Effective Word - Part I
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Effective
Effective
What does it mean to be effective? Are we effective? How can we be effective? How can I be effective? what am I going to do to be effective? Those are some good questions, but should start with what does effective mean.
Effective: (adj) successful in producing a desired or intended result.
synonyms:successful, effectual, efficacious, productive, constructive, fruitful, functional, potent, powerful
(effective slide)
What does it mean to be effective? We have the definition now, it is producing a desired or intended result.
How can we be effective? By application of the things needed to reach the desired or intended result.
How can I be effective? By personal decision to apply the things needed to reach the desire or intended result.
The next is a personal question between you and God, what am I going to do to be effective. May you prayerfully consider then apply.
The effective word in an effective church. To get the picture of that we need to look at our passage in context do a little background then we will look at the effective word as it worked in an effective church. (1The1:1-10)
1 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. 2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers;
3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father, 4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.
9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, 10 and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.
A young church/churches that were formed during Paul’s 2nd missionary trip -see Act16
Paul was only there for 3 Sabbaths before trouble followed him and this was after being chased out of Philippi(see Act17)
Think about today how effective one can be even in a short amount of time when you let the Lord do the work in and through you. And just as the church at Thessalonica was effective we as the Westside Church can be too.
So, having said all that, here is where we are today and what we are going to look at:
The effective Word helped form a church (1The1:1)
The effective Word created effective works (1The1:2-4)
The effective Word comes with power and conviction (1The1:5)
Effective Word: Formed a church
Effective Word: Formed a church
A church is formed personally. The church was formed not by the masses but by the heart, the heart of Paul who brought them the message of the Gospel.
We are a church, body of believers, who build personal relationships with people for them for them to become members of the church that Christ built. Paul in (v.1) does not qualify himself, Silvanus or Timothy, they know him. Look how the church was formed from scripture (Act17:1-10)
1 Now when they had traveled through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews.
Paul comes into Thessalonica and comes to people who were religious people. People that were already seeking God.
2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
He proclaimed the scriptures to them.
3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
He proved what he said with the scriptures
4 And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, along with a large number of the God-fearing Greeks and a number of the leading women.
He persuaded them with the scriptures
5 But the Jews, becoming jealous and taking along some wicked men from the market place, formed a mob and set the city in an uproar; and attacking the house of Jason, they were seeking to bring them out to the people. 6 When they did not find them, they began dragging Jason and some brethren before the city authorities, shouting, “These men who have upset the world have come here also;
7 and Jason has welcomed them, and they all act contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, Jesus.” 8 They stirred up the crowd and the city authorities who heard these things.
9 And when they had received a pledge from Jason and the others, they released them.
He showed his love by even being persecuted because of the scriptures on their behalf of their and others behalf.
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews.
They were protected because they proclaimed the truth, the scriptures to them.
So, in short form
Paul Proclaimed the scripture (1The1:2)
Paul proved with the scriptures (1The17:3)
Paul persuaded with scriptures (1The17:4)
Paul persecuted because of scriptures (1The17:5-9)
Paul protected because scriptures proclaimed (1The17:10)
Paul, just in (v.1) reminds them who they are
They are a church (body of believers)
They are in God
They are in God through Christ Jesus
They are recipients of grace and peace
Effective Word: created effective works
Effective Word: created effective works
Effective, remember the results in the definition, now in this passage we can see the known results for the church at Thessolonica
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,
4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;
Paul gives thanks for them, why? because of their effective works
Can we learn from that? Do we give thanks for people?
Paul mentions them in prayer
Do we mention people in prayers of thanksgiving for what they do? We should look for the best and give thanks and pray for all.
Paul always kept them in mind, why? again because of their effective works.
Paul describes but does not define effective works (though consider Jm1:22-25, 27-28; Heb12:1-3)
(expand on that how it may look)
Work of faith, is works that come from faith not for faith, that is what James talks about in Jm1:22-25, what can that look like? Consider this (Jm1:27-28)
22 But prove yourselves doers of the word, and not merely hearers who delude themselves. 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror;
24 for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. 25 But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man will be blessed in what he does.
and then described more in application
27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
Labor of love, this is a work of faith on steroids (expand briefly)
Steadfastness of hope. This is demonstrated in Bible, Heb12:1-3
1 Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
3 For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
May we not grow weary, may we not give up, may we press on. Think about what more Paul says
(GOD CHOSE YOU PICTURE)
In (v.4) God chose YOU! , God had a purpose for YOU! God had a plan, God had a scheme and that scheme had YOU in mind.
but this morning I have some more I want to add in about His choosing and what He who chose you has to say about you (1Pt1:3-9) - remember we are talking about effective. Being effective has an end result look at this passage
Effective works brings the effective results (1Pt1:3-9; 1Pt2:9-10)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, 4 to obtain an inheritance which is imperishable and undefiled and will not fade away, reserved in heaven for you,
5 who are protected by the power of God through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. 6 In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,
7 so that the proof of your faith, being more precious than gold which is perishable, even though tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ; 8 and though you have not seen Him, you love Him, and though you do not see Him now, but believe in Him, you greatly rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory,
9 obtaining as the outcome of your faith the salvation of your souls.
Salvation of our souls and then look what He says about the saved
9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God’s own possession, so that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light; 10 for you once were not a people, but now you are the people of God; you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
Saved with a purpose to declare, proclaim the excellencies of Him! The effective works of the church at Thessolonica impacted not just them but the surrounding area too and you will see that next week when we look at the next section. But as for us may our works be effective here just as they were in Thessolonica.
Effective Word comes with power and conviction
Effective Word comes with power and conviction
Look at the verse, look what it says, believe what it says and you will be effective!
5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.
(power picture here)
What came, the gospel came
The good news (expand for a few minutes)
Gospel came not only in word but in power
The apostles believed and received; recorded and relayed to us so we can have the power of of the Holy Spirit.
Not only in power but power of the Holy Spirit
be sure to tap into the power by applying the gospel, and receiving the power source the Holy Spirit.
It came with conviction
Because they apply because they were convicted it went forth following Paul’s demonstration to them.
It came in demonstration
Paul labored, Paul loved, Paul preached, Paul endured, as should we.
Paul was persecuted in Philippi, chased out of Thessolonica but stayed faithful to his own convictions of the gospel message and the power in it and through it.
It then went on display for all to see (1The1:7-8)
Paul’s effective works became their effective works.
7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.
Paul said their work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope was evident may ours be too.
(invitation slide 1) expand on the journey to the cross, from the cross and from the cross to us today. This is the Jesus preached.
2 And according to Paul’s custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures,
Paul was not there long, but he was effective using God’s Word
3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ.”
Used God’s word for explaining and giving evidence of Christ. This is the Christ the men on the Road to Emmaus were discussing sharing and then having as noted in Lk24:17-27 (summarize it) but read
25 And He said to them, “O foolish men and slow of heart to believe in all that the prophets have spoken! 26 “Was it not necessary for the Christ to suffer these things and to enter into His glory?”
27 Then beginning with Moses and with all the prophets, He explained to them the things concerning Himself in all the Scriptures.
(invitation slide 2)
do invitation here
(invitation slide 3) song (Exit slide)