1 Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, 3 that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. 4 For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us, as we also to see you— 7 therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith. 8 For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, 10 night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. 12 And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.
- 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13
Introduction
Dr. Frank Page once stated, “The Christian life is not a playground…it is a battleground.” Some have taken the issue of spiritual warfare to extremes while others are not taking it seriously enough. The truth is spiritual warfare is going on continually and every follower of the Lord Jesus Christ should desire to be found faithful to our Commander and Chief Shepherd.
First, being found faithful in spiritual warfare involves…
I. Preparing like a Privileged Soldier in God’s Army
A student prepares for his exams.
A lawyer will prepare for his bar exams.
An athlete will prepare for his sporting contest.
A follower of the Lord Jesus Christ must prepare diligently for spiritual warfare.
Three statements concerning spiritual preparation:
A. Preparation begins with our family identity
Look at verses 1-3, “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother…”
Let’s be reminded that we who belong to the Lord Jesus, belong to one another as “brothers” and “sisters” in Christ.
We are a family of faith.
The hymn says, “I’m so glad I’m a part of the family of God – washed in the fountain and cleansed by His blood!”
God’s presence and power rests upon people who are rightly related to Himself and to one another.
Psalm 133:1 states, “Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”
Preparing like a soldier begins by understanding you are not in this fight alone, but others are going to be there in the trenches with you.
B. Preparation is activated through servant ministry
Not only was Timothy a dear brother, but also a “minister of God.”
Timothy was willing to get off the bench and get into the game spiritually.
He was not willing to let the rest of his fellow soldiers serve in God’s army and himself not report for duty.
Every single one of us in the body of Christ is a minister unto God.
Just as soldiers need solid participation and teamwork to accomplish their military goals, so the body of Christ needs every member ministering to the glory of God if God’s will is to be accomplished.
1 Peter 4:10 states , “As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
C. Preparation labors in the gospel of Christ
Verse 2 points out that Timothy was a brother, minister of God, and “fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ…”
An interesting survey might be to ask everyone who comes to church what the most important thing in this church.
Answers may vary – worship style, nursery, methods of reaching out, etc.
More important than anything in the church is the gospel of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Without the cross of Calvary, without the shedding of Jesus’ precious blood, without the resurrection, we are lost and in our sins.
The word of God says, “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures…” 1 Corinthians 15:3-4
A friend reminded me this week, “We are all equal at the foot of the cross.”
Laboring in the gospel of Christ means I’m ready to evangelize those without Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior.
Laboring in the gospel of Christ also means I’m available to encourage God’s people – going and teaching, making disciples of Christ!
Timothy prepared himself like a privileged soldier in the army of the Lord. He was rightly related to Jesus, others, and was walking in obedience to his Commander and Chief!
Second, being found faithful in spiritual warfare involves…
2. Standing in the Supernatural Strength of the Lord
“What God expects us to attempt, He also enables us to achieve.”
- Pastor Stephen Olford.
Three benefits to standing in the strength of the Lord.
First, the Lord’s strength will…
A. Enables us to overcome Satan’s deceptions
Satan was doing all he could to shake up, discourage, defeat these new followers of Christ in Thessalonica.
Paul writes, “I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.”
These new Christians had taken their stand on the gospel of Jesus Christ, not the “health and wealth” gospel that dominates America.
If you believe you are supposed to come to Jesus for a life of no problems, pain, persecution, etc. that’s not the gospel.
Paul knew that Satan could be whispering lies in their ears like, “If God really loved you, you wouldn’t be suffering like this.”
“If Jesus is really God Almighty, you would not have to go through pain.”
Perhaps Satan tried to get them to believe Paul had abandoned them, didn’t love and care for them.
God never tempts us to sin – but God does test us to deepen our walk with Him.
Luke 22:31-34, “31 And the Lord said “Simon, Simon! Indeed, Satan has asked for you, that he may sift you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me, strengthen your brethren.” 33 But he said to Him, “Lord, I am ready to go with You, both to prison and to death.” 34 Then He said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day before you will deny three times that you know Me.”
Even though Simon’s faith faltered under pressure, He repented and was restored by the Lord Jesus…used greatly in God’s kingdom purposes.
The essence of spiritual warfare is Satan’s lies vs. God’s truth.
Believing Satan’s lies will eventually make you bitter and angry.
Believing God’s truth will enable you to overcome no matter what you face.
Recently two men died of cancer on the same day in rooms side by side.
One man was bitter and angry at God because God had allowed this cancer into his life.
He told the hospital staff no one was allowed in his room.
The other man wanted his family, friends, pastor there with him.
He told everyone how thankful he was for God’s sustaining grace and that Jesus had prepared a place for him.
He thanked all his family, friends, ministers for all the love and prayers they had showered upon him.
He rejoiced in the Lord that God had something better awaiting him in Heaven.
Second, standing in supernatural strength of the Lord will…
B. Empower us to mature spiritually
What was the evidence these believers were growing strong in the Lord?
Timothy brought back the report and shared the good news of their “faith and love.”
“Faith” means we are rightly related to God.
“Love” means we are rightly related to one another.
If you love God, you are going to love God’s people.
"We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other…" (2 Thessalonians 1:3).
"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision avails anything, but faith working through love" (Galatians 5:6).
"And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love" (1 Corinthians 13:13).
“Love talked about can be easily turned aside, but love demonstrated is irresistible.” —W. Stanley Mooneyham, Men of Integrity, Vol. 3, no. 5.
Even amidst the toughest of circumstances, faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and love toward one another can move mountains!
Third, standing in the supernatural strength of the Lord will…
C. Encourage others joy in the Lord
Paul got fired up when he heard how these new believers were growing.
He says, “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.”
Seeing God’s power at work in the life of His people is extremely encouraging.
At the State Evangelism Conference we saw evidence of God’s Spirit working through the teenagers of Bartow County.
One youth said, “Jesus called us to go preach the gospel, serve others in His Name…not just come to church.” (Cool)
How many times do we focus on those things that are most discouraging over the things that are most encouraging?
When I see people rising up to become the people Jesus has called them to be, in spite of their difficulties, limitations, past, it brings great joy to my heart.
If we spend the majority of our time focusing on the defeats, discouragements, disappointments of life – Satan will have won a victory.
If we spend the majority of our time focusing on the good news of Jesus Christ, encouraging one another, being glad in the life God has blessed us with, working together for the Lord Jesus in a spirit of unity – the Savior will have the victory in our lives.
Third, being found faithful in spiritual warfare involves…
3. Unleashing the Unlimited Power of God in Prayer
Dr. Stan Wilkins would say, “No prayer, no power. Little prayer, little power. Much prayer, much power.”
“Satan trembles when he sees, the weakest saint upon his knees.”
Prayer was necessary in our Savior’s life, the Apostle’s lives, the early churches life.
Through the power of God in prayer – victories were won, souls saved, miracles wrought, etc.
How can I unleash the unlimited power of God in prayer?
First, unleashing the unlimited power of God in prayer means…
A. Praying for God’s spiritual direction in our own lives
God, what would you have me to do?
I will give an account first of my own life to God…not yours!
Sometimes, we just need to mind our own business with the Lord!
Second, unleashing the unlimited power of God in prayer means…
B. Praying for others to grow in their sincere love/loyalty to God
Four kinds of love…
*Eros Love – physical love
* Storge Love – parent/child love
* Phileo Love – cherishing love, husband and wife, family to one another, deepest of abiding friendships
* Agape Love – a willing , selfless love
Warren Wiersbe said in counseling couples in marriage preparation, “If your wife became paralyzed three weeks after your were married, do you love her enough to stay with her and care for her?”
True love deepens in difficulty.
Shallow love disappears in difficulty.
Third, unleashing the unlimited power of God in prayer means…
C. Praying that everyone of our lives will bring honor and glory to God
God is the One we owe our very lives to.
Everyone of us ought to be consumed with knowing, following, growing in our relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thinking about our Lord’s soon coming ought to quicken us to realize life is more than jobs, possessions, money – what really matters is our own growing relationship to Jesus and bringing others along with us!
"But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you" (1 Peter 5:10).
Conclusion
Being found faithful to God in spiritual warfare means preparing yourself like a good soldier in Christ Jesus, standing in the supernatural strength of the Lord, and unleashing the unlimited power of God in prayer.
Response
Make sure your own relationship with the Lord is where it needs to be.
Remember – ABC’s of salvation
A – Acknowledge your sin to God – repent, U-Turn
B – Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ - trust in His finished work on Calvary
C – Call upon the name of the Lord (Romans 10:9-10, 13) – turn to Jesus
Be encouraged today that God is at work though the difficulties, setbacks, etc.
As a Christian, are you on active duty?
Is there someone you need to encourage, establish today in their walk with the Lord?
Your prayers make an eternal difference in the lives of others – will you unleash the unlimited power of God in prayer this week?
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