100:00:01,000 –> 00:00:07,000Whenever you see an authentic work of God200:00:07,000 –> 00:00:10,000in any time or place, and especially in the scriptures,300:00:10,000 –> 00:00:14,000you want to learn everything about it that you possibly can400:00:14,000 –> 00:00:18,000so that we may seek and pursue such a work500:00:18,000 –> 00:00:22,000being reproduced among us here today.600:00:22,000 –> 00:00:24,000Welcome to Open The Bible with Pastor Colin Smith.700:00:24,000 –> 00:00:27,000I’m David Pick. Glad you could join us today,800:00:27,000 –> 00:00:29,000and Colin, for everyone who hears what you said there,900:00:29,000 –> 00:00:32,000I think everyone is nodding in agreement.1000:00:32,000 –> 00:00:34,000Yes, we want to see that.1100:00:34,000 –> 00:00:38,000Today, we’ll be looking at this in 1 Thessalonians.1200:00:38,000 –> 00:00:40,000Yeah, and there’s a great story behind this,1300:00:40,000 –> 00:00:42,000which is the story of how the gospel came1400:00:42,000 –> 00:00:44,000to this little town of Thessalonica.1500:00:44,000 –> 00:00:46,000Paul says in this letter1600:00:46,000 –> 00:00:49,000that when the Word of God came to this community,1700:00:49,000 –> 00:00:52,000it came not in word only,1800:00:52,000 –> 00:00:54,000but it came in power,1900:00:54,000 –> 00:00:57,000in the Holy Spirit, and with great conviction.2000:00:57,000 –> 00:01:01,000So that’s something that immediately grasps the attention,2100:01:01,000 –> 00:01:02,000I think, of any Christian2200:01:02,000 –> 00:01:05,000who wants to see God at work in the world.2300:01:05,000 –> 00:01:06,000What can we learn2400:01:06,000 –> 00:01:08,000about the Word of God coming with power,2500:01:08,000 –> 00:01:09,000with the Holy Spirit2600:01:09,000 –> 00:01:10,000and with great conviction?2700:01:10,000 –> 00:01:12,000What did that look like then,2800:01:12,000 –> 00:01:13,000and what can that look like now?2900:01:13,000 –> 00:01:14,000Well, that’s what’s ahead of us3000:01:14,000 –> 00:01:17,000as we launch into this letter of Thessalonians.3100:01:17,000 –> 00:01:19,000So, join us today there, if you can,3200:01:19,000 –> 00:01:21,0001 Thessalonians, chapter 1,3300:01:21,000 –> 00:01:23,000as we begin a message3400:01:23,000 –> 00:01:25,000the urgency of multiplying ministry.3500:01:26,000 –> 00:01:27,500Here is Pastor Colin.3600:01:27,500 –> 00:01:29,599The title for our series is3700:01:29,599 –> 00:01:32,000Living Like There’s No Tomorrow,3800:01:32,000 –> 00:01:34,000and I’ve chosen that title3900:01:34,000 –> 00:01:36,000because this letter of 1 Thessalonians4000:01:36,000 –> 00:01:40,500really pulsates with a sense of urgency.4100:01:40,500 –> 00:01:42,000In fact, the word urge4200:01:42,000 –> 00:01:44,000is one that Paul uses4300:01:44,000 –> 00:01:46,500four or five times in the letter.4400:01:46,500 –> 00:01:49,000Chapter 2 and verse 12,4500:01:49,000 –> 00:01:51,000four times all together he speaks about urging.4600:01:51,000 –> 00:01:53,000Urging you to live lives4700:01:53,000 –> 00:01:54,500that are worthy of God.4800:01:54,500 –> 00:01:56,500You find this same urging4900:01:56,500 –> 00:01:58,500in chapter 4 verse 1, chapter 4 verse 10,5000:01:58,500 –> 00:02:00,500chapter 5 and verse 14.5100:02:00,500 –> 00:02:03,500So we’re going to keep picking this theme up5200:02:03,500 –> 00:02:07,500of the importance of moving forward5300:02:07,500 –> 00:02:10,000in the life and ministry5400:02:10,000 –> 00:02:11,500that God has called us to5500:02:11,500 –> 00:02:13,500and trusted into our hands.5600:02:13,500 –> 00:02:15,500If you want to grasp the theme5700:02:15,500 –> 00:02:17,500of Thessalonians at its heart,5800:02:17,500 –> 00:02:18,500it is saying to us,5900:02:18,500 –> 00:02:20,500we do not have forever6000:02:20,500 –> 00:02:22,500to live the Christian life.6100:02:22,500 –> 00:02:24,500We don’t have forever to fulfill6200:02:24,500 –> 00:02:26,500the work that God has given us to do.6300:02:26,500 –> 00:02:28,500Every day,6400:02:28,500 –> 00:02:30,500the coming of Jesus Christ draws nearer.6500:02:30,500 –> 00:02:32,500We don’t know when that will be,6600:02:32,500 –> 00:02:34,500but it’s drawing nearer every day.6700:02:34,500 –> 00:02:35,500And in the same time,6800:02:35,500 –> 00:02:37,500millions of people are going into6900:02:37,500 –> 00:02:39,500eternity every day.7000:02:39,500 –> 00:02:41,500And every day you and I7100:02:41,500 –> 00:02:43,500draw nearer to the day7200:02:43,500 –> 00:02:45,500when that great event,7300:02:45,500 –> 00:02:48,000that great moment will come for us.7400:02:48,000 –> 00:02:50,500Now, a few months ago,7500:02:50,500 –> 00:02:51,500someone said to me7600:02:51,500 –> 00:02:54,000just in the course of ordinary conversation,7700:02:54,000 –> 00:02:56,000you know, Colin,7800:02:56,000 –> 00:02:58,000we really need to7900:02:58,000 –> 00:03:00,000recapture the sense of8000:03:00,000 –> 00:03:02,000urgency in this church.8100:03:04,000 –> 00:03:06,000And I agree with that.8200:03:06,000 –> 00:03:08,000I think that that is a right assessment8300:03:08,000 –> 00:03:10,000and a true statement,8400:03:10,000 –> 00:03:12,000and it’s with something of8500:03:12,000 –> 00:03:14,000that in mind that I’ve8600:03:14,000 –> 00:03:16,000come to First Thessalonians8700:03:16,000 –> 00:03:18,000where we’re going to camp out, as it were,8800:03:18,000 –> 00:03:20,000over these next two8900:03:20,000 –> 00:03:22,000months. I’m coming9000:03:22,000 –> 00:03:24,000to this with a prayer and ask you to9100:03:24,000 –> 00:03:26,000make this your prayer also9200:03:26,000 –> 00:03:28,000that through this letter9300:03:28,000 –> 00:03:30,000God will renew the sense9400:03:30,000 –> 00:03:32,000of urgency among us9500:03:32,000 –> 00:03:34,000with regards living the Christian life9600:03:34,000 –> 00:03:36,000and regards to the work9700:03:36,000 –> 00:03:38,000that he’s called us to do.9800:03:38,000 –> 00:03:40,000That God through this letter would teach us9900:03:40,000 –> 00:03:42,000to live like there is10000:03:42,000 –> 00:03:44,000no tomorrow.10100:03:44,000 –> 00:03:46,000I have to tell you10200:03:46,000 –> 00:03:48,000that having served as10300:03:48,000 –> 00:03:50,000a pastor for 2710400:03:50,000 –> 00:03:52,000years, and I honestly can hardly10500:03:52,000 –> 00:03:54,000believe that it’s been that, but10600:03:54,000 –> 00:03:56,000I’ve been privileged to serve as a pastor10700:03:56,000 –> 00:03:58,000for 27 years.10800:03:58,000 –> 00:04:00,000I have never sensed in my own10900:04:00,000 –> 00:04:02,000heart, such11000:04:02,000 –> 00:04:04,000a high degree of expectancy11100:04:04,000 –> 00:04:06,000and anticipation11200:04:06,000 –> 00:04:08,000of what God will do11300:04:08,000 –> 00:04:10,000as I feel11400:04:10,000 –> 00:04:12,000within my own heart at this time,11500:04:12,000 –> 00:04:14,000and I want you to know that11600:04:14,000 –> 00:04:16,000God has been very, very11700:04:16,000 –> 00:04:18,000gracious to us.11800:04:18,000 –> 00:04:20,000I see Him11900:04:20,000 –> 00:04:22,000birthing a12000:04:22,000 –> 00:04:24,000new degree of confidence in12100:04:24,000 –> 00:04:26,000the gospel among us, that is a wonderful12200:04:26,000 –> 00:04:28,000thing and is foundational to ministry.12300:04:28,000 –> 00:04:30,000A new sense of12400:04:30,000 –> 00:04:32,000dependence upon Him12500:04:32,000 –> 00:04:34,000and with that a sense12600:04:34,000 –> 00:04:36,000of anticipation that is being12700:04:36,000 –> 00:04:38,000increasingly widely felt as12800:04:38,000 –> 00:04:40,000what He may do among12900:04:40,000 –> 00:04:42,000us in these coming months13000:04:42,000 –> 00:04:44,000and years.13100:04:44,000 –> 00:04:46,000So I am praying that God will13200:04:46,000 –> 00:04:48,000extend that sense of expectancy13300:04:48,000 –> 00:04:50,000anticipation and urgency13400:04:50,000 –> 00:04:52,000among us, and that it will be for13500:04:52,000 –> 00:04:54,000His glory and for the advance13600:04:54,000 –> 00:04:56,000of the gospel.13700:04:56,000 –> 00:04:58,000Now before we launch into the letter13800:04:58,000 –> 00:05:00,000I want just to remind you of how13900:05:00,000 –> 00:05:02,000the church in Thessalonica began14000:05:02,000 –> 00:05:04,000just so we got a frame on this.14100:05:04,000 –> 00:05:06,000You can read about this story at your leisure14200:05:06,000 –> 00:05:08,000in Acts chapter 17,14300:05:08,000 –> 00:05:10,000Luke tells us there that14400:05:10,000 –> 00:05:12,000Paul came to Thessalonica14500:05:12,000 –> 00:05:14,000and he spent three weeks teaching about14600:05:14,000 –> 00:05:16,000Jesus in the synagogue14700:05:16,000 –> 00:05:18,000Luke tells us that he reasoned from the14800:05:18,000 –> 00:05:20,000scriptures, explaining and14900:05:20,000 –> 00:05:22,000proving that Christ had to suffer and rise15000:05:22,000 –> 00:05:24,000from the dead and he said this15100:05:24,000 –> 00:05:26,000”Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the15200:05:26,000 –> 00:05:28,000Christ.” So the message15300:05:28,000 –> 00:05:30,000that Paul preached in Thessalonica15400:05:30,000 –> 00:05:32,000over these three weeks15500:05:32,000 –> 00:05:34,000was the message of Jesus Christ15600:05:34,000 –> 00:05:36,000and then, beyond the time in the synagogue15700:05:36,000 –> 00:05:38,000he continued with ministry15800:05:38,000 –> 00:05:40,000along the same lines.15900:05:40,000 –> 00:05:42,000Many people came to Christ through16000:05:42,000 –> 00:05:44,000this ministry, including16100:05:44,000 –> 00:05:46,000we’re told a large number of God fearing16200:05:46,000 –> 00:05:48,000Greeks and it was in this way that16300:05:48,000 –> 00:05:50,000the church at Thessalonica was16400:05:50,000 –> 00:05:52,000born. Now16500:05:52,000 –> 00:05:54,000as soon as the church was established16600:05:54,000 –> 00:05:56,000persecution and16700:05:56,000 –> 00:05:58,000opposition arose16800:05:58,000 –> 00:06:00,000and a mob of16900:06:00,000 –> 00:06:02,000bad characters, we’re told, in17000:06:02,000 –> 00:06:04,000acts were roused up17100:06:04,000 –> 00:06:06,000and caused a riot in the marketplace17200:06:06,000 –> 00:06:08,000they rushed on the house where Paul17300:06:08,000 –> 00:06:10,000and Silas were staying which belonged17400:06:10,000 –> 00:06:12,000to a man called Jason and when17500:06:12,000 –> 00:06:14,000they couldn’t find Paul they grab Jason, brought him17600:06:14,000 –> 00:06:16,000to the market square and he ended up17700:06:16,000 –> 00:06:18,000through the intervention of the magistrate17800:06:18,000 –> 00:06:20,000appearing in court17900:06:20,000 –> 00:06:22,000The result of all of this was that18000:06:22,000 –> 00:06:24,000Paul and Silas had the leave18100:06:24,000 –> 00:06:26,000Thessalonica under cover of darkness18200:06:26,000 –> 00:06:28,000knowing that they would not be18300:06:28,000 –> 00:06:30,000allowed by the authorities to18400:06:30,000 –> 00:06:32,000return there. Paul went on to18500:06:32,000 –> 00:06:34,000Corinth and some months later18600:06:34,000 –> 00:06:36,000wrote this letter. First Thessalonians18700:06:36,000 –> 00:06:38,000to the new church established18800:06:38,000 –> 00:06:40,000through the preaching of the gospel18900:06:40,000 –> 00:06:42,000in these extraordinarily traumatic19000:06:42,000 –> 00:06:44,000circumstances to encourage19100:06:44,000 –> 00:06:46,000them and strengthen them in the19200:06:46,000 –> 00:06:48,000faith. Now that’s the background19300:06:48,000 –> 00:06:50,000Lets get to the question of19400:06:50,000 –> 00:06:52,000relevance19500:06:52,000 –> 00:06:54,000Why in all the world should19600:06:54,000 –> 00:06:56,000we be interested in what happened in19700:06:56,000 –> 00:06:58,000Thessalonica 2000 years ago19800:07:00,000 –> 00:07:02,000I want to answer this question19900:07:02,000 –> 00:07:04,000this way20000:07:04,000 –> 00:07:06,000We should be intensely interested20100:07:06,000 –> 00:07:08,000in what we are going to learn today and in these20200:07:08,000 –> 00:07:10,000coming weeks20300:07:10,000 –> 00:07:12,000because what happened in20400:07:12,000 –> 00:07:14,000Thessalonica20500:07:14,000 –> 00:07:16,000was an authentict20600:07:16,000 –> 00:07:18,000work of God20700:07:18,000 –> 00:07:20,000And I think that is what20800:07:20,000 –> 00:07:22,000we are interested in knowing more20900:07:22,000 –> 00:07:24,000and more of among us21000:07:24,000 –> 00:07:26,000in these days21100:07:26,000 –> 00:07:28,000and whenever you see21200:07:28,000 –> 00:07:30,000and authentic work of God21300:07:30,000 –> 00:07:32,000in any time or place21400:07:32,000 –> 00:07:34,000in Scriptures, you want to learn everything21500:07:34,000 –> 00:07:36,000about it that you possibly can21600:07:36,000 –> 00:07:38,000so that we may21700:07:38,000 –> 00:07:40,000seek and pursue such21800:07:40,000 –> 00:07:42,000a work be reproduced among21900:07:42,000 –> 00:07:44,000us here today22000:07:44,000 –> 00:07:46,000Now22100:07:46,000 –> 00:07:48,000you see the extent of this work22200:07:48,000 –> 00:07:50,000of God clearly if you look at verse22300:07:50,000 –> 00:07:52,000seven22400:07:52,000 –> 00:07:54,000where Paul says, you22500:07:54,000 –> 00:07:56,000became a model22600:07:56,000 –> 00:07:58,000to all the believers in Macedonia22700:07:58,000 –> 00:08:00,000and Achraham22800:08:00,000 –> 00:08:02,000you became a model22900:08:02,000 –> 00:08:04,000Now this is the only time in the New23000:08:04,000 –> 00:08:06,000Testament that Paul ever says23100:08:06,000 –> 00:08:08,000anything like this23200:08:08,000 –> 00:08:10,000There is no other church23300:08:10,000 –> 00:08:12,000in the New Testament that Paul23400:08:12,000 –> 00:08:14,000describes as a model23500:08:14,000 –> 00:08:16,000for other churches but he does23600:08:16,000 –> 00:08:18,000say to the Thessalonians, you are a23700:08:18,000 –> 00:08:20,000model, a template23800:08:20,000 –> 00:08:22,000for other churches, I would like23900:08:22,000 –> 00:08:24,000to see what God has done among you24000:08:24,000 –> 00:08:26,000he’s saying, replicated24100:08:26,000 –> 00:08:28,000repeated, amplified24200:08:28,000 –> 00:08:30,000or replaces24300:08:30,000 –> 00:08:32,000Now you see the church24400:08:32,000 –> 00:08:34,000in Corinth24500:08:34,000 –> 00:08:36,000had wonderfully gifted24600:08:36,000 –> 00:08:38,000people24700:08:38,000 –> 00:08:40,000They lacked, Paul says,24800:08:40,000 –> 00:08:42,000no spiritual gift24900:08:44,000 –> 00:08:46,000But the church in Corinth25000:08:46,000 –> 00:08:48,000plagued by way to25100:08:48,000 –> 00:08:50,000much self interest for Paul25200:08:50,000 –> 00:08:52,000ever to say that they were a model25300:08:52,000 –> 00:08:54,000for other churches25400:08:55,000 –> 00:08:57,000The church at Ephesus25500:08:57,000 –> 00:08:59,000had been blessed with remarkable25600:08:59,000 –> 00:09:01,000ministry. They were particularly formed25700:09:01,000 –> 00:09:04,000under the ministry of the apostle John25800:09:05,000 –> 00:09:07,000But if you read in the book of Revelation25900:09:07,000 –> 00:09:09,000you will find that having lost26000:09:09,000 –> 00:09:11,000their first love, the problem with the church26100:09:11,000 –> 00:09:13,000of Ephesus, was although they had been26200:09:13,000 –> 00:09:15,000richly blessed, they were way26300:09:15,000 –> 00:09:17,000too cold26400:09:17,000 –> 00:09:19,000as a congregation to be26500:09:19,000 –> 00:09:21,000a model for other church’s to emulate26600:09:24,000 –> 00:09:26,000But this one church in26700:09:26,000 –> 00:09:28,000Thessalonica, Paul describes26800:09:28,000 –> 00:09:30,000in this remarkable way, you became a26900:09:30,000 –> 00:09:32,000model27000:09:32,000 –> 00:09:34,000to all the believer’s in Macedonia27100:09:34,000 –> 00:09:36,000and Accaia and indeed verse 8 he says27200:09:36,000 –> 00:09:38,000The Lord’s message rang out27300:09:38,000 –> 00:09:40,000from you, not only in Macedonia27400:09:40,000 –> 00:09:42,000and Accaia, but your faith27500:09:42,000 –> 00:09:44,000in God has become known everywhere27600:09:44,000 –> 00:09:46,000So, what God27700:09:46,000 –> 00:09:48,000did in this27800:09:48,000 –> 00:09:50,000one church, in a very short27900:09:50,000 –> 00:09:52,000space of time, had an influence28000:09:52,000 –> 00:09:54,000far beyond their immediate community28100:09:54,000 –> 00:09:56,000to the entire region in which they28200:09:56,000 –> 00:09:58,000were placed, that is Macedonia and28300:09:58,000 –> 00:10:00,000Accaia, and from that region the28400:10:00,000 –> 00:10:02,000gospel extended beyond everywhere28500:10:02,000 –> 00:10:04,000Paul says, in terms of28600:10:04,000 –> 00:10:06,000the missionary enterprise that came from28700:10:06,000 –> 00:10:08,000that church28800:10:08,000 –> 00:10:10,000Now, you see, what we’re learning here, is that28900:10:10,000 –> 00:10:12,000that an authentic work of God29000:10:12,000 –> 00:10:14,000always spills over29100:10:14,000 –> 00:10:16,000It cannot29200:10:16,000 –> 00:10:18,000be contained in one place29300:10:18,000 –> 00:10:20,000People29400:10:20,000 –> 00:10:22,000learn from people29500:10:22,000 –> 00:10:24,000and churches learn from churches29600:10:24,000 –> 00:10:26,000And the work29700:10:26,000 –> 00:10:28,000of God in Thessalonica29800:10:28,000 –> 00:10:30,000was so striking29900:10:30,000 –> 00:10:32,000that others wanted to learn30000:10:32,000 –> 00:10:34,000from what had happened there30100:10:34,000 –> 00:10:36,000And the result was30200:10:36,000 –> 00:10:38,000that what God had done in this one place30300:10:38,000 –> 00:10:40,000was reproduced30400:10:40,000 –> 00:10:42,000through other people30500:10:42,000 –> 00:10:44,000in other places30600:10:46,000 –> 00:10:48,000Now, I hope that whets your appetite to say30700:10:48,000 –> 00:10:50,000Well, we want to know more then about what God30800:10:50,000 –> 00:10:52,000did in this town30900:10:52,000 –> 00:10:54,000of Thessalonica31000:10:54,000 –> 00:10:56,000In what way then31100:10:56,000 –> 00:10:58,000were these believers31200:10:58,000 –> 00:11:00,000a model? What was it about these31300:11:00,000 –> 00:11:02,000believers? What was it about31400:11:02,000 –> 00:11:04,000what God did in this place that was so31500:11:04,000 –> 00:11:06,000distinctive, that Paul uniquely31600:11:06,000 –> 00:11:08,000describes them, as being31700:11:08,000 –> 00:11:10,000an example, a model, a template31800:11:10,000 –> 00:11:12,000for other believers and churches31900:11:12,000 –> 00:11:14,000Well look at32000:11:14,000 –> 00:11:16,000verse 632100:11:16,000 –> 00:11:18,000which reminds us that these believers32200:11:18,000 –> 00:11:20,000became a model32300:11:20,000 –> 00:11:22,000because they welcomed32400:11:22,000 –> 00:11:24,000the message in spite32500:11:24,000 –> 00:11:26,000of severe suffering32600:11:26,000 –> 00:11:28,000suffering32700:11:28,000 –> 00:11:30,000In other words32800:11:30,000 –> 00:11:32,000what you saw in Thessalonica32900:11:32,000 –> 00:11:34,000was real people33000:11:34,000 –> 00:11:36,000living in tough33100:11:36,000 –> 00:11:38,000circumstances, whose33200:11:38,000 –> 00:11:40,000faith did not buckle33300:11:40,000 –> 00:11:42,000under pressure33400:11:42,000 –> 00:11:44,000and I think that’s33500:11:44,000 –> 00:11:46,000the kind of faith that33600:11:48,000 –> 00:11:50,000is desperately needed even in church world33700:11:50,000 –> 00:11:52,000today where so many have33800:11:52,000 –> 00:11:54,000a profession of faith but seem33900:11:54,000 –> 00:11:56,000to cave in whenever pressure34000:11:56,000 –> 00:11:58,000comes in the course of34100:11:58,000 –> 00:12:00,000life, we are looking34200:12:00,000 –> 00:12:02,000for an authentic work of God34300:12:02,000 –> 00:12:04,000that creates a faith that34400:12:04,000 –> 00:12:06,000will not buckle under pressure34500:12:06,000 –> 00:12:08,000and that’s what was34600:12:08,000 –> 00:12:10,000modeled right there in Thessalonica34700:12:10,000 –> 00:12:12,000see, I34800:12:12,000 –> 00:12:14,000wondered if you do not feel with me34900:12:14,000 –> 00:12:16,000today what we desperately35000:12:16,000 –> 00:12:18,000need in our time35100:12:18,000 –> 00:12:20,000is to see35200:12:20,000 –> 00:12:22,000a faith being