1 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (Part A)

He says that all seek their own. This is in contrast to what all that said, one thing I when he had wrote to them, saying that he was singular in his intention that for him to live is Christ to die is gain… Christ dies gain for all seek their own me to live is Christ. What a contrast how many lessons there are in this for us from this is cross reference radio with our pastor and teacher Rick Gaston. Ricky is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville. Pastor Rick is currently teaching through the book of first Thessalonians. Please stay with us after today's message to hear more information about cross reference radio, specifically how you can get a free copy of this teaching, but for now, here's Pastor Rick in first Thessalonians chapter 3 with today's edition of cross reference radio verse six first Thessalonians chapter 3 now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love that you always have good remembrance of us, greatly desiring to see us as we also to see you well. Timothy has come to Paul Lee's trek about 400 miles round-trip all the way to Thessalonica and now to Corinth where Paul is writing this letter from and this man Timothy is quite a blessing in Paul's life. I think any ministry to be fruitful depends greatly upon people who God gives to the ministry people whom the pastor could never have picked could never have put an ad in the paper for the Holy Spirit is brought them is given them a heart to serve, to serve in that particular ministry Timothy's heart was stirred to love Paul to serve him. This wasn't the only heart that was so in love with this apostle and they love Paul without Paul ever putting forth any effort to get them to love him. He was so focused on the ministry of Jesus Christ that was a sort of a blessing that came with it. Now you might say what you mean he did not try to get them to love him.

You know it's a big mistake to try to get someone to love you have to be who you are and if you creepy, then you need to fix that because they will love you but if you are trying to treat others as you would have them treat you within the confines of Scripture.

You will be love. And you know we don't want our children to sort of try to buy friends. Well, God doesn't want us to do it either, but ability in Christ comes from dependability on Christ.

That's what Timothy had certainly got it from Paul, Silas, headed. I think he developed it with Paul, without question, I believe that, but for us to have an ability in Christ, we have to learn to be dependent on him. Now God can pull away from us very easily and very quickly those things that we think make a safe to we learn the lesson that it is he and he alone is our shield. Now that he is not looking to have us take the hard way know there's a time to take the hard way, but I don't think we should look for it. Sometimes God prepares an easy path for us in many things that we do in life and other times it's a little difficult, as Job said, should we not accept from God's handbook. The good and the bad Lord gives the Lord takes away.

Blessed be the name of the Lord and so ability comes from dependability, yes, but this more hard work is hard work to the end to completion is called perseverance sometimes is easy to start a project very difficult finish some projects around the house that I've been trying to finish. This is one cup I've been meaning to wash and I start out.

Maybe the funds on their the time. Whatever it is that's understandable, but also what is not understandable as to just be careless about these things while hard work is not enough. The ability to also know when not to work much learn that we must learn that when we are waiting we are doing something. What are we doing waiting and waiting his work. I want to read to you what Paul says about this man, Timothy years later writing to the church at Philippi.

While Paul was in the Roman jail. He says I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that I also may be encouraged when I know your state right have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state for all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus which you know his proven character that, as a son with his father. He served me in the gospel. Therefore, I hope to send him at once.

Would you not want someone to write something like that about you.

He says that all seek their own. This in contrast to what Paulette said is one thing I do when he had wrote to them, saying that he was singular in his intention that for him to live is Christ dies gain lives. Christ dies gain for all seek their own for me to live is Christ. What a contrast how many lessons there are in this for us, he says, but you know his proven character. Do you know how many people go to new churches. Churches whether the New World is a relevant factor. The person shows up as a newbie to that church, not or resenting someone saying you first must be proven. We have to get to know you come and worship with us for a while just sit still receive the word cannot sit under the word of God.

What can you do with God's word. A lot of Christians resent that they approached churches, though you know they should come in the door with a resume in the best resume wins. God says no it's not how I do it.

He says he brought us good news of your faith and love a good word to Paul but when he brought word. He returned with questions that the Thessalonians had that it's interesting.

Timothy says I will defer those to the apostle yet these questions about end times. I know the answer but I'm going let him put it in writing and we are glad that he has because Paul addresses it in this letter will begin getting to that in the next chapter he'll start talking about Christian behavior also talk about the doctrine of rapture will all be excited to hear about that, since greatly desiring to see us as we also to see you. I love this section here and I'll try to share why it is to me one of those sweet little spots of Scripture that you pass over you. Not careful, he says, greatly desiring it is a single word in the Greek Bible seal and it is a compound word piping upon and feel is yearning superimposed yearning is something that is placed upon me. That is an intense craving and so they said tell Paul Timothy take this message to him.

