WEBVTT

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 Amen.

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 If you would open up your Bibles to 1 Thessalonians.

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 Today is the first sermon of nine.

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 We're going to make our way through the book of 1 Thessalonians.

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 It'll bring us through November.

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 And then by the time we get to December,

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 we're jumping into the book of John, the gospel of John.

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 And then we'll be in John for some time after that.

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 1 Thessalonians chapter 1, verses 1 through 10.

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 This is on page 1172 of your Pew Bible.

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 Hear the word of the Lord.

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 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy,

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 to the church of the Thessalonians and God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,

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 grace to you and peace.

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 We give thanks to God always for all of you,

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 constantly mentioning you in our prayers,

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 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love

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 and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

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 For we know, brothers, loved by God, that He has chosen you.

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 Because our gospel came to you not only in word,

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 but also in power, in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.

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 You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake?

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 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord.

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 For you received the word in much affliction with the joy of the Holy Spirit.

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 So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.

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 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia,

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 but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere so that we need not say anything.

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 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you.

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 And how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God

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 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead,

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 Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come.

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 May God bless the hearing of His word.

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 Do you know what a chain reaction is?

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 A chain reaction is when there's a catalyst,

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 a powerful initiating force or action,

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 and it sets in motion a series of changes after it,

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 a series of reactions.

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 Do you know the song,

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 It only takes a spark to get a fire going.

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 You know that song?

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 You know, it's campfire season.

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 When you start a campfire,

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 chain reaction.

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 Flick, flick, flick.

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 Click, click, click.

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 Kindling, burning flames.

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 Oh, the light, the warmth, the crackle.

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 Chain reaction.

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 I know there's at least one man who served on a submarine in this room.

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 A nuclear sub, Ohio class, U.S. Navy.

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 You know what it's got power in that thing?

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 A nuclear reactor.

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 A reactor.

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 It's a chain reaction.

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 The fission happening in the nuclear reactor

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 is affecting the whole boat.

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 It powers the whole thing.

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 And then, of course,

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 dominoes.

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 When I was a boy growing up,

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 me and my brother would get these dominoes,

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 and we'd stack them on end in long lines,

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 and then my brother and me would flick the first domino,

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 and it would start a chain reaction.

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 And then growing up in the 70s and 80s,

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 there were these, like, shows devoted to these domino fallings,

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 like the Guinness Book of World Record,

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 the biggest domino fall of all.

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 One domino is struck,

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 and a whole gymnasium is transformed

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 with all of these dominoes falling.

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 Chain reaction.

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 The gospel of Jesus Christ

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 is God's catalyst

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 that brings about a chain reaction

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 in the lives of people.

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 The gospel is God's divine catalyst

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 which brings about change.

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 And the book of 1 Thessalonians

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 is record of how the gospel

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 has radically changed a people's lives.

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 You can break 1 Thessalonians

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 basically into two parts.

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 Chapters 1, 2, and 3,

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 and then chapters 4 and 5.

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 And 1, 2, and 3 is like a long introduction.

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 And chapters 4 and 5,

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 Paul gets to a lot of the content

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 that he wants to teach on.

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 Here in 1 Thessalonians 1, 1 through 10,

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 I want you to see this.

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 I want you to see something

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 that is the effect of the gospel.

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 It's Thanksgiving.

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 Chapter 1, 1 through 10,

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 it's all about Thanksgiving.

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 And what we have here is

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 that the gospel of God

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 makes people thankful to God.

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 The gospel of God

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 makes us thankful to God.

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 It's a cause-effect relationship.

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 And so here's how this unpacks.

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 It's in the outlines

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 in the back of your bulletin.

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 I'm going to give you the blanks,

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 fill in the blanks right now.

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 The Christian norm.

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 The Christian norm.

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 Constant thanksgiving.

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 Reason 1, chosen by God.

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 Reason 2, changed by God.

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 Reason 3, converted to God.

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 And these provide the reasons

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 why Paul, Silas, and Timothy

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 are so thankful to God

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 for what's happening

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 in this church in Thessalonica.

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 The gospel of God

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 makes us thankful to God.

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 It changes the way you pray

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 and it even changes

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 the time zone you're living in.

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 Let's look at the Christian norm.

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 Constant thanksgiving to God.

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 One of the obvious changes

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 the gospel brings to somebody's life

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 is it makes them grateful,

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 makes them thankful.

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 So look at verse 2.

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 We give thanks to God always,

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 always for all of you.

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 We give thanks to God

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 always for all of you.

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 The we, of course,

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 we find in verse 1.

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 Paul, Silvanus,

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 also known as Silas,

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 and Timothy.

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 I'll refer to them as PST.

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 Paul, Silas, Timothy.

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 Paul, Silas, and Timothy, PST,

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 are so grateful to God

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 for what's going on

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 in the Thessalonian church.

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 I mean, if you know anything

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 about Paul and Silas and Timothy,

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 you know that these three men

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 have been radically changed

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 by the gospel of Jesus Christ themselves.

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 Paul was formerly

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 a persecutor of the church

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 and then he met the risen Christ

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 on the road to Damascus

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 and he went from being

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 a persecutor of Christ

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 to a proclaimer of Christ

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 and a planter of churches

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 who worship Jesus Christ.

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 The Thessalonian church

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 came into being

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 during Paul's second missionary journey.

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 And here's the story behind that.

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 At the end of Acts 15,

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 Paul takes Silas

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 and they're going to go back

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 to the churches

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 that were established

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 during his first missionary journey.

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 Well, they stop in Lystra.

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 They pick up Timothy

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 and now they've gone

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 to two to three, PST.

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 You get it?

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 So they start moving along

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 and Paul is given a vision

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 of this guy in Macedonia,

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 which is the Balkan Peninsula,

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 more on that later,

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 and he's like,

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 come to me.

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 And so PST changes their plans

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 and they go to the city of Philippi.

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 You're familiar with Philippi

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 because that's where Paul was preaching

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 and they get arrested,

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 Paul and Silas.

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 They're in a jail cell.

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 Midnight, they're singing hymns.

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 Big earthquake.

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 The jailer's like,

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 what must I do to be saved?

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 And he and his whole household

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 become Christians.

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 Remember that story?

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 Acts 16?

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 From Philippi,

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 Paul, Silas, and Timothy, PST,

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 they go to Thessalonica.

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 And so the we here

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 is Paul the Apostle,

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 Silas, and Timothy,

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 and they are so thankful to God

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 always for all of you.

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 The you is actually a y'all.

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 The church of the Thessalonians.

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 And they are quite an interesting people.

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 If you turn in your Bibles

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 to Acts chapter 17,

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 here's the account

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 of the gospel first coming

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 to the city of Thessalonica

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 and how it was received.

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 I'm just going to read it.

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 It's on page 1100

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 of your Pew Bible.

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 Acts 17.

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 Now when they had passed through

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 Amphipolis,

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 something of that nature,

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 in Apollonia,

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 they came to Thessalonica

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 where there was a synagogue

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 of the Jews.

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 And Paul went in

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 as was his custom.

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 And on three Sabbath days,

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 he reasoned with them

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 from the scriptures,

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 explaining and proving

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 that it was necessary

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 for the Christ to suffer

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 and to rise from the dead

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 and saying,

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 this Jesus whom I proclaim to you

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 is the Christ.

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 That's him proclaiming the gospel.

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 For example,

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 Jesus is the Christ

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 who died and was raised

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 for your salvation.

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 And then look what happens.

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 Verse 4.

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 And some of them

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 were persuaded.

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 Some of the Jews

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 who were in the synagogues

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 were persuaded

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 and joined Paul and Silas.

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 They switched teams.

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 They became Christians.

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 As did a great many

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 of the devout Greeks

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 and not a few

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 of the leading women.

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 Those are Gentiles.

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 And so there was a group

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 of Jews that became Christians

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 and then a really big group

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 of Gentiles

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 that became Christians.

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 But the Jews,

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 those who didn't believe,

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 the Jews were jealous.

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 And taking some wicked men

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 of the rabble,

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 they formed a mob

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 and set the city

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 in an uproar

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 and attacked the house

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 of Jason,

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 seeking to bring them

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 out of the ground.

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 Them being Paul, Silas,

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 and Timothy, PST.

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 And when they could not

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 find them,

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 they dragged Jason

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 and some of the brothers,

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 recent converts,

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 before the city authorities,

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 shouting,

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 These men who have turned

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 the world upside down

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 have come here also.

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 And Jason has received them,

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 that punk,

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 and they are all acting

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 against the decrees

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 of Caesar,

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 saying that there's

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 another king,

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 Jesus.

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 Amen.

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 Amen.

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 And the people

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 in the city authorities

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 were disturbed

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 when they heard these things

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 and when they had taken money

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 as security from Jason

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 and the rest,

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 they let them go.

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 Look at verse 10.

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 The brothers,

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 recent converts

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 in Thessalonica,

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 immediately sent Paul

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 and Silas away

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 by night to Berea.

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 That's the start

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 of the Thessalonian church.

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 It's extraordinary.

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 The gospel comes,

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 comes in power,

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 there's this huge response,

00:11:15.340 --> 00:11:16.600
 and not just a response

00:11:16.600 --> 00:11:17.759
 of followers of Jesus,

00:11:18.139 --> 00:11:19.100
 there is persecution

00:11:19.100 --> 00:11:19.920
 that breaks out,

00:11:20.399 --> 00:11:20.860
 affliction,

00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:21.660
 hardship,

00:11:21.659 --> 00:11:21.819
 hardship.

00:11:23.519 --> 00:11:24.299
 But there's more

00:11:24.299 --> 00:11:24.839
 to the story.

00:11:26.539 --> 00:11:28.079
 When Paul leaves

00:11:28.079 --> 00:11:28.740
 by night,

00:11:29.500 --> 00:11:30.079
 if you look at

00:11:30.079 --> 00:11:30.939
 chapter 2,

00:11:31.039 --> 00:11:31.740
 verse 17,

00:11:32.199 --> 00:11:33.179
 here's his own words

00:11:33.179 --> 00:11:33.539
 on it.

00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:35.819
 But since we were

00:11:35.819 --> 00:11:36.759
 torn away from you,

00:11:36.879 --> 00:11:37.120
 brothers,

00:11:38.399 --> 00:11:39.639
 something happened

00:11:39.639 --> 00:11:40.519
 between Paul

00:11:40.519 --> 00:11:41.860
 and the Thessalonian church.

