| Introduction What is it that really matters? What are the important things? These are questions that we all have answered either by thinking about them or by not thinking at all. We act knowingly or otherwise based on a sense of what is important to us. Pastor Paul of Tarsus helps us calibrate what is important when he expresses his concern for his flock in Thessalonica. In the flow of 1 Thessalonians, Paul just finished defending his conduct as a missionary while he was in Thessalonica. Now he defends his conduct while absent from them. Even though he is defending himself against false accusations, his focus is on the Thessalonians' wellbeing. I would like for us to notice three things about Paul's focus on their wellbeing: 1. Paul's agony over the wellbeing of the Thessalonian Christians; 2. Paul's relief over the wellbeing of the Thessalonian Christians; 3. Paul's prayer for the continued wellbeing of the Thessalonian Christians. I. Paul's Agony over the Wellbeing of the Thessalonian Christians, 2:17-3:5. A. Paul has been trying to go back to Thessalonica since he left, 2:17-20. 1. The expression "taken away" communicates that he did not want to leave, but was forced to do so, 17. 2. Paul was convinced that Satan was the one hindering them from going back to Thessalonica, 18. a. There is no way of knowing what Satan's hindrance was. b. Probably circumstantial rather than supernatural since the Acts narrative doesn't mention anything extraordinary happening during this time. 3. Paul was desperately trying to go back to Thessalonica because the Thessalonian Christians were the demonstration, the proof, of Paul's faithfulness in proclaiming the Gospel – that was Paul's view of all those who came to Christ through his ministry. 2 Cor. 3:2-3 – You yourselves are our letter of recommendation, written on our hearts, to be known and read by all. 3 And you show that you are a letter from Christ delivered by us, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts. B. Since the three of them (Paul, Silas, and Timothy) can't all make it back to Thessalonica, the next best thing is to send one of them back, 3:1-5. 1. A time and geographical line (3:1, 5). a. Paul leaves Thessalonica and goes to Berea. b. He is also forced out of Berea and goes to Athens. c. From Athens Timothy goes back to Thessalonica and Paul continues on to Corinth where Timothy meets him with good news from Thessalonica (3:6) – This is when Paul was most discouraged in his ministry. d. Paul writes 1 Thess. and sends it back with Timothy from Corinth. 2. Paul reassures them that Timothy is on par with himself (coworker). 3. Paul was concerned that the persecution for the sake of the Gospel was going to take a devastating toll on the Thessalonians. a. He had warned them that "these afflictions" would take place (probably afflictions described in 2:14-16a), 3:3. b. So, Timothy was going to establish and exhort them in their faith. 1) Objective content of the faith (not just cheerleading). c. Two lessons from Paul's dealing with the Thessalonians: 1) A faithful proclamation of the Gospel includes the warning of the cost of following Jesus, 4. Lk. 14:23-27, 33 – Now great crowds accompanied him, and he turned and said to them, 26 "If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple. 27 Whoever does not bear his own cross and come after me cannot be my disciple…. 33 So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple. a) What does this tell us about an approach to proclaiming the Gospel that removes any uncomfortable ideas? b) What should be our attitude in warning others about the cost of following Jesus? 2) Suffering for the sake of the Gospel should be expected by all Christians (we are destined for this, 3b) Rom. 8:16-18 – The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. 18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 2 Tim. 3:12 – Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution. 1 Pt. 4:12-13 – Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. II. Paul's Relief over the Wellbeing of the Thessalonian Christians, 3:6-10. A. Timothy brought good news to Paul, 6. B. Paul lets them know that the missionaries are also suffering for their faith and that their standing strong in Christ brings them relief, 7-8. C. Notice Paul's indescribable joy in seeing the Gospel at work in his brothers and sisters in Christ, 9-10. 1. This is something that we must work at doing. 2. We often are more excited about some temporal accomplishment that we see in our brothers and sisters than about their growth in Christ. D. Notice that Paul wants to be with them again so that he can supply what their faith is lacking, 10. 1. This is better taken as the objective faith, the faith once delivered to the saints. 2. He wants them to know more about Christ in order to persevere in their faith. a. Knowing more about Christ won't necessarily cause you to persevere in your faith. b. But you will not persevere without growing in your knowledge of Christ. III. Paul's Prayer for the Continued Wellbeing of the Thessalonian Christians, 3:11-13. A. Paul finds comfort in the sovereignty of God, 11 – the content of Paul's first petition in this prayer is that God would reunite him with the Thessalonians. 1. The word translated "direct" means "make it straight," "to level it" in the building of a road. "The thought appears to be that of preparing a road so that all unevenness is removed, and travel facilitated. Paul looks to God to remove the obstacles which up to this time had prevented him from paying the longed-for visit to the Thessalonians." Leon Morris 2. There is no record of Paul ever going back to Thessalonica. 3. Paul intensely desired to go back there because of the circumstances of his departure. Acts 17:1-5, 10 – Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a synagogue of the Jews. Then Paul, as his custom was, went in to them, and for three Sabbaths reasoned with them from the Scriptures, explaining and demonstrating that the Christ had to suffer and rise again from the dead, and saying, "This Jesus whom I preach to you is the Christ." And some of them were persuaded; and a great multitude of the devout Greeks, and not a few of the leading women, joined Paul and Silas. But the Jews who were not persuaded, becoming envious, took some of the evil men from the marketplace, and gathering a mob, set all the city in an uproar and attacked the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people…Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 4. He yearns to be again with his children in the Gospel. a. So, he prays that God would take him there. b. But after he prays, he rests in the sovereignty of God, knowing that the Judge of all the earth will do what is right. 1) Paul does not forget his theology when praying, we must not either. 2) We must pray and pray earnestly. 3) But when we are done praying, we must trust that whatever answer to our prayer is, it is the best answer that our sovereign God could have design for us. Romans 8:28 – And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. 5. In this petition, we also see that Paul had a heart-felt desire to be with his brethren. a. Do we yearn for the fellowship of the saints like Paul did? b. Are we eager to see our brethren in Christ? c. Are we striving to assure each other in the faith that was once delivered to the saints? d. We need to pray that our heavenly Father would give us this desire. B. Paul knows that even if he never sees them again, God can continue to work in them, 12. 1. The first word of the verse should be translated as "but" instead of "and." a. Paul is saying that regardless of what happens to him, whether he comes to them or not, whatever the case may be with him and his companions, Paul wants God to bless them abundantly. b. Paul here shifts the attention from what he wants to what is best for the Thessalonians. "Paul could desire earnestly to be with his friends and impart unto them some spiritual gift. But he recognizes that their spiritual growth was in the Lord's hand, not in his." Leon Morris 2. Paul prays, "God, cause them to increase in love." a. Paul already knows they are a loving people, 1 Thess. 4:9. b. He is praying that their love for one another not just increase but abound. c. This should also be our prayer and heart's desire: to love one another more and more. d. This is always a need for God's people 1) It is hard to love one another sometimes because even those closest to us do things to us that make us not want to love them. 2) But our pattern for love is God's love for us – there is nothing lovely in us yet he loves us because of Christ. 3) So, we don't love each other because of who we are, but because of whom Christ is and has done for us. 3. Paul prays that the Thessalonians would have the same love Paul has for them. a. Can we pray that prayer? b. Can we ask God to give our children the same love for the brethren as we have? c. May he give us grace to do so. C. Increase in love for each other and for the Body of Christ results (so that indicates consequence) in holiness before God. 1. That is to say that as we love the brethren and those around us in obedience to the Word of God by the grace given to us, we are being prepared to the day when we will be made completely obedient, that is, blameless in holiness at the coming of our Lord. a. In essence, Paul is praying that in loving the brethren, the Thessalonians would taste of the future grace of God by which his people will finally and completely be conformed to the image of the Son. b. As we obey God from our hearts in general, and specifically in loving our neighbor, we experience what glory will be for us for all eternity. 2. The Thessalonians were already doing a good job in loving one another, 4:9-10a. 3. But this is an area where every Christian must always grow. a. Our eyes will stay on the Father and the Son since they are the source and pattern of love. b. It will cause us to spend less time thinking of ourselves. c. We will keep each other accountable. d. We will pray for each other. e. We will encourage each other. f. We will counsel each other. D. The Lord will require an account of how well we loved his people, 13b.
What is important in life? According to Pastor Paul of Tarsus, the wellbeing of those who belong to him is of utmost importance. May God give us ears to hear what the Spirit says to the church.
http://olympiabp.blogspot.com/2020/01/a-pastors-concern-fo-his-flock-1-thess.html
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