Encouragement Comes Just at the Right Time
Perseverance • Sermon • Submitted
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Sometimes we need to be encouraged. Sometimes we need to be encouragers. Our text today shows us examples of both.
6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you? 10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
Not only must we sympathize with and pray for those in difficulty, we must also tell them and give them encouragement in love.
The word encouraged is not mentioned but one time in these verses, but it is evident throughout them all. Encourage is from the word parakaleo which means call to one’s side, to call for and be summoned in the way of entreaty, comfort and instruction. This passage gives us an example of how encouragement can brighten our pathway.
Listening to Encouragement (vs. 6)
Listening to Encouragement (vs. 6)
How do you listen to encouragement? In the verses prior to this passage we see that Paul had sent Timothy to the Thessalonians to check on their status. There is a gap of time between verses 1-5 and verses 6-10. From evidence in Acts 18:5, many scholars believe that Paul was in Corinth when Timothy comes to give his report on the Thessalonians. Paul was eager to hear the news. We see here that Timothy brought good news. There is a distinction here with the good news of a report and the good news of the gospel. The good news of a report is one that is joyful in mind and good to hear. It is like a family member reporting that the doctor report showed there was no cancer or someone got the job they wanted. The good news that Timothy is bringing is the good news about the faith of the Thessalonians. It is about their belief level. Timothy shares that the Thessalonians had not wavered in their belief. Their faith was strong. Paul had shared with them the good news of Jesus and His saving power. The mission of Paul was to be the messenger that shared the good news of faith. We see that characteristic elsewhere.
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!”
17 For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
The good news Timothy shared about faith was that he saw evidence of a joyful faith that is described in Luke’s Gospel.
19 The angel answered, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
10 But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.
Each of these verses talk about the good news as a faith to receive. We also see in Timothy’s report that the good news was shared about love. As you know, there are many words in the Greek language that we translate into love. There is sexual love, brotherly love and unconditional love. The word used here is agape which is the word for unconditional love. When it is coupled with faith, love is the result of that faith and faith is the result of that love. It is spelled out a bit more detailed letter in 2 Thessalonians.
3 We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so, because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing.
Timothy shares the good news about faith and the good news about love, he also shares the good news about the fellowship believers have with each other. “He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we long to see you.” That is the result of fellowship and one of the first characteristics of the early church.
42 They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer.
The good news of fellowship comes about because of our faith and love. When words of encouragement and good news are expressed, it is good to listen and pay attention because inevitably, we will learn from encouragement.
Learning from Encouragement (vs. 7)
Learning from Encouragement (vs. 7)
7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.
The first thing I notice here is that even in the worst of times, sharing with other believers brings about encouragement. The Thessalonians and Paul had been in tough times together and in tough times apart. We know they were imprisoned and beaten.
22 The crowd joined in the attack against Paul and Silas, and the magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. 23 After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. 24 Upon receiving such orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.
We know that other similar struggles existed as well.
30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Even in our study over in 1 Thessalonians, we see story after story of this shared struggle and the opposition they faced.
2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
The point is that we are encouraged by sharing with each other what we are going through whether we are doing so alone or there are others along with us. So what exactly can we learn that we can share? In the context of this verse, we learn that we can share in distress and persecution. When we share in distress, we are sharing in the afflictions and calamities that come about in this journey called life. One theologian said that distress is “the choking pressing care” (Lightfoot).
4 Rather, as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: in great endurance; in troubles, hardships and distresses;
There is also an inner distress as well as an outward one.
4 For I wrote you out of great distress and anguish of heart and with many tears, not to grieve you but to let you know the depth of my love for you.
We also see the sharing in persecution. The word in question means tribulation, trouble, anguish and excessive burdens. The same theologian Lightfoot said of persecution that it is “the crushing trouble” that is experienced. It is those afflictions that endure are objects of oppression. Jesus went through persecution and the apostles knew this all too well.
22 strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. “We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,” they said.
They knew it was part of the process in developing perseverance.
3 Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;
Distress and persecution are common themes throughout the Bible. However, the remedy is also found in the Bible.
143 Trouble and distress have come upon me,
but your commands are my delight.
The ultimate example clears the way for us.
7 During the days of Jesus’ life on earth, he offered up prayers and petitions with loud cries and tears to the one who could save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverent submission. 8 Although he was a son, he learned obedience from what he suffered 9 and, once made perfect, he became the source of eternal salvation for all who obey him
We are able to learn from encouragement because the author and creator of our faith has provided the way and therefore, we can encourage others.
Living in Encouragement (vs. 8-9)
Living in Encouragement (vs. 8-9)
By doing so, we can live in encouragement. Paul writes here verse 8,
8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.
Now we can fully enjoy life. Now we can have true life. Now we can see we are blessed and those blessings are endless in the kingdom of God. We can have life in its fullness!
I think what Jude meant when he wrote in his little letter:
2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
Because we have the fullness of Christ, we get all of His mercy, peace and love!
We can have that when we stand firm in the Lord!
As a result, we are going to live in encouragement by a life of thankfulness. Paul did this so well.
Remember how he starts out this letter?
2 We always thank God for all of you, mentioning you in our prayers.
Thankfulness is always something we should learn in giving and receiving encouragement. Paul makes a point here in verse 9 of great importance in the form of a question.
9 How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?
First and foremost we can never thank God enough! However, I found something quite interesting here in my studies. There is a direct connection with this question in bringing Christianity into the context of the philosophy of the world. In the First Century A.D., there was a thought about how one should repay someone for a deed or gift that had done. The greatest philosopher of the day and the leading intellectual of the Romans was a man named Seneca. Seneca stated, “Not to return gratitude for benefits is a disgrace, and the whole world counts it as such.”
This was from the principle of reciprocity. This principle stated that there was a strong social obligation on those who received benefits to demonstrate their gratitude. The question Paul raises in verse 9 implies that Paul and his companions could not find an adequate way to thank God because of their great joy.
Seneca also stated, “I shall never be able to repay you my gratitude, but at any rate, I shall not cease from declaring everywhere that I am unable to repay it.”
Do you thank God profusely for all He has done? Do you declare the joy you have in the presence of God because of other believers? Paul points to those Christians who are faithful to God as the source of his joy. I have listed multiple references for you to study on your outline.
Longing because of Encouragement (vs. 10)
Longing because of Encouragement (vs. 10)
There is a shift from profound thanksgiving and joy in the presence of God to a desire for Paul and friends to be reunited with the Thessalonians and complete the ministry that was started. You will also see in the last verse of our text that there is a longing because of encouragement.
10 Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.
First and foremost, we see the emphasis of continual prayer. It was constant and insistent. This is consistent with another verse we will study later.
17 pray continually;
Secondly, we see the emphasis of earnest prayer. When I see that word, I can’t help but think of our Ernest. He comes here everyday to check on the building and the furnaces, and spends time in prayer in the sanctuary. I don’t eaves drop, but sometimes I can hear Ernest praying earnestly! There is an understanding of an earnest prayer. It is understanding that God is able.
20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us,
Lastly, I see a prayer of two objectives. One to see their fellow believers again. Two, that God would allow them “to supply what is lacking in their faith.” The word supply means to put in order and to make complete What if we prayed that prayer for each other. That we would pray continually to God is able that we could see each other more and that we could be made complete. Let’s strive to do so.
10 I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought.