In today's Epistle 1 Thessalonians 2:9-13, the apostle Paul declares his sincere desire to follow Jesus Christ as Messiah, in living the Paschal Mystery. After his dramatic encounter and transformation with the Glorified Christ (ADONAI) on the way to Damascus, Paul taught and modeled agape love, self-sacrifice and sincere service for the sake of the Gospel of Christ (Acts 9:3-7). By embracing and facilitating the death of the mind of the flesh in his life, Paul experienced spiritual resurrection, spiritual awakening and Christ-centered formation. In the mind of the spirit, he developed great power and zeal for the salvation and Christ-centered formation of souls. Paul's life manifested God's grace and brotherly love within the Thessalonian witnessing paschal faith community (Thessalonians 2:9).
Paul's evangelistic and pastoral ministries involved steadfast spiritual labors and travail for the deliverance and liberation of souls from slavery to the sins of the mind of the flesh. In the midst of their generous giving however, Paul ministry remained self- supported. He zealously labored day and night to lead this witnessing paschal faith community, to deeper personal and collective encounters with the indwelling Christ (ADONAI), through their spiritual bodies (Colossians 1:24-29, Thessalonians 2:9).
Before his conversion, Paul was a good example of great zeal for religion believed, taught and practiced in the mind of the flesh. He wanted to punish and destroy those believers in his religion, who chose to follow Jesus Christ, and live their lives in the mind of the of the spirit. With greater zeal, Paul's affirmation, proclamation and practical application of the gospel of Christ after his conversion and transformation were blameless and pleasing to God. His message, ministry, behavior and life continue provide excellent examples for believers in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, who choose to follow Jesus Christ in living the Paschal Mystery (1 Thessalonians 2:10).
Paul exhorted the Thessalonians in ways to avoid and shun various forms of evil. He taught then how to choose between truth and error. His teaching of the Gospel as the Paschal Mystery provided true comfort for these believers in the midst of their persecution and suffering. In the mind of the spirit Paul proclaimed, affirm and manifested the presence, power and work of the Holy Spirit and Christ (ADONAI) within and through his and their spiritual bodies. In the power of the Holy Spirit, they were faithful in offering true and laudable service to God and one another (1 Thessalonians 2:11).
Because Paul and these believers walked by faith and not by sight, they experienced deliverance from slavery to sin. In the mind of the spirit they realized rest for their souls in the midst of persecution. In the power of the Holy Spirit they lived Christ-centered lives, bearing the fruit of the spirit. Their daily Christ-centered walk involved steadfastly followed Jesus Christ and Paul in living the Paschal Mystery, and revealing God's kingdom and glory, on earth as it is in heaven (1 Thessalonians 2:12).
Because they believed, embraced and appropriated Paul's message of the Gospel of Christ as the authentic Word of God, their lives revealed God's heavenly promises. They took the Gospel as the Word in their hearts, and in the power of the Holy Spirit, their lives manifested the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-26). Paul gave unceasing praise and thanks to God because these believers received and demonstrated the truth of the magnificent promises found in the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
The universal Gospel of Christ, as revealed in the life, teaching and ministry of Jesus Christ and the apostle Paul, can be taught, understood and applied in all traditions, religions, cultures, ethnic and secular groups, in the mind of the spirit (John 3:14-18, Colossians 1:26-29). Deliverance from slavery to sin and passing over into the freedom, love and abundant life of God, are available to all person through repentance and faith in Christ (ADONAI), in the spiritual body all persons. Are you willing to embrace the authentic of the Gospel of Christ and follow Jesus Christ and Paul in living the Paschal Mystery, here on earth, in the mind of the spirit?
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