1Thes1:2-10 The Impact of Faith
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# The Impact of Faith
信心的影響 ## 1 Thessalonians
帖撒羅尼迦前書 1:2-10 [Perros-Guirec, France. Erwan Hesry](https://unsplash.com/photos/WPTHZkA-M4I "caption") >>> + **Miss** you: hear what **God's** been doing in your life + even in pandemic -- **especially** during pandemic! + But can be **hard** to think of specific examples, and + even harder to think how **we've** made diff to others + "Well, stuck at **home**, ... on **computer** a lot ..." + Am I **doing** anything w/my life? --- # **How** do I make a
**difference** in others' lives?
我如何在別人的
生命中有所作為? >>> + I chose series on 1Thes to **encourage** you: + though **apart**, keep **growing** in Christ together + But we need encouragement to be **specific**: + "Keep up good work!" -- oh thx, what work? + "You're so **cute**!" -- arrghh... + "**Good** person, **mean** well?" -- kinda vague + Encouragement from today's passage very specific: + so we know what successes to **thank** God for + and **goals** we need to continue **pursuing** + How we **heard** gospel + **responded** --- ## (prayer) >>> + Come to receive the **Word**: not Sean's word / wisdom + but Word of the **living** + true God + the Word which **pierces** our own souls + the Word which lets us **behold the Lamb** of God --- [Roberto Reggi](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Paul_the_Apostle,_second_missionary_journey.svg "caption") >>> + Thessalonika: prov. **capital** of Macedonia + **wealthy** port at ix of 2 major trade routes + Ac17: Paul only **3wks**: Philippi - Thess - Berea + 1Thes **encourage**, very little **rebuke** (cf Cor, Gal!) + "**Thankful** as remember you" / "as you **know**" + "don't need anyone **remind** you" / "**continue** to do" + Starts out w/today's passage (ch1): + **thanksgiving** for Thess: --- ## Impact of Faith 信心的影響 1. **Energy 能量** [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. **Election 揀選** [(v4-5)](# "ref") 1. **Example 榜樣** [(v6-10)](# "ref") >>> + 1. Thanks God for **work** Thess have been doing + 2. Expresses confid in God's **calling** of Thess + demonstrated by HS in power + 3. Highlights **impact** Thess have made on believers everywhere + through their journey of faith --- We give **thanks** to God always for all of you,
constantly mentioning you in our **prayers**,
[3](# "ref") **remembering** before our God and Father your work of **faith** and labor of **love**
and steadfastness of **hope**
in our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + Basically what **I** want to say to **you** + (though probably don't **pray** as often as Paul!) + **Remember** in prayers: + whenever think of you, **thankful** + and here's **why**: + Faith - Hope - Love: remember end of **1Cor13**: --- So now **faith**, **hope**, and **love** abide, these three;
but the greatest of these is **love**. [1 Corinthians 13:13 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + In fact, these three are echoed throughout **1Thess** + So they form rough **outline** for this 7-part series: --- ## Growing Together, While Apart
當分開時一起成長 | *1* | Impact of **Faith** | 信心的影響 | |---|---|---| | *2a,b* | Toil of **Love** | 愛心的勞苦 | | *3* | Strength from **Hope** | 來自盼望的力量 | | *4* | Grow in Purity + **Love** | 在清潔和愛中成長 | | *5a* | **Hope** of Salvation | 救贖的盼望 | | *5b* | Acts of **Faith** | 信心的行為 | >>> + Although Paul was unable to **visit** them in person, + but deeply **connected** in HS + 1-3 thanksgiving, 4-5 instruction + FLH, LHF + Today in **ch1**, all 3 refer to + some aspect of Thess' **work**: --- **remembering** before our God and Father
your **work** of **faith** [1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + Work (energy): **productivity**, accomplish, output + "**The** work (of you) of **the** faith" + Not strength of **our** conviction, + but trust in **God's** promises + And God is **faithful** to his promises, so + when **we** work in **line** w/those promises, + that work will be **fruitful** + What's the **secret** to productivity? Ps127: --- Unless the Lord **builds** the house,
those who build it **labor** in vain. Unless the Lord **watches** over the city,
