August 23, 2009
Morning Service

I Thess. 3

 

Review:

1.      Paul established a fellowship of the Lord’s church on his second missionary journey in Thessalonica.  He is now writing them a letter from Corinth, commending them on their stedfastness, and growth.  He reminds them of the hardships that he, and Silas suffered for the gospel’s sake.

2.      How he wanted to return to them but Satan hindered him from doing so.

 

Paul concluded chapter two by telling them that they were his glory, and joy.   Now chapter three.

 

1Th 3:1-13  Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;  (2)  And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 

• In the introduction to I Tim. Paul says this:  1Ti 1:2-3  Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.  (3)  As I besought thee to abide still at Ephesus, when I went into Macedonia, that thou mightest charge some that they teach no other doctrine,
• Paul’s letter to Timothy is full of valuable information on instructions to the church such as: 

1. Timothy was to appoint older men to be leaders in the church.  The two offices mentioned are Bishop, and Deacon.
2. Timothy was to combat false teaching.
3. And to supervise church life, as an Apostolic representative.

• I am comfortable in believing that this is what Timothy was to do at Thessalonica also.  When Paul says to establish you, and comfort you concerning your faith.
• One of Paul’s great concerns for the faith was that of Unity, and not division.  He cries out for it throughout his writings.

 

Concerning divisions:

• Rom 16:17  Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offenses contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
• To the Corinthians:  1Co 1:10  Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.
• 1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
• 1Co 11:18  For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.

 

Concerning Unity:

• To Ephesus:  Eph 4:3  Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

And again:  Eph 4:13  Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ:

 

God has kept for us His Holy Word down through all these years.  He chose the Apostle Paul to write two thirds of the New Testament full of instructions for Unity, and not division.  God builds our confidence in Paul’s writings when Paul says in I Cor. 14;  “If any man thinks himself to be a prophet or spiritual let him acknowledge that the things I write to you are the commandments of the Lord.”

 

(3)  That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.  (4)  For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know. 

• While preaching, and teaching them, no doubt through his testimony of what happened on the road to Damascus.

 

 

 

(5)  For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain. 

• Send Timothy to see how you were doing.
• Being tempted by the Tempter.  This is always a concern for our spiritual walk with God.  Satan will always be trying to get us to fall away from God. 
• And to sum this matter up without going into great detail, WHATEVER KEEPS YOU FROM YOUR SERVITUDE TO GOD IS FROM THE TEMPTER.  We could list a lot of things that keeps us from being faithful to God, and His service, but whatever it is, it is not from God.

(6)  But now when Timothy came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:  (7)  Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: 

• Timothy must have returned with some really good news concerning the church at Thessalonica.

(8)  For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. 

• Paul told the Corinthians;  1Co 15:58  Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye steadfast, unmovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
• Jesus said it like this:  Mat 6:19-21  Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:  (20)  But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:  (21)  For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

(9)  For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;  (10)  Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? 

• I can feel joy, and excitement in Paul’s writing.  Paul is saying, I am so proud of you, and I praise God for your lives, and testimonies.  I pray constantly for my being able to return to you, and teach you more about Jesus, and God’s will for your lives.

 

NOW PAUL PRAYS:         The things most important.

(11)  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

• It means a lot to see old friends, and to be loved.

(12)  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

• Paul prays that their love for one another, and all men will increase.

(13)  To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

• Concludes with their sincere walk, and manner of life.  That they would do their best to be pleasing to God in all aspects of their lives.

 

WE SHOULD UNDERSTAND THAT THIS PRAYER IS FOR US, AND ALL CHRISTIANS EVERYWHERE.  IT IS JUST AS IMPORTANT TODAY AS IT WAS THEN.

 

MAY GOD INCREASE OUR LOVE, THAT WE MAY BE WHAT HE WANTS US TO BE.

 

MAY GOD HELP US TO LIVE A LIFE ABOVE REPROACH, AND OUT OF THE TEMPTERS GRASP.

 

EVEN SO, COME QUICKLY LORD JESUS.