02-09-2020 – Part One: Be Encouraged!
2.09.20 ~ 1 Thessalonians 1:1-10,
Part One: Be Encouraged!
Read 1Thessalonians 1:1-10…Notice again the greeting in 1Thessalonians 1:1,
“Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians.” Paul gives equity of
greeting from himself, Silvanus, and Timothy, for they were all well known by the believers in
Thessalonica, and they were equally given to this ministry to them.
Paul, Silvanus and Timothy together, affirm the genuineness of the belief of those in the
church at Thessalonica, saying they are, “in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace
to you and peace.” Only those who have repented of their sins and believed in Jesus Christ
to save them, can receive the Grace and Peace of God.
Who is the Timothy spoken of here in the greeting with Paul? Well, both of Paul’s letters
1&2Timothy were written to him to help him lead the church in Ephesus, after Paul had
departed.
Timothy had a Greek father and a Jewish mother, and yet Paul addresses him (1Timothy
1:2), as "my true son in the faith.” for he had been a young convert of Paul’s and had
probably heard and responded to the gospel when Paul came through the area of Derbe and
Lystra on his first missionary journey, but we don’t know for sure.
Timothy was probably no older than his early twenties when he joined Paul during his
second missionary journey, where he distinguished himself as faithful and committed servant
of the Lord.
Timothy is mentioned as being with Paul when Paul wrote 2Corinthians, Philippians,
Colossians, 1&2Thessalonians, and Philemon.
Paul says (2Timothy 1:1–5), that Timothy had a “genuine faith,” the same as that which
lived in his mother (Eunice) and grandmother (Lois), who had prepared Timothy’s heart to
accept Christ by teaching him the Old Testament Scriptures “from infancy” in order to
prepare him to recognize the Messiah when He appeared (2Timothy 3:15), “from childhood
you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to
salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.” When Paul came preaching Christ, all three
(Lois, Eunice, Timothy) committed their lives to the Savior. What a great example of how we
must prepare our children to be ready when Christ knocks on their heart’s door.
Silvanus (his Roman name) was used by Paul in his letters to the Corinthians, and the
Thessalonians, and Peter used it also in his first letter. But all through the book of Acts he is
referred to as Silas. Silas was a Hellenistic Jew (meaning his native language was Greek),
and he was also a Roman citizen (Acts 16:37).
When we first meet Silas in Scripture, he is a leader and teacher in the Jerusalem church
(Acts 15:22, 32). After the Jerusalem Council, at which it was determined that Gentile
Christians did not have to observe the Mosaic Law, Silas was chosen to take the council’s
decision to Antioch, along with the apostle Paul. Soon afterwards, Paul set out on his second
missionary journey, and he chose Silas to accompany him (Acts 15:40-41).
On this journey, Paul and Silas traveled to Philippi, where they were arrested, beaten, and
imprisoned (Acts 16:25), “But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing
hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them”. God then miraculously released
them, and the jailer, having witnessed their faith, asked them (Acts 16:30-31), “‘Sirs, what
must I do to be saved?’ They said, ‘Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved, you and
your household.’”
The jailer and his family were saved that night, and they were all baptized. The next day,
the city officials learned that Paul and Silas were Roman citizens, and they were immediately
fearful, because their mistreatment of Paul and Silas the day before violated Roman law. The
city leaders immediately released Paul and Silas from custody and from all charges, after
which Paul and Silas left town, but they left behind a body of believers—the first church in
Europe.
Look again at 1Thessalonians 1:2-4, “We give thanks to God always for all of you,
making mention of you in our prayers; constantly bearing in mind your work of faith and
labor of love and steadfastness of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ in the presence of our God
and Father, knowing, brethren beloved by God, His choice of you.”
Notice the great joy expressed by Paul, Silvanus and Timothy, for these dear believers in
Thessalonica, who, by their genuine faith expressed in their love and obedience toward God
for the hope they have in and through Jesus Christ the Lord.
The church in Thessalonica had its start sometime in AD 49 or 50, when Paul and his
companions, Silas and Timothy, visited this city of about 200,000 people on his second
missionary journey, just after being run out of Philippi (Acts 16).
Turn to Acts 17:1-15… So, we find that Paul, Silas and Timothy travel SW from Philippi,
through Amphipolis and Apollonia, to Thessalonica. There was no synagogue in Philippi, as
the Jewish population was evidently too small [10 Jewish head of households are necessary
to establish a synagogue].
But there was a synagogue in Thessalonica, and Paul, as was his custom, reasoned
with them, presenting evidence (OT) that the Messiah would suffer and die and then rise
from the dead; he then answered their questions and discussed with them in a manner
reflected in 1Peter 3:15, “always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you
to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence.”
Paul's public ministry to the Jews here, was over three Sabbaths (2-4 weeks), but his
private ministry to the church in Thessalonica was most likely longer, perhaps several
months; for we know he worked while he was there so as not to pay for his own needs
(1Thessalonians 2:9; 2Thessalonians 3:7-9), and he was a skilled tent maker (Acts
18:1-4).
