I can remember when I went to take my nuclear engineer exams for the Navy. It was probably the toughest exam I’d ever known. For eight weeks prior to the exam they stuffed you in a room in which all you did all day long was to study classified books. Big books! The exam was in Washington D.C. and it consisted of a five hour written exam and two oral interviews with men who designed the reactors.
The worst part of the exam was not the exam itself, it was the waiting afterward. On the second day, after the oral interviews you sat in a room until they finished grading the exams and reviewing the oral interview scores. Then somewhere about 3 or 4 in the afternoon a man entered the room. He had a list of names. This was not the list on which you wanted to be. If the officer called your name you went out into another room and they told you how poorly you did. You hoped to stay in the room until they told you that everyone else passed. Of course, throughout the day individuals came in with clipboards looking as if they were going to make an announcement and then leave. They really knew how to make you feel relaxed. But when the last officer came in and said you passed you breathed a sigh of relief (or actually you just breathed). It feels good to breathe after holding it all day.
Perhaps you have anxiously waited for the results from a test, whether a medical test or some important comprehensive exam. Can you remember when you heard that the results were good news how relieved you were? This is what happened with the Apostle Paul. When Timothy returned from seeing the Thessalonians he was extremely relieved to hear that they had endured firmly under the heavy burden of persecution. He was relieved because this was evidence that the Thessalonians had genuine faith.
For if you remember from last week, the key idea of this passage is that we should seek to encourage one another to cling to genuine faith that recognizes persecution and affliction await the believer in Christ. For a faith that does not contain this root is not genuine saving faith. So this morning we will look into Paul’s relief at the Thessalonians’ faith.
2. Paul’s Relief at the Thessalonians’ Faith
Paul finally, in verses 6-10, has the results of the Thessalonians’ confirmed faith and He is relieved. There are two aspects of Paul’s relief that we see in this section of Scripture.
A. Timothy’s report
The first aspect of Paul’s relief that we see in this section of Scripture is Timothy’s report. We find this in verse 6. Timothy had now come back to Paul and Silas and recounted what he found out about the endurance of the Thessalonians’ faith in the midst of their persecution for the sake of Christ. There are three evidences that the Thessalonians were persevering under the persecution. Paul says, “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.”
i. They continued to trust in the Word of God
The first evidence that the Thessalonians were persevering under the persecution was that they continued to trust in the Word of God. Verse 6 says that Timothy brought good news of their faith. Faith is trust in the Word of God. Paul made mention of this in 2:13, where he says, “For this reason we give thanks that when you received the Word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it, not as the Word of men but for what it really is, the Word of God.”
Whenever the Bible mentions faith, it is speaking of trust, or belief, in the Bible as the ultimate source of truth. And Paul notes that though they were in the midst of severe persecution, their faith did not waiver. They continued to believe all that God said in His Word was true. The Scripture says that we have all we need for living and godliness in the Word of God. But Satan is continually seeking to destroy our faith in what God has told us through it. This is why Paul, in speaking of this spiritual warfare of which we are a part, says that we are to take up the shield of faith. For it is this shield of trust in God’s Word that will be able to quench the flaming arrows of the wicked one. Satan will do this in many ways. He will seek to lure us from the truth of the Word of God by causing us to doubt it. He asked Eve if God had really said that they couldn’t eat from the tree in the garden? He was causing her to focus on the one prohibition instead of all the wonderful provision that God had given. But what is our tendency? Our tendency is to concentrate on the down side of our condition. Instead of looking at God’s great provision for us in Christ we look at our difficulties and struggles and suffering. This is why Scripture continues to admonish us to set our minds on things above where Christ is. Philippians 4 says, “Whatever is true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of a good report, virtuous, praiseworthy, think on these things.” And at the end of this letter that we are studying, Paul says, “In everything give thanks for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” Even in the midst of persecution Paul is telling these believers to give thanks in everything. Can you believe that? God wants us to.
Paul says that in this difficult situation for the Thessalonians they did not doubt God’s Word. They recognized its truthfulness even in encountering the difficult. And we too can find God’s Word true to bring us through whatever we may face.
ii. They continued to love God
The second evidence that the Thessalonians were persevering under the persecution was that they continued to love God. One amazing thing to notice is how faith and love go hand in hand. Faith and love are mentioned together over fifty times in the New Testament. They are inextricably linked together. John in his first letter says that we love God because He first loved us. With the faith that we have in God’s Word comes a love for God that our own effort cannot muster up. The Thessalonians’ faith allowed them to continue to love God in the midst of their difficulty.
