The Joy of Service (1 Thessalonians 3:6-10)

Good morning, and I've said many times. And I know the other elders agree with me how much I love this congregation and today your character is showing. For those of you who thought Jim was going to be preaching you're still here.

And for those of you who thought Justin was going to be preaching you're still here. It'll be okay. Let's pray before we start. Father it is your word that we look to this morning. And it is the living word the loving Son of God Jesus Christ who gave us Everything that we look to this morning.

The music has lifted him up. We ask father that now this worship together in the Word of God will lift you up will honor you will glorify you. Will spread the good news of your son the Lord Jesus Christ, and we'll give to your children your saints your elect the tools To be about the business of raising up godly children Preaching to the gospel the gospel to the lost and living our living out in the world.

The salvation that you have given us. We trust you for this in Jesus name. Amen.

The Comfort of Timothy’s Report and the Pastor’s Heart for the Church

So.

We started chapter 3. We're in first Thessalonians chapter 3. Again, and we started chapter 3. Oh in August of this year, I think it was and In that time together we looked at verses 1 through 5. The topic was comfort for believers.

And we looked at the way Paul and his co-laborers attended to the needs of the believers in Thessalonica. They had been unceremoniously Ushered and roughly ushered out of Thessalonica as you saw in the scripture reading this morning chapter of Acts chapter 17 1 through 9.

Before they felt that they had an opportunity to at least in their own minds Spend the time necessary there with that body to give them the foundation they believed they would need to stand the struggles that The that the life that life had to throw at them.

There were three observations. Well.

Actually.

We looked at the first five verses we looked at the heart of a pastor who delighted in serving God and Who loved the brethren and he had opportunity to bring the gospel to. We looked at that? Those five verses were full of biblical truth regarding the ways that an under shepherd Contend to the needs of the body of Christ.

I use the word under shepherd advisedly because that's what that's what elders in a church are and with emphasis on the word under. The five are the excuse me the three observations we made. I need a course in remedial math.

But the three observations we made is number one. They won't leave believers alone and unhelped. Versus one and two. Number two. They won't minimize the fact that believers will be afflicted. Versus three and four we'll talk about that again today.

And Number three, they won't ignore the possibility of apostasy. Verse five. So Paul, even though he really needed Timothy in Athens. He needed his help. He needed his companionship. He was headed into a city that was dark very dark.

We think that everything is the worst. It's ever been today well in the days of the Apostles, it was the worst that had ever been in their day and Paul had to go into Athens didn't have to. Yeah. He did because he was come his he had a compulsion which was to preach the gospel.

He had to go into Athens and and bring the gospel to that dark city and he could have used Timothy. But he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to be a blessing to them. Further he didn't shrink back from letting the Thessalonians know that they would be persecuted as will all who will live godly in Christ Jesus.

Finally he tackled the possibility of apostasy, but it was clear from his words that he did not expect that from this new group Paul was. Paul had seen the Holy Spirit at work in believers in other believers.

And he knew the truth of the scripture and just as he told the Galatians He believed that in this little church the one who had begun a good work in them would bring it to completion in Christ Jesus. Is that not a comfort to know that it is Christ?

It is himself who will bring the work in your life to completion that you don't have to depend on men. What what a comfort that is? With that as kind of a short review normally my reviews take a lot of time because it's been a long time since I've been With you, but it's only been a few months this time with that as a short review.

We'll we'll take a look at the next five verses in chapter 3 so let's look at chapter 3, and I'm gonna read Chapter 3 verses 1 through 10 to give us context. 1st Thessalonians chapter 3 verses 1 through 10 therefore When we could endure it no longer we thought it best to be left at Athens alone behind at Athens alone and we sent Timothy our brother and God's fellow worker in the gospel of Christ to strengthen and Encourage you as to your faith so that no man may be disturbed by these afflictions.

For you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. For indeed when we were with you We kept telling you in advance that we were going to suffer affliction. And so it came to pass as you know for this reason when I could endure it no longer I also sent to find out about your faith for fear that the tempter might have tempted you and our labor should be in vain.

But now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith. And love and that you always think kindly of us longing to see us. Just as we also long to see you for this reason brethren in all our distress and affliction.

