Our prayer for our time together in the study of 1 Thessalonians is that we get some opportunities
! to be real with one another about where we are.
So that we take the truths of the scripture and we don't just banter them around and discuss
the accuracy of our interpretation but that we take what we know and we actually put it to work.
That's why we exist. We exist to be representatives of Jesus, not just to know what he says but to
actually put it to work in our lives. And I think that's what's kind of refreshing to be honest with
you when I look at this church of Thessalonica. I mean, we're talking about a church that is brand
new. Paul is, it was only there for just a few weeks. We don't know exactly how long but he talks
about in Acts chapter 17 that he only preached there for three weeks in the synagogue and then
through the course of events was kind of propelled out of the city. In about six to ten months, maybe
a year later, he writes this letter to this church. So they're no more than a year old at this point.
And yet, here is a church that we can learn something from. This infant fledgling church
has something to say to you. This infant fledgling church has this fresh zeal for Jesus
that has absolutely transformed everything about their lives. Now certainly they're growing in their
faith. They're growing in their knowledge but they're putting it to work. And that's what I want
for my life and I'm sure that's what you want in your life as well. You want to be a person who knows
the truth and reflects that truth to others around you. I want to point you to just a couple of things
that we're going to be looking at through the course of this study. And in a couple of weeks from now,
we're going to concentrate on the last part of chapter one. But I want to just point you there
briefly for just a moment. Beginning in verse eight of chapter one. First Thessalonians chapter one,
verse eight. If you're a guest with us this morning, it's on page 986 in the pew in front of you.
I want you to see how transformational this church was. It says,
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 turn to God from idols to serve the living
and true God. Now when you think about the church and you think about the kind of impact
that you want the church to have, you think that's a little how you would describe it? You want all of
Columbus and perhaps all of Ohio to know and to recognize the wonder of the gospel so that no
person is unaffected by that message and the testimony that you have had in their life because of this
Christ-exalting change that's taken place for you?
Then if you turn to chapter four, you can begin to see this coming again.
Chapter four, verse nine says this,
Now concerning brotherly love, you have no need for anyone to write to you.
For you yourselves have been taught to God to love one another, for
that indeed is what you are doing
to all the brothers throughout Macedonia.
I mean, can you get it?
Let's not forget,
this church is only a year old
and it is having this kind of impact.
The little truth they knew,
they embraced.
And what they embraced was so distinctive
that the entire region of Macedonia and Achaia
had at least heard the message of Jesus.
And all of the brothers and sisters in that entire region
had been affected in some way
by the outpouring of love from this church.
This just blows me away.
Because, frankly,
I don't know that many people here,
even in the other end of Trebu Road,
knows that Maranatha exists.
It could be.
But what about the churches in Worthington?
What about the brothers and sisters who are in Toledo?
Is there the kind of impact
that God is having for you personally
that begins to affect the world around you?
It begins here.
And then God begins to work the change in your life
to begin to affect the people who see you.
Because they're not seeing you anymore.
They're beginning to see Christ in you.
That's what we're working towards.
That's what we want.
And that's, by the way,
what Paul begins to commend here
at the very outset of this letter.
Because if you remember where Paul was
before coming to Thessalonica,
he was in Philippi.
And you know what happened in Philippi.
Things were not very happy in Philippi.
At least not towards the end.
Paul and Silas were beaten
for a service they did
to this slave girl
in casting out a demon.
And because the owners of this slave girl
were no longer profiting off of her,
they made an appeal
and made a complaint
and they were beaten and thrown in prison.
That didn't seem to faze Paul and Silas.
Their backs bloodied
in this prison cell.
And what do they do?
They sing.
They sing and praise the Lord
and the Holy Spirit shakes
the prison doors off their hinges.
And a revival begins
with the prison guard
and his entire family.
But as a result,
Paul and Silas and Timothy
have to make their way
now to the next city.
And they come their way
to Thessalonica
and things in Thessalonica
aren't a whole lot better
than they were in Philippi.
This entire region
was experiencing
a lot of the same upheaval.
