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THESSALONIAN MISSIONS
WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 24
Acts 17:1-9

John 3:17-18

 

“He that believeth on him
is not condemned: but he that

believeth not is condemned already…”

 

THESSALONIAN MISSIONS
 
In every missions field, the scriptures must be the basis in preaching and teaching. After being released from the Philippi prison, Paul and Silas went to Thessalonica via Amphipolis and Apollonia. As usual Paul first visited the synagogue where he knew the Jews could be found. He always followed the pattern: “to the Jew first” (Rom 1:16). Having found a synagogue, the Apostle Paul expounded from the Old Testament the prophecy fulfilled in the Lord Jesus Christ. As the city was full of idolatry, Paul’s message pointed out this grave sin among the Thessalonians.
 
Reasoned out of the Scriptures: There were some who were determined to listen. The Thessalonians listened to Paul’s preaching for three Sabbath days. The idea of “reasoned” in Acts 17:2 refers to the preaching, “opening” (Acts 17:3) to expounding and “alleging” (Acts 17:3) to setting forth the Word of God. Paul never forgot the resurrection as the climax of his gospel presentation. Some of those who listened believed, specifically mentioned were the Greeks, the Gentiles. And there were not a few who believed but a great multitude.
 
Removed out of the city: However, the unbelieving Jews were envious and gathered people in marketplaces to cause trouble and to attack the believers. As they could not get to the Apostles, they proceeded to harm the new believers who had received the missionaries. There will always be those who receive the vent of anger from the enemy. They wanted Paul ejected from their place, or might even have wanted him killed if possible.
 
The missions in Thessalonica in spite of rejection brought forth fruit that Paul commended in his letter to them. Read 1 Thessalonians 1:5-7.
 
Let not the Word of God preached to us be wasted and bear no fruit. May those whom God had moved to bring to us the gospel have good memories of us. Let us in turn be good testimonies that others too may receive blessings from us as we have been blessed in the past.
 
THOUGHT: Am I trusting in the power of the gospel to save?

PRAYER: Father, let my life be a holy vessel of blessings.

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