A Transformed People: A Faith That Rings Forth

A couple of years back, my senior year at Frontier, a couple of my friends and I went to the Nebraska vs. Northern Illinois Game. It was a great time, and we won believe it or not! I think it was like half time of the game and the marching band came out to play. They are doing there thing out there and making shapes out there, and I remember just thinking, wow I was in marching band in high school and we could barely walk in a straight line. One thing about Nebraska’s marching band were the trumpets. You could hear them crystal clear even though we were several rows up and they were on the field. The trumpets would carry the melody, it was easy to notice them. They stood out. Even though we were quite a distance away, it was easy to pick them out.

Veterans day, just a couple of days ago, we honored our servicemen and woman, those still with us and those that gave their lives for our freedom. At the school that day we had an assembly for an hour or two talking about the men and women who have served with their lives. At one part of the ceremony taps was played. It just rung out through the entire learning center. At funerals for servicemen you can hear the resounding sound of taps being played.

Just like you could pick out the crystal cleat trumpets sounding off from way down on the field, in the same way taps is played, honoring our heroes, penetrating the still of a room, or the calm of the day, resounding, going out for all to hear.

Truth: Believers are called to be resounding trumpets.

Turn with me to 1 Thes. 1:1-10.

1 Thessalonians 1:1–10 ESV

1 Paul, 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, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. 6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, 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 not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. 9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Pray

Lets buzz through verses 1-5. Paul and his co-authors say hi. They address there letter to the church. They were made the church by God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul is thankful to God always for the church in Thessalonica and is praying for them. There is a lesson even there to be reminded of to be thankful and praying for our church our brothers and sisters in Christ. He approves of how their faith is working and their hope in Jesus. He affirms their calling that they are loved by God and chosen. The gospel came to them in word, and in power of the Holy Spirit, basically they didn’t just hear the gospel, but allowed the Spirit to come in and transform their lives. Paul reminds them of the example that the leaders had shown the people.

Truth: Believers are called to be resounding trumpets.

INTERROGATIVE SENTENCE: What melody should my life be making? What melody should my life be making to bring glory to God?

TRANSITION: Today we are going to look at 3 different melodies that we as believers should be making.

1. THE MELODY OF FAITH (1:6-8)

1 Thessalonians 1:6–8 ESV

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, 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 not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

Imitated faith: received though affliction and with joy (v. 6)

The Thessalonians received the word from Paul and Silas and it was not easy for them. You see, in Acts 17 we are told the account of the Gospel first being presented to the Thessalonians. Paul reasoned with the people of the town, and some of them saw the truth that he was presenting, and they accepted it. They accepted the truth and the word of Acts 17:3 which says, “it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead.” They also believed in the truth that, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

Acts 17:3 ESV

3 explaining and proving that it was necessary for the Christ to suffer and to rise from the dead, and saying, “This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.”

If you have not accepted Jesus as the Christ, the only one who can give you freedom from your sins and grant you eternal life, then I encourage you to do so right now. It's not a fancy prayer or feeling. It is coming to God in humility and accepting God’s gift for what it is. A gift to be accepted by faith. There is no way that our lives can be a resounding melody for Christ if we are not even in Christ. If we do not have our faith in Christ, there is no end goal in our minds; there is no hope in our life.

In the Acts 17 passage, we would see the Thessalonians acceptance of the word through affliction. In first Thessalonians, we see how the Thessalonians had accepted the truth and were living the truth, just as Paul was and just as Christ did on this earth. And what else? We see at the end of verse 6 that they did it with joy!

1 Thessalonians 1:6 ESV

6 And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

A joy given by the Holy Spirit and only possible through the Holy Spirit. Chiefly, the melody that the people were making back then was that of a believing heart and a life being lived like Christ and for Christ. The Thessalonians were living like Christ. We see that our melody of faith should be an imitated faith and as we look on verses 7-8 we see that our faith should be an exemplary faith.

