"SPECIAL BLESSING" A SPECIAL CHURCH PART TWO

I Thessalonians 1:5-10

This morning we saw that the Church at Thessalonica was the kind of church that brought joy to the heart of the Apostle Paul and to God himself!

Look at verses 2-3: We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

3　Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

We learned that the first characteristic that every church should have is It must be filled with an elect people…a called out people.

They not only have heard God’s calling, but they have responded to it and are walking worthy in it!

And Church I believe more than ever that we must walk worthy as the Church of God or we will have worthless ministry!

One of the ways Paul could identify that they were an “Elect People” was the change in their lives!

Notice verse 3 compared to verses 9-10…

Your work of faith = they had turned to God from idols

Your labor of love = they now served the living and true God

Your patience of hope = they were expectantly waiting for His Son from heaven.

Bottom line is that they were an “Elect People” and the incredible change in their lives had proved it!

They were living what they said they believed! Church: This is what proves that you are who you say you are!

The characteristics of this “called out people” provide for us and all churches a model to follow.

But this church was not only filled with and Elect People, also:

It Was Filled with an Exemplary People

Let’s Stand and Read I Thessalonians 1:5-10

Did you notice verse 7? They were examples to all that believed!

Notice verse 5 – Paul says, “You know what manner of men we were among you for your sake”

Paul is saying, “We have been good examples for you to follow.” And then in effect, they are now recognized as examples for others to follow!

Now we know that Paul himself was an exemplary man:

II Timothy 1:13 – Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.

II Timothy 2:2 – And the things that thou hast heard of me among many witnesses, the same commit thou to faithful men, who shall be able to teach others also.

II Timothy 3:10 – But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,

II Timothy 4:6-7 – For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand.

7　I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:

So Paul was an exemplary Christian from start to finish!

Now look at verse 6 – “You became followers of us and of the Lord”

In other words, these believers were following the example of others…specifically Paul, Silvanus (Silus), Timothy and the Lord himself!

They first had to learn to follow the right examples in their lives before they could be the right examples to others…What or whose example are you following tonight?

“Follower” means “imitator”. When you follow someone’s example, you are imitating what they do!

Listen, there is absolutely nothing wrong with being a follower! So long as you are following the right person. Who are you following…who are you imitating or modeling your life after?

If you study the life of King Hezekiah in the O. T. you will find that he followed an example in his life to bring about restoration and order to the House of God, which had been forsaken by his father Ahaz.

As you read the story you will notice that he did not follow the example of his father Ahaz, but he followed the example of his father David…He had to look way back for a godly example to follow!

There are a lot of examples around us…as believers we must be careful to follow the right ones.

These believers were an exemplary people in many ways:

They Were Examples in the Way They Followed Their Spiritual Leaders (5-6)

“You became followers of us, and of the Lord”

In other words, they accepted the leadership that God had placed over them.

It should be noted though that Paul, Silas and Timothy had earned the right to say, “You know what manner of men we are…you know our message…you have watched our lives.”

So it was probably easy for these believers to submit to that kind of leadership.

Hebrews 13:17

– Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.

Paul often said, “Follow me” However, he was not so interested in people following him as he was in people following Christ. Therefore he said, “Follow me as I follow Christ.”

Spiritual leaders ought to be able to say, “Follow me, I know the way…I’ll show you the way!”

Now they themselves are not the way! They only lead the way!

If a pastor or spiritual leader does not lead the way…if he is not an example of Christlikeness, then by all means find one who is! Don’t waste time following those who are not following Christ!

They Were Examples in the Way They Received the Word (6-7)

“Having received the Word in much affliction”

They were willing to receive the messengers and the message of the gospel regardless of the opposition and persecution that they faced.

Paul was hounded and hindered in Thessalonica by unbelieving Jews who not only wanted his preaching to cease, but they also wanted him dead! They ran Paul and Silas out of town!

You can read about it in Acts 17:1-10…These believers lived among a people who were hostile toward Christianity and yet in the midst of this affliction, they still received the Word with joy!

Read – I Thessalonians 2:13-14

Can I encourage you tonight…that good things always happen when people truly receive the Word of God as truth of God, regardless of the cost!

Do you receive the Word of God, as the Word of God? Or do you receive it as the Word of the preacher? Weaker Christians need to see that example in those who are mature in the faith.

It doesn’t matter who the preacher is, or what his style is…so long as He preaches the Word of God we ought to receive it as the Word of God!

They Were Examples in the Way They Witnessed to Others (8)

This very young church became such a witness that their testimony was reaching into the rest of the world!

When Rome conquered Greece it was divided into two provinces: Macedonia was the northern province and Achaia was the southern province. Paul said, “Your witness has spread all over Greece!

“Not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith is spread abroad.”

Praise God! What a testimony! What a witness!

Might remind you tonight that there are people who are watching our lives to see if what we say we have is real or not. Is it real in your life tonight? How is your witness influencing others?

They Were Also an Enthusiastic People!

They were enthusiastic about the Gospel! They were fulfilling the great commission by sounding out the Word of the Lord!

Sounding out = ringing out, a vibrating continuing sound…the greek word is “execheo” = echo

They were telling everyone! They had to be….because for their testimony to spreading abroad.

Paul even says, “Your faith speaks for itself. So that we need not say anything!” They were excited about their faith!

When people see and hear our faith…it becomes the greatest witnessing tool we could ever have!

Is your faith resounding everywhere? Is it spreading in your family…in your school…in the workplace?

Is it contagious?

We need to remember that he has “called us out” and that through us…our testimonies He calls others out!

Acts 1:8

– But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth.

Isaiah 62:6

– I have set watchmen upon thy walls, O Jerusalem, which shall never hold their peace day nor night: ye that make mention of the LORD, keep not silence,

We are the watchmen Church! We are to sound out the Gospel so that all can hear us…keep not silent the Lord says!

We are the examples that others are to follow, but we need to make sure that we providing the right example.

Closing:

These believers at Thessalonica:

They were an Elect People…they understood their calling and they were walking worthy in it!

They were an Exemplary People…they followed the right examples and became examples themselves! They were an Enthusiastic People…the were so excited about Jesus that they told everybody!

And the one we didn’t really talk about much is found in verse 10…

They were an Expectant People…they lived as if Jesus was coming soon!

What kind of people are we? What kind of Church is Crossroads? What kind of examples are we?

Lord help us to live out our heavenly calling as your people;

Help us to follow and provide the right examples in our lives;

Help us to be enthusiastic in our proclamation of the Gospel;

May our faith be contagious;

Help us to remember that our time is short and that eternity is at stake for others around us;

May we learn to be the church you have called us to be;

Work in our members, cleansing us, conforming us to be all that you have called us to be…Amen!

Pastor John Sweat, Sr

Crossroads Baptist Church

1595 Baxley Road

Middleburg, Florida