Pauls Longing and Prayers for The Thessalonian Church

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Pauls Longing and Prayers for The Thessalonian
Church

• 1Thessalonians 31-13

Presented by Bob DeWaay February 5, 2006
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Paul Was Willing to be Left Alone to Insure Their
Well-being

• 1Thessalonians 31, 2
• Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we
  thought it best to be left behind at Athens
  alone and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's
  fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to
  strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

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Destined for Afflictions

• 1Thessalonians 33
• so that no man may be disturbed by these
  afflictions for you yourselves know that we have
  been destined for this.

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Destined for Afflictions

• Acts 1422
• strengthening the souls of the disciples,
  encouraging them to continue in the faith, and
  saying, Through many tribulations we must enter
  the kingdom of God.

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Since Affliction is Predicted by God, It Cannot
be Evidence Against the Gospel

• 1Thessalonians 34
• For indeed when we were with you, we kept
  telling you in advance that we were going to
  suffer affliction and so it came to pass, as you
  know.

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The Temptation is to Take the Easy Way Out of
Affliction

• 1Thessalonians 35
• For this reason, when I could endure it no
  longer, I also sent to find out about your faith,
  for fear that the tempter might have tempted you,
  and our labor should be in vain.

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Paul Is Comforted by The Good Report

• 1Thessalonians 36, 7
• But now that Timothy has come to us from you,
  and has brought us good news of your faith and
  love, and that you always think kindly of us,
  longing to see us just as we also long to see
  you, for this reason, brethren, in all our
  distress and affliction we were comforted about
  you through your faith

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For Paul to Live is Christ and Faithful Saints
Fill Out that Joy

• 1Thessalonians 38
• for now we really live, if you stand firm in the
  Lord.
• Philippians 121
• For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

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Rejoicing In What God Does In the Lives of Others

• 1Thessalonians 39
• For what thanks can we render to God for you in
  return for all the joy with which we rejoice
  before our God on your account,

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Paul Continues to Long to See Them

• 1Thessalonians 310
• as we night and day keep praying most earnestly
  that we may see your face, and may complete what
  is lacking in your faith?

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Pauls Prayer Reveals His Belief in the Deity of
Christ

• 1Thessalonias 311
• Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our
  Lord direct our way to you

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Love for One Another and For the Lost

• 1Thessalonians 312
• and may the Lord cause you to increase and
  abound in love for one another, and for all men,
  just as we also do for you

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Paul Prays For Their Present and Future
Holiness

• 1Thessalonians 313
• so that He may establish your hearts unblamable
  in holiness before our God and Father at the
  coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.

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Applications

• See Afflictions as Part of Gods Purpose For
  Christians
• Abound in Love for One Another and the Lost
• Live in With the Return of Christ in View

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Afflictions are Part of Gods Purpose For
Christians

• 2Timothy 312
• And indeed, all who desire to live godly in
  Christ Jesus will be persecuted.

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Afflictions are Part of Gods Purpose For
Christians

• 1Peter 412
• Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal
  among you, which comes upon you for your testing,
  as though some strange thing were happening to
  you but to the degree that you share the
  sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing so that
  also at the revelation of His glory, you may
  rejoice with exultation.

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Some Avoid Persecution Through Friendship with
the World

• James 44
• You adulteresses, do you not know that
  friendship with the world is hostility toward
  God? Therefore whoever wishes to be a friend of
  the world makes himself an enemy of God.

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Abound in Love for One Another and the Lost

• 2Thessalonians 13
• We ought always to give thanks to God for you,
  brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith
  is greatly enlarged, and the love of each one of
  you toward one another grows ever greater.

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Abound in Love for One Another and the Lost

• Matthew 2239
• The second is like it, You shall love your
  neighbor as yourself.

• 1John 316
• We know love by this, that He laid down His life
  for us and we ought to lay down our lives for
  the brethren.

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Live With the Return of Christ In View

• 2Peter 39
• The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some
  count slowness, but is patient toward you, not
  wishing for any to perish but for all to come to
  repentance.

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Live With the Return of Christ In View

• 2Peter 310
• But the day of the Lord will come like a thief,
  in which the heavens will pass away with a roar
  and the elements will be destroyed with intense
  heat, and the earth and its works will be burned
  up.

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Live With the Return of Christ In View

• 2Peter 311, 12
• Since all these things are to be destroyed in
  this way, what sort of people ought you to be in
  holy conduct and godliness, looking for and
  hastening the coming of the day of God, on
  account of which the heavens will be destroyed by
  burning, and the elements will melt with intense
  heat!

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Live With the Return of Christ In View

• 2Peter 313, 14, 15a
• But according to His promise we are looking for
  new heavens and a new earth, in which
  righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since
  you look for these things, be diligent to be
  found by Him in peace, spotless and blameless,
  and regard the patience of our Lord to be
  salvation

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