David Bahn – Reflections

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Finally, when we could stand it no longer, we decided to stay alone in Athens, ² and we sent Timothy to visit you. He is our brother and God’s co-worker in proclaiming the Good News of Christ. We sent him to strengthen you, to encourage you in your faith, ³ and to keep you from being shaken by the troubles you were going through. But you know that we are destined for such troubles. ⁴ Even while we were with you, we warned you that troubles would soon come—and they did, as you well know. ⁵ That is why, when I could bear it no longer, I sent Timothy to find out whether your faith was still strong. I was afraid that the tempter had gotten the best of you and that our work had been useless.

⁶ But now Timothy has just returned, bringing us good news about your faith and love. He reports that you always remember our visit with joy and that you want to see us as much as we want to see you. ⁷ So we have been greatly encouraged in the midst of our troubles and suffering, dear brothers and sisters, because you have remained strong in your faith. ⁸ It gives us new life to know that you are standing firm in the Lord.

⁹ How we thank God for you! Because of you we have great joy as we enter God’s presence. ¹⁰ Night and day we pray earnestly for you, asking God to let us see you again to fill the gaps in your faith.

¹¹ May God our Father and our Lord Jesus bring us to you very soon. ¹² And may the Lord make your love for one another and for all people grow and overflow, just as our love for you overflows. ¹³ May he, as a result, make your hearts strong, blameless, and holy as you stand before God our Father when our Lord Jesus comes again with all his holy people. Amen. – 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 [NLT]

Leslie White writes about 6 Things Jesus Teaches Us About the Devil. Her list:

1. The devil attacks when you’re alone.
2. The devil attacks when you’re vulnerable.
3. The devil wants to separate you from your walk with God.
4. You are very susceptible to the devil’s advances when you’re upset.
5. The devil will twist Scripture.
6. The devil feeds on your pain.

There may be others we could list, but this is sufficient. And Paul recognizes the clear and present danger that the devil poses to faithful followers of Jesus. We are not immune to his attacks. We are not defenseless, nor are we destined to give in. But just because we follow Jesus doesn’t mean the devil will leave us alone.

In this letter to the church in Thessalonica Paul recognizes the first of the list Leslie offers: The devil attacks when you are alone. Jesus’ first head-on encounter with the devil occurred when he was alone in the wilderness. Having been there for forty days the temptor urged, “Command that these stones be turned into bread.” Jesus was alone and hungry (#2). But he resisted by the power of the Holy Spirit, and the word of God.

Paul is concerned that these new believers would give in to the devil’s attacks. They were separated from him and apparently also from other spiritually-mature believers. He wanted to be with them to bring  them courage and strength. That being impossible, he sent Timothy in his place, and Timothy brought back the good news of their continuing faithfulness.

Sometimes we simply cannot be present with others in the face of their struggles. We are limited by time and distance. Or we may simply not have the resources necessary to help someone through their troubled times. That’s when the Body of Christ is such a blessing. It’s not all up to us. We cannot do it all, nor should we try to. In fact we impede the growth of others when we try to be all in and all there for everyone. That’s not how the Body of Christ is designed to work.

The devil is a clear and present danger to our faith. He is the thief who wants to steal, kill, and destroy. Our prideful idea that we must take care of all things, never leaning on others, or asking for help, or sending others into the fray is also a clear and present danger. Sometimes people fall prey to that idea, thinking that only the pastor can provide spiritual care. They forfeit the prayers of the saints and miss the comfort of mutual conversation and consolation that brothers and sisters in Christ provide.

God’s love is mediated through the Body of Christ, and we’re all part of that body. Failing to take advantage of that gives the devil yet another opportunity to steal our joy, kill our hope, and destroy our faith. Thank God when he sends others to our side to help in that struggle.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, ² and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, ³ that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. ⁴ For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. ⁵ For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.

⁶ But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— ⁷ for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. ⁸ For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. ⁹ For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, ¹⁰ as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith?

¹¹ Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, ¹² and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, ¹³ so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

– 1 Thessalonians 3:1-13 [ESV]

What you believe matters to me. It matters to your eternal blessing. It also matters to your family and loved ones. It matters even to the stranger on the street. What you believe eventually comes out in the way you live, what you say, and what you set your heart on.

This is all well and good, but what happens when we sin? What happens when we betray our faith? I’m guessing that some of those who read this blog may not think they sin, or certainly don’t believe that they betray their faith. We may know intellectually that even the smallest sin is a betrayal of our faith. But we all too easily overlook those small missteps we make from time to time. We lose our temper, say something hurtful to someone, and perhaps even take God’s name in vain. But only briefly do we give in to this sinful behavior. It’s no big deal, we might think.

