There is a tragic trend happening in our country. Many Americans are no longer associating themselves with Christianity. Although the United States is not a Christian nation, it had a majority that aligned with Christian values. If the trend continues, even those who claim to be Christians will be the minority. While society is forsaking faith and religion, this has no actual bearing on God’s plan for the elect (Matthew 24:22).

We have been learning about the true man of God. The man of God belongs to God and flees from ‘these things’, which is the love of money. The man of God pursues righteousness relentlessly. They also pursue godliness, which means they fear the Lord, worship Him and live according to His will.

Today, we will see that the man of God pursues faith.

Let’s make a clarification. Faith can mean saving faith or practical faith in daily living. Saving faith is the root and foundation of practical faith (John 1:11, Romans 3:22). We all need saving faith in Jesus to be forgiven. Faith by itself does not save. Jesus is the one who saves but it is through faith we receive that salvation.

While listening to Paul’s urging, we might think Timothy was a weak and struggling Christian. Timothy was actually a strong Christian whom Paul depended on. He was a hard-working servant of God that risked his life for the gospel. So when Apostle Paul tells Timothy to pursue faith it is not because Timothy is not a Christian or in sin and in need of rebuke. It is not saving faith that Paul is referring to.

What is faith then? Hebrews 11:1 says faith is the assurance of things not seen. It is confidence and hope in something we have not yet obtained. It is knowing without a doubt that we will get it. When you buy something new, you don’t really need faith that it will work, since it’s new. “Faith describes a firm persuasion, conviction, belief in the truth, veracity, reality or faithfulness. Faith is not just a mental assent but a firm conviction, a surrender to that truth, and a conduct emanating from or in accord with one’s surrender. In sum, faith shows itself genuine by a changed life. .” Acting like it will become what they are assured and convinced” – Anonymous

Biblical faith is more than just a blind trust that something will happen in the future. Biblical faith is different because of who and what that faith is put in.

Biblical faith is in God’s word. They were charged to read and outreach the word of God diligently with the goal of that teaching being a sincere faith (1 Timothy 1:5;4:14). Therefore a strong faith rests in the word of God. There are many difficult situations and times where we struggle but we must cling to the Bible because it is reliable and sufficient. “[Biblical] infallibility means unable to mislead or fail in accomplishing the divinely intended purpose.” – John Macarthur

Biblical faith also places its faith in Jesus (Galatians 2:20). It realizes the love of Jesus and trusts in the life of Jesus. Without Jesus we cannot have faith or grow it since Jesus is the author and perfecter of it (Hebrews 12:2). Our faith and its pursuit depend on Jesus. We must be like the woman in Mark 5:28 who thought, “If I just touch His garments, I will get well.” May we seek Christ desperately for a touch.

Faith trusts in God’s promises. Not one of the good promises which the Lord had made to the house of Israel failed; all came to pass (Joshua 21:45). Those who know God’s promises can rely on God for He will surely fulfill them. In summary, “Faith is believing that Christ is what He is said to be and that He will do what He has promised to do, and then to expect this of Him.” – Charles Spurgeon.

Characteristics of pursuing faith

• When things happen, you respond with faith first. If you respond with your emotions or man-made ideas then it’s too late. A biblical faith reacts by faith. “Faith is a refusal to panic” – Martyn Lloyd Jones. Remember the disciples in the storm. They tried to survive on their own and only when they were about to die did they cry out to Jesus. So Jesus rebuked them for a lack of faith. He was with them, they merely had to turn to Him.
• Biblical faith is faithful in any circumstance. There are those who try to sell faith calling it ‘seed faith’. They say by giving money in faith, God would reward you multiple times over. This is deceitful and false. Biblical faith rests in the word of God alone. It remains steadfast despite how the situation turns out and it endures to the end (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
• Biblical faith is a growing faith. Faith is like a muscle, if you don’t exercise it, it will grow weak. But if you keep using it then it will grow stronger. Exercising faith understands that God loves us and turns to Him in our time of need. Even though Jesus experienced such suffering and pain, alone on the cross, He turned to the Father. Not only do we have the Father, but also the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:16-18). The Spirit is with us and we walk with Him. Do not grieve the Holy Spirit but repent.

