Good morning, and God bless you. If you would stand for the reading of God's word, we're back in the book of 1 Thessalonians, chapter 1. I'm only going to read verse 3. And we did a video on YouTube. We have little videos there, just a few minutes long. That was part of what we'll hear today called the Ministry of Confirmation, and that will be the title of today's message as well. If you were here for our Thessalonians study on Wednesdays, you've heard some of this. But by the time we bring it into sermon form, there is much more. And I'm very excited about it. There's much to learn. For those of you that like little nuggets, there are some little nuggets here. And there's also just some straightforward Right hand of the jaw kind of stuff, but God is good and when we gather together he uses Jars of clay such as myself such as you to deliver his message and to receive his message It is as if Jesus himself is doing it. So that's what I pray Lord that my Self would be out of the way And that you would take over and do as you will we ask it in Jesus name Amen first Thessalonians 1 And verse three, remembering before our God and father, your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Father, help us to see some of the depths of what we are seeing right now by the power of your spirit, to the glory of God. In the name of Jesus, we pray. Amen. You may be seated. When you know someone who's learning a new skill or taking up a new sport or starting a new program at school, it makes you feel good to see them do good, right? You think of someone that just graduated pre-kindergarten, now they're going to start kindergarten. Or someone just finished fifth grade, now they're going to start sixth grade at another school. Or they're starting ninth grade and it's a bunch of school. Or they've moved here from somewhere else. Or maybe they are of a seasoned age and yet they start swimming. Oh, I'm going to be one of those kind of sermons today. But maybe it's like that. Or, again, it makes you feel good to see people do good in the thing that you liked, right? If you liked it, you like to see other people like it. Especially, again, if it's something you learn to do. Painters like to see other people learn how to paint, right? Weightlifters like to see others enjoying weightlifting. Horse riders like to see other people learning to ride horses. A doctor is happy when they see their child going into medical school. A veteran is encouraged to know that you are joining the military to serve our country and stand for our freedoms. Seeing people do what you did is a confirmation, a validation that you did something that was worth it. Amen? Everybody knows that. And this is so important. And you know, this confirmation of worth works both ways. When you're the one who's doing the new thing, it's encouraging to see examples of those who've gone before you, who ran the race well, or who are still going strong. It lets you know that you can do it. When someone is losing weight, everybody wants to know, how did you do it? I don't have that kind of willpower. It's not willpower. Anyway, whatever it may be. Well, doing what others did and are still doing is a confirmation, a validation that you're doing something worth it, something that can last. We start camp this week. It'll be an encouragement to see others who are ahead of others, and they say, well, I'm going to be in this thing. I want to do this. Or the campers say, yeah, we've done this before. This is worth it. It's going to be good. It may seem tedious. It may seem boring. It may seem this, that, or the other thing. But by the end, you will be so glad that you did. And then till we meet again next year and all of those sorts of things and on and on it goes It's important and this is the way it is in the kingdom of God Believers are encouraged when they see others becoming believers Disciples are encouraged to see people being discipled. Amen and New converts are encouraged by those old saints who are still serving Jesus even after a long time and a hard road Amen Now our text today speaks of these truths. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had all spent a very limited time among the Thessalonians. Paul and Silas only about three weeks, which we started a few weeks ago. And Timothy probably not more than a few months at most. But they had seen enough, they had heard enough, and they experienced enough of them to know what was going on with them and how the Lord had saved them and was growing them. And so, they knew how to thank God for them and pray for them. And you can thank God for those you disciple who grow in the grace of God. And those you disciple can thank God for your genuine discipleship. We had a missionary here a few weeks ago and he was talking about going to a place he hadn't been in 20 years and when he went there, People came up and said I Remember when you were here 20 years ago I gave my not my life to Christ that night and here we are 20 years later And by the way, this other lady next to me. We're married now and I said brother You had ministered to them and now they minister to you Because we're encouraged by that who wants to see people still getting saved Who wants to see people? Stay the course, even through hardship. We need that. And