Monthly Archive for May, 1999

1 Thessalonians 3:2c

Published on May 31, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith…”
 
in the gospel of Christ,
 
Paul views himself as a “fellow laborer” in the harvest fields. He also views Timothy the same way. He is a “fellow” minister with Paul. Paul does not look upon Timothy as competition. He is one with him in ministry. He gave glory to Jesus Christ to whom the glory belongs. We capitulate to Him in everything. In all work for Jesus Christ, He is Lord.
 
Principle:
Proclaiming the gospel requires freedom from competition.
Application:
Christians who capitulate to the cause of Christ, do not look on others with a sense of competition. They cheer others in their efforts to share Christ with others.
“But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24).
The Lord opens doors of opportunity to share the gospel.
“Furthermore, when I came to Troas to preach Christ’s gospel, and a door was opened to me by the Lord…” (2 Corinthians 2:12).
Part of the Christian armor is to be prepared to proclaim the gospel.
“…and having shod your feet with the preparation of the gospel of peace…” (Ephesians 6:15).
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1 Thessalonians 3:2b

Published on May 30, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith…“
 
our brother
 
First, Paul calls Timothy “brother.” “Brother” is one who has entered the family of God. “Brother” seems to indicate equivalence in ministry with Paul. Elsewhere Paul calls Timothy his “son” because he was younger than Paul. Paul honors Timothy for ministry purposes. Respect is important in ministry so Paul recommends him for ministry.
 
“And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their work’s sake. Be at peace among yourselves” (1 Thessalonians 5:12-13).
 
Paul and Timothy were poles apart in age, in educational background and in nationality [Timothy was half-Gentile and half-Jew]. Paul had extensive formal training while there is no evidence that Timothy had any. Yet, God united these men in ministry.
and minister of God,
Secondly, Timothy is God’s minister. He is not primarily Paul’s associate minister. Paul does not claim Timothy as exclusively his. Timothy represents, not Paul, but God.
“Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God, that I might be a minister of Jesus Christ to the Gentiles, ministering the gospel of God, that the offering of the Gentiles might be acceptable, sanctified by the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15:15-16).
“I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church, of which I became a minister according to the stewardship from God which was given to me for you, to fulfill the word of God, the mystery which has been hidden from ages and from generations, but now has been revealed to His saints” (Colossians 1: 24-26).
and our fellow laborer
Thirdly, Paul calls Timothy a “fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ.” A “fellow laborer” is someone who works together with someone else (Romans 16:3,9,21; Philippians 2:25; 4:3; Philemon 1,24). It takes co-operation to advance the cause of Christ. Timothy was a team player. He was no prima donna who sought the limelight. He sought no privileged treatment for himself. He served on the evangelistic gospel team with a great sense of teamwork.
“Timothy, my fellow worker, and Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my countrymen, greet you” (Romans 16:21).
“…and Jesus who is called Justus. These are my only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are of the circumcision; they have proved to be a comfort to me” (Colossians 4:11).
Principle:
God needs brothers, ministers and laborers for His kingdom.
Application:
The church of Jesus Christ needs workers. This seems to be a forbidden concept these days. Thank God there are those who are willing to give themselves to advance the cause of Christ throughout the world. If more people would get under the load, the job would be lighter. Will you allow Jesus Christ to harness you for His work?
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1 Thessalonians 3:2

Published on May 29, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith…“
 
and sent Timothy,
 
Paul personally sent Timothy giving him the endorsement he needed to minister while in Thessalonica. If Paul could trust the credibility of Timothy, the Thessalonians could as well. Paul draws attention to three qualifications of Timothy to minister to the Thessalonians. He was the right man for the right job. He was the kind of man who could adjust to any situation.
 
Note how Paul views Timothy’s ministry to the Corinthians:
“For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church” (1 Corinthians 4:17).
“Now if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do” (1 Corinthians 16:10).
Principle:
Effective ministry requires a selfless attitude.
Application:
Many people in ministry are out for what they can get. They seek their own ends. They feather their own nest. This is an indictment against believers of our day as well.
“And do you seek great things for yourself? Do not seek them…” (Jeremiah 45:5).
A temptation of many today is to use ministry to advance their career. They want to be a big shot in the kingdom. We tread on dangerous ground here. God will by-pass people like this.
“But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2:19-21).
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1 Thessalonians 3:1

Published on May 28, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone…“
 
Therefore,
 
The word “therefore” gives a deduction of the gospel team’s love for the Thessalonians (2:17-20). Because of his special association with the Thessalonians, Paul sends Timothy to encourage them in their trial.
 
