A Godly Father
Notes
Transcript
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Paul addresses the church in Thessalonica
This church had a beginning that was different from other churches that Paul had a part in starting
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things. And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.
3 Weeks Paul preached Jesus Christ in a synagogue of the Jews
News spread of the Gospel Paul preached
Jews began to be saved, Greeks (Gentiles) began to be saved, chief (prominant) women of the society began to be saved
At the end of 3 weeks, the Jews who rejected Jesus, looked around at the many Jews and Greeks who were following the Paul and Silas in the Gospel and began to be envious - Why don’t we have this many in our teaching times?
They brought persecution to Jason and others who were now helping Paul and Silas
The shops selling idols and false gods started to feel the impact of Gospel as the market began to dry up
The city began to change in such a short time that they accused these people of turning the world upside down for the Gospel
Lockdown started - in just a short amount of time, society changed
This is what happened for the Gospel
Bargain Booze shops closed their doors because demand failed
Drug dealers had no one looking to get high
Families were praying together instead of fighting and dividing
Cursing and swearing became non-existent
The smell of smoke never lingered around the front of shops
The suggestive pictures of women and men stirring temptations lost their appeal and were banned from the public eye
The news headlines were not about violent crimes, but rather about churches that were being started or communities now being reached with the Gospel
In just over 3 weeks Paul started preaching Jesus Christ and then had to leave Thessalonica - in 3 weeks this city was changed and Paul left!
Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This all happened because of God!
The Father
The Son
The HG - vs. 5
The Gospel can change every man, every woman, every child!
The Gospel can change your home, men!
The Gospel can change your marriage!
The Gospel can change your children!
The Gospel can turn the world upside down for Jesus!
How?
A Life That Has Changed
A Life That Has Changed
The Gospel Received
1 Thess 1:2-3
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
Work of faith
Their faith changed their lives
No longer needed idols
No longer wanted to go to the temples selling prostitutes
A desire had come into their hearts to learn God’s Word!
Their families began to change as marriages started to heal and children began to see joy and peace in the home
Past moments of acting upon God’s Word and His unfailing promises
Labour of love
Why did the Thessalonians do all this? Love
Their love for God moved them to labour for Jesus Christ!
Gal 5:6
For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love.
Why did they love God?
1 John 4:19
We love him, because he first loved us.
1 John 4:9
In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.
God had given them life - eternal life that changed them completely!
Their sins were forgiven, and spiritually they were born again!
Patience of hope
They patiently looked for Jesus Christ to return
They looked forward to Jesus coming back to rapture His people to be with Him for all of eternity
The Gospel Accepted
1 Thes 1:4
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
They realised that when they trusted in Jesus Christ as Saviour, God elected (chose) them
The Thessalonians knew that God has a plan and that that plan involved them
The Gospel Power
1 Thes 1:5
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
Rom 1:16
For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
Exploring 1 & 2 Thessalonians: An Expository Commentary C. The Gospel in Power (1:5)
Paul, however, did not rely on his excellent hermeneutics, his knowledge of homiletics, his first-class education, his mastery of the original languages, his natural eloquence, or his powerful personality. It was not his outlines, his illustrations, or his sincerity that produced such spectacular results as always followed in the train of his preaching. It was the Holy Spirit. From start to finish, everything about Christianity is supernatural. No wonder we have to rely on the Spirit of God
c. When George Whitfield preached, hardened men wept. Moody could talk to vast congregations, and each individual felt as though he was talking just to him. Billy Graham could preach to tens of thousands in the pouring rain, stating gospel truths almost unadorned with illustration, with practically no discernible outline, speaking with a total lack of oratory or passion, give a matter-of-fact invitation, and hundreds would come forward to receive Christ. When Finney preached, the agony of conviction that fell on people was excruciating. At times, his mere appearance at a factory would cause people to fall down beside their machines, crying out in horror for their sin. When Jonathan Edwards preached his famous sermon “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” people fell in the aisles, smitten of God. He did not even preach it; he read it. Copies of it are still in circulation. The only explanation of such results is the Holy Spirit.
A Testimony That Is Compelling
A Testimony That Is Compelling
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
The began to the testimony of Paul, Silas, and others with Paul
Their testimony shined of Jesus Christ and they began to be the example for others
Men, you are an example, of God in your home!
A new life exampled
1 Thes 1:8-9
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. For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
The gossip on the streets is that of what God is doing at Thessalonica
People are talking about everywhere - Not just in your country!
Thessalonica - in Macedonia
Talked about in Achaia
As Paul travelled, the news of what God was doing in Thessalonica was already being talked about
People are getting saved because of your sounding out the word of the Lord
Sounding out means to loudly declare!
They were not simply telling people one on one - although that is Scriptural
They were not simply discussing the Gospel behind closed doors
The picture would be standing on the roof tops and preaching the Gospel
Standing in the public places preaching the Gospel
Boldly preaching Christ on the digital markets of the internet
A new life certain
1 Thess 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.
Wait - anameno - ahn-a-men-o - Await with expectation
Used 1 time
This is used speaking of a servant waiting with expectation his pay
Coming home
She knew I was coming home, but did not know when
Call and give her a time
Holly waiting for me
This is how the Thessalonians were waiting for Jesus!
I am eagerly awaiting to see Jesus!
Men, this type of Christianity that the Thessalonians gave us encouraged the heart of Paul.
Change:
Marriage
Home
Children
Neighbourhood
Community
Country