The Truth About the Truth!
1 Thess. 2:1-20 – Part 3
Introduction
People who do not believe God’s Truth (Gospel and God’s Word as a whole) often hate hearing it proclaimed. And they want to hurt or kill those who declare God’s Truth. The Lord Jesus created tremendous controversy and aroused such rabid opposition that they crucified Him. The Apostles too, were persecuted and Satan has always done his best to obstruct faithful servants of the Lord in their work. BUT the TRUTH HAS PREVAILED and WILL ALWAYS PREVAIL. HALLELUJAH!!

* Ministry: God’s Truth Boldly Delivered – 1 Thess 2:1-4 (Message two weeks ago)
* Ministry: Genuine Caring – 1Thess. 2:5-9 (Last Week’s Message)
* Ministry: Good Fathering – 1 Thess. 2:10-12 (Last Week’s Message)

* Ministry: God’s Word – 1 Thess. 2:13
The Thessalonians received & welcomed God’s Word – Paul was unceasingly grateful
God’s Word is the greatest treasure in the universe – nothing even comes close!
Present day Christianity generally does not value God’s Truth for what it is

* Men’s Opposition: God’s Wrath – 1 Thess. 2:14-16
Sobering Verses
The wrath ‘has come to the uttermost’. What is this wrath? PTK will offer an explanation - Context, Context, CONTEXT!

* Ministry: Glory – 1 Thess. 2:17-20
“Taken/Torn Away” = Orphaned - Is Paul dramatizing? Not at all!
“hindered” – Satanic Roadblock – OBSTRUCTING – it’s Satan’s modus operandi
“Hope, Joy, Crown of Rejoicing” – The Thessalonians are Paul’s ‘Exhibit A’ when he is interviewed by our Lord at the BEMA Seat. They are his “GLORY”!

Timeless Truth.
Since Adam and Eve, fallen man has been cooperating with the Devil to oppose and obstruct God’s Truth and to persecute all those who believe and proclaim it. The OT prophets were persecuted and many of them killed. Our Lord Jesus Himself, God’s Son, was crucified. And the Apostle Paul suffered tremendous opposition – many seeking to kill him. But nothing can stop God’s Word – it goes forth with power and effectiveness. And even in the face of disappointments, the Apostle Paul, rejoiced over his beloved Thessalonians – his joy, hope and Crown of Rejoicing. They are his GLORY in the presence of Christ.

Living Lesson
While we may well experience many trials and troubles in faithfully & obediently living out our Lord’s call to service for Him, there are tremendous rewards for doing so. Both in this life and in the life to come, our Lord greatly honors and rewards His faithful ones. As the lyrics of the song go, “there is JOY in serving Jesus”. Only one life, t’will soon be past. Only what’s done for Christ will last!