A Bold Gospel

1 Thessalonians, 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 this morning.

1 Thessalonians 1 · chapter mention

! 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 as we get ready here for missions month.

1 Thessalonians 1 · chapter mention

Do you recognize some of them?

We're going to talk about you and me.

Because ultimately, we ought to be a missionary where we are.

And the importance of it, we're going to talk about a bold gospel this morning.

And so we're going to be, your featured missionary today is you and I.

To be talking about, be encouraged about what God would have for us

in sharing the gospel with others.

You know, have you stopped to consider,

when was the last time that you spoke to somebody about spiritual things?

When was the last time you spoke any portion of the gospel?

Because we're going to talk this morning,

giving the gospel doesn't necessarily mean you give everything completely all at one time.

Sometimes, you know, the Bible talks about planting seeds

or allowing the Holy Spirit to work.

You know, the one thing to always keep in mind

is it's not our responsibility to convert somebody to Christ.

That's the Holy Spirit's job.

You cannot convert somebody.

You cannot change somebody.

But God's Word and the Spirit of God definitely can.

It's what makes a difference, you know.

And when was the last time you spoke directly to somebody about the gospel?

The good news, if you're saved, it's the good news of your salvation.

It's not just something that you come and on Sunday and think about.

It ought to be something that impacts us throughout the week.

Impacts us day by day as we think about what Christ has done for us.

Because this same good news that you have been heard

and that hopefully you've applied the reality of the gospel to your life

is something others need to know also.

Your co-worker at work or the neighbor across the street

or just somebody that you come in contact with.

And we see here this morning, we're going to be looking here at the church at Thessalonica.

It's a great reminder of a church that sounded out the Word of the Lord

declaring their faith to those around them.

And so if you found 1 Thessalonians chapter 1 this morning,

1 Thessalonians 1 · chapter mention

let's stand together in honor of reading of the Word of God here today.

And we'll pick up in verse 3 here this morning.

We'll pick up here.

It says,

We are bound to thank God always for you, brother,

as it is meet because that your faith grows exceedingly,

and that the charity of every one of you,

every one of you all toward each other aboundeth,

so that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God

for your patience and faith and all your...

No wonder I'm on the wrong one.

I'm on 2 Thessalonians.

I'm in trouble.

I'm like, that did not sound right.

That's what happens when you get a new Bible and the pages stick together.

Trying to get this one all sorted out.

There we go.

Man, that looks even better.

I wonder where you all give me a strange look.

At least I know you're following along.

Amen?

Let's go over to 1 Thessalonians.

1 Thessalonians.

And it says,

We give thanks to God always for you, making mention of you in our prayers,

remembering without ceasing your work of faith and labor of love

and patience of hope of our Lord Jesus in the sight of God and our Father.

Knowing, brethren, beloved, your election of God,

for our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power and the Holy Ghost,

and in much assurance, as you know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes.

And you became followers of us and of the Lord, and having received the word in much affliction,

with the joy of the Holy Ghost, so that ye were as samples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord, not only in Macedonia and Achaia,

but also in every place your faith to God were to spread abroad,

so that we need not to speak anything.

For they themselves show you what manner of entering in we had unto you,

and how ye 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, even Jesus,

which delivered us from the wrath to come.

For yourselves, brethren, know your entrance into you, that it was not in vain,

but even after that you have suffered before, that you were shamefully entreated.

As ye know at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel,

which with much contention.

Let's pray.

Heavenly Fathers, we come before you today.

Lord, we just thank you for the encouragement, the reality of who you are and what you've done.

Lord, we pray just have your hand upon each heart, each life here today, Lord,

as we look at the reality and the necessity of being one that will share the truth of your word with others.

Lord, it should happen organically, even in our lives, Lord.

And we look at these individuals at Thessalonica, this church here that had a membership,

that touched lives around them.

And Lord, we pray just would work in a mighty way, even here today, Lord,

and we just ask it all in your precious name.

Amen.

You may be seated.

You know, we see here that they did, they impacted the world around them.

That's what Paul's commending them for.

We're going to look at these elements here about a bold gospel and what is entailed in it,

because there's some things and there's some effects of a bold gospel,

a gospel that impacts lives, a gospel that changes people, not just outwardly, but inwardly.

That changes how they think, how they process, how they view life, how they view others.

You know, the gospel impacts everything in our life.

And this was not just something special.

These people weren't something special.

They didn't have extraordinary talents or resources, but the Bible says that they shared what they had.

They shared what God had given to them, what had been delivered unto them,

and the news that God had made a way for them there, those that had rebelled and rejected.

You know, the Bible talks about they turned from idols unto the living God.

They made a difference, the gospel made a difference in their life.

And their rebellion and their rejection of God turned to favor with him through the gospel of Jesus Christ.

You know, I want you to understand, it didn't arrive from an angel from heaven.

You know, it didn't arrive from special revelation.

You know, it didn't get written in the sky.

It didn't show up.

It showed up because somebody took time to share.

That somebody took time to do.

And it's the one that shared it with them was Paul.

And those that were working alongside him came to tell them what had taken place.

And sometimes we forget the reality of missions because sometimes we make missions in the gospel a lot more complicated than it is.

You know, we can complicate.

As people, we can make things very complicated sometimes.

You know, we try to make more out of it or worry about details sometimes that are not our details to worry about.

You know, because there are certain things in life that are just going to happen.

You know, you deal with it as it comes.

When we understand that these here, sometimes we get caught up in the function instead of focusing on the substance.

You know, we can get busy doing and forget why we're doing.

We don't want either one.

You need to make sure we're paying attention because those here at Thessalonica were first introduced to the work that had been accomplished in them when they accepted Christ.

And this work was the work of God that in Jesus Christ came to take on himself the sin that separated his creation from him.

You know, consider what Jesus said in John 17 and verse 4.

He says, I have glorified thee on the earth.

He's speaking to the Father.

And he says, I have finished the work thou gavest to me to do.

What was the work that Jesus came to do?

Very simply, 2 Corinthians 5.21 tells us this.

For he hath made him to be sin for us who knew no sin that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

That was the work of God.

Now, I want you to understand, for in order for you to be saved, there is a work happen, but it's not yours.

The work was already accomplished in Christ.

Everything that was done, Christ accomplished.

It was his work to do.

We cannot do enough to get to heaven.

You cannot do enough to be right with God.

You cannot do anything to earn your salvation.

Because Christ has already paid it all.

When you understand the reality, why can't you work for salvation?

Very simply, Christ said, I already covered it.

It's taken care of.

I did everything.

I did all the work that was required for somebody to be saved.

Our responsibility is to react or respond or to grab a hold of,

to be changed by the truth of the gospel,

to realize that we have to believe the work that Jesus did.

That he is the one that accomplished it.

The work of salvation, redemption, and justification has already been accomplished.

You cannot work or perform anything to be saved or to remain secure in Christ.

All those things are already done.

Those things have already been accomplished.

It's already been accomplished for everyone

and is being accomplished completely in anyone who has called upon the name of the Lord

that is believed that Jesus is the Savior for them.

You know, when we understand that what was accomplished in us

does require a few things from us

because one, we have to recognize that we're a sinner.

Let me give you a little clue.

If somebody doesn't realize they're a sinner, they'll never be saved.

Because you know what?

Salvation makes no sense

if you don't understand what sin is.

It'd be like throwing somebody a life jacket in the auditorium today.

They will look at you,

why are you throwing me a life jacket?

I have absolutely no need of it.

You throw a life jacket to somebody struggling in the water

or one of them big pool circles or whatever you want to toss out there,

you know what?

They don't look at you strange.

Why do they not look at you strange?

Because they realize they need it.

They realize they have a need for it.

They didn't do anything to get it.

But they know they need it.

They realize it's the same way with sin.

And we find here that the Bible tells us

that every person has broken his commands.

We have gone our own way.

We stand guilty before him,

trusting in his gift of salvation by faith.

When you believe this bold gospel,

there's some things that are involved for you to be a witness to others

about what God has done for you.

You know, that's really what we're talking about this morning.

It's just telling others,

sharing with others what God's already done for you.

That's as simple as it gets.

It's not complex.

Because the reality is,

if you're saved,

you ought to be able to explain salvation to somebody else.

Especially as an adult,

you should be able to explain.

If you're saved,

you should be able to explain

the basics of salvation to somebody else.

Because how can you explain to somebody

something that you don't have?

If you don't have it,

you're going to have a hard time explaining it to somebody else.

