Reldealxnsrm
"The Real Deal" Christian
1 Thessalonians 1
Intro: 1991 Evander Holyfield made his first defense of championship against legendary champion George Foreman on April 19...many considered Holyfield too small to defeat the mammoth Foreman, but Holyfield, "It is not the size of the man, but the size of the heart that matters". With his victory Holyfield proved he was a genuine champion and by that picked up his nickname, "The Real Deal."
In an age of hype, image, and continually meaningless talk, it's hard to find real substance--the real deal. There are times when it is found out whether or not something is the real thing. A piece of jewely may look pretty, sparkle and shine. A person may enjoying wearing the jewelry and be complimented on its appearance, but whether it is a diamond or simply glass is discovered when inspected by a gemologist. There are times when it matters greatly whether or not something is the real thing. If the imitation jewelry had been received as payment for goods or services, the new owner would realize a great loss in what he thought were his assets. There are times when it really matters whether or not something is the real deal. When you have surgery, you want the surgeon to be the real deal. When you fly on an airplane, you want the pilot to be the real deal. When you place your faith in someone to save you for all of eternity, you want it to be the real deal.
Possibly the first letter of the Apostle Paul's which is included in the New Testament was written to new Christian converts he was concerned about. Since he had not been able to spend much time with them, he wondered if those people in Thessalonica who became believers in Jesus were true believers. All their lives they had been like everyone in their city who were worshippers of idols. Paul had been in there only a matter of weeks--perhaps a few months. Because of pressure by antagonists he was forced to leave suddenly. As he wrote [in 3:5] to them he "was afraid that the Tempter had gotten the best of you and that all our work had been useless." He sent his co-worker, Timothy, to find out their condition, and when Timothy reported their firm faith, Paul was extremely glad and wrote this letter to them.
In the first chapter of the letter Paul tells them they are the Real Deal as Christians. He refers to several reasons for expressing this opinion of them. God was speaking through Paul to these young Christians who were facing strong opposition so that they might be encouraged and God caused the message to be preserved in the Bible so we could receive this encouragement too.
This first chapter describes characteristics of Real Deal Xians. These things don't make a person a Christian. Only God makes a person a Christian when we trust, follow, and obey Him. These reveal that the new birth has indeed happened. If we know these things we can recognize others who are true Christians to trust for example and for listening to their teaching. We can observe these in ourselves for encouragment and thanksgiving. "Yes, I'm on the right track and thank you, God, forYour work in my life." Or failing to find them in our self-examination, we know we need to make some changes.
In the first chapter of this letter through Paul God says that real deal Christians (1) are doing something, (2) have personally experienced God, (3) have come from somewhere, and (4) are going somewhere.
I. Are Doing Something (faith, hope & love)
(as opposed to just thinking about something and seeking personal solace in such thoughts)
"We remember...how you put your faith into practice, how your love made you work so hard, and how your hope in our Lord Jesus Christ is firm." [1 Thessalonians 1:3, Good News Bible]
work of faith - turned from idols (1:9)
labor of love- enduring persecution for love of Xist ("severe suffering" 1:6)
patience of hope inspired endurance-anticipating Jesus' return & rescue (1:10)
Jesus was asked what was the work God requires? [Jn 6.28-29] He said to believe in the one God has sent. Believing is more than an intellectual activity. Jn 3.36 "not obeying" is unbelief.
Jesus - [Mt. 7: 13] "narrow road" [Mt. 7:20] "know them by their fruits;" [21] "not everyone who says Lord...but only he who does the will...: [24] "whoever hears these words of mine and acts upon them"...builds a life on solid foundation
““Don’t look for shortcuts to God. The market is flooded with surefire, easygoing formulas for a successful life that can be practiced in your spare time. Don’t fall for that stuff, even though crowds of people do. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires total attention.” [Matthew 7:13-14, The Message]
“Knowing the correct password—saying ‘Master, Master,’ for instance—isn’t going to get you anywhere with me. What is required is serious obedience—doing what my Father wills.” [Mt. 7:21, The Message]
“These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock.
“But if you just use my words in Bible studies and don’t work them into your life, you are like a stupid carpenter who built his house on the sandy beach. When a storm rolled in and the waves came up, it collapsed like a house of cards.” [Mt. 7:24-27]
Jas. 2:14 [Message] faith demonstrated by works
"Dear friends, do you think you’ll get anywhere in this if you learn all the right words but never do anything? Does merely talking about faith indicate that a person really has it?"
Eph. 2:10 [Message] "He creates each of us by Christ Jesus to join him in the work he does, the good work he has gotten ready for us to do, work we had better be doing."
--e.g. Jesus taught that it is more important to be occupied with His purposes than to only be cleaned up and idle. The man who was cleansed of his demon possession ended up worse afterwards when he failed to occupy himself with God's purposes. His cleaned up idle life was then an opportunity for re-filling with more demons than before. All of us are filled up with something.
"Someone has observed that humans have the freedom to choose who their master will be, but they do not have the freedom to choose no master. The Thessalonians had chosen to serve the living and true God rather than God’s creatures or satanic powers (cf. Rom. 1:18-23)."
Are we doing something? Are we the real deal? Paul was. He was a person doing something because of faith, hope and, love.
"Wherever Paul went a riot started. Wherever I go, they serve tea."
There is no opposition to just thinking a certain way. There is opposition to telling others that this is the right and only way to think and behave. There is opposition to pushing the devil out of any place he is occupying.
The enemy does not want Christians to work in faith, hope and love. He will oppose efforts esp. [2:15-16] "are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved." (Acts 17, they were dragged before city officials and made to post bond.) [3:3-4] "trials...persecuted."
Jesus said to those he called, "I will make you fishers of men." He said no similar statement about making them pray-ers; or "good." Commitment to His call requires such activity, but the commitment is to fish for men. That's Jesus' goal to which we contribute--people brought to His Kingdom. He does the changing of them and us as well into pray-ers, givers, and goodness. We're saved to serve others and won to win others to God's Kingdom.
For the Real Deal Christian serving God means work but it's not a burden. It is a happy, welcome contrast to their experience of life prior to knowing God. The Thessalonians' work was not so much obligation as it was their natural response to God's work within them. The Real Deal is doing God's work.
Those who are the real deal...
II. Have Experienced God (conviction)
"It is clear to us, friends, that God not only loves you very much but also has put his hand on you for something special. When the Message we preached came to you, it wasn’t just words. Something happened in you. The Holy Spirit put steel in your convictions." [1 Thessalonians 1:4-5, The Message]
What would bring about such a response in people living regular lives? Some prepared by their experiences to listen. Some realize there's got to be something better--something more. All honest people realize we're created--didn't get here by accident. The witness in creation. Sensitive people aware of 'eternity in their hearts'--the internal witness God has designed in humans. Everyone has the chance to respond to what they know of God and either accept and follow or reject and live according to self-determined directions.
God creates convictions which are not just fads. They are tested and fortified over time, but they are convictions.
“No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draws him,” [John 6:44]
““You did not choose me, but I chose you...” [John 15:16]
Other marks of Thessalonians having experienced God:
You paid careful attention to the way we lived among you, and determined to live that way yourselves. In imitating us, you imitated the Master." & in spite of severe suffering,you welcomed the message” [vs. 6] & "Your lives are echoing the Master’s Word, not only in the provinces but all over the place.” [vs. 8]; “you received us with open arms, how you deserted the dead idols of your old life so you could embrace and serve God, the true God.” [vs. 9]
(Doesn't require some special miraculous sign.)
God speaks in such a way a person knows it is God. God is capable of communicating, but He does so only to the extent to which He is listened to. He does not "cast pearls before swine." He does not waste His breath. That's not to say He's not persistent, but He only reveals Himself a little at a time. e.g. Moses' communication with God is described as "face to face" but Moses still requested to experience more of God. So God put Moses behind a rock and covered Moses with His hand, passed through and let Moses see the glory of Him that remained.
Although we may feel as if we have believed in God all our lives, in the life of the child of God, there is a point in time when we choose to exercise faith, by conscious decision reject all former and false ways, and commit oneself to listening to and obeying Jesus. The enemy will not let us alone to “automatically” and “unconsciously” choose God’s way. Sin will not allow that. Sin will raise its ugly head and lead us away from God. Only a consicous faith in Jesus receives forgiveness and Holy Spirit help to overcome sin.
We may struggle with temptations (sin in our flesh,) but we cannot say ‘Jesus is Lord’ without God’s Holy Spirit working in our life.
Belief can be faked. Hanging around people of faith does not mean one is a believer and has faith. Only interaction with Holy Spirit convicts and creates faith.
(c.p. Mt. 7:22-23, The Message) “I can see it now—at the Final Judgment thousands strutting up to me and saying, ‘Master, we preached the Message, we bashed the demons, our God-sponsored projects had everyone talking.’ And do you know what I am going to say? ‘You missed the boat. All you did was use me to make yourselves important. You don’t impress me one bit. You’re out of here.’”
Second hand religion is no real faith. Conviction has to come from a direct, personal relationship with God. The 7 sons of Sceva found out this. Simon the magician found out this when he asked Peter for the ability to impart spiritual gifts through his own hands.
Because we go through testing and struggles, we may need to be reminded that we have experienced God. John the B. was that way. His testimony was that God told him the one he sees the Holy Spirit descend upon and remain is the Messiah of God. Later when John was in prison he began to wonder and sent messengers to inquire if he had been right. He had been.
Our struggles with sin’s deception require us to regularly examine our spiritual lives (2 Cor. 13; Psalm 139:23-24, "Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.") Holy Spirit will lead us to do it. (Jn 16:8)
Christians work hard in faith, hope, and love. Real Christians have experienced God and continue to do so. They, therefore, do not remain the same. "All things have become new." The Real Deal Christians...
III. Have Come From Someplace (idolatry)
“you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,” [1 Thessalonians 1:9]
Christians have a past. I'm not what I want to be. I'm not what I'm gonna be. But thank God, I'm not what I was!
Col. 1:13 "For he has rescued us out of the darkness and gloom of Satan’s kingdom and brought us into the Kingdom of his dear Son," [LIV]
"His blood will make our consciences pure from useless acts so we may serve the living God.” Heb 9.14(NCV)
“such were some of you” 1 Cor 6.10-11 the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor male prostitutes nor homosexual offenders 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. 11 And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.
I am not what I used to be...my own testimony--from self-righteous Phariseeism (legalism--righteousness of my own of works) (lovelessness bec. of self-centeredness; continues to be a challange because of my ‘fleshly nature’)
former life - Eph 4.22-23 [The Message] “everything—and I do mean everything—connected with that old way of life has to go. It’s rotten through and through. Get rid of it! And then take on an entirely new way of life—a God-fashioned life,”
[ Ro 6 6 We know that our old life died with Christ on the cross so that our sinful selves would have no power over us and we would not be slaves to sin" (NCV)]
If there's been no difference, there's been no discipleship. The Real Deal Christian is working hard in faith, hope & love; he has experienced the work of God in his life that has begun to make a great deal of difference from what he used to be, and...
Real Deal Christians...
IV. Are Going Somewhere (Jesus' return)
“you are looking forward to the coming of God’s Son from heaven” 1 thess. 1:10 [New Living Translation]
It may seem like everyone no matter what they believe or how they live is at least looking forward to going to heaven. Not so. Some choose to go to hell. All who end up there do choose it by their faith and their actions.
Some think it's too good to be true, or too fairy tale-like, and think they can't believe there is a heaven to get to. It's not just post-modern thinking that has brought this view.
Typical inscription on a grave in Paul's day: "I was not. I became. I am not. I care not."
Real Deal Christians have Jesus' promise when He returned to heaven- "I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also." [Jn 14:2-3]
This fact and the hope it gives makes all the difference in the life of the Christian. It was an immediate hope for the Thessalonians and first Christians. What we think of the future determines how we live.
[One night at dinner a man, who had spent many summers in Maine, fascinated his companions by telling of his experiences in a little town named Flagstaff. The town was to be flooded, as part of a large lake for which a dam was being built. In the months before it was to be flooded, all improvements and repairs in the whole town were stopped. What was the use of painting a house if it were to be covered with water in six months? Why repair anything when the whole village was to be wiped out? So, week by week, the whole town became more and more bedraggled, more gone to seed, more woebegone. Then he added by way of explanation: "Where there is no faith in the future, there is no power in the present."]
It will be worth it all when we see Jesus--whether He comes for us or we go to Him. When we know where we're going, we can get through anything.
A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope!
Those animals somehow hoped that if they could stay afloat just a little longer, someone would reach down and rescue them. If hope holds such power for unthinking rodents, how much greater should is effect be on our lives.
Where there is faith in the future, there is power in the present.
Jesus is coming again or we're leaving this earth--either way--to we will be with Him only if we've experienced the real thing.