Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 03-15-2020

Paul’s Love for the Believers in Thessalonica

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

Two weeks ago, I shared with you several of the metaphors used in Scripture for
those who servant-lead the Church of God: 1 Corinthians 4:1-2, steward;
1 Timothy 2:7, preacher; 2 Timothy 2:2, teacher; 1 Peter 2:16, slave; 1 Peter
5:1-4, shepherd.

In 1 Thessalonians 2:7 Paul writes, “we were among you, as a nursing mother
who tenderly cares for her own children,” but then in verse 11 he says, “we were
exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own
children.”

Paul loves the believers in Thessalonica, and in 1 Thessalonians 2:12, Paul
says he came exhorting, encouraging, and imploring them, “so that [they] would
walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and
glory.”

Thessalonica was located just W of the Aegean Sea, along the well traveled
Egnatian Highway, which ran east and west between Greece to Turkey. Going north
from Thessalonica, all Europe could be reached with commerce, and every kind of
philosophy and teaching (most of which, at that time, were false and/or satanic in
nature). Thessalonica thrives today, and is said to have one of the oldest Christian
churches still in existence.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20… Paul can’t help but again give thanks for the
Christians in Thessalonica, as he did already in chapter 1:2, “We give thanks to
God always for all of you.” Paul says, “when you received the Word of God which
you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but for what it really is,
the Word of God which also performs its work in you who believe.”

As Paul previously mentioned in 1 Thessalonians 1:6, “They received the
Word,” i.e., their hearts were cultivated and ready to receive the truth of God in
Christ for salvation. The phrase in 2:13, “you received from us,” cites the fact that
they listened to, heard, and accepted the Word of God being preached to them as if
the message came from God through the apostles.

Paul says, what he preached 2:2, is “the gospel of God,” again in 2:8, “the
gospel of God,” and in 2:9, “the gospel of God.” Paul’s preaching wasn’t his own
thoughts, nor was it something he had received from someone else; this was the
sovereign, inerrant, infallible, eternal Word of God breathed out from and
originating with God (cf. 2 Timothy 3:16).

In Acts 8: 14, “When the apostles in Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received

the Word of God they sent them Peter and John.” Those preachers who went out to Samaria, including Philip, didn’t preach their own message; they preached the Word
of God, from God. In Acts 13:44, “The whole city assembled to hear the Word of
God,” from Paul and Barnabas.

Notice that God’s Word (last part of 1 Thessalonians 2::13), “performs its work
in you who believe,” i.e., when you hear, believe, and respond to God’s message
with your heart, that is a definite act of saving faith. Romans 10:17 says, “Faith
comes by hearing, hearing by the Word of Christ,” but verses 10:9-10 declare,
“You must believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead and confess
with your mouth that Jesus is Lord,” in order to be saved.

So, those who genuinely repent and believe in Christ have the supernatural work
of the Holy Spirit in them.

Let me be very clear that God’s Spirit doesn’t work in the lives of
unbelievers. The only thing the Word will do in an unbeliever is convict them of
rejecting Jesus Christ.

God’s Spirit performs His work in us: He prospers us (Joshua 1:8), “This book of
the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and
night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it; for then
you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.” He restores
our soul (Psalm 19:7), “The law of the Lord is perfect, restoring the soul.” He warns
and rewards us (Psalm 19:11), “By them Your servant is warned; in keeping them
there is great reward.” He counsels us (Psalm 119:24), “Your testimonies also are
my delight; They are my counselors.” He strengthens us (Psalm 119:28), “My soul
weeps because of grief; strengthen me according to Your word.” He makes us wise
(Psalm 119:98-100), “Your commandments make me wiser than my enemies, for
they are ever mine. I have more insight than all my teachers, for Your testimonies
are my meditation. I understand more than the aged, because I have observed
Your precepts.” He guides us (Psalm 119:105), “Your word is a lamp to my feet and
a light to my path.” He revives us (Psalm 119:154), “Revive me according to Your
word.” He blesses us (Luke 11:28), “Blessed is the one who hears the Word of God
and obeys it.” He purges us (John 15:3), “We are cleansed by the Word.” He sets
us apart (John 17:17), “Sanctify them in the truth; Your word is truth.” He teaches,
reproves, corrects, trains, and equips us (2Timothy 3:16), “All Scripture is inspired
[breathed out] by God and is profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for
training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for
every good work.” He saves us (1Peter 1:23), “You have been born again not of
seed which is perishable, but imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of
God.” He grows us (1Peter 2:2), “Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the
word, so that by it you may grow in respect to salvation.” The Word performs Its
work in us.

See 1 Thessalonians 2:14… The Thessalonians had become imitators of the
churches of God and Christ Jesus in Judea, in that they had suffered at the hands of
their own countryman, as did those believers in Judea.

The original church in Jerusalem was persecuted. Stephen was martyred in Acts 7, after which persecution broke out, led by Saul (Paul), against the followers of
Jesus, and so the churches were scattered. Just like the Judean church was
persecuted by the Jews, the Thessalonians underwent the same kind of suffering.
In fact, we are told in Acts 17:5, “But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along
some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an
uproar.” The Jews got people all stirred up into mob, and then hired some Gentile
thugs in the market place to beat up those who were believing in Christ.

