WEBVTT 1 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.000 Hey guys welcome back to the way UK podcast. I am your host Michelle and today I am joined by two wonderful friends. 2 00:00:07.000 --> 00:00:09.000 Hello I'm Zoe. 3 00:00:09.000 --> 00:00:11.000 And I'm Sam. 4 00:00:11.000 --> 00:00:16.000 So Sam, Sam is new to the Bible study series. 5 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:17.000 True. 6 00:00:17.000 --> 00:00:19.000 The third part overall, first Bible study. 7 00:00:19.000 --> 00:00:20.000 Oh that was part of the day. 8 00:00:20.000 --> 00:00:21.000 Big day. 9 00:00:21.000 --> 00:00:22.000 Big day. 10 00:00:22.000 --> 00:00:23.000 How's everyone doing today? 11 00:00:23.000 --> 00:00:25.000 They were real well. 12 00:00:25.000 --> 00:00:27.000 I was just rounding off some deals on bentos. 13 00:00:27.000 --> 00:00:31.000 But you know the show must go on. 14 00:00:31.000 --> 00:00:32.000 Show must go on. 15 00:00:32.000 --> 00:00:34.000 So I'm excited to talk about the Lord. 16 00:00:34.000 --> 00:00:35.000 Yeah. 17 00:00:35.000 --> 00:00:36.000 Come on. 18 00:00:39.000 --> 00:00:43.000 So today we'll be diving into first echelonians 2. 19 00:00:43.000 --> 00:00:45.000 Second chapter of first echelonians. 20 00:00:45.000 --> 00:00:51.000 If you haven't already tuned into chapter 1, I would recommend you do so because that... 21 00:00:51.000 --> 00:00:52.000 You do do. 22 00:00:52.000 --> 00:00:56.000 Do you have a problem with me starting? 23 00:00:56.000 --> 00:00:57.000 Sorry. 24 00:00:57.000 --> 00:00:58.000 You crack on. 25 00:00:58.000 --> 00:00:59.000 Thank you. 26 00:00:59.000 --> 00:01:03.000 So that episode basically gives us a bit more context around the Thessalonians. 27 00:01:03.000 --> 00:01:06.000 Who Paul is and who Paul is talking to. 28 00:01:06.000 --> 00:01:11.000 But to give you a little bit of context in the beginning before we dive into the second chapter. 29 00:01:11.000 --> 00:01:18.000 Basically Paul is writing to the Thessalonian church from Corinth because he's currently doing his ministry there. 30 00:01:18.000 --> 00:01:23.000 Impressed by their faithfulness of the Thessalonians in the face of persecution. 31 00:01:23.000 --> 00:01:31.000 He's currently writing to them to encourage them and give thanksgiving to the Lord for their faith basically. 32 00:01:31.000 --> 00:01:37.000 And he faced great persecution when he was in Thessalonica. 33 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:38.000 Yeah. 34 00:01:38.000 --> 00:01:40.000 Do you want to hop into that? 35 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:41.000 Yeah. 36 00:01:41.000 --> 00:01:46.000 And Simon and Silas and Timothy, who that's who Paul's traveling there with. 37 00:01:46.000 --> 00:01:48.000 They're like his companions, his bros. 38 00:01:48.000 --> 00:01:50.000 Sorry, I said that. 39 00:01:50.000 --> 00:01:56.000 But they were like brothers and brothers in Christ. 40 00:01:56.000 --> 00:02:06.000 But whilst they were there, they basically got heavily, heavily persecuted by a large portion of the Jewish community in Thessalonica. 41 00:02:06.000 --> 00:02:14.000 Because it was actually in Acts 17, like 1 to 9, it basically gives you the lowdown of this persecution. 42 00:02:14.000 --> 00:02:16.000 And specifically in verse 5. 43 00:02:16.000 --> 00:02:18.000 But other Jews were jealous. 44 00:02:18.000 --> 00:02:23.000 So they rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city. 45 00:02:23.000 --> 00:02:28.000 They rushed to Jason's house in search of Paul and Silas in order to bring them out to the crowd. 46 00:02:28.000 --> 00:02:35.000 And then it goes on to basically say that they drove them out of Thessalonica by inciting riots against Paul and Silas. 47 00:02:35.000 --> 00:02:38.000 Because they just didn't like that they were preaching the gospel. 48 00:02:38.000 --> 00:02:45.000 And also there were other people like Romans who also weren't a fan of Paul, Silas and Timothy. 49 00:02:45.000 --> 00:02:49.000 Because they basically worshipped Caesar. 50 00:02:49.000 --> 00:02:52.000 They worshipped their governor as though he was a god. 51 00:02:52.000 --> 00:02:55.000 They started quoting Jesus Christ as king. 52 00:02:55.000 --> 00:03:00.000 And they were basically threatened by that and thought that would like overthrow the Roman Empire or something. 53 00:03:00.000 --> 00:03:03.000 It got very very mad. 54 00:03:03.000 --> 00:03:04.000 They were there. 55 00:03:04.000 --> 00:03:07.000 Well, it's kind of believed as well that they were there for three months. 56 00:03:07.000 --> 00:03:08.000 Yeah. 57 00:03:08.000 --> 00:03:11.000 Though it says like they were there for three weeks. 58 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:14.000 And there was a period in their work. 59 00:03:14.000 --> 00:03:17.000 Yeah, they actually started the first church of Thessalonica there. 60 00:03:17.000 --> 00:03:20.000 They were very quickly charged out and had to flee. 61 00:03:20.000 --> 00:03:21.000 Yeah. 62 00:03:21.000 --> 00:03:24.000 Because the Romans were really not too cheerful about it. 63 00:03:24.000 --> 00:03:25.000 Yeah. 64 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:29.000 And that's giving you a bit of context of these people and what they're facing 65 00:03:29.000 --> 00:03:34.000 and why Paul had to leave the Thessalonians in the first place. 66 00:03:34.000 --> 00:03:41.000 But also the type of persecution that these Thessalonians are themselves receiving as Christians 67 00:03:41.000 --> 00:03:44.000 as people who are proclaiming the gospel. 68 00:03:44.000 --> 00:03:48.000 And one of Thessalonians is kind of split up into two sections. 69 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:53.000 And the one section we're covering at the beginning today was almost like a gratitude of 70 00:03:53.000 --> 00:03:58.000 to everyone in that church, being like you really have been faithful servants. 71 00:03:58.000 --> 00:03:59.000 You smash this. 72 00:03:59.000 --> 00:04:00.000 Yeah. 73 00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:04.000 And the second side, which is Thessalonica Thessalonians, like four and five, 74 00:04:04.000 --> 00:04:07.000 is more about where can you go from here. 75 00:04:07.000 --> 00:04:08.000 Yeah. 76 00:04:08.000 --> 00:04:12.000 But yeah, we're kind of focusing today on the encouragement side of things. 77 00:04:12.000 --> 00:04:14.000 Yeah, chapter two. 78 00:04:14.000 --> 00:04:16.000 Should we open a Bible? 79 00:04:16.000 --> 00:04:18.000 Should we start the reading? 80 00:04:18.000 --> 00:04:19.000 Oh! 81 00:04:19.000 --> 00:04:20.000 Should we dive in? 82 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:21.000 Yes. 83 00:04:21.000 --> 00:04:22.000 Somebody you want to read? 84 00:04:22.000 --> 00:04:23.000 Yes, absolutely. 85 00:04:23.000 --> 00:04:24.000 One to four. 86 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:25.000 One to four, please. 87 00:04:25.000 --> 00:04:30.000 You know, brothers and sisters that our visit to you was not without results. 88 00:04:30.000 --> 00:04:34.000 We have previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi. 89 00:04:34.000 --> 00:04:38.000 But our broski, what did I miss pronounced now? 90 00:04:38.000 --> 00:04:39.000 No, no. 91 00:04:39.000 --> 00:04:41.000 I'm sorry, that's not it. 92 00:04:41.000 --> 00:04:46.000 Philippi, if you actually start crying with laughter at a dyslexic boy's reading. 93 00:04:46.000 --> 00:04:47.000 No! 94 00:04:47.000 --> 00:04:48.000 No! 95 00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:49.000 You're doing so well. 96 00:04:49.000 --> 00:04:51.000 Don't even know about it. 97 00:04:51.000 --> 00:04:52.000 No, sorry. 98 00:04:52.000 --> 00:04:53.000 You're actually doing really well. 99 00:04:53.000 --> 00:04:54.000 I don't really need to feel discouraged. 