Foundational First Words to Live By-Part 2 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, constantly mentioning you in our prayers, 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-5
1. Be thankful for your church family. 2 We GIVE THANKS to God ALWAYS for ALL OF YOU v. 2
Always 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances 1 Thessalonians 5:17-18
For all of them He s giving thanks for ALL of them. Don t think that there weren t any difficult people in that church. for all of you v. 2 3 remembering before our God and Father your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 3
2. Let faith in God empower your work. work of faith v. 3 Work gr. ergon labor gr. kopos
3. Let the love of God empower your labor.
3. Let the love of God empower your labor. and labor of love v. 3
3. Let the love of God empower your labor. and labor of love v. 3 that you, being rooted and grounded in love, 18 may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, 19 and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Ephesians 3:17-19
36 One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at table. 37 And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, 38 and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner. 40 And Jesus answering said to him, Simon, I have something to say to you. And he answered, Say it, Teacher.
41 A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42 When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more? 43 Simon answered, The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt. And he said to him, You have judged rightly. 44 Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. 45 You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46 You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47 Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little. 48 And he said to her, Your sins are forgiven. Luke 7:36-48
Pharisees want to find something wrong with people. Saved sinners want to love people.
4. Let hope in Christ enable your perseverance.
4. Let hope in Christ enable your perseverance. and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 3
This perseverance is like the steady shining of a star, not like the momentary flash of a meteor.
4. Let hope in Christ enable your perseverance. and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 3 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:24-25
hope - a desire with the expectation of obtainment
4. Let hope in Christ enable your perseverance. and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 3 to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. v. 10
4. Let hope in Christ enable your perseverance. and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. v. 3 to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. v. 10 Christ Jesus our hope. 1 Timothy 1:1
My hope is not in my current circumstance of strife on earth with sinners. My hope is in my future circumstance of life in Heaven with the Savior.
5. Let Spirit-empowered fullness of conviction confirm your salvation.
5. Let Spirit-empowered fullness of conviction confirm your salvation. 4 For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you v. 4
He loves you.
He loves you. brothers loved by God v. 4
He has chosen you.
He has chosen you. he has chosen you v. 4
True believers don t just hear the words of the gospel they hear them in the power of the Holy Spirit and are fully convicted of the truth of the message.
True believers don t just hear the words of the gospel they hear them in the power of the Holy Spirit and are fully convicted of the truth of the message. 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction. v. 5