Helping Each Other Grow
1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
Intro: Paul has been telling his friends in Thessalonica how much he misses them and wants to be there with them. Chapter 3 began with Paul saying how they just couldn’t stand it any longer and had to send Timothy to them to see how they were doing and to strengthen and encourage them in their faith.
-We pick up with v.6 today and find that Timothy has returned with some good news! The Christ followers in Thessalonica are doing great! Their faith is intact! They are doing life with God!
-Have you ever had something like this happen? Maybe you had a chance to speak into someone’s life about Jesus and you weren’t sure if they really got it or not. But later you find out they are growing in their faith and following Jesus wholeheartedly! It is both exciting and humbling to be able to get in on what God is doing across the street and around the world! We can’t really take credit for another person’s growth, but we can thank God that He let us in on it and is working in their lives!
-I can remember about 20 years ago when we were youth pastors in Nebraska. I taught the youth SS class and led worship and led Children’s Church and did Royal Rangers and did a Youth Night. There were many times when we wondered if we were doing any good there. When we left Nebraska, one of the teens took it really hard and in his disappointment decided to walk away from God. But God wouldn’t let him go that easily. A few years later we heard that he was involved in ministry. And today he is pastoring a great church near Ogden, Utah. Another girl who we ministered to literally hated me while we were there. She was angry at God for letting her best friend die, and she took it out on us. A few years ago I received a letter from her apologizing for how she had treated me while we were there, and that she had made things right with God. How cool! I gave them what I had while I was there, but God had been with them their whole life and I was just one influence He was sending their way. Exciting! Humbling!
-So as we are following Jesus and sharing life with one another, we need to do all that we can to help each other grow in our faith. You can make the difference when someone around you is struggling. Someone else can make the difference in your life when you are struggling. Let’s look at some thoughts on how to grow in our faith and how we can help others grow. First, realize that…
1. Faith and Love are the best responses to hard times
1 Thessalonians 3:6 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.
-Trusting God and loving Him are two of the most important things you can do! Without trust, it is impossible to please God! And without love for God and man, none of my works will make any real, lasting difference.
-Faith is so important to a Christ follower. It can help us overcome our trials, which we all will face. One of Paul’s concerns back in verse 3 was that these new believers might be unsettled by their trials. So, what kind of faith are we talking about?
Faith in God’s Character—that He is good and makes no mistakes
Faith in God’s Word—that it is true no matter what happens to us
Faith in God’s Purpose—that He is conforming us to the image of Jesus Christ
Faith in God’s Promise—that He will never give us more than we can bear
Faith in God’s Presence—that He is with us in the darkest moments of life
Faith in God’s Power—that He can deliver us from every temptation (Brian Bill)
-And faith isn’t always about having the right answers and being able to make sense out of everything. Faith is trusting God when you don’t really have any answers. Why do bad things happen to good people? I don’t know! I’ve just learned that it comes with the landscape. It is part of the journey. It is not part of God’s plan to spare us from all suffering. However, He can and will use the trials we face to accomplish His purposes in our lives.
-And it is God’s plan and desire to draw us close to Him in a loving relationship that keeps on growing. The greatest command in Scripture is to love the Lord your God with all of your heart, soul, and strength. And love is only commanded because love is possible! We can learn to love God as we let Him love us and begin to respond to His love.
-The 2nd greatest command in the Bible is to love your neighbor. Sometimes when people are going through tough times, they withdraw from others and become focused only on themselves. But God wants us to keep on loving those around us, even when we are suffering. If we don’t keep the love flowing outward, we might fall into self-pity, which is a pitiful place to live.
-So, once again, we find that the Christian life is all about relationship. Have faith in God, and love Him with all you’ve got! And love those around you, regardless of what you’re going through. Second, realize that…
2. Your faith encourages others
1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 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?
-Paul and his companions were constantly facing hard times. You can read through the 2nd half of the book of Acts about Paul’s life and see some of what he went through. But I’m not sure Luke’s narrative was to show how hard things were for Paul, so it’s easy to miss how deeply discouraged Paul might have been at times. 2 Corinthians 11 tells of many of the trials Paul went through. But in the midst of all his distress and persecution, he and his friends were encouraged when they heard about the faith of the Thessalonians. In fact, he describes the report of their faith as being life giving! It was like wind in their sails to hear that their work in Thessalonica had not been in vain. Then Paul thanks God for all the joy he and his companions had because of the Thessalonians and their strong faith in God!
-Folks, never underestimate the impact your faith and your faithfulness has on others! Sometimes you might wonder if it is really worth it. You give and you give and make sacrifices. You work hard and nobody seems to notice. You are faithful in prayer and in reading God’s word, and in generosity to those in need. Does it really make any difference? I want to tell you that it does! God sees and will reward you for your faithfulness to Him – even if nobody else is applauding. Do it for an audience of one!
But realize that your genuine faith can help encourage someone else who is suffering or discouraged. A.W. Tozer said, “Seldom does God use a person greatly who has not been hurt deeply.” Turn your hurts into helps by standing firm in your faith. You never know when your faith will make the difference for someone else.
3. Believers help each other grow
1 Thessalonians 3:10-11 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. 11 Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
-How can we help others grow? There are numerous ways, but mostly through personal encouragement. We are generally pretty aware of our own failures and do not usually need to have them highlighted for us. However, when we are in an environment where genuine love, acceptance, and forgiveness are freely exchanged, we find healing and encouragement. There may be times when you know the Lord is leading you to confront another Christian about something. But I’m not sure that should ever happen unless there is a willingness to come alongside them and be willing to help walk them through the process of change and restoration.
