1 THESSALONIANS LESSON 4


     We will begin this lesson in I Thessalonians 3:1 "Wherefore when
we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens
alone;"

     It seems from this, Paul has taken a short visit to Athens.
Possibly, Paul is speaking of Timothy, when he speaks of "we" here.
It was Paul's desire to visit Thessalonica again, but it would not be
right now.

     I Thessalonians 3:2 "And sent Timotheus, our brother, and
minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to
establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:"

     Paul's desire was to lead these Thessalonians into all truth. The
very next best thing to being there himself, would be to send Timothy.
We have discussed before, that a Christian never stands still. If the
Christian is not growing in the Lord, he will be losing ground. This
is the very purpose of Timothy going. He will get them off of the milk
and honey of Christianity and get them to the meat of Christianity.
There is a growth in the Lord that comes from feeding on His Words
every day. There is, also, a growth that comes from facing problems
and overcoming them with the Word of God. Paul is highly recommending
Timothy to them. He will build them up in their most holy faith.

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

     The word "afflictions" is the same as tribulations. Let's look at
what Jesus had to say about the Christians having tribulation. 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."  You might say, why do we have tribulation?
Romans 5:3 "And not only [so], but we glory in tribulations also:
knowing that tribulation worketh patience;"  Romans 5:4 "And patience,
experience; and experience, hope:" Romans 5:5 "And hope maketh not
ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the
Holy Ghost which is given unto us." You can easily see the reason for
tribulation, is to make us strong in the Lord. We must realize that we
are nothing in and of ourself. We realize that our strength is in
Christ our Lord. Jesus, our leader, was afflicted, and we will be,
too, if we are His.

     I Thessalonians 3:4 "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."

     The life of a Christian is not without problems {regardless of
what some tell you}. It is a life of self sacrifice. Many ministers
today are promising things to their converts that are not realistic.
We must learn to live victoriously in the midst of the problems. It
rains on the just and on the unjust, but Christians have someone to go
to in their time of trouble. We have Jesus to help us. Romans 8:35
" Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? [shall] tribulation,
or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or
sword?"  Romans 8:38 "For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor
life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present,
nor things to come," Romans 8:39 "Nor height, nor depth, nor any other
creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is
in Christ Jesus our Lord."

     I Thessalonians 3:5 "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 is aware that they have faced great tribulation, and he is
not fully persuaded that they were able to handle the crisis. He is
sending Timothy to check, and see if they stayed faithful. Paul knows
exactly how the devil works. He will bring so great a temptation in
our weakest area that many will fall. He just can not wait to find out
if they had withstood or not. He is praying that they stood, because
he had given them a strong enough foothold in the Word that they would
not fall. If they fall, he feels his effort was in vain.

     I Thessalonians 3:6 "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:"

     By the time Paul wrote this, he had already heard from Timothy
that they had withstood the great temptation. He is delighted that
they held strong in their faith and charity. Paul was pleased that
they wanted him to come back and minister to them. He reminds them
that he desires to come and see them as much as they want him to come.

     I Thessalonians 3:7 "Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over
you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:"

     Paul was very pleased that his spiritual children had been strong
in the faith. It seems Paul's afflictions and distress never stopped.
Jesus had told Paul, He would show him what great things he would
suffer. One of the highest callings we can have, is to suffer for
Christ. Just to know that their faith had been so strong encouraged
Paul.

     I Thessalonians 3:8 "For now we live, if ye stand fast in the
Lord."

     We see from this, Paul has had new life breathed into his weary
soul, because these his converts have kept the faith. When one
Christian stands fast in the Lord, it gives the others courage to
stand.

     I Thessalonians 3:9 "For what thanks can we render to God again
for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our
God;"
     Paul is so grateful of their stand for Christ, he has nothing to
pray for them, but praise to God. Again, this is like a parent
thanking God for a child who has been obedient to God. What a joy
comes in knowing someone you led to the Lord has this much strength
and stamina in God. Paul's joy is in his heart.

     I Thessalonians 3:10 "Night and day praying exceedingly that we
might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your
faith?"

     We see from the "night and day" that Paul continuously prays for
them. He prays in earnest. Paul desires to come and minister to them,
that they might continue to grow in this most holy faith they have
begun in. Romans 12:2 "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye
transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what [is]
that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

     I Thessalonians 3:11 "Now God himself and our Father, and our
Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you."

     God Himself is our Father. This is showing the unity of Jesus
Christ and God the Father. They are one in Spirit. They are one in
purpose. When we pray, we pray to the Father in the name of Jesus.
Jesus is the Way. Paul is praying that he will be able to see them
again. Only God can cause this to be. Paul went where God sent him.

     I Thessalonians 3:12 "And the Lord make you to increase and
abound in love one toward another, and toward all [men], even as we
[do] toward you:"

     The type of love spoken of here, is the unselfish God love for
all of mankind. He loves us even when we are unloveable. If we have
taken on the name Christian {Christ-like}, then we must have that
unselfish love for every single person in the human race, that Christ
had. The world loves, because of what we can do for them, or what we
can give them. God loves in spite of all of our faults, asking nothing
in return, except that we believe on Him. We must learn to love with
the same kind of love that God has for us. Mark 12:30 "And thou shalt
love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and
with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this [is] the first
commandment." Mark 12:31 "And the second [is] like, [namely] this,
Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other
commandment greater than these."

     I Thessalonians 3:13 "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."

     If we love the way Paul was speaking of in verse 12, then we will
be established in our hearts unblameable before God. We will be in
right standing with the Father, because we have washed in the blood of
the Lamb {Jesus}, and been made righteous and holy before the Father.
The Christians are the saints. Jesus is coming as King of kings and
Lord of lords, and the saints will reign with Him.
                     1 Thessalonians 4 Questions


1.  Where had Paul gone to from Corinth?
2.  Who does the "we" include in verse 1?
3.  Where did Paul want to go?
4.  Who did Paul send in his place to Thessalonica?
5.  What happens, if a Christian is not growing?
6.  Timothy will take them off the _______ and _____ and feed them the
    meat of the Word.
7.  What are 2 ways the Christian grows?
8.  What must we use to overcome problems?
9.  What is another word for "afflictions"?
10. In the world you shall have _____________.
11. Why do we have tribulations?
12. Where is our strength?
13. What difference is there between Christians and non-Christians at
    problem times?
14. Quote Romans chapter 8 verse 35.
15. What can separate the Christian from the love of God?
16. Why is Paul sending Timothy to check on them?
17. What would make Paul think he had failed with them?
18. What did Timothy report to Paul about these people?
19. In what way were these Thessalonians Paul's children?
20. What had breathed life back into Paul?
21. When Paul prayed for them to the Father, what kind of prayer did
    he pray?
22. How often did he pray for them?
23. Quote Romans chapter 12 verse 2.
24. What is meant by the names of God in verse 11?
25. What kind of love is spoken of in verse 12?
26. If we are truly Christian {Christ-like}, what must we do?
27. Quote Mark chapter 12 verses 30 and 31.
28. What will establish our hearts unblameable before God?
29. What makes us righteous?
30. Who are the saints?