Well, this past week, I finally feel like I'm moving into my office, across the hall, office
! that Pastor Kenoyer had, and now beginning to put all the books in the right shelf, and my family
was kind enough to move those books in there, but trying to find them is another thing altogether.
So there's a system, and certain things go in certain places, and if I know where they are, I can actually use them.
There's a shelf for prayer, there's a shelf for theology, there's a commentary section, there's a Christian life section,
and I actually have lots of books that focus on church growth.
You wouldn't believe all the thoughts there are about how to make a church effective.
And the question is, is the strategy really that difficult?
If we want to be a church that's effective, are there really sophisticated processes to employ in order to be the kind of church that makes a difference?
And as a Christian, as a person who is a follower of Christ, is there a certain formula that we have to put into work in order to be effective in making a difference in the world around us?
Does it really matter?
Or are there things that are more important?
Well, this morning, as we look at the passage, our passage today, in 1 Thessalonians 2,
I want us to continue to come to terms with the fact that a spirit-filled life is a power-filled life.
And a spirit-filled life comes because of an affection for the Word of God.
The Word of God is making a difference.
It is playing out in certain effects and transformation that God is beginning to work.
And we looked at those things a bit last week.
We saw that at the outset, the Holy Spirit is involved in leading us into salvation,
illuminating our eyes to help us actually see the truth for what it is.
Now, then drawing us into conviction and helping to bring the gift of repentance
and then leading us into salvation and regeneration, the new birth,
and then stamping us with the Holy Spirit, that guarantee for salvation for the future.
But the Spirit is also working in our life to sanctify us,
to bear out spiritual fruit, to make us look more like Jesus,
to produce within us the fruit of love and joy and peace,
all those things we find in Galatians chapter 5.
He equips us for spiritual ministry.
He fits us to be able to intercede and to talk with the Father.
He lifts our prayers to the throne.
He enables us in the spiritual life to be obedient and to overcome sin.
All the things the Holy Spirit does to make us look more like Jesus.
His power transforming us through His Word in connection with His power
to make us a people that show the Spirit.
And you can imagine that when that begins to happen,
that there will be a church and a life that begins to have spiritual influence.
That's where we are this morning in our passage in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1.
And maybe the question for us at the outset is,
does God expect me to bear spiritual fruit?
Does God intend for my life to be one that is making a difference in the world around me?
I think at the outset we would all say,
yes, indeed that is true,
but where is the text that we can go to to find this answer
and to begin to anchor our heart into this truth
and to help us understand its significance?
What is our purpose on this earth?
Why has God set me apart and what does He intend for me to do?
Well, if you were to look at some of the catechisms,
some of the statements of faith,
you would see that one of the major statements of faith
is the chief purpose of man is to glorify God
and to enjoy Him forever.
And one of the principal ways that we glorify God on this earth
is by bearing fruit.
We worked through several years through John,
the Gospel of John,
and fitting within these final words to Jesus in John chapter 15,
Jesus communicates this mission statement to His disciples.
He says,
I am the vine,
and my Father is the vine dresser.
Every branch in me that does not bear fruit,
He takes away.
And every branch that does bear fruit,
He prunes,
that it may bear more fruit.
Already you are clean because of the word
that I have spoken to you.
Abide in me and I in you,
that as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,
unless it abides in the vine.
I am the vine,
you are the branches.
Whoever abides in me and I in him,
he it is that bears much fruit.
For apart from me,
you can do nothing.
By this,
my Father is glorified.
By this,
my Father is glorified,
that you bear much fruit,
and so prove to be my disciples.
So what is the purpose of the Christian life?
Well,
of course,
our purpose of the Christian life
is to glorify God
and to enjoy Him forever.
And one of the principal ways
that we glorify God on this earth
is to emulate
the glory of God
and the power of God
working through us
to produce fruit
within our hearts and lives.
And it is inevitable.
Those that abide in Christ
will bear fruit.
And Jesus goes so far as to say,
you will bear much fruit
so that my Father is glorified.
We exist to glorify God
by making much fruit.
That's why we exist.
So the Christian life
is a fruitful life
because the Christian life
is a word-filled life
filled up with the Spirit,
the power of God,
producing fruit in us
that then we get to see
sometimes showing up
as fruit in others.
But principally,
fruit in us
that bears out
in influence
in the world around us.
God is working
in our lives.
He is the one
who is producing fruit
so that he is the one
who gets the glory.
With that as background
and as introduction,
let's look at our text
this morning
in 1 Thessalonians 1.
If you're a guest with us
this morning,
it's on page 986.
1 Thessalonians 1.
I'll begin in verse 6
and work our way
to the end of this chapter,
to verse 10.
And then we'll start
with our study this morning.
And you became
imitators of us
and of the Lord.
For you received the word
in much affliction
with the joy
of the Holy Spirit,
so that you became
an example
to all the believers
in Macedonia
and Achaia.
For not only
has the word
of the Lord
sounded forth from you
in Macedonia
and Achaia,
but your faith
in God
has gone forth
everywhere
so that we need
not say anything.
For they themselves
report concerning us
the kind of reception
we had among you
and how you turned
to God
from idols
to serve
the living
and true God
and to wait
for his Son
from heaven
whom he raised
from the dead,
Jesus,
who delivers us
from the wrath
to come.
So this morning
as we focus
our attention
on spiritual influence,
Paul wants
this church
to understand
that even though
they may not be able
to see it immediately,
that their life
has borne witness
to the fact
that God is working
in them
and they can
delight in the fact
that God is working
through them
to create
spiritual fruit
in the world
around them.
He begins
by encouraging them
with the scope
of their influence
and that is
our first point
this morning.
The scope
of their influence.
This is really
the why.
Why should we
stay the course?
Paul kind of gives
them some incentive
to understand
what are some
of the reasons
why we need
to continue
to endure
the hardship
that you're facing.
Why do you
continue
to allow
the Holy Spirit
to sanctify
your life
and allow
his word
to grow
in your hearts?
He keys in
on some
special things
throughout
these first couple
of verses
particularly in
verse 7 and 8
to help us see
what is the true
scope
of their influence.
He begins
with its breadth.
He begins
with its breadth
in verse 7.
You became
an example
to all
the believers
in Macedonia
and Achaia.
Well how?
You might ask.
How did that happen?
Well in verse 6
he says
you became
imitators
of us
and of the Lord.
Well then
in what way
were you imitators?
Well you received
the word
in much affliction
with the joy
of the Holy Spirit.
In other words
the word
produced
fruit
in you
and the word
took root
and flourished
in your life.
Jesus
as he
was sharing
with the
people
there in
Matthew chapter 13
he is communicating
now some parables
with them
and this whole
relationship
of the word
of God
and its distribution
in the world
in the various ways
that the word
can be received.
He begins
with talking about
how the word
fell on the path
and what happens
with the word
that falls on the path.
Well it's
snatched up
and taken away
by the evil one.
There's no time
for it to take root
and to grow.
And then
the second example
of the word
that lands
on the rocky soil
it begins to flourish
and it begins to grow
but once the sun
comes up
it scorches
that word
and it no longer
is able to bear fruit.
No longer able to grow.
The third seed
grows up
in soil
that is thorny
it grows
to a certain height
but then is choked out
by the troubles
of the world.
But the final seed
that grows
is a seed
that not only grows
but begins
to bear fruit.
Jesus uses this
as an example
of what happens
with those
who are truly
converted.
and he points
to the fact
that those
who grow
in the seed
that grows
in the fertile soil
will bear fruit
some
thirtyfold
some sixtyfold
and some
one hundredfold.
Again
pointing to the fact
that those
who are truly
followers of God
those who have
received the word
and it is actually
doing a work
in their life
bearing testimony
to the power
of the Holy Spirit
working within
will demonstrate
spiritual fruitfulness
in their life.
Paul points
to this
with the church
of Thessalonica
in verse 5.
He says
the word came
to you
in power
and in
the Holy Spirit.
He's
taking joy
in the fact
that this
fledgling church
who has only
existed for about
a year or so
who is experiencing
tremendous adversity
and opposition
is staying
the course
and shows
true signs
of being
followers of God.
He's comforted
by that.
He sees
the evidence
of the work
of the Spirit
in their life
and it causes
him a measure
of thanksgiving
and gratitude.
The telltale sign
of the Spirit's
power in their life
he points to
in verse 6.
It moved them
to endurance
and it moved
them to joy.
Two of the
significant works
of the Holy Spirit
in the life
of every true
believer.
But the influence
of this
capital city
of Thessalonica
in the province
of Macedonia
was enormous.
Philippi and Berea
were also churches
within this
region of Macedonia.
It became
the capital city
of this province
and enjoyed
the economic
and political
benefits that came
along with being
classified as a
free city.
Since it was
considered a city
of Rome
it was free
to enjoy
and to exercise
the benefits
of that freedom.
A powerful
metropolis
with easy access
to all parts
of the region
because of the
road systems
that were created.
Particularly
the Via Ignatia
would take
a person
to all parts
of the Roman Empire.
And so there was
access to
these places
and trade routes
that ran through
this capital city.
There's no wonder
why the church
of Thessalonica
had so much
influence
in the world
around them
because of all
the travelers
in trade
that came through
this capital city.
But what stands
out about this
church is
the travelers
that came through
did not just
come through
unnoticed
but somehow
they were affected
by the influence
of this church.
And we'll look
at that
in a bit
further
in our study
this morning.
But in terms
of the breadth
of ministry
it is expansive.
Macedonia
and Achaia
were affected
because of the
ministry
of this church.
The things
that were taking
place in Thessalonica
became the
talk of the town
in the entire region.
Achaia was
the Roman province
directly south
of Macedonia.
In it were
the churches
of the cities
of Athens
and Corinth.
For several
hundred miles
these two regions
would span.
Just to put
that in terms
of scale
Ohio is
210 miles
north to south
and 230 miles
east to west
and so
the span
of Ohio
would be
encapsulated
within this
region of Macedonia
in Achaia.
It had a
significant impact
in the world
around them.
How
was the message
so widespread
with such
a young church?
Certainly
also a
small church
yet a massive
scope
of influence.
And here's
where we can
find our
encouragement.
We find our
encouragement in
the fact that
it wasn't
a strategy
on systems
that they had
dreamt up
but it began
with individuals.
Individuals
whose lives
were changed
by the gospel
and began
to affect
one-on-one
the world
around them.
So that
Paul can say
at the end
of verse 8
for from you
the word
sounded not
only in
Macedonia
and Achaia
but your
faith in
God has
gone forth
everywhere
so that we
need not
say anything.
Now that's
that's a
massive
influence.
That's the
extent of
their influence
that Paul
would say
no matter
where I
go
in all
of these
regions
I'm
communicating
the gospel
but somehow
news of you
has already
gone before
me.
It's already
created a
context for
gospel
ministry.
How did
that happen?
Well we'll
look at that
in just a
moment.
So that is
its extent
that's its
breadth
now I want
to look
at its
depth.
We can
see its
depth here
in verse
8.
Just read
that for
us.
It says
for not only
has the
word of
the Lord
sounded
forth from
you
but your
faith in
God has
gone forth
everywhere.
This word
to sound
forth is
used in
a
in a
sense
that's
called
the
perfect
passive
which
talks
about
past
action
with
continuing
results.
The
sense
would be
as if
you were
to throw
a rock
into a
pond
and that
past
action
begins
to create
ripples
into the
rest of
the lake.
That's
what we're
finding
here.
We're
finding
that this
echoing
forth,
this
sounding
forth
of the
gospel
that began
there
in
Thessalonica
began
to find
its
way
into
the
rest
of
the
regions
like
ripples
on
a
pond
used
only
here
in
the
New
Testament.
It
communicates
the idea
of
to
blast
forth
or to
trumpet
forth
this
massive
resounding
theme
that's
taking
place
or a
roll
of
thunder.
Paul
pictured
their
proclamation
as a
constant
sounding.
