1 Thessalonians 3:11-13 / Blameless in Holiness

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 ESV

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

May our God direct our our way to you.

1 Thessalonians 3:11 ESV

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,

Bless You brother!:

Had a friend named Woody. It didn’t matter what happened he at some point he would smile and say “Bless You brother.” Like around 50-100 times every day he said this. I loved Woody.

Not for nothin’ but “bless you” by some southern women is code for “I want to punch you in the throat.”

It probably easy to read verse 11 and see the “Christian-eze” in what Paul is saying.

Context of what Paul wrote just before this shows a deeper concern for them...

1 Thessalonians 2:17–20 ESV

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, 18 because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. 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.

When he mentions desiring God to “Lead them back”

It’s because of their kind of departure.

Paul then points to the real enemy here

“Satan hindered us”

Brings in the spiritual element to the situation.

Further exemplified in verse 19-20

“You are our crown of boasting before the Lord JESUS AT HIS COMING”

This was NOT … “We hit it off pretty well, I cant wait to get back!”

You are my brothers & sisters in Christ

His care for them had EVERYTHING to do with their future together in the Kingdom of Heaven!

So what does them mean to us?

Hurray for Paul … what to show the love, brother!???

What Paul is exemplifying is that our relationship with each other was ALWAYS supposed to be deeper than what we might think.

We are the BODY of CHRIST JESUS

That relationship is deeper than just surface level.

That awareness is going to shine a new perspective on what Paul write to them next.

May the Lord Make you Increase and Abound

1 Thessalonians 3:12 ESV

12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

Increase & abound in love

Target for this love is

one another

all (people)

Increase (in love)

Remember Paul was just talking about his DEEP love & concern for them

His desire for their participation in the kingdom when Jesus Christ returns.

At some point our relationship with each other need to deepen in an INCREASING manner.

Is that going to happen by accident?

No it will be intentional

Abound in love

Let your love increase!

How much???? How far do we take this.

LET YOUR LOVE ABOUND!!!!!!

more than enough

over and above

will go beyond

remain over

When scripture tells to love each other

it sets the bar extremely high

What does it look like to love each other like that?

consider what Paul told the Corinthian church

1 Corinthians 13:4–8 ESV

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant 5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; 6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. 7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 8 Love never ends. As for prophecies, they will pass away; as for tongues, they will cease; as for knowledge, it will pass away.

1 Corinthians 13:13 ESV

13 So now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

So we do all of this for what?

Isn’t every parents dream that their children love each other and get along.

Paul reminds us that there is a destination in mind

This is for a ultimate purpose.

May He establish your hearts.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 ESV

13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

So that...

Our love is increasing into an abundance got each other and all people

SO THAT...

Blameless in Holiness at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Because of Jesus payment for sin on the cross....

Right now you can have your sins forgiven

from east to west

You will be a NEW CREATION

You will receive a special anointing of the Holy Spirit

Who will teach you.

Help you to grow in spiritual maturity

pray God Himself for you.

But there is more to what God is doing for you.

You are being prepared to be in the presence of our king and lord Jesus Christ.

BLAMELESS IN HOLINESS

Two times in scripture where we get to peek into heaven at the activity of angels we see then singing continually

HOLY HOLY HOLY

Is the Lord God Almighty...

Through our increasing love for others

We are being prepared to meet Jesus in the air

And to be taking into the very presence of a HOLY and RIGHTEOUS GOD!!!!

Can you be a Christian and NOT be a part of a local church?

The church (local body of believers)

Is such and INTEGRAL part of your life as a Christian.

So much of what we learn about “being a christian” is learned in the context of our church family.

So much of our growth...

YOU ARE NEEDED HERE!!!