How the Message Spreads

How the Message Spreads


In this last week we have seen the amazing way that God’s Spirit spreads his truth to others. In the first chapter of Thessalonians we see this dramatically. The Gospel spreads through people of heartfelt devotion to Christ and understanding who speak it in the power of the Spirit and with sincere conviction. I think we will see coming out of this initial stirring men of truth preaching the gospel. It has been charateristically so that God raises up bold preachers from among the responsive people, who speak along with the groundswell of committed Christians promulgating the gospel to family, friends, churches, and people in all places.

1. The Gospel came to Thessalonica because of Paul and his team:

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,” because our gospel came to you not only in word, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction [this conviction appears to be the characteristic of the apostles and those with him]. You know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake.

2. The Thessalonians believed and became imitators of those who spoke and an example to all of Greece!

And you became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you received the word in much affliction, with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

3. Their Gospel story and the message itself then went everywhere else in the Roman world!

For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth everywhere, so that we need not say anything. For they themselves report concerning us the kind of reception we had among you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.