Faithful Follow Up

Introduction

- Paul’s investment in the church at Thessalonica

Paul had sacrificed and labored to invest in the spiritual growth of the Thessalonians believers and now he was determined to send Timothy to find out how his investment had payed off.

His hope was that they were continuing to stand fast in the faith and that they had not yielded to the temptation to compromise because of the severe persecution they had faced.

We ought to learn from each of the characters in this passage.

From Paul a Concern for Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ (Vs. 1 & 7)

Paul was deeply concerned for the believers at Thessalonica because he knew the struggle they would face to remain steadfast in their faith in the midst of harsh persecution.

Paul was willing to sacrifice his own comfort by sending Timothy away to find out how the believers were faring in the midst of the difficulties they were facing.

Paul was in the midst of affliction and distress himself and yet this was not his concern. His heart yearned to know how the church at Thessalonica was doing.

- preferring others above oneself

Paul never seems to be concerned for his own well being. Yet it seems he is constantly burdened for the well-being of those he has led to Christ and helped to establish in the faith.

This is the failure of many soul-winners and churches. It is the lack of follow-up with those who have come to Christ.

We must realize that when an individual trusts Christ they have entered into a spiritual warfare and, if they are going to grow to maturity, they will need our support. We ought to be regularly following up with them and we ought to be concerned for their spiritual health.

Paul had already cautioned the believers at Thessalonica (Vs. 4-5) that suffering and tribulation would come and that they would be tempted or put to the test as to the strength of their faith. He wanted them to know that the life of a disciple of Christ was not an easy road.

Our responsibility is not just that of winning converts but also helping them to develop into commited disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ.

From Timothy the Courage to Comfort Those in Distress

Timothy was willing to return to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the believers there on Paul’s behalf.

Surely Timothy loved Paul and had a desire to join him at Athens and yet he was willing to serve the Lord by following up with the believers at Thessalonica instead.

Timothy knew that the believers in Thessalonica had been the target of persecution and surely he understood that he might well become the target of this persecution himself.

He was willing to go even if it meant he too might suffer under the persecution. Timothy was a selfless servant(minister)-

Timothy was not just going to Thessalonica to check on the church’s spiritual health but also to establish and comfort them.

Establish- to strengthen their faith and their resolve to continue to stand in the face of hardship and persecution. His duty was to help them to increase in spiritual strength by teaching them more of the Word of God, answering their doubts and fears, simply spending time together with them, and any other means that might be beneficial the their spiritual growth and health.

Comfort- to exhort/beseech them to continue to stand fast in the faith as they had already been doing.

His desire was to be an instrument that God could use to help them to continue on in the face of persecution. He had no desire to see them fall or surrender. Our hearts should always desire to see our brothers and sisters in Christ succeed and we ought to take no joy in any that falls to temptation.

From the Thessalonian believers Continuance without Compromise

When Timothy arrived in Thessalonica he was encouraged to find the believers there still standing strong in the faith.

It is certain that the believers there had received much pressure from their opposition to compromise and to return to pagan idolatry and carnal behavior but they remained stedfast.

One motivation must have been their thoughts of Paul and his sacrifices to establish them in their new-found faith.

The Thessalonian believers were not only constrained by the love of Christ but also by the love of Paul and Timothy. They were determined not to allow their sacrifice and investment in them to be in vain.

How many spiritual men and women have made sacrifices to help you grow in the faith? How many have made a significant investment of time and energy to help you to reach spiritual maturity?

Their sacrifice and investment will have been in vain if we backslide and compromise our faith!

You and I will either bring joy or sorrow to those who have personally invested in us.

Pastor Greene in NC- encouraged that we are continuing to stand and to serve the Lord

Sorrow at the many young people who have ceased from following the Lord since we left Rogers, AR & joy for those who are still continuing to live for and serve the Lord.

Many

Knowing that the believers in Thessalonica were continuing to stand brought joy to Paul’s heart even as he endured affliction and distress. This knowledge brought new life to Paul’s weary soul and certainly gave him a renewed energy to continue to serve the Lord!

Your stedfast stand in the faith brings joy to those who have invested in your spiritual growth, yet the opposite is also true. If you are going backwards and not forward in your faith and you have fallen to the temptation to move away from the Lord, those who have invested in you will be heartbroken that their investment may have been in vain.

It’s not too late to turn around and once again draw close to the Lord and once again take a stand!