Thanks to God

Introduction

Paul again conveys the joy that Timothy’s report brought to his heart. He is thankful for their continued growth in the faith but he also recognizes there are still areas of their understanding that are yet lacking. His desire is to return to Thessalonica to make another investment into their spiritual growth.

Today I am:

Thankful to God for You

Since we came to High Plains Baptist Church 15 months ago we have watched many of you grow significantly in the faith.

It brings great joy to my heart to see how God has worked in the lives of those who have trusted Christ in the last year as well as in those who have been saved for a number of years.

Many are now serving in ministry roles, many have grown in faithfulness, many have grown in their understanding of the Word of God, many are now witnessing to others of Christ.

The one thing that Paul recognized was that the spiritual growth in the believers at Thessalonica was a work of God and that it was to Him that all gratitude should be directed.

Any believer that has continued to stand and to grow in the faith owes a debt of gratitude to God, for without Him it would not be possible to stand.

We ought each to thank God for what He has done in our lives and in the lives of those that we minister to.

We ought also to thank God for those who have ministered to us and helped us to grow.

Let us never take for granted the fact that we have the opportunity for spiritual growth. We have access to the Word of God, we have the opportunity to be a part of a Bible believing church, we have the opportunity to engage with others who have a desire to grow spiritually.

- Thanks be to God

We could never thank God enough for what He has done and is doing in our lives and our church.

Praying Constantly for You

It is wonderful to see the spiritual growth that we have seen but we also recognize as Paul did that there is still much growth to be had.

Paul was not condemning the Thessalonian believers, he simply understood that there were still areas of doctrine and practice that they had not yet fully grasped.

We can be sure that Paul understood this because he saw it in his own spiritual life. He knew that he had not himself exhausted the depths of the Word of God and the practical wisdom contained in its pages.

- not yet apprehended

Paul was deeply concerned for the Thessalonian believers and had a sincere desire to continue to see them grow spiritually. He understood that the best thing he could do for them was to cry out to God on their behalf each and every day.

He longed to return to them again and to once again invest in their spiritual growth. - Paul’s return to Macedonia

His desire was to help them to grow to full maturity that they might continually increase in their knowledge and understanding of God and His Word.

Striving to Perfect That Which is Lacking in Me

I can certainly say like Paul that I have definitely not yet arrived. There is still much that I do not fully understand and the Spirit of God is constantly teaching me from the Word of God.

I know that there is still much to learn for me as a pastor. There is still much to learn as a Christian.

May each and every one of us have a desire to continue to grow. May we never reach a point at which we feel we have arrived.

We must each be willing to admit that we are not all that God would have us to be. We are all yet lacking in certain areas of our knowledge and understanding of God.

May we thank God for the growth we have experienced and then ask Him to continue to help us to stand and to continue to grow.

Each and every one of us ought to strive to continue to grow and mature in our faith not only for the benefit and blessing it brings for us but also for the benefit it will be to those that we will have the opportunity to minister to in the future.

“ Spiritual progress is always to be commended, but it is never to be considered complete.”

Spiritual progress is always to be commended, but it is never to be considered complete.

Larson, K. (2000). I & II Thessalonians, I & II Timothy, Titus, Philemon (Vol. 9, p. 42). Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers.