Revised Notes on Faith and Fear - April 6, 2009

TEACHING OVERVIEW ....
Faith and Fear …
- The Primary Forces in the kingdom of God, and the kingdom of Satan
- The Weapons used by each kingdom in its war against the opposing kingdom
- The necessity of Focusing Faith on God and His Word
- The necessity of the Removal of Fear from a Believer’s Life
- The recognition of the presence of Fear in the Lives of the Enemies of the Christian Church

In March, 2009 Arlo and Marlo Johnson participated in a series of fifteen Leadership Conferences in the rural and remote regions of the nation of Sri Lanka. In preparation for these conferences, Arlo Johnson wrote a book, “Building Faith & Spiritual Relationships in the Body of Christ by the Word of God.” However, due to the increased insight given by the Spirit of God as the teaching of the Word of God took place on the theme of Faith in Sri Lanka, the following is a revised edition of the teachings shared in the Leadership Conferences.

Whether it is Daniel 9:1-23; 10:1-21 in the Old Testament, or Ephesians 6:10-18 in the New Testament, the Church, the Body of Christ in our generation needs to know that we are in a spiritual war! However, it is not a war where we, as believers are in direct conflict against Satan and his forces! The war against Satan and his forces was fought by the Jesus Christ at the cross, and he has won a conclusive victory! What then are we, as individual believers fighting against? We are fighting to maintain faith against fear and unbelief! This is clearly stated 1 Timothy 6:12 “FIGHT THE GOOD FIGHT OF FAITH,” and thereby we “TAKE HOLD OF THE ETERNAL LIFE TO WHICH WE ARE CALLED BECAUSE WE MADE A GOOD CONFESSION IN THE PRESENCE OF MANY WITNESSES.” Now through faith, we exercise the authority and ability of the resurrected Christ against the dark and evil forces of Satan.

TEACHING INTRODUCTION ....
Arlo Johnson: As I prayed for the nation of Sri Lanka and its spiritual leaders in preparation for the teachings that would shared in the 2009 Conferences, I became aware of two particular needs in the life and ministry of the leadership of the Church:
1. The need for the strengthening of faith: “Where is your faith?” Not that faith is lost, but where is it focused? Is it focused upon the problem, or upon the solution resident in God?
2. The need for the removal of fear: If fear is allowed to be lodged in the mind, then there will be an increase of anxiety, that will reduce the effectiveness of faith.

We will study the scriptures that pertain to the function of faith and fear in the kingdoms of God and Satan, and its application to the Church in the midst of persecution, and in conclusion we will consider the story of Gideon from Judges 6-7 that records the adjustment of Gideon’s faith, and the removal of fear from his life thus enabling him to enter into a triumphant victory over all of his enemies!

THE TEACHING ....
We will study the scriptures that pertain to the function of faith and fear in the kingdoms of God and Satan, and its application to the Church in the midst of persecution, and in conclusion we will consider the story of Gideon from Judges 6-7 that records the adjustment of Gideon’s faith, and the removal of fear from his life thus enabling him to enter into a triumphant victory over all of his enemies!

The Function of Faith and Fear in the Kingdom of God and the Kingdom of Satan
Faith is the primary force that functions in the kingdom of God, and fear is the primary force that functions in the kingdom of Satan. The kingdom of God is characterized by light, and the kingdom of Satan is characterized by darkness. Faith and fear each operate within these respective kingdoms. Since these two kingdoms are at war, faith is the weapon used by the kingdom of God against the kingdom of darkness. While, fear is the weapon used by the kingdom of Satan against the kingdom of light. While fear functions within the Satan’s kingdom, fear also moves out to oppose the kingdom of God with the intent of hindering or destroying faith in the lives of that kingdom’s members.

Similarly, faith functions within God’s kingdom, and moves out against the kingdom of Satan for a twofold purpose:
1. Faith comes against the kingdom of Satan, to bring an impartation of faith to the captives in the kingdom of darkness for those who will receive it.
2. As captives receives the impartation of faith, and leaves the kingdom of darkness, a further fear develops within Satan’s kingdom, namely, that Satan’s kingdom will be impacted by God’s power and lose further subjects to God’s kingdom. [James 2:19 “You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that---and shudder.”]

Colossians 1:12-14 [“Giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of saints in the kingdom of light. For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son whom he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”]
In these verses we read that the heavenly Father rescues the believing captives from the dominion of darkness and translates them into the kingdom of God’s Son. Thus the believing captives, no longer live in a kingdom ruled by deception and fear, but they come to live in the kingdom of God where truth and faith prevail!

Matthew 11:12 [“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of God has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it.”]
The forceful advancement of the kingdom of God spoken of here, is the forceful advancement of the kingdom of God, by faith! And the forceful men who lay hold of the kingdom of God, are doing so by faith! Acts 14:21-23, [“They (Paul and Barnabas) preached the good news in that city (of Lystra) and won a large number of disciples. Then they returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they said. Paul and Barnabas appointed elders for them in each church and, with prayer and fasting, committed them to the Lord, in whom they had put their trust.”]
According to these verses, Paul and Barnabas went back to establish leaders in the churches that were started during their previous ministry in these locations. There is a statement in these verses that requires explanation, and the statement is “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” This statement is made concerning believers, including Paul and Barnabas and those who had come to faith through their ministry! Were they not in the kingdom of God from the moment that they believed? Based on such scriptures as John 3:5-6, these believers were in the kingdom of God! What then is Paul alluding to by such words? Personally, I believe that Paul is speaking of the development of the life of the kingdom of God within the lives of these believers, including himself and Barnabas! In Philippians 3:12, Paul stated: “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me.” Simply stated, Christ takes hold of repentant believing sinners and brings them into the kingdom of God, so that they can, in spite of hardships that they might go through, take hold of the kingdom of God, in an experiential way, that results in character development!


The Conflict between the kingdoms of light and darkness:
Daniel 9:1-23 and 10:1-21 are passages of scripture that portray the conflict between the kingdoms of God and Satan. Many of the people of Judah had been carried captive into Babylon. Previous to their captivity, these words came to the prophet Jeremiah, and are recorded in Jeremiah 25:1-14 [“The word came to Jeremiah concerning all the people of Judah … in the first year of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon. … And though the LORD has sent all his servants the prophets to you again and again, you have not listened or paid any attention. … Therefore the LORD Almighty says this: ‘Because you have not listened to my words, I will summon all the peoples of the north and my servant Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, and I will bring them against this land and its inhabitants and against all the surrounding nations. … This whole country will become a desolate wasteland, and these nations will serve the king of Babylon seventy years. But when the seventy years are fulfilled, I will punish the king of Babylon and his nation, the land of the Babylonians, for their guilt, and make it desolate forever.” declares the LORD.]

Again these words came to the prophet Jeremiah and are recorded in Jeremiah 29:10-14 [“This is what the LORD says: ‘when seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will come to you and fulfill my gracious promise to bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart. I will be found by you, and bring you back from captivity. I will gather you from all the nations and places where I have banished you, and will bring you back to the place from which I carried you into exile,’ declares the LORD.”]
These are the prophetic words that the prophet Jeremiah wrote during the time leading up to the captivity. At a point in time during the captivity, Daniel, upon reading these prophecies of Jeremiah, came to understand that the captivity of Judah was to last seventy years. Daniel 9:3 states that Daniel turned to the Lord, “and pleaded with him in prayer and petition, in fasting, and in sackcloth and ashes.” In Daniel 10:10-14, a divine messenger came to Daniel and said, “Daniel, you who are highly esteemed … do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them.” “But the (spiritual) prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes, came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia. Now I have come to explain what will happen to your people in the future …” As a result of the initial prayer of Daniel, there was an intensification of the war between the spiritual forces of God’s kingdom and those spirit forces of the evil Persian kingdom. God heard Daniel’s prayer the very first day, but the delay in receiving the answer was because of the interference of the evil spirit forces. Continued prayer and intercession was not to get God’s attention! We don’t have to convince God to give us that which he has already promised, but we do have to continue to war against the hindering spirits of darkness, by prayer and intercession!

The record contained in these chapters within the book of Daniel brings clarification to that which is written in Ephesians 6:12 and 18. As verse twelve states, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” That is exactly what occurred, and is recorded in these passages in Daniel. In Ephesians 6:18 (King James Version) we read, “Praying always … and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.” The New International Version states: “And pray in the Spirit … with this in mind, be alert, and always keep on praying.” Daniel was praying and watching according to that which is stated in Daniel 9-10.

Colossians 2:6-7 [“So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and over-flowing with thankfulness.”]
Observe two significant thoughts here, first, by faith we receive Christ Jesus as Lord. Secondly, we are to continue to grow in our spiritual life by faith, and as we do, we will be deeply rooted in God, and grow in his likeness. We will be further strengthened in the faith, and we will express continual thanksgiving!

Hebrews 12:2 says, “Fix your eyes on Jesus!” Why fix your eyes upon Jesus? This is because Jesus is the originator and completer of faith in the life of a believer. In Philippians 1:6, Paul said, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” This confirms the truth of Hebrews 12:2.

Colossians 2:10 [“And you have been given fullness in Christ, who is the head over every power and authority.”]
The KJV states that Christ “is the head of all principality and power.” What then is Christ’s position as stated in this verse? He is the head of all principality and power! Certainly we know that he is the head of the good principalities, but according to this scripture, Christ is also the head of all (both good and evil) principalities and powers. Now since we are Christ’s Body, we are connected to Christ as the head. That means that we are also with him over all principalities and power. This is supported by Ephesians 2:6 where it states, “And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus.” From Isaiah 40:22-25; 28-29 let us note these words: Verse 22-25 “He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth … He brings princes to naught and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.” God asks a question in verse 25: “To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?” says the Holy One.” Verse 28-29 “He will not grow tired or weary … He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.” What a powerful picture of our exalted Lord as given to us by the prophet Isaiah!

Ephesians 1:18-23 [“I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all (principality and power) rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.”]
These verses give added support to the fact of our oneness with Christ in his exalted place over all the principalities and powers of this world’s spiritual kingdoms.

How did Christ come into such supremacy? Colossians 2:14-15 [“God, having canceled the written code, with its regulations, that was against us and that stood opposed to us; he took it away, nailing it to the cross. And having disarmed the powers and authorities, he made a public spectacle of them, triumphing over them by the cross.”]
Christ went to the cross, entered into combat against Satan, and overcame Satan and cancelled the debt of human sin!

