I Thessalonians 3
Paul sends Timothy to strengthen the believersverses 1-5
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear
we thought it good to be left at Athens alone
And we sent Timothy – our brother – and minister of God
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ
to establish you and to comfort you
concerning your faith
That no man should be moved by these afflictions
for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto
FOR verily – when we were with you
we told you before that we should suffer tribulation
even as it came to pass – and you know
FOR this cause – when I could no longer forbear
I sent to know your faith
lest by some means the tempter have tempted you
and our labor be in vain
Timothy brings a good report back to Paulverses 6-8
But now when Timothy came from you to us
and brought us good tidings of your faith – charity
and that you have good remembrance of us always
desiring greatly to see us
as we also to see you
THEREFORE brethren
we were comforted over you in all our affliction
and distress by your faith
FOR now we live – IF you stand fast in the Lord
Paul prays continually for the churchverses 9-10
FOR what thanks can we render to God again for you
for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes
before our God
Night and day praying exceedingly – that we might see your face
and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Paul has strong desire to go to Thessalonicaverses 11-13
Now God HIMSELF and our Father
and our Lord Jesus Christ
direct our way to you
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in
love one toward another and toward all men
even as we do toward you
To the end HE may stablish your hearts
unblameable in holiness before God even our Father
at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ
WITH all HIS saints
COMMENTARY:
DAILY SPIRITUAL BREAKFAST: Young Believers
: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. (2749 “appointed” [keimai] means to lie outstretched, to be set, exist, or destined)
DEVOTION: There are parts of the Christian life that we don’t understand. This is one of them. The Thessalonians had been taught by Paul and the other disciples that part of the Christian life included suffering. There was going to be affliction. They were suffering affliction more it seems than the other Christians. Paul used them as an example to other churches. However, he was concerned regarding how they were holding up under the afflictions. He was concerned that the tempter which is Satan was tempting to give up their faith. He sent Timothy to check them out. Timothy came back with a good report. They were doing well.
Paul wanted to come again to them and give them further instructions in the coming events. They still had more to learn.
We think that if we accept Christ as our Savior that we should be blessed and not have any bad things happen to us. Just the opposite is true. God knows that we grow by friction. Afflictions cause us to grow closer to HIM. We need to expect afflictions as part of our existence as Christians and not run from them.
God is perfecting us. God wants us holy. God wants us unblameable. The tempter or Satan wants to get us away from our faith. We all need more training in the faith. We all need to stand fast in the faith. It is hard to stand fast if we don’t understand our faith. The church is under attack because that is the only way the church will move forward for the LORD. Are we up to the task of defending our faith against the attacks of our godless culture? Are we up to the task of defending our faith against the attacks of those who claim to be Christians and yet teach false doctrine?
It is our destiny to be attacked by our culture and false teachers. WHY?? To grow our faith!!! There is no status quo in the Christian life. We are either moving forward in our growth in the LORD or backwards. If there is no challenge to our faith – then maybe we don’t have faith to begin with.
CHALLENGE: What are you doing to increase your knowledge of a better relationship with God? Please don’t answer NOTHING!!!!
DAILY SPIRITUAL LUNCH: Transitional Believers
:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord. (4739 “stand fast” [steko] means 1 to stand firm. 2 to persevere, to persist. 3 to keep one’s standing. [Strong, J. (1995). Enhanced Strong’s Lexicon. Woodside Bible Fellowship])
DEVOTION: Have you seen people who claim to have made a profession of faith, only to go on living like the rest of the world? It could be something like money that is drawing them back into the old life, or else a disappointment with God not doing something that they think He should have done for them.
Then there are those who start off well, but end up never growing in the Christian faith. Much of America is like this. It is said that most people in the United States who call themselves Christians are ignorant of basic Bible doctrines and teachings. They do not take the time to read their Bibles and pray, so as to get more and more like Jesus.
