THE SHEPHERD'S HEART - PART 2 (1 Thessalonians 3:1-13)
INTRODUCTION:
Last week we began looking at chapter 3, this morning, Lord willing, we will finish it up. In this chapter Paul models for us the shepherd’s heart for the flock that God has given into his care. Paul’s example of the model shepherd gives us seven features of a shepherd’s heart for his flock. Last week we looked at the first four of those features. First, we saw the shepherd’s love for his flock, then the shepherd’s sacrifice for his flock, third, the shepherd’s lovingkindness for his flock and finally, the shepherd’s watchfulness over his flock.
This morning we will look at the last three features of the shepherd’s heart and then Paul ends the chapter by praying for the Thessalonian believers and it is a model prayer for the shepherd. Let’s pray and then get back into chapter 3 of 1st Thessalonians.
--PRAY--
SCRIPTURE:
Turn in your Bibles to 1st Thessalonians 3. I am going to read the whole chapter, but don’t worry it is only 13 verses. We have already looked at the first five verses, so my message will begin in verse six. Please, if you are able, stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word and follow along as I read.
1st Thessalonians 3:1-13,
“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, so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 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. 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 would be in vain. 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; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. 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, as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith? Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1–13, NASB95)[1]
THE SHEPHERD’S JOY OVER HIS FLOCK (1st Thessalonians 3:6-8)
In verse six Paul fast-forwards to the time when Timothy returned from Thessalonica with a report for him. How long Timothy was in Thessalonica we do not know, long enough to carry out the tasks given to him. He was to strengthen and encourage the believers and find out if they were standing firm in the faith or if Satan had led them astray from the faith. Paul was in Corinth when Timothy returned to him. Timothy brought a report that was so encouraging to Paul that he called it “good news” from the Greek word that we get our word evangel and evangelism. This is the only place in the New Testament where this word does not refer to the gospel message of salvation by grace through faith.
Timothy brought back a four-part report on the status of the Thessalonians’ spiritual well-being. The first good news that Timothy delivered was concerning the faith of the believers, his report was that their faith in God and the Lord Jesus Christ was genuine and sincere. Remember Jesus’ parable of the soils in Matthew 13, the Thessalonian’s hearts were like the good soil that received the seed of the Word and bore much fruit. The second good news that Timothy shared was concerning the Thessalonian’s sincere love for the Lord, which is clear evidence of saving faith. The third part of this report was that the Thessalonian believers always thought kindly of Paul. For Paul this was truly good news because it meant that they had good memories of him and were still confidently loyal to him as a true apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s concern that his many enemies or Satan may have drawn these new believers away from the truth was not true. Paul was overjoyed to know that the church still trusted him and the truth of the gospel message that he had proclaimed to them. The fourth part of Timothy’s report was that the love of the Thessalonians for Paul was so strong that they were longing to see Paul just as he was longing to see them. Pained by the premature separation from his spiritual children, Paul rejoiced in this good news that the Thessalonians were eager to see him again and renew the fellowship and relationship that they had with him before he was forced to leave.
Timothy’s report moved Paul from anxious concern to joy even in the midst of all his distress and affliction. Paul does not go into detail, but they must have been suffering some persecution in Corinth. Paul writes that they were comforted about the Thessalonians through their faith, in other words, that they had stood firm and had persevered through the persecution they had faced. Paul had been so concerned and distressed about the Thessalonians and how they were doing that when he received the good news it was as if it revitalized him because he writes, “for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord.” (1 Thessalonians 3:8, NASB95)[2] The fact that the Thessalonians had stood firm in the Lord in Paul’s absence further stimulated Paul to renewed zeal in ministry. Nothing brought more joy to Paul than to see his children in the faith stand firm in the Lord, being strong in their faith no matter what they faced and here he exhorted them to continue to stand firm.
THE shepherd’s thankfulness for his flock (1st Thessalonians 3:9)
The sixth feature of a shepherd’s heart for his flock is his thankfulness to God. Paul immediately recognized that all the spiritual progress that took place in the lives of the Thessalonian Christians was the work of God in their lives and that He alone deserved all the thanks. As Paul began to write his thanks to God, he found no adequate words to express the gratitude that he had in his heart for what had taken place in the Thessalonica church in his absence and because of this he asked rhetorically, “For what thanks can we render to God for you?” (1 Thessalonians 3:9a, NASB95)[3] Paul found no words to express the overwhelming thankfulness to God in return for all the joy Timothy’s report had brought to him. His words show us that Paul was at a lack of words to adequately express his gratitude to God. The phrase in verse nine that says “render…in return” is a single word in Greek and it expresses the impossibility of repaying the Lord for the spiritual growth that was a work of God that caused Paul to rejoice before our God on the account of the Thessalonians and what God had done in their lives. God’s grace at work in the lives of the Thessalonian believers had made Paul thankful beyond expression.