So, in 1 Thessalonians 2 Paul is expressing his joy for these believers who
genuinely heard and responded to the gospel of God, and although they are a very
young church, they are being persecuted like the much older and more established
churches in Judea.

Paul says the new believers in Thessalonica are already enduring persecution by
the unbelieving Jews.

1 Thessalonians 2:15-16, who “both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and
drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, hindering us
from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they
always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.”

The Jews persecuted Christ and the prophets, and hinder the Gentiles from
being saved, in by doing so they heap judgment upon themselves forever!

In less than 40 years from the death of Jesus Christ, Jerusalem was devastated,
the temple was torn down, 1,100,000 Jews were put to death by the sword and
those who survived were taken as slaves for the Roman Empire and/or sold as
slaves on the world market.

Those who do not please God by continuing to reject Christ as Lord; those who
hinder the proclamation of the gospel of God, will indeed suffer the ultimate wrath
of God, being condemned to an eternal hell where they will be tormented day and
night, and there will be weeping and the gnashing of teeth, forever and ever (cf.
Matthew 5:18; Revelation 20:10).
John 3:36, “He who believes in the Son has eternal life; but he who does not obey
the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him.”

See 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20… “Having been taken away,” literally means, “to
be orphaned,” “to be torn away from.” Paul felt like he had been ripped out of the
arms of the believers in Thessalonica. He didn’t want to leave.

Remember in verse 7 he had talked about himself as a nursing mother who
cares for his children, and in verse 11 as a father who encourages, exhorts, and
implores his children. He had that parental heart and now he feels like a parent
who has been torn away from his children.

That’s the feeling Paul has, even though he hadn’t known them very long, in fact
only a few weeks; and yet, he loved them so deeply, and was now suffering their
loss, like a shepherd without his sheep, a mother or father whose children had been
forcibly taken from them.

Paul wanted to be with them, to see their faces, so he says in verse 18, “we
wanted to come to you,” to know how you were doing.

Paul said “we” in verse 17 and “we” in verse 18 (meaning Paul, Timothy,
Silas), but now he says, “I, Paul, [wanted to come to you] more than once.”

Paul had sent Timothy back, but he wanted to go, to be with them, he loved
them and would no doubt give his life for them, just as Jesus gave His life for all of
us.

Galatians 2:20, “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live,
but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the
Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.”

Philippians 1:21-26, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to
live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to
choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart
and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is
more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and
continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud
confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.”

Why didn’t Paul go back to see them? 1 Thessalonians 2:18, “Satan hindered
us.” More than once Paul had tried to return, but Satan had kept him from doing so.
We don’t know what happened or how he was held back, perhaps, because this
little church had so quickly matured and were promoting the gospel of Christ,
maybe Satan was afraid of what would happen if Paul was allowed to return and
spiritually energize these believers even more. Or maybe Paul would have been
killed by those who had persecuted him there. Only God knows, but these
believers continued to grow whether Paul was there or not, and they represent
what a church should look like and act like in service to the Lord.

Satan opposes God’s people, and especially those on the front lines of ministry,
those who take a bold stance to proclaim the message of Christ: crucified,
resurrected, and coming again.

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20… These are marvelous verses, pregnant with
meaning and overflowing with encouragement exhortation to make a difference for
Christ.

Paul tells the believers in Thessalonica that they are his hope, joy, and crown
[lit. the victor’s crown, the wreath that is placed on the head of the winning
contestant in an olympic event] of exultation! Ultimately Paul is talking about an
eternal reward from an eternal event, for he says, “Is it not even you, in the
presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.”

What does Paul mean? Well, he wrote something similar to the Corinthians
believers (2 Corinthians 1:14) “We are your reason to be proud as you also are
ours in the day of our Lord Jesus.” I believe that is synonymous with
(1 Thessalonians 2:19), “in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming.” Paul is
saying, ”I’m going to boast about you in the day of the Lord Jesus, as His coming,
when I see Him, you are going to be what I boast about!”

Listen! When you and I get to glory, we aren’t going to crowns to put on our
glorified heads, our crowns will be the very presence of the people there who we
had the joy to proclaim the message of Christ to, whether we planted the seed, or
watered, or harvested, i.e., the people whose lives were influenced by our words,
our example, and our prayers.

Our reward, Paul is saying, is from the Lord’s own recognition, “Well done, good
and faithful servant, enter into the joy of your Master.” For the faithful who obey,
honor, and serve the Lord with their lives, in order to bring people to the knowledge
of Christ, this is the victor’s crown.

Revelation 22:12, “Behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to
render to every man according to what he has done.”

I believe the time of rewards is after the rapture of the church, at the same time
period as the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. So, at the time of the rapture when
Jesus comes, there will be a great time of rewards in heaven, and it will be Jesus
Christ bringing all those who had already died in the faith with Him.

What will be your most glorious joy at the rapture, aside from being in the very
presence of the Lord? While you are considering that, look again…

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20, “For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it
not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming? For you are our
glory and joy.”

Paul emphatically says, “You are our hope and joy and crown in the presence of
our Lord.” Paul was motivated by his anticipation of the Lord’s return, although he
loved the believers, he loved the Lord more; but he anticipated the Lord’s return,
when all believers would be together forever. Paul’s greatest joy was his love for
Christ, and his also his love for those who belong to Christ.

May we all imitate Paul’s example by showing our love for the Lord, by the love
we continue to express toward all those who belong to God.

John 13:35, “By this all men will know that you are My disciples, if you have love
for one another.”

Pastor Mike        °°° >’(((><

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 2:7-12 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 03-01-2020

The Example of Parent-Style Spiritual Leadership

1Thessalonians 2:7-12

Last week in 1Thessalonians 2:1-6, we looked at the characteristics of spiritual
leadership that bring honor to God. Today, we are going to look at 1Thessalonians
2:7-12 where we will consider how leadership within the the church is much like
that in a normal family, i.e., that there is to be both a mother and a father.

In 1Thessalonians 2:7 Paul writes, “we were among you, as a nursing mother
who tenderly cares for her own children,” but then in verse 11 he says, “we were
exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own
children.”

Paul provides here two of the many metaphors used in Scripture to distinguish
the character and practice of spiritual leadership in the church; but before we look
at those, let me give you a few more examples of how the those who lead in God’s
church are to serve:

In 1Corinthians 4:1-2, as a steward [one who manages the resources of the
house of God]; in 1Timothy 2:7, as a preacher, a herald [bringing the gospel
message of forgiveness and eternal life in Christ]; in 2Timothy 2:2, as a teacher
[one called and equipped to rebuke, correct and train those in the church with the
truth of God]; in 1Peter 2:16, as a bond slave [a free man who chooses to serve
God wholeheartedly]; in 1Peter 5:1-4, as a shepherd [feeding, caring for,
overseeing, and protecting the flock of God].

Read 1Thessalonians 2:7-9… Paul says that he, Silas, and Timothy served as
spiritual mothers to the believers in Thessalonica (verse 7), we were like “a
nursing mother” who “tenderly cares for her own children.”

Out of all the relationships humans have, this is the most gentle and tender, a
mother nursing her baby, giving herself for the life she is holding in her arms. Paul
is illustrating the personal and tender care that is to be given to the church by
those who are in leadership.

The verb “tenderly cares” means to warm another with your own body heat, i.e.,
a mother holds her baby to her breast warming the child with her own body, while
also feeding the infant with milk from her own body.

Paul says (1Thessalonians 2:8-9) that he and the other apostles had a deep
affection for the Thessalonians, like a mother does for her baby; and not only did
they impart to them the gospel of God” to save them (like a mother breast feeding
her baby), but they “also [imparted to them] their own lives, because these
believers had become so very dear to them.”

The word translated impart here [means to share something fully, yet to retain
some of it yourself], e.g., the apostles shared the gospel with them, but also their
very lives; for they sacrificed for them like a mother does for her own child
(especially a baby, who consumes its mother’s life), as she feeds it, changes it,
loves it, clothes it, bathes it, puts it to bed, gets it up, takes care of its every need.

And a mother does all this without receiving any special awards or kudos for
mothering her children; in fact, she is expected to labor through all kinds of
troubles: sleepless nights, stuffy noses, teething, stomach aches, skinned knees,
sore throats, ear aches, etc. A mother does all this because of the deep affection
and love she has for her child or children; she gives up a big part of her life, to
make sure they have what they need.

Paul is saying that those in leadership in the church are to give themselves to
those in the church, the family of God, and they are to do this selflessly, constantly,
even in hardship, “working night and day,” just as a mother cares for her children.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:10-12  Just as verses 7-9 illustrate the mothering role
of a spiritual leader among the family of God, verses 10-12 illustrate the fatherly
role; clearly, there is to be a balance of both motherhood and fatherhood displayed
as spiritual leaders care for family of believers.

But what is fatherhood? What makes a man a man? How should men act?
In 1Corinthians 16:13 Paul commands the men, “Be on the alert, stand firm in
the faith, act like men, be strong.” The verb “act like men” means to conduct
oneself in a courageous way. Men are to be strong and courageous.

Clearly men are not to be effeminate [which means gentle, soft, womanly,
unmanly]; in fact, the word feminine is taken from the word womanly; in the old
English definition it literally means “one who suckles, or one who feeds from the
breast,” as we have already studied in 1Thessalonians 2:7-9.

But now we are talking about spiritual leaders representing the ultimate in God
pleasing masculinity or maleness, that of being a God-honoring father to those in
the church. He is to do this by being strong and courageous, he must be willing to
engage in the challenges, to be steadfast in difficulties, and to be willing to remove
or go through obstacles; these are part of his duties and responsibilities.

Moses, speaking to Israel, tells them that he is 120 years old and although he is
turning responsibility for Israel over to Joshua they should not fear; then God
exhorts Joshua to be strong and courageous because God will be with him.
Deuteronomy 31:3, “It is the Lord your God who will cross ahead of you; He will
destroy these nations before you, and you shall dispossess them. Joshua is the one
who will cross ahead of you, just as the Lord has spoken.” 6, “Be strong and
courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one
who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.” 23, “Then He commissioned
Joshua the son of Nun, and said, ‘Be strong and courageous, for you shall bring the
sons of Israel into the land which I swore to them, and I will be with you.’”
Joshua 1:5 “No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just
as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you.
6 Be strong and courageous, for you shall give this people possession of the land
which I swore to their fathers to give them. 7 Only be strong and very courageous; be careful to do according to all the law which Moses My servant commanded you;
do not turn from it to the right or to the left, so that you may have success
wherever you go. 8 This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you
shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all
that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will
have success. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous! Do not
tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

When King David is surrounded by the armies of the Arameans, he sends Joab
out to lead Israel in battle:
2Samuel 10:12, “Be strong, and let us show ourselves courageous for the sake of
our people and for the cities of our God; and may the Lord do what is good in His
sight.”

