“ Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith” 1 Thess. 3:10 “Perfect” = fit together in proper succession, mend

“He who used to persecute us is now preaching the faith he once tried to destroy.” Gal. 1:23 in God’s existence in God’s Son as our Lord in God’s Word to direct our lives

Faith Must Be Developed Gradually Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith Stability in Trials Perfects Faith Fellowship Perfects Faith 1 Thess. 3 v.10 v.2 v.2-4 v.5

Steadfastness in the Christian Life “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” 1 Thess. 3:8 To cause a thing to be in place; Persevering in a given activity

Gal. 5:1 “Stand fast therefore in the liberty…” 1 Cor. 16:13 “Watch, stand fast in the faith, be brave, be strong.” 1 Cor. 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.” Phil. 4:1 “Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.” Steadfastness in the Christian Life

 Status  Possessions  Intelligence Steadfastness in the Christian Life

Prayer Perfects Faith

“For what thanks can we render to God for you, for all the joy with which we rejoice for your sake before our God” “night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith” “Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you.” 1 Thess. 3:9-11 Prayer Perfects Faith

Christian Virtues Perfects Faith “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you, so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” 1 Thess. 3:12-13

“But also for this very reason, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, to virtue knowledge, to knowledge self-control, to self-control perseverance, to perseverance godliness, to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness love.” 2 Peter 1:5-7 Christian Virtues Perfects Faith

Paul prayed that their love would “increase and abound” News of their faith and love spread – 1 Thess. 1:8 “Finally then, brethren, we urge and exhort in the Lord Jesus that you should abound more and more…” 1 Thess. 4:1 Christian Virtues Perfects Faith

Awareness of Second Coming Paul came to Thessalonica and taught them about Jesus - Acts 17:2-3 Faith in Jesus also relates to the future…. “So that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all His saints.” 1 Thess. 3:13

Awareness of Second Coming “But the day of the Lord will come as a thief in the night, in which the heavens will pass away with a great noise, and the elements will melt with fervent heat; both the earth and the works that are in it will be burned up.” 2 Pet. 3:10

“Therefore, since all these things will be dissolved, what manner of persons ought you to be in holy conduct and godliness, looking for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be dissolved, being on fire, and the elements will melt with fervent heat? Nevertheless we, according to His promise, look for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells” 2 Pet. 3:11-13 Awareness of Second Coming

Faith Must Be Developed Gradually Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith Stability in Trials Perfects Faith Fellowship Perfects Faith 1 Thess. 3 v.10 v.2 v.2-4 v.5

Steadfastness in the Christian Life v. 8 Prayer Perfects Faith v. 9 Christian Virtues Perfects Faith v Awareness of Second Coming v Thess. 3

IN CHRIST “ALL SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS” (EPH. 1:3) SALVATION (2 TIM. 2:10) “NO CONDEMNATION” (ROM. 8:1) “NEW CREATION” (2 COR. 5:17) BAPTISM ROM. 6:3-4