"A FAITH WORTH TALKING ABOUT"
I THESSALONIANS 1:1-10
Today we begin our study of the book of I Thessalonians -- it will be a great study from the word of God. I will preach 6 messages on sunday mornings from this book.
In Paul’s day, 200,000 people lived there -- most were Greeks, but there were also many Romans and a strong Jewish minority.
In Acts chapter 17, Luke records for us Paul’s initial visit to Thessalonica, it was during the apostle’s second missionary journey. When Paul, Timothy and Silas arrived in Thessalonica -- they spend 3 weeks teaching and preaching in the synagogues, Luke record:
"HE REASONED WITH THEM FROM SCRIPTURES, EXPLAINING AND PROVING THAT THE CHRIST HAD TO SUFFER, AND RISE FROM THE DEAD. AND SAYING TO THEM -- `THIS JESUS I AM PROCLAIMING TO YOU IS THE CHRIST (WHICH MEANS SAVIOR...")
And in response to Paul’s preaching some Jews, a large number of God - fearing Greeks and some prominent women were persuaded by Paul and accepted Christ...
But not all the Jews that were in the city appreciated Paul... some became jealous -- and since that had money they hired some thugs from the market place to form a mob, and they started a riot in the city. The mob stormed and broke into the house where Paul and Silas were staying (it belonged to a man named Jason).... and when they didn’t find Paul and Silas in the house they drug Jason and some other brothers before the city officials... they accused them of harboring men who were proclaiming treason against Caesar -- by claiming that a man name Jesus is King. Jason and the other brothers were released on bail, and that very night under the cover of darkness Paul, Timothy and Silas were smuggled out of town.
They went from there to Berea (about 50 miles from Thessalonica -- and when the mob learned they were in Berea, they saddled up their camels and headed to Berea stirring up more trouble for Paul, forcing him to flee to the coast and take a ship to Athens to escape their fury, while Timothy and Silas stayed in Berea.
Some time later, Paul was reunited with Timothy and Silas in Corinth. Now Paul, was still concerned about the church in Thessalonica -- it was a young church and he had to leave so hastily. So Paul sent Timothy to Thesalonica to find out how they were doing, and to also according I Thessalonians 3:2, "TO STRENGTHEN AND ENCOURAGE THEM IN THEIR FAITH.."
Paul was still in Corinth, when Timothy returned with news form Thessalonica. And it was from Corinth that Paul wrote both of his letter to the church there... So the book that we will study this month is a letter that Paul wrote to a young church ( a church he established, loved and carded for) a letter written in response to Timothy’s report of both, their faith and their struggles...
Today’s message is entitled, A FAITH, WORTH TALKING ABOUT
What does it mean to be a model?
And no I am not talking about the kind of models who adorn the cover of magazines.
What does it mean, when someone says;
"YOU’RE A MODEL -- STUDENT" "HE IS A MODEL FATHER..."
"SHE IS A MODEL MOTHER.." "JOE IS A MODEL EMPLOYEE"
What does it mean to be a model? It means, that we are doing something so well that it warrants others doing the same thing... Listen to what Paul says to the church in Thessalonica;
I THESSALONIANS 1:7,8 (READ IT TWICE)
WHAT IS PAUL SAYING ABOUT THE THESSALONIANS?
He is saying that they are a model to all believers....
He is saying that all believers can learn something about living the Christian life from them -- even you...
Paul is saying that if any church or any Christian, is like those in Thessalonica, they will be well rooted and well on their way down the right track...
Bros, there is so much that we can learn from this church. Paul in closing this letter makes a statement that is not found in any other of his letters, He writes; "I CHARGE YOU BEFORE THE LORD TO HAVE THIS LETTER READ TO ALL THE BROTHERS...."
WHY, WAS THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH A MODEL FOR ALL CHURCHES. for ALL FOR ALL BELIEVERS?
WHY, WAS THEIRS A FAITH WORTH TALKING ABOUT?
BUT, WHAT MADE THEM SO SPECIAL? -- WHAT WERE THEY DOING THAT WAS SO RIGHT?
WELL FRIENDS THAT’S OUR JOB TODAY -- TO DISCOVER WHAT IT IS WE ARE TO MODEL....
I THESSALONIANS 1:1-3
1. WE ARE TO MODEL THEIR WORK WHICH WAS PRODUCED BY FAITH...
Paul says that the work of the Thessalonians was produced by faith... And this seems to agree with what James says in the second chapter of his letter that faith, "without works is dead..." which means that true faith will always result in works for god...
