Following Our Lord's Lead

1THESS. 1:6-9

Subject: Discipleship

Theme: Authentic conversion result in altered lifestyles of grace as we decidedly follow our Lord’s lead.  

Introduction:

Just as the Lord Jesus invited His very first disciples to follow His lead, He still today summons us to a journey of a lifetime. The fact is we all will follow someone’s lead—permit another to influence the course we choose. Sometimes we are fully aware and make conscious decisions respective to a certain bit of advice, a necessary change of trajectory, a new more appealing career path, or to a prestigious university. Other times we follow another’s lead rather unaware…. Fashion trends, catch phrases, buzzwords, popular hair styles and the like are adopted without any idea of their origins. Yeah, following the crowd is alive and well.

In contrast, the Thessalonian believers had been gloriously saved and are consciously following the example of Paul and our Lord Jesus Christ. They know who is shaping their dreams, honing their values, fashioning their plans, and charting their course! While mere men will always follow mere men, Christ calls us to follow Him as the Lord of our existence and purpose. Beloved, our lives take on fuller and richer meaning when we are walking in Christ’s steps! Since we all will follow somebody, are you willing to follow Him?

It was Dr. Wiersbe who said, “From the very inception of this church, Paul looked to them with joy and gratitude as Christians worthy of the name. They were examples in several areas of their lives.” (The Bible Exposition Commentary)

So then…what can we learn from their example? How can we follow the Lord today?

Lesson:

A.     BY FOLLOWING HIS WAY (VS. 6)

1.      This Involves His Preachers (vs. 6) “followers of us”

a. Clearly this is the normal Christian experience. They became imitators of their spiritual parents, the missionaries.

b.Certainly Paul was careful to live a pure, real, and devoted life to Christ.

1.      1 Cor 11:1,   Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.

2.      1 Cor 4:14-17, I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15, For though ye have ten thousand instructors in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16, Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. [Bear spiritual children as soul winners] 17, For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church.

3.      The first introduction to the Lord Jesus for many lost people will be through your life as a Christian. It is sobering to think that people are supposed to be able to see Christ in us. We should be able to say with Paul, “Imitate me, just as I also imitate Christ” (1 Cor. 11:1).

4.      Clearly Paul encouraged believers to become his imitators in his tireless love and service for his fellow believers also.

c. Preachers and Christian leaders have a responsibility to be wholesome example for other believers to follow. Unfortunately many reject Christ because of a preacher or Christian worker with a poor testimony.

1.      1 Tim 4:12, Let no man despise thy youth; but be thou an example of the believers, in word [expressions and communications], in conversation [lifestyle, behavior], in charity [volitional love, acts of love by choice], in spirit [mental disposition or excited attitude], in faith [belief & fidelity]  in purity.[chastity and cleanness]

2.      1 Pet 5:3, Neither as being lords over God's heritage, but being ensamples to the flock.

d.One reason sinners avoid churches is the hypocrisy of Christians (See Matt 23).  The Church may have a bad reputation in the community.

1.      Example & Experiences in Schweinfurt

2.      As witnessing believers we must guard our lives against hypocrisy and make sure that we are living for Christ sincerely.  WHY? Because others are watching and following us—some child, some adult, some neighbor, some friend, some co-worker.  Therefore it behooves us to follow Christ as devotedly as possible.

2.      This Involves His Person (vs. 6) “followers…of the Lord”

a. They also went on to imitate the Lord. This too is natural, and the order is true to all our experiences. A new Christian first looks to other believers as his pattern, but then as he matures he realizes that Jesus Christ is his best “model” (1 Peter 2:21).

b.Jesus is the believer’s true leader in life!  It is Christ we must live to imitate ultimately! Christ still commands us to “follow” him. 

c. The primary goal is always to help people walk with the Lord personally and intimately. 

