A Church Noted for Faith, Hope, and Love 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 (NKJV)

A Church Noted for Faith, Hope, and Love 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3 (NKJV) The theme of 1 Thessalonians can be found in verse 3; notice Vs. 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. They had a faith that worked and a love that labored as they patiently waited for the Lord s return. Their belief that they were going to see the Lord motivated them to serve. The church that lives with the anticipation and expectation of the Lord s return at any time is a more pure and productive church. John the last living apostle spoke this to us Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is. And everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is pure. 1 John 3:2-3 (NKJV) Everyone who has this hope purifies himself. In other words, knowing that we are going to see the Lord brings about a purity and productivity in our lives. It has the ability to bring into our lives: faith, hope, and love. That s what we see in the church of Thessalonica. Let s read verses 1-3, get our bearings a bit, and then we can make our way through it verse-by-verse. Vs. 1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy Notice, Paul may have been working with a small team at this point in his ministry, but nonetheless it was a team. Paul always worked with a team. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 1

Something I always speak into the life of our leadership ministry flows through relationships. If they don t build relationships in ministry, then they re going to be alone in it and that s not how ministry is done. I was watching my nephew play football a couple of weeks ago. They were beating the team so bad, they were told not to score any more. They ended up putting in their 2nd and 3rd stringers. Guys were getting to carry the ball that don t usually get that opportunity to do so. You know why they were winning? I looked over at the opposing teams sidelines and there was nobody to relieve them. The offense had to also play defense and to top it off it was 100 degrees out. They were totally worn out every down. The Yucaipa team had enough for both offense and defense. They were winning because not one person was doing all the work. It was spread out and everyone was getting a break. There is no room for lone ranger mentality in ministry. Even Jesus modeled this for us. He was the Son of God and He chose 12 men to pour Himself into so that they would reach their generation for Christ. Paul s team at this point in ministry is Silas and Timothy. Who was Silas? We don t know much, but he traveled with Paul often as he made his way into the Gentile nations. He was Roman citizen, which meant he was a Gentile believer. When Paul and Barnabas departed from one another, Barnabas would take John Mark with him, and Paul would take Silas. Of course, Timothy we know more of. His father was Greek, but his mother and grandmother were Jewish believers. Which meant he was half Jewish and half Gentile. Notice what was said about his mother and grandmother When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also. 2 Timothy 1:5 (NKJV) and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:15 (NKJV) Paul added him to the team and mentored him, and even wrote two letters to him about leadership and structure in the church 1 st and 2 nd Timothy. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 2

So here we see the three amigos a part of the team and mentioned in the letter to the church of Thessalonica. Notice what Paul reminds the church Vs. 2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers Paul himself, on his second missionary journey, founded the church of Thessalonica. It s found in Acts 17:1-9. It s there we are told that Paul and his companions were only in Thessalonica for 3 weeks before the non-believing community forced them out of town. But in that small amount of time, the gospel was shared, lives were changed, and a church was planted. What the non-believers feared had come true. Notice what they said about these guys But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, These who have turned the world upside down have come here too. Acts 17:6 (NKJV) Those that have turned the world upside down have shown up here in Thessalonica, and in three weeks the gospel was shared, a church was planted, and community was being changed. What a great statement! What a great reputation! It s the prayer that I pray for Wildwood; that we would turn our community upside down for Jesus Christ. That we are not just fitting in, looking like the world around us, but that we would make a radical difference in the lives around us by bringing the gospel to every corner of our valley. In essence, turning it right side up because it s already upside down. So Paul and Silas were part of that crazy Christian group that was turning the world upside down. A community of believers had been birthed and they were making an impact. Notice what Paul says about this church. Notice their reputation within the Christian community Vs. 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 3

