1Thess 4:3-8 (how to walk and be pleasing to God)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 4

1Thess 4:3-8
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.
For God hath not called us unto uncleanness, but unto holiness.
He therefore that despiseth, despiseth not man, but God, who hath also given unto us his holy Spirit.

This whole section is talking about “sanctification”: “holiness; being set apart; the act of making holy”. We discussed three categories of “sanctification”: positional, practical, and future.
We defined the bookends of this “being set apart” to/for God”: positional (when I got saved, instantly) and future (when I get caught up to be with the Lord – reference the last part of chapter 3:”To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” 1Thess 3:13 – notice the holiness at being in the presence of God, at his coming etc.).

Now comes the least popular and the most painful…”practical” sanctification. There is much written about it in the scripture: The state or condition of my Christian walk. So sanctification involves separation:
2Cor 6:17
Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you,

And that verse comes after these verses:
2Cor 6:14-16
Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.

…This has to do with sanctification.
Continuing in the same book:
2Cor 7:1

Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.

The believer has been saved (by grace through faith, NOT OF works, Eph 2:8-9) unto God for his glory and his purpose, AND as a result of that, we should walk and do things concerning good works and separation to a pleasing life for God as he defines how it should be walked:
2Tim 2:19-21
Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his. And, Let every one that nameth the name of Christ depart from iniquity.
But in a great house there are not only vessels of gold and of silver, but also of wood and of earth; and some to honour, and some to dishonour.
If a man therefore purge himself from these, he shall be a vessel unto honour, sanctified, and meet for the master's use, and prepared unto every good work.
(…did you sse that “Let..” in there?, it is still a choice on the part of the believer to act on it to do it)
Eph 2:10
For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them.
(…did you see that “should…” in there?, we still have a choice on what we do, and it would be easy to put a scare tactic on the saint to do what we want them to do to keep them from being “damned”! – but it is simply not the case as presented in scripture)

It requires a change in “thinking”, getting rid of the old code in the “old man” operating system and files and instruction, removing it, BUT filling it with new code, new files, new instruction. Put off-Renew- Put On-Walk.
You can’t just quit things and then you are done, when you quit something you have to replace it with something else to fill in that void – if you don’t you end up worse than before. As an example remember the analogy that Jesus in his earthly ministry gave to the Jews/Pharisee/Religious zealots when cleaning their house:
Luke 11:24-26
When the unclean spirit is gone out of a man, he walketh through dry places, seeking rest; and finding none, he saith, I will return unto my house whence I came out.
And when he cometh, he findeth it swept and garnished.
Then goeth he, and taketh to him seven other spirits more wicked than himself; and they enter in, and dwell there: and the last state of that man is worse than the first.
(the house was swept and garnished, it looked good, but was empty, which gives room for unwanted things to then occupy -much like San Fransico and NYC)
I only give that as an illustration of the point – you need to backfill good instruction when ridding of bad.

Look at this long passage in Ephesians which is discussing the same thing (sanctification); Put off-Renew-Put On-Walk:
Eph 4:17-32
This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind,
Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart:
Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.
But ye have not so learned Christ;
If so be that ye have heard him, and have been taught by him, as the truth is in Jesus:
That ye put off concerning the former conversation the old man, which is corrupt according to the deceitful lusts;
And be renewed in the spirit of your mind;
And that ye put on the new man, which after God is created in righteousness and true holiness.
Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another.
Be ye angry, and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath:
Neither give place to the devil.
Let him that stole steal no more: but rather let him labour, working with his hands the thing which is good, that he may have to give to him that needeth.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.
Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.
(and it continues on in Ephesians 5 – but I will spare you)

Paul’s epistles have a corpus of instruction on how we should walk and be sanctified and pleasing to God in ‘this present evil world’ (Gal 1). However, not to get bogged down and lose sight of our position in Christ and be clouded with the idea that we must “do everything right from here on out” to maintain our position in Christ, we must understand that we are going to mess up, time and time again; we just need to pick ourselves back up, get back on track – and when we screw up again, get back into the word, renew the mind, put on the new man, start walking to be pleasing to God. [reread Romans chapter 7, verses 14 through 25; then reread them again; and then again; ad nauseum…]

I will stop here today and complete this thought on the next installment
Grace and Peace James

1Thess 4:2-6 sanctification

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 4

1Thess 4:2-6
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.
For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication:
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour;
Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God:
That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter: because that the Lord is the avenger of all such, as we also have forewarned you and testified.

Verse 2: “For ye know…” the Thessalonians knew, in that two and a half to three weeks Paul did a serious doctrinal download. “what commandments…” these are not the ten commandments, or any of the 615 commandments and instructions under the Law given to Moses, this is not any new information that was given to the twelve apostles, these were commandments given by the apostle of the Gentiles to the Gentiles. And Paul got them by revelation from Jesus Christ in his risen state to give to the Thessalonians, i.e. the Gentiles. (ref. “But I certify you, brethren, that the gospel which was preached of me is not after man. For I neither received it of man, neither was I taught it, but by the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Gal 1:11-12)

Verse 3: “For this is the will of God,…” Good Golly Shazam! We do not need to claim ignorance anymore on what the will of God is for our life – it is clearly stated here! This is part of the revealed will of God; it is plainly stated in words that we can figure out, in the language that we speak and understand (English).

