Spiritual Influence

Well, this past week, I finally feel like I'm moving into my office, across the hall, office

! that Pastor Kenoyer had, and now beginning to put all the books in the right shelf, and my family

was kind enough to move those books in there, but trying to find them is another thing altogether.

So there's a system, and certain things go in certain places, and if I know where they are, I can actually use them.

There's a shelf for prayer, there's a shelf for theology, there's a commentary section, there's a Christian life section,

and I actually have lots of books that focus on church growth.

You wouldn't believe all the thoughts there are about how to make a church effective.

And the question is, is the strategy really that difficult?

If we want to be a church that's effective, are there really sophisticated processes to employ in order to be the kind of church that makes a difference?

And as a Christian, as a person who is a follower of Christ, is there a certain formula that we have to put into work in order to be effective in making a difference in the world around us?

Does it really matter?

Or are there things that are more important?

Well, this morning, as we look at the passage, our passage today, in 1 Thessalonians 2,

I want us to continue to come to terms with the fact that a spirit-filled life is a power-filled life.

And a spirit-filled life comes because of an affection for the Word of God.

The Word of God is making a difference.

It is playing out in certain effects and transformation that God is beginning to work.

And we looked at those things a bit last week.

We saw that at the outset, the Holy Spirit is involved in leading us into salvation,

illuminating our eyes to help us actually see the truth for what it is.

Now, then drawing us into conviction and helping to bring the gift of repentance

and then leading us into salvation and regeneration, the new birth,

and then stamping us with the Holy Spirit, that guarantee for salvation for the future.

But the Spirit is also working in our life to sanctify us,

to bear out spiritual fruit, to make us look more like Jesus,

to produce within us the fruit of love and joy and peace,

all those things we find in Galatians chapter 5.

Galatians 5 · chapter mention

He equips us for spiritual ministry.

He fits us to be able to intercede and to talk with the Father.

He lifts our prayers to the throne.

He enables us in the spiritual life to be obedient and to overcome sin.

All the things the Holy Spirit does to make us look more like Jesus.

His power transforming us through His Word in connection with His power

to make us a people that show the Spirit.

And you can imagine that when that begins to happen,

that there will be a church and a life that begins to have spiritual influence.

That's where we are this morning in our passage in 1 Thessalonians chapter 1.

1 Thessalonians 1 · chapter mention

And maybe the question for us at the outset is,

does God expect me to bear spiritual fruit?

Does God intend for my life to be one that is making a difference in the world around me?

I think at the outset we would all say,

yes, indeed that is true,

but where is the text that we can go to to find this answer

and to begin to anchor our heart into this truth

and to help us understand its significance?

What is our purpose on this earth?

Why has God set me apart and what does He intend for me to do?

Well, if you were to look at some of the catechisms,

some of the statements of faith,

you would see that one of the major statements of faith

is the chief purpose of man is to glorify God

and to enjoy Him forever.

And one of the principal ways that we glorify God on this earth

is by bearing fruit.

We worked through several years through John,

the Gospel of John,

and fitting within these final words to Jesus in John chapter 15,

John 15 · chapter mention

Jesus communicates this mission statement to His disciples.

He says,

I am the vine,

and my Father is the vine dresser.

Every branch in me that does not bear fruit,

He takes away.

And every branch that does bear fruit,

He prunes,

that it may bear more fruit.

Already you are clean because of the word

that I have spoken to you.

Abide in me and I in you,

that as the branch cannot bear fruit by itself,

unless it abides in the vine.

I am the vine,

you are the branches.

Whoever abides in me and I in him,

he it is that bears much fruit.

For apart from me,

you can do nothing.

By this,

my Father is glorified.

By this,

my Father is glorified,

that you bear much fruit,

and so prove to be my disciples.

So what is the purpose of the Christian life?

Well,

of course,

our purpose of the Christian life

is to glorify God

and to enjoy Him forever.

And one of the principal ways

that we glorify God on this earth

is to emulate

the glory of God

and the power of God

working through us

to produce fruit

within our hearts and lives.

And it is inevitable.

Those that abide in Christ

will bear fruit.

And Jesus goes so far as to say,

you will bear much fruit

so that my Father is glorified.

We exist to glorify God

by making much fruit.

That's why we exist.

So the Christian life

is a fruitful life

because the Christian life

is a word-filled life

filled up with the Spirit,

the power of God,

producing fruit in us

that then we get to see

sometimes showing up

as fruit in others.

But principally,

fruit in us

that bears out

in influence

in the world around us.

God is working

in our lives.

He is the one

who is producing fruit

so that he is the one

who gets the glory.

With that as background

and as introduction,

let's look at our text

this morning

in 1 Thessalonians 1.

If you're a guest with us

this morning,

it's on page 986.

1 Thessalonians 1.

I'll begin in verse 6

and work our way

to the end of this chapter,

to verse 10.

And then we'll start

with our study this morning.

And you became

imitators of us

and of the Lord.

For you received the word

in much affliction

with the joy

of the Holy Spirit,

so that you became

an example

to all the believers

in Macedonia

and Achaia.

For not only

has the word

of the Lord

sounded forth from you

in Macedonia

and Achaia,

but your faith

in God

has gone forth

everywhere

so that we need

not say anything.

For they themselves

report concerning us

the kind of reception

we had among you

and how you turned

to God

from idols

to serve

the living

and true God

and to wait

for his Son

from heaven

whom he raised

from the dead,

Jesus,

who delivers us

from the wrath

to come.

So this morning

as we focus

our attention

on spiritual influence,

Paul wants

this church

to understand

that even though

they may not be able

to see it immediately,

that their life

has borne witness

to the fact

that God is working

in them

and they can

delight in the fact

that God is working

through them

to create

spiritual fruit

in the world

around them.

He begins

by encouraging them

with the scope

of their influence

and that is

our first point

this morning.

The scope

of their influence.

This is really

the why.

Why should we

stay the course?

Paul kind of gives

them some incentive

to understand

what are some

of the reasons

why we need

to continue

to endure

the hardship

that you're facing.

Why do you

continue

to allow

the Holy Spirit

to sanctify

your life

and allow

his word

to grow

in your hearts?

He keys in

on some

special things

throughout

these first couple

of verses

particularly in

verse 7 and 8

to help us see

what is the true

scope

of their influence.

He begins

with its breadth.

He begins

with its breadth

in verse 7.

You became

an example

to all

the believers

in Macedonia

and Achaia.

Well how?

You might ask.

How did that happen?

Well in verse 6

he says

you became

imitators

of us

and of the Lord.

Well then

in what way

were you imitators?

Well you received

the word

in much affliction

with the joy

of the Holy Spirit.

In other words

the word

produced

fruit

in you

and the word

took root

and flourished

in your life.

Jesus

as he

was sharing

with the

people

there in

Matthew chapter 13

Matthew 13 · chapter mention

he is communicating

now some parables

with them

and this whole

relationship

of the word

of God

and its distribution

in the world

in the various ways

that the word

can be received.

He begins

with talking about

how the word

fell on the path

and what happens

with the word

that falls on the path.

Well it's

snatched up

and taken away

by the evil one.

There's no time

for it to take root

and to grow.

And then

the second example

of the word

that lands

on the rocky soil

it begins to flourish

and it begins to grow

but once the sun

comes up

it scorches

that word

and it no longer

is able to bear fruit.

No longer able to grow.

The third seed

grows up

in soil

that is thorny

it grows

to a certain height

but then is choked out

by the troubles

of the world.

But the final seed

that grows

is a seed

that not only grows

but begins

to bear fruit.

Jesus uses this

as an example

of what happens

with those

who are truly

converted.

and he points

to the fact

that those

who grow

in the seed

that grows

in the fertile soil

will bear fruit

some

thirtyfold

some sixtyfold

and some

one hundredfold.

Again

pointing to the fact

that those

who are truly

followers of God

those who have

received the word

and it is actually

doing a work

in their life

bearing testimony

to the power

of the Holy Spirit

working within

will demonstrate

spiritual fruitfulness

in their life.

Paul points

to this

with the church

of Thessalonica

in verse 5.

He says

the word came

to you

in power

and in

the Holy Spirit.

He's

taking joy

in the fact

that this

fledgling church

who has only

existed for about

a year or so

who is experiencing

tremendous adversity

and opposition

is staying

the course

and shows

true signs

of being

followers of God.

He's comforted

by that.

He sees

the evidence

of the work

of the Spirit

in their life

and it causes

him a measure

of thanksgiving

and gratitude.

