1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-5 - LIFE-EMPOWERING ENCOURAGEMENT

LIFE-EMPOWERING ENCOURAGEMENT

1 Thessalonians 1:1 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Although Paul is the author of the letter, he includes his companions Silvanus (Silas) and Timotheus (Timothy) in the greeting as they were in agreement with what he was writing to the believers at Thessalonica. Why does Paul describe the church as being BOTH in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ? This highlights the oneness of the Father and the Son, therefore, underscoring the deity of Jesus Christ. As we learned in John chapter 10, Jesus holds us safely in His hand, and the Father holds us in His powerful hand as well.

John 10:27-29 (NIV) My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all[a]; no one can snatch them out of my Father’s hand.

If we are in Christ, trusting Jesus, we are in God as well.

Paul accepted that the Father and the Son called him to be a megaphone, a mouthpiece, for them. On their behalf, he proclaims the grace and peace that only God can bestow on the believers at Thessalonica.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

Paul encouraged the Thessalonians that he was thankful for them and constantly, tenaciously interceded with the Lord for their needs.

1 Thessalonians 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;

As Paul remembers them in prayer, he is praising God for their works as a result of their faith in Jesus, and the fact that they do them out of love. He commends them for enduring patiently due to the hope they have in Jesus. 

1 Thessalonians 1:4 Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God. 5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.

Paul assures them that he knows their conversions were authentic, that they were separated unto God for His purposes. The Good News of the Lord Jesus came through Paul but from God, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is the person of the God-Head who empowers us to share the Gospel message. It was not Paul’s words that brought them to Jesus, but the power of the Holy Spirit behind those words. Paul and his fellow ministers always strived to be living epistles of Christ’s message they were preaching. They made every effort to live exemplary lives.

1 Thessalonians 1:5b (VOICE) …what you experienced in the good news we brought you was more than words channeling down your ears; it came to you as a life-empowering, Spirit-infused message that offers complete hope and assurance!

APPLICATION: We need not be intimidated or shy when we share the Gospel with people because the message does not rely on the eloquence of our words but on the power of the Holy Spirit working within those hearing them. Our part is to be willing and available to share. God does the rest.