1 Thessalonians 1:1-10, Introduction from Jack Abeelen

 Jack Abeelen--Morningstar Christian Chapel, September 27, 2020 The Birth of a Church!

Written by Paul first, within 20 years of Christ's ascension. 

Paul on his 2nd missionary journey with Silas determined he would go back and revisit churches he had planted in hopes of strengthening them.  After this, not sure where to go.  Sought to go to Asia (Turkey), but he kept running into a blockade of sort by the Holy Spirit--not told what stopped him, just HS behind it.  Ended up Troas--had vision/dream of a man in Macedonia saying come visit us.  Acts 16. Birth of first church in Europe. Focuses on conversion of three individuals:

1. Lydia of Thyatira, successful woman of business, met believers outside on river on the Sabbath. She became center of church at Philippi.

2. Woman possessed by devil told fortunes for her masters for $. Paul delivered her, masters went to authorities who arrested them and beat them, then threw them in prison. They sang worship songs. God sent earthquake.

3. Jailer converted and his family, Paul went back. Authorities realized they had beat a Roman citizen. They begged them to leave city....travelled and stopped at two other cities but finally ended up in Thessalonica. 

Thessalonica on the  Ignatian highway (Roman east to west highway). Preached for three Sabbath days in a row (three weeks). Acts 17-- a of people listened, especially Greek proselytes. Orthodox leaders got angry---hired people to cause disturbance--they run out of town, 50 miles to Beria, then they ministered there for awhile but then they came down and chased him out again.

Leaves Beria under threat of death, gets on boat, travels to Athens (intellectuals at Mars Hill) then Corinth...in a perverse town, Corinth, by himself. Doesn't have friends with him...arrives discouraged.  Didn't do any ministry at Corinth at all, sat on his hands, finally Timothy and Silas he was encouraged to go back to work, the Lord appears to him here and then he goes back to work for the next year and a half.

Concerned about Thessalonica during this time.  He sends Silas in one direction and Timothy back to Thessalonica. Wanted to know what was going on in Thessalonica.  Paul had made tents while there.

Timothy comes back and reports the church is thriving. Paul's so thrilled that he writes these epistles with great relief. Chapter 3:7--in all of our affliction and in all of our distress, we are comforted by your faith.

Six words to describe the Church in this chapter: elect, engaged

1) Elect--ecclesia means "called out," collectively not primarily a social organization, it's a living kind of spiritual organism that people have been called out of darkness and into light.  The church is not of the world spiritually; they've been called out of it in Christ. 

Our position in Christ never changes.  With regard to the issue of election, Jack says the Bible teaches both.  The lost are never referred to with the word "election" (would be cruel), but it is taught to the believer.

The Bible teaches both election and free will.  Two sided sign in Heaven--

1) side before entering: "Whosoever will let him come and drink freely of the river of life. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely. -- Rev. 22:17 

2) once inside, notice that other side says "Chosen in Him before the foundations of the world."

It's an assurance to the elect. Election is a comfort, an assurance, to the believer and to Paul.  You are the chosen ones now.

If ever in doubt about God choosing and you choosing. Absolutes that can ground you:

*God desires all men to be saved.

* Man will be responsible for the choices he makes and give answers to the Lord.

God's actions in term of election are always rooted in his foreknowledge--because he's God, he can look ahead and pave the way for You.

He rejoices in the death of the saints and not for the lost.

Tells us to go out into the world and preach to all---

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You can't diminish the importance of intercessory prayer in the Bible. He's a busy man but he's always praying. Who do you pray for regularly on their behalf? Paul is praying for all of them.

2) Engaged.  He sees outward evidence, had seen works of faith. They carried with them the fruit of knowing the Lord. "It came with power, assurance."

Proof for Paul says "I saw your labors of love."  labor---means wear yourself out.

Unsaved people live for themselves.  Saved people begin to care about others.

They are driven by their love of the Lord to serve consistently.

If faith stirs you, then the love of Jesus drives you. Love doesn't usually have a limit...not by sacrifice or cost.

Paul says he saw they had "endurance of hope"  --patience is driven by hope.  

Horrible place to try and plant a church or be the church. They had quite a testimony. Think of it---only three weeks there and they left, then Thessalonica was entirely a work of God, had OT, no Bible studies, etc. They were the work of God and His Spirit.

He mentions he came to Corinth not with mere words, but with power that their faith would be in God not man's words. 

Elaine Chestnut bio--beggar with acid injury---no one would step up for a skin graft.  She operated on herself.  This is the love of God. Paul preached his faith, but lived it first.

3) Examples. v 6 1Th 1:6  "You became imitators of us and [through us] of the Lord" How wonderful when hearers become doers. "So that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia." 1Th 1:7

Copy what you've seen. Who do you look up to? Who looks up to you?

Tribulation brings out what's inside.  The Thessalonians had endured in a way that they became examples, leaving their imprint.  Later Paul says "there's nobody like them."

4) Enthusiastic "Your faith in God has gone out"  don't have to say a thing. "Has sounded out" Went from receiving to transmitting...The prudent thing would have been to shut up and stay silent (because of persecution),  but they spoke out.

1Th 1:8  For the word of the Lord has resounded from you and has echoed [like thunder], not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place [the news of] your [great] faith in God has spread, so that we never need to say anything about it. 

5) Evangelistic in approach--reached beyond where they are living.

6) Expectant people.  v 9 "But they themselves declare...and to wait for his son..." Turned from their childhood idolatry to Jesus. Keep your focus on the Lord's coming, present tense. Be hopeful.