Faith in the model church: 1st Thess Chap. 3

1. Introduction.

We have talked about the Thessalonians and the tremendous church Paul established. We have talked about the model church having a a bold pastor who proclaimed the Word of God in truth and not error. Tonight, we are going to talk about faith in the model church.

2. The faith of the Thessalonians made Paul anxious for the church.

1 Thessalonians 3:1–2 “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,”

The believers, as we have discussed, were suffering from severe persecution. The Jewish and Gentile unbelievers were persecuting the Thessalonians to the point of depriving them of their right to make a living.

The unbelievers were determined to stamp out the gospel once and for all. The Jews hated the Gospel because they denied Jesus Christ was the Son of God. The Gentile unbelievers had pledged their allegiance to Caesar and to the other pagan gods of the Roman Parthenon. They did not believe in live and let live. They were determined to end this blasphemous Christianity once and for all.

Paul feared that the he was the reason for the severity of the persecution, so he left for Athens hoping the persecution would lessen, but it did not. Paul was physically in Athens, but his heart was with the Thessalonians, and he got to the point that he could no longer bear the suspense over the welfare of the Thessalonians, so he sent Timothy to check on them.

When Paul sends Timothy to establish the Thessalonians, it means that Timothy was to support and strengthen the them through the Word of God.

Christians are able to face persecution because of three things:

The Holy Spirit

The Word of God

Brothers and Sisters in Christ

We dismiss the importance of church attendance, but being a part of a vibrant community is extremely important to your spiritual growth. I dare say that you will never reach the level of spiritual maturity you desire if you neglect your brothers and sisters in Christ by forsaking them in attending church.

One of our great responsibilities as Christians is ministering to our brothers and sisters in Christ that we fellowship with in a church community.

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.”

1 Thessalonians 4:18 “Therefore comfort one another with these words.”

Colossians 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”

1 Peter 4:9–11 “Be hospitable to one another without grumbling. As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

The church community is important to strengthen. comfort, and unite fellow believers in a common purpose which is reveal the light of Christ in a dark world.

3. A strong faith is not moved by afflictions.

1 Thessalonians 3:3–5 “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.”

When Paul says no on should be “shaken” by these afflictions, he means to not be deceived or led astray by afflictions.

The actual phrase translated shaken meant don’t let the tail wag the dog. In other words, afflictions should not lead the believer, and you guys know like I do that some Christians fall away from the congregation when a little trouble comes his or her way, but it is God’s desire that those afflictions embolden a believer.

Paul says that we should not be shaken by afflictions.

Psalm 1:3 “He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper.”

How can you and I be like a tree planted by the water unmoved by afflictions, attacks, and persecutions?

(1) A believer must understand that he or she is appointed to persecution.

The world persecuted Christ, and the world is going to persecute us. Christians are called out of the world and hated by the world.

John 15:19–20 “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.”

Jesus clearly states that we are going to be hated in the world. Politics are never going to go in favor of the Christian. The world never going to jump and down celebrating your Christianity. The world is going to mock, ridicule, and verbally attack you.

The Bible even says that civil authorities and the law will persecute and afflict believers as found in Acts Chap. 17. We saw during the Covid crisis that some church leaders were jailed for having church services during the lockdown. Well, dear friend, we are to expect that kind of stuff, but the tail should not wag the dog.

(2) A Christian must live and demonstrate a life of righteousness because such living exposes the sins of others.

I think the perfect example of this in the Bible is Stephen. Stephen was arrested by the Jewish officials for preaching the gospel. Stephen proclaimed the gospel to those who arrested him, and I want you to notice how the righteousness of Stephen affected his accusers.

Acts 7:54–60 “When they heard these things they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed at him with their teeth. But he, being full of the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and said, “Look! I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!”

Then they cried out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and ran at him with one accord; and they cast him out of the city and stoned him. And the witnesses laid down their clothes at the feet of a young man named Saul. And they stoned Stephen as he was calling on God and saying, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord, do not charge them with this sin.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”

The way Stephen lived, and the way he died exposed the sin of the Pharisees and the sin of young man named Saul. Saul, who later wrote half of the books of the New Testament including the letter to the Thessalonians, was holding the coats of the ones stoning Stephen when he heard Stephen ask not to charge his stoning to their account.

Dear friend, our lives should expose the sin of others. It is one of the most effective way for us to be witnesses for Jesus Christ.

(3) The world is deceived by its concept of God.

John 16:2–3 “They will put you out of the synagogues; yes, the time is coming that whoever kills you will think that he offers God service. And these things they will do to you because they have not known the Father nor Me.”

Christianity is despised because of its exclusiveness.

Yes, anyone can be saved, but no one will be saved apart from Jesus Christ, and that fact absolutely drives the lost world insane because the lost world believes that a belief in anything is ok, but dear friend, that is error. Jesus Christ is the way, the truth, and the life, and no one will get to heaven apart from placing his or her faith in Jesus Christ.

4. A strong faith is a faith that gives an excellent testimony.

1 Thessalonians 3:6 “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—”

When Timothy returned to Paul, he gave a glowing report on the testimony of the Thessalonians. The believers were standing fast not bucking persecution.

1 Timothy 6:12 “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession in the presence of many witnesses.”

Dear friend, here is the question for us to ponder. When a visitor comes to our church, what is his or her impression of our testimony? Would that visitor give us a glowing report?

Paul was proud, in a godly sense, of the Thessalonians.

Notice what Paul says because of Timothy’s report.

1 Thessalonians 3:7–10 “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. 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?”

My goal is for our testimony to have that same kind of effect.