Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 2
1Thess 2:1-2
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
Entrances; we covered coming to Thessalonica yesterday and will hit on Philippi today – but to back up a bit to the phrase “that it was not in vain” – I suppose I would state that anything done for the Lord according to his instruction via good and sound doctrine cannot be in vain. It does not mean that there will be great glory and fanfare in this life and mountains of individuals coming to the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but it will not be in vain. I think I used Isaiah 55 in Chapter 1:
Isa 55:8-11
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
It is going to hit – people will accept or reject – but it will hit.
Paul refers to Philippi and the “suffering” that happened there, this is recorded in Acts 16 (prior to coming to Thessalonica in Acts 17) – reference Acts 16:12-40.
They were unjustly beaten and imprisoned (after commanding a spirit of divination to leave a girl, and thus killing the income of her masters’), they were imprisoned being Roman citizens, they were asked to quietly leave the city after they found out they did Paul and company wrong – “suffered before, and shamefully entreated” [entreated: urgently requested -i.e. to leave Philippi]
Act 16:37
Chapter 2
1Thess 2:1-2
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.
Entrances; we covered coming to Thessalonica yesterday and will hit on Philippi today – but to back up a bit to the phrase “that it was not in vain” – I suppose I would state that anything done for the Lord according to his instruction via good and sound doctrine cannot be in vain. It does not mean that there will be great glory and fanfare in this life and mountains of individuals coming to the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but it will not be in vain. I think I used Isaiah 55 in Chapter 1:
Isa 55:8-11
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.
It is going to hit – people will accept or reject – but it will hit.
Paul refers to Philippi and the “suffering” that happened there, this is recorded in Acts 16 (prior to coming to Thessalonica in Acts 17) – reference Acts 16:12-40.
They were unjustly beaten and imprisoned (after commanding a spirit of divination to leave a girl, and thus killing the income of her masters’), they were imprisoned being Roman citizens, they were asked to quietly leave the city after they found out they did Paul and company wrong – “suffered before, and shamefully entreated” [entreated: urgently requested -i.e. to leave Philippi]
Act 16:37
But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.
(you gotta love Paul! – bold and has a way with words)
But none of this discouraged them -they were “bold”, how? They were “in God” speaking “the gospel of God”, because it was what Paul was instructed to do. When you are in a situation where the mass of humanity is on one side of an issue and you and God are on the other, then you are right – and majority/mob rule means nothing…look at Noah and the world that was – he was right because God told him something and he believed it and the whole world was wrong -and the flood proved it. So that is where it holds with us – know what God said to you, and follow it, regardless of what the other lemmings are doing as they move to the edge of the cliff.
“with much contention”; contention: 1. strife, struggle, a violent effort to obtain something. 2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy
It’s a rough world out there… I am sure you can tell me.
I am rambling again –
(you gotta love Paul! – bold and has a way with words)
But none of this discouraged them -they were “bold”, how? They were “in God” speaking “the gospel of God”, because it was what Paul was instructed to do. When you are in a situation where the mass of humanity is on one side of an issue and you and God are on the other, then you are right – and majority/mob rule means nothing…look at Noah and the world that was – he was right because God told him something and he believed it and the whole world was wrong -and the flood proved it. So that is where it holds with us – know what God said to you, and follow it, regardless of what the other lemmings are doing as they move to the edge of the cliff.
“with much contention”; contention: 1. strife, struggle, a violent effort to obtain something. 2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy
It’s a rough world out there… I am sure you can tell me.
I am rambling again –
Grace and Peace James
Not in vain
Not in vain
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