Really tremendous. We're going to turn in our
Bibles to 1st Thessalonians reading from chapter 2, and
we're going to read verses 13 through to 20.
Let's hear the Word of God reading, of course, from the
Authorised Version. The words will come up on screen
for those online. We pray the Lord will richly
bless to us the hearing of the Word of God.
First Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 13.
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when
you received the Word of God, what 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, are in Christ Jesus.
For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen,
even as they have of the Jews, who both killed the Lord Jesus
and their own prophets, and have persecuted us.
And they please not God and our country to all men, forbidding
us to speak to the Gentiles, that they might be saved to fill
up their sins all way, for the wrath has come upon them to the
uttermost. But we brethren, been taken from
you for a short time, and presence not in heart,
endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great
desire. Wherefore we would have come
unto you, even I Paul once, then again, but Satan hindered us.
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown, or rejoicing?
Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ?
That is coming, For ye are our glory and joy.
Amen. The Lord will stamp with his own
approval and blessing this reading of his own precious and
infallible Word. Amen.
Now this morning we're continuing with our series of
expository sermons in the book of First Thessalonians and my
text today is taken from First Thessalonians chapter 2 and in
the verse 13, my theme today I'm entitled The Wonderful Working
of the Word of God. Let's hear the text for this
cause also. Thank we God without ceasing
because when you received the word of God, which you heard of
us, you received it not as the word of man, but it as it is in
truth the word of God, which he effectually worketh also in you
that believe. Now this is a great text of
Scripture, one that stands as a great treasure trove of truth
for the reader to discover, and one that I was loved to just
Passover. Let's think of some important
truths taught in this great text of Scripture.
First of all, you've got the title that is affirmed.
Now look at the text very carefully.
Think of these words, when you received the word of God, which
he heard of us, you received it not as the word of man, but as
it is in truth, the Word of God. Do you notice two times in the
text you've got the words the Word of God.
The Word of God is a title for the Holy Bible, the Scriptures
of truth. Now let me ask the question,
what is your attitude to the Word of God?
How do you view the Bible? How do you treat the Bible?
You see, I believe that the Lord takes special note of her
attitude to the Word of God. We live in a day when many deny
the Bible. They refuse to hear it or hate
it. They believe that it's a book
full of errors, mistakes. Well, I want to tell you it's
not. There's those who doubt the
Bible. They doubt it is the word of
God. They're full of unbelief.
They're full of disbelief. Many others distort the Bible.
They twist and rest the Scriptures to their own
destruction. That is, they take a verse out
of context, make a pretext, make it mean anything that they want
to. And you can do that with the
Scriptures. Let me illustrate.
Here's a man who opened the Bible.
He was looking at word, a word from God.
He was having a rough day. He needed a word of
encouragement, a word of help. And this is what he read.
Judas went out and hanged himself.
Well, he didn't think that was helpful.
So we took another verse and this other verse said go and do
thy likewise. Well, that wasn't very
encouraging. And then he got another verse
and it says what thou doest do quickly.
And he shook the Bible. You see the Bible talks about
resting the scriptures. In Second Corinthians chapter 2
verse 17 we read for we are not as many which corrupt the word
of God. The word corrupt means deal
deceitfully with or or twist or rest, but as of sincerity, but
as of God in the sight of God speak we in Christ.
Paul did not deal deceitfully with the Word of God.
He didn't handle the Word of God in a corrupt manner.
He believed that every verse must be studied in its proper
context. Sadly, there's many others and
they read and study the Bible to dissect it.
They like to break it up into different parts.
They love the facts of the Bible.
You're in conversation with the name the shortest verse or name
the longest verse, or what's the middle verse in the Bible, or
how many times is this word used, or how many times is that
word used? All facts about this and that.
And yet the reality is those who fill their mind with those
facts, having dissected the Scriptures into its proper
constituent parts like the the law and the prophets and the
writings in the Old Testament, they never focus on the true
meaning. And remember what John said,
John 20 verse 31. But these are written that you
might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that
you believe in you might have life through his name.
