For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.  (6) And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit, (7) so that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.  (8) For from you the word of the Lord had sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place.  Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything.  (9) For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, (10) and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

The Apostle Paul wrote this first letter to the Thessalonians in response to good reports he has received after spending only three Sabbaths evangelizing them.  Paul and his helpers were driven from that important, geographically strategic city by the jealous Jewish community there.  Paul has heard from his helpers – and from testimony of travelers from Thessalonica – that the converted Christians, in the face of persecution and affliction, have proven to be not only genuine believers, but in their faith are serving as examples of followers of Paul and of the Lord – again, after a short time of receiving the gospel.

Paul has identified the faithful in Thessalonica as the elect or saved.  He addresses how they originally responded to the gospel and the evidence that salvation grew out of that conversion.  Paul is saying that the gospel delivered to the Thessalonians didn’t come just in words but also in the power of the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.  Paul is describing not just the experience of the Thessalonians but also his own experience.  Paul is saying that he knew God was moving through him and his testimony is that God was at work in the conversion of the Thessalonians.  Our Lord said that men love darkness and words alone cannot penetrate that.  Dead men in sin don’t desire life and words alone do not result in conversion.  Paul sensed that God’s power – that God was moving through him with the Holy Spirit – energized the listeners and also energized Paul as the preacher.

Paul moved from his own experience to that of the people responding.  The newly converted became imitators of Paul and of Christ.  It didn’t take long for evidence of their rebirth to manifest – Christ lived in them.  Their transformed lives embraced holiness, love and suffering.  The faithful showed joy which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  This was not human joy which is emotional, but spiritual joy and evidence of true salvation.  Human joy is transitory.  The behavior of the Thessalonians was exemplary – a model for others and as Paul writes in verse 8, the word of the Lord has sounded forth from them.  Remember the Christians at Thessalonica are only months old in their faith, yet word has spread.  It wasn’t their size, it was their conviction and evident holiness even in the face of persecution.

Lastly Paul mentions the allegiance of the converted to God from idol worship and their longing for Christ.  There was a real and total change to the faithful.  The whole person was changed; it was not just an emotional reaction.  The will of the faithful is changed; there is a reorientation of their lives; a decisive break from the past.  Reading these verses from 1 Thessalonians should help give us a proper understanding of our spiritual condition and the reality of God’s working in our lives.