Category: Devotions

Paul is bringing this letter to a close. Some translations have the word ‘finally’ and we know that for any preacher that may not actually mean anything!

Here in the NIV we have ‘as for other matters’ and it is giving us an understanding that Paul is wondering what else needs to be said, he knows of course. 

“As for other matters, brothers and sisters, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.”

‭‭(1 Thessalonians‬ ‭4‬:‭1‬-‭2‬)

1. He speaks to a family, ‘brothers and sisters’, v1. The church is family. Over my lifetime I have seen the breakdown of the family. When I was in school there were only a few children who had sadly experienced family breakdown. Now the few are those who haven’t seen a breakdown. I have witnessed it first hand, to special friends, even to my Pastors, no one is exempt from such an attack. What has happened in the community of people’s homes has happened in the community of the church. I have been in the church all my life and I have never witnessed so much division as is what is happening all across the world. The family, God’s family are at war with each other, brothers and sisters are divided. The call must be that the family makes a comeback. That brothers and sisters act and speak like brothers and sisters.
2. He highlights the good, v1. His focus is not on what is not happening but what is. The church that you attend is not perfect. The network or denomination you belong to is not perfect. Anyone can point out what is wrong but the church needs encouragement of the good that is happening.
   1. He has shown them how to live. All disciples need instructing. All disciples need accountability for those instructions.
   2. He congratulates them for he has heard from Timothy that they are continuing to live the life of a disciple he set out for them.
   3. He encourages them to continue more and more. Oh that we all would be the encouragers of the church that it will continue! To thank people who willingly and sacrificially volunteer their lives for the church, including those who are called to lead and care for the church.
3. He reminds them of who leads the church, v2. This is not anyone’s church but Jesus’ church. There is no authority in the church except that of Jesus. That authority was given by His own blood not anyone else’s. Authority is seen through the cross. Any other display of authority is man’s not of God. 

It is the one thing that the world sees or doesn’t see within the church: love. It is the one thing that either unites or divides the church: love. It is the one thing that is the evidence of God’s presence: love.

“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭11‬-‭13‬)

1. He clears the way for relationships to flourish, v11. What is in the way? What is blocking your route? The problems of you connecting with someone can be many. That may be circumstantial as here for Paul or it could be the hardness of heart. Whatever the reason God can remove it. God can make a way for love no matter what is obstructing it.
2. He increases love in our hearts for each other, v12.  I find loving people difficult at times don’t you? In fact I can think of some people who I love less today than yesterday. But the love I have is only what I have been given. In fact everything that God wants me to share is what He has first given me. So today our prayer is: give me more of your love to love people; help me to love how you love; let love pour out of my life. 
3. He strengthens so that our faults and sins are dealt with in his presence, v13. Love is the only path that takes you to holiness. For holiness is the expressed overflow of love. If we don’t love people then we cannot love God. If we love God then it is seen. Loving God causes us to turn away from ourselves and it then leads to being able to love people. When our lives are turned away from us then God sees us as blameless and holy.

Satan had blocked Paul’s path to go to the Thessalonians who he loved. However, he sent Timothy and he has now returned with good news for Paul. Read these verses slowly and think in terms of the relationship between Paul and the churches. 

“But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.” (1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭6‬-‭10‬)

What Paul had been anxious about was unfounded because Timothy’s report was of a strong community of believers who spoke well of Paul and who wanted to see him. This was of huge encouragement to Paul. We see the keys of kingdom friendship in these verses.

1. The gospel/ ‘good news’ of the kingdom is not only a glorious message but it is a lived out message within the Christian community, v6.
2. All kingdom community is a shared faith (our walk with God) and a shared love (our walk with each other) and you cannot have one without the other, v6.
3. The kingdom relationships are those of family; ‘brothers and sisters’ who have a great history together filled with memories and who desire to make many more, v6-7.
4. The reason why we keep going in the faith are the stories of what God is doing in His people’s lives, when we live our lives not for the promotion of what God is doing in us but what He is doing in others then we have understood the kingdom, v 8-9.
5. Thankfulness and regular praying are the results of kingdom relationships, v9-10. 

Paul has already made it known he was desperate to be with the church in Thessalonica. He now uses an interesting phrase and twice, ‘when we could stand it no longer.’ 

Paul wanted to be there but he couldn’t (and we don’t know why, whether it be opposition or something else) so what did he do? 

There are times when we just have to make a decision because we cannot wait any longer; we cannot stand back; we have to step forward. But wisdom is needed. We can see from these verses principles that can be applied to most situations we want to step in to help.

“So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no-one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 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. 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 had tempted you and that our labours might have been in vain.” 1 Thessalonians‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

When he couldn’t stand it any longer:

1. He thought through what was the best thing to do. Importantly ‘we’ were involved in that thinking. He checked out his thoughts with the others. Key thought: what have others said about this decision?
2. He gave their best; so he sent Timothy. Timothy was valuable. A decision sometimes needs your investment of your best and what is of value for it to be a good decision. Key thought: what can I give that will bring the most impact?
3. His decision was to strengthen and encourage what was there. The decision was to make sure the people were heading in the right direction otherwise what’s the point of encouraging something that is going wrong. Paul was concerned for them as they went through the trials. Key thought: how do I strengthen what is already there?
4. He decided not to remain in a place of worry. Though Paul was not surprised by the persecution he was anxious the churches may have fallen because of it and the work would unravel. Instead of remaining anxious he did something about it, he decided to find out. Key thought: I need to make more decisions that alleviate worry not create it.
5. He was not so preoccupied with moving forward into new places that he took his eye off the work already established. Key thought: Ever place we come to needs to be consolidated so that we move forward into the future from a place of strength, resulting in min-decisions needed before the bigger ones.

The Holy Spirit can close doors of opportunity. Everyone knows the closed door experiences and the hurt it causes, particularly when you have given time and effort to something. You know what it is like to be sitting with a friend wanting more than anything for them to live but they don’t. You know what it is like to go for that dream interview and you do really well but you don’t get the job. The illustrations are endless and you understand what I am saying.

Paul knew the closed door experience of the Spirit’s guidance but he now speaks of something else.

There are times when Satan blocks our way.

“But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 17-20)

If the Apostle Paul could find Satan blocking his way then so can we.

So what did he do?

1. He firstly had discernment that this was Satan and not the Spirit.

2. He kept battling at least twice (again and again).

3. He writes this letter. He may not be there in person but he finds a way to be there.

4. He is not despondent. He sees the Thessalonians not only his hope and joy but will be part of his eternal reward when Christ comes again! If Satan wanted to discourage Paul it didn’t work!

5. He waits until God opens the way as He did in Acts 20.

Look at those emboldened words again and apply to where you are at because Satan may indeed be hindering you today.

What evidences should we look for in the members of our Churches being good representations of Christ and His body?

Paul helps us:-

“And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe. 14 For you, brothers and sisters, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own people the same things those churches suffered from the Jews 15 who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.” (1 Thessalonians 2 v 13-15)

No notes, just headings, but each one worthy of some further thoughts.

1. They received the teaching of God’s Word not as coming from man but from God.

2. They welcomed the Word of God as an active agent working in their lives.

3. They patterned their lives on Jesus Christ and as a consequence willingly suffered for doing so.

4. They believed as a community; plural; together in God’s Word; hearing the voice of God together holding one another accountable. It was never meant to be singular.

5. The sufferings of Christ were mirrored in their lives in that it was their own tribe/family that persecuted them and so it was indeed personal but they held on. They paid the price.

 

What evidences should we look for in a spiritual leader who can lead us in the ways of the Lord?

Paul helps us:-

“Instead, we were like young children among you. Just as a nursing mother cares for her children, 8 so we cared for you. Because we loved you so much, we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well. 9 Surely you remember, brothers and sisters, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. 10 You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. 11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.” (1 Thessalonians 2 v 7-12)

No notes, just headings, but each one worthy of some further thoughts.

1. We were gentle and tender as a mother abandoning our rights for respect.

2. We enjoyed sharing our lives with God’s people.

3. We were prepared to be bi-vocational to lift off any pressure in that season.

4. We worked hard and it was tiring.

5. We were the same behind the scenes as we were in front of them.

6. We walked in the authority of a father encouraging, comforting and urging you to live rightly.

7. We focused on Kingdom life which is a better quality of character and service than any culture and we focused on Presence life, the glory that God brings.

What evidences should we look for in a spiritual leader who can lead us in the ways of the Lord?

Paul helps us:-

“For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. 4 On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. 5 You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. 6 We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.” (1 Thessalonians 2 v 3-6)

No notes just headings, but each one worthy of some further thoughts.

1. Our preaching was truth.

2. Our motives were right.

3. Our walk was in the light.

4. We have been tested by God

5. We have sought to please God; but pleasing man has not been our agenda.

6. We have spoken kindness and tried to influence people; but we have never manipulated people.

7. We have been transparent; we have not been self-seeking or greedy.

8. We have always sought God’s glory; we have not used our position of authority to lord it over anyone.

These are just 8 evidences from the above verses. There is more …

I trust in the Lord…. You have not given me into the hands of the enemy but have set my feet in a spacious place… I trust in you, Lord; I say, “You are my God.” My times are in your hands …Let your face shine on your servant … How abundant are the good things that you have stored up for those who fear you …

Who said these words? Probably King David and when he was fleeing Saul. Did anyone else say these words? Jesus did. Well he quoted part of the Psalm but everyone heard it knew the whole of the words above and it revealed the confidence that Jesus was placing in His Father whilst on the cross. “Into your hands I commit my spirit; deliver me, Lord, my faithful God.” Psalm 31:8

It is with this in mind that we come to the next couple of verses which shows how Paul’s team placed their confidence in God despite what had been through.

“You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition.” (1 Thessalonians 2 v 1-2)

It was not in vain (NASB) and it was not a waste of time (Message). That is how Paul describes their visit to Thessalonica. We then begin to see how they again had opposition, it was strong, but not perhaps like what they experienced in Philippi.

There they were stripped and beaten (Acts 16:22). Paul and Silas were stripped of their clothes and became hugely vulnerable and then they were painfully beaten. But they bounced back with ‘the help of our God’. Those who are stripped and who are beaten know the flow of the anointing of God. Oil from olives and grapes come from being beaten. There’s no other way for it is the way to travel.

They had been thrown into prison (Acts 16:23). How many times Paul and Silas were flogged we do not know, but it was severe. The wounds were severe. But no one was there to bathe, bandage and soothe them. Wounded they were thrown into prison and they were guarded. It wouldn’t be until the jailer was saved would he offer to bathe their wounds. But they bounced back with ‘the help of our God’.

They had been put in an inner cell and their feet fastened in stocks (Acts 16:24). It was a place of total darkness and heat and there was no way they were escaping. But they bounced back with ‘the help of our God’.

Perhaps you simply need to hear these words today, ‘with the help of our God.’ You may feel vulnerable, beaten, trapped, forgotten and in darkness today. But you can bounce back with the help of our God.

And what happened? They went again with the gospel. They ‘dared’ even in the midst of strong opposition. They didn’t flinch when the though may have been will we suffer like we did in Philippi? They delivered the same message.

Whatever that means for you today I know the helper, the Holy Spirit, is here ready and waiting to help you.

“All over the world the Spirit is moving” Remember singing that?

“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia—your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, ⁹ for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, ¹⁰ and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead—Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath.” (1 Thessalonians 1 v 8-10)

The team didn’t have to tell people of what God was doing in Thessalonica, the news had spread. The gospel had a starting point but it continued and it still is doing so 2,000 years later.

There are more than 1050 church planting movements which have been reported in the world so far. The top 10 countries with the largest Christian populations include Brazil, Russia, India and China. Iraq is the fastest growing Evangelical population at 19.6% (ten years ago). There are 1,392 Christian groups in the 10/40 Window. The largest being the Yoruba of Nigeria (34,362,000). The Jesus Film has been shown in 11,421 people groups in the world to a total of 7,136,000,000!

There is still so much more to be done but we can rejoice that throughout the world the gospel is growing.

Paul’s team discover what the world are saying of the Christians in Thessalonica. Firstly they have turned from their idols to serve the true God who is alive. They sought in worship the real divine presence not a counterfeit. This is still important today. But then we are taken into what keeps coming back as the theme of this whole letter and the second one, the return of Jesus. It is clear that this generation and including Paul believed that Jesus would come back in their lifetime. They at least had a firmly held hope they would see His coming and that He would come and rescue them from some coming doom which was also near. Should we live like this? Do we?

Do we resist trusting the things of the world because we know they are not permanent?

Do we find ourselves more joyful than those in the world because we know who is coming?

Do we filter our decisions based on the fact we will not be in this world for much longer?

Finally when we speak the gospel do we focus on turning from idols and living for the return of Jesus Christ?