Please turn in your Bibles this evening to I Thessalonians chapter 2 as we continue our study through the Word of God. In our last study we saw how the church in Thessalonica was born by the Word of God being taught and the illumination of the Word of God to people’s hearts by the Spirit of God.
In I Thessalonians chapter 2 we are going to see how the church grew as Paul ministered to them, loved them as a mother, looked out for them as a father, and longed for them and cared for them as a brother in the Lord. The focus is really on leadership and Paul, Silas and Timothy were great leaders. People looked up to them as examples of what a Christian is all about, this is how they were to live.
Like today, leadership was a problem back then. Of Paul’s day, which sounds so familiar today, I’m sorry to say, listen to what W. Neil has to say:
There has probably never been such a variety of religious cults and philosophic systems as in Paul’s day. East and West had united and intermingled to produce an amalgam of real piety, high moral principles, crude superstition and gross license. Oriental mysteries, Greek philosophy, and local godlings competed for favour under the tolerant aegis [guidance] of Roman indifference. “Holy Men” of all creeds and countries, popular philosophers, magicians, astrologers, crack-pots, and cranks; the sincere and the spurious [false], the righteous and the rogue [rascal], swindlers and saints, jostled and clamoured for the attention of the credulous [gullible] and the skeptical.
- Cited in Leon Morris, The First and Second Epistles to the Thessalonians, p. 68
As Paul opens up this chapter he is going to show how his motives and his conduct were pure as he ministered to them, something these others couldn’t say and yet Paul was being falsely accused of being like them. So with that said, let’s dig into I Thessalonians chapter 2, starting in verse 1 and see what the Lord has for us this evening.
VERSES 1-2
Paul wants them to remember not only how they looked when they arrived in Thessalonica, but the fruit that was born from their ministry there. First of all, Paul and Silas were beaten in Philippi, placed in prison before they were released. So physically speaking they were hurting and bore the marks of the whipping they received in Philippi. Secondly, we see the fruit that was born there in Thessalonica as they brought the Gospel message to a city that was in darkness.
We are told in I Thessalonians chapter 1, “For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake. And you became followers of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit . . . For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything. For they themselves declare concerning us what manner of entry we had to you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God.” I Thessalonians 1:5-6, 8-9. So their work in Thessalonica was not in vain, it was not empty!
In Acts 17:5-6 we see how some responded to the message they spoke, “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. But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, ‘These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.’” Not a bad charge against them, turning the world upside down for Jesus! Then, as they traveled to Berea some 50 miles southwestward we see again trouble as they shared the Gospel message, “But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds.” Acts 17:13. This did not stop them from speaking boldly because they knew the power of God to transform lives and they were willing to suffer, agonize to get the Gospel message out.
VERSES 3-5
We see just the opposite today. People relying on their presentation, how entertaining they are, they use words to flatter, they are trying to please men but not Paul, he came to serve the Lord and to please the Lord, which upset many people! Folks, that is the reality, when you speak the truths of God you will make enemies, people won’t like what you have to say, it exposes their sin and they will try to extinguish your light. Please understand that if you are serving to please man, it will never happen because you will never please everyone. Believe me, I know that for I have seen it in the almost 10 years I have been ministering here in Manitowoc. Serve the Lord, please Him, be obedient to Him and in the end, you will bless others! Paul was straight up when he spoke and so should we be. You don’t trick someone into the kingdom of God!
VERSE 6
Here is the heart of a servant, not to be lifted up and receive all the attention but to bring glory to God. Paul could have used his position as an apostle for glory, but he didn’t. What a tragedy in the church today when we elevate leaders, sometimes even worshiping them, kissing their rings and bowing down before them. That was not part of Paul’s ministry and it should not be ours, we are bondslaves of Christ, may we not lose sight of that!
