1Thes2:13-20 Orphaned but not Unloved

# Orphaned but not Unloved

## 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20

>>>
+ **Hard** to continue **growing** as Chr
  + may **slow**, stop, or backslide
+ Can be **lonely** path to walk
+ In **walk** w/Chr, **all** of us exp loneliness
  + even amidst supportive **friends**, 
  + wonderful **family**, happy **marriage**

---

# How do I handle **loneliness** in my Christian walk?

>>>
+ Not **failure** of faith
+ But natural **conseq** of growth: seasons
  + feel **adrift**: guide/mentor
  + feeling **isolated** when under attack
  + feeling **forgotten** and unloved
+ No **surprise**: follow footsteps of
  + Chr, the man of **sorrows**
+ Take comfort in His **presence** 
  + as we open up **Word** of God
  + to behold the **Lamb** of God
______
+ Your Word promises 
  + You are near to the **brokenhearted**
+ We **present** hearts + lives before You
+ Show us where wandered **astray**
+ Guide us back **home** to You Father
+ In fellwshp w/**believers** worldwide
+ To proclaim Your **Name** 
  + until the day of Your **return**

---

## Growing Together, While Apart

| *1* | Impact of **Faith** | 
|---|---|
| *2a* | Toil of **Love** |
| *2b* | Orphaned but **Loved** |
| *3* | Strength from **Hope** |
| *4* | Growing in Purity + **Love** |
| *5a* | **Hope** of Salvation |
| *5b* | Acts of **Faith** |

>>>
+ Theme of 1Thess: encouragment **FHL**
+ 1st half: Thes' **relationship** w/Paul 
  + and **response** to gospel
+ 2nd half: addr **questions** / issues
+ ch2: **encour** + deep **love**: **comfort**
+ Thes endured great **suffering** 
  + for sake of gospel

---

## Orphaned but not Unloved

When we feel:

1. **Directionless** [(v13)](# "ref")
1. **Attacked** [(v14-16)](# "ref")
1. **Forgotten** [(v17-20)](# "ref")

>>>
+ Looking for **wisdom**, guidance, mentorship: find none
+ Proclaim **gospel** causes **loved** ones to turn against us
  + **Hurt** deeply by **peer** group bc name of Jesus
+ Feel **forgotten** by those who claimed to **love** us in God
+ **See** to how Paul **comforts** Thess:
  + and receive **encouragement**:

---

And we also thank God constantly for this, 
that when you **received** the word of God, 
which you heard from us,

you **accepted** it not as the word of **men** 
but as what it really is, the word of **God**, 
which is at work in you believers.

[1 Thessalonians 2:13 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/c333d6YEhi0 "caption")

>>>
+ Preach **Word** vs speak as **indiv**
  + pers **opinion**, advice from **exp**: word of **man**
+ But when share from **Scrip**, to extent holds **closely**:
  + Word of **God**: authority
  + Belongs to **God**, heard from **us**, taken up by **you**
+ "But **pastor** said its ok" (or **Sean**): don't want **resp**!
+ **ID**: not denom, polit affil, preacher
  + but as disciple of **Christ**
+ Each of us **accountable** before God for own actions
  + **no** auth in self: only **Word**
+ e.g., teach kids what not to **eat**
+ James 1 has **promise** for each:

---

But one who has **looked intently** 
at the perfect law, the **law of freedom**,

and has continued in it, not having become 
a **forgetful hearer** but an **active doer**,

this person will be blessed in what he does.

[James 1:25 (NASB)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/1EbsMYrAu-s "caption")

>>>
+ "look intently": bend / **stoop down**
  + inspect, **curious**
+ **self-motiv**: God is not **obtuse**, 
  + but need **study** Scrip deeply
+ Not mere **acad** interest (Bible trivia),
  + but aim to **obey**: faith in **action**
+ Be **honest** w/self:

---

# What is my **attitude** towards God's **Word**?

>>>
+ Answer not to **impress** others but
  + for **self** + **God** at **work** in me
  + **empowering** me to be active **doer**
+ Sometimes, I could **care** less:
  + **irrel**, diff **culture** / age
+ Or **tired** / stressed: flip for **comfort**
  + but **encour** passages (like 1Thes!) seem **empty**
+ Then get **angry** at God: 
  + are You so **naive** / blind to real
  + pain / injust suff by **me** + others?
+ Not that Bible doesn't deal w/**sin**
  + but I don't want to **read** those passages
  + for fear of having to confront my **own** sin
+ What is my **attitude** towards God's Word?

---

## Orphaned but not Unloved

When we feel:

1. Directionless [(v13)](# "ref")
1. **Attacked** [(v14-16)](# "ref")
1. Forgotten [(v17-20)](# "ref")

>>>
+ When I feel **directionless** without a mentor:
  + **Dive** into Scrip, **seek** out others w/same mindset
+ When I feel **attacked** bc of name of Jesus:
  + Know that I'm not **alone** in suffering:

---

For you, brothers, became **imitators** 
of the **churches** of God in Christ Jesus 
that are in Judea.

For you **suffered** the same things 
from your own **countrymen** 
as they did from the Jews,

[1 Thessalonians 2:14 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Mario Purisic](https://unsplash.com/photos/jG1z5o7NCq4 "caption")

>>>
+ This suff is conseq of **repent**, of
  + walking **worthy** of God who calls (v12):
+ Implicitly reveals **world** chases / **values** / prides is
  + in wrong **dir**: so naturally, most will take **offense**.
+ Now, if I **sin** + endure suffer for it: not to my **credit**.
  + But if I endure suffering for doing **good**,
  + then I experience God's **grace**.
+ Not **seek out** martyrdom, certainly not for own **glory**:
  + "imitators": **mimic**, copy: similar, not necc. **goal**
+ Simlarity is: **countrymen** / tribe / family / peers
  + felt we **betrayed** them, so they:

---

who killed both 
the Lord **Jesus** and the **prophets**, 
and drove **us** out, 
and displease **God** 
and oppose all **mankind** 
by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles 
that they might be saved —

[1 Thessalonians 2:15-16 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Luis Quintero](https://unsplash.com/photos/ibWxfQOePt4 "caption")

>>>
+ Regarding **Christ** + prophets: killed
  + **us** (Paul, Tim): persecute / pursue
  + **God**: not (desiring to) pleasing
  + **people** (any who preach gospel): stand opposed
+ We ought not to be **surprised** by persecution;
  + Christ reminded His **disciples**:

---

If they **persecuted** me, 
they will also persecute you. 
If they **kept my word**, they will also keep yours.

But all these things they will do to you 
on account of **my name**, 
because they do not know him who **sent** me.

[John 15:20-21 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Aaron Burden](https://unsplash.com/photos/o--lefJNe0w "caption")

>>>
+ If we **look** like Chr, **act** as He did,
  + world will **oppose** us as it did Chr.
+ But our concern is not to prove others **wrong**
  + but simply to **abide** in Chr: branch in **vine**
+ End **result** for those who **oppose** gospel:

---

so as always to **fill up** 
the measure of their **sins**. 
But **wrath** has come upon them at last!

[1 Thessalonians 2:16b (ESV)](# "ref")
[Łukasz Łada](https://unsplash.com/photos/q7z-AUlHPaw "caption")

>>>
+ Accum more + more **sin**
  + God's wrath already **begun** (reached)
  + "at last": to **end** / utmost / complete: thorough
+ Notably absent: **revenge**: God is **just** + judge,
  + doesn't need our **help** to judge
+ As for those **opposed** to Christ: **hope** for repent,
  + but **persevere** in proclaiming gospel:
+ You don't need to **wait** for loved ones to believe
  + before **continuing** to share with others
+ When feel **isolated** by those who **misund** + mock
  + for following in Christ's **footsteps**:
+ Remember we are not **alone** in suffering for Christ

---

# **Who** else has endured **suffering** for the gospel?

>>>
+ Take **courage** from **prophets** of old:
  + "Hall of **faith**" in Heb 11, 
  + early church **fathers**,
  + **missionaries** of prev centuries,
+ Those now **still** being persecuted for Christ;
  + even though don't **see** them regularly:
+ Fighting on another **hilltop** in same conflict
  + not against **flesh** + blood but **Satan's** schemes 
+ Who else has endured **suffering** for sake of gospel?

