Walk Worthy Of God

[WalterandDebbie]

I Thessalonians 3:1-13 King James Version

Paul Sends Timotheus 1-5, Timotheus's Encouraging Report 6-10, and Paul's Desire to Visit Them:

I Thessalonians 3 King James Version (KJV). 3 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions:

I Thessalonians 3

 

[Hope in God]

Good to be reminded, Walter, that we too are capable of edifying and consoling others in the things of God. Helping to establish a fellowship might mean that Timotheus spoke to them doctrinal truths that were seasonal and stabilizing. The afflictions that were causing them to worry should not have been a surprise when they came upon them, for they were warned by Paul's previous talks with them that testings and tribulations should be expected.

I like very much that he prays "the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men." which is an affirmation that we can grow up in Him through our expression of His love toward others. In writing to the Philippians, I'm reminded that Paul prayed their "love would abound yet more and more in knowledge and in judgment." (Phi. 1:9)

Having love is one thing, but knowing what to love is needed as we mature in that love. We are given such a marvelous example in Jesus of Whom is was written that he "loved righteousness and hated iniquity." (Heb. 1:9) Sometimes our love is better shown by our hatred -- a hard word for some to hear.

 

[WalterandDebbie]

Good to be reminded, Walter, that we too are capable of edifying and consoling others in the things of God. Helping to establish a fellowship might mean that Timotheus spoke to them doctrinal truths that were seasonal and stabilizing. The afflictions that were causing them to worry should not have been a surprise when they came upon them, for they were warned by Paul's previous talks with them that testings and tribulations should be expected.

I like very much that he prays "the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men." which is an affirmation that we can grow up in Him through our expression of His love toward others. In writing to the Philippians, I'm reminded that Paul prayed their "love would abound yet more and more in knowledge and in judgment." (Phi. 1:9)

Having love is one thing, but knowing what to love is needed as we mature in that love. We are given such a marvelous example in Jesus of Whom is was written that he "loved righteousness and hated iniquity." (Heb. 1:9) Sometimes our love is better shown by our hatred -- a hard word for some to hear.

Amen, and how are you all? we are okay.

 

[APAK]

I Thessalonians 3:1-13 King James Version

Paul Sends Timotheus 1-5, Timotheus's Encouraging Report 6-10, and Paul's Desire to Visit Them:

I Thessalonians 3 King James Version (KJV). 3 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions:

I Thessalonians 3

FTF...g'day..

Paul already depleted of physical energy also began to show signs of spiritual strain in faith and his walk. He thus decided to stay in Athens and dispatch Timothy in his stead to Thessalonica, in Greece. It was a very large population center, maybe second to Athens. Paul hoped that Timothy was strong in faith to become an effective minister to these people.

It is apparent that these Thessalonians are people that showed some signs of floundering in their faith. Timothy was there as a spiritual troubleshooter and to report back to Paul about their condition, their walk in the Spirit.

They were all worthy to walk in the Spirit, if they possessed it. The question though is what hindered their walk!?

It was the same as what Paul was experiencing, all the time. They were afflicted by tension, chaos and resistance of men to the truth, as they spoke of spiritual thing of YHWH, about the gospel, indeed. Most probably some were ready to ‘throw in the towel’ and go home.

Paul knew that all who walk in the Spirit are bound to be subjected to ridicule and even physical abuse, and not really by just the local governments. At that time when the idea of a Christian was especially new, it infringed on the local religions, and there were many rebellious Jews and pagans to antagonize the efforts as the instruments of YHWH in spreading the gospel. This is the affliction or tribulations that these holy ones were experiencing in Thessalonica, and in all places where the gospel was being preached. True faith and their walk in the Spirit were being tested to the fullest extent.

Today, we do not have this brutal resistance and affliction, except in communist and in ‘strong’ socialist states. The US may be one of them in the future?

Street-preachers are not as prevalent as they were many decades back. So has our faith and walk diminished, have we ‘gone home’ and stopped preaching the gospel to the world? I’m not suggesting all in the faith, stand on the street corner and preach the gospel today. I’m suggesting though that the Spirit may have a different approach or method of spreading truth today. And that means bypassing the brick-and-mortar church buildings in the process.

Maybe a different way of preaching, as in these chatrooms and video sites on the web we visit or on the TV, and through tomes of literature we all read? This is the current way of spreading the truth and keeping it alive, I believe, for today and the near-future.


Bless you,


APAK

 

[WalterandDebbie]

I Thessalonians 3:1-13 King James Version

Paul Sends Timotheus 1-5, Timotheus's Encouraging Report 6-10, and Paul's Desire to Visit Them:

I Thessalonians 3 King James Version (KJV). 3 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; 2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions:

I Thessalonians 3

Amen