Walk Worthy of God — 1 Thessalonians 2

0:00 As I was preparing for this message, came across an interesting fact. Did you know that research shows for some reason, human beings have a difficult time walking in a straight line? Isn't that interesting? There's just something about our inner orientation that causes us to walk a crooked and warped way. And there's a sermon in that right there, isn't there?

0:20 But there was a study done by this group in Germany who blindfolded subjects and asked them to walk for an hour in a straight line and without exception, nobody could do it. Nobody. And of course, when you're blindfolded and you're walking, you think you're walking in a straight line. But they removed the blindfolds and showed them their path on GPS and it was kind of this crooked wiggle waggle loop de loop path. But they could have sworn to you that they were walking in a straight line.

0:48 And the study says that this tendency has been studied now for a century. Even as far back as the 1920s, they animated field tests then and you could see what happened to people who were blindfolded and they set them out to walk in a straight line. And they concluded apparently there is a profound ability, inability in humans to walk straight. Now, we're in one Thessalonians once again this morning, so you can go ahead and get there. And you'll remember last week that when you were introduced to the Thessalonian church and to the Apostle Paul and his work there, you are introduced to a man in the Apostle Paul who talked the talk.

1:30 An entire church, in fact, a good church, a church that was commended for their good conduct was born. Why? Because the apostle Paul preached the gospel. Amen? Clearly, Paul talked the talk.

1:46 But in our chapter today, in chapter two, we get introduced to the Apostle Paul who not only talks the talk but walks the walk. Spiritually speaking, the Apostle Paul could walk a straight line. And when you think about Paul, when I think about the Apostle Paul, I automatically think soul winner. This man saved souls. Well, he didn't save them, but he led them to the one who could save their soul.

2:14 But Paul's not just a soul winner and this chapter bears it out. Paul also cared about these souls after they accepted Christ and trusted Christ. Paul says, not only am I going to introduce you to Jesus Christ and help you make the best decision you've ever made in your life, but I'm going to model for you how to walk with Him, how to serve Him. And Paul's model is recorded for us here in this chapter today. So, in chapter one, we see how God used Paul to bring the Gospel to the lost.

2:45 And God does use people to bring the Gospel to other people. That's a fact, isn't it? Faith comes by hearing and hearing the Word of God. We must speak the words. Living the life's not enough.

2:59 It's not enough. We've got to speak the words. But just like God uses people and our words to bring the Gospel to lost people, He also uses people and our words to encourage Christians in their walk and to help them walk in a straight path. And that's what we have here in this chapter. So, the church in Thessalonica was born out of the faithful preaching of the Apostle Paul and his companions.

3:27 But we see in this chapter today that it was nurtured also. And so in our chapter today, we have the Apostle Paul reminding the new Christians of the type of walk that he had while he was among them. Let's turn to one Thessalonians two and we'll read the first six verses. One Thessalonians two:one-six. For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain, But even after we had suffered before, we're spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know.

3:58 We were bold in our God to speak to you, the gospel of God in much conflict. For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness nor was it in deceit. But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness. God is witness.

4:24 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ. And we'll stop there and ask the Lord to add His blessing to our reading and understanding of His Word. So we've seen these first six verses that Paul had been put in trust or entrusted with the gospel. Makes me think that the Apostle Paul was trying to right out of the gate say, hey, this wasn't my message, folks. I was trusted with this message that was given to me by God.

4:55 I didn't make it up. I'm not the owner of it. Paul is telling the saints in Thessalonica, he's telling you and I this morning that God's people are God's stewards or keepers of His message. He's entrusted us with His message. Now, what does a steward do?

5:17 Well, a steward manages the affairs of the master. He uses the master's resource to promote the master's agenda. And probably the most important quality a steward can have, as one Corinthians four tells us, is faithfulness, that you be found faithful as a steward. And look at what verse four of our chapter here says. It says, But we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts.

5:50 And it's a good reminder for us today, folks, for those of us here today who have trusted Jesus Christ with our lives, with our salvation as our Savior, that He's given us this life, He's given us this time, He's given us these abilities not to use up on ourselves, but for Him. For Him. They're His. We talk about it a lot. We pay lip service to it.

6:16 Oh, I don't know anything. It's all the Lord's. But do we live that way? So let me humbly submit, humbly submit this morning and ask, how's it going in your stewardship? Because it says here there's going to be a test every day, but God who tests our hearts.

6:36 And we know as believers in Jesus Christ, we will stand before our precious Savior one day and He's going to see what we did for Him if it can stand the test. Will your stewardship of the Master's resources, your time, your treasure, will it stand the test? And I know how I defend myself. Well, look, you know, how do I know that what I'm doing will be approved by the Master? How do I know He's not here to tell me?

7:04 Well, this verse is my guide here. Not pleasing as men, but who? God. I need to daily remind myself, maybe I need to set a timer on my phone or something to say, who are you serving today? Who are you serving this hour?

7:24 Who are you trying to please with that decision, with those words, with that action? Are you pleasing men or are you pleasing God? That's what the Apostle Paul is doing right here and what we read about in this chapter. He gives us in these first few verses a great example of a faithful steward. He's showing us how to do it.

8:08 They were beaten with rods and thrown out of town, left for dead. And so what did they do? Oh, they went on furlough. They came home and tried to see what their options for ministry were. No, they went to Thessalonica where there was no Christians.

8:26 Probably with fresh wounds, sore backs, every step of the way, many day journey. I don't know about you, but I would have checked out. I would have thought about taking a break. Probably would have had some excuse. Are you kidding me?

8:42 But that's not what Paul does. That's not what he did. He didn't quit. And his example and dedication to the Lord is an example to us. And even as after that suffering they went through, heading from Philippi over to Thessalonica to a brand new town, to a brand new audience, once again boldly to speak the gospel, that same gospel that just got them beat up.

9:11 And here they go. But it doesn't just say, closely here, look at it, that they were bold to speak the gospel. What does it say? We were bold in our God. Bold in God.

9:26 Well, what on earth does that mean, bold in God? Well, remember, we were talking about Paul's stewardship and he saw himself as an approved and entrusted steward of God's work on earth. We see that in verse four. And I would imagine that was what he was thinking of when he was going through these things that he was going through. It's okay.

9:45 You want to beat me up? It's alright. I'm God's man. Okay. You want to kill me?

9:49 Throw me out of town? That's okay. I'm God's man. God, You're in control. Whatever they do to me, it must be Your will.

9:58 God has led him throughout all of these things. He knows that. The miracles he's seen. How could he not trust that God was with him even in this? So Paul had boldness not in himself, not in his own flesh.

10:13 He wrote time and time again that his flesh was a thorn to him. He had no boldness in his speaking, his oration. We see in Scripture that Paul was mocked for his speaking ability by some. No, Paul wasn't bold in any of these things. He was bold in his God.

10:34 And as I read this, I have to tell you that I am encouraged. I am really encouraged because if I look at myself and if I look inward and I'm reminded of the shamefulness of my sin and the absolute lack of abilities that I have, it's easy for me to get down on myself and say, Lord, what do I have that You could possibly want? I've got nothing. But these verses remind me that my boldness doesn't come from what I give to God, but what God gives to me. What a Savior we have.

11:12 What good news we have. Folks, it's not health and wealth and prosperity that God wants for us. He wants boldness so that we can serve Him. And if you're here today and you do not know the living God, Jesus Christ as your Savior, I want to tell you that when I made that decision I've not regretted it one day in my life. There's been nothing but joy and hope for me since that day.