the watchman stays **awake** in vain. [Psalm 127:1 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + Pandemic **WFH**: tired but don't feel productive? + The **work** of the **faith**: + search Scrip for God's **promises** + and **act** accordingly + Next: --- and **labor** of **love** [1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + "Labour" (debilitating blow): **toil**, hard work, difficult + e.g., son struggling w/**2D rotations** in math: + "**why** should I learn math?": "to get a **job**..." + But really, shouldn't be bc **external** motivation: + obligation, **fear** of punish, **transact** for reward + but **internally** motivated by **love**: others are + **worthy** of acts service, to **share** God's love + **Math** is part of it! Dev useful **skills**: love in **action** + e.g., friend is **overwhelmed**: life spinning out of control + **Thoughts** + hugs are needed, but also **practical** help: + "Life is **complicated**: start w/what we **do** know, + "to make sense of what we **don't** understand" + **Inductive** reasoning, mathematical **modelling** --- and **steadfastness** of **hope**
in our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Thessalonians 1:3 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + Steadfast: **persevere**, stay the course + remain/endure **under**: e.g., pressure / stress + Diff w/**stubbornness**? -- who sets the **goal**? + **My** goal I persevere in? that's just **selfishness** + **God's** reward for those who persevere in obeying? + He is **faithful**, so we have an eternal, living **hope** --- # Are my **actions** driven by God's
**faith**, **hope**, and **love**? # 我的行為是否是
被神的信望愛所驅動? >>> + Gain **productivity** from faith in God's promises + **Toil** for God's kingdom, motivated by His love + **Persevere** in serving Him bc of assurance of **hope** --- ## Impact of Faith 信心的影響 1. Energy 能量 [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. **Election 揀選** [(v4-5)](# "ref") 1. Example 榜樣 [(v6-10)](# "ref") >>> + 1. Paul **thanks** God + remembering Thess' **work** in faith + 2. Expresses **confid** in God's **calling** of Thess: + i.e., **assurance** of their salvation: --- For we know, brothers **loved** by God,
that he has **chosen** you, [5](# "ref") because
our **gospel** came to you not only in **word**, but also in **power** and in the **Holy Spirit**
and with **full conviction**. [1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + You are **loved**, and you were **chosen**: + **election**, selected **out** and for a **purpose** + Gospel came with: + **Power**: not just philosophical debate + **HS**: not gen by human conviction/emotion + Much bearing-**fullness**: not "faith" + but doing **completely**, not halfway: + **Preach** whole gospel, not just comfort part + **Believe** whole gospel, even hard passages + **Obey** w/whole life, every area/rl + What does the **power** of HS **look** like? + Ac10 Peter sharing gospel to Roman **Cornelius**: --- While **Peter** was still saying these things,
the **Holy Spirit** fell on all who **heard** the word. [Acts 10:44-46 (ESV) (p.1/3)](# "ref") --- [45](# "ref") And the **believers**
from among the circumcised
who had come with Peter were **amazed**, because the **gift** of the Holy Spirit
was poured out even on the **Gentiles**. [Acts 10:44-46 (ESV) (p.2/3)](# "ref") --- [46](# "ref") For they were hearing them
speaking in **tongues** and **extolling** God. [Acts 10:44-46 (ESV) (p.3/3)](# "ref") >>> + Don't be put off by **tongues** (hard passages!): + **interpretable**, human languages + proclaim **gospel** + to **praise** God + "Extol": make **great**, declare greatness + Purpose: not **spectacle** nor indulging emotion, but + **boldness** + authenticity to proclaim Christ's **glory** + I **know** Christ chose to **rescue** me -- + and I chose to **turn** from my own way + and to **follow** Him! + So Peter says: we've got to **baptise** these folks! --- # Have I experienced the **Holy Spirit's**
power as the gospel is proclaimed? # 當福音被傳講時,
我是否經歷了聖靈的大能? >>> + Whether I'm the **hearer** or the **proclaimer** + HS is **assurance** of God's **calling** ______ + To **me**, what stands out is God's **grace**: + Humility to recv **forgiveness** + to **forgive** + So **foreign** to our world --- ## Impact of Faith 信心的影響 1. Energy 能量 [(v2-3)](# "ref") 1. Election 揀選 [(v4-5)](# "ref") 1. **Example 榜樣** [(v6-10)](# "ref") >>> 1. Energy: **work** we do serving God motiv by **FHL** 1. Election: God **chose** us as His own; we know by **HS** 1. Example: we follow **others** in how rcv Word of God + and our **journey of faith** sets example for others --- You know what **kind** of men we proved