We are greatly desiring him. We have this thing put on our heart disease yearning for Paul. Remember I said that he was loved without even trying showed up to preach the gospel they fell in love with him. So together, these two words. This compound word about Theo means intense craving or to go upon. What a picture this was not some pretty lass from childhood that wanted to go upon Paul. This was an assembly of people would come out of paganism and they were being persecuted at this time there were rookies in the faith weren't backing down. How many of you been walking with Christ, you back down at the snap of a finger pressure in your life. Jesus doesn't love me.

Let's sing that song again and you never sorta like man up a woman or Christian up. That's understandable to be frightened to be a little discombobulated but I think what is also understandable is that we get together.

Pull it together. Not for our sake or our children sake, but for Christ's sake. Now you parents. You know you been struggling with to make ends meet. Or maybe medical condition. It is heartbreaking when you think of your children and little children, especially want to shield them from bad to use strong in front of them, but you should as Christians.

Be strong. First, Christ and all the other things line up with that that seeking first kingdom of God and his righteousness, and that all things being added to you. You business men and women you know many of us who are consumers when we go to a private business, we fail to recognize sometimes a remember that these are real people trying to make a living. Do not all agree great many of them in this country are not, and that the owners of these countries, unless the business is well established. Often times they lose sleep on how the going to make the payroll we walk away with a shooter to near disco is trying to make the payroll and if he is a Christian or she is a Christian. She is trying to do everything the right way because of Jesus Christ because for them to live is Christ dies gain that is out of my control should be so they really love Paula. Not only did they love Paul all the churches fell in love. The Ephesians, the church at Ephesus. Paul was making his way to Jerusalem. He stopped by there and he felt that this would be the last time that he would see them and he told them so and he says I know after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock, and as the story winds up says then they all wept freely and fell on Paul's neck and kissed him sorry most of all for the words which he spoke that they would see his face no more.

They accompanied him to the ship ever stayed hearts were broken. He doesn't say to them all know only love Jesus and not me, that would be inhumane. It would be out of balance. That would have an appearance of righteousness, but it would be foolish. He knew that they once did not know him and they once did not know Christ. Now they knew him. Now they knew Jesus, and now they loved both this this was powerful because he would see them again in glory. If, never again here. This is the Christian faith. Verse 70 continues. Therefore, brethren, in all our affliction and distress we are comforted concerning you by your faith. Have they took courage. He took courage from Timothy's report, can you imagine Paul loving them not knowing if they going to still love him, before Timothy shows up he sees Timothy is so delighted to see him is gotten there safely.

Nothing's happened to him. He knows of all the dangers between the 200 miles from Corinth to Macedonia and back 400 miles there about total is happy to see Timothy thank God, then what is the news. How are they doing as I mentioned, they were under pressure, especially that they were rookies they were know if this day hadn't been a year and the faith stood firm later years later, Paul would write to the church at Corinth where he's writing this letter from to the Thessalonians would usually go right to current discuss that we are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed perplexed despair persecuted, not for sake and struck down not destroy see collected himself. He'd been through hard things in life just like you and me there people he loved and care about. Sometimes he had to leave those he loved behind who were sick when God called and go forward. There was another time when one of the brothers was sick and Paul said God spared him for my sake, knowing it would break my heart knew about not having enough money to make ends meet knew about others not having enough money to make ends meet knew it was like to be hard-pressed you covered ground that all of us at one point or another. Cover ourselves and faced it like he believed in Jesus Christ. What am I supposed to do it that when I read these things knowing they were true when I know what Jesus is done for me supposed to set my Compass my course this direction. Then I'm supposed to stay the course. Having begun in the spirit. I am not to be made perfect in my flesh like Christians don't know what that means because their friend of the Holy Spirit. They think is going to cause in the runaround or sanctuary like a crazy bird. Don't worry about that if you do, we will take you down in the spirit.

He knew the value of believing he knew many suffered shipwreck because they were content shallow water. Afraid of the deep blue sea. He was not many others were not. Sunday mutiny turn against the captain, the author and finisher of our faith. They take over the ship ship their own heart.

Not satisfied with what he is doing and how he is doing. They began in the spirit there not continuing. May we never experience it ourselves. So adversity continues for now we live. If you stand fast in the Lord. I can tell you what that means is very easy because it tells us what it means. It means if you stand fast in the Lord as opposed to if you don't, but let me more expressively translate what this says where he says for now we live that part I want to just translate now we are really living with his writing to them. If you're standing in the faith. Now we Paul, Silas, Timothy, now we are really living. We are stoked what strength do I say that while in acts chapter 18 we have this passage that talks about this very moment in Thessalonians chapter 3 in acts 18, Paul was incarnate and he gets a word to Timothy and Luke writes about it Dick this summer you younger ones looking for shovel your generation doesn't use Digg but anyway when Silas and Timothy had come from Macedonia. You see is from the book of acts X 18 I'm reading from Paul was compelled by the spirit testified to the Jews that Jesus is the Christ.

