If you have seen a Popeye the Sailor Man cartoon you know how the story goes. Brutus pushes Popeye to his breaking point. Popeye say his famous line, "That's all I can stands, 'cause I can't stands no more!" Popeye is almost down and out but, somehow, he is able to open the can and eat the spinach. After eating the spinach Popeye gains a new strength and the tables are turned and Popeye defeats Brutus.
Twice Paul reached his breaking point. He said, “I could stand it no longer”. What turned the tables for Paul was the report that Timothy brought back from Thessalonica. For Paul the good report gives him new life and he could not thank God enough.
That's all I can stand (Verses 1-5)
Paul said I could stand it no longer. Twice in these verses Paul said he could stand it no longer, but in one of those he mentions that “we” could stand it no longer. The we must refer to him and Silas. “We preferred to be left by ourselves in Athens” (1 Thessalonians 3:1).
This verse 1 Thessalonians 3:1 is one of those verses that changes the way I see the ministry of Paul in Athens. When I read Acts 17, I thought Paul did all his ministry alone in Athens. Now this verse tells us that Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens and then from Athens Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica and Paul and Silas waited there in Athens.
What we know about the pattern of Paul, (I have included that pattern in the conclusion), we know Paul did not wait idle in Athens. He was most assuredly discipling those people who became followers of Paul and believed in Jesus Christ. Among them was Dionysius, a member of the Areopagus, also a woman named Damaris, and a number of others. (Acts 17:34) At the same time he would have been building his key leaders, Timothy and Silas as he was co-ministering Silas in Athens and sending Timothy for a key discipleship and church formation ministry in Thessalonica.
Paul himself wanted to visit Thessalonica. He said his desire to get back there was intense (1 Thessalonians 2:17). Over and over Paul tried to visit Thessalonica but each time Satan blocked his way. Paul wanted to go himself, but he was blocked every time. As a result, Paul sent Timothy to find out how the new believers were doing in an extremely hostile environment.
Timothy was not just the team messenger. Timothy was a brother and co-laborer with Paul and Silas in spreading the Gospel to Thessalonica. Timothy was the right person to strengthen their faith and encourage them when the antagonists in Thessalonica would be doing everything to unsettle their faith.
Paul may have talked about a peace that passes all understanding to the church in the next town (Philippians 4:6), but for the Thessalonians he was “in fear” that they had been persecuted and tempted to abandon the faith. If that happened and they had abandoned their faith, then the ministry there would have been in vain.
Timothy’s Report (Verses 6-11)
The report Timothy brought back put new life into Paul. The believers were standing strong in faith and love. Their testimony was ringing out. They were longing to see Paul and Silas as much as they also longed to see the Thessalonian believers. The report is so encouraging but they are still praying day and night for the church. Paul still prayed earnestly that he would be able to go see them himself.
He was asking God that the way would be clear to visit himself. It was clear that he was sending Timothy because he himself could not go. Visiting Thessalonica was an urgent matter for Paul. It was his first ministry priority.
May God Strengthen your hearts vs 12-13
The account of the Thessalonian ministry in Acts 17 mentions Paul in Thessalonica for three sabbaths. This may refer to only to the Jewish ministry and Paul, Silas and Timothy may have stayed longer in Thessalonica working with Gentiles because we also read the Philippian church supported their ministry there in Thessalonica more than once (Philippians 4:16). Paul was looking to exit each place and start new work (Romans 15:19), but he was also interested in revisiting, teaching the believers through letters, and pouring into key leaders.
Not only did Paul minister in Thessalonica as we read in Acts 17, but he wrote the two letters to them we know as 1 & 2 Thessalonians. He revisited twice on his third journey, and he was pouring into key leaders from Thessalonica like we see in other Bible passages (Acts 20:4, Acts 27:2 and Colossians 4:10). He mentions he was praying for the church in Thessalonica day and night. His investment in the believers there was a big part of his ministry.
We see Paul’s desire for these believers as he lays them out in these verses. He wanted to see the Lord cause an increasing and overflowing love for them. He desired to see this love increase for each other, for others and for him. His love, or their love, along with Silas and Timothy was strong for them and Paul desired that same love to flow from them to him. It was his desire and the constant pray he was praying for them night and day (1 Thessalonians 3:10).
