THE THESSALONIANS FAITH series

Revd OLUWAMUYIWA OKUSEINDE 

"We are bound to thank God always for you, my brothers, as it is right, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of each one of you abounds toward one another" (2 Thessalonians 1:3, Modern King James Version). 

The Bible speaks about the faith of the Thessalonians which grew exceedingly. And the apostle Paul was so pleased with the reports he got about these saints of God that he felt "bound to thank God always" for the Thessalonian Christians. I think it will profit us exceedingly also to find out the nature and character of the faith that was growing in Thessalonica, and then apply ourselves to developing along the line of such a faith. For surely as we have seen from the reaction of Paul, that is the kind of faith heaven is eager to nurture in the believer. 

The first character of the faith referred to here is love, and the Bible says faith works by love (Galatians 5:6). The faith of the Thessalonians was one that spurred them on to demonstrate the love of God among themselves. Jesus said, by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if you love one another (John 13:35). It was His sacred command to the church (John 15:12). And we know that the primary ingredient of the love of God is giving. "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son..." (John 3:16). True, godly love majors on giving. 

The implication of this is that a man of faith is not known by what he has received but by what he has given. The Thessalonians demonstrated that they had faith by showing love one to another. The Thessalonian church was a community of carers, practicing what we saw with the early church in the first few chapters of the Acts of the Apostles. Theirs was not a faith defined only by miracles, signs and wonders. Theirs was not just a 'getting' faith; it was a 'giving' faith. 

Space will not allow us to talk in detail about the patience of their faith, the endurance and the longsuffering it engendered (2 Thessalonians 1:4). The Thessalonians were not intimidated by the tribulations they were passing through. Rather, they held fast the profession of their faith in God through Christ Jesus without wavering. In fact, so strong was their faith that Paul said he had confidence in them that they would be faithful to the end and would not disappoint God (2 Thessalonians 3:4). This is the kind of faith that God is primarily interested in seeing in His children - faith that stands firm with God and shows love to the brethren in season and out of season. 

Let me point out that this message is not meant to reduce the importance of receiving by faith whatever we desire from God. Indeed, Paul prayed for the Thessalonians that God should fulfill for them every work of faith with power (2 Thessalonians 1:11). The idea is that everything God has promised, for which the Thessalonians were believing God would be brought to manifestation through the power of God so that God could be glorified through their lives. When miracles happen in our lives, God is definitely glorified. 

But the believer's faith should not primarily be defined by the miracles he amasses. We know from Scriptures and from present day realities of many who have faith in Christ’s power to heal their bodies, meet their needs, and get answers to their prayers, and yet know nothing of Him as the Saviour of their souls. I personally know of people (and I guess you could know one or two as well) who believe in Christ and want to access every blessing available through Him but strictly don't want to have anything to do with Him as their personal Lord and Saviour. 

So the believer must take responsibility for nurturing in himself the faith that grew in the Thessalonians. For such is the faith that will carry us through in this world and make us heirs of the world to come.