Preached in Markham Baptist Church, October 21,  2007

One of my favourite events at the Canadian National Exhibition when I was a kid was the lumberjack show.  Every year it was the same – one side of the stadium would cheer for the lumberjacks dressed in red and the other would cheer for the guys dressed in green.  For 30 fun-filled minutes they would chop, climb, saw, throw axes and compete.  Of course there was water involved – a huge pool – where the lumberjacks would do the log roll and the log joust. 

Do you remember the log joust?  Two competitors would be armed with long poles with volleyballs on the end and they would attempt to knock each other off into the water.  Each competitor had to be quick, agile, and above all, stand as firmly as possible on a slippery log.  It wasn’t easily done.

The whole idea of the lumberjack joust came to mind as I was studying 1 Thessalonians 3 this week.  The message of 1 Thessalonians 3 is “Stand fast,” – living in light of Christ’s return means that we stand fast.

It’s a message we have heard before – do you remember our study of the book of Ephesians?  There we read these words of encouragement in chapter 6:10 - “Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.  For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then,…”

So we Christians are to stand firm – we are to stand firm in the victory that Jesus Christ has won for us on the cross.  We are to stand firm on the truth that Jesus Christ lived, died and rose again.  We are to stand firm in the fact that God is for us, loves us and has redeemed us and won the victory over sin and death.

There is much in life that seeks to knock us down – there is much in life that seeks to knock out our faith and knock down our testimony.  There are pressures from family.  There are social pressures, there are time commitments, there are doubts and difficulties – there are opposing philosophies and ideas – all aimed at knocking the faith right out of us.  And so it can be difficult sometimes to stand firm in the faith.

University students find it difficult to stand firm in light of opposing ideas strongly presented.  People in business find it difficult to stand firm in the faith when alone on business trip days at a time – the temptations are large.  Being the only Christian in a family can make it hard to stand firm in the faith.

The Apostle Paul knew this – and having been separated from the Thessalonians he is concerned that the Christians in the city would stand firm in their faith.  God’s Word has much to teach us about standing firm in the faith.

You will remember that in chapter 2 Paul has been telling the Thessalonians how he longs to see them – he’s made every effort – but he says Satan has stopped us.

So we read at verse 1 of chapter 3 - “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we decided to be left alone in Athens; and we sent Timothy, our brother and co-worker of God in proclaiming the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you for the sake of your faith, so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions.” 

You’ll remember that the Thessalonian church was planted in the midst of persecution – they were a hated group and Paul is concerned that the persecution they face would dislodge their faith.  He is unable to go – we know from Acts 17 that he is charged with treason – so he sends his fellow worker, a man close to God, to help them – he sends Timothy. For what purpose?

Verse 2 – To strengthen and encourage you – to be a support.  That word encourage means, “one called alongside to help”.  Isn’t that a beautiful picture?  It’s a picture of a parent running alongside their child as their child learns to ride a bike. “Keep going, apply the brakes, you’re doing good!”  It’s a picture of friend showing up on moving day with an offer to help and to make lunch.  It’s a picture of on Christian coming alongside another Christian saying, “Whatever burden you are bearing I will bear with you.”   It’s a picture of one Christian helping another by encouragement, love support and compassion.

It is the first lesson we learn about standing firm in the faith – Fellow believers help us stand firm in the faith.

That means that we have to allow others to help, doesn’t it?  I know that I’m one of the worst offenders of this – the deacons pointed this out to me in my evaluation last spring and family members have echoed their opinion. I don’t allow others into my space.  I don’t often share when I’m facing difficult times – it’s a fault – and it is a fault that I am seeking to address.

For as Christians we are to live in such close relationship with one another that we are able to strengthen and encourage one another so that we can help each other stand fast in the faith.

When I could stand it no longer – writes Paul – when I was worried that you had been knocked down – I sent Timothy to you, to strengthen you and encourage you in the faith.

That’s the model - allowing other people in so that we can strengthen and encourage one another to stand fast.  This means that the whole idea of coming to worship around 10:25 - and sitting in your regular pew – saying a few polite hellos – leaving as soon as the benediction is said and doing it again next week and the next – is unscriptural. 

Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 says: “Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves.  A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.”

“I sent Timothy to strengthen and encourage you.”  This also means that we need to be bold enough to strengthen and encourage one another.  We need to be help each other to stand fast in the faith. 

This is done by having coffee together. It is done through small groups.  It is done by practicing that verse that I highlighted last week – verse 8 of chapter 2 – “We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

Are you sharing your Christian life as a means to strengthen and encourage one another?  Are you keeping an eye out for new Christians – people who have just been baptized – seeking to strengthen and encourage them?  Are you seeking to strengthen and encourage those who are recently bereaved  - or those who come to worship without their spouse?  How about our staff? Our Sunday School teachers?  Our small group leaders?

