A FAITH THAT SOOTHES THE SOUL-2—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 over your souls) 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—A faith that soothes the soul is
A faith that INHABITS PRAYERS(:2)
Explanation:(:2)
:2—“We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind...”
THANKFULNESS
“We give thanks to God always”—Unfailing thanks for God’s having supplied their witness.
COMPREHENSIVE/CORPORATE
“For all of you”—Every saint of the Thessalonian church; The entire church is necessary to bring about God’s will.
UBIQUITOUS
“Making mention...Constantly bearing in mind” —mneia—Bringing to memory or remembrance.
“Constantly/Without ceasing”—adialeiptwV— Without intermission, Incessantly.
—Prayers are constantly being lifted up.
—Argumentation:
Isa. 57:15—“For thus says the high & exalted One Who lives forever, whose name is Holy, “I dwell on a high & holy place, And also with the contrite & lowly of spirit In order to revive the spirit of the lowly And to revive the heart of the contrite.”
Rev. 8:3-5—“And another angel came & stood at the altar, holding a golden censer; & much incense was given to him, that he might add it to the prayers of all the saints upon the golden altar which was before the throne. And the smoke of the incense, with the prayers of the saints, went up before God out of the angel’s hand. And the angel took the censer; & he filled it with the fire of the altar & threw it to the earth; & there followed peals of thunder & sounds & flashes of lightning & an earthquake.”
—Illustration:
Bees/Fond remembrance of flower locations—communicated to others/INHABIT PRAYERS—communication
American troops/Messages-Communique to commanding officers/Their faith inhabited their communications/ INHABIT PRAYERS
—Application:
?Your faith INHABIT PRAYERS of Jesus’ servants?
?Your faith soothe an apostle’s soul?
5—A faith that soothes the soul is
A faith that WORKS(:3a)
—Explanation:(:3a)
:3— “Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith & labor of love & steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God & Father,”
“Your work of faith”—
“Work”—ergon—Business, Employment, That with which one is occupied or busied. What your put your hands to.
?How or with what do you busy yourself?
“Faith”—pistiV—Trust resulting in Loyalty, Belief without doubt or question.
—Argumentation:
Php. 2:12-13—“So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear & trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will & to work for His good pleasure.”
Jas. 2:14-26—READ—:14, 26—“What use is it, my brethren, if a man says he has faith, but he has no works? Can that faith save him?”....“For just as the body without the spirit is dead, so also faith without works is dead.”
—Illustration:
Housewife frying chicken/ Raises the chicken(food, housing, protection, time invested); Kills, Cleans, Cuts; Acquires shortening-lard/
Do you have that kind of faith in Jesus? Ministry to children requires that kind of faith!/No instant results but time tested
—Application:
?Your faith WORK?
?Your faith soothe the soul of those whom God has placed over you?
6—A faith that soothes the soul is
A faith that LOVES(:3b)
—Explanation:(:3b) Love in action
:3— “Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith & labor of love & steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God & Father,”
“Labor of love”—
—“Labor”—kopoV—Beating as of the breast as in grieving. The intensity of work, Toilsome, Troublous.
—”Love”—agaph—Highest form of loving affection. Directed toward one’s enemies—looks beyond faults to a greater worth & good borne of God.
?How can “love” be laborious?
Love’s intensity is felt in our losses.—When you pour out your energies upon others & they don’t respond to Christ. Not an event but a continual mind/heartset. A continual outreach & inreach.
The love of God laboriously put Jesus on the cross!...Bore with the disdain & sins of many.
—Argumentation:
Song Of Solomon 8:6-7—“...For love is as strong as death, Jealousy is as severe as Sheol; Its flashes are flashes of fire, The very flame of the LORD. “Many waters cannot quench love, Nor will rivers overflow it; If a man were to give all the riches of his house for love, It would be utterly despised.”
—Illustration:
Steve Saint/Father killed along with Jim Elliot by the Auca people of Ecuador/Very same Auca Indian(Grandfather) came to saving faith thru those who did not give up even under fear of death/Missionaries had a faith that Lobored in LOVE
—Application:
?Your faith LOVE Jesus/others?
?Your faith soothe the soul of those whom God has placed over you?
7—A faith that soothes the soul is
A faith that HOPES(:3c)
—Explanation:(:3c)
:3— “Constantly bearing in mind your work of faith & labor of love & steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God & Father,”
“Steadfastness of hope”—
“Steadfastness/patience of hope”—upomonh— Enduring continuance, Constancy.
“Hope”—elpiV—Confident expectation— ‘Know so’ rather than ‘hope/wish so’ hope.
Heb. 3:6, 14—“but Christ was faithful as a Son over His house whose house we are, if we hold fast our confidence & the boast of our hope firm until the end.”....“For we have become partakers of Christ, if we hold fast the beginning of our assurance firm until the end;”
1Jn. 2:28; 3:21—“And now, little children, abide in Him, so that when He appears, we may have confidence & not shrink away from Him in shame at His coming.”....“Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God;”
*Faith is always centered on what your hope is....On the focus of your affections.
*Confidence or the lack thereof arises from a sure/certain or unsure/uncertain hope.
—Argumentation:
Rom. 5:1-6—“Therefore having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; & we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; & perseverance, proven character; & proven character, hope; & hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us. For while we were still helpless, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.”
—Illustration:
Money stashed in Money Market account/Certain you’ll make money on it/HOPE & Faith worthy—Know-so hope/HOPE & Faith worthy
Robins arrive/Gradually returning to northern homes/Spring is certain/Know-so HOPE/HOPE & Faith worthy
Risky stocks are uncertain—NOT HOPE & faith worthy—Hope-so hope
Possibility of war with Iraq/Can’t plan for it because its not certain—NOT HOPE & faith worthy—Hope-so hope
Rain anticipated but not certain—NOT HOPE & faith worthy—Hope-so hope
—Application:
?Your faith HOPE in Jesus?
?Your faith soothe the soul of those whom God has placed over you?
—CONCLUSION—
Action:
A faith that soothes the soul is a faith that....
INHABITS PRAYERS(:2)
WORKS(:3)
LOVES(:3B)
HOPES(:3C)
RECEIVES THE SENT(:1)
CHURCHES(:1)
REQUIRES GOD’S GRACE & PEACE(:1)
Presented 03/16/03am to:
Providence Baptist church
975 Providence Road
Whigham, GA 39897
