WEBVTT 00:00:01.279 --> 00:00:06.620 Our sermon this morning is Thanksgiving Assurance 00:00:06.620 --> 00:00:10.759 and Affliction. And I subtitled it yesterday, 00:00:11.359 --> 00:00:17.280 Life Drenched in Eucharist. Bear with me. Let 00:00:17.280 --> 00:00:20.440 us now pray this morning as we consider these 00:00:20.440 --> 00:00:24.879 things. Glorious God and Heavenly Father, we 00:00:24.879 --> 00:00:27.219 praise you for your goodness. We thank you that 00:00:27.219 --> 00:00:29.910 you have called us to be your children. We pray 00:00:29.910 --> 00:00:32.310 that you would help us understand more and more 00:00:32.310 --> 00:00:35.570 as we go on in our Christian life what it means 00:00:35.570 --> 00:00:38.609 to be your children, not just for eternity, but 00:00:38.609 --> 00:00:41.070 for here and now. We thank you that you have 00:00:41.070 --> 00:00:43.729 given us your word, that you have not left us 00:00:43.729 --> 00:00:46.729 to wander or speculate through human wisdom about 00:00:46.729 --> 00:00:49.570 what you would have us to do. We petition you 00:00:49.570 --> 00:00:51.810 that you would let the words of my mouth and 00:00:51.810 --> 00:00:54.409 the meditations of all our hearts be acceptable 00:00:54.409 --> 00:00:57.170 in your sight, O Lord, our strength and nearest 00:00:57.170 --> 00:01:04.709 kinsman, Redeemer. Jesus Christ. Amen. So our 00:01:04.709 --> 00:01:07.650 text this morning is 1 Thessalonians chapter 00:01:07.650 --> 00:01:13.069 1 beginning in verse 1. Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy 00:01:13.069 --> 00:01:16.430 to the Church of the Thessalonians in God the 00:01:16.430 --> 00:01:19.950 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you 00:01:19.950 --> 00:01:22.650 and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus 00:01:22.650 --> 00:01:26.290 Christ. We give thanks to God always for you 00:01:26.290 --> 00:01:30.319 all. making mention of you in our prayers, remembering 00:01:30.319 --> 00:01:33.939 without ceasing your work of faith, labor of 00:01:33.939 --> 00:01:39.120 love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:42.120 Christ in the sight of our God and Father, knowing, 00:01:42.500 --> 00:01:46.280 beloved brethren, your election by God. For our 00:01:46.280 --> 00:01:48.420 gospel did not come to you in word only, but 00:01:48.420 --> 00:01:51.379 also in power, and in the Holy Spirit, and in 00:01:51.379 --> 00:01:54.840 much assurance, as you know what kind of men 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:57.870 were among you. for your sake, and you became 00:01:57.870 --> 00:02:00.870 followers of us in the Lord, having received 00:02:00.870 --> 00:02:04.109 the word in much affliction with joy of the Holy 00:02:04.109 --> 00:02:07.450 Spirit, so that you became examples to all in 00:02:07.450 --> 00:02:11.310 Macedonia and Achaia who believe. For from you 00:02:11.310 --> 00:02:14.270 the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only 00:02:14.270 --> 00:02:17.729 in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. 00:02:18.270 --> 00:02:21.090 Your faith towards God has gone out, so that 00:02:21.090 --> 00:02:24.120 we do not need to say anything. for they themselves 00:02:24.120 --> 00:02:27.580 declare concerning what manner of entry we had 00:02:27.580 --> 00:02:30.560 to you, and how you turned to God from idols 00:02:30.560 --> 00:02:34.560 to serve the living and true God, and to wait 00:02:34.560 --> 00:02:37.759 for His Son from heaven whom He raised from the 00:02:37.759 --> 00:02:41.280 dead, even Jesus who delivers us from the wrath 00:02:41.280 --> 00:02:44.659 to come. These are the words of Almighty God. 00:02:44.960 --> 00:02:49.039 Receive them in your hearts. So there's three 00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.960 things, three pieces of information I want you 00:02:51.960 --> 00:02:54.599 to take through as we consider this passage. 00:02:55.800 --> 00:03:00.379 First, the Eucharist of work, labor, and steadfastness. 00:03:00.840 --> 00:03:05.280 The Eucharist of work, labor, and steadfastness. 00:03:06.300 --> 00:03:10.340 Second, you are the chosen of the covenant God. 00:03:10.800 --> 00:03:15.900 You are the chosen of the covenant God. And finally, 00:03:16.990 --> 00:03:21.430 Jesus delivers us from the wrath to come. Jesus 00:03:21.430 --> 00:03:27.750 delivers us from the wrath to come. We are beginning 00:03:27.750 --> 00:03:31.250 a new series for this fall from the First Epistle 00:03:31.250 --> 00:03:35.409 to the Thessalonians. As you know, the word epistle 00:03:35.409 --> 00:03:38.430 means letter, but it's more than just a common 00:03:38.430 --> 00:03:42.629 letter. It is a formal, purposeful message solemnly 00:03:42.629 --> 00:03:50.009 sent with authority and instruction. Thessalonica 00:03:50.009 --> 00:03:55.349 is located in what we call modern -day Greece. 00:03:56.270 --> 00:03:59.770 In the New Testament, it was known as Macedonia. 00:04:00.650 --> 00:04:04.889 This city was a prosperous port town, founding 00:04:04.889 --> 00:04:08.789 around the time of Alexander the Great. The port 00:04:08.789 --> 00:04:11.629 became even more important during the early Rome... 00:04:11.689 --> 00:04:14.370 Roman Empire because it not only had the port 00:04:14.370 --> 00:04:18.990 but it became a crossroads, an intersection with 00:04:18.990 --> 00:04:23.529 one part of the road going to the west towards 00:04:23.529 --> 00:04:26.850 Rome and the other part going north up to the 00:04:26.850 --> 00:04:31.230 Danube River. And so they were set up to have 00:04:31.230 --> 00:04:37.529 a lot of trade. Now this later on during the 00:04:37.529 --> 00:04:41.170 Roman Empire it became the capital of the Macedonian 00:04:41.170 --> 00:04:45.850 province. At the time of Paul's visit, it was 00:04:45.850 --> 00:04:49.930 a large city around 200 ,000 souls. And Paul 00:04:49.930 --> 00:04:53.389 is writing this letter during his second missionary 00:04:53.389 --> 00:04:57.990 journey after a very brief and turbulent stop 00:04:57.990 --> 00:05:01.670 in Thessalonica. Paul begins, of course, here 00:05:01.670 --> 00:05:04.269 with the greeting that includes his fellow missionaries, 00:05:04.490 --> 00:05:07.850 Silvanus and Timothy. By the way, just for you 00:05:07.850 --> 00:05:10.569 out there, Sylvanus is Silas, but it's just the 00:05:10.569 --> 00:05:16.829 Greek