“For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain“
For this reason,
The reason Paul sent Timothy to Thessalonica was the subtlety of Satan in discouraging the new church.
when I could no longer endure it,
The word “endure” means to protect, or preserve by covering. It carries the idea of keeping off something that threatens – to bear up against or hold out against something. Paul was troubled that he didn’t know the true spiritual condition of the Thessalonians.
“If others are partakers of this right over you, are we not even more? Nevertheless, we have not used this right, but endure all things lest we hinder the gospel of Christ” (1 Corinthians 9:12).
Because Paul was certain that persecutions were inevitable and had befallen the Thessalonians, he was deeply concerned about their spiritual welfare. He could no longer bear the suspense, so he sent to obtain firsthand knowledge of the condition of their faith. He wanted to assure himself that the Tempter had not won them over by his enticements.
I sent to know your faith,
Paul wanted to know the spiritual state of the Thessalonian Christians. “Were they walking with the Lord, or were they caving in to pressure?” “Did they have any faith?”
Principle:
The church persecuted is the church purified.
Application:
The church of Christ is filled with fakers and phonies. People need to examine themselves as to whether they are genuine Christians.
“Examine yourselves as to whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Do you not know yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you are disqualified” (2 Corinthians 13:5).
No doubt, all phonies will throw in the towel quickly. Persecution always sorts out the fakers. The church popular is the church polluted. The church persecuted is the church purified. If the church receives nothing but a favor from the world system, then there is something wrong with the church. The world hates the church when it finds out what the church believes.
“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you” (John 15:18-19).
The Devil will take advantage of your vulnerability. He knows about your history. He knows where he can stick it to you.
