Good morning. We are now in first Thessalonians. Again we may cover things that we have covered before. Our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction; just as you know what kind of men we proved to be among you for your sake. Paul did not just say a bunch of words to them. His words were legitimized by the demonstration of the power of the Holy Spirit. Signs are supposed to follow the preaching of the word of God. Too many preachers have good sounding words and style, but there is no power behind the words. Sometimes preachers say words that they don't really believe in. They don't have conviction in their words. Traveling evangelists come in, say a bunch of words, and then leave. You never get to know them personally – to see if they live up to their words. Wherever Paul preached, he would usually spend time there - sometimes even years. The people got to know him – to see that he lived what he preached. You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit. Because of what they saw in his life, they imitated him. If we have good spiritual leaders, we will be able to imitate their lives also. They will lead by example. They turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who delivers us from the wrath to come. Some of the people he was writing to, prior to his coming to them, had served idols. Those idols represented dead, false gods. Now they were serving the true living God. They had deserved the wrath of God; now they were enjoying the love of God. Father thank You that the reader lives a life that is worth imitating. Others can follow him/her as he/she follows Jesus. Meet all of his/her needs.

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