We were comforted about you through your faith. For now we really live if you stand firm in the Lord for what thanks can we render to God for you in return for? All the joy with which we rejoice before our God on your account as We night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your faith and may complete what is lacking in your faith.

Timothy’s Good News, Faith and Love, and the World’s Hatred

So the first thing he says continuing a look at how our an under shepherd can properly serve the body of Christ. So that's what this section seems to speak is so that we know how an under shepherd a pastor an elder should act in the body of Christ and How they should be how they should live we're going to see in the next five verses we're going to look at three things on under.

Shepherd.

Delights in those he serves. An under shepherd is grateful for those he serves and an under shepherd seeks the growth of those he serves. So first. Thessalonians chapter 3 verse 6. But now that Timothy has come to us from you and has brought us good news of your faith and love and that you always think Kindly of us longing to see us just as we also long to see you.

Written very soon after Timothy returned it seems because of the way this is worded the structure of the grammar here Paul focused on the good news of Faith and love and that there was a deep-seated longing to see Paul and the Apostles again.

And they Paul and the his co-workers had that same longing. They wanted to see the believers of Thessalonica again. Paul didn't wait to let Timothy's report percolate it seems.

He yeah.

It was that good of a chronicle of the faith that had been growing in those young Thessalonians. That young church I should say because there would have been every age group in the church. These are always music.

These things are always music to the ears of those responsible to shepherd the flock of Christ. When an elder hears that those under his care are defending the faith Ably they're living it out in a manner that is speaking to the culture around them.

And they are defending the faith ably they are. They are demonstrating the love that only comes from the father of lights. He is even more stimulated to love and good works that elder is. It is a blessing beyond measure to know and see the scripture being lived out in people's lives.

Here the Greek word for good news by the way. This is an interesting little construction. It's almost well in all of Paul's other writings. It's only used of the gospel The evangelion the good news the you angelion in Greek.

Here he uses it to talk about the good news that came from Thessalonica. Because this was good news. He was. He used it to recognize that they were continuing to love both the bringer of the message and one another it was a remarkable statement.

It was a wonderful report. He speaks of the Thessalonians faith their love and their kind thoughts and their longing to see us. In 1st Corinthians Paul reminds his listeners that even as those two qualities are together they render someone's knowledge.

Useful in 2nd Corinthians faith and love are linked to being able to bless others with gifts and kindness. He uses these two words together some 18 times in his epistles. Faith and love. In Ephesians Paul reminds the brethren and I'm not giving the The address so that you'll be prompted to look it up.

It's good reading. In Ephesians Paul reminds his brethren that the true faith and love that comes with trusting Christ results in the indwelling Christ himself. Later in 1st Thessalonians He will use this combination of faith and love as a picture of the armor much as he did in Galatian area.

Excuse me in Ephesians in 1st Timothy he calls these two qualities the actual goal of an of his entire instruction so much so. That he reminds Timothy that even though he's young. Timothy was young even though you're young.

If you demonstrate these two qualities you are a worthy example to all who believe. Do you hear that young believer young person in church here.

Kootenai community.

Did you know that your faith and your love are not are not just a blessing to those around you? But a challenge to your mentors. You've brought the gift back to them when you walk in Christ.

I.

See so many young people in this in this body who love Christ and who are living out the truths of the gospel every day. It is both a blessing to me and a challenge In the proper way to press on to become more like Christ.

I even had one tell me this morning. He likes the fact that I use the word under shepherd. He studies the word. This is a teeny eat. No, I'm not gonna say that like it's some sort of pejorative. He's a young man who loves the Lord.

He studies the word and he understands why I'm using a particular word.

What?

That's just like the bees knees. Can I say that? He challenges. He and those others challenged the elders to press on to be more like Christ. So you're doing the work young people and it's a marvel to see later in 2nd Timothy using focusing back on these two words faith and love.

Paul reminds his young charge Timothy that an improper faith and love destroys people. And that's the sound words He gave to Timothy. Result in proper faith and love. Calvin said it this way. He said faith and love.

This form of expression should be the more carefully observed by us in proportion to the frequency with which it is made use of by Paul. For in these two words, he comprehends briefly the entire sum of true piety.

Hence all that aim at this twofold mark during their whole life are beyond all risk of erring all others. However much they may torture themselves wander miserably. And Indeed as Rick mentioned or as Jeff mentioned this morning in his Sunday school teaching the goal of instruction Is love faith and love from a sound mind.

Paul also speaks with joy of the news that the Thessalonians always also thought kindly of him. He brought hard news to them. Remember we talked about the last time we're together. He didn't he didn't shrink back from telling you're gonna struggle.

You're gonna be afflicted. The world's gonna hate you. I'm gonna talk about that a little bit more later on. You didn't know that did you. The world was gonna hate you. You May not have when you first became a Christian.

Because you were one of the elect of it wouldn't have stopped you. But it might have made your entrance into to life a little more sobering thoughtfully and sobering. Remember we talked about the fact that he told them they would suffer if they became followers of Christ.

The genuine good news of the Gospel will never minimize the bad news of the world. Insulating people from what can happen to them when they trust Christ is a disservice to them. It is not necessary to wax eloquent about how evil the world is a Simple reminder that the world hated Christ and that Christ promised his followers a proportion of that hate is enough in fact.

Why don't we just see what the scripture says. You know things like this? John 15 19 if you were of the world the world would love its own. But because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world because of this the world hates you.

So the world Believers have come out of the world and the world hates that. John 15 18 The world hates you. You know that it's hated me before it hated you. And Matthew 10 22 You will be hated by all because of my name.

But it is the one who has endured to the end that will be saved beloved. Don't be surprised. This is now. This is not scripture. This is me. Because the scripture often uses the word beloved. I don't want you to be confused.

The world hates the Lord Jesus Christ, and if you love Christ the world will hate you. John 3 19 and 21 to 21. This is the judgment that light has come into the world and men love the darkness rather than the light.

For their deeds were evil for everyone who does evil hates the light and does not come to the light for fear that his deeds Will be exposed. But he who practices truth comes to the light so that his deeds may be manifested as having been wrought in God.

Imagine someone Who hates it when you come into the room and turn the light on this is the world. You try to turn the light on to show them the truth of the gospel, and they will hate you for it. But there will be some who will bless you for that.

Remember that there will be some Who will bless you for it. Always remember that Romans 118 for the wrath of God is Revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men who suppress the truth in unrighteousness.

Proverbs 12 1. Well let me Back up for the wrath of God. There will always be those who hate the truth. The world wants to suppress the truth so that they can continue to live in their unrighteousness.

Anyone who wants to continue to live in unrighteousness? Whether it be an unbeliever or a believer who's struggling in sin will try to suppress the truth. So that they can continue to live in that unrighteousness.

Proverbs 12 1. Whoever loves discipline loves knowledge, but he who hates reproof is stupid. Proverbs 27 5 better is open rebuke than love that is concealed. The world will always mistake a proper loving rebuke of sin as hate.

Let me say that again the world will read will always Let me read it again. Will always mistake a proper loving rebuke of sin as hate and for that they will hate you. You may lovingly attempt to correct someone about something like homosexuality or abortion or lying or or Fornication or or whatever sin there is and you will be viewed as hard and unloving.

When in fact the loving thing to do is to bring someone to Christ and repentance for their sin. Actually, we don't bring them. The Holy Spirit does but is to give them the gospel. So that they can come to Christ and repent of theirs of their sin for only then does healing come.

But the world will hate you for bringing that truth. Exodus 23 2 this is an interesting one. You shall not follow the masses in doing evil nor shall you testify in a dispute so as to turn aside after a multitude.

In order to pervert justice the world follows the big molders of opinion. They follow the crowd. The heart of a Christian is to test all things and to hold fast to that which is to which is true and the world hates this first.

Corinthians 127. But God has chosen the foolish things of the world to shame the wise and God has chosen the weak things of the world to Shame the things which are strong as anyone ever told you that the gospel is foolish.

That it's silly. It seems stupid. They cannot Apprehend it until Christ comes into their heart and regenerate comes in and regenerates them so that they can understand it. Keep teaching it keep saying it because there will be those who will understand it, but the world thinks you're stupid.

