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Something perfect
#1 · January 23, 2004, 10:46 am
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
The Perfecting of Faith, (part 1 of 2)
Basis: I Thess 3:1-13
Introduction
1. If Christianity were reduced to its most basic element,
that element would have to be FAITH! Heb 11:6 (even
more basic than love)
a. faith in God's existence
b. faith in God's Son as our Lord.
c. faith in God's Word to direct our lives
d. NOTHING is more basic to the Christian than faith
2. For faith to be beneficial, it must be personal
a. there are a multitude of passages which teach the
value of personal faith
b. I Thess 3 mentions "your faith" 5 times (2,5,6,7,10)
3. Faith is something that grows and develops
a. not like baptism..either you have or you haven't
been baptized.
b. the general thought of I Thess 3 is the perfecting
of faith.
c. as we gain understanding on how faith is perfected
we will also gain insight to the development of
genuine Christian character.
4. Following are guidelines to help us each perfect our
faith.
I. Faith must be developed gradually
1. Paul's prayer was that he might perfect what was
lacking in their faith, 3:10
2. They still had some growing to do, even though they
had made much progress
a. they had turned to God from lifeless idols,
I Thess 1:9
b. Paul commended their faith, patience, and love
1:3
c. They were examples to all Macedonia and Achaia,
1:7-8
d. they suffered much persecution, 2:14
3. still, their faith needed perfecting because it was
lacking in some areas.
a. "lacking" = having a deficiency which is to be
filled or completed.
(1) Heb 4:1 "to come short of it" is from same verb
form
(2) Jn 2:3 "wanting" is from same verb form.
b. "perfect" = fit together in proper succession, thus
to fit or complete, to mend
(1) Matt 4:21 "mending" is same verb form
(2) Paul wanted to shape and develop their faith
(3) Silver Dollar City wood craftsmen; from rough
outline to final touches.
4. Faith is not a static quality which never changes, but
a living quality of soul
a. it takes time to perfect...weave a strong network
of faith
b. has highs and lows, period of progress and plateau
(thus gradual development)
II. Fellowship Perfects Faith
1. Contact with strong Christians helps build strong
faith.
a. that's part of the value of lectureships, meetings,
youth rallies, care groups, dinners, etc.
b. the Thessalonians had been blessed by the personal
presence of Paul
c. in his absence, Paul realized the importance of
fellowship and made arrangements for another strong
Christian to be present, 3:2
2. Association with Timothy would help perfect their
faith.
a. he was a brother
b. he was a minister
c. he was a fellowlaborer
(above a-c are 3:2 thus qualified for the work he was
to do)
3. Timothy's task was to "establish" and "comfort"
concerning their faith.
a. "establish" = strengthen, confirm, Lk 22:32,
Rom 1:11
b. "comfort" = encourage (literally to call along
side)
(1) Timothy was to encourage them by his teaching
and influence
(2) they encouraged Paul with their faith, 3:7
c. Timothy was successful in his efforts, 3:6
4. We need to cultivate this contact with strong
Christians (meetings, worship, reading)
III. Stability In Trials Perfects Faith
1. Trials have a way of either making or breaking our
faith.
a. Jam 1:2-4, II Cor 12:7-10
b. Abraham, not born father of faithful
Joseph
Moses, struggled to lead
Jesus, Heb 5:8,9
2. The Thessalonians were to have their share as well
a. 3:2-4 Paul predicted trouble and it came to pass,
Act 17:5-9
b. however, this served to solidify their faith, not
destroy it.
3. Enduring trials is a part of the destiny of all of
God's people.
a. not from God for punishment, but because the world
resists the way of God.
b. "Fiddler on the Roof" illustrates this point, II
Tim 3:12
c. Don't allow the trials to destroy, but to refine
and shape your faith.
4. The Thessalonians endured 3:6-8...So can we!
IV. Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith
1. There is a vast difference between being tested and
being tempted.
a. testing has as its goal the refinement of faith...
a purer Christian, Js 1:2-4
b. temptation's goal is to destroy faith...comes from
devil, Js 1:12-15
c. However, if both are successfully endured, the
Christian is stronger.
2. Paul was afraid the "tempter" had gained control of
the Thessalonians, 3:5
a. new converts are especially vulnerable to Satan
b. the city of Thessolonica made it even more a
danger
(1) pagan environment, 1:9
(2) Jewish hostility, Act 17:5ff
3. Resistance to temptation has to come from within,
from faith.
a. Paul wanted to know their faith, 3:5
b. Timothy brought good news of their faith, 3:6
c. when we are faced with temptation, the strength
of our faith will determine how successful we will
be in resisting.
(1) a weak faith is sorely tempted to yield
(2) a strong faith shields against evil allurements
(3) each successive resistance works to perfect
our faith.
4. Let's be like the Thessolonians in their resistance to
temptation.
Conclusion (part 1)
1. Next week we will look at 4 more ways to perfect faith
from 1 Thess 3
2. For now we have seen
a. faith develops gradually
b. contact with strong Christians builds faith
c. trials can perfect faith
d. temptations can also build faith
3. However, none of this will happen to those who are out-
side of Christ.
4. What Paul taught the Thessalonians still applies today.
a. Act 17:2-3
b. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?