11:42 Not because of anything that has happened in me that has been awesome, but because of getting to know the Savior Jesus Christ who is awesome. And you say, Well, what does God give you that you should be so bold in Him? Well, we read a little bit of this chapter earlier this morning, the first meeting, but let's turn there again quickly to Ephesians one. I just want to read 11 verses there because I think it's so important as we consider our walk with Jesus Christ, our walk for the Lord on this earth to be reminded of why we should have the boldness to walk with Him. And for those who don't know the Lord, it's a good reminder here in this chapter to know what it is that you receive as a result of your relationship with Christ.

12:28 Look at verse three. It says, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ who has blessed us with, here's the list, every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ just as He chose us in him before the foundation of the world that we should be holy and without blame before him in love. Oh, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to himself according to the good pleasure of his will, to the praise of the glory of his grace by which he has made us accepted in the beloved. In him, we also have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of His grace, God so rich that it was nothing for Him to give me grace, which He made to abound to us toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed for Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of times He might gather together into one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on the earth in Him. And in Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will.

13:43 So let's recap just those 11 verses in Scripture. Just those 11 verses. What has God given us? He has given us every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. That could be enough right there, right?

13:57 But he goes on. It says that He chose us before the foundation of the world for God so loved the world that He gave His Son. He bought us with His own precious blood. That was the price He paid for you and I, for our sin. Oh, and He forgives you of that sin also.

14:14 Don't miss that bit. He's even shown us the mystery of His will. The most rich and powerful awesome being in the universe who created everything by speaking it into existence has put you and I in His will and given us a glimpse of it. What else? As a result, all of this, you and I are the praise of His glory until He returns.

14:37 And in case something should happen to your walk while you're here on earth, He's given you the guarantee of your inheritance through the Holy Spirit. Now, that we know all of that, given that, just those 11 verses, is it so hard to be bold in God? How can we be bold in anything else? How can we not be bold in God knowing all of that, that we've been given that? This is how the Apostle Paul could be bold.

15:14 He knew his place. He knew that he belonged to God. So that was the manner of Paul's walk, not looking to himself or anyone else to minister in these places, but to have boldness in God and to remember the promises of God and remembering that he had the Spirit of God. But Paul also had a tremendous message to share. You and I have a tremendous message to share.

16:00 I didn't wander in my delivering of that message. We gave you the truth. Straight up. And I wonder sometimes why I'm so timid in sharing the Gospel, you know, because in these pages here we have perfection. We have an error free message to share with the world.

16:18 No mistakes. We have nothing to be ashamed about. The message of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the only error free, only perfect, and most importantly, only saving message that there is. It's the only one. And we've been entrusted with it.

16:34 You remember the words of Isaiah 5five 11, right? So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth. It shall not return to me void, but it shall accomplish what I please and it shall prosper the thing for which I sent it. What a message the Apostle Paul had to share here. It's like he couldn't go wrong.

16:55 God says, Here's my message. It's perfect. When you use it, it will get results. What's the problem? Paul had this message to carry.

17:06 And folks, you and I have it too. The same message that you and I are privileged to carry to the world today. That was the message of his walk. Verse three also has another little tidbit that we shouldn't gloss over. It says that our exhortation did not come from error, but it also says from uncleanness.

17:26 Paul's motives were pure. And unfortunately, seems that there must have been some in those days, in Paul's day, that used religion to make money. Now that's over. We don't see that anymore. Right?

17:45 Of course, this wasn't the Apostle Paul, was it? His example was honest. His example was an open, transparent ministry. We even read in the second letter to the Thessalonians that Paul worked at a trade to earn his own support. So the question is this for us today.

18:02 Is it possible to walk the right way, to carry yourself in the right way, to preach the right message, but to also have the wrong motive? I think so. I think so. Philippians one sixteen tells us that there are those who preach Christ from selfish ambition and not from sincerity. So it is possible.

18:25 And we want to make sure that even though this perfect error free message we have, we want to make sure that we're delivering it with a pure heart. And that our desire for success and our desire just to see somebody come forward and get saved doesn't creep into the equation. We want people saved for one reason and one reason only, because they need Jesus. That's it. No other motive.

