“It’s Not in Vain”
1 Thessalonians Series – Black Creek
1 Thessalonians 2:1-12
The first part of studying the book of 1 Thessalonians led us to seeing that Paul was encouraging and lifting up the members of the body of Christ in Thessalonica. He challenged the church and through his words – challenged us to the following six things:
I. Are we a community rooted in God’s grace, love, and election
II. Are we a community committed to Jesus Christ
III. Are we a community that is empowered by the Holy Spirit
IV. Are we a community that bears witness to the gospel
• Both in how we bear witness and in how we do it
V. Are we a community characterized by faith, love, and hope
VI. Are we a community clearly differentiated from other religions
Through these six points – we see an established foundation upon which Paul has lead the Thessalonican church – WITHOUT THE GRACE, MERCY, AND LOVE OF GOD – The church WOULD NOT EXIST. Also, WITHOUT THE LEADERSHIP OF THE HOLY SPIRIT – The church WOULD NOT EXIST.
It would be a social club – instead of a soul-winning station. Just this week, Pastor Bryant Wright posted in his one minute devotion the following: Note this as it is on the screen this AM:
The Local Church and the Neighborhood Bar
"...not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near." - Hebrews 10:25
Have you ever thought of the similarities of the local church and the neighborhood bar?
In both places:
...people come looking for fellowship;
...people go where others know their name;
...people go where they are accepted;
...people go where their spirits will be lifted;
...people are united around one theme;
...people go where they like the music.
Like a priest or pastor, the bartender serves by listening to people's troubles. But the differences are profound. The bar is centered on booze and the church is centered on Jesus Christ. The bar offers a way to escape problems. The church offers a way to face them, get through them, and overcome them. The spirit inside the bar lowers one's guard when it comes to temptation and sin. The spirit of the true church encourages people to turn from sin and turn to God.
The bar may be a substitute for the environment of the church, but it never comes close to providing the meaning and purpose found in a Christ-centered church.
This morning, we take the next step in our journey through 1 Thessalonians. We see Paul in the mode of defense. He is defending his team’s work in Thessalonica. Satan is always ready to slander a true man of God. Satan is never happy when a church is moving forward. Satan is never happy when an individual is truly serving the one true God.
Today – through God’s Word – I show you – why – Serving God IS NOT IN VAIN!
TEXT – 1 Thess 2:1-12 – note Reg – use the KJV for the text reading, but use the NIV as we develop the theme.
I. God’s Word NEVER RETURNS VOID
Paul’s passion in ministry comes from a deep-rooted conviction that Jesus is the Christ – that Jesus is who He says He is – and that all in the world need to know Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. He experienced the LIGHT first hand, He experienced the LOVE first hand – He’s experienced the LIFE of suffering first hand.
We note in verse 1 that Paul says that his journey with the Thessalonicans was “not a failure.”
I submit to you today the reason for this – God’s Word was paramount in everything that was done. When God’s Word comes into play – things change – His Word is the ultimate Gamechanger.
Isaiah 55:11 – So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
God’s Word is:
Infallible – ABSOLUTE TRUTH
Inerrant – WRITTEN WITHOUT ERROR
Complete – EVERYTHING INCLUDED IS TO INSPIRE MEN TO Christ-like
Lives
Authoritative – WHEN IT SPEAKS YOU BETTER LISTEN
NOTE – The Bible is NOT a book of suggestions – it is a book of
Commands
Sufficient – ALL THAT GOD WANTED TO SAY
Effective – IT IMPACTS LIVES
Isaiah 55:11-12 – God’s Word will always be fulfilled
Determinative – SEPARATED MEN AND WOMEN
Matthew 24:35
“Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.”
Paul’s heart is on display. He realizes that his ministry is under attack. There are those who do not like what is going on. Thus, once again – He is establishing the fundamental – the word of God.
In verse 2 – he is discussing the suffering and opposition, yet the victory that is found in Jesus Christ.
Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord. – 1 Cor. 15:58 (NKJV)
That leads us to point 2 this morning:
II. God’s Work is Tough – But Worth it all!
“Your labor is not in vain in the Lord!”
The words of this beautiful hymn ring in my heart:
Oft times the day seems long, our trials hard to bear,
We're tempted to complain, to murmur and despair;
But Christ will soon appear to catch His Bride away,
All tears forever over in God's eternal day.
