lesson 4, 1st. Thess.Established in holiness

1st. Thessalonians 3:1-13. Read these 1st. verses 1-13. Chapter 3 talks about Paul's concern for the church at Thessalonica...he is concerned that they may become discouraged and lose heart because of the tremendous persecution that he faced and because they were separated from the apostle. They longed to see him just as much as he longed to be there with them. Paul had suffered much from the Jews at Phillipi and it seemed that the persecution had followed him to Thessalonica and continued to harass them there. See verse 2 of chapter 2 in this first epistle. In fact let's go back in our Bibles to the book of Acts, chapter 16 and also Acts 17, verses 1-10. Better still read the entire account and understand that this is the persecution he alludes to in his epistle to the Thessalonian church. Whether persecution is a direct personal attack or our faith as a whole, our belief systems in general, it is still persecution. Whether it is the media trying to bring reproach by ridiculing Christians or some so-called comedian it is still persecution.And Paul wrote to Timothy and said to that young preacher"all who live Godly in
Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.Peter about this suffering for Jesus in 1 Peter 4:12-14. James also speaks about the various trials in ch. 1 verses 2-4....count it all joy. Paul lets us know that persecution is the norm for a Christian . Paul let them know that they as well as us today can
expect persecution. See verses 1-5 of chapter 3. But he was concerned about their faith and if they had lost heart, verse 5. We should be thankful tonight for those who come across our pathway those who pastor us and teach us and become mentors Read Ephesians 4:11-13.
In this passage in Eph. we see why He gave us apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers...it was for the perfecting of the saints for the work of ministry...that was number 1.
In one place he describes himself as a nursing mother cherishes her children...verse 7 in chapter 3 and back in chapter2, he is a father charging his children. And that charge was and still is to walk worthy of our calling. It is to walk... walk worthy of God.
The next entry will be Paul's concern for their faith.