100 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.000 No, yeah. 101 00:04:55.000 --> 00:04:56.000 No, no, no. 102 00:04:56.000 --> 00:04:58.000 It's not bad for you to miss pronounced words. 103 00:04:58.000 --> 00:04:59.000 It's not. 104 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:00.000 It's just good that you try it. 105 00:05:00.000 --> 00:05:02.000 And then once you know the right pronunciation. 106 00:05:02.000 --> 00:05:04.000 Just clarify the pronunciation is Philippi. 107 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:05.000 Yes, Philippi. 108 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:06.000 Right. 109 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:07.000 We're going to start again. 110 00:05:07.000 --> 00:05:12.000 You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. 111 00:05:12.000 --> 00:05:16.000 We have previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi. 112 00:05:16.000 --> 00:05:20.000 As you know, but with the help of our God, we dare to tell you his gospel 113 00:05:20.000 --> 00:05:22.000 in the face of strong opposition. 114 00:05:22.000 --> 00:05:27.000 Philippi appeal that we make does not spring from error or impure motives. 115 00:05:27.000 --> 00:05:29.000 Nor are we trying to trick you. 116 00:05:29.000 --> 00:05:35.000 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 117 00:05:35.000 --> 00:05:39.000 We are not trying to please people but God who test our hearts. 118 00:05:39.000 --> 00:05:41.000 Okay, there was a lot in there. 119 00:05:42.000 --> 00:05:48.000 I think when I read through before, like obviously doing this podcast, 120 00:05:48.000 --> 00:05:50.000 reading through the whole of chapter two, 121 00:05:50.000 --> 00:05:54.000 it felt like it was a blueprint for ministers of the gospel, 122 00:05:54.000 --> 00:05:59.000 like true ministry in carrying the gospel in the aspect of people 123 00:05:59.000 --> 00:06:02.000 who proclaim in the gospel of Jesus and teaching this. 124 00:06:02.000 --> 00:06:05.000 They're doing this in truth and this is the blueprint. 125 00:06:05.000 --> 00:06:08.000 And as you can tell, like Paul is saying, 126 00:06:08.000 --> 00:06:12.000 they suffered and were treated outrageously in Philippi. 127 00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:14.000 And like you said so previously, 128 00:06:14.000 --> 00:06:19.000 you can see that and link it to their ministry in Acts 16 and 17. 129 00:06:19.000 --> 00:06:23.000 And I think from this, what you can see is that Paul is almost painting a picture 130 00:06:23.000 --> 00:06:27.000 that it's actually normal to be persecuted as Christians. 131 00:06:27.000 --> 00:06:29.000 It's countercultural. 132 00:06:29.000 --> 00:06:33.000 You're speaking truths that people don't know and they don't understand 133 00:06:33.000 --> 00:06:36.000 and they think is kind of crazy. 134 00:06:37.000 --> 00:06:39.000 The gospel is offensive. 135 00:06:39.000 --> 00:06:41.000 And like he said, on the contrary, 136 00:06:41.000 --> 00:06:45.000 we speak as approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. 137 00:06:45.000 --> 00:06:50.000 We are entrusted with the gospel as Christians to carry out the word 138 00:06:50.000 --> 00:06:54.000 and tell people who don't know Jesus about this gospel. 139 00:06:54.000 --> 00:06:56.000 We're entrusted with that. 140 00:06:56.000 --> 00:07:00.000 That's like such a privilege and such an honor that we get to do that. 141 00:07:00.000 --> 00:07:05.000 And I think it's in the midst of suffering and pushback. 142 00:07:05.000 --> 00:07:11.000 You can see his character and you can see how within all of that persecution 143 00:07:11.000 --> 00:07:14.000 he's still proclaiming the gospel. 144 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:19.000 And you know, it might sound like he's defending himself and defending his ministry here. 145 00:07:19.000 --> 00:07:22.000 But he's actually saying like it's normal to be persecuted 146 00:07:22.000 --> 00:07:25.000 and to stand for the gospel means that you will be hated. 147 00:07:25.000 --> 00:07:30.000 And yeah, do you guys have any thoughts on the first four verses? 148 00:07:30.000 --> 00:07:35.000 Like in verse two where he's talking about being treated outrageously 149 00:07:35.000 --> 00:07:39.000 but basically poor is highlighting how he pushed through that, 150 00:07:39.000 --> 00:07:41.000 which is like with the help of God. 151 00:07:41.000 --> 00:07:46.000 And that he dared to tell the people of Thessalonica, his gospel, 152 00:07:46.000 --> 00:07:51.000 despite being in the face of strong opposition. 153 00:07:51.000 --> 00:07:55.000 And I feel like, I mean, it reminds me of that, the verse that everyone knows 154 00:07:55.000 --> 00:07:58.000 and like Philippians chapter four, verse 13, 155 00:07:58.000 --> 00:08:01.000 you can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 156 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:05.000 And that literally there's not about like, oh yeah, I can do everything. 157 00:08:05.000 --> 00:08:10.000 But it's like in the face of all situations, specifically from Paul, 158 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:14.000 like he knows what it's like to go hungry for the gospel. 159 00:08:14.000 --> 00:08:16.000 He knows what it's like to be fed with the gospel. 160 00:08:16.000 --> 00:08:21.000 He knows what it's like to be literally like physically like flocked for the gospel. 161 00:08:21.000 --> 00:08:25.000 And yet he's content in through all of that because he has Jesus Christ 162 00:08:25.000 --> 00:08:27.000 as his savior who's his foundation. 163 00:08:27.000 --> 00:08:32.000 And I just think here it's like an infusing of boldness and courage 164 00:08:32.000 --> 00:08:36.000 of being like, it doesn't matter what opposition you're going to be faced with 165 00:08:36.000 --> 00:08:39.000 because God is with you because the Holy Spirit lives inside of you. 166 00:08:39.000 --> 00:08:43.000 You don't have to fear whatever opposition is going to come up 167 00:08:43.000 --> 00:08:47.000 or like try and get in your face because actually that's nothing in comparison 168 00:08:47.000 --> 00:08:51.000 to the power and the strength that we're given by Jesus Christ. 169 00:08:51.000 --> 00:08:53.000 You're like bolder than the midst of conflict. 170 00:08:53.000 --> 00:08:57.000 You know where God gives us the strength to endure. 171 00:08:57.000 --> 00:09:01.000 Yeah, I think it's also just a lovely reminder from Paul in the third verse 172 00:09:01.000 --> 00:09:06.000 where he's like the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives 173 00:09:06.000 --> 00:09:10.000 like he's reassuring them of being like the purity of this church. 174 00:09:10.000 --> 00:09:12.000 It's like you're on the right path guys. 175 00:09:12.000 --> 00:09:17.000 Like he's really leaning into the fact that it's like we are doing this. 176 00:09:17.000 --> 00:09:20.000 He says in the first verse as well as like we've seen results. 177 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.000 You guys are doing the right thing. 178 00:09:22.000 --> 00:09:24.000 This is the right thing like reassuring nature. 