And so for the church
of Thessalonica
who was just beginning
in their comprehension
of the truth of the gospel
is experiencing
as a fledgling church
some significant persecution.
So what does the heart
of a pastor
do
to encourage himself
when he knows
the difficulties
that are in store
for these people
he's begun to love
and he knows
the potential
for disruption
of faith
to take place?
How does he encourage
his heart?
What does he point
his attention to?
What does he begin
to emphasize
and to draw out?
Well we see that here
in chapter 1
verses 1 to 3
and that's where
we want to concentrate
our attention
this morning
because these
three words
these three
characteristics
are not only
the core characteristics
of every believer
but these are the things
that he carries along
through the course
of the rest of this letter
and begins to help shape
and direct their attention
to why these things
are important for them
as a body.
Let me read this for us
and we'll begin
in our study this morning.
Paul, Silvanus,
and Timothy
to the church
of Thessalonica
in God the Father
in the Lord Jesus Christ
grace to you
and peace.
We give thanks
to God always
for all of you
constantly mentioning you
in our prayers
remembering before
our God and Father
your work of faith
and labor of love
and steadfastness
of hope
in our Lord Jesus Christ.
If you're looking
at the back
you can easily
fill in the outline
as you read
through these verses
it's very clear
where we're going
in the flow
of this study.
And it'd be easy
for us just to
talk about
the significance
of work
excuse me
the work of faith
and labor of love
and steadfastness
of hope.
We know about faith
hope and love.
Paul identifies
these as kind of
the core component
of every true believer.
In 1 Corinthians
chapter 13
he says
now abides faith
hope
love
these three
but the greatest
of these is love.
We recognize
that these are
the main components
that should
represent
every true believer.
But I want to
step through them
one at a time today.
I want us
to take
some moments
not just to know
what the truths
are
but maybe a bit
different than what
we've done
in the past
I want to give you
some time
to actually think
it through
for yourself.
How does God
want you to be
a more faithful
person?
But let's look
at this together.
First I want to talk
about the fruit
of faith.
I want to talk
about the fruit
of faith.
He begins here
by mentioning
this work
of faith.
Now what should
be going through
your mind
immediately
the first question
that should come
to your mind
is wait a second
time out
work of faith?
What does he
mean by that?
Because I know
there are at least
a couple of verses
in the other parts
of the scripture
that would also
use some same
language and say
that work and
faith don't go
together.
Right?
And we understand
the continuity
of the scripture.
We understand
that the scripture
does not contradict
each other.
So we have to
begin to appreciate
and understand
the flow of
what's taking place
here in the context
of the rest
of the scripture.
We can only come
to appreciate
and understand
what the Bible
says as we
compare scripture
to scripture.
So what two
verses would
come to your
mind about
faith and works?
Probably Ephesians
chapter 2
verses 8 and 9
which says
for by grace
are you saved
through faith
and that not
of your works
it's a gift
of God
excuse me
let me go back
for by grace
you say through
faith and that
not of yourselves
it is the gift
of God
not of works
so that no one
can boast.
So what do we
find out about
this?
Faith stands
alone.
It comes
only
through the
grace of God
as a gift
to those
who believe
in Jesus Christ
for salvation.
There is no
merit
there is no
worthiness
in us
there's nothing
that we can do
to achieve
God's favor
to get
or receive
God's favor
in any way.
It is
only
the grace
of God
to us.
Now a
companion
verse to that
is in Titus
chapter 3
verse 5
which says
not by works
of righteousness
which you have
done
but according
to his mercy
he saved us
by the washing
of regeneration
and renewing
of the Holy Ghost.
Now
you may be
asking yourself
the question
okay well
it's the same
English word
but maybe
it's a different
Greek word
that's there.
Well
I wish I could
say it was
that would
make things
really easy
but it's not.
It's the same
Greek word
ergon
that we find
in all three
verses here
in 1 Thessalonians
and those two
as well.
So what are we
talking about?
When we talk
about the work
of faith
what are we
referring to?
Well the
Greek word
itself
actually
only refers
to a deed
or an act
an activity.
