Message of the Week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: I Thess. 2:10-20 Feb. 8, 2026

Message: “What will be our hope and joy in heaven!”

By Pastor George Gnade

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Introduction:

1. Today we are continuing our study of I Thessalonians. So far we learned how Paul started this church and how those who believed responded warmly to his ministry,

a. We learned Paul became like a father to them, treating them the way a father would treat his children. There is a lot of truth in that. As a pastor, I often feel the same way.

b. In vs. 13, it says he did this by “encouraging, com-forting, and urging” them to live lives worthy of the Lord. 

2. In response, Paul was very thankful that “they received the Word of God, which you heard from us, not as the words of men, but as it really is the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 

A. That is how God wants us to respond to His Word.

1. As you listen to me, may the Lord help you to accept what I say, especially when it is a true reflection of what the passage is saying.

2. Let me try to make that a little clearer. The passage was written to the Thessalonians. But when it parallels what is going on in your own life, the Holy Spirit will often speak to you.  If you feel that way in your heart, then ask God what you should do in response to your own situation. He will guide you.

B. In our passage, the experience of the Jewish Christians in Judea was very similar to the experience of the Thessalonians. 

1. In vs.14b is says: “You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the  (unbelieving) Jews.”  Of course, that included Paul himself.

2. In I Thess. 2: 15, the Bible says: “They killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.”

a. As one of the first missionaries, everywhere Paul went, he was attacked. But it began when Jesus appeared to him on the road to Damascus.

b. Up until then, Paul was one of them! But once he became a Christian, they turned on him. To make it worse, they then followed him.

3. That is exactly what happened when Paul came to Thessalonica. The unbelieving Jews were right on his tail. In vs. 17, Paul describes it this way: “Brethren, … we were torn away from you…” 

a. So you can understand why the Thessalonians who believed Paul’s message and became Christians under-stood that the same kind of harassment would probably happen to them too.

b. And it did, but they were ready for it. In vs.14, it says: “You, brethren, became imitators of God’s churches in Judea which are in Christ Jesus.”

4. They learned from Paul and the Christians in Judea how to respond in love while depending on the Lord to help them.

B. Please notice what the new Christians did not do.

1. They did not attack in return. In Rom. 12:17-21, Paul wrote: “Do not repay evil for evil…If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with all men. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for the wrath of God. It is written: ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord… Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.”

2. Jesus warned the unbelieving Jews that the Romans were coming and in 70 A.D. it happened. In I Thess. 2:15-16, it says: “They displeased God and were hostile to all men in their efforts to keep us from speaking to the Gentiles so they may be saved… Therefore, the wrath of God” was coming upon them. It did.

C. In contrast, consider the reward of the Christians.

1. Paul loved the Thessalonians and wanted to stay longer with them, but had to leave earlier than he wanted to because of the opposition.

a. While he was torn away from them, in I Thess. 2:17,

he told them he had “an intense longing” to find an opportunity to return.

b. He said: “Satan stopped us.”

2. Have you ever felt like Satan was attacking and trying to keep you from doing what the Lord wanted you to do?

a. Don’t ever forget we are in a spiritual war. I like to think God’s good angels are fighting Satan’s demons, we just can’t see them.

b. Jesus certainly knew He was in such a war. Satan often tried to keep Him from doing what the Father called Him to do. In the garden of Gethsemane it all came to a halt. But Jesus willingly suffered to save us.

c. And in spite of Satan’s efforts to stop us, the Holy Spirit knows how to keep us on track. Next week we will learn how Paul found a way to keep in touch with them.

3. But in the midst of this war for the souls of men, Paul explains why this is so important. Listen to I Thess. 2:19.

Paul writes: “For what is our hope, our joy, or the crown in which we will glory in the presence of the Lord Jesus Christ when He comes? Is it not you? Indeed, you are our glory and joy!”

a. This is the reward of a pastor or evangelist. He prays and hopes and believes in faith that his time is not wasted. He longs to see you in heaven someday when Jesus comes again.

b. Paul longed to see the Thessalonians, especially in heaven.

4. In every church where I have served, I minister to a lot of people who I believe are saved already who I believe I will see in heaven.

a. It is the ones who were not saved that I labored hard to reach and hope I did reach. I can’t explain it but I really want to see them in heaven.

b. Paul was concerned about the Thessalonians. He was cut off from them too soon. He knew the pressure they were under and hoped they would remain firm under the pressure.

5. After all, they were at the heart of his ministry – their salvation was at the center of his hope, it would bring him great joy. It would be like the glory of his crown.

In Conclusion: 1. The Bible teaches us that the Holy Spirit works through us to touch the hearts of the lost. 

2. When I believe Jesus has led me to help these people, in faith I want to believe God used me to succeed. Heaven will be a wonderful place to find out how successful I have been.

3. While we work for Jesus down here, like Paul, we often pray and hope God gives us the right words to say.

4. I pray God will use you the same way. Amen!