AM 1 Thessalonians 1

[0:00] Chapter 1, I've had the privilege of visiting and preaching to you the last, well, I think this is my third Sunday over the summer.

[0:13] It's been interrupted slightly, but we began to look at this passage. I can't remember exactly when it was, it was maybe about four or five weeks ago.

[0:26] So, I hope to finish it with you this morning, but let's read together the whole of the chapter. Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians, in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace.

[0:45] We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labour of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

[1:02] For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

[1:19] You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. And you became imitators of us and of the Lord. For you received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

[1:41] For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

[1:55] For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

[2:17] Amen. May God bless this reading of his word to us all. Well, let's bow together in prayer as we come to God's word.

[2:31] Our Heavenly Father, we do thank you again for your word and for this record of your great works in days gone by. We thank you that our Lord Jesus Christ is seated at your right hand, having accomplished all the work that you gave him to do.

[2:50] We thank you that he cried upon the cross, it is finished, it is accomplished. And we praise you that that good and glorious work of salvation is now proclaimed throughout the nations to the very ends of the earth.

[3:09] And we pray for the preaching of the gospel in this land and in other lands, that it would be accompanied by the power and presence of your Holy Spirit, and that the results that we read of in this chapter of your sacred word might be repeated again and again in every place where the gospel is preached.

[3:33] O Lord, come to our aid, we pray, that the words that we hear may bring life and health and peace to our souls.

[3:45] We know that the only hope for this world is the gospel of Jesus Christ. And we pray that as we meditate upon it today, and how it was received, and how it spread from Thessalonica to so many other parts of the world, we pray that we might rejoice and be glad that the God who made these things to happen back in the first century AD is the same yesterday, today, and forever.

[4:19] And we pray that the word preached in so many assemblies of your people throughout the world today might be accompanied by the same power, the same Holy Spirit, the same sense of full conviction.

[4:39] Lord, we pray that hearts and lives will be changed, and changed on a grand scale. That not just one or two here and there, but many, in many places, may be changed and transformed by the gospel.

[5:00] And we know the power and effect that this can have upon the world, for we have seen it in the history of our own nation. We pray that the nation may be changed, that the nations will be changed, and that the holiness and righteousness, uprightness and equity of your word will be embodied and manifested in the lives of those who profess the Christian faith.

[5:37] And we pray that that will have an influence upon our society, upon our government, upon the laws that are passed, upon the way that people do business, and how they interact with one another, and upon families, and upon children, and education.

[5:54] Oh Lord, we pray that all of these areas of life might come under the influence of the gospel, and as a result, be transformed for the betterment of our society, of our commonwealth.

[6:10] O Lord, we pray that the Lord Jesus Christ would reign in this country, that he would be our Melchizedek, king of righteousness, and our king of Salem, king of peace.

[6:30] And we pray that we might be blessed, and that we might enjoy the benefits, of his gracious yet righteous, and peaceful rule.

[6:46] We commend to you our king, our prime minister, his cabinet. We pray for the first minister, and his cabinet.

[6:58] We commend to you those in positions of power, and authority. We pray, O Lord, that they might rule in such a way, that we may continue to enjoy quiet, and peaceful lives, that we might live in all godliness, and reverence, and fear.

[7:21] We pray that evildoers will be punished. We pray that those who do good, will be commended, and rewarded.

[7:33] We pray, O Lord, that those who, cannot speak for themselves, or raise their voices, or defend themselves, we pray that they may be protected, from malicious, and evil, actions, and influences.

[7:49] And we pray that, our society will reflect, the righteous standards, of your word and law.

[8:02] For righteousness exalts the nation. O God, have mercy upon us. Remember, the strife that is going on, in so many different parts of the world, we think, of Eastern Europe, and the war, in Ukraine.

[8:21] O Lord, bring this, we pray, to a just end. We pray too, for the situation, in West Africa. We think of, many missionary friends, who are working, and laboring, in these countries, where there is, unrest, and a threat, of violence, and war.

[8:42] Remember the situation, we pray in Niger, in particular. And we pray, O Lord, for the restoration, of stable, government there. O Lord, there are so many places, where, we know, that, the real, cause of the, trouble, is sin, and pride, and greed.

[9:09] And we pray, that, your gospel, might, so, penetrate, these places, that the root, and heart, of the matter, may be, addressed, and, solved.

[9:26] And that we might, see, the happy consequences, of that, in, a changed, outward situation. So, may your blessing, rest, upon the preaching, of the gospel, this day, throughout the world.

[9:42] Bless every missionary, effort, that seeks, to make Christ known, and watch over, your people, we pray, and help them, to be faithful, and true, and to serve you, with all their heart, come what may.

[9:56] And these things, we ask, in Jesus name, Amen. Well friends, let's turn again, to this passage, of scripture.

[10:08] First Thessalonians, chapter 1. Reminding ourselves, this letter, was written, to a very young church, which had just, recently been established, by Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, but they had to leave, Thessalonica, very soon after, the church was established, because of, the fierceness, of the opposition, and persecution, that arose, as a result, of the success, of the gospel, in Thessalonica.

[10:39] Where the gospel, meets with success, it very often, and very quickly, may meet with, opposition, and persecution, to the world, and the God, of this world, the devil, does not like, and often, reacts violently, to, the, extension, of, God's kingdom, in what has been, his kingdom, and that was certainly, the case here, in Thessalonica, and so Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, had to leave, the city, at the request, of the brothers, who had been converted, it would be better, for you to leave, for the moment, and it was some time, before they were able, to return, and during that, period of their absence, there were those, in Thessalonica, who were throwing, all sorts of allegations, against the apostles, because they knew, if we could, destroy the reputation, of the preachers, of the apostles, then we would have, a very good chance, of weakening, and undermining, and destroying, the church, that was established, through the preaching, of these men, and so this is, what called forth, the letter, to the Thessalonians,

[11:57] Paul is absent, but he has, sent Timothy, to Thessalonica, because he cannot, stand it any longer, what's going on, how are they doing, you see, from the opening words, how often, he remembered, the brothers, in his prayers, and, Timothy comes back, with, good news, and some, bad news as well, and, the good news, and the bad news, has led the apostle, to write, this, epistle, to, the church, and, as he begins, the epistle, we saw, that he focuses, on, certain themes, that would be, of great encouragement, to these young believers, they're a church, a church, of God, and, they are described, as such, in, the first, verse of the chapter, to the church, of the Thessalonians, in God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, and, on my first Sunday here,

[13:06] I reminded you, that we, we can read these words, so, so quickly, without, letting them sink down, into our minds, what's actually being said here, well, Paul's reminding them, that they are, an assembly, of, believing people, because that's what the word, church means, who are rooted in, and who draw their strength, from, God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, what a great, doctrine, that is, hidden, in that opening verse, of the letter, there, if united, to God, the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, they are, safe, and secure, because, as Paul says, to, the Romans, in his letter, to them, that, nothing can separate us, from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus, our Lord, no amount of persecution, can do that, and then, we also learned, that, the church, is, an assembly, of people, who are, marked, by the Christian graces, of faith, love, and hope, which is what we learned, from verse three, where Paul, in his prayers, remembers, before our God, and Father, your work of faith, and labor of love, and steadfastness, of hope, in our Lord Jesus Christ,

[14:39] Christ, so where there is, an assembly, of believers, who are rooted in, and who draw their life, from God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, they are marked, by these, distinguishing, Christian graces, of faith, hope, and love, a faith, that, causes them, to look away, from themselves, to the Lord Jesus Christ, for salvation, a love, that is, focused, focused, on those, around them, wanting, to express, the love of God, to their neighbors, and friends, and, a hope, which, inspires, endurance, because, they see, into the future, what is certain, and soon, to take place, the coming again, of our Lord Jesus Christ, and glory, and the transformation, of the world, by his power, and these,

[15:43] Christian graces, are active, and productive, he speaks of work, and he speaks of labor, and he speaks of steadfastness, and then, the third thing, we noted about, these believers, was that, they were loved, by God, and chosen, by him, for that's what, Paul says, in verse 4, for we know brothers, loved by God, that he, has chosen you, what a great truth, that is, to give, strength, and encouragement, and boldness, in the face, of opposition, to ordinary, Christian people, God, loves me, God, has chosen me, that I might know him, that I might, experience the salvation, that is bound up, in his son,

