Psalm 133:1-3 (NIV)

¹ How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

² It is like precious oil poured on the head, running down on the beard, running down on Aaron’s beard, down on the collar of his robe.  ³ It is as if the dew of Hermon were falling on Mount Zion.  For there the Lord bestows his blessing, even life forevermore.

The Thessalonica Church Paul planted was very green, vulnerable, and Paul didn’t have enough time to give the church sufficient foundation of Christianity before he was chased out of town.  Timothy is sent to get an update in the church progress.  Paul finds out the church is doing better than he anticipated.

1 Thessalonians 2:17-3:13 (NIV)

¹⁷ But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.  ¹⁸ For we wanted to come to you — certainly I, Paul, did, again and again–but Satan stopped us.  ¹⁹ For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?  Is it not you?  ²⁰ Indeed, you are our glory and joy.  3 ¹So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens.  ² We sent Timothy, who is our brother and God’s fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, ³ so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.  You know quite well that we were destined for them.  ⁴ In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted.  And it turned out that way, as you well know.  ⁵ For this reason, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith.  I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless.

⁶ 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.  ⁷ Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.  ⁸ For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.  ⁹ How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of our God because of you?  ¹⁰ Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you. 
¹² May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.  ¹³ 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.

The difference between power and influence is power comes from the outside and influence comes from within.

Power             versus         Influence

*Positional                         *Personal

*Pushes                               *Persuades

*Resented                          *Respected

*Expires                              *Endures

Paul was one of the most influential people who ever lived.  He had zero power, no money, no political capacities, no military connection, and yet God used him in mighty ways to shape the world.  What he did was to go to metropolitan areas around the Mediterranean, carrying the Gospel, the good news.

The Jews idea that Holy God would become human, who breathed and ate and had to get his hair wet was all blasphemy.  It is still that way today with Jews and the Muslims, who mock Christians for believing that God, Holy God, would become a person.

1 Corinthians 1:23  But we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block, and to the Greeks foolishness;

The idea of God becoming a man was not offered to the Greeks.  The Greeks didn’t like the idea that you had to become an historical person, who died in an historical event to be saved.

God is changing people; people are changing so much that His joy was bound together with them.

1 Thessalonians 2:17  But, brothers, when we were torn away from you for a short time (in person, not in thought), out of our intense longing we made every effort to see you.

1 Thessalonians 2:19-20  For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of our Lord Jesus when he comes?  Is it not you?  20 Indeed, you are our glory and joy.

The same is true with preaching.  The preacher earns the right to preach with their love.  If you don’t love people, what you say is just going to bounce off then.

People don’t want to know how much theology you can throw at them, they want to know you care for them.

We don’t treat people as though they are the enemy but rather warn them as a friend, not trying to make them change or humiliate but to wake them up.

We want people to be close so that they will wake up to what they are doing.  Paul was speaking the truth to redeem, not to punish.  Paul loved these folks and wanted their best.  He was involved in their whole being, their mental and physical health, and their joy.  So, he gave them his heart but kept his head.

“Other people are going to find healing in your wounds.  Your greatest life messages and your most effective ministry will come out of your deepest hurts.”                                                                                                              ~Rick Warren

Charles Spurgeon, the great preacher, said the same thing to his Church.  “I live by your spiritual joy.  I suffocate on your spiritual indifference.  I choke on death on your spiritual misery.  I’m tied to you all.”

This passage isn’t about ministry and congregants, but relationships.  We want to change people’s lives; we need the vision that Paul had.

1 Thessalonians 3:13  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.

God has been patient with you, and with me, so in response we can be patient with other people as God works on them too.

Jesus was not just an example.  He was more than that.  “He is the author and finisher of our faith.”  Hebrews 12:2

His infinite suffering was worth it to Jesus if He gets us in the deal.  Wow.  You are infinitely valuable to God.

Ephesians 1:18  I hope the eyes of your heart will be opened so you see you are His inheritance. 

We are Jesus’ wealth, and His crown.  And if you know that in your head and heart, you can give your heart away to people and keep your wits about you.  And with that we can see the glory of a person even though at present they are marred in a mess of a life.

1 Thessalonians 3:12  May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.

Philippians 4:1  Therefore, my brothers, whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you must stand firm in the Lord, my beloved.

This week give thanks to Christ that you have been blessed with patience and love.  Give your heart away to people but keep your wits about you.  Your heart and mind will be used for God’s glory.  God bless you in your journey.