When David was close to death, he exhorted Solomon:

1Kings 2:2, “I am going the way of all the earth [to die]. Be strong, therefore, and
show yourself a man.”

1Chronicles 22:13, “[Be] careful to observe the statutes and the ordinances which
the Lord commanded Moses concerning Israel. Be strong and courageous, do not
fear nor be dismayed.”

The point is, God has ordained for men to be leaders in their own families and to
be leaders in God’s family, the church. God-ordained male leadership is exemplified
by men who are firm in their faith; men with convictions rooted in the Word of God,
who are willing to live boldly and yet humbly, as examples to others, acting like
men, being strong and courageous, because their strength is from the Lord.

No one is perfect, only Jesus Christ the Lord. We all make mistakes,;I often
mess up, and when I do, I must make corrections, and sometimes I have to
apologize to someone. Owning up to your mistakes is representative of acting like
a man, just as being strong and courageous is. Paul acted like a man, and he
challenges other men, especially those who lead the church, to do the same.

Back to 1Thessalonians 2:10, “You are witnesses, and so is God, how devoutly
and uprightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers.” Paul reminds
them that they are witnesses of how he, Silas, and Timothy acted before them, and
that God knows their actions and the very intentions of their hearts. Paul is saying,
we were above reproach, blameless before you, as you well know.

Paul reiterates (1Thessalonians 2:11) how the apostles, as fathers, came
exhorting them [meaning to come alongside them, to urge them to do the right
thing, to receive Christ as Savior and Lord]; this is the same word used for the Holy
Spirit [paraklete, literally, Comforter, Helper]. Jesus says, concerning the Holy
Spirit [Spirit of Christ, Spirit of Truth, Spirit of God] (John 14:16), “I will ask the
Father, and He will give you another Helper,” [One just like Me] whose work (John
16:8-9), “to convict the world concerning sin, because they do not believe in Me.”

The apostles, as fathers, also came encouraging them [meaning to stimulate
them to hang in there, to have confidence, and to continue doing the right thing].
Hebrews 10:23-25, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering,
for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to
love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of
some, but encouraging one another…”

Thirdly, the apostles came imploring [begging, entreating, urging] each of the
believers in Thessalonica, just as a father would strongly plead with his own child
to please consider the consequences that will come, if you do not heed the
exhortation and encouragement I am giving you.

2Corinthians 5:20-21, “We are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were
making an appeal through us; we beg you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become
the righteousness of God in Him.”

Basically, fatherly exhortation instructs a child to walk or to live in a certain way;
while fatherly encouragement gives emotional, intellectual, moral and/or spiritual
support to the child, so that they can keep on keeping on; and finally, fatherly
imploring them earnestly, from the heart, making it very clear that to continue
turning a deaf ear to the message or to rebel in their heart toward it, will bring dire
consequences, destruction, and ultimately death” (cf. Romans 3:10-12; 23; 5:8;
6:23; 8:1).

In 1Thessalonians 2:12, Paul states why, as a father, he is exhorting,
encouraging, and imploring them, “so that [they] would walk in a manner worthy of
the God who calls [them] into His own kingdom and glory.”

At the moment of genuine salvation a person enters the kingdom of heaven,
ruled by the KING of Kings and LORD of Lords, Jesus Christ: crucified, resurrected,
and coming again to take all who believe in Him to live with Him, forever in the new
heaven and the new earth, where there will no longer be any mourning, or crying,
or pain, or death, for all that has past away (cf. Revelation 21:1-4); and surely
goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell
in the house of the LORD forever (cf. Psalm 23:6).
Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-6 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 02-23-2020

1 Thessalonians 2:1-6

God-honoring Leadership

Paul loves the believers in Thessalonica, and has expressed the witness of their
faith to people everywhere. As we have already studied, Paul came under great
persecution in Thessalonica and had to get out of town, so he went to Berea, and
the same thing happened there with the opposition of the Jews who came against
him and his presentation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He then had to leave and
went to Athens, then on to Corinth from where he is writing the believers in
Thessalonica.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:1-6 … Paul urges the believers in Thessalonica to not
listen to those who oppose him and Silas and Timothy; but instead to remember
their own personal experiences with these men and the impact made upon them
by the preaching of God’s Word in the power of God’s Spirit, and of course the
evidence of the message they brought that has become effectual in the lives of all
who believed it.

Paul reminds them that he and his companions had been persecuted in Philippi,
prior to coming to Thessalonica; actually, Paul & Co were falsely accused, physically
beaten and put into prison in Philippi, even though they had not committed any
crime.

But Paul & Co continued to preach the whole gospel of God to the Thessalonians,
even though the unbelieving Jews who followed them from Philippi continued to
cause trouble and to slander Paul and bring bogus charges against his motives and
his character.

Paul’s confidence and boldness came directly from God, as he also had
encouraged the Ephesians (Ephesians 6:10), “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in
the strength of His might.”

