Faith and Love Amid Spiritual Warfare (1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13)
The sermon outline can be found in the ministry guide.
During times of crises, leaders play an important role. Like our Prime Minister, the apostle Paul played a crucial role in helping the Thessalonians navigate challenging times. Satan had waged war on the newly established church. He separated the missionaries from the young church, and turned the authorities against the Christians. Like a responsible leader, Paul sought to address the suffering Christians and care for them. He tried to reunite with them several times to supply what is lacking in their faith. He sent Timothy to encourage them and gave them an example of standing fast in the Lord and showing love amid spiritual warfare.
Paul’s example is very applicable to us as spiritual warfare is not something that is limited to the early church. Satan continues wage war against the Lord and His people. In fact, the apostle Peter warns us to be watchful for Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour (1 Pet 5:8).
Therefore, let us learn from 1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 how Paul and the Thessalonians responded to Satan’s attacks. Instead of falling away, they stood fast in the faith and abounded in love for one another.
Stand fast and abound in love amid spiritual warfare.
Hence the big idea of today’s sermon is stand fast and abound in love amid spiritual warfare.
Stand Fast in the Faith
In our sermon text, Paul highlights to us the activeness of Satan and his power to inflict serious attacks on the church. As Paul was making his way to Thessalonica to share the gospel, Satan instigated the Philippians to beat and imprison him and his team. Within a few weeks of arriving at Thessalonica, Satan used the jealousy of the unbelieving Jews to boot Paul out of the city. And when Paul sought to return to Thessalonica to minister to the young church, Satan hindered them again and again (1 Thess 2:18). Perhaps he inflicted illnesses upon the team or turned the local authorities against them.
Satan is not an imaginary villain like the Pontianak or Grim Reaper that is created to scare children into obeying their parents. Satan is a fallen angel with real power. He instigated nations like Egypt, Assyria and Babylon to persecute God’s people. He stirred king Herod to kill every boy under the age of two. The Bible also describes Satan as the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Eph 2:2).
Satan is intent on turning people away from God. Paul tells us in 1 Thessalonians 3:5 that Satan is active in tempting Christians to forsake Jesus. He tempts us in all sort of ways. From trying to convince us that we can have more happiness outside of Jesus to inflicting pain and suffering so that we will not want to persevere in the faith. He knows our unfulfilled desires and uses lies to tempt us to sin. One of these lies is that casual sex or pornography is better than waiting for marriage and finding satisfaction in one’s spouse. Another lie is that bespoke experiences and luxury goods are more satisfying than God’s future reward. His lies make us pursue our happiness without care of what pleases God.
And if Satan fails to lure us away with the glitzy things of this world, he uses brute force to make us give up on Christ. Satan knows that we desire a peaceful life. A life that is free of suffering and pain. A quiet life that is unprovoked. And so he inflicts us with much affliction. He wants us to know loud and clear that it is because of following Jesus that we are suffering physical pain, emotional hurt and financial loss. He wants us to conclude that it’s not worth following Jesus.
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4 reveal that this was one of Satan’s main attacks against the Thessalonians. Satan made the cost of following Jesus very great for them. The authorities permitted the public beating of Christians. The rulers used their power to impose financial penalties on believers. Who in their right mind would want to be part of a movement that invited scorn, shame, beatings and fines? We can imagine well-meaning friends and family convincing Christians it is not worth following Jesus. Forget Christ and enjoy life. Why throw everything away for someone who cannot protect you from all this suffering?
It is crucial that we recognise how real, powerful and active Satan is. Only then will we take his attacks seriously and seek the Lord for divine help. Spiritual warfare really does exist.
Friends, it is crucial that we recognise how real, powerful and active Satan is. Only then will we take his attacks seriously and seek the Lord for divine help. Spiritual warfare really does exist. It may not be as dramatic as some people make it out to be, but it is real. There is a great battle being waged between God and Satan. God seeks our conversion and spiritual growth, whilst Satan seeks our return to his kingdom of darkness.
Paul recognized the seriousness and pervasiveness of spiritual warfare. As much as we would like to think that Satan’s attacks will be far and few, Paul prepares us to expect affliction. He says in 1 Thessalonians 3:3b-4, “For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.”
Suffering for Jesus is to be expected. If our master was rejected by man and suffered at the hands of sinners, then how much more should his followers expect affliction. If all the apostles were persecuted for the faith, how much more should we expect suffering?
As Paul puts it, we are destined for this. Following Jesus involves taking up our cross. Like Christ, we too shall suffer ridicule and pain. Being afflicted is not the exception but the norm for a true disciple of Jesus. This is why the persecution of Paul and other Christians do not surprise us. And we ourselves should not be surprised when affliction comes knocking on our door.
