THE WORLD IS WATCHING YOU
1 THESS. 1:3
I. INTRODUCTION. THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE ON US, THEREFORE, WE MUST ENSURE THAT WE NOT ONLY SAY THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT DO THE RIGHT THINGS. IN TIMES LIKES THESE IT IS PIVOTAL THAT WE WALK LIKE JESUS AND TALK LIKE JESUS. YES, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, THE EYES OF THE WORLD ARE UPON US AS WE LOVE THOSE WHO DO NOT LOVE US, AS WE ARE KIND TO THOSE WHO ARE NOT KIND TO US, AND AS WE DEMONSTRATE AND DISPLAY THE POWER OF GOD IN OUR LIVES. WE MUST ENDEAVOR TO SET THE RIGHT EXAMPLE AND CONTINUE TO BE THE RIGHT EXAMPLE TO A WORLD THAT IS RUNNING RAMPANT WITH SIN.
II. THE TEXT. THIS CHAPTER REFLECTS PAUL’S GRATITUDE TO THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA FOR THEIR WORKS OF FAITH AND LABOR OF LOVE.
a) PAUL PLANTED THIS CHURCH AND WAS MINDFUL OF HER SPIRITUAL GROWTH.
b) HE SALUTES THEM BECAUSE OF THEIR ACTIONS.
c) THEY WERE NOT A LAZY CHURCH.
d) THEY WERE NOT STAGNANT.
e) THEY WERE BUSY DOING WHAT GOD WOULD HAVE THEM TO DO.
f) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, IT’S TIME TO BE ABOUT THE FATHERS’ BUSINESS.
g) THIS CHURCH WAS SO COMMITTED TO DOING GOD’S WILL, THAT OTHERS TOOK NOTICE.
h) WE MUST BE THE EXAMPLE THAT GOD IS REQUIRING IN THESE LAST DAYS.
III. COMMITMENT
a) GOD IS LOOKING FOR FAITHFUL COMMITMENT FROM HIS PEOPLE.
b) SINCE GOD HAS COMMITTED HIMSELF TO US, WE OWE IT TO GOD TO COMMIT OURSELVES TO HIM.
c) WE CANNOT OR SHOULD NOT BE SATISFIED WITH JUST COMING TO CHURCH.
d) THEIR FAITH PRODUCED WORK, THEIR WORK PRODUCED LABOR, THEIR LABOR PRODUCED HOPE, AND THEIR HOPE PRODUCED PATIENCE.
e) GOD EXPECTS NO LESS FROM US THAN HE EXPEXTED FROM THIS CHURCH.
f) THE QUESTION IS CAN GOD COUNT ON YOU?
IV. THE RESULTS OF THEIR WORK
a) THEY DID WHAT THEY LOVED AND THEY LOVED WHAT THEY DID!
b) MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, FEEDING THE HOMELESS IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
c) VISITING THE SICK IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
d) CLOTHING THE NAKED IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
e) GIVING A HANDOUT AND A HAND UP IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
f) SPREADING THE WORD OF GOD IS A LABOR OF LOVE.
g) THEIR LABOR OF LOVE LED TO THE BLESSINGS OF OTHERS.
h) THEY BECAME THE EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS TO FOLLOW.
V. CONCLUSION/ THREE POINTS
a) ONE, THEY WERE OBEDIENT.
b) TWO, THEY WERE CONFIDENT.
c) THREE, THEY WERE DETERMINED.
VI. THEY WALKED IN…..
a) INTEGRITY
b) POWER
c) SPIRITUAL AWARENESS
d) SO IF PEOPLE ARE GOING TO TALK ABOUT US, LET THEM TALK ABOUT OUR GOODNESS, FAITHFULNESS, OUR OBEDIENCE, OUR COMMITMENT
