1 Thessalonians 3

1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear (endure the travel, contention of the people), we thought it good to be left (pass by) at Athens alone;

² And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish* you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:

• G4741 στηρίζω sterizo (stee-riy’-zō) v. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction.
• Why would these believers be concerned? The obvious oppression from both sides… Judaism and the Roman Church/State.

Jesus doesn’t paint the same utopic existence as the modern church. If anyone can find a prosperity message in the following … please show me.

• Matthew 24:3-13 “And as he sat upon the mount of Olives, the disciples came unto him privately, saying, Tell us, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign of thy coming, and of the end of the world? And Jesus answered and said unto them, Take heed that no man deceive you. For many shall come in my name, saying, I am Christ; and shall deceive many. And ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled: for all these things must come to pass, but the end is not yet. For nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom: and there shall be famines, and pestilences, and earthquakes, in divers places. All these are the beginning of sorrows. Then shall they deliver you up to be afflicted, and shall kill you: and ye shall be hated of all nations for my name’s sake. And then shall many be offended, and shall betray one another, and shall hate one another. And many false prophets shall rise, and shall deceive many. And because iniquity shall abound, the love of many shall wax cold. But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved.”

³ That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

You are appointed to affliction… did you see that??

⁴ For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

Yeshua continues with the unabashed truth …

• Matthew 24:13-21 “But he that shall endure unto the end, the same shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come. When ye therefore shall see the abomination of desolation, spoken of by Daniel the prophet, stand in the holy place, (whoso readeth, let him understand:) Then let them which be in Judaea flee into the mountains: Let him which is on the housetop not come down to take any thing out of his house: Neither let him which is in the field return back to take his clothes. And woe unto them that are with child, and to them that give suck in those days! But pray ye that your flight be not in the winter, neither on the sabbath day: For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.“

⁵ For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

Paul lets you in behind the curtain for just a moment. Spending time in prison the human side of his experience is exposed briefly as he expresses his depression while jailed. He had to hear of the good works and the growth of the assembly despite his absence. The assembly was being attacked and experiencing setbacks and yet they persevered thus encouraging Paul to continue writing. The fulfilment of “iron sharpening iron”.

⁶ 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:

⁷ Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:

⁸ For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

⁹ For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;

¹⁰ Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.

¹² And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

¹³ 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.

• G4741 στηρίζω sterizo (stee-riy’-zō) v. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction.
• G2588 καρδία kardia (kar-d̮iy’-a) n. the thoughts or feelings (mind). the heart.
• G273 ἄμεμπτος amemptos (a’-memp-tos) adj. irreproachable.
• G42 ἁγιωσύνη hagiosune (ha-ǰiy-ō-sï ’-nee) n. devoted holiness, sacredness.

Proverbs 6:23 “For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:”

Proverbs 13:14 “The law of the wise is a fountain of life, to depart from the snares of death.”

Psalm 119:97 “O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.”

Psalm 119:165 “Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.”

This is our endurance. This is our Mark. To endure the blame and hatred of those that do not have the desire to set aside self. To keep the commands out of love and respect for my King and Savior. To submit to the leadership of my Bridegroom.

Psalm 94:12 “Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O Lord, and teachest him out of thy law”

Psalm 119:1 “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in  the law of the Lord.”