Then there are those who are persecuted for their faith like the Thessalonian believers. We do not know a single believer in Thessalonica except a man named Aristarchus, but the believers must have suffered greatly for their faith. They really wanted Jesus to come back and set things right, and Paul is writing to reassure them that in the end Jesus will do exactly that. Some might fail as a result of persecution, but Paul writes to those who remain standing firm in their faith.
Christians are also called to stand firm against the attacks of the evil one. There is no doubt that the evil one will attack us personally if we are attempting to live for Christ and lead others to the Lord. This can be in the form of personal temptation (as it was with Jesus) or by false accusations by others (sometimes including those inside the church). It is our love and our humility which demonstrate through our lives that we are standing firm in our faith.
CHALLENGE: Are you standing firm in your faith? Are you tempted to cut bait and run? Ask the Lord to give you the perseverance and courage that you need to stand firm for Him in whatever circumstances you find yourself today.
: 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith. (5303 “lacking” [husterema] means which is behind, deficiency, poverty, need, absence, or shortcoming)
DEVOTION: Concern over those who were part of his ministry is overwhelming at times. He was praying for them day and night because of this concern over their welfare. He sent Timothy to them to make sure they were growing in the LORD. He wanted to be sure that they were not falling into the hands of false teachers.
He also had a desire to see them fact to face. He wanted to give them more instructions that only he could give to them. They were given the milk of the Word of God but he wanted to give them more of the meat of the Word of God.
Remember he had special instructions regarding his ministry in the desert for three years. He had a ministry to the Gentiles rather than the Jews. The Jews were supposed to know the Word of God but many of them didn’t. They only knew the traditions of the Pharisees.
We all are deficient in some part of our faith. We never arrive at perfect knowledge of the Word of God. Anyone who thinks they have arrived at a perfect knowledge of God is lying to themselves.
All leaders have to be concerned with those who are under their leadership. Our goal should be to learn more about Jesus and then share it with those who will listen to our teaching. We need to desire to be closer to Jesus regularly. HE instructs those who are willing to learn. We should never stop wanting to instruct others with what we are learning from the LORD.
CHALLENGE: Desire a closer walk with the LORD in order to grow spiritually yourself, then use your growth to help others grow in the LORD.
DAILY SPIRITUAL SUPPER: Mature Believers
: 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you. (4052 “abound” [perisseuo] means to be abundant or plentiful, exist in large quantities, to cause to be intense, to cause to be more, be in abundance, be more than enough, or to be left over)
DEVOTION: Growth is what the Christian life is all about. We are to want to grow in our knowledge of Jesus Christ. We are to want to know HIM better. We are to want to be in HIS presence in our prayer life. We are to seek HIS direction for each step we take each day. Our personal goal is to be as close to the LORD as we can possibility be each day. This only happens as we work at it.
Once our personal relationship is in shape we can move out to the rest of the world. Paul wants us to realize that we are to love one another in the LORD. That includes those who are presently outside the kingdom of God. They need our witness to understand what it means to be a Christian.
Remember we normally are selfish and lazy in our daily life without recognizing that we need the help of the Holy Spirit to keep us heading in the right direction. HE is the one who gives us assignments to help other or love others that will cause us to not be selfish and lazy. If we are helping other believers and those who don’t know Christ we are busy for the LORD.
Listen to the leading of the Holy Spirit as HE directs you toward others who can use our encouragement each day.
CHALLENGE: Remember this is a daily assignment. What is HE telling you to do today?
: 13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all HIS saints. (273 “unblameable” [amemptos] means faultless, deserving no censure, free from fault or defect, not subject to blame, or without reproach)
CHALLENGE: If we are stopping being selfish and lazy and helping others who need our encouragement then our hearts will be established in holiness. We are declared holy because of our relationship with Christ.
We are HIS saints here on this earth. We will one day reign with HIM during the thousand year reign during the Millennium. We will be kings. HE will give each of us a responsibility during that time period.
HE is coming again. This has been prophesied throughout the Word of God. The descriptions of the millennial period in the book of Isaiah are great. This will be a time period when the lion will lay down with the lamb.
Our hearts need to be holy in order for us to be used of God to encourage our fellow believers and cause those outside of Christ to want what we have in HIM. Our responsibility is to be busy serving HIM until HE returns. We don’t know the day or hour when this is going to happen so we need to daily fulfill our assignment given us by the Holy Spirit.
We are to manifest the fruit of the Spirit in our world. We are to use the gifts the Holy Spirit has given us in the local church. We are to be witnesses to all those in our world to help them understand the truth of the Word of God.
CHALLENGE: We have a choice each day as to whether we are good witnesses and servants of HIM or not. What will HE say about our service to HIM at the end of this week?
DISCIPLINES OF THE FAITH:
BODY
Chastity (Purity in living)
Fasting (Time alone with LORD without eating or drinking)
Sacrifice (Giving up something we want to serve the LORD)
Submission (Willing to listen to others and LORD)
Solitude (Going to a quiet place without anyone)
SOUL
Fellowship (Gathering together around the Word of God)
Frugality (wise use of resources)
Journalizing (Writing down what you have learned from the LORD)
Study and Meditation (Thinking through your study in the Word)
Secrecy (Doing your good deeds without others knowing but God)
SPIRIT
Celebration (Gathering around a special occasion to worship LORD)
Confession (Tell the LORD we are sorry for our sins on a daily basis)
Prayer (Conversation with God on a personal level)
Render thanks to Godverse 9
Praying night and dayverse 10
Silence (Letting the LORD deal with some problems and needs)
Worship (Time to praise the LORD alone or in a group)
DOCTRINES OF THE FAITH:
Scripture (66 inerrant books of the Bible)
Gospel of Christverse 2
God the Father (First person of the Godhead)
Godverses 2, 9, 11, 13
Minister of Godverse 2
Fatherverses 11, 13
God the Son (Second person of the Godhead – God/man, Messiah)
Christverses 2, 11, 13
Gospel of Christverse 2
Lordverses 8, 11-13
Jesus verses 11, 13
Lord Jesus Christverses 11, 13
Direct our waysverse 11
God the Holy Spirit (Third person of the Godhead – our comforter)
Trinity (Three persons of the Godhead who are co-equal = ONE God)
Angels (Created before the foundation of the world – Good and Evil)
Tempter (Satan)verse 5
Man (Created on the sixth twenty-four hour period of creation)
Athensverse 1
Love toward all menverse 12
Sin (Missing the mark set by God on man and angels)
Temptverse 5
Labor in vainverse 5
Salvation (Provided by Christ’s death on the cross for our sins)
Establish verse 2
Comfortverses 2, 7
Faithverses 2, 5-7, 10
Afflictionsverses 3, 7
Appointedverse 3
Suffer tribulation verse 4
Charityverse 6
Distressverse 7
Stand fast in the Lordverse 8
Thanksverse 9
Joyverse 9
Pray exceedinglyverse 10
Perfect faithverse 10
Direct wayverse 11
Love one for anotherverse 12
Stablish hearts verse 13
Unblameable in holinessverse 13
Saintsverse 13
Israel(Old Testament people of God)
Church (New Testament people of God)
Timothyverses 2, 6
Brotherverse 2
Minister of Godverse 2
Fellow laborerverse 2
Gospel of Christverse 2
Labor in vainverse 5
Good tidings of your faithverse 6
Good remembrance verse 6
Brethrenverse 7
Perfect what is lacking in faithverse 10
Saintsverse 13
Last Things (Future Events)
Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saintsverse 13
DONATIONS:
Remember that all donations to Small Church Ministries are greatly appreciated. The treasurer will send a receipt, at the end of the year unless otherwise requested. Please be sure to make check out to “Small Church Ministries.” The address for the treasurer is P.O. Box 604, East Amherst, New York 14051. A second way to give to the ministry is through PayPal on the website: www.smallchurchministries.org. Also, if you can support this ministry through your local church please use that method. Thank you.