See, here's why the scriptures are written.
The scriptures are a guide to point us to Christ.
Old John the Apostle in the Isle of Patna said this in first John
chapter 5 verse 20. And we know that the Son of God
has come and has given us an understanding that we may know
Him. That is true.
We are in Him that is true. You see, 10s of thousands of
professing Christians have either a partial or a total
disregard for the Bible. Where does the Bible sit?
On the bottom shelf at home? Maybe under a pile of other
books? Maybe at the bedside cabinet or
in a drawer there? Or in the pocket of the car on
open from one week to the next week and they make in a day of
trouble when they need a word of encouragement.
Get a few verses now and again. Are we Sam?
And I'm saying this morning, and I say to the young people that
are here, young people never ever treat the Bible like that
because the Bible is not in the other book.
This is how men treat the Bible. They deny it, they doubt it,
they distort it. They, they, they, they deal
deceitfully with it. They dissect it.
They have a disregard for it. But never, ever treat the Bible
like any other book because the Bible is God's book.
The Bible is the book of book. The Bible is different than its
origin, different in character, different in its content.
The Bible is, as Paul says, it is twice here, the word of God.
There's the title that is affirmed.
The Bible has been miraculously produced because it's the word
of God. It was produced of God and by
God, and this common title, the word of God is used something
like 4000 times in the Authorised Version.
See the Bible, how many times have I told you, doesn't merely
contain the Word of God. The Bible is the infallible and
errant authoritative word of God.
It is a living, eternal, unchanging word.
See, this book is divinely inspired.
We could argue who wrote the Bible?
Men wrote it. Human pen men, Isaiah, Paul, to
name but 240 different authors over a period of 1500 years.
If human pen men wrote the Bible, how could we say that
it's the word of God? How could we say that God wrote
the Bible? Let me give you 2 key verses
over there in Peter in second Peter chapter 1, and we'll read
there in verse 20 and 21 these words, knowing this first, that
no prophecy of the Scriptures of any private interpretation, for
the prophecy came not an old time by the will of man, but
holy men of God speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
Holy men of God speak as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
That word moved means they were born along.
Think of a sailing vessel out in the lake.
It's got no engine, you don't have any paddles and there's no
wind. And you're just sitting there
and you're thinking, how are we going to get the shore?
Well, what you need is you need a gust of wind.
You need the wind to blow and fill the seal, and then it'll
move the sailing vessel along the lake or bring you back to
the shore. That's the picture there.
Holy men of God speak as they were born, carried along, moved
by the Holy Ghost. You see God the Holy Ghost come
upon them and and God chose the words in them through them.
And God the Holy Spirit not only gave the words but guided them
to write and their own individual style, I believe gave
them the exact words, gave them the grammar, gave them the
syntax. Here's another verse in Second
Timothy. Remember, and in chapter 3, the
apostle Paul said this, all Scripture is given by
inspiration of God and it's profitable for doctrine, for
reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness,
inspiration. What does that mean?
In the Greek? It's Theo neustos.
Theo has to do with God. Neustos has to do with breath.
It has to do with the breath of God.
All Scripture is given how? By the breath of God.
This is a God breed book. See, God's Word is divinely
inspired. God's Word is divinely
infallible. It's therefore without error.
And God's Word is divinely preserved.
And I believe today in the doctrine of the preservation of
the Word of God, the Word of God will never, ever pass away.
In the 2nd century, there's a man called Diocletian.
He was the emperor of Rome and he decided that he was going to
close down churches, he was going to burn Bibles, and he was
going to put the Christians to death.
And they believed that he'd got the last pyrer, a copy of the
word of God. They had a fire and they built a
monument over it. And the monument said this, that
Christianity is now extinct because I burnt the last copy of
the Bible. And yet here we are with a copy
of the word of God in the English language, and we can
take up our Bibles, we can read. And as we read, God is speaking
to us, and that word is precious, and that word is pure,
and that word is powerful, and that word is perfect.