How do you grow your faith? A growing faith is a faith that bears fruit. To grow your faith, examine your love for God. Love God more and more, think about God and meet Him in the Word and prayer. Also, ask yourself, “Do you love your brothers?” True faith loves both God and man (1 John 4:20).

Another sign of growing faith is a willingness to forgive others. The disciples asked for more faith after Jesus told them to forgive (Luke 17:4-5). To forgive is to be like Christ. Christ forgives us and we in turn forgive others. To not forgive is to forget the gospel, to ignore the salvation that we claim.

Without faith, we cannot receive any blessing from God. Without faith, the kingdom of God doesn’t advance and the church does not grow. Without faith, everything is sin. However, by faith, we can please God. What an amazing blessing, that through faith, we can actually please the holy God. Faith turns our rags into radiance. By faith, we are God’s elect and we show the world how great He is to us. Faith is not so we can have a better life. We pursue faith because we pursue Jesus Christ and we might obtain Him.

As Paul refers to Timothy as a “man of God,” every genuine and healthy Christian owns this blessed title. According to Paul’s letter to Timothy, the man of God has certain hallmarks. He flees from worldliness and the love of money while pursuing the character of Jesus Christ. As an introduction to Paul’s instruction to Timothy, we will delve further into the nature of the man of God’s pursuit of Jesus. 

What does it mean to pursue?

To pursue is to desire and follow after something with zeal and intention. Our pursuit of Jesus is to be relentless and focused. 

Why is it important to pursue Christ?

• The act of pursuing is a sign of life. Before we met Christ, we were dead in sin. We pursued everything but Christ. But since we were born again by a supernatural act of God, we began to pursue the living God. (Ps 42:1-2)
• Pursuing Christ is how we experience the kingdom of God. Living in the kingdom of God is embodied by our pursuits. Jesus never denied that we need material things, but He taught that all our priorities are to be second to Himself. 

Why are we not joyfully pursuing Christ?

• We may be spiritually blind. As soon as a person sees Jesus spiritually, he pursues Him in godliness and worship. 
• We may be spiritually lazy. Laziness is a deadly sin. We live in a country that is abundantly blessed in physical wealth, but this may hinder us from diligently pursuing Jesus. We must guard against being physically successful while being spiritually impoverished. Spiritual laziness is evidenced by a lack of excitement for worship, a lack of diligence in seeking God’s wisdom in His Word, a lack of prayer, and a relentless focus on worldly things.
• We may be spiritually unhealthy. If you fail to prioritize the Bible, you are guaranteed to become weak. Those who are spiritually healthy remain strong and active by the Word of God that strengthens them. Contrary to what many people might believe, the Bible is not too difficult to understand (context provides insight to the text), the Bible is not meant only for pastors to handle, and church attendance can not replace personal reading and study of the Bible. Every believer needs God’s Word as much as physical nourishment. Without the Bible, it is impossible to be transformed to think theologically. 
• We may be ignorant of the Holy Spirit. Every believer is a temple of God. We must work with the Holy Spirit every day to pursue Christ and grow in Him. You can not honor the Holy Spirit unless you love the Word of God because He is the author of the Bible and He uses the Bible to speak to us. Understand how vital it is to have the Holy Spirit dwell within you. He is the source of life in our spiritual lives. 

Christians ought not to be restful until they pursue Christ. As we continue this sermon series in Paul’s letter, we will learn how the man of God is to pursue the character of Jesus Christ. 

During the season of Thanksgiving, most of us tend to focus on giving thanks. However, when we only focus on giving thanks for the good things in and of themselves, that becomes idolatry. Rather, we must give thanks to the giver of all good things – the LORD. This attitude leads to enjoying giving thanks biblically.

Christians are to give thanks to the LORD because he is good. The LORD is good because he is above all and full of glory; therefore, deserves all our glory, honor, and praise. God is also good as the giver of all good things. “The goodness of God is that which dispose Him to be kind, cordial, benevolent, and full of goodwill toward men. He is tenderhearted and of quick symphony, and his unfailing attitude toward all moral beings is open, frank, and friendly. By His nature, He is inclined to bestow blessedness and he takes total pleasure in the happiness of His people” (A.W. Tozer). And the epitome of God’s goodness and love was demonstrated on the cross when Christ died for us while we were still sinners (Rom 5:8).

In God’s goodness, he gives many gifts. He gifts Christians direct and immediate access to himself. As his own children, the Spirit himself intercedes on our behalf. God also gives us ultimate purpose because he loves us, and we love him (Rom 8:28). Lastly, we are able to die well. History shows most people do not die well. Spurgeon once said, “Sudden death leads to sudden glory”. It is indeed far more precious to be with him in glory! This reality produces bold character for those that have tasted God’s goodness personally.

Christians are to give thanks to the LORD also for his everlasting lovingkindness. Lovingkindness is explained quite well by D.A. Carson: “Lovingkindness is a word found in older, more traditional versions of the English Bible, such as the King James and the New American Standard. The Hebrew word most often translated as ‘lovingkindness’ is checked, which literally means ‘covenant loyalty.’ Most newer English translations of the Bible substitute more common English words such as faithfulness, unfailing love, mercy, or good favor. All of these are viable substitutions, but, as with many Hebrew words, checked has no exact match in English.” God is lovingkindness.

God’s lovingkindness is what makes salvation possible and available for the sinner. God’s lovingkindness is active and responsive toward us (Ps 25:10). The Lord is most active in his communication through the reading of his Word. And it is by his lovingkindness we are able to pray according to his will with boldness and faith.

When God’s lovingkindness is working and active in one’s life, it is evident in unceasingly talking about the Lord Jesus Christ to others. Therefore, as we personally experience the Lord’s faithful love toward us, we are ready to share and cannot be silent. The psalmist sings of the lovingkindness of the Lord forever (Ps 89:1) and the Apostle Paul believed; therefore, he spoke (2 Cor 4:13). In the same manner, Christians today are called to repent of idolatry and acknowledge the giver of goodness and lovingkindness. As a result, Christians can faithfully live out their faith under all circumstances.

Nicknames are not real names but names given to a person based on something about them. Some nicknames are serious like the nazi Klaus Barbie who was called the ‘Butcher’ for massacring Jews and others. Most nicknames are fun like the pro basketball player Donovan ‘Spida’ Mitchell describing his style of playing. Some Christians earn the nickname ‘man of God’ because of how they lived. In the Old Testament, we have examples such as Moses and David. In 1 Timothy 6:11 apostle Paul addresses the man of God, speaking specifically to Timothy. However, that term can be generally applied to all Christians, both male and female.

Characteristics of the man of God

The man of God is called. Moses was called to lead the people of Israel and David was called to be king. You are also called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28-30). You are called to serve, specifically as ambassadors for Christ, to proclaim the gospel message to the world (2 Corinthians 5:19-20). We have been created and saved for God, to serve him and give him the glory.

However, we must realize, the man of God is imperfect. Even Moses doubted repeatedly though God personally called him and spoke to him (Exodus 4:1). We are also not perfect and we confess our sins every day. Nevertheless, the man of God is faithful. They use what the Lord has given to them to serve their master (Matthew 25:23).

The man of God faces suffering. Moses endured a lot of hardship at the hands of the people he was called to lead (Numbers 11:14-15). It is expected that Christians who are godly will face suffering (2 Tim 3:12). This is the result of pursuing godliness and faithfulness. It is not a smooth and comfortable position but we must pursue it right because we are called.

Additionally, we are called a people of God (1 Peter 2:10). A people of God means, individually, we are the man of God. God is the one who gives us that name. We cannot call ourselves the man of God unless God does so.

What does the man of God do? Apostle Paul says, ‘Flee from these things’. The verb tense of the verb ‘flee’ means that the Christian is to be constantly fleeing. It is not a one-time thing or only when necessary. It denotes a constant urgency in our lives. We should flee like Joseph and Mary fleeing Bethlehem to avoid Herod’s edict to massacre all the babies (Matthew 2:13). Fleeing means we do not debate or negotiate. Joseph in the Old Testament fled from his master’s wife without hesitation, even leaving his clothes behind.

What are the things we are to flee from? “These things” is referring to verses 3-5. Flee from false teachers and any type of false teaching. Jesus also gave similar warnings (Matthew 7:15). You must flee from false teachers because they sound good in the beginning but underneath they are wolves. Be especially mindful of the prosperity gospel peddlers. Their message has a mix of truth and in the beginning they sound good but underneath it all, they are after money. In John 18 during Jesus’ arrest and trial, Jesus was alone throughout the whole ordeal. No one, not even his disciples, not the priests, not Pilate, no one was standing beside him. Yet, Jesus stood with the truth and testified to the truth (John 18:36-37). So flee from falsehood and stand in the truth.

True godliness is from contentment In 1 Timothy:6-10 explains the goodness of contentment and folly of greed. The man of God firmly understands and rests in the goodness of God. They are always content with what God gives. You must flee from the love of money. It is idolatry. If we serve money we are serving the creature, not the Creator. Money (currency) started as a way to buy or sell goods instead of bartering. It started with a good purpose. In fact, money in itself is neutral. Lots of saints of old and even today have money. The problem with money is coveting.

Jesus never said money is evil and that Christians should be poor. Instead, we should care for the poor. We provide financial support for our churches and those who need it. Many women supported both Jesus and Paul financially. Earning money is a godly principle for the worker deserves his wage (Luke 10:7).

The problem is the love of money. How many tragedies and crimes have been committed because of money. So many families broken, people murdered, wars waged, and people oppressed. People believe money has the power to do anything (Ecclesiastes 10:19) so they will go to great lengths to get more of it. People worship money and put their trust in it. The love and endless pursuit of money reveal the destructive power of sin. Coveting money is wicked idolatry. Jesus clearly states in Matthew 6:24 you cannot serve God and wealth.

The man of God must be content. God knows you need all these things (Matthew 6:32). We should be like John Wesley, never holding on tightly to our money but always quick to use it for the Lord.

Why must we flee from money? Because of money, many have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs (1 Timothy 6:10). By not fleeing from money, it reveals that their salvation is not complete. The rich young ruler also lacked in this very thing (Mark 10:25). Demas also deserted the faith (2 Timothy 4:10). We are created to glorify God and enjoy Him fully. If we serve money then our salvation is incomplete and we cannot enjoy God.

The love of money hinders our sanctification. Ananias and Saphira lied to the church and to the Holy Spirit because they wanted to keep a little money (Acts 5:1-2). Sanctification is a ‘separation from all that is unclean, with an unreserved and exclusive devotement to the Lord’ – A. W. Pink. Those who love money try to blend both God and money instead of serving God wholeheartedly.

Dear Christian, remember that money cannot bring happiness. Our Lord Jesus was the happiest and blessed even though He had nowhere to lay his head. There are countless examples of the wealthy being unhappy. Even the richest men admit that their joy does not come from their riches. Do not pursue it. What should we do instead? We invest in the Kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 6:19-21). We are given a unique and wonderful opportunity to invest our time and money and energy in the Lord. It’s not a sacrifice because God will give a greater return.

There are ways to tell if you are fleeing or not. If you are obsessed with money more than the gospel then you are not fleeing. The gospel is worth much more and yet you are obsessed with other things. Those who are not satisfied with money are not fleeing it. Those who overspend are not fleeing. Remember that God is the one who gives you what you have (Deuteronomy 8:18). Those who have a divided heart. For example, serving God on Sunday but serving money on weekdays. Check to see who sits on the throne of your heart. Those who gain money through illegal or sordid means. Apostle Paul rebuked the Corinthian church because they made money at the expense of their brothers (1 Corinthians 6:7-8). We must check our hearts and lives for these signs, to see if we are fleeing or not.

In conclusion, God says, we have brought nothing into this world, so we can take nothing out of it either (1 Timothy 6:7). So do not love the things of this world and do not commit idolatry by serving them. While we are alive, we are simply God’s stewards, to use the things we have been given wisely and for His glory.

As the gospel is preached and believed, it bears fruit, resulting in a thriving church. The Thessalonian church is an example of a thriving church. They are bold to speak out the truth as they labor relentlessly for the gospel. They are sanctified and holy, and divinely confident from knowing God is with them in all circumstances. We conclude this series on what makes a thriving church as we look at how the Thessalonians are God-fearing and loving. 

