Paul was a missionary. At the same time he often briefly served as the pastor of new churches he established. As we read Paul’s Epistles, we often sense his pastoral passion. He loved those he had led to Christ. He prayed for them daily. He suffered for their sakes. He wrote to them. He visited them when possible. He sent other preachers to edify them.

Transition

In our text today, we again see Paul’s Pastoral Passion as he describes his heart, his hindrance, and his hope for the Thessalonian believers. Pray for me as I want to have the same pastoral passion for you that Paul had for the Thessalonians.

The Heart of Paul’s Pastoral Passion (2:17)

1. Paul longed to be with the believers
   1. The word translated “being taken from you” is very enlightening. It describes one who is bereaved of his parents. In other words, he was separated from his parents.
   2. Paul felt like a parent who was separated from his dear children. Though his absence had not been long, he still longed to be with them. He was absent in presence, not in heart. Paul’s heart was still in Thessalonica.
   3. Jesus spoke to his disciples of a similar separation just before He died on the cross. (John 14:18) I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you. The word “comfortless” means orphaned. Jesus promised to send the Holy Spirit to be with believers.
2. Paul worked diligently to see the believers
   1. Paul said that he endeavoured the more abundantly to see the believers. In other words, he gave great diligence to finding a way that he could see them again.
   2. Being with the believers was Paul’s great desire. He longed to be with them, not primarily for fellowship, but to strengthen them spiritually. He longed to teach them the Bible and see them grow spiritually. The apostle John expressed the same pastoral passion when he wrote, (3 John 1:4) I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.
      ☆ One of my greatest desires is to see you learn the Bible and grow as a Christian. I long to be with you so that I can teach you. That is the reason I often beg you to come to the evening and Wednesday services. I cannot help you grow spiritually if you do not come to the services. It breaks my heart when I carefully prepare messages that I know will strengthen you and then you are not present to hear them. Please make it a priority to be in all the services. They are for your benefit.

The Hindrance of Paul’s Pastoral Passion (2:18)

1. He tried several times to visit the believers
   1. Don’t overlook the word “wherefore”. That word links the present statement with what was just said. Because Paul longed to be with the believers and edify them spiritually he tried several times to visit them.
   2. He said, “we would have come”. In other words, we were resolved to come. We were determined to come. It was our intent.
   3. Paul assured the Thessalonian believers that he himself longed to visit them. He had made definite plans more than once to make the trip. His pastoral heart broke knowing that his young spiritual children needed teaching and guidance.
2. Satan hindered his efforts
   1. Satan, our enemy the devil, hindered Paul’s visits. He blocked the road. He made it impossible.
   2. Does Satan really hinder the work of the Lord? He sure does. Peter said, (1 Peter 5:8-9) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
   3. The devil does everything in his power to hinder the spiritual growth and witness of believers.
      1. He works as an angel of light to deceive. (2 Corinthians 11:14) And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.
      2. He seeks to deceive the whole world. (Revelation 12:9) And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.
      3. As the god of this world, he blinds the minds of unbelievers. (2 Corinthians 4:4) In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.
   4. The devil hates you. He is working to keep you from attending all the church services by causing interruptions, sickness, and excuses. He may distract your thinking. He may cause conflicts in your family as you prepare for church. He may cause you to oversleep. He sometimes oppress me making it difficult for me to study or to preach. He encourages discord among the brethren.
   5. Remember that first line of our chorus “Stay Awake!” “Stay awake, be ready, the enemy the devil is after you. Stay awake, be ready, don’t let the devil ruin you.” The devil is a terrible hindrance to spiritual growth.

The Hope of Paul’s Pastoral Passion (2:19-20)

1. Paul’s goal was spiritual maturity in the believers
   1. Paul asks two questions in verse 19 to get the believers to think. These questions urged them to think about the future.
   2. He wanted the believers to be ready for the Lord’s return. “The presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming” refers to standing before the Lord at the Judgment Seat of Christ. (2 Corinthians 5:10) For we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad. Remember, the Judgment Seat of Christ is a day of accounting for Christians. It will be a time of reward or rebuke, gain or loss. Paul did not want his converts to face shame, rebuke, or loss of reward. (Those who are not true Christians will later stand before God at the Great White Throne and be sentenced to the Lake of Fire forever.)
   3. Paul longed to help those new believers draw close to the Lord so that they would not be ashamed before the Lord at His coming. John mentions this in 1 John 2:28, And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.
   4. If you are a true Christian, how you lived after your conversion will be the most important thing on your mind when you stand before Christ.
2. Paul’s mind was often on the Lord’s return
   1. Paul called the believers his hope or joy or crown of rejoicing. What does that mean?
      1. Hope means he was confident they would be with him in heaven.
      2. Joy means he was thrilled that they had come to know Christ. This gave him joy.
      3. Crown of rejoice means that in heaven they would be to him like a crown placed on the head of a winner.
   2. The Thessalonian believers would be his glory and joy at the Judgment Seat of Christ. They would be his pride and joy. Paul loved them and wanted them to be ready for the Lord’s return.
      ☆ As your pastor, my Pastoral Passion is that you will truly come to know Christ as your Saviour. It is also my passion to help you live your life in such a way that you will receive reward and praise from the Lord on judgment day. I beg you to obey God’s word. I beg you to come to all the church services. I beg you to apply the word that you hear to your daily life.

Conclusion

We have examined the heart, the hindrance, and the hope of Paul’s Pastoral Passion. Please pray that I will have a similar passion for you. Please apply the preaching and teaching that I give you so that you will be ready for the Lord’s return. Jesus may return today. Are you ready? Are you 100% positive you are saved? Are you living a godly life?

Song: Will Jesus Find Us Watching – 148
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A Pastoral Passion
21 February 2016 AM – 1Thes. 2:17-20 – 1Th2016 – Scott Childs