Bible Study - Connecting (5) - Authentic Joy - 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 - September 30, 2018

Bible Study – Connecting (5) – Authentic Joy – September 30, 2018

This is lesson five (5) in our series entitled “Welcome Home.”

Our focus scripture is 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10.

Authentic joy flows from a relationship with JESUS.

Authentic joy flows from having the right relationship with JESUS. This relationship is developed through obedient service. It comes from both struggling and the good times. When we serve JESUS, life is designed to build our trusting relationship with HIM.

What is having the right relationship with JESUS mean? How would you define it?

Many of us can spot a phony. There are those who can talk the talk but not walk the talk. It is much like a young child saying he or she can repair a complicated electronic device when we know he or she cannot.

The Apostle Paul wrote two letters to the Christians located in Thessalonica.

Thessalonica was founded in 315 BC after Alexander the Great’s death and named for his sister, Thessalonike. Thessalonike was in turn the wife of Cassander who founded the city. It had an excellent harbor and in 146 BC became the capital of the Roman province of Macedonia. The city was located along a major trade route called the Via Egnatia, aka Ignatian Way, which ran from Byzantium or present day Istanbul to the Adriatic Sea, a distance of about 700 miles.

Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 1:1-3:

Greeting

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.

The Apostle Paul was writing to the Christians in the church located in Thessalonica. The Apostle Paul began his letter typical of ancient Greek letters. He stated his name, Silvanus, aka as Silas and Timothy. Paul being listed first identifies him as the primary author.

The letter is addressed to the “church” or “a called out assembly.” This term was not specific to the church as we know it today. Church applied to many kinds of public gatherings in the Roman world. However, after Pentecost church became associated more with an assembly of Christians.

Paul identified those within the body of believers as those who are the born-again believes through faith in GOD the Father of JESUS and JESUS the Son of GOD. GOD sent HIS only Son, JESUS, to earth to live in the flesh and to be subjected to the temptations of the flesh. JESUS had to live a sinless life to become the perfect sacrifice for the sin of mankind, which HE did. In doing so, JESUS became the perfect sacrifice for all who will place their faith in JESUS to have their sins washed away and to become a child of GOD through the miracle of rebirth.

This is embodied in the statement “Grace and Peace.” Grace we know as unmerited favor or the gracious act of GOD to redeem mankind from the consequence of sin, which is eternal death and to give to all who place their faith in JESUS, the gift of eternal life. Grace cannot be earned because it is GOD’S gift when a person accepts GOD’S gift of salvation through faith in JESUS.

The word “peace” is equivalent to the Hebrew word “shalom” and carries the meaning to wish a person wholeness, soundness and prosperity. Grace is the gift from GOD through faith in JESUS, which is the first step to experience real peace.

Thanksgiving

2 We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers.

As Christians, when we think of fellow Christians, it is an unspeakable joy when we think of those who are faithful servants of our LORD JESUS. Paul expressed this in the next verse ---

3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, 

Faithfulness inspires both those serving together and those hearing about the work GOD is doing through those obediently serving GOD. Paul commended them for their faith in JESUS which was evident by their “labor of love” and their “endurance of hope” which resulted from their relationship with GOD through faith in JESUS.

Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 1:4-6:

4 knowing your election, brothers loved by God. 

5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit, 

6 and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit. 

Election is an important term. Let’s consider Ephesians 1:3-14, but focus on verse 4:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 

4 even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love 

5 he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, 

6 to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. 

7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, 

8 which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight 

9 making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ 

10 as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. 

11 In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, 

12 so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. 

13 In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, 

14 who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.

GOD has chosen every person who will ever live upon earth to become HIS Son or Daughter through the miracle of Spiritual rebirth through faith in JESUS. So what is the problem? Every person has the freedom to choose. The choice is “Do you desire to become a child of GOD through faith in JESUS or reject GOD’S redemptive plan though faith in JESUS? The choice is up to every person. How do you choose?

We need to consider what GOD stated in Exodus 19:3-8:

3 Moses went up [the mountain] to God, and the Lord called to him from the mountain: "This is what you must say to the house of Jacob, and explain to the Israelites: 

4 You have seen what I did to the Egyptians and how I carried you on eagles' wings and brought you to Me. 

5 Now if you will listen to Me and carefully keep My covenant, you will be My own possession out of all the peoples, although all the earth is Mine, 

6 and you will be My kingdom of priests and My holy nation. These are the words that you are to say to the Israelites." 

7 After Moses came back, He summoned the elders of the people, and put before them all these words that the Lord had commanded him. 

8 Then all the people responded together, "We will do all that the Lord has spoken." So Moses brought the people's words back to the Lord. 

In essence, GOD was telling the Israelites that HE chose them but it was their choice to choose HIM. The same is true today. Today all has been fulfilled in the coming of the Promised Messiah, JESUS HIS passion and resurrection. JESUS death, by the shedding of HIS blood, paid the penalty for sin, in full, and opened the path between GOD and all of mankind. JESUS’ sacrificial death and resurrection connects mankind and GOD through faith in JESUS. Mankind’s part is to accept the atonement of JESUS, by faith, individually. Accepting JESUS as your Savior triggers an immediate response from GOD. You receive salvation from the consequence of your sin, which is eternal death and prevents you from experiencing the miracle of rebirth into GOD’S eternal family. But the choice is yours to make.

Suppose you once made this decision but have gone astray? GOD never moves. HE is right where you left HIM. It is your choice to return. Just as the prodigal son had to make a decision to return to his father after leaving home to live the wild life, so will you. It takes courage and faith that GOD has open arms to take you back. Trust HIM! HE will take you back in an instant.

Since so much has been written about between our focal scripture, I will recopy it:

5 For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with much assurance. You know what kind of men we were among you for your benefit, 

How did the gospel come to the Thessalonian Christian’s? Words are cheap but when words are accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit they have meaning, application and assurance. A changed life is the proof of the indwelling JESUS, manifested by the indwelling Holy Spirit. How do we know this? It is because ----

6 and you became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with the joy from the Holy Spirit. 

How does it make us feel when we consider that others become “imitators of us?”

When a Christian endures severe persecution, it reflects his or her faith in JESUS and that it is genuine. In James 1:2-4, we read:

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials,

3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 

4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. 

What impact does your faithfulness have on others?

Let’s read 1 Thessalonians 1:7-10:

7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 

8 For the Lord's message rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out, so we don't need to say anything. 

9 For they themselves report about us what kind of reception we had from you: 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 - Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.

Faithful endurance is a witness to others. As Christians, only eternity will reveal how our faithfulness will impact others. This is a gold reward and most likely we will never realize it. GOD holds this as our surprise when rewards day comes in Heaven.

As Christians, our home is secured in Heaven and while we wait we are to obediently serve. Our witness speaks louder than words. Let’s us walk in the Spirit as Ambassadors of JESUS. Blessings!!!