When my son, Logan, was born he weighed ten pounds and resembled a sumo wrestler. Now as a soon-to-be sixteen-year-old he weighs quite a bit more, but that weight has taken on a whole new look. You see, Logan works out at a gym and has firmed and toned his body to create highly defined muscle and incredible strength.

 

1 Thessalonians 3 relates God’s desire for the strengthening and firming of His children. Physically? No. Although, as Paul says in 1Timothy 4:8, “physical training is of some value,” the emphasis here is spiritual training. God’s will for us is to be firm in our spirit, to be firm in our faith.

 
Just as Logan began his life with soft, pliable skin and body fat, we all have limited “spiritual muscle” when we enter our relationship with the Lord. 1 Thessalonians 3 provides tools to help us develop more spiritual strength.

 

Because the Thessalonians were new believers, Paul realized their faith was fragile which motivated him a great deal. However, these lessons extend well beyond the new Christian. Mature believers also tend to let their faith atrophy at times and need a fresh commitment to spiritual strength.

 

Returning to the physical example, I am almost forty-five years old at this writing. While I have maintained a regular exercise program for most of my adult life, I find the need to change it or improve it due to age, lifestyle changes, and a myriad of other factors. We can be no less diligent spiritually. Often routine and tradition can lull us into an apathetic or ineffective life with the Lord.

 

Today is a good day to examine the firmness of our faith in God.

 

What is the firmest part of your body?
What is the firmest part of your faith?
In what area/under what circumstances does your faith waver the most or feel the “least firm”?

For further study: Hebrews 11; Matthew 9:29; Matthew 17:20; Hebrews 12:2.

PROTECT THE FAITH (Read 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5)
Logan created a regimen for himself at the gym, and he is adamant about protecting it. If situations arise that might threaten his ability to carry out his routine, such as activities with friends or family, he works diligently to rearrange and safeguard that time.

 

If my teenage son can watch over his physical care with such regard, how much more should we battle to protect our faith? You may think, “What in the world can come against our faith?” Everything comes against our faith! While we may not incur overt persecution and hostile threats as the Thessalonian church (although many do), there are always the daily cares of this life, the temptations to spend all of our free time on entertainment and frivolity, and the constant demands of work, relationships, and even ministry responsibilities. Our faith can become weakened or even invisible quickly if we are not vigilant to protect it. 
 

What area of your faith has been weakened recently? How can you protect it and strengthen it? Do you know other believers whose faith has deteriorated or declined? How can you help them protect their faith? Paul was committed to helping these new Christians guard their lives in Jesus. Has God put someone in your path that you can help as well?

 

Perhaps you know a new believer who is struggling or an older believer who is going through a really difficult time. It may be someone in your immediate family or a friend five states away. In any case, the goal is the protection of God’s work in your life and the lives of others.

How can you strengthen and protect yourself and others today?

 

Be proactive. We are so quick to inquire about the physical, financial and familial health of those around us. What about their spiritual health? What about your spiritual health? Notice Paul’s emotional state. He says twice, “When we could stand it no longer…” (Verses 1, 5). Then in verse 5 he also says, “I was afraid…” Paul knew it was time to act because he was sensitive to his spiritual needs. If you know you need a boost, or God has obviously placed someone in your path with that need, ask God what you can do. Seek out specific steps. 
 

Paul’s response to the Thessalonians’ situation was to write letters teaching them about God’s will. When he helped the Galatians it centered on freedom in Christ. His help for the Corinthians covered everything from marriage to church services. Each situation is unique and each step will be different, but God is faithful and will help as you seek to be proactive in protecting your own faith and that of those around you.

 

If your struggle is with prayer, perhaps God will guide you to a fresh time of day that will help. Sometimes He brings a prayer partner along or incorporates Bible verses to guide us in more effective intercession. The key is our willingness to take new steps and to change as needed. 
 

Being proactive is not about condemnation or judgment. God is not challenging us to go find someone “to fix.” Paul’s word choices are significant as he promotes “strengthening” and “encouraging.” God wants us to protect the Body of Christ as needed. How can you help today? Ask the Lord, “What is one step I can take today to protect my faith or someone else’s?”

 

Be willing to give. Paul gave up companionship to send Timothy to Thessalonica. Abraham gave up the comfort of familiar surroundings to protect the family of God. Mary gave up her reputation to bring Jesus to the world. Some of us need to merely give up a thirty minute sitcom and we’d have built in, protected prayer time and/or Bible study time. 
 

Giving to protect someone else’s faith immediately brought to mind my children.

At times I have to sacrifice them liking me in order to protect their walk with the Lord. God didn’t call me to necessarily be their friend all the time, especially in their younger years. Parenting often involves making hard and unpopular decisions to protect our family in Christ. Are we willing to give in this way?

 

What can you give (or give up) today to protect your faith or someone else’s?

Be careful who you trust. Paul’s description of Timothy as “God’s fellow worker” (verse 2) is a goal for each believer. Even in the church, there are many who work in their own strength and actually ignore or reject God’s leadership. We must decide which type of worker we will be.
Paul trusted Timothy implicitly and knew the Thessalonians were safe in his hands. Not everyone who claims to be a servant of God is trustworthy. Paul discovered this sad truth throughout his missionary journeys and worked diligently to protect his ministry and those he ministered to from any who would do more harm than good.

 

Who have you entrusted your spiritual life to? How closely are you working with God? Would you be considered one of God’s fellow workers? Who teaches you and guides you? How trustworthy are you? Are you truly seeking the good of others? We must be willing to ask the difficult questions and protect our faith completely.
 

Steady workouts are necessary. Protecting our faith so that we can be firm in our relationship with God demands intentional strengthening. We will discuss specific “spiritual exercises” later in the lesson, but two of the keys are determining what strengthens you in your spirit. Everyone is different. Logan’s workout routine is considerably different from mine because we each seek to strengthen different parts of the body. He works his arms and legs excessively, where I focus on abs and certain parts of my arms.

Spiritual workouts will differ as well. We all need the strengthening Paul mentions on a regular basis but as individuals we must identify our own weaknesses. If your weakness is carving out the time for prayer or Bible reading, perhaps you can strengthen it by setting an “appointment” each day. Identify the problem and seek out an appropriate “strengthening workout.” It is up to us to say, “Lord, what part of my faith is flabby?” I want to protect this area of my spiritual life,” and then do something about it. How strong is your faith? What are you doing to strengthen it? How can you help strengthen someone else?

 

Steady encouragement is necessary. Studies show that people who work out with a group or a friend tend to have greater success. Why? Because there is someone encouraging you along the way. It is unrealistic to attempt to shield ourselves from every negative influence, but we must make a conscious effort to surround ourselves with those who will encourage us in our spiritual lives. From prayer groups and Bible studies to walking partners and tennis buddies. Protect time with encouraging people. In what area of your spiritual life do you need encouragement? Who can you encourage today?

 

Protect the peace of God in your life. When our peace gets stolen it is up to us to fight to get it back. God promises His peace through Jesus, so we protect it by asking for His wisdom whenever we sense it slipping away. In verse three, Paul explained one of his reasons for sending Timothy as, “so that no one would be unsettled by these trials.” Their peace was threatened. He was taking steps to protect it. What about you? In what way is your peace in Christ wavering. Trials and pain were chasing the Thessalonians. We must not allow suffering and hardships to steal the peace of God in our lives. God never promised a life free from difficulty, He simply promised we would never face it alone. Protect God’s peace in your life.

