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4000 E.
Collins Rd. “Preaching
the Living Word through the Written Word (2Tim 4:2)” |
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COMFORTED BECAUSE THE
THESSALONIANS STOOD FIRM IN THE LORD 1Th 3:6-12 (5/8/11) Grace Bible Church, Gillette, Wyoming Pastor Daryl Hilbert I.
TIMOTHY REPORTS GOOD THINGS
FROM THE THESSALONIANS (1Th 3:6) A.
[Intro] - Paul could no longer
endure not knowing the spiritual welfare of the Thessalonians. Did the
persecutors bring such harsh affliction to the Thessalonian church that they
disbanded? Did persecution impede their witness? All of these questions were
settled when Timothy went back to Thessalonica and found out that the
believers there were standing firm in the Lord. B.
[1Th 3:6] - Now (arti - presently) that Timothy had finally
arrived from his visit to Thessalonica, he brought to Paul “good news” about
the Thessalonians. 1.
In the N.T. “good news” (euangelizō - “good message”) is usually the good
news of the gospel, but here it is good news as a result of the gospel. In
other words it was good news about the spiritual welfare of the Thessalonians. 2.
Timothy reported that their
faith was strong and there love was vibrant. In fact, Paul mentioned throughout
his letter the good things he heard from Timothy about them. a)
They exhibited evidence of
salvation and labor of love (1Th 1:3). b)
The gospel was efficacious in
their lives (1Th 1:5). c)
They became imitators of the
Lord (1Th 1:6). d)
They became examples to other
believers (1Th 1:7). e)
They boldly proclaimed the
gospel (1Th 1:8). f)
They turned to God from idols
(1Th 1:9). g)
They were waiting for the
return of the Lord (1Th 1:10). h)
They accepted the Scriptures
as God’s Word (1Th 2:13). i)
Their faith was not unsettled
by persecution (1Th 3:3). 3.
Whenever they remembered
Paul’s ministry among them, it was always with fond memories. It was through
Paul’s message that they were saved. 4.
In addition, they yearned (epipothéō - great affection and yearning) to see Paul as much as he longed to see them. II.
PAUL IS COMFORTED BY TIMOTHY’S
REPORT (1Th 3:7-10) A.
[1Th 3:7] - However, Paul and
the others were comforted (aor pass ind - parakaleō
- to encourage or comfort) the moment they heard about the secure faith of
the Thessalonians. 1.
They were comforted in all
their “distress” (anágkê - inner pressure) and “affliction” (thlipsis - outer pressure) by these recently converted Christians. 2.
They were concerned about
numerous things, but their main concern was that the Thessalonians were
grounded and unmoved in their “faith.” Therefore Paul was comforted “through
their faith.” B.
[ 1.
Paul was living” “if” (ean - Third Class Condition - “uncertain of fulfillment, but still likely”) and on the condition that the Thessalonians were standing firm
in the Lord. 2.
“Standing firm” is the Greek
word stếkō and means: a)
To stand literally (Mar 3:31). b)
Refers to spiritual stability, especially to
men (1Co 16:13). c)
Comes from the Lord’s help (Rom
14:4). d)
To stand firm in preaching the
gospel (Phi 1:27). e)
To stand firm in doctrine (2Th
2:15). 3.
“Standing firm” in the Lord then,
means to have an unmovable commitment to the Lord, to His Word, to His truth,
and to serving Him, especially in the gospel. C.
[1Th 3:9] - Paul continues to share the
impact that Timothy’s good news has made and how they were rejoicing over
them. 1.
When Paul compared the overwhelming
joy he had received from knowing the welfare of the Thessalonians, he was at
a loss to be able (dunamai - power or capability) to thank God sufficiently. 2.
“All the joy” suggests the
great degree of joy and excitement they are experiencing over their spiritual
children. 3.
They were rejoicing (chairō - delight, glee, and joy) on the Thessalonians’ “behalf” (dia with the accusative) before God and man. D.
[1Th 3:10] - They were
literally praying night and day that they could visit the Thessalonians and
help them grow in whatever area they were lacking. 1.
They did not just pray, but
prayed with great intensity and earnestness (huperekperissou - superabundant) to visit the Thessalonians. Paul’s desire to visit them was
redoubled after Timothy’s visit and return. 2.
Their burden was to “equip” (katartízō) the Thessalonians with more knowledge of God and with more
knowledge to live and serve Him (“in your faith”). Katartízō is
used in the N.T. as: a)
God preparing the universe (Heb
11:3) b)
Fishermen mending nets (Mat
4:21cp. Gal 6:1) c)
A pupil being trained (Luk
6:40). d)
The church being equipped for
ministry (Eph 4:12; Heb 13:21). III.
PAUL GIVES A BENEDICTION PRAYER
FOR THE THESSALONIANS (1Th 3:11-12) A.
[1Th 3:11] - Paul breaks out
into a prayer or benediction for the Thessalonians (11-12). 1.
He prays with reference to the
Father and the Son. In this equation He is attributing sovereignty,
omnipotence, and deity to both. 2.
“Himself” is the empathic use
of autós affirming divine prerogative. “Jesus
our Lord” would share the autós (singular)
and the verb (“direct” - kateuthunō - singular) by implication. Note the same construction with reversed
subjects in 2Th 2:16. 3.
Paul was asking that God would
sovereignly grant, guide, and direct them to visit the Thessalonians. B.
[1Th 3:12] - Paul also prays
for their spiritual growth in love and ministry to one another. 1.
He prays that the Thessalonians
would “abound” (pleonazō - become more and more, make
more intense) in their love to one another. There is always room to increase and abound in spiritual growth,
in Christlikeness, and in agapê love. 2.
In fact, he adds that they
might “overflow” (perisseuō - surpass, excess, left over) in their love. Someone with overflowing love cannot help but
show their love in such a way that it is contagious to others. 3.
Paul remarks that he has a
great overflowing love for them (“just as we also have for you”). This would certainly be one of those areas that the
Thessalonians could imitate Paul (cp. 1Th 1:6). 4.
Loving one another was not a
new principle proposed by Paul, but one that the Lord Jesus impressed upon
His disciples (Joh 13:34; 15:12, 17)
as well as reaffirmed by the apostles (Rom
13:8; 1Th 4:9; 1Pe 1:22; 1Jo 3:11, 23; 4:7, 11, 12). IV.
OBSERVATIONS AND APPLICATIONS A.
Believers must possess a
strong faith in God before our family during even the most difficult times of
trials and tribulations. B.
Believers should be comforted
the most from knowing that those they minister to are standing firm in the
faith. C.
Believers are to be burdened
and constrained to continue to equip and aid in the spiritual growth of those
they minister to. D.
Believers are to have an overflowing love which cannot help but show love in such a way
that it is contagious to others. |
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