God is faithful and will always be faithful. Faithfulness means “trust” in the Hebrew root word. The same root word is used in Scripture when Jesus says “truly, truly” or “amen”. God is perfectly loyal and consistent to His name. “If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself” (2 Tim. 2:13). In other words, if God does not remain faithful, He is no longer God. God manifests His faithfulness in a myriad of ways, and Pastor Paul will navigate through various texts in Scripture for today’s message.

God’s faithfulness is shown as He is not like man. God cannot lie as man does (Num. 23:19). God is pre-existent and infinite while man is finite. Even in man’s lowest moment of faithlessness, God cannot deny Himself and never abandons His own.

God’s faithfulness is demonstrated through Jesus Christ. Jesus is God incarnate. Jesus’ faithfulness to the Father shows complete trust in His own nature. Jesus’ faithfulness is verified and affirmed by the Father as Christ was highly exalted (Phil. 2:9-11).

God’s faithfulness will continue in the new year as He always has (Ps. 119:90). “He is before all things, and in Him all things hold together” (Col. 1:17). One of God’s continual faithfulness is proven by His forgiveness of sin to those that confess in history, present time, or in the future (1 Jn. 1:9). God also shows His love to the church as He continues to forgive sin until her glorification.

As the new year is here, Christians are encouraged to be resolved to the following in light of the knowledge of God’s faithfulness.

• The Christian is to be faithful unto Him. As the new year is here, the believer is commanded to be loyal and committed to the Lord by living through faith. “Faith looks at God. Faith is interested in God only, and it talks about God, and it praises God and it extols the virtues of God. The measure of the strength of a man’s faith, always, is ultimately the measure of his knowledge of God. He knows God so well that he can rest on the knowledge. And it is the prayers of such a man that are answered” (Martyn Lloyd Jones).
• The Christian must be faithful to God’s Word. If salvation comes from hearing the word of God, what other good things would come from continued reading and hearing of God’s Word? God’s Word never fails.
• The Christian must be faithful to one another. Faithfulness to the brethren is demonstrated through loving and laboring for the building up of one another. One of the sure spiritual gifts the Spirit gives to all believers is love. Love can be shown through grace and pure character.
• The Christian must be faithful to the world. Whether it is family, work, or other worldly matters, the believer is to glorify God and gospel-centered. The believers’ intention in all circumstances must be to declare the gospel of Jesus Christ.
• The Christian must be faithful to their biblical identities. In the different roles the believer is called upon such as being a spouse and parent, one must act in the Lord. When the Christian is not faithful to the Lord in their God-given roles, anything can become an idol.

As God has proven to be faithful, the Christian’s response to this reality is to trust in Him and know that He will bring victory in the end. “God’s work done in God’s way will never lack God’s supply” (Hudson Taylor).

We continue our study of the man of God. Every believer is called a man of God. The final two traits that a man of God should pursue are perseverance and gentleness. These two traits are most wonderfully embodied in Jesus Christ. Overall, 1 Timothy 6:11 is like a spiritual boot camp. Because verse 12 explains that Christians are in a spiritual fight. We are in conflict with the world and sin. So we must be well trained in the attributes listed in verse 11 so we can be warriors which fight the good fight.

Perseverance. The perseverance here is not the ‘perseverance of the saints’ which means ‘once saved always saved’. Perseverance is related to patience. Patience is self-restraint. Someone who is quickly angered is impatient. God was patient with the complaining Israelites in the wilderness. He restrained His righteous anger. Similarly, perseverance is the remaining steadfast under pressure. Perseverance is not merely staying calm but also trying to make things work. The persevering man not only endures but presses forward despite the circumstances (Genesis 47:8-9).

It is the Christian’s fate to pursue perseverance. The Christian has chosen the narrow door, not the wide door. We take up our cross. We follow God’s will. Our Lord Jesus entered that narrow gate first. Though He had nowhere to lay his head (Luke 9:58), He pursued the cross with perseverance. That perseverance eventually resulted in the resurrection.

Perseverance is a hallmark of true Christianity. The nominal Christian will not pursue perseverance. It is the good soil that bears fruit with perseverance (Luke 8:15). Starting is easy but finishing well is hard. We know so many who claimed to be Christians but abandoned the faith. Even the seasoned Christian has to be aware and alert to persevere. We must persevere. Many will hate us because of Jesus (Mark 13:13). Additionally, suffering is everywhere. We don’t know what we may face but by perseverance, we enter the kingdom of Heaven (Acts 14:22). We do not persevere by our own strength. The love of God has been poured out on us through the Holy Spirit (Romans 5:35). This is our strength and source of perseverance.

