Thessalonians Ep 1

well i welcome you one more time to our midweek bible study here at cornerstone apostolic church so glad that you have joined us tonight looking forward to a great a few moments here a few minutes in the word of the lord and i trust that it will be a blessing to you and to your family and and to those watching every week we gather around our screens our phones our ipads our computers and our in our desire is to dig deeper into the things of god and to get to know him better right that's uh that's the joy that comes from getting into the word establishing who god is who he is in our lives and knowing more about him so um get your kids around family friends wherever you are take some time here and let's get our bibles out we're going to go to the word of the lord now we have completed to date in this wednesday evening study we have completed ephesians we have completed galatians philippians and colossians enjoyed those letters immensely i don't know if you did or not but i really really enjoyed them we are going to continue tonight with another uh epistle from the hand of paul from the workers and the followers that are with him and we're going to try to understand a little better the things of god we're going to begin with prayer as we always do uh don't forget pray for cornerstone apostolic church pray for the city of chattanooga pray for the united states of america our nation needs uh the hand of god right now so let's pray for that pray for our military men and women first responders pray for missionaries around the globe wherever they may be pray for the needs that you know about neighbors and friends and co-workers that are sick and hurting and and without jobs or whatever's going on in their lives pray for them let let god hear from you and then let that person know that you're you're praying you're believing that god's going to intervene and and meet them where they are so let's pray together as we begin tonight lord we love you and we thank you one more time jesus for the opportunity to gather to get into your word thank you for the bible lord it's the lamp to our feet it shows us how to walk every day and for that lord we give you thanks lord i pray right now that you would bless our time together i pray lord for every family every individual lord i pray god for every home and every heart represented that's tonight going through the study or will in the future god bless them lord i pray tonight for cornerstone apostolic church give us revival help us god as we regroup and rebuild give us guidance and direction from you i pray for our city god bless chattanooga lord god bless the united states of america bless our nation god i pray protect us bless our leadership lord i pray in your name bless our military men and women bless the first responders that protect us daily lord we pray tonight for our missionaries around the globe as they do the work of god wherever they are god keep them and protect them pray tonight lord for the hurt the healing that needs to happen lord i pray tonight for those who are lost that salvation can be made manifest to them i pray lord that provision would happen that the miracle worker lord your name can work and move in their lives i believe that you're still alive and well the church is still powerful the anointing of the lord is still upon its people and i believe lord while it is day we are needing to work for you the name of jesus bless our time together lead and guide us and let us lord draw closer to you and grow deeper in the word let us have a passion lord for it and a love for it in jesus name we pray amen amen all right we're going to begin tonight a couple of sessions we will begin in the first letter to the thessalonians first thessalonians is where we'll be this evening beginning at chapter one just a little bit of history here uh thessalonica is the name of the city it was a city in greece and uh was a huge port city a lot of commerce a lot of trade a lot of people coming and going a lot of walks of life jews gentiles greeks so forth all intermingling there it was one of the continuing trade routes from east to west the city was full of established businesses and and negotiations and legal things uh politicians all kind of things were happening in the city of thessalonica and around 50 a.d there's a letter that was written to the newly established church in thessalonica and before this letter this first letter was written to them history tells us that paul silas and timotheus they were actually asked to leave the city because of the preaching and teaching and the the people they were reaching uh the city the city was basically turned up on in because of the way that the gospel was being presented to people they were changing their lives they were coming out of idolatry and coming out of the the thoughts and the processes of commercialism and worldliness and carnality and they were literally asked by the government at that day to please you need to leave here so they do they left and they went to the city of athens and that's where this letter was written from now uh the three guys mentioned here paul silas and timotheus they all had a hand in these letters okay and mostly paul you can tell by the the writing and how it was done mostly paul would have given the words and been written down and then taken back into the city there and read to them uh but it's a very interesting how quite honestly if you've noticed several of these cities that paul and his brethren are going into to start churches a lot of them are major cities they're not just little country towns per se for that day they are actually major trade routes big cities where people come and go a lot of commercialism and thing and and this letter is no different the reason i mention that is because paul went right into the thick of the cities he didn't say you know if i can just go out here and and win some little bitty