Message of the week

The Little White Community Church

Scripture: I Thess. 3:1-13 Feb. 15, 2026

Message: “Could stand it no longer!”

by Pastor George Gnade

Play to Listen

7:55

Introduction: 1. Have you ever laid in bed worrying about someone you loved? You were too far away to help, but you could not get that person off your mind.

a. Maybe he had an illness that you were afraid was getting worse, or some problem too big for them to solve.

b. In our passage, Paul was concerned about the new Christians in Thessalonica.

2. He had preached Christ and led them to believe when enemies of the gospel attacked him and forced him to leave. He felt like he was ripped away from them.

a. But they were so new in their faith, Paul was afraid for them.

b. How could they handle this attack? Were they spiritually strong enough to handle this?

A. Consider how Paul felt.

1. In I Thess. 3:1, Paul writes: “So when we could stand it no longer…”  That sounds to me like he experienced some sleepless nights! The Bible teaches us not to worry, but clearly Paul was worried about these new Christians.

a. He was too far away to just sneak back in. Besides that, he was needed where he was. What could he do?

b. After much prayer and thought, vs. 1-3 tell us he and Silas came to the conclusion it was best “to be left by ourselves in Athens. We sent Timothy … to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so you would not be unsettled by these trials.”

2. It is not that Paul had not tried to prepare them. In fact, in I Thess. 3: 3, he had warned them that they were destined for these trials. 

a. In fact, in vs. 4, it says: “We kept telling you that we would be persecuted, and it turned out that way, as you well know.”

b. Although Paul was sort of run out of town, they remained. Paul knew they would be treated badly even as he was treated badly.

3. That is why he was so worried about them.

a. In vs. 5, he continues: “I was afraid that in some way the tempter may have tempted you and our efforts might be in vain.”

b. That is why Timothy was sent to help them.

B. Secondly, let us consider how Timothy made out and consider the report he brought back to Paul.

1. Praise God for good news. Timothy was well received and returned with good news.

a. Paul was told they had pleasant memories of him and that they longed to see him just as much as he wanted to see them (Vs. 5-6).

b. While Paul had sent Timothy to encourage them, this report had an amazing effect on Paul and Silas.

2. In I Thess. 3: 7-8, Paul writes: “Therefore, in (spite of) all our distress and persecution, we were encouraged about you because of your faith. For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord.”

3. “How can we thank God enough for you in return for all the joy we have in the presence of the God because of you”(I Thess. 3:9)?

a. A lot of us get excited when our favorite team wins a football game. But all we did was cheer for them.

b. The players themselves receive far more satisfaction considering how hard they worked to make it happen. 

c. How much more would a player rejoice with his team if he was injured in the process? He certainly would be upset that he got hurt, but thankful all his efforts were not for nothing.

4. How much more should a Christian rejoice if God used him to bring someone he loved to the Lord? 

a. If a parent does not take his or her faith seriously, believe me, the children know the difference.

b. But if a Christian truly lives his faith before others and people see Christ in him, that makes an impression.

The joy a committed Christian receives when a loved one is saved means far more to him or her than anything else in the world, especially if that new believer shows by his life that he really meant what he did.

c. That is exactly how Paul felt. Although he was being persecuted, once he knew the Christians in Thessalonica were standing firm in their faith, his heart was full of joy.

As Paul put it: “Now we really live...”

5. Many Christians, especially pastors and missionaries, have been persecuted and even killed for their faith. But instead of scaring others away, their sacrifice for the Lord Jesus often results in family and friends wanting the faith they had.

C. Finally, in I Thess. 3:10-13, Paul shares the prayers he was praying for them as a result of Timothy’s report.

1. In vs. 10, he writes: “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith.”

a. Notice how unselfish Paul is. Clearly he is thinking more about them than about himself.

b. He wanted to come to “supply what was lacking in (their) faith.”

2. This is very similar to what he told the church in Rome. In Rom. 1:12-13, it says: “I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong – that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.”

a. Have you ever called or visited someone and came away from the experience lifted up yourself? 

b. We all have different gifts. Sharing with each other is rarely a one way street. It blesses both of you.

c.  There is always more we can learn from each other. 

3. In vs. 11, he prays: “Now may our God and Father Himself and the Lord Jesus Christ clear the way for us to come to you.”

a. Knowing he meant as much to them as they meant to him, Paul did not stop praying for a chance to see them.

Not at all! Now more than ever, he prayed the Lord Jesus would “clear the way for us to come to you.”

b. Obviously, the Lord hears our prayers the first time we pray. But when our hearts are deeply concerned about something or someone, it is not wrong to “pray night and day” for God’s help. 

c. Remember, this was not an ordinary situation. These new Christians were being persecuted. Paul knew they needed his help and his prayers every day.  

4. In the midst of their trials, Paul prays in vs. 12, saying: “May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and everyone else, just as ours does for you.”

a. In a time of trial, when others are harassing you, only the Holy Spirit can enable you to be loving, not just to each other, but to everyone else. Don’t ever forget the power of love is greater than the power of anger or the desire for revenge.

b. Finally, Paul prayed in vs. 13: “May He strengthen your hearts” so you will be ready “when our Lord Jesus comes ...” One of the best motivations for living a holy loving life is the return of our Lord Jesus. Praise God, He promises to help us to do it (I Thess. 5:24).  Amen!