MESSAGE 3 - 1 THESSALONIANS CHAPTER 3 - PAUL’S GREAT DESIRE TO CONNECT WITH THE SAINTS AT THESSALONICA
{{1Thessalonians 3:1 “Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 1Thess 3:2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith, 1Thess 3:3 so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions, for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this.”}}
We must return to the previous chapter to see the link for this chapter. Paul had the greatest desire to visit the Thessalonians but was being frustrated by Satan so he could not come. It was so hard for him to endure the absence from the Thessalonians and not knowing how they were doing. Consequently, he decided to send Timothy to them while he remained in Athens. That itself, links into Acts 17.
The great concern Paul had was the afflictions that had descended on the Thessalonian Christians, and they continued to endure them because he had to write another letter to them to explain they were not in the Tribulation. These saints at Thessalonica needed strengthening and encouragement as all Christians do, and Timothy was chosen for that. It was in a time of stress and Paul was concerned for his dear people. Christians in stress can become very unsettled. Some give up and return to the old life; some become most disturbed; some endure and fight the good fight.
Paul ends verse 3 by declaring that (every) Christian who lives for the Lord will suffer persecution. We are seeing this same thing everywhere in the world today with a very rapid increase in the so-called Christian nations. Paul later on wrote to Timothy to confirm this very thing I am sure he knew – {{2Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”}}
THE BACKGROUND TO THE PASSAGE – PAUL’S DEVOTED CONCERN
{{1Thessalonians 3:4 Indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction and so it came to pass, as you know. 1Thess 3:5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labour should be in vain, 1Thess 3:6 but now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you.”}}
Paul could endure the uncertainty no longer; he had to know the welfare of those saints he loved in the Lord at Thessalonica. He was afraid that hardship and persecution had chased them away from the Lord. Timothy’s report was the positive one Paul was hoping for. The saints at Thessalonica were progressing in faith and love and wanted to meet Paul, as he wanted to meet them.
Paul dearly loved the converts, and yearned after them like a devoted father, but we see in some passages, especially in this one, he was very concerned, that because of the affliction the saints were enduring, they may have abandoned their faith. Had they run off the rails? He was praying constantly for them that their faith would be strengthened. He wanted to see maturity, and he wanted the Christians to be good soldiers in Christ. A soldier in the Roman army did not run away at the start of hardship, for example, when walking with his pack in rough terrain, or deprived of food. That was in Paul’s mind when he wrote to Timothy – {{2Timothy 2:3-4 “Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. No soldier in active service entangles himself in the affairs of everyday life, so that he may please the one who enlisted him as a soldier.”}}
Endurance is a godly quality that must be maintained by Christians in the hardships and sufferings of this life. I was writing on this matter in a commentary I am doing on Jeremiah - Nevertheless, endurance is a quality that must be found in the good soldiers of Jesus Christ. God must be disappointed in cowardly wimps who profess to follow him, but live a life of ease and won’t put themselves out to go to Bible Studies or won’t do anything to further the kingdom, or can’t be bothered going out to meet God’s people for any number of excuses. It is those who endure, who will hear, “Well done, you good and faithful servant.”
Now the background to the passage in 1Thessalonians chapter 3 lies in Acts 17, and we will look at that - Acts 17:10-15 “The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away (from Thessalonica) by night to Berea and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily, to see whether these things were so. Many of them therefore believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men, but when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there likewise, agitating and stirring up the crowds, and then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea and Silas and Timothy remained there. Now those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.”}}
It is 502 km by road from Thessalonica to Athens, a journey of 5 hours in modern times. Paul and Silas departed by night for Berea, modern Veria about 30 to 50 km inland from Thessaloniki. They spent some time there and Paul was hunted from the place by persecuting Jews from Thessaloniki, but Paul was conducted by his friends all the way to Athens while Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. It was at Athens Paul waited for his two fellow helpers, and spoke to the Athenians in the Agora = marketplace. Silas and Timothy must have arrived some time after that, and SO keen Paul was to know how the faith of his Thessalonian brethren was standing up, that he sent Timothy to see how they were. It seems Paul arranged to catch up with Timothy in Corinth were he went right after Athens. Timothy arrived in Corinth and the report is in verse 6. I think the whole time was no more than a month or two or three.
“WE”, NOT “YOU”, HAVE BEEN DESTINED FOR AFFLICTION (SUFFERING, PERSECUTION)
{{1Thesslonians 3:3-4 “so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions, for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. Indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that WE were going to suffer affliction and so it came to pass, as you know.”}}
Paul speaks in a personal way here and references the persecution he knew would come his way. It did and was no surprise. Although there is that personal touch here, it is absolutely true that persecution and suffering embraces all the Christian communities. It ebbs and flows but here are some pointers on persecution:
1. Those in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. {{2Timothy 3:12 “Indeed, ALL who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”}}
2. Suffering identifies with Christ, {{1Peter 2:21 “You have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to FOLLOW IN HIS STEPS. Philippians 1:29 “for to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake.”}}
3. Suffering refines. {{Psalm 119:71 “It is good for me that I was afflicted that I may learn Your statutes.” Psalm 119:67 “Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep Your word.”}}
4. I believe suffering allows the Holy Spirit to build up faith and character. {{2Corinthians 1:6 “If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation, or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.”}}
5. There is a process where persecution (tribulation, suffering) will lead to being not disappointed. It is here – {{Romans 5:3-5 “Not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance, and perseverance, proven character, and proven character, hope, and hope does not disappoint because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”}} (NASB)
THE THESSALONIANS WERE OF GREAT COMFORT TO PAUL
{{1Thessalonians 3:7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction WE WERE COMFORTED about you through your faith, for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. What thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account.”}}
Having come from Philippi and through Amphipolis and Apollonia, Paul arrived in Thessalonica and many turned to the Lord and that gave him great comfort, and Timothy’s account also comforted him. The believers at Thessalonica knew of the sufferings endured in their own city (Acts 17:5-9).
There is a serious side here. Each of us has an impact on others. We may lead to others’ joy and we can cause sadness to come to others. Some Christians are not encouragers and can cause hurt to others, often through not thinking. How do we affect other people in the church? The Thessalonians brought joy to Paul while Demas brought sorrow.
He was comforted by their faith when he was being mistreated by the Jews. It was a cause of joy for him. The steadfast walk of Christians we know and help, is a great strength and encouragement to us. God wishes us to be comforted, not drowning in a pond of sorrow.
STAND, AND HAVING DONE ALL, STAND FIRM IN THE LORD
{{1Thessalonians 3:8 “for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.”
There are two points here. The first is that life without Christ is really meaningless. That is like journeying through a continual fog with no reference points or any compass. You are in the great unknown, knowing not where you came from or where you are going. People think they live, and love the night life and the celebrations and partying, but it is all empty. So many have to impress others such as happens at these film awards. It is all empty and false. It is eternity that counts, and it is that which determines our way of life. You live for Christ or you live for nothingness or for self, which in the long run, is emptiness. The second point is that converts, especially those who came to the Lord through our involvement somehow, are a great source of dynamic life for us.
Christians must make a determined effort to be faithful and strong. You can only stand firm when the foundation is solid. Some have built a foundation on sand and that is useless and deadly. We must take it on ourselves to stand firm. You have a responsibility in this. Some think when they come to the Lord that they can rest back and let God work everything out. “Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.”
Let us look at {{Philippians 2:12 “My beloved, so then just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling, Phil 2:13 for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.”}} Paul addressed this to the collective group of Christians at Philippi so this is a combined effort. There was much to do as the whole testimony was not complete. It is never completed until we are with the Lord. The assembly was to work together so the Christian growth would be among them and they would pass from one step to another in maturity. The more mature a person is in Christ, the more he will stand firm in adversity and persecution. God works in us to bring it all about but we also work it out in godly walk and obedience. In that way that group of Christians at Philippi would bring to completion all that was necessary.
THE RESULT OF THE NEWS OF THEIR FAITHFULNESS.
{{1Thessalonians 3:9 “What thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 1Thess 3:10 as night and day we keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith.”}}
That resulted in more prayer for them. It is sort of common to lessen off on prayer for anyone walking well with the Lord and concentrate it on those in difficulties, but this is a snare, for when a person walks well, Satan is more earnest to destroy that testimony. Paul was so thankful for the news he heard from Timothy about the fine standing of these believers at Thessalonica and that was so joyful to him.
He knew the church there needed more teaching and understanding, as do we all! I think we might even say that church in its early days was more desirous and more “christian” than many of our churches today. That is a sorry state of affairs we find in the modern church. Paul desired with his whole being to be with those believers personally and prayed day and night for that to happen.
PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THESE DEAR THESSALONIANS
{{1Thessalonians 3:11 “Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you, 1Thess 3:12 and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another and for all men, just as we also do for you, 1Thess 3:13 so that He may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”}}
Let us note the breakup of this prayer –
1. He prayed God might direct his way to the saints at Thessaloniki. Paul desired not only their fellowship, but also their growth.
2. He prayed the Lord might increase their love for one another, and then love for all men. That is the correct order. Disputes in a church will see a dead church and no outreach.
3. He prayed that the hearts of these young Christians would be established. From babes to mature men in Christ. It is lamentable that people are in churches all their lives and still need to be bottle fed; still in the baby stage. Remember these saints at Thessalonica were converted only a few months earlier.
4. He prayed they might be unblamable in holiness. This all has to do with sanctification and becoming more Christlike. He attaches this final result to God the Father (so they won’t be ashamed) and it will be at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ, that is, at the Rapture. Will any of us be ashamed at the Rapture?
No where in this prayer did Paul pray for an increase in numbers among them. That is not the primary concern. So what is that concern? The saints need to be established in their faith. Yes, it is important that the gospel goes out, but first of all there needs to be a standard to which you can bring people. “Half developed people” can not bring in others and see them attain any other position than a half developed person.
Paul prays for the increase in love; that they be established; hearts unblamable in holiness. That is a high standard and that is the standard we must bring others to or we will see half baked Christians. Bring your lives conformable to Christ, then go out and do the work.
THE GREAT CONCLUSION TO THIS CHAPTER
I want to close with the final words of this chapter – {{“unblamable in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.”}} In the “Christian” world today there are those who eagerly wait for the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ for His Church, who are established in Him. On the other hand there are those who disregard His coming or hold to some false teaching that dismisses the Rapture, and denies all the future blessings for Israel as well. That is a sad state of affairs.
In this first letter to the Thessalonians the coming of the Lord for His Church is quite prominent as we have been seeing, and even more so as we look at Chapter 4. Please get correct this important doctrine for there is so much not of God that opposes it.
ronaldf@aapt.net.au
