Acts 18:1

After these things, Paul departed from Athens and came to Corinth. He found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome. They came to Paul, and because they were of the same craft, Paul abode with them and worked with them, for by their occupation they were tent makers. Paul reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both the Jews and the Greeks.

Now, when Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, Paul was pressed in the Spirit and testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.

Let's pray. Father, as we just sang, how great is our God. Throughout eternity, we will be examining the greatness of You, our God. What a privilege and blessing it is to call You our God, the creator of all things. You are our God, the Lord of heavens and the earth. So, Father, we ask that You, by Your Spirit today, would continue to reveal Yourself to us through Your Word. Continue to teach us and speak to us, transforming us by the renewing of our minds. We ask this in Jesus' name. And all God's people agreed, saying, Amen. Amen. You can be seated.

As we saw in our study last week, Paul had come to the city of Athens. There, as he journeyed around the city, he found altars and little places of worship dedicated to hundreds of different gods. Of course, there were the major gods worshipped in Athens, such as Apollo and Diana. However, there were also small altars dedicated to all kinds of different deities. He even found one dedicated to the unknown God. Paul began to speak to the people in the marketplace of Athens about the unknown God and was given an opportunity to address the philosophers of that great city, which has been called the birthplace of Western civilization.

He was taken up into Mars Hill, the Areopagus, where he was able to preach Christ. He preached the Scriptures to them, although they would not have known he was preaching the Scriptures because he spoke from their own poets. He used some of their own references from their city in Athens. Despite this, Paul was able to preach the gospel to the people gathered there, but it was not well received. For the most part, those at the Areopagus said, "Oh, we'll hear you again on this matter," and they mocked what he had to say, dismissing the gospel. However, there were a few who began to follow by faith Jesus of Nazareth.

It is very likely that while Paul was in the city of Athens, Silas and Timothy came and briefly visited him. Remember, when he first arrived in Athens, his companions from Berea were sent back by Paul to Berea and Thessalonica to bring Timothy and Silas to Athens with all speed. What Paul saw in the city stirred him so much that he wanted them to come quickly. Although we do not read it in the book of Acts, it is plausible that Silas and Timothy met briefly with Paul before being sent back to Berea and Thessalonica. Silas was essentially pastoring or ministering to those in the city of Berea, while Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica to minister to the new churches that had been planted there.

Paul then went on to Corinth, which is 55 miles to the west of Athens. If Athens was the philosophical center of that region of the world, then Corinth was the political and commercial capital of the Macedonian and Achaia area. When Paul arrived in Corinth, he found a city that was wholly Greek in every way. Although there was a synagogue of the Jews there, he discovered a city given over to all sorts of licentious behavior and immorality. In fact, during this time period, there was a saying that to "live like a Corinthian" meant to live a life full of immorality, drunkenness, and the pursuit of sensual pleasures. The understanding was that the Corinthians were completely and wholly given over to pleasure-seeking and sensual behavior. Corinth was like the Las Vegas of the first century; what happened in Corinth stayed in Corinth. The city was also known for the temple to Aphrodite in the center.

Every night at sundown, more than a thousand temple priestesses, who were in reality temple prostitutes, would come down from the temple and into the city. The people of Corinth would worship Aphrodite in very sensual and sexual ways with these prostitutes, and the money gathered would be given to the temple.

Every two years, the Isthmian Games would come to the city, making Corinth a place dedicated to both athletics and pleasure. Oftentimes, when we think of ancient games, we think of the Olympic Games that took place every four years at Olympia. However, in Corinth, the Isthmian Games occurred every two years. The city was very large, probably second only to Rome during this period of time, with more than 100,000 people living there. It was a multicultural and multilingual center of that region, where commerce thrived and moved through the trade center of Corinth.

Corinth sat on a piece of land bordered by the Aegean Sea to the east and the Adriatic Sea to the west. Since that strip of land was very thin, only four miles separated the Aegean Sea from the Adriatic Sea. It was easier for merchant ships to come to the eastern port of Corinth, where the ships could be taken out of the water and placed on carts. Slaves would then wheel them across that four-mile stretch of land and put them back into the water at the Adriatic Sea. This method was more cost-effective and less dangerous than navigating all the way around the Peloponnesian Peninsula to transport goods from the Eastern Roman Empire to the Western Roman Empire.

Thus, Corinth was a city of great commerce, filled with slavery, pleasure-seeking, sensuality, and false god worship. Paul now comes to bring the gospel to this group of people. In each of the cities that Paul had visited up to this point, both during his first and second missionary journeys, he typically only stayed for a very short period of time. At most, we assume he spent six months in some places. In Thessalonica, for example, he was there for three Sabbath days, likely not more than a month. He was probably not in Athens for more than a month either, nor in Berea. In the region of Galatia, we know he planted four different churches, spending only short periods of time there—three months or four months at a time.

However, when he arrives in Corinth, we will see that he spends 18 months in the city because God is going to do a great work there.

Now, a great work, of course, would be met with all kinds of issues and problems. The church at Corinth had more issues than maybe any other early church, a first-century church. Two of Paul's longest letters were written to the believers of the church of Corinth. Much of what was written in both 1st and 2nd Corinthians was a rebuke to the people of those places because the world had crept into the church, even in just a very short period of time after Paul planted the church.

When I think of the church in Corinth, I often am reminded of the church in California, the church in America, where the world has crept in in so many ways. We read that Paul departed from Athens by himself. Silas and Timothy were up in Macedonia, a couple of hundred miles north of where Paul was in the city of Berea and Thessalonica. Paul came to Corinth and found a certain Jew there whose name was Aquila. Aquila was born in Pontus and had just come to Corinth from the region of Italy, specifically from Rome.

As I mentioned a few weeks ago, we see reference to it here in verse 2 that Claudius Caesar had banished the Jews from Rome in AD 49. Aquila, being a Jew and living in the city of Rome, was also expelled. He and his wife, Priscilla, came to Corinth and set up shop there. It is believed, based on early church tradition, that Priscilla was from a fairly wealthy background, perhaps a well-to-do family. In fact, some believe that she was even of royalty.

So, here Aquila and Priscilla were in the city of Corinth, attending the synagogue of the Jews there when Paul showed up. It just so happened that Paul had some things in common with them because they were tent makers, or at least Aquila was. It seems that Paul had that very same line of work in his life. When we think of Paul the Apostle, we think of a full-time minister, but he also worked in the marketplace and primarily provided for himself, especially when he was in the city of Thessalonica.

As we will see here in Corinth, occasionally different churches that Paul planted would send him financial help. The Philippian church was known for financially supporting the Apostle Paul's ministry, and the churches in Macedonia did throughout his ministry. However, primarily, Paul worked in the marketplace during the day and looked for every opportunity to preach the gospel, whether in the synagogue or the marketplace. He and Aquila worked together, and Paul even lived with them while he was there.

In Corinth, as was Paul's custom, he reasoned in the synagogue every Sabbath and persuaded both the Jews and the Greeks. He worked in the marketplace day by day throughout the week, but when the Sabbath day came, Paul would dress in his Pharisaic garb and go to the synagogue, looking for an opportunity to speak and reason with the Jews gathered there. They would no doubt open the doors wide and say, "Please come on in. You're from Jerusalem. You've been trained under Gamaliel. We would love to hear what you have to say."

We don't know how long Paul was in the synagogue in Corinth, witnessing and reasoning with the Jews before Silas and Timothy showed up. However, we read in verse five that Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia at a certain point in time. When they arrived, it says Paul was pressed in the spirit and he testified to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ. This is interesting because it raises the question of what Paul was reasoning with the Jews in the synagogue about before Silas and Timothy arrived. He did not preach that Jesus of Nazareth was the Messiah until they came. Prior to that, he was reasoning with them in the synagogue.

I believe that Paul was there in the synagogue reasoning with them out of their Scriptures, discussing the law and speaking about the prophets. Paul had an amazing grasp of the Old Testament and the prophetic works, so he was likely plowing the ground before planting the seed. Plowing in evangelism is extremely important. A lot of times, when we think of evangelism, we envision striking up a conversation with someone in the marketplace and, within five minutes, sharing the four spiritual laws and getting a decision for Christ. However, when we examine evangelism in the New Testament and even in the life of Jesus, we see that it was wholly and completely different.

