Book of 1 Thessalonians - Ch. 3, Vs. 1-13 (08/22/1999)

The Hidden Statement About Human Origins

In the book of 1 Thessalonians. Now I have another statement for you, and this has no time limit to it. It's just whenever anyone figures it out, you come to me privately and tell me. The statement is this.

God did not make the whole human race from the first couple. Think about it. That's a true statement. So do your research or your meditating or whatever. God did not make the whole human race from the first couple.

Did you get that, Dennis? You'll have to sit on the first three rows someplace. You can't sit back there. I'm not kidding. Move over here on at least the third row. I'm trying to arrange... Come up. There you go.

I'm trying to get things where I can hear and understand a little bit better. Next week we're all going to have chairs around here. All right. The statement is this, and I will repeat the rules. You do not have to write anything.

Just when you figure it out, come to me and tell me privately. The statement is this, and it's a true statement. God did not make the whole human race from the first couple. Think about it. Now, you might think about this one, too.

That which is good walks on crutches. First verse. Everybody sits up on the first three rows. Boy, that third row is crowded. Just two people on the front. There's another brave one. All right. Everyone get where I can see your eyes.

B, move over to your... Well, you can't. Yeah, that's good. We're going to take a picture. I can see everyone but Debbie, but I know she's there. First verse, chapter 3. First Thessalonians. Wherefore, when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone.

Affliction, Comfort, and the Christian Life

Richard, what is the aim of the Christian life? All right, to live a godly life. A life after the image and mind of God. And to leave all questions of happiness alone. Now, did you hear that? Leave all questions of happiness alone.

You'll spend all your time looking for something to make you happy. There is an ordinance of affliction. We need to learn its author, to learn its reason, and to learn its end. Who can venture the author of the ordinance of affliction?

God. What is the reason? What? To grow. What is the end? Happiness. So you don't have to worry about or look for happiness. It'll come. Affliction is a thorn, but it's a thorn from God. And it is his mode of education.

Verse 2. Now, Paul says it was good that we were left alone at Athens and sent Timotheus, or 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.

David, the more we are comforted, the more we are confirmed as to who we are. How many of you ever had any doubts about your salvation? Raise your hand. I'm sure we all. Those of you who didn't put your hand up are lying.

No, we have had. But I go back to the old standard. If you have learned any spiritual truth, you're his. He will not reveal himself to the world. The more we're comforted, the more we are confirmed, because when we find pleasure in the ways of the Lord, we shall thereby be engaged to continue and to preserve it.

Appointed to Suffering and Not Being Moved by Afflictions

Verse 3. That no man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourself know that we are appointed thereunto. How do we know? First Thessalonians 3. How do we know that we're appointed unto affliction?

All right. Where does it say that? You've got to be able to prove it to convince me. Does anyone know where in the Bible we can find confirmation for this? In the concordance? Is the concordance part of the Bible?

How quickly we forget. Greg, I thought sure you could remember Philippians 129. But see, you'd have to have scripture for that too. We suffer.

All right. It is given to us to have Christ. Not only to believe on him, but also to suffer. Right.

It is given to us to suffer. So, Fred, you're right.

Well, I hope so. I was going to ask you next. If I can't promote the scripture, does it fall out for me? No. I didn't believe it.

But I want us to learn how to find these particular phrases. Because you will need them in your everyday life someday. I need all the help you can give me.

I believe that question.

You see that in verse 3? That no man should be moved by these afflictions. Did you ever have anything that you consider to be bad happen to you and you want to know why? Did you ever have anything happen to you that was bad that caused you to feel extremely depressed?

That you began to question your salvation? That you wondered why God ever did this to you?

Can I ask this question?

Can anyone make you depressed? Can anyone make you angry? Can anyone give you a nervous breakdown? We do all these things to ourselves.

For one reason or another. Well, is that it? Yes.

Read that carefully. About the fact that I am under persecution, under affliction. And for that, I think I know exactly what that word means. Fell and broke her arm. I was moved for about a day or two.

Questioning God and saying, why would a sweet lady like this have this happen? I can think of a few others in town that fit better. I was moved. I was supposed to be. I shouldn't have been, but I was.