Self-denial is the key to perseverance. Jesus said if you want to come after me you must deny yourself. This must be done first. Self-denial is saying no to our own will and saying yes to God’s. Mary was in danger of shame and exile for having a baby out of wedlock (Luke 1:38). Yet she persevered through the social dangers by submitting to God’s will. We also are commissioned as workers for God. We should not forget that we do not serve an earthly master but God himself. We are sent by God to make disciples. It’s not just the missionaries or pastors, but all of us have been commissioned by God. Remember the seriousness of our task and persevere. To help with your perseverance, remember that this is not our final home but we are pilgrims, heading toward the city of Zion. Romans 8:18

Gentleness. Gentleness might come naturally with age. It could also be associated with humility. Biblical humility acknowledges moral indebtedness to God. Humility abandons confidence in self but places faith in God.

Gentleness is different from humility. It is meekness. Meekness is not a weakness. Meekness is inner strength with outer boldness. Gentleness/meekness is having the ability but choosing not to do it. It is power under control. Think about Jesus Christ who was always being challenged by the people wherever he went and suffering at their hands. Think about his trials before going to the cross. He is the Messiah and the King of Kings (Mt 26:64, John 18:37). Yet He was beaten, flogged, and mocked. He didn’t exercise His authority but simply acknowledged what they said.

Today’s society is plagued by suicide. So many people cannot accept hard truths or circumstances. So they look for an escape. They cannot endure the hardships in life because they lack meekness. So they tragically end their own lives. Others lash out due to criticisms or injustices. They take their revenge in anger, hatred, and violence (Romans 12:19) because they lack gentleness.

The Christian has the source of meekness, the Holy Spirit. Gentleness is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. We have the promise but we must pursue it to manifest it in our lives. The Holy Spirit is God and He is with us, leading us and guiding us, helping us, and comforting us. It is truly wonderful to walk with the Holy Spirit through His word. As we understand that God has caused our circumstances, then we can trust in the Lord and His gentleness. Though our situation might seem harsh and unfair, if we know that the Lord is ultimately behind it, then we can bear it in gentleness (2 Samuel 16:7,11)

Beloved, you are not weak. As a child of God, you have the Holy Spirit. You are able to persevere and act in gentleness. Pursue these things as a man of God.

In today’s message, Pastor Paul covers the fourth command in what a man of God pursues. The Lord commands the righteous, godly and faithful Christian to pursue specifically the love of God. In Scripture, the two most common Greek forms of love are agape and philia. Agape love is selfless. It is this agape love that the Apostle Paul uses in this verse. An example of this agape love is stated in John 3:16 – “For God so loved (agape) the world, that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life.”

Agape love is not learned but is given by God. And without knowing the love of God, people cannot love others. Therefore, only Christians, who know the love of God, are able to love others. The Apostle Paul exemplifies this truth once persecuting the church and at enmity with God met the risen Lord and believed. His transformation by the Holy Spirit led him to pen the well-known passage describing the love of God in 1 Corinthians 13.

If Christians are commanded to pursue the love of God, He comes first. This must be evident in the Christian life. Love for God cannot be divided nor be substituted with the love of anything else. Evidence of a God-fearing life demonstrates the Christian’s love for the Lord. Obedience also hinges on wholehearted love for God. The obedient believer deeply understands the Lord’s personal love He has for them.

The Apostle Paul also couples faith and love (v 11). Faith expresses itself through love. As the Christian loves God first (vertical relationship), their faith is demonstrated in their love for others (horizontal relationships). In the church, believers can practice their love for each other through edification. In the Christian fellowship, the best way to build up one another is to speak about Jesus and encourage them to become more like Him.

Fellowship and edification are to be practiced despite the infirmities seen in each other. Christian love covers each other’s sins and shortcomings. The duty of the believer is to love one another as Christ loved the church. “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).

Moreover, loving others include a love toward unbelievers. God saved us so that we would love those that are unsaved by sharing and declaring the love of God through the gospel of Jesus Christ. “If you have lived to bring one sinner to Christ, you have not lived in vain” (C.H. Spurgeon).

If we love God the most, we are able to love others best.

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.