In the Gospels, we see that a rich young ruler came to Jesus one day, threw himself down at Jesus' feet, and said, "Master, good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" Today, if someone came running up to us and threw themselves down, asking what they must do to inherit eternal life, we would probably respond by saying, "Let me lead you through the four spiritual laws here. Let me tell you about this God-shaped hole in your heart and how Jesus can fill it. Pray this prayer with me." But Jesus didn't do that. His response to that man who came to him was rather odd in reality.

He looked at him and said, "Why do you call me good? There's only one who's good, and that is God." Then he began to speak to him about the law. Ultimately, that rich young ruler went away that day distressed because he had much wealth.

It's interesting that Jesus didn't just jump right in and begin to proclaim to him the gospel of truth as he had preached the gospel in many other places. The same thing is true when Paul first came to Corinth. He went into the synagogue of the Jews and was reasoning with them. He was building a relationship with them and looking for an opportunity to share the gospel of Jesus Christ. He spoke about the law and the prophets, sharing with them who the Messiah really was.

When Silas and Timothy showed up, Paul was stirred by the testimony they brought him. The reports from Thessalonica and Berea revealed that the churches Paul had planted, although only about six months old, were growing. Even in the face of persecution, the church in Thessalonica was thriving. When Paul heard these things, he knew it was time to plant the church in Corinth.

On the Sabbath day, pressed by the Holy Spirit, he testified to the Jews gathered there that Jesus of Nazareth is the Messiah, the Christ, the anointed one. You remember when Paul was in Galatia or when he came to Thessalonica or Berea. He would go into the synagogue of the Jews and preach to them. As soon as he talked about Jesus, did they all immediately open up and say, "Praise God, this is exactly what we've been looking for"? No. Most of the time, that was when Paul met with opposition.

The same thing happens here in Acts chapter 18, verse 6. When they opposed themselves and blasphemed, he shook his clothing and said to them, "Your blood be upon your own heads. I am clean. From henceforth, I will go unto the Gentiles." This is exactly what Jesus had told his disciples to do in Matthew chapter 10, verse 14: "Go and preach the gospel to the lost sheep of the house of Israel. If they reject it, if they refuse to receive it, then dust yourself off and go to the next city."

Here in Corinth, when Paul preached that Jesus is the Christ to these lost sheep of the house of Israel, he faced the same challenges.

Many of them opposed and blasphemed Jesus, whom Paul was preaching. So, Paul shook his clothes and said, "Your blood be upon your own heads. I've preached the gospel to you, and now I'm going to preach unto the Gentiles." He departed thence and entered into a certain man's house whose name was Justice, one who worshipped God, whose house was joined hard to the synagogue. Crispus, the chief ruler of the synagogue, believed on the Lord with all his house. Many of the Corinthians, hearing, believed and were baptized.

Now, officially, the church in Corinth is planted. Paul preaches the gospel of Jesus Christ. Not everybody, but some among the Jews received the gospel. Many God-fearers, that is, Gentiles who believed in the one true God, also received the gospel. They believed and were baptized. However, there is now opposition building in the city of Corinth. Just as there had been opposition in Thessalonica, in the churches of Galatia, and in Berea, now once again, there's opposition building.

When Paul was in Galatia and opposition built, the church pulled him aside. These new churches that were built said, "Paul, listen, this doesn't look good. We think you should go." When he came to Philippi, there was opposition to the gospel. They beat Paul and Silas and threw them in prison. After that, the church gathered together and said, "Paul, we think you need to go." The same thing happened in Thessalonica and again in Berea. Now, opposition is beginning to build in Corinth. In the past, the church would say, "Hey, we think you should move on to the next city."

I'm certain, even though we don't see it in the passage, that there were people in the church in Corinth saying, "Maybe it's a good idea for you to leave the church to us." But the Lord had a different plan. Notice this, verse 9: Then spoke the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision and said, "Be not afraid, but speak and hold not thy peace. Be not afraid and speak, hold not thy peace."

I believe that God would speak the very same word to you and me that He spoke to the Apostle Paul when he was in Corinth nearly 2,000 years ago. You see, the enemy, our adversary, the devil, in our society and our culture today...

