1 Thessalonians 3 verses 6 to 13 What Every Pastor Wants

 

Introduction

If you asked the average churchgoer for their impression of the Apostle Paul, you would likely hear a range of answers. Most would probably mention his ‘Road to Damascus’ conversion and the fact that he wrote much of the New Testament. Others, often driven by a particular agenda, may claim that he was ‘anti-woman’, ‘anti-gay’, or ‘anti-Jew’- all these accusations don’t stand any true scrutiny by the way.

One aspect of Paul’s character that often receives less attention is his Christlike love and passionate pastoral heart. Indeed, we have seen already that this letter to the Thessalonians is full of affectionate language and deliberate expressions of his pastoral care for them.

Then, in verses 6 to 9, we learn of Paul’s response to Timothy’s report from his visit to the Thessalonians. Paul is filled with deep joy and profound concern that reveals his pastoral heart. In verses 10 to 13 we listen to Paul’s pastoral prayer for the Believers in Thessalonica. Paul, like any pastor, is concerned that the Believers grow in their faith, hope and love as they pursue Christ together.

So, in our passage we learn of Paul’s:

Pastoral Heart

Pastoral Prayer

Here we learn what every pastor wants: God’s People pursuing fullness in Christ, loving others like Christ, and keeping their focus on Christ’s return.

We see this, firstly, as we consider… Paul’s Pastoral Heart

 

We live in a world of instant communication. With the help of WhatsApp or Zoom a loved one who is unwell, a child away at university, or a friend you haven’t heard from for a while can all be contacted instantly. Straight away we can hear how they are keeping, see how classes are going, or get the latest updates about their lives.

 

This was not the case for the Apostle Paul and the Thessalonians. Last time we learned that Paul could not cope with the fact that since he had been ‘torn away’ from them he had received no news about them. He simply had to find out how they were doing- so he sends Timothy to Thessalonica.

In this very act we witness Paul’s loving, pastoral heart. Despite his busy life as an apostle, he is always thinking of the Thessalonians. And so, he sends Timothy, at great personal cost, to hear about the Thessalonians and send them encouragement.

And, having sent Timothy, he must have had a period of anxious waiting in Athens. We might imagine him, at the end of a hard day evangelising, sitting down to make the next tent on the order list, and longing for Timothy’s return so that he might hear how the Thessalonians were faring.

In verses 6 to 10 we learn of Timothy’s report, Paul’s reaction and the result this had on Paul’s ministry. Here we see Paul’s pastoral heart and what every Gospel pastor desires for God’s People.

So, firstly, in verse 6 we read about Timothy’s report.

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. 

Timothy’s report brought great relief and gave Paul reason to rejoice. Indeed, it seems as if Timothy had no sooner finished speaking that Paul starts writing- and with a full heart!

Notice, how Paul describes Timothy’s report- it is ‘good news’. This is the only time in the New Testament this term is used when it does not refer to the Gospel. Paul clearly cared deeply for these Believers and was overjoyed to hear about them.

Paul is relieved to hear about the Thessalonians ‘faith’. In other words, they had withstood Satan’s temptations and maintained a right attitude towards God. Timothy had also found they had a right attitude to others as he reported about their ‘love’. In other words, they were maintaining a proper standard of Christian conduct and service towards those around them.

This is what every pastor wants for God’s People- that they know the truth deep in their very souls, and they are living it out with their hands and feet. We can imagine the joy written over Paul’s face as Timothy relays what he has observed. In the face of many forms of opposition these young Believers were showing all the important signs of genuine faith.

Paul also received news of their pleasant memories of Paul’s earlier visit. Paul has made no secret of the fact that he longed to see them, but it must have been tremendous to hear the news that they longed to see him. This is what every pastor wants: genuine affection and mutual encouragement as Christ is pursued together.

Paul’s pastoral ministry was marked by mutual encouragement as he shared his life with the Believers in Thessalonica. We see this more fully as we consider, secondly, Paul’s reaction. In verses 7 to 8 we learn that on hearing this news about the Thessalonians Paul himself is encouraged. Even though the primary purpose of sending Timothy was to encourage the Thessalonians, the result was that Paul received encouragement from them.

Though Paul was the experienced apostle, at times he also needed encouragement. And so, hearing about the Thessalonians standing firm in the Lord gave Paul a new lease of life after a time of anxiety. In verse 8 we can feel Paul’s relief and the rejoicing in the Thessalonians continued faithfulness- it energises Paul for further ministry.

So, finally, we see the result of Timothy’s report. In verse 9 we read:

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? 

Here we see the pastor rejoice in prayerful thanks for God’s gracious work amongst His People.

Paul, hearing what God is doing in these Believers, is filled with thanksgiving. Paul rejoices from the bottom of his heart over what has happened in and through these Believers. Indeed, the very thought of these Believers is a source of joy and delight for Paul for it reminds Him of God’s manifold grace.

In these verses we see Paul’s pastoral heart- his compassionate concern for the Believers in Thessalonica. As we consider these verses, we can also draw out several lessons that should encourage and challenge us as God’s People here in Greystone Road:

Firstly, we see the value of Gospel friendship.

It’s not too difficult to accumulate hundreds of ‘friends’ on Facebook, but this is often more about quantity than quality. Quality friendship, friendship in the Gospel, takes us to the heart of the biblical story- in a God who not only restores us to Himself, but places us in relationship with others in the body of Christ.

Paul’s language in this passage challenges and encourages. The way Paul speaks allows us to understand something of what Gospel friendship looks like, and what might be involved in a community that takes seriously the call to be devoted to one another.

Gospel friendships are formed over time through sharing life together and caring for one another as we face life’s highs and lows. Gospel friendships are formed as we seek to love one another and encourage each other to look to Christ and find fullness in Him.

So we see that Timothy was to strengthen and encourage the Thessalonians because Paul was concerned that they might have been blown off course. Gospel friendship acknowledges the reality of weakness and seeks to strengthen in truth, the possibility of failure and brings encouragement in the Gospel. In the beautiful language of verses 6 to 8 we are reminded of the consolation and comfort true Gospel friendship brings.

And so, secondly, in the passage we see the importance of true fellowship. Paul and the Thessalonians encouraged each other; they shared their lives together as those united to Christ.

Likewise, everyone within our church family should use every opportunity to encourage each other; including those with leadership responsibilities. We really are all in this together as Brothers and Sisters in Christ. Nobody stands alone. We are to care for each other, encourage each other, bear each other’s burdens and pray for each other.

And so, let us consider… Paul’s Pastoral Prayer

It is wonderful to listen to fellow Saints pray. I know I have often been blessed by hearing fellow Believers speak to God in praise and petition.

And our prayers reveal a lot about us. As we pour out our hearts to God, we reveal our passions and priorities. What we pray and how we pray reveal our heart’s desires and our soul’s longings.

In verse 10 we learn that Paul passionately prays for these Believers consistently and continually. And in verses 10 to 13 he shares the content of his prayers- he reveals his desire to see them again and what he wants to see in them as they walk with God. In his pastoral prayer Paul reveals three things he wants for these Believers as their pastor.

Firstly, in verses 10 to 11, Paul prays for Consistent Faith:

Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.

Here Paul expresses his longing to see the Thessalonians and to supply what is lacking in their faith.

Now, Paul was not saying that that the Thessalonians lacked what was necessary for saving faith- they had received the Gospel as the Word of God. However, due to Paul’s premature departure, he had not been able to teach them the full implications of the Gospel for Christian living and doctrine.

So, Paul longs to return to them and teach the fuller implications of the Gospel for every part of life. In this way Paul longs for a consistent faith which is worked out across the whole of these new Believers’ lives.

Secondly, in verse 12, Paul prays for a Comprehensive Love:

 May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

Paul’s desire is that the Believers would have a special regard for one another within the Family of God. On top of this, they should also look on those outside the Family as God does, with love.

This is a love for people that does not depend on their worthiness or loveliness; a love that is ultimately modelled on God’s. The love of God for Believers should provoke in them a love that is deep and wide, sacrificial and servant hearted.

Finally, in verse 13, Paul prays for a Continuing Hope:

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.

Faith, Love and Hope – these three always go together. Although the word is not actually used, the theme of Christian confidence concerning the future is very evident in this final petition.

