Exemplary Faith

Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:7 “So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”

Introduction:

This Church came about as the second Missionary journey of the Apostle Paul.

Some folks were mad, put out , because Paul's preaching depleted the ranks of the synagogues.

Paul commends them on turning from idols and turning to the Living God!

There faith was spoken of abroad and they were great examples of believers. There faith was working it’s way from the inside to the outside modeling the believer.

I. A Wanting Follower: 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

Hebrews 12:16 “Lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of meat sold his birthright.”

A. Wanting to invite Christ into their hearts. Romans 10:13 “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.”

1. To finish right, one needs to begin right, this is the beginning.

2. A judge: He had a trail of a man suing a business man for not given him a military discount. They found the man was not even in the Military. He had a uniform wearing it all over for free food. Ended bad for the man. He was not to wear that uniform even for a custom or jail time.

B. Don’t say something you are not Like “Christian.”

II. A Willing Follower: 1 Thessalonians 1:6 “And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:”

A. The word “Christian” itself came about because people were acting the same as what they knew Christ was. Acts 11:26 “And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.”

1. Ephesians 5:1 “Be ye therefore followers of God, as dear children;”

2. 1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.”

B. Think about Old Testament those who were going to trade following Moses for following Korah, bad move, the cost was great.

C. Not fair weather followers 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”

1. Probably: Had some suffering associated with Paul pulling folks out of the synagogues.

2. Notice: Idol were no problem until real salvation came to them, big change now in their live, Verse 9

III. A Watchful Follower: 1 Thessalonians 1:7 “So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.”

A. Ensamples: Carries the idea of, a die, a pattern, sample of its kind.

1. This carries the idea of representative, specimen.

2. Cased in Christ Image

3. Timothy said to him: 1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word, in conversation, in charity, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”

B. More than just talk, but a walk, a life, a living epistle. They served the true living God after serving false Gods for years, life changed, living changed.

IV. A Witnessing Follower: 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.”

A. The Need: Romans 10:17 “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”

Romans 10:14 “How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?”

B. More than just Church: They did not just limit their witness to the Church building walls.

V. A Waiting Follower: 1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.”

A. Patience: James 5:7 “Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.”

B. Expectancy: Titus 2:13 “Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”

C. Promises: Verse 10 “...The wrath to come.”

Note: May God help and enable us to follow Him in hope, patience and responsibility in a life worth following. En-sample.