Even amid such opposition, Paul preached the good news of what God had done
to redeem sinners through the grace of God made effectual by the sacrifice of Jesus
Christ the Lord.

Read 1Thessalonians 2:2 … The Greek word agon [aa-gawn] translated
‘opposition,’ means struggle and conflict, and in fact we get our English word
agonize from it. It has the idea here of the struggle to keep the message accurate
and biblical and to not cave in under pressure to teach something more palatable
and acceptable to sinners who reject Christ; but instead to preach the Word
correctly, in the face of any and all opposition, with full confidence that God’s
purpose will prevail (see 1Corinthians 2:1-5).

Read 1Thessalonians 2:3 … Paul says their exhortation [meaning their urgent
message] to the Thessalonians wasn’t done with deception or by way of any false
teaching, nor was it from any impure motives on the part of the apostles.

Note: The first of the gifted men in the New Testament church were the apostles, of whom
Jesus Christ Himself was the foremost (Hebrews 3:1). The basic meaning of apostle
(apostolos) is simply “one sent on a mission.” In its most primary sense “apostle” is used
only of the twelve, including Matthias, who replaced Judas (Acts 1:26), and of Paul, who
was uniquely set apart as apostle to the Gentiles (Galatians 1:15-17; cf. 1Corinthians
15:7-9; 2Corinthians 11:5). The qualifications for apostleship were having been chosen
directly by Christ and having witnessed the resurrected Christ (Mark 3:13; Acts 1:22-24).
Paul was the last to meet those qualifications (Rom. 1:1-7). It is not possible for there to be
apostles in the church today. When the New Testament was completed, the office of apostle
ceased (there were only these original thirteen).

There is a more general sense in which the term apostle is used in the early church,
such as in the case of Barnabas (Acts 14:4), and Silas and Timothy (1Thessalonians 2:6),
and a few other outstanding leaders (Rom. 16:7; 2Corinthians 8:23; Philippians 2:25);
these apostles were called “messengers [apostoloi] of the churches” (2Corinthians 8:23).

Evidently the Jews in Thessalonica were charging Paul & Co with teaching error,
but Paul makes it clear that he and his companions are committed to speaking only
the truth of God and also guarding the truth of God, for during the time of Paul
many false religions and cults were taking people captive with a false presentation
of the gospel of Christ.

The spiritual climate in Corinth was similar, to which Paul gave a similar
exhortation (2Corinthians 4:2-6), that he and the other apostles were “not
walking in craftiness or adulterating the word of God, but by the manifestation of
truth commending ourselves to every man’s conscience in the sight of God. And
even if our gospel is veiled, it is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case
the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelieving so that they might
not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For
we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord, and ourselves as your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall shine out of darkness,’ is
the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory
of God in the face of Christ.”

Paul’s enemies often accused him of impurity and deceit [this word actually
means fishhook, trap or other deception to catch something]. False teachers often
use some form of showy theatrics or pseudo magic, in order to appear as if they
have supernatural power from God; but it is anything but God-honoring (see
Matthew 7:15-23).

The eternal condemnation and judgement for these false teachers is already
confirmed (Matthew 25:30), “in that place there will be weeping and gnashing of
teeth,” (Matthew 25:46), “These will go away into eternal punishment, but the
righteous into eternal life.”

Paul’s life was an open book, there was no deception in his teachings or his life,
i.e., the way he was in his public preaching is exactly who he was in his private life,
what you see is what you get!

Read 1Thessalonians 2:4a … Paul makes it very clear that his authority and
approval doesn’t come from men, but from God. The phrase “have been approved
by God” is worth some clarification, as the perfect tense of the Greek verb here
means that Paul was tested and confirmed to be continually effective or valid by
God’s approval, for the purpose Paul says, “to be entrusted with the gospel.”

1Corinthians 15:10, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace
toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I,
but the grace of God with me.”

1Timothy 1:11-12, “according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with
which I have been entrusted. I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened
me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was
formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown
mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more
than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a
trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the
world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.”

Read 1Thessalonians 2:4b-5 … Paul makes it clear that his purpose and passion
is to please God, not men, and God is his witness, for God examines our hearts and
is fully aware of Paul’s thoughts, motives, feelings, and intentions.

False teachers use flattering words to gain influence and control over people for
their own personal gain, usually motivated by greed. Paul says, not so with him!

Acts 20:17-21, “From Miletus [Paul] sent to Ephesus and called to him the elders
of the church. And when they had come to him, he said to them, “You yourselves
know, from the first day that I set foot in Asia, how I was with you the whole time,
serving the Lord with all humility and with tears and with trials which came upon
me through the plots of the Jews; how I did not shrink from declaring to you
anything that was profitable, and teaching you publicly and from house to house,
solemnly testifying to both Jews and Greeks of repentance toward God and faith in
our Lord Jesus Christ.” 31-35, “Therefore be on the alert, remembering that night
and day for a period of three years I did not cease to admonish each one with
tears. And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able
to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are
sanctified. I have coveted no one’s silver or gold or clothes. You yourselves know
that these hands ministered to my own needs and to the men who were with me.
In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the
weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, ‘It is more
blessed to give than to receive.’”

Read 1Thessalonians 2:6 … Paul had no interest in gaining any honor from men
or from anything else on this earth, for his service and honor and glory were
reserved for God alone, as he expressed in Ephesians 3:20-21, “Now to Him who
is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the
power that works within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to
all generations forever and ever. Amen.”

