A Good Example Can Be Contagious | 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10

1st Thessalonians 1st Thessalonians again a book about faith Love and Hope last week. We looked at a good example can be contagious. We had three characteristics of the Gospel that we needed to look that there but we're only able to look at 1 so our goal this morning really is simply this here's the message in one sentence. Once we receive the Gospel and we are changed by it. We need to live it out and share it with others in our sphere of influence and around the world. So let's read our texts again to remind us where we have been and then so we can go ahead and pick it up from where we left off last week verse 12:55. It says because our gossip 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 man we proved to be among you for your sick. That's Paul and his companions speaking there 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 Anna Kaya for not only has the word of the Lord sounded for from you and Macedonia and I Kaya but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere so that we need not saying Anything for they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had them on you and how you turn to God from Idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for his son from Heaven woman. He raised from the dead Jesus who delivers us from the Wrath to come father. Please see all these words into our hearts in Jesus name, we pray amen. So three characteristics of the Gospel last week. We looked at the gospel has to be receive. The Gospel is the good news of Jesus Christ as the message that Christ came for our sin Christ died for our sins and Christ was raised he was buried and he was raid for our well-being so that the same can be our future that when we die then we get Married, then we will one day rise again. So the gospel has to be received 24 the gospel for that message to have any effect in your life. You have to receive it personally for you. If you have not received the gospel, it cannot send you another for the God spoke to change you you have to receive it personally cuz that's why Paul said they're in the text in verse five. It says because our gospel now Paul is not saying my gospel Paul was not saying bug us both of us. It was our gospel. Now the people into solid Micah has received the gospel. Remember Paul went there to decide oniki for three weeks three weekends three Sabbath day. He went there and share the gospel with them the people at heard the gospel them heard what it says. They understood that Jesus came to die. For their sins, Jesus died. He was buried and then he was raised and then to never die again and that they received that message and the lives were forever changed and by Paul said they're Our Gospel came not to you in word only but also in power when it did come flu words because Paul had to share it with them, but probably saying that you heard the word. But you received that it comes with the power and in the Holy Spirit. Here's the thing only two things can change people. It's the word of God and the Holy Spirit people can try whatever gimmicks trying to force people to change. You can't force people to receive the Gospel. You can only share it and then let the word let the Holy Spirit bring the conviction c.s. Lewis says the Bible the word is like a lion. It doesn't need anybody to defend it. You just have to throw it out there and it will defend itself. So your job as a Believer is just to share it and then you pray that they would receive the holy spirit that the holy spirit will bring the word will let the word convict them of sin. And that's what we saw last week only the word and the Holy Spirit can convict people to embrace the gospel. I'm glad that God did it put the burden on us to change anybody for we cannot change anybody. We cannot really change our kids we can mold and we can shave them the way that they need to go with Trend them up with teach them the way that they can go but that's all we can do. We have to leave the rest to cry. Deceased spouse's trying to Jennifer Allison the word of God and the Holy Spirit of God the change agent in verse 19 says for themselves report concerning the kind of reception. We had them on you and how you turn from Idols to serve the Living. God knows people really got it gay when they receive the Gospel no longer they were leaving by the idles. They just made full circle hundred and eighty degree turn they were going this way and they turned going that way no longer living in the idles, but they were living for God and that's the problem. I see you today too. Many of us too many Believers want to have it both ways then went to have enough one foot in the world and one foot with God. It doesn't work like that. This is a miserable. Life we can only have it one way and we're trying to have it both ways. We're going to miss out on both. Because it's like you're being pulled on both Direction all that you're going to do is just to get on break. Either we go to the world we go with God see those people that catch on with the gospel that turn from their idols and they turn to God. It doesn't have to take a long. It doesn't have to take a long time to become a committed believer see a lot of us. A lot of people are in church forever, but the law has never affected the live never change. And those people only had three weeks they've caught on and everybody knew they had the gospel in them and they were acting as missionaries and they were being a good example being very contagious with everybody knew about their face. It doesn't have to take long to be committed to Christ. We just have to be willing and surely receive the Gospel and trust in God and live at out an invoice then it says end to wait for his son from heaven. When he raised from the dead Jesus who delivers us from the Wrath to come the Bible says that it is appointed for man to die once and then comes judgment all of us at the end of the day will be judge. But for the believer, it's not going to be rough because creepy long to Christ. We have received the gospel cuz we're already know our faith and when we die, we just become even more lies because as we rise from the dead we will forever be with Christ. So that means no judgment. The judgment will be in Matthew 7 when Jesus say Well done good and faithful servant. You've been faithful and a little things in this practice of life. Now come into my resting place where you will be even more productive where I will give you more responsibilities work. You can prove yourself to be even more faithful you need for the believer. It is not a judgment, but for the people who have not received the gospel, I have always a real place. And that's why we have to take the gospel seriously and shared with our loved ones. The people we've started with the people we care about and dribble up a love for everyone to come to know the gospel time. How do we know whether we have truly receive the Gospel? You know this by asking the simple question is my greatest desire to do what God requires. So if your greatest desire is not to do what God requires. The gospel is out of place in your life. But when you can answer positively to that question that my greatest desire is to do what God requires then you know, you have truly receive the Gospel and you will be fully obey the Bible. It is 1st, John 5:3 says that this is the love of God that you keep his Commandments and any ads and his Commandments are not burdensome. So it's not a burden for you. It's like whenever you get to do guys wear. Do you want to live a few life? You want to live a life or you not lying you want to live a life that is obedient to God to share the gospel. It's not even a burden because you are operating from Joy because you're joyfully obeying God so the bottom line and we saw last week was that the gospel comes to us? to do a work in US and then to do a work flew us now the second thing the second thing that the gospel does. So remember we're looking at three characteristics of the Gospel. The gospel has to be receive and then the gospel has to be lived out. The gospel has to be lived out. He won verse that I've been meditating on a lot this year is that it says in Ephesians and also in Philippians, it says we need to walk worthy of the Gospel walking worthy of the gospel and that's why we see here. Look at the end of verse 5, but I'll read the entire verse it says because our gospel came to you not only in word but also empowering the holy spirit with full conviction. Look at what it says. There are you know, what kind of men we proved to be? How long you for what you're sick. You see when you live right when you leave worthy of the Gospel. It's not only for you, but it's also because you want others to know so that when people look at your live, they can say man. This is different from what I'm accustomed to this is different from what I know. You see here the the Apostle Paul and his companions Timothy see they wanted to walk worthy of the Gospel not just for them not just to show that be guided but also for them so that they would have an example to follow. That's what I thought one of our message that a good example is contagious and then you will see because Paul Timothy and his other companion gave them a good example. Look at what happened to the people at this hour like 46 and you became what? Imitators a movie you became imitators sell just people until it's ironic that became little Timothy. They became little balls are very were looking at their lives. They saw their lies and says, I want to EMU late this life. I want to emulate this using anybody you share the gospel with you want them to imitate you You want them to look on it? And when they say that a man, I want to be like you this is totally fine. As long as you are following after Christ because Paul says follow me as I follow Christ and you see their Paul and His companion gave them a good example and the people caught on and it became imitators of us and of the Lord Jesus Christ. You see it it goes both know. It's not just you it's because you following Christ, then you become a good example, then they have something to follow. Okay, so it's not just you follow me because I'm following Christ. Follow me just like I'm following Christ. And they became imitators of us and of the Lord for you received the word in much affliction. Is he doesn't mean that things will be always great do people receive the word when they were going through some stuff. You see if they're real receive the word of matching function. What's the next word?

