Considering the Bible

A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.

As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

1 Thessalonians 3:4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.

Some prophecy is just no fun!

Who wants to hear of problems coming, of tribulations and trials on the horizon. It seems Paul just kept on telling them of afflictions coming, and considering the short time he was present with them, this must have been a predominant emphasis of his message.

This desire of Paul to communicate the upcoming afflictions for the body of believers seems to make sense once a review of the book is considered. You see, at the end of each chapter, Paul summarizes each chapter’s thoughts by referencing the Lord Jesus and His return for the church.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?
For you are our glory and joy.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 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.

1 Thessalonians 4:17-18 Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord.
Therefore encourage one another with these words.

1 Thessalonians 5:23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I realize Pula never considered his letter would be broken up into chapters, but the recurring theme of the return of the Lord is a common thought in this book. Paul, in referring to afflictions over and over again, seems to have two overarching messages for the Thessalonians

Troubles are a coming. But so is the Lord Jesus!

Yes Paul spoke of afflictions, and he reminded them over and over again of the trials they should expect, but more importantly, he taught these young believers of the soon coming of the Lord to rescue them from this environment of sin and death.

Some may say it has been thousands of years for the church waiting on the Lord, but my friend, for these Thessalonians, they were prepared if He came, and eventually, they met the Lord in their own time.

As I mentioned earlier, some prophecy is just not fun, but as Paul mentioned the trials coming, he also wrapped those trials in hope. A hope of the Lord’s return in His timing. Each of these believers met the Lord, and each of these believers were looking for His return. And because of that, they were ready for the afflictions, and they were ready to meet the Lord, whether by His return, or their departure from this old world.

Come Lord Jesus!

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.

As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

1 Thessalonians 3:3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

We are not destined to be unmoved.

A careful reading of this passage will uncover an untruth I leaned on for years.

Let me explain. I would read this passage as follows.

Let no one be moved by these afflictions for you know that we are destined to be unmoved, destined to never falter, destined to always and only be sturdy, stalwart, and without stumbling.

Of course as I read this, (or at least was encouraged to think this way of my life in Christ), I have to admit that inside I became despondent, down and depressed, for I knew otherwise. I had been “moved” by affliction, torn down and ravaged by the afflictions arriving in my spiritual life.

I wasn’t experiencing that abundant life that had been promised! My abundant life was not all that abundant!!!

It is so important to take my time with the Word, to consider what the author is trying to say, before I make my assumptions, before I walk away from the Word with an untruth!

Paul is giving the Thessalonians a challenge, an exhortation as described in our earlier verse. Let’s read the short passage together.

1 Thessalonians 3:2,3 …..we sent Timothy ….to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

Paul provided exhortation, through Timothy for a distinct purpose. And what was that purpose Carl?

That no one would be moved. That means that without these exhortations, we may be moved. Afflictions that come will move us, will impact us, will “wag” us.

Wag? What confusing wordplay are you trying to get over on us this time Carl? Well it seems Paul used a term here that was typically used of dogs “moving” their tails. Dogs wag their tail.

If I follow the metaphor, it is the affliction that “wags” the believer as the dog wags the tail. The tail has no say in the matter, but is only a helpless appendage that wags as the dog desires.

Afflictions can have that power over us. Complete control and impact. Unless we are warned, exhorted, taught and built up by the Word, afflictions can dominate our lives.

My friend, believers are destined for affliction, but we are not without power in the midst of the trial or turbulence. We are not to be tossed about, back and forth, without a response from our inner man. We will have trials, troubles and problems. It is the life of the follower. As a follower though, we have the opportunity to find strength in the Word, to find strength in the the truth that we can cling to when all else is falling around about us.

Beyond that, is it not the grace of God that provides each of us those “Timothy’s” to enter our lives, either through congregational messages, or via personal challenges, that we also may find strength to stand. This is Paul’s specific message to the Thessalonians in this passage, that Paul was sending a helper to provide a strengthening, a source of resistance against afflictions. Paul is reminding the Thessalonian church of the believer’s fate to experience affliction, but also of the resulting strength we can find in our Savior.

Through afflictions, we can stand, not “wagged” about every which way, but firm in our faith in the Savior.

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.

As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,

Timothy. Paul’s son in the faith.

A young man who has already been through much to enter into the kingdom of God. A young man who has been selected by Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, an apostle who has experienced the greatest of persecutions for his faith.

Timothy is a young man who has been granted great privilege and great responsibilities in his life. And he is being sent out to provide ministry to a tiny church Paul can’t get to.

It is interesting that though Timothy was presumably Paul’s closest son in the faith, there were extended periods of time when the two were separate from each other. This truth is spoken of here and in Philippians 2:19, where Paul speaks highly of Timothy, and of the need to send him away again.

It is as if to be Paul’s servant is to be the servant of others in need, and not necessarily of Paul himself. What I mean is that Paul did not gain the companionship comfort and supply of nis needs we sometimes assume Timothy provided. He gave him up for others. Paul exercised a sacrificial giving, even in the time he had with his closest friends.

For our verse this morning, Paul speaks of Timothy in two ways and in two efforts.

Two descriptions

Brother

Timothy was a brother to Paul. This may seem obvious, but this relationship bears a bit of reflection.

Though Paul was the great apostle to the Gentiles, his authority, though directly proffered to him by the Messiah, seems to be exercised by example and not by lording it over someone. This is reflected in Paul’s description of Timothy as a brother. Timothy was an equal in Paul’s eyes before the Lord, at least in responsibility to his call of God.

Timothy, like Paul, and like each believer today are brothers in a family that relates to the Father directly and not through any intermediary other than the Son of God, the Savior of us all.

God’s co-worker

As mentioned above, as a brother, this may relate to the equality of each of us in our calling of God. We are each responsible before the Father to know our calling and to exercise that calling in our lives. Paul was called as an apostle to the Gentiles. He was to be faithful to that calling. Timothy was called to be an evangelist, and an elder in a church. He was to be faithful to that calling.

Though it may be claimed that Timothy was an apostle of the churches (2 Corinthians 8:23), Timothy was never to answer to God for Paul’s calling as an apostle to the Gentiles. Likewise, Paul was not responsible to God to fulfill Timothy’s calling.

Both men, as brothers and co-workers with God, had different callings to the same God, and both owned the same helper in God.

Two missions

establish

Timothy was to establish the church in their faith. To establish is to make firm, to strengthen, to render constant and to confirm or make resolute. Timothy was to be the one that would continue Paul’s original the teaching of the Thessalonians, providing the same guidance and instruction, repeating the old story that we all love, the story of a loving God, His sacrificial Son and the proper and righteous way of life He has called us to.

exhort

Timothy was also to exhort the believers. To exhort, is somewhat of a more personal ministry, for it not only was a term of teaching and encouragement, it included the concept of being alongside in a struggle, to walk with, to console and to comfort.

This term is what takes the teaching (establishing) that is required and puts flesh on it. Though the facts of the gospel are wondrous, to see it lived out in a life of service and communion with God provides an example that can’t be argued against. It provides a powerful motivation for those who come into contact with that facts simply do not provide.

Personally, I have met a few believers that, though I had not the honor of being in their presence for long, impacted my life far deeper than they could have imagined.

An example may help. One night, one late late night, as I was making deliveries, I passed a brother’s home, and his lights were on. Did I tell you it was late that night? He invited me in, made me a drink, and provided an “off the cuff” Bible study on a question that I was struggling with. I spent too few hours with this man, but he exhorted me, and lived a life of example I could not argue against.

How about you? Have you a brother that has “exhorted” you, that has provided an example, and the encouragement in real life that has made a lasting impression? If so, be thankful.

How about you as that example? We need to be God’s co-worker if we are to impact others, which means we need to be open to God’s call on our lives each moment, so that God can use us in other’s lives.

That is the life that is satisfying!

Follow Considering the Bible on WordPress.com

Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.

A little while ago, I produced a verse by verse series in Philippians. I really enjoyed that exercise and have been wondering if I should take on another book. Well it turns out that 1 Thessalonians is the victim of my machinations, and hopefully, the thoughts produced by this fantastic book will edify and encourage the reader.

