“Reduce Us To Love” • 12.06.14 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- The Thessalonian church came into existence
and were a model church immediately.
- To some degree, because of the Apostle Paul's
unexpected departure, they were also targeted by naysayers, who questioned
their legitimacy.
- They knew well what had happened in their
midst, but when one hears a lie enough times, at the very least, that person
begins to question the validity of their own experience.
- If you keep hearing lies beyond that point,
you might soon believe them! What is at stake when that occurs? For the church,
it would have been a devastating blow.
- This is why Paul has taken his pen in hand
and documented his affirmation of the truth.
- In chapter 1, he praises them for their faithful activity, their receptivity
to the Word, and their expectancy in awaiting Christ's return. They were a
geniune church. None could deny it.
- In chapter 2, Paul reminds them of the type of ministry that they received.
The Apostles had not taken advantage of them in any way, but rather, sought
their good, paying their own expenses.
- He likens their ministry to a real "Mom
and Pop" shop, in that they were concerned like a nursing Mother over
them, and worked hard like a Father to alleviate them from any burden.
- In this final related section, Paul answers
the question that was likely the most pressing. "If he loved you so much,
why hasn't he returned?" "Doesn't this prove that he used you?"
- How would you feel if that was what you kept
hearing? Paul uses this final section to answer that objection.
Text
• I
Thessalonians 2:17-20 : "But we, brethren, having been taken
away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more
eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to
you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or
crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ
at His coming? For you are our glory and joy." : Paul's absence was difficult for the church and equally so for
the apostles. "Taken away," carries the sense of familial
bereavement.
- This was the physical case, but his heart
remained focused upon them and his hope was to make a way to see them again.
- Paul makes it clear that they had repeatedly
tried to return because of their love for them. They had resolved to return to
a group of people that they had only known for a short time.
- That expense and even that danger would have
gladly been accounted for in their love.
- This is an amazing truth about the body of
Christ. There are incredibly deep connections made among those who are
likeminded in their faith during times of concentrated service.
- Serving the Lord together bonds people like
nothing else on earth! In just 21 days, Paul left an indelible impression upon
the Thessalonians and they impacted the Apostles equally.
- They had attempted to return to them time and
again, a euphemism for continual effort. He assures them that they planned and
sought for ways to return, but it didn't happen. Why?
- Paul makes it clear that it was that Satan
hindered them. The word "hindered" speaks to cutting into the road.
We might even say that he set up a road block barring their return.
- Of course, this is intriquing, as we don't
often hear the Apostle blaming Satan for such things. In this case, Paul confidently,
unapologetically declares that Satan stood behind this.
- What does he mean? First, it may have
actually been the Father of lies who personally sought to keep Paul from
returning to Thessalonica.
- Satan is not God's equal. He is a created
being who is limited to being in one place at a time. It's possible that he
personally worked against Paul, though not likely probable.
- Perhaps Paul is using the name
"Satan" in a representative way, referring generally to the enemy's
horde who are opposed to the Lord's will.
- It may even be that Paul is making a
reference to a Satanically inspired agenda, used against him in Corinth, a time
in which Jesus Himself comforted Paul! (Acts
18:9,10)
- The point is that there is a being whose name
is Satan, who has influence over spiritual entities and who opposes God's
servants actively. We are foolish in believing otherwise!
- Our enemy has a vast network that we struggle
against daily, whose sole purpose is not to capture our worshipping hearts, but
to stop our hearts from worshipping God!
-
This begs the question: How would one know the difference between God keeping a
person from progressing into an area as He did in keeping Paul from Bythinia
and Satanic hindrance?
- When God is keeping you, the believer has
peace and trusts that the Lord has a more advantageous opportunity. When it's
the enemy, there is confusion, fear and distrust of the Lord.
- In the end, we may only know for certain as
we look back and recognize the fruit.
- Verse 19
speaks to the answer as Paul looked back at the Thessalonians and saw a living,
breathing reward for his faithful service.
- Their enduring faith and their love for
Christ proved that they were authentically converted.
- When the Lord came and took account of Paul's
ministry, the Thessalonians would be on the ledger! They were the Apostle's
advertisement! They were the testimonials that proved he was real!
- They were Paul's joy. Not their money or
resource, but simply their allegiance to Christ.
• I
Thessalonians 3:1-5 : "Therefore, when we could no longer
endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and
minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish
you and encourage you concerning your faith, that no one should be shaken by
these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before
when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened,
and you know. 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." : Did you notice how they handled Satan's hindrance? They kept
seeking for ways around it!
- When they couldn't stand it any longer Paul took
the action of sending Timothy. I
Corinthians 18 mentions that Silas also accompanied and returned with him.
- If Paul couldn't go himself, he could send
Timothy who had been with him the longest.
- Timothy had grown beyond being a protege.
Paul calls him a brother, a minister or servant of God and a fellow laborer.
The Thessalonians knew who Timothy was, so why add this here?
- Paul saw Timothy as an extension of himself.
He would have come personally, but since he could not, the next best thing was
to send Timothy.
- Paul sent him primarily to establish them,
meaning to set or fix them in their position.
- He made sure that they were practicing their
faith properly. He encouraged them to continue. Why? So that no one would be
shaken or disturbed away from Christ by their present afflictions.
- The picture provided by this word is that of
a dog wagging his tail, but in anxious agitation.
- The Thessalonians had witnessed Paul's
suffering and were suffering themselves for their faith. Paul wanted to be sure
that they didn't let that fact consume them.
- He wanted them to know that what they were
experiencing was normal! Christians are appointed to this! The Thessalonians
knew that this was the case.
- Opposition to Christ is a natural response in
a hostile, fallen world. I often hear Christians talk about their sufferings,
and speak as though something incredible were happening to them.
- They are astounded enough to make statements
that seem to betray a feeling that if God were to allow their suffering to
continue, that they might seek another god to serve!
- We will suffer through trials, circumstances
which test our faith and tribulations, troubles and pressure which comes from
our faithful persistence in Christ. It is normal and expected!
- What will shake or move you? I pray that you
resolve that question immediately!
- Pastor Chuck used to say that if you expect to
be shaken, you won't be shaken when the shaking begins! We will find ourselves
in confined, narrow corridors on account of Christ!
- This was why Paul sent Timothy. He just had
to know that their faith had remained and that nobody, especially the Tempter,
had turned them aside!
- Satan's activity is related to this word. He
is never finished tempting you to distrust the Lord's good intentions! If that
had happened to the Thessalonians, it would have been a wasted trip!
• I
Thessalonians 3:6-8 : " 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—therefore, brethren, in all our
affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. For now we live, if you stand fast
in the Lord." : It was a great relief to
see the guys return.
- Timothy's face and his report of their faith
and love provided sufficient relief. They had remained faithful to the Lord and
that was proven by their love for one another!
- Our love for one another, nearly stangers
apart from Christ, is a tangible expression of what has occurred in our hearts!
A true Christian seeks to love his new family in Christ.
- Often we are duped into believing that
increased knowledge or holy habits define our Christianity. Not so! The world
knows who we are by the love that we express!
- The added bonus was that they held the
Apostles in good regard! They don't think we're phonies!" When the
Thessalonians reflected upon them, there were only good memories.
- Paul was not concerned about them liking or
disliking them. He was concerned that they might have disassociated themselves from
the gospel because of them! That he couldn't stand!
- Their love for them was evident and their hope
to see them again was mutual! That brought such comfort to the Apostles,
especially as they faced affliction and distress.
- Remember that they were under great pressure
in Corinth and with every difficulty, new stress arose. Consider this: It's
enough to carry a difficult message into a polytheistic society.
- It's enough to go into a fairly foreign
environment and seek to dwell for a while. Add to that the pressure of having
to deal with legal issues and civil complaints aggresively leveled against you!
- That was what Paul was facing in Corinth when
he was brought before the court of Gallio, recorded for us in Acts 18:12ff.
- In the ministry, it takes one win to fuel a
heart through difficult times! The report that Timothy brought of the
Thessalonians was a breath of fresh, victorious air! This is what Paul means in
verse 8.
• I
Thessalonians 3:8 (NLT) : "It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the
Lord."
- In spite of all that had gone wrong, the
Thessalonians persisted in following the Lord!
- To the men that risked everything for that
very possibility, this was better than any earthly reward that could be offered
to them! Their work had taken root!
• I
Thessalonians 3:9,10 : "For what thanks can we render to
God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our
God, night and
day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking
in your faith?" : The Apostles couldn't think
of a way to thank God for the Thessalonian church! They had been overjoyed by
their faithfulness to God and their commitment to His Word!
- We cannot underestimate the effect that our
faithfulness to God has on those that watch over our souls! We have a chance to
bring great encouragement to those that oversee our lives!