He seeks and is very effective at intimidating the body of Christ and causing them to keep their mouths shut. He scares the body of Christ from speaking up and sharing the gospel of truth that we believe. There are those in our culture, especially in the media today, who will loudly declare that Christians should keep their mouths shut and keep their Christianity within the walls of the church. It's a personal thing; they say, "Don't bring it into the public arena."

Have you ever heard that? That's their belief. That's their worldview. That's the doctrine they adhere to. According to their doctrine, they tell us to keep our doctrine to ourselves and be quiet. I wonder, why is it that they can loudly proclaim their doctrine while wanting us to shut up about ours? I believe it's because the gospel of Jesus Christ is a stumbling block to those who are perishing. The gospel of Jesus Christ causes conviction in their hearts and minds. Their souls writhe in pain when they hear the word of God because it shines a bright light upon the darkness of their hearts, revealing the sin they have hidden so deeply.

So, they want us to be quiet. I believe God would say to us, "Do not be afraid, but speak; do not hold your peace." Yes, the world and those who are perishing in this world want you and me to be quiet about our Christianity. They don't want us to talk about sin, death, and judgment. They don't want us to discuss prophecy and the coming of the Lord because all of that scares them. And praise God it does. I would say, speak up. Speak with a very clear tone. Open wide your mouth and speak the word of truth.

God says to Paul, "Do not be afraid." Now, who do you typically say words like that to? If you say to someone, "Don't be afraid," who are you speaking to? Someone who is afraid.

Turn in your Bibles to 1 Corinthians chapter 1. Let's look at what was going on when Paul first came to the city of Corinth. You are in the book of Acts; just turn two books to the right to 1 Corinthians. 1 Corinthians was written some years after this point.

When Paul was writing back to the church that he planted and pastored in the city of Corinth, he shared a bit about his experience when he first arrived there. In 1 Corinthians, chapter 1 and chapter 2, beginning in verse 17, he states, "For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel." Paul emphasizes that he was sent to preach the gospel, not the wisdom of words, lest the cross of Christ should be made of none effect.

He explains that "the preaching of the cross is to them that are perishing foolishness, but unto us which are saved, it is the power of God." He quotes Isaiah, saying, "For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise and will bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent." Paul continues, "Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this world? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world?"

He notes that, "For after that in the wisdom of God, the world by wisdom knew not God; it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe." He points out that "the Jews require a sign and the Greeks seek after wisdom. But we preach Christ crucified. Unto the Jews a stumbling block, unto the Greeks foolishness. But unto them which are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ, the power of God, and the wisdom of God."

Paul concludes that "the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men." He reminds the brethren of their calling, noting that "not many wise after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble are called." He explains that "God has chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise. God has chosen the weak things of the world to confound those that are mighty."

Furthermore, he states, "And the base things of the world and the things that are despised has God chosen; yea, and things which are not to bring to naught those things that are, that no flesh should glory in his presence." He adds, "But of him are you in Christ Jesus, who of God has made unto us wisdom and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, that according as it is written, he that glories, let him glory in the Lord."

In chapter 2, verse 1, Paul continues, "And I, brethren, when I came to you, I did not come with excellency of speech."

Or of wisdom declaring unto you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you save Jesus Christ and Him crucified. I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling. My speech and my preaching were not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in the demonstration of the Spirit and of power. Why? That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

Howbeit, we speak the wisdom among them that are perfect. We do not speak the wisdom of this world, nor the princes of this world that are come to naught. But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory. Paul says, when I came to you, I didn't come, Corinthians, with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring the testimony of God. I came in fear and weakness and in much trembling.

When Paul came to the city of Corinth, he didn't come, as I sometimes picture the Apostle Paul, with great power and great oratory skill. He was not like that. He came in trembling. He came in weakness. God had to speak to this humbled man and say, "Do not be afraid." In verse 9 of Acts chapter 18, God instructed him, "Do not be afraid, but speak. Hold not thy peace." Why? In verse 10, God reassured him, "For I am with you."

Would you back in Acts chapter 18, verse 10, underline those words: "For I am with you." Yes, the world does not want us to speak boldly the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The enemy of our souls, the devil, is the prince of this world, and he wants to scare us away from speaking forth the truth. The enemy is always seeking to discourage us, always seeking to distress us in preaching the gospel.