B.     BY RECEIVING HIS WORD (VS. 6-7) (Salvation—Regeneration)

1.      The Word was key to their Pardon (vs. 6) “having received the Word”

a. The Gospel came to them through the ministry of Paul and his associates.  The Holy Spirit used the Word in great power, and the Thessalonians responded by receiving both the message and the messengers.

b.In spite of the persecution in Philippi, Paul and Silas had been “bold... to speak... the Gospel” (1 Thes. 2:2); and the people believed and were saved. They never lost that eagerness for the Word of God (1 Thes. 2:13).

c. We must believe and receive the Word to be saved (2Tim. 3:15; Rom. 10:8; Jas. 1:18; 1Pet. 1:23; Jn. 1:13)

2.      The Word was their Priority (vs. 6) “in much affliction”

a. They received the word in spite of affliction.1Thes 1:6,  …having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:

1.      There was great trouble in the city because of Paul’s witness and the unbelieving Jews of Acts 17. 

2.      Persecution was heavy and hard on these new Christians and the threat was real to those who were contemplating salvation.  But they believed anyway!  

b.Despite severe suffering the Thessalonians welcomed the message.

1.      The Jews among them must have felt the hatred of their unbelieving brothers who were especially antagonistic to the gospel in that city.

2.      The Gentile converts must have had to swim against the swift current of paganism that flowed like a torrent through the conduit of commercial Thessalonica.

3.      The city’s chief men’s wives, who had become Christians, had to go home to unbelieving husbands who would not have appreciated their newly sensitized consciences.

4.      But still they trusted Christ; God had arrested their souls through the gospel!

c. Persecution has always been a friend of Christianity, not an enemy. 

1.      It insured that those professing Christians were true converts.

2.      The Martyrs testified to the reality and supremacy of Christ, therefore winning others through their testimony and blood!

d.What place does the Word occupy in your priorities? Don’t allow the response of others to discourage you from coming to Christ.

3.      The Word was their Pleasure (vs. 6) “joy in the Holy Ghost”

a. They received the word with joy.  

1.      Yet in spite of trials without, the Thessalonian believers possessed joy within, the joy of sins forgiven. It is interesting that Christians who have tribulations in their daily walks often seem to have greater joy in the Lord than those who live in more comfortable spiritual climates. A Christian’s joy should be determined not by his circumstances but by his relationship with Christ. This was true of the Thessalonians. The source of their joy was the indwelling Holy Spirit. –The Bible Knowledge Commentary

2.      Joy rises above circumstances and focuses on the very character of God (Ps.71:14-16; 21:1; 71:23; 31:7; 33:1-6). God's characteristics and actions are the cause for rejoicing.

3.      The Lord also affords joy through His Word.  The Word imparts faith (Rom. 10:17) and brings joy (Acts 8:8, 39; Jer. 15:16).

b.The joy we need is:

1.      Produced by the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:22).

2.      Looks beyond the present to our future (Rom. 5:2; 8:18; 1Pet. 1:4, 6).

3.      Looks to our sovereign God, who works out all things for our ultimate good, which is Christ-likeness (Rom. 8:28-30).

c. This kind of joy is different from mere happiness. It is possible, even in the midst of sorrow (2 Cor. 6:10; 7:4).

4.      The Word was their Practice (vs. 7) “ye were examples to all”

a. They made good impressions on others locally and abroad; Christ could be seen in their lives.  Matt. 5:14-16—this is vitally important!

b.Their faithfulness to follow Christ made them a model for others.  As an evangelist I am to model real Christianity; also as a parent, as a citizen, as a friend, as a husband, as a church member, as an employee I am charged by Christ to be the correct kind of example for others.

C.     BY SHARING HIS WITNESS (VS. 8-9)

1.      They Spread the Word Thoroughly (vs. 8) “you sounded out the world of the Lord”

a. They “Sounded Out” the Gospel—they preached Christ or sounded the Gospel Trumpet and it had a rippling effect throughout all Greece and beyond.  Like the ripples in a pool the word of the Lord spread out in ever-widening circles: first in Macedonia and Achaia and then every place else.

1.      “Every Place” points to Thessalonica as not only the capitol of Macedonia but also a great commercial center where tradesmen and businessmen visited from all over the world. 

2.      Secondly, the city of Thessalonica was situated on the Egnatian Highway which was a major Roman highway connecting east and west.  (Aegean and Adriatic Coasts)

3.      Because the church took advantage of its natural opportunities, they were successful in getting the gospel out to much of what would become modern Greece. 

4.      But what about us?  I can recall serving the Lord for years as a pastor to military families and European nationals. In a military work we had the opportunity to touch every church the members transitioned into from there.  We took the gospel to regions where missionaries cannot go via Uncle Sam.  We ministered to the refugees and European nationals there who went back to their home lands to reach the people there with the Gospel.  We need to seriously think about the opportunities God affords us individually and collectively!

b.They were known for their zealous mission work (Vs 8)   “but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad...” (See also 2Cor 8:1-3). What kind of reputation do we have in our home, city, community, or region?  Is there a zeal for spreading the gospel to the world?

2.      They Served God Exclusively (vs. 9) “turned to God from idols”

a. They were changed radically by the gospel (Vs 9)

b.They had turned to God from idols

1.      The church was comprised of both Jews and Greeks (Acts 17:2-4). Some were complete heathens, idol worshipers, and pagans, but now they have been saved and are living for God.

2.      This proves that no one is beyond the grace of God and salvation.

3.      Thessalonica was a wealthy city and it attracted it share of sensual pagan religions (1 Thess. 4:3-5) and other vices.  The population was about 200,000 people. 

4.      Cultured, affluent, impoverished, pedigree, idolatry, religious, educated, or corrupted…it does not matter if the sinner will repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Weather it is a professor at Harvard University or a savage head hunter in the South American jungles.  They are not beyond the grace of God! God can save the hard cases!

c. They exercised faith in Christ first with the result that their idols were forsaken.

1.      It was not mere reformation but genuine regeneration—repentance and faith!  They didn’t clean up their lives to get saved! They simply were saved and God cleaned up their lives afterwards!

2.      This change also means that they were so satisfied with Jesus that they dropped their idols! It wasn’t that they became fed up with their idols and then decided to give God a chance.  No they turn to God and found HIM so satisfying that they dropped their idols. 

3.      If you are not satisfied with Jesus, it is because you are looking for him in the wrong place! Christ satisfies (Jn. 4:14; 6:35)!

d.They Now Served The Living and True God. (Vs 3 and vs 8)

1.      Now they were Sunday school teachers, discipleship workers, deacons, pastors, missionaries and evangelist! They became godly moms, dads, teens, and youths…and so can we.   

2.      They have turned from idols to serve the living and true God!

3.      They Served God Encouragingly.

a. Their steadfastness in the Lord was a real source of encouragement for Paul

1.      Persecution and difficulty will discourage your average person.  But not these infant Christians!

2.      No doubt Paul could recall the excitement he had when God first called him to Macedonia.  (Act 16:6-10)

3.      I’m sure he was a little discouraged because of the opposition and difficulties which came so frequently, thereby hindering and frustrating his work.   

b.But now his heart explodes into words of praise and thanksgiving for what God did in these precious lives.

1.      He rejoiced for the steadfastness of the people of God in the midst of their persecutions!  There is no greater encouragement then seeing your church and new converts progressing in the Lord.

2.      God provided his servant with the encouragement he needed at the very moment he needed it. 

3.      Ultimately, child of God, we are not called to be terminals for blessings but channels through which God’s blessings can flow.  God wants to shine in our lives so that His light can shine through us unto others.  “Who is it that God wants you to be a channel of blessing to?”

Conclusion: 

Simply stated, a few believers went into a heathen city with the word of the Lord Jesus.  They preached in the power of the Spirit and people were saved—regenerated!  Men and Women became so enraptured with the Savior that they abandoned their idols. As a result we see an assembly of believers praising God, living lives of holiness, bravely enduring persecution, and winning others to Christ.  True the Lord’s service is the prince of callings!

No matter how hideous and wicked our society is, the miracle of regeneration will still make a difference.  We can still live for God if we really want to!  Daniel is a beautiful illustration of one who lived for God in spite of his surrounding wicked culture! You can still progress in the faith if you really want to!

If you labor in spiritual things you can be reassured that our labor is not in vain in the Lord. We need not be threatened by the wickedness of our day, but be concerned with the sounding out of the Gospel.  As we do, we have God’s promise that it will not return to Him void.   Isa 55:11, So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

Don’t give up on the ‘hard cases’ whether they are harden sinners or religious lost people.  Keep praying and witnessing as the Lord affords opportunity, and he will save these also. Beloved, this is how we decidedly follow our Lord’s lead.