1 00:00:00,040 --> 00:00:05,080 Is him now turn with me today to 1st Thessalonians and we're 2 00:00:05,080 --> 00:00:11,560 going to read chapter 1 First Thessalonians chapter 110 verses 3 00:00:20,690 --> 00:00:28,330 First Thessalonians chapter 1 Let's hear the word of God for 4 00:00:28,330 --> 00:00:31,730 those on the Internet. The words will come up on the 5 00:00:31,730 --> 00:00:38,760 screen and as we have said often, the worthy of much 6 00:00:38,760 --> 00:00:41,440 repetition. We're reading from the 7 00:00:41,480 --> 00:00:45,160 Authorised Version, the most reliable and faithful 8 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:50,960 translation of the Holy Scriptures, First Thessalonians, 9 00:00:51,480 --> 00:01:01,560 Chapter 1, Paul and Sylvanus. Let me just point out that 10 00:01:01,560 --> 00:01:08,160 that's a Latin word, Latin. Now it's Paul and Silas. 11 00:01:08,160 --> 00:01:14,440 Silas is the Greek Paul and Sylvanus and Timotheus unto the 12 00:01:14,440 --> 00:01:19,720 Church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and 13 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:25,520 in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you and peace from 14 00:01:25,520 --> 00:01:29,040 God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 15 00:01:30,120 --> 00:01:35,400 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you 16 00:01:35,520 --> 00:01:40,400 in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of 17 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:46,360 faith and your labour of love and patience of hope in our Lord 18 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:51,040 Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. 19 00:01:52,600 --> 00:01:57,320 Knowing brethren, beloved, your election of God for our gospel 20 00:01:57,320 --> 00:02:03,840 came not unto you in Word only, but also in power and in the 21 00:02:03,840 --> 00:02:07,680 Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as you know what 22 00:02:07,680 --> 00:02:10,840 manner of men. We were among you for your sake, 23 00:02:12,160 --> 00:02:18,000 and ye became followers of us and of the Lord, having received 24 00:02:18,000 --> 00:02:22,360 the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Ghost. 25 00:02:23,400 --> 00:02:27,640 So that ye were in samples to all that believe in Macedonia 26 00:02:27,960 --> 00:02:31,720 and Ikaya. For from you sounded out the 27 00:02:31,720 --> 00:02:36,960 word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Akaya, but also in 28 00:02:36,960 --> 00:02:40,480 every place your faith to God were to spread abroad. 29 00:02:41,240 --> 00:02:45,520 So that we need not to speak anything, for they themselves 30 00:02:45,520 --> 00:02:49,880 show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and 31 00:02:49,880 --> 00:02:55,040 how you turn to God from idols to serve the living and the true 32 00:02:55,040 --> 00:02:58,920 God, and to wait for His Son from heaven. 33 00:02:59,520 --> 00:03:05,840 And he raised from the dead even Jesus, which delivered us from 34 00:03:05,840 --> 00:03:08,040 the wrath to come. Amen. 35 00:03:08,040 --> 00:03:10,560 We know God and stamp of his own approval and blessing. 36 00:03:10,800 --> 00:03:14,920 This reading of his own precious and infallible word. 37 00:03:15,440 --> 00:03:20,280 Man. Now my text today is taken from 38 00:03:20,560 --> 00:03:28,560 First Thessalonians chapter 1 verses one to three, and I've 39 00:03:28,560 --> 00:03:34,760 entitled this message, Godly Characteristics of a New 40 00:03:34,760 --> 00:03:40,080 Testament Church. Now, years ago, a father took 41 00:03:40,080 --> 00:03:43,800 his boy to the History Museum in New York. 42 00:03:44,240 --> 00:03:48,160 And for two hours the wee boy walked about the History Museum. 43 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:52,440 And he huffed and he puffed, he sighed and he complained. 44 00:03:52,640 --> 00:03:56,480 And at the end of the two hours, he said to his dad, Hey, dad, 45 00:03:56,480 --> 00:03:59,480 let's get out of here. Let's go and see something 46 00:03:59,480 --> 00:04:02,080 that's real. I don't want to see this old 47 00:04:02,080 --> 00:04:06,360 stuff, the stuff that's dead, the stuff that's irrelevant. 48 00:04:07,200 --> 00:04:11,200 Now of course the wee fella had a bad attitude, but that is the 49 00:04:11,200 --> 00:04:15,960 kind of attitude that many have when they come to the God of the 50 00:04:15,960 --> 00:04:21,920 Bible and the Bible of God. To them it's old, dead, 51 00:04:22,400 --> 00:04:30,600 irrelevant stuff to life, things without meaning in a real what 52 00:04:30,600 --> 00:04:33,040 they would call a a scientific world. 53 00:04:33,360 --> 00:04:37,080 However, let me tell you this, nothing could be further from 54 00:04:37,080 --> 00:04:42,720 the truth. The Bible is a real, living, 55 00:04:43,440 --> 00:04:49,560 valuable book more relevant than up to date for life in the 21st 56 00:04:49,560 --> 00:04:52,840 century than anything else you'll ever come across young 57 00:04:52,840 --> 00:04:56,360 people or read. Someone has said a working 58 00:04:56,360 --> 00:05:01,040 knowledge of the Bible is more valuable than a college degree. 59 00:05:03,240 --> 00:05:09,160 It is not interesting because sadly today there are thousands, 60 00:05:09,560 --> 00:05:12,760 maybe 10s of thousands of students at this time who are 61 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,880 getting their college degree, getting a degree from university 62 00:05:16,880 --> 00:05:19,880 and this and that subject in another. 63 00:05:20,320 --> 00:05:24,280 But those young people, they're leaving the university and they 64 00:05:24,280 --> 00:05:26,960 have no working knowledge of the Bible. 65 00:05:27,680 --> 00:05:30,280 You see, what scares me in the 21st century is this. 66 00:05:30,280 --> 00:05:33,920 God said through Amos, there's a famine in the land. 67 00:05:33,920 --> 00:05:38,520 Not a famine of bread, not a famine of water, but a famine of 68 00:05:38,520 --> 00:05:42,640 hearing the word of God. Where's the thousands of young 69 00:05:42,640 --> 00:05:46,960 university students leaving the university asking the question, 70 00:05:47,240 --> 00:05:54,240 is there any word from God? Now this morning I want to 71 00:05:54,240 --> 00:05:59,040 preach on some truths from Thessalonians. 72 00:05:59,320 --> 00:06:03,480 This is begin a new series of messages for us. 73 00:06:03,800 --> 00:06:06,200 And these truths, young people are real. 74 00:06:06,800 --> 00:06:09,120 These young people are these truths. 