I took a picture with John.

Unless you're coming on Wednesday night. You know that Joe is not based on circumstances, right?

It says you received the word in Manchester election on one hand Affliction and on the other hand while you get the holy spirit is he says joy of the holy spirit. So really your joy is not depend on your circumstances. All your reflection will always a problem. Remember Jesus in this world of trouble. You might have trouble he says you will have trouble so I can switch to Xbox problems. But in the midst of it do not let it take away your joy. See the receive it in multiplication, but still they had the joy of the holy spirit's this is good and it's 7 it says so that you became an example a good example is contagious Paul his companions were good example, and what did those people what were those people doing? They became the same Jude example to all the Believers in their community. and in and Beyond See in Macedonia and Inakaya see that's why I tell you know, our mission is that to be sold in line with our community? And Beyond and around the world we need to do that first Corinthians 11:1 be imitators of me as I am following Christ. Philippians 3:17 Brothers, drain me in imitating Drennan imitating me and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the what example you have in who? Fix it when you share the gospel with you. Can I just tell him look at how sister Carolyn work just looks like she walks. You cannot walk like Sister Barbara, see how she was doing want to watch like that because I'm really following Christ. I'm striving for the gospel make sense. All right Psalm 119 verse 71. Okay. Here's why we need Affliction. Look at what this for his 119:71. It is good for me that I was black.

Who was Thomas insane? It's good to me that I was afflicted. Why. That I might learn your statutes. I don't know about you. Once you get problems. It's your drawer you closer to God that you enjoy you to the word more and more than when you were casual about his word. But hear the song is thank God for affliction because you drew him what closer to him. Look at this one in verse 61/67 same Psalm 119 before I was afflicted. I want to trade some of us the reason we don't think I seriously because we have it too good. see before I was afflicted I went astray but now I keep your word Man Walking with God. Yes, you know what you need a good dose of affliction. A good does a problem where things are not going your way where nothing is going your way. Where you at your wit's end.

If that's going to help you to keep God's work, is that good? Yeah, this world is temporary, right? Better yourself for now. Then you can enjoy later the full life that God has for you which is last forever, which is for eternity then for you to just enjoy the fleeting pleasures of life. And then you miss heaven or you miss all the rewards that God has for you in heaven, but you just barely make it in First Corinthian three witches. You'll be safe from fire. Who is better that you get some Affliction now that it will keep you grounded in the word as opposed to have it great for you. And then you never walk with Christ. You never grow in your walk with him. 2nd Corinthians 6:10 just like the verse we just read in verse a 7 of 6 of 1st Thessalonians look at 2nd Corinthians 6 and it says as Soulful yet always rejoicing there's no confusion. There's no conflict between a flexion and joy. You think you're something else in people who cannot be? Joyful when they go in for tough things. They will not be joyful when things are going well either. You will see they might enjoy for one day. But after that they just go into complaining. They need this satisfy. They still need one more thing to keep them happy. But when you can rejoice when things are not going well when you're having a hard time when things are going great. You can really rejoice and enjoy because you remember how it was. I think we need to learn and really take this seriously that do not let Affliction steal away. Our joy afflictions are part of life. See Paul says I saw a full yet sometimes. This is insane. Yes always rejoicing so it doesn't matter what's going on in your life. You need to find joy in the Holy Spirit. You need to find joy in the Lord. Do not let anything take away your joy.

Is God's joy is a gift from God look at it as poor yet making many Rich. Somebody might be full but they share the gospel with somebody. They just made somebody Vero Beach. As having nothing yet possessing what? Everything in this life is what you may have nothing in this world, but you have everything because the Bible says Jesus the Bible God has the whole world in his hands and in every in heaven and John 14, Jesus says I go to prepare a place for you for where I am there. You might be also in my father's house. There are many rooms or there are many mansions. Is Barbara Love's Dimension better than room?

Where are we? Mason's picture of God prepare something for you. Is it going to be good?

