1 Thessalonians Established Hearts

1 Thessalonians 2:17 - 3:1-13

Established Hearts

Paul’s Pastoral Heart (1 Thess. 2:17–3:5)

Paul explains that he and his associates longed to reunite with the church, but “Satan hindered us” (1 Thess. 2:18). Satan can and will hinder. Satan will distract. Satan will causes problems and distractions, and he will use people to do this.

The church must be aware of the demonic realm. Ephesians 6:12 – For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore, put on the full armor of God.

From this passage, we see that Satan can hinder our plans (1 Thess. 2:18) and tempt our hearts (1 Thess. 3:5).

Satan can tempt our hearts with fear, power, greed, using our sinful nature to feed our flesh in order to escape pain and to run away from God. Satan will tempt you to turn back. He will use pain, sickness, and grief to draw you away from Christ. He will use trials in order to get you to fail.

Satan and his demons will exploit every opportunity given. He knows how to use your weaknesses. He knows how to use pain. He is always scheming against us.

What is our daily/model prayer? Father, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one. Father, through the trial, keep us from sin, keep us from falling away and being destroyed by the evil one.

And what is our promise? God will not give more that what can be endured, and that He will give a way of escape. God will allow the trials and the pain, and He will provide the grace needed to endure, prevail, and grow through it all.

And remember: Jesus is praying for you.

But here is the thing to be reminded of today: Run to God, not away. When Satan comes through the trails and the pain… run to God through prayer… run to God with praise and worship. Submit yourself to God, and resist Satan with your weapons of warfare… And you will fight well, and he will flee.

Verse 2 – Do we need to strengthen one another? Yes, absolutely! How do we see the church? How do we see one another? How do we see our ministry to one another? Going back to 2:19-20 – We desire to see everyone before the presence of Christ at His coming. We desire to see everyone with hope and joy, until heaven.

How do you view your own local church? Are you more concerned with its negatives or positives? Do you work to build up others or to tear them down?

What might need to change, whether in your thoughts, speech, or behavior, to more closely resemble Paul’s perspective and heart?

As a Christian, this is our attitude: “I am here to build you up, not to tear you down. I am here to encourage and strengthen you in your faith. That is my great desire.”

You are God’s coworker (1 Thess. 3:2). The devil’s co-worker is seeking to tear down others, focus on all the negatives, and discourage others. The devil’s co-worker causes division and sows discord among the brethren. The devil’s co-workers desire to exalt self and leave others behind.

But you are God’s co-worker, called to build up the saints of God. Who are you working for?

Moving on: What are all Christians “destined” for, according to 1 Thessalonians 3:3–4? We are destined to suffer, to be afflicted, to experience hard times for being Christians.

Does this surprise you? Why? Jesus told us, told the disciples early on that this would be the life of the disciple.

John 16:33 – In the world, you will have tribulation. You will have to take up your own cross. The Gospel will divide families. 2 Timothy 3:12 – Those who desire to live a godly life will be persecuted.

What will we need to hear over and over again… if this is the case? If I am going to have to suffer, what will I need to hear? I will need to hear that Jesus is worth it. I will need to hear the Gospel promises over and over again. I will need to hear God’s truth, over and over again… So that my heart can be established and that I can stand firm with hope.

Notice also that Paul did not merely mention this in passing while in Thessalonica; he “kept telling” them (1 Thess. 3:4).

He kept reminding them, over and over again.

Repetition is good. Repeating good things can form good habits. Hearing good teaching over and over again is needed so that we will think straight, walk straight and do good works.

Truth needs to be repeated. Why? Because we forget what is true. Because the father of lies is always working to keep us away from truth, living in lies, confusion and fear.

Believers are easily swayed. Gather around certain groups who believe lies, and you will be swayed. Listen to certain T.V. programs and news stations, and you will be swayed. Or… leave yourself by yourself long enough, with your own rushing thoughts… and you will be swayed to turn from God and turn from His Truth.

Peter, in 2 Peter 1, says that those believers who are lacking in moral excellence, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness and kindness… have forgotten some things… they have forgotten his purification from sins…

Therefore, he says, I will always be ready to remind you of these things… God’s truth, God’s Gospel…

You already know them… but you needed to be reminded of them over and over again, to stir you up by way of reminder…

This is what disciples do: We should be constantly reminded, and we are to remind others.

This was and is Discipleship 101 (see also Acts 14:21–22).

In Acts, we see discipleship lived out. Go and preach, bring them to faith, make disciples out of them, and come back to encourage them in the faith… saying to them, “Through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God.”

And here, the disciples are going through tribulation. What does Paul do?

Paul couldn’t stand it: His heart was for the church. His heart was for those who were following Christ and were suffering. He wanted to encourage them and to hear of their situation… So, he sends Timothy to them and was comforted by the good report.

This is how we should feel towards one another. This is the godly affection that we are to experience as the church of the living God. We desire for fellow Christians to be growing. We desire for them to have peace in their hearts, and to be strengthened…

We desire their best interests. We think about others. We are not consumed by selfish ambition, and selfish desires. Our hearts should genuinely ask, “How is the church, how is my bother and sister really doing?”

Now: We often ask the question in passing without eye contact. “Hey, how are you doing?” And you are moving on without a reply. When we do this, we communicate that we are be formal and polite… but that we really do not care…

May we never communicate this. May we communicate genuine care and concern always.

Your brother and sister struggle like you. There is an enemy that is after them. There is a tempter that will destroy those young disciples, over little things… make them question Jesus’ love and Gospel promises. There is an enemy that is working after every sermon and spiritual conversation… seeking to rob you of the seeds that were planted… making your fruitless…

They, believers/disciples, need your prayers, love and support. They need to be reminded of the truth over and over again. They need to be stirred up in the faith. Do this! Your spouses, children, and friends need this from us.

And when we see you growing in faith and love… we are to be excited… Seeing someone walk an aisle, or pray a sinner’s prayer, gets us excited. But seeing someone go through suffering… and see them hang on to faith, seeing them glorify God with their words and behavior… it lets us know… There is something real in him or her!

We are all destined to suffer… to go through various trials and pains. And our faith will be on trial during these afflictions… Trials test our faith, to se what’s on the inside.

And it is a glorious, exciting time to sit down with saints at this church and hear the faith come out of them… while they are suffering… while they are in pain. To see them grieving or hurting, and hear praises, hear songs, hear Scripture… God’s promises… coming up and out of these dear saints that are going through the pains of life…

What is their secret? In their weakness, they run to God and are made strong. The joy of the Lord is their strength which enables them to endure…

What is their secret? There is a Savior working in them. The Holy Spirit is at work. They have saving faith. They have a God who will never let them go, and He is keeping them.

Get around some of these mature saints, who have suffered much, and you will be blessed. You will be strengthened. That which is lacking in you will be strengthened…

And this will make you look more and more like Christ.

And that is where following Christ leads us: It takes us through suffering, into growth, into greater measures of maturity, unto Christ-likeness.

And this is the closing prayer: Verse 11 – Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints…Amen.

That hearts are established without blame in holiness, before the Lord at His coming.