It
was
perpetual.
It
was
continual.
And the
message
wasn't
what a
humanitarian
church
or
what a
devout
church
or what a
peculiar
or strange
church.
It
wasn't
what a
religious
church
or what a
knowledgeable
church.
church
but it
was
what a
God
centered
church
because
it was
the
message
of the
Lord
sounding
forth
from you.
The
word of
the
Lord
had
found
its
course
from
this
church.
The
foundation
of this
new
group
of
believers
was
clear
to
everyone.
It
was
the
word
of
the
Lord.
That
was
the
reason
why
they
were
the
people
they
were
that
word
had
produced
something
tangible
invisible.
We see
something of
that happening
in Jerusalem
don't we?
A group
of
individuals
who
devoted
themselves
to the
teaching
of the
word
of God
and because
of the
close
community
that
was
affected
we find
in
chapter
247
that day
by day
the
Lord
added
to their
number
of those
who
were
being
saved.
And
then a
couple
of
weeks
ago
when we
looked
at the
church
of Antioch
we saw
again
a word
centered
church
where
Barnabas
shows up
and he
says
the grace
of God
is upon
this group
of individuals
and continually
the Lord
adds to
their number
because of
the work
of the
word
that was
taking place
in their
life.
This morning
I want us
to understand
that there
is a message
that is ringing
out from
you today.
there is
a message
that is
ringing
forth
it is
is it
the message
of the
Lord
that is
coming
through?
This past
week I
had the
opportunity
to sit
down
with some
administration
at a
school
that one
of my
kids
goes to.
It was
the kind
of
conversation
that they
were
making
some
suggestions
at how
we
should
put one
of our
kids
in class.
The kind
of
conversation
that you
kind of
get a little
defensive
about
and
you
kind of
say
I think
I know
a little
bit better
for my
kid
than you
do.
At least
that's
the initial
reaction.
And so
it is
incumbent
upon me
to say
okay
how will
the word
of the
Lord
sound
forth
from my
life
in this
meeting?
What
will be
the
posture
that I
will
take
in the
midst
of
talking
with
some
administration
who
has
other
ideas
on how
I
should
instruct
my
children?
I
could
be
defensive.
I
could
be
derogatory.
I
could
say
well
if
you
were
better
teachers
then
this
wouldn't
be
a
problem.
I
could
say
well
he's
my
kid
so
I
can
do
with
him
what
I
like.
But if
the
message
of the
Lord
is
going
to
sound
forth
from
me
in
that
context
what
do
you
suppose
that's
going
to
begin
to
look
like?
The
posture
of
humility
the
posture
of
submission
to the
authorities
that God
has placed
over me
the
posture
of
affirming
the
good
things
that I
know
about
their
intentions
however
difficult
it is
for me
to hear
those
intentions
to
point
to
the
fact
that
you
know
what
I
understand
your
desire
for
my
child
is
a good
desire
and so
when I
leave
that
meeting
what are
they going
to be
left
talking
about
are
they going
to be
talking
about
boy
what a
jerk
or are
they going
to be
left
talking
about
the
sweetness
of the
fragrance
of Christ
the aroma
of Christ
that marked
that
conversation
you see
because
the message
of
something
will ring
and is
ringing
out
from you
what is
that message
in your
interactions
with people
at work
and
the way
they observe
your ethic
the way
that you
maybe posture
yourself
for
or position
yourself
for that
promotion
the way
that you
advocate
for your
own
ideas
the way
that you
criticize
the decisions
that are
made
there is
a message
that is
ringing
out from
you
is it
the message
of the
Lord
that they're
hearing
or is it
the message
of the
world
coming
through
your
mouth
as a
conduit
you see
this church
understood
the significance
of the
message of
the Lord
ringing out
from them
it marked
every
conversation
it marked
every interaction
it marked
their day
to day
there was
consistency
wherever they
were in the
course of
their life
whether they
were at
home
whether they
were worshiping
as a
people
whether they
were in
the workplace
or trading
things
from day
to day
the outtake
of every
conversation
with those
individuals
was
this is a
people
marked
by God
it was
a church
that was
able to
to understand
the significance
of the kind
of people
that God
had made
them to be
and so
the depth
of their
ministry
was not
just talking
about how
great the
church
of Thessalonica
was
but talking
about how
great
their God
was
yes it
had breadth
and that
was significant
but more
importantly
it had
depth
the word
produced
something
in their
life
a group
of individuals
who had
been
transformed
by the
message
of the
word
and by
the power
of the
Holy
Spirit
their
message
was
consistent
with the
message
of the
Lord
and it
showed
the
significance
the
distinctiveness
of their
faith
in God
well
that was
the scope
of their
influence
now we
can begin
to see
what is
the source
of their
influence
what is
the source
of their
influence
where did
it originate
where did
it come
from
why did
they have
such
far-reaching
influence
and fruitfulness
we see
the answers
to those
questions
there in
verses
8 to
10
let me
read again
just verse
8
and then
we'll step
one at a
time
through
these
next
several
points
the
source
of their
influence
verse
8
for not
only has
the word
of the
Lord
sounded
forth
from
you
in
Macedonia
and
Achaia
but
your
faith
in
God
has
gone
forth
everywhere
so that
we need
not
say
anything
first
I want
you to
see
that
one
of
the
one
of
the
sources
of
their
influence
was a
result
of
their
faith
in
God
it
was a
result
of
their
faith
in
God
and
their
true
faith
in
God
actually
led
to
two
other
activities
in
their
life
that
we'll
get
to
here
in
a
moment
your
faith
in
God
has
gone
forth
!
again
another
perfect
active
indicative
that's
used
in this
passage
that helps
us understand
again
the significance
of past
action
that continues
to show
continual
future
results
the content
of what was
proclaimed
was their
faith
in God
in
contrast
to their
previous
faith
in idols
that we
find in
verse 9
but it's
interesting
to begin
to see
who was
the actual
messenger
of this
word
we find
that it
sounded
forth
initially
from the
church
of
Thessalonica
but in
verse 9
notice
it says
for they
themselves
report
concerning
us
the kind
of reception
we had
among you
and how
you turned
to God
from idols
to serve
the living
and true
God
how did
that message
begin to
find its
way out
of Thessalonica
how did
that message
begin to
sound forth
in all
these other
regions
where did
it come
from
who was
the
mouthpiece
of this
message
well some
have suggested
that it was
the church
itself
who carried
out the
message
from
Thessalonica
and that
is
that's a
it's a
very valuable
and worthy
thought
one commentator
puts it
this way
he says
the work
of faith
and labor
of love
expressed
itself
in their
sharing
of the
gospel
with others
they were
both
receivers
of the
word
and
transmitters
of the
word
certainly
that is
true
and as
we look
at the
book of
Acts
we can
see
that this
church
had a
gospel
heart
a number
of people
from this
church
partner
with
Paul
in getting
the message
out
to the
region
we find
Aristarchus
and Secundus
of Thessalonica
in Acts
chapter 20
we find
Aristarchus
also
traveling
with Paul
to Ephesus
on the
second missionary
journey
in Acts
chapter 19
and he even
accompanies him
to Rome
in Acts
chapter 27
and then in
Colossians
chapter 4
this is a
church that
has a
gospel
heart
and so
they send
individuals
from their
church
to partner
with Paul
in this
significant
ministry
there's no
question about
the fact
that this
church was
involved
in the
gospel
process
but notice
this use
of words
they
themselves
report
there's a
sudden
shift
in language
between
verses
6
and 7
and 8
and then
in verse
9
notice
in 6
a
you
became
imitators
in 6
b
you
received
the word
in 7
a
you
became
an
example
in 8
a
the word
sounded
forth
from you
the second
part of
8
b
your faith
has gone
out
everywhere
and now
then in
verse 9
they
themselves
report
you
they
the
use
here
is
emphatic
you
or they
excuse me
they
themselves
report
I think
this is an
encouragement
to this
church
who's going
