THE WORK OF THE WORD—1Thessalonians 2:13-16
Paul was thankful that the Thessalonian Christians accepted, believed on & appropriated God’s word.
Previously....
1:1-10—A Faith that soothes the soul
2:1-12—A Ministry that Shepherds the soul
The Word of God produces an enduring work in the believer.
How is that work evidenced in the faithful?
4 evidences of work produced by the word of God in the faithful.
1—The work of the word is evidenced in
ACCEPTANCE(:13)
—Explanation:(:13)
:13—“ For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.”
“Received”—paralambanw—‘To take to, to take with one’s self, to join to one’s self; to receive something transmitted.’
Jn. 1:12-13—“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.”
“Accepted it”—decomai—To take with the hand; To take hold of, take up; To take up, receive; To receive, get.
“For what it really is”—
“The word of God”—
“Effectively works/Performs its work/Effectually worketh/” —energew—To be operative, be at work, put forth power; To effect.
?What is Work of the Word?—Ps. 119:11, 20, 27-29, 35-37, 40, 42, 63, 67-68, 71, 81-82, 104, 105, 148, 155, 165
—Argumentation:
Heb. 4:12—“For the word of God is living & active & sharper than any two-edged sword, & piercing as far as the division of soul & spirit, of both joints & marrow, & able to judge the thoughts & intentions of the heart.”
Jn. 3:18-21—““He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. “And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, & men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. “For everyone practicing evil hates the light & does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. “But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.””
Jas. 1:19-25—“So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore lay aside all filthiness & overflow of wickedness, & receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, & not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word & not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, & immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty & continues in it, & is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”
—Illustration:
American Revolution/ ‘Word’ of England given—Taxation w/o representation/No ACCEPTANCE
Balfour QuarryDirective signs—No trespassing...Do Not Enter...Trespassers will be persecuted/Temptation to go in & see the ‘wonders’/Signs say emphatic ‘NO!’/ ACCEPTANCE!
—Application:
?You ACCEPTED the Word of God?
?The Word of God at Work in you?
—CONCLUSION—
Action:
The work of the word is evidenced in...
ACCEPTANCE(:13)
Presented 07/25/05am to:
Richland Baptist Church
40510 Stewart Road
Zephyrhills, FL 33544
