3 Factors that Help Us Remain Steadfast

3 Factors that Help Us Remain Steadfast // 1 Thessalonians 3

 

There is revival in the church at Thessalonika amidst severe persecution.  Paul expressively makes it clear that he is concerned about the vulnerability of this early church to the “Tempter” and that the ministry that was done among them by be in vain.   Paul knew that life and vitality in the church was not built on “revivals”.  They are necessary, but the seeds that are planted in revival, if not watered and nurtured and cared for will not bear fruit or a harvest, making the work of that revival meaningless.  He is eagerly wants to get back to this church and continue the work of ministry among them, so that he can “perfect” what is lacking in their faith.   This is not a prideful blow to the church, but a heartfelt honest motive to assist the early church in their spiritual growth and vitality, that they might lack nothing on the day of persecution or in the face of temptation. 

 

SATAN “THE TEMPTER”:

• He is an AGGRESSIVE enemy, POWERFUL that can affect both the natural and supernatural worlds. 
• Satan is an angel that rebelled against God and has NO OTHER MOTIVE than to steal, kill and destroy your life and faith in God.  He is real, not symbolic, HE IS CONSTANTLY WORKING AGAINST GOD and anyone who chooses to obey and put their faith in Him. 
• Satan tempted Eve in the garden persuading her, coercing her to sin resulting in the fall of mankind that would separate them from the perfection of God’s beauty and presence,
• it is noted that he tempted Jesus in the desert, persuading him with the Word of God.    Jesus would not succumb to his strategies, but would be tempted in every way and at all points just like all of us yet would be without sin.  Because temptation is not sin.
• Here’s what we can CONCLUDE, that while the Tempter has access to humanity, anyone who calls on Jesus and believes in His kingdom, will experience temptation, and struggle, and affliction, and persecution, with a possibility of falling short of the promise of eternal life in Christ…
• this is why Pauls ays in Ephesians that our battle is not against flesh & blood but against the principalities of this world…so Paul’s concern is that these believers would have “EVERYTHING THEY NEED TO REMAIN STEADFAST in their faith. 

 

So let me conclude 3 Factors that help us remain steadfast in our faith and in our struggle to be diligent for faith while living in this world…

 

#1.  A CONCERNED Heart

You need someone in your corner!!! You need a prayer champion // someone who has your back // a trusted companion // a pillar of strength and support // someone who cheers you on // who empathizes and compassionately is concerned for you PERSONALLY.  a) “Night and day” they prayed.  Paul was a praying minister and understood the most powerful way to invest and show concern for others is through VOICING THAT CONCERN TO JESUS.  I’ve heard it said, count it a PRIVILEGE when someone says “I’ll be praying for you”:  because many people will pray collectively or in general for a church, a city, a workplace, our nation…but when someone prays specifically and personally just for you, your family, your finances, your health, your well being…wow, that’s someone who is deeply concerned for you, and you need them in your corner.

 

#2. An ENCOURAGING Voice

• • PROTECTS — defending you in the battle…this is the voice in the battle, the cheerleader on the sideline, the one who sees you score the touchdown and SHOUTS YOUR VICTORY WHEN YOU’RE TOO TIRED TO SHOUT!
  • PRESERVES — sometimes we need people to REMIND us, to AFFIRM what has already been established in our lives.  There’s skills, talents, experiences, wisdom that’s been developed in your life.  And when the trial, the storm, the difficulty and discouragement sets in, we often forget how God has set us up to win.  And that encouraging voice comes in, its the coach that says, look you’ve been practicing, I’ve seen your skills on the field, I’ve seen how you handle yourself with the other team members, I know you can do this, get out there, win this fight, don’t give up, its the voice that says “you’ve got the goods”… Its the voice in your corner when you’re beat up, when you’ve no longer have a fight in you, its the voice that says “you got this” …
  • PROVIDES — believing for you, something you don’t believe for yourself.  In the mirky waters of discouragement, it is so easy to lose your way.  We need people like that in our corner…who will not only pray but BE A VOICE, to boost our confidence // motivate our resilience // and inspire us towards growth //helping us to PURSUE THE PURPOSES THAT GOD HAS FOR US!

 

#3.  The WORK of the Holy Spirit ( NOT JUST THE POWER of the Spirit, or even the presence of the Spirit)

 

The Work of the H.S. causes us to Increase & Abound in Love (1 Corinthians 13) — if you are not GROWING IN YOUR LOVE TOWARDS OTHERS, meaning today you love people more than you did yesterday, Paul is saying its not enough to say “I love people” we must say “I am loving people” I am actively growing and abounding and increasing in love……THIS LOVE GOES BEYOND WELCOMING AND ACCEPTANCE, that’s the initial step, church is meant to welcome the sinner and accept the sinner, but we must go way beyond that if transformation is to take place. This love is a “deep” work of the Holy Spirit in our lives through ups and downs, the conflicts, the wars, the struggles, the disappointments, the disagreements, the anger, the bitterness, the resentment that we have with others…it is the profound work of the Holy Spirit building relationships with one another built on the very Loving nature of God

The Work of the H.S. establishes us Blameless for Holy Living.

• • • • BLAMELESS = Formed by the Fruit of the Spirit (Read and Reflect on Gal. 5)
      • HOLINESS = Motivated by the Vision of God (Read and Reflect on Isaiah 6)

 

So, TAKE ACTION today:

CONNECT to people who are deeply concerned for you.

RECEIVE the words of encouraging voices in your life.

SURRENDER to the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit.