The Comforting News

Please turn in your Bible to 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10.

Tell about Gail’s trip to Bangor in - 45 degree weather

I think that Paul’s anxiety for the spiritual well-being of the Thessalonian believers was probably something similar to this, except it was a lot longer lasting. He did not have to convenience of fast moving transportation. Nor the convenience of the modern day telephone.

As we look at our text we see how the news about a person or group of people can bring comfort to others. We will consider the anxiety that the lapse of time produced, the good news that Timothy finally brought, and the change of disposition that accompanied this good news.

First, let’s read our text.

1 Thessalonians 3:6–10 NASB95PARA

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, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 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, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

The Time Lapse

As we consider the time lapse, we are going to look at it in terms of how Paul’s anxiety over the spiritual welfare of the Thessalonian believers was heightened due to the time lapse. One can imagine how Paul’s anxiety began to grow from the time he was torn away from his beloved spiritual children. It would have continued to increase while in Berea since the persecution he endured there was caused by the same folks who persecuted him in Thessalonica.

Acts 17:13 NASB95PARA

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.

Therefore, the believers in Berea sent Paul away to Athens, leaving behind Silas and Timothy.

Acts 17:15 NASB95PARA

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.

Look at map

It was at least 141 miles from Berea to Athens

It was at least 189 miles from Athens to Thessalonica

Finally, Silas and timothy caught up with Paul in Corinth. I haven’t been able to figure out how far from Thessalonica to Corinth — but the point is that all of these travels produced a lengthy lapse in time.

Acts 18:5 NASB95PARA

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.

This brings us to the first phrase of our text for today: “But now that Timothy has come to us from you ...” The text indicates that Paul wrote this letter immediately after Timothy arrived and gave his report.

Let’s consider next

The Good News

Which Timothy brought.

Interesting enough, the term translated good news is most often translated preach the gospel. As a matter of fact, I considered naming this sermon The Gospel of Comfort, but I feared it would be a misleading title. The idea is that Timothy brought glad tidings of great joy to Paul — not regarding Christ, which is how often think of glad tidings, but regarding the spiritual welfare of his spiritual children. In his report, Timothy mentioned four matters of good news. Look again at verse 6.

1 Thessalonians 3:6 NASB95PARA

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,

The Good News of Genuine Faith

Paul had worried that the tempter had tempted them to abandon their faith (1 Thess 3.5)

1 Thessalonians 3:5 NASB95PARA

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.

Timothy’s report helped assure Paul of the genuineness of their faith (1 Thess 1.4)

1 Thessalonians 1:4 ESV

For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you,

The Good News of Authentic Love

Rom 5.5

Romans 5:5 NASB95PARA

and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

The Good News of Cherished Memories

Think kindly of us

The Good News of a Common Longing

Longing to see us just as we also long to see you

This Good News lifted Paul’s spirit and brought about

A Change of Disposition

Look at verse 7.

1 Thessalonians 3:7 NASB95PARA

for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith;

Changed from Distress & Anxiety

Changed to Comfort & Joy

A Change in Summation

1 Thessalonians 3:8 NASB95PARA

for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.

Results

Inexpressible Gratitude

1 Thessalonians 3:9 NASB95PARA

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,

The term translated thanks or thanksgiving is eucharistia /yoo·khar·is·tee·ah. It has been noted that Paul always used this term in connection with gratitude to God for a gift of grace

God’s grace is a very broad subject for it covers everything from:

God’s choosing us as the object of His grace before the foundation of the world,

to the Holy Spirit’s working in a person’s life preparing them to embrace the message of the gospel for salvation,

to our coming to faith in Christ,

to the sanctifying process, which includes God’s choosing to allow us to suffer affliction in this world

to the believer’s glorification with Christ

God, in His grace, provided for the Eternal Creator of the world to become man, to live a perfect life, to take upon Himself our sins as He hung on the cross and died in the place of all who embrace the message of the gospel. Being God, He could not be held by the chains of death, but He was raised from the dead. He is now seated at the right hand of His Father in heaven, where He ever lives to make intercession for His own.

Back to our text, Paul’s joy over the good report about the Thessalonians was so overwhelmingly wonderful that he found it to be virtually inexpressible.

As a side note, thinking about the term for thanks, yoo·khar·is·tee·ah, in the Roman Catholic Church, and perhaps other traditions as well, Holy Communion is sometimes referred to as The Eucharist. That is because after giving thanks for the bread and the cup, Jesus then passed them out to His disciples to partake in remembrance of Him

This sense of thanksgiving led to an increased

Prayer Vigil

1 Thessalonians 3:10 NASB95PARA

as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?

Face Time

Finish What was Started

Chapters 4-5, as well as 2 Thessalonians, focus on completing what is lacking in the faith of the Thessalonian believers, and we will unpack that as we go. Hiebert had a good point about this:

1 & 2 Thessalonians (b) Prayer in Regard to Them (v. 10)

Paul yearned and prayed to be able to return to Thessalonica to deal with the deficiencies of his converts. Had he been able to return he would have dealt with them directly and orally. Paul doubtless shared the common feeling that “personal intercourse goes farther than letters in establishing the weak and wavering.” But since he was not able to return he dealt with their deficiencies in the second part of his letter. If he had been able to return we would not have the benefit of this invaluable epistle. Thus the success of Satan in blocking his return was divinely overruled for the instruction and enrichment of Christ’s church down through the centuries.

This morning we’ve looked at the comforting news about the Thessalonian believer’s spiritual well being. We’ve considered the growing anxiety Paul had for his spiritual children, the good news which Timothy proclaimed to him about his beloved church, and the change of disposition which this good news brought to him.

Believers, my prayer is that we will each develop such a desire for the spiritual well-being of our brothers and sisters in Christ. Like Paul, we should be anxious when we sense that spiritual trouble is brewing. We should do our best to learn about the welfare of our brothers and sisters in Christ.

Fortunately, for us it doesn’t take months, if not years, to get a report. All we have to do is pick up the phone and make a call. What a handy device that God caused Alexander Graham Bell to invent!

We should rejoice, like Paul, when we receive good news about other people’s spiritual welfare — whether from our assembly or from someone else’s assembly.

And like Paul, we should continue in prayer after hearing good news about other believers. For we are all lacking in some way in our spiritual development.

Let’s Pray.

Closing Song: #343

Amazing Grace

Please be seated. Hopefully you all remembered to pick up your communion packets this morning. I’m gonna ask Byron and Phil to come and join me this morning. I know that we are not passing out the communion elements anymore, but it always seems awkward without the Deacons up here with me.

The celebration of the Lord’s supper is something that Christ directed His followers to continue to do. It is one of the ordinances of the church, the other being believer’s baptism. It is intended to be both a solemn time, and a joyful time. It is solemn in the sense that we reflect on the fact that Jesus willingly gave up His life for the sake of all who embrace His gospel. It is solemn in that we remember not only Him, but the reason why He had to die — to save His people from their sins. It was our sin that brought upon Him this great suffering which He endured.

This celebration is joyful because of what Christ accomplished on the cross of suffering — our redemption from bondage to sin; He delivered us from the coming wrath of God. It is joyful because Jesus did not remain in the grave, but was raised bringing victory over both sin and death. It is joyful because of the anticipation of His soon return to claim His bride.

Let’s read what Paul wrote to the Corinthian church:

1 Corinthians 11:23–26 NASB95PARA

For I received from the Lord that which I also delivered to you, that the Lord Jesus in the night in which He was betrayed took bread; and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “This is My body, which is for you; do this in remembrance of Me.” In the same way He took the cup also after supper, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in My blood; do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of Me.” For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.

If you haven’t done so already, remove the outer film from the wafer and take it out. I’m going to ask Byron to give thanks for the bread.

Let’s eat this together in remembrance of Him.

Now, carefully remove the wrapping from the cup. I’m going to ask Phil to give thanks for the cup.

Let’s drink this together in remembrance of Him.

“For as often as you eat this bread and drink the cup, you proclaim the Lord’s death until He comes.”

Let’s pray.

1 Thessalonians 5:23–24 NASB95PARA

Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass.