My part, God's part, Their part

1 Thessalonians 1:4-10

1 Thessalonians 1:4–10 NIV

For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

From this text in 1 Thessalonians, I want to discuss 3 distinct and separate roles within the gospel and really follow into every area of our life as Christians

1st we must know and understand what the gospel is, so I want to give a short explanation of the gospel

gospel means “good news”

it was a commonly used phrase at the time of Jesus with the Romans

Whenever a Roman general successfully defeated an enemy, he would send out what was called a gospel message throughout the country, announcing he had won a battle. He would tell his people there is no longer anything to fear. The enemy has been defeated and you are free.

It was not an announcement to come and fight or a summons to pay for freedom. It was an announcement that he had already won, they could rest in the victory, and they could share the news with others

The Gospel of Jesus Christ, which is what we need to define and understand is

The good news of Jesus Christ isn’t advice on how to fight a good spiritual battle, it’s good news that the battle has already been won

The good news is the announcement that Jesus has finished the payment for our sin, He has resurrected and given us new life, and when you believe that, His righteousness and new life becomes yours

Believing this gospel message releases us from the penalty of our sin and as we continue to believe it, it releases us from the power of our sin.

The gospel is the good news message of what God has done through the death burial and resurrection of Jesus

Now that we have an understanding of the gospel the 3 distinct and separate roles within the Gospel are:

My part, God’s part, Your part

My part within the gospel

Share the gospel with words

Verse 5 says they shared with words

often we try to force the message of the gospel out of an intellectual obligation

what do I mean - The bible tells me I am supposed to share the gospel so I have to share the gospel

If I asked my kids to tell people about me as their father and they went out of obligation to my command it would most likely be shallow and not very inviting conversation.

The message should come out of the obligation of change in your life you desire for the world.

What do I mean - As Jesus changes me and teaches me, I let it flow from my lips into the streets

If my kids tell people about me because of how amazing I am and how I have changed their lives, people will see and feel and believe what they are saying.

Live the gospel among people

We see Paul do this in verse 5 as well, Paul said they “lived among them”

This is where our good works reveal how the good news has changed our lives

Matthew 5:16 NIV

In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

b. Like Jesus we don’t go into our world with condemnation, but with love meeting people where they are at

3. Make disciples

a. Make time to walk with and teach those who are becoming new believers.

My part, sharing the gospel, living the gospel, and making disciples

Their part

Believe in the Gospel

Verse 6 says the Thessalonians welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering

You must freely choose to become a disciple of Jesus

Become an imitator or a disciple of a follower of Jesus

Verse 6, they became imitators of Paul and his companions

Paul often says in his letters, “Follow me as I follow Jesus”

You need to pick a more mature follower and learn to be a follower of Jesus.

Did you know whether you like it or not you are becoming like someone?  it could be on social media, tv, school, or home.  If you don’t intentionally follow someone your brain will do it for you and you won’t know how you became who you are

turn from sin towards obedience to God

Take the steps in “My part” and make them “your part”

verse 7 and 8 the Thessalonians became models themselves of the gospel and the message rang out all over the world

Their part - Believe, Become, and make “my part” your part

God’s part

Power

verse 5, “the gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”

The gospel message will penetrate those whose hearts God is working on

We don’t always understand why the message comes to some with power and others with seemingly no power, but simply put, God is working on some hearts and has prepared them to receive the message.

I have witnessed this in my own life. I have shared Jesus with people just to have them walk away in disbelief, then years later I share the same message and they came to know Jesus. I can’t tell you why they were or weren’t ready. My job was to share and live out the gospel among them. God will do the heart change.

Conviction

conviction is when God opens your eyes to see your sin as God sees it causing a desire for change

When you are doing something and you get a feeling you shouldn’t be doing it, that is the Holy Spirit Convicting you

Joy in the midst of suffering

When you are going through hard times, the Holy Spirit will bring you Joy.

Joy is a fruit or a product of having the Holy Spirit

The fruit of the Spirit will be a part of who you are when you are resting in who God is.

If you do not see fruit in your life you need to draw in to God.

James 4:8 NIV

Come near to God and he will come near to you.

Gods part is Power, Conviction, and Fruit

The three distinct separate roles in the gospel are My Part, Your part, God’s part