Two Signs of True Faith in Christ

Passage:  1 Thessalonians 3:11-13  Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.  12  And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:  13  To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

 

Main Point:  Fellowship and Love: Two undeniable signs of faith in a person.  These are the work of God as well as our own, therefore, they are something we should pray God would develop first in us, then in others. 

·         Promise  Verse 13 offers a great promise that is far closer to reality today than it was when  it was written:  the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.  This means He must gather his saints, and that day is imminent.  Are you ready?  We call it the "rapture" because, as we will see a bit later  in our study, the word "rapturo" is used (in Latin translations).  There is going to be a rapture.  Do not miss it!  It's a promise!

·         Lesson  Here is the prayer of a pastor for his flock, a father for his children, a teacher for his students; indeed it is the prayer of a leader for his followers.

     First, we see in verse 11 that there is a strong desire for FELLOWSHIP.  Paul wants to see the believers at Thessalonica.  That fellowship should be Christ-directed, of course.  Do not forget that.  Outside of Christ you have a club.  Inside of Christ, you have a living body of believers united by Spirit and love, inseparable by distance, yet unsatisfied with perpetual parting.  Real believers will not be satisfied outside of the gathering of fellowship.  Together, they can effectively fellowship around THE WORD OF GOD, THE WORK OF GOD, and THE WAY OF GOD.  Teaching, preaching, and praising are essential, and real believers know that, love that, and cannot stand to miss that each week.  Don't miss church this week, dear saint.  You need the fellowship, and your fellowship needs you.

     Verse 12 reveals that love grows, it is not born full-sized.  Paul prays publicly that the believers would grow (increase and abound) in love  toward one another and toward all men.  This means the believers should show more and more love toward one another, AND toward those who are NOT believers.  The problem in the churches today is that believers  are growing cold - loving neither believers nor unbelievers.  The world is full of sin, and sinners hurt others.  Remember, when you are hurting at the hands of someone else, that it is these  people Christ loved  enough to die for, to forgive, and to cleanse.  You were once one of them.  Indeed, I'm willing to bet that from time to time you also hurt others - whether deliberately or not.  When you are hurting or when you have hurt someone, you need love and you need to show love.  It is a good thing to try to show more love to others, and to pray that your fellow believers would do likewise.

     Finally, in verse 13 we have a call to purity of heart and single-mindedness of devotion to the Lord.  Such is also, like the others, a prayer and the work of God.  Verses 11 & 12 are tools the Lord uses to this end:  to establish our hearts in holiness before God.  Truly, verses 11 & 12 are key to holiness.  God's role is to take these  two things, fellowship and love, and build us into holy people, pure in heart and single-mindedly devoted to the Lord.  Holiness is not something we can do ourselves.  The word "holy" means separated  to God for His work.  We must separate ourselves for His work, yes, but we are still not holy until God actually sends us to do His work.  That is His calling. 

     Very often, as a pastor, I am confronted with the question of "the will of God" for "my" life.  The first is to separate yourself from the world and connect TO God.  That means forsaking the world's ways and doing God's commands (starting with fellowship and love).  Then, God will begin to show you His "calling;" separating you FOR God's work.  He calls people who do His will; who are available to Him.  Often, it is the calling of God that people  are asking about, not the will of God.  Begin with the will of God for your personal life, and then He will, in His time, reveal what your calling is. 

Devotional:  Since Jesus is coming, will you be prepared for that day by being faithful to the fellowship of the saints and your own efforts to grow in love toward believers first, unbelievers next?  Will you pray that God will do this for those you lead?  Being first  an example, then a prayer warrior and teacher/leader, you will find your life filled with reward and purpose.  Your hope is eternal, and your work everlasting.  Just doing this will be living life more abundantly - and that's what Jesus came to give you.

Holler for Jesus,

Greg Yount

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Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com  

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