Sermon
delivered on June 5th, 2016
By: Pastor Greg Hocson
Scripture Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10
Introduction
Paul wrote this letter to the Christians in Thessalonica.
The first time he mentioned the Thessalonians was in the book of Acts, but it
was not a good commentary, for he said, these (the Bereans)
were more noble than those in Thessalonica in that they (the Bereans) received the word with all readiness of mind ad
searched the Scriptures daily to see if those things were so.
But thank God there were also noble men in Thessalonica,
for later, many of them have also received and believed the Gospel. The lives
and hearts of Thessalonian Christians were greatly affected.
1 Thessalonians 1:6-10
They became faithful followers of the disciples and of the
Lord in the midst of much affliction. They followed the Lord with joy of the
Holy Ghost in spite of much affliction. They became example and encouragement
to other believers. They left their idols and served the living and true God.
The lives of these men and women were radically transformed because of the
Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The world needs a powerful Gospel. We need a Gospel that
does not only promise future salvation. We need a Gospel that does not only
promise salvation from Hell and an eternal home in Heaven but also a Gospel
that has power to change hearts and lives.
That is the Gospel that Jesus Christ established. That is
the Gospel we must preach.
I - What is the Gospel?
Gospel means "good news". It is "good news", because it solves and removes the greatest and
worst problem of men - sin and its consequence. Sin brought guilt, corruption,
condemnation, suffering, death, and hell. But the Gospel solves all these
problems.
It is "good news" not only because of what it
removes but also what it brings! It brings forgiveness, salvation,
reconciliation, justification, life, peace, joy and heaven.
The gospel is simple. I like how the Scriptures put it in
such simple terms ...
Luke 19:10 For the Son of man is come to seek
and to save that which was lost.
2 Corinthians 5:19 To wit, that God was in
Christ, reconciling the world unto himself, not imputing their trespasses unto
them; and hath committed unto us the word of reconciliation. 20: Now then we
are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech you by us: we pray you in
Christ's stead, be ye reconciled to God. 21: For he
hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the
righteousness of God in him.
1 Timothy 1:15 This is a faithful saying, and
worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save
sinners; of whom I am chief.
John 3:16 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. 17: For God sent not his Son into the world to
condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.
II - How the Gospel should come
How did the Gospel come to the Thessalonians? How is it
that they received the word in much affliction? How is it that even in the
midst of much affliction they were still filled with joy of the Holy Spirit.
We read these things so casually. What we miss when we
don't pause and meditate and look at them, oh, what a wealth of meaning.
In those days, to receive the Word, to be a Christian
brings much affliction. To believe in those days may mean being disowned by
family, having property confiscated, imprisonment, even death, but in spite of
all these they believed. So the question is why or how is it that in the
midst of these afflictions they believed and they were filled with the joy.
The only explanation I could offer is found in 1 Thessalonians 1:5.
1. The Gospel came not only in word
1 Thessalonians 1:5 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.
To some the gospel comes only in word. They hear, they
understand, they agree, and to some extent they even admire, but produces no
effect.
But thank God, there are those who heard, understood, fully
convinced of its reality and so they believed. It produced a powerful effect on
the heart and life.
The Gospel came in word. Words were used. The Gospel
must be communicated through preached word. But no man is ever saved just by
preaching alone. Preaching alone, words alone, sentences alone, will not
convert a soul.
It is clear in this text, that something more is needed for
the conversion of souls. The Gospel must come not only in word but in power and
in the Holy Ghost and in much assurance.
2. The Gospel came in power
1 Thessalonians 1:5 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.
Secondly, the Gospel came to them in power. Yes, the
Gospel must come in word, for it is the instrument that God uses to rescue
sinners.
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the
cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the
power of God.
It may be foolishness to those who are perishing but to us
who are saved it is the power of God.
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. 17: For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to
faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.
It is the Gospel that is the power of God unto salvation.
It is the preaching of the cross that is the power of God. It is not skits, nor
drama, nor music that will convert sinners to Christ. However well-prepared the
drama is, or the musical is. God's means of converting sinners to Christ is
still the preaching of the Gospel. That is where the power lies. The Gospel
must be communicated through preached word and it is the instrument that God
uses to produce faith in sinners.
Romans
10:17 So then faith
cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.
Throughout the New Testament, the gospel is associated with
power:
Romans 15:18 For I will not dare to speak of
any of those things which Christ hath not wrought by me (accomplished through me), to make the Gentiles obedient, by word and deed, 19:
Through mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God; so that
from Jerusalem, and round about unto Illyricum, I have fully preached the
gospel of Christ.
1 Corinthians 2:4 And my speech and my
preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of
the Spirit and of power: 5: That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of
men, but in the power of God.
1 Corinthians 4:19 But I will come to
you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are
puffed up, but the power. 20: For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in
power.
3. The Gospel came in the Holy Ghost
1 Thessalonians 1:5 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.
Thirdly, the Gospel came to them in the Holy Ghost.
Spurgeon as he goes up to the pulpit to preach, silently
and repeatedly says these words, "I believe in the Holy Ghost. I believe
in the Holy Ghost. I believe in the Holy Ghost."
We believe in the third person of the Trinity. We believe
that there are three that bear record in heaven, the Father, the Word and the
Holy Ghost, and these three are one. We need to be more conscious of the Holy
Spirit. We need to be more reliant on the Holy Spirit. We need the Holy Spirit.
Without the Holy Spirit there is no conviction of sin and no conversion to
Christ.
John 16:8 And when he is come, he will
reprove the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: 9: Of sin,
because they believe not on me; 10: Of righteousness, because I go to my
Father, and ye see me no more; 11: Of judgment, because the prince of this
world is judged.
No one will be saved without the Holy Spirit coming in
power. We must have the convicting and convincing power of the Holy Ghost. The
power does not lie in the ability of the preacher but in the quickening power
of the Holy Spirit.
If the preacher only speaks, then it is a matter of word
only, but when the Holy Spirit works through the word, a great spiritual work
is accomplished. The preaching of the Gospel must be accompanied by the
operation of the Holy Ghost in the conversion of his hearers.
But we must also remember that the Holy Spirit will only
come with power when the Gospel is faithfully preached. We can pray all we want
for the Holy Spirit to come in power but if we are preaching a watered down
Gospel, He won't.
4. The Gospel came in much assurance
1 Thessalonians 1:5 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.
Lastly, the Gospel came to them in much assurance. It came
to them with firm conviction. They heard and they were fully convinced of truth
and they embraced the truth.
It is true that the Holy Spirit convicts and convinces of
sin, righteousness and judgment. But the Holy Spirit also comforts and gives
full assurance. After the Holy Spirit convicts He comforts. The Spirit bear
witness by shedding the love of God abroad in our hearts.
III - Implications
1. These great truths should drive us to our knees
This is the reason that we must always have the spirit of
prayer and intercession. The work of rescuing sinners is a work of God. It is a
supernatural work. No human can do it. We are completely dependent upon God.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth
nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.
It is the Holy Spirit that gives life to spiritually dead
sinners. It is the Holy Spirit alone that can give a new heart. These blessings
we seek from God must come by prayer and by intercession. By God's people
pleading with God, the Holy Spirit is given and the Holy Spirit comes and the
Holy Spirit moves in our midst.
2. These great truths should encourage us
Acts 1:8 But ye shall receive power, after
that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witnesses unto me both in
Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of
the earth.
It should encourage us to participate in publishing the
good news, knowing that the success does not depend on our gifts and
abilities but it lies on the power of God alone.
We need to understand that success in the ministry is not
our responsibility, that is God's responsibility. Our responsibility is the
proclaim the good news, and God will give the increase.
Brethren, let us pray that the Word would not just be heard
but also that it would be understood, believed and embraced. That it would produced
a powerful effect on the heart and life.
May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His
suffering!
AMEN!