TITLE: (MORE AND MORE FOR CHRIST)

Text: 1 Thessalonians 4:1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we

instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.
Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

Objective: To encourage one another to please the Lord and love one
another, in higher level as we hope for Christ arrival.

INTRO:
 Paul focused on the principles of Faith, Hope, and Love
 explained “the day of the Lord”. 
 Motive of the epistle is: To boost their morale in midst of
persecution and clear their confusions about the return of Jesus Christ.
 teaches the church about the resurrection on the last day dahil
sobra silang na concern sa mga yumaong mananampalataya. – sa mga
kapatiran na namatay. Dahil nga sa nangyayaring panguusig ng mga
kapwa nila gentiles, at ng mga Hudyong hindi kumikilala kay Jesus bilang
Panginoon at Tagapagligtas.
 Thessalonians situation because of believing in The
Gospel of Christ preached by Paul and Silas)_

Their Persecution:

✓ Property was being seized.

✓Workers were stopped from practicing their trades.

✓Those who found a new faith were shunned by their families.

✓ insulted, beaten, and put to death.

Paul wrote in Greek and the word ‘trials’ is thlipsis; means ‘pressure.’

At minsan, yung matinding pressure, ay nagiging cause of death.

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Example of extreme pressure: Stampede.

February 4, 2006, PhilSports Stadium Stampede, Wowowee event, Killed 73

people, injured around 800 people.

At ung "pressure" na pinagdadaanan ng Church in Thessalonica ay

matindeng pressure.. for a Baby Church.

Bago palang sila.. Ilang months palang silang converted Christian.. and
ganon na katinde kaagad agad ang kanilang kinakaharap

Kaya grabeh nalang din talaga yung pagaalala ni Apostle Paul sa kanila, at
isa sa worry niya.. Dahil baby Church palang ang Thessalonians, baka
mamatay ung church sa tinde ng pressure.. Kaya, as representative and
pastor..pinadala niya si Timothy as encouragement at mag susupervise sa
kanila. 

Thessalonian Believers despite of great pressure are dedicated Converts,

Masipag silang mag share ng gospel sa iba. They really want to follow and
live according to the Gospel na prineach sa kanila nina Apostle Paul.

Content:
 katulad ng mga taga-thessalonica.. Lahat po tayo ay umaasa
sa pagbabalik ng ating Panginoong Hesus.. (amen po ba?)
 Katulad nila ,
 Umaasa tayo na magtatapos din ang lahat ng kahirapan,
persecutions, struggles, pain, at lahat ng hindi magagandang bagay na
nararanasan natin sa mundong ito ay mapapalitan ng magagandang sa
pagdating ng Panginoong Hesus.
 Looking forward tayo sa
Romans 8:18
During this time now, we have troubles and pain. But I am sure that these
troubles are not really very great. One day God will show us all the great

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things he has prepared for us. That will make the troubles that we have
now seem very small.
Romans 8:18 EASY
Church, We are being reminded this morning na:
 CHRIST IS THE HOPE OF THE CHURCH.
 Church as The Family of God.
 And Church as an Individual.
 Ikaw na Church!
Ang Totoong Pag-Asa mo dapat ay nakasandig sa Panginoong Jesus!
 
 Siya at ang muli Niyang pagdating ay ang pag-asa nating lahat.
Amen.
 As the Return of the Lord approaches, dahil tayo ay nasa End
times.
Di' katulad ng mga believers sa Thessalonians, kung sila.. super expectant
sa pagababalik ni Jesus, dapat mas expectant tayo!
 Alam mo kung bakit? dapat na mas maexcite ka??
 Yung Letter ni Apostle Paul..sa Thessalonians, 49-51 AD pa
naisulat.
 2022 na! Mas Malaki ang posibilidad na madatnan natin
habang tayo’y nabubuhay ang 2nd coming ni Jesus.
 
 Paul have this words and instructions (pampalakas loob) sa
mga kapatiran sa Thessalonica…
 Habang hindi pa dumarating ang Panginoong Hesus.. MORE
PA!
 (explain…. the confusion of other believers, specifically about
2 coming. )
nd

Dahil may mga nagpapakalat ng chismis na dumating na daw ang

Panginoong Jesus, o di kaya naman, sobrang malapit ng bumalik ang
Panginoon.. ang nangyari sa iba…

nagsitigil na sa pagtatrabaho, nagla-laylo na sa paglilingkod, nagwo-worry

para sa mga namatay na kapatiran panuh daw sila?maiiwan daw ba sila sa

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lupa? – they have a mixture of longing and hope sa pagbalik ng
Panginoon.. ..

yung feeling na.. Lord.. dumating kana.. super nahihirapan na kasi kami..
 Hindi lang naman sila ang nabiktima nun, ilang henerasyon na
ang lumipas, at ilang tao na nag predict sa pagdating ng Panginoong
Hesus… YET! Hindi pa dumating…
 (Ang dami ng failed dooms day prediction throughout the
history)
Ex, 2012 Maya Apocalypse, Dec.21.2012
Johannes Stöffler, _ German mathematician and astrologer, predicted that a great flood
would cover the world on February 25, 1524, when all of the known planets would be in
alignment under Pisces, a water sign. Hundreds of pamphlets announcing the coming
flood were issued and set in motion a general panic; Count von Iggleheim, a German
nobleman, went so far as to build a three-story ark. Though there was light rain on the
day of the predicted flood, no actual flooding materialized.

 Chapter 5:1 Now, brothers and sisters, about times and dates
we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the
Lord will come like a thief in the night.
 
The encouragement of Paul for them. And also, applicable up to this
generation. Is to DO MORE AND MORE for Christ while waiting with an
expectant heart for The Lord’s return.
 
In Paul’s letter in 1st Thessalonians. mababasa natin ang “more and more”
instructions sa mga Thessalonian believers at gayon din naman, para sa
atin.
 
The 2 More&More Instruction of Paul
 
1. PLEASE GOD MORE AND MORE
4 :1 As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how-to
live-in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and
urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more.

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 Number one encouragement of this man of God for the
Thessalonians is to PLEASE GOD MORE AND MORE.. In the higher level.
 Sabi niya ‘mga kapatid.. yung ginagawa niyong pagpi-please
sa Diyos, mabuti yan.. ipagpatuloy niyo.. pero! This time.. tindihan niyo pa.
Despite sa lahat ng inyong pinagdadaanan, kayo ay magpatuloy sa inyong
buhay na kinalulugdan ng Diyos, at mas pag-igihan niyo pa. 
Now,
How to please God?
How did the believers in Thessalonica pleased God?
 
Chapter 1:1-3 KJV
 
1Paul, 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.2We give
thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers;
3Remembering 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;
 
1:3 We remember the good things that you do
- You do those things because of faith in Christ
- You work very much because you love Christ
- you continue to hope strongly because of our Lord Jesus Christ
 
 Sa first chapter natin nakita kung anong attitude meron ang
mga Thessalonians believers, at kung paano sila nabuhay para parangalan
ang Diyos.
Inenumerate ni Paul kung ano ba ang kanilang mga ginagawa bilang mga
kristyano na kinalulugdan ng Diyos. Ikinatutuwa ng Diyos.
 
