1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 A Labor of Love
1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
Thessalonica was the principal and capital city of Macedonia. It was located on the Thermaic Gulf. It was known for its excellent harbor and the Egnation Way, which was an international highway that connected Asia to Europe. The area was rich in natural resources. We learn in Acts 17 that Paul came to Thessalonica where there was a Jewish synagogue.
2 As his custom was, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and proving that the Christ had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ,” he said. 4 Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and not a few prominent women.
This passage goes on to show us that a riot started in the city as the Jews became jealous of Paul’s teaching. They went to the house of Jason, where Paul had been staying, in search of Paul and Silas. They could not be found so Jason was arrested and had to post bond. The interesting thing is that out of the chaos, a church was born. Paul and Silas become quite fond of the Thessalonians and they choose to correspond with them. It is from this correspondence that we have the Book of 1 Thessalonians.
It is believed that this book was written about AD 50. Paul was thrilled to get a report about the Thessalonians and their steadfastness. We will see that he was concerned about their witness for Christ in the midst of their continued persecution. It is interesting that some believe that this was the first book that Paul wrote and very well could be the first book of the New Testament. 1 Thessalonians gives us great insight in the early church.
So why would we, here in Boone, North Carolina, want to study a Greek city that was in such a prominent place? The answer is found in the great similarities between Boone and Thessalonica. We have already established that Thessalonica was a city that impacted the world because of its location, the Egnation Highway and the fact it was a harbor port on the Thermaic Gulf. That doesn’t have anything to do with us right? We are a town that people flock to all times of the year. Our town is home to a university that has almost 21,000 students in attendance. In fact, the university website boasts that there are over 118,000 living alumni found in all 50 states and many countries all over the world. God has placed our church in such a place that we have a tremendous opportunity of influence. Just like the Thessalonian church, we have the ability to impact the world. So therefore, we need to pay close attention to what Paul told this church. I am certain that in some shape or form, we could do well to study this book. We will do so bits at a time. It is only five chapters long, but I don’t want us to miss a thing. So here we go!
1 Paul, Silas and Timothy,
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:
Grace and peace to you.
2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers. 3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
As we begin the study of this incredible epistle, we will look at what I am calling, “A Labor of Love.”
Notice first that is love is an intriguing love.
An Intriguing Love
An Intriguing Love
We see in this letter that the first words are the names Paul, Silas and Timothy. The custom of the day was put the names of the authors of the letter first in the salutation instead of the benediction or closing of the letter. Paul is the main author, but he is accompanied by Silas and Timothy. These men loved this church. That is evident even in the salutation. They first acknowledge the Church of the Thessalonians as one being of God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. That is in itself is quite a bold statement. It is a declaration that says “For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son the Lord Jesus Christ.” The next statement, is another declaration: “Grace and peace to you.” It sounds like a simple greeting. However, it is an establishment and acknowledgement that grace, charis, is that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness. It summarized the saving work of God and the continuing work to do God’s will. John the Baptist spoke about Jesus when he said:
16 From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.
One of the blessings of the fullness of His grace is this intriguing love. The very definition of intrigue is “to arouse the curiosity of or to captivate.” The love of our Lord Jesus is a love that can never be topped. There is none that is superior or greater than the love of our Lord Jesus Christ demonstrated through grace. We deserve death and punishment but God in HIs grace gives us unconditional forgiveness and a phenomenal love. Is that not intriguing to you? But wait there’s more! In addition to grace, this intriguing love gives us peace.
7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
That also intrigues me! I can have peace through Jesus Christ. I cannot explain it but I sure can experience it!
This brings me to the next aspect of this intriguing love. It is a love that propels glory to God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It comes out in the worship we see here in verse 2, “We always thank God for all of you.” We also see in verse 3, “We continually remember before (in the sight of) our God and Father.” Thanking God and continually remembering is an act of worship that says, “Glory to God” because His great love makes this happen.
25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
You have an act of worship that takes place and then you have an act of thanksgiving that takes place.
This intriguing love permeates thanksgiving. This concept is as old as the idea of worship itself.
11 With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the Lord:
“He is good;
his love to Israel endures forever.”
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the Lord, because the foundation of the house of the Lord was laid.
This love is an intriguing love and it is an intellectual love.
An Intellectual Love
An Intellectual Love
I am always amazed at folks who try to say that those that attend church or practice a faith that talks about love are not very smart. The reality of it is that practicing such a love is quite intelligent. Look at how this is carried out in our text today. We see the use of two words: “always” in verse 2 and “continually” in verse 3. This shows me that this intellectual love is one that is practiced.
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you and asking God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
It is smart to pray and ask God to fill His people with all spiritual wisdom and understanding. There is no greater wisdom than that of the Lord God Almighty. When I practice love, I am doing what God has designed me to do.
The practice of love helps me persuade others.
Love changes people.
8 Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.
When you and I demonstrate love, we persuade people to love like we do. That is another aspect of this intellectual love. it also positions us in a favorable way in God’s eyes.
12 No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us.
We cannot go wrong if we allow the love of God to live within us. Do you see in our first few verses of 1 Thessalonians how this is carried out? It comes out in prayer.
The greatest demonstration of love we can give each other is to wholeheartedly pray for each other. We see it hear in the form of thanksgiving:1 Thessalonians 1:2
2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
and in petition: 1 Thessalonians 1:3
3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
When we are thanking God for those He has placed in our lives and praying for them specifically, we are investing love in them.
An Investing Love
An Investing Love
If we go back to the use of the words “always” and “continually,” we see a love that is persistent. Jesus talked about this in Luke 18.
1 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2 He said: “In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3 And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, ‘Grant me justice against my adversary.’
4 “For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, ‘Even though I don’t fear God or care about men, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won’t eventually wear me out with her coming!’ ”
6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8 I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
When we invest love into people, we are going to be like the persistent widow. We are not going to give up on them. We are going to be committed in sharing the love of our Lord with them, no matter what. Our love will be invested persistently.
It will also be invested purposefully. Once again, listen to the last verse of our text:
3 We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
The words “work, labor, and endurance” all indicate to me that there is purpose in this investment. We must go about the work of the Lord intentionally. We are saved through grace and not by works, but when we are saved, we will want to work for the glory of God! It is time for us as Christians to show the world that we mean business by loving way past using words, but in our daily actions and deeds. it is your faith that initiates the first step. It is your love that produces your work. And, it is your endurance that helps provide hope.
That is the last description here of an investing love. An investing love is a patient love. We see from 1 Corinthians 13:4
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
How’s that working for you? I have realize in many unfortunate ways that when my love has not been patient, I lose. My investment ends up going away like trash because I have made it about me and not about love.
10 Be devoted to one another in brotherly love. Honor one another above yourselves. 11 Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord. 12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. 13 Share with God’s people who are in need. Practice hospitality.
I am learning here that I need to honor others above myself, keep my spiritual fervor in the Lord and not myself, to be joyful, patient, faithful and share. Sounds like what we learned in kindergarten. Wonder what happened that caused us to unlearn it?
Let’s go back to the days of old in that respect. We learn in these first 3 verses of 1 Thessalonians that the church of Thessalonica got this. They knew about a love and it was intriguing enough to them that they got smart about it and invested that love into others. Church, let’s do the same starting right now.