Here it is here in First Thessalonians 4:
“…that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God: That no man go beyond and defraud his brother in any matter:…”

So this has to do with our ‘sanctification’; I figured that out because of a few hints in the passage: “…, even your sanctification…” and “…possess his vessel in sanctification…”; every once in a while a blind squirrel finds a nut.
Sanctification has to do with being set apart, holiness: The act of making holy. Now we do not get scared or think we go into this sinless perfection requirement thing to be saved and stay saved. The fact is we are screw ups and we will continue to screw up, we do not have to like being a screw up or just keep screwing up because we are screw ups – but NOW we have the ability to be set apart, separated for a sacred purpose – we can be better than a perpetual state of screwed-up-id-ness.

So there are three (how shall I say it…) states/levels of sanctification: positional, practical and final. In a nutshell: the believer is already sanctified when he puts his trust in the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross:
1Cor 1:30 

But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption:
Heb 10:10
By the which will we are sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.
1Cor 6:11
And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God.
So we have that positionally – but you couldn’t tell by looking at me, because it is something we got by faith.

Future sanctification, this will be realized at the Lord’s coming and our catching up to be with him in the heavens, for ever:
2Thess 2:13-14
But we are bound to give thanks alway to God for you, brethren beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the Spirit and belief of the truth:
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Thess 5:23
And the very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole spirit and soul and body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Which will happen: 1Co 15:50-54
Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed,
In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed.
For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality.
So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory.

Which makes sense, that we will be with the Lord, out of these ‘vile’ bodies (Phil 3:21) and be “fashioned like unto his glorious body” and have gone through the judgment seat of Christ for the body of Christ (1 Cor 3:10-15), and be the God’s presence for eternity.

I am going to hit he pause button here and pick it up on the next installment: practical sanctification – of which much is said. And if I remember I will circle back to more on the ‘will of God’.

Grace and Peace James
See the will of God has been right in front of our noses the whole time.

1Thess 4:1-2 (commandments we gave you)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 4

ADDENDUM to CORRECTION from the last installment: it was probably a span of around four years (estimating time from Acts 17:10 to Acts 20:2) or so before Paul having been run out of Thessalonica to the time he had an opportunity to visit them again.
(I knew you were curious)

1Thess 4:1-2
Furthermore then we beseech you, brethren, and exhort you by the Lord Jesus, that as ye have received of us how ye ought to walk and to please God, so ye would abound more and more.
For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.

Beseech: to implore; to ask or pray with urgency.

Exhort: To incite by words or advice; to animate or urge by arguments to a good deed or to any laudable conduct or course of action.

So in addition to what has been said Paul is urgently asking and encouraging and motivating the Thessalonians “to walk and to please God”. “To walk”: to live and act or behave; to pursue a particular course of life.
[You usually walk after something, in biblical terms: after the flesh OR after the Spirit.]
The rub is, or the problem is, that you walk in this world in this life AND you should/need to please God; …well, brother, how are we to do that? …Does Paul assume that we can do that? …He seems to think that we have the available resources at our disposal.(?)
This should at least interest us or at most concern us… maybe.

Earlier in Chapter 1 we had the issue of “pleasing men” in contrast to what Paul said he was doing, which was pleasing God. (see also Gal 1:10)
In Chapter 2 we had the gospel of grace rejecting Jews who “please not God, and are contrary to all men”.
Those that are not saved cannot please God: “So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God.”( Rom 8:8)
Coming to Christ by believing the gospel does please God: “For after that in the wisdom of God the world by wisdom knew not God, it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.”( 1Cor 1:21)
Having faith in God pleases him: “But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.”( Heb 11:6)
Doing what you were chose to be pleases God: “Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.”(2Ti 2:3-4)
But it is God as well that works in the believer for the purpose of doing what is pleasing to him :“For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of his good pleasure.”( Phil 2:13)

So in the second verse Paul says that the Thessalonians received of him, Silas and Timothy “how” to do it – the HOW – Paul had the instruction, look at the next verse: “For ye know what commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus.” Commandments given to Paul for Paul to give to the body of Christ. Therefore, we conclude that:
Jesus Christ, post resurrection – after Christ rose from the dead and ascended up to heaven to sit at the right hand of the Father, gave to Paul commandments, instruction, doctrine for the saints that would come to Christ through Paul’s message. That information that Christ gave Paul is what the believer today needs to walk by in order to build appropriately upon the right foundation with the right building materials and to please God. That specific information is found in the books of Romans, 1&2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1&2 Thessalonians, 1&2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. This scripture is “…is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works”(2 Tim 3:16-17) for the believer today, and will result in pleasing God.