The thriving church is God-fearing.

The thriving church knows that God examines the heart, and is therefore sincere in truth before Him. Paul reveals in his letter to the Thessalonians that he is always aware of living before the eyes of God- the thriving church lives this way as well. As the living and true God, He is our witness, and nothing escapes His sight. All things happen according to His Will, so we can take comfort in knowing that no suffering is in vain. 

The Bible requires two or three witnesses for a testimony to be accepted. God sees and hears all things as three persons- Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. He will testify in the end as the Judge over all men. Men ought to fear God as they remember God witnesses all thoughts and every day of their lives will be taken into account at the judgment.

As God is our witness, how can we be a witness to the world?

We must live by faith in Jesus Christ. To be a better witness in every aspect- in our marriages, relationships, and workplaces- we must seek God first.

The thriving church is loving and caring.

Paul cared for the Thessalonian church with tenderness like a nurturing mother, and the church did the same for one another. We must care for our brothers and sisters as well as for unbelievers. The essence of the gospel is the love of God. With humility and compassion, we care for one another through the gospel. Jesus commanded us to love one another- in His love for us, we must practice the love and care of God as the only hope in this passing world.

The thriving church is the fruit of the gospel. Remember the gospel- always thinking of Jesus, who died and is still alive.

In prior weeks, we learned that a thriving church is set free by the gospel of Jesus Christ. As a result, the marks of a true church are its boldness to proclaim the gospel and its holiness. This week, we will learn that the church must also be internally strong because it is full of confidence. The church must also be centered on God; that is, to be a God-fearing church.

The thriving church is divinely confident because they have been approved by God. When God’s approval leaves a lasting impact to serve him until the end as the Apostle Paul did (2 Tim 4:7). There was nothing in Paul that allowed him to finish well, but by the will of God, he was able. In other words, those that are called and sent by the Lord Jesus Christ to serve (1 Tim 1:12). In contrast, those that do not last were never approved or tested by God.

The thriving church is entrusted with the gospel. God specially and specifically choose those to be entrusted with the gospel because they know its true value (Gal 1:8-9). God chose the church before the foundation of the world to be his workmanship (Eph 2:10). As the Apostle Paul understood his anointing as created in Christ Jesus for good works, the church today is no different. Thus, it is vital that each church member understands that God has been called to do his good works.

Moreover, being sent by God we are ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor 5:20). Apostle Paul’s gospel he preached is the same gospel we preach today. The only question we must ask ourselves is if we have been faithful to proclaiming the gospel.

The thriving church is God-fearing. The church proclaims the gospel, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts (v 4b). The world and culture around us constantly tempt the church to please them and not God. No matter how difficult circumstances might be, the Lord encourages them as Christ himself has overcome the world. In addition, the church must not “fear those that might be able to kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell” (Matt 10:28).

Fearing God in obedience and having confidence in God is a true mark of a thriving church. It is by God’s grace and his word, the church continues to thrive and grow whereas those that are without the restraints of grace and the preached word, they become worse and worse (C.H. Spurgeon).

In this series, we have been talking about the church. Many people distance themselves from the church and think that church matters are not their matters. But we must realize that we, the believers, are the church and we must hold onto the church. The church is a body of those saved by God’s grace. A thriving church is the most wonderful thing on earth.

That being said, there is no such thing as a perfect church. Each church has its negative aspects and consists of imperfect members. This is reality, no church is perfect. While there is still sin in this world, sin will also be found in the church. But there are churches that are thriving. They are united in their kingdom work and they are growing in both faith and numbers. They faithfully follow the Apostles and the Lord Jesus Christ(1 Thessalonians 2:5-6).

Last week, we learned that the thriving church is bold and striving. They are not ashamed of the gospel but firmly proclaim Jesus as the only way to be saved (Romans 1:16). A true church sincerely believes there is nothing more precious and wonderful than the gospel of Jesus Christ. Therefore, they labor hard to be used by God. We cannot change men’s hearts but we can be God’s tools which he uses to minister to the world. Even being thrown into prison did not deter the early church from working together to share the gospel (Acts 4:23).

The gospel is holy. In 1 Thessalonians 2:3, Paul explains that his gospel did not come from error, impurity, or deceit. Their teaching was not false or heretical. Even though he was not part of the original 12 disciples and had a past of persecuting the church, he still preached the true gospel under the commission of Jesus (Acts 9:15). Apostle Paul taught with pure motives, only desiring the salvation of all sinners everywhere (Romans 9:2-3). His laboring and proclaiming was a genuine love for the Lord and the lost. Paul never worked for money or any earthly gain (1 Timothy 6:10, Philippians 3:8).

The point is that Apostle Paul was a holy man because of the gospel. The gospel causes a man to be holy in the first place but is also continually sanctifying a man in practical holiness. Holiness is different from morality. Holiness comes from God. It is the conformity of one’s heart, mind, and actions to God’s word. God is holy, without sin or defect, completely apart from all created things. The church too is called out of the world to be holy. Holiness is not merely being a nice and good person. It is a practice of what God desires and neglect of what he hates.

How can we be holy? It begins with being washed by the blood of Jesus. Practical holiness begins with the complete justification of Jesus Christ.

Why does the church need to be holy? Because it is the will of God (1 Thessalonians 4:3). We’re always wondering what the will of God is. The will of God could not be more clear to the believer. It is to be holy. If you are not pursuing holiness, then you are resisting the will of God. If you are not holy and have no interest in holiness, if you have been a slave to sin for a long time, then you should question your salvation. Before you were a Christian, you were dead in your sins, but now you have the life of Jesus. Jesus’ holy life is transferred to you. Does it make sense that this wonderful new eternal life gifted to you in Jesus Christ would not be holy? A dark and sinful life is the very thing Jesus rescued us from by dying on the cross as a blameless sacrifice. A holy life is what we are given and what we are saved to.

The thriving church is holy because God and His people are holy. The Old Testament can be summarized as “God is holy”. The New Testament can be summarized as “So are we”. The church is so wonderfully blessed. We are called the children of God. There is nothing quite like the church. It is a heavenly family where the holy God is our Father and we are His most precious children. At the foundation of this purest and good relationship is holiness.

We must not only be holy because God is holy, but also because impurity ruins the reputation of both God and the church (1 Corinthians 5:1,5). This is a really tragic problem in churches today. Especially the immorality happening in many churches today. Sin and a lack of holiness rob the church of its power. The strength of the church and its power to influence the world around it is rooted in holiness. A holy church can face persecution and even death because it knows that holiness is worth more than the comforts of this world. Remember Jesus resisting Satan’s temptations in the wilderness and Apostle Paul who claimed to “To live is Christ, and to die is gain”. (Philippians 1:21).

Holiness must be our first priority. We must be in our Bibles every day to learn and obey. We must follow Christ. We are called to be the salt and light of the world. It is of utmost importance that we diligently pursue holiness in this world. The church has failed miserably in epic proportions. Satan has succeeded in tempting so many Christians. Without being holy we are not pleasing God nor are we following His will. It doesn’t matter how big your church is and what it has accomplished. The church must be holy.

When going through suffering, if we do not wish to perish, we must follow the Word of God (Psalm 119:92). A holy person delights in the word of God. With a sincere interest in God’s word, we know who God is. We are convinced and convicted by God’s word that His word is the truth, that Jesus is more important and more valuable than anything, and to follow Him is the right and only thing to do. Only Jesus saves us and can lead us in this dark world. How can you survive in this foolish and corrupt society? Only by trusting in God’s word. A holy church that rests in God’s word can fight and overcome this evil world.

So ask yourself every day, am I following Jesus? Is my life conforming to His likeness? Remember a thriving church is a holy church. Our God is above all and is the true and living God. He is the holy God and we are his church.

The Thessalonian church was an exemplary thriving church. This passage from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians teaches us the characteristics of a faithful church. 

The thriving church is a fearless church.

Although Paul and Silas endured severe persecution because of the gospel, they were bold to continue sharing the gospel with the Thessalonians. Paul’s boldness came from his union with Christ (Eph 3:12) and the Thessalonians imitated him in his bravery to speak out the gospel.