group or change somebody's mind no he went right right into the the lion's den if you will of that day where all of the school of thought was and the intent and so forth interesting how that in the midst of all of the opposition all of the things that that the people didn't want them there then other people wanted them there in the midst of all of that there's a church that should be clear indication before we even get into the words written of all the other letters even that we've looked at that's a clear indication that if god is with you wherever you are there can be a church there there can be people that will follow the name of jesus they will be baptized in jesus name they will repent of their sins they'll receive the gift of the holy ghost that's evident by what paul was doing in his day all right so let's begin as we get into this letter first thessalonians we'll read at chapter number one let me start at verse number two all right we give thanks to god always for you all making mention of you in our prayers remembering without ceasing your faith your work of faith excuse me and labor of love and patience of hope in our lord jesus christ in the sight of god and our father knowing brethren beloved your election of god for our gospel came not unto you in word only but also in power and in the holy ghost and in much assurance as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake now this is the greeting of course verse number one verse number two in the way that the writers address these people in thessalonica you can feel the love you can feel the pleasure if you will that they had for those that would be reading this letter there was a relationship here without a doubt okay knowing that paul reassures the church there we came preached taught instructed we spent time with you we had to leave you guys stayed but realize you're not by yourself we're praying for you paul even reminds them of the love and the faith that they have in god and how that that is what is doing the actual work he be gla he begins to declare not only did their testimonies the the what paul and timotheus or silas said when they got there it changed their hearts and minds but it was a work of the spirit of god the power of the holy ghost working in their lives by the words that the preachers were giving them the name of jesus had been revealed to paul we know that much through the other letters and it's the same in this but knowing that in paul's revelation of who jesus was and what his purpose and what his love and ability and capability what that was for paul he shared with them and then they began to have their experiences the new testament believer they weren't just simply hearing what paul said but their spirits were responding to the words that paul gave them so paul writes this letter to them because he's not with them so he sends this to them and he's encouraging listen you prayed for us we pray for you we work together this came through revelation of who god is and through his power and working in you and so therefore they were doing exactly what god had led them to do they were working for the kingdom now in verse number six notice and ye became followers of us and of the lord having received the word in much affliction notice this with joy of the holy ghost so that ye were in samples to all that believe in macedonia and achieve for from you sounded out the word of the lord not only in macedonia and acrea but also in every place with your faith to godward is spread abroad so that we need not speak anything suffering and affliction apparently was was part of what was going to be received by anybody who dared to follow jesus christ it's apparent by the letters written and the new christians though interestingly enough they with joy follow jesus begin to plug in to the gospel the good news of who jesus was their example their deeds they were being told all over the place man these guys over here they're believing they've got it going on there's power there in that church and that house church and that small group that meets there there's power and the spirit of god moving in them knowing that around that region remember all of this happened because paul was being sent the spirit of god was working and moving and paul is being drawn into these cities he goes in and the scripture says that there's a testimony being established not just from paul's side but also from the believers and the workers in the church at that time so god was doing an incredible work in that major port city of thessalonica continue in verse 9 notice for they themselves shoe 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 and to wait for his son from heaven whom he raised from the dead even jesus which delivered us from the wrath to come notice notice that just like the other letters paul is reminding the church the believers in that city that there is power in the name of jesus there's power in the risen savior and paul makes sure to encourage the brethren of that day the same as we hear it today same thing the intention is this serve the lord it's worth it plug into the gospel of jesus believe in the word of god there is such power in it it's worth your sacrifice and giving and connecting and learning and and studying it's worth it i i pause here at this point to to tell you church that the studies we're doing on wednesday nights this is to help us this is to give us some insight into the scripture so that when the trial of faith comes or when the obstacles begin to show themselves in our path we have the word of god that we understand just like him that day that god is with us and it's a joy to serve the lord now going into this first thessalonians chapter 2 notice this for yourselves brethren know our entrance in unto you that it was not in vain we came to you but it wasn't in vain but even after that we had suffered before we were shamefully entreated as you know at philippi