version of it. So Paul greets the church 00:05:16.829 --> 00:05:21.550 of these Thessalonians in this way, in God the 00:05:21.550 --> 00:05:23.750 Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, and then gives 00:05:23.750 --> 00:05:27.769 them the blessing of grace to you and peace from 00:05:27.769 --> 00:05:30.170 our God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:05:31.250 --> 00:05:35.089 They are in these folks in this church. And of 00:05:35.089 --> 00:05:37.930 course this has relevancy for us as well. They 00:05:37.930 --> 00:05:42.689 are in God the Father and the Lord, right, so 00:05:42.689 --> 00:05:46.470 that they may receive the undeserved favor and 00:05:46.470 --> 00:05:50.610 peace of God. You see, you can't receive the 00:05:50.610 --> 00:05:53.189 undeserved favor, that's grace, and the peace 00:05:53.189 --> 00:05:56.569 of God if you are not in the Lord Jesus Christ, 00:05:57.430 --> 00:06:02.850 if you are not trusting and living for God. And 00:06:02.850 --> 00:06:08.750 he says all of this is because Jesus Christ is 00:06:08.750 --> 00:06:12.250 now and forever his peace rests upon them. They're 00:06:12.250 --> 00:06:15.670 in him, they're in Christ Jesus, and they are 00:06:15.670 --> 00:06:20.269 also receiving the peace of Christ. Now Paul 00:06:20.269 --> 00:06:23.110 here representing Timothy and Silas and himself 00:06:23.110 --> 00:06:26.310 proclaims to the church that they are to give 00:06:26.310 --> 00:06:30.009 thanks to God and he says this to all of the 00:06:30.009 --> 00:06:36.949 saints. Right and he says this he says That he 00:06:36.949 --> 00:06:40.810 mentions them in his prayers and he remembers 00:06:40.810 --> 00:06:43.949 without ceasing Now this is important this word 00:06:43.949 --> 00:06:48.569 remembering That we see here is tied to remembering 00:06:48.569 --> 00:06:52.269 what the giving of thanks for them this giving 00:06:52.269 --> 00:06:56.610 of thanks is The Greek phrase and it's a plural 00:06:56.610 --> 00:07:03.040 for all y 'all Okay, and it is the word Eucharisto, 00:07:03.879 --> 00:07:08.459 Eucharisto, which is the historic church word, 00:07:08.740 --> 00:07:12.139 Eucharist, that the historic church has given 00:07:12.139 --> 00:07:14.560 for the Lord's Supper. You see, when we come 00:07:14.560 --> 00:07:18.120 to the Lord's table, we are there to give thanks 00:07:18.120 --> 00:07:22.160 to God and remind him in a memorial fashion. 00:07:22.990 --> 00:07:25.930 of his promises to us through Christ Jesus. Not 00:07:25.930 --> 00:07:27.910 that God needs to be reminded. We're really the 00:07:27.910 --> 00:07:31.050 ones that need to be reminded. But God asks us 00:07:31.050 --> 00:07:35.829 to do these memorials to give the thanks for 00:07:35.829 --> 00:07:39.329 the work of his son. And he remembers his covenant 00:07:39.329 --> 00:07:42.810 promises to his people. And so he is telling 00:07:42.810 --> 00:07:48.629 them that when he prays for them, he is giving 00:07:48.629 --> 00:07:55.639 thanks in a memorialized way. for them. That's 00:07:55.639 --> 00:07:59.360 fascinating, isn't it? It's not usually how we 00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:03.139 approach how we think about the other Christians 00:08:03.139 --> 00:08:08.259 in our life. And here we need to remember that 00:08:08.259 --> 00:08:10.980 our communion is oriented from the standpoint 00:08:10.980 --> 00:08:15.180 of a meal of thanksgiving and the death and resurrection 00:08:15.180 --> 00:08:19.939 and ascension of our Lord Jesus Christ. It's 00:08:19.939 --> 00:08:23.339 a thanksgiving memorial for the work Christ. 00:08:24.300 --> 00:08:28.259 And Paul tells these Thessalonians that this 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:32.340 giving of thanks flows from him remembering without 00:08:32.340 --> 00:08:37.299 ceasing their work of faith, their labor of love, 00:08:38.240 --> 00:08:40.980 and the patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ 00:08:40.980 --> 00:08:45.740 in the sight of God our Father. Paul with thanksgiving 00:08:45.740 --> 00:08:49.440 memorializes their undertaking of deeds of faith. 00:08:49.960 --> 00:08:52.549 Their labors are love and I want to Explain that 00:08:52.549 --> 00:08:55.169 a little bit. These labors of love is better 00:08:55.169 --> 00:08:57.769 understood. When you look at this word labors, 00:08:58.649 --> 00:09:01.950 this phrase is better understood as works of 00:09:01.950 --> 00:09:07.370 love in troubles and toils. So you think about 00:09:07.370 --> 00:09:10.929 that. What he is memorializing is their deeds 00:09:10.929 --> 00:09:17.929 of faith. And then their love that is done, which 00:09:17.929 --> 00:09:23.639 is acted upon in toils and troubles. Right? It's 00:09:23.639 --> 00:09:27.480 not all the happy, oh, everything's good. Everything's 00:09:27.480 --> 00:09:33.580 working out. And finally, patience of hope in 00:09:33.580 --> 00:09:37.019 the Lord Jesus Christ. I also want to clarify 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:41.460 this a little bit. Here, patience is not contently 00:09:41.460 --> 00:09:44.970 waiting. But actually, if we look at this word 00:09:44.970 --> 00:09:49.870 carefully, it is steadfastness in the hope of 00:09:49.870 --> 00:09:53.529 the Lord Jesus Christ. We've spoken about standing 00:09:53.529 --> 00:09:57.309 in your post and being steadfast all summer long. 00:09:57.990 --> 00:10:00.350 And here it is again, right here in this text. 00:10:01.970 --> 00:10:06.649 So we are to stand steadfast in our hope of the 00:10:06.649 --> 00:10:09.230 Lord Jesus Christ, which means being faithful 00:10:09.230 --> 00:10:12.779 in those deeds of faith. And those labors of 00:10:12.779 --> 00:10:16.639 love, even though it might be in toils and troubles, 00:10:18.360 --> 00:10:22.679 we can stand steadfast in what God has called 00:10:22.679 --> 00:10:28.360 us to do. So Paul is memorializing works of faith, 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:31.120 labors of love and toils and trouble, and their 00:10:31.120 --> 00:10:34.399 steadfast hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. And 00:10:34.399 --> 00:10:39.100 Paul reminds them that all this occurs in the 00:10:39.100 --> 00:10:42.600 sight of our God and Father. Think about that. 00:10:43.000 --> 00:10:48.419 Whatever toils and troubles that we have is in 