- Their walk with the Lord spurred Paul, Silas
and Timothy into fits of praise unto the Lord! All their joy and their rejoicing
was connected to that!
- Their thanksgiving gave rise to a prayer that
God would afford them another opportunity to visit them again and finish their
initial training.
- Paul wanted to give to them those final
touches that an artisan would know were missing. It's not likely that they were
aware of such things. Virtually all would vouch for it's completeness.
- But Paul knew their deficiences, their lack
and he wanted to minister toward those things. He wanted to further disciple
and train.
- Notice again what his detractors failed to
see. Paul didn't want to see them to take another offering! Paul, a true
minister of Christ, wanted to see them to give more of himself to them!
• I
Thessalonians 3:11-13 : "Now may our God and Father Himself,
and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase
and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your
hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our
Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints." : Paul
has said everything that he needed to say to the Thessalonians with regard to
their present relationship.
- Note that he addresses the Father and the
Son. They are both in league with each other, both on the same line of
authority, differing in person, but united in activity.
- Jesus short human sojourn, 33 years, does not
diminish that this is where He belongs!
- He prays that God, both the Father and the
Son, but the singular person, would direct their ways back together.
- "Direct" carries the concept of
preparing a path, removing hindrances from a road. We began this section
observing that Paul had attributed the roadblocks to Satan's agency.
- What agency removes those roadblocks? The
Trinity! Paul could not contend with Satan on his own and neither can we!
- We have no power to address Satan or his
representatives. However, we have no problem asking God to deal with what they
intend toward us!
- I can't power my way through or will myself
to overcome Satan. Our God however has already defeated Him and I can submit
myself to Him!
- Paul offers a second request of the Lord,
that He would make the Thessalonians increase and abound in love.
"Increase" refers to superabundance and "abound" gives the
sense of overflow.
- It's interesting to note that Paul prays that
these things be related to love. He's not asking for their numerical growth or
their financial flexibility.
- He prays that they might have a superabundant
overflow of love, first for one another and then to all! Why does he not pray
for the former, for growth or finances or influence?
- Because a congregation that loves each other
and loves all that it comes into contact with can't help but grow in every
other category!
- As we have mentioned before, this love is the
love that God possesses, which is the love of decision and seeks the best for
another person.
- Given that definition, we won't simply
tolerate sin, but call others to repentance, knowing that is God's best for
them and an extension of the truth of God's call to them!
- When a person is difficult to love, perhaps
even impossible, we understand that it's not our decision not to love, but to
choose to allow the Father's love to flow through us!
- Paul lets them know that the love he wished
them to show was a love that they had already seen in the Apostles. How had
they loved the Thessalonians?
- They led with God's Word and were authentic,
transparent and authoritative representatives. Their demeanor was gentle and
their method was to work hard to keep them from being burdened.
- When you hear of that love, do you desire it
to work out from you, both to the loveable and the unlovable?
- What is the purpose of that love? Paul
continues, "so that He may
establish your hearts blameless in holiness."
- Paul has just noted that he wanted to return
with Silas and Timothy to complete what they had started. In his prayer here,
he mentions that it is God that must do that work through him.
- Anything that is attempted, much less done
spiritually in a life, is done completely by the agency of God Himself! We
simply cooperate in yielding ourselves to His use.
- Paul uses this word "establish"
again. "Sterizo," speaks to firmly fixing something permanently into
the ground. May your hearts be fixed, free from fault or defect, in holiness.
- Holiness. Wholeness. Moral purity and
conformity related to the revealed will of God! May God find you that way
before the coming of the Lord Jesus with His saints!
- This is the third chapter and the third
mention of the Lord's return! Why should we love people? Why should we seek a
holy life, free from accusation? Jesus is coming back again!
- When He comes, He'll be coming with all His
saints, establishing the Kingdom that is already ruling our hearts and minds!
Conclusion
- As we close, I believe that you can reduce
this chapter to one simple word: Love! The Apostles loved the Thessalonians and
longed to return to them in order to complete their work.
- The Thessalonians loved each other and the
world around them, the primary evidence of Christ's presence in a life.
- This love won't let Satan stop it. It won't
be shaken from it's position. It won't discriminate between who deserves it and
who doesn't.
- This love will prove to all that Jesus is
real! It's presence will lift up the hearts of those who watch over your soul
and will prompt a holy life that cannot be accused or ashamed before Christ.
- Maybe it would be wise to make this your
prayer: Lord, cause your love to superabound and overflow the banks of my heart
again! Reduce me to your love!
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