So, as not to cause confusion – the whole Bible has a beginning and an end, so to speak, an arc, beginning with creation, the fall of man[Gen], and ending with a new heaven and a new earth[Rev], and a lot of things in between; the whole Bible is for the believer, and he can learn, grow, understand about God and his dealings with mankind and mankind’s redemption – But, not all the Bible is TO you TO DO, as some things are written to other people to do.

Paul does not say “walk and please God”. Paul does not say “you should walk and please God”. Paul says you “have received OF US HOW ye ought to walk and to please God”. Paul apparently brought the receipts and we should pay attention, and if we do then we can “abound more and more” (that has a nice ring doesn’t it?)

Grace and Peace James
Text STOP to Optout

[I will try to be a bit more on time as long as work does not drag me down]

1Thess 3:13 (unblameable)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 3

CORRECTION: in the last installment I stated: “…I do not believe Paul ever made it back to see the Thessalonians – it was what Paul wanted and prayed for, but it did not happen…” this was concerning verse 13 -I did some additional reading and in Acts 20:1-2 it states: “And after the uproar was ceased [in Ephesus, Acts 19], Paul called unto him the disciples, and embraced them, and departed for to go into Macedonia. And when he had gone over those parts, and had given them much exhortation, he came into Greece,” Paul returned to Macedonia, and had “gone over those parts”, and Thessalonica is in that area. We also see that in Acts 20:4 “And there accompanied him into Asia Sopater of Berea; and of the Thessalonians, Aristarchus and Secundus; and Gaius of Derbe, and Timotheus; and of Asia, Tychicus and Trophimus.” From this verse two gentlemen ‘from’ Thessalonica joined him on his journey’s: Aristarchus and Secundus. Just thought I would bring that to our attention – and sometimes those prayers do get answered, and we just don’t realize it (for a multitude of reasons).

Now onto the last verse in chapter 3:

1Thess 3:13
To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Here in the climax of the chapter, again, we have a reference to Christ coming for his church: the body of Christ; and our gathering unto him, and our presence with the Father. [Note again – we have a similar reference at the end of each chapter in this epistle.]

“Stablish” is just an older spelling of “establish”, it may have been a more stable state after being established, but I am not sure one could prove that meaning; however, at “the end” their “hearts” are to be fixed; settled in a state for permanence; made firm in “holiness” and to add to that, it is to be “unblameable” (Not blamable; not culpable; innocent) – this is where everyone gives up on salvation by grace through faith and then adopts a holiness doctrine or lordship salvation or some sort of idea that “Christ’s death, burial resurrection is only part of the work…now I have to do the rest”. I am not sure that is the path that one should go – one should remain in the grace message: “…and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (Eph 2:8-9)

We get saved by believing the correct gospel, and then we learn how to live, unfortunately we never stop screwing up and sinning, (some learn not to care,) others try to do better and learn God’s will for today and learn the doctrine in these epistles for the body of Christ, and understand that they always have a chance to pick themselves up and try again after they fall short.

In the verse it states: “he may…”. Interesting. In Philippians Paul writes: “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:” (Phil 1:6).
HE is doing a work in us, and performing it unto a day (of Jesus Christ), and at that day (of Christ) HE will stablish our hearts unblameable in holiness before God.

So this “catching up” is part of the “day of Christ” and part of the “day of Christ” is being stablished in holiness. This goes along with these verses in Colossians 1:
Col 1:21-23
And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;

See the similar phrasings. But, one may say, there is an “IF” in there sir, he have an “IF”! “If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away…”, SEE! You can lose it! …no, I say, no. What a believer has done ungrounded and unsettled in the faith, and that you did moving away from the gospel, will be burnt up - see 1 Cor 3 concerning the judgment seat of Christ (NOT the White Throne Judgment [Rev 20] OR the judgment of sheep and goats [Matt 25], etc):
1Cor 3:10-15
According to the grace of God which is given unto me, as a wise masterbuilder, I have laid the foundation, and another buildeth thereon. But let every man take heed how he buildeth thereupon.
For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.
Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, stubble;
Every man's work shall be made manifest: for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and the fire shall try every man's work of what sort it is.
If any man's work abide which he hath built thereupon, he shall receive a reward.
If any man's work shall be burned, he shall suffer loss: but he himself shall be saved; yet so as by fire.

The “day” shall declare it. If your “work”(what you have done for Christ as a saved child of God, what was ‘built’) is found ‘combustible’ (did not ‘take heed’) then I would say that you have been improperly building on the foundation that Paul, the apostle of the Gentiles, has laid and you are found blamable and reproveable in his sight – but that part of the “work”, the blamable and reproveable part, is burnt up, gone – you suffered loss (of reward, of opportunity to serve the Lord properly) but you “shall be saved”. But after the judgment seat of Christ, the body of Christ, individual members and the whole, will have their heart stablished unblameable in holiness before God. Amen.

“at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints” we will touch on again at the end of chapter 4.

