A LOVE FOR GOD\’S CHILDREN
1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Parents are blessed to have children. They have the great job of nurturing and training them in the Lord Jesus. As their children grow up and move away they still have the job of encouragement and praying for their welfare.
Paul treated the Churches he established as his children. He could not be with them as he moved from place to place, but he was continued to be concerned for them and desired to know their progress in the Lord.
There are several points we can gain from Paul\’s attitude.
1. His genuine love for the Church
2. His concern for the welfare of the Church
3. His desire to have an eye witness account of their
well being by sending Timothy.
4. His encouragement of the Church.
5. His being encouraged by the Church.
6. His constants prayers for the Church.
GOD KEEPS HIS EYES ON US
V:1. \”So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God\’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.
A. As parents, we want to know how well our children are doing, especially
when they grow up and go off on their on.
1. The desire to hear from them will be so strong that we will be driven
to make contact.
2. That really should be our attitude for each of our church members.
3. We may lose members because we don\’t contact them when they
have been out for a while.
B. We never know what someone is going through that discourages or
prevents them from coming to Church.
1. Paul knew the persecution that early Church faced for preaching
the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
2. We live in a time where the truth is not pursued or valued for a
desire to fit in with the world\’s perverted ideals.
3. A spiritually immature Christian can easily get discouraged.
4. It is the job of each of us to continue to encourage each other
in the Lord.
C. What new Christians don\’t understand, is that faith is tested and tried
through the trial and tribulations we face.
1. We are to expect that the moment we set our minds on Christ
the devil gets busy to discourage us.
2. We must remind each other that what we are facing is what
God desires to strengthen our faith.
Romans 5:3
And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience.
VICTORY IN ENDURANCE FOR CHRIST
V:4-5. In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
A. Our testimony is important to other Christian.
1. It is easy for us to think that we are only one that got problems keeping
faith.
2. When we have troubles it is easy to think we are being singled out by God for some special punishment.
B. Others need to know that we have been through what they are experiencing.
1. Our problems may not be the same, but Satan is always on the job
to bring us down.
2. Our testimony of how God has helped us through trials is
important.
3. Our testimony is a way of encouraging others.
ENCOURAGED BY THE TESTIMONY OF OTHERS
V:6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
A. Our concern for other in the faith is God\’s concern.
1. As ministers (we all are), we must lay the ground work for faith.
2. Since the Word of God cannot return void, it will take root in
hearts of the hearers.
3. We must not only preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but we must
also teach the promises of God for our obedience.
4. It is key for us to know that God will not put more on us than
we can handle.
5. It is also key to know that God allows trouble to test and grow
our faith.
6. We not only have the talk the talk, but live our lives as
men and women of faith.
B. When we have done our job as ministers, preaching and teaching
the Word of God, we will be encouraged by how the next
generation of Christians handle the trials they face.
1. Others see our examples of living by faith under trials
and imitates us in their lives.
2. We share in the victories of other over their trials as they
share in our victories.
BEING THANKFUL FOR PROGRESS OF OTHERS
V:8-10. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
A. A strong prayer life affects many victories in Christ.
1. It is our duty to pray for the congregation of Christ.
2. The prayers of the righteous accomplishes much.
3. We are assured that When we pray for the faith of others so that God
gets the glory that our prayers will be answered.
B. Our joy should be increased as we see our prayers for
others being answered.
1. We should be encouraged by the steadfast faith of others in the Lord.
2. It is important for us to pray without ceasing because Satan
continues his war on the Christians.
ENCOURAGING OTHERS IN JESUS
V:11-13. \” Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. 13 May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.
A. We must have specific prayers for growth and strength of others in the
Lord Jesus.
1. It is important for us to continue in prayer that God will
open doors for the Gospel to be preached.
2. We must pray that our love for Christ and each other continue to
flow as we face the day to day work of service.
B. It is also important that we pray that each of us be strengthen in our
Character to remain faithful to the Lord.
THANKING GOD FOR YOUR SERVICE
Rev. M. Mitchell
Asst Pastor of Greater Macedonia Baptist Church
5510 West Sam Houston Park Way North
Houston, Texas 77041
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