1 Thessalonians 1:6-8 (Part B)

We have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us real hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed were perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken struck down, not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. This is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Rick is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Thessalonians. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching. Chapter 1 of the book of first Thessalonians is where Pastor Rick will be teaching today on a cross reference radio. You would think they would resent this man, Paul, and come preaching to save your who doesn't say from the troubles in the neighborhood. Women again Paul came there saying look on my back. I bear on my body the marks of Christ because I saw him I heard his voice not disobedient.

Not only do I stand sometimes I limp but I limp in faith, hope, you cannot have no sane person can have joy without hope. That's for the insane insane can have hope.

Rather, joy with no hope convince themselves outside of reality. The Christian says I joy is beyond these things, and it can't be touched, so their remarkable response to hardship is not to punish God for letting them down as people do.

I trusted you and you let this happen in my life.

You took us away from me, you know, the prophet Ezekiel was told by God. He said God said to Ezekiel. I am going to take your wife from you this day I don't want you to weep in front of the people and this was a wife that he loved for a man to respond the way.

Ezekiel responded was to have had a few of the throne of God with him on it, not just all that Lebron gold look at that work. The front is not the object of our attention. It is the one on the throne. He doesn't have to be on the throne for him to be my king.

All he has to do is be my king, so they redirected this newly found hardship.

Top of the all the problems in life that were already a part of life. Because the unbeliever go through the drudgery of this life under the curse, the sweat of the brow also because they are not believers is neither outside the car is quite the contrary, they redirected spirit of resentment found in this hardship to spirit perseverance away from blaming God did not see their faith as a failure because they knew that what they had left behind. That was failure. This is just a new way. But the effective way to bring change. Long-lasting change to the next life we call it faith. Without faith it's impossible to please God. You want to please God and you don't believe, forget about it's not going to happen. Doubt was bested doubt was shut up by faith. Maybe we use the word faith too much. Maybe in the sense that it's it we doesn't hit its mark in with us a dozen movers anymore trust Peter Simon Peter Lord, that is you walking on the water call to me to let me come walk on it with you. The Lord says, wait a minute. How about well Peter, let's talk about this. I'm going to make sure I hold you up if anything goes wrong I'm going to be here doesn't do any of that doesn't says Simon, set nobody else would get out the boat. Simon gets out.

You look at the stories in the Bible as you go through life in the Holy Spirit will allow things to put you in a place where you say, do you believe it will you receive it when you do something with it or are you just self-centered. While Lord I am self-centered. That's what sin has done to me, but by your Holy Spirit contest is on and I will vanquish the enemy within. So trust in the midst of anything not resentment, not confusion.

Though those things show their face, they don't win they don't prevail and one read this from second Corinthians chapter 4. This is when Paul was in car and talking about his experiences in other places for the ministry of Christ had not yet happened to Paul as he is writing to these Thessalonians. This was later on in his life he would go through these things and write about them, he says, but we have this treasure in Irvine vessels that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us real hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed were perplexed, but not in despair persecuted, but not forsaken, struck down, not destroyed, always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. So you remember that story about the plane crash in the Andes many years ago, and soccer players on the plane. Some of them had taken to cannibalism out of use this illustration before, of course, whenever you mention gory things. Everybody wakes up but here some of them engaged in cannibalism.

I like to think. I mean I have a tough time just many other meats and cheeses, some Jesus is like. I'm not eating, let alone Nicholas, Lenny, whatever is now not going to eat the guy so we can't draw a line in the sand center passing this. Even if I die, I'm not doing that. In fact, it was another ship stranded off the coast of Mexico somewhere on the Pacific and there were some the directors they would not subject themselves eating raw pigeons in a pigeons Eagles receipt of a pigeons they might've done it.

I kick but so they died, what my point is this, there are some things in life that you don't do and one of them is forsaking Jesus because of the hardship in your life no matter what it is I draw a line here not going to eat seagulls raw and inequity people that I was just a passenger with nothing to say Christ that's it. I can what happens.

What doesn't happen.

I'm not going to for say Christ.

This is where the Thessalonians were they had a good teacher that the apostle Paul and so he says is right of them will get back to some of this, he says, with joy of the Holy Spirit.

Again, the same soul cannot have joy without hope. We are supposed to not suffer as others do, have no hope. We believe in something we are just not our heads. And while I agree with that make sense to me is beyond making sense. I've seen it heard Jesus speak his mind, and I am his. So this is how they met the opposition.

This is how Paul lived his life. It's been done before. There is precedence for this good with it. Is it who you are. You have become again verse five for our gospel did not come to you in word only the how to come. This is also came with the word. In addition to the word power and in the Holy Spirit in much assurance, you know what kind of men we were among you for you, we are sake. That's why took a beating in Philippi was for somebody else was aware me was already safe was beaten because he was upholding things of Christ when there were things that were left unsaid that needed to be said. He said them.

Regardless of the consequences.

He didn't do it just once I tell you I would send this getting old. I had enough way more this is not what Paul did.

Neither did Peter.

Peter was told you know you going to die following me Peter when you are old they are going to take you, you're going to stretch out your hand and you will be killed on the but that that's what he did. So when Jesus said to Peter come Peter did all of his life and so affliction and joy as we know are not supposed to go together. Put into the natural view of things. The view that has not seen Jesus. This is why when Agrippa and Herat were listening to Paul, they couldn't identify with him. They didn't want to. They were not about to give up their lifestyle.

No matter how rich and wonderful and superlative things Paul was saying was, they just were going to take it. Some of you have met people like that admire the gospel message but not giving up their lifestyle. Jesus not as some of them go further than I can give you the satisfaction of converting them To shrug your shoulders. What else can you do X, chapter 5, verse 21 so they departed from the presence of the Council rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name and I'm telling you, I think shame is worse than physical pain and why you want to be ashamed to be publicly humiliated to do the perp walk. You know, coughed walking in front of all the cameras going look at this guy look at the shame first Peter chapter 1 first. Let me turn there you you you campers that have just come back from Kant you should be very familiar with this. He begins, he says in verse I'll start verse forces to an inheritance incorruptible under file that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you. Personal for you. This is what God has for you who are kept by the power of God, you are kept by the power of God.

You not going anywhere, through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time the city is saying you know I'm hearing all the stuff about perseverance is sticking out of the Lord and being perplexed and confusing, persecuted and struck down, but not forsaken, but I'm afraid that I'm going to bolt. I'm afraid that I'm going eat that passenger now granted, some passages might might put those kind of thoughts in your head but the point is the point is, Jesus says I'm going to be right here with you.

And ain't that easy I don't make this easy for Satan. I think of the persecution. The physical know that Nero began with the Christians I Cinnaminson I could not deal with.

I mean, I couldn't be you know watch my children being fed to hungry lions Lions were trained to eat human flesh and of the beast master failed to train them that way he got to be human flesh for the Lions is very careful to make sure the lines did the job well anyway I think about that and and I was thinking about this the other day and I felt the Lord say to me, martyrdom is a gift and I prepare my people, for the state. There is no way you can prepare yourself in advance for this. If the time should come you be ready if the time doesn't come you be grateful. So when he says kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in the last time that this coming. It will be when we are in heaven. Finally at that time it will be yeah man, this is it. This is the last time revealed as said in the Scripture. Peter is already very continues in this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while if need be. You have been grieved by various trials point you can write in between those lines, various trials, let me tell you about my various trials. He continues that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire may be found to praise, honor and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Paul said I saw the light Thessalonian said I saw the light, you who are converted. You belong to Christ. You say I saw the light. God does that and keeps that makes us not only receivers of the faith as they were, but it causes us to be transmitters which we will get in verse eight.

Well I just read it now for from you the word of the Lord sounded forth, they received it, they transmitted like the Sea of Galilee water comes in water goes out his life all around it, as opposed to the Dead Sea where the water goes in and that's the end of the story know life around the Dead Sea.

Nothing worth talking about.

So there is no difference between the Christ, whom Paul preached, and the Christianity that he practiced.

They sought they followed him they imitated him and this is been happening ever since Jesus Christ to go into the world and make disciples say go to the world be a mentor to go be a disciple go make disciples process of living the Christian faith. Verse 76 so that you became examples to all Macedonia and Acadia who believe will hear the word translated examples is the same word as I mentioned earlier translated print in John chapter 20 John 20 verse 25 the other disciples therefore said to him, Thomas. We have seen the Lord so he said to them, unless I see in his hands print the two parts. The example of the nails and put my finger into the print type of the nails and put my hand into his side. I will not believe Thomas became a believer. Of course, his heart was broken when he saw Christ crucified. He thought that was the end of it. If thought it was let down that had wasted three years of his life and all that was so glorious that nothing would ever be the same for him ever again and that was the case just didn't work out the way he thought it was so this word again so that you became types. That's what discipleship is to go to others in Macedonia and Acadia. Macedonia was the northern part of Greece and Acadia was the southern part where Athens and Corinth were in spotter to the north was Philippi, Berea, Thessalonica, so Paul is saying to this church. You became the print of Christ. He had earlier written to the Galatians needs it for I bear on my body the marks of Christ. Let no one trouble me anymore, but they did trouble him.

They continued to trouble him. You know the little foxes, that spoil the vine.

Those little things that just are really do you need to do that you can't reach the grapes. He just kill the ones you just go somewhere else. Find a shrew or mouse or something. Why mess with the vine that would send us as we people who'd who practice sin do they just ruin it for you and told you about years in the earlier years of ministry you have apparently a good day in the pulpit as a pastor. In other words you coverage appoints doesn't mean it was received well you did well just meet you coverage appoints that you felt God gave you that's a good day for pastor who survived and then your home is kind of relaxing. Think I have the phone rings and someone has some petty little seed of discord, plant troublemaker and said really that necessary. Did you have to had to get my number isn't life like that for all of us have a good day and somebody just has to ruin it. God says look the foxes going to be there till I come back, learn to deal with it is one of the worst parts of ministry a good day, so-and-so zapped and they have read Proverbs God hates those who sow seeds of discord amongst brethren. You better just shut your mouth know what I have to say is better than what God said I anyway. These these Thessalonians appear to us to be too busy and above all of this why do I say these things because they decay cannot be unsaid. That's why they do this in other churches and all you do it here we have a room upstairs with a swinging light in a chair in the middle. We catch you sowing seeds of discord.

When I got up which of the church yet and take up to that room.

Jesus said this is not right will get forgiveness after you get the beating. Okay I am to my phone with Alan per se no more. We have so much more here. I want to get to this for from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Acadia but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything and that's a mouthful. Here they are.

This radio station transmitting broadcasting God's word says the word of the Lord in Colossians Paul said the word of Christ logo's crystals is the same CD is Lord he is equal with God, the Colossians chapter 3 verse 16 let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord again. This is not me walking mouse giving to me. I want to admonish you, could you come here please. I'm a mentor's live the Christian life. If you live the Christian life. Those who are doing wrong will be admonished in the body. It is a self-correcting feature of the church is often time neglected because no one wants to say what needs to be said has sounded forth again the word there for sounded forth in the Greek is to look as though although you were blowing a trumpet or funder to echo is nowhere else used in the New Testament. You might want to know so you can see them in the marketplaces sounding for the word. There they going out of the market in the getting some some grapes because the box foxes didn't get to those lines and their buying whatever it is and and then someone says, well, you know, may Zeus be with you all. I no longer burn incense to Zeus.

I have found the only true God who loves me died for me who's vanquished my sin and sins, past, present, future, and remains within my heart. Jesus Christ the Nazarene, son of God became not hunting for me. Looking for me, searching for me, wanting me warning me that so I followed out to be a little Zeus.

I've got Jesus that cause a lot of problems for a lot of people, but it also cost conference is a have bold enough and if you not bold what you need to be bold or they may have just say said to them no now I worship Jesus Christ God son Savior. That's the acronym in the Greek the tests. The fish expels fish but is an acronym in the Greek and the early church viewed themselves as fishers of men. That's why they were here on earth they wanted to really that was that was the main thing all the other things were logistically supported that they were about saving souls had a burden for the lost.

We have a burden for lost things often times, lost opportunities, lost possessions, what about the lost souls under this doesn't mean it should go home and sell all your stuff you just give it to me doesn't mean anything like that means it's just align your life up with what God is doing. Because of all the Christian suggest gave all their stuff away. You know, the world would say we want to, religion can be a breach must be led by the Holy Spirit.

He says not only in Macedonia and a tear that's that's huge because what was happening in Thessalonica was spilling over to Athens and Corinth and Santerķa and beyond. And this is where the message starts getting exciting. The Thessalonians, sounded forth the word because that's what Paul did to them will read about that in the second chapter in first couple of verses verse one to get right to it. Not not right now and it it makes it clear that the offense in Philippi.

The beating in Philippi. Strikingly clear, impacted the people to whom he preached what he says but also in every place.

That means their witness spread from the merchants in the market the soldiers to the travelers to pilgrims to anybody and everybody in Thessalonica well that would've been the end of it. Perhaps Thessalonica located in place like policy like this valley, but has been city that was not the case in Thessalonica still is, in the case of the city.

In ancient Greece. To this day move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of first Thessalonians cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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