when we could no longer endure it,
The word “endure” means in this context to hold back. He can no longer bear to leave the Thessalonians alone without help from the team. Unable to go to Thessalonica himself, he sends Timothy. Timothy was Paul’s troubleshooter. The church suffered severe persecution so they needed encouragement from someone from the gospel team.
we thought it good to be left in Athens alone
The Thessalonians expelled Paul from Thessalonica and he went to Berea. Later Paul travelled from Berea in northern Greece to Athens in southern Greece alone. He sent word back to Berea for Timothy and Silas to join him in Athens (Acts 17:15). Timothy and Silas did join him there.
In spite of his need to have Timothy with him, he sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to encourage them in their trials (3:3). The Thessalonians did not drive Timothy out of Thessalonica like they drove out Paul and Silas. However, this assignment was a very difficult mission. There is no evidence that Timothy protested against Paul in this task.
Paul could have used the full complement of his gospel team in a city like Athens. However, he chose to forego his need for others. The words “thought it good” means to be well pleased. This speaks to the motivation behind Paul’s decision. He did not make this decision grudgingly. He knew it was the right decision based on the well-being of the Thessalonians. He accepted the responsibility without complaint.
Timothy and Silas left Paul alone in the world center of philosophical intellectualism, the city of Athens. Philosophers from around the Roman world assembled there. The city was given wholly to idolatry (Acts 17:16). It is always best to operate with teams in this kind of situation. However, loneliness is just one of those hardships a “good soldier of Christ” bears for his people. Paul made no great impact in Athens. He wrote no epistle to the church at Athens. There is no record of any conversions in that city. Evidently, he did not penetrate that city with the gospel.
Paul moved from Athens to Corinth after Timothy left for Thessalonica. There he formed a church and wrote two epistles to the church there. Timothy later joined Paul in Corinth.
Principle:
Ministry involves deep commitment to the people we serve.
Application:
Self-denial deprives the self of personal comfort for the sake of others. Ministry involves valuing the people to whom we minister to the point of self-denial.
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1 Thessalonians 2:20

Published on May 27, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“For you are our glory and joy“
 
For you are our glory and joy
 
The word “you” is emphatic in the Greek. “You and especially you are our glory and joy.”
 
The word “glory” means estimation, repute. It is Paul’s honor to introduce his converts to the Lord Jesus Christ. When he sees the Lord, he will know that his team’s glory will be people in heaven because of their witness. This is legitimate pride because it is based on what God did through them.
“Therefore I have reason to glory in Christ Jesus in the things which pertain to God. For I will not dare to speak of any of those things which Christ has not accomplished through me, in word and deed, to make the Gentiles obedient— in mighty signs and wonders, by the power of the Spirit of God, so that from Jerusalem and round about to Illyricum I have fully preached the gospel of Christ. And so I have made it my aim to preach the gospel, not where Christ was named, lest I should build on another man’s foundation, but as it is written:
‘To whom He was not announced, they shall see;
And those who have not heard shall understand’” (Romans 15:17-21).
“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10).
Paul stakes his entire reputation in eternity on winning those without Christ.
Principle:
Our reputation in eternity will be based, in part, on winning people to Christ.
Application:
God values winning people to Christ.
“How then shall they call on Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him of whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? As it is written:
“How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the gospel of peace,
Who bring glad tidings of good things! “But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, ‘Lord, who has believed our report?’ So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. But I say, have they not heard? Yes indeed:
‘Their sound has gone out to all the earth,
And their words to the ends of the world’” (Acts 26:14-18).
Do you have a part in the building of Christ’s Kingdom? Will people point to you that you had a part in bringing them into the Kingdom?
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1 Thessalonians 2:19

Published on May 26, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 2 Comments
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“For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?“
 
Paul asks a rhetorical question in this verse and answers it in the latter part of this verse and the next.
 