Believers in Thessalonians
work of faith;
Labour of love
Patience of hope
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 The Thessalonians church is a “Model Church” throughout the
letter of Apostle Paul.
 Anong bang ginawa nila?
 They sacrifice everything for the Lord since ng tanggapin nila
ang Panginoong Hesus..
 They surrendered their idols.. Zeus, Aphrodite, worshipping
their emperor Julius Ceasar, sexual orgies, nakasanayang paniniwala,
acts, habit, soul ties, and their lifestyle from their past belief, for the Lord…
 At hindi lang nila ito basta ginawa, hindi lang sila basta bumitaw
at tumalikod sa kinagisnan nilang paniniwala, kundi ginawa nila ang lahat
ng ito ng may pananampalataya.
 WHAT THEY DID IS AN ACT OF FAITH. WORK OF FAITH.
 Nga pala.. Heb. 11:6 NIV
And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who
comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who
earnestly seek him.
 From their convertion, hanggang sa pagkabuo ng church,
hanggang sa paglilingkod nila sa tunay na Diyos..
 Sabi ni Paul, it’s a WORK OF FAITH.
 Ano man ang kanilang isinakripisyo, ginawa, at patuloy na
ginagawa para sa paniniwala sa Panginoong Jesus. Lahat ng ito ay Gawa
ng Pananampalataya.
They Pleased God..Because they do things with Faith in Christ.
 
2nd _ Labour of love.
Ang kanilang mga ginagawa ay dahil sa kanilang pag-ibig sa Panginoong
Jesus.
Ang kanilang paglilingkod at pamumuhay, sa kabila ng lahat ng panggigipit
sa kanila ng mga unbelievers sa Thessalonians, despite sa lahat ng ‘yon..
nagpapatuloy sila dahil “Mahal nila si Jesus.”
 
Tunay na Mahal nila si jesus… kaya damay sa overflowing love nila yung
iba pang believers sa Macedonia, Sa Achaia.

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Kaya nga, “Model Church” Talaga silang tinagurian.. hindi dahil self-
proclaimed, kundi yoon talaga ang tingin sa kanila ng ibang churchers.
Hinahangaan sila sa kanilang didikasyon, at sa kanilang pag-ibig sa iba.
 
3rd Patience of hope
Thessalonians have a great time dealing with persecution, kaya nga… ng
may kumakalat na balitang dumating na daw ang Panginoong Jesus o
malapit na malapit na.. Sobra silang expectant. Sobra silang sabik na
sabik. Dahil sa hirap ng buhay nila sa pagsunod sa bagong
pananampalataya.. gusto na nilang MATAPOS ANG HIRAP. GUSTO NA
NILANG BUMALIK AT KUNIN SILA NG PANGINOONG JESUS PARA
MATAPOS NA.
 
Minsan, ba nasabi mo narin ‘yon? “Lord..dumating kana.. o di kaya naman,
Lord…kunin mo na ako.. hirap na hirap nako dito.”
 
 As a Christian, Dumarating yung kaisipan at pakiramdam natin
na“ok na ako dito”.
 Feel safe- ayus ka naman.. nandun naman ung attitude mo sa
pag-please mo sa Lord.. ayus naman relasyon mo sa Kanya, na-surrender
mo naman yung mga bagay na pinapa-surrender ni Lord, nag se-serve ka
ng may pag-ibig sa Kanya, pero…. HINDI PA ‘YUN UN EH. ALAM MO SA
SARILI MO NA.. HINDI PA ETO YUN.. MAY MAS-PA… MAY MAS
ITITINDI PA YUNG PAG-PLEASE MO SA LORD… Deep within your
heart… ALAM MO NA MERON PANG ITATAAS YUNG ESTADO NG
RELASYON MO SA DIYOS..
 ‘yun ung mensaheng gustong iparating nina Paul… at
mensaheng gusto din iparating ng Diyos sa churches hanggang ngayon.
 Oo! Namumuhay kayo ngayon na pini-please niyo ang Diyos..
despite sa mga pinagdadaanan niyo, despite sa kahirapan na kinahaharap
niyo.. despite sa mga paguusig.. pero.. tindihan niyo pa.. more pa!
 Paul was so concern na para siyang nanay na alalang-alala sa
mga anak niya habang nasa malayo siya.. gusto man niyang mapuntahan
at makasama ulit sila, hindi niya magawa…

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2:18 For we wanted to come to you- certainly I, Paul, did, again and again
– but Satan stopped us.
 
