Audio Access Available Above
“The Characteristics Of A Chosen
Church” • 11.23.14 • Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- The letter to the Thessalonians arrives in
our Bible in the center of the New Testament canon. That fact might mislead one
to believe that it was written late in Paul's life.
- Most theologians believe it to be the
opposite. In fact, this may have been Paul's first letter, which he wrote to a
church that had sprung up very quickly, which he also abruptly left.
- What sort of church do you think you'd find
if it sprung up in 3 weeks, if that 3 week period included fierce spiritual and
physical attacks and the loss of the founding Pastor?
- Church planters would avoid this scenario at
all costs, but it turns out that upon further investigation, Paul discovered a
profoundly healthy, vibrant church.
- What made them healthy? What did the Apostle
Paul consider praiseworthy? This chapter helps us discover that. Let's begin.
Text
• I
Thessalonians 1:1 : "Paul, Silvanus, and
Timothy, To the
church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace
to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ." : It was standard procedure for ancient letters to begin with the
author's name.
- Due to the weight of this communication, it
was especially important to disclose the name which is of course, the Apostle
Paul, the former Pharisee and persecutor of the church.
- He is the primary author but he's not alone. Silvanus
or Silas whose name means "Woody," is tagged alongside of Timothy,
who was Paul's beloved protege.
- Silas joined with Paul for his second
missionary journey. Paul calls him a preaching partner in II Corinthians 1:19 and Peter calls him a witness to God's truth in
I Peter 5:12.
- Timothy was a young man who grew up in a mixed
family culturally and spiritually. He had a Greek Father and a Jewish Mother.
- Timothy's introduction to the Apostle occured
when Paul was stoned in Lystra. When Paul returned to Timothy's town, he found
Timothy growing in faith.
- Paul saw something in the young man and
sought to bring him along on the next leg of his missionary journey.
- At the time of this writing, scholars date it
in the late 40's or early 50's, Timothy has had at least 3 years of personal
discipleship time with Paul and is becoming a trusted partner.
- We take note of these details and understand
that Paul was not a one man show. If not in the greeting, Paul always include the
names of his partners by the end of his letters.
- Ministry, the service of God's Word, is
shared by the entire body of Christ.
- We all bear, with joy and not hardship, the
responsibility of participating with the Lord.
- Paul's ministry replicated men that would be
extensions of the Holy Spirit's work in him! They served the Lord together and
were the church planting team that visited the Thessalonians.
- We'll talk about the city that they dwelt in
in a moment. Notice that they are a church "in" God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ.
- It's no small detail to note that Paul
mentions both Jesus and the Father in the same breath! Jesus belongs on the
same line, in cooperative union, with God the Father!
- As far as the church is concerned, they have
been called out from the World, which is in Adam, and have been united to
Christ by the Holy Spirit. We follow along in that line today.
- This church does not belong to me as the
Pastor, or the board of directors or even to you! This church belongs to God!
It's His Work and we are in Him by Christ, through the Holy Spirit!
- Wisdom demands that we keep that in mind. We
come here because God has called us out of the world to Himself! We exist to
seek His will and to extend His heart to the watching world!
- When our minds are not focused on that goal,
we'll be confused about what the intention is.
- When that concept is firmly established in
our minds, it clarifies our function in this world. Now, let's talk about
Thessalonica, the city.
- It is the second largest city in Greece and
was considered a "co-capital" in the region of Macedonia. It features
a generous seaport and a major Roman road, called the "Egnatian Way."
- In it's day, it made it's boast in the unique
commerce influenced by the East/West connection.
- It comes into our focus when Paul sought to
head east after visiting Galatia. The Lord stopped him. The Holy Spirit forbade
him.
- Following some frustration, Paul received a
vision of a man from Macedonia, the region that Thessalonica was located in,
calling out for help. Immediately they sought to go that direction.
- They landed in Philippi, which turned out to
be a very trying, physically demanding trip. By the end of their stay in
Philippi, Paul and Silas had been arrested, beaten and imprisoned!
- After ministering and establishing a group of
believers in Philippi, Paul's company went through Amphipolis and Apollonia and
then on into Thessalonica. We find the story in Acts 17.
• Acts
17:2-6 : "Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three
Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that
the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, 'This Jesus
whom I preach to you is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the
devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not
persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace,
and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of
Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people." : In three weeks, God set aside a fair amount of Jewish believers
and great multitude of Greek believers, many of whom were influential women!
This was the majority of the group.
- The minority however, had to recruit some
evil men to attempt to overcome the church which met in Jason's home!
- As a child church, they were tested with
great difficulty right away, within weeks of their conversion to the faith!
- That city fought against the church, but the
believers stood and remained, in spite of the fact that Paul had been forced to
leave in great haste! This is why Paul pens this letter.
- It's his way of continuing their education in
the things of the Lord! As with all the churches, Paul extends his customary
greeting to them. "Grace and peace!"
