Keep On Keeping On
Peseverance • Sermon • Submitted
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Introduction
It is the day after Christmas. We have unwrapped gifts much faster than it took to wrap them. We have eaten probably way too much. We have sung Christmas carols, celebrated with family and friends, and we have taken in the moments. So what is next? I am reminded of the cheer from my high school days that went something like, “Keep on doing, what you’re doing, till you can’t keep on doing no more.”
We keep on. In our study on 1 Thessalonians, we are seeing a theme of perseverance, and what a definition we have in that cheer: “Keep on doing, what you’re doing, till you can’t keep on doing no more.”
Once again we see that example played out in scripture.
17 But, brothers, when we were torn away 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 stopped us. 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.
Once again, we have several things here in these few verses that are applicable to us today.
Look At What Is Initiated
Look At What Is Initiated
All of this scripture refers to a relationship with Christ. The Bible says that we can have that relationship simply by confessing Him as Lord.
9 That if you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you confess and are saved.
We are designed to be in fellowship with God and in fellowship with each other.
3 We proclaim to you what we have seen and heard, so that you also may have fellowship with us. And our fellowship is with the Father and with his Son, Jesus Christ.
Can you say that you have fellowship with Christ? Does that fellowship in Christ lead you to have fellowship with others?
The Light of Jesus produces light that we share with each other. We are called first to be in a relationship with Christ.
7 But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.
When Christ comes into our lives, He shows us how to love each other fully and completely. Part of that means that includes having fellowship with each other that is heartfelt. A relationship with Christ that produces a relationship with others is evident in out text today. We see the word “brother” listed here. Other translations say, “brother and sister.” The implication is a fellow believer. It is sharing with a kindred spirit. There are things that are in common together. Serving the same Savior means that we are of the same bloodline. That likemindedness helps us remember we have a relationship because of Christ.
Again, 1 John gives us more insight.
11 Dear friends, since God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
You see that love portrayed in our text even in the parentheses. Look again:
17 But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.
The implication is that Paul and his companions think about their fellow believers. It is not thoughts that are bad, but thoughts that are of concern and love. Look at what is internalized.
Look At What Is Internalized
Look At What Is Internalized
Leading up to the parenthetical statement, the verse says they were “torn away.” This indicates a type of bereavement that a child would feel being torn away from their parents. If you go back to verse 14-15, you see that there was suffering and persecution of the believers. Because of this, Paul and his companions were frustrated with these developments and they had an intense longing to be with their fellow believers.
Verse 18 indicates that there was fellowship desired. We certainly have felt what they felt over these last 2 years. We have longed for those close relationships we have had through Bible Study and time in prayer. We could even say that Satan blocked it. I firmly believe that God’s desire is for His believers to be in fellowship with each other. However, there are times when circumstances and situations happen in this world that prevent this or should I say postpone this. Paul states how he and his companions longed to see their fellow believers. Why do you think he does? Well, he gives an answer with a question: “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?” In this one question, Paul makes five clear faithful declarations of his fellow believers. He calls them his hope, joy, crown, glory and that they will be in the presence of the Lord when He comes. Paul declares that the believers are these things that we have used referring to Jesus. What does this mean? I thought that Jesus was our hope, joy, crown and glory? Paul is saying here in terms of affection and highest esteem that his desire for those whom he has invested in to fully gain understanding in their hope in Christ. As a minister, there is no greater experience knowing that I am sowing and reaping with you and alongside you. If we sow together, we will reap together. When we reap together, we will rejoice together in the presence of Jesus when He returns.
I mentioned this is an investment. Let’s look a bit further at what this investment is and what Paul was seeing in his fellow believers.
Look At What is Invested
Look At What is Invested
What did Paul invest? Paul had labored in these fellow believers. We see in Acts 17:1
1 When they had passed through Amphipolis and Apollonia, they came to Thessalonica, where there was a Jewish synagogue.
that Paul taught in the synagogue in Thessalonica. As he did, there were many who received Christ as their Lord and Savior. Paul in turn, began to disciple them, showing them the ways of the Lord and the Christian life. As he did so, relationships were developed and I believe that Paul’s life was enriched as well.
17 As iron sharpens iron,
so one man sharpens another.
When we interact and invest in each other’s lives, the result is we become better as well as mentally and spiritually sharper.
The return of the that result is that others will also become Christians and we will continue to build up the kingdom of heaven on earth.
Peter talks about the return that Christian living brings.
5 For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; 6 and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; 7 and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. 8 For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The reward that is produced comes in the satisfaction that you made a difference. There is a story of a little boy that was seen walking along a seashore and stopping every few steps, reaching down and picking up a starfish that had washed up on the beach. He would look at it, then throw the starfish back in to the ocean. He repeated this over and over. The man watching him walked over to the young boy and said, “Son, what you are doing it seems like a waste of time and it does not seem you are making a difference, because there are hundreds of starfish that are washed on these beaches.” The boy did not stop. He continued to pick up starfish and throw them into the sea. The man frustrated said, “young man, you are wasting your time and you are not making a difference.” The boy simply bent over, picked up another, tossed into the sea, and said, “I made a difference in that one.”
When invest our lives into the lives of others, when we decide that we will be helpful in making a difference, our reward is great.
8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
Paul mentions in verse 19 about that crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus. Those whom we invest in become our pride and joy. There is no greater joy in a Christian’s life than to see and hear the good things that are happening as a result of your investment.
Look At What is Instituted
Look At What is Instituted
Look at what is instituted. The Great Commission is carried out.
18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
Disciples are made then more disciples are made. Lives are enriched then more lives are enriched. Do you see the pattern here? We are not called to receive Christ then keep Him to ourselves. The pattern of scripture is to share the love of Jesus with everyone! The more we do this, the more comfort we can receive from our God!
3 Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. 5 For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. 6 If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. 7 And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort.
When we experience comfort in Christ, we are going to want others to experience that as well. As we share with others the comfort which Christ gives us, we become spiritual magnets attracting others to do live with us. As we do these things, our church is built up. In 1 Thessalonians 2:17-20, Paul was looking forward to the glorious day when he would be able to rejoice in the presence of Christ! Don’t you want to see your friends and love ones experiencing that too? If you could share the greatest news ever, would you want it shared? God desires that for you and me on this last Sunday of 2021! And guess what, He wants us to carry it forward into the New Year. He wants you and your friends and family to experience His fullness. He wants His church built up! He wants you to remember
24 To him who is able to keep you from falling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy—
That is what Paul experienced in this passage. I hope you can too!