During a read through of this passage. God brought to my attention 3 things here in a life of a believer from start to finnish. Not finnish as in death but finnish as in sent out.
In Verse 5 Paul states:
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
(1 Thessalonians 1:5)
This is referring to salvation. Paul says "For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance;"
The people of the Thessalonian Church were saved and they knew it! They were radically changed because the Gospel came to them in POWER! It brings me back to the day that I repented of my sins put my faith and trust in the Lord Jesus Christ! I was radically changed so much it is still fresh in my mind and it was on July 14th of 2002. My change was so radical that both my kids six to eight months later repented and got saved! Praise the Lord! I even had an effect on employees at work!
In verse 6 it states:
And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
(1 Thessalonians 1:6-7)
The Thessalonians became followers of Paul and the apostles. That is discipleship! I remember when I recieved Christ I wanted to know all there is to know about my Savior and He showed me! Through a 16 lesson one on one discipleship course! My soul was hungry and thirsty for the Word of God! There are alot of churches out there that do not have the programs to teach how to study the Bible or get grounded in the Word of God to understand it and learn it. Some churches just turn around and go on to the next person and dont even bat an eye at the one that just got saved!
The third thing that God revealed to me was in Verse 8!
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing. 1 Thessalonians 1:8
After they were saved, then discipled, they were sent out! The Thessalonian people were so on fire for the Lord that Paul and the apostles didn't even have to go in and mention the Gospel because they were saved and it even spread outside to another city.
Which brings me to a question.
When was the last time you shared your faith with someone?
Paul states in Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
We should not be ashamed we should not be scared we should be sharing the Gospel with everyone. It is not for just pastors or evangelists or teachers it is a command that we share the Gospel!
Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
(John 15:16)
Evangelism:
"Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit,"
Discipleship:
"and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you."
Send them out!
And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.
(Matthew 28:18-20)
If you have not repented of your sins the bible says in Ezekiel 18:4 the soul that sinneth, it shall die.
Jesus Christ was God born of a virgin sent to this earth to die on a cross for you and I.
For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
(John 3:16-17)
You too can become a son of God by simple doing these things.
Repent
Believe
Ask
Recieve
Repent. Ask the Lord in prayer to forgive you of your sins and make you clean.
Believe that Jesus Christ is God manifest in the flesh and died for your sins and on the third day rose again.
Ask Jesus to come in to your heart and life and change you and to become the Lord of your Life.
Recieve the gift of everlasting Life and the Jesus Christ will take up resident in your soul and save you from a very real place called Hell.
If you prayed that prayer just now post a reply and let someone know. Send me a private message and I can help you to grow in your new walk with Christ.
Christian where do you stand with Christ? Do you have fruit in your life? Are there people wondering what you have that they dont or are you sitting on the side lines watching the game. If you are. God did not tell you to sit on the side lines and watch. GET IN THE GAME! Because as a Christian God will judge us based on what we have done for His Son and His glory!
Who cares what they think of you!
What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
Can you stand before a righteous just God and tell Him you have never shared Christ with anyone?
Just do it!
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