1 Thess 2
Read the Instructions • Sermon • Submitted
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Big Idea:
Big Idea:
Godly leaders acknowledge God at work, live for Him, and teach others to do the same.
Intro:
Intro:
Good morning everyone. Welcome to Church Online. So glad you can be with us as we continue our new series called “Read the Instructions,” where we are learning how to be a healthy church by studying 1 & 2 Thessalonians
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Some of my favorite parts of the Bible are the stories of the Judean kings. I love reading how powerfully God moved on their behalf. And the spiritual lessons are so practical.
This week, I was reading about King Hezekiah - one of the good kings of Judah. There’s a story recounted a few times in the Bible when He gets sick and the prophet Isaiah says, “Get your house in order because you won’t recover.”
But Hezekiah sets his face toward God and cries out in prayer. And God hears him. Then, God tells Isaiah...
“Go and say to Hezekiah, Thus says the Lord, the God of David your father: I have heard your prayer; I have seen your tears. Behold, I will add fifteen years to your life.
And Hezekiah is miraculously healed! But afterwards, we read about this hypocritical moment. The kings of Babylon hear about the miraculous healing and visit Hezekiah. And Hezekiah is filled with pride, acts foolishly, and even disregards Isaiah’s warning about the consequences of his sin. It makes you think, “What’s wrong with this guy? He should be all about God, especially after being miraculously healed!”
But then I was reminded of my own life. How often my spiritual progress is broken and messy. Full of hypocrisy...
The other day my son asked to watch a certain scary movie and I said, “No. That movie is demonic. Evil shouldn’t be your entertainment.” And as soon as those words left my mouth, the Holy Spirit spoke to my heart, “What about that show you’ve been watching every night?” I felt like such a hypocrite.
It reminded me of the old parental saying, “Do as I say, not as I do.” Basically, teaching kids, it’s okay for adults to be hypocrites.
You know, after Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica (we’ll talk about that more in a second), people called Paul a hypocrite too. And he address in this letter. Let’s look at how he responds. If you have your Bible/app, open up to 1 Thess 2...
Exegesis:
Exegesis:
Last week Paul started off this letter thanking God for everything happening in this new healthy church. And Paul intended to have the Thessalonians realize what God was doing too. Hoping they would become a thankful people - something God calls all the church to be.
But towards the end of chapter 1, Paul seems to be hinting at another message beyond “thankfulness.” And here in chapter 2, we see what it is...
For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain. But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.
Before Paul came to Thessalonica, he was stuck in a city named Troas, which is in modern day Turkey. He had no idea where God wanted him to go next to start a new church. Then, he received a vision to go to Macedonia.
So he went there and preached the gospel, starting in Philippi. And God did a miraculous work! People got saved! But then, certain people who scammed people through fortune-telling, got upset about all this Jesus-transformation happening. And they attacked Paul...
A mob quickly formed against Paul and Silas, and the city officials ordered them stripped and beaten with wooden rods. They were severely beaten, and then they were thrown into prison. The jailer was ordered to make sure they didn’t escape.
But God miraculous delivered them from prison, brought about more salvation, and then moved them onto Thessalonica. And even though they had just been beaten and wrongly thrown in prison for Jesus, they continue to preach Jesus - unconcerned about the consequences!
And the result was the birth of the Thessalonian church! Once again, God did a saving work! We read about it last week! But just like in Philippi, those who made a living by having religious control over people, got upset over this Jesus who was freeing people! We read...
But some of the Jews were jealous, so they gathered some troublemakers from the marketplace to form a mob and start a riot. They attacked the home of Jason, searching for Paul and Silas so they could drag them out to the crowd. Not finding them there, they dragged out Jason and some of the other believers instead and took them before the city council. “Paul and Silas have caused trouble all over the world,” they shouted, “and now they are here disturbing our city, too. And Jason has welcomed them into his home. They are all guilty of treason against Caesar, for they profess allegiance to another king, named Jesus.”
And it was this incident that forced Paul to move onto a new city before he was ready...
And once he left, even more trouble started. People began accusing Paul of being a hypocrite. And the accusation went like this:
Paul was just another religious con-man trying to get your money. Since that didn’t work out, he skipped town.
Because Paul was a fake, the Thessalonian church was fake too. God didn’t really do a saving work. They couldn’t trust the results because they couldn’t trust Paul the hypocrite.
And that’s why Paul begins his letter the way he did:
In Chapter 1, he reminds them that every thing God did was REAL.
