1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:5
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I’m sure I’ve told you at some point over the last 10 years
Lauren and I were high school sweethearts.
But we started dating my senior year in high school.
And then I went off to school.
I graduated college, but she wasn’t finished with her degree at Francis Marion, and so I went straight from North Greenville to SouthEastern Seminary in Wake Forest, North Carolina.
And so, six of the seven years we dated, it was a long distance relationship.
We were four hours away from each other and then we were three hours away from each other.
And so you know— that was difficult.
She missed me so much.
At least that’s what I like to think.
No, it was hard.
We only got to see each other in person probably once a month.
The rest of the time—our relationship really was built on phone calls, and text messages and FaceTime.
Now, I can’t imagine what it would have been like if we would’ve lived back when those technological advances were not present.
I have read stories of men in the army, who would write letters to their significant others and send them back home from the warfront.
But that had to be difficult waiting for months or maybe even years to receive letters and that was your only way of corresponding and maintaining your relationship.
I’ll bring that up to say this is the situation you find with Paul in the Thessalonian church.
Paul was unable to come to them.
Distance separated them.
The only means that they would have of talking would be to close the distance by one of them coming to the other or to send letters.
And so this is what we have.
Paul and this Church are providentially separated.
And so he writes them a letter.
And when you think about it, what a blessing it is both to that church way back then and to our church now that they were providentially separated.
Because now, we have this letter so that we as a church can grow from it.
And this is an encouraging letter.
In chapter 1 of this letter, Paul thanked God for his grace in saving this people..
He thanks God, for how they turned from their idols in order to serve the one true and living God.
Paul was only able to be with the Thessalonian church for three weeks, but the growth that happened there during that short amount of time can only be described as an act and a work of God.
God did something special there.
Chapter 1 is all about that.
But then we go to chapter 2, where Paul has been defending his ministry.
He has been explaining what true and biblical ministry is in contrast to the false ministry of false teachers.
And the reason is—He wants to make sure that this Church is standing firm.
One thing is clear in this letter so far it is that Paul loves this church.
He can’t be there with them, but he loves them.
And in this section that we come to today that truth is even more evident.
And so as a matter of introduction, let me say this.
One of the things I hope that this passage does for you this morning is that it would help you understand the importance of the church and how much we desperately need each other in this walk of faith.
I believe:
Paul knew how much he needed the Thessalonian Church.
He also knew how much the Thessalonian church needed him.
He didn’t want to leave.
Remember in Acts 17 he was forced to leave because of the hostility that rose up because the gospel was so successful there.
When he preached, the people believed and began to follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, and the gospel.
But the Jews became jealous, and so they stirred up a mob so much so that Paul and company had to get out of there and they had to get out of there quick.
But again, he didn’t want to leave.
Look at verse 17.
17 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face,
Paul here I believe is referencing what happened in Acts 17.
They were torn away.
In other words, This wasn’t a mutually agreed-upon exit.
You know how at times you’ll have friends or family come in for the weekend.
But there’s something really important to find out before you have friends or family come in for the weekend.
The most important piece of information is when are they leaving?
Now, if they show up in an RV and they tell you they’re they’re staying for a month then you may be in trouble.
But most of the time, we know when it is, they’re planning to leave.
And so you kind of have an end date in mind and so you do all the things that you wish to accomplish while they’re there so that when they’re gone, you believe you have maximized the time.
That’s how things generally work.
That’s not exactly what happened when Paul went into Thessalonica.
Paul went in with the intention to stay, especially after the warm reception of the word.
I don’t know of a preacher or a pastor who would want to leave a place in which God was so clearly working.
But all of a sudden he has to leave because of how great the hostility was.
It wasn’t the plan to come and stay this short of a time and then have to leave.
Again, He didn’t want to leave.
Furthermore, it seems he has intentions to come back.
He says here We are torn away for a short time.
Paul doesn’t see this as a permanent separation.
He wants to go back.
But he also says there in verse 17 “we are torn away in person. But not in heart.”
In other words, Paul is saying, I know I can’t be there with you face to face, but I still love you all.
You are still in my heart, even though we are not in the same place together.
We are bonded together in a brotherly and sisterly love grounded in Christ.
Which is why Paul is eager and has a great desire to go back to this church.
I hope you are getting the point here.
One thing I think is unmistakable in the writings of Paul is this: Paul loves the church.
And when you think about it ,It’s honestly nothing short of miraculous how much he loves the Church seeing as how much he hated the church at the beginning of his life.
As I read, it’s hard to believe this man ever did any harm to any Church.
He loves these people.
He loves the church.
He wants to be around them.
I want to ask us this morning as we consider this first point—
And the first point is:
The church is a community that loves each other.
Let me ask you this morning— Do you love the church?
Now, when I ask that … I want to be very clear.
I’m not asking you if you love the building.
I’m not primarily asking you if you enjoy the services.
And I’m not asking you if you love the pastor, although I hope you do. Amen?
I’m not asking you if there are people in the church that you love.
No…
Do you love the church?
Do you love the whole bride of Christ? With all her imperfections?
Do you love the church?
The church is a people.
Paul is not writing to a building.
Paul is writing to a group of people.
He hates that he’s been torn away from the people.
He wants to be with them.
Why?
Because Paul is a child of God.
And children of God love to be around children of God.
My hope and prayer Is that the church for us would become more than just a building we come to on Sunday mornings.
Beloved, it’s more than that.
In fact, if that’s all it is to you, I think you’re missing something.
The church is so much more than that.
It’s a family.
It’s a people that we belong to.
And I believe if you are growing closer to Christ , you will be becoming closer with the bride of Christ.
It is through the church that we grow.
It is through the church that we serve each other and our community together.
It is through the church that we are built up and edified toward the things of God.
I believer we are to love the Church more than any earthly thing.
Did you know—The church is the most heavenly thing that we have on earth.
The church will outlive every other thing you cherish in this world.
The people who are saved and are called by God here that you see around you will be with you and for you and experiencing the grace and mercy of God with you in eternity Long after every possession you have currently has been burnt up.
Long after this building that we sit in here today is gone, the church will remain.
The people here… those called and collected, we ought to love.
I think Paul had a proper perspective and so he loves the church.
He wants to come to them, but he can’t.
He was hindered.
And He was hindered because though he loves the church, there’s an enemy who hates the church.
That’s our second point.
Satan hates the church.
Look at verse 18.
18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us.
Paul said I wanted to come to you.
Again and again, I’ve tried to come to you.
But there were obstacles to doing that.
There is an enemy.
Because of Satan‘s work, there were people who hated the church.
There were people who became jealous of the church in Acts 17 who forced Paul out and who kept them apparently from coming back to them.
Paul says there in verse 18 that Satan hindered them from coming back.
Which means Paul understood, even though it was human beings who were the visible opposition, there was an invisible enemy, standing behind those people.
Those who were enemies of the church, Paul sees as instruments of Satan.
Church family, we have a real enemy.
Satan hates the church.
He hates our brotherhood.
He hates our mission.
He hates our love for each other.
He loves when local churches fight.
And he loves nothing more than to keep us apart.
Paul saw his inability to get to this church as Satan‘s work.
I believe Satan knows that one of the most helpful things for Christians is that they be around other Christians.
I believe Satan knows that one of the most encouraging things in the world for a believer is for them to be a part of a healthy body of Christ, where the word of God is preached and heard and where they are encouraged weekly.
I believe Satan knows that the singing of God’s people encourages the hearts of those who are struggling and discouraged.
And so I truly believe Satan actively works in this world to keep us from being with each other.
He did with Paul here
And he will do that through any means he can.
Satan is the father of pragmatism. He came up term by any means necessary.
I believe Satan will do whatever he can to keep us away from the body of Christ.
Here for Paul, I believe Satan was using physical threats and harm to keep him from the church.
Today it may not look like that.
But rest assured, Satan still hinders people from coming together.
And he has many different ways of doing that.
I’m not saying he personally attacks every person. Satan is not omnipresent.
But he is resourceful, and so he will hinder you.
He’ll do it through your work.
He will keep your schedule full, and he will keep your bank account full, so long as you’re not able to come and serve and in the church.
He’ll do it through extracurricular activities.
He will do it through our kids…
He will do it through excuses and opportunities.
A few years ago, I believe he used a global pandemic to keep the church from meeting together.
Why does he do it though?
Ultimately, I believe he knows how helpful it is and he works to prevent it Because he is our enemy.
Because he desires to steal, kill, and destroy.
It certainly not God’s desire that we would not meet together.
Listen to what the author of Hebrews says.
24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
God says don’t neglect this.
Meet together when you can.
Satan gives you an excuse to miss whenever you can.
Beloved, we have an enemy who seeks to hinder our spiritual good.
Satan knows how precious the church is.
He knows how strong we are if we’re together.
He knows the encouragement that happens that dismantle his work of discouragement.
We have an enemy, and we must be alert.
But Paul is going to say next that even though the enemy at this time has hindered him from coming to them, the church is still the most precious thing to him.
Look what he says in verse 19 and 20.
19 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
This is Paul’s proof that he loves the church and he really wants to be with them.
Paul says here—the only thing we have in this world worth celebrating.
Our Hope.
Our joy.
Our crown of boasting.
It’s bound up in the church.
Let me ask you all a question this morning—
When Jesus comes back, what’s he coming back for?
The church.
And so what should we prioritize in this world ? The church..
Paul says the church is his glory and joy.
Paul says— This is what I work for.