 Paul, knows.. na “kapag mas mahirap ang sitwasyon,
kailangang itaas ang lebel ng relasyon sa Diyos.” Alam ni Paul, na
kailangan ng mas matinding
- pananampalataya at tiwala sa Diyos
- pag-ibig
- pag-asa
 kapag mas nagiging mahirap na ang sitwasyon kailangan mas
tumindi ang kapit sa Panginoon.
 
 dahil hindi papasa ang LEVEL 3 NA FAITH sa LEVEL 7 na
PERSECUTION.
 Kapag mas mataas ang lebel ng paghihirap dahil sa
pananampalataya sa Panginoon, kailangang tapatan ng mas mataas na
antas ng relasyon, tiwala, at pananampalataya sa Diyos.
  
 PLEASE GOD MORE AND MORE
Through: living a holy life in a higher level. 4:7 For God did not call us to be
impure, but to live a holy life.
 
 
2. LOVE ONE ANOTHER MORE AND MORE.
4:9-10
9Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for
you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. 10And in fact,
you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you,
brothers and sisters, to do so more and more
 
 2nd encouragement is to LOVE ONE ANOTHER MORE AND
MORE.
 Alam ni Paul na napaka-laki ng puso ng mga taga-
thessalonica.. to the point na hindi lang sila-sila yung nagiibigan kundi pati
iba pang churches ay love na love din nila. Kaya nga, sila ang “role model”
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ng mga taga Macedonia and Achaia dahil sa paglilingkod nila sa Diyos at
sa pag-ibig nila sa Panginoon at sa iba.
But Paul’s instruction is, to LOVE ONE ANOTHER MORE AND MORE.
 
How did they become a loving church?
Chapter 1
4For we know, brothers and sisters b loved by God, that he has chosen
you, 5because our gospel came to you not simply with words but also with
power, with the Holy Spirit and deep conviction. You know how we lived
among you for your sake. 6You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for
you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy
given by the Holy Spirit. 7And so you became a model to all the believers in
Macedonia and Achaia. 8The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in
Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere.
Therefore, we do not need to say anything about it,
 
How did they become a loving church?
First_ Welcome the Message_ welcome The Gospel.
Hindi natin kayang magmahal kung hindi natin iaallow ang “Mensahe ng
Diyos” na pumasok at pakialaman ang puso naten.
It is the Word of God that transforms us.
We cannot love others sa ganang lakas lang naten.
Hindi natin kayang magkaroon ng pakealam, unless nalang.. Hayaan natin
si Lord na bigyan tayo ng pake.

The gospel makes them;

° imitators
° role model
 
 Sa panahon ng kagipitan, ng mga kanya-kanyang struggles,
personal man o bilang isang church. Dapat na tumataas ang lebel ng pag-
ibig natin sa isa’t isa.
 Paul instructs Thessalonians to increase their love for one
another dahil kinakailangan!

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 Gustong sabihin ni Paul na, “ Oo! Mahal niyo ang isa’t isa..
grabe kayo kung umibig sa kapwa niyo mananampalataya.. pero sa mga
pinagdadaanan niyo ngayon.. kailangan niyo pang tindihan! More pa!
 
Conflict: Isa sa mga kinaharap na problema ng Thessalonians ay ang mga
kapatiran nila sa loob ng church na nag-si-si-back slide.. bumabalik sa dati
nilang buhay… sa dati nilang religious belief and practices and habits.

Ang mga Gentiles sa Thessalonica, Before sila maconvert into Christianity.