It needs to be yours.

You need to understand the importance of salvation.

You know,

I want you to understand that

if we're going to be a witness,

it's not gaining favor with God.

It's just doing what God has asked.

It's what ought to naturally come out.

When somebody's done something for you,

you have a natural tendency to tell others.

It's a natural outflow

because I want you to understand

that no place in the Bible

does it say you can come to God by works.

But you come by faith.

A faith that's living,

that will make itself manifest

in the life that is lived.

Because we're going to look here

at the examples here today.

You know, the reality of that.

The example that we have.

Look at verse 7 here in our text.

It says,

So that ye were examples

to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.

You were examples.

That's just an example.

You're a picture of what should have happened.

You're on display of what should have happened there.

But I want you to see some things

about a bold gospel that takes place.

Look here in verse 3.

He says this,

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith.

Now, that's the reason I want you to understand.

You don't get saved by works.

But after you're saved,

there is some motion,

there's some action involved.

It ought to stir us to action.

Because notice,

what did Paul make note of

of those that had been saved

as he's writing back to them years later

and he's talking about this?

He says,

Remembering without ceasing your work of faith.

Your work of faith.

The first motion is a work of faith.

You know, those actions that are there.

You know,

they had continued in the lives of those

who had trusted in the gospel

of their salvation.

It's based upon their faith

in the Lord Jesus Christ

and in the sight of God.

I want you to understand

that God expects something to impact us.

If something impacts you,

you have a response.

Your work of faith.

This first motion,

you might say,

is a work of faith.

These individuals believed

what God had done for them

and it moved them to action.

Not to get saved,

but because of.

A because of reality.

It's not actions or works

to be accepted,

but as a result of

what has already been done

for us.

The work of salvation

has already been accomplished.

You know,

Titus chapter 3 and verse 5

Titus 3 · chapter mention

says,

Not by works of righteousness

which we have done,

but according to His mercy

He saved us

by the washing of regeneration

and renewing of the Holy Ghost

which He shed on us abundantly

through Jesus Christ,

our Savior.

I want you to understand

salvation cannot be earned.

You cannot merit it.

Now notice here in verse 7

it says,

That being justified

by His grace

we should be made heirs

according to the hope

of eternal life.

That this faith,

this is a faithful saying,

and these things

which I will thou affirm

constantly,

that they which have

believed in God

might be careful

to,

notice this,

to maintain good works.

These things are good

and profitable unto men.

You know,

I want you to understand

the action that takes place

after we have the gospel

impacts other people.

There's an action,

there's some things

that ought to be stirred

in us

because true faith

stirs a response.

It moves us to action.

True faith is not static.

It's not just a matter

of sitting.

It results in motion.

I want you to see here,

turn to the book of James

because James lines up here

as he's talking here,

the context of James,

he's talking to believers,

he's telling them

this very simple thing.

He says this in chapter 2

in verse 17,

he says,

Even so faith,

if it hath not works,

is dead being alone.

What's he talking about?

He's not talking about

saving faith here.

He's talking about

the results of faith.

If you say you believe Jesus

that Christ has saved you,

he says there ought to be

some results from it.

It ought to be something

that's visible.

James isn't talking here.

He's already in the context

of James.

He's talking to believers.

He's not talking

to lost people.

He's saying this.

He says,

Yea,

a man may say,

Thou hast faith

and I have works.

Show me thy faith

without thy works

and I will show thee

my faith by my works.

In other words,

what James is saying,

he says,

I want you to know

it's going to be evident

in my life.

If you don't have

any evidence,

there's a problem.

Your faith in Christ

ought to have some evidences

that show forth.

What kind of evidences?

Well,

one,

in the things that you do.

It ought to change priorities.

It ought to change

what you desire to do.

You know,

look over to Acts 26

in verse 20.

You know,

here Paul

is describing his ministry.

At the end of his ministry,

we find here,

it says in verse 20

in chapter 26,

he says,

it showed first unto them

of Damascus

and Jerusalem

throughout the coast

of all Judea

and then to the Gentiles

that they should,

what,

repent and turn to God

and do works

meet for repentance.

What's Paul talking about?

He says,

hey,

it ought to be a response.

True faith

ought to reveal itself

in what you do.

True faith,

our works

do not save us,

but if you're saved,

there ought to be a result.

