Gary Smalley in his book— ‘The Gift of Honor’ tells the story of Keith Hernandez. “He is one of baseball’s top players. He is a lifetime .300 hitter who has won numerous Golden Glove awards for excellence in fielding. He’s won a batting championship for having the highest average, the Most Valuable Player award in his league, and even the World Series. Yet with all his accomplishments, he has missed out on something crucially important to him — his father’s acceptance and recognition that what he has accomplished is valuable. Listen to what he had to say in a very candid interview about his relationship with his father: “One day Keith asked his father, ‘Dad, I have a lifetime 300 batting average. What more do you want?’ His father replied, ‘But someday you’re going to look back and say, ‘I could have done more.’”
What a horrible relationship! Unhealthy and damaging on so many levels. Frankly, it is the story of more than a few churches in America. Unhealthy doesn’t even begin to describe it. I praise the Lord for the books of 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. They have been an encouragement to me and a light in the path of what could be done.
Paul continues in 1 Thessalonians 2.13 with— “For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.”
“For this cause…” referring to the previous texts. So, what has happened so far in the texts?
- Ministry was provided. The Gospel was given.
- The delivery and style of ministry was done correctly as described in 1-12.
- Follow-up had also been made for a month by the missionaries; now for a year by the members to new believers.
- Lives had been changed and multiplication had taken hold, to the entire region.
Paul then says— “thank we God without ceasing”. They had a lot to be thankful for. He was proud of this church and what God had done. They had a wonderful relationship with the Apostle and it showed. There wasn’t a day pass that he wasn’t profoundly thankful.
Paul was thankful specifically in verse 13 that they had— received it. The word “receive” brings with it the idea of the old adage— ‘You can lead a horse to water but…. you can’t make him drink.’ You can talk all day long, you can teach, train, work, pray, love, and give but people have to make the free-will decision to receive what you have delivered. In the ‘Parable of the sower.’ Jesus covers this very thing (Luke 8.4-15). Jesus gives a parable, a truth in a story, in verses 4-10. Then He explains the story to His disciples in verses 11-15. Here we have: 1) Wayside heart hearer; 2) Rocky heart hearer; 3) Thorny heart hearer; 4) Good heart hearer. The one who receive it in our text are ones who are the good hearer.
Paul indicates there is 2 sources in which one can receive the message of truth. He expresses that he was thankful they had receive it as “the word of God”. As the verse says, either you receive it as the word of men, oras the word of God(13). A hearer can dismiss the message as merely a man’s opinion. I have been in situations where people say— ‘Travis says…’ Uh, hold up! If I clarified that I said it then I said it and that’s just man’s opinion. But, if it came from the word of God then it’s truth.
Today as in the philosophy capitol of Thessalonica— talk is abundant and cheap. Sadly, this is true in so many pulpits and therefore in the lives of believers. In some cases people even say, ‘I didn’t get anything out of it’. 3 things are possible: 1) You are not hearing truth. The spout you’re under isn’t pouring out any Truth. 2) You are not saved. It’s not penetrating because it couldn’t possibly do so. You need to accept the message of salvation 1st from the Spirit, by the Spirit, with the conviction of the Spirit. Paul said as much in 1 Corinthians 2.14— “But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” 3)You are hearing but not receiving. Just as Jesus explained, many have attuned their ears to the lullaby of vain philosophy of men. So when the Word is given, it is disregarded or dismissed entirely as ‘a talk’. This is not what Paul was saying, at all! “as it is in truth, the word of God”. They received it as it is… truth, the word of God.
God revealed himself in this book (Bible). He specifically called it His Word. It is His revelation and not man’s. He already told us who He is without the need of man’s interpretation. His Word: comforts us, brings us peace, gives us understanding, works on us, changes us. The Bible calls itself:
A Devouring Flame— Jeremiah 5.14
A Crushing Hammer— Jeremiah 23.39
A Life Giving Force— Ezekiel 37.7
A Saving Power— Romans 1.16
A Defensive Weapon— Ephesians 6.17
A Probing Instrument— Hebrews 4.12
It is His revelation. In 2 Timothy 3.16 Paul said to Timothy— “All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:” It was “given by inspiration”— inspired (theopneustos). It literally means ‘God—breathed’. If you were to take a trumpet and blow it, who did the blowing? It wasn’t the trumpet was it? The men who wrote and the men who deliver the message are the trumpet and God the supply. It is God who did this, using man as an instrument. I believe we place too much attention on the man delivering or his style, when it is God who wrote the Word, and Who works in the lives of all of those who receive it— man is merely the instrument.
Last, Paul was thankful they had receive it for a purpose. There is always a purpose to receiving truth. Don’t ever blow it off! God doesn’t waste time or breath. There is grave danger in continual exposure to the Word with no response— It develops a hard heart. If it truly is God’s Word, and you truly did receive it… then you should believe. Both to believe for salvation and the continual belief in what you are receiving. If you believed it; wouldn’t that demand a response? Yes… it would be working in you! Just as Paul said— “effectually worketh also in you.” Something is working on the inside—continually(th).
There should be active demonstrable change in us all the time because we believe what He says. He has a purpose and all of His purposes are perfect. It should look like this: receive—respond (work). James said it this way in1.22—“But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only…”why? “…deceiving your own selves.”
Are you receiving? and Are you responding?