How do we become benefactors of Christ’s victory? Colossians 2:12-13 [“We, having been buried with him in baptism and raised with him through your faith in the power of God, who raised him from the dead. When you were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, God made you alive with Christ. He forgave us all our sins.”]
Our faith is the means by which we become identified with Christ in his death, and are raised with him by the power of God, and made alive with Christ and receive forgiveness of all our sins. Romans 6:3-4 [“Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into his death? We were therefore buried with him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”]
2 Corinthians 2:14 - [“But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ!”]
In ancient times, two kings would frequently go to war. Both kings entered the war expecting to win! However, only one king would come out triumphant! In a similar manner, when Christ and Satan came into combat at the cross, each expected to win! As Jesus hung on that cross, Satan thought that he had won that war. Friday was a dark day! However, on the first day of the week, Christ rose from the dead as the Father’s affirmation of his victory over Satan at that cross! In ancient times, the winning king would put the losing king and his generals into chains and transport them to his country. In a great festive celebration, the winning king would lead the chained and conquered king and his generals through the streets of his capital city in a triumphal procession. That is exactly what the Apostle Paul states concerning our victory through Christ in 2 Corinthians 2:14, “Thanks be unto God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ!”

We have looked at the big picture of the triumph of our Lord Jesus Christ over Satan and his evil forces! We have considered the war between the two kingdoms, and the role that faith and fear play out in that war! Now let’s consider how this finds application in the day to day events of life on a very practical level.

Luke 8:22-25 [“One day Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.’ So they got into a boat and set out. As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Master, Master, we’re going to drown!’ He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ‘Where is your faith?’ he asked his disciples. In fear and amazement they asked one another, ‘Who is this? He commands even the winds and the water, and they obey him.’]

The story in Luke 8:22-25 is a series of events, very common in the life of Jesus and his followers. Based on that which Jesus said in John 8:28, [‘I do nothing on my own but speak just what the Father has taught me.’] I think that, this particular day began with Jesus in conversation with his Father. As he worshipped and expressed his love to his Father, Jesus probably said, “Father, today I will be with my disciples by the Sea of Galilee, what you would like me to teach them?” Perhaps the Father responded like this: “There will be a storm on the Sea of Galilee today.” Now it is important for us to know that this forthcoming storm would not be brought about by Satan, but rather it would be a very natural phenomenon. The Sea of Galilee is approximately 700 feet below sea level. It is for this reason that winds came about very suddenly on the Sea of Galilee, thus creating dangerous waves upon the lake. So the Father may have said, “Jesus, in view of the forthcoming storm, it will be a perfect setting for you to teach the disciples about faith and its’ power over fear. The teaching will come about as you model peace and power in the midst of the storm, and as you speaks words of instruction concerning the placing of one’s faith in divine ability. Since you are here in Capernaum on the north shore of the lake, you can go over to the other side of the lake near Tiberias.” Life’s greatest lessons are not taught in the classroom, but in the midst of the storms of life! So brace yourself with faith, as you follow Christ through the storms of life and learn the great lessons of life as taught by our heavenly Father!

Let us consider the things that faith and fear have in common.
1. Both faith and fear have a focus. Jesus, having received words of instruction from his Father, focused on the words, “Let’s go over to the other side of the lake.” As the wind arose, and the waves beat on their boat, these experienced fishermen, gripped with fear focused on the wind and the waves of the storm.
2. Both faith and fear have an expectation. Jesus, focusing on the words of his Father, expected to go to the other side of the lake. The disciples, focusing on the wind and the waves, expected to go to the bottom of the lake as expressed in the words, “Master, Master, we are going to drown.”
3. Both faith and fear bring results. Fear, in the thoughts of the disciples, brought anxiety and negative expectation. Faith, in the life of Jesus, brought peace and positive expectation, for that reason Jesus was able to sleep in the midst of the storm.
4. Both faith and fear rule out the possibility of the other. Psalm 56:11 “In God I trust, I will not be afraid.” One’s trust in God prevents fear from taking control. Psalm 56:3 “When I am afraid, I will trust in the Lord.” Believers do have occasions in their lives when they are tormented by fear, much as the disciples were that day in the midst of the storm. Usually, there is a process through which we must pass in order that our faith be strengthened to overcome fear.
5. Both faith and fear are contagious. In leadership meetings, as a particular vision for God’s work is being presented, the speaking of a word of faith or fear will completely change the atmosphere of such meetings. The positive or negative words will spread rapidly on such an occasion.
6. Both faith and fear are based upon a choice. In John 16, Jesus spoke with his disciples about his forthcoming departure, this separation would bring grief and pain to them. In John 16:33, Jesus said that in this world they would have trouble, but in him, they could have peace because he had overcome the world. So these disciples, and us have a choice between having fear, because of trouble, or having faith because of Jesus’ provision of peace for troubled times.

Now let’s observe the contrasting differences between fear and faith.
1. Fear focuses on negative possibilities, while faith focuses on positive possibilities.
2. Fear brings us to possess bad and undesirable things, and faith brings us to possess good and desirable things.
3. Fear brings us into a negative state of mind, and faith brings us into a positive state of mind. Most of the things that people fear never happen to them. My father had a very serious bout with cancer during his early seventies. For a couple of years, he lived with the tormenting fear that the cancer would return and he would die. My father lived to within five days of his 105th birthday! His earlier anxiety, was an exercise in futility. Someone has said that anxiety is like a rocking chair, it will keep you busy, but it won’t take you anywhere.
4. Fear is limiting, but faith brings enlargement. Though the word faith does not appear in Isaiah 54, nevertheless the results of faith are indicated throughout this chapter. God was calling the people to enlarge the place of their tent by lengthening their cords, and strengthening their stakes, enlargement was about to occur by faith.
5. Fear prevents you from moving out into the unknown. But with the God, in whom we have put our trust, nothing is unknown. Hebrews 11:8 states: “By faith Abraham, when he was called to go to a place he would later receive as an inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.”
6. Fear drains our strength, our resolve is weakened. However, faith brings enrichment, and we are reinvigorated.

Remember, faith focuses upon that which God has said, while fear focuses upon that which is seen, such as the wind and the waves in our story in Luke 8:22-25.

In John 5:19 Jesus said, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself, he can only do what he sees the Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” There are two very important statements in this verse: First, Jesus as a human being, knew his limitations. He had a correct perception of himself, and he knew his limitations. We need to know our limitations as well. Secondly, by faith he knew the possibilities of doing great things in keeping with the revealed word of his Father (1 John 5:14-15).

The Greek word, NOEMA (pronounced, no-ay-mah) is translated by the English words: devices, mind, and thought. In the Sri Lankan Sinhala version, the word, noema is translated trap in 2 Corinthians 2:11, while in the New International Version it is translated schemes, and in the King James Version it is translated devices. The essence of the thought presented in this scripture is that we are not ignorant of Satan’s trap, or schemes, or devices. His device, scheme, or trap is to bring certain thoughts into the mind of man that comes against the thoughts created by the Word of God. We have established, that the weapons of the kingdom of light and the kingdom of darkness, respectively are the weapons of faith and fear. However, weapons without ammunition are without effect, hence the weapons of faith and fear need ammunition. Words are the ammunition used by the weapons of both faith and fear. The words of the weapons of faith and fear are aimed at mankind to create thoughts in the human mind. The words used by the weapon of faith create thoughts in the human mind that are in harmony with the knowledge of God. These words create faith (Romans 10:17). In contrast, the words used by the weapon of fear create thoughts in the human mind in harmony with the lies of Satan. These words create fear. The word “noema” is translated mind in 2 Corinthians 3:14, referring to the fact that the mind is hardened. According to Matthew 13:4 when seed fell on the hardened path, it was immediately devoured by the birds, thus preventing the growth of the seed. 2 Corinthians 4:4 speaks of the god of this world (Satan), who blinds the mind, thus preventing the recognition of the truth of the word of God, and the growth of that seed. 2 Corinthians 11:3 speaks of Eve, as being deceived by the serpent in Eden, in like manner Paul feared lest the minds of the Corinthians “be led astray from simple and pure devotion to Christ.” To counteract these traps, Paul exhorted believers, in 2 Corinthians 10:5, to “take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” In this way, according to 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 we fight with weapons which have divine power to demolish strongholds, composed of Satan’s arguments and pretensions contrary to the knowledge of God.

There is a strange and reversible phenomenon in the relationship between words and thoughts. The phenomenon is this, while words create thoughts, it is also true that thoughts create words! In view of the latter fact, that thoughts create words, Proverbs 18:21a) states that “the tongue has the power of life and death.” Romans 10:9-10 [That if you confess with your mouth that “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.”] These verses connect the thoughts believed in the heart and the words confessed by the mouth, as the means of salvation. This is a verification of the statement in Proverbs 18:21 that “the tongue has the power of life.” Obviously, from Proverbs 18:21, the opposite is also true. That is, when the thoughts believed in the mind, or heart are in harmony with the lies of Satan, the confession of these thoughts, by means of words, have the power to produce death.

Whose tongue speaks with the power to bring life? In John 6:63, Jesus said, “The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.” In John 6:67-68, Jesus asked the twelve, “You do not want to leave too, do you?” Simon Peter answered him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” The words of the Triune God have the power to bring life!

Whose tongue speaks with the power to bring death? Satan entered Eden as a speaking serpent, and he entered into a conversation with Eve (Genesis 3:1-7). God had already established his will by the giving of his word concerning the tree in the midst of the garden (Genesis 2:16-17). “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat of it you will surely die.” This was a warning for the protection of human life in the Garden of Eden. However, in the conversation that the serpent had with Eve, he contradicted the word that had been given by God to Adam. It is evident that the power of death was in the tongue of Satan. James 1:14-15 clearly states the process by which one may progress toward death. As a result of the acceptance of Satan’s lie by Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, death came into their lives that day!