Got to make heaven in there. 7 Days 6 days and rested on the seven days. How long ago how long has God been preparing?

for us in the place that is preparing for us to be It's a long long long long long time. There's a lot of beautiful places on Earth. If the Earth God made it just in 6 days just with words. Revelation says what eyes has seen ears has not heard what God has prepared for those who love him. She's sometimes we just become blind to what God has for us in heaven and then we let the temporary things of this life. Becomes president to God and Bible to seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and everything will come after. Do not let the temporary things of this life the little things that we get right now like the urgent things make us miss the important things. She does a book called The Tyranny of the Urgent a lot of us. We spend 90% of our time doing urgent things. Oh somebody, you pick up the old urgent. But but we never wrote down the things that are important and then we never get to it if you want to be productive today, and I'll tell you every night before you go to sleep write down five things that you need to absolutely get done tomorrow. These are you important things and do not let any urgent thing distract you in that day, then that's when you'll be successful the next day. Once you do that you'll see your life structures and you start accomplishing things. And then that you never thought you could accomplish but keep yourself true to that you get those things done. You'll see how productive that you become and you'll be even be shocked at yourself that you're not focusing on urgent things but you focusing on the important things and most of us, that's where we feel. We just doing all the urgent things. We let people run our schedule instead of us having a schedule. We have a plan see whenever you don't have a plan people will make one for you. But if you already had a plan the night before then the next day all that you have to do is execute. Okay, I have five big rocks. I need to take care of today. And when you do you find better satisfaction you more joyful because you know what steals a big Joy Steeler procrastination Procrastination is one of the biggest Joy Steelers whatever you want to do today start. Whatever it is. If you want to keep the drawer flooring whatever you want to do today start because what does the Bible says? I will be with you. All the time Bible says your steps are ordered by. God

When he Delights in you, so make sure that you working with the Lord and God orders. Our steps life is a parallel track. K any of you would have been living and breathing for a while now, you know. You may not know it was worried that I'm saying is right now but life is a parallel track don't always expect perfect circumstances see that track there for the train with some good things are going on. You going to have some bad things going on at the same time while you have some good things that you like you're going to have some stuff you don't like but you just got to keep going just like the train keeps going on that track to the train is not distracted saying that I owe this track, you know is not as great. No, no, no, no, no life is a parallel track. It will not always be perfect. You have to go with The Good the Bad and the Ugly and then you can truly experience God's joy in whatever you do. 1st Thessalonian 17 against a sword that you became an example to all the Believers in Macedonia and in a kaya, so we want to be contagious example for everybody to follow. I love 1st Timothy 4:12. It says let no one despise you for your juice. But set the Believers an example in speech and conduct in love in faith. And in Purity, some of you here might be saying it was a I'm not so young. So this verse is not for me. See that's why they young people came right on time. See Do the Bible says despise your youth when I was younger people used to mock me for my face cuz I came to know the Lord very early on there. Do you see that should be motivation for you when people try to mock your favor and just trying to see look at their life and look at my life. And I'm so much happier with what God has done with me. When God says let no one despise you for you you you need to set an example. That means young people in that exam is not only when you grow older that you need to be an example, but right now in your you in your ten-year-old 1517 2025 you need to be a good example and the Paul being very specific an hour speech that means in the way that we speak. So we don't want everything to come out of our mouths anything that will dishonor God. We don't want that. So that means lying that means Crossing that means saying things that I mean in our speech we need to be on example, he says in conduct in the way that we live we need to walk what worthy of the gospel and I will love in the way that Retreat people in the way that we show kindness that we care. We need to set examples when people looking why you so loving like it.

Hey, we need to set examples in our faith work when the going gets tough. We can still have the faith and tell people. Hey, I know that God will get me through this because I know no weapons formed against me shall prosper see because I know that God I know that my redeemer lives and it says impurity where I do everything to honor God. I'm not going to mess up my Purity. I'm going to live up you'll life before God. I'm going to be an example so that other young people can look at my life and see something to EMU late. So when they say that oh, you know, everybody's doing it because everybody's doing it. It doesn't mean that its rights. Because everybody's doing it that doesn't mean that you should do it because something might be popular and acceptable in a culture. It does not mean that it is right or beneficial ultimately temporarily you might enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin the long-term every kick as a kickback or realize you kick. There's also a kickback. So whatever you do in this life, you going to suffer the consequences. Are you going to enjoy the rewards when you did good things it will come back to you as good and when you don't do what you supposed to do, there will be a kickback doesn't mean you going to be perfect situations, right? Sometimes you're going to do good. Other people will not see what you do, but we know in the guys economy ever kick as a kickback Joshua 1:8 love this it says this book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night and you shall be careful to do all that is written in it. Then you will make your very prosperous and have good success. That's the recipe for success for True success in life. God says a when you memorize my my word your word doesn't depart for my your word is the part for my mouth. You memorize it when you meditate on it. That means you internalize that it becomes yours and then you carefully do it you do it then you live it out to apply it in your life. I've got this. She will make your way prosperous and you will have what this guy says 8 if my word is a priority in your life you meditating on that you living it out but said success will follow naturally. But one of us we try to find success in the world and trying to find success in all the wrong places. We think that we need to work hard we need to do this we need to do that. We need to cheat on our way to make its taxes are coming. But God is saying you want to have true success.

Put my way, please. The word memorizing meditate on it and do it and then God says naturally you will be successful. What does it say? You are a dozen Prosperity. Someone even makes it clearer. Someone says blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the wicked no stand in the way of Sinners not sit in the seat of the scarf was but his Delight is in the Lord the Lord but don't need Lori meditate day and night and what does it say? He will be like a tree planted by streams of water that yields fruit in its season. It's leave does not we the what does the next line say? In all he does he will prosper. Do you say some? God's word is a guarantee and I guarantee each one of you you if you put God first and that Matthew 6:33 6 God first do what is right. He will give you everything that you need to do. You will do it. And we already know that doesn't mean that it's going to be free from Affliction, right? But God will do it. If you just simply would do this you will be shocked at how God will bless your life and I'm still in so many people's life. That would just a god seriously when you think God seriously, you will be blessed Romans 12 verse one through says I appeal to you therefore Brothers by the mercies of God to present your bodies a Living Sacrifice. Holy and acceptable to God we choose your spiritual. So that means this is the right thing to do. This is the reasonable thing to do because I've done so much for you. That's the Jose jfb translation do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind that by testing you made the stern. What is the will of God what is good acceptable and perfect use the bottom line. The bottom line is you cannot claim to have received the gospel. If your life has not been changed by it. You cannot claim to have received the gospel if your life has not been challenged by it because the gospel has to be received. The gospel has to be lived out and then lastly The gospel has to spread the gospel has to spread see when you watch a good movie. It was fun. It was very entertaining. You enjoyed it. You naturally share it with others see a check out this movie. This is a really good movie. Those of you are into books when you read a book. It's really good. You want to tell people and you got to read this book to my son loves to read and I love to read through and I'm into leadership stuff using the L anytime. I read a book. I just send it to him. You would do the same thing. I didn't ask for it. You see what I'm saying? The gospel has to spread. So if the gospel is good, we have received it. We know what the gospel has done for our life. I'll get the gospel has changed us. Naturally. We need to help spread the gospel. Look at verse 8 their tents for not only has the word of the Lord sounded for from you in Macedonia, Nakaya. But what your faith in God has gone where? Everywhere, you see that's why our mission is to start in our community and around the world. See your favorite gun for everywhere so that we need not say anything. Those people Faith must have been really real. Because you know that a bad news travels faster than a good news.

This is good news. It has already traveled everywhere. People already know about their face. Those Christians at the Salamanca were not playing Church those people into Salamanca. We're just leaving and breathing out. The gospel is one thing that's happening in. Our culture culture has done a great job in neutralizing every believer. The culture works hard in neutralizing us to make our faith A Private Matter that oh, you know, it's just it's my thing. But everybody else is is coming out doing their thing. Everybody else is saying oh, this is my prayer now on this is this so me. I need to put my signature I belong to Jesus. What everybody is saying, you know, this is mine and their signature. So why not tell you now I belong to Jesus?