18:55 No other reason to preach the gospel. Jesus came to seek and save that which was lost. That was His motive. That's why He came. And that's what you and I are still here for and not in heaven.

19:08 That's why He's got us here. One final thing from the end of verse three and also in verses four, five, and six is that their exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, but finally, nor was it in deceit. This is important. Paul is telling us here literally, we didn't bait any hooks. That's what this word means.

19:31 The gospel of Jesus Christ is just that. It's the good news of Jesus Christ. The perfect, sinless Lamb of God who was worthy, worthy, worthy. But unfortunately, some of the methods that Paul was seeing used in his day, and I will also say that some of the methods that we see being used today, are unworthy of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Maybe you've heard messages like this or been a part of ministries where it's just all about me, you know, what I'm comfortable with, what I like, what entertains me.

20:13 And I think those methods are just so unworthy of such a precious message. And the apostle Paul's example here is that he never baited any hooks. He never baited and switched anyone. He simply shared the love of God in a straightforward way. And that was it.

20:30 He's a great example because if you look at his life and ministry, you see how fruitful it was, don't you? To the tune of thousands and thousands and thousands of people being saved across all the known world at that time. Verse four, But we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. The gospel is not just the method. It's the message.

20:55 Jesus isn't the way shower, He's the way. The gospel is the only way to save people. Well, what is that gospel? What is the gospel? We say that word a lot.

21:07 We hear it a lot. The gospel is God's good news of reconciliation, that you've got a problem with God and He's got a problem with you. And the good news is He has made a way for you to get right with Him, the entire world. It's promised in the Old Testament. It's centered in Jesus Christ.

21:24 God came to earth, He died and He rose again and will save you if you simply trust in Him. He's the only way He purchased salvation for you. And this message has to be preached to the entire world. Why? Because the Gospel alone is the power of God unto salvation.

21:44 That's it. Alone. Verse five, For neither at any time did we use flattering words. No show, no song or dance, no appealing to your sensibilities so that you'd come back with your tithe check. None of that.

22:01 Just the truth of our standing before God, lost sinner, and the truth of your way to be saved in your sin, Jesus Christ. Simple. Verse six, Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others. No glory sharing with the Savior. I love this.

22:20 If any preacher in the history of the world had a reason to brag, it had to be Paul, right? But Paul knew that the gospel was the reason people were being saved, not Paul. Paul was obedient to carry and share the message. And times, because of his obedience and because of the results he was getting, people tried to lift him up. Remember when they tried to declare him as a god?

22:47 But Paul wouldn't have that, did he? Wouldn't have it. Well, we don't have a problem with this, do we? Do we ever engage in preacher worship? You may not want me back.

23:02 Maybe you've had this conversation because I have. Hey, there's a Bible conference coming up over in XYZ town. What's my response going to be? Oh, what scriptures will be expounded on? Oh, are we going have a time of prayer?

23:18 Nope. What's my response going to be? Who's preaching? Paul wouldn't have that. He wouldn't put up with that.

23:31 He refused glory and encouraged others to give all the praise to God. Remember what Paul is doing here in this chapter. He does it in other letters too. But this chapter is essentially Paul's rebuttal to some accusations that were coming in against him after he left the new church. Look at what he was accused of we have in these verses that we just went through.

23:54 Well, he was accused that his teaching was coming from error or it was deceitful. He was accused that they hadn't been really approved by God. He was accused that they were seeking to please men and they were using flattering words. He was also accused that he was seeking glory from men. But Paul didn't do any of those things.

24:13 And he didn't do any of those things because he had the Holy Spirit of God living within him. Not because Paul was awesome, but because God is awesome. Paul was a faithful steward of what God had entrusted to him, faithful. We can learn from his example to have boldness in the message of the Master, to not try to please men but God, to not bait any hooks in the gospel. This is how we should walk.

25:11 We can say that the emphasis of a steward is faithfulness, right? Well, what's the emphasis of a mother? Gentleness. At least it's supposed to be. Now you better believe the Apostle Paul was a man of authority.

25:24 We know that. We know he was a man of authority. But he always used his authority in a loving, gentle way. Remember, these are babies in Thessalonica. These are baby Christians.

25:36 And Paul knew that he needed to be loving and tender with them. Now, of course, you can see me here, I'm no mother. Praise the Lord for that. But I have a great mother and I'm married to a great mother. And one of the things that I see in my mom and in my wife is that they expend energy, and I'm talking about all of it, in the care of their children.

26:00 But it doesn't just say that Paul was just a nice mother to them. It specifically says this, he was a nursing mother. Now that's interesting, isn't it? What's the picture here? Well, what's a nursing mother do?

26:13 It imparts some of her life to the child, right? This is what Paul's talking about in this verses. Now, I don't need to get into the biology here. I think most of us understand this. But the process of nursing here is an important thing to note.

26:26 What happens? The mother eats. The food she consumes is transformed into milk and the baby eats that, right? Pretty simple. So, Paul here, like the nursing mother, is a mature Christian who feeds on the Word of God and then shares that nourishment he receives with the believers here in Thessalonica.

26:42 Why? So they can grow up to be healthy, mature, fruitful Christians as he is. And that can be a struggle, can't it? Some of you here who are older and far more mature in the Lord than I have known this struggle trying to walk with new Christians, younger Christians. Why?

27:04 Well, because sometimes baby just wants to sleep. Sometimes baby just wants to be grumpy and fussy. Know any Christians like that? No names. And being like a nursing mother to some other believer is not easy, especially if it's multiple believers, if you're caring for some of you brothers who are serving as elders.

27:29 Dads, moms, grandmas, grandpas, aunts, uncles, He's talking to us. He's talking to us. These young believers, these kids, these teenagers, these college age students, these young married couples with families, your grandkids, your nieces, your nephews desperately need you. As it says here, to affectionately long for them and to nurse them. And folks, let me be brutally honest.

28:00 This is what it tells us here. It says, nurse them not with fun and games, not with pizza parties, not with lock ins, not with water skiing, not capture the flag, but cherishes them to nurse them with what? The gospel. The gospel. Who can you nourish?

28:22 Who can you cherish this morning? Someone that is younger and more immature in the faith than you that you will see grow up and grow strong in the word of God. Who is it? Who is it? So Paul was a nursing mother.

28:42 Let's read verse nine through 12. For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil, For laboring night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preach the gospel to you. The gospel... I'm sorry. We preach to you the gospel of God.

28:58 You are witnesses in God also. How devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe. As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father does his own children, that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into his own kingdom and glory. So just as Paul saw himself as a gentle nursing mother, he also sees himself as a concerned, loving father to the believers here in Thessalonica. That's cool, isn't it?

29:28 So a good father doesn't just beget his children, but he cares for them as they grow up. And as Paul defended these false accusations against himself, he pointed out some of the duties that the walk of a spiritual father should have. First of all, look at his work. Just how the father works to support his family. Now, I'm not going to get into this about paid staff and full time ministry and all of that, but Paul's pointing out here his example.

29:56 He says that he toiled and labored night and day so that he wouldn't be a burden to them. So that he could be freed up to preach the Gospel to them freely, openly and without some sort of cloud of judgment worrying about where his income was going to come from. Paul wouldn't have that on his conscience. So, was a spiritual father to those by virtue of his work. Look at his behavior.

30:16 We also see that Paul was a spiritual father in his behavior. Dads, we know we have to walk and have good examples for our kids. We can't tell them one thing and then do something else, right? What are they going to do? The thing we say or the thing we do?

30:31 Duh. Right? And Paul knew this. And he could call any single one of those Thessalonian believers to be a witness of what they saw in his life and been exemplary in every single way. Look at what he says in verse 10.

