FHBC Sermon Notes

1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 - Brother Bruce Ferris - Jim is sick and this morning we hear from a mentor and friend. A word about and from our Lord and friend, Jesus.

In this passage we see Paul proclaiming how these people that he spent time with was sits glory and joy, for who they had become in Christ.

What was it that these people did that brought Paul such joy?

1. Their reaction to the Word of God. V. 13

This meant they were hearing the word not just with their ears, but also their heart. Not in one ear and out, but in one ear and to the heart. They loved the word of God.

It seems we too often do not treat the word of God as something we love. Too many Christians regard their bible as something to bring to church, not the words that bring life.

They not only loved it but they learned the word. They studied it, dwelled on it, digested it. They took it in and made it part of their life. Are we taste testers of scripture? Are we being satisfied with a life of sip and spit? We must internalize it. What if as a husband I showed public love for my wife, but in private spent no time with her. What type of husband would I be.

They loved it, they learned it, and they also lived it. Almost like an app for your phone. You hear about it, you download it, but what is the use if you never use the app. What a great analogy Bruce! "Blessed are you of you do these things." from the book of James.

2. Their resolve to stand together in time adversity. V. 14-18

Remember what Paul said about the enemy that he comes to steal, kill and destroy. The Thessalonians knew this, and they resolved to stand. "You also suffered" Paul says. They had no dissolution that as Christians life would be easy. They knew that they would share in the sufferings of their Lord. They knew they could stand, not from heir own strength, but because Christ was their joy and strength.

3. Their resilience to stand in the word.

Phillipians 3 - they were following Paul's example. They pressed on through the adversity. They lived in the present and the future. They lived on, because they knew of the hope to come.

Do you know what Paul did because he could not see his friends. He wrote this letter that we are studying now. Satan thought he had hindered Paul, but in Christ the gospel is proclaimed anew because of the hindrance.

That is God's grace in action. Amen!