[16:46] Jesus Christ, that I might, one day, be with him, forever, forever, so in the opening, portion of this chapter, the focus is on, the church, the church, that was planted, by God, through the means, of the preaching, of the gospel, and then, in the second half, of the chapter, which is what we, looked at the last time, and we didn't get very far, but, we, we saw, that, this, young, church, is a church, that, the gospel, came to you, in a certain way, and, it came, to them, it says, not only in word, but it did come in word, and words are important, but it also came, in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and with full conviction, and we looked, at these things, the power, that external power, of which, the hearers, were conscious,

[17:47] God, was present, and God, was at work, the words, didn't just, come out of the apostles, mouths, and then fall, unproductive, and unfruitful, to the ground, ever to be forgotten, no, something, happened, God, was present, and there was a, dynamic, there was a power, in the preaching, of the word, and those who heard it, felt it, and were, aware of it, not only was there, a power that was external, there was also something, that the, Thessalonians saw, in the lives, in the faces, in the, bearing and deportment, of the apostles, these were men, of conviction, what they call here, full conviction, these were men, who knew, that what they had, in their possession, and what they were, passing on, was not the word of men, but the word, of God, they were ambassadors, and they knew themselves, to be, the ambassadors, of God, and as they stood, before the Thessalonians, and declared, the gospel, of Jesus Christ, the Thessalonians, looked at them, and saw, these men, were not putting on a show, this was not, some kind of act, they weren't like, the other traveling, preachers, peddling, for money, their latest, philosophies, and how to be, successful messages, no, they were men, of God, ambassadors, of Christ, as if God, were making, his appeal, to you, through us, and that what, they were declaring, was the word, that God, had revealed, to them, to pass on, as stewards, of the gospel, and, the power, on the one hand, and this sense, of full conviction, on the other, was produced, by,

[20:12] Paul mentions him here, the Holy Spirit, so there's the power, there's the full conviction, and in between, those, if you like, two slices of bread, and the sandwich, there's the Holy Spirit, sandwiched in between, because, because he is the one, who produces the, power, and he is the one, who creates this, assurance, this conviction, this full conviction, in the preacher, so that's how, the gospel came, to the Thessalonians, and, as I, mentioned, at the end, of the address, do we have, any right, any warrant, to ask God, in our prayers, for this kind of thing, to happen today, and I would say, yes we do, and if we flick over, to the end of, second Thessalonians chapter 3, we see, in the opening of chapter 3, Paul asks for prayer, and he says, finally brothers, pray for us, that the word of the Lord, may speed ahead, and be honoured, and then these little words, as happened, among you, so you say, can we pray for revival, can we pray for a great awakening, can we pray that the gospel, might come to a town, like Dumfries, as it did, when it came to the town, and city of Thessalonica, 2000 years ago, and I say, yes, because, here we have, in the word of God, a prayer request, that is applicable, to us, as it was applicable, to the Thessalonians, we can pray, and we can pray, with confidence, that we're praying, according to the Lord's will,

[22:04] Lord, wherever the apostolic gospel, is preached, may your word, speed ahead, and be honoured, as it happened, among the Thessalonians, when the apostle Paul preached, so that's how the gospel came, this morning, I want us to look, at the next thing, we can learn from this passage, and that is, how the gospel, was received, by the Thessalonians, and there are several things, about the reception, of the gospel, by the Thessalonians, that I want you to notice, you received, the word, that's what we read, in this first chapter, you received the word, and we ask the question, well, how did they receive the word, well, you received the word, we're told, in much, affliction, affliction, verse 6, verse Thessalonians 1, you received the word, in much, affliction,