00:11:42.240 --> 00:11:43.039
 Something sweet,

00:11:43.259 --> 00:11:44.039
 something good.

00:11:44.319 --> 00:11:45.779
 It was a tearing away

00:11:45.779 --> 00:11:46.879
 from this people.

00:11:47.000 --> 00:11:47.919
 He didn't want to go.

00:11:47.919 --> 00:11:51.539
 And so they leave,

00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:53.959
 they then go to Berea,

00:11:54.099 --> 00:11:55.779
 and then Paul goes to Athens,

00:11:56.379 --> 00:11:57.159
 chapter 17,

00:11:57.620 --> 00:11:58.819
 preaches to the Areopagus,

00:11:59.459 --> 00:11:59.639
 right,

00:11:59.759 --> 00:12:00.240
 Mars Hill,

00:12:00.339 --> 00:12:00.979
 if you remember that.

00:12:01.279 --> 00:12:02.559
 And then from Athens,

00:12:02.679 --> 00:12:03.779
 he then goes to Corinth

00:12:03.779 --> 00:12:05.899
 to plant a church there,

00:12:05.939 --> 00:12:06.620
 and he's in Corinth

00:12:06.620 --> 00:12:07.719
 for 18 months.

00:12:08.360 --> 00:12:09.299
 But before he went

00:12:09.299 --> 00:12:09.919
 to Corinth,

00:12:10.459 --> 00:12:11.740
 they sent Timothy

00:12:11.740 --> 00:12:13.120
 back to Thessalonica.

00:12:15.039 --> 00:12:15.699
 You can see that

00:12:15.699 --> 00:12:16.279
 in chapter 3,

00:12:16.279 --> 00:12:16.699
 verse 1,

00:12:16.759 --> 00:12:17.360
 therefore when we

00:12:17.360 --> 00:12:18.199
 could bear it no longer,

00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:19.159
 we were willing

00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:20.059
 to be left behind

00:12:20.059 --> 00:12:20.959
 at Athens alone,

00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:22.079
 and we sent Timothy,

00:12:22.179 --> 00:12:23.559
 our brother and God's

00:12:23.559 --> 00:12:25.019
 co-worker in the gospel

00:12:25.019 --> 00:12:25.939
 of Christ to establish

00:12:25.939 --> 00:12:26.579
 and exhort you

00:12:26.579 --> 00:12:27.220
 in the faith.

00:12:27.299 --> 00:12:29.179
 So they send Timothy back.

00:12:29.699 --> 00:12:29.959
 They're like,

00:12:30.019 --> 00:12:30.419
 Paul's like,

00:12:30.720 --> 00:12:31.259
 will you please

00:12:31.259 --> 00:12:32.579
 check on these Thessalonians?

00:12:32.639 --> 00:12:33.379
 I'm so concerned

00:12:33.379 --> 00:12:33.919
 about them.

00:12:34.980 --> 00:12:36.059
 And so Paul goes

00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:36.659
 on to Corinth,

00:12:37.019 --> 00:12:37.819
 and then they all

00:12:37.819 --> 00:12:39.220
 meet back up in Corinth.

00:12:39.799 --> 00:12:40.579
 And could you imagine

00:12:40.579 --> 00:12:41.259
 that meeting?

00:12:42.039 --> 00:12:43.720
 Paul sees Timothy

00:12:43.720 --> 00:12:45.139
 coming up

00:12:45.139 --> 00:12:46.120
 wherever he's staying,

00:12:46.279 --> 00:12:47.319
 now if I was Paul,

00:12:47.419 --> 00:12:47.899
 I'd be like,

00:12:48.240 --> 00:12:48.419
 okay,

00:12:48.459 --> 00:12:49.079
 I gotta be nice

00:12:49.079 --> 00:12:49.500
 to Timothy,

00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.319
 but I really wanna know

00:12:50.319 --> 00:12:51.220
 about the Thessalonians.

00:12:52.360 --> 00:12:53.039
 So Timothy,

00:12:53.159 --> 00:12:53.839
 how are you doing?

00:12:55.039 --> 00:12:56.379
 Anything interesting?

00:12:56.559 --> 00:12:57.480
 How are the Thessalonians?

00:13:00.480 --> 00:13:01.159
 And what

00:13:01.159 --> 00:13:02.860
 Timothy shares,

00:13:02.959 --> 00:13:04.019
 you can see in verse 6

00:13:04.019 --> 00:13:04.799
 of chapter 3,

00:13:05.480 --> 00:13:06.179
 but now that Timothy

00:13:06.179 --> 00:13:07.000
 has come to us

00:13:07.000 --> 00:13:07.579
 from you

00:13:07.579 --> 00:13:08.799
 and has brought

00:13:08.799 --> 00:13:10.339
 us the good news

00:13:10.339 --> 00:13:11.159
 of your faith

00:13:11.159 --> 00:13:12.659
 and love

00:13:12.659 --> 00:13:14.000
 and reported that

00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:14.719
 always,

00:13:14.839 --> 00:13:15.459
 you will always

00:13:15.459 --> 00:13:16.559
 remember us kindly

00:13:16.559 --> 00:13:17.439
 and long to see you.

00:13:17.480 --> 00:13:18.059
 Look at verse 8.

00:13:18.419 --> 00:13:19.299
 For now we live

00:13:19.299 --> 00:13:20.379
 if you are standing

00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:21.899
 fast in the Lord.

00:13:22.279 --> 00:13:23.139
 They were suffering

00:13:23.139 --> 00:13:23.839
 for Jesus

00:13:23.839 --> 00:13:26.059
 in their absence

00:13:26.059 --> 00:13:27.879
 and they were thriving

00:13:27.879 --> 00:13:28.699
 in Jesus.

00:13:29.980 --> 00:13:30.679
 You wanna know

00:13:30.679 --> 00:13:31.539
 why this book

00:13:31.539 --> 00:13:31.860
 is written?

00:13:33.779 --> 00:13:34.679
 Paul is so thankful

00:13:34.679 --> 00:13:36.459
 for what God

00:13:36.459 --> 00:13:36.959
 is doing

00:13:36.959 --> 00:13:37.959
 among these people.

00:13:37.960 --> 00:13:40.420
 So thankful.

00:13:41.040 --> 00:13:42.160
 And it's a constant

00:13:42.160 --> 00:13:43.019
 thanksgiving.

00:13:45.600 --> 00:13:47.080
 But it's just not true

00:13:47.080 --> 00:13:48.860
 of Paul,

00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:49.540
 Silas,

00:13:49.620 --> 00:13:50.139
 and Timothy

00:13:50.139 --> 00:13:51.259
 having regular

00:13:51.259 --> 00:13:52.280
 breakouts of

00:13:52.280 --> 00:13:52.940
 thanksgiving

00:13:52.940 --> 00:13:53.620
 in Corinth

00:13:53.620 --> 00:13:54.519
 for what God

00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:54.920
 is doing

00:13:54.920 --> 00:13:56.320
 in Thessalonica.

00:13:57.220 --> 00:13:58.379
 If you look at

00:13:58.379 --> 00:14:00.019
 most of the

00:14:00.019 --> 00:14:01.080
 New Testament books

00:14:01.080 --> 00:14:02.080
 and how they start,

00:14:02.460 --> 00:14:03.379
 Colossians 1.3,

00:14:03.620 --> 00:14:04.600
 Philippians 1.3,

00:14:04.800 --> 00:14:05.759
 Ephesians 1.16,

00:14:06.040 --> 00:14:07.120
 1 Corinthians 1.4,

00:14:07.120 --> 00:14:08.100
 Romans 1.8,

00:14:08.440 --> 00:14:09.440
 2 Timothy 1.3,

00:14:09.580 --> 00:14:10.240
 Philemon 4.

00:14:10.440 --> 00:14:11.060
 It all starts

00:14:11.060 --> 00:14:11.620
 with thanksgiving

00:14:11.620 --> 00:14:13.960
 for what God

00:14:13.960 --> 00:14:14.720
 is doing

00:14:14.720 --> 00:14:16.419
 in a particular church.

00:14:17.080 --> 00:14:17.759
 That's a lot

00:14:17.759 --> 00:14:18.279
 of prayers

00:14:18.279 --> 00:14:19.200
 of thanksgiving

00:14:19.200 --> 00:14:20.580
 that PST

00:14:20.580 --> 00:14:21.200
 were making.

00:14:22.200 --> 00:14:22.980
 What's extraordinary

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:23.600
 about it

00:14:23.600 --> 00:14:24.779
 is how they are

00:14:24.779 --> 00:14:26.279
 so others focused.

00:14:27.580 --> 00:14:28.460
 Their prayers

00:14:28.460 --> 00:14:29.580
 are to God

00:14:29.580 --> 00:14:30.840
 with thanksgiving

00:14:30.840 --> 00:14:32.299
 for what he is doing

00:14:32.299 --> 00:14:33.139
 in the lives

00:14:33.139 --> 00:14:34.100
 of so many

00:14:34.100 --> 00:14:34.759
 other people.

00:14:35.440 --> 00:14:36.019
 Their lives

00:14:36.019 --> 00:14:37.100
 were enriched.

00:14:37.120 --> 00:14:39.600
 in their knowledge

00:14:39.600 --> 00:14:40.179
 of what God

00:14:40.179 --> 00:14:40.700
 was doing.

00:14:41.779 --> 00:14:42.519
 When you pray

00:14:42.519 --> 00:14:43.120
 for people,

00:14:44.759 --> 00:14:46.879
 what are you praying?

00:14:49.000 --> 00:14:49.799
 Are you giving

00:14:49.799 --> 00:14:50.700
 thanks for what

00:14:50.700 --> 00:14:51.340
 God is doing

00:14:51.340 --> 00:14:52.080
 in their lives?

00:14:52.820 --> 00:14:53.399
 Do you know?

00:14:54.840 --> 00:14:56.080
 It's very instructive.

00:14:57.240 --> 00:14:58.259
 So what we see here,

00:14:58.340 --> 00:14:59.220
 the Christian norm,

00:14:59.960 --> 00:15:01.279
 is this constant,

00:15:01.580 --> 00:15:03.120
 constant thanksgiving.

