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I Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

In our last post, we noted a transition in Paul’s letter to the Thessalonian church.  He is finished with doctrinal clarification and he now moves on to discuss the way we live these doctrines out in our daily lives.

Specifically, he focuses on the sanctification of believers.  Paul makes it clear that personal holiness/sanctification is not optional – it is a command of the Father, delivered to believers by the power of Holy Spirit (through the apostles), and backed by the authority of Jesus. 

Therefore, God’s commands for holy living are to be received and obeyed, knowing that personal sanctification will result in our good and his glory.  (See our prior post for full details.)  Those who refuse to obey are walking in rebellion to the will of God.

Last week we took a general look at the process of sanctification and personal holiness.  This week we will look at a couple of specific areas of holiness that Paul brings to the remembrance of the church.

The first is abstaining from sexual immorality and/or lust of the flesh.

There are obviously a huge number of areas in life where we need to practice personal holiness.  Out of that large number, why do you think Paul specifically mentions sexual sins? 

Well, let’s begin to answer that question by reviewing what we already know:

The Thessalonian church was largely made up of Gentiles.  Gentiles themselves were not void of religion.  In fact, many of them were extremely religious.  The issue was that they practiced false religion(s). 

The very gods they worshiped and served were immoral.  The sacrifices and outward rites they required frequently led to impurity and gross sexual sins.  For example, it was common for false gods/idols to have temples with cult prostitutes (both men and women).  It was also common for the worship of these idols to include big festivals in spring and fall to mark the seasons of sowing and reaping.  These festivals included eating, drunkenness and orgies, where ‘anything goes’.

Bible commentators tell us that the only type of sexual activity that was discouraged by the heathen Gentiles was incest.  So, they essentially grew up with a cultural approval of any and all sexual practices.  In other words, all forms of sexual activity were considered normal, acceptable behavior.  The end result is that the Gentile believers were likely to have an attitude of extreme indifference to sexual sins as defined under Christianity. 

To make things more difficult, they were living in a city that was very worldly.  Thessalonica was a crossroads for different cultures and people.  Each of them had their own immoral standards and practices, which were endorsed or at least tolerated by public opinion.  Plus, the city was a shipping and trading hub.  Money was flowing 24/7 and sex was probably available during the same hours, much as it is today in major cities.

It isn’t difficult to see that the Christians of the city were constantly bombarded with opportunities to engage in sexual immorality.  Indeed, it is entirely possible that they were mocked for not doing so!  Thus, we can understand why Paul felt the need to remind them to be sexually pure by the standards of the gospel.

This brings up some pertinent questions:

• What is God’s definition of sexual purity?

Sexual purity is sex or sexual relations between a man and woman who are in a marriage covenant with each other (I Corinthians 7:1-5).  That’s it.  Period.

Hebrews 13:4 – Marriage should be honored by all, and the marriage bed kept pure, for God will judge the adulterer and all the sexually immoral.

• How can we define sexual immorality? 

Simply put, sexual relations within any other context (outside a marriage covenant between one man and one woman) are considered sexual immorality.

This is a list of the most common sexual sins:

Fornication – Sexual intercourse/activity on the part of an unmarried person. 

Adultery – Sexual intercourse/activity by a married man with someone other than his wife or vice versa.  This is often referred to as unfaithfulness.

Polygamy – Having multiple wives (or husbands) at the same time.

Rape – Sexual connection/activity with another person without their consent.

Incest – Sexual relations between closely related persons (usually first cousins or closer).

Homosexuality/Lesbianism – Sexual relations with a person of the same sex.

Bestiality – Sex with animals.

Prostitution - Offering/selling sexual favors without discrimination; promiscuity.

Sexual immorality or ‘porneia’ - Numerous sexual sins including pornography (I Corinthians 6:13, Ephesians 5:3, etc)

Lust – Lascivious cravings, sexual encounters of the mind/imagination; strong sexual appetites.  

Although there are other forms of sexual immorality, these are the major ones.

• Why is sexual purity such a big deal?

What an excellent question!

One reason is that in the covenant of marriage, God joins the man and woman together, making them ‘one flesh’ (Genesis 2:24, Mark 10:8-9).   Their union is consummated with sex, which is an act of physical intimacy that has a unifying power in it – it joins them together for life physically and emotionally (Malachi 2:14-15, Matthew 19:6). 

Sex is a wonderful gift given to a husband and wife to make their relationship unique and exclusive among all other relationships. Therefore, sex should be reserved for two people who are in an exclusive, lifetime covenant relationship (I Corinthians 6:16).

God uses the marriage covenant to create a new entity – the family.  Within that context, sexual intercourse is the means by which he propagates new life.  He intends for children to be nurtured and grown under the umbrella of the family unit.  He desires for us to raise righteous sons and daughters in this environment. 

Sexual purity is also important for another reason - sexual sin destroys the picture of the unbreakable covenant that God has with his people.  You are no doubt aware that the bible uses marriage as a metaphor to describe the covenant relationship that Jesus has with us.  In scripture, the church is often referred to as his ‘bride’, whom he bought with his own blood.

Revelation 21:9 – Then came one of the seven angels who had the seven bowls full of the seven last plagues and spoke to me, saying, “Come, I will show you the Bride, the wife of the Lamb.”

(See also II Corinthians 11:2, Ephesians 5:22-33, Revelation 19:7).  In the Old Testament, God often compared rebellious Israel to an unfaithful wife (Jeremiah 3:1-6, Ezekiel 6:9, the entire book of Hosea, etc).  He uses the act of sexual immorality (particularly adultery) to depict the worst possible sins.

A third reason to maintain sexual purity is that sexual sin defiles more than just your physical body.  It has spiritual significance:

I Corinthians 6:18-19 – Flee from sexual immorality: Every other sin a person commits is outside of the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his own body.  Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? 

Our bodies are temples for the Spirit of God.  Therefore, engaging in sexual impurity brings sinful thoughts and actions into his holy presence.  This is not only disgusting, it is an insult his divine majesty.  To claim the title of son or daughter of God and then engage in such activity is like slapping the face of God.

Furthermore, if we persist in gross disobedience, ignoring the voice of Holy Spirit who calls us to sanctification, we will eventually make ourselves deaf to his cries.  By searing our consciences, we will silence his voice and quench his influence in our lives.  What will become of us then?

Sexual sins corrupt the mind, captivate the heart, consume the flesh, cause shame, waste finances, destroy relationships, and exclude the kingdom of heaven from your life, leaving you in complete bondage and on the path of death.  God forbids sexual sin for our own good!  

Clearly, sexual sin is a big problem.  It’s like a horrible monster which lurks around every corner, looking for any opportunity to fill us with impurity, so God will be banished from our hearts and minds.  As Paul points out in this verse, sexual immorality is directly opposed to God’s will, which is for us to be sanctified.

With all this in mind, it’s not hard to see why Satan goes out of his way to promote sexual sins and to destroy marriages.  Let’s not give him an open door into our lives through sex.  Let’s follow the advice of Paul, and abstain from all forms of sexual immorality.   

Now let’s switch gears for just a moment.  The word translated in our version as “sexual immorality” can also be translated as “lust of the flesh”.

This is a broader term which refers to anything that we crave or excessively desire.  Sexual immorality is certainly included under lust of the flesh, but so are other passions like greed, hatred, strife, murder, envy, etc (Galatians 5:19-21).  As Christians, we need to sanctify ourselves from these evils as well. 

I Thessalonians 4:4-5 - …that each one of you know how to control his own body in holiness and honor; not in the passion of lust like the Gentiles who do not know God;

By default, the life of a sinner is full of degradation, disgrace and humiliation.  Sinners are trapped in this condition by the lust of the flesh. 

The Christian life, however, is designed to be full of honor and glory.  When God redeems us, he breaks the power of sin in our lives, but that doesn’t mean the battle is over.  We must exercise discipline and control over our own bodies on a daily basis. 

Here is a truth we sometimes want to avoid: Your body is under your command and control; it can do nothing of itself.  It will do whatever you command it to do, until it is separated from your spirit.  In other words, you are in control of your actions.

There is an old phrase that goes something like this: ‘The devil made me do it.’  That is not a true statement. (It’s not a good excuse either.)  The devil may have tempted you to do something wrong, but you were the one who ordered your body to do it!

Paul commands believers to sanctify themselves and to practice self-control.  Instead of allowing our passions to rule us, we must use our bodies to glorify God and complete the work of his kingdom.

Romans 6:13 – Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.

Here is something to consider: When the body is put to uses it was never intended for (sin in general and specifically in this case sexual sin), it will be destroyed.  Sometimes that happens instantly, sometimes it occurs slowly, but either way improper usage of the body results in it being broken, destroyed, debased or rendered unusable. 

The awesome thing is that when we trust in Christ as our Redeemer, Holy Spirit comes into our bodies to assist us in the process of sanctification, which in turn makes us eligible for the Master’s use (II Timothy 2:20-22).  See our last post for full details. 

I Thessalonians 4:6 - …that no one transgress and wrong his brother in this matter, because the Lord is an avenger in all these things as we told you beforehand and solemnly warned you.

This matter – ‘This matter’ refers to the topic under discussion in verses 3-5, which is sanctification and/or holiness.  Paul now moves on from sexual sins to the subject of ‘transgressing and wronging’ another person.

Transgress – To transgress is to go beyond a boundary or limit; to violate a command, law or moral principle.  It implies an element of greed or avarice.  The idea is that because of lust, desire or greed for something (or someone), you go beyond the limits of what is right. 

For example, thieves normally desire or covet the possessions of others.  Because of their desire, they will transgress the law by robbing your house or stealing your car.

Wrong – To wrong someone is to defraud or cheat them.  This term also carries a connotation of oppression (the use of authority to treat others unfairly; to deny them opportunities or benefits that others enjoy).  We often describe it as taking advantage of someone. 

Regarding this matter, Paul is essentially telling Christians to treat our neighbors as ourselves.  He is generally saying that no Christian should attempt to deprive or defraud another person of their rights, including (but not limited to) their land, possessions, business interests, family, or opportunities in general.

In the case of the Thessalonians, it meant that sanctification/holiness would exhibit itself in the justice and equity of all their dealings with others, especially in business.  For example, they were not to use false weights/measures.  They were not to increase the price of goods based on the wealth of the buyer or dishonor a contract.  They were not to take advantage of the weak, desperate or ignorant.

To do so would be a grievous sin, because the gospel condemns dishonesty, theft, cheating and covetousness:

Colossians 3:5 –Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

These sins become especially heinous when one defrauds another Christian.

This is a good time for us to check our own dealings with others.  Are we dishonest in some of our interactions with others?  If so, we need to repent and make amends immediately, because the Lord sees us!

Because the Lord is an avenger in all these things – Paul reminds the Thessalonians that God will punish those who defraud another. The guilty person may or may not receive punishment from civil authorities, but God will surely see it and exact punishment for these sinful actions.  The text implies that this judgment will occur at the end of the age on the Day of Judgment, which that generation felt was imminent. 

As we told and warned you - This phrase refers back to verses 1-2, where it was clear that the Thessalonians had been systematically taught to live in holiness.

I Thessalonians 4:7 – For God has not called us for impurity, but in holiness.

Scripture tells us that God sets us apart as his peculiar possession, calling us to a life of holiness and good works:

Titus 2:14 - …who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Formerly the Thessalonians lived in iniquity and impurity.  But they were now called into life and communion with Christ, who loves righteousness and holiness.  They were to adhere to the precepts of the gospel, which deny ungodliness, worldly lusts and sin.

As Christians, they were to sanctify themselves in thoughts, words and actions.  They were to fulfill the particular callings which God had placed upon their lives, which can only be accomplished when they lived in a righteous and godly manner.   

This command was delivered time and time again to all of the churches under Paul’s guidance.  Just to reiterate one more time, impurity  refers not just to sexual immorality, but to all forms of uncleanness, corruption, lust, wickedness, etc. 

I Thessalonians 4:8 – Therefore, whoever disregards this, disregards not man but God, who gives his Holy Spirit to you.

Disregards God - The apostles who ministered to the Thessalonians (particularly Paul), had the whole of the gospel revealed to them directly from God.  They were great fountains of both Christian knowledge/doctrine and practical living.  Therefore they were to be considered vessels of God and anyone who rejected their teaching was essentially rejecting God.

Luke 10:16 – The one who hears you hears me [Jesus], and the one who rejects you rejects me, and the one who rejects me rejects him who sent me [God the Father].

(See also Galatians 1:11-12).  More specifically, Paul is saying that any Christian who ignores the commands to live a holy life is actually disobeying God himself. 

Who gives us his Holy Spirit – Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they had received Holy Spirit into their lives when they were converted.  Holy Spirit would help them distinguish what proceeded from God and what didn’t.  Because of this, there should be no question that the command to sanctification was not from man but from God.

In addition, because the Thessalonians were vessels of Holy Spirit, it was only proper for them to exhibit/demonstrate the difference between holiness and impurity for the entire world to see.  Holy Spirit makes it possible for them to do exactly that, by aiding them in the process of sanctification. 

Holy Spirit is the Spirit of sanctification.  He is one behind the present, progressive work of sanctification which continues in the life of every believer until they die.

 Let me offer you some encouragement:

Many of the Christians alive today seem to be under the misconception that God ‘winks’ at sexual impurity.  Like the Thessalonians, they don’t consider sexual impurity to be a big deal.  They have convinced themselves that they have valid reasons to engage in sexual sin, and therefore their actions are justified.    

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth!  God hates sexual impurity just as much today as he did during the era of the Thessalonian church. 

Are you currently involved in some type of sexual immorality?  If so, you are actively engaging in rebellion against God and that isn’t going to end well for you.

Please understand that God loves you and he wants the best for you, but you won’t get to that place through sin.  Sin only brings bondage.  By contrast, there is freedom in Christ.  The first step to being free is to acknowledge your sin and repent.

Once that is complete, I encourage you to seek out your pastor for godly council and practical advice on how to proceed.  The sooner you do so, the better.

Let me offer you some relief and some strength:

All Christians are commanded to live lives that are sanctified to God.  This means we are set apart for his service; we are no longer our own, we are servants of the King.

As such, we should separate ourselves from anything and everything that is a ‘lust of the flesh’.  We should strive to become vessels of honor in God’s service, so that we can be used for good works that glorify his name.

Each of us must individually commit to living a sanctified life, however, we don’t have to rely solely on our own power.    

God has blessed us with the bible - a clear set of guidelines to follow in our walk with him.  By following these guidelines we can avoid the traps, snares and bondages that Satan has set up for us. 

Psalms 119:105 – Your word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.

God has also given us his Spirit who dwells in us and empowers us for righteous living.   

By walking in his ways, we are able to avoid many of the heartaches and trials experienced by those who serve Satan.  If we do stumble or fall on occasion, we have the assurance that God forgives and cleanses us; he will free us from the traps of the enemy and once again set our feet on the solid rock, Christ Jesus.

As a committed servant of the Lord, we can look forward to victory and joy in this life and in the next!

 

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I Thessalonians 4:1 – Finally, then, brothers, we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us how you ought to walk and to please God, just as you are doing, that you do so more and more.

Welcome back, readers! I’m so glad we can study the scriptures together today! I hope you find today’s post beneficial and encouraging.   

In the first part of his letter to the Thessalonians (chapters 1-3), Paul used discourse/logical reasoning to refute the lies and false doctrines that had been presented to the church by the unrepentant Jews and the Greeks.  

He ends that section of the letter with a prayer that the Thessalonians will be ‘established blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus’.

Now he switches gears and begins to offer practical advice for daily Christian living.    

Finally – This is a word of transition which Paul often uses in his letters (Ephesians 6:10 Philippians 4:8, etc).  The literal translation is ‘as to what remains’ or ‘for the rest’.  It acts as a bridge connecting the two parts of this epistle.

The idea is that he has corrected any false beliefs or doubts that were plaguing the church because of the Jews and Greeks.  Now that they have a firm grasp on the sound doctrines of Christianity, they can move forward with confidence.  The only thing left to do is to put those doctrines into practice in their daily lives.

Ask and Urge - To ask is to make a polite or friendly request.  The implication is that the person being addressed will obey/grant the request because they understand it as being proper, suitable or appropriate under the circumstances.  In this case, Paul assumes that the Thessalonian believers will adhere to the moral laws of Christianity, because that would be the reasonable thing to do: 

Romans 12:1 – I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.

However, he not only asks, he urges them to do so.  ‘Urge’ is a stronger, more emphatic word.  It implies that the rules for holy living, which Paul is about to discuss, are not to be taken lightly.  They aren’t really optional.  They should be regarded as duties of great importance.  The Thessalonian Christians should strive to live by these rules in a serious, zealous, and determined manner. 

What about us?  Well, considering the fact that God chose us in him before the foundation of the world (Matthew 25:34), that Christ redeemed us by his own blood (I Peter 1:18-19), that he made us new creatures (II Corinthians 5:17), that we profess to be his followers, and that we are to be conformed to his image (Romans 8:29, II Corinthians 3:18), we too should be diligent to obey God’s moral code. In light of the sacrifice of Christ, how can we do anything less? 

However, if you’re still not convinced, carefully consider the words of the apostle:

In the Lord Jesus – Paul’s insistence on obedience to the moral commands of scripture is based on nothing less than the name and authority of Jesus Christ.  Since there is no higher authority, there is no stronger reason to walk in holiness.

News flash - Jesus hasn’t changed in the last two thousand years (Malachi 3:6).  He still possesses all power and authority.  Therefore, the moral commands in scripture apply to us in the same way they applied to the Thessalonians – they aren’t to be taken lightly or cast aside on a whim.  They are not optional.  They are duties of profound importance and we should strive to live by them.  

You received from us how you ought to walk and please God – This indicates that the Thessalonians were systematically instructed in the moral code of the gospel.  In other words, they knew what God expected of them. 

So do you, if you’ve been a Christian for any length of time. 

Let’s be brutally honest for a moment – it is one thing to know what scripture teaches about living a holy life.  It’s a completely different thing to crucify our flesh and live by these commands (more on this in a moment).

 Obviously, none of us are perfect.  However, when we, to the best of our ability, adhere to the whole moral code of Christianity it is pleasing to God.    

But shockingly, there are many Christians today who pick and choose which moral laws to obey.  This has some very negative results:

• When one is in rebellion to the commands of God, it opens up a door for Satan to enter your life and bring heartache, chaos, destruction and death. 

 

• Those who choose to flagrantly disobey God’s commands bring dishonor to the name of the Savior they claim to serve.  They no longer have an effective witness to the world; they smother the fires of revival instead of fanning them. 

 

• God is a perfect and loving Father to his children.  Defiance of his commands and authority open you up to receiving his correction/chastisement (Hebrews 12:3-11).

Just as you are doing, that you do so more and more - Paul acknowledges that the Thessalonian believers were already walking in a holy manner.  The words and deeds of their daily lives were pleasing to God (I Thessalonians 1:2-3).  This was in contrast to the Jews, who did not please God (I Thessalonians 2:15).

Yet, Paul encourages them to not only continue, but to abound in grace and holiness by means of greater care and fidelity to the moral laws of God.

2 Corinthians 7:1 - Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

As I am sure you know, none of us have achieved perfect holiness.  Therefore, we have more work to do.  The truth is that we will be working towards perfect holiness our entire lives. 

It is the duty of every Christian to continually strive to be holy as God is holy, and to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord. 

I Thessalonians 4:2 – For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

Paul makes it clear that his appeals for holy living were nothing new.  They are the same requirements/commands he set before them when they first accepted the gospel.  Although he does not list them for us, the Thessalonians certainly knew the commands Paul was referring to. 

Based on the sum of Paul’s writings to the churches, we can safely assume the list included all laws/ordinances relating to the gospel such as baptism, observance of the Lord’s supper, the worship and service of God, prayer, their conduct in the world, their behavior towards one another, and the practice of Christian graces such as faith, love, etc.  Paul’s instructions also included directives for holy living. 

Again, it is important to note that the instructions/duties Paul lays upon believers did not original with him; they came from God.  As such they should be regarded as the commands of the Father, dictated by Holy Spirit, and delivered by the authority of Jesus.  The commands for holy living should be implicitly received and obeyed.    

Those who refuse to submit to the will of God in areas of holiness are walking in rebellion.

I Thessalonians 4:3 – For this is the will of God, your sanctification: that you abstain from sexual immorality;

Let’s start by discussing sanctification.

To sanctify is to make sacred or holy; to set apart for holy use; to consecrate, to make free from sin; to cleanse from moral corruption and pollution. 

There is no question that God has called his people to a life of sanctification/holiness; in fact, he requires it (I Peter 1:15-16).  Scripture tells us that without holiness, no one will see the Lord (Hebrews 12:14). 

On a personal level, to be sanctified is to conform our natures to the nature of God and to conform our lives to his will.  That sounds like an impossible task, and indeed it is – if we are operating in our own power and strength.  But there is no need to worry.  Holy Spirit is here, and he is longing to be an active partner with you in the process of sanctification. He makes it possible for you to succeed.  Let me explain:

Sanctification is both internal and external. 

The internal part occurs first.  This portion of the process is completely done by the power of the Spirit.  Through the word, he brings divine spiritual light and understanding to your heart and mind, causing you to recognize your sin, which in turn causes you to feel conviction. 

He then brings a desire for your will to submit itself to the will of God and for your affections (feelings, desires, emotions) to conform to what is divine, pure and holy.  He provides the truth/instruction, the motivation and the power for you to perform the second step – external sanctification.

External sanctification arises from (and is powered by) internal sanctification.  It manifests itself in holy living.  This holiness is reflected in all that you do, all that you say and all that you think.  It is how the world recognizes you as a servant of Christ.

External sanctification is almost never instantaneous (sigh).  It takes conscious, consistent effort.  You must work at it.  You must practice it before it becomes second nature (and it will, just stick with it!).  You will experience failure, but that is okay.  God’s grace and mercy are at hand when you stumble.  The key is not to give up!  Eventually you will conform your conduct, speech and thoughts to those of the Father, Son and Spirit.  You WILL grow in holiness. 

And remember, you are not alone!  All Christians are engaged in the labor of sanctification.  All struggle, all fail, but through Holy Spirit all will eventually be victorious!

Now, let me offer you a word of caution: If you try to manufacture external sanctification first, you will be operating in your own power and you will ultimately fail.

Think about it… have you ever said to yourself, ‘I will NEVER do [blank] again, as long as I live’, but a week later there you are, doing that thing again!  All you are accomplishing is making yourself frustrated and angry.  

So remember - true, lasting change must take place in the heart first, before it manifests in your outward conduct.  Don’t get the steps out of order!  If you think there is an area of your life that needs to be sanctified, pray about it and ask Holy Spirit to assist you. 

There are some practical steps you can take to help prepare for your journey: 

Renew your mind with the scriptures.  Your actions are first conceived in your mind.  For example, a thought may enter your mind about taking a walk after dinner.  You then have a choice to make – to take the walk or to stay in the recliner.  Regardless of your decision, you had the thought before you took the action.

Because we all have fallen natures, our thinking is corrupt – we automatically tend to do the thing that gives us the most pleasure or comfort, even if it is destructive in the long run.  For this reason, our flesh desires to stay in the warm, comfy recliner (and eat junk food, but that’s another issue).

The good news is that we can combat our wrong thinking by training our minds to think in a new way.  Scripture describes it as renewing our minds:

Romans 12:-2 – I [Paul] appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your rational service.  Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.

In this case, if you study the habits of healthy people, you will find that doctors recommend walking as part of a healthy lifestyle.  They can give you a whole list of reasons why walking is beneficial to your wellbeing.  If you’ve been studying these things, then your mind has been trained to think in a new way.  As a result, you can make yourself decide to get up and take that walk.

Conclusion: Your decision to do the right thing (take a walk) was influenced by a general knowledge of good health.

A similar thing happens in the spiritual realm.  Because we all have fallen natures, our thinking is corrupt – it always tends towards sin. 

However, if we take the time to read, study and meditate on the scriptures, then we are aware of the truth.  Holy Spirit uses the truth to convict you of sin.  If you partner with him, he will empower you to say ‘no’ to your carnal thoughts.  With his help, you can make decisions based on the truth of God’s word. 

Each time you make a righteous choice, it forms a new pattern in your life.  Eventually, you won’t have to think about it – you will do the righteous/holy thing in a particular circumstance.

Need I stress how important it is to be in the word of God? 

Another helpful tip is to keep yourself out of situations where you are likely to be tempted.  This may require you to avoid certain people and places for a period of time.  For example, if Holy Spirit is convicting you about drinking, don’t go to a bar, even if you plan to order coffee and just listen to music.  You’re only asking for failure!

The fact is, there are things we should avoid even in the privacy of our own homes.  Ask yourself this: What am I watching?  What am I reading?  What do I look at on the internet? 

Remember, we are not ignorant of Satan’s tactics.  He uses a common pattern to ensnare us in sin – he uses our senses (mostly eyes or ears) to implant a sinful thought in our minds. 

James 1:14 - …every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed.

At that point, we can and should banish that evil thought from our minds by quoting the truth of scripture.  If we do, we win the fight. 

If we don’t, then our mind will dwell on that sin until it takes root in our hearts.  Once it takes root, it is much more difficult to weed out.  In fact, at some point it will be impossible.  Left unchecked, that weed will eventually come to fruition in our lives as sin, and sin results in spiritual death:

James 1:15 - Then when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, brings forth death. 

Romans 6:23 – For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

So take this friendly advice:  Don’t give Satan a foothold in your life; don’t give him access to your heart or mind through the things you see, hear, read, watch or think about.

You must fill the void left by sinful habits.  Scientists tell us that nature abhors a vacuum; if a spot in the universe is left empty, something will rush in to fill it.  We find a similar truth in the spiritual realm.  If you stop engaging in sinful or questionable activities, you are going to have an empty spot.  You need to fill that vacuum with righteous things. 

Fill your mind with books, shows and entertainment that are wholesome and spiritually beneficial.  Cultivate friendships with other Christians.  Find activities, hobbies and entertainment options that will promote godliness and holiness. 

At this point in the chapter, Paul goes on to mention a handful of specific areas which the Thessalonians are to pay strict attention to.  However, today’s post is going to end here.  We will look at these specific areas in our next post.    

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

Personal sanctification and holiness are requirements for a life that pleases God.  Yet, we often fail to pursue these goals.  Why is that?  

Let’s be honest with ourselves for a minute – we want what we want.  We like/enjoy some of the sins we commit, and we don’t want to give them up. 

On occasion, we may have tried to give up a particular sin using our own strength, only to find ourselves in failure and frustration.  We convince ourselves that victory is impossible so there is no point in continuing to struggle.  We give in and accept that sin.  We even make excuses for it or find reasons to justify it.

[Side note:  That is what the children of Isreal did when they conquered the Promised Land.  They failed to drive out some of the heathen tribes within their territories and it resulted in terrible problems for them.  Plus, it displeased the Lord.]

There are other sins which we inherently recognize as being too powerful for us to conquer, so we don’t even try!

For these reasons, many people dread and avoid the Christian discipline of holiness. 

But let me give you some encouragement and relief - what if I told you that we are looking at the sanctification process in the wrong way?

God’s purpose is not to make you miserable or to set you up for failure.  He never does that.  We know that God loves each one of us beyond measure:

Romans 5:8 – But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Plus, we know that we love him, he is worthy of all our trust, and we desire to please him.  Therefore, we know that when God requires something from us, it is for our eternal good. 

With this in mind, how should we view the process of sanctification?

First off, you need to recognize that God did not design sanctification to be some kind of a punishment.  He intends it to be a journey, which we undertake in relationship with him.  We should view the process as an opportunity to partner with him in a more intimate way, knowing that in the end our transformation will be for our good and his glory.

He initiates the process by convicting us.  We should view this as a personal invitation from the God of the universe.  He desires to have one-on-one fellowship with us, which will result in something amazing.  How can that be a bad thing?  Who wouldn’t be honored by that opportunity?

We RSVP to his invitation through the intimacy of prayer where we can fully open our lives to him, laying our concerns, fears, sins and failures at his feet.  He will gently lead us through his word and by direct revelation/instruction.

As we renew our minds with his word, he teaches and empowers us to defeat sin and become more like him in our everyday lives.  During this process, our relationship with him grows.  Our trust in him increases.  Our faith multiplies. 

He responds by revealing more of himself to us.  He shows us the greater and better things that are available to us, if we will get rid of the sin that is holding us back from him and his blessings. 

At the appropriate time, God will present us with opportunities to exercise our holiness.  He walks with us through the learning process, lavishly offering forgiveness when we need it. 

In the end, we will be closer to him, more like him and better able to please him.  We will be a vessel of honor, set aside for his use.  Done correctly, the process of sanctification will be rewarding and amazing. 

Let me offer you some strength:

Satan wants you to believe that sanctification is impossible.  In a way, he is right – it is impossible for you to sanctify yourself using your own wisdom and power.  But fortunately, as we have discussed, that is not the case.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Nothing is impossible with God; we can do all things through him.  Between now and our next post, why not meditate on the state of your own personal sanctification/holiness?

 

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I Thessalonians 3:11 – Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you…

The last three verses of this chapter are a prayer.  Paul begins this prayer by earnestly asking God to ‘direct his way’ to the Thessalonians.  In modern terms, we might say that Paul doesn’t want to take the ‘long way home’ or ‘the scenic route’.  He is asking the Lord to remove all obstacles and immediately send him straight to Thessalonica.

But there is a lot more going on in this verse than just a request to visit Thessalonica:  

• Paul’s prayer is directed to both the Father and to Jesus, reinforcing the fact that God cannot confer any blessings upon us unless it comes through our Mediator, Jesus Christ.  Until we are found in Christ, God is not our Father and we can’t receive anything from him.

 

• In the original Greek, the verb for ‘direct’ is singular.  This indicates that the prayer is addressed to both the Father and to Jesus without distinction; they are essentially one in rank and dominion.  Thus, Paul reinforces the fact that Jesus is divine and has the same power/authority that God the Father possesses.

 

• This passage also supports/confirms the fact that the Father and Son (and the Spirit who is at work in the earth) are regarded as possessing and exercising one indivisible will.

 

• This prayer reveals something about Paul – he did not strive to get his own way.  He was employed in the service of God and he continuously looked for God to direct where, when and how he would accomplish the tasks assigned to him.

This is a very important lesson which applies to today’s Christian.  We can and should use the abilities and gifts God has given us, but we must not fall into the trap of ministering in our own power or moving in a direction of our own choosing.  We need to closely follow the guidance of Holy Spirit who will lead the way in our ministries.

Fun fact:  Did you know that Paul eventually made a second visit to Thessalonica?  He returned there about five years later (Acts 20:1-5).  Clearly, God heard and answered his prayer, allowing Paul to return according to his divine and perfect timing.

This is another lesson for today’s believer – God has perfect timing.  We sometimes lag behind his leading due to indifference or laziness.  At other times, we get ahead of him, because we fail to exercise patience or we have an earnest desire for something.  Again, we must rely on the leading of Holy Spirit who will open and close doors at the proper time.

Now, let me ask you this:  How much confidence do you have in your own prayers?  Are you under the mistaken notion that you have to beg or convince God to keep his promises?  Do you approach him in unbelief, or do you have enough faith to rest assured he will answer?  Do you ask him for things fully expecting an answer?  

We, like the apostle Paul, can pray to God with full confidence because:

• He is the God who hears and answers prayer:

Psalm 65:2 - O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come.

• He is omnipotent (possessing all power and authority).  Therefore, God is able to do exceedingly and abundantly more than any of us could either ask or think (Ephesians 3:20).  Nothing is impossible for him (Luke 1:37).  He can even raise the dead!  

 

• He is omniscient (knowing all things).  Only God is qualified to answer our prayers because only he knows our deepest thoughts, desires and motivations.  Only he can understand every facet of our situation.  In fact, scripture tells us that God knows the end from the beginning (Isaiah 46:10).  Therefore, he knows what is best for us.  He knows how and when to supply the things we ask for. 

 

• He has adopted us into the kingdom of his Son, Jesus Christ.  Because of the sacrifice of Christ, God is now our Father.  As such, he has given us the right to come before his throne and make our requests.  What’s more, he encourages us to do so with boldness (Hebrews 4:16). 

 

• He always keeps his promises.  God has bound himself to his word.  Scripture tells us that he watches over his word to perform it (Jeremiah 1:11-12).  In other words, he always does what he promises he will do.  This is why it is so important for every Christian to be familiar with the bible – when we find a promise from God that relates to our situation, we can claim it and know (with absolute certainty) that he will act on that promise. 

 

• He does not withhold anything good from us.

Psalms 84:11 – For the Lord God is a sun and shield; the Lord bestows favor and honor.  No good thing does he withhold from those who walk uprightly.

Romans 8:32 – He [God] that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, shall he not with him also freely give us all things?

As you pray, keep this in mind:  God does not play favorites (Acts 10:34-35).  If he answered the prayers of Paul, he will answer your prayers too.  We can approach him with full confidence that we will receive an answer from him.  It won’t always be the answer we were looking for, but rest assured it will be what is best for us.  

I Thessalonians 3:12 - …and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

Paul further prays that in the meantime (until he is able to meet with them again), that God will confirm the Thessalonians in holiness and fill them with love – two characteristics which flow from faith in God. 

Let’s take a closer look at love.  Notice the distinction that Paul makes – love for one another (godly love among believers) and then love for all (godly love toward the world). 

Loving each other is a mark of our salvation.  When we were in the world, our love was selfish.  It focused almost exclusively on us and what we wanted.  But when God saves us and begins to work in us, our thinking is changed.  We begin to look outward (away from ourselves) and focus our love on God and others.

John 13:35 – By this all people will know that you are my [Jesus] disciples, if you have love for one another.

(See also I Peter 1:22, I Peter 3:8, I John 3:11, I John 4:7, Romans 13:8, Galatians 5:13, etc.)

The godly love that is at work in the hearts and minds of believers gives us a desire to be in church fellowship (see last week’s post).  Love is the cement that holds the church together.

But the love of God which flows in our lives does not stop there.  It ‘abounds to all’ or it extends to unbelievers, giving us compassion for them.  This love and compassion manifests itself in practical ministry as we share the gospel and meet the physical needs of the lost.  So, as our love abounds to the world, it brings more souls into the kingdom.

Our love for God also has a profound effect upon ourselves.  It produces a desire in us to be more holy, to be obedient to him, and to perform good works.

The ultimate outcome of godly love is a fulfillment of the law and the prophets:  

Matthew 22:36-40 – “Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?”  And he [Jesus] said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.  This is the great and first commandment.  And the second is like it:  You shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

Is it just me, or is that simply amazing?!  When we come to Christ, he fills us with godly love, which allows or causes us to love God and our fellow man.  As we grow in faith and immerse ourselves in godly love (as opposed to the selfish love we formerly had for ourselves), we are able to ‘fulfill the law and the prophets’ (and the gospel), which is something we could never have done in our own strength. 

This means that God not only commands us to love him (and our neighbors), he gives us the ability to do so!   Wow!  Let me say it once again:  God never sets us up to fail!  He always sets us up to be successful – he makes it possible for us to fulfill all the commands he has given us!

I Thessalonians 3:13 - …so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

As we increase in faith and mature as believers, we grow (increase and abound) in godly love.  As we mentioned earlier, godly love changes us; it causes us to look outside of ourselves.  It prompts us to be unified with fellow Christians and to minister to the lost. 

It also ignites a burning passion within our hearts to become more like Christ.  It causes us to strive for obedience and holiness in all that we think, do and say; it establishes us (makes us stable, immovably fixed) in the practice of holiness. 

Therefore, the end result of truly abounding in love is to be blameless in holiness before God at the end of this age (when Christ returns). 

Let’s examine this further.

The unrepentant Jews who were still practicing the Law were striving for holiness by observing the rites, rituals and rules of religion.  From their point of view, a person’s outward actions were all that counted.  They were completely unconcerned about having hearts that were full of wickedness (Matthew 23:25-28).

But God’s point of view is totally different.  Scripture tells us that man looks on the outward appearance, but God looks at our hearts, which is where our true motivations lie:

I Samuel 16:7 – But the Lord said to Samuel, “…the Lord sees not as man sees:  man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.”

Simply stated, God cares about what is in our hearts.  He wants to change us from the inside out.  Through the power of Holy Spirit, our love for God prompts/urges us to embrace purity and holiness.  When we abound in godly love, we desire to be holy, just as he is holy:

I Peter 1:14-15 – As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct. 

As our hearts are purified and we embrace personal holiness, righteous thought, speech and conduct will naturally follow.  Thus, Holy Spirit empowers us to walk in practical holiness in our daily lives. 

Paul desires for the Thessalonian believers (actually every believer, including you and I) to be ‘blameless in holiness’ before God at the coming of Christ. 

What does it mean to be blameless in holiness?  Well, it certainly doesn’t mean we are perfect - that will only happen when Christ returns:

Ephesians 5:25-27 - … Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Commentators take two views of the concept of being blameless in holiness. 

One - It may mean that through the power of Holy Spirit, we have done everything in our power to live out practical holiness in our lives.  Because of this, we do not need to fear or be ashamed when Christ returns.  

Two - It may mean that on the Day of Judgment unbelievers will not be able to accuse us before God because we have done everything in our power to display a holy witness in front of them. 

Let me just stress this one point, so there is no confusion:  Our holiness does NOT make us blameless/sinless before God.  We are saved and cleansed by the blood of Christ and not by our works (Ephesians 2:8-9).  However, AFTER we have been forgiven by Christ and abound in the love of the Father, Holy Spirit assists us in becoming more and more holy.      

Paul wants us to be found blameless in holiness ‘at the coming of our Lord Jesus’.  What does that mean?

Let’s begin by establishing that Jesus has promised to return to the earth to rapture the church (his bride) and take her to heaven:

John 14:3 – And if I [Jesus] go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

(See also I Thessalonians 4:13-18, Acts 1:11, etc). 

When this happens, we will be face-to-face with Jesus and the Father.  Jesus makes it clear that none of us know the exact day or time when he will return (Matthew 24:36).  This means that his return (and our meeting with him) could literally be any day.

Of course, there is another possibility as well – a believer could die before the return of Christ.  In that case, he or she would see Jesus face-to-face even sooner.  And again, since we don’t know the exact date and time of our death, our meeting with Jesus could be anytime.

Here is the point:  In this verse, Paul skillfully links our meeting with the Lord with the way we live our daily lives.  We should be all about holiness because any day (even today) could be the day we see our Savior face-to-face.

Paul was also presenting a secondary truth in this verse.  Remember, the Thessalonians were experiencing affliction and persecution.  This reminder that the return of Christ was imminent was an encouragement to them – their suffering wasn’t going to last forever.  God was allowing it to happen for their eternal good; it was important for them (and for us) to bear their afflictions in righteousness.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

As Christians, we all acknowledge that Jesus will return to earth and take us to heaven, if we don’t die first.  The question is, does this impact our daily lives?

I don’t know about you, but if I truly felt that each and every day could be my last, I would take more initiative to tell people about Christ.  I would probably spend more time with people and less time with things. 

Furthermore, I think it would be easier to practice personal holiness (squash temptation and avoid sin), if I thought I might be seeing Jesus in just a few hours.   

This is the view that Paul prays for all believers to adopt – and with good reason, for any of us could pass into eternity before today ends. 

James 4:14 - Whereas you know not what shall be tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor, that appears for a little time, and then vanishes away.

Paul wants people to be ready for that day.  God is coming again to judge the world.  Every hour that passes advances his approach; he has never been closer to returning that he is right now! 

Because of his imminent return, I encourage you to bear suffering and afflictions in righteousness and to seize every day for the glory of God.  

Let me offer you some relief:

One thing is certain – yesterday is gone and there is no guarantee that we will have tomorrow.  So don’t worry or fret about what you can’t change. 

Instead, focus on today.  Today, you can forgive others and let go of bitterness and grudges.  Today you can share the gospel with someone.  Today you can pray for deliverance.  Today you can be in the word.  Today you can visit the sick or encourage those who are suffering. 

Satan will try to make you feel so guilty about yesterday that you mope around and do nothing today.  Don’t fall into that trap!  Let go of yesterday.  Ask Holy Spirit to give you an opportunity to work in the kingdom TODAY.

Let me offer you some strength:

Paul constantly prayed for all the believers under his leadership.  He prayed with confidence, because he knew that prayer was a direct line of communication between himself and God. 

The same is true for us.  When we pray, God is always faithful to hear and answer; our prayers are never vain or fruitless:

Isaiah 45:18-19 - … “I am the Lord, and there is no other.  I did not speak in secret, in a land of darkness; I did not say to the offspring of Jacob, ‘Seek me in vain’…

As our faith grows and our spiritual maturity increases, our prayer lives should also change.  

For instance, as new Christians, we might pray for God to instantly release us from a certain affliction.  A more mature believer may pray for strength to glorify God in the midst of that affliction, instead of praying to be released from it. 

A new Christian might ask God why he or she is undergoing a trial, while a mature believer will ask God what he is trying to teach them or accomplish through them in the trial.

In scripture we find that Paul always prayed prayers of spiritual maturity and significance for those under his leadership.  In this passage, he specifically prays for believers to abound in love for God, for each other and for all men (the lost).  

So… what are you praying for yourself?  There is nothing wrong with praying for your earthly needs.  In fact, Jesus instructed us to do that very thing when he taught us to pray:

Luke 11:3 – Give us day by day our daily bread.

But we shouldn’t be stopping there.  We should also be praying for spiritual wisdom and revelation (Ephesians 1:17), for our hearts to be enlightened (Ephesians 1:18), that we be filled with a knowledge of his will (Colossians 1:9), that we walk in a manner worthy of the Lord (Colossians 1:10) and that we be strengthened with all power for endurance and patience in trials (Colossians 1:11).  The list goes on and on.     

Do you want to strengthen your Christian walk and grow in your witness for Christ?  If so, you might want to consider examining the prayers of Paul and praying them over yourself.  You can start with his prayer for the Thessalonians – that they would increase and abound in godly love.

 

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I Thessalonians 3:6-7 – But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you; for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith.

In our last post, we discovered that when Paul, Silas and Timothy were reunited in Athens, Timothy brought word that the church in Thessalonica was again under attack from false doctrines.  Particularly, the Greeks asserted that if miraculous power really flowed through Paul and his team, then there was no need for them to flee from persecution - they could simply perform a miracle and save themselves.

Paul refuted that lie by reminding the Thessalonians that persecution, suffering and/or affliction were a normal part of Christianity; no believer is exempt from these experiences. 

We also noted that God is not the source of adversity, but he does allow some calamities to touch our lives.  He uses these hardships for our good (see details in our previous post).

Paul was so concerned for the welfare of the Thessalonian church, he immediately sent Timothy back to be their spiritual shepherd in his absence.  Eventually Timothy was reunited with Paul in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:1-5), and he came bringing good news – the Thessalonian church was alive and well!

Timothy gives three particular areas which showed the continued steadiness and growth of the church:

Their faith:  Despite the tribulations caused by the unbelieving Jews and the false doctrines promoted by the Greeks, the Thessalonian church still had a secure belief in God. 

Through the work of Holy Spirit and their faith/steadfast confidence in God, they averted unbelief and doctrinal errors.  They were true to the gospel which Paul, Timothy and Silas had preached to them.  This was the best news Paul could have hoped for!  

Their love/charity:  This phrase speaks of the love that the Thessalonian believers had for each other.  Part of the reason they were able to overcome Satan’s attacks was because they encouraged and helped each other in the faith.

Let’s pause and consider that for a minute.  In order to be a strength and encouragement, they had to spend time with each other.  This means they did not stop meeting together, even in the face of persecution and affliction. 

Sadly, here in America where meeting together is protected by law, we have believers who claim to be part of a church, but they never attend services in person.  While you can be spiritually fed by watching a sermon on TV, that does not give you all the spiritual nutrition you need. 

In order to be a healthy and happy believer, you need to fellowship with your brothers and sisters in the church. There are many reasons for this:  

• You need to be in fellowship with others because your interactions with other believers give you strength and encouragement for your journey. 

For example, let’s suppose you just found out that you have a major health issue.  If you attend church, it is likely you will find a brother or sister who has also faced that same issue.  They can offer you words of comfort, let you know what to expect, and even give you some advice.  They can share scriptures which ministered to them in their time of need.  Just knowing that that person made it through the crisis will give you hope that you too will come through.  These kinds of love and fellowship are invaluable.

• This concept flows both ways - you need to be in church and be in fellowship with others, because someone else in your church may need you to come alongside them and strengthen them during their time of need. 

For example, perhaps you went through some kind of traumatic event in life, like a house fire.  If someone else is experiencing the same issue, you can be their strength and encouragement.

• You need to be in church and be in fellowship with others because you need partners in ministry. 

What has God called you to do?  I guarantee that the minute you step out in faith to begin a ministry, you will find that you need help and support.  Your ministry will need prayer, advice, financial support and a multitude of other things that you can’t do all by yourself.  God does this on purpose, so that we learn to function as a unified body, with him as our head (Ephesians 1:22-23, I Corinthians 12).

Long ago the world discovered that ‘networking’ was one of the essential tools for getting things done.  (Little did they know, they were actually following a biblical principle!)  It’s time Christians discovered this principle as well; we need each other to be successful in ministry.

• You need to be present in church and church related activities so you can pray for others.

There is no doubt that prayer is an essential part of the Christian life.  The apostle James tells us that if any among our fellowship is sick, they should call upon the elders to anoint them, lay hands on them and pray for them (James 5:14-16). 

In addition, we are instructed to confess our faults one to another.  How are you going to do that, if you are not in fellowship with other believers?

• You need to be present and active within the church in order to offer practical help in times of need. 

For instance, when someone experiences the death or loss of a loved one, they need their brothers and sisters to offer comfort and to share the burden of grief.  They might need someone to cook a meal or to run some errands.  If someone injures their knee, they may need you to mow their grass a few times.  You need to be in fellowship so you can be a part of ministering to those in need.

• You need to be present in church and in fellowship with other believers because ‘iron sharpens iron’:

Proverbs 27:17 – Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another. 

For example, through fellowship and conversation, we can sharpen each other’s minds.  This will assist us in avoiding the traps of the enemy especially in the areas of false doctrines and teachings. 

Furthermore, when we are in fellowship we can stir up one another to be diligent in good works and in using the gifts God has given us.  We can hold each other accountable for our actions and our lifestyles. 

Hebrews 10:24-25 – And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. 

Clearly, there are numerous reasons why God requires us to be in close fellowship with each other.  The bottom line is that God has designed the church to operate as a body, so you need to actively meet/fellowship with others on a regular basis.  This should be happening inside and outside of the church services.     

Their affection for Paul and a desire to see him: The continued love and affection that the Thessalonians showed for their spiritual teachers (Paul, Timothy and Silas), was indeed a good sign. 

If they had begun to fall away from the faith or if they had doubts about Paul and the gospel, they certainly would not have been glad to see any of these men.   

But that was not the case.  The Thessalonians had a great respect and reverence for Paul, Silas and Timothy.  It is clear that they would welcome a visit from these men at any time.  In fact, they longed to see Paul, Timothy and Silas as much as these ministers longed to see them.  A face-to-face meeting would refresh and encourage all of them.

Paul makes it very clear that when news of the steadfast faith of the Thessalonians reached him at Corinth, he was greatly comforted and reassured.  The good news of the saints in Thessalonica was like breath of fresh air to him.   

