Our text for the message on Sunday evening will be I Thess. 1:2-4. We will spend the majority of our time unpacking the wealth of wisdom given to us specifically in verse 3. Since we won’t have much time for verses 2 & 4 in the message, I thought it would be good to look a little more deeply at those two verses.
In I Thess. 1:2, Paul is inspired of God to write, “We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers." Of the seven churches to which Paul writes, six of them receive the encouraging news that Paul continually prayed for them.

Rom. 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;

I Cor. 1:4 I thank my God always on your behalf, for the grace of God which is given you by Jesus Christ;

Eph. 1:15-16 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints, Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

Phil. 1:3-4 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy,

Col. 1:3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

I Thess. 1:2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;

     Not only did Paul pray for these churches, but we are also told he prayed for Timothy (II Tim. 1:3) and Philemon, (Philemon 1:4). Consider all that Paul did in his lifetime. He was a man always on the go. From mission trips, to preaching sermons, to writing epistles, to making tents, to visiting in the markets it seems as if the man never sat still. Yet one thing we find that Paul made time for was to take the names of others to the Throne of Grace!
With all of the modern day conveniences we have it seems we are busier than ever. How we need to learn from the example of the Apostle Paul! If we ever get too busy to pray we are just too busy! Our Savior exemplified this truth as well. Whether it was praying all night or rising a great while before day, Jesus always made time to intimately commune with our Heavenly Father!
The other verse that we won’t be able to thoroughly study in the service on Sunday is I Thess. 1:4, so let me share with you a little more information on that passage than I will be able to in the service. Paul writes under the inspiration of God, “Knowing, brethren beloved, your election of God.” We will examine why Paul knew of their election on Sunday, but I want to discuss with you just what election is. The doctrine of election has long been debated and discussed by Bible scholars much more knowledgeable than I, so I do not presume to have all of the answers.
     Sometimes, though, the best way to understand something is to first understand what it is not! Election is not a doctrine that teaches God has reserved some for hell and some for Heaven. There are several verses of Scripture that teach God has chosen certain people for certain things but none of them teach that God has predetermined anyone’s eternal destiny. Actually, many verses speak to the contrary. In II Pet. 3:9 we read, “The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” Again, in I Tim. 2:3-4 the Word of God says, “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” The will of God or the desire of God is that all would come to repentance and be saved. Why would God predetermine something against His own will? It seems kind of foolish to think that God would do something exactly opposite of what He wants, doesn’t it? I would think He has enough trouble with us doing that!
     Not only are we told in Scripture that God’s will is for all to be saved, but we’re also told that man has a choice as to whether or not he follows God’s will. Jesus said in Matt. 23:37, “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!” Then in Jn. 5:39-40, Jesus says, “Search the scriptures; for in them ye think ye have eternal life: and they are they which testify of me. And ye will not come to me, that ye might have life.” We could look at several other Scriptures, but these two passages plainly show people making choices contrary to God’s will. It’s not a good idea to do that, but it can be done!
     So if election is not God predetermining some for Heaven and some for hell, what is it? What I’m about to say is not meant to be sarcastic. One thing I appreciate about those who call themselves Calvinists (those who believe God has predestined some for Heaven and some for hell) is that they always emphasize God’s glory. Part of the reason Calvinists say man has no choice in salvation is because they feel as if this gives glory to man. However, when we look at the most commonly used passage to support the stance that election is God predetermining certain people to certain places the Calvinists all of a sudden forget to keep the focus on God and instead focus on people. Here’s what I mean.
     Ephesians 1:3-6 reads, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ: According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved.” If you read that and focus on the personal pronouns like “us” and “we” it would be easy to come away with the idea that we were chosen before the foundation of the world. But, if you go back and read the passage focusing instead on Jesus the passage takes on a different meaning. For instance, in verse 3 note the phrase “in Christ” instead of “blessed us.” In verse 4 focus on the phrase “in him” instead of “chosen us.” Fix your attention in verse 5 on the phrase “by Jesus Christ” instead of “predestinated us.” Finally, in verse 6, while it is wonderful that He has “made us accepted,” I would suggest that the predetermined part of that verse is “in the beloved.” In other words, I would suggests that the predetermined thing is the plan not the people! What has been elected is not the “who” but the “how”.
     Peter gives evidence to this truth as well. Listen to what he writes in I Peter 1:18-20. “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.” Jesus was foreordained before the foundation of the world to be the Lamb without spot or blemish. Jesus is the predetermined One!
     God’s invitation is not extended to an elect few! Romans 10:13 declares, “For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.” Revelation 22:17 instructs us that “…the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.” Isaiah 55:1 calls to “… every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price.” And from the lips of our Savior come these words in John 7:37. “In the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried, saying, If any man thirst, let him come unto me, and drink.” I’m thankful that salvation is indeed for whosoever will!