75 00:06:09,120 --> 00:06:11,880 Young people are relevant and up to date. 76 00:06:12,200 --> 00:06:16,280 You see, when Paul wrote First Thessalonians and 2nd 77 00:06:16,280 --> 00:06:20,360 Thessalonians, he was writing to real people, people who lived in 78 00:06:20,360 --> 00:06:24,080 the very first century. And these 1st century people, 79 00:06:24,240 --> 00:06:28,600 they had real problems and one of their biggest problems was 80 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:33,040 this, that they were suffering persecution for their faith in 81 00:06:33,080 --> 00:06:36,360 Jesus Christ. Literally, they were living in a 82 00:06:36,360 --> 00:06:44,280 world similar to our world despite the span of 2100 years. 83 00:06:44,760 --> 00:06:49,040 Now, as we think about the truths to do with Thessalonians, 84 00:06:49,440 --> 00:06:54,480 I want you to think of this. First of all, the background to 85 00:06:54,480 --> 00:06:59,680 Thessalonians. See, the city of Thessalonanka 86 00:07:00,440 --> 00:07:06,000 was an important city. It's still an important city in 87 00:07:06,000 --> 00:07:11,680 a modern industrial setting in modern Greece. 88 00:07:12,920 --> 00:07:17,240 Did you know that Thessalonanka was an important Allied base in 89 00:07:17,240 --> 00:07:21,360 World War One? Did you know it was captured by 90 00:07:21,360 --> 00:07:25,160 the Germans in World War 2? Did you know that there was a 91 00:07:25,160 --> 00:07:31,320 Jewish community then in Thessalonanka in World War 2 of 92 00:07:31,320 --> 00:07:38,080 60,000 Jews, they were deported. The majority were executed by 93 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:42,080 the Nazis, but this and I think it was not only an important 94 00:07:42,080 --> 00:07:44,720 city in modern history and you can go and visit it today. 95 00:07:44,720 --> 00:07:48,880 It's the second largest city in the land of Greece besides 96 00:07:48,880 --> 00:07:54,040 Athens, but it was also an ancient city. 97 00:07:54,760 --> 00:07:59,400 It was formerly called Thermos, known for its Hot Springs. 98 00:07:59,760 --> 00:08:07,760 And then the name was changed in three, 14316 BC to celebrate the 99 00:08:09,920 --> 00:08:12,880 birthday of the half sister of Alexander the Great. 100 00:08:12,880 --> 00:08:16,400 That's why it'd be called the name Thessalonia. 101 00:08:17,960 --> 00:08:22,760 And then of course, it was captured by the Romans in 168 102 00:08:24,080 --> 00:08:26,640 BC. And in the days of Rome, when 103 00:08:26,640 --> 00:08:30,360 they captured the city, there were some 200,000 people lived 104 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,640 there, Greeks, Romans and of course Jews. 105 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:39,159 Now you think not only of the background to the city today, 106 00:08:39,799 --> 00:08:42,280 but think about the background to the church. 107 00:08:42,320 --> 00:08:46,360 If you look at our text, it says Paul and Saldanis. 108 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:51,920 That's a Latin name for Silas and Timotheus unto the Church of 109 00:08:51,920 --> 00:08:54,240 the Thessalonians. So we'll pause there. 110 00:08:54,360 --> 00:08:58,240 The Church of the Thessalonians, think about the background to 111 00:08:58,240 --> 00:09:01,240 the church. The formation of this church 112 00:09:01,240 --> 00:09:08,240 started some time ago in AD 50. Paul, Silas and Timothy has 113 00:09:08,240 --> 00:09:11,800 visited this city on their second missionary journey. 114 00:09:12,680 --> 00:09:15,920 Paul and Silas remember we're in Philippi where they landed 115 00:09:15,920 --> 00:09:19,480 first, having heard the call from the of Macedonia. 116 00:09:19,720 --> 00:09:25,040 Come over and help us remember in that city they were unjustly 117 00:09:25,040 --> 00:09:29,880 beaten, thrown into prison. God had used them to start the 118 00:09:29,880 --> 00:09:34,080 first church in European soil. Think of the conversion of 119 00:09:34,080 --> 00:09:36,320 Lydia. Remember the earthquake and the 120 00:09:37,240 --> 00:09:40,280 Philippi jailhouse, the conversion of the Philippine 121 00:09:40,280 --> 00:09:43,840 gaoler and his house. And then the city officials 122 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:49,000 there urged him to leave. So they left Philippi, and then 123 00:09:49,000 --> 00:09:54,640 they went to Thessalonanka, which was 100 miles away. 124 00:09:54,640 --> 00:09:58,120 And as I've already told you, this was a major city. 125 00:09:58,840 --> 00:10:02,680 This was one of the capital of one of four districts in 126 00:10:02,880 --> 00:10:07,200 Macedonia. This city enjoyed local autonomy 127 00:10:07,600 --> 00:10:12,120 as a Jewish, as a Roman colony, and it was a very prosperous 128 00:10:12,160 --> 00:10:15,000 city. And in Thessalonica was a Jewish 129 00:10:15,000 --> 00:10:19,080 synagogue. And as a visiting rabbi trained 130 00:10:19,080 --> 00:10:23,440 under Gamil, Paul was permitted to preach, and he did for three 131 00:10:23,440 --> 00:10:28,080 consecutive Sundays. We read in Acts 17. 132 00:10:28,480 --> 00:10:31,800 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three 133 00:10:31,800 --> 00:10:35,040 Sabbath days reasoned with them out of the Scriptures, opening 134 00:10:35,240 --> 00:10:38,320 and alleging that Christ must needs have suffered and risen 135 00:10:38,320 --> 00:10:41,800 again from the dead, and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto 136 00:10:41,800 --> 00:10:44,160 you, is Christ. We read in verse 4. 137 00:10:44,160 --> 00:10:47,400 And some of them believed and consorted it with Paul and Silas 138 00:10:47,600 --> 00:10:51,000 and of the devout Greeks, a great multitude, and of the 139 00:10:51,000 --> 00:10:55,760 chief woman not a few. So as a result of Paul 140 00:10:55,760 --> 00:10:59,880 preaching, we can see some of the Jews and many God fearing 141 00:10:59,880 --> 00:11:02,840 Greeks and a number of the chief women believed. 142 00:11:03,080 --> 00:11:08,560 Acts 17 verse 4. And here now was the second New 143 00:11:08,560 --> 00:11:12,960 Testament church formed on European soil. 144 00:11:13,720 --> 00:11:16,920 Now we don't know how long Paul stayed in Thessalonica. 