THE shepherd prays for his flock (1st Thessalonians 3:10)
The seventh feature of a shepherd’s heart for his flock is that he prays for them. Even though Paul had inexpressible thanks and rejoiced in what God had done in the lives of His people, Paul still realized the need to pray for his flock, to intercede on their behalf. As long as we are still on this earth our lives are not perfect and the true shepherd understands that his work among those God has put under his care is not done. For this reason, Paul, like any true shepherd, will pray for his flock and pray that he may complete the work among them that he was called to do. I pray for each of you, lifting you before the throne of God, interceding on your behalf that God will complete His work in each of your lives, praying that you stand firm in your faith always looking with hope to our future glory.
Paul writes that his praying was constant and fervent. He prayed night and day for the Thessalonians and he did so earnestly. Paul’s ultimate goal was to complete what was lacking in their faith, to continue to build on that firm foundation that had been laid by himself and Silas and Timothy. His immediate goal was that he may see their face, he wanted to be with them again so that he could instruct them in the Word. Chapters 4 and 5 of this letter provide some of the truth the Thessalonian believers were lacking. Even if Paul never saw the Thessalonian believers again, he would see his prayer answered through the teaching he delivered to the church in Thessalonica through his two letters to them. Ultimately the work of completing what was still lacking in their faith was God’s work, and He would complete it in whatever way he thought best for the Thessalonians. We have no record of Paul ever returning to see them again, yet God used Paul’s letters to teach them what was lacking.
A model prayer for a shepherd (1st Thessalonians 3:11-13)
Paul, from the very beginning of this book, was in the spirit of prayer for the Thessalonians, but it is not until we reach verse 11 of chapter three that he offers a formal prayer for the church in Thessalonica. Paul could not conclude the expression of his shepherd’s heart without praying for the accomplishment of God’s will in the lives of the believers in Thessalonica. So, Paul gives us a model prayer of a shepherd for his flock.
Paul begins by addressing God by name and not just his God, but he addresses Him as the God of the Thessalonians as well. His address begins, “Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord.” In the Greek the word translated “may” expresses to the Thessalonians the sincere heart wishes that Paul had concerning them, may God grant these things to you that I am about to pray. Notice that Paul directed his prayer to God the Father and to Jesus the Lord, which expresses Paul’s desire that both the Father and the Son act to answer his requests. By linking the Father and the Son together Paul is emphasizing the equality that exists between them in the divine nature.
By addressing God as our Father Paul was highlighting the personal relationship that exists between God and His children. By addressing Jesus as our Lord, this highlighted His personal rulership. By using the term our before God and before Jesus highlights the relationship that Paul and the Thessalonian believers enjoyed with both Persons of the Trinity. God in His relationship with them as a gracious, loving and forgiving Father, and Jesus Christ who had ascended to heaven’s throne to be their sovereign Lord.
It is interesting that Paul used the word “Himself” in the opening of his prayer, and to fully understand its purpose it must be known that it is a singular word and in Greek it is in the emphatic position. Let me read what it literally says in the Greek, verse 11 reads, “Now may Himself, our God and Father and Jesus our Lord, direct our way to you…” The fact that Paul uses the singular pronoun Himself and the singular verb direct with the plural subject God our Father…and Jesus our Lord shows us again with emphasis the unmistakable unity that exists between the Father and the Son in the Godhead. Paul in this prayer makes clear that the Father and Son share the same essence and are equally sovereign and perfectly agree in all matters. Assured of those truths, all believers, like Paul, can direct all prayers to either member of the Godhead or both. Romans 8:27 makes known to us that the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Trinity, is also in perfect agreement with the Father and the Son and shares the same essence with them and is equally sovereign. Paul writes in Romans 8:27, “He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” (Romans 8:27, NASB95)[4]
As Paul moves into the body of his prayer, we discover the purpose of his prayer. Paul’s prayer is that of a responsible shepherd for his flock. His purpose in this prayer is threefold: First, that God would give the Thessalonians a complete faith, second, an increasing love, and third a purifying hope. These three virtues show up frequently in Paul’s writings, faith, love, and hope. Paul was concerned that the Thessalonian believers would continue to grow in these three spiritual realities. He had already spoken of their work of faith and their labor of love and their steadfast hope in chapter one. These are the defining virtues of a true Christian.
Paul’s primary motive in praying for the Thessalonian believers was that their faith would grow. He does not say these exact words within this prayer but in verse 10 he identified this as his goal when he wrote, “as we night and day keep praying most earnestly that we may see your face, and may complete what is lacking in your faith?” (1 Thessalonians 3:10, NASB95)[5] Paul’s desire to return to Thessalonica was so that he could continue to build on that foundation of faith that they had laid when they were there. Paul made this desire known by asking God the Father and Jesus the Lord to direct his way to them. Paul was asking God to make it possible for him to return to Thessalonica, to remove the obstacles that Satan had used to hinder his return. Paul prays concerning this because he knows that only the power of the Lord could overcome Satan, and that would be the only way that he could return and it would only happen if it was God’s will. Paul’s desire was to teach the Thessalonians God’s Word, to strengthen their trust in Him and to help them to walk in greater obedience to God’s will. Paul’s request at the beginning of this prayer is that if it is God’s will He would direct Paul’s way to Thessalonica that he might be used to mature and strengthen the Thessalonians’ faith, which is what they would need for obedient and powerful Christian living. Paul never returned to Thessalonica, but through his letters God did answer his prayer to be used to mature and strengthen the faith of the believers there.
