As we see in reading these two verses (1,2) here in ch. 3, Paul was not concerned about his own state of affairs, rather his concern was for their faith. In fact he was so concerned that he sent Timothy to establish and encourage them in their faith. Look at what he says in the first five verses of this third chapter: Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, And sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For in fact we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. For this reason when I could no longer endure it I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you and our labour might be in vain."
But Paul is encouraged by the good report brought to him by Timothy. Read 4:8 from the epistle to the Philippians. IT says if there be ...a good report. Timothy brought a good report....look at verse 6 here in 1st. Thess. ch. 3:"But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also you" (look at the end result) "therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith." Paul says "we were comforted". A good report brings comfort. It should cause us to rejoice when we hear of others who are faithful in their walk with the Lord, whether it is an individual or another church or a ministry. When we submit a request for prayer for an individual or a congregation that we are not especially familiar with, we should still have that same compassion and take them on our hearts and call upon the Lord on their behalf.Read chapter 3.down to and including verse 10
About Me
Friday, January 28, 2011
Thursday, January 27, 2011
lesson 4, 1st. Thess.Established in holiness
1st. Thessalonians 3:1-13. Read these 1st. verses 1-13. Chapter 3 talks about Paul's concern for the church at Thessalonica...he is concerned that they may become discouraged and lose heart because of the tremendous persecution that he faced and because they were separated from the apostle. They longed to see him just as much as he longed to be there with them. Paul had suffered much from the Jews at Phillipi and it seemed that the persecution had followed him to Thessalonica and continued to harass them there. See verse 2 of chapter 2 in this first epistle. In fact let's go back in our Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 16 and also Acts 17, verses 1-10. Better still read the entire account and understand that this is the persecution he alludes to in his epistle to the Thessalonian church. Whether persecution is a direct personal attack or our faith as a whole, our belief systems in general, it is still persecution. Whether it is the media trying to bring reproach by ridiculing Christians or some so-called comedian it is still persecution.And Paul wrote to Timothy and said to that young preacher"all who live Godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.Peter about this suffering for Jesus in 1 Peter 4:12-14. James also speaks about the various trials in ch. 1 verses 2-4....count it all joy. Paul lets us know that persecution is the norm for a Christian . Paul let them know that they as well as us today can
expect persecution. See verses 1-5 of chapter 3. But he was concerned about their faith and if they had lost heart, verse 5. We should be thankful tonight for those who come across our pathway those who pastor us and teach us and become mentors Read Ephesians 4:11-13.
In this passage in Eph. we see why He gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers...it was for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry...that was number 1.
In one place he describes himself as a nursing mother cherishes her children...verse 7 in chapter 3 and back in chapter2, he is a father charging his children. And that charge was and still is to walk worthy of our calling. It is to walk... walk worthy of God.
The next entry will be Paul's concern for their faith.
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.Peter about this suffering for Jesus in 1 Peter 4:12-14. James also speaks about the various trials in ch. 1 verses 2-4....count it all joy. Paul lets us know that persecution is the norm for a Christian . Paul let them know that they as well as us today can
expect persecution. See verses 1-5 of chapter 3. But he was concerned about their faith and if they had lost heart, verse 5. We should be thankful tonight for those who come across our pathway those who pastor us and teach us and become mentors Read Ephesians 4:11-13.
In this passage in Eph. we see why He gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers...it was for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry...that was number 1.
In one place he describes himself as a nursing mother cherishes her children...verse 7 in chapter 3 and back in chapter2, he is a father charging his children. And that charge was and still is to walk worthy of our calling. It is to walk... walk worthy of God.
The next entry will be Paul's concern for their faith.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
1 Thessalonians ch. 2 verses 8-20 Lesson 3:starts here
Last time we met we referred to this part here in verse #8 where the apostle said, “ we were well pleased not only to impart to you the Gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”(read verses 8-20) 1 Thessalonians 2:8-20 (New King James Version)
8 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 had become dear to us. 9 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 preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged[a] every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
These apostolic messengers, these gospel preachers were ready and willing to give their own lives for these to whom they were preaching to. They loved them that much. That is the love of God. God will give you and I a love for souls and as we give of ourselves to them and to the preaching of the Word, that love will increase, whether we are doing the preaching or supporting those who do. That is why we support missions. The Gospel of God is none other than what Paul preached, amen? It is the preaching of the cross,” Christ and Him crucified” is it not? That is the same message that works today and it is the only gospel message…..there is only one gospel and Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, believers, chapter 1 verse 8, “even if we , or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” The Jews in Galatia were being called to another gospel. Paul states emphatically that there is only one gospel, and it is the one he preached, the gospel of God. It is “Christ in you the hope of glory” Col. 1:27 1 Tim. Says, “Jesus Christ, our hope. He is our hope tonight. Our hope of eternal salvation, Amen? Our hope is in Him. It is a hope that purifies. As we hope in Him we want to live for Him. It causes us to examine our hearts. And over the next few weeks I pray that we shall do that as we look further into these epistles. These are two great epistles. The writer of these two letters said in verse 4, “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” Haven’t we tonight been entrusted with this same gospel? As the church of the living God, the bulwark and ground of the truth? The pillar and ground of the Truth? That’s what it says in 1 Tim. 3:15 (read it) The church of God is the pillar and ground of the Truth. This church of the living God.
The message of the gospel is not some way to get rich quick, it is not to send your offerings to some televangelist to give you a formula for success. It is the message of the cross…Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, amen? That is the Gospel of God! He came to die. And we should die tonight, we should die to the desires of this old sinful nature, which we call dying to the flesh. I need to die everyday, Paul said “I die daily”
Die to the lust of the flesh…you can find all kinds of excuses for the lifestyle you choose, but if it is sin, there is no excuse. We have to die to it. Chad preached it a couple of weeks ago from Col. Ch. 3 and those first 3 or 4 verses go like so: If you then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God.2/ Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth. 3r/ For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Then moving down to verse 5, this same gospel writer, entrusted with the gospel says, “mortify (put to death) your members which are on the earth: and he lists some of these things here; fornication(illicit, illegal) sex, to put it bluntly and I am speaking about sex outside of the marriage bonds, equivalent adultery , you can read the rest there from Col. 3.
In 1 Thessalonians verse 9, chapter 2, again Paul refers to it as “the Gospel of God. ”We refer to it most of the time as the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so the reference to the Gospel of God is right because we know that Jesus is God. It is also referred to as the Word of God and he reminds the church there of the manner and the way they behaved in bringing this glorious gospel to them. He tells them here in verses 10 and 11 that they are witnesses, and God is witness also how devout they were, and they acted justly and blamelessly, in other words their behavior in delivering the gospel was above board and they exhorted and comforted and charged them as a father does his own children and the charge was that they walk worthy of GOD. The God who calls you into His own kingdom and His own glory. Hallelujah!
How important it is if we are going to share the gospel with somebody and as a Christian your very walk and talk is already sharing the gospel with them, that you walk worthy of your calling, of your Christian life. And this is the reason that we thank God without ceasing! Because when you heard the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. My dear missionary evangelist friend Dr. George Kutty looked me straight in the eye and he said, “brother Randall, I am convinced after40 years of preaching and after many years of study, that all of our human efforts, all our degrees, our personalities, our talents are as nothing.” He said I am convinced that the only way that we can change anything is as we preach the pure Word of God.” The pure unadulterated Word of God. What else is there that is different and speaks to the heart. What else can change a heart and set a life on the right course?
There is a point I want you to see concerning the rapture or the catching away of the church and the fact that it is the first part of the second coming of Christ our Lord. In the first chapter of the first epistle of Thessalonians, the tenth verse, it says, “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus (notice he takes great pains here to identify that it is Jesus),who delivers us from the wrath to come Then when you look ahead to chapter 3 verse 13 it says, “so that He may establish your hearts before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints.” Now if these folks, like us, are told to wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to come from heaven to deliver us from the wrath which is to come, which we believe is the great tribulation period, and over in verse 13, of chapter three it tells that He is coming “with His saints… something has to take place in between! It is the rapture of the church, amen? And we shall be caught away, caught up into heaven. We see the rapture taking place in the book of the Revelation in chapter four just after Jesus has sent the message to the seven churches. Verse 1 “After this I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven! As I read these verses in Rev. 4, all of them, I realized that I was diverting some from the text of tonight’s lesson, but I could not help myself… it will be a wonderful day! These apostles were willing to give up their very lives for the Gospel and for the Thessalonians’ And it is all because of that wonderful day that lies just ahead. So pray for your loved ones, pray for all men everywhere. We are talking about the Gospel of God and that is what the Gospel is preached for …to prepare sinners for heaven, isn’t it? To offer God’s plan of salvation to all men and women and young people? And verse 13 declares this to be true,” For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. The Word of God will work effectively in those of us who believe it today also. I think the problem in standing upon the truths of God’s Word is that there are so many distractions leading us in to various burdens and we get our eyes off the Bible, or if we read it we have all these preconceived notions and ideas that keep us from prayer and that is an unacceptable thing.
The Bible says to abstain from the very appearance of evil. We are preparing for heaven and we want to see others there that maybe you have influenced there too.
And so it is of utmost importance that we walk worthy of God, who calls us into His own kingdom and glory. Verse 12. And so Paul charges them as a father does his own children. Verse 11. You can tell quite quickly, a person’s upbringing can’t you” Even if they are not serving the Lord you know they have been reared properly, amen” Remember your report card when you were in grade school? There was a place or a line called deportment? And it had several spaces in which to grade your deportment.
I always wondered what it meant but never bothered to look it up. So I did the other day and it is the behavior , the conduct of the individual that is graded. By definition it is the conduct or behavior of a child in school as graded by a teacher. H’mm as graded by a teacher…the Holy Spirit, maybe?
Is He grading our conduct, our behavior? Paul says, “as a father charges his children.”….”that you would walk worthy”….
So Paul says in verse 13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God…”in other words they were walking worthy of the calling to serve God. We have that same calling, praise God.
This church is a good example of what a church preparing for the rapture should be. He says here in verse 13 how readily they accepted the Word of God and how effectively it worked in them. Verse 14, If only we could realze how effectively the Word will work in us then maybe we would reach a greater level in our walk of faith. In the 15th. Verse the apostie said you have become imitators of the churches of God. Look at what he says to them about the churches of God. Verse 14. “For you brethren became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus” see here he qualifies them by adding “in Christ Jesus”…For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans”. Who can identify with persecuted and suffering people better than those who have suffered in kind? (read verses 15&16)
Then we catch a glimpse of the apostles heart for these dear people. Read verse 17 through the end of the chapter. We were taken away from you for a short time in presence….in other words we had to leave you for awhile (because of the tremendous persecution) in presence, not in heart…but that separation only made him more eager than ever to see them and to see their faces, he says with great desire….with great desire. Have you ever been separated from a loved one, perhaps your family or your husband or wife…I remember being separated from Judy for three days one time …didn’t think I would be able to stand it, so I quit the job I was on and drove home through a blizzard to be with her. What rejoicing there was that night in my heart when I saw her! And it has never changed! (Ithink she thought I was crazy to quit the job and drive all the way from Brookfield, N.S., just outside of Truro in a blinding snowstorm, through the Wentworth valley and got home sometime in the early morning hours long before daylight. Young and in love.)
“Therefore we wanted to come to you(verse 18) even I, Paul, time and again---- but Satan hindered us.” That’s his business…that’s his job. It is his intention to hinder you and to hinder me in our Christian walk Satan hinders us from seeing what God will do and is doing to discourage our spiritual progress, our walk with God.And the onlyway to combat him is by submitting yourself unto God and that means spending time in this Word, I don’t care who you are, you’ve got to spend time in the Word… it is not a secret in the bible that those who live godly lives will experience persecution and Paul alludes to it here in this chapter 2 verses 14&15
Let’s look at the big reason that Satan hinders the people of God…Paul asks the question in verse 19, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing” ? This is the reason for every trial and every bit of persecution that Paul faced and the answer I shall read from the Amplified Bible, “For what is our hope or happiness or our victor’s wealth of exultant triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?” And verse 20 “ For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!” There’s going to be great rejoicing when Jesus comes, not only because we are saved but because of others who are there because someone told them how to be saved. Once again the apostle emphasizes the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is the reason for Satan hindering the people of God…he does not want you and me to be ready when Jesus comes. He does not want you to go to heaven. And never let us think we are ready just because we were saved 40 or 50 years ago. How is our standing in God right now? Are we still walking in the light as He is in the Light” Are we pleasing Him? What is the state of our soul? Are you living the way He wants you to live, am I living in His light?
