Why Zoom is Ok but Satan Doesn’t Want Us Face to Face.

Why Zoom is ok but Satan doesn’t want us face to face

1 Thessalonians 2:17–20

ICC’s PM Service (5/14/22)

I. Introduction

1. Prayers

2. Catch- How many of us head of the company Zoom in Janurary 2020?

i. n April 2011, Zoom began its journey. By September 2012, its first iteration beta was released

How many of us head of the company Zoom in Janurary 2020?

My dad’s architecture business used it for meetings with clients and contractors around the world…the master’s seminary used it for classes

But today, even the most technological stgruggling person is figuring out how to load it onto their phone or tablet and use the technology?

Because the whole world was forced to be isolate from each other.

ii. The internet has brought many blessings just like telephones, telegraph, and even letter writing brought before it

iii. But it is not and cannot be good enough

3. Let me remind you how personal 1 Thessalonians is

i. The church is one of the most healthy and growing spiritually churches

1. They were showing great spiritual fruit so that ti was clear they were elected by God

ii. They were started by Paul in that he ministered like a mother and a father to them

1. And as he brought them the truth, they accepted it as the word oG do

iii. but Paul had to flee as the jews stirred up Mobs and sent him to the next place

1. We talked about how some many having taken that as a lack of love on Paul’s part and Paul has to defend himself

4. This also teaches us, showing us the theology of meeting together in person.

i. I want to hel you all tell others of the need to meet in the same place as other christiasn

ii. But next time we will talk about how Paul used the modern technology as a messenger and this very letter to benefit, so we’re not against using the technology either

II. 3 Reasons we are compelled to have church face to face.

1. Righteous Love for others compels us (17-18a)

i. Explanation

1. Paul knew his fatherly relationship with the church was strong

a. And few pains are as great as being abandoned a father or mother. Feeling rejected by them

b. So Paul starts with “but brothers” to explain that though they had this relationship, he was eperated fro them

2. He uses “we” too

a. Because Paul was not a one man show… he ws not their father

b. They were the spiritual fathers… ministry was was a team work[i], unlike much of the American obsession with celebrities individuals, even in churches today

3. The missionaries were torn away from this church

a. The wooden translation would be orphaned for an hour

b. They were forced apart from the persecution like an child orphaned from their family in the midst of war

c. But it was only in person, their hearts still being very much with them.

d. It was their great desire to return..

i. The phrase is epithyma is translated lust other places… it is strong a strong desire

ii. But this one is rightly placed

iii. AS CS lewis wrote

“It would seem that Our Lord finds our desires not too strong, but too weak. We are half-hearted creatures, fooling about with drink and sex and ambition when infinite joy is offered us”

4. So they made every effort to return

a. Paul emphasizes himself in v18 strongly stating he tried eagerly and repeatedly to get back

b. A number of commentators agree… why would Paul be saying this unless the question was being asked, why did Paul not get back?

5. Even when Paul uses the high tech system the walking messenger Timothy to communicate with them remotely and he is able to bless them and hear back, he still wants to be with them

1 Thessalonians 3:10–11- as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,

a. John says the same

2 John 12- Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

ii. Illustration

1. Love for others makes us care when we’re away, but be so excited and want to be together

a. Pastor Dennis and his wifey Terry are great example of this far off love

a. We all heard Dennis’ love yesterday for this church and his joy to be with us

a. I saw Terry first in the hallway last week and her first words to me were we continually pray for you.

1. Love for people means our hearts are towards them like there is to this church even when we’re not togetherLove should compel churches to be together

2. We know other means of communication are working correctly when they make us what to be with each other all the more.

3. As you’ve heard, my wife’s sister recently went through cancer treatment and it became all the more difficult to keep updates between her and her siters. So they started doing short video messages back and forth and my wife would say it really encouraged their relationships. They were communicating through technology.

4. But it is not a replacement for being together as my Liz will testify that she wants to be in person with her sisters all the more now and the devastation of her tooth surgery causes all the more pain because it prevented them being together.

5. That is what Paul is feeling, that is what we should be feeling when separated

iii. Application

1. I want us to be believe church is a inperson gathering

a. Paul uses phrases like “when you come together as a church” and “the whole church comes together” (1 Cor. 11:18; 14:23).