1 Thessalonians 1:7–8 ESV

7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. 8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

Exemplary faith: in their own region, in other regions, and everywhere (v. 7-8)

The Thessalonians faith was exemplary. If we were to look at a map of the region we see Thessalonica was in the region of modern day northern Greece. At the time, northern Greece was the region of Macedonia. In the passage we see that the imitators, or the Thessalonians, were now becoming the imitated. They were now being a good example to the believers in Macedonia. They were being a good example to the believers both in their own region of Macedonia, and in the southern region of Achaia, or modern day southern Greece.

1 Corinthians 11:1 ESV

1 Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.

At my school in Kansas, the high school was known for its stellar football team. They had gone 5 straight years without losing a single game. Smith Center, Kansas was known for its football. All the kids in grade school looked up to the football team. They would collect trading cards and cheer faithfully for the players at games. Even communities from down the road respected the football program at Smith Center. The team was an example to those in their own region, and the region around them. In an even more important way, we should be an example to our community and everyone around us by being imitators of Christ.

In verse 8 we see most clearly the picture of the resounding trumpet. The words, “rang out,” or in my translation, “sounded forth,” carry the idea of a trumpet whose melody is filling the entire area.

1 Thessalonians 1:8 ESV

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything.

Me mentioning the Smith Center, Kansas football team to you, probably didn’t mean anything. We are quite a ways off here in Nebraska. It makes this passage even more convicting that our faith should be going forth everywhere!

But how is this accomplished? It's not accomplished by one individual. It is a task given to the whole church body, not just to missionaries, or pastors, or church leaders. Here in Thessalonians the entire church was commended and encouraged to keep letting the melody of faith ring forth from them. You will notice in each commission passage it tells us to go into the world. They are addressed to every one of us. They are addressed to you. They are addressed to me. The last part of verse 8 is convicting. It says, “so we need not say anything.” There was nothing that Paul would add that would enhance their outreach. The Thessalonians were resounding trumpets in their communities. They were sharing the whole truth that was needed.

Transition: Believers are called to be resounding trumpets. We should be resounding the melody of faith through our imitation of Christ and others before us. We should be a resounding example of faith. The melody of faith is of utmost importance because from it flow all of the other melodies that we should be making. Believers are called to be resounding trumpets by making the melody of faith, and by allowing....

2. THE MELODY OF TRANSFORMATION (1:9)

Life-altering transformation: turned to God from idols (v. 9b)

1 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

The faith in a believer's life should be characterized by a melody of life-altering transformation. The people in Thessalonica were worshiping a variety of greek gods. The main greek god that they worshipped was named Cabirus. In their culture he was the “martyr” God. Cabirus, they claimed, was slain and would come back from the dead to deliver the Thessalonians.

So I want you to imagine now that you are a Thessalonian man or woman or child. All you have been taught is that Cabirus would come in your time of need. Maybe that time of need came and went. You expected Cabirus to come help you out of that bad situation, but he didn’t. Now if you or I were in the situation of the Thessalonians, that would be hard to accept. You have been told that someone will keep you safe and happy in your time of need and that someone doesn’t come through.

This same thing happens today. How many times have we been told or convinced ourselves that this or that will make us happy. “Oh, if I just have this much money, or that job, or that other sensation or feeling, then I’ll be happy.” And then after you have obtained your wants, they don’t actually meet your expectations. They don’t actually satisfy, just like the god Cabirus never satisfied.

I can focus on different things in my life that won’t come through for me. They won’t give me the lasting peace that I want. The end of verse 9 says that they, “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” There is no room in the Christian life for the melody of idolatry. If the melody of idolatry is in our lives, then how do we expect to be a resounding trumpet for Christ in our communities? The melody of transformation is a life altering transformation.

Consistent transformation: the way the Thessalonians acted around Paul and outsiders was consistent (v. 9a)

1 Thessalonians 1:9 ESV

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,

We see we are to have a consistent transformation. Thessalonica gave off the same vibes both in person and by report card. Everyone that met a Thessalonian believers would see the melody of faith in Christ being lived out. Everyone that met a Thessalonian believer would see the melody of transformation because of Christ being lived out.

