WHAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD BE
1 Thessalonians 2: 2 We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
WHAT EVERY CHURCH SHOULD BE
1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10
Have you ever heard this saying, "if you even find the perfect church, please don't join it, if you do, it won't be perfect anymore". Apostle John received revelation about seven churches in Asia Minor, Ephesus, Symrna, Pergamos, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laodicea, Five of these churches our Lord had words of Commendation and Correction whereas two of them had matured well. Local churches are made of human beings, saved by grace, no church is perfect. Some churches are closer to the New Testament "ideal" than others. Thessalonica was in that category. Three times in this letter Paul gave thanks for the church and the way it responded to the ministry ( 1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 1 Thessalonians 2:13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye 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. 1 Thessalonians 3:9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God. What type of people were these people. They were people just like you and me, (made mistakes, felt challenged at times, and were under attack from the enemy of our souls). If we understand these thought we would be like them. These 4 things were the hallmark of these people and we can relate it to us as individuals.
(a) They were an Elect people - 1:1-4
(b) They were an Exemplary people - 1:5-7
(c) They were an Enthusiastic people - 1:8
(d) They were an Expectant people - 1:9-10
1. These people were an Elect people, 1:1-4, the word church comes from the Greek Ecclesia (gathering of those summons or a called out people, a political assembly of citizens of Ancient Greek states, especially the periodic meeting of the Athenian citizens for conducting public business and considering affairs proposed by the council. We as Christians has been elected by God, He is still calling out people from the world, Acts 15:13-18 "And after they had held their peace, James answered, saying, Men and brethren, hearken unto me:
14 Simeon hath declared how God at the first did visit the Gentiles, to take out of them a people for his name.
15 And to this agree the words of the prophets; as it is written,
16 After this I will return, and will build again the tabernacle of David, which is fallen down; and I will build again the ruins thereof, and I will set it up:
17 That the residue of men might seek after the Lord, and all the Gentiles, upon whom my name is called, saith the Lord, who doeth all these things. Known unto God are all his works from the beginning of the world". Paul stated that he knew that these believers were chosen by God, let us take note of some obvious facts about divine election.
a) Salvation begins with God, Ephesians 1:4, According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame in love. John 15:16, You have not chosen me, but I have chosen you and ordained you. We need to understand that the entire plan of salvation was in place before man was created or the universe was formed.
b) Salvation involves Faith: Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is a gift of God. How does faith comes? Romans 10:17, So the Holy Spirit takes the word that we received and allow faith to accompany it.
c) Salvation changes lives: those whom God chooses, He changes. This doesn't mean that they are perfect in themselves but they are possessors of a new life that cannot be hidden. You don't have to walk around saying you are a Christian, it will be seen if your life has been change. They are three Cardinal virtues of the Christian life and the three greatest evidences of Salvation. Faith must always leads to works( James 2:14-26) we are not saved by faith plus work but by faith that works. Love is also an evidence of Salvation, Romans 5:5 And hope makes not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given to us. John 14:15 If you love me keep my commandments.
The third Cardinal virtue is hope, We are waiting for the coming of Jesus Christ, the coming of Christ is the dominant theme of both of these letters, unsaved people are not eagerly awaiting the Lord's return, in fact when our Lord catches His church up into the air, unsaved people will be totally surprise, just like in the days of Noah. It is important for us to remember only those that know and have accepted Christ will spend eternity with him. So many may have their names on a church roll but we need to know that our names are written in the Lamb's book of life. Each one of us should examine his/her heart to determine whether he/she are truly born again and belong to God's elect.
An Exemplary People, this church was an example in so many ways
They received the word, they followed their spiritual leaders, verse 6a, they suffered for Christ 6b, they encouraged other churches verse 7
Christians either encouraged or discouraged each other, this principle applies also to churches, even though they were new believers, the Thessalonians set a good example that encourage the surrounding assemblies, even in their giving Paul used the churches of Macedonia as a stimulus for the Corinthian church to give 2 Corinthians 8:1-8, churches should never compete with one another in a worldly manner “but they can provoke unto love and to good works” Hebrews 10:24
An Enthusiastic People verse 8
They shared the gospel message, they didn’t wait for Paul to beg them to do it, they were willing to do it. In the New Testament church, the entire congregation was involved in sharing the gospel of Jesus Acts 2:44-47, Acts 5:42. We need more churches as well as individuals that would be enthusiastic to share the message of Jesus Christ with a lost world. Our Lord’s desire was to see people won into the kingdom, Jesus spent lots of time reaching the individual (the woman, the man at the pool, the blind man that sat by the way side, and Zacchaeus
An Expectant People, verse 10
This church was expecting something, ask any pregnant mother what she looks forward to. The pain, the sleepless nights, the doctor’s visits no these will come but that is expecting a child, from conception to birth, every movement is exciting for her. We are expecting the greatest event that will hit this world, the rapture when Jesus will come for His own, 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, He came once and they crucified him but He is coming the second time and He will coming as Conqueror.
Prayer: Thank You, Lord, for holding me safely in Your hands, knowing that nothing in heaven or on earth can separate me from Your love, which I receive through faith in Jesus. Thank You for the inner peace I have in You through Christ. I pray that I may grow in grace and in the knowledge of Christ, my Savior, and that all I do may bring You greater praise and glory. May the joy of the Lord be my strength in every challenge and trial, so that Christ is evident in my life and others are drawn to Him through my testimony. In Jesus' name, amen.