The telltale sign

of the Spirit's

power in their life

he points to

in verse 6.

It moved them

to endurance

and it moved

them to joy.

Two of the

significant works

of the Holy Spirit

in the life

of every true

believer.

But the influence

of this

capital city

of Thessalonica

in the province

of Macedonia

was enormous.

Philippi and Berea

were also churches

within this

region of Macedonia.

It became

the capital city

of this province

and enjoyed

the economic

and political

benefits that came

along with being

classified as a

free city.

Since it was

considered a city

of Rome

it was free

to enjoy

and to exercise

the benefits

of that freedom.

A powerful

metropolis

with easy access

to all parts

of the region

because of the

road systems

that were created.

Particularly

the Via Ignatia

would take

a person

to all parts

of the Roman Empire.

And so there was

access to

these places

and trade routes

that ran through

this capital city.

There's no wonder

why the church

of Thessalonica

had so much

influence

in the world

around them

because of all

the travelers

in trade

that came through

this capital city.

But what stands

out about this

church is

the travelers

that came through

did not just

come through

unnoticed

but somehow

they were affected

by the influence

of this church.

And we'll look

at that

in a bit

further

in our study

this morning.

But in terms

of the breadth

of ministry

it is expansive.

Macedonia

and Achaia

were affected

because of the

ministry

of this church.

The things

that were taking

place in Thessalonica

became the

talk of the town

in the entire region.

Achaia was

the Roman province

directly south

of Macedonia.

In it were

the churches

of the cities

of Athens

and Corinth.

For several

hundred miles

these two regions

would span.

Just to put

that in terms

of scale

Ohio is

210 miles

north to south

and 230 miles

east to west

and so

the span

of Ohio

would be

encapsulated

within this

region of Macedonia

in Achaia.

It had a

significant impact

in the world

around them.

How

was the message

so widespread

with such

a young church?

Certainly

also a

small church

yet a massive

scope

of influence.

And here's

where we can

find our

encouragement.

encouragement.

We find our

encouragement in

the fact that

it wasn't

a strategy

on systems

that they had

dreamt up

but it began

with individuals.

Individuals

whose lives

were changed

by the gospel

and began

to affect

one-on-one

the world

around them.

So that

Paul can say

at the end

of verse 8

for from you

the word

sounded not

only in

Macedonia

and Achaia

but your

faith in

God has

gone forth

everywhere

so that we

need not

say anything.

Now that's

that's a

massive

influence.

That's the

extent of

their influence

that Paul

would say

no matter

where I

go

in all

of these

regions

I'm

communicating

the gospel

but somehow

news of you

has already

gone before

me.

It's already

created a

context for

gospel

ministry.

How did

that happen?

Well we'll

look at that

in just a

moment.

So that is

its extent

that's its

breadth

now I want

to look

at its

depth.

We can

see its

depth here

in verse

8.

Just read

that for

us.

It says

for not only

has the

word of

the Lord

sounded

forth from

you

but your

faith in

God has

gone forth

everywhere.

This word

to sound

forth is

used in

a

in a

sense

that's

called

the

perfect

passive

which

talks

about

past

action

with

continuing

results.

The

sense

would be

as if

you were

to throw

a rock

into a

pond

and that

past

action

begins

to create

ripples

into the

rest of

the lake.

That's

what we're

finding

here.

We're

finding

that this

echoing

forth,

this

sounding

forth

of the

gospel

that began

there

in

Thessalonica

began

to find

its

way

into

the

rest

of

the

regions

like

ripples

on

a

pond

used

only

here

in

the

New

Testament.

It

communicates

the idea

of

to

blast

forth

or to

trumpet

forth

this

massive

resounding

theme

that's

taking

place

or a

roll

of

thunder.

Paul

pictured

their

proclamation

as a

constant

sounding.

It

was

perpetual.

It

was

continual.

And the

message

wasn't

what a

humanitarian

church

or

what a

devout

church

or what a

peculiar

or strange

church.

It

wasn't

what a

religious

church

or what a

knowledgeable

church.

church

but it

was

what a

God

centered

church

because

it was

the

message

of the

Lord

sounding

forth

from you.

The

word of

the

Lord

had

found

its

course

from

this

church.

The

foundation

of this

new

group

of

believers

was

clear

to

everyone.

It

was

the

word

of

the

Lord.