And in Chapter 2, he also adds, “I’m not a hypocrite trying to get something from you. This is not about my personal gain! This about the work God has entrusted me with. This is about the gospel!” He goes on to say it this way...
So you can see we were not preaching with any deceit or impure motives or trickery.
For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News. Our purpose is to please God, not people. He alone examines the motives of our hearts. Never once did we try to win you with flattery, as you well know. And God is our witness that we were not pretending to be your friends just to get your money! As for human praise, we have never sought it from you or anyone else.
Paul’s like:
I’m not trying to trick you or make money off of you!
I’m not trying to win anyones approval.
I’m only trying to please God by doing what He called me to do - bring the good news of Jesus to you!
And it’s a message that I believe in so much that I’m willing to SUFFER for it. And not only suffer, but willingly SACRIFICE for it! He writes...
But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children. So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers. For you know how, like a father with his children, we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.
Paul clearly reminded them, “I don’t want anything from you! In fact, I gave everything I had to you! The only thing I want is for you to believe and receive the gospel of Jesus Christ! You know this is true...”
I was like a mother who sacrificially cares for her children.
I was like a father doing his best to train you to be all God created you to be!
I didn’t take anything from you, but gave everything for you!
And I love what it says in verse 8...
So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.
That phrase “very dear to us” is the same phrase God the Father uses to describe His love for Jesus, found in Matt 12:18...
“Behold, my servant whom I have chosen,
my beloved with whom my soul is well pleased.
I will put my Spirit upon him,
and he will proclaim justice to the Gentiles.
What Paul is saying is, “I’m not a hypocritical charlatan! I have the HEART of God towards you! I love you with the same love the Father has for Jesus!”
And regarding the suffering and sacrifice, Paul makes it clear that even though it cost him, he’d do it all over again...
And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!
But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
Even if Paul personally gained nothing from his investment into the Thessalonians, it was worth it to him, because it was God’s work! And if the Kingdom of God was being built, if people were being transformed by the saving grace of Jesus, it was worth it. And that’s what happened in Thessalonica! And Paul was thankful!
They became genuine followers of Jesus. Even suffering like Jesus. Even suffering like Jesus’ followers - like Paul and the church in Judea.
And the real issue wasn’t Paul’s hypocrisy, but a REAL enemy trying to destroy any gospel work. Satan (the devil) was using people to try and discredit Paul, which would then create unbelief, and destroy the new church. And so Paul writes to assure them...
You know the work Jesus did in your life is REAL.
You know how I lived among you was REAL.
Your transforming encounter with God was REAL!
It’s so real that when I think about you, I see you as already standing in victory at the finish line! That’s what he means by ...
For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and joy.
Application:
Application:
And here’s the instruction for us today: God is not calling us (His church) to be hypocrites, but people who are “bout it, bout it!” [about it, about it]
What the heck does that mean?
That’s a little Master P phrase that means, “We are down for whatever it takes to complete the mission!”
You know me. I like to use phrases that help you remember things better! God wants the church to be “bout it, bout it!” And that starts with the leaders, but it’s meant for everyone! It started with Paul, but he was the example for the rest of the church.
So, let me apply this to us in three ways:
1) God wants us to be all in. And that starts with realizing this is all God’s work; therefore, it’s worth everything we have! It’s worth suffering. It’s worth sacrifice. Because it involves the most important message and mission in all of creation: Salvation through Jesus Christ!
2) Speaking of suffering, you gotta be “bout it, bout it” to willingly suffer for Jesus. But here’s something we need to remember about the Christian life: Suffering brings salvation (that’s the second thing).
I know that sounds weird, but God has His own perfect ways of doing things. They don’t always makes sense to us, but they always work! And suffering bringing salvation is one of them. Just look at Jesus! His suffering brought salvation to the world.
And the apostle Peter (one of Jesus’ closest followers) said...
So then, since Christ suffered physical pain, you must arm yourselves with the same attitude he had, and be ready to suffer, too. For if you have suffered physically for Christ, you have finished with sin. You won’t spend the rest of your lives chasing your own desires, but you will be anxious to do the will of God.
As crazy as it sounds, suffering for Christ is a good thing. A beautiful thing. It shows God’s work in our lives is REAL. But you got to be “bout it, bout it” to embrace it!
3) As a church, we need to realize there is a REAL enemy (Satan, the devil) who is trying to STOP God’s good work. God was doing an amazing work in Thessalonica. And the devil tried to stop it. Paul tried to get back to them because he loved them. And the devil tried to stop that too. There is a real enemy fighting against us!
And while God uses suffering to bring salvation, this enemy uses suffering to stop it! And if we ain’t “bout it, bout it,” we will let comfort destroy the work of Christ in our lives!
Response:
Response:
As we close, let’s talk about how we can respond this morning:
Today, church, let me encourage you, be “all in!” Don’t be hypocritical in your faith. Be “bout it, bout it.” Love the Lord God with ALL your heart. Surrender ALL your life to Him. Choose this day who you will serve, sacrifice, and suffer for. And in the words of Moses: Choose life! Choose Jesus.
Understand God’s Kingdom embraces suffering. It’s part of God’s process of salvation. It’s difficult. It hurts. But it also strips away the sin in our lives and pushes us towards the Savior. If you are suffering for your faith (in any way), Rejoice! It means God’s at work in your life.
Finally, know there is a real enemy trying to destroy you. If you have been a part of this church and all of a sudden you’ve gone through difficult things - don’t be surprised! I believe God is at work in The River Church. And Satan sees that. So, he’s going to try and stop it!
Here’s the good news: Ultimately, he can’t! The Bible says he already lost. He was defeated at the cross. And though he may be able to “strike our heel” now, one day King Jesus will return and crush his head.
That’s our hope! It’s the confidence that allows us to keep moving towards Jesus by faith, even when we’re suffering. We have something wonderful - worth it - waiting for us at the end! And if we have put our faith in Jesus, we WILL make it!
4. Finally, see people the way Jesus sees them. I know we’re a bunch of hypocrites. It’s really hard to love one another the way Jesus commands, but that’s where the gospel comes in.
Jesus died on the cross for the hypocrites. Jesus died on the cross for the forgiveness of all our sins. Jesus died on the cross so we could love one another with God’s heart - seeing one another as perfect in Christ, as those who are “our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming!”
Being “bout it, bout it” involves loving people the way God loves them. And for those already in the church, that means seeing them as perfect in Christ, despite their present imperfections, because they have the righteousness of Jesus on them.
And for those not yet in the church, seeing them as those Christ died for! Not as those people who belong to a different political party. Not as those who are wicked. Whatever it is… but as those who God loves and sent His Son to die for. Those we’re willing to serve, sacrifice, and suffer for, so one day we can see them with us at the return of Jesus!
But in order to do all that, to love like that, we gotta be “bout it, bout it.” That’s the type of church God is calling us to be!
Let’s pray:
Father, we thank you for the work you are doing. Help us to be all -in. To love and serve you with all our hearts. To be willing to do anything to grow in Christ and share His gospel with the world. Forgive us for our hypocrisy. Help us to imitate Jesus. Help us to imitate Paul. Help us to live the life you created us for. In Jesus name, amen.
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Online:
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God Bless you! Have a great day.
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In-person...
And we’re going to end service today with two things, both special, but one a little different than how we usually do things. First, we are going to celebrate communion together. It’s been a few months since we’ve been able to take communion as we were gathered in close proximity. As the pastor - as one of the leaders - I’d like to do this together as a way to first and foremost, remember the greatest work God ever did - and that was what Jesus did on the cross. But in remembering, we’re also acknowledging God is at work today - here, in Glastonbury - and in our lives.
The second thing I’d like to do is pray together. We’re going to try something new. Right now, I’m going to put my cell phone number on the screens. If you have a prayer request, I’d like for you to text me.Right now. Here in church. I’ll explain more in just a moment, but let’s first lets prepare to take communion together.
Communion:
Communion:
If you look to the center of your table, you will see the prepackaged elements ready for you. Would you each grab one, so we can receive the elements together?
Prayer:
Prayer:
You guys know that we aren’t supposed to be close to one another. That’s hard. Proximity is a big part of presence. We feel God’s presence by proximity. We feel the presence of God’s unifying Spirit among us by proximity. And one thing that is powerful, is prayer through proximity. When we can hold hands or lay hands on one another. It’s something we see described in the Bible. It’s powerful.
But we can’t do that right now. So, right now, instead of doing nothing, we are going to do what we can. So, as I go through this prayer lists, I’d like for us to stretch out our hands towards the person requesting prayer. And we’re going to pray together, for each request. And I believe God is going to honor this. He’s going to see we are giving whatever we can to Him. And he’s going to bless it. And that through the Holy Spirit - who knows no limitations, He will allow us to experience prayer proximity during this time.
Let’s pray.
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