I Thessalonians 3:8 – For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

When Paul and his companions considered the afflictions of the Thessalonian church and the false doctrines being presented to them by unbelievers, they were distraught and burdened.  They had delivered the true gospel of eternal life to the Thessalonians, and the last thing they wanted was for Satan to take that away from them. 

When word finally reached Paul that the church had remained steadfast and unwavering in their faith, it caused this burden to be lifted.  Paul ‘lived’ - he experienced a special joy in his heart and mind because of this victory. 

Think of it this way:  A scientist finds joy and satisfaction in discovering the laws of nature.  Scholars find pleasure in accumulating knowledge.  Business people find intense delight in closing deals and making money. 

In the same way, Paul experienced real pleasure and satisfaction knowing that the Thessalonians were unwavering in their faith. 

Keep in mind that at the time Paul received this message, he was ministering in the midst of adversity.  He was working a full time job in Corinth (Acts 18:3), but he still suffered lack.  He had an infirmity that wouldn’t go away.  He was subjected to the fury of the Jews and the scorn of the Gentiles on a daily basis.  His life was difficult/hard 100% of the time. 

So it’s not hard to see that the good news regarding the Thessalonian church encouraged and refreshed him like a drink of ice water refreshes a traveler dying of thirst.  It intensified Paul’s pleasure in this life.     

Paul was not the only apostle to experience this kind of satisfaction.  He seems to be echoing the sentiments of the apostle John who said this:

3 John 4 – I [John] have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

I Thessalonians 3:9 – For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God…

This verse reflects the depth of Paul’s joy.  ‘What thanksgiving can we return to God for you’  is essentially a rhetorical question; Paul is saying that he cannot find an expression of gratitude to God that sums up the vast amount of joy he feels because of the continued faith of the Thessalonians.  Simply put, any words of thanksgiving he offers to God cannot adequately declare the deep and profound joy he is experiencing. 

This joy is not a celebration of Paul’s accomplishments - that is the furthest thing from the apostle’s mind.  His profound joy is rooted in the grace of God, which is the source of the Thessalonian’s faith and steadfast love. 

Because of the grace of God, the Thessalonians have embraced the true gospel and they are recipients of eternal life.  What’s more, God will use the trials and afflictions they now face to mature their spiritual lives.

James 1:2-4 – Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.  

Paul is excited about the manifestation of the life changing power of the gospel, which flows from the grace of God and is at work in the Thessalonian believers.

That same grace is manifesting in the lives of believers today, including you and me.  Like Paul, we can give praise to God when we see his grace at work in the lives of others.

I Thessalonians 3:10 - …as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

In this verse Paul comments on the prayers he made for the Thessalonian church. 

These weren’t just short, perfunctory requests.  Paul’s prayers for them were fervent, persistent and importunate.  He made the Thessalonian believers a special subject of prayer.  He spent time earnestly holding them up before the throne of God, praying for their spiritual growth/wellbeing.  He also fervently asked for the opportunity to see them again so he could further shepherd them in the faith. 

Part of this urgency was Paul’s understanding that his return to Thessalonica was being hindered by Satan himself (I Thessalonians 2:18).  He believed that it was God’s will for him to return to Thessalonica, so he prayed for God’s will to be done  on earth as it was in heaven.    

Paul wanted to return to his spiritual children to ‘supply what was lacking in their faith’.  The word ‘supply’ means to complete, to make fully ready or to put full in order.  In other scriptures the same Greek word is translated as:

• ‘Mending’ (Matthew 4:21, Mark 1:19) 
• ‘Perfectly joined together’ (I Corinthians 1:10) 
• ‘Perfect/perfected’ (Matthew 21:16, Hebrews 13:21, I Peter 5:10) 
• ‘Restore’ (Galatians 6:1)   
• ‘Prepared’ (Hebrews 10:5) 
• ‘Framed’ (Hebrews 11:3)

The overall meaning is that whatever was deficient or lacking in their doctrine, the apostles were ready and willing to supply, so that the faith of the Thessalonians may be complete/perfect.  In addition, Paul desired to increase their knowledge, to excite/inflame their love for God, to spur them on in righteousness, and to kindle a greater desire for performing good works.   

Since Paul was suddenly torn away from them, it is reasonable to assume that he wished to instruct them more fully on several topics.   

Think of it this way:  We might describe their faith as an outline – they knew the major points, but the details were missing.  Paul greatly desires to come and fill in the outline through his teaching, so that the church would be perfectly equipped for every good work.

As you no doubt noticed, there are no perfect Christians.  None of us have arrived at perfection; all of us have deficiencies or defects in our faith.  One of the many facets of pastoral ministry is to ‘mend’ these inadequacies and help bring our faith to perfection.

This is one more reason to show up to church in person and to submit to the authority of the church’s pastors and elders.    

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

In the natural realm, God created and placed each individual part of the human body in a position where it can be of the greatest service and usefulness to the whole person.  For example, it would be really inconvenient to have your hands protruding from your spine, especially since you can’t see anything back there!

The same is true in the spiritual body of the church.  The gifts and talents that you possess were given to you by God’s sovereign will.  He then places each individual (including you) in a position where they can be of the greatest service and usefulness to the whole body (the church). 

Mankind classifies some gifts/talents as greater than others, but that is a false idea.  Each person in the church should be honored and highly esteemed as being an indispensible part of God’s body, which assists in establishing his will on earth.

You should NEVER consider yourself or your gifts as inconsequential.  Every Christian is essential to the body of Christ.  To say otherwise is to say that you are wiser than God!

Likewise, you should never compare your ministry to another one.  Even though you may have overlapping or even duplicated components of ministry, you will reach individuals that no one else can.  God has placed you where you are right now ‘for such a time as this’.     

As with the natural body, the individual members of the church cannot exist or function by themselves.  We need each other just like the feet need the legs or the hands need the eyes.  This circles back to another very important topic in today’s discussion – YOU NEED TO BE IN CHURCH.  You also need to find ways to experience fellowship outside of Sunday services. 

The connections you make to the people in your church body are incredibly important.  If you don’t have any, start making some!  Invite some other members of the church to your house, or to a sporting event or a concert.  Begin to cultivate friendships within the body.   

Find your place in the body of Christ and own it!

 

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I Thessalonians 3:1 – Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone…

Welcome back, readers!  The first part of chapter three continues to address some of the same concerns found in chapter two.

Specifically, it seems that the Thessalonians had a distorted view of Paul:  He preached the gospel, but when danger appeared, he immediately left them.  Later, after the situation calmed down, he still did not return.  From their point of view, it seemed that Paul had abandoned them, leaving them to bear their afflictions alone.  This led to the belief that Paul had no real concern for their welfare.  (These false assumptions were probably suggested and encouraged by the unbelieving Jews, who actively opposed Paul at all times.)

Paul refuted these misconceptions in chapter two, where he compared himself to a distraught parent who is forced to leave his children alone in the world.  He then moves on to talk about why he did not immediately return to them – he was hindered by Satan.    

As if that were not enough, some of the Greek philosophers were also sowing seeds of doubt into the hearts and minds of the church.  These concerns are what Paul addresses in the first five verses of chapter three.  Let’s take a closer look.

During the early days of the church, the gospel message was commonly accompanied by signs, wonders and miracles, which confirmed the validity of the message:

Acts 14:3 – So they [Paul and Barnabas] remained for a long time, speaking boldly for the Lord, who bore witness to the word of his grace, granting signs and wonders to be done by their hands. 

Acts 5:12 – Now many signs and wonders were regularly done among the people by the hands of the apostles. 

(See also Acts 8:13, Acts 2:43, Romans 15:18-19, II Corinthians 12:12, Hebrews 2:4, etc).

However, the Greek philosophers argued that if Paul and his companions really possessed miraculous powers, there was no reason for them to flee from their enemies.  Why didn’t they use these miraculous powers to save themselves from harm? 

They further reasoned that if Paul were to do such a thing, it would once and for all prove that he had been sent by God.  Not even the most obstinate unbeliever could refute a miracle like that!

These vain philosophers concluded that the withdrawal of Paul and his companions from the danger at Thessalonica was clear proof that their signs and miracles were false.  And if their signs and miracles were false, then so was the message they supposedly confirmed.  Therefore, Christianity must be rejected.  

Interestingly, this was the same argument that the religious leaders used to discredit the ministry of Jesus:  

Matthew 27:41-42 – So also the chief priests, with the scribes and elders, mocked him, saying, “He [Jesus] saved others; he cannot save himself.  He is the King of Israel; let him come down now from the cross, and we will believe him.”

Obviously, the Greek philosophers were wrong about Paul and his ministry, just as the religious leaders were wrong about Jesus and his ministry.  Now that we understand the background of this situation, let’s take a look at what really happened.

When violence broke out in Thessalonica, Paul and Silas went to Berea.  Timothy, however, remained in Thessalonica for a while before joining them (Acts 17:10). 

Later, when the Jews stirred up trouble in Berea, the church immediately sent Paul to Athens.  Silas and Timothy stayed in Berea for a short time, with instructions to meet Paul in Athens as soon as possible (Acts 17:14-15).

Although there is no corroborating biblical evidence, scholars believe that Silas and Timothy were reunited with Paul in Athens.  They arrived with the news that the Greek philosophers were poisoning the minds of the Thessalonians.  This caused great distress and uneasiness in all of them. 

So, on the one hand, Paul was greatly concerned for the spiritual welfare of the Thessalonian believers, who were under attack from the unbelieving Jews and the Greeks.  He did not want them to be led astray by false teachings.  Furthermore, it was always his intent to return to them as soon as possible. 

On the other hand, Holy Spirit had opened a door for ministry in Athens.  Paul needed the assistance of his team for the great work that had just begun there.

This left Paul with some remarkably difficult decisions.  He could keep the team in Athens, have the team return to Thessalonica, or he could split the team up. 

Splitting up was the least favorable choice.  This would leave Paul by himself to deal with the contentious Jews, debate with the heathen philosophers of the city, witness in the marketplace and establish a church among the Gentiles. 

Even with a full team and the best of circumstances this would be a heavy burden.  The burden would be exponentially increased if Paul shouldered it without the companionship and support of Silas and Timothy.

After much prayer and probably some personal agony, Paul decided to temporarily split up the team.  His burden for the Thessalonians was so intense it became unbearable, so he sent Timothy back to them.  It appears as though he sent Silas away too, probably to a different city in Macedonia (Acts 18:5).

Side note: Some commentators believe that Silas never met Paul in Athens.  They think he was redirected to Macedonia while still in Berea.  Regardless of which scenario is correct, the end result was the same – Paul was without the support of his companions.   

So, we see that Paul chose to be left alone and endure a substantially increased burden, so the Thessalonians could have the comfort and benefit of Timothy.   Like a loving spiritual father, he put the welfare of his spiritual children ahead of his own comfort and convenience. 

Clearly, the accusations made against him by the Jews and Greeks were completely false.

Silas and Timothy did not rejoin Paul until he began to minister in the city of Corinth (Acts 18:15). 

I Thessalonians 3:2 - …and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,

Short of coming to Thessalonica himself, Timothy was the best person for Paul to send. 

Timothy was not just an ordinary layman with limited experience and knowledge.  Paul describes him as his co-worker in the gospel.  In other words, Timothy was a fully qualified minister; he could preach and teach as well as refute false doctrines and expose the lies which were being told to the Thessalonian believers.  He was full of Holy Spirit.  Signs and wonders flowed through him.  He was Paul’s ‘right hand man’ and he also had great love and concern for the churches (Philippians 2:19-22).

We have all heard the saying ‘actions speak louder than words’.  While words can be full of false promises or sentiments, actions are concrete proof of how you feel about someone.  By sending Timothy to Thessalonica, Paul is demonstrating his intense love for this fledgling congregation, which was full of new believers. 

Timothy’s mission was clear: he was to establish and exhort/comfort the believers in their faith.  

Establish - To establish something is to set it up on a firm or permanent basis.  In this instance, Timothy was sent to nurture and shepherd these new believers until their commitment to Christ and the gospel had become firm and unshakable.

Paul did not want these Christians to wind up with a shallow or unstable faith which would fail them during times of persecution or affliction.

Mark 4:16-17 – And these are they likewise which are sown on stony ground; who, when they have heard the word, immediately receive it with gladness; and have no root in themselves, and so endure but for a time:  afterward, when affliction or persecution arises for the word’s sake, immediately they are offended.

Exhort/Comfort - To exhort is to strongly encourage.  To comfort is to alleviate or ease a person’s feelings of distress. 

Timothy exhorted the believers by continuously reminding them of the truths of the gospel and by reassuring them that God is in control, even in the midst of difficult circumstances.

He brought them comfort by giving them spiritual tools to help them grow in their faith.  For instance, he may have taught them to pray, to speak the name of Jesus over their situation, to offer praise and worship, to meditate on the scriptures, to put on the armor of God, etc.  The more spiritual tools these believers had, the better established they would be in their faith.

He may also have encouraged them through testimonies.  Timothy could have shared stories of victory from his own walk of faith.  He was also in a position to speak about the continued zeal and faithfulness of Paul through all the persecutions he had suffered.  These testimonies of faith and victory in the midst of difficulty would encourage the Thessalonians to continue in the faith and not give up.

It was also important for them to share their own individual victories with each other.

In summary we can say that Timothy’s purpose was to encourage the believers to continue in their faith, to stand firm in their faith, to exercise their faith, to become more familiar with the doctrine of faith, and to practice the profession of faith.

I Thessalonians 3:3-4 - …that no one be moved by these afflictions.  For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.  For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.    

There was every reason to believe that the Christians of Thessalonica would encounter persecution because of their religion (John 15:20).  Therefore, it would have been perfectly natural for Paul to speak on this subject and to prepare them for it.

Paul did not want them to be ‘moved’ by persecution.  The word ‘moved’ means to waver in mind because of fear; to dread or to tremble.  In this case, it refers to believers being so agitated by fear/terror of persecution that they abandoned their faith. 

Paul, Silas and Timothy had been soldiers of Christ for a long time; they knew what to expect.  They had already suffered their share of persecution.  They knew that the attacks of the enemy could either kill a person’s faith or harden it to a point where it was unshakable.  Since the believers of Thessalonica were very young converts, they needed extra encouragement to stand firm in the midst of these trials.    

Now let’s examine Paul’s statement ‘you yourselves know that we are destined for this [affliction/persecution]’.

The first question is this:  What does Paul mean by ‘we’? 

Some scholars believe he is referring to himself and the other apostles.  It was no secret that Paul was appointed to suffer for the sake of the gospel:

Acts 9:15-16 – But the Lord said to him [Ananias], “Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.  For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

(See also Acts 20:23).  Paul’s suffering was a confirmation or proof that he was fully persuaded of the truth of the gospel because no one would suffer the way Paul did if the gospel wasn’t real.  When unbelievers saw how Paul (and the other apostles) tenaciously held onto his faith, it proved to them that the gospel was precious and that it would indeed give them eternal life.

This explains, at least in part, why God did not give his apostles the ability to miraculously deliver themselves from persecution – they were to prove the truth of the gospel by their sufferings as well as by being the conduit of God’s miracles.

Paul’s sudden flight from Thessalonica should not be attributed to fear, or to a callous disregard for their welfare.  Neither was it proof that the gospel was a sham/deception as his enemies claimed.  Rather, it was a normal part of the suffering he endured for the sake of the gospel: 

Matthew 10:23 – When they [unbelievers] persecute you in one town, flee to the next, for truly, I [Jesus] say to you, you will not have gone through all the towns of Israel before the Son of Man comes.

By the term ‘we’, Paul could also have been referring to himself and the believers in Thessalonica; it was obviously true that both of them were suffering for their faith. 

However, many bible commentators feel that Paul’s statement should be taken in a much larger sense.  They believe he was referring to the general idea that ALL Christians could be called to endure suffering and/or persecution at any time; no one should expect to entirely escape it.  This is a truth presented numerous times through the scriptures.

John 16:33 – I [Jesus] have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace.  In the world you will have tribulation.  But take heart; I have overcome the world.

II Timothy 3:12 – Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted…

(See also John 16:1-4, John 16:33, Acts 14:22, Matthew 10:34-36, Romans 8:17, I Peter 4:12, etc).   

By making this statement, Paul shows the Thessalonians that what they were experiencing was common among all believers; they were not suffering above and beyond any other church. 

The Thessalonians needed to understand that true religion does not deliver the Christian from all suffering, affliction and persecution.  While God does not appoint or cause our afflictions, he will permit us to be touched by them because each individual person is essentially a moral ‘free agent’ who has the capability to choose right or wrong.  

Nevertheless, regardless of the decisions of man, we can rest assured that our trials do not happen without the knowledge, consent and control of God.  He will use every single circumstance in our lives for our good and his glory (Romans 8:28).

Here are just a few of the ways God uses these afflictions for our good:

• He also uses them to change us.  A soldier can be trained and equipped for battle, but only confrontation with an enemy will reveal whether he is brave or full of cowardice.  In the same way, affliction will reveal the true state of our walk with God.  When our weaknesses are revealed to us, it gives us the opportunity to change.

 

• God uses affliction/persecution to sanctify us - to cleanse us from moral corruption and pollution.  Just as fire purifies gold, afflictions purify the saint.   

 

• Trials, afflictions and persecution promote a more intimate relationship between us and God because we will automatically turn to him for comfort and endurance.  He will teach us about himself during these times. 

 

• Affliction and persecution force us to exercise spiritual graces that can’t really be developed any other way.  These include patience, faith, and contentment.

 

• Suffering and afflictions take our eyes and affections off that which is temporal and set them on what is eternal.  Essentially, they re-adjust our priorities. 

The bottom line is that when we face these situations, we should not see them as strange or unexpected.  We should accept them for what they are – opportunities to grow in Christ and glorify God. 

I Thessalonians 3:5 – For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

Paul goes on to explain that he was well aware of the suffering and temptations the Thessalonian church was experiencing, and he was very concerned about their spiritual welfare.  When he could no longer bear his anxiety (when his worry reached a fever pitch because he had no word from them) he sent Timothy back to them, in order to ascertain the condition of their faith.

Paul’s main concern was that ‘the tempter’ had convinced the Thessalonians to abandon their faith in Christ.    

The tempter is none other than Satan himself (Matthew 4:3).  Although he used both Gentiles and unrepentant Jews to do his work, he was the master planner behind the attacks.  Therefore, he was the true author of their persecution.  The Greek text implies that it is not just his character to tempt, but that it is his constant occupation.   

At all times, but especially in times of persecution or trial, Satan tempts people to abandon the truth, in order to avoid temporary suffering.  Of course, this is a huge mistake.  No matter how intense they are, our temporary sufferings cannot compare to the rich and eternal blessings that God has prepared for us.

If that doesn’t work, Satan tempts the suffering saint to murmur/complain, to accuse God of partiality, abandonment, unfairness, etc.  When we give in to this temptation, it smears God’s reputation.  It drags his name through the mud.  It impedes the work of the gospel and could result in an unbeliever becoming permanently trapped by the enemy.

On a personal level, falling into temptation in the midst of suffering robs us of the chance to exercise faith in God and to experience his special power to sustain us in our weakness. 

It was important for the Thessalonians to understand that Satan’s power is not without limits.  For example, he can tempt or try to persuade us to sin, but he cannot compel or force us to do so because temptation does not destroy our free will. 

If we choose to reject his suggestions and stay faithful to Christ, he is powerless to overcome us.  The decision to sin or not to sin lies entirely within ourselves.

Furthermore, God does not leave us to fight the tempter in our own strength.  The power of Holy Spirit will help us to effectively resist temptation, if we turn to him for help:   

I Corinthians 10:13 – No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man.  God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

In today’s post, we mentioned that the apostles were called upon to prove the truth of the gospel by their suffering as well as by being the conduit of God’s miracles/blessings. 

The same truth applies to every Christian.  The world is certainly interested when they see the blessings of God fall upon our lives.  They take notice when we give God glory for his favor and goodness. 

But it’s easy to be a disciple of Christ when everything goes your way.  The true test of being a disciple is being faithful when things get tough.  Faithfulness to God in the midst of afflictions/trials is a greater testimony than faithfulness in good times, because it proves that you have something substantial and valuable. 

The world recognizes that if your faith was worthless, you would immediately drop it to avoid suffering.

So, the next time you are called upon to suffer, encourage yourself.  Remind yourself that God will bring a lot of good into your life through this circumstance.  Plus, he will use it for his glory by making you a witness to the lost. 

When we get to eternity, you will be glad for these trials!    

Let me offer you some relief:

Afflictions, trials and persecution are obviously things we would rather avoid.  But when they come upon us, we can find some relief in the experiences of others. 

Hebrews chapter 11 is a lengthy list of ‘heroes of the faith’ – men and women who suffered through tremendous trials, yet they remained firmly committed to God.  Their faith did not fail, even though some of them lost their lives.  This is a good portion of scripture to meditate on, especially in times of difficulty.

In addition, there are other testimonies of modern-day saints online and in books which can also encourage you and give you relief.

Let me offer you some strength:

God has not left us defenseless during times of affliction and trial.  We can find strength in the spiritual tools he has given us. 

Ephesians chapter six speaks of the armor that the Lord has given to every one of his children.  In addition to the helmet of salvation, we all have breastplates of righteousness and belts of truth.  We are protected on the paths we walk by the gospel of peace. 

We are also given a shield of faith (remember, faith is strengthened through trials) which will block the attacks of the enemy in our lives. 

We have all been issued the ‘sword of the Spirit’ which is the word of God.  We wield this sword by knowing the scriptures, by speaking them over our situations and by praying them over our lives.

Prayer is another invaluable weapon for every Christian in this life.  This includes praying with your mind and praying in a heavenly language given by Holy Spirit.  

When we rely on the power of Holy Spirit and use our weapons in spiritual battle, we can be sure that we will be victorious in all the trials and afflictions we face.

 

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I Thessalonians 2:17 – But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face…

As Paul continues offering encouragement to the Thessalonian believers, he makes reference to the violent way in which he was suddenly ousted from the city.  These events (which were outside of his control) are what stopped their face-to-face fellowship. 

Our English translations uses the phrase ‘torn away’ or ‘being taken’ to describe the separation of Paul from the Christians in Thessalonica.  However, this is a weak rendering.

The original text implies a deeper and much more heart-felt loss than just companions who have been untimely separated.  It entails grief, anxiety and reluctance of heart.  The original Greek phrase refers to the condition of an orphan or a person who is suddenly bereaved of parents.  The emphasis is on the overwhelming grief and sorrow of the parents, who are forced to leave their beloved children to the mercy of the cruel world.      

In this instance, the phrase expresses the way Paul felt when he was suddenly and violently separated from his spiritual children in Thessalonica.  He was grieved at leaving them in the midst of their malicious enemies (the unbelieving Jews) without guidance, defense and support.  

In the natural realm, a child expects their father (and mother) to be there when they need help.  That child would naturally feel abandoned if their father disappeared just when they needed him most.  His disappearance would erode all trust; the child could never again be fully confident of his father’s love, faithfulness or guidance.

In the same way, the Christians of Thessalonica expected their spiritual father to stand by them and assist them in every possible way, especially in times of trouble.

When Paul was unable to do that, it may have caused feelings of suspicion, distrust or contempt within the church.  Therefore, it was imperative for him to explain that he did not willingly leave them.  Being separated from them in such a way was causing him the utmost grief and sorrow.

Paul goes on to reassure the believers that even in the midst of their physical separation, they were constantly in his heart and mind.  The best thing he could do for them at that point was to pray for them – and that is exactly what he did. 

In the meantime, Paul’s absence strengthened rather than diminished his desire to fellowship with them again.  He had high hopes that this face-to-face separation would only be for a brief period. 

More specifically, he hoped that once he arrived in Berea (Acts 17:10), that the opposition to him and the gospel would soon calm down, and he could safely return to continue ‘parenting’ the Thessalonians in their spiritual growth. But unfortunately, as we will see in the next few verses, that was not the case.    

I Thessalonians 2:18 - …because we wanted to come to you – I, Paul, again and again – but Satan hindered us.

Although Paul had been ousted from the city, Timothy continued to minister there for some time (I Thessalonians 3:2, 6).  This is probably why Paul says ‘we’ wanted to return, but then emphasizes that he himself sought every opportunity to go back to Thessalonica.

Paul clearly states that it was Satan who circumvented his plans on multiple occasions.  How did he do that?   

Paul does not give us definite details, but when we examine the text, we can identify a number of different circumstances which opposed/frustrated the will of Paul:     

First, there was the mob which originally forced him to flee from Thessalonica to Berea.  Under normal circumstances, the angry mob would have spent their rage, calmed down and then gone back to their everyday lives.  However, in this case, the Jews instigated the mob to travel to Berea, where they chased Paul out of that city too.  Upon leaving Berea, he travelled to Athens.  Satan was clearly the one who was influencing the Jews to harass and persecute Paul.   

As Paul waited in Athens for Silas and Timothy, he was disturbed by the number of idols throughout the city.  As we would expect, he went to the synagogue, declared the gospel, and reasoned with the Jews.  Scripture tells us that every day he also spoke to ‘devout’ persons which he encountered in the public marketplace (Acts 17:16-21).   

When the Stoics, the Athenians, the Epicurean philosophers and other foreigners heard the gospel, they asked him to stay in the city and speak again.  Sadly, their main desire was not to be touched with the gospel.  It was to have a new idea to debate and dispute.  Scripture tells us that some people did come to Christ, (Acts 17:32-24), but nevertheless these events prevented Paul from returning to Thessalonica.

Paul’s return may also have been frustrated by general disturbances among other churches caused by false teachers or internal disputes among believers.  These types of situations were urgent and required him to visit those places in person to oppose and refute false doctrines, and to settle controversies/quarrels within the church.  It seems like Paul spent a considerable amount of time just putting out fires!  

Some scholars believe that Paul was making reference to the numerous attempts by the Jews to kill him.  For instance, when Paul first began to proclaim Jesus as the Messiah, the Jews were so enraged at the effectiveness of the gospel that they plotted to capture him at the city gates and kill him.  Through the intervention of Holy Spirit, the plot became known to Paul and he escaped by having his disciples lower him in a basket down the city wall at night (Acts 9:20-25).

Later, after spending time in Greece and planning to depart by ship to Syria, he discovered yet another plot/ambush set against him by the Jews (Acts 20:1-3).  This too was unsuccessful.  There may very well have been other attempts on Paul’s life which we do not know about.

What we do know is that Paul credits the attempts on his life and the thwarting of his plans to Satan.  When writing to the Ephesian church, he reminds Christians that we do not fight against men, but against the evil powers that influence them:

Ephesians 6:12 – For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.

Paul teachings were very clear on this point – wicked men and women are fighting under the banner of Satan; they follow his lead and obey his orders.  Even now, Satan and his human soldiers constantly seek to hinder and obstruct the work of the church, the unity of the church, and the encouragement of the saints. 

Fortunately, we as Christians are in a spiritual army too.  Under Jesus Christ our Commander and Chief, we are arrayed in battle against the forces of darkness.  Just as the Israelites had to fight to possess the Promised Land, so the church must fight to possess new territory for the kingdom of heaven.  As we battle to win the souls of men and women to Christ, Satan will hinder us at every turn, just as he did Paul.

But we have no reason to fear.  Scripture tells us that the gates of hell cannot prevail against the church:

Matthew 16:18 – And I [Jesus] tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.  

Question:  What do we know about city gates?

Answer:  They are a defensive weapon, not an offensive one!  In other words, under the direction of Holy Spirit, the church will storm the gates of hell and violently tear them down.  We will then invade the kingdom of darkness and rescue lost souls, bringing them into the kingdom of heaven (Matthew 11:12). 

Satan greatly fears this because he knows he is powerless to stop it.  That is why he works so hard to impede our plans and to destroy us, if possible:

I Peter 5:8 – Be sober-minded; be watchful.  Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

In his attempts to render us ineffective in the army of God, Satan ‘baits’ us with temptations.  The Christian who ‘takes the bait’ or embraces sin becomes a hindrance to the very gospel he or she is trying to promote!  In a way, we could say that committing sin is similar to committing treason against our King. 

For this reason, it is important that all of us pay attention to our own personal holiness. 

I Peter 1:14-15 - As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct.

Obviously, none of us are perfect and we will continue to sin as long as we are on this earth.  But that does not give us the ‘green light’ to carelessly indulge in sin.  We must circumcise our hearts and remove as much sin from our lives as possible. 

The good news is that we have Holy Spirit to help us. He leads and guides us into all truth.  He helps us identify Satan’s ambushes and avoid them (II Corinthians 2:11).  He abides with us and draws us closer to Christ.  Because we love and honor Jesus, we will desire to keep ourselves holy and to be obedient to his commandments (John 14:15-24).

As we study this portion of scripture, there is an important point that we do not want to overlook:  Satan can hinder the will/plans of man, but not the will and plans of God. 

Satan foiled the plans of Paul by keeping him from returning to Thessalonica.  However, he cannot stop the will of God which was for Paul to minister in other places.  Indeed, sinners were saved in every place that Paul preached the gospel. 

Romans 16:20 – The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.

Furthermore, it should be noted that the only power Satan has is the power which God allows him.  And not only is his power limited, he will only exercise it for a very short season.

I Thessalonians 2:19-20 – For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming?  Is it not you?  For you are our glory and joy.

Paul now gives the reason why he was so concerned about leaving them and why he was so anxious to see them again – because they were his hope, his joy, and his crown of boasting. 

HOPE:  Hope is the desire of something good accompanied by the expectation of obtaining it. 

Paul’s hope is that the Thessalonian converts would be found in Christ at his second coming (I Thessalonians 3:13).  Paul expects this to be the case because of two things. 

One, God is always faithful to his promises. 

Two, the Thessalonian believers were fully committed to serving God.  This was evident by the spiritual fruit that was being produced in their lives.  Since being redeemed by the blood of Christ, they exhibited faith, holiness and love.  They showed perseverance in the face of persecution.  They were a strong witness to Christ in their region and beyond. 

JOY:  Paul endured many hardships in order to bring the gospel to Thessalonica, and he could rejoice knowing that his work was not in vain!  He is full of joy because the Thessalonians now displayed the glory of God.  They walked in the truth and led lives that honored Christ.  

Upon the second coming/return of the Lord, Paul would be able to give an account of them with joy, not with grief (Hebrews 13:17).

CROWN:  The Thessalonians were Paul’s crown of boasting because they were like trophies of divine grace - captives delivered from the power of Satan (sin and death) and set free in the kingdom of Christ (forgiveness and life).

When God brings the events of this world to a conclusion, true ministers of the gospel will have no greater source of joy or happiness than the salvation of the souls they attended to. 

The conversion and steadfast faith of the Thessalonians was like a seal of Paul’s apostleship.  It was proof that God had sent him (and his team) to bring them the gospel.

Overall, the expressions used by Paul in this verse are meant to assure the Thessalonians that he held them in high regard and he had great love and affection for them.  His long absence from them was not caused because of a lack of love or concern for them; it was due to their mutual enemy.      

Let me offer you some encouragement and relief:

In today’s post, we noted that the soldiers of darkness look for every opportunity to obstruct the unity of the church.  You don’t hear many sermons about church unity.  It’s probably not a topic that we think too much about unless there is a problem.

However, church unity is vitally important.  Jesus tells us that a house divided against itself will essentially self-destruct (Mark 3:25).

As believers, it is our responsibility to overlook minor offences in our relationships with those in our body.  In truth, it can be humbling or difficult to let those annoyances go, but we must learn to do so, in order to avoid giving Satan an opening into the church. 

