Thirsting Souls Bible Teaching

 (1Th 2:10)  “Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:”   “Ye are witnesses,….we behaved…”  God’s people are watching you and me. That is a fact. They compare our life to what they know of God’s Word. What do they see in your life? It is one of faithfulness to the teaching there, or is it hit and miss? Hit and miss says my love for Him is so-so; I and me-and-mine come first. It is the Lord who should come first and not anyone or anything should come before Him.   

(1Th 2:8)  “So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.”  Oh, to have such a heart for the souls of others! Honestly, I have never come close to such a heart as this for souls. I will not seek excuses for such a selfish heart as mine. I will only say, “Lord, help me to care enough about souls to be willing to do what I can to reach them!”   

 (1Th 2:7) “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:”   Sometimes we expect more of a Believer (a turned-from-sin, born-again, Spirit indwelt Child of God) than we should, simply because they have not had time to grow. Yet, on the other hand, there are some things we should see as evidence of their genuineness. One: a deep desire to please Him, to obey Him (Php_2:13)  “For it is God which worketh in you both to will (desire) and to do of his good pleasure.”  The other is a desire to grow closer to Him, as a child with a parent: (Gal_4:6)  “And because ye are sons, God hath sent forth the Spirit of his Son into your hearts, crying, Abba, Father.”  These two things will be found in the heart of every true child of God

 (1Th 2:7) “But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:”  How like the Lord this is – gentleness and at the same time strength. The Lord was so gentle children came to sit with Him but so bold He said what should be said with it needed to be said and stood when He needed to stand.  Fallen men see meekness as weakness. It is not. It is the image of Christ Jesus!  

(1Th 2:6) “Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.”  I have had church people that have said to me, “They (the people) didn’t appreciate what I was doing so I stopped.” We are to “do” because it is right to do – period. It is needed. We are serving the Lord, seeking His praise. Otherwise, the praise of men is the reward we chose.. I would much rather have what He has chosen to give me than the praise of men.

(1Th 2:5) “For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:”  In presenting the gospel, or even in the teaching of instruction to the saved, it’s purpose is not to build up the ‘old man” (flattery). The flesh, the old person that still is a part of us, is sinful and corrupt to its core. The lost need to comprehend this, forsake it, and turn to Jesus as their only means of forgiveness and righteousness in God. The Bible teaches the saved to render “the old man” dead and seek to allow the new nature in Christ to live and reign through the power of the Holy Spirit.  

(1Th 2:4)  “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”   The Lord “trieth” our hearts. He knows the true motivations of why we do what we do. On the other hand, He knows the true reasons we don’t do certain things. We are to judge our own motives before Him and correct them in order to please Him. Ask Him to reveal to you where you fail Him! He wants to help you and guide you to live as He would have you live.

 (1Th 2:4)  “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.”  I had a living testimony from my own godly grandfather, a lay-minister, of taking a stand in church all alone. We do not seek to please man, but God. The context here is in giving the gospel, but surely it included standing for all the Word of God. Never lower the standard of God’s Word for anyone! We are to love the Lord above all others – period. God help us to do so!  

(1Th 2:4) “But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak;…”  We who have been saved through the precious blood of the Lord Jesus, hold a sacred trust. That trust is that we will give that same message out to others. And when we do, that we will give it out fully and honestly. Have you and I been true to that trust?