I'll add one, and we'll talk about that today. Don't we also need to see people that fall down? Oh yes, when they get back up. And we know that God does not throw people in the scrap heap of life. He pulls them off again and again. Oh yes. If that's you today, we're just waiting for you. Today's the day. You see, with Paul, Titus, and Timothy, it wasn't just that they had ministered to the Thessalonians. By the Thessalonians' ongoing testimony, they were ministering to them. This was not just ministry from Paul, Silas, and Timothy to the Thessalonians. This was ministry from the Thessalonians to Paul, Silas, and Timothy. I am minister, too, when I see my granddaughter at seven years old standing up here on the platform so people don't have to bend down to pray with her, but just to see her pray. And then her sister, who's five, gets in the action. Well, that's not... Are you sure? Did not John the Baptist leap in his mother's womb, filled with the Holy Spirit? Did not Jesus say, suffer the children to come to me, for such is the kingdom of God? Oh, yes. I've told you before and I'll tell you again. Here's the revival. Oh, yes. So this was ministry back and forth. Now why? Because they became confirmation. Let's say that word. Confirmation to one another. Now think of this in terms of a pastor and his congregation. It does me well to see you grow. In 1 Thessalonians 2, 19 and 20, the Apostle Paul says, For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? For you are our glory and our joy. In Philippians 4, 1, Paul says, Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and my crown, stand firm thus in the Lord my beloved. The Apostle John gets in on the act two and third John for the Apostle John says I have no greater joy. Think of what he is saying. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. Oh yes. It does me well to see you grow. And it does you well to see me stay the course. In 1 Timothy 4, 15, and 16, Paul said to Timothy, practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers, and that means you will save them from trouble. They'll see how it's done wrong and got made right. They'll see how to do it right and stay right. They'll see ups, downs, and all arounds, but you stay in the course, and that saves them from a lot of trouble. Instead of giving up, they hold on. People need to see that. I know people don't want to fall down, but sometimes That's God's plan. What? Oh yes. Now confirmation isn't just about a pastor and his congregation. This is about all believers one to another. It does others well to see you grow. Amen? How can you not say amen to that? And it does you well to see others stay the course. Amen? Hallelujah. You don't want just a church of all young people. You want a church of old people. And you want young people that are old in the faith. And all people who are young in the faith. You want all sorts. It's a confirmation that God is moving in all age groups, in all social strata, in every nation, tribe, and tongue. Even in little Citrus County. Even amongst the rabble. Oh yes. It does others well to see you grow, and it does you well to see others grow and stay the course. Genuine testimony is genuine ministry. 2 Corinthians 1.14 says, On the day of our Lord Jesus, you will boast of us as we will boast of you. Hallelujah. I can't wait to get there, and I pray that when I'm brought up before God, and He says, Where are the people that I gave you? And you all stand and say, present and accounted for oh yes now God knows those who were his but that's part of the ministry of confirmation and we're going to talk about that but genuine testimony is genuine ministry it's not like we don't make plans we take risk and they fall flat on our place or we do something wrong and look the devil's jersey I think I'll wear that for a while you know like oops that's not gonna work out a little spanky whatever right you turn around And you have doubts, and you have these things happen, and what happens? It can't be straight, straight, straight, straight, no pressure, no problems, nothing but victory. Because that's not the way it happened to John the Baptist, the Apostle Paul, or Jesus Christ. You see, otherwise, you could say, what does that person have? Well, they've got money, so no wonder. Well, they're good looking, so no wonder. They're short and beautiful, so no... Oh, anyway. They're this, they're that, they're the other thing. They have this education, they have whatever. But when it has to be that there's no other explanation but God, that's what you want. Not that you can't be good looking, thank you. Not that you can't have money, somebody. Not that you can't be this, that, and the other thing, go for those things. But we have the treasure in jars of clay, because that means we're broken, we're vulnerable, so that the power of God would be made manifest. Just like your spiritual gifts. When you wind up doing something you ain't gonna do unless that was God. That's your spiritual gift, baby. Genuine testimony genuine ministry. We need confirmation We have faith we believe it It's what God has put in us, but then we see it played out And so what happened is Paul sighs and Timothy's saying we're rejoicing with God We've seen this work this faith this love this steadfast