Opening illustration: The Viral Texts project at Northeastern University in Boston is studying how printed content in the 1800s spread through newspapers—the social media network of that day. If an article was reprinted 50 times or more, they considered that “viral” for the Industrial Age. Writing in Smithsonian magazine, Britt Peterson noted that a nineteenth-century news article describing which followers of Jesus were executed for their faith appeared in at least 110 different publications.
When the apostle Paul wrote to the Christians in Thessalonica, he commended them for their bold and joyful witness to Jesus. “The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere” (1 Thessalonians 1:8). The message of the gospel went viral through these people whose lives had been transformed by Jesus Christ. In spite of difficulties and persecution, they could not remain silent.
We convey the story of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ through kind hearts, helping hands, and honest words from all of us who know the Lord. The gospel transforms us and the lives of those we meet. (David McCasland, ODB 02/21)
Introduction: The story of the Thessalonians’ changed lives—according to Paul—went “viral.” Paul recalls the story of how Jewish and Gentile people turned from ancestral beliefs to personal faith in Christ. Such conversions were bound to be controversial. Decisions to leave the faith of our fathers (and mothers) seldom sound like good news to families, friends, and co-workers. But these Thessalonians gave their world something to talk about. Their lives gave substance to the faith, hope, and love of Jesus. It is easier to tell someone about our own experience rather than jumping into a controversial “answer” for them. Why not share your story?
How can the Gospel go Viral?
1. Ceaseless work of FAITH (v. 2)
First, he mentions their “ceaseless work of faith.” Salvation is God’s gift. Faith rests upon the work of God, not our work. Yet, when we rest on God’s work, God produces His work in us. Paul blesses these believers because of the works that followed their faith. Encouragement is found in the lives that we live.
The cool thing is that God gets personally involved in helping us come to faith in Christ. You make the decision, but he provides you with the personalized evidence you need to make an informed decision. By consulting this passage and the account of Paul's initial visit in Acts 17, we learn of three ways God does this.
• He pointed to objective evidence, including Jesus' fulfillment of Old Testament messianic prophecy (Acts 17:2-3)—an absolutely unique phenomenon. I challenge you to investigate this (and other) line of evidence by reading Christianity: The Faith That Makes Sense.
• They saw the evidence of Jesus' power to change lives because of the loving lifestyle of Paul and his friends (1:5b; 2:1-12). Maybe God has brought his people into your life so you can see a living demonstration of his reality.
• As they took in these two lines of evidence, God's Spirit brought them to “full conviction.” This is “the ring of truth”—his personal, existential persuasion that Jesus is the truth, that you are lost without him, and that you need to receive him (1:5a – Me till 1979). Maybe you are experiencing this right now. If you are, it's time to make a commitment . . .
This is the “work of faith.” Have you taken this step? I guarantee you that you will never regret it. As the years go by, it will only loom larger and larger as the best decision you have ever made.
Illustration: On God’s command when Abraham left Ur for the promised land, the Word of God says that He went without knowing where he was going. For this faith God ascribed and rewarded him by making him a ‘father of many nations,’ ‘friend of God’ and a stalwart of faith.
Maureena and I came to the US in faith and continue to work for His Kingdom in faith even though the going is at time desperately difficult. It is through these times that God is going to bring His fruition. How are you ceaselessly working your faith?
2. Gospel presented with POWER (v. 5)
Some believe that the day of miracles is over, that signs and wonders were for the apostolic age before the New Testament canon was complete. That after the New Testament was written, there was no more need for miracles. Frankly, dear friends, this is a rationalization that has no scriptural basis. Paul indicated that some would have spiritual gifts of healings, faith, and miracles (1 Corinthians 12:9-10, 29-30). So did Jesus (Mark 16:18). The Book of Acts gives many indications of the power of miracles to win people to Christ. And a careful reading of church history shows many, many incidents of healing and miracles after apostolic times. To refuse to believe God for miracles in our day is rationalized unbelief! God has always gifted people in many ways in every congregation. We need to seek out these gifted people and nurture them.