reproduced35300:12:22,000 –> 00:12:24,000in people35400:12:24,000 –> 00:12:26,000that will be able to35500:12:26,000 –> 00:12:28,000stand against the pressures35600:12:28,000 –> 00:12:30,000of our culture35700:12:30,000 –> 00:12:32,000and our environment35800:12:34,000 –> 00:12:36,000so, I want to see35900:12:36,000 –> 00:12:38,000a work of God36000:12:38,000 –> 00:12:40,000that forms36100:12:40,000 –> 00:12:42,000students36200:12:44,000 –> 00:12:46,000with such a faith that will withstand36300:12:46,000 –> 00:12:48,000the onslaught of unbelief36400:12:48,000 –> 00:12:50,000and cynicism that will come through36500:12:50,000 –> 00:12:52,000four years on a secular36600:12:52,000 –> 00:12:54,000university campus36700:12:54,000 –> 00:12:56,000I want to see them formed with that kind36800:12:56,000 –> 00:12:58,000of a faith36900:12:58,000 –> 00:13:00,000I want to see37000:13:00,000 –> 00:13:02,000men and women who have37100:13:02,000 –> 00:13:04,000got themselves into the grip37200:13:04,000 –> 00:13:06,000of drugs and alcohol37300:13:06,000 –> 00:13:08,000and pornography so formed37400:13:08,000 –> 00:13:10,000in a faith that strengthens them to37500:13:10,000 –> 00:13:12,000gain victory through the power of37600:13:12,000 –> 00:13:14,000Christ against the power of these37700:13:14,000 –> 00:13:16,000prevailing temptations37800:13:16,000 –> 00:13:18,000I want to see a work37900:13:18,000 –> 00:13:20,000of God that will mobilize38000:13:20,000 –> 00:13:22,000people who have been trusted with38100:13:22,000 –> 00:13:24,000money to use38200:13:24,000 –> 00:13:26,000their resources for the advance38300:13:26,000 –> 00:13:29,000of the Gospel in their lifetime38400:13:29,000 –> 00:13:31,000because this is the best thing that they38500:13:31,000 –> 00:13:33,000see that they can do38600:13:33,000 –> 00:13:35,000I want to see a work of God38700:13:35,000 –> 00:13:37,000that will raise up young adults38800:13:37,000 –> 00:13:39,000single38900:13:39,000 –> 00:13:41,000married for whom39000:13:41,000 –> 00:13:43,000the primary question39100:13:43,000 –> 00:13:45,000is what does Jesus39200:13:45,000 –> 00:13:47,000Christ want me to do with my life39300:13:47,000 –> 00:13:49,000and how can I be most39400:13:49,000 –> 00:13:51,000effective in offering myself39500:13:51,000 –> 00:13:53,000for the advance of the Gospel and for39600:13:53,000 –> 00:13:55,000his Kingdom39700:13:57,000 –> 00:13:59,000now what kind of39800:13:59,000 –> 00:14:01,000ministry will39900:14:01,000 –> 00:14:03,000produce this kind of person40000:14:03,000 –> 00:14:05,000what kind40100:14:05,000 –> 00:14:07,000of church40200:14:07,000 –> 00:14:09,000will produce this40300:14:09,000 –> 00:14:11,000kind of fruit40400:14:11,000 –> 00:14:13,000that’s a huge question for us40500:14:13,000 –> 00:14:15,000and40600:14:15,000 –> 00:14:17,000we are going to see the answer to it40700:14:17,000 –> 00:14:19,000here in40800:14:19,000 –> 00:14:21,000Thessalonians 140900:14:33,000 –> 00:14:35,000please do stay with us41000:14:35,000 –> 00:14:37,000the message is part of a series called41100:14:37,000 –> 00:14:39,000living like there’s no tomorrow41200:14:39,000 –> 00:14:41,000and if you’ve missed any of the messages41300:14:41,000 –> 00:14:43,000in the series, or if you have to leave early today41400:14:43,000 –> 00:14:45,000don’t forget you can easily catch up41500:14:45,000 –> 00:14:47,000to go back and listen again on our41600:14:47,000 –> 00:14:48,880website thats at, open41700:14:48,880 –> 00:14:50,880the bible .org.uk41800:14:50,880 –> 00:14:52,880alternatively as a podcast41900:14:52,880 –> 00:14:54,880on all of the main podcast sites42000:14:54,880 –> 00:14:56,880search therefore open the bible uk42100:14:56,880 –> 00:14:58,880back to the message42200:14:58,880 –> 00:15:00,880here again is pastor colin42300:15:00,880 –> 00:15:02,880i want us to look at42400:15:02,880 –> 00:15:04,880the message that paul brought42500:15:04,880 –> 00:15:06,880I want to, us to see42600:15:06,880 –> 00:15:08,880something about him as the message42700:15:08,880 –> 00:15:10,880and then as we look at what42800:15:10,880 –> 00:15:12,880happened when he communicated the gospel42900:15:12,880 –> 00:15:14,880were going to look at the work43000:15:14,880 –> 00:15:16,880of the spirit in those who heard43100:15:16,880 –> 00:15:18,880his message43200:15:18,880 –> 00:15:20,880and were going to see this morning, that God works43300:15:20,880 –> 00:15:22,880through believers, as we communicate the gospel43400:15:22,880 –> 00:15:24,880and in the same way43500:15:24,880 –> 00:15:26,880God works in unbelievers as they43600:15:26,880 –> 00:15:28,880hear the message and imitate43700:15:28,880 –> 00:15:30,880our way of life43800:15:30,880 –> 00:15:32,880notice43900:15:32,880 –> 00:15:34,880first then that God works through believers44000:15:34,880 –> 00:15:36,880as we communicate the gospel44100:15:36,880 –> 00:15:38,880verse five44200:15:38,880 –> 00:15:40,880our gospel came to you44300:15:40,880 –> 00:15:42,880not simply with words44400:15:42,880 –> 00:15:44,880but also with