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The Church That Pleases God (II)

1 Thessalonians 1:5-8, NIV

5 Because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit
and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.
8 The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia?봸our faith in God has
become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.


The church is the channel of God?셲 blessings on earth. Through the church, we are saved by listening to the Word and believing in Jesus. Our faith grows through the church, we live our whole life in the grace and blessing of God, and we go to heaven when the Lord calls us. Therefore, as a church that pleases God, we should strive to spread the Word of the Lord to all nations and glorify God.

1. The church that is full of the Holy Spirit (1Th 1:5).

Through the power of the Holy Spirit and with firm faith, the church at Thessalonica experienced great revival. The church where the Gospel is preached is not just a place of mere words. The church should be the place where power, firm faith, and the Holy Spirit work together with great conviction. The vision of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 tells us that when Ezekiel prophesied, the breath of the Holy Spirit entered dry bones (Eze 37:10). They came to life and stood up on their feet?봞 large army. The 50-year history of our church is a history full of the Holy Spirit. When Rev. Cho?셲 powerful messages were proclaimed with the breath of the Holy Spirit, the Holy Spirit drove out demons, He healed the sick, and He solved problems. Rev. Cho?셲 messages of absolute positivity encouraged people who had been in despair and pain (Mk 9:23).

2. The church that sets an example of believers (1Th 1:6).

Even during many problems, the church of the Thessalonians kept their faith, gained victory, and set an example of faith. When Thessalonians followed Paul and Silas, Paul and Silas had to leave the place, because the Jews were so jealous. The Jews found some people with bad character, formed a mob, and started a riot in the city (Ac 17:5). After Paul and Silas had gone, the Thessalonians suffered because of the Jews (1Th 2:14). However, even though they had much persecution, they did not despair but boldly served God with comfort and peace from the Spirit. Even in trials, the Thessalonians practiced the Word and lived their lives imitating Jesus. As a result, the Gospel was spread at Thessalonica, and all the people praised the Christians there. In order to overcome problems and become fully committed, we need the joy of the Holy Spirit. This joy is holy joy that the Holy Spirit gives to the saved as the fruit of the Spirit. Furthermore, to be like the Lord, we need to be full of the Holy Spirit. As we read the Bible, listen to the Word, and practice it more and more, we will become more like the Lord (1Th 1:7).

3. The church whose beautiful faith has become known everywhere (1Th1:8).

As the church at Thessalonica continued to grow and preach the Word of the Lord, the good news about their beautiful faith spread everywhere. When people?봶ho are praised and respected?봯reach the Gospel, the Gospel is easily accepted. The most effective way to evangelize is through good news about the church and its members. I pray that the good news about the beautiful faith of our church will spread to all regions through you.

Full of the Holy Spirit, our church has been an example to other churches. Good news about the beautiful faith of our church and its members has spread all over the world. Until the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus, we should strive to make beautiful news about the faith of our church so this news will spread continually.