We might
say that it
is
it's a walk
it's not
necessarily a process
but it is
the expression
of true faith
in a life.
Paul uses it
in 1 Thessalonians
a couple of times
when he talks
about work.
At the end
of 1 Thessalonians
he talks about
esteem them
speaking of
your leaders
very highly
in love
because of
their work
referring specifically
to their deed
their activity
what they do
in terms of
labor for
the church.
So to bring
this together
what is
Paul talking
about when he
is referring
to the work
of faith?
What he is
referring to
is the
evidence
of true
faith
showing up
in your life
and bearing
witness
of what you
truly believe.
In Hebrews
chapter 11
verse 1
we find
now faith
is the evidence
of things
not seen.
Faith
your true
faith
shows up
in how you
live.
Now we
spend a lot
of time
in 1 John
talking about
that.
We use
the phrase
you are
what you
believe
and what
I mean
by that
is not
that you
can just
believe
anything
you can
believe
that you
can be
a Christian
and do
all of
these other
things.
That's not
what I'm
talking about.
What I'm
talking about
is there's
a difference
between
what your
confession
of faith
is
and what
you truly
believe
because it
will actually
work its
way out
in true
living.
What you
truly believe
will show
up in
how you
live.
It's
inescapable.
And that's
what Paul
is talking
about here.
There is
a component
of faith
a true
component
of faith
that showed
up in
their life
that produced
something
that was
only
possible
because of
God's work
in their
life.
we find
from another
source in
James,
not talking
about Paul
anymore,
but now
in the
book of
James,
we find
that faith
without works
is dead.
And now
we're beginning
to understand
that faith
does create
a measure
of action
in our
life.
That just
because you
have a
certain belief
system,
just because
you have a
certain doctrine
doesn't mean
that you
actually live
your life
according to
that doctrine.
How many
of us
believe in
the sovereignty
of God?
We know
that God
is always
present
with this
omnipresence
of God
in the
sovereignty
of God
in terms
of his
lordship
of my
life.
I ascribe
those truths
but then
how often
in a given
week,
even though
I know
that God
is there,
there is
still this
rebellion
in my
heart
in
relationship
to my
surroundings.
Or there's
anxiety in
my heart
about what's
taking place.
Do I really
believe that
he's sovereign?
Well,
I'm working
to grow
in my
knowledge
of who
God is
and committing
that to my
life but
so often
there is
a disconnect
from my
confession of
faith in
what I
actually
demonstrate
as the
fruit of
my life
as a
result of
faith.
I want
to just
point out
for our
benefit
the verses
in 1 Thessalonians
that point
to faith
to see
how
important
this subject
was to
the Apostle
Paul.
We see
it,
of course,
here in
verse 3.
But we
also see
it in
chapter 1
verse 8.
Notice
what he
says towards
the end.
He says,
your faith
towards God
has gone
out so
that we
do not
need to
say anything.
Now,
how does
doctrine go
out?
Well,
it doesn't.
That's what
we're talking
about.
But what
they truly
believed
showed up
so remarkably
in their
life that
all the
people could
talk about
was,
have you
seen the
church
of
Thessalonica?
It's
amazing
what God
has done.
Which
pointed to
the
foundation
of faith
that they
had,
that led
them to
a certain
activity.
It was
visible
because it
produced
action in
their life.
Chapter 3,
verses 2
and 5
and 6
and 7
and 10
all talk
about the
significance
of faith.
Paul is
concerned about
this church
because he
knows the
adversity that
they're
confronted with
and so he
sends Timothy
to find out
about their
faith
and to
encourage
them to
grow in
their faith.
faith.
And when
he hears
about their
true faith
and Timothy
brings a
report back,
this letter
is the
outflow of
his enthusiasm.
He is
bubbling
with excitement
because of
the testimony
of Timothy
and the
faith that
has produced
action in
the lives
of this
church.
And perhaps
the verse
that we could
go to for
faith,
hope,
and love
in this
little epistle
is in
chapter 5
verse 8.
