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.

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.  (2) We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, (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, (4) knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.  (5) For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit

Thessalonica was declared a free city by Rome – the city enjoyed self government and complete autonomy.  This important port city with a large Jewish community, was strategically located on the northernmost corner of the Aegean Sea and the Egnatian Way, linking Rome to Byzantium, passed through it.  Thessalonica was a city famous for vice and crime – most of the residences in the city had doors only, no windows because of violence.

The Apostle Paul first went to the synagogue to preach the gospel of Christ – Paul was a rabbi – and he reasoned from the Old Testament that Christ Jesus is the Messiah.  He evangelized the Jewish synagogue for three successive Sabbaths and achieved great success among the Jews and also the Gentiles.  However, Paul and Silas were abruptly driven out of town by jealous Jews and they left a baby Church with newly converted Jewish and Gentile Christians saddled with the Mosaic Law and the culture of pagan Greeks.  Paul was there for a very short time in a city known for corruption and vice and worried greatly about the status of the Thessalonian Christians.  When he heard good news about the faithfulness of the newly converted Paul responded with this first letter to the Thessalonians.

The heart of the verses we study today is verse 4.  Paul is saying that the Thessalonians are redeemed by Christ – they are genuine in their faith and that he, Paul,  knows that they are elect of God.  God in His eternal sovereignty chooses some to come to salvation and this becomes reality through an act of faith prompted by the spirit of God.  Believing is a result of God’s choice.  It was not just Paul’s news of the Gospel – it was the power of God and the Holy Spirit in the midst of Jewish tradition and persecution, the midst of pagan custom – that resulted in the election of the Thessalonian Church.  This election in an immensely hostile society with limited leadership was evident through the work of faith – the love that motivating their living – their transformation as believing Christians – and their steadfastness of hope in salvation through Christ.

We see in his letters that the Apostle Paul doesn’t tolerate a works salvation – not human works – but good deeds in the lives of believers verify salvation.  A Christian is not marked by what he has done  but what he/she has been motivated to do.  The true believer works a labor of love for Christ and God .  It is love of the will – love of choice.  Love of our brother marks our love of the Lord because He first loved us.

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God: (7) and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  (8) Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report,  if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy – meditate on these things.  (9) The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

The letter to the Philippians was written by the Apostle Paul to the Christian community in Philippi.  In our verses today Paul is addressing anxiety which is the most common mental disorder.   Paul tells his readers that proper concern is one thing but if we lack belief in the sovereignty of God, that concern – lack of faith and focus on self – becomes sinful anxiety.  If we are anxious, we should examine our faith in God and our focus which should be on Christ.  As Christians we must trust in God’s revelations and promises and have faith in the works of Christ Jesus.  We must live to please God, not ourselves.

The Holy Spirit interprets our prayer to God; He knows our hearts.  Prayer is more for our sake – and not for God’s sake.  It is our need for God, not for the temporal benefits and we must remember that what we ask must be in line with God’s purpose.  Paul is telling us to always be thankful – trusting in God to work in us to good.  We must trust in His sufficiency for the future.  To paraphrase C.S. Lewis, Whoever is saved will look back on earthly life and see it as always heaven.  Whoever Loses their salvation will look back and see their life as hell from the beginning.

Paul cautions his readers to develop a Christian thought life.  All sin begins in our thoughts.  We can bring glory to God by our behavior – our thoughts become our words which become our actions, our behavior.  These actions become habits which become our character.  Paul urges us to think on whatever is true, right, lovely as God is truth.  God never changes:  He is not relative or cultural.  God cannot lie but Satan is a liar.  We need to watch out for what is expedient, pragmatic – whatever works.  We should think of this very seriously as it matters very much what we do and we need to remember the REALITY of eternity.

We need to learn Christian content and the Scriptures, so our response is not just emotional but is an affirmation – an intelligent yes to Christian doctrine.  Everyone has the same need as sin has separated us from God.  Everyone needs to bow to the Lord.  We need to give up all that holds us back from God, including that “darling sin”.  We need to live as we believe and live our Christian faith.  and the God of peace will be with you.