I have wearied you in reading.
Grace and Peace James
Amen

1Thess 3:9-12 (perfecting, increasing and abounding)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 3

1Thess 3:9-10

For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

Verse 9: thankfulness to God – for the saints, as we should be and do as well; it was evident in Paul’s life; His joy has its locus in the saints as well; Before God – as everything is.
Verse 10: Prayer for the saints – Paul gives the example again of what we should do (without ceasing); desire for fellowship (to see your face). Notice the desire and diligence in “Night and day” and “exceedingly”!
“perfect that which is lacking in your faith” as stated before Paul spent a small amount of time with these saints, in that small amount of time he was able to introduce the gospel that saves and teach them doctrine to help them in their walk and build and edify them. However, there were some things still lacking, there were still some gaps that needed to be filled, and that is the “perfecting” Paul is referring to. That is what this epistle and the next (2 Thess) is to do – because Paul’s desire was to go back, however, he had this hindering problem with Satan/ certain lewd fellows of the baser sort(Acts 17:5)/angry Jews/stirred up Gentiles/etc.
For any new believer, we need our faith to be perfected – this is NOT sinless perfection or living a ‘sin free’ life (which would be ideal, but out of reach) remember Paul’s words in Romans:

Rom 7:18-25
For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not.
For the good that I would I do not: but the evil which I would not, that I do.
Now if I do that I would not, it is no more I that do it, but sin that dwelleth in me.
I find then a law, that, when I would do good, evil is present with me.
For I delight in the law of God after the inward man:
But I see another law in my members, warring against the law of my mind, and bringing me into captivity to the law of sin which is in my members.
O wretched man that I am! who shall deliver me from the body of this death?
I thank God through Jesus Christ our Lord. So then with the mind I myself serve the law of God; but with the flesh the law of sin.

This perfecting is growing the flawed brother and sister in Christ in this grace life and to be pleasing to God, to supply additional information of the time he is living in, how all the plan of God is to play out and where you fit in, to not get into following incorrect doctrine or ‘correct’ doctrine BUT for other people, etc.

1Thess 3:11-12
Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

Verse 13: I do not believe Paul ever made it back to see the Thessalonians – it was what Paul wanted and prayed for, but it did not happen – should we assume that Paul fell out of favor with God because of? Or that the Thessalonians fell out of favor with God as well? …no. It just did not happen.
Verse 12: Great example of love of the brethren, first, love toward all (though it is hard – it is even sometimes very hard[er] to love the brethren). Abound: To have or possess in great quantity; to be copiously supplied.
Increase and Abound – good goals for growth.

Grace and Peace James
We will finish up chapter 3 on the next one.

1Thess 3:4-8 (For now I live, if…)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 3

1Thess 3:4
For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

I should have included this verse 4 in the last installment, for it joins appropriately with verse 3 “That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
It continues the discussion of the doctrine of “suffering” for the believer in this present time. Please see last gleaning.
Again, the “tribulation” discussed here is not “the great tribulation” or the events spoken about to come to pass in the last book in the Bible “Revelation” or events in “Daniel” or the material Jesus Christ’s discusses in Matt 24 and Mark 13, or other prominent places in scripture discussing the last times. These are the afflictions and tribulations that:“…worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”(Rom 5:3-5); and such like that the believers saved by grace through faith experience until the catching up of the body of Christ.
“as it came to pass” -the explosion of emotion and chaos and riot after the Jews got upset in Acts 17.

1Thess 3:5
For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labour be in vain.

For the cause that they are enduring afflictions and tribulations, Paul could not wait – He sent Timothy to them – to know if they were still standing on their foundation: “to know” their “faith”.
Here again we have the tempter references (in Chapter 2, referred to Satan); we should not be ignorant of his devices. In Matt 4 and Luke 4, the devil shows up to tempt Christ, and he used and twisted scripture to do it, but Christ used scripture appropriately to deal with the temptations – which should be some pretty valuable advice for us in dealing with our temptations… scripture! Ah, yes!
Paul also references their labor (him, Silas, and Timothy’s) being in vain if the Thessalonians would have departed from what they had taught them. Not vain as they lost their salvation – but that they had resorted back to conforming to the world. But the passion here is from Paul because he truly loves and cares for these brethren, and I think that comes out in the verses.

1Thess 3:6-8
But now when Timotheus came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

Reference Acts 18:5 “And when Silas and Timotheus were come from Macedonia,…”, Timothy came back and gave the report back to Paul, the good report. Brotherly love is evident in the verses.
Verse 7, comfort coming from the love of the brethren.
Verse 8, they have a piece of their livelihood tied up in these believers: “For now we live, if…” truly their spirits were uplifted by the good news and knowing that they will continue on in grace doctrine.

Grace and Peace James
For now I live, if…

1Thess 3:1-3 (fellowlabouring, comfort, afflictions)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 3

1Thess 3:1-3
Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
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:
That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

With the events that happened after Paul and company’s three weeks in Thessalonica, being ran out of town, riot, and bombastic hyperbole, etc. (reference Acts 17:1-9)
And then ran out of the next town by the angry Jews from Thessalonica (ref. Acts 17:10-14), Paul and crew could not forbear, could not wait any longer, could not delay, because of his concern for the new believers, and sent Timothy (fellowlabourer: One who labors in the same business or design) back to Thessalonica “to establish” them: to get them started on a sound base, to make sure the proper doctrine was being instilled.
Which as part of that laying the foundation is “comfort”. The Thessalonians were apparently a very knowledgeable and understanding crew and could “pick up what” Paul “was putting down”.
This was a bit different than what he dealt with concerning the Corinthians, for they could not mature properly and remained as children in the new life in Christ:

1Cor 2:1-2
And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God.
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
1Cor 3:1-3
And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?

Also note the continuity of Scripture. This passage lines up perfectly with Acts 17:14-16. Paul (the obvious focus of attack by his adversaries: angry law driven Jews) was directed away from the conflict to Athens and was there alone as in Acts 17:16-34 (when he gives the infamous ‘sermon on Mars Hill’).

Paul wants to make sure that these believers are growing and maturing in sound doctrine, understanding grace, edifying them and their faith – but he doesn’t ‘sugar-coat’ the message, he communicates to them that they will have ‘afflictions’ AND that we (Paul, Silas, Timothy, and the Thessalonians; and us) are appointed thereunto. It will come – if you do not conform to the world.

2Tim 3:12
Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
2Cor 4:8-11
We are troubled on every side, yet not distressed; we are perplexed, but not in despair;
Persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed;
Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body.
For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.
2Cor 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Phil 1:29
For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake;
Rom 8:35-37
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?
As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.
Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.

I suppose I should say – we don’t look for it, but if we live right, then we should expect it.

Grace and Peace James
fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ

1Thess 2:17-20 (endeavouring to hindering to rejoicing)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 2

1Thess 2:17 

But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.

I will not dwell on much here other than Paul’s words of affection are consistent with what he has already stated in this chapter, as well as chapter 1.Paul cared for, was concerned for, loved, longed for these believers in Christ. And to think again, that this relationship developed over a short span of 15 to 26 days. 

[ENDEAV'OR, an attempt; an exertion of physical strength, or the intellectual powers, towards the attainment of an object.]

1Thess 2:18 

Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.

The desire to continue fellowship is strong. One big problem…Satan. The devil. The accuser of the brethren. That old serpent. That guy.
“HIN'DERED”: Stopped; impeded; obstructed.
How did Satan hinder Paul? Well, the unbelieving Jews in each synagogue would persecute him, and threaten his life, and pursue him from town to town, and working up the unbelieving Gentiles; things like that…and then there was things like this long resume’ of “hindering” in 2 Corinthians:

2Cor 11:22-27
Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I.
Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft.
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one.
Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

Satan was able to mess up Paul’s plans to return to Thessalonica – and Paul was a probably the greatest Christian there was – think about that…If he can do that to him, then we need to be at the top of our game.
Paul says about Satan: “Lest Satan should get an advantage of us: for we are not ignorant of his devices.”( 2Cor 2:11); therefore we should not be.
And also: “And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.” (2Cor 11:14); therefore it require due diligence – things are not always as they appear.
And also: “Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.” (Eph 6:11-12)

1Thess 2:19
For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?

Each chapter of First Thessalonians closes with some reference of Christ’s coming for the body of Christ, and again here he closes Chapter 2 out with this topic. This is our great comfort, as was theirs. The gathering together of the body of Christ in the clouds, in the heavenly places, is truly hope (confident expectation of what God said will be), and joy (the delight of the mind from the consideration of the present or assured approaching possession of good), crown (I think: completion; accomplishment) of rejoicing – at Christ’s coming! Amen!
Always consider those thoughts, don’t let them depart from thee.

1Thess 2:20 

For ye are our glory and joy.

Again, Paul’s love for them is self-evident, and the desire to see them with him, with the Lord, I believe gave great comfort for both.

Thus ends Chapter 2.

Grace and Peace James
For ye are our glory and joy

1Thess 2:14-16 (the uttermost)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 2

1Thess 2:14-16
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.

Here is a rough spot in the book; which [reader warning] I probably will not do it justice…and it may be a long one.

As we recall, when Paul came to Thessalonica, and taught for three sabbath days, some believed (Jews and Gentiles) and then the unbelieving Jews (obviously provoked by Gentiles coming into favor with God after being “strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world”[Eph 2:12]) started the riots, blame and violence. The Thessalonian church (the local group of believers in Thessalonica, not a building) was persecuted, they suffered, they were in tribulation (NOT “the” tribulation, they were in tribulation). This is comparable as Paul says to the local churches in Judaea which were under persecution – Paul would know about that because...

HE WAS PART OF DOING IT before the Lord appeared from heaven on the road to Damascus. Call to memory what Paul/Saul did with his religious partners:


Act 7:57-59 

Then they cried out with a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one accord, And cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man's feet, whose name was Saul. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

Act 8:1, 3 

And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. ... As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

Act 9:1-2 

And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem.

Act 22:3-4 

I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day. And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

Act 26:9-11 

I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

Gal 1:13-14 

For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.