179 00:09:24.000 --> 00:09:30.000 Yeah, it's like I just thought I just got reminded of the verse in the Bible where it says 180 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:34.000 oh if God like if God is for us who can be against us 181 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:37.000 and it reminds me of like you know in verse 4 where he says 182 00:09:37.000 --> 00:09:40.000 we are proved we speak because we have been approved by God 183 00:09:40.000 --> 00:09:44.000 and it's like we're not doing it for the approval of man 184 00:09:44.000 --> 00:09:46.000 but we're actually doing it for God. 185 00:09:46.000 --> 00:09:50.000 He's the one that strengthens us and if God is sending us out to do this 186 00:09:50.000 --> 00:09:52.000 and who can be against us. 187 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.000 And it's like I bet when the Thessalonians were listening to this 188 00:09:56.000 --> 00:10:00.000 they were feeling really like encouraged from the very beginning 189 00:10:00.000 --> 00:10:05.000 like Paul is acknowledging the fact that we are facing trials under this heart 190 00:10:05.000 --> 00:10:09.000 but it's such an honor that we've been entrusted with the gospel to continue going. 191 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:12.000 But yeah, any other thoughts before we move on? 192 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:17.000 Yeah that just briefly reminded me of that parable I think 193 00:10:17.000 --> 00:10:22.000 that Jesus said about not storing up all of like your materialistic things in the barn 194 00:10:22.000 --> 00:10:25.000 because the next day you'll wake up and you'll be burnt down 195 00:10:25.000 --> 00:10:26.000 and what have you got? 196 00:10:26.000 --> 00:10:29.000 To show for it like instead we're all the treasure that we have 197 00:10:29.000 --> 00:10:32.000 should be built up in our hearts through our love for Jesus 198 00:10:32.000 --> 00:10:35.000 and then what we're doing from the inward transformation of the gospel 199 00:10:35.000 --> 00:10:38.000 into our outward expression of unto our thanks guys 200 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.000 who's encouraged into our brothers and sisters in Christ 201 00:10:42.000 --> 00:10:46.000 and it's like here we're not trying to please people but God who tests our hearts 202 00:10:46.000 --> 00:10:50.000 and I think it's just an encouragement of again 203 00:10:50.000 --> 00:10:54.000 whatever persecution you're facing in this world, in this life 204 00:10:54.000 --> 00:11:01.000 it's nothing compared to the beauty and the power and the love 205 00:11:01.000 --> 00:11:05.000 that we're going to be met with when we go to heaven and meet with our Savior Jesus 206 00:11:05.000 --> 00:11:09.000 like when we step into eternity that's what matters 207 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:12.000 we're not building for a kingdom that's of this world 208 00:11:12.000 --> 00:11:14.000 we're building for a heavenly kingdom 209 00:11:14.000 --> 00:11:18.000 yeah so it's just so much bigger and greater and just supersedes everything 210 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:21.000 yeah so it's like just don't worry guys just chill 211 00:11:21.000 --> 00:11:24.000 because actually our treasures aren't here it's in heaven 212 00:11:24.000 --> 00:11:27.000 I think it is into Corinthians somewhere 213 00:11:27.000 --> 00:11:30.000 it says for our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us 214 00:11:30.000 --> 00:11:33.000 and eternal glory that far our weights them all 215 00:11:33.000 --> 00:11:36.000 it's so crazy because he says in this 216 00:11:36.000 --> 00:11:38.000 our light and momentary troubles 217 00:11:38.000 --> 00:11:41.000 like our troubles that we currently go through feel really heavy 218 00:11:41.000 --> 00:11:45.000 and feel really real and that doesn't take away from the fact that it is hard 219 00:11:45.000 --> 00:11:49.000 but he's saying these things light and momentary 220 00:11:49.000 --> 00:11:52.000 troubles are achieving for us in eternal glory 221 00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:55.000 like the things of suffering that we go through 222 00:11:55.000 --> 00:11:57.000 the things that we go through on this earth 223 00:11:58.000 --> 00:12:02.000 is actually like achieving us in eternal glory in heaven 224 00:12:02.000 --> 00:12:05.000 like we I think we don't fully grasp that 225 00:12:05.000 --> 00:12:09.000 it's also such a great reminder that everything in that same breadth 226 00:12:09.000 --> 00:12:11.000 like everything the Lord talks about of our moment 227 00:12:11.000 --> 00:12:14.000 everything is momentary apart from the eternal glory 228 00:12:14.000 --> 00:12:17.000 like it's the only thing the Lord like regards 229 00:12:17.000 --> 00:12:22.000 or the other side of it but like it's the only thing the Lord regards as eternal 230 00:12:22.000 --> 00:12:25.000 everything else is short term everything else is in this moment 231 00:12:25.000 --> 00:12:27.000 and like you say it is it's still real 232 00:12:27.000 --> 00:12:33.000 but it is it's it's a snapshot in time for of such greater reward 233 00:12:33.000 --> 00:12:34.000 it's so good 234 00:12:34.000 --> 00:12:37.000 it's so momentary compared to the eternal glory 235 00:12:37.000 --> 00:12:40.000 it's so good and there's so much hope within that too 236 00:12:40.000 --> 00:12:46.000 wow I just love how like the Lord like constantly points us back to him 237 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:49.000 even even in the midst of suffering and trials 238 00:12:49.000 --> 00:12:53.000 he's like he like acknowledges in the season he understands our pain 239 00:12:53.000 --> 00:12:55.000 because Jesus son of suffering 240 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:58.000 and it can be such a good way to actually water down your current troubles 241 00:12:58.000 --> 00:12:59.000 as well in a good way 242 00:12:59.000 --> 00:13:03.000 because it's like it can it can just take the sting out of certain things 243 00:13:03.000 --> 00:13:06.000 it's like this is momentary this is short term 244 00:13:06.000 --> 00:13:11.000 and there is a larger reward that will make this feel literally like a pinch on the ankle 245 00:13:11.000 --> 00:13:14.000 yeah it feels like an internal strengthening 246 00:13:14.000 --> 00:13:15.000 it's very easy 247 00:13:15.000 --> 00:13:18.000 I also found sorry the verse 248 00:13:18.000 --> 00:13:21.000 it's in Matthew 6 verse 19 to 21 249 00:13:21.000 --> 00:13:26.000 do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth where moths and vermin's vermin destroy 250 00:13:26.000 --> 00:13:28.000 and where thieves break in and steal 251 00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.000 but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven 252 00:13:30.000 --> 00:13:32.000 where moths and vermin do not destroy 253 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:34.000 and where thieves do not break in and steal 254 00:13:34.000 --> 00:13:37.000 for where your treasure is there your heart will be also 255 00:13:37.000 --> 00:13:41.000 you know just we'll reference the story of treasures up in heaven guys 256 00:13:41.000 --> 00:13:43.000 yeah still it 257 00:13:43.000 --> 00:13:45.000 shall I crack onto the 528? 