When You Can't Stand it Any Longer
Perseverance: 1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
Introduction
1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.
What has happened in your life that resulted in the statement, “when you could stand it no longer?” Perhaps you have made a decision at the beginning of this new year to exercise more and eat less. Perhaps you have some other habits you want to develop and other habits you may want to quit. Maybe, like Paul in this writing to the Church of Thessalonica, you have situation you are concerned about and want to set into motion some kind of plan. Paul was experiencing a bit of anxiety about the members of this church. Anxiety is a word we use to describe distress or uneasiness of mind caused by fear of danger or misfortune. Paul was dealing with distress or the uneasiness of mind because he was concerned that the believers he had discipled were being spiritually attacked. He was concerned that they would not be able to handle the trials in which they faced and they would turn from the faith. This text we are looking at today shows how Paul institute a plan to relieve his anxiety. Paul’s plan included several action steps that were used to make this happen.
As I was studying this, I realized that what Paul was initiating was indeed a plan of action, but I had to ask myself, “What is action?” So I reached out to our resident Professor of Physics, Dr. Sid Clements and asked him what action meant.
“Action is motion of an object. The opposite of sitting still doing nothing.”
Dr. Sid Clements, Professor of Physics, Appalachian State University
Dr. Clements goes on to share more insight into this idea from a scientific viewpoint:
Action in physics is twice an object's energy of motion multiplied by the amount of time it moved. (The actual term for energy of motion is kinetic energy.)
The energy is doubled, so expending 100% energy for 1 hour is the same amount of action as 50% energy for 2 hours.
To loosely apply that concept to people (without taking the fact that the energy is doubled into account), I would say it is how energetic you are while doing something multiplied by how long you do it.
Another physics concept that you might be able to use is when potential energy is converted to kinetic energy:
A ball sitting still on top of a hill has potential energy (due to gravity). It has zero kinetic energy because it is not moving. When it rolls down the hill, the potential energy is converted to kinetic energy (the energy due to its motion).
To apply this to people, we have the potential energy to do things, but that does not count as action. We have to move to convert it to kinetic energy, which is considered action.
I love that definition and insight. Action is the motion of an object. Did you catch the concept of potential energy? Dr. Sid said, “We have the potential energy to do things, but that does not count as action.
Paul took potential energy and converted into action. He could have done nothing. But he shows us here an example of what we can do.
Overcoming Anxiety with Action
Overcoming Anxiety with Action
Paul says, “So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be by ourselves in Athens.” Paul could have said, “Oh I am so worried about all that they are doing and going through. What am I going to do?”
I love what Paul does. He takes his anxiety and he puts some things in motion. Somewhere along the way, Paul has learned that action can result from anxiety. I think that can happen in one of two ways. There can be negative action or there can be a positive reaction. The negative will lead you down a path like Chicken Little shouting “the sky is falling, the sky is falling.” The positive will lead you into a process to make something better happen if you have the right mindset.
17 And whatever you do, whether in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
This has to happen so you can take all you worry about and cast it on Jesus.
7 Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.
As you are doing this, you are taking whatever anxiety you have and you are taking action by casting it. You are utilizing your potential energy and moving it a spiritual kinetic energy, if you will.
As we do we will start taking steps to overcome anxiety with action. Another emphasis will include reaffirming that action with the input of others. 1 Thessalonians 3:1 uses the word “we” two times. We know from Ecclesiastes 4:9:
9 Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their work:
Another Christlike mind to bounce things off will help you overcome anxiety with action.
18 Make plans by seeking advice;
if you wage war, obtain guidance.
If you take the wisdom of other Christlike minds, it will help you get back on course.
19 Listen, my son, and be wise,
and keep your heart on the right path.
Look now at some overarching themes of action that are implied in this passage from 1 Thessalonians.
Overarching Themes of Action
Overarching Themes of Action
First, notice that action realizes that something needs to be strengthened. If you want to get stronger, you need to lift weights or do exercises. Paul states to the Thessalonians that Timothy is being sent “to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.” The implication is that needs to be done.
