Paul held up the people in Thessalonica as examples to all because they had:
heard the word of God from Paul and his companions,
received the Word of God - they believed it and received Christ,
viewed the gospel properly as being God’s Word, not man’s word
and experienced the powerful working of God’s word in their hearts and lives.
Did you notice that God’s Word was “at work in you who believe”? That word “at work” is the word “energeo,” which means to be energized or empowered. This powerful energy source working in us is what it takes to war against our own flesh!
Now, let's compare 1 Thessalonians 2:13 with Ephesians 2:2, which says, "...in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient." In Ephesians 2:2, we see this same word "energeo" translated "at work in."
We can understand then that God's Word is "at work in" (energizing) those who believe, and the evil one is "at work in" (energizing) those who are disobedient. I don't know about you, but I was far too long being energized by the devil and my own flesh. If we hope to experience freedom from substance abuse, we must change energy sources! Are you with me in this?
If you haven't made it so already, part of your battle plan needs to be about time invested in God's Word. Pray that God would give you a voracious appetite for His Word, that He would melt your heart as you see the cross in it, that He would cause His Word to live in you.
In closing, let's look at one pitfall of Bible study that we must avoid. If we aren't careful, we can become knowledgeable and prideful (see 1 Corinthians 8:1) rather than humble and loving.
We fall into the pit of pride when we are blinded to the cross (see 2 Corinthians 4:3-4), and we disconnect the written Word from the Living Word (John 1:1). When we study God's Word in this disconnected way, we are just getting information (doctrine, rules, history, etc.) and not receiving the grace, wisdom, and love we need to change. There is a massive difference between getting information and experiencing transformation.
When we read God's Word, we must beg God to show us the glories of the cross, the wonders of the amazingly good news of Christ crucified, and the power of His resurrection. For if we miss these things, we have missed the point (1 Corinthians 15:1-4), and all our Bible reading will do is puff us up with knowledge. Increasing in learning about God or His Word is not freedom.
We are dependent on the Lord to open our hearts to the gospel so that we can respond to it.
"One of those listening was a woman from the city of Thyatira named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth. The Lord opened her heart to respond to Paul's message."
Acts 16:14 NIV
In summary: reading God's Word and seeing the cross in it is what cuts our hearts and humbles us, causing us to have great joy, and at the same time, it slowly sets us apart from sin. Use that as a barometer in your studying of God's Word: am I seeing the cross and being humbled at the site of my Savior dying for me? Is it simultaneously lifting me up with great joy to know He paid my price and died my death? And is it beginning to set me free and transform me into the image of Christ?
Question 8. What did you learn in this lesson and how will you apply it?
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