00:10:48.419 --> 00:10:53.399 the sight of our God. He sees it. He knows it. 00:10:53.759 --> 00:10:58.240 As a matter of fact, dearly beloved, he is orchestrating 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:04.360 it. Now note here that Paul includes himself 00:11:04.360 --> 00:11:07.279 when he declares, their identity. So he's talking 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:10.299 about all this, and he's given them some clarity 00:11:10.299 --> 00:11:13.620 at the beginning. But in case they weren't sure, 00:11:14.779 --> 00:11:17.279 in case they didn't know that they were Christian, 00:11:18.379 --> 00:11:20.860 in case they didn't remember that they were baptized 00:11:20.860 --> 00:11:27.879 unto the covenant God, the triune God, he says, 00:11:28.360 --> 00:11:35.150 beloved brethren, you know your election. Your 00:11:35.150 --> 00:11:40.889 gods you belong to him You know our in our parlance 00:11:40.889 --> 00:11:43.629 today Paul is grabbing them by their baptism 00:11:43.629 --> 00:11:46.250 and he's holding them Hey, I know there's some 00:11:46.250 --> 00:11:48.049 toils and troubles and some things you're doing 00:11:48.049 --> 00:11:50.929 here, but I'm giving thanks to God I'm memorializing 00:11:50.929 --> 00:11:56.190 what God has done in your life Don't forget God 00:11:56.190 --> 00:12:08.159 has chosen you And so Paul reminds them that 00:12:08.159 --> 00:12:12.379 all in all their challenges and all their opposition 00:12:12.379 --> 00:12:17.340 All that they are doing flows from the work and 00:12:17.340 --> 00:12:21.580 labors and steadfastness in Christ Because they 00:12:21.580 --> 00:12:24.519 couldn't do any of this without their election 00:12:24.519 --> 00:12:31.399 God sovereign work in our lives Paul continues 00:12:31.399 --> 00:12:33.759 in verse 5 and says for our gospel did not come 00:12:33.759 --> 00:12:36.919 to you and word only but also in power and in 00:12:36.919 --> 00:12:41.159 the Holy Spirit and in much assurance as You 00:12:41.159 --> 00:12:44.700 know what kind of men we were among you for your 00:12:44.700 --> 00:12:48.399 sake and you became followers of us and of the 00:12:48.399 --> 00:12:52.279 Lord Having received the word in much affliction 00:12:52.279 --> 00:12:55.659 with joy in the Holy Spirit So that you became 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:59.539 examples to all the Macedonian Achaia who believe 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:03.700 Now notice how Paul spoke of the gospel coming 00:13:03.700 --> 00:13:07.379 to them not just in the word But in the power 00:13:07.379 --> 00:13:09.840 of the Holy Spirit not just in those things, 00:13:09.840 --> 00:13:13.580 but that the word and spirit brought them assurance 00:13:13.580 --> 00:13:20.379 To all in the church and Paul reminds them that 00:13:20.379 --> 00:13:23.299 they became followers of them and they followed 00:13:23.299 --> 00:13:29.919 the Lord Receiving the word and much affliction 00:13:30.279 --> 00:13:34.159 So they were given much assurance and much affliction. 00:13:35.320 --> 00:13:38.440 And in all of that, they were given joy by the 00:13:38.440 --> 00:13:43.080 Holy Spirit. Now here's the thing. When we truly 00:13:43.080 --> 00:13:46.700 recognize our status before the Lord, we are 00:13:46.700 --> 00:13:51.940 glad to receive God's assurance. How many of 00:13:51.940 --> 00:13:56.100 us are at peace and have joy in our affliction? 00:13:57.960 --> 00:14:00.539 We have a hard time with that. We struggle in 00:14:00.539 --> 00:14:09.360 our afflictions sometimes. You see, as you're 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:11.460 sitting here, you might be saying to yourself, 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.639 well, that's nice, but did they really have it 00:14:14.639 --> 00:14:18.000 that bad? I know it says much assurance, much 00:14:18.000 --> 00:14:22.419 affliction, and receiving it in joy. Yeah, but 00:14:22.419 --> 00:14:29.250 their life wasn't so tough. What's going on that 00:14:29.250 --> 00:14:32.590 Paul would want to Eucharist this or memorialize 00:14:32.590 --> 00:14:38.009 this and giving thanks? now Fortunately for us 00:14:38.009 --> 00:14:41.710 we do actually have some context See this was 00:14:41.710 --> 00:14:44.230 written just a little while after Paul had been 00:14:44.230 --> 00:14:48.950 there and we see this recorded in Acts 17 So 00:14:48.950 --> 00:14:51.769 let's see what we see here So says this in Acts 00:14:51.769 --> 00:14:54.789 17 beginning verse 1 now when they that's Paul 00:14:54.789 --> 00:14:58.840 Silas and Timothy have passed through Amaphilus 00:14:58.840 --> 00:15:02.740 and Apollyona, they came to Thessalonica, where 00:15:02.740 --> 00:15:06.100 there was a synagogue of Jews. Then Paul, as 00:15:06.100 --> 00:15:10.299 his custom was, went to them, went in to them, 00:15:10.559 --> 00:15:14.759 and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from 00:15:14.759 --> 00:15:18.379 the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating 00:15:18.379 --> 00:15:20.840 that the Christ had to suffer and rise again 00:15:20.840 --> 00:15:24.159 from the dead, saying, This Jesus whom I preach 00:15:24.159 --> 00:15:28.149 to you is the Christ. And some of them, that's 00:15:28.149 --> 00:15:32.330 the Jews, were persuaded. And a great multitude 00:15:32.330 --> 00:15:35.029 of devout Greeks, that's God -fearing Greeks, 00:15:35.590 --> 00:15:39.490 and not a few leading women, joined Paul and 00:15:39.490 --> 00:15:44.090 Silas. But it goes on, because that's the good 00:15:44.090 --> 00:15:46.850 news. And we're all like, yeah, you know, Christ 00:15:46.850 --> 00:15:48.830 being proclaimed, people are turning, this is 00:15:48.830 --> 00:15:52.289 outstanding. But verse five tells us, but the 00:15:52.289 --> 00:15:55.850 Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious. 00:15:56.120 --> 00:16:00.340 Okay, now this word envious here isn't just like 00:16:00.340 --> 00:16:03.419 what we would call common envy. We look at the 00:16:03.419 --> 00:16:07.039 Greek, we see that it says to boil with envy, 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:11.519 hatred, and anger. This is the same as the high 00:16:11.519 --> 00:16:17.000 priest inscribes towards Jesus. And it says that 00:16:17.000 --> 00:16:19.360 these Jews who were not persuaded becoming envious 00:16:19.360 --> 00:16:22.080 took some of the evil men from the marketplace 00:16:22.080 --> 00:16:26.340 and gathering a mob. and set all the city in 00:16:26.340 --> 00:16:28.340 an uproar and attacked the house of Jason. We're 00:16:28.340 --> 00:16:30.399 going to pick that up in a minute. But it's very 00:16:30.399 --> 00:16:33.220 interesting to note here. Do you notice? Every 00:16:33.220 --> 00:16:37.200 city in the world, as one commentator says, has 00:16:37.200 --> 00:16:44.039 its own city rent -a -mob. Every city has its 00:16:44.039 --> 00:16:50.059 own rent -a -mob. This was happening in Thessalonica. 