1 Thessalonians 3

1 Thessalonians 3:1

Paul, Silas, and Timothy went to Berea after being driven out of Thessalonica. They taught the Word to the Bereans, who were good students. But the same people who drove Paul out of Thessalonica followed him to Berea, forcing them to leave for Athens.

1 Thessalonians 3:2

“We made it to Athens, but we couldn’t wait to see how you were doing. We sent our brother Timothy to find out,” writes Paul. Timothy was not only a brother, but also a minister. The word “minister” means “servant.” As a true minister of God, Timothy’s heart was not to be served, but to serve. He was not one who said, “Who cares if there’s no room for the ambulance? I’ve got my clergy sticker, so I can park right in front of the hospital.” No, Timothy did not take advantage of his position because he was a true minister. The word “fellow-laborer” literally means “team player.” People headed for ministry must be team players because they are to be linked to the rest of the body in submission and humility.

1 Thessalonians 3:3

“Don’t feel bad about our situation,” Paul is saying. “Don’t be surprised to hear people are chasing us around Greece, throwing rocks at us; trying to destroy us. Appointments with trouble are already on our calendars. We told you this would happen. It’s all part of the program.” “Welcome this man,” the Lord told Ananias concerning Paul, “for I’m going to show him he must suffer greatly for the sake of the kingdom” (Act_9:16). “Blessed be the Father of mercies, the God of comfort,” Paul would later write to the Corinthians, “who comforts us in our troubles that we may be able to comfort others with the comfort we ourselves have received (2Co_1:4). A. W. Tozer was right when he said, “Before God can use a person greatly, He must allow that person to be hurt deeply.” This isn’t because God is mean, but because He knows we can’t comfort others unless we’ve been comforted ourselves. Trials not only enable us to comfort others, but they purify our own faith. That’s why Peter said, “Don’t think it strange concerning the fiery trials that come your way. They are sent to test and purify your faith” (1Pe_4:12). What happens when you are in a fiery trial? Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego will tell you: Jesus shows up (Dan_3:25). That’s why James tells us to count it all joy when we fall into trials (Jas_1:2). “Whoopee! A trial! How wonderful!” Crazy? Not really, because if you have this mind-set in your difficult times, you will see Jesus in a way that will blow your mind, warm your heart, and bless your socks off! Trials don’t make or break us, gang. They simply reveal what’s inside. When I’m driving and hit a bump, the tea that splashes out of the mug on my dashboard was there before the bump. The bump doesn’t put the tea in. It just shows what was already in the cup. That’s what trials do. “I’m angry because of what he or she did to me.” No. The anger was already there. The bump just brought it out. Truly, the only way a man can really know how he’s doing is through bumpy, discouraging, heartbreaking times, for they reveal his heart.

1 Thessalonians 3:5

“The greatest joy I could possibly have,” John wrote, “is to hear that those to whom I ministered are walking in truth” (3Jn_1:4). Paul has the same heart. “Even though we’re going through persecutions,” he writes, “they’re worth it if you’re doing well.”

1 Thessalonians 3:9

Paul went through problems that would make any of ours look like peanuts, yet he did well because he wasn’t concerned for himself. “All I care about,” he said, “are those with whom I’ve shared the gospelmy kids in the faith.”

1 Thessalonians 3:10

Paul took advantage of sleepless nights to pray for these people whom he had only known for three weeks, but with whom his spirit was inextricably linked. As proud as he was of the Thessalonian believers, Paul knew there were still areas in which they needed encouragement and guidance.

1 Thessalonians 3:11

There come points in my walk when I say, “You know, I’m doing pretty good.” I get comfortable as apathy begins to creep into my heart. Through Paul, the Spirit says to me, “I want you to increase. I rejoice in what’s happening in your life, but may your love for Me grow to an ever-deepening measure.” “Moab has been at ease and settled in his lees. Therefore I will pour him out from vessel to vessel,” said the Lord (see Jer_48:11). The reference is to the way wine was made in Jeremiah’s day. The winemaker would pick grapes, put them in a vat, and stomp on them to get the juice flowing. Then he would pour the juice into a vessel where the wine sat until the lees, or dregs, settled to the bottom. The winemaker would then pour the wine into another vessel, leaving the dregs behind, where it would sit while more dregs settled. This process was repeated up to six times, until the end result was wine without any dregswine that was pure and sparkling. “I was just getting comfy,” we cry, “when my boss said, ‘You’re through,”’ when my girlfriend said, ‘Goodbye,’ when my coach said, ‘On the bench.”’ “Great!” the Lord says. “I want to refine and use you as the wine of my Spirit flows through you. For that to happen, there will be regular seasons where you are poured. Otherwise you’ll become cloudy and dull as you settle in your lees. I love you too much for that.” Instead of, “Poor me,” we must be those who say, “Pour me, Fatherthat I may increase and abound in love.”

1 Thessalonians 3:13

“Regardless of the cost, I want you to abound and increase in love,” Paul writes, “so that you will be ready for eternity.”