The Report Card of the Thessalonian Church (Part Two) by Dr. Rod Mattoon

About this sermon

The great news that Paul received from Timothy had a huge impact on Paul and Silas. King Solomon said, “As cold waters to a thirsty soul, so is good news from a far country” (Proverbs 25:25). This report was like ice cold lemonade on a hot summer day. The report had a reviving effect upon Paul and Silas. This is what he meant by the statement “For now we live if you stand fast in the Lord.” The words “stand fast” are from the word steko {stay'-ko} which is a military term that means, “to persevere; to persist; to not retreat in the time of attack.” It suggests being firm in faith and duty. It also speaks of abiding and remaining. These folks were faithful, and their faith and firmness in the Lord gave him greater eagerness in his ministry. Christians that stand for Christ encourage other Christians to do the same. Courage breeds more courage. We are challenged in Scripture to stand for Jesus Christ. This messages addresses this. Paul was also grateful and thankful to the Lord for what HE had done in the hearts and lives of the Thessalonian believers. He wished he could repay the Lord, but knew this was impossible. The apostle realized he was unable to pay the Lord back for the work of the grace of God in his own life as well as in the lives of the Thessalonians. Paul did not take credit for what happened in the hearts of the Thessalonian believers. He gave glory to God and rightly so. We are to do the same. We are to have an attitude of gratefulness to Christ for all that HE has done for us. Gratefulness will help you stay close to the Savior. It will help you to keep your light shining for Christ. Sir Harry Lauder, Scottish humorist and comedian of another era, was a Christian. One evening at the Hotel Cecil, he told about an incident that might have been spoken from a pulpit. He said: "I was sitting in the gloamin' (dusk or twilight), an' a man passed the window. He was the lamplighter. He pushed his pole into the lamp and lighted it. Then he went to another and another. Now I couldn't see him, but I knew where he was by the lamps as they broke out doon the street, until he had left a beautiful avenue of lights. Ye're lamplighters folks. They'll know where ye've been by the lights ye have lit." Beloved, that is a beautiful description of the Christian life. We are lamplighters. May we shine for Christ! This message was preached on Sunday night, February 7, 2021 at Lincoln Land Baptist Church.

Topics

• Church & Fellowship
• The Church