Sermon Central
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Living With Power Series
Contributed by Larry Finley on Mar 30, 2010 (message contributor)
Summary: Christians are expected to have powerful lives.
LIVING WITH POWER
3/7/10 1 THESSALONIANS 1:1-10
1. INVITATION VS. 1-2
A. CALLED OUT – CHURCH = EKLESIA
B. CALLED IN – IN GOD THE FATHER
C. CALLED WITH – GRACE & PEACE
1. Grace always brings peach
Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world gives, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.
And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
2. INITIATION Vs. 3-4
A. WORK OF FAITH
B. LABOR OF LOVE
C. PATIENCE OF HOPE
PATIENCE - endurance (hypomonçs, -a bearing up patiently under a heavy load
Hope – anticipation & expectation w/confidence
3. APPLICATION Vs. 5
A. OUR GOSPEL
1. Sacrifice of God the Son
2. Acceptance Sacrifice by God Father
3. Empowerment by God the Spirit
B. CAME –W/GENERATING POWER
1. WORD ONLY
a. for study and memorization
b. for making rules & regulations
2. Pharisees had this kind of knowledge
a. 2 Corinthians 3:6 Who also has made us able ministers of the new testament; not of the letter, but of the spirit: for the letter kills, but the spirit gives life.
b. To many w/word –not enough of the word
John 5:38-39 And you have not his word abiding in you: for whom he has sent, him you believe not.
39 Search the scriptures; for in them you think you have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me.
Hebrews 4:2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3. In Power
a. Mighty power; miracle working power;
Jeremiah 5:14 Wherefore thus says the Lord God of hosts, Because you speak this word, behold, I will make my words in thy mouth fire, and this people wood, and it shall devour them.
Jeremiah 23:29 Is not my word like as a fire? says the Lord; and like a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?
Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believes;
1 Corinthians 1:18 For the preaching of the cross is to them that perish foolishness; but unto us which are saved it is the power of God.
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
John 12:47-48 And if any man hear my words, and believe not, I judge him not: for I came not to judge the world, but to save the world. 48 He that rejects me, and receives not my words, hath one that judges him: the word that I have spoken, the same shall judge him in the last day.
4. In the Holy Ghost
4. PARTICIPATION – you became
A. FOLLOWERS
1. Of Paul
2. Of the Lord
B. RECEIVERS
1. affliction
a. pressure
b. trials
c. God’s word always wounds before it heals
2. joy
a. not determined by circumstances – relationship with Jesus Christ
C. EXAMPLES – XN LESS THAN 1 YR.!
1. MARK LEFT BY A BLOW
2. STRIKE AN IMAGE WITH A DIE
3. MODEL OF PATTERN
5. PROCLAMATION v. 8
A. SOUNDED – ROLL OF THUNDER/TRUMPET
1. GATHER THE PEOPLE
2. GATHER THE WARRIORS
1 Peter 3:15 But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asks you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
Mark 8:38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. 33 But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.
6. EMANCIPATION Vs. 9
From idols> to God> to serve
7. Anticipation Vs.10