All of us need strengthening and encouraging, but these especially so. It’s part of what it means to be the church.  It’s part of how we remain steadfast in the faith.

This is how. We could ask the question when? When are we to stand fast?  And the text responds – stand fast in the face of persecution.     

 The Thessalonians were facing persecution. It one of those things in life that seeks to knock the faith right out of us.  That’s what Paul says in the verse 3 – he sent Timothy to them so that no one would be shaken by these persecutions. 

And he goes on to say, middle of verse 3 - “Indeed, you yourselves know that this is what we are destined for.  In fact, when we were with you, we told you beforehand that we were to suffer persecution; so it turned out, as you know.” 

Persecution has the power to knock us down and destroy faith – but here’s the thing – we are to expect persecution.  Jesus told us plainly in Matthew 24:7-9: “Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be famines and earthquakes in various places. All these are the beginning of birth pains.  Then you will be handed over to be persecuted and put to death, and you will be hated by all nations because of me.”

John 16:33 – Jesus says, “In this world you will have trouble.”

We should expect to be persecuted for our faith.  Don’t let persecution make you doubt God’s love, or question the reality of your faith. In fact it proves the reality of your faith. If you are being persecuted because of it, it means that your faith is genuine!  Persecution is to be expected. They crucified our leader – why should we expect to be treated differently?

The problem with us is that we do expect to be treated differently.  Because we live in a so-called Christian nation, because we live in an enlightened age – but more because we sometimes buy into the whole idea that “Things go better with Christ”.  Well, that’s partly right – but being a true follower of Christ can bring a heap of persecution.  And we don’t hear this message from the popular preachers of the day. I can guarentee that you won’t hear Joel Osteen preach this – or anyone else who preaches a prosperity gospel. Listen, we are to expect to be persecuted for our faith.

It may not be a message that fills the churches, but it is a message that will create stronger, more mature Christians who will stand firm in the faith.  For when persecution comes their way they will be able to say, “Hey, I’ve been expecting this.  I follow a Lord who said that in this world I can expect trouble if I follow Him.  And He said, ‘Take heart for I have overcome the world.’ ” 

This helps us to stand firm, doesn’t it?  We not only serve a persecuted Saviour, but we serve a victorious King, a reigning Lord, an ever present help in times of trouble. 

Stand firm in the face of persecution.  

Not only this, but we are to stand firm in the face of temptation.  Verse 5-6 - “For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith; I was afraid that somehow the tempter had tempted you and that our labor had been in vain.  But Timothy has just now come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love.  He has told us also that you always remember us kindly and long to see us.”

Falling into temptation can knock the faith right out of us.  Satan knows our weaknesses – he knows how to weaken our testimony – he knows how to cripple our walk with God by bringing those temptations before us that are so appealing. 

But we are called to stand firm in the midst of temptation.  I know it can be difficult.  The story is told of a woman who was tempted to buy a new dress. It was much too expensive – she had umpteen dresses already – she really didn’t need a new one but she couldn’t resist. She bought the dress, brought it home and confessed to her husband.  “I was tempted to buy another new dress today and I couldn’t resist.”

Her husband said, “Why didn’t you say, “Satan get behind me.”

“I did” said the woman.

“You did?”

Yes, I did and Satan said to me – “Ooo, it looks so nice from the back.”

Temptation is hard to resist, that’s the nature of temptation.  But it is possible to resist temptation.  We often hear it quoted, “Resist the devil and he will flee from you,” but that’s only part of the verse. James 4:7 reads, “Submit yourselves, then, to God.  Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

There are two actions there – drawing near to God, submitting ourselves to God and resisting the devil.  

Look how the Thessalonians submitted themselves to God and resisted the devil – two qualities are mentioned in verse 6 – Timothy comes back with a good news of their “Faith and love”.   You see that’s a picture of submitting yourself to God and resisting the devil. 

They had faith that God is bigger than their temptations.  They had faith that God would not allow them to be tempted beyond what they could bear and that whenever they were tempted God would also provide a way out so that they could stand under it.  This is the promise we have in I Corinthians 10:13.  

The Thessalonians also had love.  They did not abandon their love for God in the midst of temptation.  They did not abandon their love for one another even though they were tempted to do so. Is that how you meet temptation?  Do you submit yourself to God and resist the devil by practicing faith and love? 

Let me spell it out. When faced with the temptation to stop going to worship – do you meet that with an active faith that says, “No when I’m at worship God promises to meet me there?” 