Let’s illustrate the danger of even the smallest transgression this way. You’re walking down a path. On one side is a chasm 1500 feet straight down. On the other a rushing river with a torrential current that will dash you against the rocks and over a 500 foot waterfall. You take only a small step to the side and the path gives way to the cliff. A false step – even a tiny one, on purpose or even accidentally – will cause you to plunge into the torrential currents of the raging river. You are no better off than someone who takes a giant leap to one side or another. Either a giant leap or a small misstep will result in death.

So to with sin. If we keep the whole law and break only one part, we are guilty of it all (cf. James 2:10). So what are we to do? We’ve all betrayed our faith. We’ve all sinned. And what if our sin is the kind that keeps us awake at night? What if you’ve taken that leap into the abyss of evil?

That’s where faith finds its greatest value: for we believe that for the sake of Jesus, God forgives sin. For Jesus’ sake we can repent, return to God, and be saved. So if you believe you must live a perfect life in order to be saved, you will soon end up living a hypocritical life to cover your sin. But you can never hide from God. If you believe that God welcomes sinners, receives us when we fail, or even betray our faith, you will find great comfort in God’s mercy and steadfast love.

What do you believe? Do you believe in the forgiveness of sins? Do you believe in the goodness, grace, truth, mercy, and steadfast love of God? I do. And that matters a lot…a whole lot!

Join me in praying these Psalms on this Lord’s Day…21 years after the terrorist attacks on America. May God have mercy on us all!

Psalm 11:1-5
I have taken refuge in the LORD.
How can you say to me,
“Escape to the mountain like a bird!
For look, the wicked string the bow;
they put the arrow on the bowstring
to shoot from the shadows at the upright in heart.
When the foundations are destroyed,
what can the righteous do?”
The LORD is in His holy temple;
the LORD’S throne is in heaven.
His eyes watch; He examines everyone.
The LORD examines the righteous and the wicked.
He hates the lover of violence.

Psalm 41:1-3
Blessed is the one who considers the poor!
In the day of trouble the LORD delivers him;
the LORD protects him and keeps him alive;
he is called blessed in the land;
you do not give him up to the will of his enemies.
The LORD sustains him on his sickbed;
in his illness you restore him to full health.

Psalm 71:1-6
In you, O LORD, do I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame!
In your righteousness deliver me and rescue me;
incline your ear to me, and save me!
Be to me a rock of refuge,
to which I may continually come;
you have given the command to save me,
for you are my rock and my fortress.
Rescue me, O my God, from the hand of the wicked,
from the grasp of the unjust and cruel man.
For you, O Lord, are my hope,
my trust, O LORD, from my youth.
Upon you I have leaned from before my birth;
you are he who took me from my mother’s womb.
My praise is continually of you.

Psalm 101:1-2
I will sing of steadfast love and justice;
to you, O LORD, I will make music.
I will ponder the way that is blameless.
Oh when will you come to me?

Psalm 131
O LORD, my heart is not lifted up;
my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
too great and too marvelous for me.
But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
like a weaned child with its mother;
like a weaned child is my soul within me.
O Israel, hope in the LORD
from this time forth and forevermore.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

– 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 [ESV]

The last two years have been challenging in many ways. Churches have suffered from the lack of in-person worship opportunities, government-mandated shut downs, fear, masks, and even the illness of church leaders and pastors. Many churches switched to online worship experiences. Some did outdoor worship. Still others stayed open in the face of fear and mandates to the contrary. Some offered people the opportunity to join in with others online in prayers and even in participating in the Lord’s Supper.

Add to all those external challenges were the conflicts from within. Some refused to wear masks. Others would not come to worship unless masks were mandated. Churches that offered the opportunity for their families to receive the Lord’s Supper at home were sometimes censured. Churches that refused to do so were largely not.

It wasn’t only the church that suffered. Families and friends suffered as well. While it was a novelty to play games online with our grandkids, it’s a poor substitute for being present face to face. A dinner with friends via ZOOM was a bit of a reprieve from isolation and loneliness. But it just not the same.

The negative impact of all this has also been seen in our schools. Students have suffered learning setbacks because of remote learning, a general malaise of fear, and social distancing limitations.

There’s nothing like being in person for learning, dining with friends, enjoying your grandchildren, and gathering for worship.

The ancient near-eastern equivalent of social media and virtual reality was letters of correspondence. That’s what we have here. And Paul laments his being hindered from being present with these people face to face. He chalks it up to Satan that they are kept apart. Part of that may have been his imprisonment. Part of that may have been the persecution he endured. Whatever tool Satan used, it kept him from visiting these people face to face.