And I repented of it. Because I knew the Lord. You know the Lord is right. I think he means don't question God about what's happened to me. Now, it does not mean that we cannot be concerned. That we cannot offer help.

That we cannot pray. It doesn't mean that. It means what he was saying. That to be moved by it is to be moved to the point that we're questioning God why it happened. And we never know that. That's right.

But it should not be. And the more you are confirmed in your position in Christ, the less it will move you. Yes. All right. Where did we get to? Well, let me finish my comments on three. What would you think of a child when he entered into schoolhouse for the first time and he said, thank goodness I have my education.

It wouldn't be long, Fred, before the rules of math and grammar convinced him that he didn't have. Well, the very same idea with Christians now. Too many times we leave the impression with new Christians that now that they are saved, they have their salvation.

And there's no need, Brian, to do anything else. You have salvation and that's enough. Well, he told us to work out our salvation. What does that mean? All right, if I gave Jesse 40 acres of good bottom land and just gave it to him and it was his, but I told him to work it out, it would mean that I'd want to see some fruit off of that.

Profit off of that. Same way as salvation. He has given it to us, but we're supposed to put it to work. Not to get it, but because we have it. You must not think that you will always be happy. You'll have doubts and fears.

The working out of your salvation will come through many tears and afflictions, but through it all will be joy. Verse 4,. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before, or beforehand, that we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and you know it.

Paul was deeply persecuted, and he had told these people that that's exactly what was going to happen. Can we expect any less? Now, we're living in a very protected society. Now, I know that protection is deteriorating by the hour, but still we're in a more, what can we say, compatible society than most any other section in this United States.

If you don't believe that, just travel to New York or to Seattle or Boise, any place where the Christian influence is not near as strong as it is here. Well, I found this to be true, and I'm sure Brother David has.

When a student and a teacher are separated, it will soon cross the mind of the teacher to wonder about the spiritual condition of the student. If you're not where you can meet for coffee or fellowship once a week or once a month, after a few months you begin to wonder, and of course most of it is just imagination on our part.

Timothy’s Report and the Tempter’s Hindrance

But now when Timotheus came from you unto us and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye 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 of our afflictions and distresses by your faith.

I did. 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. The teacher always wants to keep up with the progress of the students, and I think this holds true even in a school environment, at least as it was when I grew up.

I wonder now, but I like to keep up with the students. Now let me give you another Fisherism. Yes, go ahead. Where were you before in 2 .18? It does not depend upon the tempter, but from man's viewpoint it's very simple and very obvious that it seems to be that Satan is the one that's hindering.

Now he can do no more than God has him do, but to us it seems as though it is Satan doing all of this, and for good reason, because that's God's way of teaching us. See, it's very difficult for us to look at everything from God's viewpoint.

The most I can hope for is that we will learn that it is in existence, and that everything, and it will help us understand the more we can get around on his side and look at it. But it's so very clear to us that Satan is doing all of this.

Well, he is from our viewpoint, but really he cannot touch us. He cannot really do anything to us. It's all God, and I do not sit here and claim to be able to explain every action that Satan does, because I cannot, other than to say God is in control of everything.

I think it is. Sure. That's his main purpose, is to... See, he has a spiritual battle with our Lord. I believe, and it's just my belief, that he was the archangel directly responsible to Jesus Christ, and that's why the battle is so ferocious between the two.

But it is his purpose to embarrass Jesus Christ, and if he can trick one of us or get us to do something that would do that, then he is in a very gleeful mood. But understand this, you do not have to do what he tries to get you to do.

Now, where were we? All right, let me give you another Fisherism. When bad news comes too late to be of any comfort to your neighbor, keep it to yourself. It seems like we like to go tell them, because we like...

I don't know, the old human nature just likes to spread bad news. Don't do that. Keep it to yourself, unless it can help. Verse 8, For now we live if we stand fast in the Lord. Now, we need to couple that with the other verse.

And 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. Does anyone have a translation that instead of establish, it has establish in two, three, two?

Establish. Well, it'll come up a little later, and we'll talk about it then. Is that a new King James? If it's not the new King James or the old King James, you're in trouble. I know Mr. Ryrie, and I had doubts about him back when I was doing so much work at the college.