It's not what the psalmist said. The law of the Lord is perfect,
converting the soul. Jesus said man shall not live by
bread alone, but be every word to proceedeth out of the mouth
of God. And that's the right way to
treat the Bible. So let me ask again, what is
your attitude to the Bible? How do you treat the Bible?
How do you view it? Because I believe the way a man
or woman or a young person treats the Bible shows his
attitude to the Bible, shows his true regard for the personal
book of Christ. And I want to add this, you
can't say I love Jesus. I loved for Jesus apart from the
word of God. You can't know him outside often
apart from this book. Haven't I already read to you
what John said, but these are written for what reason or
purpose that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the
Son of God, and that the believing you might have life
through his name. Just the first thing, the title
that is affirmed. Here's the second thing, the
testimony that is announced, if you go back to the text, what
does it say there? It says this for this cause
also. Thank me God without ceasing,
because when you received the word of God, which you heard of
us, you received it not as it is the word of man, but as it is in
truth the word of God. Notice these words when you
received and you received the apostle Paul remembers writing
to new converts. Remember, these people were
converted from paganism, from the deep darkness of idolatry.
Paul and his team have come to Thessalonica.
It's the second missionary journey, and they've come with
the word of God. They've come with us precious,
pure, perfect and powerful message.
And the Jews and the Gentiles who heard them, many of them
came to faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Redeemer.
And how did that happen? Here's the answer.
It was their reception of the Word of God.
The Holy Spirit took this precious word of God, this word
of God that's quick and powerful and applied it to the human
heart and the people were converted.
That's very important that you grasp that.
Remember what Peter says. They are in first Peter chapter
1 and in the verse 23. Listen to the word of God being
born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible by
the word of God which liveth and abideth forever.
It was Joseph Alien that said the word generates faith and
regenerates us. The revelation of who God is,
what he's like and what he's done, creation, Providence,
redemption, the revelation of the good news of the gospel of
Jesus Christ. We discover this, that there's
no genuine experience of God's salvation apart from the word of
God. The Word of God has a powerful,
saving, life changing, transformative impact on the
soul. Here's the manner that they
received the Word of God. This is a fundamental hallmark.
I repeat, there is no true conversion experience apart from
the Word of God entering the heart and the mind of the Sinner
and saving the Sinner and changing and transforming the
Sinner. Notice these words when you
received. You see, there's two different
words here when you received and you received not the same word
in same word in the English, but not the same word in the Greek.
Two different Greek words were two different, completely
different meanings when you received.
That was the first phrase it means to accept from another.
It signifies the people listening to the Word of God,
signifies that they were hearing from a messenger of God.
There was a willingness to hear. There was a a wanting of the
word. Notice these words when you
received the word of God which you heard of us.
See, you've got to think of a preacher coming into
Thessalonica. You've got to think of the
ordinance of preaching the word, a preacher with a word from God,
a preacher with a word of God standing before a group of
people, whether a large congregation or a small
congregation, and you have a people willing and wanting to
hear that word. They literally received the word
that was spoken. Why?
How was that possible? They were pagans.
They were in darkness. Here's the answer.
Look at verse 5, Thessalonians, chapter one, verse 5.
For our gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also in power,
and then the Holy Ghost, and then much assurance, as you know
what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The gospel came in power, the gospel came in the Holy Ghost,
and the gospel came in much assurance.
You see, there was the outpouring of the Spirit of God
upon the people, and the people were born again, they were
regenerated. And the Holy Ghost created the
desire for the Word of God. And you need the Holy Ghost to
want the Word. And the Holy Ghost gives to us
the hearing ear faith. He creates a ready and willing
mind to receive the Word of God. The Holy Ghost infuses the soul
with a holy desire for the Word of God.
There's a feeling of want. What do we want?
