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 3:11-13

A. What do we learn of our God?

1. God’s paternal relationship with His children – 1 Thess. 1:2-3; 3:11

2. God’s sovereignty over His children – 1 Thess. 3:11

3. God’s activity in His children – 1 Thess. 3:12-13, Col. 1:9-12

Today

B. What do we learn are God’s Chief Purposes for His Children?

1. Increasing love for one another – 1 Thess. 3:12

– This love is present in them: 1 Thess. 1:3

– This love is active from them: 1 Thess. 4:9-10

– This love is never to stagnate or decrease: 1 Thess. 4:10

2. Established holiness before a watching world: 1 Thess. 3:13, Rom. 14:10, Heb. 12:14

What Holiness Is Not

– It is not outward conformity to rules

– It is not moral conduct different from the world

– It is not religious duty to know commands

– Warfare daily between the Spirit and flesh for who rules the heart

What Holiness Is

– A setting apart of life by God for God

– A willful dedication/consecration of all we are to all God is

– A progressive conformity to the character of the Holy Lord Jesus

– A daily warfare between the Spirit & flesh for who rules the heart

C. What do we learn from Paul’s praying example in relationship with God?

1. Submission to God’s sovereignty: 1 Thess. 3:10-11, Luke 22:41-42

2. Dependency on God’s works of grace: 1 Thess. 3:12-13, 1 Cor. 3:5-7

3. Teachability as God’s servant: 1 Thess. 3:12, Phil. 3:10-15