I don't... That's just my own personal feeling. You can do whatever you want to. But don't follow me. Follow God. Now, in verse 2, he said, We were very concerned, and we sent Timothy to establish and comfort you and your faith.

For now we live if we stand fast in the Lord. For now we live with good news from you. It makes us alive. For what thanks we... For what thanks can we render to God again for you for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before God?

It just can't be much better than this. When we are the most cheerful, we should be the most thankful. And this touches on what we were just discussing. It is the devil's design to hinder the good fruit of the gospel.

That's his design. Either on those teaching or in any good success it may have. It is enough to know that the providence of God is involved in the falling of a sparrow. You remember that? And the numbers of hairs on her head.

By the way, if he counts the hairs on her head, wouldn't you think he'd also count the tears that we shed? If he's involved in all of that, how much more in the trials and afflictions of his children?

Of all created comforts, God is the lender, and we are the borrower, never the owner. A man's life is the table of contents of his heart. You don't have to say a word if you just watch him and listen.

Lack in Faith, Love for All Men, and Being Established in Holiness

Now, Brian, here's a whole church full of people. Now they had problems, we know that. The Jews were not meeting with the Gentiles, and they would each meet separately. But he said, we would really like to come visit you again so that we might perfect that which is lacking in your faith.

How did he know there was something lacking in their faith? You're absolutely right, but I would go even further and say that the best of Christians have something lacking. Well, now, let's get something straight.

There is no such thing as weak faith. Faith is faith. Now, we might be weak in exercising it, but the faith is as strong as it'll ever be. We just have not learned to use all that we have. But it's not weak faith.

It's either you have faith or you do not have faith. And if you're in Christ, you have faith. That's right. Absolutely. That's right. Maybe there's something in the doctrine, or deeper meaning of a doctrine.

In other words, all are yet in need of learning. Every Christian in the world that has ever been, or Dennis ever will be, is in need of learning. Richard, I know some preachers in this town that are beyond learning.

They think they don't need to anymore. They've been to seminary. Yes. It's so heartbreaking to see a busy church member that does not need to learn. Worse than this, they don't know that they need to learn.

11. Now God himself and our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ direct your ways unto 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.

Now, let's be sure we understand. The Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another. That's the agape love. And toward all men. This is the love that would cause you to treat every person, saved or unsaved, in a just, moral, right way.

And not to take advantage of everybody. It is impossible to share the agape love with an unsaved person. Do you understand? 12. To the end, he may establish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all of his saints.

Now, the word establish is not an old English word that today we would say establish. It's two different words. It's true we don't use the word establish much anymore, but it has a beautiful meaning. One can establish themselves.

But a person must be established. It takes the power of some third being to establish you. And that means to set you firmly facing in one direction. In this case, facing God. And you cannot move. At the moment of salvation, we were established in Christ.

We were set fixed in Christ by the Holy Spirit facing the Godhead established. We become established by being established. Any questions? 13. We must act in everything so that we may not in the least contradict the profession that we claim.

If you claim to be a Christian, you have taken his name, don't dishonor it. Don't think just because the preacher can't see you or the neighbor can't see what you're doing that God's blind also. As I said before, Dennis, next time you're going to sin, go someplace where God can't see.

Walking to Please God and the Three Groups of People

Now some further notes on Chapter 3. When Columbus discovered America, he actually thought he had discovered this country. He drew maps of the shoreline, the rivers, the valleys, the mountains. But what did they know of this vast continent?

They didn't know anything. But they really thought they had discovered this country. All of these things had to be explored. Men think that they are born into the kingdom of God. And when they experience a religious joy and comfort, they think they have been saved.

Our salvation comes through much tribulation. Now don't misunderstand. We're not working to maintain or keep our salvation. We're working because we are saved. But just because you're saved does not mean it's complete.

You can never lose it. By following this line of thinking, a man could buy a rod and reel and that would make him a fisherman. A Christian can own a Bible, even a large one, and carry it where all of the news can see.