-Jesus scolded the teachers of the Law and the Pharisees because they heaped heavy burdens on people, but refused to help them carry those burdens. Matthew 23:4 “They tie up heavy loads and put them on men's shoulders, but they themselves are not willing to lift a finger to move them.” Galatians 6:1-2 “Brothers, if someone is caught in a sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself, or you also may be tempted. 2 Carry each other's burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.”
-Paul expresses here again the idea of wanting to see them in person. It is through personal interaction that we can best supply what is lacking in each other. Sometimes it takes looking a person in the eye and spending time together to really get a sense of where they are and what they are struggling with. Friends will sometimes invade each other’s space – and that’s okay, because that is often how we grow. We need relationship, we need to be together, trusting, praying, worshiping together! That’s how we can best grow and help each other grow! Next, let’s revisit this area of love, since Paul did.
4. Love identifies us as Christ followers
1 Thessalonians 3:12 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
-Paul talks about 2 expressions of love here. One is for each other (fellow believers in your life circle), and the other is for everyone else. But this love isn’t something we can generate on our own. Paul prays that the Lord will make their love increase and overflow. Without the Lord doing His work in our hearts, we will only love those who love us back. We will only love those who are easily lovable, unless the Lord increases our love!
-John 13:35 “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
-I would venture to say that most us have an easier time loving one another here in the church than we do loving everyone else. You all are some of the easiest people to love! Every once in a while, though, someone in God’s family says or does something that offends us, and we have a choice as to how we are going to respond. We can allow that offense to become a wedge that drives us farther from that person, and possibly from the family of God. Or we can do what God has told us in His word, and go and try to make things right, offering forgiveness to that person. They may have been careless with their words or actions, or may not even have a clue what they did to offend you.
-And we may as well bring this up as well, since elections are upon us: If love identifies us as followers of Jesus, then be careful what you say about politicians with whom you disagree. Don’t let your attitude and speech be driven by anger and contempt at those you disagree with. That doesn’t mean you cannot stand up for truth, but be careful where you get your facts! Don’t spout off unproven, unfounded accusations just because you heard them on TV or on the radio. In the midst of all the culture and value media wars, remember this: People are making millions of dollars (1000 millions to be more accurate- 1 billion dollars spent/made on this election). Is it possible that you are being used as someone else’s mouthpiece for slander and sometimes for the spread of false information? Some non-Christians sit back and are appalled at the lack of love and lack of Christlikeness coming from so many Christians during election times. Remember, your real enemy is not on the ballot!!!
-Love will identify you as a follower of Christ! Don’t jeopardize your identity by getting mean and nasty. Speak the truth in love, but leave the mudslinging to the professionals. They will have their reward! Remember who you are and whose you are! Finally, remember that…
5. Jesus is coming back for holy people
1 Thessalonians 3:13 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.
-Again, we see God at work in making His people holy. He is the One who will strengthen our hearts, making us blameless and holy in God’s presence when He comes for us. However, we have a part to play as well.
Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
-God’s part is to strengthen our hearts. Our part: say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ….
-What does it mean that Jesus is coming with all His holy ones? Some say these holy ones are angels (since 2 Thess. 1:7 says angels will be with Jesus), some say they are believers who have died and gone to be with the Lord, and some say both. Since Paul’s letter seems to address some wrong notions about those who die as believers, it is possible that the holy ones are believers who have died and gone to heaven. 1 Thessalonians 4:13-14 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. 14 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.
-It is difficult to know for certain if Jesus is bringing these departed saints with Him from heaven when He returns, at which time they would be given resurrected bodies, or if Paul is simply saying that Jesus won’t forget about those who died trusting in Him. They will go first, followed by those still alive who are trusting in Jesus.
-It is my belief that this refers to the rapture of the church when we meet the Lord in the air. But no matter what we call it or when we think it occurs on the last days timeline, it is going to happen! Jesus is coming back for His holy people! And the question for us is this: Are we ready? Are we doing the Lord’s will now? Are we ready to meet Him?
Matthew 7:21 "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.”
Conclusion: As we close, we need to keep growing in our faith, and doing all we can to help others grow. We need faith and love working together in our lives as we trust God and love one another. Our faith in God will encourage others and motivate us to invest our lives in each other, producing life and growth! Our love should be increasing for everyone as we invite the Lord to keep working in us. And Jesus will strengthen our hearts so that we will be holy and blameless when He returns for us.
-Where do you need to grow today? Trust? Love? Relationships? Strength to live a holy life? God wants to help you if you will ask Him to.
-Maybe you need to accept Jesus as your forgiver and leader before you can grow spiritually. We must come alive spiritually before we can grow spiritually. God is working in you, but His work is limited until you give Him permission to change you and help you. That’s what we mean by becoming a Christian. It usually involves praying a prayer, but it is more than just words. It is a lifetime commitment to God, saying that with His help you are going to do life His way, not your own way. It is receiving His free gift of forgiveness (based on what Jesus did by dying on the cross for you), and repenting of the wrong in your life. When we come to God with all we are and give ourselves fully to Him, He creates new life in us! Our old heart is made new! Something changes inside of us. The Bible calls it a new nature. It changes us from the old person we were into the beginnings of the new person God wants us to be!
-If you want to begin a new life with God today, would you be willing to take the step of faith needed to do that? I’d love to talk with you about it and pray with you. God loves you and doesn’t want you to miss out on His life and on being friends with Him!
