By Kevin Shrum
Pastor, Inglewood Baptist Church, Nashville
Focal Passage: I Thessalonians 3:4-13
The enemy of our soul — Satan — uses many tools to attack the believer, i.e., lies, temptations and, maybe above all, discouragement. In fact, though Satan has limited knowledge, he does know that to discourage God’s people is to deter God’s work. Satan first isolates us from other believers, attacks the gospel itself, causing doubt and fear that leads to discouragement. And once discouraged, God’s people become spiritually paralyzed. How can we overcome Satan’s “ministry of discouragement?”
DISTRESSED (I Thessalonians 3:4-5). Paul longed to see his fellow believers in Thessalonica (I Thessalonians 2:17-20). But for many reasons his visit was delayed. Paul rightly assigned blame for this delay on Satan. This put Paul in great distress. He knew that his fellow believers would face suffering for their commitment to Jesus Christ and His gospel. He also knew that Satan might tempt them to abandon the gospel (I Thessalonians 3:5). Isolated from each other, both Paul and the Thessalonians were in great spiritual danger and distress.
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed to us the destructive nature of isolation that leads to discouragement that can lead to deadly depression. It is imperative for God’s people to be together to combat isolation in the enterprise of sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ and living holy lives.
REJUVENATED (I Thessalon-ians 3:6-10). Paul’s distress would give way to spiritual rejuvenation. Timothy arrived with a positive report as to the condition of the faith of the Thessalonians. First, their faith and love were active (v. 6). Second, they remembered Paul and longed to see him (v. 6). Third, their faith comforted Paul even in his suffering (v. 7). Fourth, they were standing strong in their faith (v. 8). Fifth, Timothy’s report produced joy in Paul’s heart (v. 9). Finally, Timothy’s report produced increased prayer in Paul’s life. What a report!
In our time, God’s people need to be spiritually revived. The number of issues in our world that can be devastatingly discouraging are many, i.e., wars, disease, conflict, the rejection of truth, fear, pride, loss of religious liberty, etc. For these reasons, we must constantly encourage one another as we see history unfolding toward its epoch end (Hebrews 11:24-25). Our time is not the time to lose time in serving the Lord Jesus. We must make every effort to encourage one another.
FOCUSED (I Thessalonians 3:11-13). Discouragement causes us to become distracted as we lose focus on the good news of Jesus Christ and the task of evangelism and missions. Timothy’s report allowed Paul to refocus and redirect his spiritual energies away from dealing with discouragement toward a renewed emphasis on God’s kingdom work.
First, he prays that God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ would direct their efforts (v. 11). Second, he reminded them of the need to renew their love for each other and toward all people, especially those in need of the gospel (v. 12). Third, encouraging one another would establish their hearts and help them to lead lives of holiness and righteousness (v. 13). Finally, Paul reminded them that they were to live life against the backdrop of Jesus’ return (v. 13).
If there were ever a day that we need to pay attention to the example of Paul, Timothy and the Thessalonians it is today. There is every reason to be discouraged. There are even more reasons to be encouraged.
