“Building an Authentic Family”

When Others Cared for You (1 Thess 2 & 3)

Pastor Reynold Lim, 28/12/2008

Illustration:

A mother was expecting. Michael the son was expecting a brother or a sister. He talked to the baby everyday and built a relationship with the baby. There was complication and the newborn baby girl was placed in the ICU. A new room was prepared for the arrival of the new baby. However, the doctor asked them to prepare for the worst. Michael wanted to see his sister but young children were not allowed in ICU. The mother brought him there despite the protests from the nurse. Michael sang to the baby. Michael sang with the simple heart of a 3-year old. He sang You are my Sunshine. The parents encouraged him. Tears came over the parents and the nurses. The doctors called it the miracle of a loving brother. The parents called it the miracle of God.

The morale of the story is to never give up.

Where Do I Start?

… by responding with the Right Attitude

When we get up every day, we can choose to be in good mood or in bad mood. It is our choice. Life is about making choices.

There are three attitudes we need to build an authentic family: (1 Thess 2:17-20)

1Th 2:17-20 But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, (18) because we wanted to come to you--I, Paul, again and again--but Satan hindered us. (19) For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? (20) For you are our glory and joy.

• An Eager Expectation in spite of Separation (1 Thess 2:17 cf Act 17:5-10)
  

  Paul was forced to leave Thessalonica. NKJV uses "taken away", NIV "torn away" (literally "orphaned." Paul used very strong language to describe his emotions towards the Thessalonians. Paul was in distress when he left Thessalonica. He hope to be reunited with them soon.
  

• A Steadfast Endurance amidst satanic opposition (1 Thess 2:18)
  

  It could be a person influence by Satan, the thorn in the flesh, an illness. We don't know but Paul was hindered from coming to Thessalonica. Paul reminded us that it is appointed for Christians to suffer. 1 Thess 16 tells us that God has set a limit of sins that can be committed against us.
  

• A Joyful Hope Undiminished by Problems (1 Thess 2:19-20)
  

  Paul's rhetorical question pointed out the Thessalonians being in the presence of the Lord as his joy. He wanted them to reflect on his reply. He wanted them to think about the coming of Jesus via 3 terms:
  

  • Paul's Hope
    
  • Paul's Joy – he was rejoicing that their faithfulness to Christ proved his own ministry is successful.
    
  • Paul's Crown, a Greek term – a victorious athlete's wreath.
    

  Paul explicitly used a present tense verb: "You currently are already these things to me." ( 1 Thess 2:20). The pronoun you is emphatic: "You, even you" or "you yourselves."
  
  

  Application
  

  When we become so intense in fighting our battles that we become grim, we lose 3 things:
  

  • Hope – we come to believe that we will never make it through the struggle, we begin to feel we are already defeated
    
  • Lost hunger for God's Word – As our joy decreases, our desire to read, study and believe His truth diminishes
    
  • Sense of Humour – We begin to take ourselves too seriously and fail to take God seriously enough
    

How Do I Do It?

1Th 3:1-8 Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, (2) and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, (3) that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. (4) For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. (5) For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain. (6) But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you-- (7) for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. (8) For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord.

Timothy was a brother and a deacon (i.e. someone who serves God.)

… by making a Firm Commitment to

1. Show Relational Concern (1 Thess 3:1-2, 5)
   

   Paul ministered amongst the Thessalonians amid much conflict (v2)
   

   A storm of suffering fell upon the Thessalonians whom he had established in the faith (1 Thess 2:14) when he was torn away (1 Thess 2:17)
   

   Paul was genuinely concerned about their faith. Timothy was sent "to establish" ("to shore up, to buttress") and "to encourage" ("comfort", "standing alongside another person to put courage into them.")
   

2. Embrace a Theological Perspective (1 Thess 3:4; Phil 1:29)
   

   Paul didn't want the Thessalonians to be shaken, that is, agitated bu these undeserved trials and tribulations. Why? (Php 1:29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake)
   

   We are appointed for suffering and we are forewarned that suffering will come. Suffering is part of our Christian living. It is God's training. It includes hardship with intention to smoothen our rough edges.
   

3. Make a Personal Response (1 Thess 3:6-8)
   

   Three reactions if we have lost hope:
   

   1. Harbour resentment
      
   2. Insolate themselves from Christian friends
      
   3. Doubt and grow indifference towards God's Word
      

   Paul mentioned the following:
   

   1. They refused to blame a former authority for their suffering (v6)
      
   2. They desired to maintain close ties with Paul and his associates in ministry
      
   3. They maintained a firm commitment to a spiritual truth (v7-8)
      

What Do I Begin To Do

1Th 3:9-13 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, (10) as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? (11) Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, (12) and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, (13) so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

… by re-discovering the true meaning of living:

1. Joyful in Gratitude (v8 cf 1 Thess 2:17-18; 3:7)
   

   Paul has a sense of deep appreciate for what the Thessalonians had done for him. When we praise God, worship God and give thanks to God, it builds our spiritual life. Thanksgiving is a direct command from the Bible.
   

2. Earnest in Prayer (v10)
   
   1. "night and day praying" – Paul and his fellow workers were fervent and consistent in their petitions.
      
   2. Specific in their prayers:
      
      1. Given the opportunity to see the Thessalonians again
         

      ii. Given the opportunity to complete what was lacking in the faith of the Thessalonian believers.
      

3. Abounding in Love (v11-12)
   

   The source of love : god who is love (1 Jn 4:8). Love is not a natural part of our lives. We need spiritual formation via devotion.
   

   The recipients of love: "overflow forward one another and to all"
   

   "for" – "getting down deep into something"
   

   L – Listen – we respect and accept people enough to graciously hear what they have to say
   

   O – Overlook - we are quick to pass over and forgive the minor and unpleasant flaws
   

   V – Value – do not discredit them with words
   

   E – Express – Love is demonstrated by doing what is in the best interest of others. WE don't just feel love or say loving things.
   

4. Established in Holiness (v13)
   

   The end result of joyful gratitude, earnest prayer, abounding love is a life characterized by holiness – not by our own will power or by our own standard.
   

   The standard of our purity – "established in holiness before God …" (cf 1 Pet 1:15-16)
   

   How long are we to strive in God's power for this standard of holiness?
   

   Only when we are in heaven we are truly free from sin. Only then we need not strive anymore.