Book of 1 Thessalonians - Ch. 3, Vs. 1-13 (11/02/2003)

The Aim of a Godly Life and God’s Sovereign Hand in Affliction

Turn in your Bibles to the third chapter of the first Thessalonians. Wherefore when we could no longer forbear We thought it good to be left at Athens alone. Joy, what's the aim of a godly man? To live a godly life.

Leave all questions of happiness alone. Now the situation may bring happiness. That'd be good. It may bring cares and sorrows that's still good. It'll bring in either case. Only good only. Now there are some among us this morning that it's hard to see the good but it's there and Sent to Malthus 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.

It appears that Timothy was very young when he was saved. He had now have ever been some years in the work of God. Paul therefore calls him our brother Being one of the same Christian family a son of God by adoption.

Elsewhere in his writings. He calls him his own son. Three. That no man should be moved by these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are appointed there unto now. There's always a danger By reason of the affliction persecution the devil first of all joy.

We we find across the country so many people Fighting the devil. Well, how can I? word this. It's not the devil's is it the devil's business To keep you from being saved, but that's where we are. That's what we think.

It's a battle between the devil and God for your soul. But the people he's a subtle subtle tempter Who seeks an opportunity to trick and destroy us, even though he cannot touch our soul, but he never tells us that.

Yes, that's right now. So many Christians so many churchgoers Are taught that the devil is trying to keep you from being saved and God's trying to save you. That's worldwide Theology, but notice here in this third verse Paul does not want any of them To slip back into their old ways.

So it was a problem in Paul's day as well as ours. It's the devil's designed to hinder the good fruit of the gospel. Either on those teachings or any success it may have no one Likes to labor in vain now, isn't it strange?

That the devil in all of his tempting us Cannot work anything bad. Is that right or wrong? That's right. Maybe your sewer has been blown all over your house. Maybe your air conditioner has quit with no apparent reason all of that may be true.

But who did it start with? Who sent it first? God did. It's so easy when we see something going wrong to To question God In the original state of everything we say on one hand. We we teach and we preach that God's in control.

God runs this world as he pleases. But then as soon as something happens, and I dislike it. I blame the devil, but there's a more outstanding words in that third Chapter Of third verse, let me find it.

What did you do with the third verse? Here. That no man should be moved by these afflictions for yourselves know That we are appointed there unto. What's that mean David? Absolutely. If we could comprehend that this morning in this session and really understand it Not just say we do but really understand That all of it originated with God.

Yes, yes, yes, absolutely. That's right now. What is Satan's overall design for man, do you think that he his design for say Russell a Stalwart Christian is to take him to down to hell. Yes. That's right.

What is his goal, all right, he's fighting Christ. Fighting against Jesus Christ. That's so right. That's right. Yes. We live in a house. It's a fleshly house That is totally dedicated to him. But we are to make Not let make it serve us.

Say it again. That's so good. Yes, I'm sitting here with goosebumps all over me it is so important. Well. The devil cannot take us to hell that no man Should be moved by these afflictions. No, man should be moved.

What does he mean Greg? Now you should not be moved because you know That you were appointed For this Catastrophe it came just when it was supposed to Greg. That's kind of hard to To comprehend when I'm standing knee-deep in the sewer.

What no are the devil's design is to hinder the good fruit of the gospel. Now, where do we see that fruit? Russell. Well, the the devil's going to it's his design to destroy The good fruit of the gospel.

Where do we see the gospel the good fruit? Yes. Only the believers can produce good fruit. Everything that comes from God to the saved and the unsaved alike is good. It's good for the church good for the Believers and that's where we see it because we're trapped in this human body in the original state of everything.

The original state is good because it comes from God or he does not control this world. One of the other we know that's not true. We are appointed. It's part of God's gracious plan. That his people in this world Should suffer trials.

I read that I read it to myself. I teach it. But still I slip back. Paul says don't do that. Christians should see and acknowledge the hand of God in their trials as Well as in their mercies. Never be led by them to renounce their confidence in him or their devotion to his service.

Now David can you be led to renounce him? 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 Believers are under a divine appointment from God Himself, I thought it was so strange Greg when you came with the report this morning.

And I've been planning all of this. I would have said same thing if you hadn't been here Except change the circumstances a little but that just points out Exactly what Paul is telling us. Believers are under a divine Appointment from God himself to undergo trouble and affliction.

The ultimate design of believers is to rest. Enter into my rest says the Lord God hath not appointed them unto wrath but to obtain salvation but for the present our ordained destination of God Is to be troubled.

