In 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 we observe what should be practiced by each and every true New Testament Church… follow-up.
Follow-up is the discipleship that should occur immediately after someone has trusted Christ as their savior. For at least the past 150 years in US history there has been a slack in all things discipleship, but especially immediate follow-up. Usually in church when someone trusts Christ; they are directed to a Sunday school class; encouraged to give and faithfully attend; and in some cases to involve themselves in a small group of fellowship. This is typically the most that is done, and rarely is it intentional. In reality the greater part of churches in the US only give a ‘right hand of fellowship’ and that is where it ends, not begins. For years I have heard believers say after someone is saved, ‘It wont last’ or ‘I wonder how long they will stay’. This is not the heart of Christ, not the way churches should be, and not what our text teaches…at all!
Paul’s purpose for the church at Thessalonica is found in verse 2— “And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith:” This is Paul concerned about shoring-up anything needed concerning their faith. Why would their faith be in question? So far in 1 Thessalonians we have learned they are: alone, depressed, under pressure, afflicted, and someone is casting doubt about Paul’s leadership. So why so concerned?
First, Paul is concerned about the natural pressure upon them. Those who teach the health and wealth gospel teach that if Christians just have enough ‘faith’ they wont suffer. But that completely disagrees with what Paul is saying here, and what Jesus taught. Paul says that: suffering walks hand-in-hand with faith.God has chosen to use difficulty and affliction as tutors, which teach us how to rely continually on the strength of Christ and His Word rather than ourselves. Two facts you need consider before we go further:
- Trials are essential—not unfair.
- Suffering in battle is expected—not unusual.
Secondly then, Paul was concerned (warns) that the pressure of affliction will come. The believer who has been discipled, knows how to draw close into Christ and forsake themselves when the pressure comes. Without proper follow-up though, the un-discipled believer is defenseless and tends to wander in their faith when pressure comes. Paul was concerned that Satan may have tempted them to stray from their path of faith as verse 5 says— “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 labour be in vain.” Paul and his team had only one month of follow-up with this church but he apparently had warned them— “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” (4). I think this may be where we make our biggest mistake today: There needs to be a clear heads up right at the first about what is coming and what is expected of the new believer or one who has rededicated themselves. How many have turned their lives to Christ only to have faded out shortly after? This behoves us to concentrate on immediate follow-up. According to verse 2 Paul sent a discipler to follow-up in two areas: 1) “establish(strengthen) you”and 2) “comfort (encourage) you”. According to this text and the history of Paul’s experience with other churches we find this as essential elements of immediate follow-up.
Strengthen (establish you)— stērizō: a fixed position, to set fast. Put it into a sentence— “To be resolutely turned in a certain direction”. Fix them firmly. Teaching them and showing them the right way to go. Setting them on the right path in the right way.
I think this is the key word to the whole chapter and the most missing in follow-up— “establish” and “stablish” from verses 2 and 13. So apparently your focus matters. Reminds me of learning to ride a bicycle. Once when I was young I was going to get on our highway in front of our house and ride over the hill to my friends house. My dad warned me to not look over my shoulder or else I will steer into that direction unknowingly. It happened just as he said and I careened into the deep ditch off the highway into some brand wire. Never made that mistake again! What your eyes are set on determines your direction. In verse 3 it says— “That no man should be moved by these afflictions:” Focusing on your afflictions will definitely derail you. And afflictions will come! So, if you focus on them then you will find yourself in a ditch in the barbed wire of discontentment and depression. That phrase— “That no man should be moved” is the greek word: saino which means ‘to wag the tail’ or be: disturbed, agitated, unsettled, shaken. Welcome to the ditch! This is where many believers are today and it was avoidable.
The opposite of wag the tail is tostand. Stand despite your sufferings. You can either allow this life to shake or strengthen your faith. Focusing on the temptations not only can, it will derail you. Focus rather on the victory found in Christ and His determined stand. This is why you should have a discipler to aid you in this, which is why Paul said in verse 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 labour be in vain.”Trials come from the outside, but they are usually dealt with on the inside (mind). We begin to question… everything. It can be debilitating. Questions like: Doesn’t God care about me? What did I do wrong? If God can stop this why doesn’t He? etc. That’s what follow-up is for— to not leave you hanging. It answers the questions before they come. Or at the least, can help you with a frame of reference to go back to.
In other words, purposeful encouragement is essential. The words used here in this text is: “comfort you”, the greek word parakaleō. In this usage specificallyparakalesai which is to call near to one’s side to intreat or beseech them. Put it into a sentence— “To be well persuaded.” This is why Timothy was also sent to draw them close and intreat or convince themto be well persuaded! People need encouragement and they need it on purpose, not an after-thought. They need it from multiple sources too. Paul, then Timothy, then a team, then ongoing in-house encouragement is what was called for, for that church. I wonder how much more is needed today in this climate we are in?
This term parakalesai is also used as ‘encouragement’ in many areas of the New Testament, but not necessarily in this case. Most often it is the term Jesus used for the Holy Spirit (comforter)— to bring along-side. Apparently this is necessary, even essential.
Paul’s concern as a discipler was not focused on: health, wealth, self-esteem, or ease of life, but rather on the spiritual quality of life. Follow-up includes checking and shoring-up believers to know that they are fully persuaded: “But now when Timotheus 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:”(6). Why? Because reality is hard! Living for Christ in the midst of people who pressure you not to live for Christ is hard. So Paul sent to know how they were.He didn’t see their growth or their afflictions passively. He ruthlessly encouraged and persuaded; even through another, Timothy. The Christian life isn’t easy. Martin Luther said— “A religion that gives nothing, costs nothing, and suffers nothing, is worth nothing.” New believers do not understand this yet and desperately need encouragement; but it seems today that believers who have been saved for years still struggle with any form of affliction and usually the first thing they drop is church. They need a Timothy, and still do. This brings us to the last point in follow-up, at least from this text…
Follow-up Revives! In verse 8 it says— “For now we live, if ye stand fast in the Lord.” In the first two chapters Paul describes the planting and nurturing of a church. Now he says, stand as a church. “stand fast” is a military term for an army or navy that refuses to retreat even though it is being assaulted by the enemy. Paul basically said: we live, if ye stand. Satan had put a squeeze on their early development, as he often does. Paul was relieved to get Timothy’s report and could take a deep sigh of relief. As Chuck Swindoll said— “Paul knew now that no-one could force the Thessalonians to flee from their faith. Christ Himself had invaded that city.” There is a constant temptation to exchange the pressure of living for Christ, for the comfort of just being saved.
Apparently this standing—strong—faith, has a reciprocal effect. Notice that when Timothy returned the same word for “comfort” is used in reverse. Paul and Silas drew strength and encouragement from Timothy’s report. Helping them be persuaded that everything was going to be ok. They were comforted. Yes, even the discipler needs that… “Therefore, brethren, we were comforted over you in all our affliction and distress by your faith:”(7)
Frankly believer— Your faith does affect others. You are not an island and when your faith dips it brings immediate consequences to those who care for you. People are counting on you—in the midst of the trials. Notice the descriptive pronouns to describe Timothy: brother, minister, fellow laborer (team player). Anyone can do it. All you need to do is surrender yourself to a ministry of immediate follow-up.
We all still need a Timothy. We all still need to be one.