1 Thessalonians (written)

Sunday, 23 July 2017

For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 1 Thessalonians 3:9

Paul had just said “For now we live.” This verse is given in response to that, and that response is, “For what thanks can we render to God for you[?]” It is not an affirmation, but a question. It is similar to the words of the 116^th Psalm which first asks the question, and then provides an answer –

“What shall I render to the Lord
For all His benefits toward me?
¹³ I will take up the cup of salvation,
And call upon the name of the Lord.
¹⁴ I will pay my vows to the Lord
Now in the presence of all His people.” Psalm 116:12-14

After asking this, and still a part of the question itself, he then begins to fill in what the blessings they have received are in conjunction with the prior verse, “For now we live.” He says, “…for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake.” Paul and his associates were literally filled with joy, and they went about rejoicing for the sake of those in Thessalonica. They had been found to have held fast to the truth and had not deviated from the gospel. In this, the church would live on, passing the word on to others just as it has been passed on to them. This gave Paul and his companions such great joy that they rejoiced, as it says, “before our God.”

Their rejoicing wasn’t just a rejoicing as if they had merited it – “We won converts and they are obedient to us!” Rather, it was a rejoicing before God – “The gospel which we were blessed to share has taken root, and God is glorified through it!” This is what Paul is telling them. They were elated to know that the message of Christ had taken root and would continue on.

Life application: Are you willing to rejoice with other churches that you do not attend when they bring souls to Christ. It is not an “us against them” thing which occurs in the church. It is always a “for Christ” thing which should occur. Let us be content to see any properly run church, which is grounded in the word of God and directed to the true gospel, flourish and grow.

Lord God, help us in the church not to be in a battle of “us against them,” but rather that we will be “for the name of Christ and for Your glory.” May those in one church not be jealous of the success of another, but rejoice in it – as long as You are glorified, and the word is rightly divided, then may it be so. Petty differences which have nothing to do with sound doctrine solve nothing, and only detract from what we should be doing for the lost of the world. Help us in this, Lord God. Amen.

Saturday, 22 July 2017

For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3:8

Paul has written of his state which bordered on despondency, wondering how the Thessalonians fared, and if they had maintained their faith in the Lord, or if they had gone astray. The burden of this was so great on him and his traveling associates, that it was as if life itself was sucked out of them. One can imagine nights where the mind is consumed with distress, and where sleep flees away. In the day, there is no joy. The bird’s song doesn’t bring happiness, and food has no taste. This is how Paul’s emotions probably were. As he said in verse 3:1, “…when we could no longer endure it.”

But there is now a marked change in his tone. Timothy had returned from Thessalonica, and he had brought with him good news of their faith and love. Their faith was grounded, and their love of Paul and his company was strong. In a note of joy, which can almost be felt by the reader, he says, “For we now live.” The life that had been drained from them was restored. The sleep that they had lost was now sweet. The sound of the morning bird brought delight, and the food at the table had its flavor returned. Life had sprung anew!

To show how much he wanted this condition to last, he then adds on a conditional note, “…if you stand fast in the Lord.” The joy of Paul’s group was conditioned upon the soundness of the faith which the churches maintained. It surely wasn’t just those in Thessalonica, but each church that they had ministered to. Paul’s words to the Galatians show a man beside himself because of their sudden turning from the truth to the lies of the Judaizers. He did not want this in Thessalonica, and he rejoiced that it was not the case, but his life would be drained once again if they took a turn onto Apostasy Avenue or down Heresy Highway.

Life application: When congregants turn away from sound doctrine, or when those who proclaim false messages are on the attack, it is surely a source of great consternation. Be sure to pray for those who hold to sound doctrine, and be sure to hold fast to the truths of Scripture. Don’t let Satan get a foothold in your life, but rather stand fast on the grace of Jesus Christ the Lord.

Heavenly Father, praises to You in the highest. You are great and greatly to be praised. We thank You for Your marvelous word which tells us of Christ Jesus, and which leads us in sound doctrine, if we will but open it and apply it to our lives. And we thank You above all for Jesus Christ our Lord who is the fulfillment of all that Your word proclaims. All glory to You, O God. Amen.

Friday, 21 July 2017

…therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 1 Thessalonians 3:7

What is apparent here is that having the knowledge that the church in Thessalonica had maintained the faith was a source of great joy to Paul and his associates. To them it was so wonderful that it actually relieved them through their own times of affliction and distress.

The word “therefore” is given based on everything thus far in chapter 3. There was a sense of uncertainty in what the state of the church was. There was the sending of Timothy to establish and encourage them in their walk. There was the truth that the tempter was out to destroy the faith of believers. Each of these things weighed heavily on Paul and those with him. But upon receiving the news from Timothy concerning the positive state of the church, Paul says that even “in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you.”

The heavy weight was lifted, the burden was gone, and joy of heart and soul was now felt. The gospel had prevailed in the hearts of the brethren, and their walk had not wavered. Paul says to them that they were “comforted concerning you by your faith.” When faith is grounded, all else that is sound and proper will naturally follow suit.

They had kept their eyes on the Lord, their hearts tuned to His gospel, and their lives on the right and proper path. It was a welcome thing to have received this wonderful news.

Life application: How often do we hear someone say, “My son has stopped going to church,” or “My wife says she just doesn’t believe in the Bible anymore.” People’s faith is challenged, they take their eyes off the Lord, and they lose their footing on the proper path. When this happens, it is a source of great consternation for those who know the logical end of such things. When this arises, we need to be ready to provide words of empathy and compassion. And we need to also be willing, if asked, to help speak to the wayward person about turning back to the Lord. Always be ready, as this is a common thing. If we can be a help in such a time of need, let us not be found either unable or unwilling to help.

Lord God, this is a woe-filled world, and it is one which so easily can take our eyes and our hearts off of You. We can get consumed in our own trials and afflictions, and our faith can be challenged. Certainly, this is why you would have us read and know Your word, treasuring it in our hearts. When times of difficulty come, we can be ready for them by refusing to have our faith distracted. Instead, in such moments we can actually get closer to You. Help us in this, Lord. Help us to never fall away from the faith we profess. Amen.

Thursday, 20 July 2017

But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 1 Thessalonians 3:6

Paul’s words of this verse are as if a spring of cool water has broken forth in the midst of a dry desert which he had been walking upon. There had almost been anxiety over the state of those at Thessalonica, and that troubled state had ended. This is first felt in the words, “But now that Timothy has come to us from you.” His words of the previous verses highlight the stress that was felt –

no longer endure it
shaken by these afflictions
suffer tribulation
no longer endure it (again)
lest by some means the tempter had tempted you
our labor might be in vain

Each of these built up a feeling which became determining factors in Paul’s sending Timothy to them to ascertain how they fared. Upon the return of Timothy came relief. He had “brought us the good news of your faith and love.” In this, “faith” is to be noted as a confidence in God, and in His gospel message concerning Jesus Christ, which gave them the ability to remain strong and fixed on the gospel, despite what had occurred with Paul, and despite his absence from them.

The “love” is certainly speaking of their love of Christ first and foremost. But it must also include their love of one another which was able to strengthen them in pursuit of Christ. And it must finally be referring to a love directed to Paul and his associates as well. This is evidenced by the next words, “and that you always have good remembrance of us.”

The report is from Timothy, and so he conveyed to them what he heard and saw. Therefore, “a good remembrance” goes deeper than just, “We sure miss Paul and the rest of you guys.” Although this is certainly the case, it must be inclusive of holding to the doctrine which Paul instructed them concerning Christ. Those precepts which had been given were being adhered to as if they were the instructions of God, because this is what they are. In being observant to what was communicated to them, they were demonstrating a good remembrance of them.

Finally Paul notes that those in Thessalonica were “greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you.” There was no animosity in them because Paul and his associates had left and gone on with mission work elsewhere. They remembered the persecution, and they knew that his departure was not a shunning of them, but a reasonable choice to make. They were led to Christ through their ministry, and they had a strong bond of attachment to them, just as Paul and his associates did toward the church there in Thessalonica.

Life application: It can be very tough on a pastor to have those he ministers to suddenly turn on him over some minor point of disagreement. He spends his time counseling, preparing sermons, putting up with many issues of grief which arise, etc. And yet, when such a time of disagreement arises, congregants will often get up in a huff and go off to another church. If the pastor cares about his flock, he cares about losing them as well. He will carry the memory of those he served all his life, hopefully with good memories, not sad ones.

Lord God, give us the ability to show ourselves as humble and forgiving while dealing with others in our congregation. People are filled with error. As we are all people, then we are all filled with error. How easy it is to get in a huff and take off for other pastures, but how much better it is to resolve differences, to demonstrate grace, and to be attentive to those we fellowship with. Help us in this, Lord. Amen.

Wednesday, 19 July 2017

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 1 Thessalonians 3:5

The words “For this cause” are speaking specifically about being “shaken by these afflictions” which Paul mentioned in verse 3. He had told them such things would arise, and he knew that they had arisen. But just because someone is warned of something, it doesn’t mean that they will bear up under what was warned against. He was concerned, and his concern is reflected in the next words, “when I could no longer endure it.”

One can just imagine Paul, fidgeting about and mumbling in his state of anxiety (be anxious for nothing, Paul!) at what may have happened to his beloved congregation. He and his associates had been driven out by the foes of the gospel, and he wondered if the congregation had seen this and lost hope. This is what he means by saying, “lest by some means the tempter had tempted you.”

There could have been a false gospel introduced to counter the true gospel he had presented. There could have been false teachers who had more eloquent oratory skills who had come to steal them away. There could have been doubts leading to distrust of the message they heard. The tempter has an entire arsenal of weapons at his disposal which are intended to destroy the faith, and to pull true believers away from what they had originally received.

The term “tempter” is given in this verse to show that his nature is not just one of tempting, but that this is his constant manner of behavior. He tempts and he continues to tempt. With this constant attack, Paul was concerned for the people of the church. Could they bear up? Had they borne up? He needed to know whether they had, or if (as he says) “our labor might be in vain.”

All the effort, the love of his Lord and of the people he ministered to, the knowledge he had imparted – all of it – was possibly washed away by the tide of the tempter’s flood. If there was a chance of this, he needed to have his associates go back and correct the situation, if possible. Their faith was too precious to be lost, even at the expense of his own loneliness.

Life application: How concerned are we for those who are susceptible to being drawn away from the faith they once professed. The Bible does say that they will not lose their salvation, but it does note that they can lose their joy, and also their rewards as well. Further, those with whom they come in contact will never be evangelized if they have fallen away from their own faith. There are serious repercussions in allowing someone to be neglected in their young faith.

Heavenly Father, help each of us to be caring towards those who are new in the faith. Unless they are built up and established, they can easily be drawn away by the tempter. They can lose their joy, and they can lose their hope of great rewards for a life of faith that they otherwise would have had. Be with us, and give us caring hearts to lead young believers to a greater and more perfect understanding of who You are, and of what Your word tells them. Amen.