If you are letting minor annoyances build into anger or resentment against another believer, please stop!  Take the time to remember the good qualities of your brother/sister.  Make note of the circumstances they are experiencing.  Pray for them.  Give thanks to God for their service and the gifts they bring to the body. 

By doing so, you can rediscover all the good things about them and keep unity in the body.

Let me offer you some strength:

When we discussed Paul’s crown of boasting, we noted that at the end of this age, true ministers of the gospel will have no greater joy or pleasure than seeing the salvation of souls. 

The title ‘minister’ doesn’t just refer to spiritual leaders like Paul or your pastor.  A minister is anyone who attends to the spiritual needs of another.  All Christians are part of this group. 
In fact, scripture tells us that we have become priests in the kingdom of God (I Peter 2:9).  Priests were the men who acted as the conduit or means of communication between men and God. In this role, we are to offer spiritual life, spiritual comfort and spiritual encouragement to all those around us.  When we are faithful to do this, it brings life, joy and strength to others. 

Think of it - we can make an eternal difference in the lives of others!  What greater legacy can we leave to the next generation?  What greater reward can we ask for in the next life?

 

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I Thessalonians 2:13 – And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers.

Paul has already mentioned a number of reasons why he is thankful when he considers the Thessalonian church: 

• They have grown in their relationship with the Lord. 
• They display faith, love and good works. 
• They have become ‘imitators’ of Paul and the Lord. 
• The testimony of their faith has gone out to all of Macedonia.

He is also thankful that they received the gospel as divine truth from God, not a message of mere human origin (created by man).  

More specifically, we can say that the Thessalonian believers did not accept the gospel because it made sense in terms of human reasoning.  If this were the case, they could easily be persuaded to abandon the gospel when an opposing point of view was presented.   

They did not accept the gospel because of the persuasive way it was presented to them. If this were the case, they could also be persuaded to drop the gospel in favor of a lie/false doctrine as long as it was presented by an eloquent speaker.   

Neither did they accept the gospel out of respect for Paul or his team.  If this were the case, they could be convinced to abandon their faith once culture or popular thought moved in a different direction. 

Had they accepted the gospel for any of these reasons, it would be ineffective, because it was not received with true faith:

Hebrews 4:2 – For good news came to us just as to them, but the message they heard did not benefit them, because they were not united by faith with those who listened.

However, when the gospel is embraced with faith and believed to be a divine revelation of the only true God, then it has the power to permanently change the lives of people.  Only then will it cause people to circumcise their hearts from sin, to devote themselves to God, to live pure/holy lives and to hold onto their faith through trials, temptations and even persecution. 

Furthermore, only the divine word of God could produce reverence and obedience from mankind, who is rebellious by nature.

So we can conclude that even though the Thessalonians received the gospel through the mouth of a mortal man, they recognized that God was the author of it.  Paul can be thankful for their salvation and he can be thankful that his labor among them was not in vain!

I Thessalonians 2:14 – For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea.  For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews,

What does Paul mean when he says the Thessalonian believers have become ‘imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus’?  

To imitate is to copy or to follow as a model.  In this case, it refers to the fact that the Thessalonian church was being harassed/persecuted in the same manner and by the same people as other true churches in their region.  We might say there was a clear pattern of harassment, opposition and persecution against all true churches in that area.

It also means that these believers endured and responded to this opposition with the same righteous spirit as their counterparts.

This persecution is coming from their ‘own countrymen’ and/or the Jews.  Let’s examine that statement further.

In nearly every case, the Jews were the leaders of all persecution against the apostles and the infant Church.  In the region of Palestine, they openly persecuted the church/Christians themselves. 

However, in Macedonia the Jews rarely came against the churches personally.  Instead, it was their habit to incite heathens or idolaters in these cities to do the work for them (Acts 17:5-9, Acts 17:13-15, Acts 14:1-2, etc).   

The Jews would stir up base and foolish people by telling them lies about Christians and Christianity.  They frequently claimed that Christians were in rebellion against civil institutions and, whenever possible, they inferred that Christianity was going to negatively impact the heathen financially/economically.  They encouraged the heathen to make public protests and uproars, which often resulted in arrests, imprisonment and beatings for believers.  Thessalonica was just one of the many places this occurred.

So even though the Thessalonian Christians were technically being persecuted by their fellow countrymen, we know these Gentiles were merely tools or pawns being used by the Jews. 

The true source of this opposition was probably troubling to the believers, because the Jews were the only nation in the world which claimed to be the people of God – the same God they were now serving! 

They might have wondered this: If the gospel is true, why do the Jews, who are the chosen people of God, oppose it with such hostility?

Paul answers this question in a couple of different ways.  First, he confirms that the experience of the Thessalonians was common among the churches in Judea. 

Second, He goes on to show that the unbelieving Jews are actually enemies of God and of all sound doctrine; they are the very people who oppose Paul and his team everywhere they go. 

These statements were a comfort and assurance to the church.  It shows that the Thessalonian church was not alone; nor were their circumstances unusual.  Furthermore, the persecution they suffered was NOT evidence that they were believing a false doctrine.  In fact, the opposite was true.

The Thessalonians were obviously true believers - they were gathered out of the world by the grace of God, they were united in their reverence and obedience to Christ, they assembled for his worship, they were a testimony to the life changing truth of the gospel, and they reflected the glory of God.  Any church that displayed these traits could count on suffering at least some affliction:

Hebrews 10:32-35 – But recall the former days when, after you were enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to reproach and affliction and sometimes being partners with those so treated. 

Paul commends the church because they exemplified patient endurance and undaunted courage as they endured the assaults/trials that the kingdom of darkness made upon them.  They held tight to the gospel, and their obedience to Christ, even in the midst of suffering.  Again, this was evidence that their faith was genuine.

Many scholars see this as a fulfillment of Christ’s words that a man’s enemies will be those of his own house (Matthew 10:36).

I Thessalonians 2:15 - …who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind…

The ‘who’ in this verse refers to the obstinate, unbelieving Jews.  It was their normal MO (method of operation) to engage in the work of persecution.  They had a long history of abusing, imprisoning and killing God’s prophets and messengers (Nehemiah 9:26, I Kings 19:14, Acts 7:52, Romans 11:3, etc).

They often did their dirty work ‘behind the scenes.’  Case in point: The crucifixion of Christ. 

Though Pilate condemned Jesus to death and the Roman soldiers executed the sentence, it was the malice and envy of the Jews that brought charges against him.  It was the Jews and only the Jews who fervently demanded that Christ be crucified.  Therefore, it is correctly said that the Jews were responsible for killing the Prince of Life (Acts 3:13-15). 

But as bad as that was, the Jews didn’t stop there.

After Jesus rose from the dead, they turned their wrath against the apostles (Acts 4:18, Acts 5:41, Acts 14:1, 14:6 etc).  When they still couldn’t put a stop to the gospel, they began to persecute the churches too.  

John 15:20 – Remember the word that I [Jesus] said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’  If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.  If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.

Paul assured the Thessalonians that no one should find it strange that the unbelieving Jews had now turned their wrath against true believers in Christ.  It was to be expected; it was exactly what Jesus said would happen.  

Paul goes on to say that the Jews were displeasing to God.  Although they considered themselves the peculiar people of God who found favor in his sight, they were sadly mistaken. 

God was not pleased with them personally, because they stubbornly refused to accept the truth of the gospel.  Their carnal minds made them enemies of God.  This left them without faith (in a state of sin) and without faith it is impossible to please God.

In addition, their actions were also displeasing to God.  They actively opposed the spread of the gospel, doing everything in their power to hinder people from receiving salvation.  Believing themselves to be the only servants of God, they despised the Gentiles and set out to wage war against both God and man.  The path they chose to travel only had one outcome - unless they turned from this great wickedness, they were destined for destruction.     

I Thessalonians 2:16 - …by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved – so as always to fill up the measure of their sins.  But wrath has come upon them at last!

Let’s take a moment to dig a little deeper into this issue.  Under the old covenant, the Jews were the people who kept the Law, which they considered to be sacred.  The original intent was for them to be a public example of the relationship between God and man.  They were to introduce others to God through the Law.

However, at some point the Jews made rules which said that because the Law was sacred, it could never be shared with an unbeliever.  Although they probably did this to ensure the Law was treated with reverence and holiness, it eventually became a disaster.  By the time of the incarnation, it was strictly forbidden for a Jew to share the Law with any uncircumcised person, or to allow that person to study the Law until they became a proselyte to the Jewish religion.

I don’t know about you, but in my mind, this makes the actions of the unbelieving Jews in Paul’s day utterly absurd!  Think about it:

They despise the gospel; they have completely rejected it.  In fact, the only thing they loathe more than the gospel is the Gentiles.  So why would the Jews care if the gospel circulates among the Gentiles?  You’d think they would encourage it! 

But they didn’t.  It seems that their hatred and envy was so intense, the Jews didn’t want the Gentiles to hear the gospel just in case it was true.  They resorted to treating the gospel in the same manner they treated the Law – they did everything in their power to keep it from being revealed or shared.   

God has chosen to spread his gospel through preaching/speaking.  This is the ordinary or most common way for people to learn about salvation and to become a child of God.  So, as we would expect, the Jews attempted to stop the message by discrediting Paul and his team, by twisting the truth, by using their influence and position to condemn the gospel, and by stirring up trouble in the civil realm.

The mandate to keep the Law from unbelievers (Gentiles) was so deeply ingrained in the Jewish culture, it even effected the Christian Jews who had accepted salvation.  

During the earliest days of the church (before Gentiles were invited in), the Christian Jews were requiring the Gentiles to become proselytes or converts to Judaism – they were required to follow the law and observe all of its rites and customs, especially circumcision.  At that point, the Gentile became a Jew and thus ‘eligible’ to receive salvation through the gospel.   

However, it quickly became apparent that God was doing something totally new.    

All the apostles (including Paul) taught that there was no longer a difference between Jews and Gentiles; the sacrifice of Christ had broken down the wall of partition between the two. 

All people (Jews and Gentiles alike) had sinned and come short of the glory of God and all people (Jews and Gentiles alike) could be redeemed by his blood.  Salvation was obtained by grace through faith, not through circumcision or religious rituals or even keeping the Law.  In other words, you didn’t have to become a Jew in order to be saved!   

Acts 15:7-9 - …Peter stood up and said to them, “Brothers, you know that in the early days God made a choice among you, that by my mouth the Gentiles should hear the word of the gospel and believe.  And God, who knows the heart, bore witness to them, by giving them the Holy Spirit just as he did to us, and he made no distinction between us and them, having cleansed their hearts by faith.”

This truth was confirmed by the early church fathers who met at the Jerusalem Council (Acts 15).  They formally declared that the Gentiles were no longer required to be circumcised or observe the customs of the Law in order to receive salvation. 

This, of course, created quite a stir in the early church.  If left up to the wisdom of man, we might have ended up with two churches, one Jewish and one Gentile.  However, through the power and wisdom of Holy Spirit, we are all united in one, single church with Jesus Christ as our head! 

Now let’s turn our attention back to the unbelieving Jews.  Paul states that they are always filling up the measure of their sin.

The word ‘always’ is significant.  It means that at all times and in every generation the Jews consistently resist and/or oppose God.  We can find evidence of this throughout the scriptures.  It was certainly true of the Jews in Paul’s day.

The expression ‘filling up the measure of their sin’ implies that those who persevere in an evil course produce more and more guilt which is stored up until it overflows and results in judgment (Genesis 15:16, Daniel 8:23, Matthew 23:32). 

In our minds, we might picture a measuring cup or a beaker.  Each time the unrepentant person (or nation or church) sins, it adds more judgment to the cup.  Once the cup overflows, God’s wrath comes upon them.

This picture helps to explain why the punishment of the wicked is often delayed (or seems to be absent) – because God is allowing them a season in which to repent before they experience his wrath and destruction.  

In this case, when the Jews hindered or obstructed the gospel from being shared with the Gentiles, it added more iniquity to their cup, which would soon overflow, resulting in wrath.

Scholars universally agree that the wrath being mentioned here refers to the events which occurred in AD 71 when the Romans destroyed Jerusalem.  During that war, the Jews were slaughtered by the thousands.  After the altar had been desecrated, the temple was razed and burned.  From that day to this, the Jews have never had another temple.  God had completely abolished the practice of the Law, which the Jews loved more than the Messiah.   

This raises an interesting question: I Thessalonians was penned around AD 50, but the temple was not destroyed until approximately 20 years later.  Since Paul could not have known about the destruction that was coming, why does he say wrath “has” (past tense) come upon the Jews?  

Paul senses that the ‘cup’ of the Jews was already full; their rejection of Jesus as the Messiah was “last straw” - the moment when the cup began to overflow.  From that very moment, wrath was decreed for the Jews, even though it had not yet manifested itself. 

Interestingly, the root word for ‘has come’ means to unexpectedly overtake.  So from that moment forward, whether the Jews knew it or not, they were already sentenced to a destruction so certain that Paul confidently spoke of it as an indisputable fact.

Let me offer you some encouragement, relief and strength:

Paul wants the Thessalonians to understand that trials and difficulties in life are not necessarily indications that you are outside of God’s will for your life. 

On the surface, that doesn’t seem like an encouraging thought, but actually, it is. 

God doesn’t waste anything.  When a situation arises that causes you suffering, you can be sure of two things.  One, the root cause of your suffering stems from Satan and two, God is doing something amazing in that situation, even if you are not currently aware of it.  

• Mary and Martha suffered when their brother Lazarus died.  Jesus allowed them to endure that suffering so that his glory was revealed and many people believed on him as the Messiah.  Was their suffering fun?  Of course not!  But did God use it for his glory?  Yes!  Furthermore, God is rewarding Mary and Martha right now, for their sacrifice here on earth.

• God also uses trials or suffering to draw us closer to him.  Many Christians who have experienced a health crisis or a sudden loss (like a house fire) can testify that that event brought them closer to the Savior, as they depended upon him.  

• Remember the old saying which still holds true: The purpose of any test is to create a testimony.  When you walk through the storms of life, you create a living testimony to the power and grace of God.  That testimony is powerful; it will encourage other believers and it will draw sinners to the Savior.

• Faith grows faster when we use it.  We know that all of us have a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).  As we trust in the Lord during times of difficulty, persecution and testing, our faith in him grows and multiplies.  This in turn allows us to trust in him for even greater things in the future.    

Whatever you may be experiencing right now, don’t despair - God is in control and he can see the end from the beginning.  Right now, he is working behind the scenes for his glory and your good!

 

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I Thessalonians 2:9 – For you remember, brothers, our labor and toil: we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, while we proclaimed to you the gospel of God.

We now continue with our study of chapter two.  In his letter to the Thessalonian believers, Paul defends his ministry, so they will stay faithful to the gospel they have received.  He is forced to do so because the unbelieving Jews have been spreading vicious rumors about him in an attempt to discredit him.  The Jews were jealous because people were turning from the Law to the new covenant of grace through Jesus Christ.   The Jews believed that if they could discredit Paul, it would discredit his message as well, and they could destroy the church.

This verse confirms what Paul had mentioned earlier – despite what the Jewish leaders were saying about him, he was NOT making himself rich at the expense of the Thessalonians. 

When God set up the systems associated with the tabernacle, he mandated that the priests would receive basic support from the temple offerings.  For example, when an Israelite brought a peace offering to the temple, the priest specifically received the right thigh:

Leviticus 7:33 – Whoever among the sons of Aaron offers the blood of the peace offerings and the fat shall have the right thigh for a portion.

The priests were also permitted to eat the bread of presence once it was removed from the table of showbread (I Samuel 21:1-6, Mark 2:23-26).  This rule was in effect until the temple was destroyed in 71 AD. 

This was standard practice for the church as well; Paul teaches that every church should provide its ministers with some basic support – food and other necessities:

I Corinthians 9:13-14 – Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in the sacrificial offerings? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel.

(See I Corinthians 9:1-14 for fuller details). The fact is, Paul and his companions were entitled to expect some sort of support or compensation from every church they ministered to and/or planted.  

Yet, there were several instances (Corinth, Ephesus and Thessalonica) where Paul did not exercise his right to these benefits.  In these particular cities, Holy Spirit prompted him to earn his own livelihood and refrain from having the church pay any of his expenses. 

Reading between the lines, we can surmise that Paul earned his own living and paid all of his own expenses so that the unbelieving Jews had no basis for accusation against him.  Thus, we see that Paul was willing to take on the burden of manual labor (tent making – Acts 18:3), in order to avoid any hindrance to the gospel message.

In his letter to the church, he reminds the Thessalonians that he and his companions ‘labored and toiled’ both ‘night and day’. 

‘Labored and toiled’ – Labor is physical servile work which is difficult or fatiguing; work that is done under conditions which make it especially hard or wearisome.  We often refer to this as manual labor.  ‘Toil’ on the other hand, refers to working for a long duration of time which results in weariness, pain and fatigue of both mind and body. 

‘Night and day’ – Paul and his companions were constantly working to support themselves.  When they were not preaching the gospel, praying, disputing with the Jews or teaching/encouraging the new believers, they were working.  We might say they worked both first and second shifts, picking up as many hours as they could.

Now stop and think about this situation for a moment:  Paul is mentally exerting himself each day by not only preaching and teaching, but by confronting the Jewish religious leaders who opposed him at all times.  He was constantly using the Old Testament scriptures to reason and prove that Jesus was the Messiah, but they wouldn’t listen.  How frustrating would that have been?   

Meanwhile, he was acutely aware that at any time the Jews may decide to stir up the crowds and attempt to have him killed during a riot, arrested and whipped by the authorities or bodily removed from Thessalonica.  That is a lot of mental stress.

In addition, he was working what we would refer to as a full time job – he was exerting himself in physical labor so that he would not be a financial burden to the Thessalonian church as a whole, or to any single believer. 

This was a truly incredible burden to assume for any length of time.  Paul must have been depending on Holy Spirit to help him stand up under that kind of pressure.

These actions prove that Paul did everything in his power to remove any obstacle that would keep people from accepting the gospel:

II Corinthians 6:3-5 – We put no obstacle in anyone’s way, so that no fault may be found with our ministry, but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger…

As we discussed in our introduction to this book, Paul preached in the synagogue for three weeks and then began to share the gospel with the Gentiles.  He ministered among them for some time, eventually founding a church in that city.  Indeed, it appears to have been the steady growth of the church that led the Jews to stir up a riot against him and have him cast out of the city.

The bottom line is that Paul diligently kept up this excruciating schedule for a very long time.  He was willing to pay any price in order to share the gospel message.  Paul, Silas and Timothy were all very familiar with the concept of self-sacrifice for the spiritual good of others. 

I Thessalonians 2:10 – You are witnesses, and God also, how holy and righteous and blameless was our conduct toward you believers.

As a defense against the lies of the Jews, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that they themselves were witnesses of his conduct while he was among them.  They could testify to the fact that his actions were holy, righteous and blameless.

Holy – Paul practiced what he preached; although not perfect, he did all he could to remove sin from his life.  To the best of his ability, he conformed to the revealed will of God.

Righteous – Paul did no wrong to anyone at Thessalonica.  He was righteous in his relationships with individuals, with the church as a whole, with his companions and most importantly, with God. 

Blameless – When Paul describes his conduct as being blameless, he is not saying he was perfect.  He is referring to the fact that he was faithful to carry out all of his duties to both God and man.    

Let’s stop and consider ourselves for a moment.  Every Christian should be able to describe their lives as holy, righteous and blameless.  What about you?  Are there areas of your life that need to be changed?   

Paul’s heart was free of the impurity and filthiness which polluted the lives of false teachers.  This righteousness was reflected in his conduct among them.  So, Paul once again calls upon the people of the church to affirm his integrity, based on their own experience/knowledge of him and his actions. 

And in full confidence, he also appeals to an even greater witness – God himself, who discerns the thoughts and intents of every heart (Hebrews 4:12).

I Thessalonians 2:11-12 – For you know how, like a father with his children we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into his own kingdom and glory.

By the time a person becomes a parent, they have seen and experienced a lot of the world.  Thus, they are able to guide their children with authority, wisdom, experience and knowledge.  Paul spiritually guides the Thessalonian believers in the same way.
  In our last post, Paul compared himself to a nursing mother whose tender compassion and protection for her children knows no bounds.  This was appropriate for new believers in Christ who were fed with the milk of the word (I Corinthians 3:2).

Now, as the believers are maturing in their faith, he comes to them with the authority of a loving father.  Just as a good earthly father takes a close interest in the development and welfare of his natural children, Paul took a close interest in the spiritual development and welfare of the Thessalonian believers.

He exercised true paternal care and diligence in instructing and exhorting them in the whole truth of the gospel.  Specifically, he did not shy away from discussing the more difficult commands and responsibilities involved in being a Christian.  Paul made it clear that while God is love (as clearly demonstrated by the sacrifice of his Son), he is still a holy God who requires faith, love, holiness and obedience in his children. 

Sadly, there are some churches today who adhere to a diluted gospel sometimes referred to as ‘sloppy grace’ – they have little concern for sin, obedience and personal holiness.  They believe it’s unnecessary to live disciplined lives because forgiveness is free and unlimited.    

This is a twisted and false view of the gospel.  There is a cost to discipleship.  Throughout both Old and New Testaments, God’s people are instructed to be diligent in righteousness, to circumcise sin from their lives and to fully obey God’s commands.  

Jesus’ interaction with the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11) is a good example of this.  It is true that Jesus showed love and compassion to the woman.  By squatting down and writing in the dirt, he created a situation in which the religious leaders recognized their own guilt.  Because of this they essentially ‘dropped the charges’ against her by walking away.  However, that is not the end of the story. 

After this demonstration of love, Jesus very specifically commands her to stop sinning:

John 8:11 - …And Jesus said, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more.”

True love is not allowing your children to do anything they want without limits.  Loving and wise parents set limits, expectations and boundaries for their kids.  They make it clear that obedience is expected and the child’s actions (both good and bad) will have consequences.

God, our wise, holy and loving heavenly Father, also sets limits, expectations and boundaries for his children.  God understands that we are not perfect, but he still requires us to do our best to obey his clear rules and commands. 

These expectations/commands of God were faithfully relayed to the Thessalonian believers through Paul.  He did this with a spirit of tenderness and love, because he considered himself their spiritual father.

And truthfully, the commands of God are not burdensome; they set you free rather than putting you in bondage (Matthew 11:28-30).  The true Christian always has a desire to obey God’s commands, because we love him. 

John 14:23 – Jesus answered him, “If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him.”

In addition to sound teaching, Paul and his team spent a lot of time and effort encouraging/urging the believers to walk in a manner that would please the Lord.

No doubt, they needed this encouragement.  Not only were they dealing with the trials and temptations of daily life, they faced additional conflicts because of the intense opposition of the Jews to the church.  

In partnership with Holy Spirit, Paul ‘parented’ the church in such a way that the believers would be mature enough, capable enough and knowledgeable enough to conduct their lives in a way that is pleasing to God (Ephesians 4:1).  Paul is still ‘parenting’ believers today!

When a Christian obeys God’s commands, lives a life of purity/holiness, and directs his/her life in a manner that is pleasing to God, they reflect the glory of God.  This reflection will be seen by sinners.  It will act like a magnet, drawing the lost to Christ.

John 12:32 – And I [Jesus], when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.

Here is an interesting thought: There is no real reason to assume that this will change in eternity.  As the bride of Christ, it is not far-fetched to assume that other created beings/worlds will see and know us.  They will undoubtedly hear the story of our salvation and rejoice in what God has done.  If this is true, then we will be an everlasting reflection of the incomprehensible love and glory of God! 

God further displayed his incredible love towards the Thessalonian believers (and us) by calling them into his own kingdom and glory.  It is astonishing to think that a perfect, all-powerful, all-knowing Holy God would not only save sinners, but that he would actually invite us into his kingdom of righteousness and peace as his own sons and daughters!   

It’s even more stunning to think that this privilege was prepared for us from the foundation of the world as a gift - free for us, but at the cost of God’s only Son.  What greater honor could have been given to us, than to be children of God?

Because God has called us out of darkness and into the glorious light of his Son, how can we live our lives in any other manner than that which is pleasing to him and which brings him glory and honor??

I Peter 2:9 – But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you might proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Any glory we have in this world is temporary and practically worthless because it will soon pass away.  But the glory of God is bright and eternal; it never fades or ends.  It is well worth pursuing!  

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Throughout the New Testament we find that Paul was always ready to defend his faith.  He knew enough about the scriptures to give a sound answer to the questions of those under his spiritual guidance as well as unbelievers outside the faith. 

Are you and I ready to defend our faith?  If we were in conflict with an unbeliever, could we patiently, clearly (and in love) give an account of what we believe?  Could we back up our statements with scripture and if so, do we know the reference for those scriptures? 

Have we systematically studied the scriptures in such a way that we are ready to disciple new believers who were not raised in church and know literally nothing about the bible? 

Not everyone will be called upon to constantly defend the faith like Paul was.  Nevertheless, we should all be ready to give an account of our faith to those who ask.  Are you ready?

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

Paul and his companions were carrying some pretty heavy burdens.  They were witnessing to the lost, establishing and discipling the church, confronting the Jews and working full time jobs! 

Obviously, they were able to do all of this for an extended period of time, because God had called them to do it.

Philippians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Likewise, Holy Spirit will assist us too.  He will provide wisdom, strength, resources, partners and anything else we need to complete the tasks God has set before us. 

Here is something else to keep in mind:  We have no indication that Paul and his team were constantly complaining about their burdens. 

Can we say the same thing?  For many of us, complaining is a bad habit.  We complain about what we don’t have, rather than being thankful for what we do have.  We always think that someone else has an easier life or more money or more benefits than we do, when in reality they might be under more burdens that we are. 

Remember, we are kings and priests in the kingdom of heaven, called to reflect the glory of God.  Considering our position, what grounds to we have to complain about anything?  Complaining is an insult to our Father and a detriment to his glory.

What sinner would want to know God if they heard us complaining about his treatment of us or his unfairness?

If you are in the habit of complaining, it’s time to stop! 

 

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I Thessalonians 2:2 – But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

Our study of chapter two focuses on the ‘defense’ of Paul.  In other words, Paul and his companions have been unjustly accused and attacked for spreading the gospel.  In verse one, we found that the unbelieving Jews had accused them of being imposters or false teachers. 

After refuting those claims with facts, Paul now goes on to say that he and his team were bold enough to share the true gospel, despite the way they were treated at Philippi. 

If you are unfamiliar with that narrative, you can read the full account in Acts chapter 16, but here are the basics:

Holy Spirit led Paul, Silas and Timothy to the city of Philippi, where they joined a prayer group that met outside the city, because there was no synagogue in that place. 

At some point as Paul was going to that place for prayer meeting, a slave girl came across his path.  She was possessed by a demonic spirit, and her owners grew rich by using her as a fortune teller.  Apparently this girl constantly followed Paul around the city, crying out that Paul and his companions were ‘servants of God who proclaimed the way to salvation’. 

Eventually, after a few days of that, Paul became annoyed and he cast the demon out of the girl.  When that happened, she lost the ability to tell the future, so she could no longer make money for her masters.  Enraged, the owners grabbed Paul and Silas and brought them to the police/magistrates. 

They basically accused Paul and Silas of disturbing the peace and urging people to adopt ‘unlawful customs’.  The charges were flimsy at best, but Paul and Silas were stripped, severely beaten/whipped (which was unlawful to do to Roman citizens), cast into the innermost cell of the prison and bound with stocks.  All this was done without a trial.

As you may recall, Paul and Silas spent the night singing praises to God and around midnight there was an earthquake which shook the prison and set them free.  That night, the jailer and his family came to Christ.  He took Paul and Silas home with him, treated their wounds and fed them.

In the morning, the city officials sent word that Paul and Silas were free to go, but Paul was not going to accept a quiet, behind-the-scenes release.  Since they were Roman citizens, publicly reviled, whipped and treated as criminals, Paul insisted that they received a public apology and a personal escort out of the city.

Acts 16:37 – But Paul said to them, “They have beaten us publicly, uncondemned, men who are Roman citizens, and have thrown us into prison; and do they now throw us out secretly?  No!  Let them come themselves and take us out.”

So, it was no secret that Paul and his companions were shamefully and unfairly treated by the officials at Philippi.  They suffered physical and mental abuse as well as having their reputations publicly smeared.  The good news is that through their ministry, a Christian church was established in that city (probably in the house of Lydia).  

This, however, was one more proof that they were genuine servants of God.  If they were false teachers who were looking for recognition or dishonest gain, they would have given up or gone to a city far away from Macedonia. 

After all, there was no guarantee that Paul and his team would be treated any better at Thessalonica than they were at Philippi, but they still went anyway, and proclaimed the gospel message with boldness. 

Notice that in this verse Paul refers to the word as the Gospel of God.  He does this in order to differentiate salvation in Christ from the works of the law and from all religions invented by man (the message of false teachers). 

The true gospel came from the wisdom and grace of God, was made possible by the sacrifice of his Son, and was proclaimed by the power of his Spirit.  It was a complete gospel which included election, redemption, justification, pardon, adoption, regeneration, glorification and eternal life. 

It was a divine message delivered straight from God to the people of Thessalonica.  Because God was its author and because the message was of vital importance, Paul and his companions were willing to risk further harm and injury in order to proclaim it.  Only a true messenger of God would do such a thing.   

In fact, as the team ministered in Thessalonica, they probably still bore traces of the wounds they suffered from the Philippians. 

And, as the scripture shows, their preaching did indeed result in further conflict, contention, litigation, anger and debate in the city of Thessalonica (Acts 17:5-9). 

I Thessalonians 2:3 – For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive,

In their boldness, Paul, Silas and Timothy must have powerfully exhorted/encouraged the citizens of Thessalonica to embrace the life-giving gospel. 

Paul provides three reasons why the Thessalonians can continue to have the utmost faith in the gospel they received:

One:  It did not come to them in error.  In other words, there was no false doctrine or doctrines of man mixed in with the gospel message.  The Thessalonians had received the pure, undiluted, uncompromised new covenant of grace through Jesus Christ.  They were never tricked into believing a lie.  

Two:  The gospel did not come to them with unclean or impure motives.  Paul and his companions had no earthly motivation to give them the gospel.  They were not going to receive any awards from mankind, they were not going to make any money and they were not going to earn any favors from those in places of authority (the opposite was probably true – they were hated by those in civil authority because their message often produced an uproar). 

Paul and his companions were not trying to gain a following and run for political office.  They were not going to become famous and write best-selling books.  They had no worldly reason or motive to spread the gospel. 

In fact, as we just noted, by spreading the gospel, they were putting themselves at further risk of beating or imprisonment.

Three:  The gospel was not given to the Thessalonians in an attempt to deceive them. There was nothing fraudulent or malicious in the gospel they presented.  They had been presented with a firm, unshakable foundation for their faith.

I Corinthians 3:11 – For no other foundation can a man lay than what is laid, which is Jesus Christ.   

While Paul made strong arguments that he and his companions were true messengers of God, the Christians of Thessalonica did not have to rely on his word alone.  The final and ultimate proof/confirmation came from God himself.    

Romans 8:16 – The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God.

Despite the smooth lies of the unrepentant Jews, the Thessalonians knew in their heart of hearts that they had received salvation, as confirmed by Holy Spirit.  

I Thessalonians 2:4 - …but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts.

As if the changes in the lives of the Thessalonian believers were not enough, Paul goes one step further in the defense of himself and his companions – he appeals to God himself as the author of his apostleship. 

God, who knows the hearts of all people, trusted Paul enough to put him in the office of an apostle.  From eternity past, God had chosen/appointed Paul, Silas and Timothy to this work.  He equipped them with the gifts they would need, and at his divinely appointed time he opened the door for their ministry.