We want the Word of God. I need this.
I want the Word of God. That's what it means when you
received the Word of God, to accept from another, because the
Holy Spirit has created a want in the heart.
Now notice this other word. It says ye received it.
That's a different Greek word. It literally means to go beyond
wanting the word to welcoming the word.
The hearing ear. Faith leads to the hearing of
the heart. The heart now welcomes what the
ear has heard, and the heart appropriates that message.
The heart appreciates that message.
The heart welcomes what is spoken.
Paul already said this in First Thessalonians chapter 1 and
verse 6. And ye became followers of us
and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction.
The word received is the same word here.
The second received in our text. It means to welcome the word.
And how did they do it? They received the word in much
affliction. These were terrible times.
These were days of great persecution with much
affliction. They received the word with joy
of the Holy Ghost. Do you see the connection in the
midst of these deniers that came in the midst of the distorters
and the doubters? There was a people in
Thessalonica who not only wanted the Word, but welcomed the Word
because God's worded the answer to their sin.
God's worded the answer to their sin problem.
God's worded the answer to their suffering problem.
God's worded the answer to a sense of problems that they
faced on life's journey. Notice this.
You received it not as the word of man.
Now look at your authorised version.
You see the word it you received it, it's an italics.
You see the word as? It's also an italics.
It literally reads you received not the word of man.
You receive not the word of man. You see, they heard the word of
God, not man's word. It is an italics as is an
italics. You receive not the words of
men. That's very important.
But as it isn't truth, the word of God, you see these people
exercise discernment. In Paul's day was the world of
Greek philosophy. It was a day of great education.
The world of Plato and Aristotle and Socrates, great Greek
philosophers that are healed and lauded to this day in the
universities. He was a Greek speaking
community with with a Greek philosophy.
A multitude receives these words of men.
Plato and Aristotle and Socrates and many others.
Words of men about life. Words of men about the origins
of the universe. Words of men about life and
morality. Words of men about gods.
But when they heard Paul preach, they refused to receive the
words of men. You see, those who receive the
words of men believe their words will help them, help them to
understand, help them to discern things about life, whether it's
arts, the level of education, philosophy.
And that's what they had before Paul came the words of men.
But when Paul came preaching the Word, they rejected the words of
men and not only wanted the Word of God, but welcomed that word
because they realised the words of men will not do them any
good. And that's a powerful thing.
That's their testimony. Thirdly, and quickly think of
the truth that is acquired here. You see, the Holy Ghost creates
A reverence and a love for the Word of God, and that is
integral to true conversion. True conversion brings about a
deep reverence for the Word of God.
The Thessalonians heard the Word of God that they wanted and they
welcomed it. They listened with a deep
reverence. They revelled in the Word.
And I believe the modern church, sadly, has little or no
reverence for the Word of God. What we have today is lots of
showmanship. What we have today is fleshly.
What we have today draws attention to a mode of worship
that's all about noise but lacks true reference for the Word of
God. We have far too many self
centred rather than Christ centred preachers.
Let me illustrate. Think of the March for Jesus
yesterday in Belfast. I got a report late last night
from a friend. He was working, but he could see
and hear what was going on. He said it was like a worldly
pop concert. You had men and women talking
about visions. You had an individual commanding
God to do this or that, about pouring out a spirit.
And that dear friend wrote and I quote using discernment.
It was a big immecumenical mass. It dishonoured the true gospel.
It made Christianity look pathetic and ridiculous.
But there was little or no gospel preaching.
There was no deep reference for God as the living and the true
God, and there was no deep reference for the Word of God.
Let me ask this question to those who marched for Jesus.
Who is the Lord Jesus Christ? See, once you grasp the personal
word of Christ, once you understand who He is and what
He's like and what He's done, you will have reverence.
You will revel not only in His person and His work, but you'll
revel in His Word. Is that not true today?