[23:13] I would say, right at the very beginning, what a fantastically, strong, indicator, that is, that the Holy Spirit, was present, and at work, in the hearts, of these people, the gospel, always, arouses, hostility, and the gospel, was strongly, opposed, in Thessalonica, and you can read, all about that, in Acts 17, which records, Paul's visit, to that city, but here's the amazing thing, hostility, and persecution, had not, put off, these Thessalonians, from the gospel, instead, at great personal cost, of themselves, they received the word, in much affliction, those are the circumstances, in which they received the word, now, how can you explain that, except to say, this is the hand of God, at work, not only, had they received the word, in much affliction, but we're also told, that they received it, with the joy, of the Holy Spirit, and that's the second, reference to the Holy Spirit, in as many verses, in this first chapter, of Thessalonians, and how vital, is his ministry, and work, both, in those who, bring the gospel, but also, in those who hear it, the Holy Spirit, needs to be at work, at both ends, in the preacher, producing power, and full conviction, and in the hearers, bringing, openness of heart, and joy, when the gospel, is received, the gospel, cannot be preached, effectively, without the Holy Spirit's work, work, and the gospel, can't be received, without, his work, either, without him, we can do, nothing, it is not by might, as the Old Testament prophet says, nor by power, but, by, my spirit, says the Lord, it is God, who gives the increase, it is God, who produces, the fruit, not the one, who sows, or the one, who waters, and isn't it lovely, that joy, is mentioned here, in the midst of affliction, much affliction, there is joy, to be had, when the spirit of God, is present, and at work, joy, is one of the ninefold fruit, of the Holy Spirit, and I suppose, it is not surprising, to read, that when, when they received, the word, they received it, and experienced, joy, in the process, wherever the gospel goes, wherever people respond, to it, there is joy, remember the words, of our Lord, when he said that, there is joy, in heaven, among the angels, of God, when a sinner repents, joy in heaven, and there is joy, in the church, when sinners are converted, rejoice with me,

[26:44] I find my sheep, that was lost, says the good shepherd, and as here, there is joy, in the hearts, of the new converts, themselves, it's one of the great, emphases, in Luke's writings, both in the gospel, and in the acts, you go through, the chapters of both, and pick out, references to the Holy Spirit, pick out references, to joy, you will be amazed, to find how often, those two things, are equated, but what is noteworthy, I think in this passage, is that joy, does not depend, on outward circumstances, now that's what the world, constantly bombards us with, listening to the radio, yesterday, the number of adverts, on a Saturday, for the national lottery, it's just astounding, and they're all, based upon this kind of, fallacy, that, that joy, is dependent, on your circumstances, so therefore, buy your ticket, it could be you, you could win, millions, and your life, will change, dramatically, well, your life, will certainly change, there was a story, in the paper, this past week, of a man, who had won, several million, on the lottery, some time ago, maybe five, ten years ago, and, now he's, working in, what we would call, a normal,

[28:25] I can't remember the details, manual job, but he has never, been happier, never been happier, yet when he had, all those millions, the world would say, oh you must have, been so happy, it was a misery, for him, a misery, a misery for him, because, joy does not depend, upon outward circumstances, it is, what we might say, independent, of our circumstances, because here are people, who are experiencing, not just a little affliction, but much affliction, and yet, in the midst, of that affliction, that persecution, that opposition, it was tough, living as a Christian, in Thessalonica, you had the Jews, on the one side, who were opposing, the message of Jesus Christ, Jesus the Messiah, and you had the pagans, on the other side, who were persecuting you, because you were, now different from them, and were refusing, to go along, with emperor worship, or the worship, of the idols, remember, it says at the end, of this passage, you turn to God, from idols, to serve the living, and true God, they were different, and therefore, they were opposed, and picked on, but in the midst, of this, affliction, opposition, persecution, they knew, and experienced, a very real, heavenly, spirit given, joy, and then, the third aspect, of their, reception of the gospel, is mentioned, in verse 6, where it says, and you became, imitators of us, and of the Lord, and these words, which are at the beginning, of verse 6, we take up at this point, because they convey, something of the radical, and dramatic change, that came about, in the lives, of these converts, in Thessalonica, they began, a completely, new, and different way, of life, they began, to follow, not only the teachings, of, the apostles, but also, the way of living, of the apostles, and listen, to what,

[30:45] Paul actually says here, and you became, imitators of us, and, of the Lord, what a statement, that is, you became, you became, you became, imitators of us, and, of the Lord, I think we need, to take a moment, just to reflect, on what, Paul's words, here, imply, teaches us, I think, something very important, about the authentic nature, of the apostles, ministry, for they not only, taught, the word, accurately, but they also, embodied, the word, accurately, yes, they modeled, their own teaching, and so, without any sense, of embarrassment, without, any, like, color, or blush, running to their cheeks, they could say, follow me, as I follow Christ, and in this case, the Thessalonians, their conversion, was so much more, than a mere, intellectual, swapping of ideas, oh,