But God's word to Paul was the very same word that God spoke to Joshua, the leader of the nation of Israel, just before they came into the promised land. In Joshua chapter 1, verse 6, God said, "Be strong and of good courage, for unto this people shalt thou divide for an inheritance the land which I swore unto their fathers to give unto them. Only be thou strong and very courageous, that thou mayest observe to do according to all the law which Moses, My servant..."

God commanded you not to turn from it to the right hand or to the left, that you may prosper whithersoever thou goest. Again, in verse 9, He says, "Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage." God would say the same thing to Paul: do not be ashamed of the gospel. Do not be fearful to proclaim it, even though many times the world will say, "We don't want to hear what you have to say. It's foolishness." God would say, "Speak forth the truth. Do not be afraid. Speak. Hold not thy peace." For God says, "I am with you, and no man," He says to Paul, "shall set on thee to hurt thee, for I have many people in this city."

Note that God says, "I have many people in this city." There are many who could be considered allies in the city of Corinth, but also many in that city whom God had elected, ordained, and called to life. Therefore, He wanted Paul to speak forth the truth. There are many in our world today that God desires would come to Him, and they need to hear the word of the gospel. They need us to speak. Just as Paul would tell the church at Rome in Romans chapter 10, "How shall they hear without a preacher?" We need to speak forth the word of God.

It is not sufficient to have good pastors who teach good Bible studies on Wednesday nights, Sunday mornings, or throughout the week within the walls of this church. We do this so that you, the body of Christ, would be equipped to take the word of God into this world. God would remind us today, "I am with you. Speak boldly the truth," because there are many in our society that need to hear the word.

When Paul received this vision from the Lord, we see the response to it in verse 11. He continued there a year and six months, teaching the word among them. God gave Paul His word and said, "I've called you to be here, and I want you to preach the word." For 18 months, Paul, Silas, and Timothy would stay in the city of Corinth as a church would be built there—a church that we will study more as we continue through the New Testament.

There is something else very important that took place in the city of Corinth when Paul was there in the year A.D. 51 and 52, which is exactly where we are reading in the book of Acts. It was at this time...

When Silas and Timothy came and met up with the Apostle Paul in the city of Corinth at the end of A.D. 51, Paul penned the letter to the church at Thessalonica that we call First Thessalonians. Over the next few weeks, we will take some time to study through First and Second Thessalonians because they were written back to back. First Thessalonians was probably written at the very end of the year A.D. 51, while Second Thessalonians was probably written about mid-year A.D. 52.

Would you turn with me in your Bibles to First Thessalonians chapter 1? As you are turning there, remember the historic context of what was going on. Paul had come to the city of Thessalonica about mid-year in 51 A.D. He had just come from the city of Philippi, where he had been beaten by the Roman officials. When he arrived in Thessalonica, he was likely still very bruised from the beating he had received.

He preached the gospel for three Sabbath days in that city, and a church was planted. Immediately after the church was established, he was kicked out of Thessalonica by a group of Jews who opposed his message. These men sought to destroy not only Paul but also the work he had done wherever he went. They took it upon themselves to try to destroy the church that Paul had planted in Thessalonica.

Imagine for a moment that this new baby church in Thessalonica was experiencing persecution from a group of zealots trying to completely destroy them. They were under tribulation, and Paul wrote to them as an encouragement and as an admonition, a way of instructing them.

We read in verse 1 of First Thessalonians chapter 1: "Paul and Silas and Timothy unto the church of the Thessalonians, which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be unto you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, remembering without ceasing your work of faith and your labor of love and your patience of hope."

In our Lord Jesus Christ and in the sight of God and our Father, knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

You became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you were examples to all them that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God is spread abroad, so that we need not to speak anything.

For they themselves show of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how that you turned to God from the idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

Several things as Paul opens this letter that I want us to take note of as we wrap up today. First, Paul is writing to a group of believers. They were going through tribulation, and in the midst of tribulation, they were still a good witness, even though they were young in their faith. The church at Thessalonica, when Paul wrote this letter, was probably only about six months old in the Lord.

Most every single one of you here today have been following Jesus as Christ, as Lord, for more than six months. Remember back to when you were a baby Christian, so to speak, when you were six months in the Lord. Imagine if, when you were an early Christian, someone took it as their aim, as their goal, to destroy your faith by whatever means possible. Imagine if they wanted to destroy your trust and your confidence in the gospel of Jesus Christ and that they would use whatever means, even persecution, even physical harm, tribulation.