we were bold in in our god to speak unto you the gospel of god with much contention for our exhortation was not of deceit nor uncleanness nor in guile but as we were allowed of god to be to be put in the trust with the gospel even so we speak not as pleasing men but god which trieth our hearts paul paul is continuing here in the second chapter talking about the way that they came in and the spirit of god began to enlighten the words that paul timotheus or silas was using with them he mentions philippi he's very interesting he goes he refers to another church he's establishing with the thessalonicans how that everybody's battling everybody's trying to to overcome the obstacles in the the uh negativity if you will of those who don't believe but understand just like the church at philippi just like the one at galatia the one at ephesus whatever they are also making decisions and choices daily that say i want to know about this jesus evidently paul's message was so empower empowering to them that they would turn from idolatry and things that they were doing and begin to follow after the words of this guy paul's writing to that end here paul reminds them that god gave the increase it was god who enlightened paul if you will it was god who began to show his love and his kindness and gentleness to them uh men turned against them of course and as we have discovered is that that they even when they made paul and silas when they made them leave the city it's because they didn't the men i would say of that day they were just simply trying to to keep keep peace in order and any time you begin to preach the name of jesus you're going to have people that won't agree any time you begin to to to preach the power of the blood of jesus christ you're going to have those who may or may not get it but there's going to be many just like in that day that will say wow this is real i feel an anointing at an unction with this that lesson we learn today not everybody's going to walk in the light we know that to be true some will even reject it very harshly they will push it away they will they will not want it whatsoever but paul is reassuring to the church here at thessalonica just like we need to receive now keep believing keep pushing forward continue to stay in the word continue to pray continue to do what you do for the kingdom of god continuing here in verse number five of first thessalonians chapter two verse five for neither at any time used we flattering words as you know nor a cloak of covetousness god is witness nor men sought we glory neither of you nor yet of others when we might have been burdened some as the apostles of christ but we were gentle among you even as a nurse cherisheth her children so being affectionately desirous of you we were willing to have imparted unto you not the gospel of god only but also our own souls because ye were dear unto us wow what an incredible statement what an incredible encouraging word here there was not flattering words there was no desire for for the these three men that were now in there trying to reach to them and so forth to to get them to join a cult or a join a group or anything no there was no glory that they were seeking after come on you need to put all this praise and worship and glory to me none of that but paul uses words such as this he says you like like like a gentle like a nurse with a newborn baby affectionately treating people with love and kindness so that they could see the power of the spirit of god working it wasn't just a word from god but it was a relationship with god with all the power of the word of god could bring to them and we know god to be love that's what paul was trying to get the church to understand listen we want you to know that when you began your relationship with jesus christ it was more than just us we shared with you but jesus christ turned on the light and you begin to walk notice how he continues here verse number nine very interesting for ye remember brethren our labor and travail for laboring night and day because we would not be chargeable unto any of you we preached unto you the gospel of god your witnesses and god also how holy and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father doth his children that ye would walk worthy of god who hath called you into his kingdom and glory paul silas timothy's notice here they remind them the labor was not easy okay the labor was was intense probably at times in fact no doubt these guys felt like everything was coming against them no no no free reign to be able to speak but there's opposition and questions and booing and hissing and and so forth but yet they did it with joy because they knew the results would come as god would reveal himself to them notice the words holy that means holy but in a manner that brings godliness to what they're saying justly we're not judging you we're simply sharing with you the good news of who jesus is right unblameably meaning we're not pointing a finger we're not telling you about him we're simply sharing with you the love of christ listen paul used the right methods the right means to reach this whole area with the gospel of jesus walking worthy you notice in many of his letters he mentions this walk worthy walking worthy means that you are on the journey and you are doing what the scripture says you do it the way that god is instructing you and paul is is very careful here to let them know listen obstacles trials test all of those things are going to happen but there is a way you can love people into the kingdom today 2020 we can learn great lessons from this letter as as as the writing continues in verse number 13 notice this for this cause also thank we god without ceasing because when you receive the word of god which you heard of us you received it not as the word of men but as it is in truth the word of god which effectually worketh also in you that believe for ye brethren became