Church: Why We Do What We Do

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

We give thanks today.

Verse 13 - We give thanks for this: We give thanks for people being saved and for being built up in the faith.

We give thanks that the people hear the Word, receive the Word, welcome it as God’s Word.

We give thanks to the God in heaven Who has called us to His self, has opened our hearts and has saved our souls, and we are thankful for all that He is bringing into the Kingdom.

It is no little thing to hold up the Bible and believe that this is God’s Word, God’s revelation to men. It is no little thing for people to believe that this is the infallible/inerrant Word of God.

It is no little thing for people to declare out load and be baptized, declaring that Jesus is the Son of the Living God, that He is the Way, the Truth, and the Life, and no one comes to the Father except through Him...

This is no little thing. If you believe this… It is supernatural. God did this. God does this. God opens hearts, eyes, and ears to the truth… Flesh and blood does not.

So, what do we do? We better give thanks for this… Before we take it for granted again… God has done this!

And God is not finished yet. His Word is not finished yet. He has began a work and He will complete that work. You have the imperishable seed inside of you doing a supernatural work on the inside of you...

Verse 13 - The Word of God inside of you works effectively in those who believe (NKJV). It performs its work in you (NASB). It is at work in you believers (ESV).

The Word of God is producing something. The Word of God works in us to save and to build us up into maturity. The Word of God is still at work today, in those who believe...

What does it do? What is it doing?

It is teaching you. It is training you. It is guiding you. It is reviving the soul, restoring, nourishing, freeing, enriching, protecting, strengthening, making wise, causing the heart to rejoice and prosper...

Makes you wonder why people will not read it, or come to church meetings in order to get up under it...

The Word of God is Good! And it is Effective!

It is good for all these reasons mentioned… and it is also good for what we find in verses 14-16...

What’s that? The Word works in us so that we can stand firm in this world. The Word works in us so that we can endure hard times, sufferings, persecution, and the like...

The Jewish community wanted to silence the Name of Jesus. Their own countrymen, wanted to silence them...

Imagine other Americans, other Georgians, or people from our own neck of the woods wanting you to shut up...

“Quit talking about Jesus. Quit talking about the Bible. Quit talking about Jesus is the only way… Quit!”

And many Christians have obeyed, or they only open their mouths at church buildings...

Satan is using people to silence other Christians, through fear.

People have been used by Satan and his demons since the beginning of time. They have been used to destroy God’s messengers all throughout God’s story… and ultimately, they were used to kill the Son of God Himself...

Why shouldn’t they come after us? Why would they like us?

They will like us if: Only if we are not acting like Jesus or God’s prophets. If we will not act like God’s people, then they will not come after us.

We are no threat if we act like demons. We are no threat if we act like the world, or if we are silent...

Verse 16 - Silencing Christians keep others from being saved. Silencing Christians keeps salt and light out. Silencing Christians allows evil to prevail. No one is held accountable and the darkness is never revealed… If the Christian remains silent...

We are only a threat if we live like Christians should live, proclaiming the Name of Jesus, and living a godly life, teaching the Word of God to others...

We are only a threat when we open our mouths and declare, “thus saith the Lord...”

We are only a threat when we realize that we are at war, we are in a war, and there is an enemy. and we take up our weapons, the truth of God’s Word, stand on it, proclaim it and live it out...

Then you will be a threat!

This will get the attention of the enemy and he will work to hinder you as well as the rest of God’s people.

This could be what Paul is referring to in Verse 18, “When Satan hindered us...”

Verse 17 - Paul and his crew, were at some point taken away from this church (being torn away/orphaned from you as some translation reads). This implies they were taken by force, away from the church.

This picture may be found in Acts 17:1-9 - The Jews became envious, got a mob together, and caused an uproar. Paul and Silas had to leave.

They desired to come back, but Satan, the adversary, continued to hinder them.

Satan is at work to hinder.

Satan will never quit until he is destroyed. Jesus will build His Church, and the gates of hell will never prevail over it… But Satan will continue to do what he does until Christ comes back...

Then God’s wrath will be poured out on him and all that he used.

Wrath, God’s wrath, will come upon all ungodliness one day. Everyone will pay for what they have done. For those Jews and fellow countrymen that never repent… They will suffer hell. For those individuals in our government and everyone else around the world who persecutes and never repents… They will suffer the full wrath of God as well.

God’s divine justice will be on full display. Everyone will pay for what they have done.

I do not know who is going to be saved. I do not know who is going to believe. I do not know who is going to endure and persevere...

This is our goal, this is our personal and church goal: Verses 19-20...

We want to see you standing before Jesus Christ on the day of His appearing. We want to see you before the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords when He comes.

You, church, are our prize/crown of rejoicing.

This is our joy, seeing you, and seeing you saved and with Jesus… Presenting you to Jesus on that day.

This is our joy and hope. This is why we rejoice.

And for Spring Branch, for all church members:

This is our joy and our goal for you.

And it is our joy to help you.