When you are faced with the temptation to give up on Jesus Christ do you meet that with faith believing that Jesus will never give up on you?

When you are faced with the chance to participate in an immoral act do you act in faith believing that God will provide another option for you?

Do you meet temptation with faith?

Do you meet temptation with love – when tempted to gossip about another – do you meet that temptation with love toward the other and say “no I will not gossip about that person out of Christian love”? 

When tempted to give up on another do you meet that temptation with love and say no – I will die to self and go the second mile for them?

Faith and love – these enable us to stand fast in the face of temptation.

So what have we learned so far?

Living in light of Christ’s return means that we stand fast in the faith:

-         We are helped in standing fast through the encouragement and strengthening of other Christians.

-         Persecution can cause us to stumble – but we can stand fast knowing that persecution is a normal result of faith.

-         Temptation can cause us to stumble – but we can stand fast as we practice faith in God and love for others.

Then this – look at the result of standing fast.  Verses 7, 8, and 9,  “For this reason, brothers and sisters, during all our distress and persecution we have been encouraged about you through your faith.  For we now live, if you continue to stand firm in the Lord.  How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we feel before our God because of you.”

As I read this, I have to laugh because while Paul is concerned about the Thessalonians standing fast, not being unsettled, but it appears that Paul is unsettled – “When I could bear it no longer”, he says, “I decided it was okay to be left alone in Athens”  and again in verse 5 – “When I could bear it no longer I sent Timothy to find out about your faith.”  “I was afraid for you.” 

Here is a man is unsettled. He has a true pastors heart. As you read through this you realize that this is a tender letter – Paul is so concerned for the Thessalonians that he is afraid for them and unsettled.

But he learns that the Thessalonians are standing fast and look what it does – he is encouraged, he says, “now I live.” In the middle of the difficult times I’m facing, says Paul knowing that your faith is alive enables us to keep on keeping on.  And he is moved to praise and thanksgiving to God 

We talked about the fruit of living a life that seeks to please God last week – well look at the fruit that is created in living a steadfast life. What is that fruit? Other Christians are encouraged – other Christians are strengthened.  Other Christians are enabled to carry on in the midst of their difficulties and doubts and persecutions.

I look at a man like Billy Graham and I think, what an encouragement that man is. He has lived a life of integrity, he has been steadfast in his belief in the Word and his proclamation of the Word. And I’m encouraged in my faith.  

I look at a woman like Joni Erickson and I think what an encouragement that woman is – she has remained steadfast in the faith in spite of being confined to a wheelchair – and experiencing horrendous pain.  She helps strengthen my faith.  

I look at people who have gone on before us in the church – George Cruickshank, George Long, Mrytle Milligan to name a few – who have demonstrated a steadfast faith in the face of difficulty and temptations and I think, wow, they have been a means of encouragement and strengthening for me.  And I know for many of you. 

It is the fruit of standing fast in the faith – others are encouraged and strengthened in their faith.

And finally this – When speak of standing fast in the faith, it doesn’t mean that we should be satisfied with where we are in our Christian maturity.  Standing fast in the faith doesn’t mean that we stop moving forward in our Christ likeness, in our practice of holiness and goodness. No, we press on.

Verse 11 and 12: “Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, just as we abound in love for you.  And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.”

The Thessalonians had reached a level of faith. They had reached a level of love for one another so that they were able to stand fast in the face of persecution and temptation. But the Holy Spirit says to them – press on – continue – don’t be satisfied with where you have arrived.  You’ve done good – but press on - continue to love – continue to allow God to strengthen your hearts – that is, make you steadfast in your holiness so that you may be blameless before God when Christ comes again. 

Press on – keep going.  That’s a word for us, isn’t it?  The temptation is to give up – it’s so easy to give up on the church and the work. After all, we have achieved some success – we have shared the gospel with some people, we have influenced the community, we have been steadfast in the faith. But the word to us is keep on – Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again. He’s not here yet so there’s work to be done.  We need to continue to be steadfast.  There is more faith to practice, more love to give – keep on. 

John Gladstone tells of a time when he was walking down the street with a friend and they saw a man walking toward them with a huge sign hung around his neck.  The sign said, “Prepare to meet thy God.” 

And Dr. Gladstone turned to his friend and said, “I think that’s awful.  Scaring people like that.”

And the man turned to Dr. Gladstone and said,  “I don’t find that depressing – I find that truth invigorating and encouraging.  We are going to meet God face to face – and I am planning for that day.”

I am pressing on toward that day, for God has already met me in the person of Jesus Christ and when I go to meet Him I will be fully known and I will see Him face to face – what a day that will be.  Press on, press on …  standing fast, firm in the faith.

Copyright MBC and Tom Cullen - October 2007