followers of the churches of god which is in judea and christ jesus for you also have suffered like things of your own countrymen even as they have of the jews who both killed the lord jesus notice this and their own prophets and have persecuted us and they please not god and are contrary to all men forbidding us to speak to the gentiles that they might be saved to fill up their sin always for the wrath has come upon them to the uttermost when when the thessalonicans heard the word they received it okay and they took it as if it was the word from god you understand that some rejected the work it's true and even some of the their own countrymen didn't believe didn't want it begin to murmur start rumors began to complain and bellyache if you will about how that this neighbor was now beginning to follow this jesus and and this one was beginning to talk about what paul was teaching them through all of that the letter here that paul was writing to them is telling them you embraced the message okay you you heard it and you and you pulled it in close not everybody's gonna do that but you keep going you keep moving in fact so when they forbid you to speak that's okay walk away and go speak to someone else when when they they they're the jews themselves it's interesting how paul reminds the church there you know they killed jesus they killed their own prophets they persecuted us it's not it's not what should happen but it's what happened so don't be sidetracked by that don't be distracted by the naysayers and the negatives but instead keep moving forward and do it in the name of jesus now as as this second chapter comes to an end notice here in verse 17 but we brethren being taken from you for a short time in presence not in heart endeavored the more abundantly you see your face with great desire listen to this wherefore we would have come unto you even i paul once and again but satan hindered us for what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing are not even ye in the presence of our lord jesus christ at his coming for ye are our glory and joy the writer here expresses the fact that they had to get out of the city all right they wanted to stay but it was not made possible and then paul wants to be with him but he cannot but this is how he says it satan has hindered us you would have thought the obstacles and the roadblocks and and all the things that the enemy can throw at you and all the things that that a neighbor or co-worker or family member can throw against you that because of that relationship you know that you would be discouraged or you would you would not want to hurt anybody's feelings so you'd walk away but here paul mentioned satan satan threw these obstacles in the way hindered them now i'm not sure if you're the same as me in this but i thought that if this was paul who's had this incredible ministry incredible revelation of who god is i i would have thought that paul could simply rebuke the work of satan and could move past it and keep moving forward but paul understood listen to this the reason that paul makes this known to the thessalonicans is because of this paul understands the limits of god and there are times when the enemy himself puts a stop now you don't give credit to the enemy for that you simply decide this is why and this is where and this is what's happened but i have full confidence that the word will continue because it is planned it listen to it if you sow the word if you throw the word out if you continue to push the word by like a seed out into the into the highways into the the places of business into the the wherever it happens to be there will be harvest that's the law of the harvest and paul is understanding that therefore in this letter he's saying listen our hope our joy our crown at what god has done in your life it is rejoicing because even if the devil himself steps in and says no more it's going to continue okay great identifier here that paul mentions this obstacle all right as long as jesus is working in you there is hope for the one next to you understand that the spirit of god works jesus christ has all the power he overcame the grave he overcame death he overcame hell he knows exactly what needs to be done we're going to bring this session tonight to a close and as we do i want to encourage all of you do the work of god and rejoice with what god is doing in you all right heaven is the goal you should say that to yourself every day parents teach that to your children heaven is the goal right encourage one another with that it's not just work for work's sake but what we are doing even in 2020 and all of the stuff going on in our world as we are continuously believing and trusting in the power of jesus christ everything has a time in god's plan 2020 it's in god's plan i believe that and until jesus comes we have to continue to do that amen next week we'll pick back up here in 1st thessalonians and we'll continue in that letter and learn from it but right now i want us to pray together that god will help us daily to encourage one another to encourage ourselves and to continuously press forward in the kingdom come on pray with me lord we thank you for this word thank you for the letter that was written to the churches for allowing us to gain from it even now i believe god that you've got everything in control i know by the name of jesus christ that we are victorious by the word of testimony of what you are doing what you have done and what you desire to do i believe the church is victorious through the name of jesus help us god this week let us be witnesses lord in testimonies living testimonies of what the power of jesus christ has done in us and help us lord to reach our city to reach our world for your glory i love you and i plead your blood over every one of us god keep us protect us lord let us follow you with passion and with desire loving you all the way in jesus name we pray amen amen