For
 
Paul now gives his reason for his eagerness to see them.
what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing?
Paul puts his work in perspective. He views himself standing at the Judgment Seat of Christ and receiving rewards from the Lord Jesus Christ for his labor in Thessalonica. Paul’s “hope” rests on living a certain kind of life in time, a life of evangelism. Paul has confidence that he will see Thessalonians in heaven.
This is also his “joy.” There is no greater joy than seeing someone come to Christ. Paul’s joy was the thought of leading someone to Christ and then to know that he will spend eternity in heaven.
“Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved” (Philippians 4:1).
Leading people to Christ will be Paul’s “crown of rejoicing” at the Judgment Seat of Christ. His crown is his converts. The word “crown” is the victor’s crown, the crown of introducing someone to Christ. There is victory in winning people to Christ, or rather, in allowing God to win people to Christ through us. Those who never introduce anyone to Christ will not receive this crown.
Is it not even you
The Thessalonian converts’ presence at the coming of Christ was the hope, joy and crown of rejoicing of the gospel team.
in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming?
Paul answers his own question. His reward will be that the Thessalonians who received Christ as their personal Savior will meet the Lord at the Rapture. Winning people to Christ is an eternal investment. It makes life worthwhile. What a day of rejoicing that will be when we see in heaven people we’ve led to Christ and finally see Christ Himself!
The word “coming” is a term that conveys the idea of presence. One day we will be in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. In First Thessalonians, this word refers to the Rapture (4:16,17) or to the period from the Rapture to the Second Coming.
Principle:
Those we win to Christ are our hope, joy and crown of glory.
Application:
The coming of Christ is a great motivation for believers. This motivation sustains us through many trials and tribulations. We keep eternal values in view. If we view life from a secular viewpoint, we will not get God’s perspective on the purpose for our lives. In times of trouble, we need to catch the divine viewpoint on things. In this way, we will not allow trouble to overcome us.
“Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).
By keeping our eyes on eternal values, we live by faith.
“For we walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
”Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses [chapter 11, those who lived by faith], let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:1-2).
Our faith comes from the Word. The Bible keeps our mind on eternal promises and truths.
“So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God” (Romans 10:17).
The Christian does not look back but looks forward to his glorious future. It is not biblical to live in the past with all its regrets. It is the biblical perspective to live in an attitude of looking for the return of Christ. We will finally meet the One we love. O, what a joy it will be.
“He who testifies to these things says, ‘Surely I am coming quickly.’ Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” (Revelation 22:20).
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1 Thessalonians 2:18b

Published on May 25, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us“
 
but Satan hindered us
 
The word “hindered” comes from two words: to cut and in. Satan cut into the plans of Paul. He tried to impede him by breaking up his plans and placing obstacles in his path. It is always the strategy of Satan to thwart any program to win people to Christ or to build them up in the faith.
 
Satan confronts godly strategy with his own strategy. This is the source of our problems spiritually. Not many Christians consider the impact of Satan upon their lives. God considers it important enough to give believers a suit of armor to defend themselves.
“Now whom you forgive anything, I also forgive. For if indeed I have forgiven anything, I have forgiven that one for your sakes in the presence of Christ, lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices” (2 Corinthians 2:10-11).
“Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand” (Ephesians 6:10-13).
The book of Acts says that men drove Paul’s team from their ministry in Thessalonica. This passage points to Satan as the source of this problem. It is clear that Satan uses men as his emissaries to accomplish his ends. We do not see Satan physically but we can see people doing his work.
“Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:1-3).
Although Satan hindered Paul’s ministry, he did not daunt his ministry. Paul in writing to the Thessalonians blessed the church with his two epistles for 2000 years. Satan cannot bind the Word of God.
“Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained. Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory” (2 Timothy 2:8-10).
Principle:
Satan will do all he can to obstruct the work of the Lord.
Application:
You have faced times in your life when you tried to do God’s will but found many obstacles along the way. You may have met opposition from even good people. That is Satan thwarting your ministry.
Satan may frustrate our ministries but God always providentially allows him to do so. Satan is not sovereign. He can do nothing without God’s permission. He is a finite creature albeit a very powerful finite creature. God is omnipotent; Satan is potent. Satan is mighty; God is almighty.
God originally created Lucifer a brilliant, sinless angel. Later he rebelled against God and became the leader of a vast worldwide organization of demons. Satan is not omnipresent so he put together a worldwide organization of fallen angels that are his henchmen. He can send these emissaries to do extensive injury to the people of God and to the plan of world-evangelism.
At times, God allows Satan to deal with believers. Nothing could happen to Job without God’s permission. God concurs with each event that comes into our lives.
“And the LORD said to Satan, ‘From where do you come?’ So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘From going to and fro on the earth, and from walking back and forth on it.’ Then the LORD said to Satan, ‘Have you considered My servant Job, that there is none like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, one who fears God and shuns evil?’ So Satan answered the LORD and said, ‘Does Job fear God for nothing? ‘Have You not made a hedge around him, around his household, and around all that he has on every side? You have blessed the work of his hands, and his possessions have increased in the land. ‘But now, stretch out Your hand and touch all that he has, and he will surely curse You to Your face!’ And the LORD said to Satan, ‘Behold, all that he has is in your power; only do not lay a hand on his person.’ So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD” (Job 1:7-12).
God always allows satanic obstruction for a reason. He uses these frustrations to mature us in Christ. As Paul did not concede defeat, so we must not allow one obstruction to become an absolute barricade against everything we might do for God.
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1 Thessalonians 2:18

Published on May 24, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us”
 
Therefore we wanted to come to you—
 
It was Paul’s intention to come back to Thessalonica.
even I, Paul, time and again—
Paul made at least two attempts to come to Thessalonica. Both times Satan, frustrated his plans. Later in the book, he sought God’s direction about going to Thessalonica. Paul constantly sought God’s mind in his ministry to the Thessalonians.
“Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you” (1 Thessalonians 3:11).
Principle:
We must seek God’s direction to do His will.
Application:
Believers must always seek God’s direction. Otherwise, Satan can hinder our ministry, if we do it strictly in human powers. Vision building, goal setting and strategy making are good, but without God’s direction, they are vacuous.
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1 Thessalonians 2:17

Published on May 23, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire“
 
Paul now describes the relationship he had with the Thessalonians since the founding of the church one year earlier.
 