3 Strengthen the feeble hands,
steady the knees that give way;
6 So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, 7 rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness.
As you are strengthened, you are given tools to do actions that are authoritative and based on solid decision making skills. In other words, you have assurance in your actions and do not second guess or doubt if you are doing the right thing.
Paul shows this by making a decision in sending Timothy and staying behind. Sure, Paul wanted to go, but he realized with the counsel of those he surrounded himself with that the decision was made and they could move forward. Jesus spoke about this decisiveness.
37 Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.
This decisiveness comes sure and solid because you can trust the source from which it came. Action recognizes the need for truth and respects that truth.
5 guide me in your truth and teach me,
for you are God my Savior,
and my hope is in you all day long.
When you ask the Lord to reveal to you His truth, He will! He will provide you His truth and give you a longing for more of it!
40 How I long for your precepts!
Preserve my life in your righteousness.
Using our physics class definition, what happens next is that your ability to go from spiritual potential action to spiritual kinetic action. We come to a point where we overshadow inaction with reaction.
Overshadowing Inaction with Reaction
Overshadowing Inaction with Reaction
Let me explain what this means. First, we have a basic understanding about the theology of suffering. 1 Thessalonians 3:4
4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know.
Paul emphasizes here that persecution because of one’s faith was going to happen. Remember, Jesus said in John 16:33, “In this world you will have trouble.” Paul also mentions this is several other places. We have already studied it in 1 Thessalonians 2:14
14 For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews,
He also mentions it in Romans 8:17
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs—heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows.
Peter mentions this is his epistle.
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you.
The point is that scripture, in many places, supports a theology of suffering and we are not exempt from it. However, we can choose to wallow in it or we can use it as a step of action.
Overshadowing inaction with reaction also means that one can rely on and build one’s credentials. Verse 2 declares Timothy as a “brother and fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ to strengthen and encourage.” That is some pretty strong credentials on which to rely upon and build on!
Action also initiates a plan. Paul stated the plan in essence was his representative and close colleague coming to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonians in their faith, “so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.”
That action in itself reaches out with follow through and follow up. One of the most troubling statistics I can remember from my seminary training was that 87% of new Christians in a survey that was done never received any follow up or training in the best practices of living the Christian life. Paul had invested into the lives of the Thessalonians and had leave. His investment meant something to him. He wanted to follow up with his investment and promised he would do so. He wanted to follow through with his promise and he did so by sending Timothy when he could not go himself. What a beautiful demonstration of a plan of action in action!
Overpowering Evil Action with Godly Action
Overpowering Evil Action with Godly Action
Lastly, I want you to see here that action replies to evil. Paul says in verse 5, “I was afraid that is some way the tempter might have tempted you.” It is fully understood from other writings of Paul that the tempter is identified as Satan. In writing about marriage, Paul said:
5 Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you because of your lack of self-control.
We also see this used in a passage we have previously studied
18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan stopped us.
The presence of the tempter is very strong. His appeal is strong and he is very crafty in all his ways. However, he is defeated. That does not mean he will not put up a good fight, but we have to remember that indeed he is defeated and therefore powerless of us. I think one of his greatest schemes for Christians today is inaction. I think the greatest evil we can participate in is inaction. So the way to reply to this evil action is Godly action. Action will return us to godliness. Paul had a deep concern for the Thessalonians as a whole and for a significant number of them. His fear was that they were going to abandon their beliefs and values they had established after their conversion. His struggle was real.
28 Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.
Paul knew the only way combat this was to encourage and continue the practice of godliness.
11 But you, man of God, flee from all this, and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, endurance and gentleness.
The word for “flee” means get the heck out of Dodge! When we are moving away from the tempter and turning to God, our action reminds us of our purpose. What’s our purpose?
Our purpose is found in the command of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
27 He answered: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind’; and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
When you can not stand it any longer, it is time for action.
I have chosen that for my word of the year. ACTION.
I have also chosen to use it as an acronym:
ACTION
Accelerating
Christlike
Thinking
Inwardly
Outwardly
Now
I am committing to make this happen every day of 2022. Will you join me?