wrath to come. What does the word wrath mean? Roger I haven't heard from you this morning. What's wrath mean? Someone help him out.

Anger what? Why no he did wrath. The wrath of God would be what? Judgment now. It delivers us from the wrath to come. This can mean to to take us out of a current distress or to exempt Us from entering into distress.

Or it can refer to God's temporal wrath to come on the earth or to God's eternal wrath. I Think it applies to all of them. I think that God and his wisdom will deliver us from wrath and By that I do not mean that he will take away everything that Causes us distress because it's only by distress that we learn.

But it will never never overcome us never. Is that I will never subject you to anything that you cannot handle or bear. Paul did not come to them preaching against idol worship. Very important that you understand that.

Or how wrong it is to worship idols. He didn't do that. He preached and taught the Word of God only when they received salvation. They automatically turned from idols. All we must do Fred is teach the Word.

Just the Word it has power itself. I have an illustration. Each one of you hold your hand up in front of you with the palm of your hand towards you. Now that wasn't difficult. Now turn it around to where the back of your hands towards you now.

Simple illustration. But when you turned it around did you not turn the palm away from you? So When you come to Christ you automatically turn away from sin. Now we still sin, but we're disconnected from the old sin nature.

No longer are we a servant of Satan? We do not need to spend time teaching all of the evils in the world. If you really want to fill this house then we could Put ads in the paper or whatever that we're going to have an extended school on cults.

The ins and outs of all of the cults and I guarantee you there'd be people come Out of curiosity if nothing else. But joy, we don't need to do that. We need to teach the truth. Yes. That's Exactly right when you go to Federal school for counterfeiting you never see a counterfeit bill.

Never. All you see are real ones. So if you learn the real one, you'll recognize the counterfeit. So you see all we need to do is teach the truth, right? That's all. We could get bogged down forever in teaching all about all of the cults in the world and It's fascinating, but it's fascinating to the flesh not to the spirit.

Yes, well, it's it. Let me give you a firsthand experience. I have a Sister and her family that are Jehovah Witnesses. To live in the state of Washington to visit them. At least in this particular family.

You would never know that they were Jehovah Witness. It was as Christian Appearing home as I was ever in. But we're told some specific things in the Bible that we are not to spend time with those people at all.

Even down to wishing them a good day. You're not to do that. Now that sounds hard and sounds immoral. But it's the truth. First of all, we cannot persuade them and they're not looking for that the only thing that I have learned is to ask them why their prophecy didn't come true and they prophesied so many times at the end of the world is coming and Leave it at that, but I will not spend any time with him whatsoever.

You can say that's wrong. That's hard. But for me, it's right. You have to do what you think is, right? But know this. You're not going to convince them with the word with the Bible and they're not looking for that.

In fact, if you slam the door in their face, they rejoice. Because they get points for that. They work on a point system. Getting back to that's right. Oh, yeah. It'll all. I went to one faith healing minute meeting one time shortly after we were married and it was because her older sister was involved with the people and If I was to call his name, you'd know very well who it is.

He still had it but Come the time. This is digressing a little bit. But it points out just what he was saying come time after the main service when he was going to Heal everybody and Everybody's supposed to bow and have their eyes closed.

Well, you can guess what I did. But he had them all line up is in a tent on a dirt. Had them all line up and he sat in a folding chair right here on the rostrum and they would come one by one and He would lay his hands on and pray.

And one time I just nearly had to laugh out loud, but He prayed for demons to leave this person and he grabbed his chair and hopped over and says, oh there goes one. And then he did it again the other way and there goes to it was quite a show.

But people would come. The tent was just crowded with people. Because it appeals to the flesh and that's what the cult does for enough time about cults. Well. Then I must reinforce everything we've said with this one statement.

Teaching the Truth Instead of Chasing Cults and Sin

Next Christmas if you have any small children. And a few adults will do this. They have some packages. They're all excited about The presence they're going to get and if I want you to watch them as. They tear it open to see what it is and they'll look at it and then they'll look for another package and when they get Them all open.

They're still looking for another package to tear open. It's not the possession. That's the Anticipation of getting something and that's just human nature. The anticipation is where the excitement is.

All right. So we do not need to spend any time teaching all of the evils if we just teach the truth. Go to Matthew 6 33. Brian read that to me. But you see first the kingdom of God. You remember the little illustration I had once of a Poster and a flower pot and a lot of different things on it and told you to pick out one.

I guess we need to do that again sometime. Many people think they're saved. And have repented. Because they shed a lot of tears. Is that what brings salvation? We're not saved because we shed tears. No place in the Bible.

Does it tell us that we have to weep In order to be saved. That would be by works of crying. One last illustration. I was reminded of a story about a small boat that was Plying the Mississippi River hauling freight back and forth.

Real small boat. And Fred had had a little bitty boiler. How many of you ever heard a steam whistle, I'm sorry those days are gone but this boat. Especially if it's going upstream carrying a load was in trouble when it blew the whistle because they had an enormous whistle.

And it took all of the power to blow the whistle. A lot of people today have too large a whistle and too small a boiler. They have it everything in the window and nothing on the shelf. It's all for show.

So a man does not turn from sin. What does he do? That's right. Turns to Christ. By turning to Christ you turn away from sin. We don't have to Preach sin. All right, we're gonna stop here. Is there any Thing anybody would like to say I'll preach against sin.

Yes. Well, I'll say this. Let me say this. We still do not have to preach Against sin. Now we do and that's right. But we do not have to spend a whole lot of time preaching against sin if we teach the truth.

And what's wrong in churches today? They're not teaching the truth. There is a balance but if We've gotten so lax and everything when it comes to the discipline of the church the teaching of the truth in the church and I still say that if we would just teach the truth and Make the people aware that they know what they're not supposed to be doing.

So just stop it. Brian you want to say something?