Encouraging Word: Stand Firm
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Take a stand!
Take a stand!
Some tools given to help a young church to learn to take a stand, to stand firm in the faith they have received. An encouragement and reminder to us.
When a child is born it does not start walking right away. It has to grow and develop along the way. The child is normally taught by parents how to walk.
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From the nursing mother (1The2:7)
To an exhorting and encouraging father (1The2:11)
For a result to be able to walk in a worthy manner (1The2:12; 1The3:8)
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Maturing in Christ takes time and in our passage today, Paul expounds on some tools, ministries, he did to help them in the maturity process.
From the nursing mother (1The2:7)
7 But we proved to be gentle among you, as a nursing mother tenderly cares for her own children.
From the nursing mother (1The2:7)
To an exhorting and encouraging father (1The2:11)
11 just as you know how we were exhorting and encouraging and imploring each one of you as a father would his own children,
From the nursing mother (1The2:7)
To an exhorting and encouraging father (1The2:11)
For a result to be able to walk in a worthy manner (1The2:12)
12 so that you would walk in a manner worthy of the God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
In chapters 1-2 Paul showed you how the church was born and the effectiveness of even a very young church, now the shift happens to helping them to mature, and the tools he used to help them to mature knowing that Christ is coming for His church and they needed to be ready. The key verse of this chapter is 1The3:8
8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
The ministries performed to help them in maturing process:
Paul sent them a helper (1The3:1-5)
Paul wrote them a letter (1The3:6-8)
Paul prayed for them (1The3:9-13)
The Helper
The Helper
Don’t we all need, want, desire to have friends who come along side us? Be there to help us to grow, to mature, to strengthen and even to guide? Paul sent a helper to them, and he was a helper and encourager to them, and in turn to him (2The3:6)
1 Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,
3 so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
5 For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.
Paul was only in Thessalonica for three Sabbaths, when the effective ministry team (Paul, Silas and Timothy) left there they went to Berea (Act17:10) but trouble soon followed from Thessalonica (Act17:13-14) and Paul had to leave Berea but Timothy and Silas stayed as Paul went on to Athens. Timothy and Silas followed shortly thereafter (Act17:15)
Effective ministry teams troubles (Act17:10-15)
10 The brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea, and when they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. 11 Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.
12 Therefore many of them believed, along with a number of prominent Greek women and men. 13 But when the Jews of Thessalonica found out that the word of God had been proclaimed by Paul in Berea also, they came there as well, agitating and stirring up the crowds.
14 Then immediately the brethren sent Paul out to go as far as the sea; and Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Now those who escorted Paul brought him as far as Athens; and receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they left.
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Effective helper sent back to them (1The3:1-5)
Sent back due to concern (1The3:1)
Sent back with person with good character (1The3:2; Act16:1-2; 2Tim4:5; Heb5:11-14)
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Effective helper sent back to them (1The3:1-5)
Sent back due to concern (1The3:1)
Paul loved this church as you can clearly see from everything we have looked at previously (maybe go back to 1The2:17-20 and look what Paul felt. He could not just leave them alone, he was more than an evangelist he was truly a shepherd, a pastor over them for his care and concern for them. Soul winning is great and important but rooting and grounding and helping to establish faith is vital too. Paul chose to be left alone in Athens and to send Timothy back there.
Application for us: May we have care, concern for others that we are willing to go to whatever lengths are necessary to help them. Paul had already set that example in Philippi when he was willing to stay vs. going to heaven to serve them (you can look up Php1:22-26).
Effective helper sent back to them (1The3:1-5)
Sent back due to concern (1The3:1)
Sent back with person with good character (1The3:2; Act16:1-2; 2Tim4:5; Heb5:11-14)
Timothy, Paul’s young protege was a man of good character and reputation (you can read Act16:1-2) and later Paul tells him to fulfill his ministry as an evangelist (see 2Tim4:5)
Timothy was one who was trained up, and then sent to help others to grow and be able to stand on their own two feet. Unlike other examples we see where people were not growing but in declining and going the wrong way as seen in (Heb5:11-14); people who had forgotten the basic truths of the Word of God.
Timothy’s character made him the perfect person to send back. He had previously been sent to help with the church at Corinth (1Cor16:10-11) and Paul had intended to send to Philippi too (Php2:19-23), why you may ask, and how can we be like Timothy? First, Timothy was a brother (1The3:2); Then he was a proven fellow worker. He was also a minister (servant) (Php2:22) and God was working through him (1Cor3:9; Php2:13)
Effective helper sent back to them (1The3:1-5)
Sent back due to concern (1The3:1)
Sent back with person with good character (1The3:2; Act16:1-2; 2Tim4:5; Heb5:11-14)
Sent back to help with current troubles (1The3:3-5)
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Troubles are to be expected (Php1:29; 1Pt4:12)
Trouble maker (1The3:5; 1Pt5:8-9)
Victory is found in standing firm in our faith (1Jn5:4)
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Troubles are to be expected (Php1:29; 1Pt4:12)
Trials, tribulations, even testing are to be expected in our Christian walk. They are not accidents, they are appointments. They help us to grow.
29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
and we should not be surprised by them
12 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;
Troubles are to be expected (Php1:29; 1Pt4:12)
Trouble maker (1The3:5; 1Pt5:8-9)
8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
in 1The3:5 it says tempter, other names as we know are adversary, deceiver, the devil, all of which want to keep you from standing firm in your faith. Timothy and his proven good character was sent to strengthen and encourage the faith of the young church at Thessolonica, so they were not swayed by him and the effective ministry teams labor would be in vain. It is our faith, our grounded, rooted, faith that keeps our feet solid on the rock in which we can stand firm and have victory.
Troubles are to be expected (Php1:29; 1Pt4:12)
Trouble maker (1The3:5; 1Pt5:8-9)
Victory is found in standing firm in our faith (1Jn5:4)
4 For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
The Letter
The Letter
You have mail! Everyone likes to get letters, maybe not so much bills, but letters and Paul demonstrates his love, through ministering letter. But we also hold God’s letter to them and to us in our hands.
6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.
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Timothy brought word to Paul about the church, sparking letter (1The3:6; Act18:5)
God’s Word is best tool for conveying faith needed for new Christians (2The2:15; Mt4:1-11) God’s word is God’s armament (Eph6:17)
God’s Word is God’s inspiration to man and is able to save (2Tim3:16; Jam1:21)
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Timothy brought word to Paul about the church, sparking letter (1The3:6; Act18:5)
Timothy caught up with Paul while he was in Corinth after his trip to Thessolonica
5 But when Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began devoting himself completely to the word, solemnly testifying to the Jews that Jesus was the Christ.
We know from (1The3:6) that it was a good word about the work going on there and the faith they had there, which was Paul’s concern. Timothy reported they were standing firm even in the midst of persecution. This sparked Paul’s letter back to them there.
Timothy brought word to Paul about the church, sparking letter (1The3:6; Act18:5)
God’s Word is best tool for conveying faith needed for new Christians (2The2:15; Mt4:1-11) God’s word is God’s armament (Eph6:17)
Paul wrote after being encouraged personally to encourage and challenge them too
15 So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us.
Word! Jesus used the Word to answer Satan (Mt4:1-11) which eventually caused him to depart for a more opportune time. The word is God’s armament for us
17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God.
Timothy brought word to Paul about the church, sparking letter (1The3:6; Act18:5)
God’s Word is best tool for conveying faith needed for new Christians (2The2:15; Mt4:1-11) God’s word is God’s armament (Eph6:17)
God’s Word is God’s inspiration to man and is able to save (2Tim3:16; Jam1:21)
16 All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
It has been said that doctrine tells us what is right, reproof tells us what is not right, correction tells us how to get right and instructions tells us how to stay right.” (Bible exposition commentary)
And add
21 Therefore, putting aside all filthiness and all that remains of wickedness, in humility receive the word implanted, which is able to save your souls.
God’s implanted word, written on your heart is able to save your soul!
The word is essential for spiritual growth and stability
It is food to nourish us (Mt4:4)
4 But He answered and said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.’ ”
Light to guide us (Ps119:105)
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet And a light to my path.