Paul prays that they would remain strong in the faith and be ready for the Day of Christ’s return. His prayer is that on that day when they would stand in the very presence of God it would be evident that they had lived holy lives for Christ. It is a prayer that their hope would be centred on Christ and strengthened by the reality of His return.

Paul is clear that everything that the Believer does should be done in the light of the certain, personal, public return of the Lord Jesus. Though it would not be possible for them to avoid all sin, his longing is that they would live a truly godly life pleasing to Christ until He would call or come.

 

Here we see Paul’s heart as a church-planting, disciple-making pastor of God’s People. As a Gospel Pastor, Paul’s passion was to see sinners not only converted to Christ but growing in Christ and eagerly awaiting Christ’s return. And this passion is lived out practically and prayerfully.

Paul’s pastoral prayer is revealing. Firstly, it reminds us of the centrality of prayer in all Gospel work. Prayer is an acknowledgement of our dependence on God and evidence of our obedience to His Will. When we pray, we bring our vision and desires into line with God’s Will and receive His blessing.

Paul’s pastoral prayer also reveals several key lessons about the Chistian life which apply to us today, just as much as they applied to the Thessalonians 2,000 years ago. So, here are our ‘away’s for today:

Firstly, we must pursue Christ and fullness in Him.

Every Gospel pastor wants God’s People to be growing in their faith. Every time he teaches or preaches God’s Word it is his strong desire that God’s People are seeking to be more fully supplied with what is needed to grow in the grace and knowledge of Jesus Christ.

This is Paul’s earnest desire for the Thessalonians, as it is for all the churches he planted. Paul’s desire is that the Thessalonians push on in their Christian faith and guard against complacency. Yes, in Christ they have been made holy and righteous in God’s sight, but now they must live holy lives and pursue righteousness in every aspect of their lives.

So, are we pursuing holiness in very part of our lives or have we become ‘saved and stuck’? Are we content just to go through the motions of our faith, or are we prepared to allow God, through His Word, to penetrate our very souls, reveal the sin in our lives, and do His wonderful work of grace? When we surrender to God and fully pursue Christ then we will find fullness of life in Him.

 

Secondly, we must love like Christ has loved us.

Every Gospel pastor wants God’s People to be growing in their love. Paul’s vision is for the Believers in Thessalonica to be modelling their love for each other on God’s love for them in the Gospel. He longs to see their love, which obviously exists, to increase and overflow so that others both within and outside the faith community are impacted.

It is relatively easy to show love to those around us or to those who are like us, but our love is to be much more indiscriminate. The challenge for us is that we should take every opportunity to show love within our church and the surrounding community. Christ’s love for us should be a spur for us to be far more proactive so that through us many others would experience the love of the Lord Jesus Christ.

So, will we go above and beyond to show the love of Jesus to those around us? Because of the price Jesus has paid for us, are we willing to love in a way that costs us? Because of the great love God has for us in Christ, are we willing to be vulnerable and open with others so that we might build bonds of love? In Christ we are family, but do we really act like it?

 

Finally, we must keep our focus on Christ’s return.

Every Gospel pastor wants God’s People to be growing in their hope. Paul understands that following Jesus can be a tough journey, so he is constantly pointing Christians to the destination, reminding them of the day when Christ will return in glory.

We also need to remind ourselves of our eternal destination and our eternal identity. In Christ we are God’s Chosen People and Citizens of Heaven- we do not live for the things of this world for we are only passing through. And because of all the riches we have in Christ we no longer look to the things of this world to bring satisfaction and salvation- these can only be found in Jesus.

As God’s People we live looking forward to the Day when we will be with Jesus forever in His Perfection. This means the pleasures of this world are only shadows and pointers to the true pleasures of Glory. And this means that the trials of this life are only temporary and light compared to the glory and joy that await us forever with Jesus.

So, whether we are on the mountaintop or in the valley, we must keep our focus on Jesus. Today, look to Jesus- the author and perfector of our faith- and find fullness as You follow Him.

 

Conclusion

In our passage we have encountered Paul’s pastoral heart and his pastoral prayer. May what we have learned today encourage and challenge is to be a people who are growing in grace and pursuing Christ together through humble prayer and wholehearted fellowship. In this way we will know fullness of life to the glory of God.