These last two verses 19&20, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Last time we met we referred to this part here in verse #8 where the apostle said, “ we were well pleased not only to impart to you the Gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us.”(read verses 8-20) 1 Thessalonians 2:8-20 (New King James Version)
8 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 had become dear to us. 9 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 preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged[a] every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
These apostolic messengers, these gospel preachers were ready and willing to give their own lives for these to whom they were preaching to. They loved them that much. That is the love of God. God will give you and I a love for souls and as we give of ourselves to them and to the preaching of the Word, that love will increase, whether we are doing the preaching or supporting those who do. That is why we support missions. The Gospel of God is none other than what Paul preached, amen? It is the preaching of the cross,” Christ and Him crucified” is it not? That is the same message that works today and it is the only gospel message…..there is only one gospel and Paul said in his letter to the Galatians, believers, chapter 1 verse 8, “even if we , or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed.” The Jews in Galatia were being called to another gospel. Paul states emphatically that there is only one gospel, and it is the one he preached, the gospel of God. It is “Christ in you the hope of glory” Col. 1:27 1 Tim. Says, “Jesus Christ, our hope. He is our hope tonight. Our hope of eternal salvation, Amen? Our hope is in Him. It is a hope that purifies. As we hope in Him we want to live for Him. It causes us to examine our hearts. And over the next few weeks I pray that we shall do that as we look further into these epistles. These are two great epistles. The writer of these two letters said in verse 4, “we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel.” Haven’t we tonight been entrusted with this same gospel? As the church of the living God, the bulwark and ground of the truth? The pillar and ground of the Truth? That’s what it says in 1 Tim. 3:15 (read it) The church of God is the pillar and ground of the Truth. This church of the living God.
The message of the gospel is not some way to get rich quick, it is not to send your offerings to some televangelist to give you a formula for success. It is the message of the cross…Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, amen? That is the Gospel of God! He came to die. And we should die tonight, we should die to the desires of this old sinful nature, which we call dying to the flesh. I need to die everyday, Paul said “I die daily”
Die to the lust of the flesh…you can find all kinds of excuses for the lifestyle you choose, but if it is sin, there is no excuse. We have to die to it. Chad preached it a couple of weeks ago from Col. Ch. 3 and those first 3 or 4 verses go like so: If you then be risen with Christ seek those things which are above where Christ sits on the right hand of God.2/ Set your affections on things above not on things on the earth. 3r/ For ye are dead and your life is hid with Christ in God. Then moving down to verse 5, this same gospel writer, entrusted with the gospel says, “mortify (put to death) your members which are on the earth: and he lists some of these things here; fornication(illicit, illegal) sex, to put it bluntly and I am speaking about sex outside of the marriage bonds, equivalent adultery , you can read the rest there from Col. 3.
In 1 Thessalonians verse 9, chapter 2, again Paul refers to it as “the Gospel of God. ”We refer to it most of the time as the Gospel of Jesus Christ, so the reference to the Gospel of God is right because we know that Jesus is God. It is also referred to as the Word of God and he reminds the church there of the manner and the way they behaved in bringing this glorious gospel to them. He tells them here in verses 10 and 11 that they are witnesses, and God is witness also how devout they were, and they acted justly and blamelessly, in other words their behavior in delivering the gospel was above board and they exhorted and comforted and charged them as a father does his own children and the charge was that they walk worthy of GOD. The God who calls you into His own kingdom and His own glory. Hallelujah!
How important it is if we are going to share the gospel with somebody and as a Christian your very walk and talk is already sharing the gospel with them, that you walk worthy of your calling, of your Christian life. And this is the reason that we thank God without ceasing! Because when you heard the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. My dear missionary evangelist friend Dr. George Kutty looked me straight in the eye and he said, “brother Randall, I am convinced after40 years of preaching and after many years of study, that all of our human efforts, all our degrees, our personalities, our talents are as nothing.” He said I am convinced that the only way that we can change anything is as we preach the pure Word of God.” The pure unadulterated Word of God. What else is there that is different and speaks to the heart. What else can change a heart and set a life on the right course?
There is a point I want you to see concerning the rapture or the catching away of the church and the fact that it is the first part of the second coming of Christ our Lord. In the first chapter of the first epistle of Thessalonians, the tenth verse, it says, “and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus (notice he takes great pains here to identify that it is Jesus),who delivers us from the wrath to come Then when you look ahead to chapter 3 verse 13 it says, “so that He may establish your hearts before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with His saints.” Now if these folks, like us, are told to wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ to come from heaven to deliver us from the wrath which is to come, which we believe is the great tribulation period, and over in verse 13, of chapter three it tells that He is coming “with His saints… something has to take place in between! It is the rapture of the church, amen? And we shall be caught away, caught up into heaven. We see the rapture taking place in the book of the Revelation in chapter four just after Jesus has sent the message to the seven churches. Verse 1 “After this I looked, and behold a door standing open in heaven! As I read these verses in Rev. 4, all of them, I realized that I was diverting some from the text of tonight’s lesson, but I could not help myself… it will be a wonderful day! These apostles were willing to give up their very lives for the Gospel and for the Thessalonians’ And it is all because of that wonderful day that lies just ahead. So pray for your loved ones, pray for all men everywhere. We are talking about the Gospel of God and that is what the Gospel is preached for …to prepare sinners for heaven, isn’t it? To offer God’s plan of salvation to all men and women and young people? And verse 13 declares this to be true,” For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. The Word of God will work effectively in those of us who believe it today also. I think the problem in standing upon the truths of God’s Word is that there are so many distractions leading us in to various burdens and we get our eyes off the Bible, or if we read it we have all these preconceived notions and ideas that keep us from prayer and that is an unacceptable thing.
The Bible says to abstain from the very appearance of evil. We are preparing for heaven and we want to see others there that maybe you have influenced there too.
And so it is of utmost importance that we walk worthy of God, who calls us into His own kingdom and glory. Verse 12. And so Paul charges them as a father does his own children. Verse 11. You can tell quite quickly, a person’s upbringing can’t you” Even if they are not serving the Lord you know they have been reared properly, amen” Remember your report card when you were in grade school? There was a place or a line called deportment? And it had several spaces in which to grade your deportment.
I always wondered what it meant but never bothered to look it up. So I did the other day and it is the behavior , the conduct of the individual that is graded. By definition it is the conduct or behavior of a child in school as graded by a teacher. H’mm as graded by a teacher…the Holy Spirit, maybe?
Is He grading our conduct, our behavior? Paul says, “as a father charges his children.”….”that you would walk worthy”….
So Paul says in verse 13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it, not as the word of man, but as it is in truth, the word of God…”in other words they were walking worthy of the calling to serve God. We have that same calling, praise God.
This church is a good example of what a church preparing for the rapture should be. He says here in verse 13 how readily they accepted the Word of God and how effectively it worked in them. Verse 14, If only we could realze how effectively the Word will work in us then maybe we would reach a greater level in our walk of faith. In the 15th. Verse the apostie said you have become imitators of the churches of God. Look at what he says to them about the churches of God. Verse 14. “For you brethren became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus” see here he qualifies them by adding “in Christ Jesus”…For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans”. Who can identify with persecuted and suffering people better than those who have suffered in kind? (read verses 15&16)
Then we catch a glimpse of the apostles heart for these dear people. Read verse 17 through the end of the chapter. We were taken away from you for a short time in presence….in other words we had to leave you for awhile (because of the tremendous persecution) in presence, not in heart…but that separation only made him more eager than ever to see them and to see their faces, he says with great desire….with great desire. Have you ever been separated from a loved one, perhaps your family or your husband or wife…I remember being separated from Judy for three days one time …didn’t think I would be able to stand it, so I quit the job I was on and drove home through a blizzard to be with her. What rejoicing there was that night in my heart when I saw her! And it has never changed! (Ithink she thought I was crazy to quit the job and drive all the way from Brookfield, N.S., just outside of Truro in a blinding snowstorm, through the Wentworth valley and got home sometime in the early morning hours long before daylight. Young and in love.)
“Therefore we wanted to come to you(verse 18) even I, Paul, time and again---- but Satan hindered us.” That’s his business…that’s his job. It is his intention to hinder you and to hinder me in our Christian walk Satan hinders us from seeing what God will do and is doing to discourage our spiritual progress, our walk with God.And the onlyway to combat him is by submitting yourself unto God and that means spending time in this Word, I don’t care who you are, you’ve got to spend time in the Word… it is not a secret in the bible that those who live godly lives will experience persecution and Paul alludes to it here in this chapter 2 verses 14&15
Let’s look at the big reason that Satan hinders the people of God…Paul asks the question in verse 19, “For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing” ? This is the reason for every trial and every bit of persecution that Paul faced and the answer I shall read from the Amplified Bible, “For what is our hope or happiness or our victor’s wealth of exultant triumph when we stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you?” And verse 20 “ For you are [indeed] our glory and our joy!” There’s going to be great rejoicing when Jesus comes, not only because we are saved but because of others who are there because someone told them how to be saved. Once again the apostle emphasizes the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and that is the reason for Satan hindering the people of God…he does not want you and me to be ready when Jesus comes. He does not want you to go to heaven. And never let us think we are ready just because we were saved 40 or 50 years ago. How is our standing in God right now? Are we still walking in the light as He is in the Light” Are we pleasing Him? What is the state of our soul? Are you living the way He wants you to live, am I living in His light?
These last two verses 19&20, For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Thursday, January 13, 2011
Lesson 2 from 1st. THESSALONIANS PART 2
1 st. Thessalonians Ch. 2
Lesson 2
The letters to the Thessalonians was written by Paul and are said to be among his earliest epistles thereby making them some of the earliest books of the New Testament and also they are among the oldest Christian writings we have. It is believed that Paul’s epistles were written before any of the Gospels were written. In any case these two letters to the church in Thessalonica was written to them after the apostle had suffered much persecution in delivering the Gospel to them. In fact the persecution was so intense, he was forced to leave Thessalonica, and in his two letters, he tells the Christians there how they ought to live in order to be ready for the Lord’s return. He puts an emphasis on that great event which we shall also try and address along with these two epistles. While we have not arrived just yet, only briefly to the point where I feel like getting into the theme of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church
Paul recounts how he and Silas and Timothy conducted themselves when they were there with the church and how they were led to Christ as a result.
What we do see here is a church preparing itself for the greatest event in human history that will soon, I think, take place, an event that is a two part event, when Christ comes in the clouds of glory to take His children home to heaven and then returns with His saints and at that time the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever…can you praise the Lord, tonight? We read this last week but I feel that we need to read it again tonight.
Let’s read this second chapter again tonight. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
Reading from the New King James Version:
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even[a] after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.4 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. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 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 had become dear to us. 9 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 preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged[b] every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Their Conversion
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
Longing to See Them
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.” Amen.
Why is it that people who do not know Jesus or once knew Him and has fallen away, are so afraid of the Gospel? And many of them will rise up and fight against it for reasons they probably cannot give to you if you were to ask why. And they will reject the Bible as the inerrant Word of God saying that it was written by man and therefore can’t possibly be trusted, or that (if all else fails) there is no God anyway. But Paul said, here in verse 13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing,, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” Jesus said, “believe it and receive it and you shall have it…whatever you say. So to the skeptic I would say; put Him to the test…..receive this Gospel in faith, the only way you can receive it and let God prove Himself. It is not up to you and me to prove God is real, just proclaim it and the Word will prove itself! Do you believe that? You know, this Bible, this Word of God, the written Word is not a collection of facts trying to prove that God exists, in fact it is based upon the very assumption that God exists…it is written with the notion that the existence of God is already a given. Quote the Word to hear it from your own mouth, stand upon the Word, listen to the Word preached, you can depend on it because just like the Thessalonians did…they received it as the Word of God and not as the Word of men. We can put our trust in it whether we see it or not, I’m talking about seeing an answer to your prayer….we can still believe it. We may not always understand it but it is nevertheless still true and as good as it says.