- This was a common social greeting, but it
gained it's fullest meaning within the church, as they had become a community
by God's grace and would now serve to extend grace.
- Grace is God's unmerited, undeserved favor
extended toward His people, freely and fully!
- When grace is present, peace invariably
follows. Understanding God's grace teaches us that we have peace with God and can
experience that with those of like mind.
• I
Thessalonians 1:2-4 : "We give thanks to God always for
you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your
work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in
the sight of our God and Father, knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God." : Paul never stopped praying for this church. He thanked God for
every single soul!
- Paul unceremonious exit from Thessalonica left
him unable to oversee their spiritual growth directly. This forced Paul
straight to his knees, entrusting them faithfully to the Lord.
- As he prayed, he considered the type of
people that the Thessalonians were, noting first, their activity. He begins
with their work of faith.
- The NIV has the best translation of the
thought behind this phrase, when it renders this phrase, "your work
produced by faith." "Ergon" or work, speaks to that which is
produced.
- "Ergonomic" comes from this word,
which speaks to a designed complentarity. Faith planted in a person works
itself out from the person in a natural way. There are works designed for you!
- Your demeanor, your character, your
personality all help to carve out your spiritual niche! The spiritual gifts
that you employ may be generic, but their exercise is specificly tailored to
you!
- Paul is speaking both of what he observed, as
well as what was reported to him after the fact by Timothy. Their confession of
faith proved to be true when work accompanied it.
- It's been often said that works will not
produce righteousness and that is true. But what is also true is that
righteousness will always produce works!
- Our first work is to believe upon Jesus
Christ. Our next work is to repent from known sin. Our next work is to study
His Word, searching to apply what He has said directly to our lives!
- These things are natural and desireable to
the believer. This is an evidence of the reality of their faith. What is
working out from your faith? There should be an ever increasing inventory.
- Second, Paul considered their labor of love. "Wait,"
you say! "They are already working?" I might mention that the preceding
is natural outworking.
- The former refers to what I get to do. This
refers to what I must do! Huge difference!
- "Labor" is an intensive, draining,
difficult assignment associated with, emanating from love!
- It's the kind of labor that cannot simply be
left behind, but that which consumes and causes grief for that which it aims
itself toward. Thayer's Greek lexicon adds this:
˚ "The
labor ... which voluntarily assumes and endures trouble and pains for the
salvation of others."
- To be continually burdened for the salvation,
either conversion or conformity to Christ, can only be understood by those that
have the love which Christ has for His bride!
- "Agape" is the love of decision, placed
in us by the Holy Spirit! When we love people in Christ, we share in the
suffering that comes with that territory!
- That means, we work hard to discover the best
words to answer our beloved's objections, praying that our answers will aid in
producing faith.
- We search the scripture diligently to provide
counsel to our family member and then we get to agonize over whether or not
that scripture is received.
- We bombard the throne room of God with
prayers for the conversion or maturity of that fellow believer, praying
repeatedly that the scripture will "take!"
- Only God's love can produce that. If we have
not this type of love for people, we have not Christ! That's what His presence
produces naturally! Remember: Love is the primary spiritual fruit!
- He finishes the triplet with the phrase the
"patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ!" Patience means "to
remain under" or to "tarry behind." It speaks to endurance.
- There was an unswerving consistency despite
tremendous pressure to the contrary. Understand the picture. Everyone else is
presumably gone. You've stayed in the darkest hour!
- The temptation to move on has been
tremendous, but something inside of you has demanded that you remain. That's
the patience, the endurance that Paul refers to here.
- It's a doggedly determined outlook, rooted in
hope or the expecation of good, promised in our Lord! It's not wishful
thinking. It's confident assurance that this will take place!
- Christians are convinced and secure in the
knowledge that the good we have been promised by the Word of God, is certain to
come our way!
- How did they know this? How can we know this?
By what Paul discloses next. Our Lord is Jesus Christ, our Father is God and we
stand as brethren who have been chosen by Him!
- Only those who are chosen can call Christ
Lord, Master, because it is only true in them. The Father can only claim those
He has chosen. As brethren, we love one another.
- All of this, including Paul's triplet, are
only possible among the elect, the chosen ones!
- The doctrine of election speaks of God's
free, unmitigated choice of individuals and groups which He has deigned to
bless with salvation and with the responsibility of representing His Name.
- It's vital that you understand that God chose
you before you did anything for Him or displayed any value that would have
swayed His decree. This was His free choice of you.
- God had chosen Israel as a nation to
represent His interests and those who were of faith, continued to represent
Him, while national Israel fell into apostasy.
- True Israel, those governed by God, have
always approached the Lord by faith. In that sense, and in that sense only,
have we been united with Israel, in that we are related by faith in Christ.
- Paul tells the Romans that the Gentiles, the
church, has been grafted in by faith and are now a part of that elect people on
the earth.
- Paul point provides comfort that we can
celebrate together and an explanation as to how we have been sustained in the
things of God and how these things come to being in a given life!