Now with the understanding that there is a war between God and Satan, and that this war is being fought on the turf of the human mind, let us consider the life of Job as described in Job 1-2, and 42. Let’s allow the word of God to speak for itself: Job 1:6-12 “One day the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them. The LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” “Does Job fear God for nothing?” Satan replied. “Have you not put a hedge around him and his household and everything he has? You have blessed the work of his hands, so that his flocks and herds are spread throughout the land. But stretch out your hand and strike everything he has, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, everything he has is in your hands, but on the man himself do not lay a finger.” Then Satan went out from the presence of the LORD. In Job 1:13-19 four tragic incidents occurred in the lives of the people in relationship to Job. In Job 1:20-22 we read, “At this, Job got up and tore his robe and shaved his head. Then he fell to the ground in worship, and said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised.” In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

In Job 2:1-10 we read: “On another day, the angels came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan also came with them to present himself before him. And the LORD said to Satan, “Where have you come from?” Satan answered the LORD, “From roaming through the earth and going back and forth in it.” Then the LORD said to Satan, “Have you considered my servant Job? There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil. And he still maintains his integrity, though you incited me against him to ruin him without any reason.” “Skin for skin!” Satan replied. “A man will give all he has for his own life. But stretch out your hand and strike his flesh and bones, and he will surely curse you to your face.” The LORD said to Satan, “Very well, then, he is in your hands; but you must spare his life.” So Satan went out from the presence of the LORD and afflicted Job with painful sores from the soles of his feet to the top of his head. Then Job took a piece of broken pottery and scraped himself with it as he sat among the ashes. His wife said to him, “Are you still holding on to your integrity? Curse God and die!” He replied, “You are talking like a foolish woman. Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble?” In all of this, Job did not sin in what he said.

After having passed through all the difficult things that took place in his life, Job assesses the change that came in his life because of the trials through which he passed, by saying to God, “My ears had heard of you, but now my eyes have seen you, therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:5-6). Then it is said of Job, “The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the first!” (Job 42:12).

The simple conclusion to be drawn from this biblical record of the conversation between God and Satan with respect to the life of Job is this: Job, in the face of trouble, continued to align himself with the words of God, rather than the words of Satan, hence he filled his mind with thoughts that were in harmony with the words spoken by God. Then Job, from the thoughts of his mind, confessed with the words of his mouth, truth concerning the deepening relationship that he was experiencing with God. His wife, on the other hand, aligned herself with the words of Satan, and spoke negatively from the lying thoughts that had become lodged in her mind. If she had been passing through similar difficulties, she would have cursed God and died! Again, listen to the words of Proverbs 18:21a) “The tongue has the power of life and death.” The truth of this text is certainly illustrated by the record of the life of Job.

The Church Planted at Thessalonica was sustained in the midst of Severe Persecution by its Faith in the Lord!
The church at Thessalonica came into being through the ministry of the Apostle Paul during his second missionary journey (Acts 17:1-10). According to Acts 16:40, 17:1: “After Paul and Silas came out of the Philippian prison, they went to Lydia’s house, where they met with the brothers and encouraged them. When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.” According to Acts 17:14, at some point Timothy came to assist in the ministry at Thessalonica and Berea (1 Thessalonians 1:1; 3:1-6). A persecution came against Paul and his team at Thessalonica, so the newly converted brethren assisted Paul and Silas to escape by night to Berea (17:10). Then, when Jews of Thessalonica came to Berea to continue their persecution by agitating the crowds there (17:13), Paul was taken to Athens (17:14-15), while Silas and Timothy stayed at Berea. After a time in Athens, Paul went to Corinth where he planted a church during the next year and a half (18:1-11). The plan was that Silas and Timothy would come from Berea and join Paul at Athens as soon as possible (Acts 17:15). Acts 18:5 states that finally, “Silas and Timothy came from Macedonia, and joined Paul at Corinth. Paul may have left Athens for Corinth sooner than originally planned, so Silas and Timothy likely bypassed Athens and went directly to Corinth. It is generally accepted that Paul wrote the epistle of 1 Thessalonians and sent it to the church at Thessalonica from Corinth between 49 and 54 A.D. Prior to writing this letter, Paul sent Timothy back to Thessalonica to strengthen and encourage the believers in their faith (1 Thessalonians 3:1-10). Following Timothy’s visit to Thessalonica, he returned to Corinth, and gave Paul a report of the condition of the church at Thessalonica. Galatians may have been the only letter written by Paul prior to the writing of 1 Thessalonians.

In reading the book of Acts, it is important to remember that Luke wrote this historical record. So when he uses the pronouns, we and us, it indicates that he was with Paul and his team (Acts 16:9-13). While the use of the pronouns, they and them indicate that Luke was not with Paul and his team (Acts 17:1-4).

Acts 17:2-3 (as well as Acts 13:4-5; 14:1; 18:1-4; 19:8-10) indicate a pattern of ministry generally followed by the Apostle Paul as he went to Gentile cities to plant churches. Romans 1:16 states Paul’s priority of ministry in these words, “to the Jew first, and also to the Greek (or the Gentile).” Most Jewish people of that time believed in the coming of a Messiah (or Christ). Paul’s approach in presenting the gospel to the Jews was as follows: He used the Old Testament Scriptures to give a picture of Israel’s promised Messiah. Acts 17:3a) outlines Paul’s pattern of teaching in the Synagogue: “Explaining and proving (from the Old Testament Scriptures) that the Christ had to suffer and rise from dead.” Peter, in his writing, said, “The prophets who spoke of the grace that was to come to you, searched intently, trying to find out the time and circumstances when they predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.” (1 Peter 1:10-11). Peter’s statement clearly includes predictions of the suffering and glories of the Messiah. In addition to the statements of Paul and of Peter, Jesus himself, when speaking to two disciples on the road to Emmaus, said, “How foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! Did not the Christ have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” (Luke 24:25-26). However, the Jewish people did not expect the coming of a suffering Messiah, but the coming of one who would have power and glory. When the Israelites read the predictions about suffering, they applied such words to themselves, and upon reading the predictions that spoke of one coming with power and glory, they applied such prophecies to their anticipated Messiah.

For this reason, Paul focused on the prophecies about suffering as applicable to the Messiah, and not to Israel. Isaiah 53 would be one such example of the predicted sufferings of the Messiah. It is likely that Paul took at least two Sabbath days to portray the Messiah as one who would suffer, die and be raised from the dead. Then on the third Sabbath day, or a portion of it, he would give them a picture of Jesus, as one who had suffered, died and been raised from the dead. He would then conclude by stating “This Jesus I am proclaiming to you is the Christ (the Messiah)” (17:3b). In this way Paul clearly stated that the Messiah of Old Testament prophecies was identical with the Jesus who had suffered and died, hence Jesus was the Christ, now risen from the dead!

Acts 17:4: Paul’s presentation of Jesus as the Christ resulted in some of the Jews coming to believe, as well as a large number of God-fearing Greeks (Jewish proselytes such as the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8:26-38), and many prominent women. However, many Jews, reacted to Paul, and rejected the message that he preached. Then they began to persecute Paul and Silas, and the new believers in Jesus as the Messiah who had already come. (17:5-9).

Acts 17:1-10 seems to indicate that Paul’s ministry, in the founding of the church at Thessalonica, was during a short three to four week period of time. Paul likely intended to continue ministry in Thessalonica, but it ended abruptly because of the persecution that came against Silas and himself, and the company of new believers in that city. As a result of the persecution, the new believers, under the cover of darkness, sent Paul and Silas to Berea. The words, “On arriving there, they went to the Jewish synagogue,” indicate that the pattern of ministry used in so many Gentile cities was also followed in Berea. The Bereans are commended by Paul as being more noble in character than those in Thessalonians in that “they received the message with great eagerness and examined the scriptures every day to see if what Paul said was true.” (Acts 17:11).

How is it that the church in Thessalonica was such a strong healthy church?

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10 and commenting on chapter 2:1-20 and chapter 3:1-10. (Quotations are from the New International Version). Nelson’s New Illustrated Bible Commentary states: “First Thessalonians gives us an intimate introduction of how Paul mentored young believers. As this epistle demonstrates, his teaching for young converts was rich in doctrine and application, accurately describing salvation in its full dimensions.”

“Paul and Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and Peace to you (1:1).”
The inclusion of the names of Silas and Timothy along with Paul’s name, indicates that while Paul was writing this letter, he was writing it on behalf of his team of gifted ministers. In the King James Version of the English bible, the words, we, our, and us appear 133 times in the two letters that Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica. The use of such plural pronouns indicate that leadership in the Church is not to be centered in one person, but in a team of gifted leaders. Such team leadership is portrayed in the writings of Paul in Ephesians 4:11 as he wrote of Christ’s ministry gifts of apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers given to the church.

The greeting of “grace and peace” from Paul, Silas and Timothy to the church at Thessalonica combines the Greek and Hebrew salutations! Undoubtedly this was because the church at Thessalonica was composed of both Jews and Greeks according to Acts 17:4. It is important that we recognize that the Church, the Body of Christ was and is to be a multi-cultural body (Galatians 3:26-28).

“We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers (1:2).”
It is easy to speak words of thanksgiving “for all of you,” but are we really thankful for every believer? Some members of a church can be very difficult, are we really thankful for such members? We need to be thankful, even for those with whom we have relational difficulties. Such relationships can be the means by which we progress toward greater maturity, as we work through relational difficulties. On the backdrop of such thankfulness, Paul speaks of their corporate prayers for these believers. It is true that prayer is essential in the development of a healthy church!

“We continually remember before our God and Father, your work produced by faith, your labor prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ (1:3).”
This verse contains the common expression used by Paul in his writings, namely that of faith, love and hope. The most common use of these words is found in 1 Corinthians 13:13 “Now these three remain: faith, hope and love.”

Comments on 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 and 3:1-10. In spite of the persecution that came so suddenly to this newly planted church, Paul stated that the visit of the ministry team to Thessalonica was not a failure. [2:1 “You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure.”] It was evident that the persecution was a continuation of the suffering that had been inflicted upon them at Philippi. [2:2 “We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.”] Nor was the suffering that came to them a result of unwise practices of the ministry team. [2:3-6 “For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts. You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed---God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.”] The sharing of the gospel by this ministry team was motivated by a deep love for those to whom they ministered, much like the love of a mother caring for her little children. [2:6-9 “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you, but we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us. Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”]
Or like that of a father dealing with his own children. [2:10-12 “You are witnesses, and so is God, of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”] The reception of the Word of God by these believers was based on a genuine faith that recognized the divine nature of the message shared by these servants of God. [2:13-16 “And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe. For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out. They displease God and are hostile to all men in their effort to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so that they may be saved. In this way they always heap up their sins to the limit. The wrath of God has come upon them at last.”] The cruel nature of persecution is rooted in the demonic, without consideration of the hurt that occurs as people are torn from one another through persecution. [2:17-18 “But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you---certainly I, Paul, did, again and again---but Satan stopped us.”] But the perseverance expressed by Paul’s repeated attempts at reconnecting to these believers at Thessalonica is certainly evidence of his love for them. [2:19-20 “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”]

In view of his inability to return to them, the team decides to send Timothy to the church in Thessalonica (3:1-10), for the purpose of strengthening their faith. It is worthy of note, that the focus of this ministry team concerning these believers was not upon the problem of the persecution, but upon the enduring power possible through faith. We must never focus exclusively upon problems, and the resultant pain, but upon God’s solution, and the salvation that he can bring! When Timothy returned from being in Thessalonica, he brought good news about the faith of these believers! That good news was an encouragement to Paul and his team of workers in their own “distress and persecutions.”

At some point following Timothy’s return, Paul, in the process of time wrote two letters addressed to them as 1st and 2nd Thessalonians. These two epistles are rich in spiritual truth and inspiration, while the two epistles to the Corinthian church were corrective in nature. There is a stark contrast between the letters written to the churches at Thessalonica and Corinth.

In a concluding word, I think that the church at Thessalonica was healthy because it was planted by a healthy ministry team, and it was continually nurtured by a caring, committed team of gifted ministers, who whether present or absent, still found ways to strengthen these believers in their faith and love (3:6).

Consider the use of these terms in the writings of Paul in their chronological order:
1. AD 50 Paul wrote to the church at Thessalonica: 1 Thessalonians 1:3 (KJV) “Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ …” 5:8 (KJV) “But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.”
2. AD 55 Paul wrote to the church at Corinth: 1 Corinthians 13:13
3. AD 55-56 Paul wrote to the church at Rome: Romans 5:1-6 “faith - hope - love”
4. AD 62 Paul wrote to the church at Ephesus: Ephesians 1:15-19 “your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints - that you might know the hope of his calling …”
5. AD 62 Paul wrote to the church at Colosse: Colossians 1:3-5 “your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love to all the saints - for the hope which is laid up for you …”

Let us compare 1 Thessalonians 1:3 with 1:9-10 “[They tell how the Thessalonians turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead---Jesus who rescued us from coming wrath].”
The “work produced by faith” involved “turning to God from idols.” This took place in the believers’ lives at Thessalonica when Paul preached the gospel there. Acts 17:1-10.
The “labor prompted by love” involved “serving the living and true God,” as they served Paul and Silas by safely escorting them to Berea as the persecution endangered their lives. (Acts17:10).
The “endurance inspired by hope” involved “waiting for God’s Son from heaven,” as in the Second Coming of Christ!

[1:4-8 “For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitators of us and of the Lord, in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia---your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reception you gave us.”]

The Message makes a Model of the one who believes, and then the Model makes the Message effective! Verse 4: [“For we know, brothers loved by God, that he has chosen you.” “God is love (1 John 4:8).”]
The message is perfect, because it begins with a perfect God! It begins with the God who is love! So verse 4 speaks of “brethren beloved.” The people are loved (John 3:16). It is God’s love by which he has chosen us to be in His family! Someone said it this way: As a sinner, one sees a gate, and over the gate are these words, “Whosoever Will May Come.” As we read this invitation, we respond by passing through the gate, and then looking back upon the gate from the inside, we read these words, “I have chosen you from before the creation of the world.” In Jeremiah 31:3 the Lord said, Yes, I have loved thee with an everlasting love, therefore with loving kindness have I drawn thee.” My response to the words on the gate, “Whosoever Will May Come,” is rooted in his love, and its drawing power upon me!

Verse 5: [“Because our gospel came to you, not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.”]
The words, “Whosoever Will May Come,” is at the very heart of the gospel! The good news is that there is a universal invitation to receive God’s love and enter into God’s family, the Church. As Saul of Tarsus encountered the Lord Jesus on the road to Damascus, it was a Spirit empowered word that came to him and transformed his life! So Paul’s life became a model portraying the transformation that God’s message could bring to the life of anyone who would believe the message and receive Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. Paul wrote about the gospel as a message being modeled by him. Paul says, “You know what manner of men we were among you for your sakes.” The model of Paul’s life made his message effective in transforming the lives of others who received it.

Verse 6: [“You became imitators of us and of the Lord, in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with joy given by the Holy Spirit.”]
The Thessalonians believed and received Jesus Christ as Savior, and their lives were transformed in a manner similar to Paul’s transformation. The word was received in a time of persecution, nevertheless, the power to transform their lives was effective because that power was resident in the Holy Spirit.

Verse 7: [“And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”]
Now, these Thessalonian believers became models of the message for all the people in Macedonia and Achaia to view. These two provinces of Greece, one in the north, and the other in the south, represented all of Greece.

Verse 8: [“The Lord’s message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia---your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it.”]
The Thessalonian believers, not only believed the message delivered to them by Paul, but they were totally transformed by that message! So they became models of that message. Hence, there sounded out from their lives, the word of the Lord. The word, “sounded,” is used to describe the clear sound of a trumpet, or a loud clap of thunder. Simply stated, there was a very clear, powerful communication of the gospel through the transformed lives of these believers at Thessalonica. “Your faith in God has become known everywhere.”

The concluding statement that I wish to make in summing up 1 Thessalonians 1:4-8 is simply this: The message, having originated with our God of Love, when received by repentant believing sinners, they were transformed into living models of the gospel. Then as these transformed believers trumpeted out the gospel on the backdrop of the model of their lives, the message became effective by continuing to transform the lives of other repentant believing sinners! It is in this manner that the gospel was spread far and wide throughout the world of that day!

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20
Verses 1-2: [“You know, brothers, that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.”]
Paul and his team had come from Philippi in Macedonia to Thessalonica, also a city in Macedonia. Acts 16:11-40 describes the ministry of Paul and Silas at Philippi. In the Acts historical record, as well as in the Thessalonian letter, we have a record of the persecution experienced by Paul and Silas at Phillipi . However, the persecution at Philippi, did not prevent Paul and his team from presenting the gospel at Thessalonica, even in the face of the strong opposition.

Verses 3-4: [“For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you. On the contrary, we speak as men approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please men but God, who tests our hearts.”]
The exhortation, or encouragement made by Paul as the Thessalonians respond to the gospel by receiving Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, was not made because of any ulterior motive on the part of Paul. But rather, Paul’s encouragement was made so that spiritual benefit might come to the Thessalonians as they believed the gospel of Christ. Paul’s presentation of the gospel was not with a desire to please men, but to please God!

Verses 5-6: [“You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed---God is our witness. We were not looking for praise from men, not from you or anyone else.”]
Paul continues to emphasize that his ministry among them was not for his personal benefit. Paul did not covet anything of material gain, or fleshly glory from them.

Verses 7-8: [“But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.”]
Paul uses the picture of a nursing-mother. As one thinks of a mother nursing her new born child, two characteristics that come to mind, one is her gentleness, and the second is how she places priority on meeting the needs of the child over her own personal needs. A nursing-mother is very gentle as she holds the new born and nurses the child upon her breast. Furthermore, the nursing-mother is willing to be available any hour of the day or night in order to meet the needs of the child. All of this pictures Paul’s ministry to those who were new born believers at Thessalonica.

Verses 9-12: [ “Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship, we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you. You are witnesses, and so is God, how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”] These verses portray the unselfish abandonment of Paul as he gave himself to serve these new believers.

In verse 9: [“Surely you remember, brothers, our toil and hardship, we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.” Paul spoke of his “labor and travail” or “toil and hardship.”]
The Greek word for “labor” (2873), indicates a labor that reduces one’s strength. I remember a ministry situation where I experienced a reduction of my strength. After this situation passed, I was able to discern the reason for my reduction of strength. There were spirits of darkness at work seeking to reduce my level of faith, thus rendering my effort ineffective. I believe that when our labor brings good results, it is because of faith in God. Hence our strength is renewed through the presence of faith. It is my judgment that faith, its absence or presence determines whether our strength is being reduced or renewed! The Greek word for “travail” (3449), indicates a sadness or painfulness. When our labor is visibly ineffective, there is a sadness or painfulness that we experience. Even in the face of such “labor and travail,” Paul persevered in preaching the gospel at Thessalonica, and he did so at great personal expense.

Verse 10: [“You are witnesses, and so is God, how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed.”] According to verse 10, God, and all of the new believers at Thessalonica were witnesses of Paul’s manner of life as he ministered there. He speaks of “how … we behaved ourselves.” These three adverbs, holily (piously), justly (righteously), and unblameably (blamelessly) modify or describe Paul’s behavior.

Verses 11-12: [“For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”]
In these verses Paul speaks of his ministry among these new born believers “as a father” with “his children.” The image of a father in these verses stands in sharp contrast to the image of a nursing-mother in verses 7-8. There is firmness in the words of a father as he encourages and urges the child to live worthy of God.

The images of a mother and a father are both needed to provide the care required in the development of spiritual children. The different types of care provided by a mother and father may be brought to children by the difference in a woman and a man, or by different gifts resident in either a woman or a man. It is evident that Paul, though a man was both a mother and a father to these new born children at Thessalonica as different gifts were expressed through his life. However, God often uses a husband and wife to minister as a spiritual father and mother in the family of the church.

Verse 13: [“And we thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”] Paul gives thanks to God that the faith expressed by these new believers at Thessalonica was a faith that went beyond believing in the human vessel, to believing in God as the divine source of the truth preached by Paul. The word that Paul preached was powerfully active in the lives of these believers because of their faith in that divine word!

Verse 14: [“For you, brothers, became imitators of God’s churches in Judaea, which are in Christ Jesus: You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews.”]
Whether in Judaea or in Thessalonica, whether Jews or Gentiles, when people receive the word of God by faith, God works a miracle in the life. However, those who refuse to receive the word of God by faith react against those who receive it, whether in Judaea or in Macedonia. As a result of refusal to receive the word of God, persecution followed.

Verses 17-18: [“But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. For we wanted to come to you----certainly I, Paul, did, again and again---but Satan stopped us.”]
The abrupt conclusion of Paul’s physical presence in Thessalonica was a difficult thing for him to accept. Even though Paul was taken from them, he continued to hold the believers in Thessalonica in his heart. It seems evident from his letter, that Paul made an effort to return to Thessalonica on at least two separate occasions, and Paul said, “But Satan stopped us.” Paul certainly expresses a deep pastoral love toward these believers!

Verses 19-20: [“For what is our hope, or joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy.”]
The crown seems to allude to the garland of victory awarded to winners in the sports games of that time. Should that be so, it becomes a picture of the rewards to be given out at the Judgment Seat of Christ. Paul thought of these believers “in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ at his coming” as a part of the company of redeemed believers that would result in his receiving a crown for the faithful service that he had rendered in winning them to faith in Christ.

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 – Work of Faith (part 1)
Verses 1-2: [ “So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves at Athens. We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith.”]
Paul had a father/mother heart for the new born believers at Thessalonica. It was for this reason that a corporate decision was made to send Timothy to them. Paul was willing to forego Timothy’s presence with him for the sake of the encouragement and strength that Timothy might bring to their faith in their time of persecution. This sacrifice by Paul for his spiritual children is an evidence of the genuine father/mother heart possessed by him.

Verses 3-5: [“So that no one would be unsettled by these trials, you know quite well that we were destined for them. 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. 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 might have tempted you, and our efforts might have been useless.”]
Undoubtedly, Paul was concerned that the persecution that required him to leave them abruptly might prove to be too great a trial for them in their new found faith, therefore he released Timothy to go to Thessalonica to be with them. Paul, while he was with them, taught them that true believers are destined to suffer persecution. Timothy is addressed as Paul’s spiritual son in the faith, and there are two letters written by Paul to him, namely the letters of 1 and 2 Timothy. Paul repeatedly addressed the matter of persecution with Timothy in these letters. In 2 Timothy 3:12, Paul said: “In fact, everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” Many, many believers have been called upon to suffer great persecution during the 20th century, and there is no indication that such persecution will lessen in this 21st century. In order to successfully face such persecution there needs to be a strengthening of faith. Great persecution was experienced by the Church during its’ first three hundred years of existence. All of the original eleven apostles of Christ suffered martyrdom, except the Apostle John. History tells us that he was miraculously delivered from great persecution, and was finally exiled to the Isle of Patmos (Revelation 1:9).

For the Church to overcome the persecution being brought against it, there must be a strengthening of faith. “Faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God (Romans 10:17).” We must have God and His word as our continual focus. Church leaders need to preach the Word, and all believers need to read and study the Word daily!

So let us turn our attention to the Word of God for the strengthening of our faith!
Romans 1:5-6 [“Through him and for his name’s sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith. And you [in Rome] also are among those who are called to belong to Jesus Christ.”]
Paul speaks of his call to apostleship to bring about obedience to faith among all nations, including those in Rome at the very center of the Roman Empire.

Romans 1:8-12 [“First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for all of you, because your faith is being reported all over the world. God, whom I serve with my whole heart in preaching the gospel of his Son, is my witness how constantly I remember you in my prayers at all times, and I pray that now at last by God’s will the way may be opened for me to come to you. I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong---that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”]
Paul thanks God for the believers at Rome, and the fact that their faith is spoken of throughout the world. Paul speaks of the mutual faith that he shared with the Roman believers, and the encouragement that they shared by that common faith. As fellow believers, we need to share our faith experiences with one another. As we share these faith experiences with one another, our mutual faith will be strengthened!

Romans 4, highlights Abraham and his faith experiences. In verse 3 Paul states that “Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness.” Verse 5 refers to Abraham’s faith in these words: “But to him that … believeth on Him that justifies the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Verses 16-17 state: “Therefore it (justification) is of faith, that it might be by grace, to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed … which is of the faith of Abraham … As it is written, I have made thee a father of many nations, before him whom he believed, even God, who makes alive the dead, and calls those things which be not as though they were.” Now these words in Romans 4:17 are of great importance in the strengthening of our faith. God is to be the SOURCE and OBJECT of one’s faith! Ephesians 2:8 states, “For by grace are you saved, through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God.” Faith is a gift from God. God is the source of one’s faith! Acts 27 is the story of Paul’s faith in the midst of a severe storm as he went from Caesarea to Rome. Verse 25 is Paul’s testimony after having an encounter with God during a time of prayer: “Wherefore, sirs, be of good cheer, for I believe God, that it shall be even as it was told me.” Undoubtedly, God was the source of Paul’s faith as God said, “Fear not, Paul, thou must be brought before Caesar, and lo, God hath given thee all them that sail with thee (27:24).” But God was also the object of Paul’s faith as he said, “I believe God.”

Faith is seeing, “those things which be not as though they were.” We can apply these words to the experience of Paul in the storm en route to Rome. We can apply it to the forthcoming birth of Isaac, even though Abraham and Sarah were incapable of bearing children at that point in their lives. Listen to Romans 4:18-21: Abraham, “who against hope believed in hope, that he might become the father of many nations, according to that which was spoken, So shall thy seed be.” Faith is not based on what we see, but on what God says! Verses 19-20 clearly reveal that Abraham’s faith was strong because he refused to focus on the impossibility revealed by what he saw in their aged bodies. He chose to focus on the promise of God, and the possibilities contained in that promise. As a result of his focus on the promise of God, he was able to give glory to God as he anticipated the fulfillment of the promise! Verse 21 is a powerful expression of what faith is: Faith is “being fully persuaded that what God has promised, he is able also to perform.”

In these verses that we have considered from Romans chapter four, there are two significant words written, the words are hope and faith. Walter Rusnell, an excellent Canadian Bible Teacher, and an acquaintance of mine, has made some very significant statements concerning the contrast of hope and faith. He said, “Hope believes that something will happen in the future, while faith believes it has happened, and is now happening. Hope is one of the three eternal principles (faith, hope and love). Hope has a tremendous ability to purify and make ready. However, hope has no power to make something come to pass. Faith is the power that brings things into being in the realm of the spirit right now! If faith is not exercised, the thing will not come into being.”

Then Walter Rusnell continued by saying, “The force of faith rules in the physical realm.” Then he illustrated this fact by highlighting certain statements from Hebrews 11:
Verse 5: “By faith Enoch was translated that he should not see death.”
Verses 11-12: “Through faith also Sarah herself received strength to conceive seed …”
Verses 20-21: “By faith Isaac blessed Jacob & Esau - Jacob blessed both sons of Joseph”
Verse 29: “By faith they passed through the Red Sea as by dry land …”
Verse 30: “By faith the walls of Jericho fell down …”
Verse 31: “By faith the harlot Rahab perished not …”
Verses 33-38: “Who through faith subdued kingdoms, wrought righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouth of lions, Quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, waxed valiant in fight, turned to flight the armies of the aliens, Women received their dead raised to life again, and others were tortured, not accepting deliverance, that they might obtain a better resurrection, They were stoned, they were sawn asunder, were tempted, were slain with the sword, they wandered about in sheepskins and goatskins, being destitute, afflicted, tormented, they wandered in deserts, and in mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.”

Mustard Seed Faith
There is another principle operative in the realm of faith, namely this, faith, like any muscle in a human body, is strengthen by continual use. This is the significance of Matthew 17:20 “If you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.” There are two essential comparisons between a mustard seed and faith! Though faith, like a mustard seed may be very small (Matthew 13:31-32: “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed … though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants …”) it has the ability to grow! Our faith may start very small, but by continual use, our faith grows because of the God-factor! The God-factor comes about because of our faith in God’s ability to perform impossible things in and through our lives!

Most everything in which we have been involved at Westside Family Fellowship in Prince George, Canada, has begun as mustard seed faith. After our initial mortgage was paid off for the purchase of the land and building in which our church meets, it was determined that we would never involve debt as a means of further expansion. During the past 25 years we have purchased additional land and expanded our building at five different times without involving debt! All of this was possible because of mustard seed faith

BUT THERE ARE TWO OTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS CONNECTED TO WESTSIDE FAMILY FELLOWSHIP AS A RESULT OF MUSTARD SEED FAITH, here is the first story …
It was in the early 1990’s and there was a pastoral concern as to how the children and youth of Westside Family Fellowship might develop a greater concern for the needs of Missions in the Third World. How could this younger generation become gripped by the spiritual and material needs of the children and youth that lived half-a-world away?

A plan was proposed to collect cans and bottles of all sorts, and return them for refund, and thereby collect funds together that could be used to finance Mission Projects! After one year we raised $10,000. and a project was selected in Kenya, East Africa. Through the channel of World Vision, Pastor Paul Ndung’u and his people in East Africa were provided with three large water catchments. These water catchments provided for the retaining of water caught during the rainy season for use in the seasons of severe drought.

After this project was completed, contact was made with Hope International, and an offer was made to them by us for the raising of funds for a Third World Project under their supervision. However, this time, after the raising of the funds, we would go with a group of our own young adults and construct the proposed project. Hope International agreed to select a Third World country in which such a project might be done. In the early fall of 1994, a representative of Hope International came to Westside Family Fellowship, and met with our group of adults as they outlined the project, and revealed the country in which the project would be done. We learned that we were scheduled to build a classroom on a cross-cultural school in the city of Kandy, in the nation of Sri Lanka in November, 1994.

We boarded our plane in Vancouver, BC for Sri Lanka on November 1, 1994. We had an adult team composed of John and Elsie Giesbrecht, George McDonald, Kevin Hudson, David Pope Jr., Elaine Bargy, Jodi Westfall, Rod Walker, Darrell Beck and myself along with Hope International Project Directors, Fred and Irene Apon from Edmonton, Alberta. As we boarded our plane in Singapore for the last part of our journey to Sri Lanka, I was seated by an Asian man. As we became involved in conversation, it was soon evident that we were both believers in the Lord Jesus. As we continued our conversation, I thought of the letter that my Sri Lankan friend, David Rathnum, from Abbotsford, BC had given me. It was a letter of reference addressed to two different pastors in Sri Lanka, one in Colombo, and the other in Kandy. So taking the letter out of my case, I asked my new acquaintance to read the letter. Upon reading the letter, he spoke to me of the church mentioned in the letter, “That’s the church that I attend in Colombo.” At that point, I thought, “Could it be that God had a plan for my life and ministry in Sri Lanka to which we were traveling?”