But we,
 
The word “but” contrasts the experience of Paul’s team with the Thessalonians to the bad experiences in Judea (1 Thessalonians 2:15-16).
 
brethren,
Again, Paul uses a thoughtful reference to brotherhood to appeal to what they had in common spiritually.
having been taken away from you
In Acts 17, Paul, Silas, Timothy and Luke ministered for three Sabbath days in Thessalonica, but then hostile Thessalonians chased them out of town. They left for Berea. Over a year elapsed before Paul wrote 1 Thessalonians, while residing in Corinth.
“Then the brethren [in Thessalonica] immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews” (Acts 17: 10).
The words “taken away” means to make an orphan of someone. It comes from two words: from and to orphan [orphanizw]. This is the only time the New Testament uses this word. The separation of Paul’s team from the Thessalonians for a year caused them emotional pain. Paul viewed himself as an orphan separated from his family. The persecution tore Paul from his family. The frenzy of persecution in Thessalonica forced the team out of the city and kept them from coming back.
for a short time
Paul’s sorrow was alleviated by two comforting thoughts. First, the separation was “for a short time.”
in presence, not in heart,
Secondly, the Thessalonians were out of sight, but not out of mind. Paul was not with them “in presence,” meaning physically, but he was with them “in heart.” Paul’s love for the Thessalonians was not mere sentimentalism that lasted just as long as he was with them. It is not by choice that Paul writes 1 Thessalonians from Corinth. He fled Thessalonica because of the intensity of persecution. He had a heart for the Thessalonians.
endeavored more eagerly to see your face
The word “endeavored” means to make haste. Paul’s team made great effort to return to Thessalonica. Paul did not use the absence as a pretext for forgetting them, as some of his critics insinuated. He wanted to make sure that he established them in their faith.
“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:9-10).
“For I long to see you, that I may impart to you some spiritual gift, so that you may be established— that is, that I may be encouraged together with you by the mutual faith both of you and me” (Romans 1:11-12).
with great desire
The team had great motivation to return to Thessalonica, not because of obligation but because they loved the Thessalonians. It felt like the severing of a parent from a child. Paul redoubled his efforts to see the Thessalonians in the face of satanic opposition (1 Thessalonians 2:18). He yearned to see them again. He would never leave in a lurch those to whom he ministered.
Principle:
Spiritually minded people have a heart for God’s own.
Application:
Our time on earth is short and unsure. Only in heaven will there be no more parting. We may never see some of our Christian friends again on this earth, but one day we will be with them for eternity.
True Christian fellowship does not reside on sentiment, but in our common bond in Christ.
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1 Thessalonians 2:16

Published on May 22, 1999 in 1 Thessalonians. 0 Comments
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“…forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost“
 
forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved,
 
We now come to the sixth charge Paul levels against the Jews. The word “forbidding” means to hinder, restrain, withhold, forbid. The Jews prevented Christians from carrying the gospel to the Gentiles. The Jews did not want Christ as their Savior and they did not want the Gentiles to come to Christ either.
 
so as always to fill up the measure of their sins;
The words “fill up” come from a Greek word meaning to fill up adequately, completely. The Jews so persisted in their antagonism and unbelief that they completely engrossed themselves in negative volition toward God. They rounded out their sin and brought it to completion. They sped up God’s judgment against themselves.
“Therefore I speak to them in parables, because seeing they do not see, and hearing they do not hear, nor do they understand. “And in them the prophecy of Isaiah is fulfilled, which says:
‘Hearing you will hear and shall not understand,
And seeing you will see and not perceive;
For the hearts of this people have grown dull.
Their ears are hard of hearing,
And their eyes they have closed,
Lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears,
Lest they should understand with their hearts and turn,
So that I should heal them’” (Matthew 13: 13-15).
but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost
The words “come upon” mean to anticipate, to reach, to attain. God’s wrath has reached them sooner than they expected it and it overtook them. It is bad business to hinder the gospel. God establishes consequences to deal with those who would hinder the gospel from going out to the world. Hard-hearted antagonism to the gospel always incurs God’s wrath.
Principle:
Those who oppose the gospel will get their comeuppance.
Application:
It is possible to fill the full complement of sin. God will suddenly and surely seal the fate of those who oppose the gospel. The extreme limit of God’s wrath will come down upon them. We can do absolutely nothing for them then. Unless they repent they will finally get their comeuppance.
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