They think the things of the gospel are foolish we have to recognize that they are spiritually discerned and only after regeneration can someone understand and Embrace them as the truths of Scripture.

The gospel is the doorway to that among other things. Acts 19 24 through 27, I'm not going to read the whole thing, but basically there were silversmiths in One of the towns that Paul had visited and the gospel was fouling up their business.

It was reducing their income because they were losing adherence to a faith that required that you buy their silver statues and then there was this Girl that Let's see. There was a girl in Acts chapter 16 who was making a great deal of money for her handlers by telling fortune.

The simple fact is that The under what's the bottom line of the world is diminished can be diminished by the gospel and they will hate you for that. Because the gospel is not about making money. What's.

Truly.

Reprehensible is that those who wear the guise of Christian in the church are Preaching that you can be rich and famous. If you'll just do certain things you can be rich or healthy or wealthy. None of the gospel teaches that and it is those who are the most reprehensible that they would lead people astray.

We've talked about that. Actually, I think it was brought up in Sunday school, too. That's no we don't collaborate. I think we just read the same Bible. There's a great deal more but that suffices for now.

I don't want to barrage you with the fact that the world hates you. Did any of you have. Did you know the world hates you you can nod your head? Yeah. Yeah. Okay good it should. Do not be surprised. Don't use it necessarily as a litmus test to see if you're doing right.

Always test all things from Scripture and hold fast to the truth. But if the world hates what you're saying if the world hates what you're doing and you're doing it out of a out of love. Odds are you're in the right track, but always come back to Scripture.

Paul was also delighted to know that the people he had invested his life in long to see him. These are the people that he told that the world was going to hate him. He probably I know he preached to them much more eloquently than I just did.

He told them that the world would hate them and they long to see him again.

Comfort in Affliction and the Joy of Seeing Believers Stand Firm

The.

Verb translated long and has an intensity of purpose. Timothy had apparently told Paul that the believers in Thessalonica missed him terribly. What a balm to Paul's wounds that the world was giving to him.

He was a blessed man, and he truly delighted in those He served verse 7 for this reason brethren in all our distress and affliction. We were comforted about you through your faith. The distress and affliction that Paul and others were facing was very real.

In in many if not most of the places they went they were rejected hated and run out of town. Hearing about a church body that had received the gospel and had put to work so quickly was incredibly comforting.

Let's face it in this life. Good news like that makes the worth the work more than worth it. For it is work to build up others as I'm sure you know. But not a project. It's loving work. No, they were on.

People are an object of love and concern and so this is what the body of the Thessalonian believers was was to Paul and his companions they were a Blessing beyond measure a delight somebody they wanted to see again really badly.

In any proper Church of the Living God. This is the relationship that you will find between the brethren there even while people are going through difficulties. They will want to invest themselves in other people's lives if we all said well I'll wait till things are good with me, and then I'll help someone else out.

How's that gonna work out? It's not gonna work out because we will always be struggling through things. More than likely that's what makes us by God's grace most useful to others. Not more than likely that is way.

One of the things by God's grace if we all waited till things were perfect perfect in our lives to begin investing in the lives. With others nothing would get done. When is difficulty ever ceased in your life?

It go ahead raise your hand.

Okay, okay.

With Paul the difficulties were multiplied by his own choice of course as he traveled throughout The known world to plant the gospel it was a dangerous and often thankless work to receive a report like this was fantastic.

One commentator noted that although Paul and his co-workers had been quote expelled from one place after another in Macedonia Paul and the others might well have wondered if in spite of their confident interpretation of the call of God in Acts chapter 16 They had been divinely guided to that province after all they had no reason to expect more positive Acceptance in Achaia to which they had now perforce come but Timothy's report on the state of the Thessalonian Church Dissipated their fears the gospel had taken firm root in the capital city of Macedonia.

The seed had been sown in fertile ground and the fruit was already beginning to appear. If the Thessalonians had not allowed the tribulations to destroy Their Christian faith and love. Paul and Sylvain is found in this good news a sovereign remedy for their own distress and affliction.