through
tremendous
difficulty
Paul in
a sense
says
you may
not
see it
it may
not be
clear to
you
but I
want you
to
understand
that
your
suffering
and your
endurance
and your
joy
is
producing
fruit
it is
for a
purpose
God is
using it
to accomplish
his
salvation
in the
hearts
of people
all around
this region
so hang
in there
continue
on this
journey
continue
to
trust
God
to
work
results
through
you
into
the
lives
of
other
individuals
these
could have
been
believers
traveling
through
Thessalonica
those
who came
to buy
and sell
and to
trade
in various
ways
but I
think
as we
see in
verse
8
in the
second
part
Paul
says
here
your
faith
has
gone
everywhere
so that
we
need
not
say
anything
which
would
indicate
to
me
that
in
Paul's
conversations
with
individuals
those
who are
part
of the
church
and
those
who
were
not
part
of
the
church
no
matter
who
he's
talking
to
everywhere
he
goes
the
conversation
about
Thessalonica
seems
to be
at the
forefront
of their
attention
God
had
used
the
significance
of
suffering
in this
church
to
actually
create
a
context
for
gospel
ministry
in the
lives
of
everyone
living
in
Macedonia
and
Achaia
can
you
begin
to
appreciate
the
significance
of
that
Jesus
and his
name
hadn't
even
been
heard
in
this
region
there
was
no
Bible
there
was
no
scripture
there
weren't
any
missionaries
Paul's
desire
was to
preach
the
gospel
where
Christ
had
not
been
named
they
hadn't
heard
about
Jesus
necessarily
but they
had
heard
about
this
church
in
Thessalonica
and
the
word
of the
Lord
had
sounded
forth
from
them
into
all
these
little
conversations
that were
happening
from
people
who went
through
Thessalonica
and they
were just
blown
away
by the
testimony
of the
transformation
of this
church
Paul
in a
sense
says
you may
remain
stationary
you may
never
move
out of
Thessalonica
but those
who see
your faith
are sounding
out the
word
for you
saved
and unsaved
alike
they're
carrying
the
message
remarkable
amazing
but that's
what happens
when the
word of
God
begins
to make
that
kind
of
difference
in a
life
Paul
shares
the same
confidence
to
Timothy
in
2nd
Timothy
chapter
2
he says
to him
remember
Jesus
Christ
risen
from
the
dead
the
offspring
of
David
as
preached
in
my
gospel
for
which
I
am
suffering
bound
with
chains
as
a
criminal
but
the
word
of
God
is
not
bound
I'm
stuck
here
in
prison
but
my
dependence
isn't
upon
my
ability
to
carry
that
message
to
the
people
that
God
wants
to
save
my
dependence
is
upon
the
word
itself
and
the
ability
of
the
word
to
accomplish
its
work
in
the
hearts
of
people
you
can
have
that
same
confidence
oh
church
of
Thessalonica
in the
midst
of
your
suffering
you
can
believe
that
God
will
use
it
to
change
the
lives
of
those
who
look
at
your
witness
and to
see
your
transformation
their
faith
had
gone
out
not
just
the
word
of
the
Lord
but
their
faith
in
Christ
had
gone
out
to
that
entire
region
but
notice
here
also
in
verse
9
not
only
their
faith
in
God
but
also
their
love
for
God
their
love
for
God
he
explains
it
in
a
little
different
terms
he
says
this
here
in
verse
9
for
they
themselves
report
concerning
us
the
kind
of
reception
we
had
among
you
how
you
turned
to
God
from
idols
to
serve
the
living
and
true
God
we
find
as
a
result
of
their
faith
there
were
two
evidences
two
again
words
in the
Greek
they're
infinitives
that
kind
of
set
themselves
apart
here
in
this
passage
we
find
the
first
at
the
end
of
verse
9
and
the
second
at
the
beginning
of
verse
10
the
first
is
to
serve
and
the
second
is
to
wait
this
first
is
to
point
to
the
love
that
this
church
had
for
God
and
the
second
is
to
point
to
their
hope
that
they
had
in
God
taking
them
one
at
a
time
first
their
love
for
God
Paul
uses
this
word
to
turn
it
implies
a
change
in
attitude
but
also
in
action
this
is
true
repentance
that's
taking
place
in
their
life
there's
a
recognition
of
their
old
state
in a
turning
to
the
Lord
a
new
posture
of
heart
that
has
led
them
to
turn
away
from
the
idolatry
that
they
had
and
to
turn