Hope and it gives us joy to talk to you and tell you we know you're saved because this is what happened with us and they said we saw you get kicked out of Thessalonica and And then you snuck Timothy back in. And you're still going at it. And you keep getting thrown in jail. We know we're going the right way. Even though it hurts. Because you're there. Still talking about Jesus. You see how important this thing is? We can't discount this. We need to get in part of this. When you see someone grow, you see that God is still doing His work in people. When you see someone stay the course over the long haul, you see that God is continuing to do His work in people. God changes people. He's in the change business. If you don't believe that people can change, then you don't believe any hope that you have for yourself or anybody else. But God. Amen? He can take you. He took me. That's what Paul is saying. He didn't say, well this person here, this person there. He goes, you guys. You all. They're going to be on different levels and different sets of where they're on the spectrum of turning around and all that. But he knew what he saw. I know when I see faith. I know when I see someone just quoting off Bible verses and they don't know God. I know somebody that can barely read and write, but they know who to call on. Oh yes. But we get both sides. We get all of that. Amen. And here's the thing. I'm not, now listen, I'm not just talking about those who always stay perfectly upright on the straight and narrow path. I'm also talking about those who may veer back and forth and ups and downs and all around the path. They slid back, but now they turn back. Because God not only saved them, it is God who is keeping them. In the book of Jude, it says, to the Lord who is able to keep. It doesn't mean, well, he's able to, but he's not doing it for you. He's saying something positive and definitive. God does finish what God starts. Oh boy. It is God who's keeping them. Amen. We need to continually see people who are turning back around to Jesus. Hallelujah. Don't stay stuck. Throw your hands up in surrender and Jesus will pull you out of your trouble and into his loving arms. He never, I didn't say never will, he never let you go. Now is the time to feel his loving embrace. I know exactly what I am talking about here. I am a confirmation for you. You see, that was me. That is me. And if that is you, come on back. We're all waiting for you. Hallelujah. Well, you know, I left that church and I didn't believe in the sovereignty of God. I didn't believe in the sufficiency of Scripture. I sure didn't believe that suffering is a means of sanctification. But now I'm starting to see what's my alternative. I want to come back. Is it okay to come back? So now you come to me and I have open arms. I know. I'm a child of the 70s. You'll hear it every week. It's just the way that it is. But I think sometimes God uses things like that. You could be in the car, and that would happen. You think, okay, maybe that guy's calmed down. After 20 years, I've calmed down a little bit. I throw less stuff. So I'm growing, right? And it happens. And it's good to see. Isn't it good to see year after year after year? Then you see, then you see, then you see. We've got you. Anyway, this is what happens. This is what happens. And it's confirmation. And then I'm lifting. over my head with one arm, remember? Oh yeah. I was in my thirties at the time, not in my late fifties. And so, I'm doing that, and now look at Buff Man. And then, and now you. And we get excited about it. Of course we do. Lifting weights is so good. And I don't mean a six pack or a keg. See, the thing is, is you see people, and people need to see The thing you want to hide, they need it brought out in the light so they can see the light overcoming your darkness. And then it's a praise to other people. You ain't telling everybody everything all the time, I get that. But sometimes, don't we know, anybody know what I'm talking about here? Do you know your pastor? You know my, yeah, okay. So these things happen. But it's a confirmation. Let's say that again. I don't mean to manipulate you. I just want to hear it for myself. I want confirmation. Wow. You can learn, you can grow, you can improve. And you can turn to God in repentance and faith. So that, even when you're not doing so well, listen, even when you're not doing so well, you can show yourself to be a good example of how to get better. People need to see good examples of what repentance really looks like. The process of lasting repentance. If you're turning around and you're on a bike, you can just turn it around. If you're in a car, it takes a little more. But maybe this thing has been with you all your life, and it's like one of those cargo ships. It takes several miles for that thing to turn around, but it's in process, baby. John Newton said, I'm not what I ought to be. I'm not what I'm going to be. But praise God, I'm not what I was, and I'm on the right direction. Amen? It's not about perfection, it's about direction. It's about His perfection setting you on a direction. And sometimes we turn back around, and we need to see people say, you know, what happened? It was God. We say God grants repentance all the time. But you're involved in that. We're going to talk a little bit about that. We need to see people who have learned how to get up after they fell down. That's a confirmation that God doesn't throw people in the scrap heap of life. As I said, He pulls them off again and again. Confirmation is powerful. When you've been a believer for many years, it's a joy to see people coming to the faith. And when you're a new believer, it's a joy to see long-time believers continuing in the faith. And everybody needs to see people turning back to the faith. Never discount the witness of God's ongoing work in people's lives. Expect it. Look for it. Be a part of it. And thank God for it. Amen. Those who are newer in the faith are an encouragement to those who are mature in the faith. And those who are seasoned in the faith are an example to those who are young in the faith, especially in hardships. People need to see other people persevere through problems. People need to see other people persevere through problems and pain and persecution. They need it. Yes, we want to see victories, but even when we don't see victory, we don't have to play the victim. We can praise Jesus and know the Holy Spirit in that thing. It's a big deal to see people endure through big problems praising God. It's a living ministry that we should be thankful to God for. And remember, that is what was happening with the Thessalonians. Paul had been kicked out. Now they were being persecuted because they were hearing that there's a new king. And so the people that weren't Christians that didn't get converted start saying hey, we're gonna lose our Roman citizenship. They're gonna come in and militarily take us all over So you guys stop saying that of course they were talking about King Jesus in our hearts and him coming back not a societal revolution except in the spiritual sense So they We're under persecution. That's who he's talking to. He goes, I know you're saved. You guys had this affliction, and you received the Holy Spirit. You received the Word of God with joy, even in that affliction. David, Psalm 119, says, It was good for me that you afflicted me, because then I learned your statutes. Martin Luther called that the touchstone of hermeneutics. You want to learn the scripture? Learn what it means. that Jesus molds you and shapes you. He allows what he hates to accomplish what he loves. Now, at the text. It says, remembering before God and our Father. When someone means something important to you, it influences your prayers for them. Amen? And we had some prayers this morning, and the closer you are to those people, the more it really gets you. Or sometimes it just gets you. And if you wake up in the middle of the night and someone's on your mind, da-da. I know I've told you that a million times, but I've got to remember it too. You think, why am I thinking that? Um, hello? When you feel like someone is your close brother or sister in Christ, it makes a difference in how you care in prayer. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were praying because they cared. And they were thanking God for what he had already done, what was going on then, and they remembered it because it mattered. Remembering God's faithfulness in the past gives us faith in the present and hope for the future. Remembering God's faithfulness in the past lives of others, what we see in the Bible, gives us faith in the present and hope for our future. Every believer is called to remember God's work in their lives and rehearse these testimonies to one another. The Old Testament is full of exhortations for God's people to remember God's faithfulness to them in the past. And there's a lot of Old Testament scriptures that recall God's faithfulness to his people in the past. I mean, it's just full of it. You know, the Israelites would set up stone pillars after God performed a miracle or helped them in some way. It was a physical reminder of God's faithfulness in a way to be encouraged when doubt tried to tell them otherwise. Hasn't it been that way for you? Can I get an amen? When you've been discouraged and then the right thing comes at exactly the right time. And normally you just kind of brush it off, but then it was just like pierced right to your heart. Has that ever happened to you? I pray that kind of confirmation has happened to you. There was someone that called us out of the blue from a different city. It's in the county, but it's far away. And they were like, I had to call somebody. I was looking online, and I saw this. Try to call me sometime during the week. My husband's in palliative care, and I'm just discouraged. And I'm a Christian. I just don't know what to do, and I need prayer. Well, I didn't think about it. I didn't think about it. I really had a very busy week. Lots of things going on, as you know, with my dad and assisted living and just being a pastor because I play golf all the time. There's just a lot of stuff going on. There's always stuff going on. And yesterday I'm coming up to the church and I said, let's call her. And lo and behold, she became a Christian about the same time I became a Christian. And she talked about, I just need some confirmation. And I go, well, there it is for me. So I was in the line waiting for my mom's meds. And you know how that goes? And I said, I know it's going to be extra long today because I need to talk to her and pray to her. And for about 10 minutes, I just let loose like crazy, man. And it was a confirmation. And she was just praising the Lord and thanking God and all of that. And I didn't say, now watch us or give us money. It was just in and of itself. It was a confirmation. And when we partake of the Lord's Supper, we remember what Christ has done for us, and we anticipate His return for us. Never. Just because they call it the ordinary means of grace, it just means it's the regular routine that God has given us to enjoy. The means of grace are a vital part of the ministry of confirmation. God has given us signs of his promise and seals of his approval. Baptism and the Lord's Supper give us structure, form, order, and confirmation to the local church. Baptism is the initial sign and seal of your faith in Christ, and the Lord's Supper is the ongoing sign and seal of your faith in Christ. Baptism, as you've heard me say many times, unites one to many, and the Lord's Supper unites the many as one. These are beautiful pictures and proclamations of our faith. They are a continual confirmation of God's work among us. Have faith in God's work. Paul, Silas, and Timothy had faith. They knew that God had worked among the Thessalonians, so they knew God will continue to work among them, as Paul wrote in Philippians 1, 6. And I am sure of this. I love that language. You know, we got this, we got this. Well, I know it could be this, it could be this. I don't know about eschatology or continuationism or, you know, this or, you know, what type of polity or, you know, this, that, you know, all this stuff. But he goes, I'm sure of this. I'm sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. What God starts, God finishes. And because they knew God was at work, they knew that God would cause the Thessalonians to work. Oh, yes. Next phrase there in the verse 3, your work of faith and labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Paul's beginning to explain what they're thankful to God for. Basically, he's saying they're thankful that the Thessalonians were saved and living like it. Hallelujah. And Paul, Silas, and Timothy wanted to tell the Thessalonians that they recognized the grace of God working in their lives by recognizing the good things they saw when they were there and heard about when they left. Listen to this. The work of God leads to the works of God's people. The work of God leads to the works of God's people. Now these individual phrases, your work of faith. God works the faith in us, and then that faith works itself out from us. We just read Philippians 1, 6. I'm sure that he that began a good work will bring it to completion. And then in chapter 2, Philippians 2, 12 and 13, he says, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only is in my presence, but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, so it's all on you or you're going to hell. No. He doesn't say that. He says, well, let me tell you something. God is not opposed to effort. He's opposed to merit. You still work. You still struggle. You still do these things. The problem isn't sin. The problem is when you say it isn't sin. The problem isn't when you struggle with sin. The problem is when you won't. And he says, work out your salvation, not my own road. What he's put in, you're working out. And then he says, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Kids were going to Disney World. Suddenly their heads were raised. I worked in them to get excited. But we're not doing it until you wash my car. If I said, wash my car, and then I'll give you a surprise. Well, what's it going to be? What's it going to be? God works in us to want to do it and to do it. Both to will and to work for His good pleasure. So if you're saved, you're justified. You're saved from the penalty of sin. You're sanctified. You're being saved from the power of sin. You are saved from it, but it's working its way out. You're going to be glorified. You already are, in a sense. You're up there with Him, spiritually speaking, and you're saved from the presence of sin. The penalty of sin, hallelujah. The power of sin, whew, I'm working on it. The presence of sin, that's what I want. What you pray now is to be saved from the pleasure of sin. Say, God, give me new desires. I still want the bottle, let there be water in it. I still want to look at that and make sure it's my wife. I want to think that not every thought that comes into my head is from God. I'm canceling that thing. Right? Yes. Confirmation. And you see someone else saying this, that, and the other thing, and you're like, well, he was a drug user for 12 years, he was barely alive, this, that, and the other thing, and now he's been clean for 24 years. Praise God. How'd he do it? Jesus. But Jesus is on a journey with you. And you need to see discipleship as a chain, baby. And we see each other, and we help each other with grace and mercy in the direction of Christlikeness. Oh yes. Anybody get what I'm saying? God works in you both to will and to work for His good pleasure. 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 1 and 12 says, To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of His calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith, there it is, by His power, so that the name of the Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified you and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The grace of God that brings salvation manifests itself in faithful works. This is faith in God, which means faith in God's Son, which means faith in God's Word, and that faith is lived out. Can I say that again? The grace of God that brings salvation manifests itself in faithful works. This is faith in God, which means faith in God's Son, which means faith in God's Word, and this faith is lived out. Your life demonstrates a work of faith. If you're truly saved, then you have a new nature, and you will follow a new direction. And when you stumble along the way, you'll eventually receive correction, and get back up, and start following Jesus again, and telling other people, and they'll see it. You ain't gotta say nothing, just like He said to the Thessalonians. We don't even, in verse 7 and 8, He's like, we don't even have to tell anybody. You're living this thing out. You're telling everybody. Everybody knows, you were this, now you're this, and it's obvious. Hallelujah. Again, it's not about perfection, it's about direction. And this is a work of faith, where God works faith in you and faith works for God from you. A saving faith leads to a living faith. And then he says, a labor of love. Their work of faith was characterized by labors of love. The grace of God that brings salvation manifests itself in believers working hard. Yes. If it was that pearl of great price and it was hidden in a field, you'd be digging up that whole field. If there was a billion dollars in that haystack and it was rolled up like a needle, everybody would be looking for that needle in the haystack, man. And I'd be making deals on the side saying, if you find it, I'll split. If I find it, I'll split. Come on. Oh, I'm just gonna go there. Okay, so you're prepping for the end time, and you have all the stuff, and you have all the gas, the guns, the groceries, and your gang, and all that stuff. When I find out about it, I'm going to your house and steal it. You're not getting past God. You're not fooling God. Make preparation, sure. But be ready in your heart for the Lord Jesus to return. Whether it's coming pre-meal, post-meal, ah-meal, whatever. Doesn't matter. What matters is, I'm going. i'm not missing anything i don't need more i've got jesus and my name is written in the lamb's book of life and whether i got the covet shot or didn't get the covet shot and i'm voting for this person or that person all that that is entirely secondary at very best those things can matter yes but we get the main things wrong and then that's why we veer off the path you know if they're doing a site survey you see him doing that thing with a little binoculars, whatever they're doing, and they've got to get it exactly right. Because if they're off a little bit here, down the road it's a mile. We need confirmation. We need to see people doing it right. We need to see people getting it right when they've done it wrong. We need to see people praising God all the way along. Oh yes. They needed to see Paul say in 2 Corinthians chapter 1, Thyrsus alone is written first. But years later, because we despaired of life itself. And he wasn't just saying, I thought we were going to die. He's saying, I wanted to die. Moses, the most humble man that ever lived, he wrote so himself in Numbers 12.3. But then he lost his patience and didn't go in the promised land. And yet he did with the glorified Jesus. We're just like them. Peter's the one that gave the sermon, saying all nations, tribes, and tongues. And weeks later, years later, he's sitting on the roof, and the pork comes down. He goes, I'm not eating pork. And God says, don't you dare call unclean what I have now made clean. Yeah, there's going to be other people that say, well, you know, you can't preach here because, you know, you're divorced and remarried. You can't do this because, you know, you didn't serve here, you didn't do this. You know, I don't know where exactly I fit except in Christ's kingdom. I'm a little bit too intellectual for the Pentecostals. I'm a little bit not intellectual enough for the Presbyterians. I never finish on time, so I can't be a Baptist. I have facial hair, so I can't be, I don't know, Mr. Clean. I don't know. I'm not worried about that. You know who I fit with? You. You know who our people are? They're you. And if God wants to make that 10 billion, or He wants to make that 85, that's okay. I got nothing left to prove, because Jesus has proved Himself to me, and I have confirmation. And that's why I have peace. Why do you have all these gifts, and you're sitting here in the middle of Citrus County? Because obviously I have a pride problem and God has to hold me down. Or maybe it's because he wanted me to talk to you. Who cares? How do we sing it? All is well in the kingdom. We got to get that in. We got to work that in. All is well in the kingdom. And that is what Paul, Silas, and Timothy were saying to the Thessalonians. You've had all this persecution. You saw us get kicked out. And we're put in jail. And we kept getting beat up all the way around. There's people chasing us that said they're not even going to eat until we're dead. I guess they all died. But eventually Paul got caught and got his head cut off. Right. And he's about to leave and he tells Timothy, no, no, keep, keep at it. Keep at it. Timothy was here then he knew what was going on, but we've all got to continually hear these confirmations. And so when you stay home on purpose, not because you're laid up, but you just won't, I don't need that. You are lying to yourself. Of course, the pastor is going to go there. Get your butt in that seat every single week. Don't find one excuse to stay home. You have one to come here. And it ain't me. And it ain't even the rest of us. You need confirmation that God speaks to you? Wait till the first week you come back with your heart really open. I can't believe it. It's like you're speaking to me. It's like God's speaking to me. I have a sister that tells me that every week, and I'm grateful for it. Because not everybody does. Yeah, yeah, yeah. You're in the flesh. Okay, sure. So you hear things up and down and all around. What do you do? And you've got to keep working at it. And it's so hard. And he says, we see your labor, your labor of love. Believers working hard. cleaning things and doing things and no one even notices because they're doing it for Jesus. In Colossians 129, Paul says, for this I toil. Same idea. Struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. See that? Do you see that? I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me. Work at your salvation because God is working in you. This means giving it sincere effort and enduring the toil, sometimes tedious or troubling or thankless work. First Thessalonians two nine says, for you remember brothers, our labor and toil, same word. We work night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you while we proclaim to you the gospel of God. When you do something that may not be readily recognized or rewarded and instead may be met with persecution. Sorry. Had to get a little personal there. And instead may be met with persecution or other problems, but you do it because it's godly and right. You're doing it as a labor of love. A love for the Lord Jesus and His people. Jesus was dying on the cross while they were yelling and screaming at Him. The Apostle Paul was doing what he did when they took everything from him and he goes, it was just garbage anyway. He goes, you should joy, he tells the Philippians, joy if I'm poured out like a drink offering. In 1 Corinthians, 2 Corinthians 12 he says, am I to be loved less because I love you more? In Galatians 4 he says, have I become your enemy because I tell you the truth? The Apostle Paul in 2 Corinthians 5.12 says, I'm not trying to brag about myself. I'm giving you an example. So that you would know the difference between people that are bragging about what's on the outside and not what's in the heart. Jeremiah said it this way, don't let the rich man boast in his riches. Don't let the strong man boast in his strength. Don't let the wise man boast in his wisdom. But boast in this, that you know God. Right? And that he is merciful. Hallelujah. I need mercy because I did it. I need grace so I don't do it again. Oh my. Steadfastness of hope steadfast. I like that word. We need to recover that word steadfastness of hope This is steadfastness to the faith marked by hope the grace of God that brings salvation manifests itself in the perseverance of believers 2nd Corinthians 1 7 says our hope for you is unshaken But we know that as you share in our sufferings. You will also share in our comfort Hallelujah I've been there Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we will fear no evil, for thou art with me. Thy rod, thy staff, they protect me." And you walk with somebody else through it and you can't do perfectly well. You can't carry that. Oh man, I'm going there. Lord of the Rings. And Frodo's like, I can't do it. And they're climbing up Mount Doom with that, right? You think of that as sin. The Ring. And he goes, no I can't carry the ring, but I can carry you. It gives me chills thinking about it. I can't pay for your sin. Jesus did that. But I can pray for your sin. I can walk with you through that thing. I'm not going to judge you. I'm going to cheerlead for you. So you're witnessing to somebody. And they said, I need some money. And you know they're going to go use it for alcohol or something like that. So you're like, oh, let's go to the restaurant and I'll buy you dinner. And they pee on you while you're talking to them and saying, I don't care about you, little man. What do you do? Let them finish. It's like, now you're ready for that burger? And they come to the Lord. And they're still with the Lord. Oh, yeah. I'm just not there yet, but other people are. Other people have been, and sometimes we slide off of that. We go, woo, got caught in a good day. Because normally we'd see if five foot two can beat up six foot two, it can't, but I was gonna try. You see, we need these confirmations. We need to see these things. When people are losing a lot, but they're not losing their faith, right? When people come back to the faith, when people wonder what faith is for, Anybody? Are we getting through it all? I sure hope so. This is real personal to me. Again, 2 Corinthians 1. He says, Our hope for you is unshaken. For we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. 1 Thessalonians 2, 13 and 14 says, And we thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of man, but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God and Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things as our countrymen, as they did from the Jews. So you get up there and start doing street preaching, and whatever your weakness is, the devil has told somebody and they're coming at you. Yay! For so they tested the prophets. Right? All who will desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. First Corinthians 1558 says, Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast. There's that word, hallelujah, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain. No one sees it. It's not in vain. It's really hard for me. It's not in vain. It doesn't seem like anybody appreciates it. It's not in vain Why do we even need to do this? It's not in vain. I don't know if i'm doing the right thing or not It's not in vain. It's not in vain. It's not in vain. It's not in vain It's not in vain and you want to know the the context of first corinthians 15. It's the resurrection When he says therefore He says because jesus has risen again Your work is not in vain Colossians 1 3 through 5 says we always thank God the father of our Lord Jesus Christ when we pray for you since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints because of The hope laid up for you in heaven How did they be able to show that love because sometimes I don't want to love you Sometimes you definitely don't want to love me and you tell me But we have a hope in heaven we have a common goal that we are being brought to flawlessly even though we're faltering by the Lord Jesus Christ himself and we can know that yeah that's right they'll get perfect one day and so will I praise God the hope laid up for you in heaven Instead of pushing yourself, pushing yourself, pushing yourself, feel the wind in your sails pulling you. Hallelujah. Think about that. Think of the peace of that. When peace, like a river, attendeth my way, when sorrows like sea billows roll, Whatever my lot, that was taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. And then it says, in our Lord Jesus Christ, our hope is anchored in a person. My peace is anchored in a person. My joy is anchored in a person. I have to go back to that, renew my mind around that when you aren't giving me peace, man. Or I'm not giving you peace, man. Whatever it may be. All is well in the kingdom. Our hope is anchored in a person. The Thessalonians weren't focused on themselves or their performance or their current situations. Paul wasn't saying, I see how you're growing and you're going to be a member of the parliament. I see how you're growing and you got that first class ticket. No. Steadfastness of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ. He wasn't talking about their current situations. The Thessalonians were sticking with Jesus. You see this evidence in 1 Thessalonians 5 through 10, which we will get to in the following weeks, Lord willing. Let's outline that. The Thessalonians held firm to their conviction, verse 5. despite affliction, verse 6. They stayed focused on Jesus and kept moving forward as an example to all, verse 7 and 8. They were going a new direction, verse 9, and they kept their eyes on their destination, verse 10. Paul, Silas, and Timothy were thankful. But what they saw in the Thessalonians, the marks of faith and love and hope, it was obvious that they were living out what true Christianity looks like. They were living out what God had worked in. They were living out what they said they believed in. These were the seeds of God's work in them bearing fruit. When you see someone grow, you see that God is still doing His work in people. When you see someone stay the course, over the long haul, even in hardship, you see God is continuing to do His work in people. When you see someone turn back to Jesus, you see that God doesn't let His people go. Those who are newer in the faith are an encouragement to those who are mature in the faith. And those who are seasoned in the faith are an example to those who are young in the faith. And those who fall but who get back up, this gives us a cause for praise unto God, who faithfully keeps his people even when they falter. We should remember that in our prayers to God and with open thankfulness to each other. The ministry of confirmation is powerful. Expect it, look for it, be a part of it and thank God for it. Amen. Heavenly father. Would there be those that have been turned around by the cares of this life? Help them to be turned around and renew the joy of their salvation. Those that have not been saved that maybe they're elect, but they haven't been converted. Let there be light that they would see the face of Jesus Christ and come to know Him as Savior and Lord. For those that are doing well and are moving on strong, we thank God for them. We thank God for all of your children, wherever they may be, however they may be doing, because we know what you start, you finish. Help us to work it out, because you are working to will and to do for your good pleasure. In this we pray, in Jesus' name, amen.