But let me ask you this question, can you have works without faith? can something besides faith produce works...? (sure, for some their work is produced by: guilt, duty, selfish ambition or because no one else will do it)...
Yes, you can work without faith, but you can not have faith without works....
READ "IS IT A JOB OR MINISTRY?"
2. WE ALSO NEED TO MODEL THEIR LABOR PROMPTED BY LOVE...
The word here that is translated labor, means: a beating or the weariness caused by a beating... it also means the exertion that brings on physical weariness... It was used to describe the tiring that one undergoes in battle..
Labor, isn’t a real good time (right ladies?)... You see, it is one thing to be mentally willing to do the work of the Kingdom -- but it is quit another; to be made weary by it -- to be afflicted by it -- to groan because of the struggle that is required in order to accomplish the task.
So if that’s the case, why would someone labor for the Kingdom? -- what could possibly be the motivation for undergoing such exertion...? Paul says the motive is LOVE.
But a Love for who? Well, it is certainly not love for ourselves... You see, it is the love for self and the desire for ones own personal comfort that cause so many to simply drop out, and refuse to labor for the Kingdom...
If not love for self -- then love for who?
MARK 12:28-34
Our motive, the driving force behind our labor for the Kingdom -- must be love for God and love for others.... Any other motive won’t do, Any other reason is weak and inferior and will not last...
3. WE NEED TO MODEL THEIR ENDURANCE INSPIRED BY HOPE
The word translated here as endure, means so much more than patience... It means; to stay alive, to stand firm -- to endure -- to bear -- to suffer -- It was used to describe the bearing of pain by the wounded -- and heroism in the face of bodily suffering.
Paul says that the Thessalonians endured, and we know that they did suffer, Paul writes in 2:14
"YOU SUFFERED FROM YOUR OWN COUNTRYMEN THE SAME THINGS THOSE CHURCHES SUFFERED FROM THE JEWS, WHO KILLED THE LORD JESUS AND THE PROPHETS AND ALSO DROVE US OUT...."
What is that inspired this kind of endurance in the Thessalonians Christians? It was hope -- and not just any hope..
You see, there are many things people put their hope in -- their money, their home, their job, their looks, their children, their husband, their wives, their financial stability...IN SUCCESS AND PRAISE FROM MEN...or in a bottle or a pill.
An athlete endures much -- pays a high price -- works hard for years -- and what drives him? The hope of making it big some day -- collecting that big pay-check.... We look at them and we admire their discipline and perseverance -- but what happens to an athlete when he has 2 blood clots in his knee his senior yea in college and the doctors say his leg needs surgery... What if he never makes it big? what if he never collects that pay check? (IT ALL DEPENDS IF THAT WAS WHERE HIS HOPE FOR LIFE WAS RESTED)
A lot of people have their hope in the wrong thing -- and therefore they will not long endure....
If you want to really endure in life -- and not just for a couple of months or for a few years -- then you need to put your hope in the Lord Jesus Christ!! In the one who rescued you form dying -- and is able to carry you home. My the words of the hymn be the words of your soul... are they?
MY HOPE IS BUILT ON NOTHINGNESS THEN JESUS BLOOD AND RIGHTEOUSNESS; I DARE NOT TRUST THE SWEETEST FRAME, BUT WHOLLY LEAN ON JESUS NAME. ON CHRIST THE SOLID ROCK I STAND; ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND, ALL OTHER GROUND IS SINKING SAND...
ON WHAT ARE YOU STANDING TODAY, RIGHT NOW? ON WHOM OR WHAT, ARE YOU LEANING? ON WHAT IS YOUR HOPE BUILT? (THE SOLID ROCK OR SINKING SAND -- PEOPLE WILL LET YOU DOWN, YOUR LOOKS AND VITALITY WILL FADE WITH AGE, YOUR MONEY CAN SLIP AWAY IN A FLASH, YOUR BOOS MAY GIVE YOU A PINK SLIP) IF YOUR HOPE ISN’T GROUNDED IN JESUS YOU’RE REALLY MESSING UP....
BROS, WHEN OUR HOPE IS IN JESUS CHRIST AND HIS RIGHTEOUSNESS -- WHEN IT IS BUILT ON THE SOLID ROCK IT IS A HOPE THAT INSPIRES ENDURANCE.... WE’LL HANG IN THERE! WE’LL BE ABLE TO FINISH THE RACE -- BECAUSE WE CAN SEE OUR LORD STANDING AT THE FINISH LINE WAITING TO GREET US AND WELCOME US HOME...
4. WE NEED TO ALSO MODEL THEIR IMITATION
I THESSALONIANS 1:6
The word that is translated imitation is the greek word "memeomai" -- and it is the word from which our english words, mimic and mimeograph are derived...
We live in a world that loves to mimic -- that just has to imitate.
Some celebrity grows his sideburns on TV and then all of sudden everyone is growing their sideburns... Some beautiful lady on the big screen, dresses a certain way or does her hair a certain way and bingo -- it’s the latest trend...
Imitation is a fact of life -- we can’t get away from it... But the question is JUST WHO ARE THEY IMITATING....
Who were the Thesaalonian imitating - who were they mimicking in their daily lives? PAUL SAYS, "YOU BECAME IMITATORS OF US AND OF THE LORD...." When people in Thessalonica, saw they way they acted, saw how they treated each other, how they served the Lord, how they acted on the job, how they talked -- how they lived, when people saw them -- they said "HEY I KNOW WHO THESE GUYS REMIND ME OF -- THESE GUYS REMIND OF JESUS, YEAH THAT’S WHO..."
IF YOU ARE SERIOUS ABOUT IMITATING JESUS (ARE YOU? AND IF YOUR NOT -- WHY BOTHER BEING OR CALLING YOURSELF A CHRISTIAN) BUT IF YOU ARE THERE IS A SIMPLE THING YOU CAN DO.... EVERY TIME YOU GET READY TO DO SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING, GO SOMEWHERE, OR BUY SOMETHING ASK YOURSELF THIS QUESTION, WHAT WOULD JESUS DO? Would Jesus do that? Would Jesus say that? Would Jesus go there?
Now, is it easy to do what Jesus would do? To imitate Jesus? NO IT ISN’T... LISTEN TO VERSE 6 AGAIN, "YOU BECAME IMITATORS OF US AND THE LORD IN SPITE OF SEVERE SUFFERING..." THERE IS A PRICE TO BE PAID FOR IMITATING JESUS --
Are you ready to be a disciple of Jesus, to follow the Lamb of God -- to be an Imitator of the Good Shepherd.... and, are you willing to suffer to do it... The Thessalonians were -- and they are a model for us... for you!
5. WE NEED TO MODEL THEIR TURNING.....
Paul says that they turned to God from idols.....
They turned from sin to Christ, from darkness to light, and from wrong to right....
One commentator writes;
"It would be difficult to exaggerate how radical is the change of allegiance which is implied by the turn from idols to the living God. For idols are dead; God is living. Idols are false; God is true. Idols are many --God is one; Idols are visible and tangible -- God is invisible and intangible, beyond the reach of sight and touch. Idols are creatures, the work of human hands -- God is the Creator of the universe and of all mankind."
Idols were a part of life in Thessalonica -- they were everywhere and from Thesalonica, the people could see Mt Olympus which was about 50 miles south of their city, the place where the greek Gods were supposed to live....
We need to understand that idols had a tremendous hold over the people’s minds, hearts and lives. For centuries they have lived in superstitious dread of them and had bowed down to them in fearful worship.. And the very thought of breaking away from them, filled them with alarm, as they feared the spirit’s revenge....
And today’s much more sophisticated idols -- (God substitutes) are equally as powerful.... Some people are eaten up with selfish ambition, ambition for money, power or fame. Others, are obsessed with their work, or with sport or television, or infatuated with a person or addicted to food, drugs, alcohol or sex.... And People bow dow in a fearful dread to this paper gods.... pledging their allogeneic to them (an allegiance that belongs to God alone) hoping for life form these idols -- and the very thought of breaking away for them, cutting off all ties -- fills modern man and woman with alarm -- as they fear what will happen to them without these idols, thye don’t feel they can go on without them.
YOU SEE, EVERY IDOLATER IS A PRISONER, HELD IN A HUMILIATING BONDAGE...
Then, through the gospel and the grace of God, in many cases (as was the case in thessaalonca) suddenly and completely, the prisoner turns away from the idols that have so controlled their lives and turns to God.... You see SOME HAVE HAD a powerful encounter with God/Jesus. and they turn to God form idols.