When someone doesn’t have real faith in God’s Word and hardships come, they blame God. They fail to realize that the Scripture says that He is author of every good and perfect gift and that God does not tempt us with evil. Those without real faith seek to blame God when things do not go their way. When hardships or difficulties come because of the Word we must understand and take hope in that “all things work together for good to those who love God and are the called according to His purpose.”
Paul knew that the real faith that had sustained them in the midst of this persecution was energizing their love for God. And their love for God was an evidence that their faith was real. Joseph is a wonderful biblical example of this. Though hated by his brothers and sold into slavery, though falsely accused and thrown into jail, the Scripture shows that Joseph continued to trust God. And when he had the opportunity to retaliate later, he recognized that God had meant it for good for His own purposes that Joseph couldn’t fathom at the time. Joseph continued to love God in spite of the evil that was done to him.
And in this same way, the fact that we would continue to love God in the midst of difficulties shows us that our faith is genuine. A faith that does not include a love for God and His truth is not real faith.
iii. They continued in fellowship with other believers
The third evidence that the Thessalonians were persevering under the persecution was that they continued in fellowship with other believers. Paul said that Timothy has come to us bringing us the good news that you always think kindly of us and long to see us just as we also long to see you.
They didn’t say, “We want nothing to do with Paul and the rest because they were the ones who caused all this trouble for us.” They didn’t reject the other believers for a more easy going Christianity that allowed them to escape persecution because they were not going to be so radical.
John, in his first letter, also makes it clear that those who have real faith will continue in fellowship with other believers. In chapter 2 he says, “They went out from us, but they were not really of us; for if they had been of us, they would have remained with us; but they went out, so that it would be shown that they all are not of us.”
In this way, those without real faith end up falling away. John says that this only shows that they never really were saved to begin with. But Paul says that the Thessalonians were continuing in fellowship with one another and with the apostles. This was another confirming evidence to Paul that they had truly been grounded in the faith and would persevere in that same faith.
B. Paul’s response
So this is Timothy’s report. The next aspect of Paul’s relief that we see is his response. We find this in verses 7-10. There are three ways that Paul describes his relief in this response.
i. We live
The first way that Paul describes his relief is that he says, “We live.” We discover this in verses 7&8. He says, “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.”
Before Paul had heard the news of their steadfastness, there was an anxiety, a tension that drained away their energy because the salvation of the Thessalonians was so critically important to them. Can you remember a time that you were expecting negative news? Do you recollect how draining it was to you? Did it seem like the smothering effect of a heat wave, sapping you of all strength or resolve to carry on. This was the effect their condition had on Paul. He was saying, “We couldn’t endure it any longer. We had to send Timothy. I had to know about your faith.”
But then you heard good news instead of expected bad news. This kind of situation happened close to home a number of weeks ago. Nick had just received his 3-month cat scan. The next day the doctor called and told Nick to get down to the office right away. My mom was doing some secretarial work at the church when Nick called and asked her to come with him. Immediately our hearts sank. The doctor never called him this quickly before. Even when it was bad news (the cancer is back) it was usually a week later. So why was he opening up his schedule to see him immediately? We lost our strength and we prayed. When he arrived the doctor told him that it wasn’t cancer but what looked like a blood clot on his stomach had formed. He sent him for an emergency sonogram. We were relieved that it wasn’t cancer. But we prayed some more. Later that afternoon the Doctor told him that the sonogram was clear and that there was no problem. It was then we really lived if he had no cancer or clot.
Now Paul and his companions were relieved at the news from Timothy about their faith. His statement, “Now we really live if you stand firm in the Lord” might be a little misleading. It could be best understood, as the NIV has it, “Since you are standing firm in the Lord.” Paul had just received this news about the Thessalonians and he was no longer questioning whether they were standing firm or not. He was rejoicing that they were.
Now Paul and his companions having heard, this news were able to breath a sigh of relief and continue in their ministry with renewed vigor instead of heaviness of heart. God had relieved them of their heavy burden and they were encouraged.
A reason that Paul spoke with confidence about the Thessalonians’ faith and not with doubt is perhaps not readily apparent from the text. But there were two different ways that Paul could have written this sentence. He could have used a verb that expressed the certainty of the situation (Since you are standing firm in the faith) or an entirely different verb mood that expressed only possibility (if you perhaps are standing firm in the faith). His reply showed that he was confident where the Thessalonians stood. We really live now if you stand firm in the Lord and that is what you are doing.
Our concern for those recently making professions of faith in Jesus ought to be such that we earnestly see it as a life or death issue. If we are not sure if they have genuine faith in Jesus Christ then we ought to be concerned enough to pray for them and disciple them as if their eternal life depended on it. Have you no concern or conscience for those who used to come to church but no longer do? Do you pray for those who once used to be interested in spiritual things but no longer are? Is their eternal destiny of no account to you? Are you in touch with the body enough to know these people? Let us be concerned about those around us in the body.
ii. We thank God
The next way that Paul describes his relief is that he says, “We thank God.” This we see in 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 and his friends were rejoicing with thanksgiving to God for what God had done in the lives of the Thessalonians. An indescribable joy takes place in you when you are co-laboring with God in someone’s life and see your labor bearing fruit. The apostle John describes this in his third letter when he says, “I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.” Perhaps its because you know that you are participating in something eternal when you disciple someone and this is what gives so much joy.
Now you are not my children, nor do I wish you that you call me father (except maybe Paul and Richard) but I find great joy when I discover that because of some counsel I have given you or over something for which I have prayed concerning you that you have decided to make a decision pleasing to God. When some of you tell me that God has clearly spoken to you through a message I rejoice that God has allowed me to participate in your obedience to the faith. This is of what Paul is speaking when he says, “We thank God.” There is cause for great joy and thanks to God when He chooses to do His work through people like you and me.
iii. We still care
The third way that Paul describes his relief is that he says, “We still care.” In verse 10, Paul says, “we night and day keep praying earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith.” Paul was letting the Thessalonians know that they were not being left behind, when he and the others moved from an area and that they were not out of sight, out of mind. Paul was acknowledging to the Thessalonians that they were continually being prayed for. “Night and day,” Paul says they were praying for the Thessalonians. I know that when some of you are going through difficulties, I will awaken at night and pray for you because of my concern for you. And this isn’t like it is a burden to pray for you, for when I see God work in you and bring you through the difficulties I know that I have had the blessing to share with you in God’s work.
Why is Paul telling this to the Thessalonians? When you go through difficult times sometimes it feels as if no one cares. And Paul was encouraging the Thessalonians to let them know that he continued to care for them.
The same is true for each one of us. When difficulties enter into your life, do you ever think, “Does anyone care? Is anyone thinking about what I am going through right now? Can anyone sympathize with me? Is someone concerned?” This is why I write notes in the bulletins to you sometimes to let you know that I am praying for you. This is why I ask you how I can pray for you and tell you that I am praying for you.
You too should look for opportunities to express your care for those around you in the body. You too should let others know that you are there with them as they struggle in the faith.
How else does Paul say they cared in this passage? They were not simply content to remember and pray for the Thessalonians. He says at the end of the verse that they still wanted to see them face-to-face and complete what is lacking in their faith. Their goal was to ensure that the Thessalonians continued to grow in the faith. The only way that they could accomplish this was by spending time with them.
Are you looking to those young in the faith to encourage them to grow? Are you seeking to spend time with them so that they can benefit from your own faith? I can still remember fondly the individuals who spent time with me while I was young in the Lord. And there were sermons that I remember that impacted the direction of my spiritual life. I don’t mean whole sermons but slices of them that changed the way I lived. I can remember one in which Harold mentioned that he memorized Psalm 1 and meditated upon it as he went to sleep at night. That changed the whole way I went about memorizing and using Scripture. There are other times where people invested time in me, such as when my Sunday School teacher spent time with me and visited me in my dorm room. These are the things that helped complete what was lacking in my faith. People were interested in my spiritual growth and I never forgot it. What about you? Will you become the spiritual helper for someone else? Will you sacrifice your time to do that, which is eternal? You may never know the impact you have on an individual until you reach heaven but every effort you make to grow someone in the faith will have eternal consequences and bring eternal rewards.
Will you look around you to find someone that you can encourage and disciple in the faith?
Will you pray for those who need to know Christ as if it were a life or death situation? Will you seek to restore those who have fallen away from living for Christ? Will you be concerned, as the apostle Paul was for the spiritual growth of our brothers and sisters in Christ here in this church?
What are you going to do to strengthen the faith of the believers in this assembly?