Let me read
that for us.
1 Thessalonians
chapter 5
verse 8.
Let those,
excuse me,
but let us
who are of
the day
be sober,
putting on
the breast
plate of
faith
and love
and as a
helmet
the hope
of salvation.
not only
is faith,
love,
and hope
the beginnings
of your
experience
in relationship
with God
but it is
also the
thing that
will protect
you and
arm you
against
the dangers
you will
face in
the Christian
life.
So let's
begin to
talk in
practicality.
How does
God want
to refine
your faith
today?
What is
the evidence
of faith
in your
life?
As we
will begin
to or
continue to
look throughout
1 Thessalonians
and as we
are going to
be encouraged
to see
how Paul
sent Timothy
to go
help refine
and strengthen
the faith
of this church,
we are
struck with
the fact
that faith
must grow
in every
Christian
life.
Faith
cannot
be
stagnant.
So,
how does
God want
to increase
your faith
tomorrow?
What is
God speaking
into your
life that
he wants
to change
today?
How has
God been
trying to
get your
attention?
Maybe over
the past
couple of
weeks,
maybe over
the past
couple of
months,
as you've
been reading
the scriptures,
as you've
been spending
time in
prayer,
God has
been tapping
your shoulder
and trying
to inform
your heart
that something
must change
about you.
And up to
this point,
for whatever
reason,
either it's
not been
convenient or
it's just
not felt
very necessary,
you've put
it off.
God can't
walk us
and step
us into
the next
area of
faith until
we begin
to be
obedient in
the initial
steps.
How does
God want
to refine
your faith
today?
What is
that next
step?
How is
he trying
to realign
your priorities?
How is
he trying
to move
you to
courage?
How is
he trying
to help
relieve
those fears
that you
have,
those pressures
that mount
from day
to day?
How does
he want
to move
you to
action?
The process
of putting
off and
putting on.
Well,
perhaps one
of the reasons
why it's
difficult to
maybe even
hear God's
voice is
because we're
just not in
tune with
him.
I found
that to be
true in
my own
life so
many times.
Is the
tempter,
the evil
one,
the adversary
of your
soul,
is he
coming in
the way
of you
listening to
the voice
of God?
Are there
areas of
your life
where you
know there
are clear
mandates
that you're
just ignoring?
Sin that
has settled
in and you've
become comfortable
with and you've
decided,
I just enjoy
this a bit
too much
right now.
Well,
that will
certainly
deafen the
voice of
God in
your heart.
Perhaps
you are not
in community
with God's
people on a
regular basis
as you should.
And what
we'll find
throughout
scripture is
God uses
his people
to often
speak through
his word
to us.
And one
of the
outlets of
that for
us is the
small group
experience.
And so I'm
encouraged that
this church
has the
small group
so that we
can grow
in relationship
and we
can stir
one another
up to love
and good
deeds.
There is
accountability.
There is
conversation.
There is
perhaps
sometimes
confrontation
that happens
there.
But it's
all a
grace to
you and a
grace to
me when
that happens.
We've got
to move
from the
step of
knowing to
the step
of acting.
how does
God want
to grow
your faith
today?
He doesn't
end there.
He's
delighted not
only by
their faith.
He is not
only ecstatic
about what
he sees in
terms of
authentic
genuine
faith but
that faith
is reinforced
with love.
He says
their work
of faith
and their
labor
of love.
So now
we move
to the
fruit
of love.
What does
that look
like?
How does
that show
up?
Well when
he uses
this word
labor he's
referring to
work and
trouble and
difficulty.
It is often
associated with
striking and
beating of
the breasts,
wailing and
grieving.
It's used
to denote
not so much
the actual
exertion but
the weariness
that is
involved in
the process.
Have you
ever felt
weary in
love?
Is love
work for
you?
Oh man.
Love is
work isn't
it?
And love
is messy
sometimes.
Love gets
complicated at
times.
And I
think so
often in
my own
life I'm
just
scratching the
surface when
it comes to
what real
love looks
like.
