6. Praying for one another - 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 (Sunday February 9, 2025)
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
Imagine a situation where you are wishing to purchase a house and as part of the process you need to obtain a surveyor’s report. Hopefully it is as accurate as possible and reveals that the house is in good condition. Nevertheless there may be particular problems highlighted in the report which require attention. Some may be more pressing than others but it is helpful to be able to get the report in order to assess what needs to be done.
Unable to visit the new church family at Thessalonica himself, Paul sent Timothy to survey the church. Paul had two concerns -
What did the Thessalonians think of him since he had not been back to visit because every time he tried, something hindered him.
Are these new baby Christians still continuing in their new faith in Jesus, even though they were facing afflictions and opposition for their faith?
When Timothy returned from Thessalonica with the results of his survey, it was good news!
6 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—7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God,
They were standing fast in the Lord as regards their faith. And they continued to love Paul and really wanted to see him again.
The survey showed church was in very good working order in the three important areas: their faith, their love, their hope
2 We give thanks to God always for you all, making mention of you in our prayers, 3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
Nevertheless, Timothy’s survey report also highlighted a few problems that needed remedy.
In chapters 4 and 5, Paul starts the work of remedying the problems areas. But first he takes the matters directly to God and praying for the Thessalonians. He expresses three particular requests. One for each problem area. We will spend the rest of our time looking at Paul’s prayer.
Consistent Faith
Consistent Faith
11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.
The first petition is extremely straightforward. He prays that our God and Father and our Lord Jesus would enable him and his companions to be able to return to Thessalonica.
But why did he want God to answer that prayer? Paul explains in verse 10 the reason he wanted to return.
10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?
He longs to visit to supply what is lacking in their faith. As we see in chapter 4, these gaps were not so much in their knowledge. But in the consistent application of their faith to every part of their life. For example, in their relationships with the opposite sex, there was little evidence, at least among some of the church members, that their faith in Christ had made any impact at all.
If the apostle were to conduct a survey of our Christian life, where would he find gaps and deficiencies? Where would he feel that he needed to supply things that were lacking?
It may be that there are gaps in our understanding of the Scriptures or the message of salvation which need to be remedied. If so, they need to be attended to through a careful study of the Bible, perhaps with the assistance of others or through good Christian literature.
Yet it may well be that the gaps relate more to a patchy application of God’s Word to our lives, as appears to be the case with the Thessalonians.
Often at press conferences after a match, a manager will say the team is doing really well, but we are lacking in some area. We need to fill a gap. Perhaps a striker.
Every Christian must be growing in their faith. Yes, we are secure in the knowledge that Christ died for all our sins and that we are accepted in God’s presence in the beloved. And that is the most important thing. But Christ does not want us to be complacent and drift. But rather wants us push us forward, to complete the areas that are currently lacking:
18 but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.
God has begun a good work, and will complete it.
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
So Paul prays that God would remove all the obstacles so that he could visit the church to deal with areas that are lacking. Paul wanted to teach them from the scriptures how to apply their faith. This is how we grow as Christians. Peter wrote
2 as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby,
Was Paul’s prayer answered so he could visit? We do not know for sure. About five years later on his third Missionary journey, Paul did visit Macedonia where Thessalonica is, and he probably visited them.
1 After the uproar had ceased, Paul called the disciples to himself, embraced them, and departed to go to Macedonia. 2 Now when he had gone over that region and encouraged them with many words, he came to Greece
We do know for sure that God did help their faith. A few months later, Paul wrote a second letter
3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,
Overflowing Love
Overflowing Love
12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you,
The second petition of Paul was that the Lord would cause them to increase and abound in love to one another and to all.
Genuine followers of Christ always exhibit love.
34 A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. 35 By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
Paul had seen clear evidence already of the Thessalonians’ love. He talks of their labour of love, and the good news of their faith and love.
6 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—
But Timothy’s survey report detected that there was something that needed fixed in their love. Perhaps it was only a problem for a few in the church. He raises a specific issue in chapter 4 where some were refusing to work when they could, and relying on others’ kindness.
Paul’s prayer is that God would cause the love they already had to increase and abound. Like an overflowing cup. Only God could make that growth in love by the working of His Spirit in us.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
Paul prayed that God would give them this overflowing love not just for one another, that is for others in the church. But for all. For those who are lost without Christ. For those who persecute them. This is the kind of love Christ has
Matthew 5:44
It is relatively easy although sometimes hard to show love to those around us or to those who are like us, but Paul longs for their love to be much more indiscriminate. The challenge for us is that we should take every opportunity to show love both within our church and towards the surrounding community. This includes showing practical care and love to
the unattractive
• the orphan
• the sick
• the hateful
• the enemy
• the murderer
• the unclean
• the homeless
• the prisoner
• the diseased
• the spiteful
• the oppressor
• the poor
• the unclothed
• the widow and widower
• the sinner
• the opponent
• the dictator
How can we love some of these people? How can we abound in love for them? Is it even humanly possible? No! It is not humanly possible for us to love those who hate us.
That is why Paul prays for God to work. God can transform us by His Spirit to enable us to love, as Christ loved us.
18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.
Paul said he had modelled this overflowing love so they had some idea of what it looked like. The ultimate example of overflowing love is God’s love.
4 knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God.
God’s love chose them when they were His enemies and overflowed when the Father sent His Son to be the Saviour of the world.
14 And we have seen and testify that the Father has sent the Son as Savior of the world.
A sustaining hope
A sustaining hope
13 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’s third and final petition in this prayer is that God would establish their hearts blameless in holiness. Establish means to strengthen, make firm. He is praying for the strengthening of their hearts, their innermost being.
Although the word HOPE is not actually used, Christian confidence concerning the future is very evident in this prayer request. Paul had already given thanks for their patient endurance that had been inspired by hope in Christ.
3 remembering without ceasing your work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the sight of our God and Father,
But it would appear that for some, such confidence had been shaken. It needed strengthened.
We read in chapter 4 that for some it was the bereavement of a family member. For others it was puzzlement at how and when the Lord Jesus would return. Some members of the church had become unsettled and doubts had crept in concerning whether Christ would return or not.
Paul will tackle these doubts. But for now he asks God to strengthen their hearts. Paul had sent Timothy with the express intention of strengthening them.
2 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,
Now he asks God to help them keep going, amidst persecutions, bereavements, bewilderments, until the day when the Lord Jesus Christ would return.
Having been strengthened, Paul then prays they would be ready for Christ’s return, when they would stand in the very presence of our God and Father. His prayer is that on that day it would be evident that they were holy.
Paul did not pray that they would be sinless. While we are in this world that is impossible. He prayed that they would be blameless. That is, although they would sin, they would deal with it as God requires.
9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
7 But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from all sin.
If they dealt with their sin, then their outward visible conduct would be blameless in the sight of others. They would be living a godly life pleasing to Christ .
23 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.
Going on a long journey to reach a holiday destination can be a gruelling experience. There may be traffic problems with roadworks and lane closures on the motorway due to accidents. There may be problems with the car which requires roadside assistance. There may also be problems with the passengers as the children express their frustration with being cooped up in a hot car for endless hours. The journey with all its trials only makes sense in light of the destination.
Having a clear picture of the joys awaiting you at the destination helps to give fortitude for the journey. Within 1 Thessalonians, Paul is constantly pointing to the Christians’ destination, reminding them of the day when the Lord Jesus will return in glory to call us up to be with Him.
We also need to remind ourselves of our destination—not so much a place but a person- Jesus.
This focus will help to sustain us to continue to please Christ in readiness for the day when we will meet Him.
Application
Application
Paul was glad to hear from Timothy’s survey that the young church at Thessalonica is developing well in its faith, love, and hope. But like every Christian, the survey showed that there were areas in their faith, love and hope that needed some work.
Paul does not want them to be complacent and sit back. PHe wants to encourage the Thessalonians to go forward with Christ. Just as the crowd at a sports venue are cheering on their team, so Paul is also saying ‘come on the saints!’ as he prays for God to be at work in their lives.
This is the focus of his prayer and his letter. Similarly, we should use every means to encourage each other to move forwards in the Christian life.
In these verses, the first means by which Paul seeks to encourage them is through praying for them. This is something that is open for each of us to do. We are to ask God for each other that our faith would be consistent in our lives, that our love would overflow to all, and that our hope of Christ’s coming would sustain us.
Before writing to them he has been praying for them. Before tackling some of the issues they had, he is praying for them. Paul’s example is an encouragement for us also to make prayer a priority.
