ENTHRONEMENT ASSEMBLY DAILY DEVOTIONALS.

Wednesday January 10th 2024.

Topic : Lessons From The Thessalonian Church.

Memory Verse :‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:5‬. because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.

Bible Reading :‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:2‭-‬4‬ ‭NIV‬‬. Key Verse: v3.

We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. We remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has chosen you,

The Thessalonian church was founded by Paul during his second missionary journey. He desired to have spent enough time with them building them up in the faith, but couldn’t. His stay with them was cut short by persecution which made him to leave them prematurely. Having them at heart and keeping them always in his prayers, he had to send his son and ministry partner Timothy to take care of them and to see to their well being, who came back with encouraging report about them. One thing we need to note about this Thessalonian church is that they received the gospel in the midst of severe persecution, yet they were able to stand their ground, having known the truth, what they went through notwithstanding. Not only that, they became instrumental in making sure that the message spread around their territory and region, till they became a reference point for others. “And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it,” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭1:7‭-‬8‬.

There are some qualities I see in this Thessalonian Church that is worth emulating in our days. The first one is that they had works as evidence of their new found faith in Christ. It is true that our personal works cannot save, but the finished work of the cross. Yet, after we are saved, it is our new found works of faith, which we couldn’t do in the past (before our convertion) that validates what we believe. One can say that such works of love can be seen as expressions of faith because they give faith life. Faith will always push the one who has it to Labour in love, like Jesus Christ himself, i. e. in Evangelism. “So then faith that doesn’t involve action is phony. But someone might object and say, “One person has faith and another person has works.” Go ahead then and prove to me that you have faith without works and I will show you faith by my works as proof that I believe. You can believe all you want that there is one true God, that’s wonderful! But even the demons know this and tremble with fear before him, yet they’re unchanged—they remain demons.” James 2:17-19 TPT.

Another quality that the Thessalonian Church had that we need to emulate is their ability to endure persecution and be fruitful in the midst of it because of their new found hope in Christ Jesus. This hope was so real that they had no problems paying any price to make it real in their lives. “Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade. This inheritance is kept in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In all this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” 1 Peter‬ ‭1:3‭-‬6‬.

Prayer :Thank you Father God because you are always faithful. Today help me to stand firm in you by faith. When my faith is being tried, help not to fail. Help me to always bear fruits in you circumstances notwithstanding in Jesus wonderful name…. Amen 🙏🏿.

Yearly Bible Reading : Genesis 18:1-15.

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