Because I'm
not getting
to the
place where
Jesus is
talking about
in the
Sermon on
the Mount
where he
says love
your enemies,
do good to
those who
persecute you,
pray for
them who
despitefully
use you.
I mean I'm
not there
yet.
I'm having
a hard enough
time at the
introductory
process of
just loving
the people
around me.
even sometimes
loving the
people in
my own
family.
Because love
is hard.
But somehow
this church
however new
they were,
however immature
they were in
their understanding
of the
scripture,
what they
knew they
put to
work.
So that he
can make this
statement in
chapter 4.
That all the
brothers in
Macedonia have
been affected
in some
way by
their love.
That is
incomprehensible
to me.
But by the
way, Paul
wasn't satisfied
even with that
amount of
love.
Because he
commands their
love to
abound more
and more.
So what are
we talking
about when we
talk about
true Christian
love?
Well we've
spent a lot
of time in
1 John talking
about love,
haven't we?
Let me just
for the sake
of reminder,
I want to
tell you what
love is not
like.
Because our
world has a
warped view
of love.
Their love
is temporary.
Their love
is conditional.
Their love
is fickle.
It kind of
comes and
goes as it
pleases.
Their love
is self-serving.
It has
its own
purposes in
mind.
As long as
my needs
are met,
my feelings
aren't hurt,
then there's
an appropriate
give and
take.
But when
that ends,
then my
love for
you is
gone.
Only up to
a point where
I decide
to love
you.
The world's
love is
willing to
sever.
It's willing
to cut off.
It's willing
to dissociate
oneself
from others.
It holds
grudges.
It's bitter.
It's unwilling
to forgive.
forgive.
The world's
love gets
even.
You hurt
me and
I'll get
you back.
The world's
love angles
for position.
How does
this relationship
get me where
I want to
go?
How does
it fill a
supposed need
that I have
for myself?
But that's
not the kind
of love that
we found in
1 John,
is it?
That kind
of love is
a love that
pursues.
It's a love
that initiates.
It's a love
that goes
after it.
It takes
the first
step.
It's a love
that endures.
We find
love suffers
long and is
kind.
We find in
the scripture
that love
covers a
multitude
of sins.
We also
know that
love seeks
the best.
It looks
for the best
in others.
It seeks
to identify
what is
truly good
about another
individual.
That's what
I love about
the apostle
Paul, by
the way.
I mean,
how is it
that he
opens this
letter and
the expression
of his
heart is
one of
thanksgiving
for this
church that
is certainly
dysfunctional
in many ways.
And yet,
in the opening
phrase,
you would
never know
it because
he says,
we give
thanks to
God always
for you.
It is just
the overwhelming
expression of
our thoughts
towards you,
our thanksgiving.
He was
able to
be thankful
because he
saw God
in them.
He saw
true faith.
He saw
true love.
And he sees
this steadfastness
of hope that
we'll get to
in just a
moment here.
And because
he saw
God in
them,
he knew
that they
were secure.
And he knew
that God
had it
covered.
That God
had begun
a good work
in them,
he would
complete it.
So,
how about
us?
Are you
really good
at pointing
out the
flaws in
other
individuals?
Or are you
good at
affirming
the best?
That's hard,
isn't it?
But that's
what godly
love does.
It looks
for and
identifies and
affirms the
good in
others.
Love
serves.
The Son
of Man
came to
serve and
not to
be served,
but to
give a
life as
a ransom
for many.
I was
talking to
somebody the
other day
who is
in a
situation,
not where
necessarily
the people
that they're
interacting
with is
hard,
but that
they are
always giving
away.
There's
always an
expending
of self.
There's
never a
filling up.
There's
no sense
of others
pouring back
in what
has been
depleted
from them.
That
makes love
very difficult
too.
Those
of you
who are
stay-at-home
moms or
those of
you who
are single
parents,
those of
you who
are the
only
believers
in your
family,
you know
something
about giving
and giving
with very
little or
nothing
coming back.
but that
is the
true heart
of love
because
as our
Savior
loved,
there's
always this
expression of
to serve.
