WEBVTT 00:00:00.840 --> 00:00:02.359 1 Thessalonians chapter 1. 00:00:05.500 --> 00:00:08.060 Our main text is going to be verses 7 through 10. 00:00:08.220 --> 00:00:09.540 Why don't we read this whole paragraph? 00:00:09.820 --> 00:00:12.900 I think it will be helpful for us to kind of bring it all together. 00:00:13.359 --> 00:00:18.300 We have squeezed four sermons out of the first 10 verses of this letter, 00:00:18.559 --> 00:00:22.039 which may be good, it may be bad, I don't know, but it is what it is, right? 00:00:22.960 --> 00:00:26.140 So there is a cohesive thought that's happening here, 00:00:26.140 --> 00:00:28.719 so maybe it would be helpful for us to read the whole paragraph, 00:00:28.719 --> 00:00:30.899 maybe starting at verse 2 down to 10, 00:00:30.980 --> 00:00:34.219 and then we'll spend our time focused on 7 through 10, okay? 00:00:34.619 --> 00:00:35.000 Verse 2. 00:00:36.259 --> 00:00:38.420 We give thanks to God always for all of you, 00:00:39.019 --> 00:00:41.539 constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 00:00:42.280 --> 00:00:47.039 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love 00:00:47.039 --> 00:00:51.060 and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:00:52.099 --> 00:00:55.299 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 00:00:55.299 --> 00:00:58.579 because our gospel came to you not only in word, 00:00:58.899 --> 00:01:03.019 but also in power, in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. 00:01:04.219 --> 00:01:07.700 You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake, 00:01:07.899 --> 00:01:11.079 and you became imitators of us and the Lord, 00:01:11.819 --> 00:01:14.420 for you received the word in much affliction, 00:01:14.819 --> 00:01:16.739 with the joy of the Holy Spirit, 00:01:16.739 --> 00:01:23.599 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 00:01:24.560 --> 00:01:30.399 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, 00:01:30.640 --> 00:01:33.799 but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, 00:01:34.799 --> 00:01:37.140 so that we need not say anything. 00:01:38.099 --> 00:01:42.699 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, 00:01:42.700 --> 00:01:47.879 and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 00:01:48.560 --> 00:01:50.760 and to wait for his Son from heaven, 00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:52.780 whom he raised from the dead, 00:01:53.520 --> 00:01:56.700 Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. 00:01:57.340 --> 00:01:57.680 Amen. 00:01:57.680 --> 00:02:07.220 Well, the World Series started this weekend, 00:02:07.820 --> 00:02:15.900 and it is not going well for the team that I have set my affection on since I was a child. 00:02:16.920 --> 00:02:19.920 It's between the New York Yankees and the Los Angeles Dodgers. 00:02:20.020 --> 00:02:24.520 The first two games have taken place, both taking place in California. 00:02:24.520 --> 00:02:30.760 Well, in 1989, all of the World Series games were played in California. 00:02:31.740 --> 00:02:35.160 The two teams who were battling for the championship that year, 00:02:35.280 --> 00:02:36.360 some of you will remember, 00:02:36.620 --> 00:02:38.719 both came from the Bay Area, 00:02:39.439 --> 00:02:43.080 the Oakland A's and the San Francisco Giants, 00:02:43.340 --> 00:02:48.600 with young stars like Mark McGuire before the steroids. 00:02:49.300 --> 00:02:51.439 And a great series, right? 00:02:51.439 --> 00:02:54.979 There's all kinds of documentaries about that particular series, and here's why. 00:02:55.659 --> 00:02:57.639 Because just before the third game began, 00:02:58.340 --> 00:02:59.819 an earthquake took place. 00:03:01.219 --> 00:03:03.780 Just near Candlestick Park in San Francisco, 00:03:03.979 --> 00:03:04.939 it shook the stadium. 00:03:05.159 --> 00:03:08.659 Magnitude 6.9 earthquake shakes the stadium, 00:03:09.099 --> 00:03:10.979 delays the series for 10 games, 00:03:11.099 --> 00:03:15.280 but of course, the devastation was much worse than any baseball game. 00:03:15.280 --> 00:03:19.080 It really had devastating effects on the area. 00:03:19.699 --> 00:03:24.420 And you will know most notably that we remember in those documentaries and shows 00:03:24.420 --> 00:03:26.939 that have reminded us of this incident, 00:03:27.699 --> 00:03:30.879 a double-decker freeway in San Francisco collapsed. 00:03:31.699 --> 00:03:34.379 Some people were trapped beneath all the rubble. 00:03:34.759 --> 00:03:37.159 Many people were killed in those moments. 00:03:37.319 --> 00:03:38.699 It was really a devastating time. 00:03:39.219 --> 00:03:43.000 It was the largest earthquake in the area since 1906. 00:03:43.199 --> 00:03:44.379 That's the largest one on record. 00:03:44.379 --> 00:03:46.579 This was the second largest on record, 00:03:46.699 --> 00:03:49.219 at least up to this point, 1989. 00:03:50.359 --> 00:03:53.919 Its effects were so widespread 00:03:53.919 --> 00:03:58.340 that it could be felt as far away as San Diego, 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:02.620 which is 500 miles south of San Francisco. 00:04:03.099 --> 00:04:04.939 Now, to give you a range there, 00:04:05.019 --> 00:04:08.759 that would be like an earthquake happening in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 00:04:08.759 --> 00:04:14.120 and we feel it, the effects of it here in Cornelius. 00:04:15.180 --> 00:04:19.139 San Francisco is often what we think of in relation to this particular event. 00:04:19.219 --> 00:04:23.519 That's what we remember most in relation to the loss, of course, that was experienced. 00:04:23.639 --> 00:04:26.740 But that's not actually where the earthquake originated from. 00:04:27.540 --> 00:04:34.939 The epicenter of the quake was in a state park some 80 miles south of San Francisco. 00:04:34.939 --> 00:04:42.980 Nearly 2,000 years ago now, as we are studying this letter, 00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:48.379 something else of seismic significance happened in Greece. 00:04:48.379 --> 00:04:52.659 But it wasn't an earthquake or any other natural disaster. 00:04:54.339 --> 00:05:00.680 Shockwaves of gospel impact were being felt all over Macedonia and Achaia. 00:05:00.680 --> 00:05:09.560 But the epicenter of all of it that was happening was the embattled congregation in Thessalonica. 00:05:09.879 --> 00:05:12.660 That's what we learned from our text here this morning. 00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:19.019 Despite facing severe affliction on account of their faith in Christ, 00:05:19.019 --> 00:05:28.259 the Thessalonian Christians endured the suffering with a kind of joy that Peter said was inexpressible, 00:05:29.079 --> 00:05:30.459 full of glory. 00:05:32.459 --> 00:05:37.500 Word of their faith began to spread like wildfire, apparently, 00:05:37.500 --> 00:05:44.500 so that Christians all over Greece were influenced and strengthened by it. 00:05:45.060 --> 00:05:52.360 So that by God's grace, the Thessalonian church became a model of faith 00:05:52.360 --> 00:06:00.220 that the Lord used greatly in Macedonia and Achaia and even the regions beyond it. 00:06:00.879 --> 00:06:02.759 Now, we read the entire paragraph. 00:06:03.019 --> 00:06:05.740 There's two contextual elements here that we should address 00:06:05.740 --> 00:06:09.319 before we jump directly into our main text for the morning. 00:06:09.900 --> 00:06:10.960 First is this. 00:06:11.759 --> 00:06:13.480 These verses here at the end, 00:06:13.660 --> 00:06:17.000 they are flowing out of Paul's thanksgiving to God 00:06:17.000 --> 00:06:23.040 for the work of grace that he was doing in the church in Thessalonica. 00:06:23.699 --> 00:06:25.400 This is in the context of thanksgiving. 00:06:26.040 --> 00:06:29.160 The entire paragraph actually supports the opening statement. 00:06:29.259 --> 00:06:31.280 If you just set your eyes on it in verse number two, 00:06:31.360 --> 00:06:32.699 the very opening statement here, 00:06:32.699 --> 00:06:36.120 we give thanks to God always for you. 00:06:36.500 --> 00:06:41.060 Everything down through verse 10 is in support of that statement. 00:06:41.259 --> 00:06:43.939 Paul is making an argument, so to speak. 00:06:44.180 --> 00:06:47.379 The argument is we thank God for you, and here's why. 00:06:47.620 --> 00:06:49.639 So when we get to verses 7 through 10, 00:06:49.740 --> 00:06:52.439 he hasn't left that context, right? 00:06:52.639 --> 00:06:53.599 So what he's saying here, 00:06:53.639 --> 00:06:56.879 he's explaining to the Thessalonian church 00:06:56.879 --> 00:06:59.000 in these closing verses of the paragraph 00:06:59.000 --> 00:07:02.480 that he is thankful to God for them, 00:07:02.980 --> 00:07:04.600 specifically in these verses 00:07:04.600 --> 00:07:07.560 because of the gospel influence 00:07:07.560 --> 00:07:10.939 that they were having on other congregations. 00:07:11.659 --> 00:07:12.420 So that's the first thing. 00:07:12.579 --> 00:07:15.040 Contextually, this is the context of thanksgiving. 00:07:15.860 --> 00:07:19.199 Second, Paul's goal in writing, 00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:21.060 why is he writing all of this? 00:07:21.060 --> 00:07:23.620 Well, it was to encourage a church 00:07:23.620 --> 00:07:26.060 who is enduring at this moment 00:07:26.060 --> 00:07:30.759 significant opposition and persecution for their faith. 00:07:31.500 --> 00:07:32.899 So he's offering thanksgiving, 00:07:33.300 --> 00:07:36.160 but the purpose that he is recording this for them to read 00:07:36.160 --> 00:07:37.819 is because he wants to encourage them. 00:07:38.480 --> 00:07:39.579 It's a discouraged church. 00:07:39.939 --> 00:07:40.639 Faithful church? 00:07:41.279 --> 00:07:41.600 Yes. 00:07:42.300 --> 00:07:43.160 Discouraged church? 00:07:44.100 --> 00:07:44.740 Certainly. 00:07:45.100 --> 00:07:46.019 How could they not be? 00:07:47.480 --> 00:07:48.579 And here's the thing about it. 00:07:48.579 --> 00:07:52.419 But it's unlikely that they actually understood 00:07:52.419 --> 00:07:55.879 the kind of impact their faith was having on others. 00:07:56.759 --> 00:07:58.399 So Paul writes to them right here 00:07:58.399 --> 00:07:59.919 wanting to encourage them with the fact 00:07:59.919 --> 00:08:02.800 that their suffering was not in vain. 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:05.039 God was using it. 00:08:05.479 --> 00:08:06.959 He was using it for his glory, 00:08:07.079 --> 00:08:08.860 which would have been their primary desire, 00:08:09.259 --> 00:08:12.139 the glory of God and the good of his people. 00:08:13.000 --> 00:08:15.240 Isn't that what, as Christians, 00:08:15.839 --> 00:08:18.419 becomes our primary hope and desire? 00:08:19.199 --> 00:08:21.899 That all of our lives would be to the glory of God 00:08:21.899 --> 00:08:23.000 and the good of his people? 00:08:23.180 --> 00:08:24.699 Even if it means our hardship, 00:08:25.079 --> 00:08:26.939 if it means that God is glorified in us 00:08:26.939 --> 00:08:29.279 and that his people are edified in the process 00:08:29.279 --> 00:08:30.060 and encouraged, 00:08:30.680 --> 00:08:31.879 that we're content with that, 00:08:31.939 --> 00:08:33.279 we're pleased with that. 00:08:34.000 --> 00:08:35.720 That's the heart of the Thessalonians. 00:08:35.980 --> 00:08:36.960 So Paul writes to them, 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:39.539 and he is encouraging them. 00:08:40.639 --> 00:08:42.419 The Thessalonian example is, 00:08:42.939 --> 00:08:44.779 of course, it's as useful for us today 00:08:44.779 --> 00:08:47.480 as it was for the Grecian Christians then. 00:08:48.600 --> 00:08:51.399 It is a mold of faithfulness 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:54.379 into which we would do well 00:08:54.379 --> 00:08:56.699 to pour our own Christianity. 00:08:56.700 --> 00:08:59.940 And as we look at this church 00:08:59.940 --> 00:09:01.220 as a model this morning, 00:09:02.220 --> 00:09:04.300 we are going to learn, once again, 00:09:04.420 --> 00:09:06.640 what is at the heart of saving faith. 00:09:07.080 --> 00:09:08.640 It's reiterated again and again 00:09:08.640 --> 00:09:09.480 here in this passage. 00:09:10.259 --> 00:09:11.440 But then we're also going to look 00:09:11.440 --> 00:09:15.259 at the extent to which God will use a church 00:09:15.259 --> 00:09:18.440 that perseveres in faithfulness. 00:09:18.640 --> 00:09:20.420 That's what we're seeing in this model. 00:09:20.979 --> 00:09:22.659 We're seeing what is the basis 00:09:22.659 --> 00:09:24.059 of saving faith 00:09:24.059 --> 00:09:25.339 and a faith that God will use. 00:09:25.939 --> 00:09:27.659 And we are looking at the extent 00:09:27.659 --> 00:09:29.399 to which God will use a church 00:09:29.399 --> 00:09:31.759 that is faithful to his gospel. 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:34.039 Let's look at the second one first. 00:09:34.199 --> 00:09:36.399 The boundaries of faithful influence 00:09:36.399 --> 00:09:37.959 are limitless. 00:09:39.079 --> 00:09:42.219 The boundaries of faithful influence 00:09:42.219 --> 00:09:43.379 are limitless. 00:09:43.439 --> 00:09:43.839 In other words, 00:09:44.179 --> 00:09:45.459 there is no limit 00:09:45.459 --> 00:09:48.819 to how God will use a faithful church. 00:09:49.159 --> 00:09:49.839 Now look with me again 00:09:49.840 --> 00:09:51.220 at verse seven. 00:09:51.960 --> 00:09:52.620 Paul says, 00:09:52.680 --> 00:09:53.860 this is the conclusion really 00:09:53.860 --> 00:09:54.940 of the previous section, 00:09:55.320 --> 00:09:57.680 so that you became an example 00:09:57.680 --> 00:09:59.379 to all the believers 00:09:59.379 --> 00:10:01.440 in Macedonia and Achaia. 00:10:01.560 --> 00:10:02.560 You became an example 00:10:02.560 --> 00:10:03.580 to all the believers 00:10:03.580 --> 00:10:05.540 in Macedonia and Achaia. 00:10:05.860 --> 00:10:07.100 Now in the flow of thought 00:10:07.100 --> 00:10:08.540 in the passage that we just read, 00:10:08.860 --> 00:10:10.480 verse seven technically belongs 00:10:10.480 --> 00:10:12.600 to the previous passage. 00:10:12.899 --> 00:10:14.180 That's what we studied last week, 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:17.480 looking especially at verses four through seven. 00:10:17.480 --> 00:10:20.100 It identifies the result 00:10:20.100 --> 00:10:22.139 of the Thessalonians' 00:10:22.659 --> 00:10:25.159 spirit-empowered perseverance 00:10:25.159 --> 00:10:26.300 and conversion 00:10:26.300 --> 00:10:28.060 that is described for us 00:10:28.060 --> 00:10:29.740 in verses four through six. 00:10:30.200 --> 00:10:32.379 You know that because of the opening words. 00:10:32.460 --> 00:10:33.639 There's just the transitional words 00:10:33.639 --> 00:10:34.620 that help us in our study, 00:10:34.700 --> 00:10:35.000 isn't there? 00:10:35.259 --> 00:10:35.720 Verse seven, 00:10:36.080 --> 00:10:36.820 so that. 00:10:36.960 --> 00:10:38.519 This is a resulting statement. 00:10:39.480 --> 00:10:41.440 All of this that Paul has said about them 00:10:41.440 --> 00:10:42.580 in verses four through six, 00:10:42.580 --> 00:10:43.820 all of this has happened 00:10:43.820 --> 00:10:46.740 so that the result being 00:10:46.740 --> 00:10:48.340 you became an example 00:10:48.340 --> 00:10:50.080 to all the other believers 00:10:50.080 --> 00:10:52.700 in Macedonia and Achaia. 00:10:53.720 --> 00:10:55.160 Well, then when we get to verse eight, 00:10:55.320 --> 00:10:57.800 there's another interpretive tool for us, 00:10:57.920 --> 00:10:58.800 interpretive conjunction. 00:10:59.259 --> 00:11:00.780 It's the conjunction four. 00:11:01.020 --> 00:11:03.300 And four, at the beginning of verse eight, 00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.620 forces us to look back at verse seven 00:11:06.620 --> 00:11:09.120 to see what this is expounding on, 00:11:09.180 --> 00:11:09.940 what it's explaining. 00:11:09.940 --> 00:11:12.400 And what we find is that Paul 00:11:12.400 --> 00:11:14.340 is elaborating on the fact 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:16.600 that the Thessalonian church 00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:18.380 had become an example, 00:11:18.660 --> 00:11:20.260 that they had become a model, 00:11:20.980 --> 00:11:23.520 a mold for all the other believers 00:11:23.520 --> 00:11:24.960 in Macedonia and Achaia. 00:11:25.520 --> 00:11:30.080 They were the original OG influencers 00:11:30.080 --> 00:11:31.800 in Greece. 00:11:33.060 --> 00:11:34.260 And Paul wanted them to know 00:11:34.260 --> 00:11:35.700 just how far reaching 00:11:35.700 --> 00:11:38.420 their gospel influence was, 00:11:38.500 --> 00:11:39.720 which brings us to verse eight. 00:11:39.720 --> 00:11:40.980 Set your eyes on that again. 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:43.620 Four, this is in reference again 00:11:43.620 --> 00:11:44.660 to example. 00:11:45.420 --> 00:11:47.500 Four, not only has the word 00:11:47.500 --> 00:11:49.639 of the Lord sounded forth from you 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:51.519 in Macedonia and Achaia, 00:11:51.980 --> 00:11:53.740 but your faith in God 00:11:53.740 --> 00:11:55.340 has gone forth everywhere 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:59.399 so that we need not say anything. 00:12:00.600 --> 00:12:01.660 That's interesting, isn't it? 00:12:02.180 --> 00:12:04.040 Far reaching influence 00:12:04.040 --> 00:12:05.800 and impact of this church. 00:12:06.700 --> 00:12:07.980 Now, it would be tempting for us 00:12:07.980 --> 00:12:08.759 to look at verse eight 00:12:08.759 --> 00:12:09.680 and conclude that 00:12:09.680 --> 00:12:11.340 the Thessalonian church 00:12:11.340 --> 00:12:13.879 had become a major sending agency 00:12:13.879 --> 00:12:15.100 for missions in Greece. 00:12:15.100 --> 00:12:16.440 I don't actually think 00:12:16.440 --> 00:12:18.779 that's what Paul intends to mean here. 00:12:18.820 --> 00:12:19.580 I don't think that's actually 00:12:19.580 --> 00:12:20.740 what was happening. 00:12:21.519 --> 00:12:22.840 Now, there's no doubt 00:12:22.840 --> 00:12:23.779 that the church 00:12:23.779 --> 00:12:25.200 was faithfully evangelizing. 00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:26.480 It would be difficult 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:28.159 to explain the affliction 00:12:28.159 --> 00:12:30.039 that they were enduring 00:12:30.039 --> 00:12:31.659 from their unbelieving neighbors 00:12:31.659 --> 00:12:33.560 if that were not true. 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:34.759 A hidden faith 00:12:34.759 --> 00:12:35.960 is not a persecuted faith. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:37.280 We understand that, right? 00:12:37.680 --> 00:12:38.400 So, clearly, 00:12:38.600 --> 00:12:39.920 they are living out their faith 00:12:39.920 --> 00:12:41.000 in Thessalonica. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:42.680 They are preaching 00:12:42.680 --> 00:12:44.160 and proclaiming the gospel to others. 