Weapon to defend us (Eph6:17)
It is growing in us to help others grow (Eph4:11-16; 2Tim2:2)
It helps us to grow in maturity and to help others to come and to grow too. Look at the gifts of the church and why given, you can look up Eph4:11-16 at your convenience. But first look what the challenge to Timothy was and we too can accept it.
2 The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.
Paul had sent them a man, a man of character to minister to them. He sent them his letter to encourage them and challenge them and there is still another way he ministered to them.
The Prayer
The Prayer
The Word and prayer go together, or at least they should go together. There are many biblical examples of this and Paul puts forth one in our passage.
9 For what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account, 10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?
11 Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; 12 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;
13 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.
Before getting to the elements of Paul’s prayer for them, how about some:
Other biblical examples of prayer and the word going together:
God forbid I not (1Sam12:23-24)
23 “Moreover, as for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord by ceasing to pray for you; but I will instruct you in the good and right way. 24 “Only fear the Lord and serve Him in truth with all your heart; for consider what great things He has done for you.
devoted continually in prayer and ministry of the word (Act6:4)
4 “But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.”
Now let’s get to the prayer more. For bible truth (doctrine) needs to be taught right along with prayers of support offered up.
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Paul makes several requests in his prayer for them.
That their faith may mature (1The3:10)
That their love may abound (1The3:12; 2The1:3; 1The4:9)
For holiness of life (1The3:13; Col4:12; 1Jn3:3)
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Paul makes several requests in his prayer for them.
That their faith may mature (1The3:10)
10 as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?
Paul wanted to go and see them again face to face but was hindered, but he continued to pray for them to have growth. Some of their growth came through persecutions, much like Abraham came through testing so to trust God. Faith is like a muscle the more it is used the stronger it gets. Faith is increased when covered in prayer.
God tries our faith, not to destroy it, but to develop it - W. Wiersbe
Paul makes several requests in his prayer for them.
That their faith may mature (1The3:10)
That their love may abound (1The3:12; 2The1:3; 1The4:9)
May we not be a people who look inward in hard times, times of tribulation or persecution but look outward and upward. Paul’s prayer was for faith to abound and love to abound .
We have already read our passage, but here are a couple more to consider on the matter.
3 We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of you toward one another grows ever greater;
and
9 Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for anyone to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another;
Faith greatly enlarged, love that is greatly enlarged as taught by God to be applied for others.
Not just those who are in Christ but all people so to lead them to come to and be in Christ too! May we not bind abounding love, may we not restrain or restrict it but allow it to flow where it goes, where it is intended to go “to all people.”
That brings us to the 3rd item in his prayer
That their faith may mature (1The3:10)
That their love may abound (1The3:12; 2The1:3; 1The4:9)
For holiness of life (1The3:13; Col4:12; 1Jn3:3)
This series is “Christ coming for His Church” - Paul is writing to remind them what to do while waiting, longing, expecting the return of Christ for His church. It is this factor that He is coming back that should be very motivating to us to live a holy life.
13 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.
Quick note: Look at that verse again, look at the end of it. Where are the saints here? They are coming with Jesus, so those who go before us will return with Him! What a great reunion that will be in the sky. And we will all be singing “when we all get to heaven” together.
Holiness of life is hard word, it takes effort, it takes diligence it takes prayer.
12 Epaphras, who is one of your number, a bondslave of Jesus Christ, sends you his greetings, always laboring earnestly for you in his prayers, that you may stand perfect and fully assured in all the will of God.
This prayer that is offered up is not just for new believers but for all believers so we may grow in maturity, in character, conduct and be blameless because the hope that is in us. John said it like this.
3 And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.
(invitation/inspiration slide - Grow together)
It is not enough to invite someone to church, to lead them to forgiveness of sins, we need to help them to grow, to be established to know the word of God and its application for us and the power of God for transformation and the promises of God for our elevation.
We need each other! If we want to grow, every person, every part is needed. Are you doing your part, bringing your part? First thing is you need to be a part (insert invitation now; here)
(invitation slide 2) song (exit slides)