to
devotion
and
worship
to
God
himself
and the
word
used here
for
service
is the
word
doulos
or the
word
slavery
to be a
bond
slave
this
was the
most
demanding
form
of
servitude
Paul
recognizes
the
significance
of
this
kind
of
devotion
and he
points
it out
for
this
church
he wants
them to
understand
I see
it
and God
appreciates
and expects
this kind
of devotion
to him
Jesus
points
to this
kind of
service
in Luke
chapter 16
verse 13
when he
says
no one
can serve
two
masters
the same
word is
used
there
for
either
he will
hate
the one
and love
the other
or he
will be
devoted
to the
one
and despise
the other
Jesus
creates a
correlation
for us
in that
verse
that helps
us understand
that those
who are
true servants
or slaves
of God
demonstrate
their true
love
their true
affection
their true
orientation
you will
either
serve God
and demonstrate
your love
and affection
to him
or you will
serve something
else
and demonstrate
your affection
to it
but you can't
have it both
ways
it's either
serve God
or serve
something else
it was clear
in the
in the lives
of the church
of Thessalonica
and to anyone
who was observing
them that their
true loyalty
was now
changed
their true
loyalty was
with God
the Father
in serving
and loving
him
the transition
was dramatic
impossible
to hide
they could say
I exist
for him
all that I have
belongs to him
my focus
my energy
my resources
my circumstances
my message
my struggles
exist to make
much of Jesus
in every way
but what helped
to anchor them
in their love
for God
was their hope
for him
it was also
a result
of their hope
in God
that we find
here in verse 10
and to wait
for his son
from heaven
whom he raised
from the dead
Jesus
who delivers us
from the wrath
to come
because of their
commitment
and confidence
in Jesus
is coming
it anchored
their heart
their soul
positioned them
for endurance
gave them
the fortitude
to be able to move
through their suffering
and to look forward
to something better
that was to come
it helped them
to not to set
their eyes
on things
on earth
but to set
their eyes
on things
above
where Christ
was
it gave them
a sense
of urgency
for the moment
it helped them
to understand
that their life
and existence
is lived
in light
of the imminent
return of Christ
it created
a sense
of urgency
in life
a sense
of consistency
in their obedience
a sense
of pleading
for those
around them
who didn't
know
who Jesus
was
their potency
as a church
was contingent
upon their
future hope
in Christ's
return
their success
in overcoming
obstacles
and temptation
and struggle
and sin
and suffering
and disappointment
rested
on the future
hope
the expectation
that Jesus
was coming
and it helped
them to wait
not in the kind
of waiting
that we would say
not the
inactive
kind of waiting
but in the
expectant
hope filled
taking action
kind of waiting
that was true
of their life
the Christian
life sprung
to action
for them
because of the
confidence
that they had
in the future
hope that Jesus
was returning
this morning
what is
your hope
what are the
things that you're
looking forward
to
you're looking
forward to
Thanksgiving break
for those of you
who are
students
looking forward
to Christmas
I had
one of my kids
the other day
say I can't
wait for Christmas
are we looking
forward to that
year end bonus
are you looking
forward to that
house project
being over with
is that what
marks your life
or is there
a
vivid
present
expectation
in the hope
that Jesus
is returning
and is that
shaping
everything
orienting
everything
in how you
live
providing
perspective
providing
balance
providing a
sense of
urgency
for life
that's what
marked this
church
and these
things are
what helped
them to be
a church
of great
influence
and as
individuals
who were
marked by
the power
of God
coming
together
shining the
light of
Christ
into the
world
God
used
their
testimony
as an
anthem
into the
world
to make
a
difference
in
Macedonia
and Achaia
and everywhere
that Paul
went
may that
be true
of us
let's pray