I Thessalonians 3 – To Stand Firm in the Presence of God
Thursday, 9th February 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An
Section One V1-5 Humble and Obey
We want to do a lot of things, we want to change a lot of things, but this is also a signal, telling us that we have forgotten the Power of God and the Presence of God. How can we see God is with us? It’s easy for us to see the problems, but it’s not easy for us to see God. When God is with us, our worries will leave us, our fears will leave us, and we can stand firm in God. God is always with us, but how can we leave our weaknesses, shame, and self-condemnation? Paul wrote the message to the church of Thessalonica to help them stand firm in the presence of God.
Don’t make ourselves gods, don’t make ourselves idols, but to believe that God is able. God is able, it’s not us, it’s not others, but it’s God. Paul was talking to the people of the church of Thessalonica that they could not wait anymore because of all the problems in the church. But Paul did not go there straight away, he waited in Greece, because he knew God will be there. Do we really know God is there? So often we feel like that we have to go to where the problem occurs, we feel that if we don’t go then something bad will happen. But when God tells us to wait and be still, can we humble and obey?
This is a great spiritual warfare, but Paul waited, he had faith in God. He knew it’s not a problem that only Paul can solve. He gave the authority to God and sent young Timothy to go on behalf of him. Paul wrote to the church that Timothy was his brother, the minister of God, a fellow labour in the Gospel of Christ; he gave assurance to the church of Thessalonica that Timothy was sent by God. Paul uplifted God and he also uplifted Timothy, he brought the love and power of God in his message.
Paul knew the church was facing afflictions and tribulations, he did not deny this fact, instead, he said they were appointed to this, because they were not walking in the worldly way. Paul already told the church before about what they would be facing, as followers of Christ, there would be hardship and suffering in this world. Paul could no longer endure so he sent Timothy to them and let them know that he did not forget about them.
Section Two V6-10 Stand Firm in God
Paul saw the faith and love of the church of Thessalonica, he did not focus on the things they did or the results of their work, but their faith and love. He encouraged them as they continued to connect with their authority in great tribulations. They did not complain and they did not blame on Paul for their hardship. What is our attitude towards the challenges we face in life? When we shepherd others and build them up, what do we see? Do we see the problems in their lives? Or do we give thanks for their perseverance and their faith in God?
Paul saw how the people of the church continued to stand fast in God, and he was encouraged. Paul was not angry or depressed, but he rejoiced, he knew everything was from God. He did not make himself higher than God and he did not allow himself to be the idols of others. Paul knew their faith was small, so he prayed for them day and night. When we fast and pray, are we also praying exceedingly day and night like Paul?
Section Three V11-13 Love One Another
Paul put the focus back to the Father in Heaven. We must always bring our focus back to the Father, it’s so easy for us to see Jesus, but not the Father. However Jesus also came to uplift the Father, He did not bring the focus to Himself but to the Father in Heaven. Do we know that without the Father there is no Son? Let us not be our own king, but to uplift the Father; He is our loving Father. Do we see the love of God? Do we also see the love from our authority?
We can love ourselves; we can love those dear to us, but it’s not easy to love all. Without God, we cannot have this abundant love to all, for one another, and to stand firm. Let us stand firm in God in this day of trouble.
帖撒罗尼迦前书 3 – 在神面前站立得稳
2023年2月10日 星期四
潘锡安牧师
保罗一行人在帖撒罗尼迦传完福音之后，去到雅典，他的心仍没有离开帖撒罗尼迦教会。当我们着急处理事情，以为没有自己就不行的时候，其实我们忘了神的同在。我们很容易看到问题在，却很难看到神在。有神同在，我们里面的惧怕、忧虑和小剧场就都会离开。保罗的这篇信息通过他在雅典的情景，帮助弟兄姐妹学习能够在神面前站立得稳。
一、v.1-5 要谦卑顺服
我们是否相信“神能够”，还是相信只有我或者其他人才能够？
V1-2a 保罗在眼看事情越来越严重、已经“不能再忍”的时候，没有着急赶回帖撒罗尼迦。保罗知道帖撒罗尼迦出现很大的问题，当地的犹太人甚至追着保罗跑。在极大的争战中，保罗愿意独自等在雅典，没有自认为只有自己才能解决问题，因为他相信有神在。保罗所打发回去帖撒罗尼迦教会的是年轻的提摩太，并称他为“我们的兄弟”、“做神执事的”，给教会带下盼望。在我们所牧养的人面前，我们所撒发的只是我们自己吗，还是让人心里踏实? 保罗在教会面前没有高举自己，而是让耶和华上升，也让提摩太上升。
V2b-4 提摩太来到帖撒罗尼迦教会不是来找他们的麻烦，而是“劝慰”，让教会有盼望。保罗承认他们面对的是“诸般患难”，但也提醒大家，“我们受患难原是命定的”。信主后不会一帆风顺、毫无困难，我们告诉别人的是包装过后的假象吗，还是敢于说真理？
V5 保罗说明自己派人去的心意。他所呈现的是谦卑顺服、舍己利他的生命，高举神，让耶和华上升。
二、v.6-10 靠主站立得稳
V6-7“信心和爱心”对保罗来说是”好消息”，因为他看的不是表面上事情是否做得好。帖撒罗尼迦教会的人与他们的权柄保罗有很紧密的关系，他们的心与他相连，在大患难中没有抱怨，也没有因此断了与权柄的关系,反而“常常记念”、“切切地想见”保罗他们。
V8 在建造别人的时候，我们看到的是别人的问题，还是他们凡事不离不弃的跟随，并为此感恩？我们很容易因为别人没有达标就生气，但我们既然有软弱，也要体谅下面的人有软弱。
V9 保罗没有生气，而是相信神会处理，他没有让自己成为别人的偶像。
V10 我们禁食祷告就是让我们能“昼夜切切地祈求”，而不是什么都靠自己的doing来解决。
三、v.11-13 彼此相爱
V11 耶稣来，没有抢夺父神的荣耀，他所带出的门徒也是这样的行事为人。我们平时若很难讲到天父，只高举耶稣，其实这与我们心的问题有关。我们若有玻璃心，那时因为我们已成为了自己的王。父与子是有爱的，权柄与我们也是有爱的。
V12-13 彼此相爱、爱人如己，这才是真正的爱。我们若没有爱，我们说的话就没有能力，也无法在神面前站立得稳，因为神就是爱。