So Saul/Paul and the top Jews “wasted” and “made havoc” of the believers. This same activity was happening everywhere that Paul and company went on their Apostolic journeys – they would go to the Synagogue, preach and teach that Christ had come, presented the gospel that could save them, some would believe, then the Gentiles would hear and believe too, then the unbelieving Jews would start the bad treatment.

So these Jews (in Judaea) did kill the Lord, killed their own prophets (New Testament prophets - we just read about Stephen, James was killed in Acts 12, with all the “havoc” and “wasting” of the church - I am sure there was more, but notice in Paul’s own words – they killed people, of which is not recorded in scripture), they persecuted Paul and company (read Acts after his conversion), doing things for self and religion never pleases God, and in the process of all this: “contrary (opposite; contradictory) to all men”.

After being enraged by Gentile conversion, jealousy and pride would drive the unbelieving Jews to make it though no more would be saved.
“to fill up their sin alway” – to be full of their sin, and because they rejected the gospel, always – continually.

“for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost” – they are left in a bad state…of their own choosing. They killed their Messiah, he forgave them on the cross, then they killed the prophets after Pentecost, they persecuted the church of God wherever it sprung up anew. It wasn’t a lost cause for them, they were not “predestined” to damnation because…PAUL WAS ONE OF THEM. Paul was guilty of the same sins and the same crimes and complicit in the same manslaughter, BUT Paul heard and believed the truth and got out of it. So everyone of the Christ rejecting and gospel rejecting Jews had the opportunity under the gospel of the grace of God.

Here are Paul’s own words:

1Tim 1:12-16
And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
This is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.
Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might shew forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting.

Paul’s “uttermost” was avoided. The others had their chance as well.

Grace and Peace James

1Thess 2:13 (not words of men but the word of God)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 2

1Thess 2:13
For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

I believe the “cause” that Paul is going to be thankful for is what he follows on with: when they received the word of God through Paul and company, it was taken as that very thing – THE WORD OF GOD (!) as God speaking, as the very true words of God (as they were) AND NOT as the words of men, man’s wisdom, man’s philosophy, man’s inventions, throw away words hat we hear all through our days, that add nothing to ourselves but feed into our vanity.

No the Thessalonians believed “the words” Paul/company were giving them were inspired and God breathed. And they acted on it: So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Rom 10:17); and it started the building blocks of faith.

Why do some get saved and others do not? Especially when they have heard the same thing, the same words? Because the ones that get saved believe the words as “the word of God” and not the words of men; and those that don’t get saved take them all as the “the words of men”.
“without ceasing” – the phrase is used six times in the Bible, here in 2:13 as well as:
Act 12:5 Peter therefore was kept in prison: but prayer was made without ceasing of the church unto God for him.
Rom 1:9 For God is my witness, whom I serve with my spirit in the gospel of his Son, that without ceasing I make mention of you always in my prayers;
1Thess 1:3 Remembering without ceasing your work of faith, and labour of love, and patience of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, in the sight of God and our Father;
1Thess 5:17 Pray without ceasing.
2Tim 1:3 I thank God, whom I serve from my forefathers with pure conscience, that without ceasing I have remembrance of thee in my prayers night and day;

All the times it shows up in Paul’s letters they seem to deal with thankfulness, remembrance and prayers for the saints (the surrounding verses mention these words); the one in Acts is specifically about praying for someone.

“which effectually worketh”
To EFFECT is to bring to pass, to achieve, etc.
EFFECTIVE is having the power to cause or produce
EFFECTUAL is producing an effect, or the effect desired or intended; or having adequate power or force to produce the effect
EFFECTUALLY is efficaciously; in a manner to produce the intended effect; thoroughly
The word of God, when believed as the word of God, believed as truth, will produce the intended effect. And again, this is not a majority rule/opinion or popularity basis, I sound like a broken record – in season and out of season the word of God does not change – cultures change, personalities change, spokesmen change, etc. let them change, but the saint is to be consistent.

Grace and Peace James

1 Thess 2:7-12 as a nurse cherisheth her children

Gleanings in First Thessalonians

Chapter 2

1Thess 2:7-12
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:
So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us.
For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.
Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe:
As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children,
That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

“as a nurse cherisheth her children” being gentle, he comforts them, encouraging growth, Paul has a deep care for these people – he doesn’t need to be forceful or overbearing and compelling – he ahs the truth, when you have the truth you do not need to use coercion tactics and stratagems. This swath of verses is in direct contrast to the pervious verses that says what Paul DIDN’T do.
“we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls”, I think Paul is personally connected with these Thessalonians, the gospel is the first step, but Paul wants to have them know more of what they need to know, the doctrine needed to live a quiet and peaceful life: “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Saviour; Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.” (1Tim 2:3-4)
“labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable”, Paul and company worked, did not expect donations or tithes, the Thessalonians were “children” just coming into the grace of God, they needed to grow and not be a burden to them; concerning children: “Behold, the third time I am ready to come to you; and I will not be burdensome to you: for I seek not yours, but you: for the children ought not to lay up for the parents, but the parents for the children. 2Cor 12:14”; when it comes to ministry – new believers should not be burdened with financial obligations, they should grow in the Bible and then determine whether they can and where to give.
“how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved” This verse hits me hard, because I am a vile individual that cannot seem to depart from fleshly “old man” behaviors, this is a struggle personally for me.
“we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you” Paul was in it for their growth and benefit, not his own; he cared.
“walk worthy” enough said.
“called you unto his kingdom and glory” we have a calling, we believe the gospel, believe and are put in Christ (we are in the kingdom of God – though still in this body of flesh on earth: "Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; neither doth corruption inherit incorruption." 1Cor 15:50); we are going to be in glory(a few verses on our destination coming in glory):