258 00:13:45.000 --> 00:13:46.000 do I can 259 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:50.000 you know we never used flattery nor do we ever put on a mark to cover up greed 260 00:13:50.000 --> 00:13:52.000 God is our witness 261 00:13:52.000 --> 00:13:55.000 we were not looking for praise from people 262 00:13:55.000 --> 00:13:57.000 not from you or anywhere else 263 00:13:57.000 --> 00:14:01.000 even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority 264 00:14:01.000 --> 00:14:04.000 instead we were like young children among you 265 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:08.000 just as a nursing mother cares for her children so we cared for you 266 00:14:08.000 --> 00:14:12.000 because we loved you so much we were delighted to share with you 267 00:14:12.000 --> 00:14:14.000 not only the gospel of God 268 00:14:14.000 --> 00:14:16.000 but our lives as well 269 00:14:16.000 --> 00:14:19.000 it's amazing can I just hop straight on that which is like 270 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:21.000 please I think there is there's such a humility to that 271 00:14:21.000 --> 00:14:23.000 there's such a humility to this 272 00:14:23.000 --> 00:14:25.000 to this whole this whole chapter really 273 00:14:25.000 --> 00:14:27.000 because Paul is 274 00:14:27.000 --> 00:14:29.000 is and rightly so 275 00:14:29.000 --> 00:14:32.000 staying the obvious that they could have come in with such a breadth 276 00:14:32.000 --> 00:14:34.000 yeah could have come in with such a 277 00:14:34.000 --> 00:14:36.000 almost like bravado 278 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:39.000 and like things we've seen in history 279 00:14:39.000 --> 00:14:41.000 load of times where people who 280 00:14:41.000 --> 00:14:43.000 have been appointed as 281 00:14:43.000 --> 00:14:45.000 as beautiful leaders 282 00:14:45.000 --> 00:14:48.000 for the church have got slightly caught up in that 283 00:14:48.000 --> 00:14:51.000 the first the first thing my mind comes to is a little bit of like Lenny Frisbee 284 00:14:51.000 --> 00:14:54.000 from like Jesus revolution you know like when that guy was 285 00:14:54.000 --> 00:14:56.000 he was 286 00:14:56.000 --> 00:14:58.000 he was doing so much for the Lord 287 00:14:58.000 --> 00:15:02.000 and then there almost came this flip point where it was actually a little bit like 288 00:15:02.000 --> 00:15:05.000 well possibly you've slightly got the wrong end of the stick there 289 00:15:05.000 --> 00:15:08.000 because maybe you've slightly taken something of it to 290 00:15:08.000 --> 00:15:10.000 much the degree and 291 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:12.000 Paul is talking here where he's like 292 00:15:12.000 --> 00:15:14.000 we could have done that 293 00:15:14.000 --> 00:15:16.000 we absolutely could have done that but we're stating this because we were 294 00:15:16.000 --> 00:15:19.000 knowledgeable of that and we're pushing away from that 295 00:15:19.000 --> 00:15:21.000 pushing away from that 296 00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:24.000 flattery we didn't put on the masks to cover up breed exactly what he says 297 00:15:24.000 --> 00:15:26.000 like we could have asserted our authority 298 00:15:26.000 --> 00:15:31.000 yeah and at the time like Paul is saying these things because of 299 00:15:31.000 --> 00:15:35.000 basically when Paul left the Thessalonians 300 00:15:35.000 --> 00:15:37.000 and when he was with them 301 00:15:37.000 --> 00:15:38.000 to flee 302 00:15:38.000 --> 00:15:40.000 to flee 303 00:15:40.000 --> 00:15:43.000 he basically the people who were left behind and that kind of 304 00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:45.000 hated him 305 00:15:45.000 --> 00:15:47.000 and persecuted him when he was there 306 00:15:47.000 --> 00:15:49.000 started spreading rumors about him 307 00:15:49.000 --> 00:15:52.000 saying that he was like his ministry was all for himself 308 00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:54.000 self-seeking all that sort of thing 309 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.000 and and Paul is like addressing that 310 00:15:56.000 --> 00:16:00.000 because at the time there were lots of preachers who were opportunists 311 00:16:00.000 --> 00:16:04.000 and he's basically separating the two between like if 312 00:16:04.000 --> 00:16:06.000 an apostle 313 00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:09.000 like somebody who is preaching the word of Jesus 314 00:16:09.000 --> 00:16:11.000 and spreading the gospel 315 00:16:11.000 --> 00:16:13.000 and you're doing that for truth and truth 316 00:16:13.000 --> 00:16:15.000 sake and nothing else 317 00:16:15.000 --> 00:16:18.000 because yeah exactly because God is our witness 318 00:16:18.000 --> 00:16:20.000 God sees all things 319 00:16:20.000 --> 00:16:22.000 there's not a single thing that God messes 320 00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:26.000 and and Paul is saying like no my witness is God 321 00:16:26.000 --> 00:16:29.000 you guys can say whatever you want to say the rules that you want to spread 322 00:16:29.000 --> 00:16:31.000 God knows my heart 323 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:34.000 and he's like like he's separating 324 00:16:34.000 --> 00:16:36.000 between the two and he's almost like 325 00:16:36.000 --> 00:16:39.000 sending these guys out with 326 00:16:39.000 --> 00:16:43.000 not a manual but like something to be able to distinguish 327 00:16:43.000 --> 00:16:45.000 between two 328 00:16:45.000 --> 00:16:48.000 preachers and people who who proclaim the gospel of Jesus 329 00:16:48.000 --> 00:16:51.000 and we're doing it because of self-seeking matters 330 00:16:51.000 --> 00:16:54.000 or they're doing it truly because they love Jesus 331 00:16:54.000 --> 00:16:56.000 and they love God 332 00:16:56.000 --> 00:16:59.000 and I love it like in verse 7 where he says instead 333 00:16:59.000 --> 00:17:01.000 we were like young children 334 00:17:01.000 --> 00:17:03.000 there's a translation where he says 335 00:17:03.000 --> 00:17:06.000 young children like gentle among you 336 00:17:06.000 --> 00:17:08.000 children don't have any ulterior motives 337 00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:11.000 they are the way they are they don't they don't think 338 00:17:11.000 --> 00:17:12.000 they're pure in heart 339 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.000 yeah they're pure in heart 340 00:17:13.000 --> 00:17:16.000 and he's saying that that's exactly how he was 341 00:17:16.000 --> 00:17:19.000 they were when they were with them 342 00:17:19.000 --> 00:17:22.000 and I love how he like emphasizes 343 00:17:22.000 --> 00:17:24.000 we were not looking for praise for people 344 00:17:24.000 --> 00:17:26.000 not from you or anyone else 345 00:17:26.000 --> 00:17:28.000 even though there was a apostles of Christ 346 00:17:28.000 --> 00:17:30.000 we could have asserted our authority 347 00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:33.000 so he's acknowledging the fact that he has authority 348 00:17:33.000 --> 00:17:34.000 given from God 349 00:17:34.000 --> 00:17:36.000 as somebody who can proclaim the gospel 350 00:17:36.000 --> 00:17:39.000 but he's saying he didn't use that authority 351 00:17:39.000 --> 00:17:41.000 that we were given by God 352 00:17:41.000 --> 00:17:43.000 to have self-seeking matters 353 00:17:43.000 --> 00:17:45.000 or do anything for for their own gain 354 00:17:45.000 --> 00:17:47.000 but rather they did it because they purely 355 00:17:47.000 --> 00:17:48.000 loved the people 356 00:17:48.000 --> 00:17:50.000 but yeah do you guys have any other thoughts? 