The heart desire of Christians must be for other Christians to grow in faith and obedience. This statement seems so obvious and elementary that you may be tempted to assume that it does not need to be stated or given much attention. It is indeed obvious and elementary, but it needs to be said and given attention because it often conflicts with your flesh's natural desires.

 Often, what is celebrated are temporary and fleeting achievements. Often, what is rewarded is what the world loves and not the things of God. Often, what your heart desires are rewards that have only momentary value. As a result, what you pray for is too often from the desires of the flesh rather than the will of God.

How can you train your heart to desire, above all other things, for other Christians to grow in faith and obedience? This passage models two areas that you must give the attention of your heart and mind to in order to train your heart to desire that other Christians grow in faith and obedience.

1. Be encouraged by what God has accomplished. (6-10)

2. Pray for what only God can do. (11-13)

The passion of God's servants must be to strengthen and exhort the church to stand firm against the attacks of Satan.

In chapter three, verse 2, we have the key verse for this passage. Timothy was sent to establish and exhort the church in their faith that they might stand firm against the temptation of Satan. The question that we consider with this passage is: What does the church need to stand firm against the attacks of Satan?

When sinners receive the gospel as the word of God and are saved, it is not the result of man's work or ability but a testimony to God's power and sovereignty alone. In 1 Thessalonians 2:13-16 Paul gives thanks for the Thessalonians' testimony and how it testifies to the power and sovereignty of God to save whom He wills. This passage reminds the church that salvation does not come and is not dependent on the work or ability of man but the power and sovereignty of God alone.

This passage teaches three perspectives that will keep your heart and mind focused on the power and sovereignty of God.

Gospel work is motivated by conviction of truth and a desire to honor God.

There have always been those who teach and preach false doctrine or use the preaching of the gospel for selfish gain. There have also been those who, though they proclaimed the true gospel, did not lead the church to faithfully live according to the righteousness of God. Paul reminds the church that his ministry among them was faithful to the gospel and unapologetically led them to live righteously before God. His testimony is not one that is unique to him, church leaders, or those with special giftedness in the church. This testimony is one that every faithful Christian should have.

This passage teaches two testimonies that a life governed by the conviction of truth and a desire to please God will bear.

Faithful gospel ministry must be God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing.

In these verses, Paul reminds the Thessalonian church of the circumstances that brought him, Silas, and Timothy to them and how they conducted themselves in the community and among the church. Paul recounts these things not to brag but to testify and remind the Thessalonians that gospel ministry is not about the preacher, the church member, or the church as a whole. The gospel ministry is about God and bringing greater glory to His name. How do you ensure that the work of the church and your personal service to God is God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing? This passage teaches three characteristics of a ministry that is God-directed, God-honoring, and God-pleasing.

The evidence of true salvation is more than words; it is evidenced by a life transformed by God, a rejection of sin, and obedience to God.

One of the struggles for the church in a post-Christian culture is rediscovering what it means to be saved. In a Christian culture, salvation was often assumed rather than evidenced. Now that we live in a post-Christian culture, many are no longer compelled to obey the most fundamental commands of God, like gathering with the saints on the Lord’s Day, but still claim to be saved. Today, the church must rediscover a biblical understanding of the evidence of conversion.