The gospel presented with power has a greater impact than the gospel presented without it. It may have a hype and a short lived impact. In order for the hearers to be sold out to it and even lay down their lives for Christ and His gospel, it is important that the gospel be presented with the packed power of the Holy Spirt. It will go a long way just at it did in the 1st century church. A God-built church, has the Spirit of God as its energy, the Word of God as its most precious jewel, and the glory of God as its supreme goal.
Also, says Paul, the gospel came "by the Holy Spirit." Behind the power was the reality of God himself. His Spirit could touch the human spirit. He could actually minister to the deepest needs in human lives. The Spirit of God fills the human spirit. He begins to minister to our minds and our hearts from within, opening them up to understand these events. Finally, the gospel came "with full conviction." It moved the wills of the Thessalonians. They acted, they did something about it: They yielded their lives to God.
Illustration: A Hindu man visited every weekend to attend our underground worship service at a home. He witnessed the power of the gospel and the miracles God did in the lives of the attendees. One night he gave his life to Christ. Today he travels by bicycle to remote villages in India and spreads the gospel with power and is winning souls for Christ. That is what happens when the gospel is presented with power.
3. TURN to GOD from Idols (v. 9)
This is the first mark of a healthy church—that it is made up of people who are converted. They know what they have been converted from (1:9 - “… how you turned to God from idols …”), and they know what they have been converted to (1:9 - “… to serve a living and true God …”).
The people throughout Thessalonica and Macedonia saw a change in the Thessalonian saints and they talked up the church. This is the best form of advertising there is! What made this church “the talk of the town?” They turned to God from idols and immediately began serving the Lord. Note the order of words here. We would normally think in terms of turning from idols to God but here Paul’s argument is that they first turned to God and then away from idols. The Thessalonians didn’t leave their idols and then go out to find God. They turned to God and then left their idols. Conversion is not only turning from something but it is a turning to Someone. Don’t worry about cleaning yourself up first. Let God do this. Now not everyone turns immediately or sufficiently, but this is God’s business. He is more interested in the growth and health of His children than we are. Let Him work in His time and in His way.
What is this "work of faith" that Paul speaks of? He sums it up himself in Verse 9. There he speaks of how the Thessalonians had "turned to God from idols, to serve the living and true God." That is faith at work. Faith is not merely belief; it is something that changes you. Faith makes you turn from what is wrong to what is right, from dark and hurtful things to right and true and healthy things. And, especially, faith will turn you from the worship of idols to God.
Notice the direction of this action: to God, from idols. It is not put the other way around. You do not leave your idols for some reason and then painfully try to find God. What happens is that you discover something of the beauty, the glory and greatness of God, and, seeing that and wanting it, you are willing to forsake the cheap and tawdry things you have been trying to satisfy yourselves with.
Externally, modern America is surely one of the most idolatrous countries the world has ever seen. We are surrounded with idol worship. I once heard of a Chinese man who visited here and was asked upon his return to China whether Americans worshipped idols. "Yes, they do," he reported. "They have three of them. In the winter they worship a fat man in a red suit. In the spring they worship a rabbit. And in the fall they sacrifice a turkey!" We chuckle at that, but these are not true idols. They are myths and legends for the most part (except for the turkey, thank God!).
Internally, America worships not only Eros, the goddess of sex, but Baal, the erotic deity associated with fertility rites. Baal worship in the ancient world encouraged degenerate practices of the most licentious kind. It is the reason for the loathsome practices evident in our country today. Baal worship is manifest in the rise of homosexuality as an acceptable lifestyle. It is behind the pornography that pervades almost every aspect of life in our times. More than that, Americans are worshipping the god Molech, the terrible furnace god into whose fiery mouth parents in ancient times threw their own children, destroying them to relieve the guilt of their own consciences. This is with us yet today, manifested in skyrocketing cases of child abuse, child molestation and abortions. What will turn us from these degradations?
Only if we would turn to our Creator and be completely given up to Him the gospel will go viral!
Application: So, what is your role and the role of the church today in order to make the gospel go viral in our community, state, nation and to the ends of the earth? What are you doing about it? Are you living out your faith zealously? Do you present Jesus to others in power and turn from all that is holding you?