Sometimes the sky looks dark with not a ray of light,
We're tossed and driven on, no human help in sight;
But there is one in heav'n who knows our deepest care,
Let Jesus solve your problem - just go to Him in pray'r.
Life's day will soon be o'er, all storms forever past,
We'll cross the great divide, to glory, safe at last;
We'll share the joys of heav'n - a harp, a home, a crown,
The tempter will be banished, we'll lay our burden down.
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus,
Life's trials will seem so small when we see Christ;
One glimpse of His dear face all sorrow will erase,
So bravely run the race till we see Christ.
Retired Pastor John Ed Mathison of the Frazer Memorial United Methodist Church in Montgomery, the nation’s largest UMC, coined a phrase that the Bible teaches and that Paul is emphasizing – “Every Member is a Minister” or “Every believer is a Minister – a servant of Christ”. Notice as we develop this thought – first with the pastor, then with the membership.
For the Pastor – the man MUST BE CALLED OF GOD!
• The calling requires an empowerment of the Holy Spirit.
• Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, there would be NO lasting fruit from his ministry.
• The calling must be pure in all areas
o In all areas of life – PURITY – God cannot use a person who is dabbling in the things of the world!
For the Pastor – the man MUST HAVE THICK SKIN
• The calling requires the challenge of dealing with people
• Without the empowerment of the Holy Spirit, there would be NO WAY an individual could do God’s Will in today’s church!
o Today’s church requires leadership to be man pleasers instead of God pleasers.
“This is what I believe that we need to do”
“So and so is not happy – what are we going to do to fix their issue?”
“People are upset that this or that is not up or working – what are we going to do?”
• Instead of trying to please man – why don’t we ALL, not just the Pastor, staff, and leadership – but ALL of us TRY TO PLEASE GOD?
Note the words of Paul, in the NIV translation:
“We speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed – God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.” – 1 Thess 2:4-6 NIV
As we develop this thought with the membership – it leads us to the third and final point this morning:
III. God’s people need to work to please God – More than to please man!
For the Christian:
We all like to talk
Few of us like to walk
We’d much rather stalk someone for serving God
Here’s what we need:
James 1:22 – Be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.
I believe it should go deeper within each one of us who profess to be Christians. We must realize who God is – what God has done for each one of us – and examine what we do to please Him. Let’s establish this:
1. God is our Creator (Gen 1:1)
God is our Refuge and Strength (Ps 46:1)
God is our Sustainer/Provider
2. God sent His Son Jesus to die for our sins so that we might have life – and have it more abundantly (John 3:16/John 10:10)
3. What should we do to make sure that our lives are pleasing to God?
The song “Refiner’s Fire” sheds a little light onto this subject:
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold and precious silver
Purify my heart
Let me be as gold, pure gold
Refiner's fire
My heart's one desire
Is to be holy
Set apart for You Lord
I choose to be holy
Set apart for You my Master
Ready to do Your will
The principle of Sanctification – being set apart – for God’s service is our goal. Here’s how we can evaluate where we are. Look at God and look at us – see the difference?
Psalm 26:1-2
VINDICATE me, O LORD, For I have walked in my integrity. I have also trusted in the LORD; I shall not slip. Examine me, O Lord, and prove me. Try my mind and my heart.
2 Corinthians 13:5
Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified.
This morning, we’ve examined the first 6 verses of chapter 2. The ultimate point of this sermon is this – the church exists because of Jesus Christ – not you and I. People may grumble, complain, fight, and fall – Jesus Christ will remain over all.
How is your life this morning? Is your life an example of someone who is becoming more like Christ – or are you looking more like the world?
Listen, I have been on both sides of the fence. How can I be more like Christ?
1. Totally Surrender your Life to Christ – Allow Jesus to be your Lord!
* Lord – in charge of everything
2. Publically Commit your Life to Christ – LISTEN
* If you’ve been saved, but strayed – publically get back on track = be accountable to God – be accountable to others.
* If you’ve never trusted Jesus – publically get on track!
3. Stop coming to church – start being the church
Stop saying “I’m a Christian” – let the whole world see that “Jesus lives within you”
Times will be tough – I promise you – but when it’s all said and done:
2 Timothy 4:7-8
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
When it’s all said and done – serving Christ – IS NOT IN VAIN!