145 00:11:17,440 --> 00:11:21,640 It could have been a short time, like say roughly a month, could 146 00:11:21,640 --> 00:11:24,840 have been a few months, We don't know. 147 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:33,200 But we know this, that Paul worked at his trade when he was 148 00:11:33,200 --> 00:11:36,280 among them. It says in First Thessalonians 149 00:11:36,280 --> 00:11:40,600 chapter 2 and verse 9. For ye remember brethren, our 150 00:11:40,600 --> 00:11:46,160 labour and travail for labouring night and day, because we would 151 00:11:46,160 --> 00:11:50,840 not be chargeable to any of you. We preached unto you the gospel 152 00:11:50,920 --> 00:11:55,560 of God. He did receive financial help 153 00:11:55,560 --> 00:12:01,040 from the Philippine Church in the book of Philippians we read 154 00:12:01,040 --> 00:12:04,640 there in chapter 4 and in the verse 6. 155 00:12:04,840 --> 00:12:08,120 Remember what Paul tells us there in Colossians. 156 00:12:08,120 --> 00:12:12,720 He, he, he, he, he tells us Philippians chapter 4 and in the 157 00:12:12,720 --> 00:12:15,400 verse 16. For even in Thessaloniki he sent 158 00:12:15,400 --> 00:12:18,280 once and again unto my necessity. 159 00:12:18,280 --> 00:12:22,760 Now I'm putting it to you that that requires some time, OK? 160 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:27,520 If he worked at his trade, if he received gifts from Philippi, it 161 00:12:27,520 --> 00:12:31,440 may have taken some time to get that all sorted out. 162 00:12:31,840 --> 00:12:34,040 You take the depth of teaching here. 163 00:12:34,360 --> 00:12:37,680 Seems too much to cram into one month, but it is possible. 164 00:12:37,800 --> 00:12:41,080 He also appointed leaders to oversee them for Thessalonians 165 00:12:41,080 --> 00:12:44,040 5, verse 12. And after a while, this is what 166 00:12:44,040 --> 00:12:46,200 happened. The Jews who didn't believe, 167 00:12:46,480 --> 00:12:49,320 they formed a mob. They sent the city an uproar. 168 00:12:49,520 --> 00:12:51,720 The House of Jason it was attacked. 169 00:12:53,240 --> 00:12:56,600 Jason was charged with welcoming strangers who preached another 170 00:12:56,600 --> 00:13:00,160 king, but Caesar Acts 17 verse 7. 171 00:13:00,520 --> 00:13:04,200 The church then asked Paul and Silas to leave so they set off 172 00:13:04,240 --> 00:13:08,680 for Berea, 50 miles to the West of Thessalonia. 173 00:13:10,160 --> 00:13:14,800 Paul, remember, set off then from Berea after a time to 174 00:13:14,840 --> 00:13:19,840 Athens, and later on he sent Timothy back to Thessalonia to 175 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,160 see how the new converts were doing. 176 00:13:23,080 --> 00:13:27,600 Whenever Timothy reported good news about the converts, Paul 177 00:13:27,600 --> 00:13:31,160 sent them again, and this time he sent them back with the first 178 00:13:31,160 --> 00:13:35,120 letter that was written probably about six months to a year after 179 00:13:35,120 --> 00:13:38,800 he had left Thessalonians. The Second Thessalonians letter 180 00:13:38,800 --> 00:13:42,240 was written about a year and a half after he left the first 181 00:13:42,240 --> 00:13:44,080 time. So all of that there is 182 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:47,720 background information, background information to the 183 00:13:47,720 --> 00:13:51,200 city and background information to the church. 184 00:13:51,680 --> 00:13:57,720 Now I want you to think, thirdly, of the burden of the 185 00:13:57,720 --> 00:14:00,200 Thessalonians. Why did he write this? 186 00:14:01,720 --> 00:14:03,960 I believe he wrote it for five reasons. 187 00:14:04,040 --> 00:14:06,760 One, to express his heartfelt thanks to God for their 188 00:14:06,760 --> 00:14:08,840 conversion. They were his brothers and 189 00:14:08,840 --> 00:14:11,560 sisters and the Lord. He wanted them to know that he 190 00:14:11,560 --> 00:14:17,520 loved them and his heart felt compassion and concern for them. 191 00:14:17,840 --> 00:14:20,000 That's the first reason. The second reason was to help 192 00:14:20,000 --> 00:14:23,200 further grind them in the great doctrines of the faith. 193 00:14:23,800 --> 00:14:26,760 The third reason was he was concerned for them because they 194 00:14:26,760 --> 00:14:31,240 were enduring ongoing persecution, most of it from the 195 00:14:31,240 --> 00:14:33,480 Jews. In fact, he tells us here in 196 00:14:33,480 --> 00:14:36,160 First Thessalonians chapter 2 and verse 4. 197 00:14:36,160 --> 00:14:38,440 For ye brethren, became followers of the churches of 198 00:14:38,440 --> 00:14:41,680 God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. 199 00:14:41,960 --> 00:14:45,680 For ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, 200 00:14:45,920 --> 00:14:50,800 even as they have of the Jews. The fourth reason was to urge 201 00:14:50,800 --> 00:14:53,560 them to holy living, and especially in light of the 202 00:14:53,560 --> 00:14:56,720 Lord's return. Sadly, some had a lack of 203 00:14:56,720 --> 00:15:00,160 respect for church leaders, and Paul wanted to correct that. 204 00:15:00,960 --> 00:15:04,240 Here's the fifth reason to correct some confusion and 205 00:15:04,240 --> 00:15:07,800 misunderstanding over matters connected to the Lord's return. 206 00:15:07,800 --> 00:15:09,960 You see what had happened in Thessalonia. 207 00:15:10,360 --> 00:15:13,040 Some had stopped working because they believed that the Lord's 208 00:15:13,040 --> 00:15:15,680 return was so near that they didn't have to work. 209 00:15:16,960 --> 00:15:19,720 And others in Thessalonia were grieving because their loved 210 00:15:19,720 --> 00:15:23,080 ones had died and they were uncertain, unsure what was going 211 00:15:23,080 --> 00:15:26,680 to happen to the dead bodies of our loved ones before the Lord 212 00:15:26,680 --> 00:15:29,600 returned. What would they be left behind? 213 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:33,520 Paul writes about that in First Thessalonians chapter 413 214 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:36,640 through to 18. And some were also concerned 215 00:15:36,640 --> 00:15:40,480 because of the misunderstanding as to the meaning of the day of 216 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:44,480 the Lord. Now much of First Thessalonians, 217 00:15:44,840 --> 00:15:48,960 2nd Thessalonians, focuses on one theme and that's on the 218 00:15:48,960 --> 00:15:51,480 Lord's return. So we've looked at the 219 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:55,080 background, We've looked at the burden. 220 00:15:56,400 --> 00:16:01,440 Now let's look at the blessings of Thessalonians. 221 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:05,480 You see, the foundation and formation of a New Testament 222 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:09,680 church proves this, the life giving, transforming power of 223 00:16:09,680 --> 00:16:13,280 the gospel. Paul and Silas came into a Pagan 224 00:16:13,280 --> 00:16:16,720 city. No one for its idolatry, no one 225 00:16:16,720 --> 00:16:19,960 for its iniquity. The inhabitants had No Fear or 226 00:16:19,960 --> 00:16:24,280 thought of God. Here's a Pagan place with a 227 00:16:24,280 --> 00:16:29,280 Pagan people enjoying Pagan practises. 228 00:16:30,360 --> 00:16:34,720 We read about how they turn to God from idols to serve the 229 00:16:34,720 --> 00:16:37,040 living and the true God. Verse 9. 230 00:16:38,120 --> 00:16:41,400 I want you to think of this now. Think very carefully. 231 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:46,400 Here's where the Lord worked. Paul preached Christ and him 232 00:16:46,400 --> 00:16:52,000 crucified, the Holy Ghost moved and lots of people got saved, 233 00:16:52,320 --> 00:16:56,720 Jews and Gentiles and leading women and and and a New 234 00:16:56,720 --> 00:17:02,000 Testament church was formed here in a most unlikely place for a 235 00:17:02,000 --> 00:17:05,640 New Testament church. And yet it was here the Lord 236 00:17:05,640 --> 00:17:09,119 planted a church. And why do I emphasise that? 237 00:17:09,680 --> 00:17:14,520 I emphasise that for this reason, often times people 238 00:17:14,520 --> 00:17:17,720 despair. Think of our own area of carried 239 00:17:17,720 --> 00:17:21,160 off. This area's too hard, this 240 00:17:21,160 --> 00:17:23,560 community's too dark and depraved. 241 00:17:24,000 --> 00:17:26,040 Are we country of Northern Ireland? 242 00:17:26,359 --> 00:17:28,200 Can it be changed and transformed? 243 00:17:28,200 --> 00:17:34,920 Too sinful, too stubborn, impossible for God to work in 244 00:17:34,920 --> 00:17:38,640 the midst of this darkness and doors and depravity. 245 00:17:39,200 --> 00:17:43,560 And I want to say this morning, no, you see, our God is able. 246 00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:50,120 God is unlimited in His power. In Acts 17, when Paul came 247 00:17:50,120 --> 00:17:54,560 preaching Christ, expounding the Scriptures, exalting the 248 00:17:54,560 --> 00:17:59,200 Saviour, explaining about the necessity of the new birth and 249 00:17:59,200 --> 00:18:01,960 the blood sacrifice of Christ, the Lord worked. 250 00:18:02,520 --> 00:18:05,160 The Lord saved hundreds and thousands. 251 00:18:06,120 --> 00:18:09,880 Here's the means that the Lord has ordained the Bible tells us 252 00:18:09,880 --> 00:18:13,120 there in Corinthians and 1st Corinthians chapter one for 253 00:18:13,120 --> 00:18:16,200 after that in the wisdom of God, the word by wisdom you not God 254 00:18:16,360 --> 00:18:19,320 and please God by the foolishness of preaching to see 255 00:18:19,320 --> 00:18:23,120 of them that believe it is not tremendous. 256 00:18:24,000 --> 00:18:27,400 This is written for our encouragement and we and carried 257 00:18:27,400 --> 00:18:29,880 off. We have to be faithful in 258 00:18:30,040 --> 00:18:34,720 expounding the Scriptures, in exalting the Saviour. 259 00:18:34,720 --> 00:18:38,760 He said if I be lifted up, I will draw all men unto me, and 260 00:18:38,760 --> 00:18:41,760 I've got to explain the necessity of the new birth and 261 00:18:41,760 --> 00:18:45,240 explain the necessity of the blood sacrifice of Christ. 262 00:18:45,240 --> 00:18:49,760 The gospel is the answer because the gospel's the power of God 263 00:18:49,960 --> 00:18:52,640 unto salvation. You've heard me praying this 264 00:18:52,640 --> 00:18:56,040 morning for Alcoholics. Can Alcoholics be saved? 265 00:18:56,240 --> 00:18:57,640 Absolutely. Why? 266 00:18:57,640 --> 00:19:01,360 Because the gospel's the power of God and that is true for the 267 00:19:01,360 --> 00:19:04,680 drug addict and that's true for those that are mentally ill. 268 00:19:04,760 --> 00:19:07,560 They can be brought to peace with God and have the peace of 269 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:10,160 God. That's true for those that are 270 00:19:10,160 --> 00:19:12,720 struggling. The trauma of a very difficult 271 00:19:12,880 --> 00:19:16,840 broken relationship that even has led to divorce and and many 272 00:19:16,840 --> 00:19:19,360 are struggling with many, many issues at this time. 273 00:19:19,480 --> 00:19:23,400 But the answer is Christ. The answer's the gospel because 274 00:19:23,400 --> 00:19:26,720 the gospel's the power of God unto salvation. 275 00:19:26,880 --> 00:19:31,360 It's not what Paul said, for I'm not ashamed of the Gospel of 276 00:19:31,360 --> 00:19:34,920 Christ, for it's the power of God unto salvation to everyone 277 00:19:34,920 --> 00:19:38,240 that believeth, to the Jew 1st and also to the Greek, for 278 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,920 therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith 279 00:19:41,120 --> 00:19:45,360 as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 280 00:19:46,520 --> 00:19:49,840 We could think about the background to this church, how 281 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:55,160 that's an important modern day city, how that's an ancient city 282 00:19:55,920 --> 00:19:58,480 mentioned in the Holy Scriptures, going all the way 283 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:01,480 back to the times of Alexander the Great. 284 00:20:02,200 --> 00:20:06,240 We could think about the burden of why Paul wrote to this city. 285 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:08,920 They've given you 5 reasons. There may be others. 286 00:20:08,920 --> 00:20:11,760 And we can think about the blessing and the greatest 287 00:20:11,760 --> 00:20:14,520 blessing that came to Thessalonica was the preaching 288 00:20:14,520 --> 00:20:17,080 of the gospel. Because the gospel is the power 289 00:20:17,080 --> 00:20:19,560 of God and the salvage. The gospel changed and 290 00:20:19,560 --> 00:20:23,120 transformed these people from being idolaters and and living 291 00:20:23,120 --> 00:20:26,200 in sin to to living for the Saviour. 