6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit. 7 As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. (vss. 6-8)
1. They had a genuine relationship with God through Christ. (v. 1)
“To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace.”
For just as in Adam all die, so also in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor. 15:22)
2. They prayed constantly for the needs of their fellowship. (vs. 2)
“We always thank God for all of you, making mention of you constantly in our prayers.”
3. They served fervently in whatever ways they had opportunity. (vs. 3)
We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor motivated by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.
· A Work of Faith.
· A Labor of Love.
· An Endurance of Hope.
4. They demonstrated powerfully the plan of God. (vs. 4-5)
4 For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit, and with full assurance.
The plan of God involved three things:
· The Will of God. (vs. 5) “he has chosen you,”.
· The Work of Christ (vs. 5). “gospel”
· The Witness of the Spirit. (vs. 5) “because our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, in the Holy Spirit”.
5. They imitated the Lord joyfully in spite of their affliction. (vs. 6)
6 and you yourselves became imitators of us and of the Lord when, in spite of severe persecution, you welcomed the message with joy from the Holy Spirit.
6. They spread contagiously the example of Christ . (vss. 7-10)
As a result, you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For the word of the Lord rang out from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place that your faith in God has gone out. Therefore, we don’t need to say anything, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception we had from you: how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God 10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.