1 Thessalonians 3:6–10 (ESV)
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?
The prequel to this text seen in verse 6 gives us a certainty of Paul’s knowledge of the faith of the church. The short of it goes as follows:
BUT NOW – We were concerned and wanted to LEARN and know for certain of your faith.
TIMOTHY has brought us good news: OF YOUR FAITH, OF YOUR LOVE, OF YOUR KIND REMEMBRANCE OF US, OF YOUR LONGING TO SEE US. For this reason; we know your election is sure. For this reason; we are comforted because of your faith (through your faith)
In today’s message we see the reality of God’s power and are shown that there is certainty and hope in the lives of the Thessalonian Church because God has saved them in power and that their faith wasn’t an emotional man-centered response to the preached word.