The crowning achievement for Paul in his life was not everything that he accumulated.
The crowning achievement was that in someway shape or form he helped the church.
The lasting joy of his life was bound up in God’s people.
Paul says whenever Jesus comes back, I got one thing I’m proud of. I got one thing I’m ready to show him.
I got one thing that’s worth pointing to, it’s the very thing Jesus came for.
Just think about the gospel
The gospel is- that Jesus came born of a virgin for his Church.
He lived his life for his church.
He died, laying down his life, for the bride.
He went to a grave for the church.
He rose for the church.
He ascended to heaven to intercede for the church.
And one day he’s coming back for the church.
Paul says I got nothing better to live for than for the glory of Jesus Christ in his church..
And so Paul writing this letter to this Church says I love y’all.. I wanted to come to y’all, but Satan has hindered me personally from coming, but that hasn’t changed my understanding, for my attitude toward the church.
He loved it.
And because he loved it, he demonstrated his love in that even though he couldn’t come personally, he sent someone to them.
Look in chapter 3 verse 1 and following.
1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,
The Third point is this—
Despite the efforts of the enemy, the Church still cares for each other.
Paul has so much love and concern for this Church, he was willing to be left alone.
He was willing to send Timothy away from him in order that this church would be helped and established and exhorted toward the gospel.
What we see in the heart of Paul is a genuine desire that the church be built up.
There was a genuine concern.
He says here when we could bear it no longer.
In other words, there was this burning desire to help the church.
Paul knew he couldn’t go most likely because he was so recognizable if he would’ve went it would’ve caused an uproar again.
And so for the sake of the church and for the love of the church, he sends Timothy in his place.
And as he sent him, Paul’s hope is that no one has be moved by the afflictions.
He says this in the beginning of verse 3.
He said Timothy because his desire is (verse 3 )
3 that no one be moved by these afflictions.
The word there moved in the text is interesting.
It means to sway side to side to the point of falling down.
The goal for Paul is that the Thessalonians not be knocked down by those who under the influence of the enemy, may try and come and destroy everything that God had done while they were there.
I think this is a good passage for us to remember that where God is working, so too the enemy is at work.
As a church, we have to remain humble before God.
We thank God for what he has done here, but we also have to be aware that we have an enemy who is good at what he does.
And so we must be alert to his devices and the things that he may try to do.
Paul sent Timothy to check on them.
He didn’t want too much time to pass before he checked in on where they were spiritually.
He didn’t want them to be shaken off their foundation.
And he wants to remind them of an important truth and that is suffering and difficulty is a part of what it means to be the church.
Listen to how he encourages them at the end of verse 3.
3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.
This is pretty interesting here.
The idea here of destined is the idea that God has willed and determined that the way the church grows is through persecution and suffering.
In other words, Paul is saying here
— this is God‘s plan for us.
And you may be thinking, I thought Satan was the one hindering.
I thought Satan was the one giving them trouble.
He is.
But God is sovereign over it working all of it for the good of his church.
Satan lives in rebellion towards God.
Satan lives in opposition towards the church.
But this doesn’t mean God has lost control of Satan.
Satan thinks he is frustrating the plans of God but God works in ways I can’t understand or explain to override Satan plans so that it turns it for our good every time.
There are several examples of this.
The most glaring one and most obvious one is when Satan entered into Jesus‘s disciple Judas whenever he was to betray the Lord.
You found that mentioned in Luke 22:3
But I want you to think about it — as bad as that betrayal was ,what did that betrayal lead to?
Ultimately, it would lead to Jesus dying on the cross.
It led to the fulfillment of thousands of years of prophecy.
It led to God working through that betrayal to bring about the atonement of the sins of all those who will believe in Jesus.
Now, in that moment, it didn’t make sense, but God even through the evil and wicked actions, brought about good for the people of God.
And so it was the will of God that Jesus would suffer.
Sometimes it’s the will of God that we would suffer.
Paul says we were destined for this.
And this isn’t the only place he says this.
Paul told the Philippians suffering was a gift granted to them.
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,
Paul says this has been granted to you.
This is something that is going to happen.
Paul told Timothy—
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
Now beloved, hear me I’m not saying that I woke up this morning going, “Boy, I hope I suffer today. Just can’t wait for some persecution.”
No, that’s not it at all.
But when it does come, we do need to be ready.
And when it does come, we do need to submit our ourselves humbly under the hand of God.
Understanding that God is in control even if we go through difficult days.
Even when we can’t see it, we need to trust the one who’s in control and who does see it.
Illustration—
I heard an illustration one time about a battleship that got lost at night at sea because it was super foggy.
And they trolled around, trying to find their way and eventually they saw the lights of what they believed to be another boat.
And the other boat looked like it was getting closer and closer.
So the captain of the ship got on the radio and said please turn your ship 15° north.
