“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.” (1 Thessalonians 1:8)
KJV Bible
If you spend time on social media, you will know the term “viral.” It is a unique phenomenon where a certain post, blog, or video spreads rapidly around the internet due to its popularity. Many social media influencers live for the moment when something they post goes viral. It is the holy grail of social media and the latest craze of the last 5 years. However, going “viral” is not new. Long before it was hip (now I am showing my age) to be viral, the Thessalonican believer’s testimony experienced the same phenomenon.
Our verse for this week testifies that their testimony of faith in Christ “spread abroad.” In other words, it circulated throughout the entire regions of Macedonia and Achaia. It did so in a day and age where there were no technological advancements like today. There was no internet or phone system. Even the telegram was nonexistent in their day. How things became viral was simply through word of mouth. It is incredible to think of the impact these believers made upon each person they met. Their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ was so profound and evident that word spread like wildfire across Greece and Rome.
Note that from them, the word of the Lord “sounded out.” This is an excellent word in the Greek language. The phrase “sounded out” is a Greek compound word. Its base is the word “echos,” from which we get our English word “echo.” Most of us who have hearing enjoy hearing a good echo. Perhaps you have stood inside a cave or cavern and yelled to hear your voice reverberate against its great walls. Here, at our church, we have a gymnasium. Sometimes, in that gymnasium, when I am working on a project by myself, I begin to sing some of the great hymns. As I do, the gym echoes my voice.
The phrase “sound out” in our text goes deeper than just a simple echo. Remember, it is a compound word. Added to the word “echos” is the Greek preposition “ek” meaning “out of” or “from the midst of.” When combined together, we have the sense of a great sound reverberating out with much noise. Many translate it as sounding forth like a trumpet or thunder. It is then a powerful sound that cannot be avoided. Again, I am sure that many of you, like me, experienced the sound of thunder so loud that it shook your house or jerked you out of deep sleep. That is the sense of this word. These believers possessed such great faith in God, His Word, and the gospel of Christ that it sounded out as a great noise. People in their towns, communities, and the entire region were shaken by their faith in the Lord. Oh, how we need such believers today! We need people of faith whose obedience and devotion to the Lord shake the very foundations of unbelievers all around. Many believers are far too comfortable with the things of this world instead of witnessing for Christ. It was not the case for the Thessalonican believers.
It is interesting to note one other impact of their faith going viral. As he is led by the Holy Spirit to pen these words, Paul testifies that their faith’s viral spread helped his cause immensely as he traveled through those regions. Note that they “need not to speak any thing.” Their belief in Christ was so great and wonderful that God used it powerfully. Literally, their testimony paved the way for Paul. I am sure that it was a welcome relief to Paul. If you read the story of Paul in the book of Acts, you will find time and time again the great persecution he faced in many towns and villages. However, now, things were calmer due to their testimony which “sounded forth” and “spread,” leading others to see and know the gospel long before Paul’s arrival. Here is one last thought from this verse. Times were difficult during the days of the Thessalonican believers. Even though their faith spread throughout the regions around them, they still suffered much. Such was the case for many believers at the height of the Roman Empire. We know from Scripture and history how many believers of the Lord Jesus Christ were put to death. Persecution came in many forms. They were persecuted by their government, families, neighbors, and many others. However, amid great difficulty, they stood without wavering, believing the promises of God. Their testimony still stands even today as an encouragement to us. There is no doubt that we are living in a society that is increasingly anti-God and anti-Christian. And, without a doubt, things are not going to get better. We are in the end game, so to speak. Scripture repeatedly tells about the last days and how men will be increasingly selfish as they turn against God. Yet, now is not the time to give up. Instead, now more than ever, we must live out our faith in God, the gospel, and the glorious promises of God’s Word. Living it out in such a way that God can use us in “sounding out” to all of America and beyond the life-saving message of the gospel. May God use us in making His salvation plan go viral!