That there's a loss of true reverence for Christ in His
Word. Even those who sit in Free
Presbyterian churches may not have the reverence and the
revelling that's required. Their minds can be full of their
own thoughts. Their mouths can speak their own
words. But that's a saying that the
Spirit of God is not really at work.
Because I'm saying to you this morning, listen to me carefully.
I repeat this. A truly converted soul will have
a deep love for the truth. It's not what Paul says.
He received it not as the word of man, but as it is in truth
the word of God. There has to be a deep reference
for the scriptures and a non converted soul will not have
that. An unconverted soul will not
receive the Word. An unconverted soul will not
revel or or or or reverence the word of God.
And it's a saying. He's unconverted.
He'll hear the words of men. He'll be interested in Plato and
Aristotle and Socrates and many others who are modern day
successors. But the words of men will not
save him or them. The words of God, the words of
men will not satisfy them. The words of men will not
succour them or sanctify them. The the the words of men will
not help them. The words of men will not give
them hope. And they come to die because the
words of men don't regenerate them.
See, the Lord Jesus said about his sheep.
Listen to this. My sheep hear my voice, and I
know them, and they follow me. Do you know his voice?
As you read the Scriptures, you see there's a parallel between
the Lord Jesus Christ and the Word of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ is called the Word of God in the Book of
Revelation. And here we have got the title,
The Word of God. The Lord Jesus called himself
the bread of life. John 6 and 48 I am the bread of
life, and yet the Bible's the bread of life.
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that
proceedeth out of the mouth of God.
The Lord Jesus Christ called himself the truth.
I am the way, the truth to life. No man comes unto the Father but
by me. And what do we read in John 17
and 17? Sanctify them through thy word.
Thy word is truth. The Lord Jesus Christ is
eternal, He lives and abides forever, and the Bible,
according to first Peter chapter 3, verse 23, is the living,
eternal word of God. Do you revel in the scriptures?
Do you have a reference for the Bible?
Would you appreciate it in such a way that you'd rather have the
Bible and food? Job said, I've esteemed thy word
more than my necessary food. The Bible is bread and milk and
meat and honey to our soul. Do you esteem the Bible greater
riches than money? Remember what the psalmist said
in Psalm 119 and verse 14. I've rejoiced in the way of thy
testimonies as much as in all riches.
He said in verse 72, These words, The law of thy mouth is
better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.
Would you rather have the word of God than sleep?
Again? You see the psalmist said this
in Psalm 119 verse 48. Listen to these words.
Mine eyes prevent the night watches, that I might meditate
in thy word. There was three night watches
from sunset up to 1010 to 2 and then two to sunrise.
And David was up at that time rather than sleeping.
And I know we can talk about a long sermon.
And I, I don't preach long sermons, but even in a long
sermon, you can stand up encouraged or you can wake up
refreshed. That's what the Reverend Ron
Johnson said one time to the late Doctor Alan Kearns.
You can stand up encouraged after a long sermon or you can
wake up refreshed. But the true sheep hear the
voice of the shepherd. The true sheep do not go after
strangers. The true sheep don't place
themselves under the voices of mere men.
They don't listen to men. Men can sound well.
Men can be attractive. Men can make you feel
comfortable. And yet the word that they bring
doesn't regenerate you, doesn't penetrate the soul, but just
true conversion takes it right into the heart.
You think if I use this with illustration, you come into the
house and you're hungry. Mummy sets dinner in front of
you and you sit there with the arms folded and you look at it.
It's not going to do you any good.
Even though you've got pangs of hunger.
You have to make it your own, you have to eat.
And there is a Saviour from all sin, if you only let him in.
There is a salvation that you can experience through faith in
Jesus Christ, because Christ came into the world to save
sinners. Paul says, of whom I am chief,
He came to shed his blood. Notice very quickly the test
that is applied. It says, which effectually
worketh also in you that believe.
See that naturally follows, doesn't it?
The power of the Word, that word worketh has to do with energy.
It has to do with power. The the the word worked in their
lives. The word changed and transformed
because it's the word of God. It's inspired and fallible.
It's an Aaron. It's preserved.
It doesn't originate with Paul and his team.
It's the Word of God, and the Word of God is not in the same
level as the Word of men. It's in a different league.
It's above the words of men. It's an infallible standard in
how to live. Here's how we can know what to
believe. Here's how we can behave.
It's God's final authority. These pagans turn from idols to
serve the living and the true God.
Why? Because the Word was at work,
there was a power and energy from the Word of God as applied
by the Spirit. The word has power to energise
because the Word is quick and powerful.
The Word saves us. The Word suckers us.
You need a word of encouragement.
Where do you go to? Where can I go but to the Lord?
And you go to the Lord and say, Lord, give me a word of
encouragement, and that word can come and strengthen ye.
And you can you can smile even in the deepest of storms and in
the greatest of need, even when you face the threat of death.
You can remember the psalmist said, I will fear no evil, for
thou art with me. Where is he?
In the valley of the death, in the valley of the shadow.
What a tremendous comfort. The Word of God can strengthen
us. The Word of God separates us
under God. The Word of God sanctifies us.
Here's the test that is applied. The Word of God changes and
transforms our lives. And yet here's many professing
Christians and we have to ask, what's their attitude to sin?
What's their attitude to the Saviour?
What's their attitude to the Scriptures?
What's their attitude to sanctification?
What's their attitude to the Sabbath day?
One day and seven set aside for worship.
Many churches claim to be Christian, but we're living in a
day when the Lord's Day is now a day for sport.
We have known churches in the past to hold the World Cup final
on a Sunday, the Wimbledon final, the rugby final, and then
bring people into the church for tea and buns after they've
watched the match and the weaving service just go on home.
I want to tell you that's wrong. It's sin what we're commanded.
Remember the Sabbath day to keep it holy.
And the book says to the law and to the testimony.
If they speak not according to this word, it is because there's
no light in them. And yet shopping has become the
norm. Go down to forest side and it's
packed today. People out washing their cars,
fixing their cars, mowing their grass, going out golfing.
Why? Because they have no reference
for the word of God, it's a sign that their heart is unconverted,
for there's never been changed in front of, but when professing
Christians do it. Then here's the test which
effectually worketh also in you that believe one final thing in
our time is gone. The thanks that is appreciated.
You see, Paul said this for this cause also thank me God without
ceasing because here's the reason He rejoiced for a reason.
This cause also here was an additional reason to rejoice,
not only that they were converted, but he rejoiced in
their response to the word of God.
It was a good spiritual response.
It was a good spiritual attitude.
And I finish with this. What is your response to the
Word of God? Do you delight in the Word of
God? The Word of God has saved you,
suckers you, strengthens you, sanctifies you, sets you apart.
The Word of God has benefited you now and you're saved for
time and eternity. And you have a love for the Word
of God and you live by it and you're loyal to the scriptures.
See, the Word of God was mixed with faith.
It benefited them now and in the world to come benefit for
eternity. But for many, the Word of God is
not mixed with faith. Many do not believe the Word of
God. Listen to this as I finish
second Thessalonians 2 verse 11. And for this 'cause God shall
send them strong delusion that they should believe a lie.
See, those who refuse to believe the Bible, deny the Bible, doubt
the Bible, distort the Bible, disbelieve the Bible, they end
up believing a lie And that delusion, it's a darkness that
has come upon their heart and mind.
It's a form of judgement from God because God just veils them
in darkness and leaves them alone without delight.
But Paul is thankful, the thanks that is appreciated.
He rejoiced in their response to the Word of God.
Do you delight in the Word of God, or do you deny the Word of
God? The wonderful working of the
Word of God, the title that is here, the testimony that is
here, the truth that is here, the test, the thanks, it's all
bound up in this one word. May the Lord use His Word today
for His glory. We're going.