1 Thess 2:13 And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. 
	As we continue our consideration of the Apostle Paul’s first letter to the church at Thessalonica, let us do so with a concentration upon the fact that we are to receive the Gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, in the power and the work of the Word of God, and not as the mere words of men. This is a very key truth in the sustenance of the Church by the Holy Spirit. So often, we have the tendency to get caught up in the theological implications, the scholarship of the languages and translations, the commentary, and the learned studies of research and doctrinal implications as voiced by men, as we consider the Bible. These studies do have their place and their purpose, a very fine and right purpose in the expression of how perfectly the Lord’s Word has developed and blossomed in the hearts and minds of men. But, we must always remember that these elements are simply the words and thoughts of man in trying to best interpret and understand, to a greater measure, the Word of God. Only the Holy Spirit can fully open the Word of God. Only the Holy Spirit can make it life. Only the Holy Spirit can cause it to be the daily sustenance of the Church on this earth.
	A fundamental principle that is set before us in the Word of God is that it is God’s message, set forth by His Holy Spirit, as the means of opening up to the church, to the people of God, the very heart of God, Jesus Christ. That which we call the Gospel is the good news of God’s love poured out upon us by His work, His love, His grace, His Omnipotence, His Omniscience, and His Omnipresence expressed in the power of His Word. All of these aspects are given life by the Holy Spirit as we accept the Gospel for what it is, the very direct Word of God, spoken into us, and making us a brand new creation, a living spiritual creation in Christ Jesus.  
Paul declares this, as we read last week, in 1 Thess 1:5 for our Gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. This Gospel is proclaimed by the Apostle John in John 1:1-4, In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being by Him, and apart from Him nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The power of the Word is the life of Jesus Christ. He created all things and in Him we have life. There is no greater power in heaven or on earth than the Living Word of God.
In Acts 2:32-38, we see this power of the Gospel as it was proclaimed by the Apostle Peter. "This Jesus God raised up again, to which we are all witnesses. "Therefore having been exalted to the right hand of God, and having received from the Father the promise of the Holy Spirit, He has poured forth this which you both see and hear. "For it was not David who ascended into heaven, but he himself says: 'The Lord said to my Lord, "Sit at My right hand, Until I make Thine enemies a footstool for Thy feet. "' "Therefore let all the house of Israel know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ — this Jesus whom you crucified." Now when they heard this, they were pierced to the heart, and said to Peter and the rest of the apostles, "Brethren, what shall we do?" And Peter said to them, "Repent, and let each of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.
	There is a key truth that is inherent in the mighty Word of God. It is the fact that the power of the Gospel is manifested in the sight of God. We live before God Almighty in the power and the salvation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We must always conduct ourselves in the knowledge that what we do and what we are is always open before the very presence of God, Our Lord and Savior. This was evident even in the Old Testament as we read in Deut 6:18, And you shall do what is right and good in the sight of the Lord, that it may be well with you and that you may go in and possess the good land which the Lord swore to give your fathers… We cannot hide our lives as a secret from God. He sees everything we do. He knows our every thought. He discerns our every intent. 
	As we live on this earth, we are to conduct ourselves in the manner that reflects the power and the life of Jesus Christ. There should be in evidence the source of the very life that we live. We learn to live that life as we cherish His Word and conduct ourselves in continued obedience to it. This obedience is even to be seen in our attitude toward those in authority over us. 1 Tim 2:1-4, First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, in order that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. 
	It is in His sight that we are to present ourselves as a living sacrifice of love and holiness unto God. Heb 13:20+21, Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 
	And in 1 John 3:21+22, we are exhorted by the Apostle John with the counsel of encouragement to live lives that are worthy of the name of Jesus Christ. Beloved, if our heart does not condemn us, we have confidence before God; and whatever we ask we receive from Him, because we keep His commandments and do the things that are pleasing in His sight. 
	In another aspect of the powerful and living Word of God, we see that it is in the power of the Gospel that we have been made the Elect of God. We are chosen for His purposes and to bring glory to His name on this earth and throughout all of creation. As God’s Elect, we are covered in the saving power of His grace. We are enclosed by the Love of God manifested through His Living Word. Jesus confirmed this as recorded in several places throughout the Gospels. In Matt 24:22, "And unless those days had been cut short, no life would have been saved; but for the sake of the elect those days shall be cut short. Also in Matt 24:31, He tells us "And He will send forth His angels with a great trumpet and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of the sky to the other. And, in Luke 18:7, as He recounts the parable of the unrighteous judge and the woman who continually cried out to him, …now shall not God bring about justice for His elect, who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 
	The Apostle Paul has tremendous encouragement for us as the Elect of God, those to whom life is given by the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Rom 8:33+34, Who will bring a charge against God's elect? God is the one who justifies; who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. And in 2 Tim 2:10, he states the working power of the Gospel in his life and in ours, as God’s Elect, For this reason I endure all things for the sake of those who are chosen, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus and with it eternal glory. 
	The Prophet Isaiah had very much to say about the view of the Gospel of the Christ. The Lord opened his eyes to the fact of the endless and overwhelming power of the One who brings hope and life and salvation unto those whom He chooses as His people. They are the recipients of His Living Word. Isa 2:2+3 Now it will come about that In the last days, The mountain of the house of the Lord Will be established as the chief of the mountains, And will be raised above the hills; And all the nations will stream to it. And many peoples will come and say, "Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways, And that we may walk in His paths." For the law will go forth from Zion, And the word of the Lord from Jerusalem. 
	Oh the joy that the Gospel brings as expressed in Isa 29:18+19, And on that day the deaf shall hear words of a book, And out of their gloom and darkness the eyes of the blind shall see. The afflicted also shall increase their gladness in the Lord, And the needy of mankind shall rejoice in the Holy One of Israel. 
	Isaiah was shown the very glory of God in the Gospel of the redeeming Christ, and so mightily proclaims Him in Isa 52:6-10 "Therefore My people shall know My name; therefore in that day I am the one who is speaking, 'Here I am.'" How lovely on the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who announces peace And brings good news of happiness, Who announces salvation, And says to Zion, "Your God reigns!" Listen! Your watchmen lift up their voices, They shout joyfully together; For they will see with their own eyes When the Lord restores Zion. Break forth, shout joyfully together, You waste places of Jerusalem; For the Lord has comforted His people, He has redeemed Jerusalem. The Lord has bared His holy arm In the sight of all the nations, That all the ends of the earth may see The salvation of our God. 
	And the prophet continues in Isa 61:1-3, The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives, And freedom to prisoners; To proclaim the favorable year of the Lord, And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. 
	Additionally, the good news of Jesus Christ was not just for the Jews. The Gospel is universal, is to be preached throughout the world. We have this exhortation from the very lips of Jesus preached throughout the Gospels recorded in the New Testament. Matt 24:14, "And this Gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in the whole world for a witness to all the nations, and then the end shall come. In the Great Commission as recorded in Matt 28:19+20, "Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age. "  Mark writes, in Mark 16:15, And He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the Gospel to all creation. 
	Luke records these words of Christ in Chapter 24, verses 46-48, and He said to them, "Thus it is written, that the Christ should suffer and rise again from the dead the third day; and that repentance for forgiveness of sins should be proclaimed in His name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. "You are witnesses of these things. Luke also writes in Acts 1:7+8, He said to them, "It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth.” 
	And, it is not just given to mankind to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but even unto the angels. The most familiar example is recounted in Luke 2:8-14, And in the same region there were some shepherds staying out in the fields, and keeping watch over their flock by night. And an angel of the Lord suddenly stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them; and they were terribly frightened. And the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people; for today in the city of David there has been born for you a Savior, who is Christ the Lord. "And this will be a sign for you: you will find a baby wrapped in cloths, and lying in a manger." And suddenly there appeared with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, "Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace among men with whom He is pleased."  
As well, the Apostle John records his vision in Rev 14:6+7, And I saw another angel flying in midheaven, having an eternal Gospel to preach to those who live on the earth, and to every nation and tribe and tongue and people; and he said with a loud voice, "Fear God, and give Him glory, because the hour of His judgment has come; and worship Him who made the heaven and the earth and sea and springs of waters." 
There is, embedded in the Gospel, the power of the living Word of God. It is the power that is evidenced in Gen 1:3, Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. James tells us that it is the Word of salvation in James 1:21, Therefore putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls. 
	The Word of God stands as His eternal covenant in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Heb 8:10 "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel After those days, says the Lord: I will put My laws into their minds, And I will write them upon their hearts. And I will be their God, And they shall be My people. 
	Jeremiah sees the power of the Word of God as a consuming fire in Jer 5:14, Therefore, thus says the Lord, the God of hosts, "Because you have spoken this word, Behold, I am making My words in your mouth fire And this people wood, and it will consume them. Jeremiah also declares it to be used by the Lord as a crushing hammer in Jer 23:29, "Is not My word like fire?" declares the Lord, "and like a hammer which shatters a rock? There is nothing that can stand against the Word of God. It will absolutely destroy all falseness and sin and hatred and animosity and murder and idolatry in a conflagration of holiness, righteousness, forgiveness, and justice in Jesus Christ. 
	In another expression of the power of the Word, the prophet Ezekiel experienced it as the Word of Life, the life-giving force of the breath of God. Ezek 37:4-7, Again He said to me, "Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, 'O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.' "Thus says the Lord God to these bones, 'Behold, I will cause breath to enter you that you may come to life. 'And I will put sinews on you, make flesh grow back on you, cover you with skin, and put breath in you that you may come alive; and you will know that I am the Lord.'" So I prophesied as I was commanded; and as I prophesied, there was a noise, and behold, a rattling; and the bones came together, bone to its bone. 
	Against its Omnipotence, there is no power, in heaven, on the earth, or under the earth, in all of creation, that can hinder the outpouring of God’s Word. As is recorded in Acts 19:20, nothing can prevent the spread of the Good News, the living Word of God. Not Tribulation, not Crucifixion, not persecution, nothing. So the word of the Lord was growing mightily and prevailing. It is the Word of salvation, empowered to give life to those who will receive it. Rom 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the Gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. 
	God’s Word is our refuge, a weapon of defense against all the forces of this age. Eph 6:17, And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. As the sword, the Word of God is a piercing instrument, cutting to the quick all the motives and intentions of man and slicing them open before the sight of God. Heb 4:12, For the word of God is living and active and sharper than any two-edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 
	We conclude this morning with the vision of the Gospel seen by the Apostle John as he witnessed the Living Word, the Gospel, in all its glory and might. Rev 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened; and behold, a white horse, and He who sat upon it is called Faithful and True; and in righteousness He judges and wages war. And His eyes are a flame of fire, and upon His head are many diadems; and He has a name written upon Him which no one knows except Himself. And He is clothed with a robe dipped in blood; and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which are in heaven, clothed in fine linen, white and clean, were following Him on white horses. And from His mouth comes a sharp sword, so that with it He may smite the nations; and He will rule them with a rod of iron; and He treads the wine press of the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty. And on His robe and on His thigh He has a name written, "KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS." 
	From the Book of Genesis through the Book of the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the Word of God declares Him Alone. All the life, all the power, all the triumphant glory is set in Jesus Christ, and no other. He, Alone, is proclaimed in the absolute authority and power and majesty of God, as Faithful, as True, as the Righteous One. He is the Word of God, the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords – Praise His Holy and Awesome Name forever, amen!
 All hail King Jesus, all hail Emmanuel, King of Kings and Lord of Lords, bright morning star. And throughout eternity I going to praise Him and forevermore I will reign with Him. So exalt, lift up on high, the name of Jesus, magnify, come glorify, Christ Jesus, the King. Majesty, worship His majesty, Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all Kings, Jesus who died, now glorified, King of all Kings.
And for this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe. Amen!

If you will bear with me, before we leave 1 Thessalonians, Chapter 2, I would like to try to give expression to something that has been at work as we have dealt with God’s power manifested in the Church. At the end of 1 Thess 2, verse 20, is a short statement that has had a great impact over the course of our current consideration of God’s Word. The Apostle Paul announces to the readers of this letter, For you are our glory and joy. This is a declaration before God Almighty, of the power of the full measure of Christ that has been poured out into the Church. As one, chosen to shepherd the flock, to up build, to admonish, and to encourage the Church, the Apostle states that the work of God has found fulfillment in the readers of this epistle. To describe them as his glory and his joy puts these believers firmly into the heart of God’s intent in the Church. Oh that all ministers and that all pastors could likewise consider, in their hearts and minds, the members of the flock of their charge in such an all-encompassing manner.
This is the assured statement that God has accomplished His intent in the people whom He chose unto Himself in Jesus Christ. Ministering to and pastoring the members of the Church has to include the glory and the joy of the Lord. Laura and I can state this, as empathically as did the Apostle Paul that you, the members of this fellowship, are our glory and joy. You are our glory because you continually drive us into the heart of God to seek after Him to minister His Word, and nothing other than His Word to you. You deserve the very best, the supreme fullness of God’s heart in Christ, as declared livingly in His Word. 
You are also our joy. It is a privilege to go before the Lord for you, corporately and individually. The joy of the work of the Holy Spirit is evidenced in your lives and in your hearts. The joy of all of us seeking after the Lord, together, to become every aspect of our lives fills us with thanksgiving and glory to God in the joy of His ministry. The glories, as Wanda calls them, which we share together as He is at work to do His good will in all of us, are joys in the faithful and ongoing establishment of our complete trust in Him. You are our glory and joy and from the depth of our hearts, we thank the Lord for every one of you. Each of you is a miracle of God’s Love and Grace, from the youngest to the eldest. We have found the Hand of God in living operation within the heart of this fellowship and it is an endless blessing and challenge in the Lord.  We thank the Lord that He has made you our glory and joy in Jesus Christ.    
	
This morning’s benediction is from Hebrews Chapter 13, verses 20+21, Now the God of peace, who brought up from the dead the great Shepherd of the sheep through the blood of the eternal covenant, even Jesus our Lord, equip you in every good thing to do His will, working in us that which is pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen.