Authentic Imitation

The sermon is titled ‘Authentic Imitation’ because we are about to see how true conversion leads to life altering, culture shaping actions, just like Jesus. This is a great follow up with how JJ left it last week when he showed us what a ‘Gospel Response’ was because of God’s Sovereignty.

Background

Paul and his team come to Thessalonica after being beaten and imprisoned in Phillipi. So when he got to Thessalonica he was not looking very healthy to say the least. But he spoke to them, taught them, and they received the Gospel. So much so it angered the Jews in the city and caused them to be jealous because the Gospel was winning over the Gentiles (greeks).

Acts 17:1–10 ESV

1 Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. 2 And Paul went in, as was his custom, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.” 4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. 5 But the Jews were jealous, and taking some wicked men of the rabble, they formed a mob, set the city in an uproar, and attacked the house of Jason, seeking to bring them out to the crowd. 6 And when they could not find them, they dragged Jason and some of the brothers before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have turned the world upside down have come here also, 7 and Jason has received them, and they are all acting against the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 And the people and the city authorities were disturbed when they heard these things. 9 And when they had taken money as security from Jason and the rest, they let them go. 10 The brothers immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived they went into the Jewish synagogue.

So after they fled the city, Paul moved on to Athens and Silas and Timothy to Berea, and then joined Paul in Athens later on. It was from there Paul got concerned about the Thessalonian church and sent Timothy to see how they were doing. When Timothy return and reported how well they were doing in the midst of persecution, Paul then writes this letter to them.

(show the picture of beaten but smiling)

1 Thessalonians 1 ESV

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 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, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 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. 9 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, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Wiersbe says this:

The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Two: What Every Church Should Be (1 Thessalonians 1:1–10))

They suffered for Christ (v. 6b). In turning from idols to serve God, these believers angered their friends and relatives, and this led to persecution. No doubt some of them lost their jobs because of their new faith. Just as the Jewish unbelievers persecuted the believers in Judea, so the Gentile unbelievers persecuted the Thessalonian believers (1 Thes. 2:14–16). Faith is always tested, and persecution is one of the tests (Matt. 13:21; 2 Tim. 3:12).- Wiersbe

“If you look at the world, you’ll be distressed. If you look within, you’ll be depressed. But if you look at Christ, you’ll be at rest.”-Corrie Ten Boom

I. Ecstatic Thankfulness- vss. 2-3

English Standard Version Chapter 1

2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was super excited to hear the report from Timothy about how well the Thessalonians were doing! He was thankful the gospel and found such good healthy soil.

It is here he compliments the fruit that is produced in them.

Work

What kind of work?

It was the work of a believer. Paul used the connection of Faith, Hope, and Love many time. It just looks a little different here. But faith, hope, and love are abounding greatly with the Thessalonians. Faith here is noted in action. Work here is related to love because it is why they were working. They had faith because of the Love that was shown to them and in return they were coming together to love one another in brotherly affection. Just as we are told to do. John 13:34-35

John 13:34–35 ESV

34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”

In doing so, we work in ministry together. Helping one another, widows, orphans, the community around us; that we might just lead one to Jesus. Hebrews 6:10

Hebrews 6:10 ESV

10 For God is not unjust so as to overlook your work and the love that you have shown for his name in serving the saints, as you still do.

Labor

How did they love?

It shows up in how they worked. Hard, exhausting, toil… (Layman’s Bible Commnentary)

As people on mission do. and as we heard on many missionary trip reports. When you love someone, it doesn’t matter how hard the work is, you do it out of love for them, and at it’s root because of your love for Jesus. Who loved us first.

Endurance

Why were they enduring?

Because of the way that Christ had radically changed their lives; it affected the culture they were in and persecution was extremely intense at the time of their church’s birth. But they believed that God was leading them into a glorious future (LBC). They knew what they believed in was worth whatever hardship life threw at them. That is HOPE!

II. Examples- Imitators imitating an Imitator- vss. 4-8a

English Standard Version Chapter 1

4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 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, 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia,

Paul loved all his congregations that he helped to start, and the Thessalonians loved Paul. Paul would spend as much time as he could wherever he went as the Lord led. And obviously, they tried to learn as much as they could in the time they were given. One of the best ways to learn is to imitate and try pick up how to do something with excellence.

A. The Spirit’s Work- vss. 4-5a

The work of the Holy Spirit in our lives is an ongoing miracle believer’s get to experience. From the moment of salvation, the void in our inner selves, our heart is now satisfied by the only thing that can fill it, God. Not sin and it’s temporary pleasures. But a sustaining purpose driven out of love for the savior.

We know it was the Spirit at work in Thessalonica because Paul’s condition was poor. He was not flashy( like a put together salesman), he didn’t carry that reputation, be had been beaten; battered, bruised probable dirty he presented the Gopsel and people were saved by Jesus.