00:12:44.240 --> 00:12:45.360 There's no question about that. 00:12:45.500 --> 00:12:47.080 That is impacting their city 00:12:47.080 --> 00:12:48.139 in such a way 00:12:48.139 --> 00:12:50.379 that the city is turning against them. 00:12:50.700 --> 00:12:52.360 And we see that again and again 00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:52.900 in the narrative 00:12:52.900 --> 00:12:53.820 of the book of Acts, 00:12:53.840 --> 00:12:55.620 how that tended to happen 00:12:55.620 --> 00:12:57.440 in these churches 00:12:57.440 --> 00:12:58.120 that were started 00:12:58.120 --> 00:12:59.400 in the first century. 00:13:00.200 --> 00:13:02.259 However, when Paul says 00:13:02.259 --> 00:13:03.480 that the word of the Lord 00:13:03.480 --> 00:13:05.460 has sounded forth from them, 00:13:05.980 --> 00:13:07.539 what he means by that 00:13:07.539 --> 00:13:09.220 is that Thessalonica 00:13:09.220 --> 00:13:10.920 was the place of origin. 00:13:11.639 --> 00:13:13.300 Back to that earthquake illustration. 00:13:13.960 --> 00:13:15.340 It was the epicenter 00:13:15.340 --> 00:13:16.680 for the work 00:13:16.680 --> 00:13:17.800 that God was doing 00:13:17.800 --> 00:13:19.340 throughout all of Greece. 00:13:19.980 --> 00:13:21.159 They were the origination. 00:13:21.340 --> 00:13:23.420 It was sounding forth from them 00:13:23.420 --> 00:13:25.039 and it was expanding 00:13:25.039 --> 00:13:27.139 all over the place. 00:13:28.460 --> 00:13:30.159 And this is not at all surprising, 00:13:30.159 --> 00:13:31.219 is it when you consider 00:13:31.219 --> 00:13:32.959 that not only 00:13:32.959 --> 00:13:34.319 was Thessalonica 00:13:34.319 --> 00:13:37.860 situated as a primary seaport 00:13:37.860 --> 00:13:38.799 for Macedonia, 00:13:39.459 --> 00:13:41.059 but it also was situated 00:13:41.059 --> 00:13:42.439 on the Ignatian Way. 00:13:42.919 --> 00:13:43.919 This is the main 00:13:43.919 --> 00:13:45.379 and probably in many instances 00:13:45.379 --> 00:13:47.980 the only roadway and highway 00:13:47.980 --> 00:13:49.219 that connected Rome 00:13:49.219 --> 00:13:50.779 to all of those countries 00:13:50.779 --> 00:13:52.620 east of Macedonia 00:13:52.620 --> 00:13:53.519 and all of those nations 00:13:53.519 --> 00:13:54.339 east of them. 00:13:55.100 --> 00:13:55.839 So constantly, 00:13:55.959 --> 00:13:57.519 every day in Thessalonica, 00:13:57.659 --> 00:13:59.379 it's a metropolitan area 00:13:59.379 --> 00:14:00.080 of its time. 00:14:00.360 --> 00:14:01.980 A melting pot of people 00:14:01.980 --> 00:14:03.039 that are traveling 00:14:03.039 --> 00:14:04.399 in and out of the area 00:14:04.399 --> 00:14:06.100 either by sea or by land. 00:14:06.279 --> 00:14:07.759 It's not surprising then 00:14:07.759 --> 00:14:08.980 that people are coming 00:14:08.980 --> 00:14:10.299 into Thessalonica. 00:14:10.759 --> 00:14:12.059 They are being converted 00:14:12.059 --> 00:14:12.919 through the witness 00:14:12.919 --> 00:14:14.200 of the Thessalonians 00:14:14.200 --> 00:14:15.500 and then they are continuing 00:14:15.500 --> 00:14:16.279 on their way 00:14:16.279 --> 00:14:17.419 and they're spreading 00:14:17.419 --> 00:14:18.480 the word of this church 00:14:18.480 --> 00:14:19.220 as they go 00:14:19.220 --> 00:14:20.700 down the Ignatian Way 00:14:20.700 --> 00:14:22.399 and to wherever else 00:14:22.399 --> 00:14:23.460 they may have been going. 00:14:23.860 --> 00:14:24.440 Now this is where 00:14:24.440 --> 00:14:25.279 we should step back 00:14:25.279 --> 00:14:26.000 for just a moment 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.559 and consider the fact again 00:14:27.559 --> 00:14:28.419 the Thessalonians 00:14:28.419 --> 00:14:29.019 probably weren't 00:14:29.019 --> 00:14:30.179 very aware of this. 00:14:30.979 --> 00:14:32.059 There's no social media. 00:14:32.619 --> 00:14:33.419 They're not going to get 00:14:33.419 --> 00:14:34.579 on Facebook and say 00:14:34.579 --> 00:14:35.779 oh man there's this person 00:14:35.779 --> 00:14:36.279 that came through. 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.339 Look they're telling 00:14:37.339 --> 00:14:37.979 all about us 00:14:37.979 --> 00:14:38.779 in this other place. 00:14:39.239 --> 00:14:39.699 There's nothing 00:14:39.699 --> 00:14:40.479 like that happening. 00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.939 They're just being faithful 00:14:42.939 --> 00:14:45.379 and the Lord is using them 00:14:45.379 --> 00:14:46.939 and if we step back 00:14:46.939 --> 00:14:47.879 and consider that 00:14:47.879 --> 00:14:48.919 what we find is that 00:14:48.919 --> 00:14:50.279 God is working out 00:14:50.279 --> 00:14:52.059 a plan in and through us 00:14:52.059 --> 00:14:53.579 that we don't often 00:14:53.580 --> 00:14:55.200 see or understand. 00:14:57.139 --> 00:14:58.280 Perhaps they never 00:14:58.280 --> 00:14:59.100 even considered 00:14:59.100 --> 00:14:59.860 at this point 00:14:59.860 --> 00:15:00.639 in the young life 00:15:00.639 --> 00:15:01.139 of this church 00:15:01.139 --> 00:15:02.460 that just their 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:03.759 geographical location 00:15:03.759 --> 00:15:05.900 was a mighty weapon 00:15:05.900 --> 00:15:07.200 in the hand of God. 00:15:07.620 --> 00:15:08.520 They're just being faithful 00:15:08.520 --> 00:15:09.920 and the Lord is using it. 00:15:11.080 --> 00:15:12.100 Now how much of that 00:15:12.100 --> 00:15:13.500 could be true of us? 00:15:14.220 --> 00:15:15.100 We don't know exactly 00:15:15.100 --> 00:15:15.900 how the Lord is using 00:15:15.900 --> 00:15:16.440 our church. 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:18.140 We're trying to be faithful. 00:15:19.040 --> 00:15:19.700 We don't know 00:15:19.700 --> 00:15:20.640 what God's plan is 00:15:20.640 --> 00:15:21.460 and how He's using us. 00:15:21.520 --> 00:15:22.259 He could be using 00:15:22.259 --> 00:15:23.519 your influence 00:15:23.519 --> 00:15:25.500 in people all over the place 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:26.580 and you don't even know 00:15:26.580 --> 00:15:27.759 and it's because 00:15:27.759 --> 00:15:30.139 there is an orchestration 00:15:30.139 --> 00:15:30.960 of your life 00:15:30.960 --> 00:15:32.240 that is in the providential 00:15:32.240 --> 00:15:33.360 and sovereign hand of God. 00:15:33.439 --> 00:15:34.720 He is doing His work in you. 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:36.000 He's doing His work 00:15:36.000 --> 00:15:37.000 through you 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:37.919 and we don't often 00:15:37.919 --> 00:15:39.279 get to see what that's like 00:15:39.279 --> 00:15:41.159 and I think this passage 00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:41.799 teaches us, 00:15:41.919 --> 00:15:43.019 reminds us of it again. 00:15:43.740 --> 00:15:44.620 This is amazing. 00:15:44.759 --> 00:15:45.720 This is what the Lord 00:15:45.720 --> 00:15:46.120 is doing. 00:15:47.179 --> 00:15:48.000 Now the emphasis 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.299 of verse 8 then 00:15:49.299 --> 00:15:51.819 is not on the Thessalonians 00:15:51.820 --> 00:15:52.580 as like a mission 00:15:52.580 --> 00:15:53.300 sending agency. 00:15:53.420 --> 00:15:53.920 That's not it. 00:15:54.180 --> 00:15:55.660 The emphasis of verse 8 00:15:55.660 --> 00:15:57.600 is on the reach 00:15:57.600 --> 00:16:00.240 of the Thessalonians' influence. 00:16:01.720 --> 00:16:03.020 Not only had they 00:16:03.020 --> 00:16:04.740 significantly impacted 00:16:04.740 --> 00:16:05.560 Christians throughout 00:16:05.560 --> 00:16:06.879 Macedonia and Achaia, 00:16:07.040 --> 00:16:07.340 that is, 00:16:07.780 --> 00:16:08.960 those were the two major 00:16:08.960 --> 00:16:09.740 regions of Greece 00:16:09.740 --> 00:16:10.260 at the time, 00:16:10.420 --> 00:16:11.860 but as Paul ministered 00:16:11.860 --> 00:16:12.460 in Corinth 00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:14.580 for nearly two years later, 00:16:15.280 --> 00:16:16.540 he was interacting 00:16:16.540 --> 00:16:17.240 with Christians 00:16:17.240 --> 00:16:18.540 as he's writing this letter 00:16:18.539 --> 00:16:19.980 to the Thessalonian church. 00:16:20.939 --> 00:16:21.679 Christians coming 00:16:21.679 --> 00:16:22.500 from everywhere 00:16:22.500 --> 00:16:23.299 through Corinth, 00:16:23.399 --> 00:16:25.079 another metropolitan place 00:16:25.079 --> 00:16:26.459 and as they're coming 00:16:26.459 --> 00:16:26.919 to Paul, 00:16:27.019 --> 00:16:27.559 they're saying, 00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:29.199 hey, we heard about 00:16:29.199 --> 00:16:30.480 the Christians 00:16:30.480 --> 00:16:31.679 in Thessalonica 00:16:31.679 --> 00:16:33.439 and they're talking 00:16:33.439 --> 00:16:33.939 about them. 00:16:34.299 --> 00:16:34.980 The impact 00:16:34.980 --> 00:16:35.699 that they had, 00:16:35.759 --> 00:16:36.419 the encouragement 00:16:36.419 --> 00:16:37.599 of their own faith 00:16:37.599 --> 00:16:38.179 that they had 00:16:38.179 --> 00:16:38.719 through knowing 00:16:38.719 --> 00:16:39.519 and hearing about 00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:41.360 the Thessalonian believers. 00:16:42.659 --> 00:16:43.539 News of the Thessalonians' 00:16:44.740 --> 00:16:46.439 spirit-empowered conversion 00:16:46.440 --> 00:16:48.260 and spirit-enabled 00:16:48.260 --> 00:16:48.900 perseverance 00:16:48.900 --> 00:16:51.760 outpaced the apostle himself. 00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:53.800 He didn't need 00:16:53.800 --> 00:16:54.580 to tell other people 00:16:54.580 --> 00:16:55.560 about the Thessalonians 00:16:55.560 --> 00:16:56.700 because they already knew. 00:16:57.680 --> 00:16:58.440 God was using 00:16:58.440 --> 00:16:59.160 their example 00:16:59.160 --> 00:17:00.900 as an instrument of grace 00:17:00.900 --> 00:17:02.720 to strengthen Christians 00:17:02.720 --> 00:17:04.480 from all over the place. 00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:06.620 But what exactly is it 00:17:06.620 --> 00:17:08.100 about the Thessalonians 00:17:08.100 --> 00:17:09.100 that God was using? 00:17:10.600 --> 00:17:12.100 Look at verse 5 again. 00:17:12.180 --> 00:17:13.220 We studied this last week. 00:17:13.700 --> 00:17:14.720 Notice what Paul says. 00:17:14.720 --> 00:17:16.420 Our gospel came to you 00:17:16.420 --> 00:17:17.319 not only in word 00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:18.740 but in power 00:17:18.740 --> 00:17:19.900 and in the Holy Spirit 00:17:19.900 --> 00:17:21.620 and with full conviction. 00:17:22.660 --> 00:17:23.779 Now in verse 5 there, 00:17:24.740 --> 00:17:25.680 Paul said it wasn't 00:17:25.680 --> 00:17:26.980 merely the words 00:17:26.980 --> 00:17:27.880 of the gospel. 00:17:28.700 --> 00:17:30.980 It was the transformative 00:17:30.980 --> 00:17:32.900 power of the Holy Spirit 00:17:32.900 --> 00:17:33.920 at work through 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:34.779 the gospel message 00:17:34.779 --> 00:17:36.039 that resulted 00:17:36.039 --> 00:17:37.440 in the Thessalonians' conversion. 00:17:38.079 --> 00:17:40.039 He's making the same argument 00:17:40.039 --> 00:17:41.120 again just from 00:17:41.120 --> 00:17:42.019 a different perspective 00:17:42.019 --> 00:17:43.920 in verse 8. 00:17:43.920 --> 00:17:45.019 Notice the language. 00:17:45.740 --> 00:17:47.360 Not only has the word 00:17:47.360 --> 00:17:48.000 of the Lord 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:49.240 sounded forth from you 00:17:49.240 --> 00:17:52.060 but your faith in God 00:17:52.060 --> 00:17:53.880 has gone forth everywhere. 00:17:54.220 --> 00:17:54.600 Do you see? 00:17:55.580 --> 00:17:56.700 It's not just that 00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.759 they are declaring 00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:59.000 the word of the gospel. 00:17:59.380 --> 00:18:00.840 It's that the power 00:18:00.840 --> 00:18:01.620 of the Holy Spirit 00:18:01.620 --> 00:18:03.120 at work in their own lives 00:18:03.120 --> 00:18:04.519 that is being demonstrated 00:18:04.519 --> 00:18:05.240 and displayed 00:18:05.240 --> 00:18:06.039 to these people. 00:18:06.500 --> 00:18:07.500 The power of their 00:18:07.500 --> 00:18:09.300 own proclamation even 00:18:09.300 --> 00:18:11.480 is what the Lord 00:18:11.480 --> 00:18:12.240 is using. 00:18:12.240 --> 00:18:13.339 What sounded forth 00:18:13.339 --> 00:18:13.740 from them 00:18:13.740 --> 00:18:15.480 was not just words. 00:18:16.259 --> 00:18:17.660 It was the display 00:18:17.660 --> 00:18:19.039 of the Spirit's power 00:18:19.039 --> 00:18:19.900 at work in them. 00:18:21.319 --> 00:18:22.519 It was one thing 00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.880 for the Thessalonian Christians 00:18:23.880 --> 00:18:25.460 to declare the gospel message. 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:26.720 It's quite another thing 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:28.000 that they continued 00:18:28.000 --> 00:18:28.579 to believe 00:18:28.579 --> 00:18:30.000 and proclaim that message 00:18:30.000 --> 00:18:30.779 through such 00:18:30.779 --> 00:18:31.859 difficult circumstances. 00:18:32.740 --> 00:18:33.779 People saw that. 00:18:34.359 --> 00:18:35.859 They saw the Spirit's power 00:18:35.859 --> 00:18:36.700 at work in their life 00:18:36.700 --> 00:18:38.079 and that's exactly 00:18:38.079 --> 00:18:39.039 what God was using 00:18:39.039 --> 00:18:39.799 to do His work 00:18:39.799 --> 00:18:41.200 in the lives of others. 00:18:42.200 --> 00:18:44.480 The power of their influence 00:18:44.480 --> 00:18:46.740 was in the authenticity 00:18:46.740 --> 00:18:47.899 of their faith 00:18:47.899 --> 00:18:50.139 and the authenticity 00:18:50.139 --> 00:18:51.359 of their faith 00:18:51.359 --> 00:18:52.059 was revealed 00:18:52.059 --> 00:18:54.559 through faithful perseverance 00:18:54.559 --> 00:18:55.759 in affliction. 00:18:56.700 --> 00:18:57.460 So Paul says 00:18:57.460 --> 00:18:58.559 you became an example 00:18:58.559 --> 00:19:00.159 to everyone. 00:19:01.539 --> 00:19:02.139 Now again, 00:19:02.200 --> 00:19:02.740 here's the thing. 00:19:02.740 --> 00:19:05.720 there is no indication 00:19:05.720 --> 00:19:06.640 in this text 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:08.460 or in any other text 00:19:08.460 --> 00:19:09.299 in these two letters 00:19:09.299 --> 00:19:12.200 that the church 00:19:12.200 --> 00:19:13.220 was very aware 00:19:13.220 --> 00:19:14.019 of the fact 00:19:14.019 --> 00:19:15.660 that God was using 00:19:15.660 --> 00:19:16.220 their faith 00:19:16.220 --> 00:19:17.480 to accomplish His work 00:19:17.480 --> 00:19:19.160 the way that He was. 00:19:19.160 --> 00:19:21.259 I just don't think 00:19:21.259 --> 00:19:21.700 they knew. 00:19:22.640 --> 00:19:23.600 I think that's part 00:19:23.600 --> 00:19:24.120 of why Paul 00:19:24.120 --> 00:19:25.180 is writing about it here. 00:19:26.540 --> 00:19:27.560 It's not to tell them 00:19:27.560 --> 00:19:28.259 something they already knew. 00:19:28.340 --> 00:19:29.680 I think it is to inform them 00:19:29.680 --> 00:19:30.820 in order that they might be 00:19:30.820 --> 00:19:32.740 encouraged about it 00:19:32.740 --> 00:19:34.040 at least mostly. 00:19:35.060 --> 00:19:35.800 It's not like 00:19:35.800 --> 00:19:37.120 they set out to do this. 00:19:38.900 --> 00:19:39.960 There's probably 00:19:39.960 --> 00:19:40.660 no meeting 00:19:40.660 --> 00:19:41.460 of church leaders 00:19:41.460 --> 00:19:42.380 in Thessalonica 00:19:42.380 --> 00:19:43.019 to determine 00:19:43.019 --> 00:19:44.040 how they would make 00:19:44.040 --> 00:19:45.160 the strongest impact 00:19:45.160 --> 00:19:46.840 on their neighboring cities. 00:19:47.019 --> 00:19:47.840 They weren't sitting 00:19:47.839 --> 00:19:48.519 in their living room 00:19:48.519 --> 00:19:49.759 one day saying, 00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:50.019 you know, 00:19:50.039 --> 00:19:50.599 it would be great 00:19:50.599 --> 00:19:51.339 if we could be 00:19:51.339 --> 00:19:52.199 the influencers 00:19:52.199 --> 00:19:53.439 of our generation. 00:19:53.859 --> 00:19:56.139 How can we best do that? 00:19:57.319 --> 00:19:58.480 Now maybe that kind 00:19:58.480 --> 00:19:59.579 of strategic initiative 00:19:59.579 --> 00:20:01.379 is helpful in some cases, 00:20:01.379 --> 00:20:02.159 but in the context 00:20:02.159 --> 00:20:03.079 of the local church, 00:20:03.379 --> 00:20:04.279 most often 00:20:04.279 --> 00:20:05.839 that quickly descends 00:20:05.839 --> 00:20:08.759 into a gospel-less pragmatism. 00:20:10.059 --> 00:20:10.899 That's not what 00:20:10.899 --> 00:20:12.179 the Thessalonians were doing. 00:20:13.099 --> 00:20:14.159 The influence 00:20:14.159 --> 00:20:15.279 of the Thessalonians 00:20:15.279 --> 00:20:16.279 wasn't the result 00:20:16.279 --> 00:20:17.519 of strategic planning. 00:20:17.839 --> 00:20:18.939 It was the result 00:20:18.939 --> 00:20:21.119 of extraordinary faithfulness 00:20:21.119 --> 00:20:23.199 through spirit-empowered preaching 00:20:23.199 --> 00:20:26.099 and spirit-enabled perseverance. 00:20:26.759 --> 00:20:27.220 That's it. 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:30.279 The limitless reach 00:20:30.279 --> 00:20:31.459 of their influence 00:20:31.459 --> 00:20:33.179 was God's doing, 00:20:33.799 --> 00:20:35.099 and it was simply 00:20:35.099 --> 00:20:36.179 their faithfulness 00:20:36.179 --> 00:20:36.839 that He used. 00:20:38.000 --> 00:20:39.359 The picture we have 00:20:39.359 --> 00:20:40.519 of the Thessalonian church 00:20:40.519 --> 00:20:41.500 is just a group 00:20:41.500 --> 00:20:42.039 of Christians 00:20:42.039 --> 00:20:43.480 who've got their heads down, 00:20:44.179 --> 00:20:45.139 plowing forward, 00:20:45.140 --> 00:20:47.080 being faithful, 00:20:48.120 --> 00:20:48.820 trying to stay away 00:20:48.820 --> 00:20:49.360 from sin, 00:20:50.120 --> 00:20:51.160 trying to proclaim 00:20:51.160 --> 00:20:51.740 the gospel, 00:20:52.560 --> 00:20:53.380 trying to glorify 00:20:53.380 --> 00:20:53.920 the Lord 00:20:53.920 --> 00:20:55.220 and their Savior 00:20:55.220 --> 00:20:55.980 and their Lord. 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:58.060 And as they're doing that, 00:20:58.140 --> 00:20:59.259 God is doing a work 00:20:59.259 --> 00:21:00.160 through them 00:21:00.160 --> 00:21:01.020 that they were 00:21:01.020 --> 00:21:02.180 completely unaware of, 00:21:02.200 --> 00:21:02.580 I think. 00:21:03.740 --> 00:21:04.880 And it'll be the same 00:21:04.880 --> 00:21:05.380 for us. 00:21:06.580 --> 00:21:07.480 We don't need 00:21:07.480 --> 00:21:08.060 to develop 00:21:08.060 --> 00:21:09.280 elaborate strategies 00:21:09.279 --> 00:21:10.920 to influence 00:21:10.920 --> 00:21:11.460 our neighbors. 00:21:12.660 --> 00:21:13.480 We just need 00:21:13.480 --> 00:21:14.139 to be faithful 00:21:14.139 --> 00:21:15.079 in every season 00:21:15.079 --> 00:21:17.339 and trust 00:21:17.339 --> 00:21:17.940 that the Lord 00:21:17.940 --> 00:21:18.740 will be pleased 00:21:18.740 --> 00:21:19.480 to use us 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:20.240 for His glory 00:21:20.240 --> 00:21:21.720 and for His purposes 00:21:21.720 --> 00:21:23.579 so that when things 00:21:23.579 --> 00:21:24.019 are good 00:21:24.019 --> 00:21:25.819 and it's convenient, 00:21:26.259 --> 00:21:27.059 we're faithful. 