1 Thess 2:13; Being thankful for God’s work in others and not seeking our own glory.

Class Outline:

Tuesday April 4, 2023

 

Do not seek your own glory when performing God’s work, or at least what you perceive as God’s work.

 

Flashing quickly on the pages of Scripture is a magician who lived in Samaria by the name of Simon. He wowed the people with his magic arts. His magic acts made him rich and renown and the people claimed that he was the Great Power of God, which title it seems he accepted gladly. When the gospel came to town by Philip, Simon the magician believed the gospel and was baptized. He followed Philip around and was amazed by all the signs and great miracles that Philip did. Soon after, Peter and John arrived in Samaria, and when these apostles laid their hands on the believers, the believers received the Holy Spirit, which was manifested in speaking in tongues and perhaps other noticeable spiritual gifts. When Simon saw this, he offered Peter and John money to give him the ability to bestow the HS by laying on his hands. He was rebuked and warned, to which it seems that he heeded the warning (see it all in Act 8). But why did Simon want that ability? His error is revealed to us so that we don’t make the same mistake.

 

1TH 2:13-16

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea, for you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, even as they did from the Jews, 15 who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God, but hostile to all men, 16 hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved; with the result that they always fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them to the utmost.

 

 

Paul’s use of the adverb “constantly” means that he wants to make the point that his thankfulness to God (in mind and in prayer) is ceaseless. It’s not just when he hears about the good faith of this church, or any other, that he gets thankful and then goes back to his mundane, grumpy self.

 

Paul is always thankful for the work God is doing in people’s lives.

 

Paul sees that work because he does God’s work. Christians who do not invest in others do not see the work of God in others. If a believer is absorbed with self and their own life, then that is what they will see - as the Lord said, “You have your reward in full.”

 

 

To work, the word needs to be mixed with our faith. The work it does is to transform our soul into the image of Christ.

 

1TH 2:13

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

 

Paul is not interested in being honored for the message he teaches. This is a great rule and reminder to us all. Do not seek your own glory.

 

COL 3:4

When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed [future passive] with Him in glory.

 

1CO 2:1-5

And when I came to you, brethren, I did not come with superiority of speech or of wisdom, proclaiming to you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ, and Him crucified. 3 I was with you in weakness and in fear and in much trembling, 4 and my message and my preaching were not in persuasive words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power, 5 so that your faith would not rest on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God.

 

1CO 3:5-7

What then is Apollos? And what is Paul? Servants through whom you believed, even as the Lord gave opportunity to each one. 6 I planted, Apollos watered, but God was causing the growth. 7 So then neither the one who plants nor the one who waters is anything, but God who causes the growth.

 

And here we see the root of the problem in Corinth and in all of Christianity. The problem isn’t that there are not enough perfect Christians, for there are no perfect Christians and never will be on this side of eternity, but that there are not enough growing Christians. Christians only grow through trust and obedience to the word of God.

 

Believers must grow through faith and obedience to God’s Word.

 

Php 3:12

Not that I have already obtained it or have already become perfect, but I press on so that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.

 

You can practically hear the drive in Paul’s voice. Nothing will stop him; nothing will get in his way. Where is that drive in you?

 

1TH 2:13

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

 

The word of men doesn’t carry near the authority and perfection of the word of God. When we know that the Scripture is the word of God we understand that we are accountable to it.

 

 

LUK 8:11-15

“Now the parable is this: the seed is the word of God. 12 Those beside the road are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their heart, so that they will not believe and be saved. 13 Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. 14 The seed which fell among the thorns, these are the ones who have heard, and as they go on their way they are choked with worries and riches and pleasures of this life, and bring no fruit to maturity.  15 But the seed in the good soil, these are the ones who have heard the word in an honest and good heart, and hold it fast, and bear fruit with perseverance.”

 

1TH 2:13

For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.

 

The word of God performs its work in “you who believe.”

 

 

HEB 4:1-13

Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it. 2 For indeed we have had good news preached to us, just as they also; but the word they heard did not profit them, because it was not united by faith in those who heard. 3 For we who have believed enter that rest, just as He has said,

 

"AS I SWORE IN MY WRATH,

THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST,"

although His works were finished from the foundation of the world.

 

4 For He has said somewhere concerning the seventh day: "AND GOD RESTED ON THE SEVENTH DAY FROM ALL HIS WORKS"; 5 and again in this passage, "THEY SHALL NOT ENTER MY REST." 6 Therefore, since it remains for some to enter it, and those who formerly had good news preached to them failed to enter because of disobedience, 7 He again fixes a certain day, "Today," saying through David after so long a time just as has been said before,

 

"TODAY IF YOU HEAR HIS VOICE,

DO NOT HARDEN YOUR HEARTS."

 

8 For if Joshua had given them rest, He would not have spoken of another day after that. 9 So there remains a Sabbath rest for the people of God [peace in Christ through continued faith in your position]. 10 For the one who has entered His rest has himself also rested from his works, as God did from His [living and working in grace]. 11 Therefore let us be diligent to enter that rest [apply faith], so that no one will fall, through following the same example of disobedience. 12 For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are open and laid bare to the eyes of Him with whom we have to do.