Rom 5:2
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Rom 8:18
For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
1Cor 2:7-8
But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
1Cor 15:41, 43
There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from another star in glory. ... It is sown in dishonour; it is raised in glory: it is sown in weakness; it is raised in power:
2Cor 3:10, 18
For even that which was made glorious had no glory in this respect, by reason of the glory that excelleth. ...But we all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
2Cor 4:17
For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
Eph 1:18
The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,
Phl 4:19
But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.
Col 1:27
To whom God would make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles; which is Christ in you, the hope of glory:
Col 3:4
When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.
2Thess 2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
1Tim 3:16
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
2Tim 2:10
Therefore I endure all things for the elect's sakes, that they may also obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

Grace and Peace James
Sorry I missed yesterday

1 Thess 2:3-7 (exhortation yet gentle)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians

Chapter 2

1Thess 2:3-7
For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile:
But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts.
For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness:
Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ.
But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children:

EXHORTA'TION: the act of inciting to laudable deeds; incitement to that which is good or commendable. The form of words intended to incite and encourage

I suppose first I will focus on a negative, in order to bring the point to light.
Let us look at the things Paul says they “didn’t” do and you will see how the other side operates: false religion, religious industrial complex, cults, bad churches/denominations operate:
v3 exhortations of “deceit”( a catching or ensnaring), “uncleanness”( Moral impurity; defilement by sin; sinfulness), “guile”(craftily disguised)
v4 “pleasing men” and not God
v5 using “flattering words”, and “a cloke of covetousness”(to hide the strong or inordinate desire of obtaining and possessing something)
v6 Seeking “glory” “of men” “of you” “of others”; “burdensome”(requiring financial support)
A religious group will do these things, use these methods, in order to draw people in, to keep them in, to not let them go - because of the lack of the truth. Period. If you have the truth (which I do, found in my Bible, as I believe it is God breathed) you just need to present the truth. You plant, you water – but God gives the increase (1Cor3); if people depart, they depart, but the truth will be like a stone in their shoe.

Paul points out clearly that he did none of these things, probably brought to his mind because that is what he saw in the area of Thessalonica and his other travels, and what he saw as … a Pharisee in the Jew’s religion:
[Gal 1:13-14 For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it: And profited in the Jews' religion above many my equals in mine own nation, being more exceedingly zealous of the traditions of my fathers.]

v4: “…God,..trieth our hearts”: God knows our hearts, it is usually us who really doesn’t know our hearts; God tries our hearts by providing us means to know what is there, in order to help us grow in Christ as a useful Christian, hopefully to humble us and to make us want to realize his love and want to serve ‘more better’ (! [Sic]).
v6: concerning “glory” – in the end it will all go towards God, anything current here is temporal and of little value (but we are vain creature – but still have hope [Rom 8:20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,])
Also note the phrase at the end of the verse: “…we… as the apostles of Christ” – which the “we” there is referring to Paul, Silvanus/Silas, Timothy/Timotheus – so we see that there were twelve apostles selected by Jesus Christ in his earthly ministry (with Matthias replacing Judas Iscariot, the basis described in Acts 1:21-22 [Wherefore of these men which have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus went in and out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, unto that same day that he was taken up from us, must one be ordained to be a witness with us of his resurrection.]), and then a selection of Paul/Saul (Acts 9) and others after Christ’s ascension into heaven after the resurrection to sit at the right hand of the Father.

Verse 7: “But we were gentle among you…” and that is what you have when you have the truth, you don’t have to compel, To drive or urge with force. You plant, you water – and God gives the increase.

I need to stop – as I am sure you are hoping I do.
Sorry for the tardiness this morn’

Grace and Peace James

1 Thess 2:1-2 Not in vain

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 2

1Thess 2:1-2
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:
But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention.

Entrances; we covered coming to Thessalonica yesterday and will hit on Philippi today – but to back up a bit to the phrase “that it was not in vain” – I suppose I would state that anything done for the Lord according to his instruction via good and sound doctrine cannot be in vain. It does not mean that there will be great glory and fanfare in this life and mountains of individuals coming to the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, but it will not be in vain. I think I used Isaiah 55 in Chapter 1:

Isa 55:8-11
For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.
For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:
So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.

It is going to hit – people will accept or reject – but it will hit.

Paul refers to Philippi and the “suffering” that happened there, this is recorded in Acts 16 (prior to coming to Thessalonica in Acts 17) – reference Acts 16:12-40.

