1 Thessalonians 4:1-2 Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more. ("excel still more," NASB "do this more and more," NIV "abound still more," DARBYS and "but make more progress still." NJB) 2 For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
Paul’s Priority Message for the Thessalonian Church
1 Thessalonians 2:17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
You Excel still More
1 Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:
Why this Exhortation?
1 Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.
The word translated in other passages as:
Matthew 5:20 …..exceed 1 Cor 8:8 are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
1 Cor 14:12 seek that ye may excel to the edifying of the church.
They were doing very well
1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers; 3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
* They were a Exemplary Church
1 Thessalonians 1:7-8 So that you became an example to all those who have faith in Christ in Macedonia and Achaia. 8 For not only was the word of the Lord sounding out from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but in every place your faith in God is made clear; so that we have no need to say anything.
I want you to excel to a greater extent
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another. 10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
Paul aimed at Excellency
Philippians 3:12-14 Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
Excel In view of His Coming
1 Thessalonians 3:12-13 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
Parable of the Talents
Luke 19:12-13 He said therefore, A certain nobleman went into a far country to receive for himself a kingdom, and to return. 13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. 15 And it came to pass, that when he was returned, having received the kingdom, then he commanded these servants to be called unto him, to whom he had given the money, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading.
Your position in the kingdom will be in proportion to the degree you Excel
Luke 19:16-19 Then came the first, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained ten pounds. 17 And he said unto him, Well, thou good servant: because thou hast been faithful in a very little, have thou authority over ten cities. 18 And the second came, saying, Lord, thy pound hath gained five pounds. 19 And he said likewise to him, Be thou also over five cities.
1. Napkin Christian
Luke 19:20 And another came, saying, Lord, behold, here is thy pound, which I have kept laid up in a napkin: 22 And he saith unto him, Out of thine own mouth will I judge thee, thou wicked servant.
Daniel had Excellent Spirit
Daniel 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit was in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Be Skilled Man
2 Chronicles 2:5,7 And the house which I build is great: for great is our God above all gods.7 And now, send to me a skilled man to work in gold, and in silver, and in bronze, and in iron, and in purple, and crimson, and violet, and knowing how to engrave all kinds of engravings with the skilled men who are with me in Judah and in Jerusalem, whom my father David has prepared.
Show forth the Excellencies of Him
1 Peter 2:9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people (chosen by Him to be special people above all others); that ye should shew forth the praises excellencies of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light:
Be Like Your Father in Heaven
Matthew 5:44-48 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.
2. Bare minimum
Matthew 19:20-22 The young man saith unto him, All these things have I kept from my youth up: what lack I yet? 21 Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me. 22 But when the young man heard that saying, he went away sorrowful: for he had great possessions.
3. Better than thou
1 Corinthians 10:11-12 Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come. 12 Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
4. Immature Christian
Hebrews 5:12 For when for the time ye ought to be teachers, ye have need that one teach you again which be the first principles of the oracles of God; and are become such as have need of milk, and not of strong meat.
5. Sleepy Stagnant Christian
1 Thessalonians 5:6-7 Therefore let us not sleep, as do others; but let us watch and be sober (in touch with divine reality). 7 For they that sleep sleep in the night; and they that be drunken are drunken in the night.
6. Complacent Christian
Revelation 3:15,17 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and HAVE NEED OF NOTHING; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
7. Virtuous Christian
1 Thessalonians 4:10 And indeed ye do it toward all the brethren which are in all Macedonia: but we beseech you, brethren, that ye increase more and more;
8. Excellent Christian
Proverbs 31:29 Many daughters have done virtuously (done well), but thou excellest (gone up above, better than) them all.
You can never have enough
Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
Always Abounding
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.
You Can do it…
1 Corinthians 15:10 But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Evil men & Iniquity on its Increase
2 Tim 3:13 But evil men and seducers shall wax worse and worse, deceiving, and being deceived.
Matthew 24:12 And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold.
Let’s Learn From Thessalonians Church
2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is meet, because that your faith groweth exceedingly (Present active), and the charity of every one of you all toward each other aboundeth (Present active); 4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience [Hupomone - Endurance] and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
They were Growing in Faith
1 Thessalonians 2:13 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.
They adding Works
1 Thessalonians 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
They were labouring
Hebrews 6:10 For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.
They were Enduring
1 Thessalonians 1:4 So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience [Hupomone - Endurance] and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure:
Let Us Put on
1 Thessalonians 5:8 But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.
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