So now here's where I get off the horse. I saddled and rode into church today, and I get on an unsaddled untrained horse so so the Lord by his choice has called four of us to serve this church as under shepherds and I'm here to tell you and other elders.

They go, what's he gonna say? I've had people come to me recently with difficulties and and and terrible things hard things going on in their lives, and I've been blessed that they came to me and I've had some of them relate.

Well you seem so busy. If I'm too busy Then somebody needs to kick my legs out from under me. This is what I'm here for you are what elders are called for and We find it a blessing and a delight to be able to serve you and if it ever goes to our heads I know you'll take care of that because this is a church that studies the Word of God.

We want to be used by God. We want to be a blessing to you, and if I act too busy then those of you that are more bold out there confront me. Because I'm not I'm not too busy neither is Dave. Dave's not here to defend himself neither is Jess Marcia.

Don't hurt me after the service. Jim's on vacation a well-deserved vacation but our desire is to be a blessing and a service and a ministry and We truly believe that the word under means under we are under the Great Shepherd.

He has called people to this kind of work, and we're always looking for others. There'll be an opportunity for that in the future in the near days to come I think and so now some of you are terrified.

That's good. One of the requirements that I believe an elder needs to have in his life is he needs to remain terrified his entire life. Properly terrified if you will okay now. I'm gonna get back on the horse.

For now we really live verse 8 if you stand firm in the Lord this report was so fantastic. That Paul writes here what naturally flowed from his heart as you truly stand in the Lord He said to the Thessalonians.

We can really live. Maybe many of you have heard the old funny about the billionaire who wanted to be buried in his Lamborghini and When that happened one of the onlookers Inadvertently blurted out wow man.

That's really living. I don't think so I Don't think that's what this means. Paul said he was really living. I hardly think he used. I hardly think that that's what it meant. He uses the present tense here because this kind of news is one that sustains one throughout their entire life.

One commentator said this is more than physical life. It is the fullness of the Christian life the fullness of seeing others walking strongly in the gospel. I would also take it that Paul's choice of words here as inspired by the Holy Spirit are significant.

The word he uses for stand Firm is a military term. Which denotes an armed force holding their ground? This is just another form of Paul saying that what he said to the Philippians that he was Confident of this very thing that he who began a good work in you will complete good work among you will complete it by the day Of Jesus Christ Christ Jesus just read what's on paper razor.

It is at once a terrifying thing to know that those who have given the gospel to Those we have given the gospel to will be persecuted. But it is also as I mentioned earlier a very comforting thing to know that it is God himself Who has the responsibility of seeing them through to completion?

It is God himself. Don't stop preaching the gospel.

And.

So hearing of the perseverance especially in this young church that Paul did not have the time he wished to have in giving him the Foundations they would need to stand the storms. It was wondrous to him and so this is a this is why Paul could say that it was the same kind of good news that the gospel was not.

Exactly the same. Don't misunderstand me I'm not minimizing the gospel, but this was good news when he heard that the Thessalonians were standing against affliction. It inspires it inspires us as not as much as the gospel, but it's similar.

It should be remembered those with that. But when those who had received the gospel from Paul were unfaithful. Can we think of a church that might have done that? The word Corinth comes to mind and Caved into sin and false teaching when that happened.

He was devastated. He even became depressed over the Corinthian church and first I think it's chapter 7 verse 6. I Should have looked it up, but I think that's I'm pretty sure that's it. He even became depressed and God relieved that depression how by sending Titus to him with good news about the Corinthian church.

The time this that time it was about the wayward Corinthians. We are made this way. It's one of the ways God works in us when we when those we love follow Christ. Even as it might seem to them just plodding through the difficulties of pain in life it the pain that life brings it brings joy.

To our hearts to see people holding fast to the scripture.

It.

Renews our desire to pray for them. It sustains us. It draws us closer to the Lord Jesus himself. Your mother's you mothers, you know this. Well, when you pour your life into a child it results in both great agony and great joy when they walk.

Crooked.

You spend countless time in prayer. When they walk according to the scriptures your heart soars. It was this that inspired John to write. He said I have no greater joy than this to hear of my children walking in the truth.