30:44 You are witnesses and God also. We walked justly and blamelessly as we behaved ourselves among you. Nobody could accuse the apostle Paul of being a poor example. Paul walked the walk. But the concern here, I think, is not that Paul wanted to stick up for himself and say, Hey, stop criticizing me.

31:05 No. That wasn't the goal here. The real issue is that if you could discredit the Apostle Paul, you would also discredit the authenticity of his message. Right? If you can tear down the messenger, you can tear down the message.

31:21 Isn't that how it works? People do this all the time, right? When you talk with someone who has no faith in God and you try to strike up a conversation with them about God or the Bible and the authenticity of it and how they can trust in it and believe all of it, what are some of the objections you get? Well, you'll get something like this. Well, wasn't the Bible written by men?

31:41 Or, well, didn't some guys in a room long ago choose what went in the Bible and what didn't go in the Bible? And, you know, how can we trust that that they made the right decisions? Well, what are people trying to do when they make statements like that? What are they trying to do? Well, they're trying to get you to see the error of your faith, to place such an important trust in something that was just written and compiled by a bunch of mere mortals, right?

32:05 Kill the messenger, kill the message. One of the first lies of Satan, the first lie of Satan recorded for us in Scripture is what? Did God really say? I mean, did He really say that? And people have been using that ever since.

32:24 So Paul in defending himself is really not just defending himself, but more so defending his message, the reality of their faith. Their faith is real. And Paul said, Look, what I gave to you, that's no joke. It's the real business. And as a spiritual father, sometimes we have to set an example for our kids, both physical children and spiritual.

32:46 But he was also a father to them with his words. So, father must not only just support his family by working and then walk as an example to his family, but he also must take time to speak to his family members, to his children. Look at what verse 11 says. It says, As you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you. I love that.

33:07 Every one of you as a father does his own children. Look at those three things. Exhort, comfort, charge. That covers it, doesn't it? Look at that.

33:18 Exhort, to call someone to your side, to beg them to change. Stop doing what you're doing. You're going down a bad path. A good dad does that, doesn't he? He sees error in his children and he calls them to his side and then you have a good talking.

33:34 But a good dad also comforts. And not just to, you know, coddle and make your kid feel better, but to make someone do better. A good dad doesn't pamper his children when they make a mistake, but encourages to get right back up and try again and again and again because the Lord is worthy. And charges them. What's that mean?

33:58 It's not credit card. That threw me off when I first read this. No, but charge means here to affirm the truth, to testify as a witness of what Christ has done in your life. That's what good dad does, isn't it? He talks with his kids about himself, successes, his own walk with the Lord.

34:16 He testifies this to his children. And you know guys, I don't think that there's anything more powerful we as dads and grandpas can do is just to be honest and open with our kids and our grandkids to be real with them. Because if they see that we're real with them, they're going know that we're real with Jesus Christ. And if they see we're being a fake or a poser with them, they're going to think we're all that way with everything. Showing them that it's not a game we're playing.

34:44 We don't just show up here at 09:30 a. M. And eleven a. M. On Sunday mornings to just check a box, but it's real.

34:51 We love the Lord. And sometimes I blow it, sometimes I mess up, and I want you to know that. But Jesus loves me anyway, and He loves you too. So what's the purpose of this fatherly ministry that Paul has to believers? What's the point of it all?

35:25 Just as a father wants to be proud of his kids, the Lord wants to be proud of his too. And you know what? He deserves it. He deserves to get glory from the lives of us. Paul ministered to these folks in such a personal way because he wanted to show them and tell them how to walk so that the Lord would get the most possible amount of glory possible.

35:46 Not so they'd get a big thumbs up, but so that the Lord Jesus Christ would be more glorified as a result of the Thessalonian church having been established. That's why. Verse 13 is an important verse and I know I'm running out of time, so we'll hurry. It says, For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it, not as the word of men, but as in the truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. So in these next verses, Paul goes from defending himself to start to congratulating them for their walk because they were doing it.

36:29 Remember, the Thessalonian church was a successful church. And Paul wanted to take some time here to share with them the things that he saw in them that he could be proud of. The first success that Paul mentions here is the way that they received the word. They welcomed it not as it was coming from men, but as it were the very words of God. They appreciated God's Word.

36:51 And I love that in our circles we appreciate God's Word so much, but it says that they also applied God's Word. They appreciated it, but they applied it. Verse 13 teaches us that not only did they welcome it, but look what it says, but the Word works effectively in them. It works. They didn't just hear it.

37:12 James chapter one tells us that we have to be doers of the Word, right? And not hearers only. And it goes on to say that if we hear the Word and we don't do anything with it, we're deceiving ourselves and we're like a person who looks at himself in the mirror and then walks away and forgets what he looks like. Sometimes I'd like to forget what I look like. But spiritually speaking, spiritually, brothers especially, we don't want to forget what we look like, right?

37:37 We want to know where we're at. And I think about that crippled man in Mark three. Remember that story? Who Jesus came to and commanded him to stretch out his hand. And of course, you know, this guy couldn't do that.

37:49 Right? But yet the very word of God gave him the power to obey. He heard the word. Jesus said, Stretch out your hand. He heard that.

37:57 I'm sure he appreciated it, but then he trusted that Word. He obeyed that Word. And as a result, was made whole. What an example of immediate application that is, really. Not only want to teach God's Word, love it, and cherish it, but we want to actually do what it says, don't we?

38:15 Now, what good would it have been for that lame man to hear God's Word and say, Oh, great, and get up without obeying and say, Well, how nice. Well, I'm off back to the leper colony now to teach everyone what you just told me because that was a good message. And maybe we'll have a small group study on that. Maybe a sermon series in the upcoming weeks about the Word that Christ just spoke to me. But that's not what he did, is it?

38:37 He heard the Word and he did what it says. He was a doer of the Word. And we need to get used to acting on the Word of God despite how we might feel about it. Imagine what that blamed man must have thought. Stretch out your hand.

38:51 Are you messing with me? But he did it. Otherwise, if we're just learning for knowledge's sake, we're just learning for knowledge's sake and we know knowledge puffs up. Verses 14, 15, and 16 quickly. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus.

39:15 For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us. And they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. Paul commends them and congratulates them for their suffering. That's interesting, isn't it? But it's not just any old suffering, is it?

39:44 It's not, Well, pray for me. I'm not feeling well. And we pray for those things. Yes. But Paul's commending them because they're suffering only because they're Christians.

39:53 Ever been through that? That's no fun. Maybe your family has disowned you. Maybe you've had some issues at work, missed a promotion or something because they know you're a Christian. Those sorts of things hurt.

40:07 But we don't suffer these things alone. And the Apostle Paul here is telling the Thessalonians, Hey, look. You know what you're going through is awful. I know that. And I know that because I go through it too.

40:16 Oh, and by the way, your brothers and sisters in the Judean churches are going through it. But they haven't shut them down yet And they're not shutting you down either. And that's an encouraging thing to hear, isn't it? That you know your experience isn't new. It's not isolated.

40:31 What you're going through, the testimony that you have for Jesus Christ that brings the world's hatred on you is common. In fact, it ought to be more common. And that's the great value we have at meeting together in a local assembly that we can stand together in times of difficulty and encourage one another. Finally, the last few verses, starting with verse 17. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire.

41:30 He wants to be with them. I mean, if you're a spiritual mother and a spiritual father to some folks, stands to reason you'd like to get together with them. Amen? I'm sure he felt that there was more work to do. These are new Christians.