FOR US TO REALLY TURN TO GOD THERE MUST FIRST BE A TURNING AWAY FROM IDOLS.... YOU SEE IF WE HAVE NEVER TURNED AWAY FROM THEM WE NEVER HAVE REALLY TURNED TO GOD --- IS THERE SOMETHING IN YOUR LIFE RIGHT NOW THAT YOU NEED TO TURN AWAY FORM SO THAT YOU CAN REALLY TURN TO GOD? IS THERE SOMETHING YOU NEED TO WITH BROKENNESS S AND TEARS OF GUILT AN REPENTANCE CAST INTO THE FIRE OR CUT DOWN -- DO IT NOW!
WE NEED TO MODEL THE THESSALONIANS TURNING...
6. WE NEED TO MODEL THEIR SERVING.....
We all know that we need to serve God... We had once served idols/sin with an uncompromising passion -- now we need to serve God with that same compassion -- and more...
So I want spend too much time talking about service. I’ll just read 3 VERSES; (AND THOSE WHO ACCEPT THIS VERSE FOR WHAT IT IS, THE WORD OF GOD -- THEY WILL SERVE AND CONTINUE TO SERVE EVEN MORE..
"..WHOEVER WANTS TO BE BECOME GREAT AMONG YOU MUST BE A SERVANT, AND WHOEVER WANTS TO BE FIRST MUST BE A SLAVE -- JUST AS THE SON OF MAN DID NOT COME TO BE SERVED, BUT TO SERVE AND TO GIVE HIS LIFE AS A RANSOM FOR MANY..." - MATTHEW 20:26-28
7. AND WE NEED TO MODEL THEIR WAITING
"TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD, AND TO WAIT FOR HIS SON FROM HEAVEN, WHOM HE RAISED FROM THE DEAD -- JESUS, WHO RESCUES US FROM THE COMING WRATH..."
SOMEONE HAS WRITTEN THE FOLLOWING;
IT IS IMMEDIATELY NOTEWORTHY THAT "SERVING" AND "WAITING" GO TOGETHER IN THE EXPERIENCE OF CONVERTED PEOPLE. INDEED, THIS IS AT FIRST SURPRISING, SINCE "SERVING IS ACTIVE, WHILE WAITING IS PASSIVE. IN CHRISTIAN TERMS SERVING IS GETTING BUSY FOR CHRIST ON EARTH, WHILE WAITING IS LOOKING FOR CHRIST TO COME FROM HEAVEN.
YET THESE TWO THINGS ARE NOT INCOMPATIBLE, ON THE CONTRARY, EACH BALANCES THE OTHER.
ON THE ONE HAND, HOWEVER HARD WE WORK AND SERVE, THERE ARE LIMITS TO WHAT WE CAN ACCOMPLISH. WE CAN ONLY IMPROVE SOCIETY (AND OUR LIVE FOR THAT MATTER); WE CANNOT PERFECT IT. WE SHALL NEVER BUILD A UTOPIA ON EARTH (OR IN OUR INDIVIDUAL LIVES). FOR THAT WE HAVE TO WAIT FOR CHRIST TO COME. ONLY THEN WILL HE SECURE THE FINAL TRIUMPH OF GOD’S REIGN OF JUSTICE AND PEACE (IN OUR LIVES, EVERYTHING WILL BE PERFECT ABOUT OUR LIFE THEN).
ON THE OTHER HAND, ALTHOUGH WE MUST LOOK EXPECTANTLY FOR THE COMING OF CHRIST, WE HAVE NO LIBERTY TO WAIT IN IDLENESS, WITH ARMS FOLDED AND EYES CLOSED, INDIFFERENT TO THE NEEDS OF THE WORLD AROUND US. INSTEAD, WE MUST WORK EVEN WHILE WE WAIT, FOR WE CALLED TO SERVE THE LIVING AND TRUE GOD.
THUS WORKING AND WAITING BELONG TOGETHER. IN COMBINATION THEY WILL DELIVER US FROM THE PRESUMPTION WHICH THINKS WE CAN DO EVERYTHING AND FROM THE PESSIMISM WHICH THINKS WE CAN DO NOTHING..
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR: YOUR SHIP TO COME IN -- FOR PRINCE OR PRINCESS CHARMING TO COME IN AND CARRY YOU JOYFULLY OFF INTO THE SUNSET -- SO YOU CAN LIVE HAPPILY EVER AFTER... LET ME TELL YOU THAT WANT HAPPEN THIS SIDE OF HEAVEN...
WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR -- -- YOU KNOW WHAT I’M WAITING FOR AND I YEARN FOR IT MORE ALL THE TIME -- I’M WAITING TO GO HOME!!!
