Untitled Sermon

The word Preached  (1 Thess 1:5).   This verse isn’t so much referring to the way the word was received as the way it was presented.  The gospel had been given not simply with the enticing words of men but with the power of the Holy Ghost behind it.  As a result these Thessalonians were wonderfully converted.  

No doubt today we could use some Holy Ghost empowered preachers.  More often than not we could use people who are willing to hear the word of God as it is preached with power.  This is an important point.  We often associate the style of the preacher with the power of the preaching.  We have truly become followers of men.  Jonathan Edwards, for example, read his sermons.  The trouble is in our age of entertainment and 5 minute quickies we won’t put up with sitting still long enough to let the Word of God penetrate our souls.  That is why we used to have week long revivals, to allow the word of God ample time to penetrate our hearts.

 The Word Received (1Th 1:6) The Thessalonians heard the word preached and received it.  As a result they became followers of Paul and the Lord.  

Receiving the Word entails submission.  

Several times in scripture Paul exhorts believers to follow him

- 1 Cor 4:16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me, 

- Php 3:17 Brethren, be followers together of me, and mark them

which walk so as ye have us for an ensample.

- 2Th 3:7 For yourselves know how ye ought to follow us: for we behaved not ourselves disorderly among you;

We are to follow the leaders of our church (i.e. pastor) as they follow the Lord.  Of course we shouldn’t take this to mean some kind of blind puppy dog following.  In the latter part of verse 6 these believers were exhorted to in turn follow the Lord.

1Pe 5:3 Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

It is an awesome responsibility to be in a position of leadership over God’s people.  As our leadership is following the Lord, though, we are following the Lord by following God given authority.

We just love to set ourselves up as the ultimate authority.  We display a disobedient attitude towards those in authority in our church.  Often we won’t follow the good things they do and excuse our sins by their failings.  Today we hear, nod the head, and simply press on with life.  Not so with these Thessalonians.  They heard and were convinced and assured of the truth of the message which in turn made a great impact on their life.

b.  Receiving the Word cost hardship.  It is difficult to ascertain, but it would seem that once they received the word the trouble started.  When we are friends with the world, life can be pretty smooth, almost enjoyable.  When we boldly make a stand for the Lord, we are often asking for trouble.  The problem is we like the policy of appeasement.    

The Word’s transformation (1 Thess 1:6-7).  The believers in Thessalonica lived more than just for themselves but for others.  Because of their testimony they were able to influence other believers around them.  Thessalonica was a city in Macedonia and Achaia was a neighboring territory; this composes the Greek territories which had been divided by the Romans.  These believers were no doubt an example in 

Their Standards.  The word standard has become a dirty word in our churches today.  We often associate it with legalism and our parents.  The problem is the man that stands for nothing will fall for anything.  We are at the point now that we are afraid to condemn anything.  Well the Bible doesn’t exactly say that you can’t….  Instead of doing anything we want that isn’t prohibited by the Word of God why don’t we limit ourselves to only what will please God.  

Their Dedication.  I have always been encouraged to try harder when I see others around me working diligently.  When I was in the USAF I was willing to do whatever it took to finish the job.  The more enthusiastic those around me were, the easier it was and the better I worked.  Too often in church today, we see a real lack of dedication.  A church is simply someplace where we come to have our needs met.  We often don’t view it as our church but simply as the church.  The Bible tells us though that our church leadership exists to equip us for the work of the ministry (Eph 4:11-16).  These Thessalonians were a great encouragement to those around them.

Tribulation.  It is easy to swim with the flow.  It is always immensely difficult to swim upstream.  These Thessalonica believers were an example to the other believers even during the hard times.  Christians are just waiting for someone to make a stand for what is right.  The problem is we are always looking without, why not look within.  

The Word Propagated  (1 Thess 1:8-10).

Lastly Paul exhorts them for the way they not only lived the gospel but how they propagated it.  If we want to know what is important to someone listen to them speak for a while.  We will spend hours talking about shopping, sports, and all manner of things.  We will even talk with strangers about the most intimate of subjects.  When it comes to the Lord we suddenly clam up!  I wonder how important the Lord is to us, really.  The immediate area to Thessalonica had heard the gospel.

The ones who had brought Paul word of how the Thessalonian church was doing proclaimed their dedication.  They had a clear testimony of turning from heathenism and idolatry to the true God.

Although they were enduring persecution and were waiting for the coming of the Lord to take them away they were still busy spreading the gospel.  

Although they were enduring persecution, Paul assures them that they will be spared form the ultimate wrath which was yet to come.  

The Lord’s coming is a comfort to the hurting Christian.  We will ultimately be in a far better state than now and will be spared from the end time wrath.  This doesn’t mean we will never have trouble or problems but that we are assured a life of bliss and wonder when we have passed through the veil of death.

The Lord’s return is imminent which necessitates prompt action on the part of the Christian.  When we truly understand that the Lord may return at any moment it will truly put our lives in perspective.