1Thes3:6-13 Accountability with Hope

# Accountability with Hope
## 1 Thessalonians 3:6-13
[Cassidy Kelley. Cleveland, US](https://unsplash.com/photos/p90szoOBYgk "caption")

>>>
+ Think of s.o. whose **faith** in Chr 
  + you **care** deeply about
+ **Son**/daugh, mom/dad, sib/BIL,
  + friend/smgp, student / coworker
+ Might be **averse** to gospel, open/quest, 
  + new believer, or growing
+ Care for their **growth** in Chr:
  + not just **wishful** thinking, but you've
+ Shared God's **love** + Word, and want to
  + **Follow-up**: so they may put faith into **action**:

---

# How can we help others to **grow** in Christ?

>>>
+ Not **logistics**: how freq to meet, or which curric
  + But: with what **attitude**, purpose, mindset
+ Focus on when **we** are resp to hold another acct
  + any position of **leadership**
+ Like Roman **centurion**: soldiers under him, 
  + and also himself under auth (Mt8:9)
  + Addl layer of appl when on **receiving** end
+ Accountability doesn't have to be **antagonistic**
  + but suffused with **hope** in work of HS
+ Turn to **Scrip**, together behold **Lamb** of God

---
(prayer)

>>>
+ **Formed** us, **called** to be your sons+daughters
  + and to walk **worthily** of that calling,
+ Gave us many **promises** as we walk in obedience
  + Planted **faith** in hearts to trust those promises
+ Equip us to **share** that faith w/genuine love
  + to see others **blossom** in faith in You

---

# Growing Together, While Apart

| *1* | Impact of **Faith** | 
|---|---|
| *2a,b* | Toil of **Love** |
| *3* | **Accountability with Hope** |
| *4* | Growing in Purity + **Love** |
| *5a* | **Hope** of Salvation |
| *5b* | Acts of **Faith** |

>>>
+ Theme of 1Thes: encouragment in **FHL**
+ 1st half: Thes' **rl** w/Paul + **response** to gospel
  + ch3: crux of 1Thes: **report** from Tim's visit
+ 2nd half: addr specific **questions** / issues
+ Ways might **respond** to such an encour. passage:
+ (1) Paul **happy** with Thes: yes, I love mtg
  + w/**friends** / smgp: **done**, nothing to learn
+ (2) not **realistic**: ppl I deal with
  + not as **receptive** as Thes
+ (3) not **achievable**: Paul **holy**, I'm not: 
  + can't **relate**. In ch2, Paul+Silas had

---
We endeavored the more **eagerly** 
and with great **desire** 
to see you **face** to face

[1 Thessalonians 2:17 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Not just a **social** visit to see friends
  + but heartfelt **concern** for Thes: 
+ **check** up on their faith in Christ

---

## Accountability [(1Thes3)](# "ref")
1. **Purpose**: to Strengthen Faith [(v1-5)](# "ref")
1. **Product**: Joy + Thanksgiving [(v6-10)](# "ref")
1. **Prayer**: for Love + Purity [(v11-13)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Purpose** of sending Tim
+ **Product** / result of acct: bc stand firm
+ **Prayer** for future: **love** abound
+ **Why** send Tim? bc Thes did sth **wrong**? No, rather
+ Paul + Silas preached **gospel** in Thes + other cities
  + and endured intense **persecution** bc of it
+ Knew this would **affect** Thes, new in the faith:
  + "Is **this** what following Christ entails?"
+ This is why:

---
We sent Timothy ... 
[3](# "ref")
that no one be **moved** by these afflictions.

For you yourselves know 
that we are **destined** for this.

[1 Thessalonians 3:2,3 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "**moved**": as dog's **tail** wags unconsciously
  + **swayed** emotionally by external circumstances
+ As child watching **father** (role model) break down 
  + under intense **sorrow** / pain:
+ "If even **he** suffers so, what **hope** do I have?"
+ **Suffering** is inherent to Chr life in this age:
+ If proclaim **kingdom** God to world **rejects** His auth,
  + if we **pattern** life after Christ,
+ We should not be **surprised** that we are
  + **laid** / placed into path of suff as Chr
+ Those **watching** us observ **trials**, tempt, failures
+ So **compelled** to send Tim to them:

---
I sent to learn about your **faith**, 
for **fear** that somehow 
the **tempter** had tempted you 
and our labor would be in **vain**.

[1 Thessalonians 3:5 (ESV)](# "ref")

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+ Not "**fear**", but "that not somehow": "lest somehow"
+ Very **real** possib: amidst suffering 
  + Satan tries to **probe** our defenses
  + to **poke holes** in shield of faith
+ Tempt to **give up** on following Chr, or
  + get **angry** / bitter, or
  + **compromise**: neglect God's **calling**
  + chase after **desires** of world
+ **We** are suscep, so are those we **care** for
+ This **danger** is what moved Paul to send Tim
+ A few things to **notice** about how Paul
  + reached out to Thes to strengthen their faith:

---
1. **Anticipate** Challenges
1. **Initiate** Support
1. Radiate **Comfort**, not Coercion

>>>
+ Paul had prior **experience** suffering for Chr
+ knew **more** was coming, and 
+ **told** Thes in advance:

---
For when we were with you, 
we kept telling you **beforehand** 
that we were to **suffer** affliction, 
just as it has come to pass

[1 Thessalonians 3:4 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ not as "I **told** you so", but 
  + for mental **prep**: to **stand** firm in obey Chr
+ (2) **Initiate** contact: 
  + didn't **wait** for Thes to **ask** for help
  + but pro-actively **sent** support / encour
+ (3) Had auth to **coerce**, but didn't **exercise**:
  + **purpose** of sending Tim was

---
We sent Timothy ... 
to **establish** and **exhort** you in your faith

[1 Thessalonians 3:2 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ "Establish": **strengthen**, make firm
  + when **weak**: need not more **discip**, work **ethic**
  + but us to **equip**, supply, give strength
+ e.g., teaching **SS**: frustrated at **immaturity**
  + still **growing**: your **task** to teach, show
+ "Exhort" (**enc**): as **hubby**/dad: bring **comfort**
+ How I **respond** to suffering/stress
  + affects how **they** react: whether **shaken** or not
+ Do I put on **brave** face, hide pain?
  + Coldly / stoicly demand they **tough** it out
+ Or use **blame** / guilt: "all bc of you!"
  + Revealing own **irresponsib** / insecurity
+ Use strength not to coerce, but to **comfort**

---

# What is my **aim** when holding others accountable?

>>>
+ **Exert** auth, demand **respect**, or instill **fear**?
  + "I **suffered** unjust auth, now you must, too"
+ Instead, drawing **strength** from
  + **faithfulness** of God's Word,
+ **Anticipate** opposition as walk in Chr steps
+ **Initiate** support to help stand **firm**
+ Radiate **comfort**, not coercion
  + **encourage**: call alongside, 
  + walk togeth on **narrow** path leads to life
+ So see how **suffering** can **strengthen** our faith

---

## Accountability [(1Thes3)](# "ref")
1. Purpose: to Strengthen Faith [(v1-5)](# "ref")
1. **Product: Joy + Thanksgiving** [(v6-10)](# "ref")
1. Prayer: for Love + Purity [(v11-13)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Tim **visited** Thes to strengthen + encourage in faith
+ **Returned** to Paul in Athens
+ Reported **result** / product from the visit:
+ What happens when accountability goes **right**: 
  + proclaimed

---
the **good news** of your **faith** and **love** 
and reported that you always 
**remember** us kindly

[1 Thessalonians 3:6 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Gospel**: objectively **good** + benef to hearer
+ **Metric** of success: **faith + love**:
  + **trust** in God's promises, and
  + **love** for one another
+ And didn't **decrease** even in face of **suffering**
+ Had positive **memory** of us, long to **see** us
+ So Paul's **reaction** to this good report is

---
in all our **distress** and affliction 
we have been **comforted** about you 
through your faith.

[8](# "ref")
For now we **live**, 
if you are **standing** fast in the Lord.

[1 Thessalonians 3:7-8 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Amid **suffering** on behalf of gospel, 
  + obtained this **encouragement**: 
  + to know they are still **standing** in Lord
+ Our life, legacy, **motivation**, defn of success
+ Credit goes to **God**, not us:

---
For what **thanksgiving** can we return to God 
for you, for all the **joy** that we feel 
for your sake before our God,

[1 Thessalonians 3:9 (ESV)](# "ref")

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+ Deep-rooted **joy**, not superficial
+ Not contingent on external **circumstances**
  + or performance of **man**
+ But on inexorable **work of HS**
  + according to God's divine **plan**
+ Work is not **over** yet!
  + Continually **growing**:

---
as we **pray** most earnestly night and day 
that we may **see** you face to face 
and **supply** what is **lacking** in your faith?

[1 Thessalonians 3:9 (ESV)](# "ref")

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+ Thes' **faith** remained steadfast
  + even though saw **trials** Paul endured
  + that **they** would soon also endure
+ But still had **more** to learn: not a **failure**!
  + Means more **joy** for Paul+Silas
+ **Equip** + strengthen to face trials
  + **Encourage** in the faith
+ **Worth** our efforts, prayers, tears, perseverance

---

# What makes me feel truly **alive**?

>>>
+ **Motorcycle**! **Sunrise** after 5am run! 
  + **Laughter** w/friends+fam!
  + perhaps **alone** time w/o demands
  + Not **bad** things: **blessings** from God
+ **Promise** from today's passage:
  + Abundant **joy**, immeas **thanks** to God,
  + can truly **live**, when
+ See others **stand** firm in Lord,
  + **growing** more + more in faith,
  + **trusting** in God's promises
  + despite probing **attacks** of Satan

---

## Accountability [(1Thes3)](# "ref")
1. Purpose: to Strengthen Faith [(v1-5)](# "ref")
1. Product: Joy + Thanksgiving [(v6-10)](# "ref")
1. **Prayer: for Love + Purity** [(v11-13)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Having **rcvd** encour report / good news,
+ What does **future** hold for them?
+ Last section: **prayer** for future of Thes

---
Now may our God and Father himself, 
and our Lord Jesus, **direct our way** to you,

[1 Thessalonians 3:11 (ESV)](# "ref")

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+ We don't know where **paths** of life take us
  + But **God** directs them: makes **straight**
+ Earnest **hope** that we will meet again
  + and when we do, we'll see that
+ HS has been **working** in hearts in this way:

---
and may the Lord make you 
**increase and abound** 
in **love** for one another and for all, 
as we do for you,

[1 Thessalonians 3:12 (ESV)](# "ref")

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+ great in **quantity**, and even **more**: 
  + exceed / overflow: abound in **what**?
+ not how many Chr **books** read, free **meals** given
  + **hw** done, **house** bought, or **illness** healed
  + even **happy** / trouble-free life
+ What we **pray** for is 
  + that they may abound in **love**:

---
1. **Experience** God's Love
1. **Exercise** Love to God
1. **Exhibit** God's Love Toward Others

>>>
+ **Experience** God's love (defines love)
+ **Exercise** love to God with all their hearts,
+ **Exhibit** God's love to all around
+ And as God **fills** them with His love,
  + we have a future **hope**:

---
so that he may establish your hearts **blameless** 
in **holiness** before our God and Father, 
at the **coming** of our Lord Jesus 
with all his saints.

[1 Thessalonians 3:13 (ESV)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Chr is **returning** soon: faith made **sight**
  + Books **opened**: all our **deeds** exposed
+ Only by Chr's **grace** we'll be deemed **blameless**
  + HS **strengthens** us to live in holiness
+ Connect to **ch4**: purity + love
+ Always have **hope**: old **SS** far from God
  + other **influences** beyond our control
  + own **decisions**
  + fear **son** may become same
+ But **hope** in God, not men: **pray** may
  + abound in **love**, acc how God loves us
  + strengthen **faith** in God's Word

---

# How do I **pray** for others?

>>>
+ those who I'm **responsib** for, **watching** my faith
+ Perhaps don't pray very **often**, or mostly for **myself**
  + not **strong** / holy enough to take care of others
+ or only **perfunctory**, rote
  + or all but **given up** that God can **change** them
+ Trust in **God's** power to change hearts
  + Not just **bless** them w/success, comfort
+ But to fill them w/His **love**
  + and **strengthen** hearts for **holy** living
  + until day of His **return**

---

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+ Redeemer + Saviour: as each of us **pictures** 
  + those people You've put in our **hearts**
  + given **resp** + **opp** to share Your Word + life
+ **Thank** You for them: **precious** in Your sight
+ **Give** faith / **strengthen** faith in Your promises
  + well-**prepared** to face **trials** proclaim gospel
+ Use to **comfort**/enc: not succumb **Satan's** schemes
+ When we see them **standing** firm in You:
  + truly **alive**, abound **joy**, **thanks** to You
+ May we remem **pray** fervently for them
  + That You may **fill** them w/Your **love**
  + and **sanctify** hearts until Your return