- He has chosen us and that point is proven in
the evidence of faith, hope and love, as well as the expectation that guides
our hearts! Be encouraged chosen ones!
•
I Thessalonians 1:5-8 : "For our
gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy
Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you
for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received
the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples to all
in Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in
Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone
out, so that we do not need to say anything." : When they heard the gospel, it was more than words to them.
Their hearts were receptive to God's truth! God's power changed their lives!
-
There was a dynamic exchange which took place, as the Holy Spirit testified to
the truth and converted souls, who had moved into Christianity with complete
confidence.
-
This in spite of the fact that Paul and his company had come from a very
shameful situation in Philippi. Paul is saying, "Our appearance didn't
bolster your confidence in God's gospel!"
-
But it wasn't the messengers that changed the lives of the Thessalonians. It
was the message! They became confident in the truth.
-
It went from confidence in the truth, to following a pattern laid out by the
Apostles!
-
The Thessalonians "followed" or became "imitators" of them
and ultimately, the Lord! They were Mimes, both of Paul's group and the Lord.
-
When you minister the gospel to someone, their Christianity will bear a
striking resemblance to you! Why? Because you have all the answers and you live
the life that they have come to know!
-
What sort of Christianity would a person receive from your life? What would
your "mime" look like? That's an intriquing question.
-
They received the gospel in great affliction, but with great joy! There is no
greater joy than to know the Lord, to be saved, to trust in His love and
forgiveness!
-
A person in that condition can't help but effuse joy! When people in the rest
of the region wondered about Jesus and His reality, they looked at the
Thessalonians.
-
They had become "examples," the word referring to a mold impression.
The Thessalonians were literally model Christians, whose lives embodied the
teaching of the gospel!
-
Their lives were exemplary, but not insulary. Their faith spoke clearly. It
rang and resonated like a clarion bell throughout their region and even
throughout the known world!
-
Paul says they didn't need to report the Thessalonians faith because it spoke
for itself!
•
I Thessalonians 1:9,10 : "For they
themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how
you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for His Son from
heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath
to come." : Who was speaking about the
Thessalonians? The people that Paul ran into. He kept hearing about their
story.
-
The Thessalonians welcomed Paul and the gospel readily, enthusiastically and
their faith took! They turned to God from idols. What does that mean?
-
They made a clean break from idolatrous practices. They turned from serving
their own fleshly imaginations. The idols of that day were manifestations of their
sexual and financial fantasies!
-
They turned to the Lord and what was the mark of that in their lives? They
lived expectantly, patiently for the Lord's imminent return from heaven!
-
If you are to be a Christian that lives like the Thessalonians, you must turn
your eyes from the things of this earth, to the focal point of heaven! Jesus is
the focal point! But He's coming back!
-
Paul affirms Christ's place in heaven, where His throne is firmly established,
where He ascended after being resurrected from the dead!
-
At His first advent, something that we are about to celebrate, Jesus brought hope
for redemption into the world. Salvation was paid for at the Cross and then
ratified in the resurrection!
-
Had Jesus simply died, that would have represented a flaw, a sin that had gone
undiscovered. But He did raise. Death had no power over Him!
-
In Christ's second advent, He will set up a Kingdom that will be absolute.
Between now and then, we understand that the predominant view on earth is
anti-Christ.
-
At His second coming, Christ comes not as the Lamb, submitting Himself to His
Father's judgment. He comes again as the Roaring Lion of the Tribe of Judah ready
to judge unrighteousness.
-
On the one hand, when God saved you and I, He saved us from sin, the Devil and
our flesh. But remember, that He also saved us from Himself!
-
Apart from Christ, we were objects of God's rightful wrath. The double edged
barrel of eternity was pointed directly at us. When we acknowleged Christ, that
wrath was absorbed in Jesus!
-
Today, there is a world around us who are faced with that same gracious offer.
They may submit themselves to the love and patience of God and allow their
wrath to be accounted in Christ.
-
The sad reality is that people will continue to reject Christ and will face His
wrath both in the Great Tribulation and then for eternity in Hell.
-
But remember today: Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come and all those who
would believe upon Christ, join those who are delivered!
Conclusion
- Looking back at what we have just examined,
I'd remark that there are three key characteristics that set the Thessalonians
apart: Activity, Receptivity and Expectancy.
- Their faith worked naturally through their
personalities and labored above and beyond for the sake of love. They were
active in their faith. Your faith must work!
- When they heard the word, they recognized it
as vital information. It was their confidence, their joy and their testimony.
They were receptive to the Word. Your life is your theology!
- Finally, the Thessalonians expected God's
reward which marked their endurance and expected Christ's return in judgment,
marking their holiness in turning from idolatry.
- If they believed that Christ's return was
imminent in the late 40's and early 50's, how much more is that the case today!
Do you expect Him soon? Do you believe it can happen today?
- When these characteristics are evident in a
church, it'll be praiseworthy in any century!
No comments:
Post a Comment