Lesson 3
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray for attention concentration and quietness of hearts. We pray for understanding and application. We pray for the presence and the anointing of the Holy Spirit. Thank You for the ministry of Your Word, in Jesus’ name, Amen
1 Thessalonians 2: 1-20, encouragements
VV 1-3, 1 For you yourselves know, brethren, that our coming to you was not in vain. 2 But even after we had suffered before and were spitefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we were bold in our God to speak to you the gospel of God in much conflict. 3 For our exhortation did not come from error or uncleanness, nor was it in deceit.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy’s visit to Thessalonica was a great success. Even though Paul, Silas, and Timothy were beaten, imprisoned, and manhandled by the hostile Jews at Philippi, they traveled to Thessalonica to share the gospel with them. The Thessalonians heard, received, and believed the gospel with joy, pure hearts, and clean motives.
VV 4-6, 4 But as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, even so we speak, not as pleasing men, but God who tests our hearts. 5 For neither at any time did we use flattering words, as you know, nor a cloak for covetousness, God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from men, either from you or from others, when we might have made demands as apostles of Christ.
God had approved and entrusted Paul, Silas, and Timothy to share the gospel in Thessalonica not to please men but God. They conducted themselves above reproach, selflessly, honestly, transparently, and humbly, with integrity, pure motives, and clean hearts.
VV 7-9, 7 But we were gentle among you, just as a nursing mother cherishes her own children. 8 So, affectionately longing for you, we were well pleased to impart to you not only the gospel of God, but also our own lives, because you had become dear to us. 9 For you remember, brethren, our labor and toil; for laboring night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, we preached to you the gospel of God.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy were gentle as nursing mothers nursing their babies. They invested their lives in the Thessalonians through discipleship, training, teaching, preaching, and caring. They supported themselves financially by taking on secular jobs.
VV 10-12, 10 You are witnesses, and God also, how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe; 11 as you know how we exhorted, and comforted, and charged every one of you, as a father does his own children, 12 that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy were earnest, just, honest, transparent, and blameless before God in all their dealings with the Thessalonians Christians. They were as caring as fathers for their children, comforting, encouraging, teaching, training, and discipleship.
V 13, For this reason, we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
Paul, Silas, and Timothy thanked God for the Thessalonians Christians persistently. The Thessalonians Christians were honorable and faithful. They believed the truth of the gospel to be the word of God and not the word of men.
VV14-16, 14 For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans, 15 who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, 16 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.
The hostile unbelieving Thessalonians Jews persecuted the Thessalonians Jewish Christians who imitated Paul just as they did to Jewish Christians in Judea. They persecuted Paul, killed the Lord Jesus Christ and the prophets. They opposed Paul’s evangelism outreach to the Gentiles.
VV 17-20, 17 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. 18 Therefore we wanted to come to you, even I, Paul, time and again, but Satan hindered us. 19 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? 20 For you are our glory and joy.
Paul longed to visit the Thessalonians Christians but satan hindered him. He rejoiced and hoped in the glory of the second coming of Christ.
Application:
You are to intercede for your co-workers, Christian friends, and associate daily, persistently mentioning them by name and upholding their ministry and needs in prayer before God.
You are to invest your lives in other Christians through teaching, preaching, mentoring, and discipleship.
You are to serve the Lord with integrity, honestly, and humbly out of a pure heart and a clear motive.
If you are mature in the faith, you should find a Timothy to mentor. If you are young in the faith, you should find a Paul to mentor you.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, we pray that Your Word will not return to You empty but will cut into our hearts like a two-edged sword. We pray for wisdom to rightly divide the word of truth and apply them meaningfully, in Jesus’ name, Amen.
