In the Apostle Paul’s second missionary journey Paul, Timothy & others traveled to Thessalonica and spent three weeks there encouraging the new believers. Then due to major opposition, he left. But now because of his love and concern for them, he sent Timothy, his spiritual son, to see them to get a report on how they were doing. In verse six he is rejoicing in the good news that he received from Timothy. See 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8: “But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you: Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith: For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.” The phrase “standing firm” in the Greek means to persevere, to persist, or to keep one’s standing. How do you respond when people ridicule you for your faith? Do you cower back or stand firm in God’s grace? Do you feel embarrassed or afraid of what others are going to think? See also 1 Corinthians 16:13: “Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.”
1 Thessalonians 3 Meaning
Paul Prays for the Thessalonian Church
See 1 Thessalonians 3:10-13: “Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith? Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you. And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you: To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.”
How Does This Relate to Us?
On a national level, there is chaos all around between government ideologies and cities being destroyed. Even right down to the local level authorities are frazzled about what to do about crime, etc.
Even more sadly, Christians don’t seem to know what to do. Sometimes, things are confusing because church leaders have refused to take a stand. They have given in to the lie to be relevant to society, to not be offensive. I’m sorry friends for those who want to live for themselves the Gospel is offensive. Look at 2 Corinthians 2:15-16: “For we are unto God a sweet savour of Christ, in them that are saved, and in them that perish: To the one we are the savour of death unto death; and to the other the savour of life unto life. And who is sufficient for these things?”
The last question of this passage leads us to the heart of what I would really like to discuss today. All the turmoil that is around us, the persecution against the church, how can we be brave to stand firm in it all? I’m glad you asked. As you know I like acronyms. So, let’s look at an acronym for the word brave.
Ready to Be Brave?
First, a quote from Zelma E. Argue from 1922: “Let us not look at the darkness that is growing continually deeper, but let us look upon the light that is shining brighter and brighter. Let us look at the works of God.”
Be Focused
Be focused on Jesus, not the opinions of others.
See Psalms 5:4: “For thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness: neither shall evil dwell with thee.”
Remain
We must stay connected to Jesus. Most Bible translations use the word “abide.” In the Greek, the word abide means “to remain.” As this verse says if we do not remain in Him, we will not be fruitful. Think about it, if your life just seems to keep going in circles, it’s time to get plugged into Jesus and remain there.
See John 15:4: “Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.”
Ask
Ask God to help you abandon your ways so that you can live for him. Ask Him to empower you to have the courage to be different for the sake of the Kingdom of God.
See Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.”
Victory
If you find yourself constantly struggling with a particular area in your life ask God to show you how to have the victory.
See John 16:33: “These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.”
Embrace the Truth
See Psalm 145:18: “The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.”
Let’s try to pull all of this together in a simple statement.
Being courageous and brave will only happen when we fully surrender our lives to Jesus Christ. He knows our strengths, weaknesses, and woundedness. He wants to pour His life into us so that we will live out the verse in Matthew 24:13 which says: “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”
Till next time…be brave!
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