1-4 Paul, and Silvanus, and Timotheus, unto the church of the Thessalonians which is in God the Father and in the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
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;
Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.
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I Thessalonians 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.
The word came in power and much assurance ... We see the power when that word is able to change our directions and to cause us to do differently than the flesh would have us do. When we think of that change in us, that is real power. We could try to make that change by our own will. We would fail. But the power of God is there in that word to make that change in us. It also causes us to have faith in God, knowing it was of God and not ourselves. Therefore we have much assurance in God through this power of God by HIS Word.
I know a woman who was a drunkard. She wanted to quit drinking and many times she had told her husband she was going to quit only to fail. But one day "something happened" to her. She went to her husband and told him she was going to quit drinking. He didn't believe her. But this time, because "something had happened to her" she was different. Now she found she wanted to read Bible. She wanted to hear people speak about God. She didn't realize she had been born again by the will of God.
Romans 9:25 God says ... I will call them MY people, which were not MY people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.
Romans 10:20 God says ... I was found of them that sought ME not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after ME.
Isaiah 65:1 I am sought of them that asked not for ME; I am found of them that sought ME not: I said, Behold ME, behold ME, unto a nation that was not called by MY name.
They weren't even looking for God. God just revealed HIMSELF to them, giving them HIS Spirit by HIS choice. Causing them to be born again, changed instantly! A miracle of birth.
John 1:13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
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I Thessalonians 1:5-10 And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost:
So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia.
For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
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;
And to wait for HIS Son from heaven, whom HE raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.
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