357 00:17:50.000 --> 00:17:53.000 yeah just in kind of coming off for the back 358 00:17:53.000 --> 00:17:54.000 of what you just said Charles 359 00:17:54.000 --> 00:17:58.000 about how they demonstrated like true 360 00:17:58.000 --> 00:17:59.000 godly leadership 361 00:17:59.000 --> 00:18:02.000 in terms of they didn't abuse that power 362 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:03.000 yeah they didn't 363 00:18:03.000 --> 00:18:04.000 that's it 364 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:06.000 it's like but also like 365 00:18:06.000 --> 00:18:08.000 okay sorry I'm just going to reverse six again 366 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:10.000 we were not looking for praise from people 367 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:11.000 not from you or anyone else 368 00:18:11.000 --> 00:18:13.000 even though as a apostles of Christ 369 00:18:13.000 --> 00:18:16.000 we could have asserted our authority 370 00:18:16.000 --> 00:18:17.000 yeah it's like 371 00:18:17.000 --> 00:18:19.000 Paul is basically saying like 372 00:18:19.000 --> 00:18:21.000 we could have we could have standard on business 373 00:18:21.000 --> 00:18:23.000 by coming over and saying 374 00:18:23.000 --> 00:18:24.000 like we have literally been appointed 375 00:18:24.000 --> 00:18:27.000 by Jesus Christ himself to come and proclaim the gospel 376 00:18:27.000 --> 00:18:29.000 and the good news to the Gentiles 377 00:18:29.000 --> 00:18:31.000 yeah and to the Jews 378 00:18:31.000 --> 00:18:33.000 but like he doesn't need to do that 379 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:34.000 because his 380 00:18:34.000 --> 00:18:36.000 they're proclaiming of the gospel 381 00:18:36.000 --> 00:18:38.000 not only came through actually 382 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.000 proclaiming it 383 00:18:39.000 --> 00:18:41.000 in truth and in word 384 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:42.000 but also through their humble 385 00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:43.000 and loving service 386 00:18:43.000 --> 00:18:46.000 and like how they treated the church of Thessalonica 387 00:18:46.000 --> 00:18:47.000 was like 388 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:50.000 how young mother treats her infant 389 00:18:50.000 --> 00:18:51.000 right or nursing mother 390 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:52.000 cares for her children 391 00:18:52.000 --> 00:18:54.000 a nursing mother 392 00:18:54.000 --> 00:18:55.000 is constantly with her child 393 00:18:55.000 --> 00:18:57.000 because you literally have to be 394 00:18:57.000 --> 00:18:58.000 with that mother to be fed 395 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.000 constantly 396 00:18:59.000 --> 00:19:01.000 and you have to be like 397 00:19:01.000 --> 00:19:02.000 I don't know 398 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.000 I'm just thinking of like 399 00:19:03.000 --> 00:19:05.000 all the sleepless nights that you have to endure 400 00:19:05.000 --> 00:19:07.000 and you just have to be so attentive 401 00:19:07.000 --> 00:19:09.000 to the needs of your child 402 00:19:09.000 --> 00:19:10.000 in that moment 403 00:19:10.000 --> 00:19:12.000 and it's just so beautiful that 404 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:15.000 Paul who has all of this authority 405 00:19:15.000 --> 00:19:17.000 through the appointing of Jesus Christ 406 00:19:17.000 --> 00:19:18.000 as this apostle 407 00:19:18.000 --> 00:19:20.000 is then likening himself 408 00:19:20.000 --> 00:19:21.000 to the gentleness 409 00:19:21.000 --> 00:19:22.000 and the attentiveness 410 00:19:22.000 --> 00:19:24.000 of a mother who is nursing her child 411 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:26.000 and it's like 412 00:19:26.000 --> 00:19:28.000 this is how we're called to love one another 413 00:19:28.000 --> 00:19:30.000 when we step into different spaces 414 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:32.000 where our leadership is needed 415 00:19:32.000 --> 00:19:34.000 we're all leaders in the church 416 00:19:34.000 --> 00:19:36.000 we all influence one another 417 00:19:36.000 --> 00:19:38.000 but it's like when you're going into another space 418 00:19:38.000 --> 00:19:40.000 with an assignment 419 00:19:40.000 --> 00:19:42.000 to proclaim the good news 420 00:19:42.000 --> 00:19:43.000 to do something like 421 00:19:43.000 --> 00:19:44.000 this is the humility 422 00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:46.000 that you're supposed to do it with 423 00:19:46.000 --> 00:19:48.000 this is the love that you're supposed to do it with 424 00:19:48.000 --> 00:19:49.000 it's not with an arrogance 425 00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:51.000 of how you need me to be here 426 00:19:51.000 --> 00:19:52.000 you won't be able to do this without me 427 00:19:52.000 --> 00:19:54.000 like no, the Holy Spirit could pick anyone 428 00:19:54.000 --> 00:19:55.000 but praise God 429 00:19:55.000 --> 00:19:57.000 He's chosen you and you said yes 430 00:19:57.000 --> 00:19:59.000 to His call 431 00:19:59.000 --> 00:20:01.000 but yeah, it's just 432 00:20:01.000 --> 00:20:03.000 I just love that metaphor 433 00:20:03.000 --> 00:20:05.000 totally 434 00:20:05.000 --> 00:20:07.000 and I love how later on 435 00:20:07.000 --> 00:20:09.000 we'll keep reading later in a bit 436 00:20:09.000 --> 00:20:11.000 but He also says 437 00:20:11.000 --> 00:20:13.000 like a father 438 00:20:13.000 --> 00:20:15.000 He's taking these parental figures 439 00:20:15.000 --> 00:20:17.000 and I'm saying 440 00:20:17.000 --> 00:20:19.000 this is how I loved you guys 441 00:20:19.000 --> 00:20:21.000 and this is how I led you 442 00:20:21.000 --> 00:20:23.000 and it was leading you through 443 00:20:23.000 --> 00:20:25.000 being like a mother attentive 444 00:20:25.000 --> 00:20:27.000 but also like a father 445 00:20:27.000 --> 00:20:29.000 who encouraged 446 00:20:29.000 --> 00:20:31.000 and encouraged them to walk 447 00:20:31.000 --> 00:20:33.000 in the manner worthy of 448 00:20:33.000 --> 00:20:35.000 worthy of God 449 00:20:35.000 --> 00:20:37.000 and before we move on 450 00:20:37.000 --> 00:20:39.000 it's a beautiful 451 00:20:39.000 --> 00:20:41.000 piece of writing 452 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:43.000 about the imagery of 453 00:20:43.000 --> 00:20:45.000 this fathering position 454 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:47.000 and also at the same time 455 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:49.000 a juxtaposing child 456 00:20:49.000 --> 00:20:51.000 like nature 457 00:20:51.000 --> 00:20:53.000 I think it kind of like 458 00:20:53.000 --> 00:20:55.000 we were not looking for praise 459 00:20:55.000 --> 00:20:57.000 we can't go back to this first 460 00:20:57.000 --> 00:20:59.000 but it's so good 461 00:20:59.000 --> 00:21:01.000 not looking for praise from people 462 00:21:01.000 --> 00:21:03.000 not from you or anyone else 463 00:21:03.000 --> 00:21:05.000 it makes me want to like 464 00:21:05.000 --> 00:21:07.000 check my heart 465 00:21:07.000 --> 00:21:09.000 am I doing ministry 466 00:21:09.000 --> 00:21:11.000 am I loving other people 467 00:21:11.000 --> 00:21:13.000 because it's good for me 468 00:21:13.000 --> 00:21:15.000 and it gives me 469 00:21:15.000 --> 00:21:17.000 I gain from it 470 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.000 I guess it's a good question 471 00:21:19.000 --> 00:21:21.000 for those listeners as well 472 00:21:21.000 --> 00:21:23.000 or is your evangelism far 473 00:21:23.000 --> 00:21:25.000 or your heart-addicting 474 00:21:25.000 --> 00:21:27.000 like, do you know that 475 00:21:27.000 --> 00:21:29.000 God is your witness 476 00:21:29.000 --> 00:21:31.000 hey interrupcing 477 00:21:31.000 --> 00:21:33.000 your podcast session here 478 00:21:33.000 --> 00:21:35.000 but just wanted to say, thank you so much 479 00:21:35.000 --> 00:21:37.000 for listening, if you are listening in 480 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:39.000 on our youtube, 481 00:21:39.000 --> 00:21:41.000 make sure to subscribe 482 00:21:41.000 --> 00:21:43.000 but if you're listening in on our 483 00:21:43.000 --> 00:21:45.000 Spotify and apple podcast 484 00:21:45.000 --> 00:21:47.000 and make sure to follow us 485 00:21:47.000 --> 00:21:50.000 and give us a little rating 486 00:21:50.000 --> 00:21:55.080 to share the good news of Jesus with every young person online and you, without further 487 00:21:55.080 --> 00:21:57.000 ado, get back into that podcast. 488 00:21:57.000 --> 00:22:05.560 Okay, verse 9 until 12. Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship, 489 00:22:05.560 --> 00:22:09.360 we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached a gospel 490 00:22:09.360 --> 00:22:15.440 of God to you. You are witnesses and so is God of how holy, righteous and blameless we 491 00:22:15.440 --> 00:22:20.800 were among you who believed. If you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals 492 00:22:20.800 --> 00:22:27.880 with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you, urging you to live lives worthy 493 00:22:27.880 --> 00:22:32.720 of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. 494 00:22:32.720 --> 00:22:39.480 I think Paul really highlights, like community there. That just jumps straight out on me, like 495 00:22:39.480 --> 00:22:46.680 the way he talks about, it's about with those who are also in this journey, how it's 496 00:22:46.680 --> 00:22:53.720 the community, it's the toil and you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil, our hardship, 497 00:22:53.720 --> 00:22:59.000 like he's using those collective words there because it's, he's just really highlighting 498 00:22:59.000 --> 00:23:04.720 the community and let, I mean, let's not forget, he's writing to a church that he had to 499 00:23:04.720 --> 00:23:10.120 run away from, not the church itself, but a context in which he had to flee. Totally. 500 00:23:10.120 --> 00:23:16.600 Because he'd set something up that was, that was so rupturing and so strong to the 501 00:23:16.600 --> 00:23:21.600 world it was being created in, to a lot of similarities we've got nowadays. Like, 502 00:23:21.600 --> 00:23:28.560 so he is writing to them being like, hold fast, like place your, your staff in the ground 503 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:33.840 and, and, and hold to it because this is going to be a time of toil and the wind is going 504 00:23:33.840 --> 00:23:39.920 to be raging on the outside of the tent. But he's just really highlighting the community must 505 00:23:39.920 --> 00:23:44.960 stay strong because if cracks are on the inside, it's going to be so easy to see cracks from the 506 00:23:44.960 --> 00:23:53.920 outside. And I think as well, like, in, in verse 9, that the latter half, we worked night and day 507 00:23:53.920 --> 00:23:58.480 in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preach the gospel of God to you. I just kind of 508 00:23:58.560 --> 00:24:04.800 reminded of like, are the posture that we're supposed to take when we're, like, taken in by another 509 00:24:04.800 --> 00:24:09.600 church community, like when you're visiting another place is not to be like a free loader. Like, 510 00:24:09.600 --> 00:24:14.320 don't just be like, yeah, give me your food and give me that, give me this. No. Like, you're a part 511 00:24:14.320 --> 00:24:18.000 of the church family, first of all, it's not like you're like just a visitor in the house. Like, 512 00:24:18.000 --> 00:24:23.680 this is your, this is your family, your brothers and your sisters, the brethren, like, you've got to 513 00:24:23.680 --> 00:24:28.320 treat them as such. And like, do your share of the work. Like, don't just be there and be like, 514 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:32.480 I'm going to preach to you now. And then I'm going to sit back and get me grapes and get me 515 00:24:32.480 --> 00:24:38.560 this and get me that. It's like, no, no, no, don't pick yourself on a pedestal. You're humbly serving, 516 00:24:38.560 --> 00:24:44.160 your brothers and sisters around you. So also serve them when you're not on that little 517 00:24:45.040 --> 00:24:50.560 box or whatever it was that Paul's preaching on. Hey, Paul, it is addressing like leadership issues 518 00:24:50.560 --> 00:24:55.520 right here. Well, like through that, take us that. I just got like, I don't know. It just came to 519 00:24:55.520 --> 00:25:01.200 mind of like leadership, you know, in our day and age, there can be this hierarchical thing of like, 520 00:25:01.760 --> 00:25:06.400 oh no, you serve me. I'll come and I'll speak and then, and then I'll just leave. And then 521 00:25:06.400 --> 00:25:11.440 Paul's actually saying, no, we would day and night. So we're not, so we don't burden you guys. 522 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:18.560 Where your brothers and sisters, like, I love honor. Yes. And I'm totally for honoring those 523 00:25:18.640 --> 00:25:24.640 your leaders, yeah, honoring your leaders and honoring those who proclaim the gospel of Jesus. 524 00:25:24.640 --> 00:25:29.920 Yes. But I also think that there's a level of like, we are brothers and sisters, we do this 525 00:25:29.920 --> 00:25:36.320 together. There's no like, you're better than me. Yeah. And yeah, yeah. Because I might have a 526 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:43.040 title that means that I get a, you know, sit whilst you serve me. Yeah. I think it's like a modeling 527 00:25:43.600 --> 00:25:47.920 of how we're supposed to lead exactly what you're the leader. Exactly. This is what you're supposed to 528 00:25:47.920 --> 00:25:51.520 like, yeah, represent. I think, I think there's one, there's one tiny bit I want to say on this, 529 00:25:51.520 --> 00:25:57.440 as well, just before we move on, which is that I think Paul here is talking so much about 530 00:25:58.720 --> 00:26:06.000 rewards of not preaching prosperity gospel. And it's kind of road to the rest of things, but like, 531 00:26:06.000 --> 00:26:12.000 it's, I think there's probably not as much in this day and age, but nowadays there can be a lot 532 00:26:12.000 --> 00:26:16.400 of prosperity gospel preached because people are so keen to get us in church, which is great, 533 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:22.320 and the hearts in the right place. But it seems here there is actually such like encouragement and 534 00:26:22.320 --> 00:26:29.360 affirmation on not doing that and sticking to the roots and the truth of church, even, even though 535 00:26:30.000 --> 00:26:34.080 people have been in the pursuit for it. Like the version, I guess of prosperity, prosperity gospel 536 00:26:34.080 --> 00:26:40.480 in this day and age would have been to say, oh, well, yeah, we say King, Jesus is King, but we're not, 537 00:26:40.480 --> 00:26:44.160 we're not actually opposing Caesar, don't worry about it, Romans, like it's actually fine. 538 00:26:44.160 --> 00:26:50.480 Yeah, there's a Caesar and then Jesus, and that would have been probably a contextual version 539 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:54.480 of prosperity gospel of saying, oh, yeah, come join Jesus, it's going to be absolutely like 540 00:26:55.040 --> 00:27:00.160 his sunshine and rainbows the rest of your life. But I feel like he's saying here, no well done 541 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:06.320 for sticking to what is true, what is what is right. And I think it's also like practice what you 542 00:27:06.400 --> 00:27:11.840 preach as well. Your witnesses and so is God and how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you 543 00:27:11.840 --> 00:27:20.000 who believed. Like they lived a life that was like that that others could follow and look towards, 544 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:24.800 if that makes sense. Yeah, yeah, I think that's great. I also just wanted to touch briefly on 545 00:27:25.280 --> 00:27:29.920 verse 12, oh, sorry, and verse 11 as well. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a 546 00:27:29.920 --> 00:27:34.160 father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of 547 00:27:34.160 --> 00:27:39.760 God who calls you into his kingdom and glory. And so again, we see Paul likening himself and 548 00:27:39.760 --> 00:27:46.240 likening his love to the church of Thessalonica as one of like a parental love. But it's like we're 549 00:27:46.240 --> 00:27:52.240 given kind of a structure of how a father is supposed to deal with his own children to encourage 550 00:27:52.240 --> 00:27:58.080 to come and to urge them into a life that is honoring and worthy of God. And I think here like 551 00:27:58.080 --> 00:28:05.440 Paul is fixing the Thessalonians eyes on God's kingdom and God's glory. And it's like hey, 552 00:28:05.440 --> 00:28:09.520 you're going through this really tough time of persecution, you're holding fast, you're staying 553 00:28:09.520 --> 00:28:16.480 consistent in your faith. But again, it's like that, the eternity piece like look ahead because 554 00:28:16.480 --> 00:28:20.160 your treasures aren't here. This isn't what your life is going to look like forever. But actually 555 00:28:20.160 --> 00:28:25.840 God's kingdom and God's glory is your inheritance as children of God. And so like being encouraged, 556 00:28:25.840 --> 00:28:30.640 you're doing well, be comforted, the Holy Spirit is with you and be urged to continue living 557 00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:35.360 a life as worthy of God, which is what you're doing right now. Come on. So it's just like it's so nice 558 00:28:35.360 --> 00:28:42.160 and I mean, yeah, feels great to be like encouraged by your parent. There's like a different 559 00:28:42.160 --> 00:28:46.880 sense of like connection. Well, for me anyway, when my mom says I'm proud of you, I'm like, oh, 560 00:28:46.880 --> 00:28:53.200 thanks mom, I love you so much. And I like it just sounds like that same parental pride and love 561 00:28:53.200 --> 00:29:00.000 as being imparted to the church of Thessalonica here, which I think is really special. Yeah, 562 00:29:00.000 --> 00:29:05.360 should move on. Yeah, let's move on. And we also thank God continually because when you received 563 00:29:05.360 --> 00:29:11.040 the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as a human word, but as it actually 564 00:29:11.040 --> 00:29:17.280 is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe for you, brothers and sisters, 565 00:29:17.440 --> 00:29:23.600 became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own 566 00:29:23.600 --> 00:29:29.440 people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews who killed a Lord Jesus and the prophets 567 00:29:29.440 --> 00:29:34.880 and also drove us out. They displeased God and are hostile to everyone in their effort to keep 568 00:29:34.880 --> 00:29:40.080 us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way, they always heap up their 569 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:47.680 sins to the limit. The wrath of God has become upon them at last. Well, that was me team, 570 00:29:48.560 --> 00:29:54.960 was me team. Well, I'm just immediately reminded verse 13, like when you received the word of God, 571 00:29:54.960 --> 00:30:00.880 which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as human word, but as it actually is the word of God, 572 00:30:00.880 --> 00:30:07.680 which is indeed at work in you who believe. It's bringing it back to the authority that we have 573 00:30:07.680 --> 00:30:13.440 through Jesus Christ who lives inside of us. It's like, these scriptures that you have right here 574 00:30:13.440 --> 00:30:19.120 would probably be like the Old Testament and these letters, I guess, not I guess, and these letters 575 00:30:20.000 --> 00:30:26.320 would have just increased in them the knowledge of their authority through the Holy Spirit, 576 00:30:26.320 --> 00:30:33.280 the lives inside of them. And it's also so beautiful, the faith that we're being shown here, 577 00:30:33.360 --> 00:30:38.800 that the Thessalonians do have not only through enduring through persecution, but by when they 578 00:30:38.800 --> 00:30:44.000 actually heard poor preaching to them, preaching the word of God to them, they received it as it's 579 00:30:44.000 --> 00:30:49.040 supposed to be received. They weren't like really, really skeptical. Well, maybe some of them were, 580 00:30:49.040 --> 00:30:55.440 but it appears to be that they trusted God and that the Holy Spirit was at work and like just 581 00:30:55.440 --> 00:30:59.520 working through the faith that he gives us when he allows us to receive his gospel truth. 582 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:08.400 Really powerful, the faith that they have and the way that they're truly accepting and 583 00:31:08.400 --> 00:31:14.560 believing that this is the word of God and this is what's fueling the authority that we have 584 00:31:14.560 --> 00:31:18.480 to preach the truth and to be the light of the world and the soul of the earth, 585 00:31:18.480 --> 00:31:23.760 yeah, even when they were in the heart of like Roman trade and in the heart of this like pagan 586 00:31:23.760 --> 00:31:30.320 society that would worshiping idols and doing all these, like, sexually modern things. It was crazy 587 00:31:30.320 --> 00:31:35.040 about them. Yeah, and even in the midst of that, they were, they were standing firm and in their 588 00:31:35.040 --> 00:31:42.720 faith is powerful, you know, so that was great. Mountains for that, clip that, we can move on. 589 00:31:43.440 --> 00:31:50.160 Verse 17 to 20, that'll be us then wrapping it up, but brothers and sisters, when we were often 590 00:31:50.160 --> 00:31:57.280 by being separated from you for a short time in person, not in thought, out of our intense longing 591 00:31:57.280 --> 00:32:04.480 we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you, certainly I, Paul did, again and 592 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:10.480 again, but Satan blocked our way. What is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in 593 00:32:10.480 --> 00:32:16.800 the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed you are our glory and joy. 594 00:32:17.280 --> 00:32:22.320 Oh, that's so cute. If somebody wrote that to me, I'd be like, 595 00:32:22.320 --> 00:32:29.440 Oh, you are a great joy. You love me so much. Like that just shows Paul's, 596 00:32:30.480 --> 00:32:37.360 oh, just absolute love for the Thessalonians. Yeah. Because he's like my glory and joy are in you 597 00:32:37.360 --> 00:32:43.440 because he hears that they're doing so well and that they're like standing firm like through 598 00:32:43.760 --> 00:32:51.200 persecution. Oh, so beautiful. Any thoughts guys? Well, I just want to touch on two things. 599 00:32:52.000 --> 00:32:57.760 Verse 17 at the end, when Paul says out of our intense longing, we made every effort to see you. 600 00:32:58.800 --> 00:33:03.920 Bro, can you think about how hard it is to travel in those days? Like I don't know what their 601 00:33:03.920 --> 00:33:10.000 modes of transport were. Like if it was donkey or like just walking by foot, like taking boats, 602 00:33:10.000 --> 00:33:14.240 but it's so much harder than getting around today, like we can just get an Uber or like line 603 00:33:14.240 --> 00:33:20.000 bike for us, like everything. But Paul's love for them, like they're in Corinth and then they're in 604 00:33:20.000 --> 00:33:25.600 Athens, they're all over the place, right? But they still made every effort to come and see them. 605 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:31.600 I just feel like that's just so evident of the love of Jesus like in their lives. It would have 606 00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:36.640 been like sacrificial and difficult for them to travel from wherever, wherever put one from 607 00:33:36.640 --> 00:33:42.560 Corinth or wherever they ended up to go to Thessalonica. So I just think that in itself is like 608 00:33:43.360 --> 00:33:50.240 so like evident of the true like love in action, like and just like the pursuit of wanting to 609 00:33:50.240 --> 00:33:54.960 edify and build up and encourage the church. Like that is so powerful. I mean, I always feel like 610 00:33:55.920 --> 00:34:00.880 really like loved whenever my friends will say travel down from far for my birthday. Like when 611 00:34:00.880 --> 00:34:04.480 they'll get a three hour train or drive four hours, just to come and spend a weekend with me. 612 00:34:04.960 --> 00:34:08.800 What? And this is like basically what Paul's doing for the church, not because it's their birthday, 613 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:12.240 but just because he wants to see them and encourage them and build them up in their faith and say, 614 00:34:12.240 --> 00:34:18.240 well done, you're doing so well, like continue doing what you're doing. And then also in verse 18, 615 00:34:19.040 --> 00:34:24.160 if we wanted to come to you, certainly I pulled it again and again. He's doubling down on this. 616 00:34:24.160 --> 00:34:28.640 I love you. I wanted to see you. It's nothing that you did. The wire haven't come to see you soon. 617 00:34:29.520 --> 00:34:38.000 But Satan blocked our way. Okay. Right. Satan, bad news, obviously. Here's our enemy. He's 618 00:34:38.000 --> 00:34:43.600 prowling around trying to still kill and kill and destroy everything that we're doing. Right. 619 00:34:43.600 --> 00:34:51.760 And I just think it's so like interesting here how Paul clearly has this great gift of discernment. 620 00:34:51.760 --> 00:34:56.000 I think often in our lives, we cannot go about trying to do things, making plans, 621 00:34:56.560 --> 00:35:00.000 and then they don't go our way. And sometimes it's just because they don't go our way. But 622 00:35:00.000 --> 00:35:04.720 Paul knew in this case, he discerned the fact that it wasn't just because, oh, well, I just missed 623 00:35:04.720 --> 00:35:08.640 that boat that one time or oh, that tree just fell in the road. I guess I can't walk there. 624 00:35:08.640 --> 00:35:14.960 But no, this was like actually Satan interfering in his plans because what was Paul going to do? 625 00:35:14.960 --> 00:35:19.120 He was going to go into strengthen his fellow believers. He was going to go and edify the church. 626 00:35:19.120 --> 00:35:24.320 And when somebody comes to encourage you, is to impart courage and part boldness to you, 627 00:35:24.320 --> 00:35:29.280 Satan wanted to stop that because when Paul does that, it fires up that holy fire, 628 00:35:29.280 --> 00:35:33.920 that holy spirit that lives inside of us, to go and carry on preaching and proclaiming to new 629 00:35:33.920 --> 00:35:37.840 people in Thessalonica. And of course, Satan doesn't want that. He wants his kingdom of darkness to 630 00:35:37.840 --> 00:35:44.160 rain, which ain't going to happen, honey. I'm sorry, Jesus has won. And so it's like, it just 631 00:35:44.480 --> 00:35:53.120 reminds me that in my everyday life where I don't know, I'll make a plan that is going to edify 632 00:35:53.120 --> 00:35:57.280 my church, is going to edify my brothers and sisters in Christ. So it's going to build up the kingdom 633 00:35:57.280 --> 00:36:03.280 of God, the kingdom of life. And when that's met with like just random obstacles, random opposition, 634 00:36:03.280 --> 00:36:07.440 not to just be like, oh, must be a coincidence, must be a consequence. Oh, maybe I'm not supposed to 635 00:36:07.440 --> 00:36:13.280 go and go to that youth group and preach that night and serve and like do you ever. But no, actually, 636 00:36:13.280 --> 00:36:18.080 let me pray when things like that come up. That's so good. Let me pray against it and be like, 637 00:36:18.080 --> 00:36:22.800 Lord Jesus, where any of this is the schemes of the enemy at hand, the plans of the enemy, 638 00:36:22.800 --> 00:36:27.600 I declare they have no power in Jesus name. And I pray that you're like break down the schemes 639 00:36:27.600 --> 00:36:31.920 of the enemy right now. I believe the blood of Jesus over this. Come and have your way, Jesus. 640 00:36:31.920 --> 00:36:38.080 Like, may your will be done right now. And Jesus name on men. And it's like, just on men. 641 00:36:38.720 --> 00:36:43.280 I'm pretty weird. And it's like just to, I don't know, sorry, it's going to be so fired up. 642 00:36:43.280 --> 00:36:49.520 But it's like, we are literally in like a spiritual warfare. Yeah, just our daily lives. And we are 643 00:36:49.520 --> 00:36:55.760 called to be discerning of when those attacks are coming in and put on our armor of God. Yeah. 644 00:36:55.760 --> 00:37:00.720 Have that shield of faith. Have the helmet of salvation. We've got the breastplate of righteousness, 645 00:37:00.720 --> 00:37:06.320 the belt of truth. We have the, the sword of the spirit. And we have our feet fitted with the 646 00:37:06.320 --> 00:37:11.440 readiness to go and preach the gospel. Have I ever bought an anything? The sword. The sword of 647 00:37:11.440 --> 00:37:17.360 the spirit. The shield of faith. The shield of faith. Yeah. I've said this. The helmet of salvation. 648 00:37:17.360 --> 00:37:22.240 Yeah. It's like the Lord has equipped us. Like we are ready to go into this battle. We're already 649 00:37:22.240 --> 00:37:28.720 in it, guys. And I just want you guys listening to know that you are equipped. Like you are. Yeah. 650 00:37:28.720 --> 00:37:34.640 You are so capable to, to go up in this, this spiritual warfare around because Jesus Christ 651 00:37:34.640 --> 00:37:39.600 lives in you. Jesus Christ is one the battle. When, when he went on that cross, when he died for us, 652 00:37:39.600 --> 00:37:46.960 when he took on all of the sin of the world. And he rescued everyone that was dead and then rose 653 00:37:46.960 --> 00:37:53.200 again, defeating death. His blood covered your sins, covered all of our sins. And through that, 654 00:37:53.200 --> 00:37:59.520 we now get to have relationship with the one true living God, the God of Jacob, the God of Abraham, 655 00:37:59.520 --> 00:38:05.920 the God of Israel. Like we, it's just insane. And we get eternal life. And the battle is one. 656 00:38:05.920 --> 00:38:11.280 And Satan will do all that he can to try and make us believe that we've lost, but we haven't. 657 00:38:11.280 --> 00:38:17.520 So just continue to stand firm and take back ground. Yes. Let that be a commissioning to all of you 658 00:38:17.520 --> 00:38:22.960 guys listening. Again, it's not against fight flesh or blood, but we are fighting against evil 659 00:38:22.960 --> 00:38:27.680 and demonic principalities on the heavenly realms. Ephesians 6, 12. Ephesians 6, 12. And 660 00:38:28.400 --> 00:38:32.720 put that armor of God. And like you're saying, and this is a commissioning, like go out, proclaim 661 00:38:32.720 --> 00:38:38.400 the gospel of Jesus. You have this blueprint, beautiful blueprint right here that the Lord has given 662 00:38:38.400 --> 00:38:44.880 you. And this is your sword, you know, and as we wrap up first, Thessalonians 2, Paul is giving 663 00:38:44.880 --> 00:38:51.200 a clear blueprint to the church and to, to those who proclaim the gospel of Jesus. That this is 664 00:38:51.760 --> 00:38:57.920 this is the example that you can follow. And that's Jesus. And you know, parental, 665 00:38:57.920 --> 00:39:02.960 parental, loving those around you like mothers and fathers and standing in the midst of 666 00:39:02.960 --> 00:39:07.920 adversary because you have been given the boldness and the courage and the strength from God. 667 00:39:07.920 --> 00:39:11.840 And that your witness is God. And ultimately it's for the kingdom of God. 668 00:39:13.040 --> 00:39:18.320 But yeah, guys, thank you so much for tuning into today's episode. Make sure you tune into 669 00:39:18.400 --> 00:39:24.480 episode one of the Thessalonians because that's where you'll get all of the context out. 670 00:39:24.480 --> 00:39:29.680 Hopefully we got to bring a little bit into this. But we'll see you in the next one. Bye, guys. 671 00:39:29.680 --> 00:39:31.680 Bye.