292 00:20:27,600 --> 00:20:34,000 Think about the battles of Thessalonians will underline the 293 00:20:34,000 --> 00:20:39,320 word the Church of the Thessalonians once again, these 294 00:20:39,320 --> 00:20:44,360 people, as have said, they're converted pagans and they're 295 00:20:44,360 --> 00:20:48,240 living out the Christian life in a Pagan culture in the 1st 296 00:20:48,240 --> 00:20:53,240 century and they were living a victorious, vibrant Christian 297 00:20:53,240 --> 00:20:58,400 life facing hardship, facing persecution environment that was 298 00:20:58,480 --> 00:21:04,240 very hostile to them, a hellish backlash from the devil in the 299 00:21:04,240 --> 00:21:08,560 hordes of hell. But they had not gone back. 300 00:21:09,280 --> 00:21:13,480 They had not given up on God. They had not denied the Lord 301 00:21:13,520 --> 00:21:16,880 Jesus Christ. They held fast to to what they 302 00:21:16,880 --> 00:21:22,640 had been taught that they had a vibrant Christian testimony and 303 00:21:22,640 --> 00:21:27,800 this church made an impact in Thessalonica and not only in in 304 00:21:27,800 --> 00:21:31,440 Thessalonica, but in the other districts in Macedonia and in 305 00:21:31,440 --> 00:21:36,280 the IKEA as well as not what he said first, yet for from you 306 00:21:36,280 --> 00:21:39,680 sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and IKEA, 307 00:21:39,800 --> 00:21:42,400 but also in every place your faith to God were to spread 308 00:21:42,400 --> 00:21:45,880 abroad so that we need not to speak anything. 309 00:21:50,400 --> 00:21:55,160 Here's the battles very quickly. I want you to think of the 310 00:21:55,160 --> 00:22:01,440 beliefs in Thessalonica. They believed in a triune God. 311 00:22:02,040 --> 00:22:06,200 Notice the words, which is in God the Father and in the Lord 312 00:22:06,200 --> 00:22:08,880 Jesus Christ. There's two persons of the Holy 313 00:22:08,880 --> 00:22:12,040 Trinity. If you come to verse 5, he 314 00:22:12,040 --> 00:22:15,240 mentions the Holy Ghost. There's the third person of the 315 00:22:15,240 --> 00:22:19,800 Trinity that these people were Trinitarian in their theology 316 00:22:21,160 --> 00:22:26,000 and the word in God and in the Lord Jesus Christ speaks of 317 00:22:26,000 --> 00:22:29,840 being in union and communion and and fellowship with God. 318 00:22:29,960 --> 00:22:32,640 These people were in a right relationship with the Lord 319 00:22:32,920 --> 00:22:36,920 despite the persecution, despite their difficult circumstances. 320 00:22:37,800 --> 00:22:40,800 In fact, more than that, they don't only believed in a triune 321 00:22:40,800 --> 00:22:43,800 godfather, Son and Holy Spirit, but they believed that God was 322 00:22:43,800 --> 00:22:47,480 their holy and heavenly Father. In fact, as mentioned here, 323 00:22:47,600 --> 00:22:53,280 which is in God the Father, Paul mentioned that and and and and 324 00:22:53,280 --> 00:22:56,400 that that's important that you grasp hold of that. 325 00:22:56,400 --> 00:23:01,480 He said the same in verse 3. Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in 326 00:23:01,480 --> 00:23:07,320 the sight of God and our Father. He emphasised the word Father 327 00:23:07,640 --> 00:23:12,000 over and over and over and over again. 328 00:23:12,280 --> 00:23:14,000 They believed in the Lord Jesus Christ. 329 00:23:14,000 --> 00:23:17,440 Notice the full title here. Lord refers to his deity. 330 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:21,680 Jesus refers to his humanity. Christ refers to his ministry. 331 00:23:22,000 --> 00:23:24,040 It was the Lord Jesus who founded the church. 332 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,680 He said I will build my church in the gates of hell to not 333 00:23:26,680 --> 00:23:29,840 prevail against it. He purchased this church with 334 00:23:29,840 --> 00:23:36,160 his own blood and they of course experience God's grace. 335 00:23:36,400 --> 00:23:39,840 He says grace be to you and peace from God our Father and 336 00:23:39,840 --> 00:23:42,200 the Lord Jesus Christ. Here's the true source of grace 337 00:23:42,200 --> 00:23:44,280 and peace. Notice the order grace comes 338 00:23:44,280 --> 00:23:47,560 first, undeserved, unmerited favour. 339 00:23:48,120 --> 00:23:50,280 That's, that's the heart of the gospel. 340 00:23:51,240 --> 00:23:53,760 And then this word peace, well, it's a beautiful word, of 341 00:23:53,760 --> 00:23:56,360 course. It means be safe, be certain and 342 00:23:56,360 --> 00:24:01,320 enjoy all that God has for you, peace with God and and the peace 343 00:24:01,640 --> 00:24:05,840 of God. Here's the true source of this 344 00:24:05,840 --> 00:24:07,600 grace. Here's the true source of this 345 00:24:07,640 --> 00:24:10,640 peace. It comes from a triune God, God 346 00:24:10,640 --> 00:24:15,120 the Father and God the Son and God the Holy Spirit, he says in 347 00:24:15,120 --> 00:24:18,840 verse 2, we give thanks to God always for you all, making 348 00:24:18,840 --> 00:24:21,000 mention of you in your prayers and the word God. 349 00:24:21,000 --> 00:24:23,320 Here we can underline that if you think about the whole 350 00:24:23,320 --> 00:24:29,720 doctrine of God as revealed in the Holy Scriptures, He says 351 00:24:30,640 --> 00:24:35,640 making mention of you in our prayers, we could talk about how 352 00:24:35,640 --> 00:24:39,120 they believed in the new birth, believed in the blood sacrifice 353 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:42,600 of Christ, how they believed in preaching the Word, how they 354 00:24:42,600 --> 00:24:45,640 believed in living and light of the Lord's return. 355 00:24:45,880 --> 00:24:49,760 All of the major doctrines that we believe in are all found and 356 00:24:49,760 --> 00:24:54,600 taught in this first epistle. So we could think about their 357 00:24:54,600 --> 00:24:57,640 beliefs. We could ask ourselves, do we 358 00:24:57,640 --> 00:24:59,840 know what we believe in and why we believe it? 359 00:25:00,680 --> 00:25:03,720 But let me finish this morning, in the last 10 minutes that we 360 00:25:03,720 --> 00:25:08,320 have, I want you to think of the behaviour of the Thessalonians 361 00:25:08,320 --> 00:25:12,520 because it's one thing to grasp the background, understand this 362 00:25:12,520 --> 00:25:18,160 is an important ancient city where a New Testament church was 363 00:25:18,160 --> 00:25:21,320 founded and how it was founded through the preaching of the 364 00:25:21,320 --> 00:25:25,080 gospel. It's one thing to not only grasp 365 00:25:25,080 --> 00:25:28,080 the background and understand the burden of why Paul wrote 366 00:25:28,080 --> 00:25:31,720 this and think about the blessing that came in the gospel 367 00:25:31,720 --> 00:25:34,200 with a New Testament church and thinking about their battles and 368 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:36,520 thinking about their beliefs. But let's think for a moment 369 00:25:36,520 --> 00:25:39,800 about their behaviour. Look with me at verse 3 and with 370 00:25:39,800 --> 00:25:42,320 us. We'll finish today remembering 371 00:25:42,320 --> 00:25:45,760 without ceasing your work of faith, the neighbour of love and 372 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,800 patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of 373 00:25:48,800 --> 00:25:55,040 God and our Father. You see, here's genuine, real 374 00:25:55,040 --> 00:25:58,080 evidence that they belong to Christ. 375 00:25:58,800 --> 00:26:00,400 Now let me just pause for a moment. 376 00:26:00,400 --> 00:26:04,520 If I was a psychologist and you were coming to me for an 377 00:26:04,520 --> 00:26:08,160 interview and I was trying to analyse your need as a 378 00:26:08,160 --> 00:26:11,120 psychologist, I would tell you that you need three things. 379 00:26:11,200 --> 00:26:15,920 One, I would tell you you need something to believe in. 380 00:26:17,560 --> 00:26:19,600 I would tell you, you need something to love. 381 00:26:20,880 --> 00:26:23,520 I would tell you, you need something to look forward to. 382 00:26:24,000 --> 00:26:27,160 That's what all the modern psychotherapists, 383 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,840 psychoanalysts, psychiatrists tell people today who are 384 00:26:29,840 --> 00:26:32,400 struggling with mental illness. You need something to believe 385 00:26:32,400 --> 00:26:34,440 and something to love and something to look forward to. 386 00:26:34,560 --> 00:26:36,440 Well, you know what? The Bible's one step ahead, 387 00:26:36,440 --> 00:26:39,680 young people in the very first century. 388 00:26:40,200 --> 00:26:44,000 What does Paul say when he prays about Thessalonica and the 389 00:26:44,000 --> 00:26:47,120 church there? He says we give thanks to God 390 00:26:47,120 --> 00:26:49,520 always for your role, making mention of you in our prayers, 391 00:26:49,680 --> 00:26:52,400 remembering. What does he remember without 392 00:26:52,400 --> 00:26:54,440 ceasing one? Your work of faith. 393 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,760 Here's what they believed in and your labour of love. 394 00:26:58,040 --> 00:27:00,800 Here's what they loved and patience of hope. 395 00:27:01,600 --> 00:27:05,560 Hope for the future, and of course it's in our Lord Jesus 396 00:27:05,560 --> 00:27:08,720 Christ, in the sight of God and our Father. 397 00:27:08,720 --> 00:27:11,600 Here's genuine evidence that they belong to Christ. 398 00:27:12,080 --> 00:27:16,000 Let's ask the question, is there genuine evidence in our lives 399 00:27:16,000 --> 00:27:21,480 that we belong to Christ? Are we a real, true, healthy 400 00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:24,640 church? How do you recognise a good 401 00:27:24,640 --> 00:27:27,440 church? Here are the godly 402 00:27:27,440 --> 00:27:30,760 characteristics, I believe, of a New Testament church as far as 403 00:27:30,760 --> 00:27:33,200 their beliefs and behaviours concerned. 404 00:27:35,080 --> 00:27:39,200 Here's what we believe in. Here's what we really love. 405 00:27:39,920 --> 00:27:43,640 Here's what we look forward to. Three things as we finish. 406 00:27:43,640 --> 00:27:46,280 One, they have a faith that endures. 407 00:27:46,720 --> 00:27:49,120 Notice these words, your work of faith. 408 00:27:50,240 --> 00:27:54,160 Let's define faith. Faith in Jesus Christ is a 409 00:27:54,160 --> 00:27:57,680 saving grace whereby we receive rest upon Him alone for 410 00:27:57,680 --> 00:28:02,200 salvation, as He's offered to us in the Gospel Ephesians 28 and 411 00:28:02,200 --> 00:28:03,920 9. For by grace He is saved through 412 00:28:03,920 --> 00:28:05,440 faith, and not not of yourselves. 413 00:28:05,560 --> 00:28:08,080 It's the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should 414 00:28:08,080 --> 00:28:11,160 boast. See, the gift of faith is 415 00:28:11,160 --> 00:28:13,640 implanted in the soul in the new birth. 416 00:28:14,960 --> 00:28:18,560 And we believe, of course, that salvation is by grace alone, 417 00:28:18,560 --> 00:28:22,040 through faith alone in Christ alone as revealed in the 418 00:28:22,040 --> 00:28:24,200 scriptures, alone to the glory of God alone. 419 00:28:24,760 --> 00:28:28,920 Salvation is not by works of righteousness, which we have 420 00:28:28,920 --> 00:28:33,440 done. Salvation is not by performing 421 00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:37,360 religious ceremonies. It's not wrought by good 422 00:28:37,360 --> 00:28:42,000 practises and making a payment or or doing penance. 423 00:28:42,600 --> 00:28:44,880 No. Remember what Paul says in the 424 00:28:44,880 --> 00:28:48,760 book of Galatians. In Galatians 2 and 16, he said 425 00:28:48,760 --> 00:28:52,880 this knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the 426 00:28:52,880 --> 00:28:54,880 law. In other words, it's not a 427 00:28:54,880 --> 00:28:59,640 workspace righteousness, but by the faith of Jesus Christ. 428 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:02,760 Even we have believed in Jesus Christ that we might be 429 00:29:02,760 --> 00:29:06,120 justified by the faith of Christ and not by the works of the law. 430 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,880 For by the works of the law should no flesh be justified. 431 00:29:10,200 --> 00:29:14,680 Christ is the true object of our saving faith. 432 00:29:15,440 --> 00:29:20,000 And young people saving faith is not our true faith is not the 433 00:29:20,000 --> 00:29:24,800 just the decision of a moment. It's the principle of the whole 434 00:29:24,800 --> 00:29:27,520 life. You see, we're not just saved by 435 00:29:27,520 --> 00:29:33,120 faith, but we live by faith. The just shall live by faith. 436 00:29:33,280 --> 00:29:37,280 The whole of the Christian life is a life of faith, and that's 437 00:29:37,280 --> 00:29:42,080 how we define what faith is. Not only do we define faith 438 00:29:42,080 --> 00:29:44,920 here, but we declare faith or display faith. 439 00:29:46,560 --> 00:29:48,800 True saving faith is not a dead faith. 440 00:29:49,240 --> 00:29:52,320 It's not something temporary, it's not something short term. 441 00:29:52,560 --> 00:29:57,720 It's the principle of the life that leads to a godly practise. 442 00:29:58,760 --> 00:30:04,040 Genuine faith is a faith that endures, a faith that continues, 443 00:30:04,240 --> 00:30:08,000 a faith that receives Christ, a faith that rests in Christ, a 444 00:30:08,000 --> 00:30:12,680 faith that has a regard for Christ, a faith that's an 445 00:30:12,680 --> 00:30:17,000 ongoing, constant, living principle that's seen in our 446 00:30:17,120 --> 00:30:21,120 actions, seen in our attitude, seen in our practise. 447 00:30:21,680 --> 00:30:24,880 See, the New Testament knows nothing of people being saved 448 00:30:25,280 --> 00:30:29,880 and continues to live an open sin and depravity and in 449 00:30:29,880 --> 00:30:33,800 rebellion to God. There's many professors of 450 00:30:33,800 --> 00:30:36,960 religion like that in Northern Ireland, but the bottom line is 451 00:30:36,960 --> 00:30:39,840 they're not truly born of God. They've never been truly 452 00:30:39,840 --> 00:30:43,800 genuinely converted and changed and transformed by the power of 453 00:30:43,800 --> 00:30:44,920 God. They know nothing of this 454 00:30:45,080 --> 00:30:47,720 principle of faith planted within them. 455 00:30:48,280 --> 00:30:50,920 Many live in a state of open doubt and fear. 456 00:30:52,920 --> 00:30:56,800 See, salvation is not just about being saved from hell and sin's 457 00:30:56,800 --> 00:30:58,440 penalty. That's involved. 458 00:30:58,920 --> 00:31:02,320 It's not just about being saved from the guilt and power of sin 459 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:06,640 that's involved, but it's about being saved also from sin's 460 00:31:06,640 --> 00:31:10,240 pleasure. He takes the love of sinning out 461 00:31:10,240 --> 00:31:11,880 of her heart. He breaks the power of 462 00:31:11,880 --> 00:31:14,360 counselled sin. He sets the prisoner free. 463 00:31:14,680 --> 00:31:17,280 We have a new life in Christ. We have a new love. 464 00:31:17,280 --> 00:31:19,800 We have a new loyalty. We have a new likeness to Him. 465 00:31:20,320 --> 00:31:24,040 I've often said the word believeth in John 3 and 16 is I 466 00:31:24,040 --> 00:31:28,720 have believed, I am believing and I will keep on believing. 467 00:31:28,720 --> 00:31:30,920 You see, it's it's not the decision of a moment. 468 00:31:31,440 --> 00:31:35,080 It's the principle of a life, the whole life. 469 00:31:36,000 --> 00:31:38,600 And how many of our young people have made an early profession 470 00:31:41,720 --> 00:31:45,600 and yet today they're living far from the Lord, entangled in the 471 00:31:45,600 --> 00:31:49,640 things of the world, and they don't have any sound or solid 472 00:31:49,720 --> 00:31:51,840 evidence they were really born of God. 473 00:31:51,960 --> 00:31:55,240 And yet they comfort themselves in their sin, comfort them in 474 00:31:55,240 --> 00:31:57,680 their rebellion. That when I've made a decision 475 00:31:57,680 --> 00:32:00,360 for Jesus as a child or as a young person. 476 00:32:00,720 --> 00:32:03,520 But it's not about just making the decision, putting your hand 477 00:32:03,520 --> 00:32:05,120 up, walking an aisle, praying a prayer. 478 00:32:05,280 --> 00:32:09,480 It's about this principle of faith changing and transforming 479 00:32:09,600 --> 00:32:14,800 and working within you, not only defining, displaying, but 480 00:32:14,800 --> 00:32:19,320 declaring because this true faith enabled them to stand and 481 00:32:19,320 --> 00:32:21,920 face persecution. Imagine somebody coming and 482 00:32:21,920 --> 00:32:26,400 saying to you, deny Christ, or I'm going to murder you or deny 483 00:32:26,400 --> 00:32:28,120 Christ and you're going to lose your job. 484 00:32:28,120 --> 00:32:30,680 Deny Christ and I'm going to put you to your home and take all 485 00:32:30,680 --> 00:32:33,560 your possessions. You see that was happening in 486 00:32:33,560 --> 00:32:37,720 that day and they were facing a lot of hardship and trials and 487 00:32:37,720 --> 00:32:40,760 troubles. This was the hottest of trials 488 00:32:40,760 --> 00:32:42,920 that you could imagine. This is one of the biggest 489 00:32:42,920 --> 00:32:46,160 battles that you could face. And yet here's these believers 490 00:32:46,160 --> 00:32:49,120 in Thessalonica in the midst of this persecution. 491 00:32:49,280 --> 00:32:54,360 And what did they do? They endured how the work of 492 00:32:54,360 --> 00:32:57,360 faith. They did a great work for God. 493 00:32:57,640 --> 00:33:00,840 They were in samples, not only received the word First 494 00:33:00,840 --> 00:33:04,040 Thessalonians one in seven, but they evangelised. 495 00:33:04,040 --> 00:33:07,200 They sounded the Word of Faith out first eight. 496 00:33:09,320 --> 00:33:11,240 Let me ask this is your faith real? 497 00:33:11,240 --> 00:33:15,760 Is it genuine? Have you got true saving faith, 498 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:21,200 a faith that endures? You can define that faith as the 499 00:33:21,200 --> 00:33:23,240 gift of God. You can declare it. 500 00:33:24,160 --> 00:33:27,000 You can display it very quickly here. 501 00:33:27,480 --> 00:33:31,560 Not only have they a faith that endures, but they had a love 502 00:33:31,760 --> 00:33:35,720 that evangelises. Notice the words labour of love. 503 00:33:37,200 --> 00:33:40,400 Let me ask you this and I'll just go down this very quickly. 504 00:33:41,440 --> 00:33:43,280 Have you a love for God this morning? 505 00:33:44,200 --> 00:33:48,800 The Bible tells us they shall love the Lord thy God with all 506 00:33:48,800 --> 00:33:51,000 thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and 507 00:33:51,000 --> 00:33:54,360 with all thy strength. Matthew chapter 22, verses 37 508 00:33:54,360 --> 00:33:57,840 and 38. You see, that's the proper 509 00:33:57,840 --> 00:34:03,080 object of the Christian love, a love to God in the fullness 510 00:34:03,080 --> 00:34:08,280 revelation of his person, but also a love to God as a holy 511 00:34:08,280 --> 00:34:13,040 heavenly Father. It was Augustine that said I 512 00:34:13,040 --> 00:34:17,520 would hate my whole soul if I didn't find it loving God. 513 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:21,719 Do you love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength 514 00:34:21,920 --> 00:34:23,760 more than anything else in the world? 515 00:34:25,040 --> 00:34:29,719 Have you a love for the Saviour? First Corinthians 6/22 If any 516 00:34:29,719 --> 00:34:32,560 man love not the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be anathema. 517 00:34:32,639 --> 00:34:34,880 That means let him go to the lowest hell. 518 00:34:35,560 --> 00:34:39,280 Remember he asked Peter, lovest thou me more than these? 519 00:34:39,679 --> 00:34:43,400 You see, Christ must be the object of that love you. 520 00:34:43,400 --> 00:34:47,679 You can't have faith in Christ apart from loving him. 521 00:34:47,840 --> 00:34:50,679 You can't have faith in Christ without loving him. 522 00:34:53,040 --> 00:34:56,719 And if you love the Saviour, you'll love the Holy Spirit. 523 00:34:57,760 --> 00:35:01,120 The Bible talks about the Holy Spirit shedding the love of God 524 00:35:01,280 --> 00:35:05,120 abroad in our hearts. You love the Scriptures. 525 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:07,280 The psalmist said, Oh, how I love thy law. 526 00:35:07,440 --> 00:35:12,000 Psalm 119, verse 97. And you can see a people here 527 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,120 how they received the word of God. 528 00:35:15,480 --> 00:35:18,400 He says, For our gospel came not unto you in Word only, but also 529 00:35:18,400 --> 00:35:21,960 in power and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance, as you 530 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:25,160 know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. 531 00:35:25,800 --> 00:35:27,440 They had a love for the Sabbath day. 532 00:35:28,120 --> 00:35:30,360 They had one day set aside for worship. 533 00:35:30,560 --> 00:35:33,600 Exodus 20, verse 18. Remember the Sabbath day which 534 00:35:33,600 --> 00:35:35,000 keepeth holy. They had a love for the 535 00:35:35,000 --> 00:35:37,880 sanctuary. They had a love for the Saints. 536 00:35:38,920 --> 00:35:41,080 Remember Jesus said, by this shall all men know you're my 537 00:35:41,080 --> 00:35:43,040 disciples if you have loved one for another. 538 00:35:43,120 --> 00:35:44,800 They had a love for the souls of men. 539 00:35:44,880 --> 00:35:48,200 They had a burden and a passion for their fellow countrymen. 540 00:35:48,760 --> 00:35:52,120 They didn't have a love for self or a love for sin. 541 00:35:52,320 --> 00:35:55,520 Now let me ask you as I apply this, what do we love the most? 542 00:35:56,200 --> 00:35:57,840 Look into your heart this morning. 543 00:35:58,480 --> 00:36:03,320 What is your heart fixed on? How much do we love our God? 544 00:36:03,680 --> 00:36:06,000 How much do we love the Lord Jesus Christ? 545 00:36:06,120 --> 00:36:07,960 Love the Spirit? How much do we love the 546 00:36:07,960 --> 00:36:10,040 scriptures? Not the wealth of the world, but 547 00:36:10,040 --> 00:36:13,000 the Word. My greatest treasure is the Word 548 00:36:13,000 --> 00:36:17,120 of God. Is our love for God rooted in 549 00:36:17,120 --> 00:36:19,360 redemption on a relationship with God? 550 00:36:19,720 --> 00:36:23,360 Have we got an Ida silver but but not the Holy Scriptures? 551 00:36:23,640 --> 00:36:29,040 Have we have we a a a burning holy love for him and his 552 00:36:29,040 --> 00:36:32,400 precious word? Has our love seen? 553 00:36:34,360 --> 00:36:39,160 Has our love been shown to others in that we labour? 554 00:36:39,160 --> 00:36:43,440 You see this word labour means in this exhausting type of love 555 00:36:43,920 --> 00:36:46,240 it it controlled and motivated them. 556 00:36:47,280 --> 00:36:51,760 Or have we left our first love? You see, if we say we love him, 557 00:36:52,400 --> 00:36:55,800 we'll be happy to serve him. It means that Christ does 558 00:36:55,800 --> 00:36:59,640 everything to us. So I asked the question, is this 559 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:03,240 the kind of love that we have? What do we really live for? 560 00:37:03,360 --> 00:37:07,680 What do we love? Do we love anything more than 561 00:37:07,680 --> 00:37:10,720 the things of God? Do we love anything more than 562 00:37:10,720 --> 00:37:14,720 our love for the Lord and the Saviour and the Sabbath and the 563 00:37:14,720 --> 00:37:18,040 sanctuary and the souls of men and the servants of God? 564 00:37:20,280 --> 00:37:22,480 Do we seek to win the lost to Christ? 565 00:37:23,400 --> 00:37:26,360 You see, they had a love that evangelises. 566 00:37:27,360 --> 00:37:31,160 I finish with this. They had a hope that enjoys it 567 00:37:31,160 --> 00:37:34,720 says in our text here. And patience of hope in our Lord 568 00:37:34,720 --> 00:37:37,680 Jesus Christ. Patience of hope. 569 00:37:38,880 --> 00:37:41,680 I hope that sure and certain. Not a hope that's going to rain 570 00:37:41,680 --> 00:37:44,080 tomorrow. We're not really sure, but this 571 00:37:44,080 --> 00:37:47,040 is sure and certain. There's a clarity here. 572 00:37:47,600 --> 00:37:49,120 Remember, they're suffering great affliction. 573 00:37:49,680 --> 00:37:53,560 It's a day of trouble. And the Lord comes in their 574 00:37:53,560 --> 00:37:56,040 hardship and he comforts them, He sustains them. 575 00:37:56,040 --> 00:37:59,920 He helps them to continue to go on at patience of hope. 576 00:38:00,320 --> 00:38:02,920 They're waiting. They're waiting patiently. 577 00:38:03,800 --> 00:38:07,400 They're enduring hardship. They keep in their mind we're 578 00:38:07,400 --> 00:38:09,640 here to live. And light of the Lord's return. 579 00:38:09,640 --> 00:38:11,600 We're not here forever. One day we'll die. 580 00:38:12,120 --> 00:38:14,640 But Christ is in us the hope of glory. 581 00:38:14,760 --> 00:38:17,560 That's the clarity here. Here's the certainty. 582 00:38:17,640 --> 00:38:21,520 One day when their life will end, either by martyrdom or 583 00:38:21,520 --> 00:38:24,120 natural death, they'll be with Christ, which is far better. 584 00:38:24,360 --> 00:38:28,400 They'll see him as He is. And what a comfort here, not 585 00:38:28,400 --> 00:38:32,120 only with Him and see him, but one day be like him and of a new 586 00:38:32,120 --> 00:38:34,040 body, like unto his glorious body. 587 00:38:34,120 --> 00:38:36,840 Because they believe not only in the Lord's return, but also in 588 00:38:36,840 --> 00:38:39,520 the resurrection. This world was not their final 589 00:38:39,520 --> 00:38:41,880 home. Now I am finished this morning. 590 00:38:41,880 --> 00:38:46,120 But think of this in light of what we profess to believe. 591 00:38:47,960 --> 00:38:51,320 How do we live? How do others see our behaviour? 592 00:38:51,960 --> 00:38:55,760 Because people seen the believers here in Thessalonanka 593 00:38:56,320 --> 00:39:01,160 as those who had a work of faith, a labour of love and a 594 00:39:01,160 --> 00:39:04,960 patience of hope. Is that how the ungodly in the 595 00:39:04,960 --> 00:39:09,320 world sees us living for our Saviour? 596 00:39:11,720 --> 00:39:14,560 I leave it there this morning. I trust that the Lord will bless 597 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:18,080 this first study to us. I've taken a lot in this 598 00:39:18,080 --> 00:39:20,360 morning. I don't want it to be a long 599 00:39:20,360 --> 00:39:26,560 study, but I pray that these few highlights will be of help and 600 00:39:26,560 --> 00:39:27,000 blessing.