The second virtue that Paul wanted to see in the lives of the Thessalonians was an increasing and abounding love. He knew that genuine believers would always show love and he prayed that the Lord would cause the believers to increase and abound in love for one another and for all people. It is only God working in us that these virtues can grow and increase and abound. Paul had already mentioned the love that the Thessalonian believers had for one another, but his prayer is that God will increase that love so much that it is seen and felt beyond the walls of the church. Paul’s desire is that the Thessalonian believers would not just look inward, but that they would look outward and that God would develop in them a love for the lost, a love for those who persecuted them. Paul provides the Thessalonians with a practical example to help them understand the love that he wanted to increase and abound in them. Paul uses himself and his companions as the example that the Thessalonians should love just as Paul and his companions loved them. Paul, Silas, and Timothy loved the Thessalonians when they were strangers in great spiritual need and that love was seen by them sacrificially bringing the gospel to them. Then after they had put their faith in Christ, Paul loved them by the living sacrifice of his life for their spiritual growth.
Paul’s final request for the Thessalonian believers was that they would look to the future, look to the time of their glorification, which should produce in them a purifying hope. All the good qualities of a strong, complete faith and an increasing and abounding love are incomplete unless they point one toward genuine hope. Paul in writing to the church in Rome reminded the believers in Romans 5:1-2, “Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have obtained our introduction by faith into this grace in which we stand; and we exult in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1–2, NASB95)[6] The nature of that hope is best explained by the apostle John in 1 John 3:2, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is.” (1 John 3:2, NASB95)[7]
The only way the Thessalonians believers would actually live in such hope was as Paul prayed in our passage that God would establish their hearts without blame in holiness before or in the presence of God Himself. Paul prayed this way because he knew that the one person who cared most about the Thessalonian believers purifying hope was God. And only He knows what is in a person’s heart. Paul wanted them to have pure hearts so as to desire the coming of the Lord Jesus. Paul understood that the promise of Christ’s return to rapture and reward the church is the heart of believers’ purifying hope. In chapter four he will explain this event as the hope which produces comfort. We know that when Christ comes to reward His people, we will have our works and what motivated those works evaluated before the judgment seat of Christ and this knowledge should motivate us to holy living. Paul prays that God will establish the heart without blame because the heart is the seat of human emotion, thought and purpose. If the heart of a believer is pure, clean and righteous and able to stand against temptation then he would be free from shame and embarrassment before the Lord and this would cause one to eagerly look for Christ’s coming. It is at the coming of the Lord for the church that our sanctification is complete. But for the believer living in sin, he is not eager to have his sin interrupted and exposed to the presence of the Lord. In contrast to them, what makes an obedient believer long for Christ’s return is holiness that seeks pure fellowship with the Holy One. And such purity that initially inspires hope also produces greater hope, as John wrote in 1 John 3:2-3, “Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:2–3, NASB95)[8] In our Scripture reading this morning from 1 Peter, the apostle Peter pled with his readers that they would live pure in hope. Paul prays for the purifying hope to be established by God in the Thessalonian believers, understanding that the supernatural reality of sanctification is all the work of God and, at the same time, dependent on the obedience of the believer.
Paul’s prayer that the Thessalonians would have a purifying hope extends beyond this church as he asks that God would establish their hearts without blame in holiness at the coming of the Lord Jesus with all the saints. Paul’s heart desire is that all believers be pure and set apart from sin and worldliness. This coming that is spoken of here is the rapture of the church and her arrival in the place prepared for her where she will forever be with the Lord.
CONCLUSION:
This morning we have finished looking at the seven features of a shepherd’s heart for his people. Paul was our example and if he is the ideal human model of one with a shepherd’s heart, it is only because he carefully patterned his ministry as a shepherd after that of the Great Shepherd, the Lord Jesus Christ, who perfectly modeled the shepherd’s heart during His earthly ministry. He was the ultimate example of love for His sheep, laying His life down for them, sacrificing His very life for them. He was compassionate, showing lovingkindness to His people, He was watchful over His sheep, protecting them. He rejoices over His church, He is thankful for His disciples, and He intercedes for His beloved children. The Good Shepherd, the Great Shepherd of the sheep has the shepherd’s heart that is the divine standard for all shepherds today.
Paul prayed three things for the church in Thessalonica, that they would have complete faith, that they would be increasing and abounding in love, and that they would have purifying hope for their future glorification at the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. This prayer is a model of how shepherds and spiritual leaders ought to pray for their people. These last few messages have been directed at me as your shepherd, I have set before you the standard to which you should hold me. I have learned how I might better pray for you as I bring you before the throne of grace.
[1]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[2]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[3]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[4]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[5]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[6]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[7]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
[8]New American Standard Bible: 1995 Update. 1995. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.