What is that item of idolatry that has crept into your life. For me in high school it was sports, popularity, laziness, and my lustful desires. Maybe its clothing, or a vehicle, or your family, or “fill in the blank.” Ask yourself, “Am I going to make a melody of idolatry? Or a melody of faith and a melody of transformation?”

Transition: Believers are called to be resounding trumpets. The melody of faith is of utmost importance, and the melody of transformation is essential in reaching our communities. But what is that motivation for living a resounding, melodious life of faith and transformation? Well, we see one of the Thessalonians motivators in verse 10. Lets back up to verse 9 because it flows into verse 10.

1 Thessalonians 1:9–10 ESV

9 For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

This deliverance was a huge factor in providing motivation for those back then and it should give us motivation now. Believers should be making a resounding...

3. THE MELODY OF HOPE (1:10)

Verse 10 describes our Jesus whom we are waiting on.

Living Hope: He is risen from the dead! (v. 10b)

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

The melody of hope should be a part of the Christian’s resounding life. The hope we have is in a risen savior! We have a living hope!

Divine Hope: Son from heaven (v. 10a)

John 10:30 ESV

30 I and the Father are one.”

We have a diving hope. We are waiting on one who is divine. We mentioned some of those things that we could be making idols in our lives: friends, family, feelings, money, things… What kind of lasting hope comes from those things. In my super long life of 22 years I have noticed time and time again that no lasting hope comes from anything apart from Christ. Praise God that we have a living, divine hope! I pray that verse 10 comforts you. It definitely comforts me. Our savior is speaking on our account at the right hand of the father.

Hebrews 7:25 ESV

25 Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them.

When we are feeling guilty and when Satan is accusing us before God like he does in Job 1, Christ is there to defend us! This is the comfort of a living hope!

I’ve been studying other religions and I was looking at their different founders and leaders, and it was interesting that none of them are alive today or even claim to be alive today. While I know I can’t see my savior in the flesh right now, I can with no doubt see Him working in my life and around me. I have the comfort of a living hope!

I pray that I can honestly say that, “He is working out his perfect plan and because of that I have perfect hope.” Look at the small things that He does for you: providing you with food, shelter, and clothing. And then we take a step back and look at the biggest thing that He gives us. He gives us a...

Hope of Deliverance:(v. 10b)

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV

10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

We should be resounding the melody of hope. Our divine, living hope, Jesus, is going to deliver us from the wrath to come. This is talking big picture. Don’t expect every little thing to go right. There is a time that God will allow trials in our lives to grow us. But we know that in the end, when all is said and done, and we are standing before God, we will be delivered from ultimate, final, eternal destruction. If you have a melody of faith in Christ, then you will be delivered from the wrath to come. Have the melody of hope resounding in your life. We have a divine, living, delivering savior! We must broadcast that truth into our community and to everyone that you come into contact with.

CONCLUSION:

Believers are called to be resounding trumpets by making the melody of Faith (imitated faith, and exemplary faith, even receiving the gospel with joy amidst affliction).

Believers are called to be resounding trumpets by making the melody of transformation (life-changing and consistent transformation empowered by God leaving worthless idols to serve the living God).

We are called to be resounding the melody of hope (hope in our diving, living savior, our deliverer from the wrath we deserve).

If we don’t have faith, then we will not be transformed or have hope.

Please, do not get discouraged if the volume of your trumpet is quiet. Don’t get discouraged if you have pinpointed that idol in your life and you don’t know where to go from there. Recognize that your hope is in Christ, not in the volume of your melody. That being said, do not be satisfied with a weak melody of faith, transformation, and hope. Take those practical steps to be an example in your faith as you follow Christ. Cast off idols with God’s help and turn to the living God, the one who is our savior, Jesus, divine, living, interceding, and rescuing.

Believers are called to be a resounding trumpet in Callaway, in Arnold, in Broken Bow, in Oconto, wherever you are. I want to leave you with my grandpa’s favorite quote in the last year of his life, “Only one life will soon be past, only what's done for Christ will last.” Only the melody we make for our Lord has any eternal value, only what we do for Jesus matters for eternity. We don’t want to waste our time, get to heaven and regret the life we lived. Let your life resound for Christ through your faith, God-given transformation, and through your hope.