Dedicated To The Men of God
Who Preach the Word of God As It Is To Men As They Are
"Preach The Word"
CHRISTIAN JOY
I Thessalonians 3:1-13
I. THE STRENGTH v. 1-5
1. The stay v. 1. Paul stayed in Athens.
2. The strength v. 2-3.
A.Purpose; Send Timothy to help the people.
B.Power; Timothy sent to establish the people.
C.Praying; Timothy would comfort the people.
D.Problem; Timothy to help people with problems.
3. The suffering v. 4. All true Christians must face suffering for the Lord.
4. The sympathy v. 5. Timothy sent to help the people.
a.Testing; Test their faith.
b.Temper; See if they have welcomed Satan.
c.Trouble; If living in sin, then all their work was vain for the Lord.
II. THE SUFFERING v. 6-10
1. Delight v. 6. Paul was happy with Timothy's report. There is joy in seeing people accept Christ.
2. Distress v. 7. Despite sufferings, persecution and problems, the Christians remained true to God. Ten of the disciples were martyrs. Judas denied Christ, and John died of old age on the isle of Patmos.
3. Determination v. 8. Since the Christians were suffering, it was easy for Paul to suffer too.
4. Desire v. 9. Paul desires that the people praise and thank the Lord, and stand with him in prayer.
5. Dedication v. 10. Paul prayed night and day for the people and their faith in God.
III. THE SANCTIFICATION v. 11-13
1. Sent v. 11. Paul longs to have God send him to Thessalonica. God sends man to do His work.
2. Stablished v. 12-13 a. Paul longs for spiritual growth in the lives of the Christians.
3. Sanctified v. 13 b. God wants us to be holy. Jesus taught that we should be perfect.
FROM DR. JAMES QUICK, LYMAN, SC- USA
