I Thessalonians 4:3-8

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3 It is God's will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality; 4 that each of you should learn to control your own body in a way that is holy and honorable, 5 not in passionate lust like the pagans, who do not know God; 6 and that in this matter no one should wrong or take advantage of a brother or sister. The Lord will punish all those who commit such sins, as we told you and warned you before. 7 For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. 8 Therefore, anyone who rejects this instruction does not reject a human being but God, the very God who gives you his Holy Spirit.

In the day of the apostle Paul, the believers in Thessalonica, as well as in Corinth and Philippi, lived in the Greek/Roman culture which not only practiced every form of sexual immorality, but deified it, made it a God. You see, not only was fornication, pornography, and all uncleanness readily available in the city of Thessalonica, but, for the non-believers, it was considered a sacred duty, it was considered an act of worship for their gods. The Greek and Roman temples were staffed with prostitutes. Whenever they got a religious urge to worship, they went to the temples to have sex with these temple prostitutes. The trio instructs the Thessalonians not to go the way of the crowd of the Gentiles who don't know God. Imagine the temptation and the pressure upon the young followers of Jesus. The trio speaks bluntly to young people, to men and women of their day, and they say, "This is the will of God, not that you be conformed to this world, but that you be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God" (Rom. 12:2). This is the will of God: your sexual purity.

"For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from fornication" (v. 3). The will of God is clear here. We are to be HOLY, that's sanctification! To be holy is to be set apart unto God for His mission.

One essential element of our holiness is to “abstain from fornication.” The Greek word translated “fornication” is porneia from which we get “pornography.” It’s narrowest meaning is “prostitution,” although it has a broader meaning of sexual impurity in general. It was not considered wrong, for example, for a Greek husband to see a prostitute for sexual pleasure, as long as he didn't parade this fact in front of his wife. So, when it came to sexual practices, the Thessalonians needed very clear instruction so that they might live according to God's desires. Followers of Jesus are to be set apart from this sort of behavior and not indulge in these lustful passions.

NOTE that no one is to wrong or exploit a brother or sister in this matter, by being selfish enough to satisfy your own lusts. This is underlined by, “For God did not call us to impurity but in holiness.” We are to stand apart from the crowd in these matters in order to be attractive.

This is painfully relevant to us today. We are living in a sexually impure world on nearly every level of life. Pornography may be the greatest and most destructive epidemic we have ever experienced in the world. Sexual purity is not an option for those who follow Jesus.

According to this paragraph, if you want to do the will of God, you can begin right here. Don’t go along with the spirit of the culture. You are not only violating your relationship with your significant others; you are rejecting God Himself. Sexual purity begins with a choice—to be holy.

I Thessalonians 4:1-2

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1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. 2 For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.

This is an interesting peek into the relational dynamic between the leadership trio and the Thessalonians. After they have affirmed their work of faith, labor of love and steadfastness of hope, they turn the corner a bit. They start out with "as for other matters, brothers and sisters", then they refer to a certain set of instructions they had given the Thessalonians.

What are these instructions? Well, we'll see some of them set forth specifically in the next paragraph. So, what kind of instructions might they be?

FIRST--These instructions are practical. They have to do with how to live their lives.

SECOND--These instructions are relevant. They have to do with their specific life situation. We'll see this next as a couple of instructions are given that are most appropriate to the Thessalonian situation and circumstances.

THIRD--These instructions are a work in progress. This is why they say that we beg you and urge you to do these things more and more.

FOURTH--These instructions rest in the authority of the Lord Jesus.

In fact, as you will see, not only in the letters to the Thessalonians, that all instructions can be boiled down being Jesus--living, loving, talking, thinking and walking like Jesus. Being Jesus is a lifestyle that we are continually work on.

You see, this is right at the core of what making disciples is all about. It is not simply a body of knowledge to be remembered, but an experiential knowledge to be lived. I like the statement: Your faith in Jesus doesn't need proof; it needs practice. It's so much easier to demonstrate for Jesus through some outward show or activity rather than to simply demonstrate Jesus in your life.

NOTE one more thing here: Jesus is most effectively demonstrated in community with others. It's very difficult to see Jesus clearly in and through just one person, all alone. Jesus shows up when two or three are gathered together in His name. This is why I keep saying that these New Testament writers seem to be southerners, because they keep using terms like "Ya'll do this!" or "Ya'll do that!" "Let the word of Christ dwell among ya'll." So, what are you doing standing there all by yourself? Ya'll need to get together!

I Thessalonians 3

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1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God's service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.

6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Who is a brother and co-worker in God's service in spreading the gospel of Christ? I want to point out to you that brothers and sisters, who are co-workers, could apply to any and all disciples. It seems that each of us has a different walk with Jesus and others as we stand before the world in which we live.

Then, NOTE their anticipation of trials. They warned the Thessalonians that they would be persecuted and this actually happened. Again, what kind of trials were these and where were they coming from? As we have pointed out frequently, the trials and persecution spoken of here is pressure from the religious community. It is not from the "secular" world. It is from the spiritual or religious community. Even in the 8th Beatitude Jesus speaks of being persecuted as primarily a verbal offense. Although the verbal attacks did grow into some physical persecution, the vast majority of it is all verbal pressure--either talking badly toward you or about you.

I've experienced this a bit since we have been stubbornly following Jesus more closely. The rejection comes in the forms of saying, "Well, that's fine, but living this kind of lifestyle just can't be practiced within the structure of the church." Or, "It all sounds too simple." "You're ignoring the doctrinal teachings and even much of the Bible." At one point, when I mentioned JESUS PLUS NOTHING, a comment was made, "You've got to be kidding. You can't live like that. There's more to Christianity than Jesus plus nothing."

I'm reminded once again of the words in the 11th chapter of II Corinthians: But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ. In another translation this is "to be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ."

Every time we feel the need to add-on something to Jesus, then we have added too much. In fact, add-ons too easily become the primary focus. And then the add-ons are received as "the truth" that is equal to or greater than Christ or instead of Christ. This is precisely what is meant by the biblical term, ANTI-CHRIST--all that is "instead of" Christ. The spirit of anti-Christ or "instead of" Christ is not something we're waiting for; it is already here. I beg you...hang on to JESUS PLUS NOTHING. He is the only One Who can get you out of this world alive!

I Thessalonians 2:17-20

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17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you-certainly I, Paul, did, again and again-but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

Over the past few years this dynamic is becoming more and more real to me than ever before. It's the dynamic of being thrilled by the lives and testimonies of those you have invested in. NOTE Paul says here that he views the Thessalonians in a very special way. They are his hope, his joy and his crown in which they all will celebrate, when in the presence of the Lord Jesus upon His return. He uses a couple of interesting terms, when he says, "You are our glory and joy."

"Glory" is literally a reflection of something. When we glorify Jesus in our lives, we are positively reflecting Him in our lives. In this case, the trio is saying that the Thessalonians are reflections of them--in what they say and how they say it, their emphasis upon Jesus plus nothing and the kingdom of God. And, because of this positive reflection, the Thessalonians are also their "joy".

Here's how it works: WHO HAS GOD BROUGHT TO YOU? Who has the Lord brought into your life for you to invest yours into them? You see, this is the kingdom principle that coincides with the "power of the few"--the power of multiplication through hanging out with two or three in the name of Jesus.

What's becoming more and more fascinating to me is how simple this approach is. Well, on the one hand, it's simple, but sometimes the stumbling block to people is that what we're talking about IS so simple. Just in the past couple of weeks we have had some interesting, brief sessions with pastors, doctors, corporate executives, non-religious neighbors and a variety of turned-off people and in these sessions we simply shared our experience, strength and hope in walking with Jesus and with others. The message of the simple good news of Jesus is so easily caught and embraced. It just doesn't take long at all. So, the trio walked into Thessalonica and walked out nearly three weeks later with a powerful impact. This is because it is easily caught. In fact, this walk with Jesus and with one another is more effectively caught than taught.

So, who has God brought into your life? And, are you investing in them? Well, when you do, you will find that the joy of seeing others grow and develop spiritually is the most thrilling thing you'll ever know. I love speaking before a group of thousands of people. It is definitely a thrill for me to take on the challenge of moving the audience to some sort of action. HOWEVER, the most thrilling thing I do today is investing my life in a few, and sometimes it's more than a few. But seeing the light bulbs come on in the mind and heart of a person, when he really "gets it" about Jesus Plus Nothing is the most thrilling experience ever. I glory and find great joy in seeing others grow and develop in their walk with Jesus and with others. There is no greater satisfaction. When I hear that a person--man or woman--has actually shared with someone that he or she is doing the most difficult thing ever and that is following the principles and teachings of Jesus. Now that is a simple thing, but that is also most remarkable and life-changing.

NOTE one other thing. The trio believed that Satan was most interested in thwarting them from getting together. Now, if you were the devil, what would you do that would be most effective in stunting the movement of Jesus in this world? You would do everything you could do to discourage followers of Jesus from getting together. So, remember this, investing your life in others will give you great joy, but there is always someone who will be coming around the corner to rob you of your joy.

This reminds me of the words of James, when he said, "Submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you." Make certain that you are spending your time doing the best things, mentoring or discipling others, investing your life in them. One of the greatest struggles in your life will be discerning between the good and the best. it's the GOOD that always seems to take precedence over the BEST.

I Thessalonians 2:13-16

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So far in this chapter we have found two of the three universal dynamics for effective persuasion. FIRST--ETHOS or ethical appeal which answers the question, "Can I trust you?" The trio of Paul, Silas and Timothy demonstrated a great ETHOS in front of the Thessalonians. They proved to many that they could be trusted and came without any hidden agenda.

SECOND--PATHOS or emotional appeal which answers the question, "Do you care for me?" The trio also demonstrated a powerful PATHOS as they came alongside the Thessalonians. They proved they cared for them as a nursing mother or an encouraging father would do. They demonstrated an unconditional love toward them.

Now, look what happens when they present the message. This is the LOGOS or logical appeal which answers the question, "Do you know what you're talking about?"

13 And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

NOTE they heard the word of God and because of the ETHOS and the PATHOS, they were persuaded that this is not just another man-made, religious twist. This actually is the supernatural word of God. This is the word that is not only heard, but is dynamically at work in those who are believers.

This is true persuasion at its best! When we approach people in this way, the message of Jesus is more readily received--more than that, it is embraced by those who believe as their own.

Then the trio goes on to encourage the Thessalonians to hang in there and keep it up: 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God's churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your fellow citizens the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to everyone 16 in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.

This is such a desperate need in our world today. Instead of pushing people or trying to convert people, it's vital that we simply share our experience, strength and hope that we have found in our walk with Jesus and with one another.

This walk we are walking requires that you be a planter of seed and not a peddler, a sharer and not a deal-closer. It requires that you see what Jesus did and said and do the same. It requires that you BE JESUS to all who come your way.