Paul was incarnate. He is worried a little bit God comes to Mrs. Paula got many people in the city. Don't worry about I'm going to take care of you were just a him from Timothy by Timothy tells about the church at Thessalonica. Paul is careful to write says what we gotta have more fruit if we can pull this off and Thessalonica doesn't worded this way. This is what it ends up being if this can be the case and Thessalonica. It will be the case incarnate, and if he gets up and he has out of the synagogue and he said, let me tell you about your surer Messiah, let me tell you about in the church in Corinth took off of many ways or polls there. They gobbled up everything he had to say wrote to them later when he was correcting his elect no spiritual gift, which is still a bunch crazy nuts and I want to fix that. That does not bring honor to Jesus Christ and he did. He did fix and so the question is are we that kind of church people here about us and they could stoked you that, Christian.

My that kind of Christian, what joy can there be in ministry if converts fail all the time. Under pressure. Jeremiah's ministry was that way sharp contrast to Paul's ministry and yet Jeremiah had no question was Paul's teacher. One of learned great things about ministry from Jeremiah, never from the lips of Paul. All he suffered.

Do we ever hear him say I have suffered enough done had, after all the churches God use me to start. If all of the beatings I've taken. I'm on doesn't go out that way is as I fought the good fight, I know what I live for.

I know what I did my life. I know, why did it and never had to live again. I do it all over again. That same way. I just get the steps that involve me.

Being away from God. Verse 90 continues for what thanks can we render to God for you for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God, what can we say the card was so taken by we were praying for you all we can say is thank you, but somehow the words thank you, do not seem to capture what I'm feeling in my heart, the fruit of being led. Paul had wanted to go to Asia, where Ephesus was. He eventually gets there but at the time that he was headed towards Thessalonica. God forbade him from going to Ephesus. He wanted to go to Bithynia, the Holy Spirit said no I don't want to go there either.

Thank you Lord that Paul said yes Lord, it's been said, you can say yes Lord, but you cannot say no Lord because if he is Lord, then he is master and if he is master. You cannot refuse him. That was the life of Paul. Satan hindered him from returning Thessalonica. But Satan could not shut him up incarnate he could not hinder the ministry in Corinth. Maybe you have great dreams or ambitions of, or whatever it is for Christ and is not coming off so you preach what you are like a lily among thorns, you are still elderly among thorns where there is one really I don't know anything about plants except flowers most about like them and some of them I don't what I would think if there's one there's another know some will say no. You gotta have the whole female male thing going on there as well.

What the piece for hero to Timothy's and meditate on these things. Give yourself entirely to them that your progress may be evident to all, not the flowers and the bees. Let me tell you about the birds in the okay that had been just records couldn't you know, just go along here just got have a little break my head to collect myself and so Paul begins pouring himself out in this church in Corinth, verse 10, then read night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith bothered him that they were not perfected so much more work to do. You know this is a peculiar thing about love is never wasted. You can't waste love. I mean, you can miss apply affection cannot waste agape love. If nothing else, the whole store one showing the love finds favor with God. If nothing else, but there's always more to love the nothing else. I was thinking about a song or Scripture verse actually loving the neighbors in Paul writing love one another and just thinking out. Sometimes it is so difficult to love. Some people, in fact, in the flesh. It's impossible to love. Some people you can't love everyone all the time in the flesh but in the spirit. When you jar to and remember what this is all about is very easy is very easy love anyone. How can you pray for someone you despise to be a politician there easy to despise.

They make it easy. It's like they took a course and because they're so easy to despise and hold in contempt to have absolutely no respect for we don't pray. How can you pray for someone you despise this year's imprecatory prayer which were forbidden to do is New Testament Bridget resident God. Did you just kill them from the toes up, inch by inch over hours time. Can't pray those kind of things not even supposed to think them.

We have to love our enemies. If were going to get anywhere we say will look where it got Jesus father forgive them. They know not what they do. Got him thrown in heaven. We got him got him us might be poor English, but it comes across pretty well. You got it when you caught okay now we do cover more territory in prayer than we do without sandals and without fee, but without our feet. Prayer can't stand has to be action at some point, somebody's got to put boots on the ground but that prayer. It's sort of like you know World War II is that naval gunfire in the Gulf War was the Air Force is dropping more bombs than you could count your prepare the ground for ground troops prayer to us is that and I have thought many times God, I've even said it to him more than once you know Lord I call for an airstrike I call for artillery and I get nothing. I normally wrong when I say it. I tell him I'm wrong. That's how I feel sometimes not so much anymore because I've learned, I've learned that God will never let you go. He will never let you down. He will never let you off and explain some of the entirely original, but the explanations may be, God will not let us go. He is not going to see if you had a gun with me out. Never do that move. Thanks for tuning in to cross reference radio for this study in the book of first Thessalonians cross reference radio is the teaching ministry of Pastor Rick Gaston of Calvary Chapel Mechanicsville in Virginia to learn more information about this ministry.

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