The Christian Way - of transformative relationships not religious rules - 1 Thessalonians 1:5-8

Thirty five minutes from https://twitter.com/WelshRev at https://www.facebook.com/TyrBugail for https://www.facebook.com/Grace.Wales.online and https://yGRWP.com on The Christian Way - transformative relationships not religious Rules - Podcast Notes1 Thessalonians 1:5-8•Introduction•Giving Glory to God for their genuine faith, vv. 2-3         •“We always thank God for all of you and continually mention you in our prayers. 3 We          remember before our God and Father your         •work produced by faith, your         •labour prompted by love, and your         •endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.”•Giving Glory to God for their genuine conversion, vv. 4-5        •The grounds of it, v. 4 “For we know, brothers and sisters loved by God, that he has         chosen you …”   The evidence of it, v. 5a “because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction.”•Giving Glory to God for their genuine discipleship, vv. 5b-8 “You know how we lived among you for your sake.      •v. 6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.      •v. 7 And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.      •v. 8a The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia – your faith in God has become known everywhere.     •v. 8b Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, 9 for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.”ConclusionBiblical assurance is based on election not presumption.It is based on the Gospel coming to people not simply with words but with power, with the Holy Spirit and with DEEP CONVICTION.And that results in a life of discipleship to Christ characterised by •      Work produced not by self-justification or virtue signalling but by faith•      Toil prompted by love, and•      Endurance INSPIRED by Hope in our Lord Jesus Christ … the Messiah, the Son of God: crucified, raised and returning.It gives rise to fruit which the Apostolic team led by Paul then expands on in the remainder of the chapter …That fruit shows itself in genuine conversion, discipleship and changed lives, and that also impacts the lives of others.That discipleship is PERSONAL .It is discipleship to CHRIST, the first Apostles learned it personally from Him, and we (not having his physical body here now) learn it personally from Him through the Holy spirit and also in-the-body from those we walk with as brothers and sisters here below …And that is CRUCIALLY under pressure and must be safeguarded and preserved in times of pandemic, pestilence and prohibition on Christian assembly. We HAVE to find ways to be setting this as a priority especially during times of COVID isolation.Support the show