Interesting, Paul says as an apostle of Christ he could have pulled the “apostle
card” and asserted the authority given to him by God, but Paul never abused his
authority and was always seeking to be an example to the rest of the church while
also being accountable to his brothers and sisters in Christ.

Paul is an excellent example of God-honoring leadership, for Paul had a deep
and reverent respect for God, knowing that God knew the very intentions and
thoughts of his heart, and so Paul’s total submission was to the letter and spirit of
every word that came from the mouth of God (Romans 11:36), “For from Him and
through Him and to Him are all things. To Him be the glory forever. Amen.

Pastor Mike
°°°>’(((><

Bible Text: 1Thessalonians 1:1-10 | Pastor: Pastor Mike | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 2.16.20 ~ 1Thessalonians 1:1-10

Part Two: Be Examples!

The Thessalonians had only been believers and followers of Christ for a short
time, a few months. Paul had spent a brief time, evangelizing in the synagogue on
three Sabbaths, and then a little longer time evangelizing Gentiles. He and Silas
and Timothy were there only a matter of weeks and then they were forced to leave
because of Jewish persecution. They went to Berea,. then to Athens, and finally to
Corinth, from where Paul is writing this letter to the Thessalonians.

Paul had sent Timothy back to find out how the church in Thessalonica is doing,
and he reports that they are serving the Lord honorably; and so Paul rejoices as he
writes this letter to encourage them in their faith, which is already being expressed
so as to be witnessed by others.

In 1Thessalonians 1:3, Paul acknowledges their “work of faith, and labor of
love, and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

In 1Thessalonians 1:4 Paul makes mention of their genuine salvation,
“knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”

Today we’ll pick up where we left off last week:
1Thessalonians 1:5-10… Paul reminds them of how their original coming to faith
in Christ is giving evidence through their lives.

See 1Thessalonians 1:5… Paul is describing the experience of himself, Silas,
and Timothy as they preached the gospel to them, and that it is clear to them that
the Thessalonians’ salvation is real. Paul is basically saying, “we experienced God’s
power moving through us when we preached to you, knowing that it would
accomplish the salvation of your souls.”

Romans 10:8-10, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart”—that
is, the word of faith which we are preaching, that if you confess with your mouth
Jesus as Lord, and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you
will be saved; for with the heart a person believes, resulting in righteousness, and
with the mouth he confesses, resulting in salvation.” 13, “for whoever will call on
the name of the Lord will be saved.” 17, “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing
by the word of Christ.”

Clearly, it isn’t through clever cognitive persuasion that someone is saved, for
without the power of God in it, nothing will be accomplished concerning salvation..

2Corinthians 4:4-6, “the god of this world [Satan] has blinded the minds of the
unbelieving so that they might not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ,
who is the image of God. For we do not preach ourselves but Christ Jesus as Lord,
and ourselves as your bond-servants for Jesus’ sake. For God, who said, ‘Light shall
shine out of darkness,’ is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of
the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.”

John 3:19, “This is the judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men
loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil.”

Ephesians 5:6-16, “Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of
these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do
not be partakers with them; for you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light
in the Lord; walk as children of Light (for the fruit of the Light consists in all
goodness and righteousness and truth), trying to learn what is pleasing to the Lord.
Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose
them; for it is disgraceful even to speak of the things which are done by them in
secret. But all things become visible when they are exposed by the light, for
everything that becomes visible is light. For this reason it says, ‘Awake, sleeper, and
arise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you.’”

Paul, Silas and Timothy’s preaching wasn’t just with words

(1Thessalonians 1:5), “for our gospel didn’t come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.”

The Thessalonians had experienced God’s transforming power

(1Thessalonians 2:13), “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received fromus the Word of God’s message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for
what it really is, the Word of God which also performs its work in you who believe.”

At the end of 1Thessalonians 1:5 Paul writes, “Just as you know what kind of
men we proved to be among you for your sake.”

Paul is he saying, the power in their preaching was from God and it is now expressed in the lives of the Thessalonians who believed in Christ.

Read 1Thessalonians 1:6-10… Paul says the believers in Thessalonica became
imitators [Greek, mimics] of Paul and his companions, and of the Lord.” Being
genuinely saved, they were following the example of Paul, who was trying to
exemplify the Lord (see 1John 2:6; Hebrews 13:7; Philippians 4:8-9).

The evidence of new birth, spiritual birth, is to imitate Christ, to be a Christian
[an example of Christ] showing the newness of the Life that we have received from
God (see John 1:12-13; 3:6-8).

The believers in Thessalonica (1Thessalonians 1:7-8) were examples to
believers everywhere, and no matter how tough it got, they never lost their joy
because their joy was from the Spirit of God not from emotional, situational,
psychological, physiological, or any other internal or external stimuli or causation.

1Corinthians 6:19-20, “Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the
Holy Spirit [Spirit of God, Spirit of Christ, Spirit of Truth] who is in you, whom you
have from God, and that you are not your own? For you have been bought with a
price: therefore glorify God in your body.”

2Corinthians 13:5, “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine
yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in
you—unless indeed you fail the test?”

The behavior of the believers in Thessalonica was so distinctly God-honoring and
Christ-exalting, that they were models for others to emulate.