I am
here to
serve you
and I
will then
trust God
that he
will give
me what I
need
because my
God shall
supply all
my needs
according to
his riches
and glory
in Christ
Jesus.
Do you
believe that?
We give lip
service to that
truth so many
times but when
it comes to
actually showing
up to
expend self
time and time
again,
sometimes we
just say,
I just need
some help
here.
And I
think that's
a legitimate
desire but
but who do
we look for
to fill the
tanks when
the reservoir
has gone
dry?
We must
look to
Christ.
So what is
the evidence
of love
in your
life?
How does
God want
to refine
your love
today?
Maybe
like me,
God has
to begin
to work
a little
prejudice out
of your
heart.
Maybe God
has to
create in
you a
burden for
the lost.
A deeper
sense of
love for
the people
who don't
know Christ
around you.
By the
way, you
can pray for
us because
Sarah and I
tonight are
going to be
going to a
Muslim wedding.
So that will
be an
experience.
And I
pray that
God uses
that experience
to continue
to grow
us in our
relationships
with our
neighbors
and to
give us
a greater
tenderness
to that
group of
individuals.
As we
seek to
move
into places
that are
uncomfortable,
then we can
trust that God
will help to
cultivate in us
what we see
is missing.
But only
when we
walk in
obedience
and we let
him work.
That's the only
way it's going
to happen.
when God
speaks to
your heart
that you
say,
your will
be done.
Finally,
the fruit
of hope.
The fruit
of hope.
We see
that here.
The steadfastness
of hope
in our Lord
Jesus Christ.
Steadfastness
is the word
for endurance
or perseverance.
It's in
contrast to
the word
for patience
or long
suffering.
This word
is associated
with hope
and refers
to the
quality
of character
which does
not allow
one to
surrender
to circumstances
or succumb
under trial.
This is the
word of
endurance.
The word
of somebody
who is going
to go
the distance
no matter
the cost.
It's not
that you're
putting up
with the
hardship
around you
but there
is a
resoluteness
about you.
I am
seeing this
through
and I
am relying
on the
strength
of God
to carry
me
to the
finish line.
It's only
found here
in 1 Thessalonians
but it's
used extensively
through all
of Paul's
letters.
This was
a significant
quality
that Paul
repeatedly
points to.
He does
refer to hope
on numerous
occasions
things
in 1 Thessalonians
and I
want us
to understand
that when
the Bible
talks about
hope
it's not
talking about
a wish
it's not
talking about
a possibility
it's not
talking about
oh there
might be a
chance
that something
might happen
no when
the Bible
is talking
about hope
it's talking
about certain
expectancy.
I know
this will
happen
because I
know
the God
who has
made this
promise
and I'm
just going
to wait
for him
in his
timing
to accomplish
his purposes
in this
situation.
It may
not necessarily
be for my
benefit
at least
not my
temporary
benefit
but it
may have
future
benefit
to the
kingdom
and I'm
okay with
that.
I want
to be used
of God
and trust
him
in difficulty
to accomplish
his purposes
in his way.
So what
is the
evidence
of hope
in your
life?
Is there
a steadfastness?
Is there
a hanging
on to
God?
A looking
to him
for answers
to the
deep
questions
of your
life
and trusting
that he
has the
future
locked in
and you
don't have
to know
all of
the answers
but that
you can
trust
in the
one answer
that matters
and that
is that
God
has it
under
control
and that
he will
give you
the strength
to overcome?
Are there
anxieties
in your
life?
Are there
fears?
Is there
a working
the system
because there's
a bit of
impatience
for you?
You've been
waiting a long
time but God
hasn't seemed
to show up
yet and so
you need to
help him
out a little
bit.
Well those
who truly
hope are
those who
are willing
to wait.
is hope
creating
an expectation
for heaven?
Can you
say
with the
apostle
Paul
for me
to live
is Christ
and to
die
is gain.
Is there
an urgency
in your
life
to use
and to
maximize
your time
for the
sake of
Christ?
Is there
hope
in him
in your
life
today?
Let's
pray.