They were unjustly beaten and imprisoned (after commanding a spirit of divination to leave a girl, and thus killing the income of her masters’), they were imprisoned being Roman citizens, they were asked to quietly leave the city after they found out they did Paul and company wrong – “suffered before, and shamefully entreated” [entreated: urgently requested -i.e. to leave Philippi]

Act 16:37 

But Paul said unto them, They have beaten us openly uncondemned, being Romans, and have cast us into prison; and now do they thrust us out privily? nay verily; but let them come themselves and fetch us out.

(you gotta love Paul! – bold and has a way with words)

But none of this discouraged them -they were “bold”, how? They were “in God” speaking “the gospel of God”, because it was what Paul was instructed to do. When you are in a situation where the mass of humanity is on one side of an issue and you and God are on the other, then you are right – and majority/mob rule means nothing…look at Noah and the world that was – he was right because God told him something and he believed it and the whole world was wrong -and the flood proved it. So that is where it holds with us – know what God said to you, and follow it, regardless of what the other lemmings are doing as they move to the edge of the cliff.
“with much contention”; contention: 1. strife, struggle, a violent effort to obtain something. 2. Strife in words or debate; quarrel; angry contest; controversy
It’s a rough world out there… I am sure you can tell me.

I am rambling again –

Grace and Peace James
Not in vain

1 Thess 2:1 (only one verse...i know...)

 Gleanings in First Thessalonians

Chapter 2

1Thess 2:1
For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain:

A call to the Thessalonians (the believers in Thess.) to remember how Paul, Silvanus and Timothy first showed up and preached to them – what was their entrance? how did it happen? how did it go down?: let us turn back to Acts

Acts 17:1-3
Now when they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews:
And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures,
Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ.

So Paul spent a minimum of 15 days or a maximum of 27 days, or something in between, with the Thessalonians (based on 3 sabbath days). And all this time he is reasoning, and “opening” (unsealing; uncovering; revealing; interpreting) and “alleging” (declaring; affirming; asserting) out of the scripture, not with man’s philosophy. He is telling them what they need to know about Christ suffering, dying, being buried, and rising again. This is to the Jews and the God fearing Gentiles and proselytes, and whoever would listen. To the Jews – this Jesus, that I preach, IS Your Christ! Your Messiah! The King you have been waiting for.
And what happened next:

Act 17:4
And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few.

And some believed – not all, some. And that is the way it always is.
And what happened next to Paul and the believers?


Act 17:5-10
But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people.
And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also;
Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus.
And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things.
And when they had taken security of Jason, and of the other, they let them go.
And the brethren immediately sent away Paul and Silas by night unto Berea: who coming thither went into the synagogue of the Jews.

Result: Hyperbolic accusations and violence. But in that short period of time before that – they made quite an impact to the believers there! Such that Paul gave quite the commendations in chapter 1 (please refer to chapter 1 verses/comments).
Not everyone gets saved. And it is not always a grand ol’ time – it is not always going to be pretty, and there will be “dry” seasons – but you keep sound doctrine and the message the same; you don’t modify and compromise with the changing seasons, fads, and programs.
(2Tim 4:2-3 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine.
For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears;)

Grace and Peace James
(I got one First Thessalonians verse in!)

1Thess 1:8-10 (the word sounded out)

Gleanings in First Thessalonians
Chapter 1

1Thess 1:8

For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.

In verse 8, after being ensamples/examples to those in the Macedonia/Achaia region, they sounded out the word of the Lord, in every place they could. (Rom 10:18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth , and their words unto the ends of the world). They were helpers to Paul’s ministry.

Paul adds: “so that we need not speak anything.” Which can be taken a couple of ways: (a) the Thessalonians were extremely zealous and covered the whole area therefore they covered the area before Paul and company, or (b) they were complete in the word and doctrine that they got from Paul and were spreading to the regions; or (c) both.

1Thess 1:9 

For they themselves shew of us what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God;

Verse 9, they were obviously commendable, because Paul states: “…they themselves (the people preached to by the Thessalonians) shew of us what manner of entering in we (Paul and company) had unto you (Thessalonians)…”

They were doing things right. They could see it, and must have been complete in the transferring of doctrine.

Here again we have the statement I brought up earlier about the Thessalonians “election” of God – they turned to God FROM idols/false gods/false religion/paganism/etc. to serve (God’s election of them to serve) the living (very much alive, real, eternal) and TRUE God. Notice, Paul is not writing to unbelievers, he is not setting out to PROVE that Jehovah is the TRUE God – he is writing to believers who have accepted the gospel of the grace of God and he is edifying them.

1Thess 1:10

And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, [even] Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come.

And the end of the chapter, what gives the believer great comfort. Jesus Christ rose from the dead (so we can too, he died not for himself but for the whole world, paying for their sins), we are waiting for him (that blessed hope, who will come for his “body” – the body of Christ [that church] – which Paul will speak more about in this book), and has ALREADY DELIVERED us FROM “the wrath to come”. Amen.

That’s enough for this morning.

Grace and Peace.
I suppose you will be waiting with me.