Paul says, “Satan hindered us.” And he will do that, he’ll even try and stop us if he can, because if unbelieving sinners are afraid of the good news, Satan is terrified of it. He is terrified when he hears the Gospel being preached…he’s even terrified when he hears you pray. He is terrified, he’s frightened to death….he is paranoid. James says to submit yourself unto God
And then you can resist the devil and he will flee from you. The devil is not a happy camper.
Submit, completely give yourself up to God. He must have been out of his mind on Sunday….that sermon pastor preached on the Truth.
Back to verse 1 here in chapter 2 the apostle says, “our coming was not in vain” when the Lord lays someone on your heart and there may be a hindrance, don’t think that it is all in vain, or it was not the Lord who sent you. We still have the same enemy that hindered Paul, don’t we? I’m thinking about our friend who will be on his way to India, in fact, right now as we speak he is on his way. (pray for Dr.Kutty). Those who live in the neighborhood of his Bible collage have threatened to kill him when he comes back and he will be there tomorrow, I think for four and one half months. Until mid April next.(THIS STUDY WAS GIVEN TO MY HOME GROUP DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER LAST, HENCE THE TIME LINE HAS CHANGED)
Going back to the first part of ch. 2, Verse #2 says we were bold in our God to speak to you…somehow we have had this idea that this boldness is of our own making, but here Paul shows us where this boldness comes from…..it is from God. And it is time for us as a people of God to say so. I can speak from experience that I have excused myself many times because I don’t have natural boldness. But if you are a Christian, walking in God, they’ll know it anyway, so let us pray right now that God will make us a mighty force and open the door to witness for Him. Pray for an open door. Read verses 3&4 again) “For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. Verse 4;
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, (there is only one Gospel )even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” And I might add that this Gospel is what we have been hearing every Sunday morning as the pastor delivers it.
You and I have been entrusted with the Gospel tonight, and we like Paul must present the Gospel not from error or uncleanness and not to please man, amen? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:2,3, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3/ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart.” Let’s stop and praise Him right here…praise God forever,
We just read what he says here in verse 4 that they presented the Gospel not to please men but God…The Gospel will not always please even good men, sometimes, however when it comes to us in rebuke for sins that we have committed, we need be thankful nonetheless for it. We do not want a watered down Gospel. Men today need to hear the Gospel in it’s purest, unadulterated form; the genuine article…remember it is the preaching of the cross that draws all men, that is what Jesus said would draw all men(mankind) unto Him. And we are among the few today who are blessed by the preaching of the cross.
Paul said in verse5&6, we did not use flattering words and we didn’t seek glory from men. We need to beware of the glory seekers whether they stand behind the sacred desk or in the congregation of saints…flattering words, man’s wisdom. Back in 1 Corinthians chapter2:1,2 , this same apostle, Paul, wrote these words that God inspired him to write: “And, I, brethren
When I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. for I determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” And that is the Gospel tonight….Christ and Him crucified! Crucified for us While we were yet sinners. It’s a simple message isn’t it? Pastor preached it one Sunday just recently, 1 Cor. 1:23,24 Do you notice the theme of these verses tonight relating to that message Sunday morning? Now remember, i did not write these words, Paul Did. Now to 1ST. Thessalonians
Again. READ VERSE 6. The great Apostle Paul did not use his position for favors, rather he gave of himself, just like Jesus.
Verse 7 says, but we were gentle among you. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit and as I said a few minutes earlier, the world will know you are a Christian anyway and how so? Jesus said, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” The song says “they will know that we are Christians by our love.” We do love each other don’t we? Love is gentle and kind it says in that great love chapter 13 in 1st. Cor. Look at the love he shows in that next verse 8, you can almost feel his heartbeat for the church, the people of God and in all that persecution and suffering he shows the desire of his heart was to impart to them the Gospel of God. I keep referring to the message the Pastor preached on Sunday a.m. This next verse 03 sounds a lot like what he was preaching on doesn’t’ it?
I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every dayI’m pressing on the upward way,New heights I’m gaining every day;Still praying as I’m onward bound,“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,By faith, on Heaven’s table land,A higher plane than I have found;Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stayWhere doubts arise and fears dismay;Though some may dwell where those abound,My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Refrain
I want to live above the world,Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;For faith has caught the joyful sound,The song of saints on higher ground.
RefrainI want to scale the utmost heightAnd catch a gleam of glory bright;But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Lesson 2
The letters to the Thessalonians was written by Paul and are said to be among his earliest epistles thereby making them some of the earliest books of the New Testament and also they are among the oldest Christian writings we have. It is believed that Paul’s epistles were written before any of the Gospels were written. In any case these two letters to the church in Thessalonica was written to them after the apostle had suffered much persecution in delivering the Gospel to them. In fact the persecution was so intense, he was forced to leave Thessalonica, and in his two letters, he tells the Christians there how they ought to live in order to be ready for the Lord’s return. He puts an emphasis on that great event which we shall also try and address along with these two epistles. While we have not arrived just yet, only briefly to the point where I feel like getting into the theme of the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus Christ and the rapture of the church
Paul recounts how he and Silas and Timothy conducted themselves when they were there with the church and how they were led to Christ as a result.
What we do see here is a church preparing itself for the greatest event in human history that will soon, I think, take place, an event that is a two part event, when Christ comes in the clouds of glory to take His children home to heaven and then returns with His saints and at that time the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ and He shall reign forever and ever…can you praise the Lord, tonight? We read this last week but I feel that we need to read it again tonight.
Let’s read this second chapter again tonight. 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
Reading from the New King James Version:
1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even[a] after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.4 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. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 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 had become dear to us. 9 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 preached to you the gospel of God. 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged[b] every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Their Conversion
13 For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost.
Longing to See Them
17 But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? 20 For you are our glory and joy.” Amen.
Why is it that people who do not know Jesus or once knew Him and has fallen away, are so afraid of the Gospel? And many of them will rise up and fight against it for reasons they probably cannot give to you if you were to ask why. And they will reject the Bible as the inerrant Word of God saying that it was written by man and therefore can’t possibly be trusted, or that (if all else fails) there is no God anyway. But Paul said, here in verse 13, “For this reason we also thank God without ceasing,, because when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the Word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.” Jesus said, “believe it and receive it and you shall have it…whatever you say. So to the skeptic I would say; put Him to the test…..receive this Gospel in faith, the only way you can receive it and let God prove Himself. It is not up to you and me to prove God is real, just proclaim it and the Word will prove itself! Do you believe that? You know, this Bible, this Word of God, the written Word is not a collection of facts trying to prove that God exists, in fact it is based upon the very assumption that God exists…it is written with the notion that the existence of God is already a given. Quote the Word to hear it from your own mouth, stand upon the Word, listen to the Word preached, you can depend on it because just like the Thessalonians did…they received it as the Word of God and not as the Word of men. We can put our trust in it whether we see it or not, I’m talking about seeing an answer to your prayer….we can still believe it. We may not always understand it but it is nevertheless still true and as good as it says.
Paul says, “Satan hindered us.” And he will do that, he’ll even try and stop us if he can, because if unbelieving sinners are afraid of the good news, Satan is terrified of it. He is terrified when he hears the Gospel being preached…he’s even terrified when he hears you pray. He is terrified, he’s frightened to death….he is paranoid. James says to submit yourself unto God
And then you can resist the devil and he will flee from you. The devil is not a happy camper.
Submit, completely give yourself up to God. He must have been out of his mind on Sunday….that sermon pastor preached on the Truth.
Back to verse 1 here in chapter 2 the apostle says, “our coming was not in vain” when the Lord lays someone on your heart and there may be a hindrance, don’t think that it is all in vain, or it was not the Lord who sent you. We still have the same enemy that hindered Paul, don’t we? I’m thinking about our friend who will be on his way to India, in fact, right now as we speak he is on his way. (pray for Dr.Kutty). Those who live in the neighborhood of his Bible collage have threatened to kill him when he comes back and he will be there tomorrow, I think for four and one half months. Until mid April next.(THIS STUDY WAS GIVEN TO MY HOME GROUP DURING THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER LAST, HENCE THE TIME LINE HAS CHANGED)
Going back to the first part of ch. 2, Verse #2 says we were bold in our God to speak to you…somehow we have had this idea that this boldness is of our own making, but here Paul shows us where this boldness comes from…..it is from God. And it is time for us as a people of God to say so. I can speak from experience that I have excused myself many times because I don’t have natural boldness. But if you are a Christian, walking in God, they’ll know it anyway, so let us pray right now that God will make us a mighty force and open the door to witness for Him. Pray for an open door. Read verses 3&4 again) “For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit. Verse 4;
But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the Gospel, (there is only one Gospel )even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.” And I might add that this Gospel is what we have been hearing every Sunday morning as the pastor delivers it.
You and I have been entrusted with the Gospel tonight, and we like Paul must present the Gospel not from error or uncleanness and not to please man, amen? The Bible says in 1 Corinthians 3:2,3, “You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men, 3/ clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of flesh, that is of the heart.” Let’s stop and praise Him right here…praise God forever,
We just read what he says here in verse 4 that they presented the Gospel not to please men but God…The Gospel will not always please even good men, sometimes, however when it comes to us in rebuke for sins that we have committed, we need be thankful nonetheless for it. We do not want a watered down Gospel. Men today need to hear the Gospel in it’s purest, unadulterated form; the genuine article…remember it is the preaching of the cross that draws all men, that is what Jesus said would draw all men(mankind) unto Him. And we are among the few today who are blessed by the preaching of the cross.
Paul said in verse5&6, we did not use flattering words and we didn’t seek glory from men. We need to beware of the glory seekers whether they stand behind the sacred desk or in the congregation of saints…flattering words, man’s wisdom. Back in 1 Corinthians chapter2:1,2 , this same apostle, Paul, wrote these words that God inspired him to write: “And, I, brethren
When I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom, declaring to you the testimony of God. for I determined to know nothing except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” And that is the Gospel tonight….Christ and Him crucified! Crucified for us While we were yet sinners. It’s a simple message isn’t it? Pastor preached it one Sunday just recently, 1 Cor. 1:23,24 Do you notice the theme of these verses tonight relating to that message Sunday morning? Now remember, i did not write these words, Paul Did. Now to 1ST. Thessalonians
Again. READ VERSE 6. The great Apostle Paul did not use his position for favors, rather he gave of himself, just like Jesus.
Verse 7 says, but we were gentle among you. Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit and as I said a few minutes earlier, the world will know you are a Christian anyway and how so? Jesus said, “by their fruits ye shall know them.” The song says “they will know that we are Christians by our love.” We do love each other don’t we? Love is gentle and kind it says in that great love chapter 13 in 1st. Cor. Look at the love he shows in that next verse 8, you can almost feel his heartbeat for the church, the people of God and in all that persecution and suffering he shows the desire of his heart was to impart to them the Gospel of God. I keep referring to the message the Pastor preached on Sunday a.m. This next verse 03 sounds a lot like what he was preaching on doesn’t’ it?
I’m pressing on the upward way, new heights I’m gaining every dayI’m pressing on the upward way,New heights I’m gaining every day;Still praying as I’m onward bound,“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Refrain
Lord, lift me up and let me stand,By faith, on Heaven’s table land,A higher plane than I have found;Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.
My heart has no desire to stayWhere doubts arise and fears dismay;Though some may dwell where those abound,My prayer, my aim, is higher ground.
Refrain
I want to live above the world,Though Satan’s darts at me are hurled;For faith has caught the joyful sound,The song of saints on higher ground.
RefrainI want to scale the utmost heightAnd catch a gleam of glory bright;But still I’ll pray till Heav’n I’ve found,“Lord, plant my feet on higher ground.”
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
This is a series on 1&2 Thessalonoans
Just a couple of days ago a friend asked if I would be publishing a new series that I am doing in the home group that I am responsible to and I said yes. What I did not say to her was if there is interest shown. the more interest, the more I will give of myself, so here is the first instalment:
First Thessalonians; a model for end times.
We are going to continue in these Pauline epistles with an eye to Bible prophecy and hence end time living. And I have decided with the help of the Lord to look at these two letters that the apostle wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Why Thessalonica? Because these epistles deal with the rapture perhaps more directly than any other of the epistles of Paul. If it seemed soon and imminent to the Apostle back over 2000 years ago then how much more imminent should it be to the church today?At least that is my observation. And I feel it is time for us as a home group or cell group to stir up once again your pure minds by way of remembering these things. How we even as saints of God need to be on our toes as far as living a godly life is concerned. I believe Satan is pulling all stops in his bombardment of the family, his attack on the church in trying to make it of no influence in society and in everyway possible to trip you and I from finishing the race. We will see as we read through and study both prayerfully and carefully these epistles to the Thessalonians the preparations we need to make in order to be ready when the trump of God sounds. In these two epistles to the church of the Thessalonians, we shall see the prophetic Word of God displayed as concerning the second coming of our Lord AND SAVIOR Jesus Christ, and how we can be prepared ourselves and encourage others to get ready for His soon return. This was an exemplary church there in Thessalonica and we would do well to emulate them in our day. So with your Bible opened to the first chapter and the first verse of the first epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians we will read the first 10 verses.(read 1 Thessalonians, 1-10. This church was founded by the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey and it was not without persecution. It seems that every great work of God will go through a time of persecution. (Read Acts 17:1-10)There is a central underlying fact recorded in these pages and it is this future hope of the church of the living God in the fact of His returning to take His people home. Can you say amen?
We see here in these first 10 verses, firstly of course Paul’s greetings to the church of the Thessalonians which contains a blessing. Is it possible that we can pronounce a blessing upon another person and have GOD honor it? Does the apostle actually impart the blessing of the Lord when he says grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? I believe the answer is yes. It’s a prayer I believe…a word of blessing.
And it is only real when it gives credit to God. Then he goes in verse 2 to commend them for their work of faith(notice the similarity to the words that James uses, remember James saying “faith without works”still in verse 2)and their labour of love, love for one another, love for other saints in other churches and love for the lost…how we need to show forth that kind of love that these Thessalonians had. We must show our families the love of Christ. We need to show our community that we love God. Along with faith and love is patience of hope. The hope that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ….in the sight of our God and Father. He says that we meaning himself along with Silvanus or Silas, probably one of these two names being the Greek version, the other I’m not sure of, and Timothy…we give thanks to God for all of you and we keep you in prayer always. Isn’t it comforting when you know that there is somebody remembering you in prayer, always? He says we know, “beloved brethren, your election, by God.” It isn’t hard to know when a congregation has a touch of God on it, is it? It has a lot to do with leadership, I think. I am thankful for His touch on Calvary Temple. There is an anointing here when we come together\ to gather in His name.
Verse 5,” For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power”, we sing the old chorus, “I know the power of God is just the same today.” Do we really believe that? Of course we do. why then do we not see healing like we should, miracles of Divine healings, miracles of supply,…”my brother needs a job, my children need new clothes and I don’t have any money
All kinds of needs and in many cases God is meeting these needs but we don’t hear of it like we should. God has not changed! He is still the Great Physician. He is still the Miracle worker!He is still the Savior of men.
Paul says “ and in the Holy Spirit…here is the key the source of that power, the Holy Spirit and in much assurance…(not by might (man’s might), not by power(earthly power) but by My power saith the LORD of Hosts!! And this glorious gospel was preached by men who had an encounter with the risen LORD. They knew Him face to face as it were in the Spirit. The church in Thessalonica knew what kind of men they were when they were among them. They saw the way they lived and worked when they were there…it wasn’t only what they said but it was how their lives were lived. And when someone leaves and moves on they leave a testimony, do they not? Whether we remember them fondly or otherwise.
They saw, they knew what kind of men they were. And as a result of this witness, the church became followers of Paul and his two companions. That’s what draws people when they see Jesus in us. It says “You became followers of us…and the Lord” That is the important thing…not only did you follow us, but you became followers of the Lord which is what Paul really wanted in the first place. And that is what I am praying that this little group may influence someone to come to our meetings on Tuesday evening and get saved! I am thankful for the folks who come here on Tuesday nights, there is a good spirit of fellowship and I believe it is love we have for one another. But there is room for many more and I hope we will see more as the days pass and more will be added to our numbers. We are reading verse 6. “you received the Word in much affliction…but he goes on to say,” with joy of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were beaten in Acts chapter five and they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name! How can persecution work against you when you count it as something worth rejoicing for. Read Acts chapter 5. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. So the early church fathers did not consider their own lives or their feelings where the gospel message was concerned. Satan tries to plant fear as well as doubts in our minds and thereby hinder our testimony But we already know that he is a liar. Back in 1st. Thessalonians ch. 1and verse 7, he said “you became examples, to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” We need to be an example not only to the unsaved but also to those who are already saved. We need to exhort, rebuke, convince, encourage…just be an example and lift one another in the faith. That is why corporate prayer is so important, we encourage each other. It makes it easier to pray when we pray as a body.
Verse 8, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.” This is a church concerned about others, it is a missionary-minded church, unique even in Paul’s day, how much more unique is a church, a body of believers who have a heart for missions in our day. The Word of the Lord had gone out and their faith toward God had gone out. The word had gone out how that they had turned to God from idols and served Him and the word had gone out that we are to wait for His Son from heaven, the gospel is sent out in this verse number 10, it speaks of Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection and the fact that we wait for the rapture of the church. We are in that waiting room now. And the truth of a pre tribulation rapture is seen here in the 10th. Verse. “even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Next week we will depart a little bit from this epistle to lay down the foundation for the teachings here concerning the rapture of the church.
