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When You Started Out (1 Thess 1:1-10)

Elder Stephen Choi, 20081207

Good works for Christian

· Remember where we were? Someone comes into your life and God convicted you. Any changes?

· Started out as Christian – what happened? Did you share Jesus with others?

· Continue grow in the Lord. Enthusiasm/Excitement? Continue to show gratitude to God for His work in our life. Has your love grown or faded?

1. Be Grateful to God

1Th 1:1-10 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace. (2) We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, (3) remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Three cardinals / virtues of a Christian are faith, hope and love. They are not an end in themselves.

What does faith produce? Paul said it produces work in the life of Christians. We are saved not by works but grace – by what Jesus did on the Cross. James said faith without work is dead. We can do work without faith perhaps due to humanitarian purposes. There are people who help others without knowing God. But faith cannot be without work. Work can be evangelistic, helping others or act of kindness.

Love if often linked with labour or the pain involved in the work. Love motivates Christians to work hard even when the work is difficult and tiring. The labour is prompted by love. This love itself is prompted by the love of God which is placed in our hearts (Rom 5:5). Because of the love of God in us, we are willing to walk the second mile. Love is long suffering and it involves a lot of self-sacrifices. If our labour in church is not prompted by love but by a desire to fulfill people’s expectations, one day we will burn out and wonder what we are doing. We need to check ourselves.

Endurance is inspired by hope which will see us through tough times. It is not the suffering or hardship that causes despair, it is when we lose hope that we fall into despair. When we study the book of Job, we find Job to be so enthusiastic in his worship of God and acknowledged that God gives and takes. In Job 30:10, we see Job in despair. When hope defers, the heart despairs. What is the basis of our hope? Is it our bank account? Our children who will take care of us? Our government? Our hope is based on Jesus Christ.

God deposited these three virtues in every Christian. Do we recognize them in our lives? Are they working in our lives? Recognize God’s work and value them. Paul wrote letters to express his appreciations to those who labour hard for God. Sometimes it can be discouraging. Shepherds and church workers should be thankful that God is working in our lives. People’s appreciation is a bonus.

2. Respond to the Spirit

1Th 1:4-6 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, (5) because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. (6) And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit,

God was talking about how when he preached it was with the power of the Holy Spirit. It may sound like boasting but it changed the lives of the Thessalonians. The Word of God has power to change lives. The Holy Spirit is behind of this power and the changing of lives takes place because they were receptive to the message. Paul being convicted in his message also helped. He preached as though the audience believed in him

When Paul went to Thessalonica, he preached the Gospel and many were saved and great things happened. The church was established in a short time (Act 17). The accomplishments brought persecution by the Jewish leaders. They went to Jason’s house in hope to catch Paul. Paul wasn’t there and he was told to flee. Those who want to preach the Gospel must pay the price. There may not be immediate blessings (“in much affliction” in v6.) Despite the suffering and persecution, they were open to God. The Joy of the Lord flooded their souls.

Life is not always smooth sailing. When we face difficulties, we may be tempted to go into self-pity. If we allow the Holy Spirit to work in our lives, we will receive the joy of the Lord. The world says when we have wealth and health, we will have happiness. Happiness in the world is not formed in suffering. But to the Christians, it is through pain that we find joy. It’s a paradox that the world cannot understand. We don’t invite pain. The pain and suffering refers to persecution due to our belief.

It is uncertain times now. Are we going to despair and fall into self-pity? If we are receptive to the Holy Spirit, it will see us through. We have received the Holy Spirit when we received the Lord, let’s continue to be receptive.

We sing the song “you give and take away” and “blessed be the name of the Lord” so easily. It came from the book of Job. Let’s hope we can overcome difficult situations with the joy of the Lord. “Blessed is the road marked with suffering.”

3. Influencing Others

1Th 1:7-10 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. (8) For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. (9) For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (10) and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

The lifestyle was already evangelistic. Their lifestyle shows their belief in God. We must believe in the Gospel ourselves. We must believe the Gospel can change our lives. The Gospel must be powerful enough in our lives to change us first. Our lifestyle must align with our word. Many don’t become Christians with the excuse of the bad testimonies they see in Christians.

People can see the process of changed lives and this itself is a powerful testimony.

1. We turn from something, e.g. idols.

2. We turn the true, living God. We turn to serve the true and living God.

3. We expect God to come again.

The way we show gratitude to God is to live the way God wants us to live and to influence others to do the same. The process of conversion must be evident in our lives. Are we still living with idols in our lives? Are we serving the living God? Do we live like people who have hope?

When we have hope that God will come again, we can endure difficulties in our lives.

Conclusion:

When we started out as Christians, God entered our lives. Let’s continue to be receptive of Him and respond to the Holy Spirit. Let’s be a good and positive influence to others.