1 Thessalonians 3 - There Will Be No Denominations In Heaven!
3 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and co-worker in God’s service in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. For you know quite well that we are destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter had tempted you and that our labors might have been in vain.
Paul's deepest concern for the Thessalonians was that the persecution and trials they were going through might shipwreck their faith. Paul knew they had so much potential, so he sent Timothy to encourage them. Even though Paul had told them (and us) we would be persecuted for their faith, it is not the same when you go through it. We are not persecuted very heavily in the American church compared to the rest of the world. But you never know when that might change with what we see going on in the world.
Note too that it is the "tempter", which is another name for the "devil", who is always at work using whatever circumstances he can to discourage us and dissuade us from spreading the gospel.
Paul recognized that the tempter – that is, Satan – wanted to exploit this season of suffering. As in the case of Job, Satan wanted to tempt the Thessalonians to give up on God. - Guzik
Timothy’s Encouraging Report
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Fortunately Timothy's report was a good one, as he brought news that the Thessalonians were not only surviving but thriving. They miss Paul and his friends, as much as Paul missed them. The relationships we develop in ministry are precious. Though we may go to another church or move another town, the memories we share of doing the Lord's work together are priceless.
Paul was going through his own persecution, so this news also encouraged him in his own faith. Paul says now they "really live" because of their steadfastness. What does that mean?
Yet since Timothy came back with good news, Paul had a renewed strength and freshness of life (for now we live). It made Paul feel much better that the Thessalonians were doing well. - Guzik
Paul is sincerely grateful and relieved by Timothy's good report. This gave Paul joy in the presence of the Lord. Paul shows why they are always on his mind when he says,
Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
There is nothing that draws us closer to each other than prayer. Paul didn't just pray for them every now and then. He prayed for them every day and night! If we ever wonder why was the most effective missionary ever, we see the high priority and value he places on prayer. He not only prays for all the churches he started, but he covets their prayers for him.
Again Paul teaches us and convicts us that it is not just about our individual churches. When God looks down, he doesn't see my church or your church. He sees "THE CHURCH". There is one body of Christ. There is one Church. Jesus is the head of the one true Church. Unfortunately over the years there have been many causes of division in God's church.
Jesus reminds of his own desire for unity in the church in John 17 when he prays to the Father,
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, 21 that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. 22 I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one— 23 I in them and you in me—so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.
One of the cool parts of heaven will be there will be no more denominations, but we will all be ONE family in presence of our Lord and Savior. There will no arguments over what type of worship we use because we will be bowing down together and saying, "Worthy is the Lamb to receive power and glory forever!"
Do you pray for the churches and pastors in your town?
Is your church involved with other churches, so that your church has a sense that we are all one, as the Father and the Son are one?
Comments
Post a Comment