00:16:50.980 --> 00:16:53.019 Obviously, it happened in Jerusalem the week 00:16:53.019 --> 00:16:58.039 of Christ's death. Right? We saw this same thing 00:16:58.039 --> 00:17:00.460 over and over again throughout history, the French 00:17:00.460 --> 00:17:03.639 Revolution being won. We see this again and again, 00:17:04.700 --> 00:17:06.680 and huh, interesting for us, we see this same 00:17:06.680 --> 00:17:09.920 sort of thing today. So don't be discouraged, 00:17:09.940 --> 00:17:15.039 this is one of Satan's normal ploys. However, 00:17:15.440 --> 00:17:19.779 it is distressing, it is toil, and it is trouble 00:17:19.779 --> 00:17:23.039 as we work in these things. So they set the whole 00:17:23.039 --> 00:17:26.609 city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, 00:17:26.650 --> 00:17:28.769 one of the believers, and sought to bring them 00:17:28.769 --> 00:17:30.829 out to the people. They were looking for Paul 00:17:30.829 --> 00:17:33.869 and Silas, but when they didn't find them, they 00:17:33.869 --> 00:17:36.170 dragged Jason and some of the brethren to the 00:17:36.170 --> 00:17:38.910 rulers of the city. And listen to this, crying 00:17:38.910 --> 00:17:42.690 out, these who have turned the world upside down 00:17:42.690 --> 00:17:46.349 have come here too. Now notice that what the 00:17:46.349 --> 00:17:49.730 mob is doing is accusing them of exactly what 00:17:49.730 --> 00:17:56.750 they're doing. Does that look familiar? Nothing 00:17:56.750 --> 00:18:01.910 new under the sun. And they said this, Jason, 00:18:02.130 --> 00:18:06.269 this guy, he's harbored them. And these are all, 00:18:06.269 --> 00:18:09.130 all those folks, are contrary to the decrees 00:18:09.130 --> 00:18:10.910 of Caesar. And they're saying there's another 00:18:10.910 --> 00:18:15.970 king, Jesus. And they troubled the crowd. So 00:18:15.970 --> 00:18:20.650 the rena crowd, that mob, they were troubling 00:18:20.650 --> 00:18:25.400 the people. So that meant other people were like, 00:18:25.799 --> 00:18:32.319 what is this? Maybe they have a point. And remember, 00:18:32.579 --> 00:18:35.339 Rome was no kind of joke. They didn't put up 00:18:35.339 --> 00:18:38.900 with mobs at all. If they had mobs coming together, 00:18:39.200 --> 00:18:40.940 I mean, this is why the rulers are disturbed. 00:18:41.220 --> 00:18:43.819 The rulers are disturbed because if you were 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:46.759 a Roman ruler, if you allowed a riot and a mob 00:18:46.759 --> 00:18:49.160 to come, guess what would happen? The legions 00:18:49.160 --> 00:18:52.789 would march in. They'd put down that mob. They 00:18:52.789 --> 00:18:56.670 execute you because you can't do your job It's 00:18:56.670 --> 00:19:00.190 this fear of I'm gonna lose my power and influence 00:19:00.190 --> 00:19:02.990 So I got to listen to the mob and I got to let 00:19:02.990 --> 00:19:04.789 these guys trouble that you don't see him standing 00:19:04.789 --> 00:19:07.630 up and saying Wait, what are the facts here? 00:19:08.589 --> 00:19:17.829 Not at all Not at all So all this is going on 00:19:19.079 --> 00:19:21.700 And so check this out. Look what the leaders 00:19:21.700 --> 00:19:24.539 did. They said, so when they had taken security 00:19:24.539 --> 00:19:29.079 from Jason, that's money. And the rest of them, 00:19:29.079 --> 00:19:32.859 they let them go. And then the brethren immediately 00:19:32.859 --> 00:19:36.920 sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. So 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:40.240 being unjustly accused and having to pay much, 00:19:40.359 --> 00:19:43.299 Jason and the brethren were released. But they're 00:19:43.299 --> 00:19:46.759 not just released like everything is hunky dory. 00:19:47.000 --> 00:19:51.490 Everything's OK. No. They are released into a 00:19:51.490 --> 00:19:54.789 hostile world and they had to send their teacher 00:19:54.789 --> 00:20:00.269 away and So we find the book of first Thessalonians 00:20:00.269 --> 00:20:04.630 written from this context Paul was only with 00:20:04.630 --> 00:20:07.890 them three weeks Have you ever felt like you 00:20:07.890 --> 00:20:10.369 needed more discipleship in your life, and I'm 00:20:10.369 --> 00:20:12.750 glad to be around to try to help you with that 00:20:12.750 --> 00:20:18.200 But Paul was only there three weeks And the angry 00:20:18.200 --> 00:20:23.240 mob spurred on by Satan coming against Christ 00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:27.819 and his church, right, creates such a disturbance 00:20:27.819 --> 00:20:34.880 in their brand new faith. They were at a hostile 00:20:34.880 --> 00:20:39.519 moment in their new faith with God haters stirring 00:20:39.519 --> 00:20:42.700 up mobs who were actually causing them harm. 00:20:42.720 --> 00:20:48.829 It was costing them their safety and money. And 00:20:48.829 --> 00:20:52.890 you see if these Thessalonians in this church 00:20:52.890 --> 00:20:57.250 kept their eyes on the chaos around them, their 00:20:57.250 --> 00:21:00.650 world would look unstable and uncertain at the 00:21:00.650 --> 00:21:04.289 very beginning of their Christian faith in Christ 00:21:04.289 --> 00:21:08.170 Jesus. Now we do know that Timothy from time 00:21:08.170 --> 00:21:11.190 to time moved back and forth between wherever 00:21:11.190 --> 00:21:17.059 Paul was, predominantly in Corinth. Back to Thessalonica, 00:21:17.079 --> 00:21:19.380 and he would bring back reports. And so it's 00:21:19.380 --> 00:21:22.640 in that context that Paul writes to them, assuring 00:21:22.640 --> 00:21:25.759 them of their identity as covenant members in 00:21:25.759 --> 00:21:30.000 Christ. I've said this many times this summer. 00:21:31.059 --> 00:21:35.740 Your identity matters. You are a man or a woman 00:21:35.740 --> 00:21:38.519 in Christ Jesus. That's what you are, every one 00:21:38.519 --> 00:21:45.920 of you in here. That's your identity. Paul is 00:21:45.920 --> 00:21:49.039 telling them that the sovereign God assures them 00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:58.160 greatly in much affliction So we need to understand 00:21:58.160 --> 00:22:03.599 What Paul is doing here So with this context 00:22:03.599 --> 00:22:07.319 of act 17 Paul brings clarity about what it means 00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:12.160 to be giving thanks memorializing This church 00:22:12.160 --> 00:22:17.250 is undertaking of their deeds of faith, memorializing 00:22:17.250 --> 00:22:20.109 their labors of love and troubles and toils, 00:22:20.910 --> 00:22:23.410 and memorializing their steadfastness in the 00:22:23.410 --> 00:22:26.930 hope of the Lord Jesus Christ. God, in turn, 00:22:26.990 --> 00:22:30.670 took them with their little faith, their brand 00:22:30.670 --> 00:22:32.470 new setting. Now, they weren't completely ignorant. 00:22:32.509 --> 00:22:36.029 They knew the Old Testament for Paul was teaching 00:22:36.029 --> 00:22:39.369 in the synagogue. And outside the synagogue, 00:22:39.390 --> 00:22:42.529 they could hear out there were the God -fearers. 00:22:45.450 --> 00:22:49.789 We see all these people. But in their faithfulness 00:22:49.789 --> 00:22:53.769 and that great and difficult time, we see that 00:22:53.769 --> 00:22:57.910 God in turn used them to His glory and the benefit 00:22:57.910 --> 00:23:02.369 of the world. And all of this with joy in the 00:23:02.369 --> 00:23:06.750 Holy Spirit. Why? So that they could become examples 00:23:06.750 --> 00:23:10.819 to all the Macedonian Achaia who believe. And 00:23:10.819 --> 00:23:13.920 he goes on and says, from you the word of the 00:23:13.920 --> 00:23:17.500 Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia 00:23:17.500 --> 00:23:24.539 and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith 00:23:24.539 --> 00:23:28.039 toward God has gone out, so that we do not need 00:23:28.039 --> 00:23:31.519 to say anything. Paul tells them that those who 00:23:31.519 --> 00:23:35.380 hear and see their works of faith, their labors 00:23:35.380 --> 00:23:37.940 of love, and their steadfast hope in the Lord 00:23:37.940 --> 00:23:45.549 Jesus, themselves declare the works of God, declare 00:23:45.549 --> 00:23:51.930 Jesus as Lord. Now, as we sit here and I tell 00:23:51.930 --> 00:23:54.430 this story, we think, yeah, man, that's probably 00:23:54.430 --> 00:23:59.569 something we should memorialize, right? But Paul 00:23:59.569 --> 00:24:01.930 is talking to all the church. He doesn't know 00:24:01.930 --> 00:24:04.329 it at the time, but by the inspiration of the 00:24:04.329 --> 00:24:08.029 Holy Spirit, Paul is speaking to the churches. 00:24:08.329 --> 00:24:10.990 Throughout church history speaking to every one 00:24:10.990 --> 00:24:14.089 of us in our families and in our situations in 00:24:14.089 --> 00:24:19.490 the United States in the year 2026 with all its 00:24:19.490 --> 00:24:21.369 goodness and blessings because there's a lot 00:24:21.369 --> 00:24:33.410 of them and all the toils and troubles They are 00:24:33.410 --> 00:24:39.349 they have been delivered from idols Right? Delivered 00:24:39.349 --> 00:24:41.849 from idols. God has delivered you from all kinds 00:24:41.849 --> 00:24:44.210 of idols. You used to trust in all kinds of other 00:24:44.210 --> 00:24:46.130 things. For some of you, it was your own good 00:24:46.130 --> 00:24:50.750 works. For some of you, it was money. For some 00:24:50.750 --> 00:24:53.829 of you, it was just yourself. You were so prideful 00:24:53.829 --> 00:24:57.849 and arrogant. It's just me. And yes, even some 00:24:57.849 --> 00:25:02.430 in the church. Yes, even all of us. have been 00:25:02.430 --> 00:25:04.230 delivered from the idols in our life, that we 00:25:04.230 --> 00:25:10.130 may serve the true and living God. And just like 00:25:10.130 --> 00:25:14.789 them, we are to wait for his Son of heaven, whom 00:25:14.789 --> 00:25:17.329 God raised from the dead, Jesus, who delivers 00:25:17.329 --> 00:25:22.130 us from the wrath to come." There's real wrath 00:25:22.130 --> 00:25:24.470 coming. There's real judgment of God coming. 00:25:25.390 --> 00:25:27.289 This goes back to what Peter says. People were 00:25:27.289 --> 00:25:30.430 saying, oh, you know, God's not really coming. 00:25:31.839 --> 00:25:34.000 Right because we've been hearing that since the 00:25:34.000 --> 00:25:36.539 days of old Jesus is coming God's wrath is gonna 00:25:36.539 --> 00:25:38.799 come see we tend to think of everything happened 00:25:38.799 --> 00:25:45.019 Having to be focused on the last judgment I've 00:25:45.019 --> 00:25:49.819 said this to you before empires fall and the 00:25:49.819 --> 00:25:54.359 church remains The things that we believe have 00:25:54.359 --> 00:25:57.160 made us great as some type of empire, we will 00:25:57.160 --> 00:25:59.740 fall. This empire will fall, but God's church, 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:02.359 His people, His holy temple, His saints, the 00:26:02.359 --> 00:26:05.319 elect that He has chosen, they shall remain. 00:26:08.359 --> 00:26:11.900 And as we remain because of the work of Jesus 00:26:11.900 --> 00:26:15.779 Christ, we are delivered from the wrath to come. 00:26:17.159 --> 00:26:19.819 Dearly beloved we are assured of God's work on 00:26:19.819 --> 00:26:23.240 our behalf in Christ Jesus even in great afflictions 00:26:23.240 --> 00:26:26.359 and troubles Remember Paul's greeting declaring 00:26:26.359 --> 00:26:30.880 God's grace and peace upon the church Too often 00:26:30.880 --> 00:26:34.440 we succumb to the sounds of the mob and real 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:38.240 toils and troubles of life But we don't respond 00:26:38.240 --> 00:26:42.819 in the right way Why? Each one of us. We've all 00:26:42.819 --> 00:26:45.980 learned from our experiences, our family, how 00:26:45.980 --> 00:26:48.420 we've dealt with things, our own sinful natures, 00:26:48.619 --> 00:26:52.940 and even the whispers of Satan to approach these 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:58.759 difficulties with discontent, saying, I've been 00:26:58.759 --> 00:27:01.819 