We need to be reminded of the gospel every day. The gospel achieved for us what we could never do ourselves- it made us right with God. To be bold is to be willing to speak out the gospel despite any opposition or persecution. This kind of boldness comes from Jesus. Is your union with Christ operating in your life every day to be bold with the gospel?

The thriving church is a striving church. 

The Thessalonian church imitated Paul and Silas by laboring relentlessly. They strived by being fervent in prayer. Prayer cultivates your spirit amid any physical hardships. If you desire to be a faithful church member, you must pray earnestly every day. Paul, Silas, and the Thessalonians also strived by being deeply devoted to Christ. They put aside all spiritual encumbrances and prioritized Jesus over all things. Faithful churches today- especially those that face harsh persecution- thrive because they are willing to lose everything for the sake of Christ. 

Like the Thessalonians, we have been saved by the same gospel and have received the same commission to boldly make disciples of all nations. Let us strive to be fearless and faithful to deliver the life-giving gospel message to the lost. 

Death is a reality and happens every day. In the case of the death of Jairus’ daughter, she died like any other person in history. But Jesus raised her up and she became alive immediately at his command. In the same manner, there is spiritual death all around. Everyone is born a sinner, separated from God, and spiritually dead. Jesus is the only person that can deliver the spiritually dead by raising them up to spiritual life. This makes Jesus the indisputable deliverer as demonstrated in raising up Jairus’ daughter.

Every person is born in sin and cannot separate themselves from it and its power. The power of sin prevents most people from believing in Jesus Christ. But Christ redeems us from the power of sin and became the curse for us as our substitute (Gal. 3:13). For this reason, Jesus is our guarantee to the Father as the indisputable Savior.

After Jesus raised Jairus’ daughter from death, he also shows himself as Lord of all things as he provides food to eat. Jesus commands something to be given to her to eat (v 55). By doing this, Jesus demonstrates himself to be the indisputable Shepherd who puts his children under his care. All must seek the care of the Lord Jesus Christ for both their spiritual and physical needs. The Lord provides abundantly to those he gives life (Jn. 10:10b; Ps. 23:1). The Lord Jesus sees all sinners as living without a Shepherd and is compassionate (Matt. 9:36). Without the Shepherd, people live in darkness and in constant danger.

Jesus is not only a Shepherd to those that believe in him, but he is the faithful Shepherd. Before the foundation of the world, the Lord knew his sheep and came down from heaven to die for them (Rom. 5:8).

Jesus is also the knowledgeable Shepherd. The Lord knows the needs of his sheep and gives according to his perfect will. In the end, not only does he provide everything believers need, but he also knows what is best for them. Even though sometimes it is hard to understand what God may be doing in a believer’s life, Christians must trust him because he is the omniscient Shepherd.

Moreover, Jesus is the diligent Shepherd. Even earthly parents are unable to care for their children 24/7 and know all their thoughts and needs. But the Lord is diligent to seek out his sheep by protecting and providing for them.

The Lord instructs the girl’s parents not to tell anyone what had happened (v 56). What is the reason here? Jesus raised the dead and he did not want anyone to seek him solely as a faith healer. This kind of seeking prevents people from seeking a Savior to save them from their sins, but only desire physical healing. Jesus did not want to be misunderstood as he witnessed many withdrawing and not walking with him after a while (Jn. 6:66).

God desires all to know Jesus exactly for who he is – Savior and Lord. Throughout history, many attempted to paint Jesus as something else. Some religions claim that Jesus is not enough to save (I.e., Jesus plus works). Jesus alone indisputably shows he alone is enough to save as the Deliverer, Shepherd, and only Savior.

A messenger came to deliver the tragic news that Jairus’ daughter had just died. Imagine how Jairus must have felt. It was too late now. If only Jesus had not stopped to restore the sick woman. In this moment of deep sorrow and despair, Jesus speaks to Jairus. He comforts this grieving father, telling Jairus not to fear but believe. 

They arrive at Jairus’ home and there are mourners weeping. This means they are preparing for the daughter’s burial.  There is no hope in this situation where death has already come. No matter how sick, as long as she was alive, there might have been hope for healing. But death is understood as final. Yet Jesus is the indisputable Deliver and He will prove He is the Lord of Lords and King of kings. That not even death can withstand Jesus’ saving power.

