1 and 2 Thessalonians

• 1Thessalonians 3:1 Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone;
• 2 And sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:
• 3 That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.

Paul was very concerned that people would think that because he was suffering so much tribulation for the gospel's sake that somehow he was in the wrong or not being blessed by God. He seemed to fear that their faith would falter when they heard the news of his sufferings. He says though that he was appointed to suffer for the gospel.

We can make that same mistake today. We may see a prosperous ministry, a mega church, or a ministry that is rich with money and success and assume that the small church, the poor pastor and those with very little are out of God's will or somehow lacking spiritually.

We must never make assumptions based on our own view of a person's success. While it is true that nations that do not know the true and living God are usually those with the most poverty and disease; that doesn't mean that all who are wealthy are blessed of God. There are many rich people that do not believe in God nor fear God in any way.

• 1Timothy 6:3 If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness;
• 4 He is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings.
• 5 Perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself.
• 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.
• 7 For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
• 8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
• 9 But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
• 10 For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
• 11 But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.

In the study of Timothy we see that to teach that material gain is godliness, is a false teaching and is not the truth. Jesus was not rich in material things when he walked the earth.

Yes it is true that when we give, we will receive but people are misusing this verse to teach the doctrine of prosperity. This is a deadly false doctrine. If it were true then all the rich business owners whether they believed in Jesus or not would be blessed of God. Jesus did not teach the prosperity doctrine. We must get out of that if we are in it. It is false.

There are people in some countries that are being killed for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Some have their houses burned, their children taken away from them and are fired from their jobs because of the gospel. They are put in prison and beaten for their faith just like Paul was. I'm not going to believe for one moment that they are out of the will of God because God is not making them rich and they do not live in comfort. Yet that is what the prosperity teachers would have us to believe. To listen to their garbage one would have to believe that Peter, Paul, John, and all the other apostles including Jesus himself was out of God's will.

The doctrine Jesus taught is according to godliness and holiness. We are to be content with things we have and not seek the riches of this world.

Paul wanted to make sure those that heard of his sufferings would not allow their faith to be weakened because of his sufferings. While we are not to purposely seek to be persecuted, we are never to assume the poor and suffering believers are not living their potential.

• Revelation 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;
• 15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.
• 16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spew thee out of my mouth.
• 17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:
• 18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eye salve, that thou mayest see.
• 19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

The true riches are spiritual riches that we receive from God. We must never substitute those things with the material things of this life which will pass away and be left to someone else.

I grew up in a Pentecostal church and I was never taught the prosperity doctrine. We believed to be blessed by God was the spiritual blessings we receive when we seek Him. There is nothing in this whole world that will compare to those things.

I know that those preaching the prosperity doctrine are supposedly Pentecostal or Charismatic. That grieves me because I also am Pentecostal and I have never been taught the prosperity doctrine. Our teachers taught the very opposite of that teaching. Prosperity preachers do not represent all Pentecostal people.

• 1Thessalonians 3:4 For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know.

We are never promised to escape persecution or troubles in this life. God at times will bless some with material blessings. Jesus did say give and it shall be given to you. God does bless in that way. He blessed Abraham. Yet Abraham was a person that blessed others and used his wealth to provide for an army of people. So God does prosper some. The rain falls on the just and the unjust. There are poor believers also who are rich in the things of God and just as blessed of God as the rich ones. If we are blessed with wealth, we are to use it for the glory of God, being thankful and giving as the Lord lays it on our hearts. The teaching that is false though is to assume those that are poor are lacking or not being blessed of God.

• 2Timothy 3:12 Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.

I know it is a temptation in the flesh to believe the prosperity doctrine and live comfortably not suffering any persecution for the gospel but this doesn't always happen. Jesus didn't teach such things.

• 1Thessalonians 3:5 For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.

God gave us the written word so that we can understand the false from the real. Lets use it.

• 1Thessalonians 3:6 But now when Timothy came from you unto us, and brought us good tidings of your faith and charity, and that ye have good remembrance of us always, desiring greatly to see us, as we also to see you:
• 7 Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:
• 8 For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.

This is our joy in the Lord and what our attitude should always be: We should desire to see all stand fast in the Lord.

• 1Thessalonians 3:9 For what thanks can we render to God again for you, for all the joy wherewith we joy for your sakes before our God;
• 10 Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?

After we become believers by turning from sin and confessing Jesus as savior, there is growing to do. This is why we need to pray, study the word and meet together for fellowship and prayer. We can be used of God to perfect that which is lacking in the faith of new believers.

• 1Thessalonians 3:11 Now God himself and our Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way unto you.
• 12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

Godly love must be among us. This is very important even when we have discernment. If we have discernment without love, it could do more harm than good. One might be able to pick out the tares but they will harm the wheat also. Meekness, gentleness and love must be present along with discernment. Let us always prefer to see one prosper in spiritual things and grow in the Lord. Sin and error should grieve us, not cause us to gloat and be quick to judge. All things must be done in love and to further the true gospel of Jesus Christ.

• 1Thessalonians 3:13 To the end he may establish your hearts unblamable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

I hope we can stop being afraid of holiness. The more we seek God, the more we study the word, the less we will love this present world. I don't believe we would have to worry about the prosperity doctrine if we would return to the doctrine of holiness. The two do not mix. I mean a holiness that comes from the depth of our soul and spirit. It comes from the living spirit of God within us and not from our own efforts to live holy in appearance only. It is much more than appearance. It is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness and temperance or self control. This no doubt will affect the way we dress and the places we go but so many try to get it backward and have only the appearance of holiness without the holiness that comes from the spirit of God.

This last verse is the blessed hope. This statement was also spoken by Enoch. Jesus is coming back with all His saints. Saints is all believers, not saints that are supposedly made saints by any church or religious body. Once we come to Jesus for salvation, we are saints of God.

God is good, if we will only hear Him. DC