In your favor Is Not A Private Matter. You need to make it known to all and you need to strive for an excellent reputation. Do not let the culture neutralize you. Do not let the culture make you think that your faith is some archaic thing while they going through depression while their life is miserable.

is a little people going through all kinds of misery in the world, but they pretending that the Life Is So Glamorous and then yours is that why you have something that they don't have if you don't have Jesus, I don't care how much money you have. You can be Elon Musk. I don't care. You are much better off than Altos. And which seeing it after and after those people were pretending to be So Glamorous, but I began really they really had nothing. They just miserable people. So do not let the culture neutralize you for your faith be out and about your faith. Let everybody knows what your stand for what you believe.

Because the gospel has the power to transform their life. Isn't that what Hebrews 4:12 says the word of God is powerful more powerful than a two edged sword. It has a way of piercing to the heart to the soul. Only the word of God can change people to the power of the holy spirit. So speak the word to people it may seem like they is not getting flu you never know when it will get flu to them and how it's going to impact and change their life for the better believe that if somebody received the gospel that life will be better. Do you?

Oh, that's the problem. You don't believe that the gospel can change people's life. Do you believe that the gospel can change people's lives? Then go share it. Shared with others and led the gospel change their life. So many people I had a friend of mine was going the wrong way, He might have been a dead man right now at 44. But now God has bless his life so much. Never desired marriage you just wanted to live and have fun in the world with money with girls and all the stuff and drugs.

I got us totally restored in live by just a simple message of the Gospel. He received it now is a happy Married Man 3 beautiful kids. He's pastoring church is leaving Mission organization. That's the power of the Gospel. And other people were going the same way with him you look at their lives and you look at his life. Gospel really works. You just need to see it. I've been a lot of time a lot of us never share the gospel. We just haven't seen the change life. But once you've had the experience of seeing a change life how the gospel has changed your heart. You will never stop sharing the gospel. So ask God for that first one. But you see how God has changed their life and you will never stop cuz the gospel can truly change. Somebody's life for the better. I love that we skip heitzig put it only when receivers become transmitters. Of the truth has the gospel really done its job.

See whom are you actively pursuing for God. That's my question for you today. Are you actively pursuing to influence for Christ? If you don't have one now, so start thinking we should I be actively pursuing to influence for Christ. If you don't have one you need to find one and write that name down now and then start to actively pursuing them for God. That doesn't mean that you're going to be like up in your face, but you can are lovingly just slowly or drastically try to lead them to God all of you need to have somebody you actively pursuing from God could be a family member or friend or co-worker. Whoever it is. You need to pick one person and start to actively Pursuing them for God. So he's the message in a nutshell if we belong to Christ our faith needs to be contagious. If we belong to Christ our faith needs to be contagious I was so proud of some of the Fellowship Christian athletes this week. One of them called me, you know, when they asked me to come and speak for them. She was so much sure. I thought she was a 12 grader, but she wasn't 9th grader. She was a freshman. And leading a group. It must have been like 80 students there. But you see just the impact of freshman a 9th grader can do just organize a bible study tools for students before school think God wants to use you just like God isn't that ninth-grader, you know just to organize some people to see the power of the Gospel just acting alive on their campus. So if we belong to Christ our faith needs to be contagious, we need to share the gospel both with words and in the way that we live while we wait the return of Christ. On Christ the solid rock. I stand the ground is sinking sand other ground is sinking sand. All of the ground is sinking sand. The ground is sinking sand Romans 10 13 14 says this for everyone will call them the name of the Lord will be what will be safe and I love the next verse how then they call on him when they have not believed and how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard and how are they to do here without someone? Not just mean everybody got its called to be a preacher without someone preaching to them. So that's your call today to share the gospel with somebody because they cannot know if you do not share. What did you say? It was me they cannot know if I do not share it with them Father take you for your grace this morning. May you help us look guy to be your Messengers and sharing the gospel with everyone we come across in Jesus name we pray. Amen. Amen. Why don't you meditate on this song right now as Cameron and Noah Amy place for us?

The song is called each one which one? So you can sing with me if you remember it was saying it before.