"SPECIAL BLESSING" A SPECIAL CHURCH

I Thessalonians 1:1-4

"If you ever find a perfect Church, whatever you do…don’t join it because you will mess it up!

We all know that there are no perfect churches and there are no perfect people, only a perfect Christ!

The Church at Thessalonica was not perfect either, but they were certainly striving to be all that God had called them to be.

Paul is writing this letter to a people who had a strong church, with the right qualities and characteristics. This was a model church for others to follow. What kind of a church was it?

First of all we begin by understanding that every church is filled with people…and the type of people that fill a church has a lot to do with that church’s effectiveness in ministry.

If the church is filled with compassionate people, that church will reach out compassionately to the needs of others.

If the church is filled with casual Christians, you can expect that Church to be casual in its work for Christ.

If it’s filled with evangelistic people, then you will see many souls won for Christ.

If it’s filled with selfish individuals who always want their way, that church will never accomplish anything God’s way.

If it’s filled with people who are sold out to Jesus Christ, there is no limit to what they can do!

So what were the characteristics that made this church so special?

Let’s Stand and Read I Thessalonians 1:1-4

So, what kind of a church was it?

Notice in verses 2 & 3 that Paul gives thanks to God for three things concerning this Church:

Their Work of Faith…their labor of love and their patience of hope…in our Lord Jesus Christ.

So right off we can see that they had the kind of faith in Christ that moved them into action…the kind of love for Christ that stirred up devotion and the kind of hope in Christ that produced endurance!

Notice all three of these things they had "in Christ"! These were not just any people; not just good people; not just religious people…these were people who had genuine faith, love and hope in Christ.

Notice verse 4…

The Church Was Filled with an Elect People

The word church means: a called out assembly. Paul says, "To the Church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ"

Look at verse 4:" Knowing brethren beloved, your election of God"

Now the doctrine of election can be a confusing topic. If it is not handled carefully and biblically is can even cause division in the Church.

However, I find it interesting that out of all the complicated issues that you read about in the early Church, you do not find any debate or argument over the doctrine of election. God declares to us over and over again in His Word that "You didn’t choose me, I have chosen you."

The Bible says that we were elected before the foundation of the world! And that is an awesome declaration that ought to give us even greater assurance of eternal security!

The Doctrine of Election should not be scary…it is securing!

If God chose you, no one can "un-choose" you!

We may not completely understand it or be able to thoroughly explain it, but we certainly ought to find great comfort in it!

One of my professors passed on the following quote to me, "Try to explain election and you will lose your mind, but try to explain it away and you just may lose your soul."

I am glad that we are elected, chosen, predestined, called out, by a sovereign God who loves us and redeems us through His Son Jesus Christ.

However, what I want you to focus on here is that we have been "called out"…

Called out of the world and into the Body Christ – Ephesians 2:1-6

Called out of the darkness and into the light – Acts 26:18

Called out of the family of the Satan and into the family of God

Called out of sin and into the righteousness and holiness which is od in Christ - I Peter 1:13-14

What an awesome privilege and blessing to be the called of God!

It is a Holy Calling

II Timothy 1:8-9 – Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God;

9　Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

I Peter 1:15-16

– But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

16　Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.

Are you living holy before a holy God?

It is a Heavenly Calling

Hebrews 3:1

- Wherefore, holy brethren, partakers of the heavenly calling, consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus;

(Consider where our calling is from…)

It is a High Calling

Philippians 3:13-14

– Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before,

14　I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.

Have you been called? If so it is a high, heavenly and holy calling!

We Need to Live Worthy of This Calling

II Thessalonians 1:11-12

– Wherefore also we pray always for you, that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness, and the work of faith with power:

12　That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

"Come out from among them and be ye separate, saith the Lord"

There are too many lizards in the church…they change colors depending on their environment. That’s not how you live worthy of His calling. (We are in the world, but not of it)

Crossroads Baptist Church needs to be filled with an Elect People…a people who understand their calling of God and who live worthy of that calling.

Ephesians 4:1-4

– I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation/calling wherewith ye are called,

2　With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3　Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4　There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling;

And just in case you do not feel worthy of such a calling…understand that your feeling is correct! For none of us are worthy!

That’s why we can’t call ourselves…or come to God on our own merits. That’s why He must be the one who calls us…and when we respond to His calling we receive the worthiness of His Son!

And God in all His sovereignty calls men and women and boys and girls to be a part of His glorious Church. Why did He do it? Why did He die for me? Why did He call me?

He did it for His own glory! "That you who He has called out of darkness, into marvelous light might show forth His praises…that you might proclaim His name…that you might let your light so shine before men that they may see your good works and glorify HIM!

That’s why He did it! That’s the purpose! An "Elect People" called out:

Out of the world and into the Body Christ

Out of darkness and into His light

Out of the family of the Satan and into the family of God

Out of sin and into the righteousness and holiness which is only found in Christ

Called out to bring glory and honor to Him! And this is the purpose of every believer in every church to proclaim His name, His goodness and His glory! And how do we do that? By life and lip! That is by the way I live and by the things I say.

Closing:

What made the Thessalonian Church so special? It was filled with people who were not only called, but who also walked worthy of that calling.

That is what will make Crossroads a special church…not its preacher, not its music, not its ministries, but that we simply understand and live our calling of God.

Has He called you? "How would I even know if He did Pastor?"

You know that He is calling when you see Jesus for who He really is…and you also see yourself for who you really are…a sinner in need of a Savior.

If you don’t see the need for salvation; if there is no real desire in you to give your life to Jesus…then you haven’t heard His call!

But when you hear His call, your greatest need comes into focus…your need for Jesus. And then you simply respond to Him by faith…

Asking Him to forgive you of your sin…to help you turn away from your sin and to Him alone for salvation…Are you willing to do that today?

The Prophet Isaiah says that we should "Seek the Lord while He may be found call on Him while He is near."

He is near this morning…He is calling today…will you respond?

Pastor John Sweat, Sr

Crossroads Baptist Church

1595 Baxley Road

Middleburg, Florida