There ought to be

something displayed.

You know,

the Bible talks about this too,

also about fruit.

You know,

how do you identify a tree?

You identify it

by what it produces.

A tree that doesn't

produce anything

is what?

Dead.

You know,

when you walk through

a bunch of trees

and you see one

with no leaves

or nothing on it

and all the rest of them

are all green,

what's your assumption

about that tree?

It's dead.

Why?

It's not producing anything.

That's what they're

talking about.

here.

If faith has taken root

in your life

and you've accepted

Christ as your Savior,

there ought to be

some things

that spring forth.

If not,

there's a problem.

That's what James

is saying.

That's what Peter

tells us.

That's what Paul

tells us.

That's what John

tells us.

It's what the

Gospels proclaim.

Jesus takes us

through.

And we see here

that we find here

faith, belief,

and trust in the

Gospel will stir us

to a course of action,

to a course of work

and action,

a motion forward.

But notice what he

says next here.

He says,

your work of faith

and your labor of love.

You know,

this work can be

tiresome.

You know,

it takes effort,

it takes intention.

When you're going to

serve the Lord,

it takes,

it requires some

motivation that's not

just so out of

obligation.

You know,

sometimes we do

things out of

obligation.

It's what's required.

Or out of duty.

We'll do things for

all sorts of reasons,

sometimes out of

necessity.

Sometimes we'll make

a choice of necessity.

Well,

I have to do this

or I'm going to

go hungry.

Some of you might

show up for work

because of that.

You know,

I want a roof over

my head,

I want food on the

table,

I go to work

because of

necessity.

Some people go

because of duty.

Some try to get

gain.

But the love

that's stirred by

faith,

or the work and

actions by faith

is a little different.

He says the labor

of love.

A labor of love

implies by its

very nature

that it's tiresome.

You want an example

of a labor of love?

Watch a mom

with a little baby.

They can be

exhausted

and the baby cries

and they'll get

themselves out of bed.

What is that?

That's a labor of what?

Love.

It's not motivated

by any gain

for themselves.

It's not

motivated

just out of necessity.

Well,

I guess for the,

sometimes guys

will get up

and do it

out of necessity.

Comfort that kid

so they're quiet.

All right,

get some sleep.

Okay,

now I'm meddling,

right?

But I want you

to understand

that's the difference.

When he's talking

about their labor

of love,

that word labor

involves intense toil.

In other words,

it will get wearisome.

You're going to get tired.

You're going to get exhausted.

Sometimes frustrated.

But a labor of love

changes things.

When you call upon Christ

as your Savior,

it's there because

he first loved you.

Think for a moment.

Go back over to the book

of 1 John.

1 John 4 · chapter mention

Chapter 4 and verse 19.

John reveals this.

He says,

we love him

because he's a good guy.

Is that what it says?

I love him

because of his benefits.

That's what,

I love him

because he what?

First loved us.

The reality

of the gospel

is that he loved

you.

Christ came

because he loved you

and our labor of love

is because we love him.

To stir

that reality.

You know,

2 Corinthians chapter 5

2 Corinthians 5 · chapter mention

and verse 14

says this,

for the love of Christ

does what?

Constraineth us

because we thus judge

that one died for all

then were all dead

and that he died

for all

and they which live

should not henceforth

!

live unto themselves

but unto him

which died for them

and rose

again.

It's a love

for the Lord

a sincere love

for others

that must motivate

the effort behind it.

You know?

But why don't you see here

also there's a patience

of hope.

A patience of hope

in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Why don't you see here

this patience of hope

is an enduring hope.

You know,

we talked about

a bold hope last week.

The hope we have

because of what

Jesus Christ did.

We have a hope

an enduring hope.

Hope is what we look forward to

like as we saw last week.

The necessity of hope.

A hope based upon

the promises

and God's fulfillment

of those promises.

Just as your salvation

is built upon

his promise

to fulfill

what he has said.

When we live

in a patient hope

it's revealed

in our lives

because it's shown

in the spirit

in which we continue.

This is a cheerful endurance.

The word here

patience here

is a little different.

In English

it kind of gets

tied up here

a little bit

but the context here

pushes it

to have an attitude

attached to it

because you can be

patient many ways.

You know,

sometimes you can

patiently wait

and be talking

under your breath

grumpingly.

That's not what

it's talking about.

It's being patient

and waiting

and understanding

to wait

is for a purpose

and that the waiting

time is not

in your control.

And in that waiting

time you keep

your eyes

on the Lord.

Look over to

Hebrews chapter 12.

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

Hebrews chapter 12

Hebrews 12 · chapter mention

in verse 2

says,

Looking unto Jesus

the author

and finisher

of our faith

for who the joy

that was set

before him

endured the cross

despising the shame

and it sat down

at the right hand

of the throne of God.

For consider him

that endureth

since contradiction

of sinners

against himself

lest he be wearied

and faint

in your minds.

Think about what

he's talking about there.

He's talking about

the very reality

that if we don't

keep our eyes

on the right things

your patience

is not going to

be operating

in the right way.

Our patience

is there

because of our love.

It's an attitude.

It's a direction.

It's focused upon

the Savior

to keep our eyes

on the right things.

Because you know what?

If you keep your eyes

on people

I'll give you a little clue

you'll be disappointed.

No matter how much

you look up to somebody

or somebody gets built up

sooner or later

they're going to

let you down.

That's just the reality.

When we look

at one another

we're going to

let each other down

sometimes.

But you know

we have a Savior

that will never

let you down.

He's always there.

He is the author

and finisher

of our faith.

That word finisher

is important

because it's the hope.

He didn't just

author it

he says

I'm going to

finish it.

I'm going to

complete everything

I promised.

You know

we talked about

this last week

we don't have

all the promise

to us yet.

We're sealed.

if you've called

upon the Lord

as Savior

the Bible says

that you are

sealed with the

Holy Spirit

of promise.

The power

and the penalty

of sin

has been overcome.

But you know

we still live

in a fallen world.

Part of the promise

of salvation

is one day

we're going to

live in a world

without sin.

We're going to

be removed

from the very

presence of sin.

That's yet to come.

That's important

to keep in mind

because you know

when the world

and people

don't do

what you think

what do they

do that for?

Well we're still

in a sinful world.

We're in a fallen

world.

But Christ says

keep your eyes

on the right

things.

Have the right

to continue on.

Do what you

ought to do.

Because the bold

gospel here

I want you to see

here as we

continue looking

here

this gospel

involves a means

that it's going

to be accomplished.

Notice in verse

five it says

for our gospel

came not

in word only

but also in power

and in the Holy

Ghost

and with much

assurance

as you have

known what

manner of men

we were among

you for your

sake.

A bold gospel

a bold witness

has the means

to accomplish it.

You know

the means of the

gospel is very

simply this

it's the word

of God

and God

adds the power

of him

self

the Holy Spirit

to his word.

God is the one

it's the power

of God

unto salvation.

You know

the word of God

is used

by the Holy Spirit

to empower

God's work

in the life

of an individual.

The means

of the gospel

that was given

unto you

had to involve

the word of God

a work of the

Holy Spirit

of God

and a belief

and trust

in the truth

of God.

It means

that if we have

the word of God

your message

is the word of God

and what

and how

it changed

you.

Because to be

saved

the Bible

tells us

that faith

cometh by hearing

and hearing

by what?

The word of God.

People cannot

be saved

without the word

of God.

Why?

Because the word

of God

explains why

we need

a Savior.

It explains

the work

that God

did in order

to save us.

It explains

how we're

supposed to

move forward

with that

the hope

that we have.

He tells

us the reality

of what is

to come.

It's the means

of the word

of God.

It's that

which is words

that are the means

by which the gospel

is given.

You know,

when we think

about words

we think

about communication.

Communication

is essential

for the message

to go forth.

It must be

mixed though

with the power

of the Holy Spirit.

Our job

is to give

the word

of God.

You cannot

control

the Spirit

of God.

God promises

to do His part.

The Spirit

of God

is there.

You know,

look over

to John 16

for a moment.

John 16

in verse 8

tells us this.

Jesus,

when He's talking

about the Holy Spirit

He says,

when He has come

He will reprove

the world

of sin

and of righteousness

and of judgment

of sin

because they believe

not on me

and of righteousness

because I go

to my Father

and ye see me

no more

of judgment

because the prince

of this world

is judged.

Then look down

in verse 13

and says,

howbeit

when He

the Spirit

of truth

has come

He will guide

you into all

truth

for He shall

not speak

of Himself

but whatsoever

He shall hear

that shall He speak

and He will show

you things to come

and He shall glorify

me

for He shall

receive of mine

and shall show

it unto you.

I want you to

understand

when you give

the gospel

to somebody

by the word

of God

you're just

giving them

the word

of God.

You know

what reveals

in their heart

the Holy Spirit

comes

and convicts

the conscience

of an individual

saying,

this is true.

This is where

truth is.

This is what

is true.

Because you know

you cannot convince

somebody what's

true and false.

We have a lot

of people running

around today

we have a phrase

that people have

well that's my

truth.

Well we can say

well that doesn't

matter what you

think about it

this is true

but you know

what there has

to be something

in order for

that to change

there has to

be something

happen inside.

When it comes

to salvation

what happens

inside the Spirit

of God

convicts

an individual.

Where does

they convict

them?

They convict

them in the

reality

of their

conscience.

So as we

spread the

gospel as this

bold gospel

went forth

just as it

did in

Thessalonica

I want you

to understand

they were

not relying

on their

own power

they were

doing what

they were

supposed to

do and

relying upon

the conviction

of the Holy

Spirit

which results

in having

confidence

in God's

truth

God's

promise.

Psalm 138

says

the Lord

will perfect

that which

concerneth

me

thy mercy

O Lord

endureth

forever

forsake

not the

works

of thine

own

hands

I want

you to

understand

God

says

I'm going

to do

those

things

that I

promised

you to

do

and when

somebody

and when

somebody

gets

saved

that's

what

they're

trusting

in

that

God

is

going

to

accomplish

what

he said

he's

going

to do

their faith

is in

the work

of what

God

has done

the gospel

will move

you to

motion

rely upon

the means

the word

of God

and the

power

of God

but it

also

is to

know

a bold

message

is going

to be

declared

the message

of the gospel

is a

Christ

centered

message

I want

you to

understand

as we

look

through

this

passage

notice

what it

says

in verse

8

for you

sounded

out

the word

of the

Lord

not only

in

Macedonia

and

Achaia

but also

in every

place

your faith

to God

were to

spread

abroad

so they

did not

speak

anything

I want

you to

see here

there was

a message

they proclaimed

the word

of God

the message

today

is the

same

message

that was

herald

by the

church

at

Thessalonica

it's

very

simply

believe

the Lord

Jesus

Christ

it's

the

same

message

that they

had

we have

nothing

new

you know

people like

to try

to say

I have

something

new

as a

believer

we have

nothing

new

to give

God's

already

said it

you don't

discover

something

new

you might

discover

something

God's

already

revealed

it may

be new

to you

but it's

not new

it's

what he

has

done

the

gospel

is only

tied

to the

person

of the

Lord

Jesus

Christ

there's

only

one

way

to

God

that's

reason

Jesus

said in

John

14

6

he says

I am

the way

the truth

and the

life

and no

man

cometh unto

the father

but by

me

what are we

to believe

that Jesus

came

because he

loved you

to take upon

himself the

penalty of

our sin

that we

might be

justified

before God

no longer

under the

wrath of

God

declared

righteous

because of

Christ's

righteousness

and secure

until the

day of

Jesus Christ

that message

changes a

person

it turns

a person

notice what

it tells us

here as you

read on down

here in verse

9 it says

for they

themselves

show unto

us what

manner of

entering in

we had

unto you

and how

ye turned

to God

from idols

to serve

the living

and true

God

salvation

is all

centered

around

Christ

it declares

the reality

of who

Christ is

it changes

who and

what you

serve

you no

longer serve

sin and

self

or the

false

gods

that we

make up

to benefit

ourselves

you know

people today

still worship

idols

they just

look a little

different

because we

get creative

on how we

mask them

if you don't

think people

worship an

idol just

go back and

look at the

news for the

last 30

days when

the stock

market goes

up and

down

money's

going to

come and

go

God says

we should

be responsible

there's the

things attached

to it we

understand

financially

that God

tells us

how we

ought to

do some

things

but I want

you to

understand

if your

whole life

revolves about

whether that

market goes

up or

down

you know

what you're

worshiping

you're

worshiping

the money

because your

trust is

what am I

going to

do if

that goes

down

well

that goes

down

God's

still the

same

that goes

up

guess what

God's

still the

same

God hasn't

lost

anything

and God

doesn't need

to gain

anything

he already

has

everything

but we

make idols

out of all

sorts of

things

you know

there's people

who worship

the little

electronic piece

in their

pocket

you know

if you

don't think

that you're

attached to

over attached

to that

put it down

for a day

just walk

away from

it

if you find

yourself

being fidgety

and anxious

something you

might want

to consider

sometimes it's

good to

just sit

still and

know

and to

think on

God

no music

there's people

who worship

music

they have

something on

all the

time

that's a

modern

phenomenon

you know

that

music

constant

noise

is a

modern

phenomenon

used to be

the biggest

thing you

had noise

was chickens

and pigs

and cattle

and horse

you know

or

some banging

from building

something

or modifying

something

or a saw

I mean

those were

the noises

of history

but turn

people's

music off

and what

happens

we're relying

upon those

things

you know

what an

idol is

is when we

turn our

attention

away from

God

onto

something

else

that has

more merit

than what

God has

it changed

them

they turned

they repented

that's the

meaning of

repent

is to turn

to change

your mind

change

direction

change

what you're

doing

because

of what

Christ

has done

you have

to have

a different

attitude

about sin

in order

to be

saved

do you know

what some

people

when you

talk to

them

they really

see no

problem

with what

they're

doing

their sin

doesn't

bother

them

but when

somebody

understands

the truth

of the

gospel

you know

what your

sin

has a

changed

perspective

because in

order to

be saved

you need

to realize

that what

you're doing

has violated

God's law

you have to

have a different

perspective

about it

it says

they turn

from idols

unto the

living and

true God

and they

didn't just

turn to sit

they turn

to serve

the living

and true

God

because an

idol is

something that

we serve

we find

here

we find

here

that the

fact is

that a

life

that we

serve

needs to

be focused

on the

one that

saved

us

you know

Acts 4

Acts 4:12

verse 12

says this

it says

neither is

there salvation

in any

other for

there is

no other

name

under

heaven

given

among

men

where we

must

be

saved

now notice

this

now when

they saw

the boldness

of Peter

and John

and perceived

that they

were unlearned

and ignorant

in him

they marveled

and they

took knowledge

of them

because they

had been

with

Jesus

you know

even for

you and I

today

the difference

in our

testimony

is the

fact of

what we've

done with

Jesus

what Christ

has done

for you

because Christ

ought to

change an

individual

if there's

no change

I guarantee

you there's

a problem

with what

they believe

they're not

believing the

right thing

they're not

looking under

the author

and finisher

of our

faith

they're looking

under the

things that

they want

to make

out of it

but I want

you to see

here a

bold gospel

here also

involves a

method

you know

a method

involved

the message

must be

sounded out

just as you

heard the

gospels

others must

hear it

also

you know

when we

talk about

missions

that's what

we're talking

about is

those that

go and

declare it

someplace that

we're not

they're there

and just as

the Thessalonians

Thessalonians

or whatever word

you need to put

there

they witnessed

where they

were

they were

involved

in just

speaking to

others

they need to

hear it

they must

hear it

spoken

also by a

changed life

you know I

want you to

understand

we'll look in

Sunday school

we're going to

talk about

communication a

little bit

and the importance

of communication

we're going to

look at Jesus'

communication

communication

in things

here when it

comes to

this

but when

these things

and these

in Thessalonica

heard the truth

about their

sin the

consequences

for sin

it turned

to Christ

it changed

them and

they sounded

out that

there was

something

different

it was

followed up

with their

testimony

because you

know what

what you do

and what you

say tie

together

you know we

talk about

this reality

of communication

your body

language and

the things you

choose to do

speak and

put emphasis

on the words

that you say

because how

you say it

is just as

important as

what you say

because you

can say the

right thing

without a

loving spirit

and have a

problem

and it lands

on deaf ears

because they

look at it

and say there's

a problem

with that

that's hard

sometimes

you know their

life sounded

out though

they were

eyewitness

testimony of

what Christ

had done

for them

when it

talks the

Bible talks

about us

sharing our

faith

really it

boils down

to this

it's telling

others about

what Christ

did for you

that's the

simple reality

of it

you don't

have to have

a theology