under provided for by God. I know he's made me 00:27:01.819 --> 00:27:04.759 a Christian, but I've been under provided for. 00:27:04.900 --> 00:27:07.180 I've got all this stuff against me. The world 00:27:07.180 --> 00:27:16.109 is against me. And yet, the sovereign God has 00:27:16.109 --> 00:27:21.789 called you. Think about this for a second. Sometimes 00:27:21.789 --> 00:27:23.849 when we're dealing with difficult things, we 00:27:23.849 --> 00:27:29.130 charge God with not giving us the grace we need 00:27:29.130 --> 00:27:34.170 in the circumstances of our lives. Lord, have 00:27:34.170 --> 00:27:42.500 mercy on us all. You see, We are to receive God's 00:27:42.500 --> 00:27:45.900 word with joy and thanksgiving. You know Paul 00:27:45.900 --> 00:27:50.539 himself mentions in 2nd Corinthians About the 00:27:50.539 --> 00:27:52.900 thorn in his flesh. That's the context of this 00:27:52.900 --> 00:27:56.119 text right here 2nd Corinthians 12 8 concerning 00:27:56.119 --> 00:27:59.500 this thing I pleaded with the Lord with three 00:27:59.500 --> 00:28:02.400 times that it might depart from me So he's got 00:28:02.400 --> 00:28:05.579 this problem and people throughout all the church 00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:09.000 history have tried to talk about Well, what was 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:11.660 this thorn in his flesh? I don't know. But I 00:28:11.660 --> 00:28:13.940 can tell you this, and by the way, they don't 00:28:13.940 --> 00:28:17.799 know either. It was a problem for him. Think 00:28:17.799 --> 00:28:21.220 about this for a second. If you are an apostle 00:28:21.220 --> 00:28:24.240 and you're going around doing good works, you've 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:27.140 even prayed for somebody and somebody has been 00:28:27.140 --> 00:28:30.720 raised from the dead. And you have some kind 00:28:30.720 --> 00:28:33.799 of problem that you're having, and you go to 00:28:33.799 --> 00:28:41.089 God three times. You would think, ah, my toils, 00:28:41.130 --> 00:28:45.950 my troubles, they're gonna go away. But it says 00:28:45.950 --> 00:28:48.150 this in 2 Corinthians 12, concerning the thing 00:28:48.150 --> 00:28:50.230 that I pleaded with the Lord three times, that 00:28:50.230 --> 00:28:53.210 it might depart from me, and he, this is God, 00:28:53.690 --> 00:28:58.470 said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for 00:28:58.470 --> 00:29:03.130 my strength is made perfect in weakness. Now 00:29:03.130 --> 00:29:05.990 none of us like weaknesses. I can tell you from 00:29:05.990 --> 00:29:09.089 personal experience. When I was 38 years old, 00:29:09.089 --> 00:29:13.349 I had my first stroke. And it was a doozy. And 00:29:13.349 --> 00:29:15.390 I'd always been the strong guy, doing lots of 00:29:15.390 --> 00:29:18.869 things, impressive. At least in my own sight, 00:29:18.990 --> 00:29:22.670 I suppose. My children, perhaps. I was a pretty 00:29:22.670 --> 00:29:25.930 tough guy. And suddenly, I couldn't even go to 00:29:25.930 --> 00:29:31.390 sleep without somebody helping me. There were 00:29:31.390 --> 00:29:35.589 many other things there. But you know in that 00:29:35.589 --> 00:29:39.089 moment I learned that I had to trust on God and 00:29:39.089 --> 00:29:41.710 The people that God had placed in my life to 00:29:41.710 --> 00:29:48.490 care for me both spiritually and physically And 00:29:48.490 --> 00:29:51.730 in that moment just like Paul and for each of 00:29:51.730 --> 00:29:54.369 us just like every issue that we're having in 00:29:54.369 --> 00:29:58.150 our life God's grace is sufficient for you for 00:29:58.150 --> 00:30:01.069 my strength God's strength is made perfect in 00:30:01.069 --> 00:30:04.049 weakness And then he says, Paul goes on there, 00:30:04.069 --> 00:30:06.230 not just saying that like some kind of whimsical 00:30:06.230 --> 00:30:08.730 thing, but we know this is a guy that has suffered 00:30:08.730 --> 00:30:11.809 all kinds of difficulties. He's had beatings, 00:30:11.910 --> 00:30:16.109 he's had persecutions. He's had every kind of 00:30:16.109 --> 00:30:18.690 mistreatment and there were real mobs going after 00:30:18.690 --> 00:30:21.930 him. They even tried to put him to death. They 00:30:21.930 --> 00:30:24.470 stoned him and he lived. I can tell you what, 00:30:24.470 --> 00:30:28.680 he had some scars on his body. And he says, therefore 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:31.180 I most gladly, I'm going to submit myself to 00:30:31.180 --> 00:30:33.380 God. And he says, therefore most gladly I would 00:30:33.380 --> 00:30:36.099 rather boast in my infirmities that the power 00:30:36.099 --> 00:30:40.299 of Christ may rest on me. Therefore I take pleasure 00:30:40.299 --> 00:30:45.019 in infirmities and reproaches and needs and persecutions 00:30:45.019 --> 00:30:49.140 and distresses. And why do I do this? For Christ's 00:30:49.140 --> 00:30:55.829 sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. So 00:30:55.829 --> 00:30:58.170 coming back to what Paul was saying here in this 00:30:58.170 --> 00:31:02.210 text in 1 Thessalonians 1, he's saying, let us 00:31:02.210 --> 00:31:05.150 Eucharist. Let us give thanks. Let us memorialize 00:31:05.150 --> 00:31:09.789 the hardships of life. Wait a second. How often 00:31:09.789 --> 00:31:11.769 do we take the hardships of life and we go, I 00:31:11.769 --> 00:31:18.950 don't want to ever think about that again. You 00:31:18.950 --> 00:31:23.460 see, we need to think about this. Being steadfast 00:31:23.460 --> 00:31:26.400 in our hope in Christ Jesus and we're to do it 00:31:26.400 --> 00:31:30.279 with joy Psalm 42 for tells us when I remember 00:31:30.279 --> 00:31:34.440 these things I will pour out my soul within me 00:31:34.440 --> 00:31:37.720 for I used to go with the multitude. I went up 00:31:37.720 --> 00:31:40.980 with them to the house of God with a voice of 00:31:40.980 --> 00:31:44.079 joy and Praise that word praise. There's actually 00:31:44.079 --> 00:31:49.569 thanks giving thanks And he does this with a 00:31:49.569 --> 00:31:53.910 multitude that kept the pilgrim feast. One of 00:31:53.910 --> 00:31:56.430 the things that we need to do is we need to recognize 00:31:56.430 --> 00:31:58.930 that part of memorializing things is having a 00:31:58.930 --> 00:32:00.769 feast. You think about, what do we memorialize? 