power44500:15:44,880 –> 00:15:46,880with a holy spirit44600:15:46,880 –> 00:15:48,880with deep conviction44700:15:48,880 –> 00:15:50,880you know how we lived among you44800:15:50,880 –> 00:15:52,880for your sake44900:15:52,880 –> 00:15:54,880now lets look first at the message45000:15:54,880 –> 00:15:56,880then at the messenger45100:15:56,880 –> 00:15:58,880our gospel45200:15:58,880 –> 00:16:00,880came to you45300:16:00,880 –> 00:16:02,880now45400:16:02,880 –> 00:16:04,880the new testament45500:16:04,880 –> 00:16:06,880gives us in various45600:16:06,880 –> 00:16:08,880places little cameos45700:16:08,880 –> 00:16:10,880condensations45800:16:10,880 –> 00:16:12,880of the essence of the Christian45900:16:12,880 –> 00:16:14,880message, little summaries of the gospel46000:16:14,880 –> 00:16:16,880in kind of concentrated46100:16:16,880 –> 00:16:18,880form if you like46200:16:18,880 –> 00:16:20,880and you have one of these46300:16:20,880 –> 00:16:22,880right here in 1 Thessalonians46400:16:22,880 –> 00:16:24,880chapter 1 and verse46500:16:24,880 –> 00:16:26,880ten46600:16:26,880 –> 00:16:28,880it’s in verse ten and you get the gospel46700:16:28,880 –> 00:16:30,880right there in concentrated form46800:16:30,880 –> 00:16:32,880this was Paul’s gospel46900:16:32,880 –> 00:16:34,479that he’s referring to in verse five47000:16:34,479 –> 00:16:36,479this was the message that he brought47100:16:36,479 –> 00:16:38,719to this town47200:16:38,719 –> 00:16:40,719he speaks about waiting for God’s Son47300:16:40,719 –> 00:16:42,719from heaven47400:16:42,719 –> 00:16:44,719whom he raised from the dead47500:16:44,719 –> 00:16:46,719that is Jesus47600:16:46,719 –> 00:16:48,719who rescues us47700:16:48,719 –> 00:16:50,719from the coming wrath47800:16:50,719 –> 00:16:52,719now you got a condensation of the gospel47900:16:52,719 –> 00:16:54,719right there. What is the gospel about48000:16:54,719 –> 00:16:56,719the gospel is about Jesus48100:16:57,140 –> 00:16:59,140and God’s Son from heaven48200:16:59,140 –> 00:17:01,140because at its essence48300:17:01,140 –> 00:17:03,140the gospel is about a Person48400:17:03,140 –> 00:17:05,140Jesus Christ, the Son of God48500:17:05,140 –> 00:17:07,140who can do for you and for me48600:17:07,140 –> 00:17:09,140what no one else who has ever lived48700:17:09,140 –> 00:17:11,140can ever do48800:17:11,140 –> 00:17:13,140it is uniqueness of Christ48900:17:13,140 –> 00:17:15,140we proclaim HIM49000:17:15,140 –> 00:17:17,140HIM49100:17:19,140 –> 00:17:21,140and then the gospel is about Jesus49200:17:21,140 –> 00:17:23,140who God the Father raised from the dead49300:17:23,140 –> 00:17:25,140and now this cut right into49400:17:25,439 –> 00:17:27,439the religious debate in the ancient world49500:17:27,439 –> 00:17:29,439even as it cuts into the debate today49600:17:29,439 –> 00:17:31,439because like in our own time49700:17:31,439 –> 00:17:33,439the ancient word talked a great deal about religion49800:17:33,439 –> 00:17:35,439and spirituality, and ethics and so forth49900:17:35,439 –> 00:17:37,439but the distinctive declaration of the gospel50000:17:37,439 –> 00:17:39,439is that God the Father50100:17:39,439 –> 00:17:41,439raised Jesus Christ from the dead50200:17:41,439 –> 00:17:43,439there is no parallel to this50300:17:43,439 –> 00:17:45,439in human history50400:17:45,439 –> 00:17:47,439and because50500:17:47,439 –> 00:17:49,439He has conquered death50600:17:49,439 –> 00:17:51,439He uniquely is in a50700:17:51,439 –> 00:17:53,439position to offer life50800:17:53,439 –> 00:17:55,439to every person who will come to Him50900:17:55,439 –> 00:17:57,439so that when as a Christian51000:17:57,439 –> 00:17:59,439believer you die51100:17:59,439 –> 00:18:01,439it will not be the end of your life51200:18:03,599 –> 00:18:05,439But rather it will be an entrance51300:18:05,439 –> 00:18:07,439into life through Jesus Christ51400:18:07,439 –> 00:18:09,439who holds your life in His hand51500:18:11,439 –> 00:18:13,439and that would be true whether you die51600:18:13,439 –> 00:18:15,439as a young person, a middle-aged person or an old person51700:18:19,439 –> 00:18:21,439The gospel is about the Lord Jesus Christ51800:18:21,439 –> 00:18:23,439who was raised by the father from the dead51900:18:25,439 –> 00:18:27,439and then thirdly52000:18:27,439 –> 00:18:29,439we notice that the gospel is about52100:18:29,439 –> 00:18:31,439Jesus who rescues us from the coming wrath52200:18:31,439 –> 00:18:33,439see that in verse 10 right at the end52300:18:35,439 –> 00:18:37,439you got the whole gospel52400:18:37,439 –> 00:18:39,439right here in this one verse52500:18:39,439 –> 00:18:41,439Jesus who rescues us52600:18:41,439 –> 00:18:43,439from the coming wrath52700:18:45,439 –> 00:18:47,439Now the reason that52800:18:47,439 –> 00:18:49,439we need Jesus Christ52900:18:49,439 –> 00:18:51,439the reason you need him53000:18:51,439 –> 00:18:53,439and the reason that I need him53100:18:55,439 –> 00:18:57,439It can be expressed in many ways53200:18:57,439 –> 00:18:59,439but here is how Paul puts it53300:18:59,439 –> 00:19:01,439The supreme way surely53400:19:01,439 –> 00:19:03,439is that every person who has ever lived53500:19:03,439 –> 00:19:05,439faces the horrendous53600:19:05,439 –> 00:19:07,439scenario53700:19:07,439 –> 00:19:09,439of what Paul53800:19:09,439 –> 00:19:11,439calls here the coming53900:19:11,439 –> 00:19:13,439wrath54000:19:13,439 –> 00:19:15,439the coming wrath54100:19:15,439 –> 00:19:17,439that is54200:19:17,439 –> 00:19:19,439the judgment of every sin54300:19:21,439 –> 00:19:23,439his punishing54400:19:23,439 –> 00:19:25,439his punishing54500:19:25,439 –> 00:19:27,439of every54600:19:27,439 –> 00:19:29,439iniquity54700:19:29,439 –> 00:19:31,439his righting54800:19:31,439 –> 00:19:33,439of every wrong54900:19:33,439 –> 00:19:35,439his eradicating55000:19:35,439 –> 00:19:37,439of all evil55100:19:37,439 –> 00:19:39,439of all evil from the universe55200:19:39,439 –> 00:19:41,439and his destruction of all55300:19:41,439 –> 00:19:43,439sinners55400:19:43,439 –> 00:19:45,439in the lake of fire55500:19:47,439 –> 00:19:49,439now the Bible both Old and New Testament55600:19:49,439 –> 00:19:51,439bears witness to this horrendous55700:19:51,439 –> 00:19:53,439reality55800:19:53,439 –> 00:19:55,439the coming55900:19:55,439 –> 00:19:57,439wrath56000:19:59,439 –> 00:20:01,439and there is no pain56100:20:01,439 –> 00:20:03,439no grief, no loss56200:20:03,439 –> 00:20:05,439no wound, no injury56300:20:05,439 –> 00:20:07,439no disappointment in this life56400:20:07,439 –> 00:20:09,439that can possibly compare56500:20:09,439 –> 00:20:11,439to the horrors56600:20:11,439 –> 00:20:13,439of this coming56700:20:13,439 –> 00:20:15,439wrath56800:20:15,439 –> 00:20:17,439now notice56900:20:17,439 –> 00:20:19,439were Paul places his emphasis57000:20:19,439 –> 00:20:21,439Jesus he says57100:20:21,439 –> 00:20:23,439rescues57200:20:23,439 –> 00:20:25,439us from57300:20:25,439 –> 00:20:27,439the coming wrath57400:20:27,439 –> 00:20:29,439so that’s the good news of the gospel57500:20:29,439 –> 00:20:31,439that is the passion that Paul57600:20:31,439 –> 00:20:33,439has to declare this message57700:20:33,439 –> 00:20:35,439Jesus rescues us57800:20:35,439 –> 00:20:37,439from this coming wrath57900:20:37,439 –> 00:20:39,439Now58000:20:39,439 –> 00:20:43,439without58100:20:43,439 –> 00:20:45,439the coming wrath58200:20:45,439 –> 00:20:47,439the gospel58300:20:47,439 –> 00:20:49,439honestly makes no sense58400:20:49,439 –> 00:20:51,439America today58500:20:51,439 –> 00:20:53,439if you take that58600:20:53,439 –> 00:20:55,439out it’s58700:20:55,439 –> 00:20:57,439simply going to fall to the ground58800:20:57,439 –> 00:20:59,439what is58900:20:59,439 –> 00:21:01,439the point of telling self59000:21:01,439 –> 00:21:03,439confident and self satisfied people59100:21:03,439 –> 00:21:05,439that Jesus can give them a wonderful life59200:21:05,439 –> 00:21:07,439now, when their lives now are59300:21:07,439 –> 00:21:09,439already over-stuffed59400:21:09,439 –> 00:21:11,439all that’s59500:21:11,439 –> 00:21:13,439going to get is the familiar response59600:21:13,439 –> 00:21:15,439I’m already fine59700:21:15,439 –> 00:21:17,439I don’t need that59800:21:17,439 –> 00:21:19,439but59900:21:19,439 –> 00:21:21,439Paul was convinced that there60000:21:21,439 –> 00:21:23,439is a coming wrath60100:21:23,439 –> 00:21:25,439from which every man and woman born60200:21:25,439 –> 00:21:27,439into this world needs to be60300:21:27,439 –> 00:21:29,439rescued, and that it is60400:21:29,439 –> 00:21:31,439for this purpose that Jesus Christ died60500:21:31,439 –> 00:21:33,439his horrendous death60600:21:33,439 –> 00:21:35,439taking our death for us60700:21:36,439 –> 00:21:38,439and then rising from the dead to become our60800:21:38,439 –> 00:21:40,439living saviour and our coming king60900:21:40,439 –> 00:21:42,439and the glory of the gospel61000:21:42,439 –> 00:21:44,439then is that at unfathomable61100:21:44,439 –> 00:21:46,439cost to himself, Jesus61200:21:46,439 –> 00:21:48,439through his death has borne the wrath61300:21:48,439 –> 00:21:50,439of God, and now offers himself61400:21:50,439 –> 00:21:52,439to you, so that61500:21:52,439 –> 00:21:54,439by him you may be rescued61600:21:54,439 –> 00:21:56,439from this coming wrath61700:21:56,439 –> 00:21:58,439that otherwise would61800:21:58,439 –> 00:22:00,439certainly come upon61900:22:00,439 –> 00:22:02,439you62000:22:02,439 –> 00:22:04,439that’s his message62100:22:04,439 –> 00:22:06,439the gospel62200:22:06,439 –> 00:22:08,439came to you62300:22:08,439 –> 00:22:10,439What a great view of the glory62400:22:10,439 –> 00:22:12,439of the gospel. For any62500:22:12,439 –> 00:22:14,439Christian who feels they’ve lost62600:22:14,439 –> 00:22:16,439their passion and drive in their faith62700:22:16,439 –> 00:22:18,439maybe that’s where you are62800:22:18,439 –> 00:22:20,439this series can help you62900:22:22,439 –> 00:22:24,439You’ve been listening to Pastor Colin63000:22:24,439 –> 00:22:26,439Smith on Open the Bible and a message63100:22:26,439 –> 00:22:28,439called The Urgency of