The Hope of Salvation: Continual Praise
Notes
Transcript
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
What is the point of preaching?
In our day preaching has fallen on hard times. Many things tend to take the place of preaching. Singing, in some cases takes the place of preaching. It accomplishes what preaching does because it can encourage and convict people. Video drama has become very popular, it presents the Gospel message in a vibrant relational way. Talks have become popular in our day, software programs have enabled the presenter to communicate on a deeper level with the audience than ever before.
These avenues of communication are powerful and useful and many times necessary in modern church life. But when it comes to the continual praise of our God these things cannot replace preaching. They are tools to help but they will never replace the power that God has appointed to the preaching of the Gospel.
Three Dynamic products of preaching.
The Duty of The Gospel
The Duty of The Gospel
The Word of God here is referring to the Gospel message.
Now when the apostles which were at Jerusalem heard that Samaria had received the word of God, they sent unto them Peter and John:
Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold, and said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles.
Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
When Paul tells the church in Thessalonica that the Gospel effectually works in those that believe. He is saying that it performs as it is expected to when preached.
energeo - to be at work; sense to function - to do what something is used for; perform as expected when operating.
Paul states that it works in those that believe. Trust in Jesus as contained in the content of the Gospel.
For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Not of works, lest any man should boast.
The duty of the Gospel is to work in the heart of those who place their faith in Christ. This work brings a change of focus.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.
But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.
Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the spirit which is of God; that we might know the things that are freely given to us of God.
The Interstate Highway System. The 41,000-mile network was the largest civil engineering project in U.S. history. We don’t take much thought of it until there is an inconvenient pothole or road construction.
The system works great until someone disrespects it or uses it for something that it was not created for.
The Detest of the Gospel
The Detest of the Gospel
Why do the heathen rage, And the people imagine a vain thing?
The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord, and against his anointed, saying,
Let us break their bands asunder, And cast away their cords from us.
He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: The Lord shall have them in derision.
Then shall he speak unto them in his wrath, And vex them in his sore displeasure.
Yet have I set my king Upon my holy hill of Zion.
I will declare the decree: The Lord hath said unto me, Thou art my Son; This day have I begotten thee.
Ask of me, And I shall give thee the heathen for thine inheritance, And the uttermost parts of the earth for thy possession.
Thou shalt break them with a rod of iron; Thou shalt dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel.
Be wise now therefore, O ye kings: Be instructed, ye judges of the earth.
Serve the Lord with fear, And rejoice with trembling.
Kiss the Son, lest he be angry, And ye perish from the way, When his wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in him.
He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.
He came unto his own, and his own received him not.
For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
“If there is no opposition in the place where you are serving, then you are serving in the wrong place.”- Martyn Lloyd-Jones
The Doom of Godlessness
The Doom of Godlessness
We often think of suffering in the light of suffering for the Gospel’s sake. But there is another group that suffer, the unbeliever.
Verse 14 states that because the Gospel effectually worked in you that believe, you became followers of the churches in Judea. This brought suffering from their own nation just as the converted Jews had experienced.
This suffering brought forth a greater joy and fulfillment. One that can only be found in Jesus.
But note the suffering that God pronounces upon all who seek to silence the Gospel message.
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
Just as those you have had the Gospel do its work in them are saved to the uttermost.
Wherefore he is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them.
God will punish all who willingly strive to keep the Gospel of Christ away from the publics ears.
But the fearful, and unbelieving, and the abominable, and murderers, and whoremongers, and sorcerers, and idolaters, and all liars, shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death.
Conclusion:
Is the Gospel performing in you the way it was designed? Do we face the day with hopeful confidence or does one news report make us frustrated, angry, depressed?
Can we love those who disagree with us or do we cut them off in anger? Do we reach out with godly judgement or do we count them as enemies?
And if any man obey not our word by this epistle, note that man, and have no company with him, that he may be ashamed.
Yet count him not as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother.