1Thessalonians 2:17-20
Ministers Are Human Too
I. \\#1Thess 1:1-2\\ Introduction
II. \\#1Thess 1:3-10\\ Paul’s Knowledge of the Thessalonians
III. \\#1Thess 2:1-16\\ Paul’s Plan for the Thessalonians
A. \\#1Thess 2:1-12\\ To Plant A Church with Godly Character
B. \\#1Thess 2:13-16\\ The Seed Was Accepted
IV. \\#1Thess 2:17-3:13\\ Paul’s Heart for the Thessalonians
A. \\#1Thess 2:17-20\\ The Planter’s Desire
B. \\#1Thess 3:1-5\\ The Planter’s Anxiety
C. \\#1Thess 3:6-10\\ The Planter’s Joy
D. \\#1Thess 3:11-13\\ The Planter’s Prayer
Paul’s Heart for the Thessalonians:
As mentioned, this book is not deep in doctrine. While it contains doctrine, much
of the book is Paul relating his heart about this people in particular but all of
God’s people in general.
This section is a great illustration of that statement. Paul shares with his
Christian friends what it was like to be uprooted from them before he had
completed his task of rooting them in sound doctrine.
Last week, we studied how Paul and his co-workers not only gave the message of
salvation, but they lived it. The question that I asked several times as we were
going through those verses was, "Does it matter what kind of life those who
present Jesus Christ to a lost world lives?" The answer was, "You bet your life,
and the eternal lives of those you witness to, that it does." In this section,
we see why Paul was emphasizing that godly character so much.
I. \\#1Thess 2:17-20\\ The Planter’s Desire
A. \\#2:17\\ Paul’s desire was to see those from which he was absent.
1. Paul’s stay at Thessalonica was short and ended abruptly.
2. To be frank, Paul wasn’t ready to leave.
3. There is no doubt that it was God’s will for Paul to leave or God
would not have allowed it, but Paul had left a part of his heart
in that place.
B. \\#2:19-20\\ Seeing how they had prospered had encouraged Paul, but it
had also wet his appetite to see them again.
1. I’m sure there were a lot places that Paul had to go.
a. Life in Bible days was probably just like today.
b. You HAD to take care of the problems and often ended up not
doing what you WANTED TO DO.
2. Paul probably had to go to some problem churches, but Thessalonica
was a place that he wanted to go to.
a. He could be encouraged at Thessalonica by seeing what God had
done.
b. He could be refreshed and invigorated for the work there.
C. \\#2:18\\ To make matters worse, Satan kept hindering his return.
1. The Bible doesn’t say how Satan hindered Paul, only that he did.
2. Probably through problems.
3. Satan probably stirred up do many problems where Paul had been and
where he was that he just couldn’t get to where he wanted to be.
D. What does a Christian do when they have an unfulfilled desire? Here,
the miracle-working missionary had a desire that he could not fulfill.
1. You work where you are.
a. Serving God is not like a vacation where we get to pick our
port-of-calls.
b. God creates us for a place and the place for us.
c. Our calling is to serve where God places us.
2. You pray for those you want to be with.
a. Of course, praying for someone is not the same as being
present with that someone.
b. However, prayer does create a powerful, personal presence and
which can accomplish more than our being there.
3. You wait until God puts you together.
II. \\#1Thess 3:1-5\\ The Planter’s Anxiety
A. This section is actually going back in time to just after Paul’s time
at Thessalonica.
1. As Paul is writing this letter, he has had recent communication
from Timothy who has re-visited the church.
2. In addition, he has been hearing good things from all around the
world about how this church is serving God.
3. In this chapter, Paul is reliving what he went through when he had
to abruptly leave Thessalonica.
B. \\#3:1, 5\\ "when I could no longer forbear"
1. That means, "When I could no longer stand it!"
2. Paul had fears for this church.
a. \\#3:3-4\\ Paul was concerned for how they were doing in their
trials but also for how they would react to his trials.
b. \\#3:2\\ So great was his concern that he finally sent Timothy
to Thessalonica to get a first-hand report on how they were
doing.
(1) We recall from our introductory study that Paul left
Timothy and Silas at Berea.
(2) It appears that he left instructions for Timothy to return
to Thessalonica to check on the believers.
(3) At that time, Paul and his team probably would not have
been gone longer than a few months.
c. He had to leave before he got them grounded as he wanted.
d. To make matters worse, it doesn’t appear that he was able to
leave a helper there either.
e. Basically, Paul had to plant and run.
C. That was not the way Paul normally operated his ministry.
1. He would preach and ground the converts.
2. When he left, he would leave a mentor to continue that work.
3. He would also revisit the churches to see how they were doing.
4. He would write letters to encourage and rebuke.
D. The reason Paul had made so much of the character of the men who
started the church was because that demonstration of godliness, along
with the few sermons they had time to preach was all that they were
able to give to this church.
1. Paul has and is making it clear that the responsibility for the
this church’s godly character is not the DOCTRINE that was
instilled within them as much as it is the CHARACTER of the
ministers who instilled the doctrine.
1Thess 1:5 For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and
in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were
among you for your sake.
1Thess 1:9 For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto
you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;
1Thess 2:1 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was
not in vain:
2. Live what you preach because you are definitely preaching by what
you life.
3. Paul will spend more time emphasizing godly character in
chapter 4.
III. \\#1Thess 3:6-10\\ The Planter’s Joy
A. \\#3:6\\ Timothy’s return brought Paul great news.
1. Timothy reported of their faith (strong confidence) in Christ.
2. He reported of their charity (loving actions).
3. He reported of their fondness of Paul and his work.
4. He reported of their desire to see their missionary friends.
B. This report effected Paul.
1. \\#3:7\\ It greatly comforted Paul
2. \\#3:9\\ It brought great joy to Paul.
3. \\#3:8\\ It steadied Paul.
C. From this I deduce a couple of things.
1. Paul DID care what others thought of him.
a. Sometimes we get the impression that those who are determined
to walk a certain walk, regardless of who objects, has no
feelings.
b. Paul did.
c. His concern was not just for HOW the Thessalonians were doing
but also for WHAT THEY THOUGHT ABOUT HIM.
d. The difference was that Paul wasn’t going to let what they
thought stop him from doing what he knew God wanted him to
do.
2. Paul was not only encouraged by the Lord who called him but also
by the people to whom he ministered.
a. We are seeing that it does matter what kind of character the
people of God who do the work have, but it also mattered to
Paul what kind of people the work produced.
b. I imagine that Paul spend many a night weeping over those who
had turned from the truth just as he gained strength from
those who accepted the truth and lived it.
3. In short, I am seeing that Paul was a human being too.
a. Spiritual people are still people.
b. We see this by seeing the heart of Paul.
IV. \\#1Thess 3:11-13\\ The Planter’s Prayer
A. \\#3:11\\ Paul prayed that God would bring them together.
1. Paul has known that it was his desire to see them.
2. Now that he knows it is their desire to see him, his prayer to see
them becomes even more urgent.
B. \\#3:12\\ Paul prayed that God would grow them in love to others.
1. Paul is not just praying that they would grow in knowledge and
grace.
2. He is specifically praying that they would grow in love toward
others.
3. Why? Probably because as they are being persecuted, the most
powerful witnessing tool they can have is their love for others.
4. Love is the plow that breaks open the hard hearts of the lost.
C. \\#3:13\\ Paul prayed that God would establish them in holiness.
1. As much as Paul is sharing his love, his concern, and his
humanity to these converts, he has not lost sight of the prize.
2. The goal for every Christian is to get the lost to Christ and to
reshape Christians into the image of God.
3. Paul prays that these believers would be found blameless and holy
when Jesus returns.
Theologically, this section of Scripture has a limited impact; but it does help
us to understand the psychology or mindset of this hero of the faith. He had
feelings and wants just like you and I have. He just didn’t let them control
him.
By the way, so did Elijah.
James 4:17 Elias was a man subject to like passions as we are….
And Peter…
Acts 10:26 But Peter took him up, saying, Stand up; I myself also am a man.
And Moses and Noah and Jeremiah and all the other saints of God. The key to
serving God is not losing your humanity. The key to serving God is controlling
it.
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