Today, almost fifteen years later, I have made ten Mission Ministry Trips to the nation of Sri Lanka. I have preached in a great number of their churches, participated in 35 Leadership Conferences at many different locations throughout the rural and remote regions of Sri Lanka with about 3,000 registrants at these conferences! As recently as March, 2009 we had 1,000 leaders in this year’s conferences! For all of this, we give praise and thanksgiving to God! That which started with the picking up of a pop can, has now escalated into a Missions Ministry that touches an entire nation! This is the power of mustard seed faith! How can such a multiplication take place? The answer is very simple, yet beyond our natural comprehension! The difference in size between the point of beginning in 1994 and the present point of escalation in 2009, can be summed up in two words---BUT GOD! The difference in size is the GOD-FACTOR!

THE SECOND STORY IS ABOUT EMMAUS PLACE SOCIETY ….
Its the story of the commencement and development of Emmaus House, a seniors supportive housing unit located in the city of Prince George, Canada. It is not about a building and its development, or the beautification of the land surrounding the residence for the housing of senior citizens of our community … It was and is about the growth of a seed faith involving a few thousand dollars to a facility to house seniors that is valued today at a few hundred thousand dollars! What a mustard seed faith story this is!

This unfolding story started in the early 1990’s in the heart of Arlo A. Johnson when he was senior pastor of Westside Family Fellowship in Prince George. It started as a desire to create a non-profit society in the community of Prince George, Canada that would meet some social need in the lives of individuals whether they were churched, or non-churched. As a result of this vision, nine individuals responded to a need by giving upwards to $4,000. each, to fund the establishment of Emmaus Place Society. Their response resulted in the collecting of approximately $35,000. Emmaus Place was registered as a non-profit society with the ability to issue charitable receipts.

Initially, 160 acres of land was purchased in the Prince George region. The asking price for the property was $120,000. With limited funds, an approach was made to a local business man who owned this property. As a result of the negotiations with him, an agreement was made to purchase the property for a cash payment of $50,000. plus, the issuance of a charitable receipt for $70,000. Attempts were made to establish a portable sawmill on the property as a means of training teen boys from single parent families in sawmilling. But when application was made to the Municipal Council for a permit to operate the mill on the property, a permit was denied.

Now what was to be done? While waiting for further direction, it was decided not to actively seek to sell the property. However, in the course of time, a would-be-purchaser made an offer that could not be refused. The sale resulted in a 290% increase in the society’s capital funds. Another 80 acres of land was purchased for approximately $40,000. and the balance of the funds were invested. Various plans were considered for the development of the newly purchased land, all to no avail.

It was in 2001 when a senior member of a church congregation approached Emmaus Place Society with a proposal that her residential property be leased for a senior supportive housing unit. Through negotiations, an agreement was reached for the leasing of her property. The Seniors Supportive Housing Unit was opened February 1, 2002.

We named the senior supportive housing unit, Emmaus House. A Christian lady was hired as the manager of Emmaus House. The next two and one-half years provided opportunities in learning to care for seniors. As we overcome such challenges, final preparations were made to purchase the property.

In the process of final negotiations we realized that we were faced with a dilemma. We had sufficient funds for a down payment, and a mortgage was available to us, however we didn’t have enough funds for the continued upgrading of the property.

One day it was necessary for me to confirm the residency of a person at Emmaus House with the BC Housing Safer Program. As a result of that phone call, I was put in contact with an Officer of the British Columbia Housing Association who was in a position to allot grants to assist with housing for seniors. That conversation eventually resulted in Emmaus House receiving a BC Housing Grant of $35,000. Now we were in a position to purchase the property, and still have funds to make the desired improvements on our senior housing unit. On December 1, 2004 the property was purchased and from that time major renovations have been, and continue to be made on our seniors’ residence.

However, if we were to complete the renovations of the exterior of the house, as well as the re-shaping of the land contours of the lot, we would need to sell of the 80 acres of land owned by the society. Efforts had been made to sell the property, all to no avail. Then in mid-2006, a new neighbor who had just purchased a nearby residential property, inquired about the possibility of purchasing our 80 acres at the end of Family Place Road. On November 1, 2006, a member of our Board negotiated a very satisfactory sale price for the property that would net us a 40% increase over the purchase price.

With the sale of this property, we proceeded to renovate of the common area of the main floor of Emmaus House including a new set of kitchen cupboards, removal of all the old flooring, replacing the living room with laminate flooring, and dining room, kitchen and hall with vinyl floor covering. We were able to contract the complete renewal of the exterior of the building with a siding that has a fifty year warranty. In addition to these internal and external renovations, we were able to re-shape the land surrounding the residence, and build a network of Allan block walls that greatly beautified the property.

By very careful spending, we were also able to pave of the drive and parking lot of the property as one other major outdoor improvement that needed to be done. It is anticipated that in the near future we will develop a park-like area for the seniors at the rear of the residence. For over one year now, Emmaus House has been completely full with nine/ten permanent residents. You can visit our Website at http://www.emmaushouse.ca/

The spiritual part of this story is still being written! Since February, 2002 many different residents have come to live at Emmaus House. As a result of the atmosphere of Christian love in Emmaus House, and the Word of God that is shared, a number of these residents have come to faith, or a deepened faith in Christ!

Today, Emmaus House property has a value upward to $500,000. and a debt of less than $95,000. At no point during the last seven years would we ever have had faith for $400,000. But with our mustard seed faith, we asked nine men to each contribute $4,000. to Emmaus Place Society. To-day our faith in God has achieved miraculous results! The following saying has become a part of my life: “Even God cannot steer a parked car!” What does this mean concerning the subject of faith? It means that if anyone of us will not venture out and take a step of faith, we will not see the miracles that God might have performed! As Jesus walked on the water of the Sea of Galilee, Peter said to Jesus: “Lord, if that is you, bid me come to you on the water.” Jesus said, “Come.” Matthew 14:29 states that “when Peter was come down out of the ship, he walked on the water, to go to Jesus.” You see, you will never walk on the water if you don’t get out of the ship! But negative people will say of Peter’s experience, but he began to sink! Yes he did, but Jesus said that he had a little faith! Those disciples still in the boat had no faith! Which would you rather be, a person with a little faith or one with no faith? I don’t know about you, but for me, I have spent my life stepping out of the ship! Oh, to be sure, like Peter, I have sunk from time to time! But you know, Jesus has faithfully reached out and rescued me when I, like Peter have cried out to him for help!

The following Scriptures portray the power of faith when God is our source!
Ephesians 2:8 “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it [faith] is the gift of God.”

Galatians 2:16 “Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.”

Galatians 2:20 “I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.”

Galatians 5:22 “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith.”

Philippians 3:9 “And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.”

Romans 12:3 “For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.”

Ephesians 3:12 “In whom we have boldness and access with confidence by the faith of him.”

Ephesians 6:23 “Peace be to the brethren, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Acts 3:16 “And His name, through faith in His name hath made this man strong, whom you see and know: yes, the faith which is by Him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.”

Fear and Faith, are both based on a choice of where we will focus our faith! Luke 8:22-25 Verse 25, “Where is your faith?” In the journey of life, we face a variety of situations, some good, and others not so good. It is in these difficult situations, we have to choose between being overcome by fear, or overcoming fear by faith in God’s Word.

Some, reading these words, may have just passed through a difficult situation, others may be in the midst of one, and still others will be faced with a similar difficult situation in the future of their lives. In John 16, Jesus had been speaking to his disciples about such things as grief, and pain. In John 16:33, Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you might have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

How can the model of Jesus’ faith come into application to my life? “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Hebrews 12:1. The words, “since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses,” refer back to the men and women of faith listed in Hebrews 11. The words, faith and fear do not appear in verse one, but there is an inference of both of them. Fear is the sin that so easily entangles us, while faith is the ability by which we run the race marked out for us. The heroes of faith overcame their fears, and were enabled by their faith to run the race successfully!

How can we develop a stronger faith to overcome fear? “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:2. This verse contains two significant statements in answer to this question:
1. “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus,” not on the difficult situations of life at this moment. The word, “fix,” means to “look or focus attentively upon.”
2. Jesus is the “author and perfecter of our faith.” Jesus is the originator and completer of faith in the life of the believer. In Philippians 1:6, Paul said, “Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ.” What an encouraging, faith building word!

The storms of life have come to Glenna and I in 56 years of pastoral ministry. These very storms have been God’s opportunity to develop and strengthen our faith. The greatest developments in my faith have come when I have heard the inner voice of God’s Spirit calling me to do a specific thing. Then as I have taken steps of faith to obey that inner voice, I have experienced my greatest growth in faith. I believe that this is in harmony with Romans 10:17 where it states, “Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” The Greek word, rhema is translated, “word,” in the phrase, “word of God.” Rhema is a current word spoken by God into the heart, giving that individual personal direction. It was a rhema word that I heard directing me to establish the Emmaus Place Society. Time has proven that Emmaus Place Society was not just a good idea, it was a God idea. So as I obeyed that word from God, two things occurred. By taking steps of obedience, I experienced the development of my faith! In addition to that, the operation of the non-profit society has brought great blessing to many people, including members of the society’s board, employees involved in the operation of Emmaus House, as well as the seniors who have been blessed by living in the senior supportive housing unit. For all of this we render our thanksgivings to the Lord!

In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul introduces the qualities of faith, love and hope in his writing to these new believers. Expanding upon these three words, Paul wrote of their “work of faith, labor of love, and patience of hope.” In the process of this study of Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians, we will consider the matter of faith from 1 Thessalonians 3:1-10; we will consider the matter of love from 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; 4:9-10; we will consider the matter of hope from 1 Thessalonians 4: 13-18; 5:4-11.

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 – Work of Faith (part 2)
1 Thessalonians 3:6-10 [“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. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 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? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”]
In these verses, we have several statements about the faith of the believers in the church at Thessalonica:
1. “Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith …”
2. “Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.”
3. “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”
Paul, as a spiritual father, expresses his joy as he receives Timothy’s report about them:
1. “Timothy told us that you always have pleasant memories of us, that you long to see us, just as we long to see you.”
2. “For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”
3. “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.”

