ENCOURAGEMENT FOR FINISHING THE TASK OF MAKING DISCIPLES OF EVERY NATION

I Thessalonians 1:1-9 Paul and Silvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.2 We give thanks to God always for all of you, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God and Father,4 knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you;

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit,7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything.9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

GOD’S WORSHIP IS THE MOTIVE OF MISSIONS V.9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

We know this verse:  Psalm 67:1God be gracious to us and bless us, And cause His face to shine upon us-- Selah.  But how many remember the next three verses?

 2 That Thy way may be known on the earth, Thy salvation among all nations. 3 Let the peoples praise Thee, O God; Let all the peoples praise Thee. 4 Let the nations be glad and sing for joy; So, what is the ultimate destiny of God’s sons and daughters?

 The ultimate destiny of every son and daughter is the eternal enjoyment and worship of God

v 9 For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God,

I Corinthians 15:3,4 3 For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,4 and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures,

 Luke 4:18 "THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS UPON ME, BECAUSE HE ANOINTED ME TO PREACH THE GOSPEL TO THE POOR. HE HAS SENT ME TO PROCLAIM RELEASE TO THE CAPTIVES, AND RECOVERY OF SIGHT TO THE BLIND, 19 TO SET FREE THOSE WHO ARE DOWNTRODDEN…”

Paul’s message at Thessalonica  Acts 17: 2 And according to Paul's custom, he went to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, 3 explaining and giving evidence that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I am proclaiming to you is the Christ."

 The Holy Spirit  Applies the Gospel of Jesus Christ  Personally to each life  Through human messengers  So that people acknowledge Jesus as Lord, risen from the dead  Repent from sin  Find freedom

V5b-just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.6 You also became imitators of us and of the Lord,

Philippians 2:5-8 5 Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus,6 who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped,7 but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men.8 And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Acts 20:24 "But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

I Thessalonians 2:8,9 8 Having thus a fond affection for you, we were well-pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God but also our own lives, because you had become very dear to us. 9 For you recall, brethren, our labor and hardship, how working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

5 for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

 Jesus Christ = Perfect God + Perfect Man  The Bible = The Word of God+Written by Men  The Work of God (missions)= The energizing work of the Spirit of God accomplished through human vessels

 What does your personal outreach say about your personal worship?  Is your presentation of the gospel connecting with the lives of the people you speak to?  How do you measure emptying self, or humbling self?