QUOTES regarding passage
5 In this situation, Paul, speaking now only of himself at this point (“I”; cf. v. 1), was constrained to find out through Timothy the state of their faith. He knew that “the tempter” (Satan; cf. Matt 4:3) had been at work among them and that God permits the enemy this activity. What Paul did not know about the Thessalonians, however, was whether or not the tempter’s solicitations had been successful, making his work and that of his colleagues “useless.” (Thomas, R. L. (1981). 1 Thessalonians. In F. E. Gaebelein (Ed.), The Expositor’s Bible Commentary: Ephesians through Philemon (Vol. 11, p. 264). Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House.)
That I might know (εἰς το γνωναι [eis to gnōnai]). Paul’s common idiom (verse 2), εἰς το [eis to] and the infinitive of purpose (second aorist ingressive active of γινωσκω [ginōskō], come to know). Lest by any means the tempter had tempted you (μη πως ἐπειρασεν ὑμας ὁ πειραζων [mē pōs epeirasen humās ho peirazōn]). Findlay takes this as a question with negative answer, but most likely negative final clause with μη πως [mē pōs] about a past action with aorist indicative according to the classic idiom as in Gal. 2:2 (μη πως—ἐδραμον [mē pōs—edramon]) and Gal. 4:11 after verb of fearing (Robertson, Grammar, p. 988). It is a fear that the thing may turn out to be so about the past. Should be (γενηται [genētai]). Here the usual construction appears (aorist subjunctive with μη πως [mē pōs]) about the future. (Robertson, A. T. (1933). Word Pictures in the New Testament (1 Th 3:5). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press)
3:5. Returning to his original thought (cf. v. 2) Paul explained that he had sent Timothy back to Thessalonica because he was genuinely concerned for their spiritual welfare. The condition of the believers’ faith burdened Paul’s heart. Were they still trusting in God or had they abandoned Him and returned to paganism? Paul was not concerned that they had lost their salvation; this they could never do (1:4). They could, however, have ceased to walk by faith, not trusting God in all circumstances of life. Paul’s concern was that his labor might have been in vain, not that their faith had been in vain. Paul’s reference to the tempter is mindful of Satan’s activity in the Garden of Eden (Gen. 3) and in the Judean wilderness (Matt. 4). Paul saw Satan as using the persecution the Thessalonians were undergoing in order to lure them away from what they knew to be God’s will, namely, perseverance in the midst of trials. He was concerned that Satan might snatch away the seed Paul had sown before it had a chance to put down stabilizing, fructifying roots. (Constable, T. L. (1985). 1 Thessalonians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 698). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
The word “moved” in 1 Thessalonians 3 is interesting. It literally means “to wag the tail, to fawn over.” The idea is that Satan often flatters the believer in order to lead him astray. Satan told Eve she would be like God if she ate of the tree, and she fell for his flattery. Satan is more dangerous when he flatters than when he frowns.
Timothy’s task was to establish these believers and encourage (comfort) them in their faith. It is faith in God that keeps our feet on the ground when the enemy attacks. Without faith in God, we are defeated. “This is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith” (1 John 5:4). (Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary (Vol. 2, p. 172). Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.)
