week commencing Sunday 9th October

Keeping every promise You've made
Living in my broken heart
I know You came to stay
Because You are so faithful to me
And You love me so faithfully
So faithfully, so faithfully

(Mylone Lefevre ‘Faith, Hope and Love” album).

https://www.invubu.com/music/show/song/Mylon-Lefevre/Faithful.html

Prayers. Steve Lyes

Reading. Acts 17:1-12. Carol Stephen

17 When Paul and his companions had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue. ² As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, ³ explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. ⁴ Some of the Jews were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women.

⁵ But other Jews were jealous; so they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. They rushed to Jason’s house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd.^[a] 6 But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some other believers before the city officials, shouting: “These men who have caused trouble all over the world have now come here, ⁷ and Jason has welcomed them into his house. They are all defying Caesar’s decrees, saying that there is another king, one called Jesus.” ⁸ When they heard this, the crowd and the city officials were thrown into turmoil. ⁹ Then they made Jason and the others post bond and let them go.

¹⁰ As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue. ¹¹ Now the Berean Jews were of more noble character than those in Thessalonica, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true. ¹² As a result, many of them believed, as did also a number of prominent Greek women and many Greek men.

Hymn

Our next hymn encourages us to care for new believers and have a missionary heart- the heart we see in the Apostles.

“I the Lord of sea and sky” MP 857 (Guitar & violin)

Daniel Schutte

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DlvoCbwPcOU

Sermon. “Faith, Love and Hope”

Starting our new series on 1 Thessalonians I would like to first briefly give some background to this letter before we explore the first three verses of Chapter 1.

The letter identifies the apostle Paul as the author. Paul’s travelling companions- Silas and Timothy -are mentioned as well, but Paul is clearly the primary author because the pronoun “I” is used so often.

Thessalonica was the capital city of the Roman province of Macedonia. It had been founded in the fourth century BC by Cassander, one of Alexander the Great’s army officers. He named it after his wife, Thessalonica, who was Alexander’s half-sister. Thessalonica was a busy sea port with a population of about 200,000.

We read earlier in Acts 17 how Thessalonica came to be evangelised. As was his custom, Paul first went to the Jews in Thessalonica. For three Sabbaths he taught in the synagogue, explaining the gospel and showing that Jesus was the Christ, the Messiah, and this had been foretold by the prophets. Some were persuaded. Among these was Jason, who offered his home to the missionaries, and Aristarchus, who later became Paul’s travelling companion. A number of God fearing Greeks and prominent women of Thessalonica were also persuaded.

But the Jewish leaders of the synagogue grew jealous of Paul’s success and thought he was stealing members of their congregation. To try and stop him they rounded up some rough characters in the market place and started a riot in the city. This opposition forced Paul to make a hasty exit from the city. He and Silas travelled to nearby Berea, but his enemies from Thessalonica followed him there, so Paul had to flee again. This time he went to Athens.

At the first opportunity Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to see how the new believers were doing. On the one hand, Timothy had brought good news of the Thessalonians’ faith, love and hope, their loyalty and steadfastness under opposition. On the other, he had reported that Paul was being criticised for insincerity and ulterior motives and for his failure to return to Thessalonica. In addition, the Thessalonians needed correction and instruction in the areas of sexual immorality, earning their own living, preparing for the second coming of Jesus, and tensions in the fellowship.

So Paul graciously writes to commend the Thessalonians and rejoice with them about their progress in the Christian Faith. He praises God and gives thanks for them. At the same time he wants to answer the questions they have and take the opportunity to instruct them further about their new faith. Paul’s letter dates from the summer of AD 50, and is probably the oldest surviving Christian document.

At the beginning and indeed throughout Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians he is full of praise and thanksgiving to God for them. They had made wonderful progress in their Faith. It is astonishing when you consider the church there was so young. These believers were not long converted-just a few months. And they were from diverse backgrounds: some were Jews, but the majority mainly God fearing Greeks or former pagans. They have only recently taken on new beliefs and new moral standards. They have already faced severe persecution. Humanly speaking you think this new community might easily fall apart. But Paul is confident about this church because he knows it belongs to God. It is God’s church:

In these first three verses Paul first describes the church as a community which lives in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (1:1): “To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”.

The Greek word for church is ekklesia which means assembly. There were many assemblies meeting together in Thessalonica- religious and secular. What distinguishes a church from a mere assembly of people is that the church is “in” the Father and the Son. A church is not a building. A church is not even a gathering of people who attend a service. A church is a fellowship of believers, where each member is “in” the Father and the Son.

“In” the Father and the Son. The Lord Jesus spoke of what it was to “remain in him”. His disciples were to be like branches in the vine. As the branches remained in the vine, they drew their very life from it. They could bear no fruit unless they remained in the vine. Here the Christian is invited to remain in the Son and in the Father. By virtue of Christ’s death for us we belong to God, our lives are now “hidden with Christ in God” (Col.3:3). That is our legal position before God. We are now justified before him on account of Christ; our sins are not held against us. But the meaning here is more relational, like that suggested by the Parable of the Vine. For us to be “in” the Father and the Son is to be “living in”, “rooted in” or “drawing our very life from” the Father and the Son. Jesus taught that “If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him” (John 14:23). Each member is in a living family relationship with Father and Son and each member when gathered with all the members of God’s family form a church: each one in union with his/her fellow brothers and sisters.

It seems right from the beginning that Paul’s pastoral instincts for this church come through. The Thessalonian believers feel insecure. They are facing trials and persecution. Paul wants to reassure them. They belong to God. They are in the Father and the Son. Their security is in God. He is right there with them. They pray to the Father, the Son intercedes for them, the Spirit lives in them.

Bill Bright was founder of Campus Crusade for Christ. A movement highly influential in America and now across the World, reaching university students with the Gospel and seeing many won for Christ. He was also behind the Jesus film project which also has seen millions come to faith worldwide. And he was a prolific author. But Bill Bright’s greatest trial came when he was diagnosed with pulmonary fibrosis, an incurable disease eventually leading to death by suffocation. He wrote “The Journey Home” after this diagnosis and through the remaining time he had leading up to his death. He wrote the book as he said “to help people live and die well with the assurance of everlasting life in Jesus Christ”. There is so much in it which is of tremendous help for people who are suffering. But that sense of union with the Father and Son is particularly strong. At one point he challenges any reader who also is approaching death to reaffirm their faith in Christ. He writes “Make it a bold and wonderful declaration of your trust- your utter and complete dependence on God for your salvation.” And then he uses a simple but poignant image to bring home the union we have with the father as we face our ultimate trial:

“I am reminded of a little girl and her father who went hiking in the Smoky Mountains. They came upon a narrow river, and at 4 years old, she was fearful of the river’s current. She turned and ran back. “Come to me,” her Dad said.

She ran to his arms saying, “Can you take me, Daddy?”

“Sure, let’s go,” her father said as he picked her up and waded easily across the stream.

“Look at the waves,” the child said, describing the small ripples of water. “I see a fish,” she said gleefully. She was now calm. Fear had disappeared as she trusted her father.

Even so, in death, we can count on our heavenly Father to carry us across the cold waters of death, and we can rest in His arms and enjoy the view.”

Whatever trial you face as an individual you are never alone. Whatever we face as a church, we are never alone. We are in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul adds the greeting “grace and peace to you”. Here he combines expressions from Jewish and Gentile customs. Jews wished each other peace and Gentiles wished each other grace. The Christian meanings of these words also appear to have the plight of the Thessalonians in mind. Out of their relationship with Father and Son, Paul says they will receive grace- that is strength and enabling from God himself- to handle their difficulties. So too Father and Son are willing to pour out peace that gives inner calm, no matter what the outward circumstances.

George had recently been diagnosed with a terminal condition when I went to see him and I read some extracts to him from Bill Bright’s book “The Journey Home”. After, I prayed with George along the lines of some of the thoughts in Bright’s book; particularly the promise of an eternal home that lies ahead and God’s great love. And as I prayed I had this wonderful sense of peace and joy stir and envelop me- I didn’t expect or look for it. But it was tangible and seemed to increase in intensity as I continued to pray. I was so struck by it, that I said to George “Did you feel that?” and he said “yes”. And then I realised it was a communication of the Lord’s presence in that room for George’s benefit, not mine, I just happened to be there. Two further thoughts struck me. The first, that at the point of the worst news you can get in this life, humanly speaking, the Lord is right there with you. No one and nothing can prise us out of his nail scarred hands. And the second thought was my being reminded of Philippians 4: 7 “And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus”. I remembered reading the peace described there was not merely the absence of conflict, but a supernatural peace. Tangible. God’s own peace guarding our hearts and minds- the image is of a garrison of soldiers- shooting down our troubled thoughts and emotions. And that’s what the Lord was doing for George right there in that room. Filling him with peace.

The church is a community which lives in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Both Father and Son pour out grace and peace into our lives.)

Secondly, Paul says that the church is a community which is distinguished by faith, love and hope. “We continually remember…..your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ” (1:3).

Work produced by faith should characterise our lives as believers. Paul makes it abundantly clear in his letters that believers are saved by faith alone. Ephesians 2:8, 9 is a clear example of this truth: “for it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God- not by works, so that no-one can boast.” We believe on the Lord Jesus, who has died for us. We come to Him acknowledging we are sinners in need of God’s mercy and forgiveness. Not boasting of their own righteousness, but rather accepting the gift of God’s salvation held out to us. We receive that gift. It’s then that God by his Spirit came to live within us. It is this inner regeneration coming from the Spirit that makes for an outward change in our actions and behaviour. In this way a true faith in God leads to good works. It is by this understanding that James in his letter states “…faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead” (James 2:17).

Some work because of fear of punishment, others only for financial reward, still others out of a grim sense of duty. But if faith in God motivates our work then whatever we do, we do well and we do gladly because we do it for Him. Work in your home, in your employment. Using the gifts he has given you within the church. No one else may see what you do or appear to care. The World will not necessarily reward you or value what you do. Others are taking short cuts. Doing things just to be seen. Ditching their responsibilities. But you humbly do your work as serving him. He sees and knows and will reward you. Jesus said “I tell you the truth, anyone who gives you a cup of water in my name because you belong to Christ will certainly not lose his reward” (Mark 9:41). Work produced by faith now characterises our lives.

And once you’re converted what you do now will be heavily influenced by love; “Your labour prompted by love”. Before you were a Christian you spent most of your time looking to be entertained or looking for others to do things for you. But now your actions are driven by a love for God and a love for others. Because that’s what God is like. God is love, and he is now working to recreate his nature in you. This love is not about feeling good about someone. It’s not mere sentiment. Love is shown in labour. The word for labour here is kopos. It has been defined as “either the fatiguing nature of what is done or the magnitude of the exertion required”. This love requires dedication, hard work, and personal sacrifice for the good of the other. From what we know of the early church their labours of love no doubt included caring for the sick, showing hospitality, giving to those in need, comforting the dying, and teaching those who were ignorant. They would have comforted one another and encouraged one another with the scriptures they had.

From the context of this passage a large part of their labour of love was in making the gospel known to others : verse 8 “The Lord’s message rang out from you..” We have this rosy picture that the first churches grew effortlessly. We say “Oh our society is too resistant, there’s no point in evangelism” Well our society is resistant. But Thessalonian society was more resistant to the early believers. These believers experienced severe suffering and persecution for their faith, but they still kept reaching out in love to their hostile kinsmen. They knew they had good news to share- the only message that can truly bring freedom and salvation, even if some of those who heard were offended by it- too blind to see it and too proud to receive it. The believers labour was prompted by love.

Faith and love led these believers out of introspection and instead made them look outward toward God and others. Their faith and love resulted in very concrete actions and service. We need to ask ourselves are we similarly motivated ? Our actions will indicate where our minds and hearts really are in this respect.

The Thessalonians also had “endurance”. This endurance was evidenced in their willingness to continually face the stress and strain of opposition and unbelief. Hope keeps a person persevering. We know that we shall reap if we sow and do not lose heart. We could call this quality one of steadfast hope. Alexander the Great, setting out on his campaigns divided his possessions among friends. Someone asked, “Are you keeping nothing for yourself? “Oh yes,” he replied, “I have kept my hopes”.

For the Ephesian believers it was an endurance “inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”. These believers were willing to face resistance and opposition because they had a confident expectation that God sees all, that one day Christ would return and his return would herald God making everything right. On that day evil will be eradicated and each will receive their reward. So when you see people mock what we believe on the television. When your non-Christian spouse exerts a gentle but persistent pressure to keep you from worshipping God and fellowshipping with other believers- don’t give up. When Satan tempts you to quietly withdraw from contact with Christ and Christians and instead let loose your old sinful -though ultimately self-destructive- desires, resist him! Instead stand firm in your Faith! Remember what lies ahead. Punishment for the ungodly and salvation for those found in Christ. So run your race now in such a way that you will not need to be ashamed on that day. Live your life now like the athlete who trains hard and runs for the prize. The training is at times arduous. At worse it seems you’re fighting for every breath. But keep going. God by his Spirit is training you. Perseverance or endurance is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. Run in such a way that on that day, when you have crossed the finishing line, He will be able to say to you “Well done good and faithful servant……..”

“Your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ”. So much is conveyed in one sentence. Calvin rightly called this verse a “brief definition of true Christianity”.

Already Paul’s care and compassion comes out for the Thessalonian believers. Not content to be the evangelist and thereby be the chief instrument by which many of these believers had become Christians, Paul is also a Pastor. Notice how Paul doesn’t let their criticisms of him (which are discreetly dealt with in the course of the letter) stop him from giving thanks for them, encouraging them and as verse 2 indicates, praying for them regularly.

But Paul’s example, though striking, is a mere reflection of God’s own compassion for his people. We learn the great encouragement here that when God begins to work in a person’s life, he is able to continue it even if no human support is available. The Thessalonian believers belonged to God and He nurtured and matured them.

This morning we believers here at ABC also need to hear we belong to God. We are God’s church. We too are in the Father and the Son. Nothing and no one can take away that security you and I have in Him- no trial, not persecution, not even death. The Father and Son has made their home with us and communicate grace and peace into our lives by the Holy Spirit.

And as God’s church we should not be surprised that He will be finding all kinds of work for us to do. Whether at home, or in employment or here in the fellowship. Do you feel fatigued? Does the exertion of all you do seem too much on occasion? Is your labour of love hard work? Neither should we be surprised when we face inconveniences and various trials. God Himself has given us these opportunities precisely so we do grow in faith, love and hope. These are the practical ways in which these eternal qualities are presently being expressed and developed. They are further evidence that you and I belong to Him, and that we here at ABC are more than an assembly. We are God’s church and He is nurturing and maturing us like He did those first Thessalonian believers.

Hymn

“O Breath of Life” MP 488 (Piano)

Elizabeth Ann Porter Head

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M3bsgoPjcg4                                                                   PTO

Blessing.

May the Lord bless you and take care of you; may the Lord be kind and gracious to you; may the Lord look on you with favour and give you peace.

David Barnes 5/10/22