Like the mourners, many doubt Jesus is the Son of God and the Bible as Word of God. They test and challenge the Scriptures for the sake of philosophy and science. They might acknowledge a historical Jesus who was a good teacher but they deny the Biblical Jesus. Yet the Bible is true and God’s Word will never be broken. It is only through the Bible we know who Jesus is, the indisputable Deliverer who has conquered sin and death.

Only Jesus has overcome death. He has raised people from the dead and He raised from death Himself. Jairus’ situation is similar to what happened with Lazarus. Lazarus was very sick yet Jesus didn’t rush to his side to heal him. Only after Lazarus died, did Jesus go. Martha said if only Jesus had come sooner, her brother might not have died. However, Jesus’ intention was, ‘This sickness is not to end in death, but for the glory of God, so that the Son of God may be glorified by it’ (John 11:4).

The girl died after being very sick. We must realize, sickness and the frailty of life is ultimately the result of sin. Sin brought sickness and death to all the world. We all share in our depravity which is also why we will all die one day. However Jesus is the sinless one (Hebrews 4:15). Being without sin, Jesus can deal with sickness and death. Jairus most likely had spent a lot of money to try to heal his daughter but none of them worked. Money cannot overcome sin and depravity. Nothing in this world can stop sin’s ruin and destruction. 

Jesus took her by the hand.(Luke 8:54) He acts with love and power by taking her by the hand. (Exodus 6:6) Jesus then spoke ‘Child, arise’. The dead cannot hear or do anything. Yet by His word, Jesus creates the life of this little girl. Jesus is God in the flesh, equal in power and authority (Colossians 1:16). By taking her lifeless hand and speaking to her, Jesus resurrects Jairus’ back to life. 

In Luke 8:55, it says her spirit returned. This means she’s alive again! A person cannot live without their spirit. No spirit means no life. (Luke 23:46) When Jesus spoke, the spirit returned immediately. (Mark 5:41,42) Every time Jesus raised the dead, they were made alive immediately. The same is for our conversion.  Whoever is touched by Jesus is made alive immediately. Our dead spirits are made alive (Ephesians 2:1). Can you imagine how joyful Jairus was to see his daughter alive again? That is our joy as well when we are saved. 

Why don’t we appreciate God’s salvation fully?

• We take salvation for granted. God makes salvation seem so easy. It is a free gift, so people don’t think it is precious. But salvation comes from an unsearchable and infinite God who gives wonderful and incomprehensible salvation. The truth is, we are all sinners who continually hated God yet God saves us. Even angels are not offered the gospel, yet it is given to us (1 Peter 1:12). The saving work of Jesus is worth more than anything in this world. Nothing can satisfy except for the gospel (Philippians 3:7-8). It is truly the most precious and amazing gift. I pray our appreciation for the gospel grows every day.
• We misunderstand success. Do not be confused as to what true success is. Success is to know God, to have our souls saved and receive eternal life (John 17:3, Matthew 16:26). To put it another way, failure is God’s judgment and eternal punishment in hell. Yet, foolishly, many receive the gospel and then put it aside to pursue earthly success. It is foolish to pursue money or fame to satisfy God’s judgment and our own desires. Only Jesus can fulfill both. That is why the primary blessing of salvation is the full forgiveness of our sins. Every single sin is completely justified through Jesus’ death from the beginning and forever. Since we are now made righteous, we also enjoy a restored relationship with God. God is with us. What more do we need? We must realize this great blessing as we live our lives. 
• We don’t conquer our sins. We are still plagued by the sins we had from our former lives. Once we are saved, we have Jesus and we are able to conquer sin through Him. We cannot be perfect but we have the promise of sanctification. Through prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit, we can mortify our sins. 
• We forget our past. We were dead in our sins (Ephesians 2:1-3). Our past was not a pleasant past. We act like the Israelites who thought it was better as slaves in Egypt than free in the wilderness heading towards the promised land. Do not yearn for your past. There is nothing good in our hearts there. It was our salvation that gave us hope and a new life. Why would we want to die again?

Therefore, live your life by faith. By faith, we taste the goodness of Jesus’ salvation. Jesus defeated death, conquered sin and rescued us. Abide in Him and your joy will be complete.