Face to face is far better. It’s the mid-level of intimacy. Neighbor-to-neighbor is the first level. Face-to-face is the second level. Heart-to-heart is the third level. The only deeper sense of intimacy is that enjoyed properly in marriage. And in every case the real thing is far better than any substitute.

That’s why gathering for worship is so important. You can relate to people in all three levels: as neighbors, friends, and as close friends. God’s gift of the Lord’s Supper is a further extension of this, for in that we experience a deep intimacy with Jesus and all the company of heaven, together with all the saints who join us at the communion rail.

Sometimes we must resort to some sort of virtual experience. But there’s nothing like being there, face to face, and is appropriate, heart to heart. May Jesus allow that for us all!

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

– 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 [ESV]

I recently encountered a photo of a gathering at which I was present, and I looked for myself in the photo. Too many people. Too small faces. Me, not found. But whenever I look at the Bible, I do find myself. Sometimes in encouraging ways. Often in sobering ways. Ultimately in thankful ways because of Jesus’ presence with me in those passages.

True, Jesus sometimes has some very harsh things to say to religious people. In fact it was the religious leaders with whom Jesus was particularly challenging. Whether calling them whitewashed tombs, or children of the devil, he was not afraid to call them to account for their actions. But to anyone who was willing to humble himself before God Jesus was remarkably kind and merciful. The woman at the well: The woman caught in adultery: The sinful woman who anointed him with expensive perfume: all received words of kindness, grace, and mercy. I’m happy to be numbered with them.

Paul echoes Jesus’ values and interactions in dealing with the Thessalonians. They had suffered. They had remained faithful. And Paul expresses solidarity with them. He has words of encouragement for them. He is willing to call them brothers.

The Thessalonians are the focus of attention and love on the part of Paul. Perhaps you can identify with that: a dedicated servant of God has expressed love and encouragement to you. You have been in the prayers of a prayer warrior. Someone who is a follower of Jesus has visited you, offering God’s word of grace and truth. That’s where you can be in this picture of Christian love and concern.

May it never be that we are in the group who seeks to thwart others from gaining access to Jesus. We must not be the source of discouragement to faithful followers of our Lord. We must never get in the way of one who is spreading the word of Christ. Ridicule, criticism, grumbling, and fault-finding all do exactly those things. Let that never be our place in the picture!

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

– 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 [ESV]

I learned photography from my friend Jerry. He had a friend,Tim, who was also a photographer. He was a year ahead of us in school and quite accomplished. He regularly had photos published in the local newspaper, and once rigged up an enlarger in his basement, bought a giant sheet of photo paper and made a very large print. I got to help with that project. Cool!

But one time I did something that was not cool. I had been assigned to take a photo of the SEMO University cheerleaders. Tim also had the same assignment, but from a different publisher. He had been there first and had lined up the cheerleaders in a very pleasing arrangement and taken the photo from atop the bleachers. It seemed like such a great set up, I simply stepped in after him and took my own photo from the same vantage point with the cheerleaders in the same pose. That was not a good idea. “Don’t you ever steal my setup again!” was his simple and direct comment to me afterwards. Sometimes imitation is the best form of flattery. But in this case it was not flattery, it amounted to infringing upon his artistic creation.

In the case of the Christian walk, however, imitation is the best form of discipleship. When you see someone living out their faith with integrity imitating their form of life is a very good thing to do. Paul even here calls the Thessalonians to imitate the churches in Judea. They were an example of faithfulness, discipleship, prayer, and missional focus. It seems likely to me that Paul would be alluding to the church in Antioch which had sent him out on his first missionary journey. They had also suffered for the sake of the gospel. But rather than turning away from the message of Jesus or abandoning their strong missional identity, they continued to support Paul in his work and sent him on three separate missionary journeys.

That’s an example worth following. During the past 18 months Diane and I have had opportunity to visit a number of different churches. I have noted some of the very excellent things these churches do for the sake of God’s kingdom. Whenever I can I tell others of these practices and efforts I do so. Strong and ongoing mission trip support year after year. Hospitality that is obvious and genuine. Commitment to excellence in facility care and worship experience. Discipleship programs that truly engage people in daily discipleship practices.

Those are modern day examples. They are worthy of imitation. That’s not theological or spiritual infringement. In fact whenever we can we ought to invite others to imitate our faith and way of life.

You say you’ve got some failures, sin, and missteps in your walk with Jesus? So does everyone else. Lead by example of contrition, repentance and a renewed commitment to live out the truth that God has revealed to us. He will come for his own and we will be eternally happy because of his great love and merciful redemption. Perhaps our example will embolden others to follow that path of faithfulness as well.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

– 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 [ESV]

I’ve enjoyed an ongoing conversation with a friend regarding pride as the root sin. His contention – one that I am not able to refute – is that pride is the root of all sin. Pride certainly moved Satan to rebel against God. Satan used pride to tempt Eve, “You will be like God, knowing good and evil…” Pride led Eve to take the forbidden fruit. Pride may have played into Adam’s demur and consequent eating of the forbidden fruit – though I might make a case for fear as the cause of his action. Nonetheless, pride is certainly a terrible evil.