And not know a thing about the teachings in it. A person can enroll in college and think he now has his education. Did you ever see anybody like that? He can even graduate from the same college and think, now I'm educated.

Did you ever see anybody like that? If you've been around the business world very long, you have. We can spend our entire life studying the Bible and think we know it all. But the best teacher is calamity.

Shaken? You see how much there is in just one word if we slow down and study it? And each one of us sees something different, not only in each word, but we'll see different words. And the more you study, the more that will happen.

I remember that I knew Greg when the word moved wouldn't have impressed him at all. But look at him now. Well, we're going to get to open chapter four a little bit. Furthermore then, we beseech you. Tell me, what's the word beseech mean?

Trudy, help her out. What's the word beseech mean? What? Request? Greg, beseech. As strong as you can make it. It's a request. But I beg of you. I plead with you. Furthermore then, we beg of you. Brethren, and exhort.

Brian, there's another good word. Exhort. What's that mean? Plead? David, what's exhort mean? So we beg you and we encourage you by the Lord Jesus. That as you have received of us how you ought to walk and to please God.

So you would abound more and more. Is it possible to please God? Greg says it is. Richard, do you agree or disagree? Well, it is possible because he's told us how.

And we can. Dennis, we could. What?

That's a very popular doctrine today. You're taking the word abound to mean money in your pocket? No. To abound more. Well, you'll hear a lot of that on television.

We should. That's right. You're absolutely right.

And it's not wrong to better ourselves because we know if we do attain a better state of life, it is due to God's providence, not really ours. And to desire to be better is the aim of a Christian. A Christian never looks for things in which he can suffer.

The suffering will come. And we look at everything to bring praise to the Lord. Now, that might include suffering. It might include riches. He has the rich here so that they can finance the poor that he has here.

He said the poor you'll have with you always. Did you ever think about that statement? That's right. And within that statement, he's teaching segregation. It will always be. Why do you think we've never overcome it?

Because we can't. And we never will. That's the way it is, only I would hope it's not that we just understand it. I would hope that it's that we do. I said that we increase ourselves. Yes, yes. We're to strive to become more Christ-like.

Now, was he rich? Was Christ rich compared to what we think is rich? Was he even poor compared to what we think is poor? The statement he makes here in the first verse, Don't overlook that. We beseech you that as you have received of us, meaning the Holy Spirit has brought it, you are to walk and to please God the very best you know how.

God will never hold any individual responsible for that which he has not revealed to them. Now, it does not mean that you can not study, that you can lock your child in a closet and never let them be exposed to anything and get by because they have the opportunity.

But he controls the revealing of himself, Brian. We are to grow more and more. No one grows by talking about the Bible. There's a certain fear I have, continually, that we'll get so caught up in talking about the Bible and the truths that we never do it.

Did you ever hear anyone, especially when you were a child, and somebody said, Boy, when I get rich, I'm going to do this and that. When my ship comes in, look out. Well, we do the same thing only in different terms because there is a satisfaction that comes with talking about what we're going to do and thereby we never do it.

But let me give you a word of advice. Don't talk so much because if you never voice what you hope to do, then if you do not do it, you don't have to go back and explain to people why you didn't do it.

Just let it unfold as it comes. Our walk is very important. We cannot any longer do as we please unless it is the same as the Lord pleases, if we're going to please Him. There should be no bounds to our exercising of the grace of God in our life.

Don't set limits. Don't limit God to your own understanding. The more negative your life, the more trouble, distraction, and unhappiness your life will become and the less sweet and true use of it you'll have.

Try not to be so negative. Don't always look on the dark side. Don't always walk around and say, Oh, why did this happen to me? There are three groups of people in the world, and we're going to stop here.

The first one is self-pleasers. They think of themselves all of the time. This is Jacob before he had the wrestling match. There are man-pleasers, those that just want to please everybody else. Then there are God-pleasers.

It's the last group that we're to follow. It is possible to please God in Colossians. Just write down these references. Colossians 3 .20, Psalms 147 .11. I'll repeat them. Matthew 11 .28, Matthew 11 .29, and 30.

Colossians 3 .20, Psalms 147 .11, Matthew 11 .28, 29, and 30. I'll repeat them.