Good News About Faith and Love - 1st Thessalonians Series

 

Hello everybody, my name is Dean Davis and this is “Multiply,” the podcast that provides a word of encouragement for Village Church Planters.

One of the major themes you have heard on many of these Multiply podcast episodes is encapsulated in this message: “Church planting is hard work.”  And there is another idea that flows from this theme: “Church planters are not rewarded with big money or great fame.”  That lack of worldly reward is part of what makes church planting such hard work. But let me tell you friends, there is a reward for church planters. And we don’t have to wait until eternity in order to receive this particular reward.

By now you know well the story of Paul and his church planting effort in Thessalonica.  That story is preserved for us in Acts 17 and in Paul’s New Testament letters to the Thessalonians. Because of persecution, Paul had to hurry away from the new church he and his team had planted in Thessalonica. In his absence, Paul prayed constantly for the new believers and church members of the baby church.  He longed to see them, but as much as he tried, he couldn’t get back to them. So he sent Timothy to find out about their faith.

Now here is the part about the church planter’s reward.  When Timothy came back and reported to Paul that the Thessalonians had not abandoned the faith, but that they were still trusting God and still walking in love, Paul was overjoyed. He said in 1 Thessalonians 3:7, “Therefore, brothers and sisters, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith.”

Now, you may be asking yourself, “What about the reward?” Well, let me tell you something about rewards.  I have graduated from four educational institutions. Hundreds of people attended my graduation.  I have gotten jobs, when jobs were very hard to find. I have been recognized in front of my peers for achievement. But no reward I have ever received is a great as the sheer joy of knowing that people I led to faith in Christ, members of the church I planted, men and women I trained, are continuing in the faith and love that entered their hearts when they were born again. There is no reward that is equal to that joy and peace and jubilation that comes when you find out that people’s faith is strong in spite of persecution and trial. It can’t be bought, no matter how much money we may have. That joy is the gift of God. It is the reward from God for the faithful church planter.  Sometimes we must wait a long time to feel that joy.  Nevertheless, we should not grow weary in well doing as we plant churches. If we don’t give up, we will reap a harvest at the proper time. God will reward our work by giving us enduring joy. 

And let me tell you, the joy that comes when we learn that those we have led have strong faith and persistent love is not just a passing emotion. That’s because faith and love are the two most important human attributes. We are saved by faith in a good God. We move forward over barriers and through struggles by faith. Love for God and love for neighbor are the supreme human virtues. Loving behavior transforms marriages, families, villages and nations. So when Timothy shared the good news with Paul about the Thessalonians’ faith and love, Paul knew for sure that the power of the Gospel had indeed flowed through him and had truly produced fruit that would remain. My friends, that knowledge produces lasting joy. My brother, my sister, that joy is your reward too as a church planter.

This has been “Multiply.” And I’m Dean Davis asking, “Who will you share this encouraging word with today?

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