Paul proclaimed Jesus Christ as God's Son, Savior and Lord, and he did it from the OT.
And (Acts 17:4) some Jews were persuaded, also many Greeks; but the unbelieving Jews
(Acts 17:5) were jealous, spiteful and angry, that people were believing Paul's message, so
they enlisted some thugs from the local bars to go after Paul and Silas and give them a good
beating to shut them up.
These Jews (Acts 17:6) accuse Paul, Silas and Timothy of stirring up trouble and
promoting worship of a king other than Caesar (just like they did in Philippi, Acts 16:20-21).
And then they take along some lowlifes and go to Jason's house; evidently Jason had heard
and believed Paul's message and was providing hospitality to him and his co-travelers. But
since Paul & Co couldn’t be found (Acts 17:6-9), these Jews grab Jason and some other
believers who are there and drag them before the magistrates, charging Jason with harboring
Jewish troublemakers who are "promoting the worship of a king other than Caesar, someone
named Jesus.”
Upon hearing these allegations, the crowd goes ballistic and of course, to keep the
peace and calm the chaos, the officials determine that these trouble-makers, i.e., Paul & Co
must leave their city, if they can find them.
The judges demand a pledge from Jason that he will stop giving aid to Paul & Co , i.e.,
he has to post a bond, probably a large sum of money or perhaps the deed to his house, to
be forfeited if there was any more trouble from Paul & Co.
After Dark (Acts 17:10-15), Paul and Silas are sent to Berea, about 50 miles west of
Thessalonica; Berea was kind of an out of the way town, in fact, it was said to be "off the
beaten track.” Paul and Silas needed to get out of the public eye for a time, and Berea was a
great place to do that; but the first thing Paul does is to go before the synagogue to teach
about Jesus, the Messiah.
Here we go again! It would seem that whenever it is possible, on a Sabbath Day, Paul
finds his way to some synagogue, or a place of prayer by a river or a lake, or on a hillside or
in a garden, etc., and there he preaches and teaches about Jesus Christ: crucified,
resurrected and coming again. According to what is recorded in Book of Acts, Paul often
caused a disturbance on Sabbath days because of the message he brought about Jesus
Christ, God’s Son, Lord and Savior.
One of the greatest exhortations in the Bible expressing genuine noble character, is found
right here (Acts 17:11). Unlike the Jews in Thessalonica, whom Paul had to try and
convince concerning Jesus; the Jews in Berea listened, examined, and determined whether or
not a teaching was true by comparing it to God's Word, which they held as the sovereign
authority in all belief and practice.
In Thessalonica (Acts 17:4) "some" of the Jews were persuaded, “along with a large
number of the God-fearing Greeks,” but in Berea (Acts 17:12) "many" of the Jews believed,
“along with a number of prominent Greek women and men,” who believed in Jesus.
The Bereans had open hearts and they searched the Scriptures to see if Paul's message
lined up, and because it did, they believed.
The unbelieving Jews in Thessalonica were angry that Paul & Silas had escaped without a
beating; when they heard Paul was in Berea, they went and stirred up the crowds against
Paul and his companions.
Paul is forced to leave Thessalonica, or bring trouble upon Jason; but Silas and Timothy
stay in Berea to nurture and care for the believers. Paul is taken to Athens, as evidently, all
of Macedonia had become a hot spot for Paul's safety, as he was now very well known as a
troublemaker.
After reaching Athens (200 miles), Paul told those who helped him to get a message to
Silas and Timothy, that they should come as soon as they can and join Paul in Athens. From
Athens Paul & Co would later go to Corinth, from where he actually wrote this letter to the
believers in Thessalonica.
Praise God for troublemakers like Paul & Silas, who fearlessly and unabashedly proclaimed
Jesus Christ every chance they were given to do so, even though it often brought them great
trouble and hardship, as Paul wrote (2Timothy 3:12), “Indeed, all who desire to live godly in
Christ Jesus will be persecuted.” But Paul also wrote (2Corinthians 1:3-4), “Blessed be the
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who
comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any
affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.”
Paul, Silas and Timothy trusted in God’s protection, provision and plan, and so should
everyone who belongs to God the Father through God the Son, having God the Spirit living in
them. Be encouraged, so that you might encourage others.
1John 4:4, “You are from God, little children, and have overcome them; because greater is
He who is in you than he who is in the world.”
1John 5:5, “Who is the one who overcomes the world, but he who believes that Jesus is the
Son of God?”
Revelation 2:7, “He who has an ear, let him hear what the Spirit says to the churches. To
him who overcomes, I will grant to eat of the tree of life which is in the Paradise of God.”
Revelation 4:11, “Worthy are You, our Lord and our God, to receive glory and honor and
power; for You created all things, and because of Your will they existed, and were created.”
Revelation 5:12, ““Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power and riches and
wisdom and might and honor and glory and blessing.”
Revelation 7:10, “Salvation to our God who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.” 12,
“Amen, blessing and glory and wisdom and thanksgiving and honor and power and might, be
to our God forever and ever. Amen.”
Pastor Mike >’(((><