1 Thessalonians 2:13 - God's Word Works Effectively in the Believer.

1Th.2:13: God's Word Works Effectively in the Believer.

1 Th 2:13 (KJV)  For this cause also thank we God without 
ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, 
ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the 
word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe. 

1 Th 2:13 (NIV)  And we also thank God continually because, when 
you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted 
it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, 
which is at work in you who believe. 

1 Th 2:13 (EAV)  And we also [especially] thank God continually 
for this, that when you received the message of God [which you 
heard] from us, you welcomed it not as the word of [mere] men, but as 
it truly is, the Word of God, which is effectually at work in you 
who believe [exercising its superhuman power in those who adhere to 
and trust in and rely on it]. 

Received. This word appears twice in this verse and is the 
rendering of two different Greek verbs. The first means the external 
reception, the hearing of the message; the second refers to the internal 
reception, the acceptance of the message. [SDA Commentary] 

Effectually worketh. When accepted into the life, the word does 
its divinely appointed task. [SDA Commentary] 

"To believe:" "to place confidence in, to trust," signifies, in 
this sense of the word, reliance upon, not mere credence. (Vine's 
Expository Dictionary) 

In you that believe. The effectual working of the word operates 
in the Christian through faith. The word of God profits only when 
it is "mixed with faith" in those who hear (Heb. 4:2). The gospel 
is "the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth" 
(Rom. 1:16). In one of Paul's great benedictions, he tells how God is 
able to do for us far more than we can ask or think by "the power 
that worketh in us" (Eph. 3:20). [SDA Commentary] 

Scripture is words physically produced by humans but also 
miraculously inspired by God. Scripture works in the heart of believers 
creating their faith and leading them to obey the gospel..... God's people 
recognize divine revelation through faith. We accept His Word as His Word 
and not as the word of a human being. Acceptance means more than 
hearing and affirming. It means obeying. [Disciple SB] 

The essence of faith consists in believing and receiving what 
God has revealed, and may be defined as that trust in the God of the 
Scriptures and in Jesus Christ whom He has sent, which receives Him as Lord 
and Savior and impels to loving obedience and good works (John 1:12; 
James 2:14-26). The particular uses of faith give rise to its 
secondary definitions: (1) For salvation, faith is personal trust, apart 
from meritorious works, in the Lord Jesus Christ as delivered because 
of our offenses and raised again because of our justification (Rom 
4:5, 23-25; 5:1). (2) As used in prayer, faith is the "confidence 
that we have in him, that if we ask anything according to his will, 
he heareth us" (1 John 5:14-15). (3) As used in reference to unseen 
things of which Scripture speaks, faith gives "substance" to them, so 
that we act upon the conviction of their reality (Heb 11:1-3). And 
(4) as a working principle in life, the uses of faith are 
illustrated in this chapter. [Scofield SB re Heb.11:1] 

There's a long tradition of suffering linked with Christian 
commitment. Things don't automatically get better. They may get worse! When 
those we love suffer for their faith, we can hurt with them. But we 
must remember that suffering is nothing new. What is new is the fact 
that God's Word is at work in us. And in this we can rejoice. [The 
365-Day Devotional Commentary] 

2 Cor 3:18 (TEV)  All of us, then, reflect the glory of the Lord 
with uncovered faces; and that same glory, coming from the Lord, who 
is the Spirit, transforms us into his likeness in an ever greater 
degree of glory.  

James 2:19-20 (NLT)  Do you still think it's enough just to 
believe that there is one God? Well, even the demons believe this, and 
they tremble in terror! Fool! When will you ever learn that faith 
that does not result in good deeds is useless? 

Mat 7:24 (CWR)  The ones who respect me and really love me are 
the ones who do what I ask them to do. They are like the man who 
built his house on solid rock.  

James 1:22 (KJV)  But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers 
only, deceiving your own selves.  

Matthew 7:21 (KJV)  Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, 
Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the 
will of my Father which is in heaven.  

Dear Child, I watch you laboring and fretting and anxiously 
striving to achieve things for me and my kingdom.  Hear me.  Your work is 
not my primary concern.  Your work is now, has always been, and 
always will be secondary to your relationship with me. What you do will 
flow out of your relationship with me as irrigation streams flow out 
of a deep, clear, powerful river.  The river (the relationship) 
will set your motives and supply your strength.  Then your work will 
flow forth to honor me.  Any time you allow your work to come ahead 
of your relationship with me, you risk working against me and my 
purposes. Draw near to me and rest.  Seek my will at every small turn.  
Listen for my voice.  Be filled with my Spirit.  Then work with joy and 
abandon! The Source of your power, God [Postcards from Heaven by Claire 
Cloninger re Isa.40:31] 

All the kids called him "Grandpa." He was a plumber with an 
eighth-grade education. But no one was more articulate about Jesus Christ 
than Grandpa Craig. Kids from all over spent a lot of time with 
Grandpa--eating popcorn in his living room, having Bible studies, praying, just 
"shooting the breeze." No matter where the conversation wandered, though, 
Grandpa would always bring it around to Jesus. Whenever we were talking 
about school or dating or the future, Grandpa would say, "That reminds 
me of something Jesus said....." or, "That's just like when 
Jesus......" and he would reveal new insights to us about Jesus. Grandpa's 
life was filled with the really of Jesus' presence. On Saturday 
afternoons, we would sometimes take long walks with Grandpa. He would point 
to the countryside and say, "Now, that's Jesus' way of showing us 
how much he loves us. He made all these things for us to enjoy." 
Grandpa saw Jesus in everything around him. "See how the sun goes down 
so faithfully every evening?" he would ask. "That shows how 
faithful Jesus is to us. Just like the sun, he never lets us down." When 
anyone wondered how to act toward a new kid in school, Grandpa would 
ask, "How would Jesus act if he were in school?" Problems with 
parents? "What would Jesus do in your shoes?" His advice was always 
simple: "Focus on Jesus. Figure it out from there." [Youth SB re John 
1:1-18]