to be among you for your sake. [6](# "ref") And you became **imitators** of us
and of the Lord, [1 Thessalonians 1:5-6 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + "Kind"/"proved": **how we were** + not **special** effort / mtn-top events + but how we **live**: person, character, habits + "Imitators" (mimic): **emulate**, follow pos example + not only of Paul, but the **Lord** --- for you **received** the word in much **affliction**,
with the **joy** of the Holy Spirit, [7](# "ref") so that you became an **example** to all
the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. [1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + Part of how we **impact** others is how we **receive** Word: + **Attitude** with which we listen (even now!) + Not **hardened** earth which **seed** bounces off + Receive God's Word w/**obedience**: + knowing may endure **suffering** for its sake: + not w/**bitterness** of soul, but **joy** of HS + "Example" (type): **strike**, deliver a blow, impact: + Word **echoes** out from us: --- For not only has the **word** of the Lord
**sounded forth** from you
in Macedonia and Achaia, but your **faith** in God
has **gone forth** everywhere,
so that we need not say anything. [1 Thessalonians 1:8 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + **Word** of God: gospel + **Work** of God: changing our hearts --- For they themselves report concerning us
the kind of **reception** we had among you, and how you turned to God from **idols**
to serve the **living** and **true** God, [1 Thessalonians 1:9 (ESV)](# "ref") --- and to **wait** for his Son from heaven,
whom he raised from the dead, Jesus
who **delivers** us from the wrath to come. [1 Thessalonians 1:10 (ESV)](# "ref") >>> + This is our faith **journey**: + Turned from **Idols** + Serve the **Living** + True God + **Await** Jesus + Past - Present - Future + Past: idol: any we **cherish** / pursue more than God + e.g., seeking others' **approval**: + "tell me I'm a good person!" + e.g., science, human **intellect**: + "if not observable, then not true" + e.g., **perfection** in others, rl, or even self: + "don't you dare insinuate anything bad + "about my kid / marriage / parents" --- >>> + Present: serve **living** + **true** God: + God is source of **life** + gives us renewed life + His Word is **truth**: guides us in wisdom + so we commit to **servant's** life in obedience + Future: Jesus resurrected, ascended, will **return**: + so we **wait** (unique word in NT): + **Rising** wait until completion: increasing anticip + not **passive**, killing time + but w/full **assurance** of hope, + **acting** accordingly + How has our faith **journey** impacted others? --- >>> + Learn by example: e.g., WFH, son's **desk** next to mine: + when **frustrated**: "arrrgh!" + You **already** make an impact, even in daily life: + e.g., wife **car battery** died: pushed mid parking lot + got **nasty** looks! Son: "so **humiliating**" + How do you **deal** with anger or disdain directed at you? + (folks working **retail** or CSR know!) + Barely **holding** on: either **explode** or **collapse** + So for us to **turn** away fr chasing what world **craves**, + to **serve** God, knowing He is **life** + truth, + and to **wait** patiently + eagerly for His deliv: + it truly makes an **impact**! --- ## Whose **faith journey**
has impacted me?
誰的信心之旅影響過我? --- ## How does my faith in Christ
**impact** others?
我在基督裡的信心
如何影響別人? >>> + Needn't be **long-term** mentor: e.g., Paul w/Thess + profound **impact**: Thess in turn to whole **region** + Let **Word** of God resound outward + and let our **works** of faith in God go outward ______ + Your **Word** never returns to you in **vain**: + came w/**power**, HS, abundant fullness + Equip: **accomplish** much in faith, **toil** in love, + **persevere** bc living hope in You + As we **imitate** You + those who've shared Word w/us, + may Your Word **echo** outward from us + May others see faith **journey**: past, present, future + May it make an **impact** on those around us