00:15:04.799 --> 00:15:05.240
 And now,

00:15:05.340 --> 00:15:05.860
 let's get into

00:15:05.860 --> 00:15:06.600
 the three reasons.

00:15:07.120 --> 00:15:09.240
 There are reasons

00:15:09.240 --> 00:15:10.799
 why Paul

00:15:10.799 --> 00:15:11.580
 is so thankful.

00:15:12.899 --> 00:15:14.419
 Why this group

00:15:14.419 --> 00:15:14.940
 of three

00:15:14.940 --> 00:15:15.460
 are regularly

00:15:15.460 --> 00:15:16.500
 giving thanksgiving.

00:15:17.100 --> 00:15:18.220
 Reason number one

00:15:18.220 --> 00:15:19.560
 is they know

00:15:19.560 --> 00:15:22.399
 that these Thessalonians

00:15:22.399 --> 00:15:23.860
 were chosen

00:15:23.860 --> 00:15:24.560
 by God.

00:15:25.720 --> 00:15:27.060
 Look at verse four.

00:15:27.179 --> 00:15:28.060
 For we know,

00:15:28.299 --> 00:15:28.720
 brothers,

00:15:30.440 --> 00:15:30.879
 sisters,

00:15:31.399 --> 00:15:33.220
 loved by God,

00:15:33.720 --> 00:15:35.240
 that he has chosen you.

00:15:35.240 --> 00:15:36.980
 What a statement

00:15:36.980 --> 00:15:38.419
 coming from

00:15:38.419 --> 00:15:39.320
 an apostle.

00:15:41.019 --> 00:15:41.419
 Wait,

00:15:41.519 --> 00:15:42.519
 the apostle Paul

00:15:42.519 --> 00:15:44.419
 is thanking God

00:15:44.419 --> 00:15:46.159
 that he has chosen us?

00:15:46.360 --> 00:15:46.940
 That would have been

00:15:46.940 --> 00:15:47.539
 so encouraging

00:15:47.539 --> 00:15:48.519
 if you were a Thessalonian.

00:15:50.519 --> 00:15:51.139
 Now,

00:15:51.360 --> 00:15:52.259
 when you hear

00:15:52.259 --> 00:15:53.899
 and read chosen,

00:15:53.899 --> 00:15:56.959
 we're talking about

00:15:56.959 --> 00:15:57.559
 God's role

00:15:57.559 --> 00:15:58.319
 in our salvation.

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.120
 And with that

00:16:01.120 --> 00:16:02.120
 come some other words

00:16:02.120 --> 00:16:03.159
 that you may or may not

00:16:03.159 --> 00:16:03.959
 be familiar with.

00:16:04.079 --> 00:16:04.559
 Election,

00:16:05.299 --> 00:16:06.159
 predestination,

00:16:06.480 --> 00:16:07.600
 and all of a sudden,

00:16:07.699 --> 00:16:08.819
 we're all together

00:16:08.819 --> 00:16:10.199
 swimming in the deep end

00:16:10.199 --> 00:16:12.000
 of the theological pool.

00:16:13.639 --> 00:16:15.259
 What is the relationship

00:16:15.259 --> 00:16:18.319
 between God's sovereignty,

00:16:18.519 --> 00:16:19.319
 his choice,

00:16:19.320 --> 00:16:22.320
 and our responsibility

00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.920
 of repentance

00:16:22.920 --> 00:16:23.500
 and faith?

00:16:24.360 --> 00:16:25.180
 How does that

00:16:25.180 --> 00:16:26.040
 work out?

00:16:27.300 --> 00:16:27.500
 Well,

00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.240
 let's get in the deep end

00:16:28.240 --> 00:16:28.980
 of the pool a little bit.

00:16:30.240 --> 00:16:30.920
 There are basically

00:16:30.920 --> 00:16:31.940
 two ways

00:16:31.940 --> 00:16:32.760
 to understand

00:16:32.760 --> 00:16:33.620
 what it means

00:16:33.620 --> 00:16:34.780
 to be chosen by God.

00:16:36.540 --> 00:16:37.600
 The first way

00:16:37.600 --> 00:16:38.660
 is to think along this,

00:16:39.140 --> 00:16:39.620
 like this.

00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:42.240
 God chooses us,

00:16:42.360 --> 00:16:43.660
 his choice of us

00:16:43.660 --> 00:16:44.880
 is determined

00:16:44.880 --> 00:16:47.520
 by us

00:16:47.520 --> 00:16:48.780
 first choosing him.

00:16:49.320 --> 00:16:50.560
 And the idea

00:16:50.560 --> 00:16:51.260
 behind that

00:16:51.260 --> 00:16:52.560
 is an interpretation

00:16:52.560 --> 00:16:54.240
 of Romans 829

00:16:54.240 --> 00:16:55.980
 where those whom

00:16:55.980 --> 00:16:57.180
 God foreknew,

00:16:57.840 --> 00:16:58.980
 he also predestined.

00:16:59.680 --> 00:17:00.200
 And so the thinking

00:17:00.200 --> 00:17:00.980
 goes like this.

00:17:01.780 --> 00:17:03.160
 God foreseeing

00:17:03.160 --> 00:17:03.920
 into the future

00:17:03.920 --> 00:17:04.920
 those who would

00:17:04.920 --> 00:17:05.779
 choose him,

00:17:05.880 --> 00:17:06.320
 trust him,

00:17:06.440 --> 00:17:07.140
 believe in him,

00:17:07.440 --> 00:17:08.920
 he predestined them

00:17:08.920 --> 00:17:10.059
 based on

00:17:10.059 --> 00:17:11.360
 their choice of him.

00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:13.160
 So God's choosing

00:17:13.160 --> 00:17:15.640
 is made

00:17:15.640 --> 00:17:17.279
 on our choosing

00:17:17.279 --> 00:17:18.140
 in his foreseeing

00:17:18.140 --> 00:17:18.480
 of that.

00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:20.179
 It's a common view.

00:17:20.460 --> 00:17:21.220
 I used to hold

00:17:21.220 --> 00:17:21.759
 to this view

00:17:21.759 --> 00:17:22.379
 and I used to hold

00:17:22.379 --> 00:17:23.399
 to this view passionately.

00:17:23.720 --> 00:17:24.339
 I got into some

00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.000
 fights over it.

00:17:28.299 --> 00:17:29.319
 But that changed.

00:17:30.659 --> 00:17:31.500
 The second view

00:17:31.500 --> 00:17:32.839
 is that

00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:33.679
 our choosing

00:17:33.679 --> 00:17:34.439
 God

00:17:34.439 --> 00:17:36.299
 is determined

00:17:36.299 --> 00:17:37.399
 by God

00:17:37.399 --> 00:17:38.339
 first choosing

00:17:38.339 --> 00:17:38.839
 us.

00:17:39.919 --> 00:17:40.579
 That's the second

00:17:40.579 --> 00:17:41.099
 view,

00:17:41.240 --> 00:17:41.679
 second way

00:17:41.679 --> 00:17:42.339
 of understanding

00:17:42.339 --> 00:17:42.679
 that.

00:17:42.680 --> 00:17:43.400
 And it

00:17:43.400 --> 00:17:44.039
 understands

00:17:44.039 --> 00:17:45.460
 Romans 829,

00:17:45.840 --> 00:17:47.160
 those whom

00:17:47.160 --> 00:17:47.680
 God foreknew,

00:17:47.759 --> 00:17:48.460
 he predestined.

00:17:48.880 --> 00:17:49.960
 It's not so much

00:17:49.960 --> 00:17:51.180
 of a foreseeing

00:17:51.180 --> 00:17:53.440
 as a foreloving,

00:17:54.380 --> 00:17:55.660
 as a love

00:17:55.660 --> 00:17:57.259
 from eternity past.

00:17:57.759 --> 00:17:58.840
 And before

00:17:58.840 --> 00:17:59.440
 the foundation

00:17:59.440 --> 00:17:59.960
 of the world,

00:18:00.120 --> 00:18:01.299
 God set his love

00:18:01.299 --> 00:18:01.940
 on those

00:18:01.940 --> 00:18:02.640
 who would later

00:18:02.640 --> 00:18:03.519
 choose him.

00:18:04.220 --> 00:18:04.560
 So,

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:06.380
 it's God

00:18:06.380 --> 00:18:06.980
 initiated.

00:18:06.980 --> 00:18:09.660
 Now,

00:18:09.759 --> 00:18:10.299
 I personally

00:18:10.299 --> 00:18:11.160
 came to that

00:18:11.160 --> 00:18:11.460
 view,

00:18:11.779 --> 00:18:12.559
 it took a long

00:18:12.559 --> 00:18:12.900
 time.

00:18:15.700 --> 00:18:16.620
 I had to have

00:18:16.620 --> 00:18:17.000
 a lot of

00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:17.500
 conversations

00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:18.039
 with a lot

00:18:18.039 --> 00:18:18.400
 of people

00:18:18.400 --> 00:18:18.940
 and wrestled

00:18:18.940 --> 00:18:20.059
 with my Bible

00:18:20.059 --> 00:18:20.660
 quite a bit.

00:18:20.920 --> 00:18:21.579
 When I first

00:18:21.579 --> 00:18:22.500
 heard this

00:18:22.500 --> 00:18:23.000
 view,

00:18:23.559 --> 00:18:25.420
 I was

00:18:25.420 --> 00:18:26.339
 repulsed by it.

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.259
 It wasn't

00:18:27.259 --> 00:18:28.220
 my experience.

00:18:29.180 --> 00:18:29.980
 But as I

00:18:29.980 --> 00:18:30.960
 strove to

00:18:30.960 --> 00:18:31.900
 understand God's

00:18:31.900 --> 00:18:32.640
 word fully,

00:18:32.980 --> 00:18:33.539
 and as I

00:18:33.539 --> 00:18:34.059
 strove to

00:18:34.059 --> 00:18:35.059
 understand what

00:18:35.059 --> 00:18:36.100
 exactly is

00:18:36.100 --> 00:18:36.880
 God's sovereignty,

00:18:37.279 --> 00:18:37.600
 and what

00:18:37.600 --> 00:18:38.779
 exactly is the

00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:39.960
 extent of our

00:18:39.960 --> 00:18:40.460
 sinfulness,

00:18:40.640 --> 00:18:41.319
 and how that

00:18:41.319 --> 00:18:42.120
 affects us,

00:18:42.420 --> 00:18:43.600
 I soon realized,

00:18:44.400 --> 00:18:44.740
 oh man,

00:18:44.860 --> 00:18:46.400
 I need to give

00:18:46.400 --> 00:18:47.559
 this more

00:18:47.559 --> 00:18:48.039
 thought.