And yet, this young church was displaying mature Christian behavior. Notice that in verse 3. Paul in verse 2 says,

We make mention of you always in our prayers, and when we pray about you, we remember without ceasing three things. If you're taking notes, you may want to jot these down. We remember, number one, your work of faith; number two, your labor of love; and number three, your patience of hope. We remember your work of faith, your labor of love, and your patience of hope. These three components are important aspects of Christian maturity: faith, love, and hope.

The last three chapters of the Book of Hebrews deal with maturity in Christ, bringing people to perfection, as the author of Hebrews says. In chapter 11, he talks about faith; in chapter 12, he discusses hope; and in chapter 13, he addresses love. The Apostle Paul, in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, finishes that great chapter on the love of God by stating, "Now abide these three: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of these is love."

As you read through the New Testament, especially the letters, you will see faith, hope, and love constantly referenced as benchmarks for Christian maturity. Here was a group of Christians in the city of Thessalonica who had only been saved for about six months, and yet they were already displaying the roots of Christian maturity in their lives.

Number one, they had the work of faith. When we consider the concept of faith in the year 2010, we often think about it in purely mental terms, as an intellectual aspect of faith. We talk about faith as a mental hurdle that we jump over to believe and trust that Jesus is God, that Jesus is the Christ, that Jesus died on a cross 2,000 years ago, was placed in a tomb, and three days later rose from the dead.

Many people in our own nation and community today will say, "Yes, I believe that Jesus is God, and I believe that Jesus rose from the dead." They may mentally trust that this is the case, but that mental faith must become a practical faith in our lives. Our belief must change our behavior. James said it like this: "Faith without works is dead." Faith without works is not true faith.

James also said that even the demons believe, and they tremble. You see, demons and devils believe that there is one God. They mentally assent to the fact that, yes, there is one God. They even believe that Jesus is the Son of God, as testified in the Gospels. Many times, we see the demons speaking forth from a demon-possessed individual, declaring that this one is the Christ. They even believe that Jesus rose from the dead, but it has in no way transformed their reality.

What that shows us is that there are people in our world today who can believe with their minds that, yes, there was a man 2,000 years ago named Jesus who performed miracles, died on a cross, and rose from the dead, but that has in no way transformed their reality. They are not working out their faith. They don't have a faith that works, and so they lack a faith that is active. Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, their faith became reality and was being exercised in their lives.

How was it being exercised in their lives? Well, number two, we remember without ceasing your labor of love. One of the ways that their faith was practically being worked out was in the way that they loved their community. Paul even said that he was praying for their faith to abound even more in love, as noted in chapter 3, verse 12: "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another and toward all men, even as we do toward you." So, Paul was praying for this church that their love would continue to abound.

As a Christian, as a person who has put my faith in Jesus Christ, and as that faith is being worked out and transforming my behavior in this world, I ought to live my life the way that Jesus taught me to. This means I am to love. Remember, Jesus said the greatest commandment is to love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength. He also said the second is like it: you shall love your neighbor as yourself. But Jesus went a step further in his teaching to his disciples and said to love your enemy.

This love that God has called us to becomes a part of our lives when we begin to work out our faith. This love is wholly and completely different from the love that is shown to us in this world, the love that is displayed as love in the world today. You see,

Our world looks at what could be considered the most supreme exhibition of love as being making love—sexual and physical love. They say that's the supreme object of love in our society, but that's completely false. That's not what the Scriptures reveal in any way. Jesus would tell His disciples that they are to love one another. Paul spoke about this as well.

In Galatians chapter 6, verse 1, he said, "Brethren, if a man be overtaken in a trespass, you that are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of meekness or gentleness, considering yourself lest you also be tempted." He goes on to say, "Bear one another's burdens and so fulfill the law of Christ." We all know that verse.

God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. The demonstration of this kind of love is a self-sacrificing love that is willing to humble oneself to exalt another, to lift them up, to bear their burdens, to tend to them, and to serve them. Paul spoke to this group of people, saying, "We remember without ceasing your work of faith." Your faith has become active in your lives and is being exhibited by your labor of love. You love one another within the body of Christ, but you also love those who persecute you.

Here's the amazing thing: when you and I step out by faith to bring the labor of love to this community, the world will hate you. Remember how they dealt with Jesus? He demonstrated the most beautiful exhibition of love that can ever be seen, and they killed Him.

When you set out to work out your faith and labor to bring the love of Christ to a sick and dying world, they will hate you for it and persecute you, just as they persecuted Paul and the church at Thessalonica. How do we deal with persecution? What do we do when people come against us, whether in word or deed?

Now, let's be honest. Here in California, we don't really experience much in the way of persecution. The greatest form of persecution people experience around here is often something like, "That guy took my parking space." But perhaps you've experienced...

Some form of tribulation, some form of difficulty, is a reality we all face. As a mature believer or as one who is seeking maturity in Christ, how do we react when we experience such things? Notice how this church reacted. They, without ceasing, were remembered by Paul for their work of faith, their labor of love, and their patience of hope. This was a church that was experiencing tribulation, and yet they were patient in the midst of it. They had patience of hope.

In verse 6, Paul says, "And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction." The Greek word there is "thlipsis." It means tribulation, persecution, oppression. It is the very same Greek word that Jesus used in John chapter 16. In John 16:33, Jesus said to his disciples, "These things have I spoken unto you that you might have peace. In the world, you shall have thlipsis, tribulation. But be of good cheer; I have overcome the world."

I guarantee that every single one of you sitting here today, myself included, would have much rather that Jesus said, "In the world, you shall have peace." How many would agree? He didn't say that. Instead, He said, "In the world, you shall have tribulation." Just before that, He mentioned that He spoke these things so that we might have peace, but we are going to have tribulation.

Why did Jesus tell us this? Jesus told us this because He is not a liar. He spoke the truth, and the truth is that you and I will experience difficulty. We will experience tribulation. Perhaps you already have. If you haven't, you will. Paul told Timothy that anyone who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer tribulation and persecution. It is for sure.

But in the midst of tribulation, in the midst of suffering, Jesus said, "These things have I spoken unto you that you might have peace." How can we have peace in the midst of the storm?

How can we have peace when tribulation comes? Well, Jesus says, "These things I've spoken unto you to give you peace." What things? In John chapter 14, just before Jesus made that statement, He said in verse 1, "Let not your heart be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. In my Father's house are many mansions. Were it not so, I would not have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you unto myself, that where I am, there you may be also."

Jesus gives us this great promise in John chapter 14 of an enduring kingdom that He has created for you and me, who have placed our trust and faith in Him. At death or at the rapture, when He comes—whatever it may be—the Lord will gather us together to be with Him for eternity. He says, "I've spoken these words to you that you might have peace, but in the world, you're going to have tribulation."

The church in Thessalonica was experiencing tribulation, and yet Paul says, "You have the patience of hope." Hope in what? Paul would tell the church at Corinth that "the sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." Constantly, Jesus, Peter, Paul, and the rest of the disciples pointed our focus back to the reality of eternity.

As we wrap up the day, I want you to notice how Paul does that in this letter. Look at the last two verses of chapter 1. In 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 9, Paul says, "For they themselves show us what manner of entering in we had unto you, how that you, Thessalonians, turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come."

Paul reminds this group of believers, who were going through tribulation and actively working out their faith, that Jesus, the Son of God, is one day going to come from heaven to receive us to Himself again, and He has delivered us from wrath. Paul would say very much the same thing in chapter 5, verse 9, where he states, "For God has not appointed us unto wrath, but to obtain salvation."

Through Jesus Christ, Paul reminds the church that is going through tribulation that God, in Christ Jesus, has delivered us from wrath, and we will be with Him when He comes for us. At the end of chapter 2, in 1 Thessalonians 2, verse 19, Paul asks, "For what is our hope or joy or crown of rejoicing? Are not even you in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and our joy." Paul expresses that this is what brings him joy. He knows that when the Lord comes again, he and the church will be in His presence.

Once again, speaking to a group of people enduring tribulation, Paul reassures them that they will be with the Lord. At the end of chapter 3, in 1 Thessalonians 3, verse 12, he writes, "And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love toward one another, toward all men, even as we do toward you, to the end that He, God, may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even the Father, at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ with His saints." Here, Paul brings them back to the reality of eternity.

This theme continues in chapter 4, verse 13. In 1 Thessalonians 4, verse 13, he states, "But I would not have you ignorant, brethren, concerning them that have fallen asleep or those that have died, that you sorrow not even as those that have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so, them also which die or sleep in Jesus will God bring with Him."

Paul continues, "For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent or shall not precede them which are asleep or have died. For the Lord Himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet of God, and the dead in Christ shall rise first. Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with Him in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so shall we ever be with the Lord."

Notice his last exhortation.

In verse 18, it says, "Wherefore, comfort one another with these words." How do we have patience of hope when we're working out our faith and laboring in love in a world that hates us? We must remember that our God has prepared a place for us, and one day He is going to come and carry us away to that place. The sufferings of this present world are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us. Until He comes, we must continue to work in faith and labor in love, being patient in hope and preaching the gospel.

Finishing up with this, let’s look at 1 Thessalonians 1, verse 5. Notice what Paul says: "For our gospel came not unto you in word only." It is unfortunate that in our day, the gospel is largely delivered in word only. Yes, it is preached, and it is necessary. We see it in books, on the internet, in print, on TV, and in movies. The gospel is given, but it is primarily given in word only. Paul emphasizes, "When I came to you and brought the gospel to you, I didn't bring it to you in word only."

There are three ways the gospel was brought to the Thessalonians in verse 5. First, by the word. When the gospel came to you, it came not by word only, although it did come by the word. It also came in power and in the Holy Spirit. When the gospel was brought to the Thessalonians, it was delivered through the word of the preacher, but it was also accompanied by the power of the Holy Spirit. This power was displayed either in miracles that were wrought in their midst or in the transformation that took place in the people of that city.

So, when the gospel came, it came by the word, but it also came, number two, by power. Not only that, there is one more thing. Paul says, "And in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sake." When the gospel was brought to the Thessalonians by the Apostle Paul, along with Timothy and Silas, it was brought in word, it was brought in power, and thirdly, it was brought by a good example.

By a good example and much assurance, we know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. As we'll see when we continue through Thessalonians next week, Paul says, "When we came to you, we didn't come trying to get anything from you. We didn't come with covetousness. We didn't come trying to tax you and take something from you. We came delivering the life-giving word of God to you."

Unfortunately, and I say this with real sorrow, the modern church in many ways has not been a good example of the gospel. I believe that God desires that we, as the body of Christ, would change that. What I mean is that when you ask people in the world who are not believers—those that don't attend church—about church, they often say, "Ah, the church is full of hypocrites." This perception exists because, in many ways, we have not been good examples of the gospel.

When Paul, Silas, and Timothy came to the city of Thessalonica, they were examples of the teaching of Christ being exhibited in their lives. People could look at them and say, "They are different." My question is, can people look at my life? Can they look at our lives? Can they say, "They are disciples of Christ"? Do we live out what Jesus said? Are we honorable? Are we honest? Do we have integrity? Do we show forth the fruit of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, kindness, gentleness, self-control?

Do people see in us the teachings we proclaim with our lips, or is it in word only? You will be laughed at if the gospel is only something you talk about or wear on a t-shirt and don't live it out. And rightly so. If my life does not exhibit the things that I'm teaching, or at least if I'm striving to live up to these things—yes, I'm not perfect, and yes, I have not attained—but if my life is not seen by those outside as one that is striving to live after the things that I say, they have a right to laugh at me.

So may we endeavor, in the culture in which we're living, though they may dismiss, mock, or persecute us, to be those who, in word and in deed, show forth the gospel truth. Amen? Let's stand and pray. Father God,

As we continue through Your Word, as we study week by week, day by day, would You please, by Your Spirit, transform us more and more into the image of Your Son? Transform us by the renewing of our minds. Let us not be conformed to this world, Father.

Lord, as people see us in this community, I pray that they would see You in us. Let us shine our light so brightly among men that they would see our good works and glorify You, our Father in heaven. Shine brightly through Your church, Father, and work in our lives to be those like Paul, like Silas, and like Timothy, who display the reality of the Gospel.

For we ask it in Jesus' name. Amen. I love You. Thank You.