Acts 9:15 – But the Lord said to him [Ananias], “Go, for he [Paul] is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” 

God also confirmed their message with signs and wonders.

Paul is in awe of the way God was using him.  He obviously recognized that the gospel was a rich treasure of immeasurable worth; to be trusted with the spread of the gospel was the highest honor God could have awarded him.  With this in mind, he was always faithful to the commission God had given him.

In light of what God had called him to do, Paul was NEVER going to deliver anything but the pure gospel message.  He added nothing and took nothing away; he never softened or altered the message to make it more agreeable to sinners.  Paul had no desire to gain the favor or honor of men, to escape persecution (if needed) or to obtain a worldly reward by preaching a tainted gospel that would appeal to the masses. 

Paul answered to one voice alone – that of God, who appointed him to his office and who ‘tests the hearts’ of every man.

Paul, like all true ministers of the gospel, knew that he answered to God alone.  Our omniscient (all knowing) God has the ability to look into the heart of every person and discern their true intensions and motivations.  Nothing can be hidden from him – he can search the deepest most secret places of our hearts and minds.  He sees through any wall or façade that we present to the world. 

So again we see that Paul defends himself and the gospel by pointing out that they have a divine ‘seal of approval’. 

I Thessalonians 2:5 – For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed – God is witness.

Flattery is one of the principle tools of false teachers.  Even in today’s society we find false teachers/ministers who care nothing for the souls of people.  They are charlatans who make empty promises and teach false doctrines in order to become rich.  This is sometimes known as ‘fleecing the flock’. 

(God had a lot to say about this type of behavior in the book of Zechariah.  In case you haven’t yet read our study of that book, let me just say that God not only condemned their behavior, he has vowed to bring judgment upon these deceitful wolves.) 

Because Paul is addressing the issue of false gain in his letter, we can assume that the unbelieving Jews have falsely accused him of preaching lies in order to line his own pockets.  

However, Paul reminds the Thessalonians that he never gained an audience with them by flattery or praise for their accomplishments (beauty, wealth, talent, etc).  He never used false pretenses in order to trick them in some manner or gain something from them.

In fact, he did the opposite.  As we will see later in this chapter, Paul and his companions worked secular jobs in order to meet their own needs/pay their own way.  They did not ask the Thessalonian church for money or earthly support of any kind. 

Furthermore, Paul did not hesitate to declare the truth of the gospel which was sometimes painful and difficult to accept.  He gave them the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth, which was proof of his integrity.  As God was witness, Paul had been honest and faithful to the Thessalonians in every way, warning them of the eternal danger they were in, and offering them new life in Christ. 

I Thessalonians 2:6-7 – Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.  But we were gentle among you, like a nursing mother taking care of her own children.

To ‘seek glory’ means to be haughty and presumptuous; to seek a position of leadership or authority over people based on fame or vain glory/pomp.  In our day, it would be similar to an actor or actress using their fame to get preferential treatment. 

As a chosen apostle of God, Paul actually had the right to a higher degree of respect, dignity, leadership and authority than ordinary people, but he never demanded it.  instead, he presented himself ‘gently’ among the Thessalonian church. 

The root word for ‘gently’ (your translation may say ‘we might have been burdensome’) means anything that is weighty, burdensome or oppressive.  This statement has a dual meaning.

First, it refers to material support.  Since Paul was a minister sent directly from God for their salvation, it would have been appropriate for the Thessalonians to take up offerings to pay for their expenses.  However, Paul and his team did not demand this benefit.  Instead, they worked manual labor jobs and supported themselves.

Second, it refers to a level of authority which demands complete obedience.  Paul and his team were ambassadors of the Lord Jesus Christ, and as such they were in a position to command respect, reverence and a degree of authority.  From this position of power, they could have made rigorous demands of the church.  But again, Paul did not do that.    

He presented them with the gospel, he encouraged them, strengthened them, and corrected them in love.  He watched over them tenderly like a nursing mother watches over her child.  In other words, Paul and his team ministered to the Thessalonians in a modest and unassuming manner.  Their ultimate goal was clearly the spiritual good of the believers; they put their own needs on the back burner in order to do the most good for the church. 

This analogy makes sense, because Paul and his team were spiritual parents to these people: 

• They travailed with the Thessalonians until they were born into the kingdom of heaven. 
• They fed them with the milk of the word until they grew and matured in the faith. 
• They did everything in their power build them up and give them every advantage in the spiritual realm. 
• If necessary, Paul and his companions were ready to die for their spiritual sake, just as a mother would sacrifice herself for her child.  

Clearly, this was not the conduct of false teachers or men who were looking for personal gain and fame.

I Thessalonians 2:8 – So, being affectionately desirous of you, we were ready to share with you not only the gospel of God but also our own selves, because you had become very dear to us.

The term ‘affectionately desirous’ goes back to the analogy of a mother – just as a mother yearns for her children when they are separated from her, so Paul yearned for the Thessalonian believers. 

As discussed above, God’s ministers took the utmost delight in working among the church; they freely and fully labored for the spiritual good of them, without every taking an advantage for themselves. 

In fact, as a loving parent, they were ready to ‘share’ their own selves or in other words, they were willing to suffer and even die so that the gospel might come to full fruition in the lives of the Thessalonians.  There is no higher expression of love than to lay down one’s own life for someone else.

John 15:13 – Greater love has no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

Of course, Jesus Christ is the ultimate example of this principle!

John 10:17-18 – Therefore does my [Jesus] Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.  No man takes it from me, but I lay it down of myself.  I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it again.  This command I received of my Father.

Let me offer you some encouragement:

Today’s post mentions the boldness of Paul and his companions in the preaching of the word, in spite of the very real possibility of physical, mental and social persecution.  Their boldness was not just foolish daring; it was a spiritual boldness that came from Holy Spirit. 

Christians in the early church prayed for boldness to declare the gospel:

Acts 4:29 And now, Lord, behold their threatenings: and grant unto your servants, that with all boldness they may speak your word,

With that in mind, how can we pray for anything less?  When was the last time you prayed for the kind of boldness that disregards pain, suffering and humiliation?

Let me offer you some relief and strength:

In the book of John, Jesus tells us that no man has greater love than to lay down his life for others. 

Back in the early days of the church, this was often literal – the apostles and others were beaten, banished and martyred for spreading the gospel.

While that is still true in many parts of the world today, in the United States the odds of being martyred for the sake of the gospel are very low.

Yet, we can still ‘lay down’ our lives for others.  Think of it this way – each of us has a finite amount of time on earth.  Once you ‘spend’ you time, you never get it back.

Therefore, when we choose to spend time on our knees interceding for another, in a manner of speaking we are laying down our lives for them. 

We can also lay down our lives by putting their spiritual welfare over our own desires. 

For instance, you may choose to spend your free Saturday evenings hosting a bible study, or preaching on a street corner, or serving meals to the poor instead of going to the movies or reading a book.  Or, you may decide to spend a day in fasting and prayer for revival.

Have you made any personal sacrifices this week?  How are you laying down your lives for others and/or for the spread of the gospel?    

 

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I Thessalonians 2:1 – For you yourselves know, brothers, that our coming to you was not in vain.    

Before we begin, I suggest you take five minutes and read the entire second chapter of Thessalonians. 

Did you notice that Paul pretty much spends the entire chapter talking about himself and his companions? 

Have you ever wondered why Paul did that?  Why would he  make note of the fact that they (Paul, Silas and Timothy) did not come with flattering words, or that they worked to support themselves, or that they did not claim authority as apostles of Christ, or that they exhibited blameless behavior in front of the Thessalonian church? 

Frankly, why do we care?  What difference does any of that make?  Are there any lessons for us to learn in this portion of scripture, or can we just dismiss it and move on to chapter three?

Well, I believe (and I’m sure you do too) that Holy Spirit had a purpose in preserving this letter for us, so let’s dig in and find the spiritual wisdom and instruction contained in this scripture.  Just as a head’s up, the study of chapter two is going to require some critical thinking on your part, so get ready!

One of the keys to understanding this portion of scripture is to remember that we are hearing only one side of the conversation.  We must use Paul’s comments to figure out or ‘hear’ the other side of the story. 

Let’s begin by looking at the bigger picture being presented in this chapter.  What we find is Paul defending himself, his team and the gospel message.

Now ask yourself this question:  If Paul is defending himself and the gospel, then what can we safely assume?  What must, be default, be true?

Answer:  Paul and the gospel had been attacked, slandered or discredited by a person or group of people in Thessalonica. 

There are no ancient documents that give us specific details of the internal state of the Thessalonian church (or any of the New Testament churches for that matter), however, by examining the arguments or rebuttals that Paul gives in this chapter, we can read between the lines and discover some of the problems and difficulties that the church of Thessalonica was experiencing. 

We can pinpoint some of the issues that were hampering church growth, some of the doctrinal errors that arose, and some of the ways in which Satan attempted to gain a foothold in the church.

For example, in chapter one Paul emphasized the power of the gospel in the lives of the Thessalonian believers.  Through Holy Spirit the gospel had the power to open their spiritually blind eyes/deaf ears, and to soften their hardened hearts leading them to salvation in Christ.  Subsequently, that same power produced a remarkable change in their daily lives; they were fully engaged in works of faith, labors of love and the spreading of hope.  These changes were indisputable. 

Reading between the lines we can safely assume that there were members of the Thessalonian church who denied the divine origin of the gospel.  

For this reason, Paul gave evidence to defend or support the truth - he reasoned that the gospel did indeed have divine origins, for no plan of man could have produced such heavenly changes in the lives of the church members, especially in the face of opposition.  

Romans 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.  

In other words, the transformation of the Thessalonian believers could only have been accomplished by Holy Spirit, who is the power behind the gospel message.  Thus, by showing evidence of the power of Holy Spirit working in their lives, Paul proves that the gospel had divine origins.   

Now, let’s look at today’s text.  As chapter two opens, Paul is asking the Thessalonian believers to remember what they know about him and his companions.  Over the next several verses, he is going to give specific details about the conduct and actions of himself and his team as they ministered to the Thessalonian church. 

Reading between the lines, what do you think was going on in the Thessalonian church?  Why was it necessary for Paul to remind them of his ministry among them?

Well, we know that the unbelieving Jews had a demonic hatred of the gospel.  Not only did they oppose Jesus at every turn, they went so far as to play a pivotal role in his death.  After the day of Pentecost, the Jews turned all their hatred upon Christians.  They made it their business to persecute, harass and oppose the church at all times.

Although the unbelieving Jews pretended to have great zeal for truth and pure religion, they were really engaged in subverting or overturning the gospel.  They used their already established positions of religious expertise and authority to slander and discredit the apostles and other Christian leaders. 

The theory is that if they could successfully convince the Thessalonian believers that Paul and his team were false spiritual teachers (imposters), then people would abandon Christianity and the church would fail.

Now we understand why Paul took the time to remind the Thessalonians about the conduct and activities of him and his team – he is offering proof (defense) that they are NOT false religious leaders.  They are true spiritual guides sent by the Lord to aid and assist the church.  Whatever slander/false rumors had been spread about them were untrue and should be disregarded.  

Paul opens his defense by calling the Thessalonians his brothers.  As we discussed in chapter one, this was significant because the church was mostly made up of Gentile (Greek) converts.  As we already mentioned, by using the term ‘brothers’, Paul gives equal status to both the Jews and Gentiles who were part of the church.

He reminds his brothers and sisters in the faith that his coming to them was ‘not in vain’.

‘Vain’ can be defined as empty or fruitless.  Paul may be referring to the pomp and splendor often associated with the arrival of a dignitary or ambassador in town.  While his or her arrival may create quite a stir, it will be unlikely to have any real or lasting effect upon the ordinary citizens of the city.  Therefore, the coming of the dignitary is essentially pointless.   

‘Vain’ can also be defined as false.  There is no question that the Jews were portraying Paul as a false teacher – a person who was attempting to deceive people into abandoning the only “true” religion (the Law).

It was not uncommon for false teachers to give stirring speeches about earthly wisdom which pleased or tickled the ears of the hearers.  They often spoke deceitful words laced with flattery and guile in order to obtain an advantage over their audience. 

Paul, however, was NOT a false teacher, neither was his ministry among the Thessalonians fruitless.

I Corinthians 2:4-5 – And my [Paul] speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and power: that your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

In order to defend himself against the slanderous attacks of the Jews, Paul appeals to the Thessalonian believers themselves.  They had ample opportunity to personally interact with him and observe his day-to-day conduct. 

They could easily confirm that Paul’s preaching was accompanied by signs and wonders and changed lives.  They themselves were witnesses that Paul’s actions (his daily conduct) was in alignment with the doctrines he taught them.  He was practicing what he preached!

Based on their own observations, it should be apparent to the Thessalonians that Paul and his team were not imposters who had nothing substantial to offer them.  A true examination of their own hearts and consciences would prove that Paul’s message was neither vain nor deceptive.  In truth, he brought them a treasure of inestimable value - the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ!   

Through the power of Holy Spirit, that gospel had completely transformed their lives.  This was ample proof that Paul was not the false teacher the Jews claimed he was; he was leading them into true religion, not away from it. 

Let me offer you some encouragement:

The unrepentant Jews spread lies and rumors about Paul and other Christian leaders, in an attempt to discredit them.  Their message resulted in serious damage to a lot of people’s lives.  It also caused a lot of pain and grief to Paul and others who were preaching the true gospel. 

In our day and age, you don’t have to work very hard to discredit someone or to do a lot of damage to their lives.  All you have to do is act irresponsibly with social media.

Social media is a part of everyday life for most people in our society.  It doesn’t matter if you are poor or rich, old or young, male or female; social media is a universal phenomenon that has permanently altered the ways we think, act and communicate. 

Because this is the case, Christians need to be absolutely sure that we are stewarding our social media accounts in a manner that brings glory to the Lord.

Think about the last few things that you posted on social media, whether that was Facebook, Snapchat, Instagram, Tick-tock, X or some other platform. 

Did your postings glorify the Lord, encourage people and speak the truth in love?  Or did your posts center around complaining, making disparaging remarks about people, sowing discord/disunity and spreading rumors and half-truths? 

If an outsider who knew absolutely nothing about you read all the posts you made in the last two weeks, would they conclude that you were a true disciple of Christ or an imposter?

Anytime Paul had a platform to speak, he spoke the truth of the gospel.  What are you proclaiming from your platform?

Let me offer you some relief:

How did the Thessalonian believers know that Paul was a true messenger from God and not an imposter?  More importantly, how can we be sure we are hearing truth?

Jesus said that you could recognize a false prophet by examining the spiritual and temporal fruits they produce in their lives (Matthew 7:15-20).  As the Thessalonians reflected on the life of Paul, they could clearly discern that he was a true man of God, because of the fruit he produced.  We can still discern false teachers the same way today.

We can also rely on the voice or witness of Holy Spirit.  If we hear something being taught that makes us uneasy in our spirit or in our heart, we need to stop and take it seriously.  It may be a warning.

We also have the added benefit of easy access to the Bible.  If someone delivers a doctrine or a teaching that does not line up with the word of God, then we can immediately identify it as false.   

With these safeguards in place, we shouldn’t have to worry about being led astray by false teachers.

Let me offer you some strength:

Paul established and ministered to the church in Thessalonica.  He was their spiritual father and mentor.  He delivered the gospel message which completely transformed their lives.  

But of course, his ministry was not without hardships and opposition.  We should expect nothing less.  When we are actively engaged in spreading the gospel and conquering territory for the kingdom of heaven, we too are likely to face some kind of opposition.

When that happens, don’t be discouraged – be happy!  It is cause for rejoicing, because God is using you to destroy the works of the devil.  No matter what kind of opposition we face, we can be strengthened and encouraged because God is our strength; he is a very present help in the times of trouble. 

Psalms 46:1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.  

Remember, the difficulties of this life are temporary.  One day we will leave them all behind when the trumpet (shofar) sounds and we join Christ in the heavens!