That

was

the

reason

why

they

were

the

people

they

were

that

word

had

produced

something

tangible

invisible.

We see

something of

that happening

in Jerusalem

don't we?

A group

of

individuals

who

devoted

themselves

to the

teaching

of the

word

of God

and because

of the

close

community

that

was

affected

we find

in

chapter

247

that day

by day

the

Lord

added

to their

number

of those

who

were

being

saved.

And

then a

couple

of

weeks

ago

when we

looked

at the

church

of Antioch

we saw

again

a word

centered

church

where

Barnabas

shows up

and he

says

the grace

of God

is upon

this group

of individuals

and continually

the Lord

adds to

their number

because of

the work

of the

word

that was

taking place

in their

life.

This morning

I want us

to understand

that there

is a message

that is ringing

out from

you today.

there is

a message

that is

ringing

forth

it is

is it

the message

of the

Lord

that is

coming

through?

This past

week I

had the

opportunity

to sit

down

with some

administration

at a

school

that one

of my

kids

goes to.

It was

the kind

of

conversation

that they

were

making

some

suggestions

at how

we

should

put one

of our

kids

in class.

The kind

of

conversation

that you

kind of

get a little

defensive

about

and

you

kind of

say

I think

I know

a little

bit better

for my

kid

than you

do.

At least

that's

the initial

reaction.

And so

it is

incumbent

upon me

to say

okay

how will

the word

of the

Lord

sound

forth

from my

life

in this

meeting?

What

will be

the

posture

that I

will

take

in the

midst

of

talking

with

some

administration

who

has

other

ideas

on how

I

should

instruct

my

children?

I

could

be

defensive.

I

could

be

derogatory.

I

could

say

well

if

you

were

better

teachers

then

this

wouldn't

be

a

problem.

I

could

say

well

he's

my

kid

so

I

can

do

with

him

what

I

like.

But if

the

message

of the

Lord

is

going

to

sound

forth

from

me

in

that

context

what

do

you

suppose

that's

going

to

begin

to

look

like?

The

posture

of

humility

the

posture

of

submission

to the

authorities

that God

has placed

over me

the

posture

of

affirming

the

good

things

that I

know

about

their

intentions

however

difficult

it is

for me

to hear

those

intentions

to

point

to

the

fact

that

you

know

what

I

understand

your

desire

for

my

child

is

a good

desire

and so

when I

leave

that

meeting

what are

they going

to be

left

talking

about

are

they going

to be

talking

about

boy

what a

jerk

or are

they going

to be

left

talking

about

the

sweetness

of the

fragrance

of Christ

the aroma

of Christ

that marked

that

conversation

you see

because

the message

of

something

will ring

and is

ringing

out

from you

what is

that message

in your

interactions

with people

at work

and

the way

they observe

your ethic

the way

that you

maybe posture

yourself

for

or position

yourself

for that

promotion

the way

that you

advocate

for your

own

ideas

the way

that you

criticize

the decisions

that are

made

there is

a message

that is

ringing

out from

you

is it

the message

of the

Lord

that they're

hearing

or is it

the message

of the

world

coming

through

your

mouth

as a

conduit

you see

this church

understood

the significance

of the

message of

the Lord

ringing out

from them

it marked

every

conversation

it marked

every interaction

it marked

their day

to day

there was

consistency

wherever they

were in the

course of

their life

whether they

were at

home

whether they

were worshiping

as a

people

whether they

were in

the workplace

or trading

things

from day

to day

the outtake

of every

conversation

with those

individuals

was

this is a

people

marked

by God

it was

a church

that was

able to

to understand

the significance

of the kind

of people

that God

had made

them to be

and so

the depth

of their

ministry

was not

just talking

about how

great the

church

of Thessalonica

was

but talking

about how

great

their God

was

yes it

had breadth

and that

was significant

but more

importantly

it had

depth

the word

produced

something

in their

life

a group

of individuals

who had

been

transformed

by the

message

of the

word

and by

the power

of the

Holy

Spirit

their

message

was

consistent

with the

message

of the

Lord

and it

showed

the

significance

the

distinctiveness

of their

faith

in God

well

that was

the scope

of their

influence

now we

can begin

to see

what is

the source

of their

influence

what is

the source

of their

influence

where did

it originate

where did

it come

from

why did

they have

such

far-reaching

influence

and fruitfulness

we see

the answers

to those

questions

there in

verses

8 to

10

let me

read again

just verse

8

and then

we'll step

one at a

time

through

these

next

several

points

the

source

of their

influence

verse

8

for not

only has

the word

of the

Lord

sounded

forth

from

you

in

Macedonia

and

Achaia

but

your

faith

in

God

has

gone

forth

everywhere

so that

we need

not

say

anything

first

I want

you to

see

that

that

one

of

the

one

of

the

sources

of

their

influence

was a

result

of

their

faith

in

God

it

was a

result

of

their

faith

in

God

and

their

true

faith

in

God

actually

led

to

two

other

activities

in

their

life

that

we'll

get

to

here

in

a

moment

your

faith

in

God

has

gone

forth

!

again

another

perfect

active

indicative

that's

used

in this

passage

that helps

us understand

again

the significance

of past

action

that continues

to show

continual

future

results

the content

of what was

proclaimed

was their

faith

in God

in

contrast

to their

previous

faith

in idols

that we

find in

verse 9

but it's

interesting

to begin

to see

who was

the actual

messenger

of this

word

we find

that it

sounded

forth

initially

from the

church

of

Thessalonica

but in

verse 9

notice

it says

for they

themselves

report

concerning

us

the kind

of reception

we had

among you

and how

you turned

to God

from idols

to serve

the living

and true

God

how did

that message

begin to

find its

way out

of Thessalonica

how did

that message

begin to

sound forth

in all

these other

regions

where did

it come

from

who was

the

mouthpiece

of this

message

well some

have suggested

that it was

the church

itself

who carried

out the

message

from

Thessalonica

and that

is

that's a

it's a

very valuable

and worthy

thought

one commentator

puts it

this way

he says

the work

of faith

and labor

of love

expressed

itself

in their

sharing

of the

gospel

with others

they were

both

receivers

of the

word

and

transmitters

of the

word

certainly

that is

true

and as

we look

at the

book of

Acts

we can

see

that this

church

had a

gospel

heart

a number

of people

from this

church

partner

with

Paul

in getting

the message

out

to the

region

we find

Aristarchus

and Secundus

of Thessalonica

in Acts

Acts 20 · chapter mention

chapter 20

we find

Aristarchus

also

traveling

with Paul

to Ephesus

on the

second missionary

journey

in Acts

Acts 19 · chapter mention

chapter 19

and he even

accompanies him

to Rome

in Acts

Acts 27 · chapter mention

chapter 27

and then in

Colossians

Colossians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4

this is a

church that

has a

gospel

heart

and so

they send

individuals

from their

church

to partner

with Paul

in this

significant

ministry

there's no

question about

the fact

that this

church was

involved

in the

gospel

process

but notice

this use

of words

they

themselves

report

there's a

sudden

shift

in language

between

verses

6

and 7

and 8

and then

in verse

9

notice

in 6

a

you

became

imitators

in 6

b

you

received

the word

in 7

a

you

became

an

example

in 8

a

the word

sounded

forth

from you

the second

part of

8

b

your faith

has gone

out

everywhere

and now

then in

verse 9

they

themselves

report

you

you

you

you

they

the

use

here

is

emphatic

you

or they

excuse me

they

themselves

report

I think

this is an

encouragement

to this

church

who's going

through

tremendous

difficulty

Paul in

a sense

says

you may

not

see it

it may

not be

clear to

you

but I

want you

to

understand

that

your

suffering

and your

endurance

and your

joy

is

producing

fruit

it is

for a

purpose

God is

using it

to accomplish

his

salvation

in the

hearts

of people

all around

this region

so hang

in there

continue

on this

journey

continue

to

trust

God

to

work

results

through

you

into

the

lives

of

other

individuals

these

could have

been

believers

traveling

through

Thessalonica

those

who came

to buy

and sell

and to

trade

in various

ways

but I

think

as we

see in

verse

8

in the

second

part

Paul

says

here

your

faith

has

gone

everywhere

so that

we

need

not

say

anything

which

would

indicate

to

me

that

in

Paul's

conversations

with

individuals

those

who are

part

of the

church

and

those

who

were

not

part

of

the

church

no

matter

who

he's

talking

to

everywhere

he

goes

the

conversation

about

Thessalonica

seems

to be

at the

forefront

of their

attention

God

had

used

the