Thankfully, God assures us that He is with us amid spiritual attacks. When Satan sought to harm Job, God gave him parameters. Jesus assures us that He is the Good Shepherd who walks with us through the valley of the shadow of death. And a day is coming when Christ will finish off Satan for good.
Jesus’ second coming is such an important truth that Paul mentions it in both the start and end of our sermon text. Because Christ is coming again, we are to stand fast in the faith. Christ will punish Satan and his followers for eternity, whilst He will reward His faithful disciples.
How does knowing you have to give an account to your boss affect the way you work? How does Jesus’ return affect the way you consider your faith?
Friends, how does knowing you have to give an account to your boss affect the way you work? Similarly, how does Jesus’ return affect the way you consider your faith?
Because Christ is coming again to judge the living and the dead, our faith in Him matters. Thankfully, God helps us keep faith by giving us His Word and Spirit.
Regarding God’s Word, Satan loves to make people doubt the reliability of God’s Word. He likes to keep people away from the Bible. He often misquotes Scripture, twisting God’s word so that you are further from the truth.
This is because Satan knows that God’s truth will set you free from his mind games. God’s promises are real whilst Satan’s promises are lies. Obeying God’s Word leads to life, whilst following the devil’s lies leads to death.
A few days ago, a brother testified that he used to give in to his lustful cravings by being promiscuous with hundreds of people. However, he admitted that although he felt pleasure in the moment, he never felt fully satisfied. It was only after being transformed by the gospel that he found true and lasting satisfaction in Jesus.
So if you study God’s Word diligently and meditate on His truths day and night, you will not be misled by Satan. You will not be tricked into giving up God’s certain promise for empty lies. You will not give up eternal life for instant gratification that lasts a moment.
God’s truths will anchor your faith in Christ. Like Jesus, you can say to Satan, “man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Matt 4:4)
When we understand the gospel and keep our minds fixed on it, we can sing:
I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold
I'd rather be His than have riches untold
I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land
I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand
Than to be the king of a vast domain
And be held in sin's dread sway
I'd rather have Jesus than anything
This world affords today
(Rhea F. Miller)
Regarding the Holy Spirit, Jesus knows what we are up against and has given us a divine helper, the Holy Spirit. 1 John 4:4 declares that the Spirit who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. This might have been one of the earlier verses that my parents got to me to memorise. Satan is powerful, but he is no match for the Spirit who dwells in every believer. Thus when Satan tempts you, it is not a lost cause. Being tempted doesn’t mean that you are in sin or that you are weak. Temptation doesn’t have to lead to sin.
Being tempted is part of life as a Christian. Satan is constantly trying to tempt us. But because the Spirit is greater, we can resist the temptation that comes our way. The Spirit gives us faith and helps us to stand fast in the Lord. The Spirit divinely enables us to counter a temptation with one of God’s promises. The Spirit helps us to make every thought captive and to replace an unwholesome thought with a godly one. The Spirit helps us believe that God’s ways are better.
When Satan tells us that God doesn’t care, the Spirit assures us that we are so precious to God that He sent His only Son to die in our place.
When Satan tempts us with wealth and sex, the Spirit reminds us that God Himself is far more satisfying than what the world offers and God has prepared even greater pleasures for us to enjoy in the age to come.
Although a powerful adversary can be a scary thought, let us rest peacefully knowing that we have been given a great helper. The Spirit guards our faith and will lead us in paths of righteousness for God’s sake.
Our sermon text reminds us of the reality that there is a spiritual battle happening over our souls. Both the apostle and the young church were under attack. Regardless of our maturity, every Christian is subject to spiritual warfare. Satan is intent on hindering the gospel and will inflict us with all sorts of challenges. Satan hates God and is actively tempting Christians to sin and give up following Jesus. So let us share Paul’s concern over our faith and the faith of our loved ones amid spiritual warfare. Let us saturate ourselves in God’s Word and rely on the Holy Spirit.
If you are not yet a follower of Jesus, I urge you to be wary of Satan. Satan is a master of manipulating truth and seeks to entice us away from God because he hates God and doesn’t care about us. He wants you to think that you can have a better life without God.
But the problem is Satan is the father of lies. He does not disclose the truth that Jesus is coming again to judge the living and the dead. Only those who believe in Jesus will be forgiven of sins and receive eternal life.
Friends, God is the one who created you in His image and He loves you dearly. This is why he sent His Only Son Jesus to come two thousand years ago to die in your place. Through Jesus alone, you can escape the wrath that is to come and enjoy paradise with Him. We would be happy to answer any questions you may have about becoming a Christian.
Abound in Love
Thus far we have seen how important it is to be standing fast in the faith when Jesus returns. But we would be stopping short if we were to think that is all God desires of His people.
Notice in 1 Thessalonians 3:6 that Timothy did not just report about the faith of the Thessalonians, but also their love. And when Paul prayed for the Thessalonians in 1 Thessalonians 3:12, you will note that he asks God to help the Thessalonians increase and abound in love for one another.
Paul himself demonstrated steadfast faith and love for the church. When bad things happen, we often become high strung. We become so focused on putting out the fire or even surviving that we stop thinking of others. We cry woe is me and expect others to care for us. Thus it is remarkable and touching to see how Paul responds amidst Satan’s attacks. Despite facing off with Satan time and again, Paul keeps abounding in love for others. Paul doesn’t withdraw to care for himself, but thinks of the Thessalonians.
Instead of allowing his affliction to result in self-pity, Paul first thinks of how the young church would be faring under such circumstances. He is concerned how his trials would discourage the church. He is worried that if Satan could attack an apostle, then what might Satan do to new believers. Paul was so concerned about the faith of the Thessalonians that he sacrificed his own comfort and sent Timothy to encourage them.
Paul’s love for the Thessalonians stands in contrast to the service of politicians. Whilst an MP may be willing to meet the people and listen to concerns, most would probably call off the session if they knew that their life could be in danger. Whilst a minister may be willing to take a pay cut, most would not serve at great financial and personal loss.
The love Paul showed the Thessalonians is remarkable because it stems from his experience of God’s love. Paul’s love is really a reflection of God’s divine love. As 1 John 4:19 puts it, we love because God first loved us.
The love that Paul displayed is an example for believers to imitate. Because Christians have experienced God’s love through Jesus’ death in our place, we are empowered to love one another.
Therefore, the love that Paul showed the Thessalonians is not meant to be admired as one would hang a masterpiece in a museum. Rather the love that Paul displayed is an example for believers to imitate. Because Christians have experienced God’s love through Jesus’ death in our place, we are empowered to love one another. Not just in good times, but even when we are going through trials.
In 1 Thessalonians 3:12, Paul even makes the connection between the love we show one another and being blameless in holiness at the coming of Jesus. The love believers show one another reflects our readiness to meet Christ again. What a sober reminder of how essential it is for Christians to love one another.
So what exactly does it mean to love one another?
In the same breath that Paul is praying for the Thessalonians to increase and abound in love, he says “as we do for you”. Once again, we see Paul’s method of discipleship where he exhorts us to imitate him as he imitates Christ.
Thus we’ll now learn from Paul’s example how we can increase and abound in love for one another as we await Jesus’ return.
Paul treasured relationships with the church. Paul was devastated when he was torn away from the Thessalonians. He didn’t take the separation as God’s will to move on but continued to expresses eagerness to see the Thessalonians again. He persisted in finding a way to reunite with the Thessalonians even though Satan kept hindering his plans.
And even after sending Timothy in his stead, Paul still sought to meet up with the Thessalonians. He says in 1 Thessalonians 3:10-11 that he prayed most earnestly night and day to see them face to face and petitions God the Father and Jesus to make it happen (1 Thess 3:10-11).
Paul’s repeated attempts to see them face to face should lead us to reflect on our relationships.
When our government restricted public gatherings a few years ago were we thankful to have an excuse not to gather as a church or were we devastated that we had been torn away from each other? If we had a choice, would we choose Zoom over a face-to-face fellowship today?
God is both physical and relational.
Although technology has made it possible to have virtual meetings, the reality is, it is not a physical gathering. You cannot feel the warmth of others and hear people affirm prayers or even offer a comforting touch. God is both physical and relational. He created Adam and Eve as physical beings who could enjoy His physical presence in a physical garden.
Similarly, Jesus came to earth as a physical being, to pay the penalty for our sins so that we might have new physical bodies to enjoy fellowship with Him for eternity. God tells us that in the future we will be enjoying His physical presence. The Lord’s Supper that we partake regularly points to the new age when we will have regular feasts with God. Hence we ought to be treasuring the physical relationships we have other Christians. Our faith in Jesus has made us a part of His body, and we are to treasure the relationship we have with other members.
Coming together physically is not just for our sake, but glorifying to God. The corporate gathering of believers is part of God’s redemptive story line. Jesus has saved a people for God. The assembly of Christians reflects the supremacy of Jesus’ work on the cross. Jesus’ blood was more than sufficient to save countless souls. Singing together as one body also magnifies the worship that God deserves. A chorus of voices is so much more honouring to God than just one voice. You can compare the experience of lifting our voices as one church versus singing along to a recording at home.
Now it is important to point out that Paul was not just focused on getting everyone in one room to worship God. Paul sought a face to face meeting because he genuinely cared for each person’s spiritual wellbeing. Paul was very intentional about building them up in the faith and supplying what is lacking. He took the time to understand the maturity of their faith and the struggles they were experiencing so that he could then bring God’s Word to bear on their lives.
Friends, if we want to imitate this godly example of treasuring church relationships, we need to need to set aside time to get to know one another beyond Sunday services. We could begin by talking to the people seated around us or going down to level 3 to have coffee with someone new. We can arrange to meet with members working or living near us. We can join a mid-week church activity to build one another up in the faith.
I know we are all busy. But would you consider how accessible and available God is to us? God welcomes us to talk to him anytime of the day. We are often the limiting factor of how much time we have with Him. So let us use the way God relates to us to encourage us to make ourselves more available to others. Personally, I try to space out meetings so that I can give people more time to open up. I find setting aside 2 hours helpful in keeping things from feeling too rushed.
Besides carving out time, we also need to be intentional about inquiring about one another’s faith. Rather than just spend our time catching up and discussing the latest trends, we must be focused on spurring one another on in the faith. We should find out how the Lord has been working in our lives, and how we are doing spiritually. Many times, we make the mistake of questioning someone’s spiritual health after they withdraw from community. But we should realise that a person’s spiritual health is already in a bad state long before they decide to leave church.
So let us be more aware of each other’s spiritual well-being. Find out how family relationships are, how work is, why they are not sleeping well, what they are anxious about, how they are bearing spiritual fruit. Only then will we be in a better position to comfort and encourage others in the faith.
Now some of us might be thinking, great, I agree it is good to meet others but it’s just not my preference. During my free time, I just want to unwind. Or perhaps we have so many things on our plate that we just don’t have the bandwidth to invest in another relationship. Would you consider the joy Paul received from treasuring relationships? Paul says in 1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 that his hope, joy and crown is the Thessalonian Christians, that they are his glory and joy.
Paul derived joy from loving other Christians. He didn’t view relationships with others as draining, but as satisfying. He glorified God through his love for others, and shared in God’s glory when the Thessalonians bore fruit.
Isn’t that striking? Paul derived joy from loving other Christians. He didn’t view relationships with others as draining, but as satisfying. He glorified God through his love for others, and shared in God’s glory when the Thessalonians bore fruit. Even in difficult times, Paul found comfort from the relationships he had with others. He says in 1 Thessalonians 3:7-9 that what gave him comfort amidst distress and affliction was the faith of the Thessalonians.
Aren’t Paul’s statements about the source of his joy remarkable? People sometimes build relationships with others because they desire companionship or want to get some kind of material benefit. But Paul treasured relationships with the church because he loved God and found joy in seeing people grow in their faith.
Paul loved Jesus so much that he worked tirelessly towards presenting more faithful Christians to the Lord at His return. It is no wonder then that Paul treasured church relationships and sought to establish and exhort Christians in the faith, even if it meant great sacrifice. So friends, may our love for God compel us to follow Paul’s example of treasuring church relationships. May we find joy in worshipping God as one body. May we find joy in helping one another grow in the faith as we await Jesus’ return.
At the end of two decades of service to our nation, PM Lee received much praise from world leaders, gratitude from citizens, and even a place in history books.
In contrast, Paul faced rejection and ridicule. The Roman authorities imprisoned him and Caesar finally ordered his execution.
So why did Paul stand fast in the faith and abound in love for other Christians? And why should you? It is because Paul lived in light of Jesus’ return. Paul believed that Jesus is coming again to deliver and reward His people. Paul was convicted that Jesus will punish Satan and those who join in his disobedience. Paul was certain that all who stood fast in the faith will live with Jesus for eternity. Paul was assured that Jesus will commend those who love Him and His church.
It is no wonder that Paul makes a reference to Jesus’ second coming in every chapter of 1 Thessalonians. It is no coincidence that sandwiching Paul’s example of standing fast in the faith and abounding in love for the church are references to the coming of Jesus.
Therefore, let us see the importance of resisting temptation and standing fast in the faith. Our eternal state is at stake.
May we also reflect God’s love by increasing and abounding in love for one another. Let us help one another resist Satan’s attacks. Let us treasure church relationships and view the people we are encouraging as our glory and joy.
When Jesus returns, may He find us standing fast in the faith and abounding in love for one another.
Let us pray.