THEIR CONVERSION

Newsletter 265 October 16, 2011

1 Thessalonians 2:1-16

NOT IN VAIN

This is considered to be the first of Paul’s letters to the churches, and the church at Thessalonica did not seem to have the moral or doctrinal problems that some of the others has so it is not a book with a lot of doctrinal teaching. Paul here spends more time on practical matters.

This chapter begins with his encouraging them that he feels that his time there was well spent, and well worth all that had happened. It was not in vain. There were places that he probably felt that his stay was not only painful, but ineffective. Thessalonica was definitely time well spent.

1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

Being that Philippi was a nearby city, they would have been aware that at Philippi he had been arrested, and mistreated, but that he had been well accepted by some, including the jailor and his family, and of course Lydia and her fellow workers in their trade.

2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:

The fact is that we are sent of God and not of men, and our message is not our own. We are His spokesmen and it is to Him that we must answer. This is as true today as it was in that day. We will be judged by how well we represent God and His word, not whether people believe and obey. Every day that passes means we are one day nearer to the judgment. This is even more apparent when we compare our own present span of life with the average span. Some are already well past that point years ago.

4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.

If we are overly concerned that we please men, we would drop all reference to “sin” and “stewardship,” and “repentance,“ and “forgiveness.“ In fact there are many who preach such a message today. A church I knew in South Africa treated the musical portion of their worship as a “pep session.” building up to the message which will make people feel even better about themselves and their lives. For example, to pray specifically for what you want, their evangelist wanted gleaming black Mercedes. After all, they reasoned, God wants to bless you. I would like to see the chapter and verse for that particular promise. You won’t find it if you are thinking of this life on earth. Jesus suffered, and we can expect to get the same sort of response. He does promise blessings if we suffer for his sake.

Speaking from personal experience, my email address and blog addresses have been appropriated by the “Nigerian Mafia.” They in turn have the full attention of the United Nations, the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Secretary of State, and others, even the receiver of Revenue. The fact that I know none of these people is hard to believe when there are bank accounts In Lagos, and other banks as well, which have my e-mail address in place of a name on them. I can neither close them nor move them. To go to Nigeria in person, would be to risk one’s life, perhaps even a knock on my own apartment door, for they have scattered over the world. If it is ever made available, I have a list of worthy Christian missions and charities to send it, after taxes of course. I am not holding my breath though. It is up to my Lord.

5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:

A FREE MESSAGE

Paul, as ourselves, did not expect those we hope to help to pay as well. He was a tent maker, I a missionary..

6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.

7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.

NOT CHARGEABLE

9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.

MINISTRY OF WITNESSING

We, along with the church at Thessalonica, are saved to tell others of our Lord and His message of salvation because of his great love.

10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:

EXHORTED AND COMFORTED

11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,

12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

BRING THE WORD

13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:

15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:

16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
OCTOBER

16th. Sunday – Jeremiah 37, 38, 39, 2 Thessalonians 1, Psalm 119:41-48
17th. Monday – Jeremiah 40, 41, 42, 2 Thessalonians 2, Psalm 119:49-56
18th. Tuesday – Jeremiah 43, 44, 2 Thessalonians 3, Psalm 119:57-64
19th. Wednesday - Jeremiah 45, 46, 47, Titus 1, Proverbs 25:11-20
20th. Thursday - Jeremiah 48, 49:27, Titus 2, Psalm 119:65-72
21st. Friday – Jeremiah 49:28-50:46, Titus 3, Psalm 119:73-80
22nd. Saturday - Jeremiah 51:1-58, Philemon, Proverbs 119:81-88

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;” - 1 Thessalonians 1:2

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