Multiplying63200:22:28,439 –> 00:22:30,439Ministry. It’s from our series63300:22:30,439 –> 00:22:32,439Living like There’s no Tomorrow63400:22:32,439 –> 00:22:34,439based on the book of 1 Thessalonians63500:22:36,439 –> 00:22:38,439If you ever mist one of the messages in the series63600:22:38,439 –> 00:22:40,439it’s very easy to catch up or go back63700:22:40,439 –> 00:22:42,439and listen again by coming to our63800:22:42,439 –> 00:22:44,439website that’s at Open the Bible63900:22:44,439 –> 00:22:46,439.org.uk64000:22:46,439 –> 00:22:48,439also available as a podcast on all the64100:22:48,439 –> 00:22:50,439main podcast sites64200:22:50,439 –> 00:22:52,439search therefore Open the Bible UK64300:22:52,439 –> 00:22:54,439Our regular listeners64400:22:54,439 –> 00:22:56,439will know that Open the Bible64500:22:56,439 –> 00:22:58,439is supported by our many listeners64600:22:58,439 –> 00:23:00,439and we’re extremely grateful64700:23:00,439 –> 00:23:02,439for the support that you give us64800:23:02,439 –> 00:23:04,439so if you already give to support64900:23:04,439 –> 00:23:06,439the work of Open the Bible65000:23:06,439 –> 00:23:08,439thank you so much65100:23:08,439 –> 00:23:10,439This month of October we have65200:23:10,439 –> 00:23:12,439a special offer if you’re able to set up65300:23:12,439 –> 00:23:14,439a new direct debit in the amount of65400:23:14,439 –> 00:23:16,439£5 per month or more65500:23:16,439 –> 00:23:18,439or a one-off gift of65600:23:18,439 –> 00:23:20,439£60 or more we’d love65700:23:20,439 –> 00:23:22,439to say thank you by sending you65800:23:22,439 –> 00:23:24,439a copy of a devotional book65900:23:24,439 –> 00:23:26,439by Dave and Sally Gobitt66000:23:26,439 –> 00:23:28,439it’s called Halleluja66100:23:28,439 –> 00:23:30,439and here is Dave Gobitt to tell us about it66200:23:30,439 –> 00:23:32,439hi there, I’m Dave Gobitt and66300:23:32,439 –> 00:23:34,439together with my wife we’ve written this66400:23:34,439 –> 00:23:36,439Advent devotional Halleluja66500:23:36,439 –> 00:23:38,439journing through Advent with Handel’s66600:23:38,439 –> 00:23:40,439Messiah and uh66700:23:40,439 –> 00:23:42,439the book is a daily devotional, the idea is66800:23:42,439 –> 00:23:44,439you read a short section of the Bible and a66900:23:44,439 –> 00:23:46,439meditation based on a movement67000:23:46,439 –> 00:23:48,439from Handel’s famous Oratorio67100:23:48,439 –> 00:23:50,439and uh in the busyness of the run-up67200:23:50,439 –> 00:23:52,439to Christmas this book67300:23:52,439 –> 00:23:54,439will enable you to just pause67400:23:54,439 –> 00:23:56,439and slow down and reflect67500:23:56,439 –> 00:23:58,439on the significance of67600:23:58,439 –> 00:24:00,439the coming of Jesus Christ as our67700:24:00,439 –> 00:24:02,439personal Messiah and all that that means67800:24:02,439 –> 00:24:04,439for us and for His world67900:24:04,439 –> 00:24:06,439and I’m absolutely delighted that68000:24:06,439 –> 00:24:08,439Open The Bible UK have chosen68100:24:08,439 –> 00:24:10,439this book as their October Book of the Month68200:24:10,439 –> 00:24:12,439and if you make a donation to68300:24:12,439 –> 00:24:14,439Open The Bible UK in October68400:24:14,439 –> 00:24:16,439you’ll get a free copy of this book68500:24:16,439 –> 00:24:18,439sent to you where you’ll be able to journey68600:24:18,439 –> 00:24:20,439with us through Handel’s Messiah in the68700:24:20,439 –> 00:24:22,439run Up to Christmas and I hope that’s68800:24:22,439 –> 00:24:24,439a great encouragement to you as much as68900:24:24,439 –> 00:24:26,439my wife and I as we wrote the book69000:24:26,439 –> 00:24:28,439so God Bless and enjoy69100:24:28,439 –> 00:24:30,439getting ready for the coming of the Messiah69200:24:30,439 –> 00:24:32,439and maybe use Handel to help you69300:24:32,439 –> 00:24:34,439So Dave & Sally Gobbit’s book69400:24:34,439 –> 00:24:36,439Hallelujah is69500:24:36,439 –> 00:24:38,439our gift to you this month if you’re69600:24:38,439 –> 00:24:40,439able to setup a new direct debit69700:24:40,439 –> 00:24:42,439to the work of Open The Bible69800:24:42,439 –> 00:24:44,439for £5 per month or more69900:24:44,439 –> 00:24:46,439or a one-off gift of70000:24:46,439 –> 00:24:48,439£60 or more70100:24:48,439 –> 00:24:50,439you’ll find full details, terms and conditions70200:24:50,439 –> 00:24:52,439and you can give online70300:24:52,439 –> 00:24:54,439at our website70400:24:54,439 –> 00:24:56,439openthebible.org.uk70500:24:56,439 –> 00:24:58,439for Open the Bible70600:24:58,439 –> 00:25:00,439and Pastor Colin Smith70700:25:00,439 –> 00:25:02,439I’m David Pick, thanks for being with70800:25:02,439 –> 00:25:04,439us today and I look forward to you70900:25:04,439 –> 00:25:06,439joining us again next time71000:25:06,439 –> 00:25:08,439on Open The Bible71100:25:08,439 –> 00:25:21,420…Music playing…71200:25:21,420 –> 00:25:23,420Where can you get the kind of faith71300:25:23,420 –> 00:25:26,420that doesn’t collapse under pressure?71400:25:26,420 –> 00:25:28,420Find out next time on71500:25:28,420 –> 00:25:30,420Open The Bible