00:21:27.899 --> 00:21:29.099 When things are hard 00:21:29.099 --> 00:21:30.879 and it's really inconvenient, 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:32.720 we're still faithful. 00:21:34.220 --> 00:21:35.039 And I think 00:21:35.039 --> 00:21:35.759 that's what the Lord 00:21:35.759 --> 00:21:36.359 will use. 00:21:36.359 --> 00:21:38.299 when we are faithful 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.679 as the Thessalonians were, 00:21:40.279 --> 00:21:40.719 honestly, 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.539 there is no limit 00:21:42.539 --> 00:21:44.359 to what God might do 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.719 with our little 00:21:45.719 --> 00:21:46.679 fledgling church 00:21:46.679 --> 00:21:48.119 in Cornelius. 00:21:49.479 --> 00:21:50.519 And we may not see 00:21:50.519 --> 00:21:51.399 the results of that. 00:21:52.259 --> 00:21:53.019 Lord willing, 00:21:53.119 --> 00:21:54.059 one day in heaven 00:21:54.059 --> 00:21:55.279 that will be revealed 00:21:55.279 --> 00:21:55.919 to us 00:21:55.919 --> 00:21:57.259 for the glory of God. 00:21:57.719 --> 00:21:58.240 But for now, 00:21:58.299 --> 00:21:59.059 we just stay faithful. 00:21:59.779 --> 00:22:00.659 We keep our heads down. 00:22:00.740 --> 00:22:01.459 We plow forward. 00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:02.639 We do what God 00:22:02.639 --> 00:22:03.459 has called us to do 00:22:03.459 --> 00:22:04.099 and we trust that 00:22:04.099 --> 00:22:04.599 He's going to do 00:22:04.599 --> 00:22:05.240 something with it. 00:22:06.359 --> 00:22:07.319 Secondly, 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.959 I want you to see 00:22:08.959 --> 00:22:09.579 the basis 00:22:09.579 --> 00:22:11.679 of faithful influence 00:22:11.679 --> 00:22:13.419 is the gospel. 00:22:14.659 --> 00:22:15.579 The basis 00:22:15.579 --> 00:22:16.679 of faithful influence 00:22:16.679 --> 00:22:18.119 is the gospel. 00:22:19.000 --> 00:22:19.459 In other words, 00:22:19.659 --> 00:22:20.399 there is only 00:22:20.399 --> 00:22:21.959 one kind of faith 00:22:21.959 --> 00:22:23.500 that God uses 00:22:23.500 --> 00:22:24.219 like this. 00:22:24.779 --> 00:22:25.379 Only one. 00:22:26.839 --> 00:22:27.099 Now, 00:22:27.139 --> 00:22:28.019 the text indicates 00:22:28.019 --> 00:22:29.819 that Paul regularly 00:22:29.819 --> 00:22:31.259 met Grecian Christians 00:22:31.259 --> 00:22:32.699 who had been 00:22:32.699 --> 00:22:34.039 personally impacted 00:22:34.039 --> 00:22:34.839 by the faith 00:22:34.839 --> 00:22:36.039 of the Thessalonians. 00:22:36.359 --> 00:22:38.000 The last two verses 00:22:38.000 --> 00:22:39.559 record the report 00:22:39.559 --> 00:22:41.219 then that these 00:22:41.219 --> 00:22:42.019 other Christians 00:22:42.019 --> 00:22:42.859 were giving about 00:22:42.859 --> 00:22:43.299 the church 00:22:43.299 --> 00:22:44.039 when they interacted 00:22:44.039 --> 00:22:45.099 with Paul 00:22:45.099 --> 00:22:46.219 at some point 00:22:46.219 --> 00:22:46.899 down the road. 00:22:47.759 --> 00:22:48.639 And what you'll notice 00:22:48.639 --> 00:22:50.000 is it had everything 00:22:50.000 --> 00:22:52.119 to do with Jesus. 00:22:52.939 --> 00:22:53.879 Shocker, right? 00:22:54.659 --> 00:22:55.699 Not at all. 00:22:56.339 --> 00:22:57.399 It has everything 00:22:57.399 --> 00:22:58.639 to do with Jesus. 00:22:58.759 --> 00:23:00.019 Look at verses 9 and 10. 00:23:00.919 --> 00:23:01.759 4, again, 00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.379 that's another one 00:23:02.379 --> 00:23:03.579 of those grounding 00:23:03.579 --> 00:23:04.419 statements, isn't it? 00:23:04.420 --> 00:23:05.160 What's he doing? 00:23:05.259 --> 00:23:06.240 He's explaining 00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.480 the report. 00:23:08.060 --> 00:23:08.940 For they themselves 00:23:08.940 --> 00:23:10.279 report concerning us 00:23:10.279 --> 00:23:11.880 the kind of reception 00:23:11.880 --> 00:23:13.320 we had among you. 00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:14.460 Now, reception, 00:23:14.680 --> 00:23:15.960 that's a weird translation 00:23:15.960 --> 00:23:16.920 to be honest with you. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:17.900 It's the same word 00:23:17.900 --> 00:23:18.779 if you just set your eyes 00:23:18.779 --> 00:23:19.420 on chapter 2 00:23:19.420 --> 00:23:20.060 and verse 1. 00:23:20.840 --> 00:23:21.400 Paul will say, 00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.180 we'll get to this next week, 00:23:22.240 --> 00:23:22.740 but Paul says, 00:23:23.060 --> 00:23:23.759 for you yourselves 00:23:23.759 --> 00:23:24.360 know, brothers, 00:23:24.480 --> 00:23:26.060 that our coming to you 00:23:26.060 --> 00:23:26.779 was not in vain. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:27.560 Coming, 00:23:27.740 --> 00:23:28.759 that's the same word 00:23:28.759 --> 00:23:29.640 that is, 00:23:29.960 --> 00:23:30.580 for some reason, 00:23:30.660 --> 00:23:31.680 in some of our translations 00:23:31.680 --> 00:23:33.140 is translated reception. 00:23:33.720 --> 00:23:34.660 Don't get the idea 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:36.160 that what is being communicated 00:23:36.160 --> 00:23:37.620 is that the Thessalonians 00:23:37.620 --> 00:23:39.220 were just super hospitable 00:23:39.220 --> 00:23:39.759 to Paul 00:23:39.759 --> 00:23:40.460 and that impacted 00:23:40.460 --> 00:23:41.380 the other Christians. 00:23:41.500 --> 00:23:42.299 That may be true, 00:23:42.660 --> 00:23:43.660 but that's not what Paul's saying. 00:23:43.900 --> 00:23:44.940 What he's referring to here 00:23:44.940 --> 00:23:46.360 is that when he initially 00:23:46.360 --> 00:23:47.740 came to Thessalonica 00:23:47.740 --> 00:23:49.240 and preached the gospel, 00:23:49.820 --> 00:23:51.620 that that coming to them 00:23:51.620 --> 00:23:54.039 resulted in a powerful conversion 00:23:54.039 --> 00:23:55.420 by the Spirit's work. 00:23:55.480 --> 00:23:56.460 That's what he's referring to. 00:23:56.460 --> 00:23:57.680 So as people are coming, 00:23:57.799 --> 00:23:58.279 they're reporting 00:23:58.279 --> 00:23:59.460 concerning the kind 00:23:59.460 --> 00:24:00.820 of reception they had. 00:24:00.819 --> 00:24:02.519 That is that they were converted 00:24:02.519 --> 00:24:05.159 to the faith of Christ. 00:24:06.099 --> 00:24:08.359 And how you turn to God 00:24:08.359 --> 00:24:09.220 from idols 00:24:09.220 --> 00:24:12.019 to serve the living and true God 00:24:12.019 --> 00:24:13.679 and to wait 00:24:13.679 --> 00:24:15.679 for his Son from heaven. 00:24:16.079 --> 00:24:17.899 This is the perseverance dynamic, right? 00:24:18.359 --> 00:24:19.559 So the first section is, 00:24:19.779 --> 00:24:20.980 that's the conversion element. 00:24:21.439 --> 00:24:22.879 Now, the waiting part, 00:24:23.000 --> 00:24:23.700 waiting for his Son, 00:24:23.779 --> 00:24:25.960 that's the persevering part of it. 00:24:26.579 --> 00:24:27.720 Wait for his Son from heaven, 00:24:28.539 --> 00:24:30.079 whom he raised from the dead. 00:24:30.819 --> 00:24:32.299 Jesus who delivers us 00:24:32.299 --> 00:24:33.619 from the wrath to come. 00:24:34.539 --> 00:24:35.419 Now, because that was 00:24:35.419 --> 00:24:36.299 a really choppy way 00:24:36.299 --> 00:24:37.000 for us to work through that, 00:24:37.059 --> 00:24:37.899 let's just read through it again 00:24:37.899 --> 00:24:39.119 without me stopping us, okay? 00:24:39.779 --> 00:24:41.200 For they themselves report 00:24:41.200 --> 00:24:42.119 concerning us 00:24:42.119 --> 00:24:43.480 the kind of reception 00:24:43.480 --> 00:24:44.399 we had among you, 00:24:45.059 --> 00:24:46.240 how you turn to God 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:46.919 from idols 00:24:46.919 --> 00:24:48.279 to serve the living 00:24:48.279 --> 00:24:49.000 and true God, 00:24:49.500 --> 00:24:50.819 and to wait for his Son 00:24:50.819 --> 00:24:51.339 from heaven, 00:24:51.879 --> 00:24:53.019 whom he raised from the dead, 00:24:53.639 --> 00:24:54.839 Jesus who delivers us 00:24:54.839 --> 00:24:55.700 from the wrath to come. 00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:58.460 Verse 8 tells us 00:24:58.460 --> 00:24:59.559 that the Thessalonians' 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:00.980 faith in God 00:25:00.980 --> 00:25:02.059 had gone forth everywhere, 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:04.259 making them a model of faith 00:25:04.259 --> 00:25:05.920 to Christians in Greece. 00:25:06.680 --> 00:25:08.299 Verses 9 and 10 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:10.360 give us the basis 00:25:10.360 --> 00:25:11.740 or the content 00:25:11.740 --> 00:25:14.019 of their faith in God. 00:25:15.100 --> 00:25:16.819 And just using this little report 00:25:16.819 --> 00:25:19.620 that Paul passes on 00:25:19.620 --> 00:25:21.120 to the Thessalonian church here, 00:25:21.119 --> 00:25:23.379 I want you to consider 00:25:23.379 --> 00:25:25.599 what the Thessalonian church 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:28.299 had as its confession of faith. 00:25:29.379 --> 00:25:30.419 That's how I want to term it here. 00:25:31.339 --> 00:25:32.259 Maybe it would have sounded 00:25:32.259 --> 00:25:33.259 something like this. 00:25:34.059 --> 00:25:34.599 Number one, 00:25:35.359 --> 00:25:37.319 we believe there is only 00:25:37.319 --> 00:25:39.959 one true and living God 00:25:39.959 --> 00:25:42.199 who alone is worthy 00:25:42.199 --> 00:25:43.419 of all our love, 00:25:44.019 --> 00:25:45.619 worship, and obedience. 00:25:46.579 --> 00:25:47.199 Look at verse 9. 00:25:48.039 --> 00:25:50.659 How you turned to God 00:25:50.660 --> 00:25:51.820 from idols 00:25:51.820 --> 00:25:53.840 to serve the living 00:25:53.840 --> 00:25:55.320 and true God. 00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:58.800 This isn't just a statement 00:25:58.800 --> 00:25:59.460 of their belief. 00:25:59.680 --> 00:26:01.000 It's a polemic 00:26:01.000 --> 00:26:03.000 against the foolishness 00:26:03.000 --> 00:26:04.700 of idolatry. 00:26:05.800 --> 00:26:07.779 The idols they once worshipped 00:26:07.779 --> 00:26:09.040 were lifeless. 00:26:10.000 --> 00:26:10.960 Now they worship 00:26:10.960 --> 00:26:12.380 the living God. 00:26:13.840 --> 00:26:15.920 Their former gods were false. 00:26:16.920 --> 00:26:18.279 Now they were turning away 00:26:18.279 --> 00:26:19.180 from them to serve 00:26:19.180 --> 00:26:21.980 the true God. 00:26:23.820 --> 00:26:25.019 And I don't want to just 00:26:25.019 --> 00:26:26.000 quickly dismiss 00:26:26.000 --> 00:26:27.779 this thought of idolatry 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:29.100 as if this is a thing 00:26:29.100 --> 00:26:29.779 of the past. 00:26:30.200 --> 00:26:30.980 It is not a thing 00:26:30.980 --> 00:26:31.600 of the past. 00:26:32.820 --> 00:26:34.299 You may not pray 00:26:34.299 --> 00:26:35.220 to a shrine, 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.720 but we are all tempted 00:26:37.720 --> 00:26:38.920 to bow before 00:26:38.920 --> 00:26:41.640 lifeless idols. 00:26:41.640 --> 00:26:41.740 idols. 00:26:43.740 --> 00:26:44.900 And they take many 00:26:44.900 --> 00:26:45.700 different shapes 00:26:45.700 --> 00:26:46.920 and forms in our lives. 00:26:48.080 --> 00:26:49.600 But as Calvin said, 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:51.000 the heart is a factory 00:26:51.000 --> 00:26:51.640 of idols. 00:26:55.800 --> 00:26:56.640 Elections coming up 00:26:56.640 --> 00:26:57.480 in just a few days. 00:26:58.600 --> 00:27:00.100 We see this in 00:27:00.100 --> 00:27:01.540 the political culture 00:27:01.540 --> 00:27:02.140 of our nation. 00:27:03.540 --> 00:27:04.520 Every candidate 00:27:04.520 --> 00:27:05.660 presents themselves 00:27:05.660 --> 00:27:07.400 in messianic language, 00:27:07.500 --> 00:27:07.780 don't they? 00:27:07.779 --> 00:27:11.480 If I'm not elected, 00:27:11.859 --> 00:27:13.680 we're all going to lose. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:16.259 If I'm elected, 00:27:16.759 --> 00:27:18.319 we'll all be saved. 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:19.160 That's essentially 00:27:19.160 --> 00:27:20.059 the rhetoric 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:20.680 that comes from 00:27:20.680 --> 00:27:21.299 every politician, 00:27:21.460 --> 00:27:21.720 isn't it? 00:27:23.200 --> 00:27:24.500 Trump even recently said, 00:27:24.579 --> 00:27:25.500 it got a lot of attention, 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:26.740 that if you're a Christian, 00:27:27.039 --> 00:27:28.099 if I'm elected this time, 00:27:28.160 --> 00:27:28.720 you'll never have 00:27:28.720 --> 00:27:29.299 to vote again. 00:27:31.299 --> 00:27:32.359 That sounds a little bit 00:27:32.359 --> 00:27:33.619 like when Jesus says, 00:27:34.240 --> 00:27:34.759 come to me 00:27:34.759 --> 00:27:36.000 and you'll never thirst again. 00:27:36.880 --> 00:27:38.759 You'll never hunger again. 00:27:39.500 --> 00:27:40.259 It's amazing, isn't it? 00:27:40.339 --> 00:27:41.420 And every politician does it. 00:27:41.500 --> 00:27:42.259 It's not just him. 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.019 All of them do. 00:27:43.180 --> 00:27:44.380 They are presenting themselves 00:27:44.380 --> 00:27:45.039 to us as if 00:27:45.039 --> 00:27:46.660 they are the messiahs for us. 00:27:46.759 --> 00:27:48.019 If they are the ones, 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.799 and some of us, 00:27:48.859 --> 00:27:49.700 we get sucked into it. 00:27:49.740 --> 00:27:50.819 We get all torqued out. 00:27:51.279 --> 00:27:51.980 Of course, culturally, 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.920 we get all torqued out 00:27:52.920 --> 00:27:53.680 about all of this. 00:27:53.980 --> 00:27:54.799 This can become 00:27:54.799 --> 00:27:56.759 a subtle idol of our hearts 00:27:56.759 --> 00:27:58.019 where we're resting 00:27:58.019 --> 00:27:59.900 in some person 00:27:59.900 --> 00:28:00.880 other than Christ 00:28:00.880 --> 00:28:02.539 to provide the salvation 00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.059 that we think 00:28:03.059 --> 00:28:04.059 we most desperately need. 00:28:04.160 --> 00:28:04.779 And all of that 00:28:04.779 --> 00:28:05.759 is just idolatry. 00:28:06.000 --> 00:28:06.859 It's at the heart 00:28:06.859 --> 00:28:07.700 of our idolatry. 00:28:09.240 --> 00:28:10.299 That's low-hanging fruit, 00:28:10.380 --> 00:28:10.640 isn't it? 00:28:13.200 --> 00:28:14.380 There's other idols we have. 00:28:14.380 --> 00:28:15.480 I heard somebody say 00:28:15.480 --> 00:28:16.799 one time that 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:17.819 the hardest thing 00:28:17.819 --> 00:28:19.500 about being a youth pastor 00:28:19.500 --> 00:28:21.779 is that most people 00:28:21.779 --> 00:28:23.000 think you're just tasked 00:28:23.000 --> 00:28:24.599 with babysitting 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:25.960 the church's favorite idols. 00:28:30.420 --> 00:28:31.619 Some of us 00:28:31.619 --> 00:28:32.400 would sooner 00:28:32.400 --> 00:28:34.559 offend Jesus 00:28:34.559 --> 00:28:36.740 than our children. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.339 Some of us 00:28:40.339 --> 00:28:41.299 would sooner 00:28:41.299 --> 00:28:44.000 disobey God 00:28:44.000 --> 00:28:46.539 than dishonor 00:28:46.539 --> 00:28:47.599 our parents. 00:28:51.679 --> 00:28:52.759 Some of us 00:28:52.759 --> 00:28:53.440 would sooner 00:28:53.440 --> 00:28:54.899 abandon 00:28:54.899 --> 00:28:57.039 the fellowship 00:28:57.039 --> 00:28:58.460 of God's people 00:28:58.460 --> 00:29:00.700 than abandon 00:29:00.700 --> 00:29:01.559 the worldly relationships 00:29:01.559 --> 00:29:01.960 relationships 00:29:01.960 --> 00:29:03.399 that do nothing 00:29:03.399 --> 00:29:04.099 for us 00:29:04.099 --> 00:29:05.679 but point us 00:29:05.679 --> 00:29:06.139 to sin. 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.859 It's all idolatry. 00:29:09.919 --> 00:29:10.980 And it's not just 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:11.700 something we struggle 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.539 with before we come 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.000 to Christ. 00:29:14.000 --> 00:29:14.899 It is something 00:29:14.899 --> 00:29:15.899 we struggle with 00:29:15.899 --> 00:29:17.819 even as Christians. 00:29:18.659 --> 00:29:20.339 The constant tug 00:29:20.339 --> 00:29:21.240 of our hearts 00:29:21.240 --> 00:29:22.839 to abandon 00:29:22.839 --> 00:29:23.859 the true and living 00:29:23.859 --> 00:29:24.960 God in some way 00:29:24.960 --> 00:29:26.879 to serve the gods 00:29:26.879 --> 00:29:27.559 of this world 00:29:27.559 --> 00:29:28.500 even if they're just 00:29:28.500 --> 00:29:29.359 gods of our own 00:29:29.359 --> 00:29:30.399 making in our minds. 00:29:31.179 --> 00:29:31.799 And of course 00:29:31.799 --> 00:29:34.319 all of our favorite 00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:34.839 gods 00:29:34.839 --> 00:29:36.299 are the God of self. 00:29:38.279 --> 00:29:39.500 That's not the testimony 00:29:39.500 --> 00:29:40.899 of the Thessalonian church 00:29:40.899 --> 00:29:41.039 here. 00:29:41.119 --> 00:29:41.740 The reason God 00:29:41.740 --> 00:29:42.459 was using them 00:29:42.459 --> 00:29:43.819 is because they 00:29:43.819 --> 00:29:44.939 had decisively 00:29:44.939 --> 00:29:46.539 continually 00:29:46.539 --> 00:29:48.139 turned away 00:29:48.139 --> 00:29:49.059 from this world 00:29:49.059 --> 00:29:50.579 to serve 00:29:50.579 --> 00:29:51.599 the true 00:29:51.599 --> 00:29:52.679 and the living God. 00:29:53.679 --> 00:29:54.459 If the Lord 00:29:54.459 --> 00:29:55.519 is going to use us 00:29:55.519 --> 00:29:57.279 it will be 00:29:57.279 --> 00:29:58.039 because we are 00:29:58.039 --> 00:29:58.639 constantly 00:29:58.639 --> 00:30:00.299 turning from idols 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.980 to serve the living 00:30:01.980 --> 00:30:02.680 and true God 00:30:02.680 --> 00:30:03.299 as a matter 00:30:03.299 --> 00:30:04.000 of intention. 00:30:05.779 --> 00:30:06.200 Second, 00:30:06.420 --> 00:30:07.200 perhaps their confession 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.220 said something like this. 00:30:09.359 --> 00:30:10.000 We believe that 00:30:10.000 --> 00:30:11.579 all who do not love, 00:30:11.940 --> 00:30:12.180 worship, 00:30:12.399 --> 00:30:12.899 and obey 00:30:12.899 --> 00:30:14.160 the true and living God 00:30:14.160 --> 00:30:15.240 will in the end 00:30:15.240 --> 00:30:16.399 face 00:30:16.399 --> 00:30:17.859 His eternal wrath. 00:30:19.059 --> 00:30:20.079 This comes at the end 00:30:20.079 --> 00:30:20.559 of verse 10 00:30:20.559 --> 00:30:21.019 doesn't it? 00:30:22.519 --> 00:30:23.960 It's the last four words. 