1 Thessalonians 2:17-20
1 Thessalonians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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17 But, brothers and sisters, when we were orphaned by being separated from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you. 18 For we wanted to come to you—certainly I, Paul, did, again and again—but Satan blocked our way. 19 For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes? Is it not you? 20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.
Be Careful to Assume that Absence Comes from Carelessness.
Be Careful to Assume that Absence Comes from Carelessness.
In verse 17 and 18, Paul is going to great lengths to emphasize that his absence isn’t due to him not caring. In the NIV, which is the version I had on the screen, you may have noticed the interesting usage of the phrase “brothers and sisters” as well as “we were orphaned...” Right off the hip, Paul is trying to bring familial images to mind when it comes to how he feels about this church. Now, you might remember that when Paul showed up here, he preached the gospel, several were saved, and then he was ran out of town and hasn’t been able to come back to the church and Paul is concerned that they think he just doesn’t care about them so he includes this. Notice first, he emphasizes that they are his siblings in the Lord and second, being taken away from them was like being orphaned. Paul is trying to get them to understand that being kept away from them makes him feel similar to a child whose parents have died leaving him with nobody. And so, due to being away from them, he makes it clear that he is present with them in heart and that he is working to make it back to them because he intensely longs to be together with them.
Now, as I was reading through this, an immediate application that came to my mind is that we need to be careful when it comes to passing judgment about people being absent from church. One thing I want to emphasize here is that I am aware of the command not to forsake the gathering, but I’m not talking about people going to play golf on Sunday. I’m saying, when someone is absent, we need to reach out to them to make sure they’re okay, to express our love and care for them, and to see if we can do anything for them. Perhaps the people this most easily applies to would be our elderly shut-ins. It is easy for us to forget about them because we don’t see them. However, they still love us and long to be with us, but they just can’t make it and so they often feel as though they themselves are lonely little orphans.
Be Conscious of Satan’s Hindering Work
Be Conscious of Satan’s Hindering Work
Now, we get to the core of the issue here and it is that although Paul is trying to make it back, it isn’t as though he just hasn’t found the right travel agent, but that he is being hindered by Satan himself. One thing I think we need to be aware of as reformed believers is that Satan is indeed real and active. Some groups overemphasize him and make him sound as powerful as God and as though he is the root of all problems going on. Other groups, sometimes reformed people just like us, can fall into pretending that he’s almost not present at all. Somewhere in the middle is right where we should be biblically, but how does this Satanic hindering look throughout the Bible?
Old Testament Examples
Old Testament Examples
Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, Joshua and Achan, Nehemiah, Sanballat and Tobiah.
Cain and Abel, Joseph and his brothers, Joshua and Achan, Nehemiah, Sanballat and Tobiah.
New Testament Examples
New Testament Examples
Judas Iscariot, Simon the Sorcerer, Ananias and Sapphira, Euodia and Syntyche
Judas Iscariot, Simon the Sorcerer, Ananias and Sapphira, Euodia and Syntyche
Practical Examples
Practical Examples
Distraction from Prayer
Disregarding Conviction (Satan like a bird picking grain)
Developing Strife (Like Euodia and Syntyche)
Delaying Obedience (Being drawn to witness)
Be Committed to Seeing the Church Being Prepared
Be Committed to Seeing the Church Being Prepared
In the final two verses of this chapter, Paul makes it clear that he boasts in the Church because he saw her as a people purchased with Christs’ own blood and he saw himself as playing a part in preparing her for the day she stands before the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, in other places, Paul makes it clear that Jesus is our only boast. So what do we make of this? Well, in Hebrews 12:2 we read,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
Well, the joy that was set before Him wasn’t being seated at the right hand of God because Jesus already enjoyed that before He came to earth. So, what was the joy set before Him? It was the joy of having a redeemed bride. Ephesians 5:25-27 gives some more insight.
25 Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, 26 that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word, 27 that He might present her to Himself a glorious church, not having spot or wrinkle or any such thing, but that she should be holy and without blemish.
So, Paul valued the Church so much because as he looked at her, he saw the work of Jesus whom he loved so much and he wanted to do all he could to be used of the Lord to prepare His precious bride. So, what do we take from this? We’ll we should ask ourselves: Do I play a role? And the answer to that is: Absolutely you do.
In 1 Corinthians 12, Paul draws a picture for us as though we are a body and he highlights the fact that even though we might have different jobs, there aren’t any body parts that are worthless or invaluable. This is the case not only for Corinth, but for each of you that are believers too. So, what should this text make you think? It should make you think, “Jesus has done something so wonderful in us that even Satan wages war against it. And that same Jesus has called me to be a part of it. Okay, Lord, what can I do?”
9Marks wrote an article titled, “4 Ways to Become an Effective Role Player in Your Church”
1. Develop a Praying Spirit
2. Participate in Cycles of Discipleship
3. Practice Evangelism
4. Celebrate Each Other.
Well, I have a few that I’d like to share:
1. Become the person who prays, “Lord, please help your work.”
2. Become the person who asks, “What needs to be done?”
3. Become the person who inquires, “Where can I grow?”