PROCLAMATION
“So
that ye were examples 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-ward
is spread abroad; …” 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (KJV)
EXPLANATION
These
words were written in a letter by the Apostle Paul, under the influence of The
Holy Spirit of God, to the believers in the church at Thessalonica. In
this first chapter, after his introduction Paul praised them for their efforts
in the name of The Lord. He told them that he thanked God for them
in his prayers. (1 Thessalonians 1:2-3) They were believers who had
developed a deep conviction and were empowered by The Holy Spirit of God. (1
Thessalonians 1:4-5) They were such good followers that they became a
model of good Christian behavior for all believers. (1 Thessalonians 1:7-8) They had turned from serving idols to serving
The True and Living God. (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
Then Paul ended by making the first of many references to the second
coming of Christ and deliverance from the wrath of God that is to come. (1
Thessalonians 1:10)
APPLICATION
It
is not just preachers who should spread The Word of God, all believers also
have the potential to do so because of the indwelling of The Holy Spirit.
All believers can be models of Christ-like behavior for the world to
see. All believers can share The Word of God with those unbelievers
that they encounter. We have the God-given ability to do so, we just
need to exercise it. Our faith in God and our love for God should cause
us to want to share Him with others. We need to recognize that to the
world, our actions speak much louder than our words. We need
to exhibit Christ-like behavior if we want our message is to be effective. Sometimes the change in our behavior from our
previous sinful ways will speak for itself to those who knew us beforehand.
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