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.”