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"And sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God..."

Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:2

LIMITS OF HUMAN ENDURANCE

Paul and Silas were deeply concerned about the Thessalonians. Their best efforts were being thwarted by Satan. There was a deep and growing concern about the well-being of the Thessalonians. They just had to find out how the Thessalonians were faring. They had reached the limits of human endurance.

“Therefore, when we could no longer endure it,
we thought it good to be left in Athens alone,
and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God,
and our fellow labourer in the gospel of Christ,
to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith.”

1 Thessalonians 3:1-2

1. “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it”

a) Paul and his team must have felt great anxiety about the welfare of the Thessalonians.

b) Some concerns:-

i) How were they coping with their suffering?

ii) Would their faith hold fast or would they falter?

c) Human limits of feeling anxious were reached!

d) Therefore another solution had to be found.

2. “We thought it good to be left in Athens alone”

a) Paul and Silas had to flee to Athens for safety.

b) Paul was soon engaged in ministry in Athens too.

c) But his heart was still deeply concerned about the Thessalonians.

d) Decision made:-

i) They would focus on the new ministry in Athens.

ii) They will send Timothy to Thessalonica instead.

3. High commendation of Timothy

a) He had proven himself to be a good “brother”.

b) He was a minister of God.

c) He was a fellow-worker with Paul and Silas in the gospel ministry.

4. Clear goals

a) He will seek to establish their faith.

b) He will seek to encourage them in their faith (especially in the context of suffering).