ENCOURAGING FAITH: Back & Forth

1 Thessalonians 3:6 CSB

But now Timothy has come to us from you and brought us good news about your faith and love. He reported that you always have good memories of us and that you long to see us, as we also long to see you.

INTRO—

Back & Forth

Exchange

Trade (-Off)

Swap

Give & Receive (better than Take)

In 1 Thessalonians 3.6-13, Paul expresses his encouragement—received as well as given—in light of Timothy’s news regarding the brothers and sisters in Thessalonica.

SHARING ENCOURAGEMENT [1 Thessalonians 3.6-10]

ENCOURAGERS ENCOURAGED (3.6-8)

1 Thessalonians 3:7 “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and affliction, we were encouraged about you through your faith.”

Encouraged by Timothy’s News (3.6)

…REALLY Encouraged (3.8)

“ENCOURAGE”

Paul talks about ‘encouragement’ using this specific word 7x in this letter to the Thessalonians:

2.12; 3.2; 3.7; 4.1; 4.10; 4.18; 5.11

παρακαλέω (parakaleo) — call, summon alongside

= Exhort — encourage action; advise; persuade

= Comfort — console; cheer

Prime (Primary) means to accomplish ‘encouragement?’

Being TOGETHER! (in place; in purpose)

THANKFUL & HOPEFUL (3.9-10)

1 Thessalonians 3:9 “How can we thank God for you in return for all the joy we experience before our God because of you,”

= “How can we thank God ENOUGH for you…”

Essentially—For Paul the scales will always be ‘out of balance’ in favor of the blessing of the joy the Thessalonians brought to Paul, Silas, & Timothy.

1 Thessalonians 3:10 “as we pray very earnestly night and day to see you face to face and to complete what is lacking in your faith?”

“Pray very earnestly…to see you face to face” [Once again Paul, et al.’s, significant desire to see them again.]

“To complete — what is lacking” [Seeking to bring the application of biblical truth to even further (more complete) aspects (or within a given aspect) of the Thessalonians’ lives.]

PRAYING, (FOR) MORE ENCOURAGEMENT [1 Thessalonians 3.11-13]

PRAYING TO BE WITH YOU GUYS (3.11)

1 Thessalonians 3:11 “Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you.”

“Love for…”

One Another

Everyone — [πάντας = ‘every’ (-one)] … including those highly intense opposers of the faith who followed Paul from Thessalonica to Berea!

PRAYING YOU GUYS GROW IN HOLINESS (3.13)

1 Thessalonians 3:13 “May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.”

Growth in holiness, blamelessness begins with…THE HEART.

Strength for HOLINESS come from the HEART not from LEGALISM. [Prepare your heart to say YES, LORD to everything He says!…to do otherwise is backward, temporary, self-serving Pharisaism!!]

CONCL—

“I’ve heard it both ways.” [[PSYCH]]

Encouragement

Encouragement

INVITATION:

Salvation

Give Encouragement

Receive Encouragement

1 Thessalonians 3:13 CSB

May he make your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. Amen.