Part one finished
First Thessalonians; a model for end times.
We are going to continue in these Pauline epistles with an eye to Bible prophecy and hence end time living. And I have decided with the help of the Lord to look at these two letters that the apostle wrote to the church at Thessalonica. Why Thessalonica? Because these epistles deal with the rapture perhaps more directly than any other of the epistles of Paul. If it seemed soon and imminent to the Apostle back over 2000 years ago then how much more imminent should it be to the church today?At least that is my observation. And I feel it is time for us as a home group or cell group to stir up once again your pure minds by way of remembering these things. How we even as saints of God need to be on our toes as far as living a godly life is concerned. I believe Satan is pulling all stops in his bombardment of the family, his attack on the church in trying to make it of no influence in society and in everyway possible to trip you and I from finishing the race. We will see as we read through and study both prayerfully and carefully these epistles to the Thessalonians the preparations we need to make in order to be ready when the trump of God sounds. In these two epistles to the church of the Thessalonians, we shall see the prophetic Word of God displayed as concerning the second coming of our Lord AND SAVIOR Jesus Christ, and how we can be prepared ourselves and encourage others to get ready for His soon return. This was an exemplary church there in Thessalonica and we would do well to emulate them in our day. So with your Bible opened to the first chapter and the first verse of the first epistle of Paul to the Thessalonians we will read the first 10 verses.(read 1 Thessalonians, 1-10. This church was founded by the Apostle Paul on his second missionary journey and it was not without persecution. It seems that every great work of God will go through a time of persecution. (Read Acts 17:1-10)There is a central underlying fact recorded in these pages and it is this future hope of the church of the living God in the fact of His returning to take His people home. Can you say amen?
We see here in these first 10 verses, firstly of course Paul’s greetings to the church of the Thessalonians which contains a blessing. Is it possible that we can pronounce a blessing upon another person and have GOD honor it? Does the apostle actually impart the blessing of the Lord when he says grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ? I believe the answer is yes. It’s a prayer I believe…a word of blessing.
And it is only real when it gives credit to God. Then he goes in verse 2 to commend them for their work of faith(notice the similarity to the words that James uses, remember James saying “faith without works”still in verse 2)and their labour of love, love for one another, love for other saints in other churches and love for the lost…how we need to show forth that kind of love that these Thessalonians had. We must show our families the love of Christ. We need to show our community that we love God. Along with faith and love is patience of hope. The hope that we have in our Lord Jesus Christ….in the sight of our God and Father. He says that we meaning himself along with Silvanus or Silas, probably one of these two names being the Greek version, the other I’m not sure of, and Timothy…we give thanks to God for all of you and we keep you in prayer always. Isn’t it comforting when you know that there is somebody remembering you in prayer, always? He says we know, “beloved brethren, your election, by God.” It isn’t hard to know when a congregation has a touch of God on it, is it? It has a lot to do with leadership, I think. I am thankful for His touch on Calvary Temple. There is an anointing here when we come together\ to gather in His name.
Verse 5,” For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power”, we sing the old chorus, “I know the power of God is just the same today.” Do we really believe that? Of course we do. why then do we not see healing like we should, miracles of Divine healings, miracles of supply,…”my brother needs a job, my children need new clothes and I don’t have any money
All kinds of needs and in many cases God is meeting these needs but we don’t hear of it like we should. God has not changed! He is still the Great Physician. He is still the Miracle worker!He is still the Savior of men.
Paul says “ and in the Holy Spirit…here is the key the source of that power, the Holy Spirit and in much assurance…(not by might (man’s might), not by power(earthly power) but by My power saith the LORD of Hosts!! And this glorious gospel was preached by men who had an encounter with the risen LORD. They knew Him face to face as it were in the Spirit. The church in Thessalonica knew what kind of men they were when they were among them. They saw the way they lived and worked when they were there…it wasn’t only what they said but it was how their lives were lived. And when someone leaves and moves on they leave a testimony, do they not? Whether we remember them fondly or otherwise.
They saw, they knew what kind of men they were. And as a result of this witness, the church became followers of Paul and his two companions. That’s what draws people when they see Jesus in us. It says “You became followers of us…and the Lord” That is the important thing…not only did you follow us, but you became followers of the Lord which is what Paul really wanted in the first place. And that is what I am praying that this little group may influence someone to come to our meetings on Tuesday evening and get saved! I am thankful for the folks who come here on Tuesday nights, there is a good spirit of fellowship and I believe it is love we have for one another. But there is room for many more and I hope we will see more as the days pass and more will be added to our numbers. We are reading verse 6. “you received the Word in much affliction…but he goes on to say,” with joy of the Holy Spirit. The apostles were beaten in Acts chapter five and they rejoiced that they were counted worthy to suffer for His name! How can persecution work against you when you count it as something worth rejoicing for. Read Acts chapter 5. So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. So the early church fathers did not consider their own lives or their feelings where the gospel message was concerned. Satan tries to plant fear as well as doubts in our minds and thereby hinder our testimony But we already know that he is a liar. Back in 1st. Thessalonians ch. 1and verse 7, he said “you became examples, to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe” We need to be an example not only to the unsaved but also to those who are already saved. We need to exhort, rebuke, convince, encourage…just be an example and lift one another in the faith. That is why corporate prayer is so important, we encourage each other. It makes it easier to pray when we pray as a body.
Verse 8, “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.” This is a church concerned about others, it is a missionary-minded church, unique even in Paul’s day, how much more unique is a church, a body of believers who have a heart for missions in our day. The Word of the Lord had gone out and their faith toward God had gone out. The word had gone out how that they had turned to God from idols and served Him and the word had gone out that we are to wait for His Son from heaven, the gospel is sent out in this verse number 10, it speaks of Jesus, His death, burial and resurrection and the fact that we wait for the rapture of the church. We are in that waiting room now. And the truth of a pre tribulation rapture is seen here in the 10th. Verse. “even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.” Next week we will depart a little bit from this epistle to lay down the foundation for the teachings here concerning the rapture of the church.
Part one finished
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