Sermon Tone Analysis

Thessalonians #3

*2 Legs On Which To Stand*

*1 Thessalonians 3*

 

The *Thessalonian* church was obviously a *young* church in *age* and also in *maturity*.

Paul had *founded* the church as is recorded in *Acts* *17*.

They had *ROCKED* that town.

They had "*turned* the *world* and Thessalonica *upside* down"

When *God* *begins* to *move*, *Satan* takes *notice* and he *moves* as well

 

*Thessalonica* was a city *overrun* with *paganism* and *idolatry*

 

*Paul* *knew* that once *God* began to *move* in the city among this new *body* of believers that *Satan* was going to *pull* out all of the *stops* to try to *destroy*, short *circuit*, *detour*, the *work* of God.

That is *what* he *does*

 

He *comes* to "*steal* *kill* and *destroy*"

He is a *roaring* *lion* seeking whom he may *devour*

He is a *counterfeiting* *masquerading* as an *angel* of light

 

*Satan* would like to *short* *circuit* the *move* of God in *this* *body* of believers

He would *like* to *detour* *YOU* in your new walk with God

*Many* of you have *recently* *come* to *Christ*, or have recently *returned* to *walk* with God again and it may *seem* that all of a *sudden*, *everything* is *rocky*, all of a *sudden* *someone* has *pulled* out all of the *stops*, all of a *sudden* *trouble* is on *every* *side*, all of a *sudden* *difficulty* has come out of *nowhere*.

*Well*, *what* did the *church* at *Thessalonica* need?

 

*What* are the *two* *legs* on which they could *stand* and *what* are the *two* *legs* which *you* can *stand*?

*Have* you ever *heard* the *phrase*, "you *don't* have a *leg* to *stand* on?"

 

*Everyone* *Stand* For Me

Let's *read* our *Scripture* passage today

*While *I read, if you are able, stand on one leg for me

 

*Stand* on one *leg* *while* I *Read* this passage

 

*1 Thessalonians 3*

 

*Two* *legs* on which to *stand* *so* that you *won't* be "*unsettled*", "*upended*" *knocked* off your feet

 

The *two* *legs* are

*Faith* and *Love*

Belief and Action

 

Let's *talk* about the *first* *leg* on which to *stand* against the *attacks* of the evil one

 

*1.

Faith*

v *10* says /"night and day we pray that we may see you again and *supply* what is *lacking* in your faith"/

 

*How* do you *build* up your *faith*?

 

*Faith* must be *grounded* in *truth*, it must be *attached* to something *solid*

 

Our *faith* is *grounded* in the *death,* *burial* and *resurrection* of Jesus Christ

 

*1 Corinthians 5:17* says that /if Christ is NOT risen then our faith is FUTILE/

 

*Heb 11:1* - "/faith is being *sure* of what you hope for and *certain* of what we do not see."/

And verse *6* says /"*without* *faith* it is *impossible* to *please* God, because anyone who comes to him *must* *believe* that he exists and that he rewards those who *earnestly* seek him."/

*Faith* is the *first* leg we deal with because *without* faith you *don't* have a *leg* to stand on.

*Faith* is the *place* to *start* in regards to *understanding*.

If you *don't* *believe*, you will *never* *understand*.

*Augustine* said, /"I believed that I might understand"/

 

*Isaiah 7:9* - /"stand firm in your faith or you will not stand at all"/

* *

*1 Cor.

16:13* says /"be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong"/

 

what is *lacking* that *diminishes* our *faith*?

*Courage* or *Knowledge*

and *how* do we *build* our *faith*?

  A.

*What* *builds* *Courage*?

    1.

*encouragement*

You are *not* in this *alone*, and *others* have *made* it, so can you

*1 Peter 5:9* - /"resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings"/

    2.

*intercession*

*Colossians 4:12* - /"Epaphrus, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends greetings.

He is always wrestling in prayer for you, that you may stand firm in all the will of God, mature and fully assured"/

 

    3.

He *sent* somebody - *Timothy* - Timothy was *sent*  *v2* to *strengthen* and *encourage* them in their faith.

*Paul* was *praying* for them *night* and *day* - But until then, he *sent* Somebody

 

      a.

*When* you need it the most, *God* will *send* somebody to *build* your faith

      b.

Can I *tell* *you* that *God* *sent* *me* by here *18* months ago to *tell* you that we can *make* it?

I'm *here* *today* to *tell* you that you *can* *make* it

*God* is *sending* some of *you* to *another* believer a *young* believer or perhaps a *discouraged* believer, to *tell* them that they *can* *make* it.

*Encourage* them to *grow* into their faith

 

*Another* *thief* of faith is *lack* of *knowledge*

 

  B.

What *Builds* *Knowledge*?

    1.

*sowing* the *Word*

*Romans 10:17* "/faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God"/

Hebrews 13:7 /"remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you.

Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith."/

2.

*listening* to the *Spirit*

      a.

God's *Spirit* within the *heart* of the believer *testifies* to *Truth* thus *building* our faith

*Hebrews 10:11* - "…Spirit also testifies to us …"

*Romans 8:16* - "Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are his children"

*John 15:26* - "the Spirit … will testify about me"

 

    3.

*accepting* the *truth*

*Colossians 1:23* - /"if you continue in your faith, established and firm, not moved from the hope held out in the gospel.

This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven…"/

 

     4.

He *sent* his *Word* -

*2 Thes 2:15-16* - *stand* *firm*, *holding* on to his *teaching*, *eternal* encouragement

 

*Stand* on the *Truth* that you *Know*, *believe* the Truth you have *heard* from us and has been *sown* into your hearts.

*Faith* in Christ *FOR* *Salvation*

Faith in Christ FOR *Deliverance*

Faith in Christ FOR *Continuance*

The *first* *Leg* on which we *stand* is Faith

 

The *Second* Leg that *compliments* Faith is *Love*, or Action

 

*2.

Love*

Love is evidenced by Action

 

  A.

*For* *God*

We *can't* *separate* *Love* from *Action*

We can't *separate* Love from *Obedience*

 

To *Stand* on the *Leg* of Love *Action* - Deeds are the *foot* on the *Leg* of Love

    1.

*John 14:15* - /if you love me, you will obey what I command - *21* - whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who love me.  - *23* - if anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching.

My Father will love him and we will come to him and make our home with him.

*24* he who does not love me will not obey my teaching.

These words you hear are not my own; they belong to the Father who sent me."/