What Is Our Ultimate Goal as Christian Believers?
1 Thessalonians chapter 3 part 2, by Minister Paul J. Bern
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Last week when we left off, the apostle Paul was continuing his train of thought, but with a hint of apprehension, which was possible even for Paul. He wrote, “I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless”. I’m not sure how this was originally translated, but I think that when Paul wrote about “the tempter,” he was using it as a synonym for Satan, the prince of darkness. It is a historical fact that the early church was persecuted extensively, and Paul was understandably concerned that his new converts were being frightened or intimidated by the religious and political (not to mention military) establishment of the first century AD. This was occurring to the point that he was losing converts to The Way as fast as he was gaining them.
Are Modern Churches Teaching Their Members Incorrectly?
The modern church has a somewhat similar problem in that there are more ‘Christians’ moving around from one church to another, or leaving altogether, than new members are joining in any given year. I think I know why. It’s because these wanderers among the churches are seriously searching for some real truth, tempered with faith, hope, and love, and they’re having a hard time finding it. The fault for this rests squarely on the shoulders of the pastors and senior leadership of the modern churches of all denominations, particularly the so-called mega-churches, where so many people come and go each week that hardly anyone notices who is leaving. Monitoring member turnover should be taking priority over signing up new members, but that’s not what’s happening. Maybe these super-churches had best find out who is leaving and why and focus on those people instead. Just a thought, and with that, let’s conclude this week’s lesson.
This Week’s Bible Verses for Study and Memorization
“But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you long to see us, just as we also long to see you. Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in the presence of our God because of you? Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith. Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” (1st Thessalonians chapter 3, verses 6–13)
Paul Had His Priorities Right
Paul wrote “… in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.” Notice the contrast between Paul’s motivation, and his definition of success, with that of many modern churches. Despite the ongoing persecution and the constant threat to their personal safety, the apostle Paul was most encouraged by the growing faith of that congregation. He didn’t mention anything about money or prosperity, not to mention his personal safety. This leads me to believe that those things didn’t matter much with Paul and his associates, as long as they were leading people to Christ.
Many Modern Christian Churches Are Driven by Greed
Compare that with many — but not all, thank God — modern churches, particularly those in the Western hemisphere. Paul never told this church, or any other, that they must donate 10% of their income to be considered a true Christian. Moreover, did he tell any church that they must all speak in tongues as evidence of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit? I know of one TV ministry — I’ll decline to name it — that has telethons twice a year asking for donations, and yet they are known to be sitting on somewhere between $30-$60 million in cash (exact figures are not available because they are privately owned and have tax-exempt status). Clearly, this is questionable at best, since they already have more money than they can physically spend in their entire lifetimes. I would call this greed at its absolute worst.
Are We Continually Enlarging Our Faith?
Paul wrote, “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy that we have in the presence of our God because of you?” His joy was in watching others grow in the Lord and seeing their faith getting stronger each day. Are we doing this in the churches we attend currently? Do we give our pastors, deacons, bishops and overseers inspiration by continually enlarging our own faith? Do we motivate others to reach out and pull themselves up to the next level as we climb Jacob’s ladder? Are we setting a good example for others to follow? What about being someone our youth could look up to?
I’m Just a Man Trying to Do His Job
Those who do these things in whatever way works best for them are exercising due diligence in their faith. Those who do not, on the other hand, have their work cut out for them, and especially as the day of our Lord’s return draws ever closer. The Bible says the Bride of Christ must be pure and holy, blameless and “without spot or blemish”. It’s time for all of us to redouble our efforts towards achieving this goal because we are all running out of time. I’m not saying this to scold anyone, nor to judge them, since only God can truly judge. I’m simply doing my job as a pastor as I lead my flock towards righteousness, holiness and purity of heart to the very best of my ability (so help me God).
We Can Do Nothing Without or Apart From Christ
Paul wrote, “Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus… strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.” Notice that we can’t strengthen our hearts on our own, or at least not in a Spiritual sense. We must depend on Christ to achieve that. Yes, we can psych ourselves up and work ourselves into an emotional frenzy, but that would be operating in the flesh instead of the Spirit. “I can do all things”, Paul wrote elsewhere, “through Christ who strengthens me.” Even Jesus said, “Apart from the Father I can do nothing”.
What Is Our Ultimate Goal?
Reliance on God as we come to terms with our own fallibility is what motivates us to become holy and blameless in God’s sight. That’s the whole point Paul makes as we close today’s lesson — we can’t do this by ourselves lest we step out from under God’s anointing. So let’s all join together as a corporate body while we make ourselves blameless and holy — not for each other but for Him who loved us first. Let’s all make sure we are among the great number who return with our dear Lord Jesus at his second coming. Don’t get left behind!
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