Isa sa mga patron gods nila ay si Dionysus.. god of fertility, god of lust,
and earthly desires. Ito yung diyos nila na nag-mo-motivate sa kanila na
“magpakasaya ka!” “pagbigyan mo sarili mo”.
naniniwala ang mga followers ni Dionysus na siya ang daan para makamit
nila ang pangalawa nilang buhay na kung saan wala ng hirap, wala ng
sakit, wala ng batas na humahadlang sa kanila, a life like a paradise..
They worship him through.. unity in having an open space intercourse , and
in high level of happiness..o walwalan. The god who can put an affect of
Ecstasy in ancient Greece.
 That’s their former life before they accepted Jesus as their
Savior..
 Kaya pagdating ng chapter 4 verse 3- pinagdiinan ni Paul ang
sanctification through avoiding sexual immorality;
 Church, we are in the generation na kung saan- pataas na ng
pataas ang IMMORALITY.
 (Ex: Videoclip about GENDER DECISION MAKING.)

 As a church, may kailangan tayong gawin.. WE NEED TO

PROTECT EACH OTHER.
 KAILANGAN PO NATING PROTEKSYONAN ANG ISA’T ISA
LABAN SA PANDARAYA NG MUNDO,
 Pero hindi natin kayang proteksyonan ang isa’t isa.. kung
nagkukulang na tayo sa pag-ibig.. o nagiging moderate nalang ang love sa
loob ng simbahan.
 Sa panahong ito na kung saan patindi na ng patindi ang
kasalanan na pilit humahatak sa kapwa natin mananampalataya pabalik sa
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dati niyang buhay.. ang pwedeng promotekta sa kanya/kanila ay ang pag-
ibig mo.
 WE NEED A HIGHER LEVEL OF LOVE AS A CHURCH.
 You cannot protect them in a higher level , kung hindi naman
umaangat nag lebel ng ating pagmamahal.

 Nagbigay pa ng dagdag na instruction si Paul,

 5:14 and we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle,
encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone 15make sure
that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each
other and everyone else.
 At aming ipinamamanhik sa inyo, mga kapatid, na inyong
paalalahanan ang mga manggugulo, palakasin ang mga mahihinang-loob,
alalayan ang mga mahihina, at maging mapagpahinuhod kayo sa lahat. 15
Tingnan nga ninyo na huwag gumanti ang sinoman ng masama sa
masama; nguni't sundin ninyong lagi ang mabuti, ang isa'y sa iba, at sa
lahat.
 As the day of the Lord approaches, hindi lang natin kailangang
bantayang maigi ang ating mga kanya-kanyang relasyon sa Panginoon,
kundi ganun din naman ang kalagayan ng ating mga kapatid sa Panginoon.

CONCLUSION:
 CHURCH, HABANG TAYO’Y UMAASA SA MULING
PAGDATING NG ATING PANGINOONG HESUS..
LET OUR LOVE, OBEDIENCE, COMMITMENT, FIRE, SERVANTHOOD,
AND LOVE FOR EACH OTHER GROW MORE AND MORE.
 HABANG HINIHINTAY NATIN ANG MULING PAGDATING NG
PANGINOON..
 CHURCH, HOPE FOR CHRIST MORE AND MORE.
 SA KABILA NG LAHAT NG PINAGDADAANAN NG BAWAT
ISA AT BILANG ISANG CHURCH – MAS LALO NAMANG ITAAS NATIN
ANG LEBEL NG ATING PAG-ASA SA PANGINOONG HESUS.
 Paul says in his final instructions 5:16 Be joyful always; 17 pray
continually; 18give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you
in Christ Jesus. 19Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20Avoid every kind of evil.
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 Katulad ng mga Thessalonians, kailangan nating mas tindihan
ang pag-pi-please natin sa Diyos at pag-ibig sa isa’t isa, while we wait on
the Lord.
 Huwag nawang maging casual ang pamumuhay natin para sa
Diyos, at pag-ibig natin sa kapwa dahil nakasanayan nalang.. dahil
nakagawian nalang.
 Nawa habang papalapit ng papalapit ang pagdating ng
Panginoong Hesus, lalo naman na lumalim ang ating relasyon sa Kanya at
sa loob ng pamilya ng Diyos.

Altar call:

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