THESSALONICA: EXCEL STILL MORE

The Worthy Walk – 2 Thes. 11-12

Thessalonica

The Character Of Our Walk

2 Thessalonians 1:11-12 -- To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Our Walk Characterized By Worthiness

• We aren’t worthy?

• Matthew 8:8 -- But the centurion said, “Lord, I am not worthy for You to come under my roof, but just say the word, and my servant will be healed.

Matthew 10:37

• “He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me.”

Matthew 22:1-14 King gave a wedding feast for

His son. Invited guests unwilling to

come. King destroys them. “The wedding is ready, but

those who were invited were not worthy.”

One improperly dressed thrown out.

What Is Worthy?

• Colossians 1:9-12 – “…we have not ceased to pray for you…so that you will walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, to please Him in all respects, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for the attaining of steadfastness and patience; joyously giving thanks to the Father….”

Pleasing Him In All Respects

1 Thessalonians 4:1 --Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us {instruction} as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.

What Pleases God?

Micah 6:8 – “He has told you, O man, what is good; And what does the LORD require of you But to do justice, to love kindness, And to walk humbly with your God?

Bearing Fruit John 15:2,5--

"Every branch in Me that does not bear fruit, He takes away; and every {branch} that bears fruit, He prunes it so that it may bear more fruit…he who abides in Me and I in him, he bears much fruit….”

Growing in Knowledge

2 Corinthians 4:6 -- For God, who said, "Light shall shine out of darkness," is the One who has shone in our hearts to give the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Christ.

Strengthened With Power

Ephesians 3:16 – “…that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with power through His Spirit in the inner man….”

Learning Steadfastness and Patience

Steadfastness because of confidence in God’s power and word

Patience according to God’s might

Illustration – “of His might” vs. “according to His might”.

Living Thankfully

• 1 Thessalonians 5:18 – “…in everything give thanks; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.”

Characterized By Goodness

…and fulfill every desire for goodness…

Romans 15:14 – “And concerning you, my brethren, I myself also am convinced that you yourselves are full of goodness….

Fruit of the Spirit

Characterized By Faith and Power

Romans 10:17 – “So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ.”

Source Of The Power

Romans 1:16 – “I’m not ashamed of the gospel…for it is the power of God for salvation….”

Romans 15:13 – “…abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

2 Corinthians 4:7 – “But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, so that the surpassing greatness of the power will be of God and not from ourselves.”

The Goal Of Our Walk

2 Thessalonians 1:12 – “…so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

We Walk A Worthy Walk So That…

The name of the Lord will be glorified.

The church, the body of Christ will be glorified.

Because we are vessels of the grace of God and Christ.