00:18:49.039 --> 00:18:49.380
 Now,

00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:50.220
 if this is new

00:18:50.220 --> 00:18:50.759
 to you,

00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:51.940
 I have a book

00:18:51.940 --> 00:18:52.440
 for you.

00:18:53.220 --> 00:18:53.799
 I've got one

00:18:53.799 --> 00:18:54.660
 up here and four

00:18:54.660 --> 00:18:56.220
 on the

00:18:56.220 --> 00:18:57.319
 connect desk

00:18:57.319 --> 00:18:58.079
 outside those

00:18:58.079 --> 00:18:58.319
 doors.

00:18:58.419 --> 00:18:58.659
 It's called

00:18:58.659 --> 00:18:59.519
 Humble Calvinism.

00:18:59.659 --> 00:19:00.299
 It's by J.A.

00:19:00.339 --> 00:19:00.559
 Meadors.

00:19:01.099 --> 00:19:02.059
 It's a laugh

00:19:02.059 --> 00:19:03.220
 out loud book.

00:19:04.299 --> 00:19:04.679
 He doesn't

00:19:04.679 --> 00:19:05.179
 take himself

00:19:05.179 --> 00:19:05.960
 too seriously.

00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:07.240
 And so,

00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:08.399
 if this is new

00:19:08.399 --> 00:19:09.059
 to you,

00:19:09.480 --> 00:19:09.960
 this would be

00:19:09.960 --> 00:19:11.019
 a great book

00:19:11.019 --> 00:19:11.559
 to read,

00:19:11.639 --> 00:19:12.559
 to get acquainted

00:19:12.559 --> 00:19:14.079
 with this idea

00:19:14.079 --> 00:19:15.339
 of God's

00:19:15.339 --> 00:19:16.619
 sovereign role

00:19:16.619 --> 00:19:17.579
 in choosing

00:19:17.579 --> 00:19:19.019
 us before

00:19:19.019 --> 00:19:19.679
 the foundation

00:19:19.679 --> 00:19:20.399
 of the world.

00:19:21.379 --> 00:19:21.639
 Now,

00:19:21.679 --> 00:19:22.500
 there's a word

00:19:22.500 --> 00:19:23.679
 in verse

00:19:23.679 --> 00:19:25.259
 four that I

00:19:25.259 --> 00:19:25.740
 want you to

00:19:25.740 --> 00:19:25.980
 see.

00:19:27.119 --> 00:19:27.799
 It's not the

00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:28.339
 word chosen.

00:19:29.720 --> 00:19:30.440
 It's the

00:19:30.440 --> 00:19:31.119
 word loved.

00:19:32.960 --> 00:19:33.680
 For we know,

00:19:33.819 --> 00:19:34.139
 brothers,

00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:35.940
 loved by God,

00:19:36.940 --> 00:19:37.980
 that he has

00:19:37.980 --> 00:19:38.799
 chosen you.

00:19:41.639 --> 00:19:42.919
 God's choosing

00:19:42.919 --> 00:19:44.859
 us was out

00:19:44.859 --> 00:19:45.819
 of his love

00:19:45.819 --> 00:19:47.419
 for us,

00:19:48.079 --> 00:19:49.059
 loved before

00:19:49.059 --> 00:19:49.859
 the foundation

00:19:49.859 --> 00:19:51.000
 of the world.

00:19:51.940 --> 00:19:52.220
 So,

00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:52.960
 whether you

00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.379
 believe God's

00:19:54.379 --> 00:19:55.440
 choosing us

00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:56.019
 was first

00:19:56.019 --> 00:19:56.619
 determined by

00:19:56.619 --> 00:19:57.200
 our choosing

00:19:57.200 --> 00:19:57.639
 him,

00:19:57.859 --> 00:19:58.799
 or our

00:19:58.799 --> 00:19:59.400
 choice of

00:19:59.400 --> 00:19:59.819
 God was

00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:00.480
 first determined

00:20:00.480 --> 00:20:01.059
 by God's

00:20:01.059 --> 00:20:01.639
 choice of

00:20:01.639 --> 00:20:01.920
 us,

00:20:02.039 --> 00:20:02.839
 we do know

00:20:02.839 --> 00:20:03.420
 that he

00:20:03.420 --> 00:20:04.660
 chose us

00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:05.619
 because he

00:20:05.619 --> 00:20:07.160
 loves us.

00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:08.579
 Listen to

00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:09.139
 Ephesians

00:20:09.139 --> 00:20:10.799
 chapter one,

00:20:11.339 --> 00:20:12.119
 verses four

00:20:12.119 --> 00:20:12.720
 and five.

00:20:12.720 --> 00:20:17.100
 deep waters.

00:20:17.100 --> 00:20:33.039
 Deep waters.

00:20:34.360 --> 00:20:34.900
 A lot to

00:20:34.900 --> 00:20:35.380
 think about.

00:20:35.380 --> 00:20:35.440
 God.

00:20:37.440 --> 00:20:37.980
 But what

00:20:37.980 --> 00:20:38.400
 Paul is

00:20:38.400 --> 00:20:38.940
 saying here

00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:39.400
 is he's

00:20:39.400 --> 00:20:40.080
 giving thanks

00:20:40.080 --> 00:20:40.680
 to God

00:20:40.680 --> 00:20:41.420
 for this

00:20:41.420 --> 00:20:42.180
 Thessalonian

00:20:42.180 --> 00:20:43.180
 church because

00:20:43.180 --> 00:20:44.380
 he recognizes

00:20:44.380 --> 00:20:45.700
 God had

00:20:45.700 --> 00:20:46.700
 chosen them.

00:20:47.540 --> 00:20:47.660
 They

00:20:47.660 --> 00:20:48.340
 belong to

00:20:48.340 --> 00:20:48.620
 him.

00:20:50.100 --> 00:20:50.460
 And again,

00:20:50.600 --> 00:20:51.020
 if you were

00:20:51.020 --> 00:20:52.960
 a Thessalonian

00:20:52.960 --> 00:20:53.840
 reading that,

00:20:54.540 --> 00:20:55.140
 you would be

00:20:55.140 --> 00:20:55.840
 incredibly

00:20:55.840 --> 00:20:56.600
 encouraged by

00:20:56.600 --> 00:20:56.840
 that.

00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.620
 It would be

00:20:58.620 --> 00:20:59.520
 a tremendous

00:20:59.520 --> 00:21:00.180
 assurance,

00:21:00.920 --> 00:21:01.420
 a tremendous

00:21:01.420 --> 00:21:02.060
 comfort,

00:21:02.059 --> 00:21:03.179
 and my

00:21:03.179 --> 00:21:04.000
 opinion is

00:21:04.000 --> 00:21:04.480
 the doctrine

00:21:04.480 --> 00:21:05.059
 of election,

00:21:05.279 --> 00:21:05.619
 the doctrine

00:21:05.619 --> 00:21:06.639
 of predestination

00:21:06.639 --> 00:21:07.740
 is to

00:21:07.740 --> 00:21:08.759
 encourage and

00:21:08.759 --> 00:21:09.299
 comfort

00:21:09.299 --> 00:21:10.379
 Christians.

00:21:12.619 --> 00:21:13.379
 But Paul

00:21:13.379 --> 00:21:13.859
 points to

00:21:13.859 --> 00:21:14.460
 something here.

00:21:15.879 --> 00:21:16.659
 He says,

00:21:17.059 --> 00:21:17.539
 here's how I

00:21:17.539 --> 00:21:17.700
 know.

00:21:18.460 --> 00:21:19.200
 Here's how I

00:21:19.200 --> 00:21:19.480
 know you're

00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:19.779
 chosen.

00:21:21.799 --> 00:21:22.480
 It's in

00:21:22.480 --> 00:21:23.019
 verse five,

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:23.599
 because.

00:21:25.339 --> 00:21:25.919
 For we know

00:21:25.919 --> 00:21:26.279
 brothers,

00:21:26.419 --> 00:21:27.039
 loved by God,

00:21:27.099 --> 00:21:27.500
 that he has

00:21:27.500 --> 00:21:28.059
 chosen you

00:21:28.059 --> 00:21:28.460
 because.

00:21:29.460 --> 00:21:30.159
 Because what?

00:21:30.359 --> 00:21:30.919
 What happened?

00:21:32.059 --> 00:21:33.779
 Because our

00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:34.740
 gospel came to

00:21:34.740 --> 00:21:35.379
 you not only

00:21:35.379 --> 00:21:35.859
 in word,

00:21:36.000 --> 00:21:36.619
 but also in

00:21:36.619 --> 00:21:37.440
 power and in

00:21:37.440 --> 00:21:38.119
 the Holy Spirit

00:21:38.119 --> 00:21:38.559
 and with full

00:21:38.559 --> 00:21:38.940
 conviction.

00:21:39.779 --> 00:21:40.559
 We're back in

00:21:40.559 --> 00:21:41.359
 Acts 17,

00:21:41.460 --> 00:21:41.960
 1 through 10.

00:21:43.279 --> 00:21:44.179
 We're back

00:21:44.179 --> 00:21:44.720
 there where

00:21:44.720 --> 00:21:45.579
 Paul is

00:21:45.579 --> 00:21:46.539
 preaching Christ

00:21:46.539 --> 00:21:47.339
 in the synagogue

00:21:47.339 --> 00:21:48.879
 in Thessalonica

00:21:48.879 --> 00:21:50.059
 three Saturdays

00:21:50.059 --> 00:21:50.599
 in a row,

00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:52.039
 and something

00:21:52.039 --> 00:21:52.659
 happens.

00:21:54.700 --> 00:21:56.119
 PST is aware

00:21:56.119 --> 00:21:57.819
 of a unique

00:21:57.819 --> 00:21:59.299
 happening during

00:21:59.299 --> 00:22:00.099
 the preaching

00:22:00.099 --> 00:22:01.460
 of Christ.

00:22:02.059 --> 00:22:03.220
 theologians

00:22:03.220 --> 00:22:03.980
 talk about it

00:22:03.980 --> 00:22:05.319
 as the general

00:22:05.319 --> 00:22:05.940
 call of the

00:22:05.940 --> 00:22:06.759
 gospel and the

00:22:06.759 --> 00:22:07.779
 effectual call

00:22:07.779 --> 00:22:08.440
 of the gospel.

00:22:08.740 --> 00:22:09.299
 The general

00:22:09.299 --> 00:22:10.000
 call of the

00:22:10.000 --> 00:22:11.279
 gospel is when

00:22:11.279 --> 00:22:12.119
 a person

00:22:12.119 --> 00:22:13.779
 proclaims Christ

00:22:13.779 --> 00:22:15.200
 with words.

00:22:16.619 --> 00:22:17.799
 The effectual

00:22:17.799 --> 00:22:19.059
 call is when

00:22:19.059 --> 00:22:20.259
 God is

00:22:20.259 --> 00:22:20.980
 powerfully

00:22:20.980 --> 00:22:22.419
 working in

00:22:22.419 --> 00:22:23.639
 that preaching

00:22:23.639 --> 00:22:24.440
 to draw people

00:22:24.440 --> 00:22:25.159
 to himself.

00:22:26.099 --> 00:22:27.099
 And that is

00:22:27.099 --> 00:22:27.419
 what they're

00:22:27.419 --> 00:22:28.480
 describing here.

00:22:28.480 --> 00:22:30.720
 they were

00:22:30.720 --> 00:22:31.680
 aware that

00:22:31.680 --> 00:22:32.480
 God was

00:22:32.480 --> 00:22:33.539
 powerfully

00:22:33.539 --> 00:22:34.380
 at work

00:22:34.380 --> 00:22:35.940
 in Thessalonica

00:22:35.940 --> 00:22:36.980
 when they were

00:22:36.980 --> 00:22:37.559
 preaching the

00:22:37.559 --> 00:22:38.000
 gospel.

00:22:39.000 --> 00:22:39.420
 Look at how

00:22:39.420 --> 00:22:40.160
 they describe it.

00:22:41.640 --> 00:22:42.140
 Because our

00:22:42.140 --> 00:22:42.819
 gospel came

00:22:42.819 --> 00:22:44.360
 to you not

00:22:44.360 --> 00:22:45.579
 only in word,

00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:46.460
 not just a

00:22:46.460 --> 00:22:47.279
 general call,

00:22:47.539 --> 00:22:48.299
 but also in

00:22:48.299 --> 00:22:49.200
 power, in the

00:22:49.200 --> 00:22:49.779
 Holy Spirit,

00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:50.559
 and with full

00:22:50.559 --> 00:22:51.079
 conviction.

00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:52.199
 It was

00:22:52.199 --> 00:22:53.019
 effectual.

00:22:57.799 --> 00:22:58.980
 Paul describes

00:22:58.980 --> 00:22:59.759
 this power in

00:22:59.759 --> 00:23:00.259
 two ways.

00:23:00.399 --> 00:23:00.980
 He describes

00:23:00.980 --> 00:23:01.539
 it, the

00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.319
 source of the

00:23:02.319 --> 00:23:02.960
 power, as the

00:23:02.960 --> 00:23:03.679
 Holy Spirit,

00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:05.679
 and the effect

00:23:05.679 --> 00:23:06.559
 of that as

00:23:06.559 --> 00:23:07.159
 full conviction.

00:23:08.519 --> 00:23:09.439
 The Holy Spirit,

00:23:09.559 --> 00:23:10.259
 more likely than

00:23:10.259 --> 00:23:10.759
 not, there were

00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:11.619
 signs and wonders

00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:12.259
 happening in

00:23:12.259 --> 00:23:13.159
 Thessalonica when

00:23:13.159 --> 00:23:14.240
 the gospel was

00:23:14.240 --> 00:23:15.000
 being proclaimed.

00:23:16.299 --> 00:23:17.059
 But you can

00:23:17.059 --> 00:23:17.779
 better believe it,

00:23:17.819 --> 00:23:18.519
 that the Spirit

00:23:18.519 --> 00:23:19.299
 of God was

00:23:19.299 --> 00:23:20.199
 convicting these

00:23:20.199 --> 00:23:20.980
 Thessalonians

00:23:20.980 --> 00:23:21.460
 of their

00:23:21.460 --> 00:23:22.120
 idolatry.

00:23:22.900 --> 00:23:23.740
 That they were

00:23:23.740 --> 00:23:24.960
 worshiping false

00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.579
 gods.

00:23:25.900 --> 00:23:26.539
 That the lives

00:23:26.539 --> 00:23:26.920
 that they were

00:23:26.920 --> 00:23:27.440
 living were

00:23:27.440 --> 00:23:28.380
 abhorrent in

00:23:28.380 --> 00:23:29.160
 God's sight.

00:23:29.559 --> 00:23:30.759
 That their sin

00:23:30.759 --> 00:23:31.640
 condemned them

00:23:31.640 --> 00:23:32.759
 in God's eyes.

00:23:33.380 --> 00:23:33.980
 It was a

00:23:33.980 --> 00:23:34.880
 kindness that the

00:23:34.880 --> 00:23:35.500
 Holy Spirit would

00:23:35.500 --> 00:23:36.140
 convict them of

00:23:36.140 --> 00:23:36.319
 that.

00:23:36.640 --> 00:23:37.319
 But then you can

00:23:37.319 --> 00:23:38.099
 bank on it, the

00:23:38.099 --> 00:23:38.779
 Spirit was

00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:39.920
 illuminating them

00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:40.940
 at the same time

00:23:40.940 --> 00:23:41.880
 so that they

00:23:41.880 --> 00:23:42.980
 would see that

00:23:42.980 --> 00:23:44.000
 Jesus is the

00:23:44.000 --> 00:23:44.819
 only name given

00:23:44.819 --> 00:23:45.440
 among men by

00:23:45.440 --> 00:23:46.200
 which we can be

00:23:46.200 --> 00:23:46.740
 saved.

00:23:49.299 --> 00:23:50.460
 Their eyes were

00:23:50.460 --> 00:23:51.039
 opened, their

00:23:51.039 --> 00:23:51.740
 hearts were

00:23:51.740 --> 00:23:52.440
 inclined.

00:23:55.680 --> 00:23:56.240
 And so this

00:23:56.240 --> 00:23:58.360
 powerful pouring

00:23:58.360 --> 00:23:59.860
 out of God's

00:23:59.860 --> 00:24:01.340
 Spirit in

00:24:01.340 --> 00:24:02.740
 Thessalonica, Paul

00:24:02.740 --> 00:24:03.819
 is saying, we

00:24:03.819 --> 00:24:04.500
 know you were

00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:06.019
 chosen because

00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.920
 look at it.

00:24:07.299 --> 00:24:07.920
 Look what God

00:24:07.920 --> 00:24:08.480
 did.

00:24:10.019 --> 00:24:10.440
 The full

00:24:10.440 --> 00:24:12.500
 conviction is

00:24:12.500 --> 00:24:13.240
 describing the

00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:13.980
 response.

00:24:15.140 --> 00:24:15.900
 It's kind of like

00:24:15.900 --> 00:24:16.160
 this.

00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:17.680
 it's when the

00:24:17.680 --> 00:24:18.640
 Thessalonians were

00:24:18.640 --> 00:24:19.620
 listening to Paul

00:24:19.620 --> 00:24:20.880
 preach Christ and

00:24:20.880 --> 00:24:21.400
 they're sitting

00:24:21.400 --> 00:24:22.140
 there like, man, I

00:24:22.140 --> 00:24:22.560
 am a sinner.

00:24:23.019 --> 00:24:25.320
 Oh man, and this

00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:27.060
 is the best news I

00:24:27.060 --> 00:24:28.160
 have ever heard in

00:24:28.160 --> 00:24:29.000
 my life.

00:24:30.900 --> 00:24:32.100
 There's only one

00:24:32.100 --> 00:24:33.100
 way to be saved,

00:24:33.180 --> 00:24:33.740
 it's through this

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:34.279
 Jesus.

00:24:35.980 --> 00:24:36.779
 I'm fully

00:24:36.779 --> 00:24:37.220
 convinced.

00:24:38.420 --> 00:24:39.040
 In other words,

00:24:39.100 --> 00:24:40.120
 they were all in.

00:24:40.119 --> 00:24:43.559
 They responded with

00:24:43.559 --> 00:24:46.139
 full conviction that

00:24:46.139 --> 00:24:48.179
 they recognized this

00:24:48.179 --> 00:24:49.439
 is God addressing

00:24:49.439 --> 00:24:50.219
 their hearts.

00:24:52.699 --> 00:24:53.379
 And so Paul,

00:24:54.019 --> 00:24:54.519
 Silas,

00:24:54.919 --> 00:24:56.539
 Timothy are giving

00:24:56.539 --> 00:24:58.439
 thanks to God that

00:24:58.439 --> 00:25:00.079
 this group of

00:25:00.079 --> 00:25:00.959
 Christians were

00:25:00.959 --> 00:25:02.219
 chosen by God.

00:25:03.359 --> 00:25:04.099
 They're so

00:25:04.099 --> 00:25:04.579
 thankful.

00:25:04.579 --> 00:25:04.619
 faithful.

00:25:05.679 --> 00:25:07.079
 This is what the

00:25:07.079 --> 00:25:07.859
 gospel does.

00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.939
 Romans 1.16, I am

00:25:09.939 --> 00:25:10.639
 not ashamed of the

00:25:10.639 --> 00:25:12.240
 gospel because it

00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.619
 is God's power unto

00:25:14.619 --> 00:25:15.339
 salvation.

00:25:16.799 --> 00:25:18.379
 It's God's power to

00:25:18.379 --> 00:25:19.439
 forgive sin and

00:25:19.439 --> 00:25:20.659
 satisfy God's wrath.

00:25:20.980 --> 00:25:22.519
 It's God's power to

00:25:22.519 --> 00:25:24.059
 give spiritual life to

00:25:24.059 --> 00:25:24.960
 the spiritual dead.