---

## Orphaned but not Unloved

When we feel:

1. Directionless [(v13)](# "ref")
1. Attacked [(v14-16)](# "ref")
1. **Forgotten** [(v17-20)](# "ref")

>>>
+ **Expect** gospel to encounter **opposition**
  + that **sin** might become utterly **sinful**.
+ Be encouraged that you are not **alone**
  + in **suffering** for the name of Jesus.
+ But bc don't get to **see** those coworkers in Chr
  + often feel **forgotten** by them
  + as though they don't **care**: v17

---

But since we were **torn away** from you, 
brothers, for a **short** time, 
in **person** not in **heart**,

[1 Thessalonians 2:17 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Nancy, France. Rémi Walle](https://unsplash.com/photos/UOwvwZ9Dy6w "caption")

>>>
+ "torn away": **orphaned**, separated
+ Spent maybe **3 weeks** in Thess:
  + preach **gospel**, est **church**, then **left**
+ Thess: "why haven't you **returned**? Do you **care**?"
  + Similar themes in **Cor**, **Phil**, etc.
  + Felt **orphaned**, w/o pastor / **leader**
+ But actually it was **Paul** who felt orphaned!
  + "in person" (**face** to face), not in **heart**
+ Only for "short time": an **hour**'s time: will pass

---

we endeavored the more **eagerly** and with 
great desire to see you face to face,

because we wanted to come to you — 
I, Paul, **again and again** —

but **Satan** hindered us.

[1 Thessalonians 2:17-18 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Avenue of the Giants, CA. John Towner](https://unsplash.com/photos/3Kv48NS4WUU "caption")

>>>
+ had "great desire": **heat**, passion in hearts
+ desired "more eagerly": **quickness** / run to see you
  + not **reluctantly** out of obligation
+ and "wanted": made actual **plans**
+ "again and again": **once** and **twice** [(+)](https://koine-greek.com/2012/07/25/once-and-twice-the-countability-of-events/)
  + **tried** to come: specific, repeated instances
+ **Opposition** to gospel not only by **people**
  + but even **supernatural** forces
+ Paul **comforts** Thess: not don't **care** about you,
  + Of **course** desire eagerly to visit you! **Why**?
+ bc **this** is what you **mean** to us:

---

For what is our **hope** or **joy** 
or **crown** of boasting 
before our Lord Jesus at his coming?

Is it not you? 
For you are our **glory** and **joy**.

[1 Thessalonians 2:19-20 (ESV)](# "ref")
[Sarah Penney](https://unsplash.com/photos/-6nDec_KT7U "caption")

>>>
+ We who **toil** in love for sake of name of Chr
  + rcv very little **glory** / thx / reward in this life
+ But when Christ **returns** in glory?
  + then our **trust** in Him will be **vindicated**
+ **Fruit** of labour is see God's **handiwork** in your lives:
  + **hope**, **joy**, **glory** / crown of boasting
  + not in **own** achievement, but work of **HS**
+ You (your **progress** in faith) **matter** to God
  + and to **others** who have spoken His Word to you

---

# Why should we continue **growing** in faith in Christ?

>>>
+ So easy to **give up**, stop growing, stay stagnant
  + try **decent** pers, don't **push** to know Chr more.
+ **Others** do this, and seem **happy**, content, success:
+ Why do I have to **work** at it? **Study** Bible intently,
  + strive for pers **holiness**, taking **cross** daily,
+ Persev in **serving** + **proclaiming** gospel to those
  + who take **offense** + call me a **traitor**?
+ Is it **worth** it?  Don't **give up** hope!
+ Your progress + **maturity** in faith brings **glory** to God.
+ You are being **cheered** on by cloud of many **witnesses**
  + for whom **you** are their hope / joy / glory.
+ Why should we cont **growing** deeper in faith in Chr?

---

>>>
+ When **directionless**: **delight** in Word + humbly **obey**.
+ When **hurt** by those who oppose You:
 + **persevere** in sharing gospel in **love**,
 + not **alone**, many others suffering for name of Jesus.
+ When feel **forgotten** by everyone:
 + proven **faith** in You is more precious 
 + than **gold** which perishes in fire.
+ Forgive us for neglecting to **nurture** our trust in You
 + Bring us **home** again in Your arms
 + Breathe in us to **live** again in Your life
 + Energise to **proclaim** Word w/all boldness
+ To **praise**, honour, glory of name of Chr at Your return