This prepares us so that we can rest. Yes. That's right. Well This prepares us to rest. Seeing them that afflictions are appointed to us and we appointed to them seeing there's a decree of God's God concerning them a decree as to the matter of them as to the manner of them As to the measure of them as to the time of them when they shall commence.

How far they shall advance? How long they shall continue? Seeing everything in affliction is under an appointment. And if we see that that ought to make us so humble and Submissive as a Christian and with what firmness of belief may And ought he to look up to heaven for a sanctified use and improvement of them.

Christian Suffering, Divine Appointment, and the Good Fruit of the Gospel

Let no man be moved by afflictions. Knowing we are appointed there unto 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 was in vain Paul.

Now he knows God controls things. He knows that they're under the influence of the Lord. But he still is a little bit doubtful about some of the people. You may hear men say that they were born into the kingdom of God.

Just like Columbus was born Into the land of America. He saw the shore but look at the Maps that they drew. You'd laugh if you could see the maps. What did they know about the shoreline or of the rivers?

Or this vast continent? This had to be explored. Men think that men think they are born into the kingdom of God. When they experience joy and happiness, they think they are saved. They hope they are going to be saved.

But if they are it'll be through much Tribulation. What would you think of a child that would go into a school? And Become overjoyed because he had an education He could say thank God. I have my education.

He got it simply because he entered a schoolhouse,. I'm a Christian now, I'll learn. You are a Christian now you will learn learn to suffer heartache Tribulation joy. That's about all They know Being a Christian.

I'm not against you being happy and myself being happy and having a good time. When I meet with David over coffee, we have a good time. Very seldom does he Bawl me out in six, but now when Tim Timotheus came from you unto us And brought us good tidings of your faith and charity and That you have good remembrance of us always desiring greatly to see us as We also to see you.

I want you to remember what we've taught this morning, but especially this when bad news Comes too late To help your neighbor. Keep it to yourself when bad news comes too late. To be any of any help to the neighbor.

Then keep it to yourself. Seven therefore brethren. We were comforted over you in all your affliction and distress by your faith. For now we live If we stand fast in the Lord. I Used to work for a man that when you were out of sight you didn't exist.

When you went home at night or the weekend you just didn't exist. Until you were at it at his work. Now that man was looking to the fleshly not the spiritual. He was living for himself only. Nine for what things Can we render to God again for you.

For all of the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God. Now when we are most joyful, we should be most thankful. When we are most afflicted we should be most joyful. Greg you have supplied us with a Concrete illustration to teach us this morning or that that occurred at your house.

It'll be a long time getting over that. Getting everything back like it should be. The smell is gone ten night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face and might Perfect that which is lacking in your faith.

Well, what does Paul mean? That David that he wants to to Strengthen them in faith. For that that is lacking. I thought he'd just been to this Thessalonians, that's right. The word implies full development growth into maturity of godliness.

Not sinless perfection. What's the difference in sinless perfection and maturity David? That's right. Yes I I guess well, I know that in the most learned. The most Deep thinking Christian in the world.

Still has a deficiency now. Why do we know that Russell? Why why are we still deficient in? Something. Spiritually, it's because we're trapped in this body. It lends itself to the evil as faith cometh by hearing.

So it is confirmed by hearing also. Now God himself and our father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Direct our way unto you the best of men. Have something lacking. Maybe some doctrine or some deeper meaning of a doctrine.

Another words all are yet in need of learning. I Hope as long as I can live and many years afterwards. That none of us get to the point that we are beyond learning. That's one thing that makes our coffee so good that we can learn something new.

Each one of us it's so heartbreaking to find a Active church member that does not need to learn and the world is full of them. This town is full of People going to church this morning that think they don't need to learn.

Worse than that. They don't know that they need to learn 12 and the Lord make you to increase and Abound in love toward one another and toward all men even as we do toward you. We find Paul Praised that he may see their face.

He asks that they by the will of God have a prosperous journey. He knew that We move and live in God. But even Paul did not know. What would happen the next day? David turned to Acts 17 28 and read it to me in him we live.

Joy, there's the in him again in God 13 To the end that he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness. Before God even our father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints. Know that growth in grace is accomplished with Stability.

When you grow in faith, you're more stable. We must act in everything so that we may not in the least contradict the profession that we make. Suffering. I hate to say it. Suffering is the cement that holds us together.

Maturity in Faith, Love, and Stability Before Christ’s Coming

All right, let me hear some discussion from the class. Yes. That's right. That's right. How do you know that we will return with him in the in the perfected state. We'll be we'll be out of this body. Then we can be perfect.

You cannot be perfect in this body. No matter how hard you try. That's right. That's That's right. All right anything else Greg dismisses, please.