00:32:01.269 --> 00:32:03.069 Christmas Day, we have a feast. Easter, we have 00:32:03.069 --> 00:32:07.390 a feast. Labor Day, Fourth of July, Memorial 00:32:07.390 --> 00:32:09.549 Day. What do we do? We have some kind of feast 00:32:09.549 --> 00:32:12.170 of one sort or another. To memorialize something 00:32:12.170 --> 00:32:17.069 is to rejoice in God, in both the good and the 00:32:17.069 --> 00:32:21.190 hard trials of life. So part of this, by the 00:32:21.190 --> 00:32:25.289 way, going to the Pilgrim Feast is whatever ails 00:32:25.289 --> 00:32:27.869 you, whatever struggles that you're having, you 00:32:27.869 --> 00:32:30.569 need to come and worship God every week and come. 00:32:30.769 --> 00:32:34.069 Confess your sins. Be transformed by the Word 00:32:34.069 --> 00:32:37.710 of God and come to His table of peace and receive 00:32:37.710 --> 00:32:42.869 His grace. You see, I want you reading your Bible 00:32:42.869 --> 00:32:46.220 at home. But the Holy Spirit works much differently 00:32:46.220 --> 00:32:50.680 at home than it does in this place. The Spirit 00:32:50.680 --> 00:32:53.140 is working in a powerful way in this place that 00:32:53.140 --> 00:32:58.680 we can't see or understand. So to all the saints 00:32:58.680 --> 00:33:02.019 in this room, do not neglect, as Hebrews tells 00:33:02.019 --> 00:33:05.180 us, the assembling, the synagogue, the memorializing 00:33:05.180 --> 00:33:08.000 together as God's people, confessing our sins 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:11.279 and coming to the Lord's table of peace. I've 00:33:11.279 --> 00:33:14.900 seen people, they had a hardship. Then want to 00:33:14.900 --> 00:33:17.700 stay home and circle up the family and gather 00:33:17.700 --> 00:33:22.140 everybody in and not go to church I'm one time 00:33:22.140 --> 00:33:25.200 rebuked a friend and I said This doesn't make 00:33:25.200 --> 00:33:28.900 any sense You think that the greatest thing you 00:33:28.900 --> 00:33:31.859 can do in a time of difficulty and trial and 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:34.640 the death of somebody is To isolate your family 00:33:34.640 --> 00:33:36.440 and come together because that's the thing that's 00:33:36.440 --> 00:33:40.500 gonna strengthen you No, dearly beloved. It is 00:33:40.500 --> 00:33:44.279 to come to the house of God to worship God, come 00:33:44.279 --> 00:33:48.480 to the feast that God provides every single week 00:33:48.480 --> 00:33:52.279 here at church. Psalm 95 tells us, let us come 00:33:52.279 --> 00:33:54.380 before His presence with thanksgiving and let 00:33:54.380 --> 00:33:58.759 us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. Psalm 107, 00:33:58.920 --> 00:34:02.319 turn 22 says, let them sacrifice the sacrifices 00:34:02.319 --> 00:34:05.680 of thanksgiving and declare His works with rejoicing. 00:34:06.980 --> 00:34:10.909 As one commentator puts it, We as Christians, 00:34:11.190 --> 00:34:15.170 just like the Israelites of old, must be gripped 00:34:15.170 --> 00:34:18.489 by a confidence in the covenant loyalty of God. 00:34:19.409 --> 00:34:23.030 He has loyalty to you because of Christ Jesus. 00:34:23.269 --> 00:34:26.610 They gave thanks for God's demonstrations of 00:34:26.610 --> 00:34:33.570 loyalty that had not yet occurred. This future 00:34:33.570 --> 00:34:36.489 present is intensified in the new covenant at 00:34:36.489 --> 00:34:39.150 the heart of the gospel of the gospel is the 00:34:39.150 --> 00:34:44.530 announcement that the end of The world was invaded 00:34:44.530 --> 00:34:49.510 right in the middle the future broken into by 00:34:49.510 --> 00:34:54.110 the present Jesus is risen and so the eschatological 00:34:54.110 --> 00:34:56.949 event that is that in that that event that judgment 00:34:56.949 --> 00:35:00.989 at the end of time Has been interrupted by Christ 00:35:00.989 --> 00:35:05.250 coming in the middle of history. It's already 00:35:05.250 --> 00:35:08.530 begun. God is at work. The spirit of the risen 00:35:08.530 --> 00:35:12.050 Christ comes as the spirit of the age to come. 00:35:12.349 --> 00:35:16.010 And we already enjoy the fulfillment of what 00:35:16.010 --> 00:35:22.170 is not yet. And for this reason, thanks and joy 00:35:22.170 --> 00:35:26.570 invade our sorrows. The light of the coming day 00:35:26.570 --> 00:35:31.800 brightens the night. Deliverance. is so utterly 00:35:31.800 --> 00:35:39.599 certain. It is in fact a past event. Christ came, 00:35:39.940 --> 00:35:43.260 He died, He rose again, He ascended to the right 00:35:43.260 --> 00:35:46.500 hand of the Father, and His promises come true. 00:35:49.840 --> 00:35:54.760 Our future is certain in Christ Jesus. So stand 00:35:54.760 --> 00:36:01.800 steadfast. we can already give thanks for a rescue 00:36:01.800 --> 00:36:05.460 that we don't realize completely until the future. 00:36:07.340 --> 00:36:09.599 In our hardships, we need to give thanks, walking 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:13.360 in joy, steadfastly, doing what? Going to worship, 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:18.699 working, tending to our families, and yes, feasting. 00:36:20.739 --> 00:36:23.280 Dearly beloved, God is faithful to us because 00:36:23.280 --> 00:36:26.929 of the work of Jesus Christ on our behalf. We 00:36:26.929 --> 00:36:29.929 were all once idol worshipers, and now we serve 00:36:29.929 --> 00:36:33.849 the living and true God. Jesus has truly delivered 00:36:33.849 --> 00:36:36.829 us from the wrath to come. When we experience 00:36:36.829 --> 00:36:44.130 infirmities, insults, needs, persecutions, and 00:36:44.130 --> 00:36:48.309 distresses, we need to recognize that the situation, 00:36:48.909 --> 00:36:50.929 or that person that's bringing them, good or 00:36:50.929 --> 00:36:54.829 bad, as a gift from a loving Heavenly Father. 00:36:55.349 --> 00:37:00.269 Wait. What? Whatever these difficulties are, 00:37:00.369 --> 00:37:02.530 whatever these things are, whether it's circumstances 00:37:02.530 --> 00:37:05.809 or another person, we need to recognize these 00:37:05.809 --> 00:37:10.329 issues as being a gift from a loving Heavenly 00:37:10.329 --> 00:37:15.030 Father. Romans 11 .36 tells us, for of Him, that's 00:37:15.030 --> 00:37:18.909 God, and through Him, and to Him are all things. 