2. I know I’ve heard some people say they are spending all morning at church… they watch this preacher and that preacher online or on TV

a. And that isn’t church… that’s watching someone teach

b. roughly 40 “one-another” commands in Scripture that require personal relationships

c. It is the difference between watching a baseball game and being on the field even injured team mates sit on the field to support the team

i. And God gifts each member of the church with a gift to help the church be the church

d. So much of the ministry happens when someone says Amen, and you all go up to someone, asking them how you can pray for them, or encourage them, or you even evangelizing them that is doesn’t happen when we log off right away

3. It could be said, why not just hear the word with some friends, but example and encouragement of the sheep to one another

a. Friends tend to be those who are just like you

b. But we have open seating, and someone of different ethnicities, different economic position, and different ages can sit together in the gathering

c. Not only is the shepherd an example and encouragement to the sheep, the sheep are an example and encouragement to one another. Imitation is a part of our discipleship.

d. I have much to learn from the chen brothers, and then have much to learn from ____john___ back there

4. A church that is not gathered can not practice the church’s ordinances

a. Included in the Great Commission is the command to baptize.

b. Matthew 28:19 “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit

c. It doesn’t matter how advanced your monitor is, it can’t baptize you.

d. You can’t share a plate that came from the same place

Trans: If we want to love others the way God wants us to, our love must include meeting together at church. But there is someone who does not want us meeting.

2. Resisting Satan compels us (18b)

i. Explanation

1. You know who this is

Primary – Satan and devil

Other names – Beelzebul, Abaddon, Belial

Consistent Role of Hostile Opponent

It is clear that Satan carries out his activities according to a strategy, via particular methods (2 Cor 2:11; Eph 6:11, cf. 4:14)

Opposed to God

Lead rebellion in heaven (Rev 12:3)

Twisted God's words (Gen 3:1-5)

Opposed to Truth

Blinding the minds of men (2 Cor 4:4)

*he does have a certain amount of power in this world

Snatching away the seed of the Word (Matt 13:19)

2. Let’s realize it is not always Satan who prevents travel

Romans 1:13 I do not want you to be unaware, brothers, that I have often intended to come to you (but thus far have been prevented), in order that I may reap some harvest among you as well as among the rest of the Gentiles. 14 I am under obligation both to Greeks and to barbarians, both to the wise and to the foolish. 15 So I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome.

Acts 16:6- And they went through the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been forbidden by the Holy Spirit to speak the word in Asia.

3. But here Stan prevented Paul

The verb here translated "stopped" means literally "to cut into",%0 t the idea is that of cutting Ap a road to make it impassable

Satan as the tempter (1 Cor 7:5), who by deception or any other means (2 Cor 11:14; 12:7) seeks to oppose and defeat the work of Christ (1 Cor 5:5; 2 Cor 2:11). The work of the man of lawlessness will be according to the power of Satan (2 Thess 2:9), but ultimately both will be defeated by God (Rom 16:20; 2 Thess 2:8). How Satan “stopped” (enekopsen) the apostle we are not told. Illness (Paul’s thorn in the flesh?) and continued opposition by the authorities in Thessalonica are both possibilities

4. What was Satan preventing?

a. We probably get an idea of this by what Paulw anted to do with them

1 Thessalonians 3:10- as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

*they just prayed more earnestly to see them when this happened.

· Due to their premature departure from Thessalonica, the missionaries had been unable to complete their usual instruction of Christians in the fundamentals of the faith. One particular lack in their instruction related to the second coming and the final resurrection (4:13–18).[ii]

b. While they were chritians, their faith needed to grow in some ways

ii. Illustration

1. Satan uses separation and darkness to get his hooks into people

One interviewer recently asked Kersch­ner what would have made a difference for her as a teenager. She replied having a loving, trusting relationship with an adult who would have steered her toward valuing her female body. She told me parents play a critical role in helping their children cultivate a life outside of the internet.

Kerschner said the emphasis on screens and devices creates “a fake reality” in which young people don’t form a connection to their bodies and nature. “It’s going to take a while for society to figure out what to do to mitigate this.”

2. Satan uses seperation

iii. Application

1. You can resist Satan

His attacks can be resisted successfully by the believer (Eph 6:10-18; Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:8-9)

We have all the weapons that we need to resist satan

-it is thus never an option to say “the devil make me do it.”

2. But sometimes that resistance comes not in getting what you want right away

What are they here to do?

i. They are out to get us

1 Peter 5:8- Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour.

ii. The makes plans against us

Ephesians 6:11- Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.

iii. They try to trick us

2 Corinthians 11:14- And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light.

iv. They rule this world

1 John 5:19- We know that we are from God, and the whole world lies in the power of the evil one.

1. Things are dark, demons are engaged

2. But we are not supposed to be overly focused

ii. What is our mission?

1. The epistles speak a lot about fighting spiritual battles though

a. Think of our section on Ephesus 6, how much is spoken of casting out demons?

b. And Ephesus was a place of great occult activity, and paul in acts 19 cast out many demons while the Sons of Sceva, Jewish exorcists tried to cast out demons but were beat up

c. If there is a place where instruction in casting out demons, it was Ephesus, but Paul doesn’t do so.

d. Instead, he gives the command just to Stand

e. V18- Prayers are given to God, not to Satan

2. Our command though is to preach the gospel and resist the devil

a. James 4:7

b. 1 peter 5:8-9

c. 2 Corinthians 10:3-6

i. John Macarthur states, “, Christians engage in spiritual warfare by bringing to light the truth of the gospel and the biblical worldview.

Rather, we are called to resist Satan by living faithful, righteous lives and by teaching the truth of God’s Word”

3. Rewards from Christ compel us (19-20)

i. Explanation

1.

. He longed to see them not out of a sense of obligation but because of the joy, the hope, and the sense of pride their existence generated within him.[iii]

2. Paul is not pridefully boasting

NASB- For who is our hope or joy or crown of exultation? Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus at His coming?

Paul’s hope then was the hope that he would not have run in vain (cf. 3:5) but that the Thessalonians would persevere and his labors in the service of the gospel would be validated by their persistent faith. [iv]

The crown (stephanos) was a wreath signifying victory. Sometimes it was placed on the head of victorious military leaders. But Paul’s frequent use of athletic imagery (cf. the “opposition” mentioned in 2:2) would indicate that he had in mind the victor’s wreath bestowed at the athletic contests held throughout the Greco-Roman world[v]

· The crown was people!

o Paul did not say that he would receive a crown, though this is suggested. He said that the saints themselves would be his crown when he met them at the Judgment Seat. [vi]

·

Two common words for "crown."92 That used here commonly denoted something like a festive garland or a laurel wreath awarded to the victor at the games. It is likely that Paul has in mind thoughts of joyfulness and victory?3 as being symbolized by the crown

At the time of judgment when all would be laid bare, Paul aspired to hear his Lord proclaim “well done” (cf. 1 Cor 4:1–5). Such an aspiration is not pride or arrogance. It is the desire to be judged a good steward by God.

“In the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes” modifies hope, joy, and crown. Paul’s concern was not so much with the present as with the future. “In the presence” connotes a face-to-face encounter with the Lord and is clarified with the temporal “when he comes.[vii]

3. Paul says this about other churches too, he isn’t playing favorites

Philippians 4:1- Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved.

4.

ii. Illustration

I heard a great testimony from a man at a semianry grudation…. He asid you are my gokld tassels

1.

iii. Application

In times of trouble and testing, it is important that we take the long view of things. Paul lived in the future tense, as well as in the present. His actions were governed by what God would do in the future.[viii]

1.

2. Love honors God and brings rewards, no matter the short term results

Every taste of his love from our hands deepens their ability to glorify God and enjoy him forever. Your reward is invested and stored, if you will, in your brother or sister and cannot fail to pay a dividend. He is a work that God has promised to bring to completion. She is an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade, kept in heaven for us in Christ.

Simply put, your cup of water expands your spiritual sibling’s capacity to worship the living God in a way that will still be bearing fruit in ten thousand years.

When you show love to someone, you change that person forever.

Let that sink in.[ix]

[HAMILTON] God help and forgive me I wanna build Something that's gonna Outlive me

3.

III. Therefore

1. Since we have seen (Cohesion)-

i.

ii.

iii.

2. We know we must (Resolution)-

i.

ut just as we should be slow to gripe about technology, we should also be slow to settle for it — particularly when it comes to church. Some things in life simply cannot be digitized, and this shouldn’t surprise us as Christians. After all, we serve a God who enfleshed himself in our midst (John 1:14)

We do not worship a pixelated Savior, nor did he redeem us to be a pixelated people. Technology in the life of the church is often a gift. God just never intended it to be a replacement.

It is possible, thank God, to love from a distance. And yet it’s nowhere near the same, is it? Two lovers who are parted by war and forced to write letters will not likely say, when peacetime arrives, “Let’s just keep writing to each other, shall we?”

ii.

IV. Closing prayer

V. Discussion questions

1.

[i] https://bible.org/seriespage/lesson-13-paul’s-team-titus-312-15 [ii]Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible(Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2308. [iii] D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 98. [iv] D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 98. [v] D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 99. [vi]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 170. [vii] D. Michael Martin, 1, 2 Thessalonians, vol. 33, The New American Commentary (Nashville: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995), 99. [viii]Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 170. [ix] J. Alasdair Groves, “Treasuring Others,” The Journal of Biblical Counseling 32, no. 3 (2018): 41.