Fall fashions are streaming into our Malls: the latest styles in dress, jackets, shoes & make up. The new TV series and movies introduce us to the latest flavors of sex, violence, and a thousand other doses of perversion to add to our corrupt society.
The Thessalonians lived in a fast moving society too! A constant stream of traffic flowed between Rome on the west, to Istanbul on the east as one followed the Egnatian Highway. This put Thessalonica in direct contact with many other important cities by land as well as by sea. It was one of the most important centers of population in Paul's day, occupying a strategic location both governmentally and militarily. Yet the world of that day is no different from our 21st century world. The real question as Christians is who or what will be our model for living?
I. The Purpose Of His Choice - (v.4) "But we know he has chosen you"
A. Salvation - "brothers, loved of God" means that His act of salvation frees us from the
the penalty of sin, from the power of indwelling sin as we daily yield to Him, and, one day
at His return, from the very presence of sin.
B. Security - "brothers, loved" denotes a spiritual relationship with God and others within
the Body of Christ. "Brothers" is mentioned 15 times in I Thess. (28 times in both Books)
C. Service - "he has chosen you" to bring forth fruit and praises to Him (I Pet.2:9; John 15:16)
II. The Power Of His Call - (v.5) "the gospel came in words, with power, in the Holy Spirit,
and with deep conviction"
A. The Power Of The Word - (Heb.4:12; 2 Cor.10:4-5)
B. The Power Of The World - (I John 2:15-17)
III. The Plan Of His Will - (v.6-7) "you became imitators of us and of the Lord"
A. Imitators - "mimites" means "to mimic, follow, imitate." Eph.5:1 "Be imitators of God
as dearly loved children." Paul wanted the church at Thessalonica to follow their spiritual
mentors. Spiritual mentors are those who consistently follow Jesus Christ.
B. Change Agents - "you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit." Obedience
to God's Word results in Joy through God's Spirit.
C. Models - "you became models to all the believers." "Tupon" means "type, fashion, figure,
pattern, example." Titus 2:7 states, "showing yourself a pattern of good works." Christ is
and always will be the supreme Model for us to follow. The lime-light should never be
focused on a person, church or program. That leads to egocentricity. 2 Corinthians 4"18
reminds us that as we "behold Him, we are changed from one degree of glory to another,
even as by the spirit of the Lord." All glory and praise must be Christocentric. Its all
about Him and not about us. Are you truly modeling Him?
No comments:
Post a Comment