Paul’s desire is that the Lord would strengthen their hearts. Paul mentions that he warned them that it would be difficult to stand for Christ in Thessalonica. Not only was there a group in Thessalonica that persecuted Paul in the ministry there, but after they chased him out of Thessalonica, they followed him to Berea to stir up trouble there too. They are going to need the Lord to strengthen their hearts to stand for Christ there. Strong hearts spiritually are what they are going to need to become an example to ring out through the region. What a joy to find this report that it was happening.
Paul’s concern for the church was for them to be blameless and holy. They already had a testimony of faith ringing out. This would keep that testimony honoring to the Lord. Paul’s concern is that they are not a short-term example in Christ but a blameless group that will bring no dishonor to the name of Christ moving forward.
Paul is looking forward to the hope in Christ. Paul wrote to the Thessalonians in both letters about the future hope in Christ. He instructed them on the return of Christ and the hope we have as believers when we die before Christ’s return.
Conclusion
What did Paul do in the very short time while he was there and what did he do subsequently to fan into flame the church established there.
Paul went to Thessalonica with Silas and Timothy (Acts 17:1-9)
Paul focused on the resurrection of Jesus for three weeks.
Paul saw response from men and women of Jews and God-fearing Greeks and pagans (1 Thessalonians 1:9)
They encountered persecution and departed
They left Jason and other local believers there.
Paul became far removed from Thessalonica, but Silas and Timothy stayed nearby in Berea
Paul wanted to re-visit and he tried to re-visit but Satan stopped him (1 Thessalonians 2:18)
Sent Timothy to Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1)
Timothy reports back regarding Thessalonica church health.
He wrote 1 Thessalonians shortly after his arrival in Corinth (very soon after he left Thessalonica)
Night and day he earnestly prayed to revisit
Paul wrote 2 Thessalonica at the end of Corinthian one year stay.
Paul discipled Aristarchus in Ephesus and took him on his ministry travels. (Colossians 4:10; Philemon 1:24).
A few years after his initial visit and letters he re-visited Thessalonica probably at least twice Acts 20:1-6, Philippians 4:16 on his way to Greece (Acts 20:1) and again on to Jerusalem (Acts 20:3)
He arranged for Thessalonian leaders Aristarchus and Secundus to meet him for a leadership training event in Troas. (Acts 20:6)
Aristarchus from Thessalonica accompanied Paul to Rome (Acts 27:2) and became his fellow worker and prisoner.
Besides these recorded ministry actions in Thessalonica there are many other ways Paul likely continued to pour into the church and leadership at Thessalonica directly or indirectly not recorded in Scripture.
Abiding
Paul, Silas and Timothy were abiding in Christ. Night and day they were praying for the believers in Thessalonica. With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. (1 Thessalonians 2:11)
Entry
Paul had his entry strategy and applied it well at Thessalonica. As was his custom, Paul went into the synagogue, and on three Sabbath days he reasoned with them from the Scriptures, (Acts 17:2). You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. (1 Thessalonians 2:1)
Evangelism
When Paul would enter a new place, he would proclaim the gospel abundantly. In Thessalonica he was, “explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. (Acts 17:3) He was explaining and proving that the Messiah had to suffer and rise from the dead. “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Messiah,” he said. (1 Thessalonians 1:5) As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (2 Thessalonians 3:1)
Discipleship
Paul’s concern was to make disciples, for believers to grow in their faith. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more, (1 Thessalonians 4:1). That our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. (2 Thessalonians 2:11)
Church formation
To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: (1 Thessalonians 1:1) To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: (2 Thessalonians 1:1).
Leadership development
As for other matters, brothers and sisters, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. (1 Thessalonians 3:1).
Exit
Acts 17:10 As soon as it was night, the believers sent Paul and Silas away to Berea. On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue.
The pattern of 2 Timothy 2:2 calls for all of these aspects of the work to be reproduced. All the aspects of ministry were meant to be reproduced for generational growth. That new believers would do the ministry not just observe leaders doing ministry. And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
Our desire should be to align our ministry by the New Testament pattern. To a large extend that will involve following the pattern of Paul, Silas and Timothy. These servants ministered tirelessly to proclaim Christ for the glory of God. We see their ministry in 1 Thessalonians 3 and we see how it lined up with their ongoing pattern of ministry.