00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.759
 It's God's power to

00:25:26.759 --> 00:25:27.519
 change someone's

00:25:27.519 --> 00:25:27.919
 eternity.

00:25:28.359 --> 00:25:29.799
 It's God's power to

00:25:29.799 --> 00:25:31.599
 change your desires

00:25:31.599 --> 00:25:34.500
 from wanting to sin to

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.700
 wanting to live for

00:25:35.700 --> 00:25:36.519
 Jesus Christ,

00:25:37.400 --> 00:25:38.160
 treasuring him above

00:25:38.160 --> 00:25:38.779
 all else.

00:25:39.259 --> 00:25:40.240
 Only the gospel does

00:25:40.240 --> 00:25:40.460
 that.

00:25:41.740 --> 00:25:42.640
 And that's why they're

00:25:42.640 --> 00:25:43.220
 giving thanks.

00:25:44.339 --> 00:25:45.259
 They're so thankful.

00:25:46.539 --> 00:25:47.559
 The gospel of God

00:25:47.559 --> 00:25:49.000
 makes us thankful to

00:25:49.000 --> 00:25:49.220
 God.

00:25:51.579 --> 00:25:52.579
 It's a catalyst.

00:25:54.240 --> 00:25:54.900
 And so this first

00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:56.880
 reason is that they're

00:25:56.880 --> 00:25:57.940
 giving thanks because

00:25:57.940 --> 00:25:59.920
 they were convinced

00:25:59.920 --> 00:26:01.579
 that this church is

00:26:01.579 --> 00:26:01.920
 chosen.

00:26:02.579 --> 00:26:03.900
 Chosen by God's grace

00:26:03.900 --> 00:26:04.420
 and mercy.

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:06.779
 Reason number two,

00:26:08.200 --> 00:26:09.019
 they were changed by

00:26:09.019 --> 00:26:09.279
 God.

00:26:10.039 --> 00:26:11.019
 They're given thanks

00:26:11.019 --> 00:26:12.440
 because they had been

00:26:12.440 --> 00:26:13.440
 changed by God.

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.720
 And I'm going to fast

00:26:14.720 --> 00:26:15.640
 forward this one because

00:26:15.640 --> 00:26:16.579
 I really want to get

00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:17.539
 the reason number three.

00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:20.059
 So let me give you the

00:26:20.059 --> 00:26:20.660
 nuts and bolts.

00:26:22.440 --> 00:26:23.460
 Changed by God.

00:26:26.660 --> 00:26:28.039
 We see it in verse six,

00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:29.339
 and you became imitators

00:26:29.339 --> 00:26:30.319
 of us and of the Lord.

00:26:30.319 --> 00:26:34.200
 The gospel had such an

00:26:34.200 --> 00:26:35.960
 impact that these

00:26:35.960 --> 00:26:37.759
 Thessalonians got

00:26:37.759 --> 00:26:38.319
 flipped.

00:26:39.079 --> 00:26:40.019
 They switched to who

00:26:40.019 --> 00:26:40.819
 they were imitating.

00:26:41.240 --> 00:26:42.019
 I don't know who they're

00:26:42.019 --> 00:26:43.559
 imitating before, but then

00:26:43.559 --> 00:26:45.419
 they start imitating Paul,

00:26:45.679 --> 00:26:47.639
 Silas, and Timothy, and

00:26:47.639 --> 00:26:48.259
 Jesus.

00:26:48.779 --> 00:26:49.619
 Did you see that in verse

00:26:49.619 --> 00:26:49.939
 six?

00:26:50.339 --> 00:26:51.659
 And you became imitators of

00:26:51.659 --> 00:26:52.519
 us and of the Lord.

00:26:53.659 --> 00:26:55.179
 So they were changed in who

00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:55.700
 they imitate.

00:26:55.700 --> 00:26:57.120
 imitate, and we get to

00:26:57.120 --> 00:26:58.360
 ask the question, in what

00:26:58.360 --> 00:26:58.660
 way?

00:26:59.259 --> 00:27:00.160
 How were they imitating

00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:01.160
 them?

00:27:01.640 --> 00:27:02.640
 And we see in verse six,

00:27:05.120 --> 00:27:06.120
 for you received the word

00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:07.360
 in much affliction with joy

00:27:07.360 --> 00:27:08.180
 of the Holy Spirit.

00:27:10.259 --> 00:27:12.200
 What marked their change

00:27:12.200 --> 00:27:14.920
 and their imitating of PST

00:27:14.920 --> 00:27:16.480
 in the Lord Jesus Christ

00:27:16.480 --> 00:27:18.259
 was not only that they were

00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:19.860
 being afflicted for Christ,

00:27:20.240 --> 00:27:22.819
 but they were full of joy

00:27:22.819 --> 00:27:24.279
 from the Holy Spirit in the

00:27:24.279 --> 00:27:24.840
 midst of that.

00:27:25.700 --> 00:27:27.100
 How do you explain that?

00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:29.000
 Other than they've been

00:27:29.000 --> 00:27:30.580
 changed by the power of

00:27:30.580 --> 00:27:30.880
 God.

00:27:32.000 --> 00:27:33.279
 And so they became imitators

00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:36.299
 of Paul, Silas, Timothy,

00:27:36.559 --> 00:27:37.200
 and Jesus.

00:27:37.340 --> 00:27:38.319
 But it's more than that.

00:27:38.380 --> 00:27:39.019
 Not only did they become

00:27:39.019 --> 00:27:39.920
 imitators, look at verse

00:27:39.920 --> 00:27:40.240
 seven.

00:27:40.960 --> 00:27:42.240
 They became examples.

00:27:44.440 --> 00:27:45.539
 So that you became an

00:27:45.539 --> 00:27:46.799
 example to all the believers

00:27:46.799 --> 00:27:48.140
 in Macedonia and Achaia.

00:27:49.039 --> 00:27:49.940
 That's the Balkan

00:27:49.940 --> 00:27:50.440
 Peninsula.

00:27:51.420 --> 00:27:52.240
 Maybe you know where

00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:53.180
 Greece is.

00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:54.200
 Maybe you know where

00:27:54.200 --> 00:27:55.319
 Albania is.

00:27:55.319 --> 00:27:56.919
 On the west side of the

00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:58.740
 Balkan Peninsula is the

00:27:58.740 --> 00:27:59.559
 Adriatic Sea.

00:27:59.779 --> 00:28:01.720
 On the east side is the

00:28:01.720 --> 00:28:02.359
 Aegean Sea.

00:28:02.579 --> 00:28:03.919
 On the south side is the

00:28:03.919 --> 00:28:05.139
 Mediterranean Sea.

00:28:06.240 --> 00:28:08.220
 The churches in this area,

00:28:08.339 --> 00:28:09.519
 they would have been the

00:28:09.519 --> 00:28:13.899
 churches like Philippi, of

00:28:13.899 --> 00:28:16.000
 Corinth, of Athens.

00:28:16.000 --> 00:28:19.279
 Sancria, where if you're

00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:20.319
 familiar with Lydia from

00:28:20.319 --> 00:28:21.759
 Romans 16, where she is

00:28:21.759 --> 00:28:22.079
 from.

00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:23.119
 Berea.

00:28:23.319 --> 00:28:25.799
 These were the churches in

00:28:25.799 --> 00:28:27.960
 this area and they became

00:28:27.960 --> 00:28:30.640
 aware of what God had been

00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:33.380
 doing in the Thessalonians.

00:28:33.460 --> 00:28:34.799
 Here's the equivalent of it.

00:28:35.859 --> 00:28:37.880
 What's happening is the

00:28:37.880 --> 00:28:39.700
 equivalent, first century

00:28:39.700 --> 00:28:41.039
 equivalent, of something going

00:28:41.039 --> 00:28:41.460
 viral.

00:28:41.460 --> 00:28:43.559
 It's gone viral.

00:28:44.620 --> 00:28:47.460
 The faith of the Thessalonians,

00:28:47.579 --> 00:28:49.660
 of what God has done, has

00:28:49.660 --> 00:28:50.460
 gone viral.

00:28:51.860 --> 00:28:53.680
 Their example, not only of

00:28:53.680 --> 00:28:55.340
 their suffering, but of their

00:28:55.340 --> 00:28:56.059
 evangelism.

00:28:57.420 --> 00:28:58.680
 Let me point that out to you.

00:28:59.180 --> 00:29:00.980
 For not only, verse 8, has the

00:29:00.980 --> 00:29:02.680
 word of the Lord sounded forth

00:29:02.680 --> 00:29:05.059
 from you in Macedonia and Achaia.

00:29:05.480 --> 00:29:07.019
 That sounded forth, the word of

00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:08.100
 the Lord, that's the gospel.

00:29:08.099 --> 00:29:09.839
 It's echoing through the

00:29:09.839 --> 00:29:10.299
 region.

00:29:11.699 --> 00:29:13.279
 But your faith in God has gone

00:29:13.279 --> 00:29:15.559
 forth everywhere so that we

00:29:15.559 --> 00:29:16.439
 need not say anything.

00:29:16.500 --> 00:29:17.299
 Do you see how they've become

00:29:17.299 --> 00:29:17.759
 examples?

00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:20.719
 Not just in their joyful

00:29:20.719 --> 00:29:22.159
 suffering, but in their bold

00:29:22.159 --> 00:29:22.879
 evangelism.

00:29:23.359 --> 00:29:25.759
 The evangelized have become the

00:29:25.759 --> 00:29:26.439
 evangelists.

00:29:27.219 --> 00:29:27.799
 It's beautiful.

00:29:29.119 --> 00:29:32.159
 So, they've been changed by God.

00:29:33.059 --> 00:29:34.319
 They're no longer

00:29:34.319 --> 00:29:38.159
 proselytizing something other

00:29:38.159 --> 00:29:38.759
 than Jesus.

00:29:39.259 --> 00:29:41.059
 They are proclaiming Christ

00:29:41.059 --> 00:29:43.839
 boldly, at cost.

00:29:44.899 --> 00:29:46.599
 We can ask this question coming

00:29:46.599 --> 00:29:47.039
 out of it.

00:29:47.220 --> 00:29:50.000
 It's, has the gospel changed you

00:29:50.000 --> 00:29:50.519
 like that?

00:29:51.559 --> 00:29:53.179
 Who are you seeking to imitate?

00:29:54.960 --> 00:29:56.039
 Are you seeking to imitate

00:29:56.039 --> 00:29:56.399
 Jesus?

00:29:59.059 --> 00:30:00.980
 How bold is your evangelism?

00:30:02.339 --> 00:30:03.639
 Are you talking to other people

00:30:03.640 --> 00:30:04.140
 about Jesus?

00:30:05.820 --> 00:30:08.640
 You see, the gospel is God's

00:30:08.640 --> 00:30:11.040
 catalyst, and it brings about a

00:30:11.040 --> 00:30:13.560
 chain reaction in the way that we

00:30:13.560 --> 00:30:15.780
 suffer with joy, and it brings

00:30:15.780 --> 00:30:18.759
 about boldness in our evangelism.

00:30:20.220 --> 00:30:25.560
 The third reason why PST, we're

00:30:25.560 --> 00:30:27.259
 so thankful to God for the

00:30:27.259 --> 00:30:30.060
 Thessalonians, is that PST were

00:30:30.060 --> 00:30:31.480
 convinced that they had been

00:30:31.480 --> 00:30:32.500
 converted to God.

00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:36.500
 So, chosen by God, changed by

00:30:36.500 --> 00:30:38.900
 God, third reason, converted to

00:30:38.900 --> 00:30:39.940
 God, and we see that in verse

00:30:39.940 --> 00:30:40.339
 nine.

00:30:40.860 --> 00:30:41.940
 For they themselves report

00:30:41.940 --> 00:30:43.079
 concerning us the kind of

00:30:43.079 --> 00:30:44.500
 reception we had among you, and

00:30:44.500 --> 00:30:45.559
 here comes the conversion

00:30:45.559 --> 00:30:48.640
 language, and how you turn to God

00:30:48.640 --> 00:30:51.240
 from idols to serve the living and

00:30:51.240 --> 00:30:53.140
 true God, and to wait for his son

00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.660
 from heaven, whom he raised from

00:30:54.660 --> 00:30:56.519
 the dead, Jesus who delivers us

00:30:56.519 --> 00:30:57.539
 from the wrath to come.

00:30:57.539 --> 00:30:57.740
 Amen.

00:31:01.480 --> 00:31:08.680
 What has gone viral is that the

00:31:08.680 --> 00:31:10.779
 Thessalonians had been radically

00:31:10.779 --> 00:31:12.420
 changed by the gospel.

00:31:14.440 --> 00:31:18.880
 And this turning language, and how you

00:31:18.880 --> 00:31:20.819
 turn to God from idols to serve the

00:31:20.819 --> 00:31:22.579
 living and true God, that is getting

00:31:22.579 --> 00:31:25.160
 at this idea of conversion.

00:31:26.120 --> 00:31:29.059
 Turning from idols and turning to God,

00:31:29.059 --> 00:31:30.059
 God.

00:31:30.059 --> 00:31:30.960
 It's how you become a Christian.

00:31:31.220 --> 00:31:33.179
 You've become a Christian by being

00:31:33.179 --> 00:31:33.819
 converted.

00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:37.720
 Imagine this.

00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:45.059
 This is going to be incredibly, this

00:31:45.659 --> 00:31:46.740
 is a very sensitive topic.

00:31:48.419 --> 00:31:51.200
 And so, please, just hear me out.

00:31:51.200 --> 00:31:54.519
 Could you imagine this?

00:31:55.480 --> 00:31:59.000
 A Bears fan converting to becoming a

00:31:59.000 --> 00:31:59.660
 Packers fan.

00:32:00.500 --> 00:32:01.600
 Could you imagine that?

00:32:02.640 --> 00:32:03.819
 Here's what would happen.

00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.980
 Here's what would need to happen.

00:32:05.360 --> 00:32:07.559
 The Bears fan would be like, I'm

00:32:07.559 --> 00:32:10.420
 giving, burning my jerseys.

00:32:11.120 --> 00:32:12.819
 I'm pulling down my posters.

00:32:13.500 --> 00:32:16.559
 I am taking off the license plate frame

00:32:16.559 --> 00:32:16.960
 thing.

00:32:17.160 --> 00:32:19.600
 I'm peeling off the bumper sticker.

00:32:19.599 --> 00:32:22.519
 I am no longer watching Bears games.

00:32:22.980 --> 00:32:25.019
 I don't care what's happening to the

00:32:25.019 --> 00:32:26.699
 coaches and players and trades.

00:32:27.219 --> 00:32:29.179
 I don't, where is Soldier Field

00:32:29.179 --> 00:32:29.639
 anyway?

00:32:29.919 --> 00:32:30.579
 They don't care.

00:32:31.179 --> 00:32:33.619
 They've turned their back on being a

00:32:33.619 --> 00:32:35.500
 Bears fan, and they've gone full in

00:32:35.500 --> 00:32:37.099
 to being a Packers fan.

00:32:37.399 --> 00:32:39.599
 They've got Packers fan jerseys, knit

00:32:39.599 --> 00:32:40.099
 hats.

00:32:40.379 --> 00:32:42.839
 They have Packers platters in which

00:32:42.839 --> 00:32:44.079
 they serve cheese.

00:32:44.399 --> 00:32:45.619
 This is what they do.

00:32:45.619 --> 00:32:51.739
 Really cool bumper stickers, and they get

00:32:51.739 --> 00:32:55.339
 a tattoo of a cheese head.

00:32:57.199 --> 00:32:58.619
 You know that they're all in.

00:33:00.339 --> 00:33:01.579
 You switch teams.

00:33:03.659 --> 00:33:05.399
 When someone becomes a Christian, they

00:33:05.399 --> 00:33:09.739
 switch teams decisively, definitively.

00:33:09.740 --> 00:33:14.700
 I'm no longer part of team world who are

00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:18.440
 living for things that are fake and have no

00:33:18.440 --> 00:33:22.220
 life, and I have made a full switch to team

00:33:22.220 --> 00:33:27.200
 Jesus, in whom alone is salvation, the living and

00:33:27.200 --> 00:33:27.700
 true God.

00:33:29.460 --> 00:33:33.319
 Conversion is a dramatic, decisive change.

00:33:33.319 --> 00:33:34.319
 Conversion.

00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:39.439
 You're turning your back on sin, and you're

00:33:39.439 --> 00:33:42.159
 turning to God through Christ.

00:33:43.700 --> 00:33:44.299
 Conversion.

00:33:45.799 --> 00:33:48.579
 And what Paul is saying is here is like, we know

00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:49.500
 you were converted.

00:33:50.899 --> 00:33:53.339
 We know you've been radically changed.

00:33:54.299 --> 00:33:58.839
 We know that you are no longer living for idols, false

00:33:58.839 --> 00:34:04.519
 gods, false promises, no life there.

00:34:06.559 --> 00:34:09.360
 The Thessalonians were probably worshiping Greco-Roman

00:34:09.360 --> 00:34:09.739
 gods.

00:34:10.199 --> 00:34:13.199
 They were probably living sexually promiscuous

00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:15.039
 lifestyles, because that was the norm of the world.

00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:17.259
 They were probably just living for themselves.

00:34:17.440 --> 00:34:21.940
 In 21st century America, what Carl Truman says,

00:34:22.840 --> 00:34:24.199
 expressive individualism.

00:34:25.159 --> 00:34:25.980
 Live your truth.

00:34:25.980 --> 00:34:28.740
 We've got to turn our back on that.

00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:32.860
 Moral therapeutic deism.

00:34:33.159 --> 00:34:37.800
 It's God works for me to make me feel good.

00:34:38.380 --> 00:34:40.340
 It's making God in our own image.

00:34:40.460 --> 00:34:42.980
 We turn to these things.

00:34:43.099 --> 00:34:44.039
 These are idols.

00:34:44.340 --> 00:34:45.679
 There's no life in them.

00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:50.139
 Or maybe it's the God of the like.

00:34:52.539 --> 00:34:53.780
 We just want to be liked.

00:34:53.780 --> 00:34:57.220
 You just want to be approved and accepted.

00:34:58.800 --> 00:35:00.320
 There's no life there.

00:35:01.560 --> 00:35:03.360
 You've got to turn to that.

00:35:03.620 --> 00:35:04.040
 Idol.

00:35:04.200 --> 00:35:05.300
 Turn away from that.

00:35:05.800 --> 00:35:07.800
 And you turn to the living and true God.

00:35:07.880 --> 00:35:08.980
 The God of the Bible.

00:35:09.420 --> 00:35:10.340
 The living God.

00:35:10.780 --> 00:35:12.700
 Who is the giver of all life.

00:35:12.960 --> 00:35:14.840
 Both physical and spiritual.

00:35:15.800 --> 00:35:17.940
 The God who is the true God.

00:35:18.280 --> 00:35:19.780
 He is true reality.

00:35:19.780 --> 00:35:20.320
 Reality.

00:35:20.760 --> 00:35:23.800
 And he reveals what is true in his word.

00:35:24.920 --> 00:35:30.120
 You turn from these false, dead, hopeless things.

00:35:30.340 --> 00:35:37.540
 And you turn to that God who is alive and is true and is our hope.

00:35:37.540 --> 00:35:37.640
 But.

00:35:37.639 --> 00:35:45.799
 You can't do that on your own.

00:35:48.359 --> 00:36:07.059
 The only thing that can make a dead sinner who is living for idols want to live for the one true living God is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:36:07.940 --> 00:36:10.119
 It's the power of God unto salvation.

00:36:11.480 --> 00:36:14.400
 There's nothing that you can do to change yourself.

00:36:14.840 --> 00:36:18.199
 It's only by God's grace and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

00:36:21.219 --> 00:36:22.299
 Think about this.

00:36:22.460 --> 00:36:24.139
 Jesus is the ultimate repo man.

00:36:24.139 --> 00:36:27.440
 You can't repo yourself.

00:36:29.099 --> 00:36:32.619
 You are in wicked debt to God because of your sin.

00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:34.159
 But Jesus came for you.

00:36:34.500 --> 00:36:35.579
 And he repoed you.

00:36:36.239 --> 00:36:40.019
 And now you belong as you should be to the living God.

00:36:40.239 --> 00:36:41.259
 There's no going back.