This is true of physical children and spiritual children. This is to this to shows that a proper under shepherd delights in those he serves and he is grateful. So this is so much so that though the world may be falling down around us and it kind of looks like that at least in some ways.

If an under shepherd sees those he is responsible for pressing on for the Lord Jesus Christ it is a balm. It is a delight a blessing and a wonder. At once Calvin again said this he said all pastors are Reminded by this of the kind of relationship with ought to exist between them and the church when things go well with the church.

They are to count themselves happy even though in other respects. They are surrounded by much distress on the other hand. However, if they see the building which they have constructed falling down there to die.

They are to die of grief and sorrow even though in other respects there is good success and prosperity. Unquote. Now, of course, we know that the Lord builds the church in Context. Calvin is simply talking about the relationship that exists between a vibrant church in the middle of a destructive world system how it brings joy to the heart of those who are responsible to serve and as Jim often relates.

You will not find this from. I got to read this from a skinny jean ear pierced henna tattooed yellow bricks road charlatan. I have always you know for years. Back before I got involved here at Kootenai and and I when I was preaching in other places we talk about Prosperity preachers back then I call them yellow brick road charlatans.

Because who hasn't heard about the yellow brick road if you just follow the yellow brick road. Has anybody how maybe Wizard of Oz isn't watched anymore. I don't know. I'm an old guy.

Anyway.

They're not the ones who are gonna be there for you. They're not the one they're not called. They're called they think they're called to do this to make money wrong kind of calling. This so those who have been called to serve the Church of God do so out of compulsion.

Prayer, Sanctification, and What Is Lacking in Their Faith

And out of love the compulsion is from the Lord himself. The love is for the brethren. It's a good compulsion and by the way you'll always find here that when we ask you to come to us with your needs and let us pray for you and don't push on the pulpit and Let us pray for you.

Let us minister. Let us help. Let us do what we can. It's going to be in this church. It's elders and they're going to be men. I'm looking into the camera. They're going to be men. They're gonna be men called by God because that's what the scripture says and we adhere to sound doctrine.

Verse 9 for what thanks can we render to God for you in return for all the joy with which we rejoice before God on your Account. Paul asks a rhetorical question here in order to cast a special light on the fact that it was God himself.

Who did the work in those of Thessalonica? They were standing strong not because of Paul. They were standing strong not because of Silvanus. They were standing strong not because of Timothy. They were standing strong because of God and because of the Word of God.

Let that not ever be. Unevident from here. Is that a word unevident? The rejoicing was given to Paul and his co-workers directly from God. Does the preacher take the credit for the good lives of his flock of the flock he serves?

Paul never did. His rejoicing was before God and his thanks was to God and all of the credit went to God. So the good news Timothy brought inspired Thanksgiving in Paul's heart to God. Under shepherds understand that it is God who does the work.

It is not them. If it depended on men the church wouldn't have lasted 40 minutes. But it's lasted 2 ,000 years because it depends on God. Paul uses his words these words on Thank Thanks, thank or thankful in a positive way 32 times in his epistles now.

This wasn't supposed to be a preaching addendum to the holiday. We just celebrated, but I can't help mention that I didn't notice as I was working my way through this. That it lent itself very well to that idea.

The Pastor’s Joy, Thanksgiving, and Prayer for Completion

There isn't much in life that came to Paul that he wasn't thankful in some way or another for he was thankful for those he served. He was thankful for grace. He was thankful for the gifts of the Spirit.

He was thankful just to remember people. He was thankful that those he taught lived out the gospel. He was thankful for Christ Jesus. He was thankful in prayer for others. He was thankful when anyone came to Christ and became a slave of Christ rather than a slave of sin.

He was thankful when believers were obedient to the Word. He was thankful for those who risked their lives for him. He was thankful for the victory that comes in Christ. He was thankful for the prayers of others.

He was thankful for the inheritance waiting for him. He was thankful for being one of the elect and he was even thankful for the distress and difficulties that came his way because he stated that he delighted in them because they were an opportunity for God to work and For God to be glorified.

And he was thankful for this thankful for this young body in Thessalonica Who had weathered the storms in their lives in such a way that when Timothy brought back a report about them It was clear. They were victorious because of God because of the gospel this delighted Paul.