"Joy of the Holy Spirit..."
Text: 1 Thessalonians 1:6
THE MINISTRY IN THESSALONICA
Paul’s ministry in Thessalonica was very brief. He was there for less than a month before he was forced to flee from the city. His enemies made it difficult for him to continue in ministry there. Opponents of the gospel persecuted believers and great was their suffering.
ENDURING SUFFERING
It is never easy to endure suffering! How did the Thessalonian believers respond to the persecution? The following text is uplifting to read.
“And you became followers of us and of the Lord,
having received the word in much affliction,
with joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became examples
to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe.”
1 Thessalonians 1:6-7
1. “And you became followers of us and of the Lord”
a) The Thessalonians became believers.
b) They went on to do two things:
i) They followed the Apostle Paul.
ii) More importantly they followed the Lord Jesus Christ.
2. “Having received the word”
a) This is a reference to the Word of God.
b) The Gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ was sometimes simply called “the word”.
3. “In much affliction”
a) This is a reference to the persecution experienced.
b) The believers suffered abuse, humiliation, physical harm etc.
4. “With joy of the Holy Spirit”
a) The believers were not fazed in any way.
b) They were undeterred to hold fast to their faith in the Lord.
c) They were able to endure suffering with “Joy of the Holy Spirit”.
d) They found a blessed sense of joy that sustained them despite severe persecution.
5. “So that you became examples to all in Macedonia and Achaia who believe”
a) What an honour to be commended for being an example by the apostle Paul.
b) The Thessalonians were able to impact a large region because of their joyous faith in Christ.