THEY CHANGED

Sunday Morning:  August 6, 2000

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:1-3  "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:

2. Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

3. We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly [present active], and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth [present active];"

OUR FATHER AND MASTER

2 Thessalonians 1:1-3  "Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord [kuriov, master Col. 4.1) Jesus Christ:”

HONOR AND FEAR

Malachi 1:6  "A son honoureth his father, and a servant his master: if then I be a father, where is mine honour? and if I be a master, where is my fear? saith the LORD of hosts unto you. . ."

INCENTIVE TO CHANGE

2 Corinthians 5:9-11 "Wherefore we labour [our ambition], that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted [pleasing] of him. “

10. For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. “

11. Knowing therefore the terror [fear] of the Lord, we persuade men (to be pleasing to him, V.9); . . ."

POWER TO CHANGE

2 Thessalonians 1:2  "Grace unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ

 POWER OF CHRIST

2 Corinthians 12:9  "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."

THEY CONTINUED TO CHANGE

2 Thessalonians 1:1-3  "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly [present active], and the charity (love) of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth [present active];"

FAITH AND LOVE

Galatians 5:5-6  "For we through the spirit (submissive spirit of sonship) wait for the hope of righteousness by faith. 6. . . . faith which worketh [present middle] by love."

FAITH COMES BY HEARING

Romans 10:17  "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God [Christ]."

CONCERNING YOUR FAITH

1 Thessalonians 3:2 "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"

TO KNOW YOUR FAITH

1 Thessalonians 3:5  "For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain."

PERFECT FAITH

1 Thessalonians 3:10  "Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?"

INCREASE IN LOVE

1 Thessalonians 3:12  “And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:”

PROVOKE UNTO LOVE

Hebrews 10:24  "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works:"

NO CHANGE

2 Timothy 3:5, 7  "Having a form of godliness, but denying the power (of God) thereof: . . .       

7. Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth."

RENEW YOUR THINKING

Romans 12:1-2  "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies (earthen vessel) a living sacrifice (total submission), holy (not in sin), acceptable [well pleasing, faith] unto God, which is your reasonable service.

2. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable [well pleasing], and perfect, will of God."

STRENGTHEN YOUR MIND

1 Peter 1:13  "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end . . ."

GIVE HIM CONTROL

Matthew 11:29  "Take my yoke (His control of you) upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls."

ARE YOU DECEIVED?

James 1:22-25  "But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

23. For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man beholding his natural face in a glass:

24. For he beholdeth himself, and goeth his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

25. But whoso looketh into the perfect law of liberty, and continueth therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work, this man shall be blessed in his deed."

LEARNED IT? . . . DO IT!

Philippians 4:9  "Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do [practice, present active imperative]: and the God of peace shall be with you."