Paul writes (1Thessalonians 1:8) “For the Word of the Lord has sounded forth
[strongly like a trumpet blast] from you,”

i.e., the Message of the Gospel of Christ has and is continually going out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia but everyplace, everywhere.

See 1Thessalonians 1:9… Everywhere Paul goes believers are talking about
how something supernatural had happened in Thessalonica, because it was
continually evidenced in the witness of those who had received Christ as Lord, for
they continued to have a desire to talk about Christ, to share Christ, to proclaim
Christ.

The believers in Thessalonica had turned from worshipping dead idols to serving
the living God, it was clear that they belonged to God by the way they lived.

Romans 12:1, “Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present
your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual
service of worship.”

Let me just say this, if someone claims to be a Christian, having gone from
death to life, from an eternal destiny in hell to an eternity in heaven., and they
have no interest in talking about Christ, you have reason to question their
salvation.

When you repent of sin and believe in Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord, it is not
just a change of mind or a different way of thinking – true salvation is found in
Christ alone, and it causes a total change, concerning who you are, who you serve,
who you obey, and how you honor and worship God the Father, Son and Holy
Spirit..

See 1Thessalonians 1:10… True Salvation is exemplified in the lives of
believers (1Thessalonians 1:3) by their work of faith, their labor of love, and their
steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

True Christians are expectantly waiting for Christ to come back and to take us to
be with Him forever, for He has conquered sin, death, judgment, and He is the
Creator, Sustainer, Lord, Savior, and Judge over all.

Titus 2:11-14, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly,
righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the
appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself
for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for
His own possession, zealous for good deeds.”

1Peter 2:9-10, “You are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people
for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who
has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; for you once were not a
people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now
you have received mercy.”

2Peter 3:11-12, “what sort of people ought you to be in holy conduct and
godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God…” 18, “…grow in
the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory,
both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

Pastor Mike
>’(((><

Bible Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 | Pastor: Pastor Mike Hale | Series: 1 Thessalonians | 2.09.20 ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10,

Part One: Be Encouraged!

Read 1Thessalonians 1:1-10…Notice again the greeting in 1Thessalonians 1:1,

“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians.” Paul gives equity of
greeting from himself, Silvanus, and Timothy, for they were all well known by the believers in
Thessalonica, and they were equally given to this ministry to them.
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy together, affirm the genuineness of the belief of those in the
church at Thessalonica, saying they are, “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace
to you and peace.” Only those who have repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ
to save them, can receive the Grace and Peace of God.

Who is the Timothy spoken of here in the greeting with Paul? Well, both of Paul’s letters
1&2Timothy were written to him to help him lead the church in Ephesus, after Paul had
departed.

Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother, and yet Paul addresses him (1Timothy
1:2), as “my true son in the faith.” for he had been a young convert of Paul’s and had
probably heard and responded to the gospel when Paul came through the area of Derbe and
Lystra on his first missionary journey, but we don’t know for sure.

Timothy was probably no older than his early twenties when he joined Paul during his
second missionary journey, where he distinguished himself as faithful and committed servant
of the Lord.

Timothy is mentioned as being with Paul when Paul wrote 2Corinthians, Philippians,
Colossians, 1&2Thessalonians, and Philemon.

Paul says (2Timothy 1:1–5), that Timothy had a “genuine faith,” the same as that which
lived in his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois), who had prepared Timothy’s heart to
accept Christ by teaching him the Old Testament Scriptures “from infancy” in order to
prepare him to recognize the Messiah when He appeared (2Timothy 3:15), “from childhood
you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” When Paul came preaching Christ, all three
(Lois, Eunice, Timothy) committed their lives to the Savior. What a great example of how we
must prepare our children to be ready when Christ knocks on their heart’s door.

Silvanus (his Roman name) was used by Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, and the
Thessalonians, and Peter used it also in his first letter. But all through the book of Acts he is
referred to as Silas. Silas was a Hellenistic Jew (meaning his native language was Greek),
and he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).

When we first meet Silas in Scripture, he is a leader and teacher in the Jerusalem church
(Acts 15:22, 32). After the Jerusalem Council, at which it was determined that Gentile
Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic Law, Silas was chosen to take the council’s
decision to Antioch, along with the apostle Paul. Soon afterwards, Paul set out on his second
missionary journey, and he chose Silas to accompany him (Acts 15:40-41).

On this journey, Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi, where they were arrested, beaten, and
imprisoned (Acts 16:25), “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them”. God then miraculously released
them, and the jailer, having witnessed their faith, asked them (Acts 16:30-31), “‘Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?’ They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and
your household.’”

The jailer and his family were saved that night, and they were all baptized. The next day,
the city officials learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and they were immediately
fearful, because their mistreatment of Paul and Silas the day before violated Roman law. The
city leaders immediately released Paul and Silas from custody and from all charges, after
which Paul and Silas left town, but they left behind a body of believers—the first church in
Europe.

Look again at 1Thessalonians 1:2-4, “We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and
labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God
and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”

Notice the great joy expressed by Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, for these dear believers in
Thessalonica, who, by their genuine faith expressed in their love and obedience toward God
for the hope they have in and through Jesus Christ the Lord.

The church in Thessalonica had its start sometime in AD 49 or 50, when Paul and his
companions, Silas and Timothy, visited this city of about 200,000 people on his second
missionary journey, just after being run out of Philippi (Acts 16).

Turn to Acts 17:1-15… So, we find that Paul, Silas and Timothy travel SW from Philippi,
through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica. There was no synagogue in Philippi, as
the Jewish population was evidently too small [10 Jewish head of households are necessary
to establish a synagogue].

But there was a synagogue in Thessalonica, and Paul, as was his custom, reasoned
with them, presenting evidence (OT) that the Messiah would suffer and die and then rise
from the dead; he then answered their questions and discussed with them in a manner
reflected in 1Peter 3:15, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you
to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”

Paul’s public ministry to the Jews here, was over three Sabbaths (2-4 weeks), but his
private ministry to the church in Thessalonica was most likely longer, perhaps several
months; for we know he worked while he was there so as not to pay for his own needs
(1Thessalonians 2:9; 2Thessalonians 3:7-9), and he was a skilled tent maker (Acts
18:1-4).

Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ as God’s Son, Savior and Lord, and he did it from the OT.
And (Acts 17:4) some Jews were persuaded, also many Greeks; but the unbelieving Jews
(Acts 17:5) were jealous, spiteful and angry, that people were believing Paul’s message, so
they enlisted some thugs from the local bars to go after Paul and Silas and give them a good
beating to shut them up.

These Jews (Acts 17:6) accuse Paul, Silas and Timothy of stirring up trouble and
promoting worship of a king other than Caesar (just like they did in Philippi, Acts 16:20-21).
And then they take along some lowlifes and go to Jason’s house; evidently Jason had heard
and believed Paul’s message and was providing hospitality to him and his co-travelers. But
since Paul & Co couldn’t be found (Acts 17:6-9), these Jews grab Jason and some other
believers who are there and drag them before the magistrates, charging Jason with harboring
Jewish troublemakers who are “promoting the worship of a king other than Caesar, someone
named Jesus.”

Upon hearing these allegations, the crowd goes ballistic and of course, to keep the
peace and calm the chaos, the officials determine that these trouble-makers, i.e., Paul & Co
must leave their city, if they can find them.

The judges demand a pledge from Jason that he will stop giving aid to Paul & Co , i.e.,
he has to post a bond, probably a large sum of money or perhaps the deed to his house, to
be forfeited if there was any more trouble from Paul & Co.

After Dark (Acts 17:10-15), Paul and Silas are sent to Berea, about 50 miles west of
Thessalonica; Berea was kind of an out of the way town, in fact, it was said to be “off the
beaten track.” Paul and Silas needed to get out of the public eye for a time, and Berea was a
great place to do that; but the first thing Paul does is to go before the synagogue to teach
about Jesus, the Messiah.

Here we go again! It would seem that whenever it is possible, on a Sabbath Day, Paul
finds his way to some synagogue, or a place of prayer by a river or a lake, or on a hillside or
in a garden, etc., and there he preaches and teaches about Jesus Christ: crucified,
resurrected and coming again. According to what is recorded in Book of Acts, Paul often
caused a disturbance on Sabbath days because of the message he brought about Jesus
Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior.

One of the greatest exhortations in the Bible expressing genuine noble character, is found
right here (Acts 17:11). Unlike the Jews in Thessalonica, whom Paul had to try and
convince concerning Jesus; the Jews in Berea listened, examined, and determined whether or
not a teaching was true by comparing it to God’s Word, which they held as the sovereign
authority in all belief and practice.

In Thessalonica (Acts 17:4) “some” of the Jews were persuaded, “along with a large
number of the God-fearing Greeks,” but in Berea (Acts 17:12) “many” of the Jews believed,
“along with a number of prominent Greek women and men,” who believed in Jesus.

The Bereans had open hearts and they searched the Scriptures to see if Paul’s message
lined up, and because it did, they believed.

The unbelieving Jews in Thessalonica were angry that Paul & Silas had escaped without a
beating; when they heard Paul was in Berea, they went and stirred up the crowds against
Paul and his companions.

Paul is forced to leave Thessalonica, or bring trouble upon Jason; but Silas and Timothy
stay in Berea to nurture and care for the believers. Paul is taken to Athens, as evidently, all
of Macedonia had become a hot spot for Paul’s safety, as he was now very well known as a
troublemaker.

After reaching Athens (200 miles), Paul told those who helped him to get a message to
Silas and Timothy, that they should come as soon as they can and join Paul in Athens. From
Athens Paul & Co would later go to Corinth, from where he actually wrote this letter to the
believers in Thessalonica.

Praise God for troublemakers like Paul & Silas, who fearlessly and unabashedly proclaimed
Jesus Christ every chance they were given to do so, even though it often brought them great
trouble and hardship, as Paul wrote (2Timothy 3:12), “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” But Paul also wrote (2Corinthians 1:3-4), “Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any
affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”

Paul, Silas and Timothy trusted in God’s protection, provision and plan, and so should
everyone who belongs to God the Father through God the Son, having God the Spirit living in
them. Be encouraged, so that you might encourage others.

1John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is
He who is in you than he who is in the world.”

1John 5:5, “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the
Son of God?”

Revelation 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To
him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”

Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and
power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”

Revelation 5:12, ““Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and
wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”

Revelation 7:10, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 12,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be
to our God forever and ever. Amen.”

Pastor Mike       >’(((><