3:5 the tempter. Satan had already been characterized as a hinderer (2:18) and now as a tempter in the sense of trying/testing for the purpose of causing failure (cf. Mt 4:3; 1Co 7:5; Jas 1:12–18). Paul was not ignorant of Satan’s schemes (2Co 2:11; 11:23) nor vulnerable to his methods (Eph 6:11), so Paul took action to counterattack Satan’s expected maneuver and to assure that all his efforts were not useless (cf. 2:1). (MacArthur, J. F., Jr. (2006). The MacArthur study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (1 Th 3:5). Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers)
Ver. 5. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, &c.] Or bear the above vehement desire of seeing them, or of hearing from them. Here the apostle speaks in the singular number, and seems to intimate, as if what was said before of the like kind is to be understood singly of him; for these words are a repetition and summary of the foregoing, with some diversity: I sent to know your faith: how it stood, whether it was staggering through these afflictions, or firm; whether it was weak or strong, what was wanting in it; and whether it grew and increased. The Arabic version adds, and charity; for of this, as well as of faith, Timothy brought an account, as appears from the following verse. Lest by some means the tempter; Satan, so called from his common and constant employ in tempting men to sin; see Matt. 4:3 hare tempted you with success, and got an advantage over them, improving these afflictions to such a purpose as to move them from the hope of the Gospel, and relinquish the profession of it; for otherwise there was no question to be made but he had tempted them, or solicited them to it; for none of the saints are free from his temptations; the apostle himself was not, nor indeed our Lord Jesus Christ: but the apostle’s fears were, lest he should so have tempted them as to have gained upon them, and have persuaded them to have turned their backs upon the Gospel, and not expose their name and credit, and hazard the loss of worldly substance, and even life itself, for the sake of it. And our labour be in vain: in preaching the Gospel among them; not with respect to God, to whom the word never returns void and empty; nor with regard to the apostles, whose judgment was with the Lord, and their work with their God, who will of his own grace reward them; but with respect to the Thessalonians, to whom, should Satan gain his point, it would be of no use and service, for which the concern was. The Ethiopic version reads, and your labour be in vain; in receiving the apostles, embracing and professing the Gospel, and suffering for it; see Gal. 3:4 but the common reading is best, and agrees with what the apostle elsewhere says, Gal. 4:11; Phil. 2:16. (Gill, J. (1809). An Exposition of the New Testament (Vol. 3, pp. 227–228). London: Mathews and Leigh.)
The result is that the ministry of the pastor becomes hamstrung as the board seek to control the activities of the pastor and maintain the status quo rather than support the pastor in leading the church toward spiritual transformation.
First the board is responsible to support the pastor. Before the board can be effective leaders, they must first be effective followers.
Second, the board is responsible to protect the pastor. Too often the pastor is subjected to criticism by those who desire to control, manipulate, and even destroy the pastor’s influence and ministry.
Third, the board is responsible to care for the pastor. … It also involves caring for the emotional and spiritual needs of the pastor by providing for his spiritual growth through conferences and seminars.
Fourth, the board is responsible to care for the pastor’s family. … The role of the board is to protest the pastor’s family from petty and unrealistic expectation of people.
(p. 36-38,Developing Leaders for the Small Church by Glenn C. Daman)
FROM MY READING:
(Remember the only author that I totally agree with is the HOLY SPIRIT in the inerrant WORD OF GOD called THE BIBLE! All other I try to gleam what I can to help me grow in the LORD!!)
He himself hopes to supply the teaching that the faith of the Thessalonians needs by coming to them (1 Th. 3:10). (Kittel, G., Friedrich, G., & Bromiley, G. W. (1985). Theological Dictionary of the New Testament (1241). Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans.)
“SANCTIFY THEM”
Sanctify them through thy truth: thy word is truth. John 17:17
What does our Lord mean when He prays, “Sanctify them through thy truth” or “in thy truth”? We need to be very careful at this point in our definition of the term sanctify, because we must interpret it bearing in mind that the same word is used in John 17:19: “And for their sakes I sanctify myself, that they also might be sanctified through the truth.” In verse 19 our Lord uses exactly the same word about Himself as He uses with regard to His followers here. So we must start by arriving at a true definition of what is meant by “sanctify.”
Now it is generally agreed that there are two main senses in which this word is used throughout the Bible. The first sense of “sanctify”—and we must always put this one first because it is the one most emphasized in Scripture—is to set apart for God and for God’s service. So you will find that this term sanctify is not only used of men—it is used even of a mountain, the holy mount on which the law was given to Moses. Mount Sinai was sanctified, it was set apart for a special function and purpose, in order that God might use it to give His revelation of the law.
The word is used, too, of buildings and of vessels, instruments and utensils, and various things that were used in the Tabernacle and the Temple. Anything that is devoted to or set aside for God and for His service is sanctified. So there is a double aspect to this primary meaning of the word. It means, first, a separation from everything that contaminates and perverts, and the second, positive aspect is that something or someone is devoted wholly to God and to His use.
A Thought to Ponder: To sanctify is to set apart for God and for God’s service.
(From Sanctified Through the Truth, pp. 8-9, by Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones)
Jesus casts demons out of a Gadarene man and raises a girl from the dead.
INSIGHT
When Jesus takes over a life, He makes a difference. The worse the life, the greater the change.
When the demoniac from Gadarene rushes at the disciples with evil intent, Jesus exercises divine power, banishing Satan’s minions from their victim’s soul. Later, the man who had run naked among the tombs, howling and cutting himself, is sitting beside Jesus, clothed and in his right mind.
Wherever we are in our spiritual journey, the Lord will continue the work He has begun. He will keep changing us, ever into the image of Christ. (Quiet Walk)
The Unjust Steward
“And the lord commended the unjust steward, because he had done wisely: for the children of this world are in their generation wiser than the children of light.” (Luke 16:8)
This parable of the unjust steward has perplexed many Christians, for it seems to indicate that the Lord approved of dishonesty. “Make to yourselves friends of the mammon of unrighteousness” (v. 9) also seems to contradict verse 13, when He said, “Ye cannot serve God and mammon.”
The apparent contradiction vanishes, however, when we realize Christ was not commending the dishonesty of the steward, but his acute business sense and concern for the future. Neither does the Lord approve of greed or covetousness, but He does exhort believers to be as prudent in investing their money for the eternal future as shrewd worldlings are in feathering their earthly nests. Sad to say, it is common experience that, by this measure, “the children of this world” do conduct their affairs “in this generation” far more shrewdly than “the children of light.” Even more sadly, the latter often even try to follow the example of the ungodly in “laying up for themselves treasures upon earth,” rather than “treasures in heaven” (see Matthew 6:19-20).
The Lord would exhort us, on the other hand, to use our money (“the mammon of unrighteousness”) to make true friends, “that, when ye fail, they may receive you into everlasting habitations” (Luke 16:9). The “unjust steward” was trying to insure his own earthly future, hoping to make temporal friends by bribing them with money that was not even his own.
How much wiser it is for us to use whatever money the Lord has entrusted to us to make true friends, helping to bring them to Christ and building them up in the faith. Then, when we “fail” from this life, we shall enjoy their fellowship and gratitude in the “everlasting habitations” of eternity.
(HMM, The Institute for Creation Research)
The leader of our college singing group directed the group and accompanied us on the piano at the same time, skillfully balancing those responsibilities. At the close of one concert, he looked particularly weary, so I asked him if he was okay. He responded, “I’ve never had to do that before.” Then he explained. “The piano was so out of tune that I had to play the whole concert in two different keys—my left hand playing in one key and my right hand in another!” I was blown away by the startling skill he displayed, and I was amazed at the One who creates humans to be capable of such things.
King David expressed an even greater sense of wonder when he wrote, “Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it” (Psalm 139:14 nlt). Whether in people’s abilities or nature’s marvels, the wonders of creation point us to the majesty of our Creator.
One day, when we’re in God’s presence, people from every generation will worship Him with the words, “You are worthy, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being” (Revelation 4:11). The amazing skills God gives us and the great beauty God has created are ample reason to worship Him. (By Bill Crowder. Our Daily Bread)
Visit our Facebook page for Small Church Ministries – please invite others to join us on Facebook. Thank you. Look for the logo from the devotionals.