As a pastor and spiritual father I have had a pastoral ministry in six different church congregations, two of these church congregations actually came into being through my ministry among them. I know, by personal experience, the concern that Paul had for the strengthening of the faith of these believers at Thessalonica. I also know the intimate love that Paul had for these believers that were a part of the newly formed congregation at Thessalonica!

That was A Defining Moment for me! In the mid-1990’s, while still being senior pastor of a church congregation, God began to open doors of opportunity for me to share my pastoral gifting with those who were pastors of their own church congregations. In retrospect, I can now see how God was preparing me to become a spiritual father to spiritual leaders who were younger than me. These opportunities began to come to me in the region of Canada where I lived, and then these opportunities greatly expanded when I went to Sri Lanka during the 1990’s. I will never forget an experience I had in a 2002 Leadership Conference in Sri Lanka. I was praying with pastors, after having taught on spiritual fathering. A Sri Lankan leader said to me, “You have a son in Sri Lanka, and then, through his tears, he asked me this question: “Can I call you Papa?” That was a defining moment for me! It was a divine confirmation of my call to be a spiritual father to pastoral leaders. During the past four consecutive years, 2006 to 2009, I have been privileged to participate in 30 Leadership Conferences in Sri Lanka, with just under 2,500 registrants from a great variety of church denominations and organizations! What a wonderful experience this has been for me to participate in the strengthening the love and faith of the leadership of the Body of Christ in a nation such as Sri Lanka.

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13; 4:9-12 – Labor of Love
3:11-13 [“Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.”]
Paul’s deep love for these believers, motivated him to pray that the Lord would make a way for a visit to Thessalonica. Included in that prayer is a request that the Lord would cause their “love to increase and overflow for each other, and for everyone else.” Paul, consistently set out a request for the release of Christian love. In Galatians 6:10 Paul speaks of doing good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household, or family of faith. One of the final commands of Jesus recorded in John 13:35, “By this shall all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love one to another.” Verse 13 in the King James (English) Version speaks of “the establishing of the heart in holiness before God.” Holiness is a separation unto the Lord. By holiness we come into a place of intimacy with our God, who is love! Such intimacy with our Lord results in a release of God’s love into our hearts. (Romans 5:5).

4:9-10 [“Now about brotherly love we do not need to write to you, for you have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.”]
Verse nine confirms my comment on 1 Thessalonians 3:13, when we separate ourselves unto God (which is holiness), we put ourselves in a place where we can be “taught by God to love each other.” The following words from verse 10, “And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.” confirms the love that the believers at Thessalonica had for all of the brothers in Macedonia. Even though their love for the Macedonians was a fact, Paul, continued on in verse 10, by saying, “Yet we urge you, brothers, to do so more and more.” Though one may practice love, we can still do more and more in the area of increasing our love!

4:11-12 [“Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business and to work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders, so that you will not be dependent on anybody.”] The word love, does not appear in these two verses, yet I see an inference to the “labor of love” (1 Thessalonians 1:3). This labor of love was without violence, and it involved “working with their hands.” Such love motivated work, would win respect, opening the way for the witness of these believers to non-believing outsiders.

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18 – Patience of Hope (part 1)
It is necessary to understand that the meaning of the word patience, includes two thoughts, one, “patient waiting” and two, “cheerful endurance.” It is one thing to wait with patience, it is quite a different matter to endure difficulty with cheerfulness while waiting patiently! The hope that is in the heart of a believer concerning the Second Coming of Christ is so powerful, that the believer is able to have cheerful endurance while waiting patiently for the Christ’s return.

4:13 [“Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.”]
This verse reveals that there are two groupings of people, those who have hope and those who have no hope. When faced with death, those who have hope, do not grieve like those “who have no hope.” Note, that it does not say that they do not grieve, but they do not grieve like those who do not have hope. Death does separate us from a loved one. But when a loved one, who has faith, dies, we who have faith, but remain alive, grieve because of our loss through death. However, because of a common hope, we know that we will be re-united with our believing loved one again!

4:14-17 [“We believe that Jesus died and rose again and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him. According to the Lord’s own word, we tell you that we who are still alive, who are left till the coming of the Lord, will certainly not precede those who have fallen asleep. For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.”]
Christ is coming for all believers, for those who have died with faith in Christ, and for those who continue to live with faith until Christ’s comes again.

4:18 [“Therefore encourage each other with these words.”]
We are to use the hope of Christ’s coming as encouragement for one another. Such encouragement is necessary for two reasons: One, we are to encourage one another when believers face difficult times, as in the case of persecution by a non-believing world. Two, we are to encourage one another when believers are tempted and fail to live *holy lives.

* Expositing 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8
As long as I can remember, people have speculated about the time of Christ’s Coming. Hence, Christian believers have taken many different doctrinal positions concerning the time of Christ’s Coming. There are believers in the Body of Christ who say that they have taken one of the following doctrinal positions: Premillennial; Amillennial; Postmillennial; Pre-Trib; Mid-Trib; Post-Trib. There are many other varied positions concerning the Second Coming of Christ. I am not here to enter into a discussion of these different views, but I am here to affirm that the Church, the Body of Christ has agreement on one very important matter, namely this, WE ALL BELIEVE IN THE SECOND COMING OF JESUS CHRIST, and his future eternal kingdom!

4:1-2 [“Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living. Now we ask you and urge you in the Lord Jesus to do this more and more. For you know what instructions we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus.”]
Paul instructed these new believers at Thessalonica as to how they should live. The instructions given were according to the authority of the Lord Jesus Christ.

4:3-6 [“It is God’s will that you should be sanctified: that you should avoid sexual immorality, that each of you should learn to control his own body in a way that is holy and honorable, not in passionate lust like the heathen, who do not know God, and that in this matter no one should wrong his brother or take advantage of him. The Lord will punish men for all such sins, as we have already told you and warned you.”] [Romans 6:11-14 “In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer the parts of your body to sin, as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to him as instruments of righteousness. For sin shall not be your master, because you are not under law, but under grace.”]
God’s will for believers is that they should live sanctified, or holy lives. Believers should avoid sexual immorality, each person should exercise discipline in the proper use of the members of one’s own body. As a Christian believer, we must not do wrong or take advantage of another person. Paul warned these believers that such wrong actions will be punished by the Lord.

4:7-8 [“For God did not call us to be impure, but to live a holy life. Therefore, he who rejects this instruction does not reject men but God, who gives you the Holy Spirit.”]
These verses summate that which Paul has been saying! In the King James Version, verse 7 says, “For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.” This sums up all that Paul has been saying in verses 1-6. Then in J.B. Phillips translation, The New Testament in Modern English, verse 8 reads this way: “And anyone who makes light of the matter is not making light of a man’s ruling but of God’s command. It is not for nothing that the Spirit, God gives us is called the Holy Spirit.” I think this is a very good translation. When we do not live a holy life by obeying the commands of God, we do not take the commandments of God seriously, hence we are making light of those commands! The power to live a holy life as commanded by God is resident in the Holy Spirit. The Spirit given to us by God, enables us to live a holy life, so “it is not for nothing that the Spirit, God gives us is called the Holy Spirit!”

Now let’s apply this to our lives in view of the Second Coming of Christ. If we will follow the instruction given by Paul in 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, we will be living in such a way that regardless when Jesus Christ comes a second time, we will be prepared to go with Him. Personally, I do not know a scripture in the New Testament that states that Jesus Christ is coming soon. There are a number of scriptures that teach the manner of Christ’s Second Coming, but none are specific in stating the time or day of His coming. Revelation 22:20 states, “He which testifieth these things saith, SURELY I COME QUICKLY. Amen. Even so come, Lord Jesus.” Jesus was the one who testified the things that the Apostle John wrote in the Book of the Revelation. So Jesus said, “Surely I come quickly.” First, Jesus said, “I come.” We have already stated that anyone who believes the New Testament, believes in the Second Coming of Jesus Christ. Secondly, Jesus said, “I come quickly.” Quickly is an adverb that describes the manner of his coming. Paul speaks in 1 Corinthians 15:51-52 of the future resurrection of believers as that which will take place “in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump.” So the writing of Paul in this passage would be in total agreement with the word, quickly used in Revelation 22:20. What is this saying to us? I believe that it is saying that if we are going to be prepared for the Seconding Coming of Christ, we must prepare in advance. When the Second Coming of Christ occurs, there will be no time to prepare then. The parable of the Ten Virgins in Matthew 25:1-13 communicates a similar message, preparation for the coming of the bridegroom must be made in advance. “Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” I Thessalonians 5:1-3 contain two illustrations, both of which portray the suddenness of the coming of the Lord. First there is the illustration of “a thief in the night,” and the second is that of the sudden coming of “labor pains on a pregnant woman.” It seems to me that these two illustrations are a further confirmation of the need for individual preparation in advance of the Coming of Jesus Christ!

Expositing 1 Thessalonians 5:4-11 – Patience of Hope (part 2)
Throughout the letter of 1 Thessalonians, Paul affirms the spiritual health of these believers by that which he wrote about them: In 1 Thessalonians 1:3 Paul remembers their “work of faith, and labor of love, and patience of hope in the Lord Jesus Christ.” In 1 Thessalonians 1:7 “And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.”
In 1 Thessalonians 1:8 “Your faith in God has become known everywhere.”
In 1 Thessalonians 3:6 “Timothy has just come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love.”
In 1 Thessalonians 4:1 “Finally, brothers, we instructed you how to live in order to please God, as in fact you are living.
In 1 Thessalonians 4:10 “And in fact, you do love all the brothers throughout Macedonia.”

5:4-5 [“But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness.”]
Paul continues to speak of these believers as ones who are of the light and the day. They do not belong to the night, therefore they do not need to be afraid that the day of the Lord’s coming will come upon them as a surprise.

5:6-8 [“So then let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.”]
In verse 6a, Paul admonishes them, not to take on the characteristics of those who are of the night. Then in verse 7 he lists two of the characteristics of those who are of the night, one is sleepiness, and the second is drunkenness. Both of these conditions have a dulling affect that prevents one from responding alertly to danger. In verse 6b, Paul continues his admonition with these words: “Let us be alert and self-controlled (NIV).” “Let us watch and be sober (KJV).” If one is to be watchful or alert, you cannot be asleep, or drunk! If one is to be sober so as to see clearly and judge accurately, one cannot be asleep or drunk! Obviously, a drunk man often miscalculates where he is as he drives off the road into a ditch. Why? Because his drunkenness prevents him from seeing clearly and judging accurately! In verse 8 we have this concluding admonition: “But let us, who are of the day, be sober (see clearly and judge accurately) putting on the breastplate of faith and love, and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.” At the beginning of this letter (1:3) Paul remembers their faith, love and hope. As we near the end of this same letter, Paul calls for the putting on of faith, love and hope. What is the significance of this comparison between the beginning and ending of this letter? While we have faith, love and hope, we are called upon to continue to give our attention to faith, love and hope. Peter says it this way in 2 Peter 1:10 (NIV): “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make your calling and election sure, for if you do these things, you will never fall.”

5:9-11 [“For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. He died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep, we might live together with him. Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.”]
For believers, the Coming of the Lord is not a day of wrath to be feared, but a day of salvation that brings hope. For believers, there is no fear, whether we are awake or asleep which means whether we are alive or have died, we will live together with him at the Coming of Christ (1 Thessalonians 4:16-17). In verse 11, believers are to encourage one another, and build up each other. Finally he affirms these believers by saying, “Even as also you do.”

The final instructions of Paul’s letter to the believers in the church at Thessalonica:
1. 5:12-13 are words of instruction for followers: [“Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.”]
These verses contain an appeal from Paul to the body of believers at Thessalonica to be in a proper working relationship with their spiritual leaders. It is necessary for believers in general, to respond by following the instruction given to them by their leaders, as the leaders labor among them.
2. 14-15 are words of instruction for leaders: [“And we urge you brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”]
These verses contain an appeal to spiritual leaders:
i) to warn the unruly, that is those not living in submission to the leaders that God has set over them in Christ’s body.
ii) to comfort the timid, or faint hearted, who are fearful to move forward in their own spiritual life.
iii) to help the weak, those without strength, that is those who seem incapable of taking a stand against the evil one.
iv) to be patient with everyone, that is, give your watchful care wherever it is needed.
Verse 15[“Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else.”] Leaders are to work at keeping good relationships between the members of the church. Leaders are not to allow anyone in a church body to pay back wrong for wrong, but are to model kindness one to another, and to everyone else!
Verses 5:16-22: A number of necessary exhortations that make life in Christ better:
V. 16: Be joyful always!
V. 17: Pray continually!
V. 18: Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus!
V. 19: Do not put out the Spirit’s fire!
V. 20: Do not treat prophecies with contempt!
V. 21: Test everything! Hold on to the good!
V. 22: Avoid every kind of evil!
Verses 25-27 Paul makes certain requests of the believers in the church of Thessalonica!
Verses 23-24, 28 is a benedictory prayer: [“May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through! May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ! The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it!”]
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you! Amen!

In the final wrap up concerning the matter of faith and fear, let me focus with you on the story of Gideon. In this story we will discover that God took Gideon through two different processes. First, he took him through a series of experiences by which God brought an adjustment to Gideon’s faith. Secondly, he took him through another series of experiences by which God removed fear from the life of Gideon. Finally, by means of an adjusted focus of his faith, and by the removal of fear, Gideon, with just three hundred men entered into a great victory over a formidable enemy!

Let’s walk through the story contained in Judges 6 and 7.
Judges 6:1-6 As the story opens, Israel is in a very difficult situation created by their choice to do evil in the eyes of the Lord. As a result of their disobedience, they came under the power of their enemies, the Midianites, the Amalekites, and other eastern peoples. This resulted in their poverty, and a fear that caused them to hide in mountain clefts, caves and strongholds. This oppression finally drove them to cry out to the Lord for deliverance (6:7-10), and God sent a prophet to them to start a process whereby they would be restored to God. As a part of that process, the angel of the LORD came and spoke to Gideon and said, “The LORD is with you, mighty warrior.” Now Gideon didn’t feel like a warrior, or act like a warrior as he, with many others hid in the caves and strongholds of the earth. Gideon expressed his feeling of divine abandonment. The question is, who abandoned who? Israel abandoned God, and then they turned around and accused God of abandoning Israel (6:13).

The LORD said to Gideon, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?” At that point, Gideon began to offer the reasons as to why he couldn’t do that (6:15), “My clan is the weakest in Manasseh, and I am the least in my family.” The very excuses used by Gideon, were the reasons that he was chosen by God to lead in a war against the enemies of Israel. 1 Corinthians 1:26-29 [“Brothers, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. He chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things---and the things that are not---to nullify the things that are, so that on one may boast before him.”] Then again, “The LORD answered, “I will be with you, and you will strike down all the Midianites together.” In Judges 6:27 it says this about Gideon, “he was afraid.” Then it got worse before it got better, for in Judges 6:33 Israel’s enemies, “the Midianites, the Amalekites and other eastern peoples, all joined forces and crossed over Jordan and camped in the Valley of Jezreel.” But in spite of that which seemed so dark, Judges 6:34 states, “Then the Spirit of the LORD came upon Gideon, and he blew a trumpet, summoning the Abiezrites to follow him. He sent messengers throughout Manasseh, calling them to arms, and also into Asher, Zebulun and Naphtali, so that they too went up to meet them.” Thirty-two thousand men responded to the trumpet call of Gideon!

Judges 7:2-3 “The LORD said to Gideon, ‘You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into your hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’ So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained.” 7:4-7 “But the LORD said to Gideon, ‘There are still too many men. Take them down to the water, and I will sift them for you there. If I say, ‘This one shall go with you,’ he shall go; but if I say, ‘This one shall not go with you,’ he shall not go.” So Gideon took the men down to the water. There the LORD told him, ‘Separate those who lap the water with their tongues like a dog from those who kneel down to drink.’ Three hundred men lapped with their hands to their mouths. All the rest got down on their knees to drink.” The LORD said to Gideon, ‘With the three hundred men that lapped I will save you and give the Midianites into your hands. So Gideon sent the rest of the Israelites to their tents but kept the three hundred, who took over the provisions and trumpets of the others.” By the time God completed this procedure, the faith of Gideon had been adjusted from focusing upon the men that had responded to his trumpet call, to focusing upon the LORD, the captain of the heavenly hosts that would enable Gideon to win the war with just three hundred men!

Judges 7:9-11 “During that night the LORD said to Gideon, ‘Get up, go down against the camp, because I am going to give it into your hands. If you are still afraid to attack, go down to the camp with your servant Purah and listen to what they are saying. Afterward, you will be encouraged to attack the camp.” This was the beginning of a process through which God would take Gideon, by which fear would be removed from his life. Judges 7:13-14 is the process by which Gideon was to discover the fear that was in the camp of the enemy. As Gideon arrived at the camp of the enemy, two men were talking. The first man was telling his friend about his dream, he describes a round loaf of barley bread that came tumbling into the Midianite camp. The loaf of bread struck a tent with such force that the tent was overturned and collapsed. Immediately, his friend responded with an interpretation of the dream, he said, “This can be nothing other than the sword of Gideon son of Joash, the Israelite. God has given the Midianites and the whole camp into his hands.”

When Gideon heard the dream and its interpretation, he could have had one of two responses, he could have responded with his mind, and said, “That is ridiculous, a loaf of bread cannot cause a tent to be overturned and collapse.” But that was not his response. Judges 7:15 says that Gideon worshipped God! That was an important spiritual response to the revelation of God that came to Gideon because of the conversation that he heard from those two men. In John 4:24, Jesus taught worship of God as being a response of one’s spirit to God!

Now Gideon is ready! His faith has been adjusted, so that it is focused on God and his solution, rather than on Gideon’s army! And there has been a removal of fear from Gideon’s life. Judges 7:15 states that Gideon returned to the camp of the Israelites, and called out, ‘Get up! The LORD has given the Midianite camp into your hands.’ With faith focused, and with fear removed, Gideon and his three hundred men are ready to overcome the Midianite camp!

Regardless of where God has posted you in the world, we all face the challenge to fear, in view of the attack of the enemy upon our lives! But we need to know that since “God is for us,” we do not need to be afraid! On the other hand, we need to realize that it is our enemies that have reason to be afraid! There is a story that comes out of the nation of Sri Lanka that is parallel to the story of Gideon. While, externally we see a lot of persecution of the Sri Lankan Church by its enemies. Nevertheless, I have listed evidence below, that the enemies of the Church in Sri Lanka are filled with fear! And it is out of that fear, that the enemies are coming against the Church! It is from a position of inadequacy and weakness that the enemies of the Church are in attack mode!

Here is the story ….

Glenna and I lived in Sri Lanka for four months in 1999, and it was during that time that I became aware the measure of fear in the hearts of the enemies of the Christian Church. From an extensive article in Sri Lanka’s Island Newspaper, I gathered the following information that confirmed the presence of such fear.

From a copy of the Island Newspaper printed in 1999, it is evident that the enemies of the Church in Sri Lanka are filled with fear that the Christian Church will win over the ancient religion of that land. Listen to these amazing quotes:
1. The message of the true and living God as proclaimed by the Christian Church cannot be overcome.
2. Christianity will rule over a once-famous national heritage religion, that is a foregone conclusion!
3.Korean evangelization enabled the Church to grow, in less than a century, to one-third of its population.
4. A twice war battered Korea simply could not resist the fawning and overtures of Evangelical Christianity.
5. Evangelical Christians oozed with compassion for the sufferings of the Korean people.
6. There are close parallels between the suffering Koreans of mid-20th century and Sri Lanka today.
7. We are in a war-like situation, and the masses of our people feel hopeless and helpless in their present state.
8. Money is pouring into Sri Lanka to further the evangelical agenda within Sri Lanka.
9. And unless the clergy of the ancient religion receives state patronage we have little chance of survival.
10. The vast bulk of our people will take this easy and glamorous Korean route to heaven.
As fear fills the heart of the enemies of the Church, surely this strengthens our faith and removes our fears!

Whether it is the Church of Sri Lanka, or Canada, as we come into a place of love and unity in the Body of Christ with faith and power through our victorious Lord, we shall rise up in faith and overcome fear! We will triumph in our God, and in His kingdom! Amen!