Basis: I Thess 3:1-13
Introduction
1. If Christianity were reduced to its most basic element,
that element would have to be FAITH! Heb 11:6 (even
more basic than love)
a. faith in God's existence
b. faith in God's Son as our Lord.
c. faith in God's Word to direct our lives
d. NOTHING is more basic to the Christian than faith
2. For faith to be beneficial, it must be personal
a. there are a multitude of passages which teach the
value of personal faith
b. I Thess 3 mentions "your faith" 5 times (2,5,6,7,10)
3. Faith is something that grows and develops
a. not like baptism..either you have or you haven't
been baptized.
b. the general thought of I Thess 3 is the perfecting
of faith.
c. as we gain understanding on how faith is perfected
we will also gain insight to the development of
genuine Christian character.
4. Following are guidelines to help us each perfect our
faith.
I. Faith must be developed gradually
1. Paul's prayer was that he might perfect what was
lacking in their faith, 3:10
2. They still had some growing to do, even though they
had made much progress
a. they had turned to God from lifeless idols,
I Thess 1:9
b. Paul commended their faith, patience, and love
1:3
c. They were examples to all Macedonia and Achaia,
1:7-8
d. they suffered much persecution, 2:14
3. still, their faith needed perfecting because it was
lacking in some areas.
a. "lacking" = having a deficiency which is to be
filled or completed.
(1) Heb 4:1 "to come short of it" is from same verb
form
(2) Jn 2:3 "wanting" is from same verb form.
b. "perfect" = fit together in proper succession, thus
to fit or complete, to mend
(1) Matt 4:21 "mending" is same verb form
(2) Paul wanted to shape and develop their faith
(3) Silver Dollar City wood craftsmen; from rough
outline to final touches.
4. Faith is not a static quality which never changes, but
a living quality of soul
a. it takes time to perfect...weave a strong network
of faith
b. has highs and lows, period of progress and plateau
(thus gradual development)
II. Fellowship Perfects Faith
1. Contact with strong Christians helps build strong
faith.
a. that's part of the value of lectureships, meetings,
youth rallies, care groups, dinners, etc.
b. the Thessalonians had been blessed by the personal
presence of Paul
c. in his absence, Paul realized the importance of
fellowship and made arrangements for another strong
Christian to be present, 3:2
2. Association with Timothy would help perfect their
faith.
a. he was a brother
b. he was a minister
c. he was a fellowlaborer
(above a-c are 3:2 thus qualified for the work he was
to do)
3. Timothy's task was to "establish" and "comfort"
concerning their faith.
a. "establish" = strengthen, confirm, Lk 22:32,
Rom 1:11
b. "comfort" = encourage (literally to call along
side)
(1) Timothy was to encourage them by his teaching
and influence
(2) they encouraged Paul with their faith, 3:7
c. Timothy was successful in his efforts, 3:6
4. We need to cultivate this contact with strong
Christians (meetings, worship, reading)
III. Stability In Trials Perfects Faith
1. Trials have a way of either making or breaking our
faith.
a. Jam 1:2-4, II Cor 12:7-10
b. Abraham, not born father of faithful
Joseph
Moses, struggled to lead
Jesus, Heb 5:8,9
2. The Thessalonians were to have their share as well
a. 3:2-4 Paul predicted trouble and it came to pass,
Act 17:5-9
b. however, this served to solidify their faith, not
destroy it.
3. Enduring trials is a part of the destiny of all of
God's people.
a. not from God for punishment, but because the world
resists the way of God.
b. "Fiddler on the Roof" illustrates this point, II
Tim 3:12
c. Don't allow the trials to destroy, but to refine
and shape your faith.
4. The Thessalonians endured 3:6-8...So can we!
IV. Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith
1. There is a vast difference between being tested and
being tempted.
a. testing has as its goal the refinement of faith...
a purer Christian, Js 1:2-4
b. temptation's goal is to destroy faith...comes from
devil, Js 1:12-15
c. However, if both are successfully endured, the
Christian is stronger.
2. Paul was afraid the "tempter" had gained control of
the Thessalonians, 3:5
a. new converts are especially vulnerable to Satan
b. the city of Thessolonica made it even more a
danger
(1) pagan environment, 1:9
(2) Jewish hostility, Act 17:5ff
3. Resistance to temptation has to come from within,
from faith.
a. Paul wanted to know their faith, 3:5
b. Timothy brought good news of their faith, 3:6
c. when we are faced with temptation, the strength
of our faith will determine how successful we will
be in resisting.
(1) a weak faith is sorely tempted to yield
(2) a strong faith shields against evil allurements
(3) each successive resistance works to perfect
our faith.
4. Let's be like the Thessolonians in their resistance to
temptation.
Conclusion (part 1)
1. Next week we will look at 4 more ways to perfect faith
from 1 Thess 3
2. For now we have seen
a. faith develops gradually
b. contact with strong Christians builds faith
c. trials can perfect faith
d. temptations can also build faith
3. However, none of this will happen to those who are out-
side of Christ.
4. What Paul taught the Thessalonians still applies today.
a. Act 17:2-3
b. Do you believe that Jesus is the Christ?
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