A Faith That Soothes The Soul—part 3 Series

A FAITH THAT SOOTHES THE SOUL-III—1Thessalonians 1:1-10

The faith of the Thessalonian Christians brought a thankfulness to God’s apostles, Paul, Silvanus & Timothy.

A church’s faith can soothe the souls of God’s apostles/messengers/delegates.

The faith of a body of believers can soothe the soul of God’s apostles/messengers.

What kind of faith soothes the apostle’s(those accountable for keeping watch) soul or give him absolute freedom in which to operate?

A faith that soothes the soul is a faith that....

1. RECEIVES THE SENT(:1)

2. CHURCHES(:1)

3. REQUIRES GOD’S GRACE & PEACE(:1)

4. INHABITS PRAYERS(:2)

5. WORKS(:3)

6. LOVES(:3B)

7. HOPES(:3C)

8—A faith that soothes the soul is

A faith that FORGES FAMILY(:4a)

—Explanation:(:4a)

:4a—“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;”

“Brethren”—Men are considered heads of their families.

—Argumentation:

1Jn. 3:14-17—“We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death. Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer; & you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him. We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us; & we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has the world’s goods, & beholds his brother in need & closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him?”

Rom. 12:10-13—“Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor; not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer, contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.”

2Thes. 3:13-15—“But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary of doing good. And if anyone does not obey our instruction in this letter, take special note of that man & do not associate with him, so that he may be put to shame. And yet do not regard him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.”

—Illustration:

Ducks/In line following after mother/Leading you to a place you’ve never been readying you for what that place holds

—Application:

?Your faith A FAMILY FAITH?

?Your faith soothe the soul of those whom God has placed over you?

9—A faith that soothes the soul is

A faith that CHOOSES/CHOSEN(:4b)

—Explanation:(:4b)

“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;”

“His choice of you”—

Jn. 15:15-16—“No longer do I call you slaves, for the slave does not know what his master is doing; but I have called you friends, for all things that I have heard from My Father I have made known to you. You did not choose Me, but I chose you, & appointed you, that you should go & bear fruit, & that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask of the Father in My name, He may give to you.”

*How was I chosen?...

...by my willingness to choose & obey God.

*Why did God choose me...

...Willing to believe Him & trust Him.

Josh. 24:14-15—“Now, therefore, fear the LORD & serve Him in sincerity & truth; & put away the gods which your fathers served beyond the River & in Egypt, & serve the LORD. And if it is disagreeable in your sight to serve the LORD, choose for yourselves today whom you will serve: whether the gods which your fathers served which were beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you are living; but as for me & my house, we will serve the LORD.”

—Argumentation:

Jn. 1:12-13—“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”

Rom. 8:28—“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.”

1Pet. 1:1-2—“Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, & Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ & be sprinkled with His blood: May grace & peace be yours in fullest measure.”

*2Thess. 2:13-14—“But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit & faith in the truth. And it was for this He called you through our gospel, that you may gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

*God has made every person capable of choosing His truth. There may come a day when we are rendered incapable(sickness/calamity)...Did you choose Christ while you were able?