1. 1 Thess. 3

2. “ Night and day praying exceedingly that we may see your face and perfect what is lacking in your faith” 1 Thess. 3:10 NASB “complete what is lacking in your faith”

3. “Beloved, while I was giving all diligence to write to you of our common salvation, I was constrained to write unto you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Jude 3 in God’s existence in God’s Son as our Lord in God’s Word to direct our lives Individual ~ “your faith”

4. v. 2 and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith v. 5 For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

5. Grows and develops

6. Faith Must Be Developed Gradually  Turned to God from Idols - 1 Thess. 1:9  Commended - faith, patience, love - 1:3  Examples - 1:7-8  Suffered persecution - 2:14 “Lacking” = having a deficiency, that which is behind - Heb. 4:1 “to come short of it” - Jn. 2:3 “wanting” “Perfect” = fit together in proper succession, mend - Matt. 4:21 - mending their nets

7. Fellowship Perfects Faith “and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith” 1 Thess. 3:2 Strengthen, confirm Lk. 22:31-32; Rom. 1:11 KJV = Comfort To call along side

8. Stability in Trials Perfects Faith “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Jas. 1:2-4 2 Cor. 12:7-10 “thorn in the flesh” Abraham - not born father of the faithful Joseph and Moses - struggled to lead

9.  Paul predicted trouble - 1 Thess. 3:2-4  It happened - Acts 17:5-9 = Jason  Did not destroy their faith - made it stronger “All who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Tim. 3:12 Stability in Trials Perfects Faith

10. Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith Refining of faith Jas. 1:2-4 Destroy our faith Jas. 1:12-15 Paul feared for the Thessalonians – 3:5  New Converts are vulnerable  Pagan environment = idolatry  Jewish hostility

11. Resistance to temptation comes from within - FAITH Paul wanted to know their faith - 1 Thess. 3:5 Timothy brought good news of their faith – 1 Thess. 3:6 Weak faith - tempted to evil = yield Strong faith - tempted to evil = resist Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith

12. Faith Must Be Developed Gradually Resistance to Temptation Perfects Faith Stability in Trials Perfects Faith Fellowship Perfects Faith

13. In Christ = SAVED Baptized (Gal.3:27) Confess (Rom.10:10) Hear (Rom.10:17) Believe (Jn.8:24) Repent (Lk.13:3)