To Be Bold

The Road to Thessolinica

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).

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.

1 Thessalonians 2:1–4 CSB

1 For you yourselves know, brothers and sisters, that our visit with you was not without result. 2 On the contrary, after we had previously suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, we were emboldened by our God to speak the gospel of God to you in spite of great opposition. 3 For our exhortation didn’t come from error or impurity or an intent to deceive. 4 Instead, just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please people, but rather God, who examines our hearts.

We know how the journey was when Paul had gotten to Thessolinica. How terrible of a situation he had just been in and how bad it was in Thessolinica. To put it simply Paul was probably in a horrible shape. And it seems like every where he went, he was battered, bruised, and ran off. So, the question is what keeps him going. How does he not let his circumstances keep him down.

What catches my eye is in verse 2, ‘emboldened’-

emboldened means- ‘to speak freely. denotes a kind of free speech that results from fearlessness and courage.

So, Paul and his colleagues were able to speak this way. Not out of their own strength. More importantly these other words. ‘by our God’.

This company embraced two things:

The message they carried was more important than anything. Even more important that their comfort, their health, and even their lives.

There is no way they can do it in their own strength. God has to be the source of our BOLDNESS.

This sentiment is a recurring action that happens with believers. It happened with Peter and James in Jerusalem. (Listen to this ) They were just in front of the council in the temple, and now they are praying together as believers:

English Standard Version Chapter 4

27 for truly in this city there were gathered together against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, along with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, 28 to do whatever your hand and your plan had predestined to take place. 29 And now, Lord, look upon their threats and grant to your servants to continue to speak your word with all boldness, 30 while you stretch out your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are performed through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” 31 And when they had prayed, the place in which they were gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.

And Paul would have known where true strength comes from. He knew the Pentateuch. He would have know this from Moses song:

Exodus 15:2 ESV

2 The Lord is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation; this is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him.

Which in turn would have solidified this kind of faith we find in 2 Corinthians.

He was referring to something that was ailing him, something that was causing trouble, He was now ‘LIving his best life now’ but says this:

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (ESV)

9 But he (Jesus) said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Look at the end of verse 10!

Who says that?! Who thinks like that?

(pause)

We DO!

We are given a message worth dying for.

We are given strength to carry it out.

We are given EVERYTHING! By our Father!

So my brothers and sister, what do we take away from this.

Know the Gospel message

Respond to the Gospel. Do you accept it? Do yo realize Jesus died for you? Do you know the sacrifice it took to bring you back to the Father.

Pray for strength. That in your weakness, you be made strong

Pray to be bold.

If we do that together as a church, as a community ..... the place could be shaken!!