41:44 But we read here that Satan hindered him from coming. But the cool thing is, brothers and sisters, the cool thing is that even though we can't be somewhere physically, we can be with someone spiritually. He was with them in heart and in spirit. It would have been easy for him to look back in regret and say, Oh, man, I couldn't make it. I blew it, you know, or Satan wouldn't let me.

42:06 That's a bummer. But Paul didn't do that. His example here is that he rejoiced knowing that he would see these brothers and sisters one day in the glory of Jesus Christ. Paul reminds us this morning that the best is yet to come. The best is yet to come.

42:27 Can we expect this type of joy now? Can we expect it as soon as the persecution dies off? Maybe they're saying, No. He says, You can expect this at the joy of our Lord's coming. Paul knew and lived in the fact that Jesus Christ was coming back.

42:42 He's coming again. He's coming again. That very same Jesus. He's coming again. Now how do you think the church in Thessalonica, and I'll close with this, reacted when they heard this letter, when they read this chapter?

42:59 How do you think they reacted? Well, I think it must have encouraged them tremendously, don't you? Oh, yeah, Paul was so faithful. He did preach just the straight gospel. Oh, yeah, he was a gentle mother with us.

43:11 Man, he poured into us. Oh, yeah, he was a concerned father. Man, that brother over there, he straightened him out and now look at him. Paul, man, it was a wonderful thing for them to recall these things, no doubt. But I wonder this morning more how they reacted to this letter.

43:26 I wonder more how you and I are going to react to it. You know, if you remember in Acts 17, Luke actually gives us some details as to Paul's visit to Thessalonica. Remember this passage? Turn there quickly as we close. I promise this is the end.

43:47 As we first read in Acts 17, Paul had some great success in Thessalonica right off the bat until the Jewish opponents began to spread rumors and stir up the rabble in the town. You remember the story? Eventually, was a riot, wasn't there, and a mob And they found some Christians and they dragged them off before the rulers of the city. And here's what the angry mob says in verse six about these believers. Do you remember this?

44:21 These are those who have turned the world upside down and now they've come here. I don't know about you, but I would love to have that said about me. I'd love it. By sharing the gospel message, by backing it up with a worthy walk in Jesus Christ, that I and you and me in this place and in this city could turn this place upside down for Jesus Christ, give me a name tag. I'll wear it today.

44:49 You are the people who turned this world upside down with your gospel preaching and your love for Jesus Christ. They meant it as slam. But I'm sure they took it as a compliment. And that's what we want people to say about this assembly, isn't it? That they turned the world upside down for Jesus Christ.

45:34 We have to fix our eyes on something ahead of us to make us correct our crooked path. Without those external cues, apparently there's something that makes us turn from a straight path. Maybe that's what Proverbs means when it says, Do not turn from the right or left. Remove your foot from evil. So, let me ask this.

45:53 How do we walk straight today? How do we keep from turning to the left or the right? What is our target? What do we have before us to focus on? Well, brothers and sisters, the Holy Spirit through the Apostle Paul encourages us today to look at the spiritual resources you have in Jesus Christ.

46:10 You have the Word of God, you have the people of God around you, and you have the hope and the glory of the return of God in Jesus Christ. How do we walk worthy? By looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank You for this word this morning that You have given us.

46:31 What a worthy, what a trustworthy, what a perfect word it is, Lord. And what an example that You gave us through Your servant, the Apostle Paul, to remind us here, Lord, how to walk, how we do this life, Lord, that You would be proud of us, that we would bring You more glory. We thank You for these encouraging truths in here this morning, Lord. But Lord, we also ask that You would help us to do something with them, that we wouldn't leave today thinking, Oh, what a nice chapter. I'm going to study that more.

46:58 But what a nice chapter. I'm going to study it more so that I can learn what You want from me, Lord. Help us to be doers of the word, Father. Lord, help us to keep from turning to the left or the right, but by keeping our eyes focused on Your Son, Jesus Christ, our blessed Savior, who is the author and finisher of our faith. And it's in His name we pray, amen.