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.680 The wrath to come. 00:30:26.119 --> 00:30:26.779 The wrath to come. 00:30:26.779 --> 00:30:27.779 What is that about? 00:30:29.519 --> 00:30:30.980 It is a future judgment. 00:30:32.180 --> 00:30:33.099 The coming wrath 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:35.039 refers to the final judgment 00:30:35.039 --> 00:30:36.680 when all people 00:30:36.680 --> 00:30:37.879 will stand before God 00:30:37.879 --> 00:30:38.599 and give an account 00:30:38.599 --> 00:30:39.359 of their lives. 00:30:41.059 --> 00:30:42.319 All who have failed 00:30:42.319 --> 00:30:43.420 to perfectly love 00:30:43.420 --> 00:30:43.940 and worship 00:30:43.940 --> 00:30:44.980 and obey the Creator 00:30:44.980 --> 00:30:46.200 which the Bible says 00:30:46.200 --> 00:30:47.000 is all of us, 00:30:47.819 --> 00:30:48.859 that judgment 00:30:48.859 --> 00:30:49.839 is characterized 00:30:49.839 --> 00:30:53.059 by divine wrath. 00:30:53.059 --> 00:30:53.200 wrath. 00:30:55.319 --> 00:30:56.359 The fact is 00:30:56.359 --> 00:30:57.919 your life 00:30:57.919 --> 00:30:58.559 is headed 00:30:58.559 --> 00:30:59.899 to an inevitable end 00:30:59.899 --> 00:31:01.179 at which time 00:31:01.179 --> 00:31:02.220 you will stand 00:31:02.220 --> 00:31:03.419 before the Holy God. 00:31:03.519 --> 00:31:04.819 That is a reality 00:31:04.819 --> 00:31:05.879 for all of us 00:31:05.879 --> 00:31:07.220 and it is a reality 00:31:07.220 --> 00:31:08.220 that should cause us 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:09.139 to tremble. 00:31:10.740 --> 00:31:11.480 That's a part 00:31:11.480 --> 00:31:12.220 of their confession. 00:31:12.599 --> 00:31:13.240 We believe there's 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:14.659 one true and living God 00:31:14.659 --> 00:31:16.440 who alone is worthy 00:31:16.440 --> 00:31:17.000 of our love 00:31:17.000 --> 00:31:17.599 and worship 00:31:17.599 --> 00:31:18.419 and obedience. 00:31:19.000 --> 00:31:19.919 We also believe 00:31:19.919 --> 00:31:21.359 that all who do not love 00:31:21.359 --> 00:31:21.859 and worship 00:31:21.859 --> 00:31:22.519 and obey Him 00:31:22.519 --> 00:31:23.199 will face 00:31:23.199 --> 00:31:24.579 His eternal judgment. 00:31:25.919 --> 00:31:26.379 Third, 00:31:27.479 --> 00:31:29.099 we believe that Jesus 00:31:29.099 --> 00:31:31.339 is God's Son from Heaven 00:31:31.339 --> 00:31:33.639 who offers us salvation 00:31:33.639 --> 00:31:35.039 from God's wrath 00:31:35.039 --> 00:31:36.879 through His death 00:31:36.879 --> 00:31:37.579 and resurrection. 00:31:38.579 --> 00:31:39.779 Look again at verse 10. 00:31:40.279 --> 00:31:41.439 His Son from Heaven 00:31:41.439 --> 00:31:43.039 whom He raised 00:31:43.039 --> 00:31:43.839 from the dead. 00:31:44.579 --> 00:31:45.000 Jesus, 00:31:45.639 --> 00:31:46.839 who does what? 00:31:47.839 --> 00:31:49.179 Delivers us. 00:31:49.180 --> 00:31:51.400 delivers us from what? 00:31:52.299 --> 00:31:53.580 His own wrath. 00:31:55.360 --> 00:31:55.960 Jesus, 00:31:56.840 --> 00:31:58.480 the sinless Son of God, 00:31:59.160 --> 00:32:00.799 came to this earth 00:32:00.799 --> 00:32:02.799 as we talked about 00:32:02.799 --> 00:32:03.620 in Matthew 5. 00:32:04.620 --> 00:32:05.740 Perfectly fulfilled 00:32:05.740 --> 00:32:06.580 God's law. 00:32:07.519 --> 00:32:08.720 Died on the cross 00:32:08.720 --> 00:32:09.720 to make an atonement 00:32:09.720 --> 00:32:10.279 for sinners. 00:32:11.660 --> 00:32:12.360 And then as Paul 00:32:12.360 --> 00:32:13.259 tells us again, 00:32:14.019 --> 00:32:15.039 God raised Him 00:32:15.039 --> 00:32:15.860 from the dead 00:32:15.859 --> 00:32:17.759 to prove that 00:32:17.759 --> 00:32:19.699 the sacrifice of Christ 00:32:19.699 --> 00:32:21.000 was sufficient. 00:32:21.619 --> 00:32:22.159 That is, 00:32:22.279 --> 00:32:24.759 it fully propitiated, 00:32:25.439 --> 00:32:26.219 satisfied, 00:32:27.079 --> 00:32:27.979 appeased 00:32:27.979 --> 00:32:29.379 God's wrath 00:32:29.379 --> 00:32:30.099 against sinners 00:32:30.099 --> 00:32:32.279 who will turn from sin 00:32:32.279 --> 00:32:34.279 to trust in Christ. 00:32:36.199 --> 00:32:37.579 That's key to their confession, 00:32:37.740 --> 00:32:38.039 isn't it? 00:32:38.779 --> 00:32:39.740 Now, do you see a pattern here? 00:32:40.079 --> 00:32:40.419 Do you remember 00:32:40.419 --> 00:32:41.659 back during the summer 00:32:41.659 --> 00:32:42.419 we did a series 00:32:42.419 --> 00:32:42.959 on the gospel 00:32:42.959 --> 00:32:44.279 in our Lakeside Connect series? 00:32:44.279 --> 00:32:44.859 Do you remember 00:32:44.859 --> 00:32:46.240 what the four categories 00:32:46.240 --> 00:32:48.139 of the gospel presentation 00:32:48.139 --> 00:32:49.299 was that we went through? 00:32:49.819 --> 00:32:50.319 God. 00:32:50.920 --> 00:32:51.799 There's one true 00:32:51.799 --> 00:32:52.500 and living God. 00:32:53.700 --> 00:32:54.180 Man. 00:32:55.519 --> 00:32:56.539 Man has sinned 00:32:56.539 --> 00:32:57.200 against the one 00:32:57.200 --> 00:32:58.259 true and living God. 00:32:59.500 --> 00:33:00.019 Savior. 00:33:01.359 --> 00:33:02.660 Jesus died on the cross 00:33:02.660 --> 00:33:03.639 and rose from the dead 00:33:03.639 --> 00:33:05.019 so that we might be saved 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:06.000 from God's wrath. 00:33:09.200 --> 00:33:11.220 Just by way of passing, 00:33:11.220 --> 00:33:13.700 it would be helpful 00:33:13.700 --> 00:33:14.600 for us to recognize 00:33:14.600 --> 00:33:16.100 this is one of the earliest 00:33:16.100 --> 00:33:17.400 mentions of the resurrection 00:33:17.400 --> 00:33:18.059 of Jesus 00:33:18.059 --> 00:33:20.079 in all of Christian literature. 00:33:21.140 --> 00:33:22.579 It's not the earliest. 00:33:23.220 --> 00:33:24.360 It's one of the earliest. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.539 This coming about 00:33:26.539 --> 00:33:28.980 25, 30 years 00:33:28.980 --> 00:33:29.940 after Christ 00:33:29.940 --> 00:33:31.500 died and rose 00:33:31.500 --> 00:33:32.420 and exalted 00:33:32.420 --> 00:33:34.019 back into heaven. 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.960 Rose back to heaven. 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:38.299 Now, I say that 00:33:38.299 --> 00:33:39.220 so that I can point out 00:33:39.220 --> 00:33:40.200 to you at the same time 00:33:40.200 --> 00:33:41.819 that when Paul mentions 00:33:41.819 --> 00:33:43.059 the resurrection of Jesus, 00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:44.279 I want you to notice 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:46.640 the presuppositional character 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:47.420 of this mention 00:33:47.420 --> 00:33:48.059 of the resurrection. 00:33:49.019 --> 00:33:50.259 He doesn't explain 00:33:50.259 --> 00:33:50.819 the resurrection. 00:33:51.240 --> 00:33:52.680 He's not instructing 00:33:52.680 --> 00:33:53.240 the resurrection 00:33:53.240 --> 00:33:54.299 as if it's not something 00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:55.000 that they didn't already 00:33:55.000 --> 00:33:55.740 know and believe. 00:33:56.220 --> 00:33:56.960 No, what we find 00:33:56.960 --> 00:33:58.360 is that it's assumed 00:33:58.360 --> 00:33:59.319 in the text 00:33:59.319 --> 00:33:59.960 as he's writing 00:33:59.960 --> 00:34:01.279 to this very early 00:34:01.279 --> 00:34:02.220 group of Christians. 00:34:02.580 --> 00:34:03.940 And what is at the heart 00:34:03.940 --> 00:34:04.279 of it? 00:34:05.000 --> 00:34:06.319 The resurrection of Jesus. 00:34:07.019 --> 00:34:07.740 This was not 00:34:07.740 --> 00:34:08.960 a later invention 00:34:08.960 --> 00:34:09.960 by Christians. 00:34:10.360 --> 00:34:11.780 This has always been 00:34:11.780 --> 00:34:12.880 at the heart 00:34:12.880 --> 00:34:14.000 of the Christian gospel 00:34:14.000 --> 00:34:15.639 from the very beginning. 00:34:15.900 --> 00:34:17.320 That Christ rose 00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:18.039 from the dead 00:34:18.039 --> 00:34:18.900 to prove 00:34:18.900 --> 00:34:20.119 that he has power 00:34:20.119 --> 00:34:21.199 to give life. 00:34:21.579 --> 00:34:22.019 That God, 00:34:22.280 --> 00:34:22.679 the Father, 00:34:22.800 --> 00:34:24.300 received his sacrifice 00:34:24.300 --> 00:34:27.599 as a sufficient payment 00:34:27.599 --> 00:34:28.579 for our sins. 00:34:29.340 --> 00:34:30.220 That is the heart 00:34:30.220 --> 00:34:30.740 of the gospel. 00:34:31.179 --> 00:34:32.039 Without the resurrection, 00:34:32.240 --> 00:34:32.940 there is no gospel. 00:34:33.500 --> 00:34:34.260 Without the gospel, 00:34:34.420 --> 00:34:35.360 there is no Christianity 00:34:35.360 --> 00:34:36.640 and there's no point 00:34:36.640 --> 00:34:37.539 for us to be here today. 00:34:39.860 --> 00:34:40.300 Fourth, 00:34:41.820 --> 00:34:42.599 perhaps they said, 00:34:43.039 --> 00:34:43.680 we believe 00:34:43.680 --> 00:34:45.039 that Jesus 00:34:45.039 --> 00:34:46.079 is now reigning 00:34:46.079 --> 00:34:46.860 over his people 00:34:46.860 --> 00:34:47.500 from heaven 00:34:47.500 --> 00:34:48.760 as Lord 00:34:48.760 --> 00:34:51.260 and will soon return 00:34:51.260 --> 00:34:52.900 to defeat 00:34:52.900 --> 00:34:53.860 all wickedness 00:34:53.860 --> 00:34:55.860 and to deliver us 00:34:55.860 --> 00:34:57.079 finally from sin, 00:34:57.980 --> 00:34:58.280 sorrow, 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:58.940 and death 00:34:58.940 --> 00:35:00.559 for all of eternity. 00:35:01.180 --> 00:35:02.039 Look again 00:35:02.039 --> 00:35:03.059 at verse 10. 00:35:03.920 --> 00:35:06.420 To wait for his son. 00:35:07.420 --> 00:35:07.980 Waiting 00:35:07.980 --> 00:35:09.579 being the key word here, 00:35:09.599 --> 00:35:09.800 right? 00:35:11.099 --> 00:35:12.539 Christians are so certain 00:35:12.539 --> 00:35:13.539 of their future hope 00:35:13.539 --> 00:35:14.940 that much of Christianity 00:35:14.940 --> 00:35:16.039 might be characterized 00:35:16.039 --> 00:35:17.539 as watching 00:35:17.539 --> 00:35:19.420 and waiting. 00:35:21.659 --> 00:35:22.639 Faithful Christians 00:35:22.639 --> 00:35:23.599 are not in love 00:35:23.599 --> 00:35:24.539 with this world. 00:35:25.099 --> 00:35:26.039 We're not trying 00:35:26.039 --> 00:35:27.039 to turn this world 00:35:27.039 --> 00:35:27.719 into heaven. 00:35:27.719 --> 00:35:29.099 No, 00:35:29.439 --> 00:35:31.139 we are longing 00:35:31.139 --> 00:35:32.139 for another world 00:35:32.139 --> 00:35:32.899 that is to come. 00:35:34.399 --> 00:35:35.279 We know 00:35:35.279 --> 00:35:35.879 that Jesus 00:35:35.879 --> 00:35:37.299 will return soon. 00:35:37.419 --> 00:35:37.919 He's going to make 00:35:37.919 --> 00:35:38.899 all things new 00:35:38.899 --> 00:35:40.859 and we keep our minds 00:35:40.859 --> 00:35:42.139 fixed on that hope. 00:35:42.819 --> 00:35:43.899 This is at the heart 00:35:43.899 --> 00:35:46.039 of Christian endurance. 00:35:47.319 --> 00:35:48.739 Why are they persevering 00:35:48.739 --> 00:35:49.459 in the faith 00:35:49.459 --> 00:35:50.859 in Thessalonica 00:35:50.859 --> 00:35:52.299 despite all the affliction? 00:35:53.019 --> 00:35:54.459 Because they were willing 00:35:54.459 --> 00:35:55.199 to trade 00:35:55.199 --> 00:35:55.859 the hardships 00:35:55.859 --> 00:35:57.019 of this life 00:35:57.019 --> 00:35:58.780 for the certainty 00:35:58.780 --> 00:35:59.460 of hope 00:35:59.460 --> 00:36:00.199 and peace 00:36:00.199 --> 00:36:01.000 and security 00:36:01.000 --> 00:36:02.719 in the next life. 00:36:03.300 --> 00:36:04.440 And they were spending 00:36:04.440 --> 00:36:05.259 their days 00:36:05.259 --> 00:36:06.759 enduring the affliction 00:36:06.759 --> 00:36:07.880 waiting 00:36:07.880 --> 00:36:09.780 for Jesus' return 00:36:09.780 --> 00:36:10.639 and it is the same 00:36:10.639 --> 00:36:11.320 that we do now. 00:36:12.480 --> 00:36:12.699 Now, 00:36:13.039 --> 00:36:14.340 from the time 00:36:14.340 --> 00:36:15.219 that Paul arrived 00:36:15.219 --> 00:36:16.159 in Thessalonica 00:36:16.159 --> 00:36:17.739 and through significant 00:36:17.739 --> 00:36:18.179 hardship, 00:36:18.860 --> 00:36:20.139 the Thessalonian church 00:36:20.139 --> 00:36:21.280 persevered 00:36:21.280 --> 00:36:22.179 in a faith 00:36:22.179 --> 00:36:23.460 rooted 00:36:23.460 --> 00:36:25.059 and grounded 00:36:25.059 --> 00:36:26.340 in the gospel 00:36:26.340 --> 00:36:27.320 of Jesus Christ 00:36:27.320 --> 00:36:28.900 and it was 00:36:28.900 --> 00:36:29.759 this gospel 00:36:29.759 --> 00:36:30.360 endurance 00:36:30.360 --> 00:36:31.119 that the Lord 00:36:31.119 --> 00:36:31.920 used 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:34.239 so tremendously 00:36:34.239 --> 00:36:35.279 to do His work 00:36:35.279 --> 00:36:35.840 in others. 00:36:36.599 --> 00:36:36.940 Indeed, 00:36:37.119 --> 00:36:37.840 it is only 00:36:37.840 --> 00:36:38.679 through faith 00:36:38.679 --> 00:36:39.539 in Jesus Christ 00:36:39.539 --> 00:36:40.840 that you can be saved 00:36:40.840 --> 00:36:42.139 and it is only 00:36:42.139 --> 00:36:42.860 faithfulness 00:36:42.860 --> 00:36:43.980 to Jesus Christ 00:36:43.980 --> 00:36:44.699 and His gospel 00:36:44.699 --> 00:36:45.699 that God 00:36:45.699 --> 00:36:46.320 is pleased 00:36:46.320 --> 00:36:47.039 to use 00:36:47.039 --> 00:36:48.059 to accomplish 00:36:48.059 --> 00:36:48.599 His work 00:36:48.599 --> 00:36:49.119 through you 00:36:49.119 --> 00:36:49.840 and me 00:36:49.840 --> 00:36:50.719 in our church. 00:36:50.719 --> 00:36:53.959 So what am I saying? 00:36:55.399 --> 00:36:56.959 There is no limit 00:36:56.959 --> 00:36:58.519 to how God 00:36:58.519 --> 00:36:59.119 will use 00:36:59.119 --> 00:37:00.859 a faithful church 00:37:00.859 --> 00:37:01.919 and a faithful Christian. 00:37:03.459 --> 00:37:05.019 And the only faith 00:37:05.019 --> 00:37:06.219 that God uses 00:37:06.219 --> 00:37:07.099 and that ultimately 00:37:07.099 --> 00:37:08.219 matters for any of us 00:37:08.219 --> 00:37:09.459 is rooted 00:37:09.459 --> 00:37:11.000 in the gospel 00:37:11.000 --> 00:37:12.500 of Jesus Christ, 00:37:13.359 --> 00:37:13.939 His death, 00:37:14.119 --> 00:37:14.339 burial, 00:37:14.419 --> 00:37:15.059 and resurrection 00:37:15.059 --> 00:37:16.719 and His soon return. 00:37:16.719 --> 00:37:20.159 Now as we close, 00:37:21.079 --> 00:37:21.919 I want you to notice 00:37:21.919 --> 00:37:23.579 that the text 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:24.139 includes 00:37:24.139 --> 00:37:25.919 four generations 00:37:25.919 --> 00:37:27.159 of examples. 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:29.000 That's the main heading, 00:37:29.119 --> 00:37:29.239 right? 00:37:29.319 --> 00:37:29.839 They have become 00:37:29.839 --> 00:37:30.359 an example 00:37:30.359 --> 00:37:32.919 and there's four generations 00:37:32.919 --> 00:37:33.579 of examples 00:37:33.579 --> 00:37:34.159 listed here. 00:37:35.319 --> 00:37:36.699 The Grecian Christians 00:37:36.699 --> 00:37:37.439 in Macedonia 00:37:37.439 --> 00:37:37.919 and Achaia 00:37:37.919 --> 00:37:38.919 and maybe beyond there 00:37:38.919 --> 00:37:40.559 were influenced 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:42.480 by the Thessalonians. 00:37:43.599 --> 00:37:44.819 The Thessalonians 00:37:44.819 --> 00:37:45.359 were told 00:37:45.359 --> 00:37:46.199 in verse 6 00:37:46.199 --> 00:37:47.899 were influenced 00:37:47.899 --> 00:37:48.599 by Paul, 00:37:48.799 --> 00:37:49.199 Silas, 00:37:49.279 --> 00:37:49.779 and Timothy 00:37:49.779 --> 00:37:52.079 who were influenced 00:37:52.079 --> 00:37:52.539 by who? 00:37:53.980 --> 00:37:54.460 Jesus. 00:37:54.859 --> 00:37:55.279 That's right. 00:37:55.460 --> 00:37:55.759 Jesus. 00:37:57.019 --> 00:37:57.539 Now I want you to think 00:37:57.539 --> 00:37:58.399 about that word example 00:37:58.399 --> 00:37:59.000 one more time. 00:38:00.159 --> 00:38:01.019 It's the word 00:38:01.019 --> 00:38:01.619 for model 00:38:01.619 --> 00:38:02.159 or mold. 00:38:04.359 --> 00:38:06.139 If the Thessalonian church 00:38:06.139 --> 00:38:08.119 was to be poured 00:38:08.119 --> 00:38:09.619 into a mold, 00:38:10.619 --> 00:38:12.159 what would come out 00:38:12.159 --> 00:38:13.519 would not look like 00:38:13.519 --> 00:38:14.019 the church 00:38:14.019 --> 00:38:15.059 in Thessalonica. 00:38:15.059 --> 00:38:16.480 it would look like 00:38:16.480 --> 00:38:16.779 Jesus? 00:38:19.179 --> 00:38:20.099 And that's the point 00:38:20.099 --> 00:38:20.619 of application, 00:38:20.759 --> 00:38:21.039 isn't it? 00:38:22.539 --> 00:38:24.579 If your life 00:38:24.579 --> 00:38:25.900 was to be poured 00:38:25.900 --> 00:38:27.000 into a mold 00:38:27.000 --> 00:38:28.299 for your kids, 00:38:28.799 --> 00:38:30.559 what would they look like? 00:38:33.559 --> 00:38:34.860 Do they look like Jesus? 00:38:37.639 --> 00:38:38.619 Do they look like 00:38:38.619 --> 00:38:39.619 nominal Christians 00:38:39.619 --> 00:38:42.119 who treat their Christianity 00:38:42.119 --> 00:38:42.799 and their worship 00:38:42.799 --> 00:38:43.819 as a matter of convenience? 00:38:46.819 --> 00:38:48.179 Do they look 00:38:48.179 --> 00:38:49.159 not like Christian 00:38:49.159 --> 00:38:49.519 at all? 00:38:51.920 --> 00:38:53.139 What about our church? 00:38:53.920 --> 00:38:55.480 If our influence, 00:38:56.039 --> 00:38:56.819 our Christianity 00:38:56.819 --> 00:38:57.500 as a church, 00:38:57.599 --> 00:38:59.079 our church 00:38:59.079 --> 00:38:59.759 as a whole 00:38:59.759 --> 00:39:00.940 is poured 00:39:00.940 --> 00:39:02.059 into a mold 00:39:02.059 --> 00:39:03.019 for other churches, 00:39:03.380 --> 00:39:04.440 what do they look like? 00:39:05.400 --> 00:39:06.679 Do they look like Jesus? 00:39:06.799 --> 00:39:07.440 That's the goal. 00:39:08.539 --> 00:39:09.819 That we would look like Jesus. 00:39:09.820 --> 00:39:12.960 Is our influence, 00:39:13.120 --> 00:39:13.780 is it actually 00:39:13.780 --> 00:39:14.780 leading people 00:39:14.780 --> 00:39:15.880 to love 00:39:15.880 --> 00:39:16.480 and serve 00:39:16.480 --> 00:39:17.620 and obey God more? 00:39:18.519 --> 00:39:19.440 What we gain 00:39:19.440 --> 00:39:20.480 from the Thessalonians 00:39:20.480 --> 00:39:21.400 in this passage 00:39:21.400 --> 00:39:22.960 is not that they were perfect, 00:39:23.039 --> 00:39:23.780 they certainly were, 00:39:24.660 --> 00:39:25.380 but what we gain 00:39:25.380 --> 00:39:25.980 from the text 00:39:25.980 --> 00:39:27.100 is that they were faithful 00:39:27.100 --> 00:39:29.860 and that they had become 00:39:29.860 --> 00:39:30.700 an example 00:39:30.700 --> 00:39:32.280 worth imitating, 00:39:32.740 --> 00:39:34.200 which is the question 00:39:34.200 --> 00:39:34.700 for us. 00:39:35.320 --> 00:39:36.700 Are we faithful enough 00:39:36.699 --> 00:39:38.159 that we're an example 00:39:38.159 --> 00:39:39.460 that's actually worth imitating, 00:39:39.699 --> 00:39:40.619 that will actually make 00:39:40.619 --> 00:39:41.919 any kind of eternal difference 00:39:41.919 --> 00:39:42.960 in anybody's life?