Sunday Morning - June 30, 1996
Text: John 6:29 "Jesus answered and said unto them, This is the work of God, that ye believe [present tense] on him whom he hath sent."
The word "Believe" is a present active verb. The action of this verb is continuous in contrast to the aorist tense of the verb which is punctiliar.
1 Timothy 1:16 "Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe [present tense] on him to life everlasting."
1 Corinthians 11:1 "Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ."
1 Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me."
2 Corinthians 5:9-10 "Wherefore we labour, that, whether present or absent, we may be accepted 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."
1 Thessalonians 1:7 "So that ye were ensamples to all that believe [present active] in Macedonia and Achaia."
The recent discovery of a marble inscription, written partly in Greek and partly in a Samaritan form of Hebrew and Aramaic, testifies to the presence of Samaritans in Thessalonica. The Book of Acts testifies to the presence of a Jewish synagogue there (17:1).
Acts 17:4 "And some of them believed [were persuaded], and consorted [joined] with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few."
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5 "Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 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."
1 Thessalonians 1:6 "And ye became followers [mimics] of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
2 Thessalonians 1:3 "We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly, and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth;"
2 Thessalonians 1:4 "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:"
Acts 17:5 "But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people."
1 Thessalonians 3:4 "For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know."
2 Thessalonians 1:5 "Which is a manifest token of the righteous judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:"
Romans 8:17 "And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together."
2 Timothy 2:12 "If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: if we deny him, he also will deny us:"
2 Thessalonians 1:4 "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:"
Luke 8:11-15 "Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God.
THEY THAT HEAR
12. Those by the way side are they that hear; then cometh the devil, and taketh away the word out of their hearts, lest they should believe and be saved.
BLINDING THE MINDS THAT CAN SEE
2 Corinthians 4:4 "In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them."
THEY BELIEVE FOR A WHILE
13. They on the rock are they, which, when they hear, receive [PRESENT MIDDLE] the word with joy; and these have no root, which for a while believe [PRESENT ACTIVE], and in time of temptation fall away.
HAVE NO ROOT
John 8:31-32 "Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed [PERFECT ACTIVE PTC] on him, If ye continue in my word, then are ye my disciples indeed; 32. And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."
TEMPTATION
Hebrews 3:8-12 "Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation, in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 9. When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my works forty years. 10. Wherefore I was grieved with that generation, and said, They do alway err in their heart; and they have not known my ways. 11. So I sware in my wrath, They shall not enter into my rest.) 12. Take heed, brethren, lest there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, in departing from the living God."
THEY THAT BELIEVE BUT NO FRUIT
14. And that which fell among thorns are they, which, when they have heard, go forth, and are choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to perfection.
FRUIT IS MINISTRY TO GOD AND MAN
Judges 9:13 "And the vine said unto them, Should I leave my wine, which cheereth God and man, and go to be promoted over the trees?"
FRUIT WITH PATIENCE
15. But that on the good ground are they, which in an honest and good heart, having heard the word, keep it, and bring forth fruit with patience."
THE WORD AND YOUR FAITH
1 Thessalonians 1:8 "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."
Hebrews 11:6 "But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him."
WHAT ARE WE DOING TO FOLLOW THE EXAMPLE OF PAUL AND THE CHURCH AT THESSALONICA?
ARE WE GIVING PLACE TO THE DEVIL?
ARE WE SPENDING THE TIME WE NEED IN THE WORD TO BE ROOTED AND GROUNDED?
IS THE WORD OF GOD CHOKED OUT OF OUR LIVES BY THE CARES OF THIS LIFE.
RICHES OF THIS LIFE.
THE PLEASURES OF THIS LIFE.
LUST OF OTHER THINGS (MARK 4.19).
ARE WE PRODUCING FRUIT THAT MINISTERS TO GOD AND MAN.
1 Thessalonians 1:3 "Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;"
Hebrews 6:10 "For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have showed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister."
Philippians 2:16 "Holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain."