My sisters and my brothers today I liked to meditate with you about when we can give thanks to Gave for a church. When and for what? In the text at hand we read Paul talking which always would the give thanks to God for the Church of Thessalonica. Paul had started the work of this church and knew very well the behavior of the Church in that city. It was a wonderful Church. Looking like that comes close to perfection. Seems to be what the Lord Jesus calls the Church with great pleasure. So let's see what they were doing. How was the behavior of that Church? The Church had faith and was growing increasingly. Well, it took Paul and his companions to give thanks to God always. There are many people who think that faith is something static and that does not need to be added. But his own disciples once asked: Master increases our faith. In Romans, Chapter 12 Paul uses the phrase, according to the measure of faith. Well, if it has measure is because there's quantity. So Paul is saying here increased more and more. This was one of the reasons for delight of Paul and his Thanksgiving to God by those people. But by faith and the Bible speaks always not referring to believe, but the development of salvation in Christ, because who believe meant accept and believe in Christ.
It was this development that was happening in the
Church of Thessalonica. They were not standing where accepted Christ, but they
were developing it and shape of growth. What is the pastor who does not give
thanks to God for that? That's wonderful. Some people believe and keep growing
spiritually. And it must be so. Salvation is dynamic. She doesn't look where he
started but grows, develops. The person on whose life the Salvation develops is
spiritual child all the time and never matures. Always needs feeding with milk
and cannot eat solid food. Increase faith means grow in the grace of Christ one
day received. That's why Paul and their giving thanks to God by the Church of
Thessalonica.
Another reason why Paul gave thanks to God for this
church was the love they had a
links at other increasingly. This
feeling of love also grew in the Church of Thessalonica. Paul says that love is
growing increasingly. Or be: becoming bigger. I ask again: what is the pastor
who does not give thanks to God for a church like this? This was the ideal
Church and certainly is still in our days. The behavior of our people often
leads us to cry in this regard. Look and see a lot of lack of love. Lack of
respect and consideration between the people of God and we were thinking: My
God! How will that day! I say my brother like it should? I loved my pastor as
it should? Oh my god! And awkward words. I uttered against them or they?! We
have to beg now, the mercies of God and to speak God, give us your forgiveness.
! That day won't make time for that. It has to be now. Many good things don't
happen in churches and many bad things happen because of lack of love with each
other. Yes think about what and where the lack of love can take us.
That's why Paul says: The Church spoke with pride
of you. How wonderful sisters and brothers. It's wonderful when a pastor can
talk with pride in other churches on the behavior of their community. But ...
How many can do that? And if they can't start to get conditions already need.
Paul still says: The faith and patience that you show in the middle of all the
persecutions and sufferings. God want it for you. Dear we are a Church of
Thessalonica and that all our leaders can be proud of us and say: thank God for
genuine Christian life that people. Amen.
Rev. Jesué Francisco
da Silva.
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