Persecution
1 Th 3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
Forbear from the Greek word stego: properly denotes "to protect by covering;" "to conceal;" then, by covering, "to bear up under;"
When they could no longer stand under the persecution coming against them, they were alone in Athens. They had not given up, they waited upon the Lord for His direction.
Paul, had once persecuted the church and consented unto the death of Stephen.
Stephen the deacon, speaking
Acts 7:52 Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? and they have slain them which showed before of the coming of the Just One; of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murderers:
Acts 7:53 Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.
Acts 7:54 When they heard these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed on him with their teeth.
Acts 7:55 But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looked up stedfastly into heaven, and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God,
Acts 7:56 And said, Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing on the right hand of God.
Acts 7:57 Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord,
Acts 7:58 And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul.(Paul)
Acts 7:59 And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.
Acts 7:60 And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep.
Acts 8:1 And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles.
Saul was changed by Jesus. He became the apostle Paul, to the Gentiles and he himself suffered persecution with the church.
2 Tim 3:10 But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience,
2 Tim 3:11 Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me.
2 Tim 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
1 Th 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:
They sent young Timothy, a devoted man of God, a teacher and fellow laborer planting the seed of the gospel of Jesus Christ. He was sent to disciple them, establish them, making them grounded in the word of God. He comforted them with God's promises. We can comfort ourselves by reading the word of God, especially the New Testament and our hope in Jesus Christ.
Eph 4:21 If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
Eph 4:22 That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
Eph 4:23 And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
Eph 4:24 And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
1 Th 3:3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.
Be not moved from your faith by persecutions and words of men and devils. This is part of our walk, Jesus said persecutions will come.
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.
1 Th 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.
We are not talking about suffering brought about by our own disobedience to God. But, if we suffer for obeying God and doing his will we do well.
1 Pet 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.
1 Pet 3:13 And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good?
1 Pet 3:14 But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled;
Comforting words from our comforter. He will be with us and guide us as we serve him. Remember we are to be light to a sin darkened world. So that others may by drawn to new life in Jesus. It is worth it, even if one soul is saved from Hell.
Comforted
1 Th 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.
After Timothy was sent to teach and exhort the Church, Paul was concerned to hear about their spiritual condition. Had their labor of love indeed resulted in a changed heart and salvation with the evidence? Or had satan the tempter come to bring division, accusations and discouragement?
Parable of the sower
Mat 13:20 But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;
Mat 13:21 Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.
Mat 13:22 He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.
People fall away from persecution and from times of wealth, from seeking things. Keep focused on the Lord, not your feelings and personal desires.
Mat 6:33 But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Mat 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
1 Th 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:
1 Th 3:7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
As Paul said earlier, you are our crown of rejoicing. For you have continued in faith, not being moved away from the hope of Christ. Outside persecution had strengthened them. Sometimes the inside persecution is the hardest. The trial of satan's accusations within the mind. We must learn God's word, our exalted place as God's forgiven children and not be overcome by bad thoughts. We cast the bad thoughts down and praise the Lord.
1 Th 3:8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.
Paul is given new energy and a spiritual boost, by learning that they stand fast in the Lord.
1 Cor 16:13 Watch ye, stand fast in the faith, quit you like men, be strong.
Psa 143:11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble.
Rom 8:10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Rom 8:11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you.
Increase and abound
1 Th 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;
1 Th 3:10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
Paul was very pleased that they were growing in the Lord and he really wanted to see them again to help them in anyway he could, to perfect them or to mature them in the faith. Then as now, faith had to stand the test of living in a world opposed to Jesus. If a person is not mature enough, then they may be led astray by false teachers or the things of the world. Jesus must be our first love and our life should be about the Father's business.
Rom 8:6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.
1 Th 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
1 Th 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
With Joy, Paul prays night and day for his beloved children in the Lord. As a spiritual father, he longs to see their faces and impart to them spiritual words of faith, to supply the hunger and needs in their hearts. A father wishes to correct and lead the child in the way that they should go, in love.
Prov 22:6 Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it.
As children, babes in the Lord, they needed to learn and be disciples of the Lord. The foundation of Jesus Christ and salvation was laid, now Paul wishes, as an apostle to build on their new faith.
1 Th 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
We must not be led by human emotions, for God is greater than our feelings. Paul asks that God the Father and the Son, Jesus Christ would direct their way to these beloved. God decides, for we are servants of the Most High God. We follow his will above our own desires. He is the Father of all who receive Jesus by faith. He knows his plans and his time, we do not. Sometimes we must wait, even though our heart desires to be with others to love and help them, he decides. He knows how to lead and to correct His children, we can trust in the Father, who is our eternal Father. He will lead them into truth and opportunities to grow in faith. He also had plans for Paul as he does for each of us who trust in Jesus.
Eph 2:10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
1 Th 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:
While we are in the world, we reach out to others, with his love. Love softens hearts that have been hardened from this world; from hurts from others, from our own bad choices or circumstances. Only God can change our heart, through his grace and love. We can be examples and teachers, but God gives the increase in Spiritual fruit. We are able to love one another as we trust our unchanging Lord and Savior. A world out of control, no longer brings confusion to us. We trust in Jesus, our solid rock. He is our example to follow.
1 Cor 14:33 For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.
1 Th 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.
Maturity in the faith cannot come without the love of God being shown in your life. Love by itself is not enough. We can have emotions of love and no knowledge of God. Knowledge and love are needed. Love requires truth, or it may be focused on error and do harm. Many are drawn from the truth by those with false love. They accuse the church and bring the weak in faith into bondage.
It is our being disciples of the Lord Jesus Christ, that his righteousness is ours, his holiness is ours, As we become more like him each day, as we submit our will to him, our hearts will be changed, built upon his word, so that when we are with him, we will know we are where we belong.
John 16:13 Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will show you things to come.
Rom 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?
Rom 8:36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Rom 8:37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.
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