There are three things this church is noted for. Three things that Paul knows about this church Three Marks of Maturity: 1. Work of faith Now that might seem like an oxymoron work and faith, but it s not. Faith, true faith, real faith is always going to bring about work. Or maybe it would be better said fruit; faith will always produce fruit. Paul would even remind the church of Ephesus For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them. Ephesians 2:10 (NKJV) We were created for good works. There is a special work that God wants to do in us and through us as individual believers but also as a church. It s all been prepared beforehand, so the key is for us to seek the One who prepared the works for us. As we do, we will see His plan for us unfold. James would even remind us Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. The evidence of faith is what flows from faith. But someone will say, "You have faith, and I have works." Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works. James 2:17-18 (NKJV) If there is no fruit that flows from our faith, then that s not real authentic faith. Real faith will produce fruit because it s attached to the fruit producer, the fruit manufacturer Jesus. When Thomas and Phillip were struggling in their faith, Jesus reminded them Philip said to Him, Lord, show us the Father, and it is sufficient for us. Jesus said to him, Have I been with you so long, and yet you have not Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 4

known Me, Philip? He who has seen Me has seen the Father; so how can you say, 'Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father, and the Father in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own authority; but the Father who dwells in Me does the works. Believe Me that I am in the Father and the Father in Me, or else believe Me for the sake of the works themselves. John 14:8-11 (NKJV) He appealed to their common sense, Guys look at the fruit. Look at what I am doing. Prophecies being fulfilled, lives are being changed, the sick are being healed, miracles are happening right before your eyes. Just look at the works themselves. They re evidence that I am in the Father and the Father in me. They re evidence that I am connected to heaven. Faith is something that can be seen in the life of those who walk by faith. Jesus would even remind the disciples in the same passage Most assuredly, I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also; and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father. John 14:12 (NKJV) How could we end up doing greater works than Jesus? It goes back to our belief in Him. It s not so much that we will do greater works as much as it is He will do greater works in and through us. It s just lining up with His vision, His plan, and His desire for our lives. And when we do that, we are going to see great things flow in and through our lives a faith that works. Now, notice the next thing that the church of Thessalonica is noted for, the 2nd mark of maturity 2. Labor of Love The word for love here in the Greek is agape. It s the type of love that Christ demonstrated when He hung on the cross. It s the type of love that gives even if it hurts. It is sacrificial and unconditional. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 5

It s what faith produces and what being connected to the fruit manufacturer does for us. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love. Galatians 5:6 (NKJV) Any laboring in the kingdom, any laboring for the believer must be a labor of love. If it doesn t flow out of a love for Jesus Christ, then it s just going to be legalism and a burnout is bound to happen. Paul would remind the church of Corinth For the love of Christ compels us 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV) Why did he go to Thessalonica? It was the love of Christ that compelled him. He could have just gone back home to Damascus after getting kicked out of Philippi, that s what most missionaries would have done. Instead, Paul kicked the dust off his feet and went on into Thessalonica and a church was birthed. It begs the question, what compels you to serve the Lord? Is it to be seen, is it out of guilt or fear, is it out of some religious obligation, or possibly to fill and empty place in your heart? Or is it simply out of love for Jesus? For years, we set church up and it was a constant test to see if our motives were right before the Lord, why we were in it. Paul reminds us that every believer has this agape love in them. It just needs to be tapped into. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:5 (NKJV) When the Holy Spirit took residence in your heart, He poured the love of God into your lives. Now, we just need to walk in it. We need to choose to labor in love, tapping into the tank of love and not the tank of the flesh. And let me remind you, it s the only thing that will last. There is a record book in heaven with your name on it and those things you did in Him, by Him, and for Him will be rewarded. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 6

For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. Hebrews 6:10 (NKJV) Notice Paul moves on to the third thing he sees in the church of Colossae 3. Patience of hope The word patience can be translated: enduring, sustaining, or patiently waiting. The definition of hope for the Christian is a joyful and confident expectation of eternal salvation. That s why Paul says patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. In verse 10 he says And to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come. 1 Thessalonians 1:10 (NKJV) The church of Thessalonica was a church that was living with anticipating the Lord s return. It s the mark of a mature church. Jesus even challenged us "But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only. But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. Matthew 24:36-42 (NKJV) Notice both were working, two at the mill and two in the field. The difference is one was serving himself and the other was serving the Lord and so he was watching and waiting. Are you watching and waiting? If so, then the other two points will fall into place a faith that works and love that labors. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 7

A church that was noted for faith, hope, and love. What are you noted for? Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 8