00:36:42.339 --> 00:36:45.839
 Or maybe do you remember the 16th century stargazer, Nicholas Copernicus?

00:36:45.840 --> 00:36:56.240
 Because before Copernicus, everybody thought that we lived in a geocentric solar system, that the sun orbited the earth.

00:36:56.460 --> 00:37:01.320
 And then Copernicus, with his kind of observations, realized, no, no, no, no, no.

00:37:01.460 --> 00:37:04.320
 We live in a heliocentric solar system.

00:37:04.640 --> 00:37:06.559
 The earth orbits the sun.

00:37:06.840 --> 00:37:08.000
 It was always like that.

00:37:08.579 --> 00:37:09.860
 He just discovered reality.

00:37:09.860 --> 00:37:22.120
 What the gospel does is it gives sinners eyes to see that you are not the center of your solar system.

00:37:23.460 --> 00:37:24.460
 Jesus is.

00:37:25.640 --> 00:37:35.760
 And it moves us from living for ourselves to living, bring brought into reality that Jesus Christ, risen, reigning, one day returning,

00:37:36.360 --> 00:37:39.559
 he is the controlling center of all things in whom we orbit.

00:37:39.860 --> 00:37:40.340
 He is.

00:37:40.340 --> 00:37:41.019
 Joyfully.

00:37:42.200 --> 00:37:43.460
 This is conversion.

00:37:45.000 --> 00:37:50.300
 This is the change that happens when you encounter the power of God in the gospel.

00:37:51.380 --> 00:37:52.940
 And it's wonderful.

00:37:54.460 --> 00:37:56.099
 So here's the question it begs.

00:37:56.900 --> 00:37:57.660
 Have you been converted?

00:38:00.880 --> 00:38:03.099
 Have you switched teams?

00:38:03.099 --> 00:38:13.199
 Have you turned your back on false idols in order to serve the living God?

00:38:13.980 --> 00:38:14.880
 Have you done that?

00:38:14.940 --> 00:38:15.639
 You can do that today.

00:38:16.360 --> 00:38:17.239
 You just cry out.

00:38:17.319 --> 00:38:20.059
 You say, Lord Jesus, you're where it's at.

00:38:20.579 --> 00:38:21.380
 I'm a sinner.

00:38:22.059 --> 00:38:23.279
 You've died for my sin.

00:38:23.519 --> 00:38:24.639
 I'm living for you.

00:38:24.639 --> 00:38:27.259
 It's the stake in the ground.

00:38:28.659 --> 00:38:29.940
 And you can do that today.

00:38:30.619 --> 00:38:31.699
 Come find me after the service.

00:38:31.779 --> 00:38:34.259
 I'd be happy to help you pray that to God.

00:38:34.500 --> 00:38:36.339
 And you go from death to life.

00:38:36.940 --> 00:38:37.739
 You switch teams.

00:38:37.739 --> 00:38:37.859
 Please.

00:38:40.299 --> 00:38:42.679
 There's one effect that I need you to see here.

00:38:43.019 --> 00:38:44.019
 One additional effect.

00:38:46.319 --> 00:38:50.359
 When you become a Christian, you switch time zones.

00:38:51.779 --> 00:38:55.019
 We recently had some people from our church in Israel that came back.

00:38:55.019 --> 00:38:58.979
 And it takes a while to switch back to time zones.

00:39:00.719 --> 00:39:02.039
 Did you notice verse 10?

00:39:05.039 --> 00:39:06.019
 Word is out.

00:39:06.019 --> 00:39:07.019
 It's viral.

00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:11.739
 That the Thessalonians had been converted.

00:39:13.000 --> 00:39:15.360
 And now they're waiting for his son from heaven.

00:39:15.820 --> 00:39:17.259
 Whom he raised from the dead.

00:39:17.659 --> 00:39:19.800
 Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

00:39:20.039 --> 00:39:21.840
 They were living in a new time zone now.

00:39:22.940 --> 00:39:24.400
 It's called Christ time.

00:39:25.719 --> 00:39:26.820
 Not mountain time.

00:39:27.300 --> 00:39:28.119
 Not central time.

00:39:28.539 --> 00:39:29.340
 Christ time.

00:39:30.719 --> 00:39:34.079
 And what that is, is now, because of the gospel,

00:39:34.079 --> 00:39:36.279
 it now changes your outlook.

00:39:36.579 --> 00:39:37.539
 It changes your hope.

00:39:39.039 --> 00:39:41.819
 And now we're waiting for the return of Jesus.

00:39:42.159 --> 00:39:45.000
 And we're living lives in accordance with that.

00:39:45.000 --> 00:39:53.159
 First Thessalonians is packed with references to the return of Jesus Christ.

00:39:54.219 --> 00:39:56.500
 It's very strategic to a church that's suffering.

00:39:58.260 --> 00:39:59.500
 It aims us.

00:39:59.840 --> 00:40:05.260
 So one of the further effects of the gospel is that it changes our hope.

00:40:06.260 --> 00:40:08.659
 What we're looking forward to most.

00:40:08.659 --> 00:40:12.719
 First, and in this case, it's the return of Jesus Christ.

00:40:15.239 --> 00:40:18.319
 Steadfast in your hope, Paul says in verse 3.

00:40:19.659 --> 00:40:21.599
 The hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

00:40:21.879 --> 00:40:22.659
 Him coming back.

00:40:24.659 --> 00:40:27.179
 And here's how it all works.

00:40:27.179 --> 00:40:33.679
 When you are on Christ time, you're saying things like,

00:40:34.059 --> 00:40:35.699
 we're one day closer to Jesus coming back.

00:40:35.899 --> 00:40:36.119
 Woo!

00:40:37.099 --> 00:40:38.359
 Come, Lord Jesus, come.

00:40:40.239 --> 00:40:44.279
 When you're aware that Christ is coming back,

00:40:44.679 --> 00:40:47.159
 you're going to be aware of eternal things.

00:40:47.940 --> 00:40:50.399
 You're going to be aware that when Jesus comes back,

00:40:50.399 --> 00:40:53.339
 not only is he coming to deliver us,

00:40:53.340 --> 00:40:55.940
 but the wrath of God is coming too.

00:40:56.780 --> 00:41:00.460
 Which means it changes the way that we see people.

00:41:01.559 --> 00:41:06.300
 We see people, and how will they stand on that day?

00:41:07.780 --> 00:41:09.800
 So when you're living on Christ time,

00:41:09.900 --> 00:41:11.880
 it will embolden your evangelism.

00:41:12.680 --> 00:41:15.180
 It will change the way that you see people,

00:41:15.579 --> 00:41:18.140
 not in relationship to you,

00:41:18.600 --> 00:41:20.380
 but in relationship to Christ.

00:41:20.380 --> 00:41:20.940
 Christ.

00:41:23.340 --> 00:41:24.059
 It's a good effect.

00:41:25.079 --> 00:41:26.360
 It's a healthy effect.

00:41:27.280 --> 00:41:29.940
 When you're serving the living God.

00:41:31.500 --> 00:41:33.940
 And it was because of this conversion

00:41:33.940 --> 00:41:35.760
 that they are giving thanks.

00:41:38.120 --> 00:41:41.680
 Chosen by God, changed by God, converted to God.

00:41:42.360 --> 00:41:45.100
 This is what stirs their thankfulness.

00:41:45.099 --> 00:41:49.039
 This past week, midweek,

00:41:49.539 --> 00:41:52.699
 I started changing the way I pray for you.

00:41:54.460 --> 00:41:57.259
 I pray for 10 of our members every day.

00:41:58.960 --> 00:42:00.380
 And I'm usually praying,

00:42:00.500 --> 00:42:02.339
 Oh Lord, would you help so-and-so treasure you?

00:42:02.960 --> 00:42:04.699
 Would you help them treasure you in their marriage,

00:42:05.579 --> 00:42:06.900
 in their parenting, in their work?

00:42:06.900 --> 00:42:10.320
 If I'm aware of other things going on,

00:42:10.619 --> 00:42:11.980
 I'll pray for that as well.

00:42:13.800 --> 00:42:16.119
 But did you know when I started praying for you this week?

00:42:17.960 --> 00:42:19.360
 Oh God, thank you so much

00:42:19.360 --> 00:42:22.900
 for choosing this person,

00:42:23.440 --> 00:42:26.320
 for changing this person,

00:42:27.059 --> 00:42:29.320
 for converting this person.

00:42:29.320 --> 00:42:31.920
 Thank you God for your kindness to them.

00:42:33.220 --> 00:42:33.740
 Thank you.

00:42:36.120 --> 00:42:38.280
 It's a game changer in terms of your prayer life.

00:42:39.920 --> 00:42:42.940
 It gets you focused on what God is doing

00:42:42.940 --> 00:42:44.660
 in the lives of others around you.

00:42:46.780 --> 00:42:48.240
 And it gets our focus on God.

00:42:48.239 --> 00:42:53.639
 It changes the way you pray.

00:42:54.839 --> 00:42:58.659
 And it changes how you synchronize your watch.

00:43:01.699 --> 00:43:03.639
 The gospel of Jesus Christ,

00:43:03.799 --> 00:43:04.839
 the gospel of God,

00:43:05.579 --> 00:43:07.219
 makes us thankful to God

00:43:07.219 --> 00:43:09.259
 because of what God is doing.

00:43:10.779 --> 00:43:11.439
 Let's pray.

00:43:11.539 --> 00:43:13.079
 God, thank you so much for your word.

00:43:14.179 --> 00:43:15.759
 Thank you for 1 Thessalonians.

00:43:15.760 --> 00:43:19.480
 God, would you use this to stir us

00:43:19.480 --> 00:43:21.400
 in new ways

00:43:21.400 --> 00:43:23.000
 that we would delight

00:43:23.000 --> 00:43:24.400
 more and more

00:43:24.400 --> 00:43:27.080
 in what you are doing in our midst.

00:43:27.780 --> 00:43:28.980
 And then more and more,

00:43:29.160 --> 00:43:30.380
 we are awaiting

00:43:30.380 --> 00:43:33.780
 the return of your son,

00:43:34.000 --> 00:43:35.740
 our king, Jesus.

00:43:36.700 --> 00:43:37.760
 In your name we pray.

00:43:38.680 --> 00:43:38.980
 Amen.