VERSE 7
I don’t know about you, but when I think of Paul I see this tough little bow-legged guy with a hooknose enduring all kinds of persecution to move the Gospel message forward, but I don’t see him as a mother, do you? But that is truly the heart of Paul for believers. Think of the sacrifice, the devotion, and the unselfishness of a mother to nurse her child whenever and wherever there is a need. That was Paul in regards to feeding people the Word of God. He wanted to see them grow, mature in the faith and gave all to see that come to pass!
VERSES 8-9
I don’t know about you, but these verses are very convicting to me. Paul is saying that He, Silas, and Timothy gave whatever they had, put their lives on the line to see the Thessalonian believers grow, to minister to the body of Christ. They labored, they agonized, they were even in pain day and night because they loved these new believers so much they were willing to sacrifice their own lives for them.
How about you, are you like Paul? You might say, “I am not called to that ministry!” I am sorry to say, you are because aren’t you a servant of God? Of course you are! What excuses do you make for not being involved in the body of Christ? “I’m too busy!” Or “I’m not called to that ministry!” Or if you are in a ministry do you fulfill it or do you just get by doing it? Does someone have to stay on top of you to make sure the work is done? Did you start out in a ministry strong but now you are just getting by, doing the minimum work, not expanding the ministry or trying to see it grow? We are servants of God and as servants of God it will cost you something like it did Paul, Silas and Timothy, are we willing to sacrifice as they did? Think about it, what if everyone in the body of Christ had that mentality like Paul, Silas and Timothy had, how strong the church would be. I told you these verses were convicting. I’m sure you have heard it said before that people don’t care what you know until they know how much you care and thus, be a servant of all, it will cost you something but there are great blessings as you step forward and serve!
VERSES 10-12
Now Paul moves form the cherishing role of a mother to the watchful eye of a father and Paul uses these verses to describe a fathers role, the one he manifested to the Thessalonians. He says that a father is to “exhort” or PARAKALEO in the Greek and it means, “to call alongside.” A father is to come alongside a child to guide them as they grow. Next, a father is to “comfort” or encourage his children. Let’s face it, our children face many obstacles in life and they need to be encouraged even in their failures, to learn lessons of faith. And lastly, a father is to “charge everyone” or to single them out personally if they were not walking correctly, there would be consequences to their actions and a father was not to let them get away with evil. Paul saw himself as a spiritual father and thus, his behavior toward them was accordingly. Just like any father wanting to see their children walk worthy of God, that was Paul’s desire for the Thessalonians.
VERSE 13
Here is what made this group of believers strong, healthy, they not only heard the Word of God but they believed it. The Word of God was not just received into their mind but it sank deep into their heart and became part of their lives! For almost 10 years now my prayer as I have taught the Word of God is that it would not only be information for you to grow by but life transformation as you apply the things of God to your life and walk accordingly! That by the illumination of the Holy Spirit the Word of God would be opened up to you and you would respond accordingly, you would grow!
VERSES 14-16
When they received Jesus Christ as their Lord and savior the unbelievers came against them and just as the church in Judea was suffering persecution, so were they. Paul warned Timothy of this very thing as he said, “Yes, and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” II Timothy 3:12. Why do we think we can live in peace in this world that is hostile, is against what we believe? Folks, if the world is at enmity with God, if they hate the true and living God, then as His servants they are at enmity with us! Jesus warned us in John 15:18-20, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.” Don’t be surprised when it happens, it will!
Now is Paul being anti-Semitic when he says that the Jews not only killed their own prophets, but the Lord Jesus Christ? Not at all, he is just stating a fact. Paul loved his people, for he tells us in Romans 9:1-6, “I tell the truth in Christ, I am not lying, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Spirit, that I have great sorrow and continual grief in my heart. For I could wish that I myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my countrymen according to the flesh, who are Israelites, to whom pertain the adoption, the glory, the covenants, the giving of the law, the service of God, and the promises; of whom are the fathers and from whom, according to the flesh, Christ came, who is over all, the eternally blessed God. Amen. But it is not that the word of God has taken no effect. For they are not all Israel who are of Israel.”
Paul, if he could, was willing to give away his eternal destiny with the Lord if all the Jewish people would turn to Jesus and be saved. Now granted, some Jews did receive the Lord, the church was all Jewish when it started, but blindness has come upon them because of their rejection of Jesus and not until the tribulation period will their eyes be opened again and they will receive Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Yes, some Jewish people are saved today, but there is coming a harvest during the tribulation period that will outshine what is happening today.
As you look at the Scriptures you see the hostility towards the good news of Jesus Christ by the Jews as Acts 5:25 shows us as the Jewish religious leaders arrested the apostles and the Lord freed them, “So one came and told them, saying, ‘Look, the men whom you put in prison are standing in the temple and teaching the people!’ Then the captain went with the officers and brought them without violence, for they feared the people, lest they should be stoned. And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them, saying, ‘Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!’ But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: ‘We ought to obey God rather than men. The God of our fathers raised up Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree. Him God has exalted to His right hand to be Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of sins. And we are His witnesses to these things, and so also is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.’ When they heard this, they were furious and plotted to kill them.” The reality is that the Jews crucified Jesus; the Romans placed Him on the cross, that is what took place. But if you look at the whole picture, our sins put Jesus on the cross and it was not the nails that held Him there, but His love for us!
The Jews had a problem with this salvation by grace through faith in Jesus as Hiebert tells us, “The Jews’ opposition to the work of the missionaries among the Gentiles was not due to the fact that they were seeking to win Gentiles. The Jews themselves were vigorously engaged in this period of their history in actively proselyting Gentiles. Their fierce opposition was due to the fact that Christian missionaries offered salvation to Gentiles without demanding that they first become Jews.” The end result for not only the Jews who reject Jesus but also for Gentiles, all who reject Him, is that they will face the wrath of God! That is the reality.
VERSES 17-18
Paul’s desire was to go and see the Thessalonian believers once again, but as he wrote this letter from Corinth he saw the roadblocks that Satan was putting up preventing him from going there. So did Paul give up? We might but not Paul, he saw ways of getting around those roadblocks by sending Timothy there. And according to Acts 20:1-5, Paul did return there for a time. Now, in regards to these roadblocks of Satan, listen to what Spurgeon has to say:
Supposing that we have ascertained that hindrances in our way really come from Satan, WHAT THEN? I have but one piece of advice, and that is, go on, hindrance or no hindrance, in the path of duty as God the Holy Ghost enables you.
VERSES 19-20
A long distance may have separated Paul from the Thessalonian believers but he wanted them to know that he would never forget them; they were his glory and joy! Paul knew that even if he could not see them again in this life, they will rejoice together in heaven as the Lord comes back for His Bride, the Church.
This is a powerful chapter on serving faithfully, fully giving your life so others may grow. I have seen it happen far too often with people who want to serve; they are willing to do so until it costs them something. May that not be the case as Paul, Silas and Timothy have shown us what true servants are like, they are willing to give their all for people!
As we move into chapter 3 this evening we are going to see a church that was established through the Word of God and through prayer. And Paul will share with us Timothy’s mission trip to Thessalonica in I Thessalonians 3:1-10, and then Paul’s specific prayer for them in I Thessalonians 3:11-13. So let’s move into chapter 3 this evening.
VERSES 1-3
If you remember from Acts chapter 17, Paul was waiting in Athens alone and then Timothy and Silas came to Him there, (Acts 17:14-15), and after a period of time Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica, (Acts 18:5), and Silas went somewhere in Macedonia, perhaps Philippi and Paul was “left in Athens alone.” It speaks of leaving a loved one behind at death and that is how Paul felt. Satan may have put up roadblocks but Timothy got through to establish or strengthen them in the faith and to encourage them. You see, first you have to be established in the right things before you can be encouraged otherwise it is just a false encouragement.
Why was Paul concerned about their stability? Because afflictions, hard times had come upon these believers and Paul was concerned that these things would “shaken” their faith. The Greek word for “shaken” is SAINO (sah’-ee-no) and the idea here is that of a dog wagging his tail. What does that mean? Simply, the Devil is going to come along and try to flatter you with a promise of ease if you listen to him and move off the course that God has set for you. That is why we need to be established in the truth so that we will not be shaken, but we will be encouraged in the faith.