Immediately he got a response, the response said no you turn your ship 15° south.
At which point the battleship captain said no you yield to me this is a battleship.
After a brief pause, the battleship captain got another response.
And it was this.
No, you yield to me this is a lighthouse.
In the moment, the battleship operator wanted control, even though he could not see what was going on.
The point is this we don’t always see the clearest. We don’t always understand why. and so it’s best to yield to the one who never moves who never changes and who has a clear understanding of the dangers around us and who has what’s best for us in mind.
Sometimes that means even walking through difficult days.
You know in America it’s relatively easy to be a Christian.
We are privileged and I am thankful to live in a country where you and I meet this morning in freedom to worship the Lord Jesus.
You do need to understand:
There are many countries that do not share that blessing.
There are Christians across the world that have to meet on this Lord’s day in private under the threat of persecution if they were to be caught, worshiping the Lord.
And if you look at Church history that seems to be the rule more so than it is the exception.
We are living in a time and a place of the exception.
Where we have freedom and it’s relatively peaceful to worship the Lord.
That hasn’t been the norm.
Which is why I believe the apostle Paul saw it as his pastoral duty to prepare the church for suffering persecution.
Look at verse 4
4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.
Paul told them this was gonna happen.
He loved them and so He wanted them to be prepared.
He told them that they would suffer.
He told them that he himself was going to suffer.
And so pastorally I feel somewhat obligated as well to tell you, that this freedom and peace that we now enjoy is not guaranteed to last.
There may come a day when we may not worship as freely and it may not be so peaceful.
It Maybe much more difficult one day for you to live out your faith in the public Square.
I think it’s still true what paul told Timothy
12 Indeed, all who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,
And if we are prepared for it, then perhaps by God’s grace, we could stand firm through it.
I think that was Paul’s goal here.
He doesn’t want anything to derail them.
He doesn’t want anything to knock them down from service to the Lord.
And so he warned them of what was to come.
He sent Timothy to find out how they were doing.
Look at verse five
5 For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.
Paul was concerned about them because he knows what the pressures of the world often can do.
Paul knew firsthand the discouragement from suffering and persecution.
Paul knows that temptation to give in to Satan‘s tactics.
And so he sent Timothy because he loves them and because he wants to know one thing:
Are they still standing?
Have they remained faithful to the gospel?
That’s the main concern for Paul.
You know, when someone asks me how our church is doing, typically what they mean is, how are we doing with regard to our attendance and our giving and worldly measurements.
I think the better barometer of a Church‘s health is the depth of their knowledge of Christ and their willingness to serve him to suffer for his sake.
Paul didn’t send Timothy to find out: Are y’all comfortable? Are y’all free from trouble?”
Paul wanted to know, are y’all still trusting in Jesus?
Paul cared about their faith.
As we close this morning..
This passage reminds us that we need each other within the church.
You see a love here from Paul to this church that we need to see more of in our day and time.
We need brothers and sisters who will encourage us.
We need other believers who will remind us of the promises of God when we get discouraged.
We need to gather with God’s people.
We need the preaching of God’s Word.
We need the fellowship of the saints.
We need the church.
And ultimately, we need Jesus.
When you think about what happened with the Thessalonian Church, Paul was torn away from them.
That was a big deal.
I mean, when you think about it, they didn’t even have the New Testament at this point.
And so— What were they supposed to do?
How was the church supposed to run?
Even seeing this letter, Paul has to iron out some questions and errors that they had with regard to the end times.
But you have to understand
They had only three weeks with the apostle Paul and you cannot learn everything you need to know about how to be a Christian in three weeks.
You just can’t.
There’s a reason why Paul is concerned.
But thankfully, even though the apostle Paul was gone, Jesus was there.
We will see next time
Jesus was there preserving them.
Paul was hindered from returning.
But Jesus was present with His people.
Paul had to send Timothy to find out whether or not they were standing in the faith.
I’ll just tell you, Jesus already knew.
He knows where you are.
And if you are one of his people, he preserves you.
The same Christ who died for His church, rose for His church, and intercedes for His church is preserving His church.
Jesus promised “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
I said earlier, the church is the most precious thing in the world to Jesus.
It is the only thing in this world that will last beyond it.
So I encourage you this morning love the church, Serve the church, Encourage the church.And you truly can know that it will last.
But you also need to know there is an enemy that seeks to keep you from it.
He will do all he can to hinder you.
But I pray that every time you are confidentially hired that it is your heart to eagerly get back together with the people that you know will encourage you in your faith.
I think one thing that we learned from the example of Paul from this text, is that the church is his joy and his glory.
Is it yours?
Do you care about the people here?
My prayer this morning is that God by His Grace will help you see how much this right here, these people right here, I pray he’ll help us see just how much this means.
How valuable it is.
Let’s pray this morning.
