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Paul Kijuu. Proclaiming the Gospel in Tanzania. Malachite. 1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5 because our gospel came to you not only in word , but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
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Paul Kijuu • Proclaiming the Gospel in Tanzania
1 Thessalonians 1:4-5a For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, 5because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction.
This was the experience of the church in Thessalonica. • They were a very young church … experiencing much persecution!
1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, 18because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
“Hey, Thessalonian church. You guys are on your own now. I’ll be praying for you! That’s the best I can do!”
“Doing” church right in a world gone wrong! 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
1 Thessalonians 3:1-3 Thereforewhen we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
1 Thessalonians 3:4-5 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. 5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you.
1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 For this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comfortedabout you through your faith. 8For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.
Paul is saying: “When we heard the ‘good news’ about you, the church, and how you were staying the course, our heavy burden was lifted! For at that point we knew Satan had failed in any and all attempts to tempt you to quit!” Paul and company felt alive again!
1 Thessalonians 3:9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God . . .
1 Thessalonians 3:10 . . . as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
1 Thessalonians 3:10 . . . as we pray most earnestlynight and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. 35 By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.
1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 sothat he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Ephesians 1:3-4 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, 4 even as he chose usin him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blamelessbefore him.
Today’s Takeaways 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy,our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.
Today’s Takeaways 1 Thessalonians 3:1-2 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy,our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith.
“Paul’s plan to send Timothy back to Thessalonica was no small thing. Simply put, he had his plate full in Athens. The city was a philosopher’s playground. It was also home to more than 30,000 different gods. • This was a university town, with more than its fair share of Christianity’s critics. If ever Paul needed reinforcements on the battlefield, it was here. Yet Paul was willing to engage the enemy alone.” Mark Howell
Today’s Takeaway #1 Are YOU willing to adjust your own plans in order to accomplish God’s plans?
“Paul sent Timothy for the purpose of cheering them on. He was willing to adjust his plans to accomplish God’s plans. That’s what believers do. They recognize that God is working in a thousand ways that they cannot see. • You and I often become so wrapped up in our world that we miss out on what God is doing in His world!” Mark Howell
Today’s Takeaway #1 Are YOU willing to adjust your own plans in order to accomplish God’s plans?
Today’s Takeaway #2 1 Thessalonians 3:9-10 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God • as we pray most earnestlynight and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?
Today’s Takeaway #2 Don’t dismiss the power of prayer! Do you know why Paul was so committed to prayer that he could pray so earnestly night and day?
Today’s Takeaway #2 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 Now may our God and Fatherhimself, and our Lord Jesus,direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13so that hemay establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Today’s Takeaway #2 Our payers are powerful because our God is powerful! Psalm 127:1a Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.
Today’s Takeaway #2 “Pray as if everything depended upon God. Work as if everything depended upon you.” St. Augustine
Today’s Takeaway #2 Don’t dismiss the power of prayer! • Commit in November to 30 Days to Prayfor the birth of One City Church! • Join us Sunday mornings for PRAY 8:15 (at 8:15 AM)
PRAY 8:15 Luke 8:15 As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.
Today’s Takeaway #2 Don’t dismiss the power of prayer! • Commit in November to 30 Days to Prayfor One City Church! • Join us Sunday mornings for PRAY 8:15 (at 8:15 AM) • Men, join us for Brothers of Aaron and Hur (Thursday mornings from 6:30 – 7:00)
Today’s Takeaway #2 Luke 18:13 But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift up his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast, saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’