00:37:21.210 --> 00:37:23.429 In order to give thanks and much assurance and 00:37:23.429 --> 00:37:25.989 much affliction, to the glory of God and the 00:37:25.989 --> 00:37:31.349 benefit of others. Dr. Lightheart suggests that 00:37:31.349 --> 00:37:33.070 there are a number of questions that we can ask 00:37:33.070 --> 00:37:35.389 ourselves, and I've selected a few for us to 00:37:35.389 --> 00:37:39.670 consider. I will be sending these out after service 00:37:39.670 --> 00:37:43.530 so that you guys can consider them further. But 00:37:43.530 --> 00:37:45.690 we need to do this. We need to ask ourselves, 00:37:45.789 --> 00:37:48.369 and this is going to radically change how you're 00:37:48.369 --> 00:37:51.480 looking at this, right? But he says this. How 00:37:51.480 --> 00:37:54.059 can I incorporate this thing or this experience, 00:37:54.079 --> 00:37:58.039 good or bad, or this person into a recital of 00:37:58.039 --> 00:38:02.400 God's great acts for me and for His people? So 00:38:02.400 --> 00:38:04.679 whatever this trouble is, whatever this persecution 00:38:04.679 --> 00:38:07.639 is, whatever this insult is, whatever this health 00:38:07.639 --> 00:38:12.260 issue is, how do I look to God? And how do I, 00:38:12.380 --> 00:38:16.980 even a good or bad situation, say, can I turn 00:38:16.980 --> 00:38:21.320 this into a recital of God's? great acts for 00:38:21.320 --> 00:38:25.760 me and for all His people. If you're facing illness, 00:38:27.159 --> 00:38:29.780 there's a way to look at this and see and recite 00:38:29.780 --> 00:38:33.639 it as, hey, this is God's work in me for His 00:38:33.639 --> 00:38:38.460 glory and the benefit of others. A second question, 00:38:38.639 --> 00:38:42.280 how can it become a reminder to God to be faithful 00:38:42.280 --> 00:38:45.480 and an aid to my memory? How do we go to God 00:38:45.480 --> 00:38:48.320 and say, I know Lord you've given me this thing 00:38:48.320 --> 00:38:51.159 and I'm asking for relief of it, but you know 00:38:51.159 --> 00:38:55.480 what? I am gonna trust you and be faithful and 00:38:55.480 --> 00:39:00.340 steadfast through it. And how do I use it as 00:39:00.340 --> 00:39:03.219 an aid to my memory? Not of just the suffering 00:39:03.219 --> 00:39:05.519 and the stuff that you're experiencing, but for 00:39:05.519 --> 00:39:08.900 the glory of God. and a reminder, an aid of how 00:39:08.900 --> 00:39:11.559 God is faithful even in these difficult circumstances. 00:39:13.599 --> 00:39:16.280 We need to ask, how can my response to this thing 00:39:16.280 --> 00:39:20.460 or experience or person, try this one on for 00:39:20.460 --> 00:39:24.300 size, be a continuing witness to the goodness, 00:39:25.019 --> 00:39:29.539 faithfulness, and justice of God? Wait, how can 00:39:29.539 --> 00:39:33.400 these insults and tribulations and toils and 00:39:33.400 --> 00:39:39.079 illnesses How can my response be a continuing 00:39:39.079 --> 00:39:41.820 witness to the goodness and faithfulness and 00:39:41.820 --> 00:39:49.739 justice of God? This is a thing, isn't it? All 00:39:49.739 --> 00:39:52.039 this is coming out of what Paul is telling the 00:39:52.039 --> 00:39:56.019 Thessalonians, and everything looks like it's 00:39:56.019 --> 00:39:59.780 stacked against them. A short time to be taught 00:39:59.780 --> 00:40:02.360 by an apostle and get your church established. 00:40:02.360 --> 00:40:09.880 Three weeks. unjust accusations, being charged 00:40:09.880 --> 00:40:15.719 money, mobs chasing you, all these things, insults 00:40:15.719 --> 00:40:19.539 and lies being told about you. How do I respond 00:40:19.539 --> 00:40:23.840 to this to be a continuing witness to the goodness 00:40:23.840 --> 00:40:30.159 and faithfulness and justice of God? Finally, 00:40:30.179 --> 00:40:32.159 the last question that we'll think about here 00:40:32.159 --> 00:40:35.670 on this subject today. is how can I receive this 00:40:35.670 --> 00:40:39.889 thing, experience or person, right? So as to 00:40:39.889 --> 00:40:44.429 break and distribute it for nourishment, edification, 00:40:45.210 --> 00:40:47.730 and joy of others. You see this kind of tie in 00:40:47.730 --> 00:40:51.230 to the Lord's Supper, right? How do I take this 00:40:51.230 --> 00:40:54.010 giving thanks and making a memorial of this thing 00:40:54.010 --> 00:40:58.269 so that I take it to others? And I say, look 00:40:58.269 --> 00:41:00.690 at the faithfulness of God. How do I distribute 00:41:00.690 --> 00:41:05.690 it? so that it is for the nourishment, the edification, 00:41:06.070 --> 00:41:11.550 and the joy of others. Have you found Christ's 00:41:11.550 --> 00:41:14.329 faithfulness in your life? You're His. If you 00:41:14.329 --> 00:41:16.469 don't think He's there, if you don't think He's 00:41:16.469 --> 00:41:19.630 leading you in your life with all of the challenges 00:41:19.630 --> 00:41:21.389 that you're having, if you don't think He's giving 00:41:21.389 --> 00:41:29.150 you what you need, He has in fact. So stand steadfast, 00:41:29.869 --> 00:41:34.510 trusting. in Christ Jesus. Saints of God, God 00:41:34.510 --> 00:41:37.809 has chosen you all. Jesus has delivered you from 00:41:37.809 --> 00:41:41.070 the wrath to come. So let us give thanks, rejoicing 00:41:41.070 --> 00:41:44.369 in works of faith, labors of love, and a steadfast 00:41:44.369 --> 00:41:50.389 hope in Christ Jesus. Let us pray. Heavenly Father, 00:41:50.530 --> 00:41:53.789 we give thanks to you, for you are our God and 00:41:53.789 --> 00:41:56.630 deliverer. You sent your only Son, Jesus, to 00:41:56.630 --> 00:41:59.250 deliver us from the wrath that is to come. Uphold 00:41:59.250 --> 00:42:02.559 us, we pray. to give thanks in all things, especially 00:42:02.559 --> 00:42:05.860 in times of trouble and weak faith. By the power 00:42:05.860 --> 00:42:08.099 of the Spirit, give us your grace, peace, and 00:42:08.099 --> 00:42:10.679 joy, that we might glorify you and bless the 00:42:10.679 --> 00:42:13.219 world. We ask all this for the sake of Jesus 00:42:13.219 --> 00:42:15.780 Christ our Lord, who reigns with you in the Holy 00:42:15.780 --> 00:42:20.539 Spirit forever and ever. Amen. Let us continue 00:42:20.539 --> 00:42:22.780 our worship by the giving of our tithes and offerings. 00:43:22.300 --> 00:43:25.340 and offerings for your glory and for the service 00:43:25.340 --> 00:43:28.199 of your kingdom. Blessed be God forever and ever. 00:43:28.519 --> 00:43:28.820 Amen.