‘chosen’- a choice, selection, election

James Swanson, Dictionary of Biblical Languages with Semantic Domains: Greek (New Testament) (Oak Harbor: Logos Research Systems, Inc., 1997).

Just as JJ dealt with this last week, we see it again here. Salvation is a gift of Grace, not by our own doing. We are the dead corpse at the bottom, Jesus pulls us out and offers us life. How we understand the intricacy of how that works is beyond me. What’s more important: ‘Man’s will’ or ‘God’s sovereignty’? Am I so arrogant to say that the God of heaven, the one who gave His Son up for His enemies, who gave up heaven to live a life here to show us the Way, is LESS IMPORTANT THAN MY FREEDOM TO LIVE AS I SEE FIT. NOOO!

He chose me! HE did the saving! I should be so humble by the fact He sent the Spirit.

Romans 9:11 ESV

11 though they were not yet born and had done nothing either good or bad—in order that God’s purpose of election might continue, not because of works but because of him who calls—

God knows. If He doesn’t He is not God.

2. indwelling of the Spirit-

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit is ‘THE’ indication that salvation has come into an individuals life. We do not know looking from the outside, if a person is redeemed. No one knows but God and the individual.

Rom. 8:9 But there does come a point where fruit matures and others can tangible see what is produced by the Spirit- Eph. 5. When the Gospel mission is shared within a group of people (a church) lead by the Spirit. They affect the world around them.

Romans 8:9 ESV

9 You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him.

B. Imitation shows it’s the real dealvss. 5b-8a

Why would you want to imitate someone who gets beaten and bloodied everywhere they go!? It happen to the prophets, it happened to Jesus, it happened at the church in Jerusalem, and it happened to Paul and other.....

Why would you do it? Because it’s the TRUTH! And the Truth sets you free.

It’s why the disciples are the biggest proof of the resurrection of Jesus (explain) (Give the GOSPEL here)

When Paul was there, amongst them (key point- as we are amongst Corner, Bagley), he demonstrated what living on mission looked like. ‘what kind of men they were’- v.5

In the NT imitation is informed by the Greco-Roman context, where students were expected to imitate their teachers in philosophy, morality, and conduct.

v.6- ‘you became imitators of us’

v. 7-8a- ‘you became examples to all believers’

This is evangelism, the gospel is given, then recieved, then cultivated (discipleship) and then once matured; the cycle starts over. A healthy church can be measured by this.

Paul talks about this so much because the gentiles would understand it from their culture as one who serves a teacher. 1 Cor. 11:1, Eph. 5:1, Phil. 3:17, and not just Paul but 1 Peter 2:21

1 Peter 2:21 ESV

21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.

and 1 John 2:6

1 John 2:6 ESV

6 whoever says he abides in him ought to walk in the same way in which he walked.

Do we understand that in our culture it’s the same way. We imitate who our ‘teachers’ are. Is it Jesus? or Facebook? or our parents? or friends? or college? or coaches? or the ball field? our bosses? or co-workers? WHO DO YOU LOOK LIKE? I contend church if others in the area cant say they see Jesus in our imitation, then are we effective in Corner/ Bagley.

III. Encouragement for the Future- vss. 8b-10

English Standard Version Chapter 1

but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 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,

A. Nothing to Say… vss. 8b- 9

Paul has many times written to certain congregations to correct or exhort certain behaviors. Although Thessalonica is not a perfect church (none are) they had drawn the eye of the surrounding regions, and they had “witnessed” their faith. So much so they spread the word about them, ‘hey did you hear about the believers in Thessalonica?’

a witness is- One who helps establish the truthfulness of a matter by testifying firsthand about what was seen or heard.

THEY WERE GETTING IT DONE. IN SPITE OF WHAT IT COST THEM.

B. Hope in troubling times… vs. 10

So, here is what it came down to. Paul knew what kind of persecution they were experiencing. As well as they were doing, He didn’t want them to get discouraged.

Paul tells them of how their faithfulness in these tough times is getting noticed, they responded to the gospel when it was presented to them, they are keeping the faith, and others in the area were turning to Jesus because of the witness (their example). They changed who they were in the midst of the culture.

Instead, putting their faith in idols, they put their faith in Jesus and waited and longed for His return. Acts 1:11

Acts 1:11 ESV

11 and said, “Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven.”

And Paul will address this more later, and in 2 Thessalonians.

And why would they rather wait on Jesus? Because as bad as the troubles were then, they didn’t compare to what is to come. ‘Wrath’ the great and terrible day of the Lord.Romans 5:9

Romans 5:9 ESV

9 Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

Because we are Justified in Christ, we are saved from the wrath of God when this (life) is all over. We have all said it on occasion, especially on tough days ‘come Lord Jesus come’!!

Take Aways

What are you imitating? What are others imitating about you?

Face uncertainty, resistance, and difficulty with hope, because this life; this world is not our reward. Our life and future in Jesus is; and there our work should evident be as well.