In our conversation my friend pointed me to a website of which I was aware, but to which I never go without being pointed to it be someone I know. Dedicated to upholding truth at all costs, the writers opine on things germaine to current theological issues in our church body. My friend shared an article on pride from that site with which I mostly agreed. I did not see much stated about the reason for an attitude of humility as opposed to pride – beyond the fact that pride is an affront to God, and a terrible sin (which it surely is).

But Paul, here, expresses a deep love for the people of Thessalonica. They are true brothers in the faith, and have suffered like difficulties and even persecutions for the sake of their faith in Jesus. His love for them, and his willingness to acknowledge them as brothers in suffering is an act of great humility. I’m not sure many people suffered to the extent Paul did during his missionary activity. But Paul considers them brothers in suffering.

Humility before God is essential. Humility before our sisters and brothers in Christ is the beautiful adornment of true faith. It is the handmaid of grace and truth. It is essential for true teaching, learning, and fellowship.

When a love of truth is combined with an attitude of humility great beauty unfolds. Discarding truth sullies humility, turning it into sentimentality. Truth held without humility is like a noisy gong and clanging cymbal (cf. 1 Corinthians 13). We have both of these in these few verses. I hope to display that beauty in my  teaching and life. I hope you will too.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

And we also thank God constantly for this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men but as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. ¹⁴ For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews, ¹⁵ who killed both the Lord Jesus and the prophets, and drove us out, and displease God and oppose all mankind ¹⁶ by hindering us from speaking to the Gentiles that they might be saved—so as always to fill up the measure of their sins. But wrath has come upon them at last!

¹⁷ But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, ¹⁸ because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. ¹⁹ For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you? ²⁰ For you are our glory and joy.

– 1 Thessalonians 2:13-20 [ESV]

I’m not surprised when people outside the church ridicule or oppose the Christian faith. I wish everyone loved God, delighted in his word, and believed in Jesus. But I know not everyone does. I realize there are those who are vehemently opposed to any spread of the Christian faith. I am not unaware that some are dedicated to persecuting Christians.

But when people who identify as the true defenders of the faith start attacking fellow believers it so discourages me. Paul speaks of that here, recounting the battles he had with the Judaizers in the early days of the Christian church. The believers in Thessalonica had endured persecution from their own countrymen. But they endured that persecution because they were convinced that God had spoken to them through Paul. They received the message of Paul as a message of God. And they were willing to stand fast on the basis of that word.

This brings Paul joy. He is delighted that they remained faithful. He even calls these believers his glory and his joy.  Edward’s (not his real name) wife and two daughters first began to attend the church where I was serving as pastor while he remained at home. He was skeptical of the faith and the claims of Jesus to say the least. Sometime later, however, he yielded to my invitation and we studied the basic teachings of Jesus. He ultimately confessed his faith and was confirmed as a member of the church. He later became an elder, and even started leading a Bible study with Russian-speaking people. Now he is an dedicated and faithful Lutheran pastor. I know of three other men who followed similar paths and now serve as pastors. If anything is my glory and joy, it would be these four men. And I just thought of a fifth one as well!

Sadly, however, the pathway to such service is not always easy or without opposition. Even more sadly, sometimes the opposition comes from within the church. I recall the first encounter I had after stepping foot on the seminary campus for the first time. I experienced nearly an inquisition regarding my theological orthodoxy. Fellow classmates sometimes were extreme in their criticism of my understanding. Fellow classmates! On one occasion a stranger provided me with an extremely vulgar physical gesture upon seeing me wearing a clerical collar. That was painful enough. But the attacks and challenges from within the church have been the most painful.

The word of God, and the conviction that I stand on God’s word, clearly expressed and conveyed gives me the strength and will to continue. I wouldn’t suffer much resistance for any other reason. I pray that you, Dear Reader, attach to, align with, and commit to God’s word alone. No political affiliation, no human association, no club oath, no ethnic identity deserves such complete and total allegiance.

David Bahn-Reflections Podcast

I preached today at Fishers of Men Lutheran Church in Port Isabel, Texas. The link above is to the recording of that message.

https://anchor.fm/david-bahn/embed/episodes/Facing-Change-for-the-Sake-of-Christs-Mission-Why-Change-e1ncuoa

Join me in praying these psalms on this Lord’s Day. Things happen when we pray that otherwise would not have happened.

Psalm 4:1