Beware of the enemy. Paul calls him “the tempter” in verse 5. He is also known as the devil, Satan, the father of lies, Beelzebub, and many other names. His goal is to keep people from Jesus or make them ineffective for Jesus. He tempted Jesus (Matthew 4), and he will tempt each one of us, but God has given us all we need to protect our faith from him. Satan loves it when we blame God and turn our backs on God at the slightest inconvenience or most severe setback. Ephesians 6 is a great place to learn the basics of protecting your faith from the enemy. God’s Word in its entirety can teach you all you need to know.

Let nothing be wasted. Paul’s comment at the end of verse 5 is his fear that, “our efforts might have been useless.” He never wanted to waste the time, gifts, or opportunities God gave him, and he wanted the pain and sorrows to be equally as effective. God can protect our faith through the most wonderful and most terrible times. We must choose to allow it. Don’t fight the life lessons. Embrace them. Incorporate them. Be changed by them for Jesus.

 

What fresh protection is needed for your faith today or for someone you know?

 

Questions for further study:
Is there someone whose faith is a concern to you?
Timothy was called God’s fellow worker. What does that mean?
How can you be God’s fellow worker?
Who can you strengthen and encourage in their faith today? How?
Who strengthens and encourages you in your faith? How?
In what way are you “unsettled” right now?
Do you know someone who is “unsettled” in their faith? How might God use you to help?
What trials or persecutions have you encountered as a Christian? How did you respond?
How did they affect your faith?
Who do you really have a heart for – to see their faith protected and grow? How can you help?
Who has been instrumental in helping your faith grow?
What measures can you take to protect your faith today? To protect someone else’s faith?

For further study: Ephesians 6; 2 Corinthians 5:7; 2 Corinthians 13:15.

BUILD UP THE FAITH (Read 1 Thessalonians 3:6-8)
When Jesus died on the cross and rose again, He became our salvation. When we receive Him and His sacrifice by faith it is not the end of the journey but the beginning. Once we enter that eternal relationship with God through Jesus, His will is to build upon it day by day. His aim is not to build an army of clones who march blindly checking off lists but a family of believers who become more and more like Him. No one is a finished product here on earth. No one’s faith will be complete until we see Jesus face to face.

 

How can you build up your faith and maybe even someone else’s faith today?
 

Seek the truth at every turn. Paul was in distress over the Thessalonians because he didn’t know the truth. He didn’t know whether they were doing great in the Lord or if they had been convinced that everything he said was a lie. Not knowing the truth is a harsh circumstance, and God has shown me that when I don’t know the truth about a situation, my faith often becomes shipwrecked. Rather than seeking God for the ability to see clearly I find myself supposing and playing the “what if” game. When we don’t understand a situation, the answer is not to guess. The answer is to seek God for His truth. More often than not, He alone knows.

We can’t build up our faith by wringing our hands in despair over a child’s continued disobedience or weeping uncontrollably over friend’s sudden cold shoulder. Find out the truth. What is really going on? And more importantly, what is God’s truth for this situation? How does God want us to respond and move forward?

Paul was twirling so many thoughts and ideas in his head. We all have those moments. Our peace is gone, our questions are many, and our understanding is blank. I just can’t get this thing off my mind. It’s because we need truth. We need some settlement in our spirit. It’s not about everything being resolved; it’s about light being shed, eyes being opened, and understanding being given.

 

The workplace is a prime target for these times of uncertainty. Gossip begins to filter in about layoffs and pay cuts. Supervisors avoid the lower level employees. The air becomes suffocating every day because of the unknown forces in the office. How will we respond? God’s challenge is to seek the truth. This lesson is not an encouragement to go bug everyone in the company until you become part of the problem. God is completely able to grant various insights in His own way. He may send a person from the inside or the outside. He may use a news report or simply speak directly to your spirit. Our job is to look for it, expect it, and trust Him for it in His timing and His way.

 

A word of caution: sometimes God’s truth for you at that moment may be that you don’t need to know anything else right now, or the truth may be extremely unpleasant. Yet, Jesus promised that the truth would set us free (John 8:32). 
 

Don’t seek only the truth about the circumstances but discover who He wants you to be in the midst of them. When that truth comes, allow it to build up your faith.

Surround yourself with those who help you grow. Paul was committed to this principle for himself and others. He sent Timothy because Timothy continually helped Paul to grow, and Paul knew he could easily help others. Your faith will be built especially through those who have spiritual gifts that differ from yours. They provide life to your spirit that you can get no other way.

 

The most meaningful part of our church service to me is the praise and worship time. I love to worship the Lord in song as other people lead the way. Our worship team is exceptional, and each week they lead me to such a sweet place with Jesus. Music ministers to me in a very unique way, and I thoroughly appreciate those who build up my spirit by sharing their musical gifts.

 

Many of you hunger for music in the same way that I do, but many of you, I’m sure, long to surround yourselves with those who impart other gifts such as giving, teaching, or wisdom. Invite these people into your life and accept their invitations as God leads and watch your faith build up daily!

Avoid bondage. So often the worry and “what ifs” completely sabotage our daily life. We become self-absorbed and unproductive. Paul took steps to alleviate these symptoms in his life and God encourages us to do the same. Build, build, build.
 

Incorporate God’s building materials into your everyday life. Paul lists several great building materials for our lives of faith, and throughout God’s Word you will find many more. In these verses alone he mentions good news, love, encouragement, fresh life, faithfulness, joy, thankfulness, and the presence of God.

 

I encourage you to study each one and find others in the scriptures, but let’s discuss the practical aspects of a few of them. Fresh life is one of my favorites. In verse 8, Paul says, “For now we really live…” Paul’s infusion of this fresh life came as a result of Timothy’s good report about the Thessalonians. Don’t you love it when God breathes on you so intensely that you know the moment has changed you? This phenomenon has happened in my life through music, as I mentioned previously, but also in other ways. The birth of each one of my children, the thrill of sharing God’s Word to audiences, and the joy of praying with a friend all come to mind. However, I’ve also experienced God’s fresh life through the simpler things like having a tea party with my daughter, baking for a friend when she was overwhelmed with guests, and washing my friend’s hair who was suffering from ALS. 
 

Find your fresh life. Now don’t go and try to copy mine! Not many people will receive a breath of fresh air washing an ALS patient’s hair. Find out God’s will for you. He alone can bring the fresh life or any other building material, for that matter. And He will do it as you seek to build up your faith.

 

Everyone gets flabby and tired and weak in their faith. Would you choose to take the steps to build up your faith?

 

Questions for further study:
In what situation do you need truth? What steps are you taking to discover the truth?
In what situation do you need to grow up? What choices can you make to go forward?
What person or situation or circumstances tend to put you in bondage or restrict your freedom?
How are you responding? How can you avoid bondage?
In what way are you building your faith?
What are your favorite spiritual building materials? How can you share them with others?
How can you build up your faith today and perhaps help someone else build theirs?
For further study: 1 Corinthians 8:1; Acts 20:32; 1 Corinthians 14:12; 1 Thessalonians 5:11; 1 Corinthians 3:9; 2 Corinthians 10:8; Ephesians 4:29.

Project Idea: Examine your spiritual diet. What are you “eating” daily that feeds your spirit? What needs to increase? What needs to be eliminated?

EXERCISE YOUR FAITH CONTINUALLY (Read 1 Thessalonians 3:7-13)

If you are at all familiar with physical body building you know that once you begin to build up that muscle and strength, you must continue to exercise in order to maintain it. Spiritual strength is no different. You begin with a commitment to protect it, build it up one step at time, and then you must exercise it regularly to keep it fit and firm! Going back to verse 7 again, Paul shares some very practical spiritual exercises.

 

Be intentional with your faith. We must look for opportunities to express our faith in real and tangible ways. Purpose in your heart to see God in every moment of your life. Paul is still in distress and suffering persecution, but focusing on the Thessalonians and embracing the encouragement related to them is a means of exercising his faith. Nothing has changed in his dreary circumstances, but in the spiritual realm Paul sees God moving mightily.

If we will apply our faith during the more joyful times, when difficulties and suffering come the exercise of that same faith will come as well. If our faith only works during the “happy days,” then our spirits are truly out of shape.

 

Look for ways to “really live.” For each muscle group, Logan has different exercises tailored to firm that area the most effectively. Explore the spiritual exercises that will tone certain areas of your faith. What spiritual exercise caused Paul to really live? Verse 8 says, “…since you are standing firm in the Lord.” Assisting the growth of new believers was life changing for Paul. Taking care of small children totally blesses my daughter. Opening God’s Word is one of the greatest joys of my life. What about you? What causes you to really live? Do it.

Make a conscious effort to stand firm. Be unmovable as God directs. There are certain weight-lifting and body-toning exercises that require you to hold a position. Usually the muscles start shouting their readiness for release before the instructor. To obtain the maximum benefit you must stand firm. God is our instructor in the faith. Sometimes He allows circumstances and situations that cause our spirit to cry out, “Too much!” Hold fast. Trust Him. He truly knows best.

Paul then goes on to list many other spiritual exercises that are fairly self-explanatory and very similar to (sometimes exactly the same as) the spiritual building materials mentioned earlier. An appropriate litmus test for discovering your most effective faith exercises is asking the question: what is it that when I stop doing it I feel the sagging or weakening of my spirit? Those are the exercises you need the most.

When we are on a break from Bible study, I become acutely aware of my need for Green Pastures! Though a good friend of mine enjoys her family’s summer vacations, her prayer time gets thoroughly interrupted, and she looks forward to returning to her “favorite prayer chair” at home.

 

Be thankful. I recommend this exercise at least three times per day.

Be joyful. I recommend this exercise as often as possible.

Pray. Paul’s recommendation for this exercise is found in 1 Thessalonians 5:17, “Pray continually.”

Look for opportunities to give or add to others’ faith. Be sure this exercise is led by the Lord.

Let God clear the way every day, all the time. He is the best exercise partner you will ever know.

Give and receive love. I am very flabby when it comes to receiving, and I can knock people out with my giving if I’m not careful!

Strengthen hearts to be set apart for Jesus in every way. The motivation for every exercise should be firming in God for God’s glory alone.

Fulfill God’s call. The words blameless and perfect mean fulfilling the purpose for which it was intended.

Focus on eternity. How can I exercise my faith today in a way that matters for eternity?

Questions for further study:
When do you find it difficult to exercise your faith?
When do you tend to “shine” in exercising your faith?
Paul said in verse 8, “now we really live.” What causes you to “really live”?
In what situation are you being especially challenged to stand firm in your faith?
What are you thankful for?
What brings you joy?
What does your prayer life look like?
How can you add to someone’s faith today?
How has someone added to your faith recently?
How can you increase and overflow in love today?
In what way does your heart need strengthening?
What do you do when you feel spiritually weak?
How can you focus on eternity in your daily life (at work, home, ballgames, etc.)?
What is your favorite “spiritual exercise”? What is your least favorite? Why?
What spiritual firming exercises would be helpful for you today?

For further study: Luke 7:1-9; Acts 14:8-16; Matthew 8:1-4; Matthew 8:5-10; Matthew 8:13; Matthew 8:23-27; Matthew 9:1-9; Matthew 9:18-22.

Project Idea: Develop a daily or weekly “spiritual exercise schedule” that includes planned times for prayer, praise, thankfulness, journaling, Bible study, Bible reading, scripture memorization, ministry, reflection, intercession, fasting, creativity, and other “spiritual exercises.” Caution: please don’t make this just another obligation or “to do” list. It is meant to serve as a tool to help you develop habits that protect, build up and exercise your faith! It should be a joy!