As with Philippians I am going to limit each post to one verse, and hopefully produce a short, succinct read for my friends who follow.

1 Thessalonians 3:1 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,

As a young believer, many many moons ago, I searched the Scriptures to find the truth regarding the premillennial pretribulation rapture teaching. For those who may not have heard of this teaching, it refers to the sudden catching up of the saints prior to the great tribulation that was/is to come upon the earth in the last days. I scoured and found every hint of teaching that might slightly refer or suggest such a glorious teaching. I was expert, taught it passionately and lived in anticipation of being taken up.

After all, Revelation 4:1 speaks clearly of the pretrib rapture.

Revelation 4:1 After this I looked, and behold, a door standing open in heaven! And the first voice, which I had heard speaking to me like a trumpet, said, “Come up here, and I will show you what must take place after this.”

Since John was told to “come up here”, obviously acting as a model for the church more than 2000 years in the future, and was called up before any of the following horrible depictions described in Revelation was provided, logic led me to believer this was irrefutable evidence of the pretribulational rapture.

Irrefutable logic!!! Or so I thought!

Our verse this morning seems to fight against that teaching though. It must be obvious to all that when Paul spoke of being “left behind”, he was referring to the teaching of the tribulational time schedule and date declaring that many find scattered throughout the Word.

Of course I jest, for when I saw the “left behind” term in our verse, my mind lept to foolishness. This minor side comment reminded me how easy it is, at least for myself, to find a passage and build a teaching that takes me down a garden path.

Irrefutable silliness!!!!

Suffice it to say, Paul is not speaking of the end times in this verse. I tend to think John wasn’t thinking end times either, but that is for a different time.

Paul is speaking of a self sacrificial giving up of one who was near and dear to him, one who was his closest ally while he is on mission, his child in the faith, the man he was grooming for great things. Timothy would be sent, with Paul left behind in Athens, a city he found little fruit in.

As a matter of fact, it appears that according to Acts 17, Paul had commanded Timothy and Silas to come to him as soon as possible in Athens. I assume that as these two men were on their way to minister to Paul, he gave instructions for Timothy to detour to Thessalonica.

Act 17:14-15

14 Then the brothers immediately sent Paul off on his way to the sea, but Silas and Timothy remained there. 15 Those who conducted Paul brought him as far as Athens, and after receiving a command for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible, they departed.

So though this verse does not speak of end time escatological timing or provide a detailed rapture schedule, it does speak of the love of God, the self sacrificial love of God being expressed in the actions of an apostle that cared more for his people than for his own needs.

To balance out this self sacrificial act, Paul does speak of his inability to bear the burden of not connecting with his church, but even if we consider this to dull the point of the self sacrificial love he had for them, and that it was simply to provide him relief from this burden of taking care of the church, the end result is the same. He gave up for his church, not only out of love for them, but also to relieve the concerns and cares he had for his church because HE LOVED THEM.

No matter how you slice this little passage up, we can glean two truths, a varying importance from it.

Our first truth? This is definitely the greatest truth to cull from this passage!

Paul loved his church self sacrificially. This is a heart worth having, a heart that reflects the very love of God, in a sacrificial, other centered love.

Our second truth? This is definitely the least important, silliest “truth” to come across, even to the point that if you ignore it, my feelings wouldn’t be hurt in the least.

Paul was willing to be “left behind” for his church, modeling the church in relation to a tribulation schedule. Yes – this is a foolish statement, but it is good to remember the great teaching throughout the Word, and to avoid distractions such as time schedules and date settings.

Let us remember the major teachings of the Word, the infinite love of God, the sacrificial love of the Son and the patient endurance of the Holy Spirit in our lives as we seek to follow the Living God. Timing and schedules are for those who want to major on the minors, and miss out on so much. Leave the highly subjective and overly detailed schedules behind and focus on the One who leads us.

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Thanks again for coming to visit. I hope you found something of interest in this post and would appreciate a comment, to begin a discussion.