[32:03] I'm ditching, paganism for now, I'm embracing, the teachings, of Christianity, instead, now, it was deeper, than just a mental, change of ideas, their conversion, was nothing less, than a radical, transformation, of their whole person, which affected, yes, the mind, and what they believed, but also, it affected, their whole way, of living, how does this, Christ and his message, of the gospel, affect this area, of my life, this desire, this form of speech, this form of entertainment, all of these areas, came unto the searchlight, of the word, of God, and what was not, in keeping with the word, of God, was shunned, forsaken, and what was, in keeping with the word, of God, was embraced, and followed, wholeheartedly, it was a very, real, conversion, in fact, it was so real, and genuine, that verse 7 says, so that you became, an example, to all the believers, so here, the people, who were doing, the imitating, became, the imitated, and this really, does underscore, the sincerity, and genuineness, of their own conversion, and profession, of faith, the impact, of the gospel, on these people, was truly staggering, in its power, and in its scope, yes, it may mean, persecution, much affliction, as a result, of embracing,

[33:53] Christ, and his gospel, but it also, included inward joy, in the Holy Spirit, the imitation, of Christ, and his apostles, in transformed lives, and this setting, of an example, to other believers, and this is how, the gospel, was received, by the Thessalonians, it came by preachers, who were characterized, by truth, and conviction, and Holy Spirit power, and it was received, by people, who were characterized, by courage, obedience, and Holy Spirit joy, and that brings us, to the last section, of this, first chapter, of the letter, we've seen, how the, the gospel, came, we saw, how the gospel, has been received, and now, we notice, Paul's words, in terms of, how the gospel, spread out, from Thessalonica, look at verse, 8, for not only, has the word, of the Lord, sounded forth, from you, in Macedonia, and Achaia, but your faith, in God, has gone forth, everywhere, so that we need, not say anything, for they, themselves, report, concerning us, the kind of reception, we had among you, and how you, turned to God, from idols, to serve the living, and true God, and to wait, for his son, from heaven, whom he raised, from the dead,

[35:21] Jesus, who delivers us, from the wrath, to come, now when the Holy Spirit, is at work, there's no stopping, the spread, of the gospel, and in an age, before, social media, Twitter, and Facebook, and all the rest of it, or if you're, of a certain age, in an age, before, the TV, and the wireless, the word, of the Lord, sped, ahead, and was honored, I think that's just, amazing, we are so reliant, aren't we, on our technology, today, it used to be, in some churches, you know, if there's no organist, we can't sing, now, if there's no one, to operate, the speaker system, or the PowerPoint, we can't worship, and you kind of think, how did they do it, in the old days, in an age, when, travel was slow, and difficult, in an age, before, newspapers, and radio, let alone, social media, and all the benefits, of the internet, spread, the gospel, spread, rapidly, from this area, of Thessalonica, in Macedonia, northern Greece, throughout the whole, of Greece, down to Ikea, this province, in the south of Greece, and Paul may have been, writing from Ephesus, and it had spread, wherever he went, at one hand, the gospel, thundered, because that's the, that's the word, that's used, it's like a, a thunderclap, the gospel, sounded forth, it thundered, through the length, and breadth, of mainland Greece, but not only that,

[37:26] Paul says, your faith, in God, has gone forth, everywhere, not just, Macedonia, in the north, and Ikea, in the south, but, everywhere, everywhere, not just, thundering, from your own, personal witness, and testimony, but, the news of that, the gossip of that, was spreading, everywhere, your faith, in God, has gone forth, everywhere, so that we not, don't need to say anything, for they themselves, report concerning us, the kind of reception, we had among you, isn't it just amazing, how the gospel spreads, when, the spirit of God, is at work, he even, uses, unbelieving, people, and the reports, and their gossip, to spread, the news, of what God, is doing, through his gospel, the news, of their faith, has gone, everywhere, and what was the result, of this publicity,

[38:40] Paul says, so we need not, say anything, for they themselves, report concerning us, the kind of reception, we had, among you, and what God, glorifying content, this news contained, you turned, to God, from idols, that speaks, about a decisive, break with the past, that's what conversion, in part is, it's not just that, but it has to include that, to be converted, is to break, with the past, decisively, no going back, you're turning, your back, as it were, on your past, that's what, is included, in this, little bit, of the news, that Paul reports, people are, are saying, concerning, what had happened, in Thessalonica, you turned, to God, from idols, but conversion, is more than that, it is, you began, to serve, the living, and true God, you turned, to God, from idols, to serve, the living, and true God, there is, an active, service, in the present, as well, as, a decisive, break, of the past, and then, the third element, is mentioned, you are waiting, for the return, of God's son,

[40:18] Jesus Christ, there is, in other words, an expectant, hope, for the future, a decisive, break, with the past, an active, serving of God, in the present, and an expectant, hope, as far as, the future, is concerned, so, the gospel, came, to Thessalonica, how, did it come, in words, but not word only, thankfully, but with full conviction, with power, and in the Holy Spirit, this gospel, was received, in Thessalonica, how, yes, in much affliction, but with the joy, of the Holy Spirit, so that the Thessalonian, Christians, became imitators, of the Lord, and of his apostles, and in turn, becoming a model, for other believers, and churches, to imitate, and the gospel, spread, out, from Thessalonica, because the word, of the Lord, sounded forth, directly, yes, through the preaching, but also, indirectly, through the reports, of others, who told, of a break, with the idols, of the past, an active service, of God, in the present, and an expectant, hope, in Christ, for the future, three aspects, of a genuine, conversion, and so, we come to the end, of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1, in which we've seen, a church, planted, by the preaching, of the gospel, a church, remember again, that is an assembly, of people, who live, and draw their strength, from God the Father, and the Lord,

[42:18] Jesus Christ, a church, which is characterized, by a faith, that works, a labor, that loves, and a hope, that produces, steadfastness, and a church, that is loved, by, and chosen, by God, and we've also seen, that such a church, spreads, the gospel, that has come to it, and which it has received, and so, tying these things together, we can say, that the gospel, establishes the church, in the first place, a church, cannot come into being, without, the gospel, of our Lord, Jesus Christ, the church, is established, by the gospel, but once the church, has been established, by the gospel, that church, then, spreads, the gospel, gospel,

[43:20] I said, at the very beginning, of my first, sermon, on this passage, a few weeks ago, that we're dealing, with, the word of God, we're not dealing, with just a piece, of ancient, antiquarian literature, that has no relevance, or bearing, upon life, today, this is the, living, and abiding, word of God, and we can learn, so much, and take so much, comfort, and encouragement, from this passage, we live in an age, where we need, and I think we all, feel the need, for the Holy Spirit's, presence and power, and as we look out, as we travel home, for lunch, and then come back, for the evening service, and we'll see, a spiritual wasteland, all around us, like a valley, of dry bones, and we'll say, like the prophet of old, can these bones, live?

[44:40] Well, both, the Old Testament, prophecy of Ezekiel, and this New Testament passage, in 1 Thessalonians 1, teaches us that, yes, these, dry, dead, bones, can, be resurrected, they can live, the gospel, can spread, people, can be converted, they can make, this decisive, break with the past, they can be transformed, into those, who actively serve, God in the present, and who have, a glorious hope, for the future, how can this be?

[45:22] How can this happen? I can't give you, a church, extension program, with detailed steps, and a formula to follow, I can only tell you, to do these two things, to keep, fast, to the gospel, which you have received, you don't need, another one, this one, is just fine, it's the power, of God, unto salvation, to all, who believe, and the second thing is, constantly, look to God, in prayer, asking him, to bless, the preaching, of the gospel, with the power, of the Holy Spirit, everything else, will look after itself, we trust God, to do that, but our responsibility, in the light of the word, is to preach the gospel, that we have received, we pass it on, but we are aware, that the gospel, came to the Thessalonians, not in word only, so we need something more, we need, the Holy Spirit, to produce the power, and to create, the full conviction, may God bless his word, to us, and us, that the soul, that the whole video, and the thinking, you who need things that we do know,