It is as Paul said in II Corinthians 4:16-18, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Even though our outward man is perishing, yet the inward man is being renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, is working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, while we do not look at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.” Perspective is everything!
VERSE 4
They were warned ahead of time of the difficult times that would come upon them for their faith, not just outward persecution but even physical problems. Why does God allow that to happen to us? I think A. W. Tozer hit the nail on the head when he said, “Before God can use a person greatly, he must allow that person to be hurt deeply.” God is not being mean to us; it is just that we can’t comfort others with the comfort of God unless we have been comforted by Him ourselves!
What does tribulation produce in our lives? Several things and I think they are important to look at because tribulation can be disheartening at times.
A. It shows that our faith is real as Peter tells us in I Peter 1:6-7, “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
B. We can bring the comfort and encouragement of God to others as I have said. Paul tells us in II Corinthians 1:3-4, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
C. It helps us to develop endurance, perseverance as Paul tells us in Romans 5:3, “And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance.”
D. It gives us boldness as we are told in Acts 4:29, “Now, Lord, look on their threats, and grant to Your servants that with all boldness they may speak Your word.” And in Acts 8:2-3 we are told, “And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.”
E. And it helps remove impurities from our lives as Job 23:10 tells us, “But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.”
VERSE 5
Keep in mind Paul had little success in Athens as he spoke to the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers. Then in Corinth, the armpit of the world you might say, totally wicked, Paul was depressed, he was down. And Paul sent Timothy and Silas back to Thessalonica to make sure they were okay, to build them up in the faith. Folks, I don’t care how godly you think you are, when you are suffering affliction you need other godly people to come alongside and encourage you. That is why when we are going through tough times the enemy gets us to isolate ourselves. Don’t fall prey to his schemes, remain in the Body of Christ as Paul admonishes us in Hebrews 10:24-25, “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works, not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as is the manner of some, but exhorting one another, and so much the more as you see the Day approaching.”
VERSE 6
Don’t we love good news? Of course we do and when Paul heard what great things were happening with the believers in Thessalonica it encouraged him.
VERSES 7-9
As down in the dumps as Paul was, this good news lifted his spirits knowing they were doing well. It is as Proverbs 25:25 tells us, “As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.”
VERSE 10
If they were doing so well why was Paul praying for areas they were lacking in? Because none of us are perfect and to be complacent means you are spiritually dead, you are not growing!
VERSE 11
Paul begins this prayer by asking God to direct his way to Thessalonica, to open a door for him to see them again, and the Lord eventually did!
VERSE 12
Did this church lack love? No, I don’t believe they did, but when compared to the love of God, we are all in need of more love! Let me ask you this, what is the identifying mark of a Christian? Carrying a big King James Bible? No! Wearing Christina tee-shirts? No! Going to church? No! Tithing? No! Then what is it? LOVE – AGAPE LOVE! Jesus put it this way in John 13:34-35, “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
And our love needs to go far beyond the family of God or it is shallow. Jesus again tells us in Matthew 5:43-48, “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect.”
VERSE 13
Paul wanted their hearts set apart from the world’s standards, the world’s ideas and unto God! It is as Paul said in II Corinthians 6:14-18, “Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: ‘I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.’ Therefore ‘Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.’ ‘I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the LORD Almighty.’”
As Paul concludes here he speaks of being blameless because the Lord is coming back. It is a motivation for us to live lives that are pleasing to God! If you are sinning, a behavior that is not pleasing to God, you are not looking forward to His return. Yes, sanctification is a work of God in our lives, but we must be obedient for the work to be accomplished in our lives! Let me close with these words from Paul in I Thessalonians 5:23-24, as he tells us, “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely; and may your whole spirit, soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful, who also will do it.” Praise the Lord for the work He is doing in us and through us, may we not get in His way or prevent Him from what He wants to do!