Strengthened in the Faith

Strengthening the Souls of the Disciples

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The churches “were strengthened in the faith” (Acts 16:5). How does God make believers strong? God’s Word shows us how He did it in the first churches.

The first visit back. At the end of their first trip, Paul and Barnabas went back to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith” (Acts 14:22). To exhort means to urge and encourage.

An honest word. They also said, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God” (14:22). Tribulations are troubles and hard times. Following Jesus is worth it, even when it is hard.

Ready, not surprised. When believers know that hard times will come, they are not shaken when trouble arrives. They know Jesus is still with them.

Again and again. On the next trip Paul “went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches” (Acts 15:41). Helping believers grow strong was something Paul kept doing.

Timothy sent to help. Later the believers in the city of Thessalonica were going through troubles. Paul wrote that he “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 Thessalonians 3:2). To establish means to make firm.

Not shaken. Why did Paul send him? So “that no one should be shaken by these afflictions” (3:3). Afflictions are troubles that hurt.

God’s Word makes us strong. Paul and Timothy strengthened believers by teaching them God’s Word. Knowing the truth about Jesus keeps us steady when troubles come.

God’s people make us strong. God sent Timothy to the believers in Thessalonica. God still sends believers to help each other stand.

The faith we stand on. We have all sinned and cannot save ourselves. Jesus took our place on the cross. “Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,” and “He rose again the third day” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4). Faith is trusting Him.

Faith that grows. When you first trust Jesus, your faith may feel small. God does not leave it small. He makes it stronger.

Hard times can help. Troubles can push us closer to Jesus. Every time He helps us, we learn that we can trust Him more.

Who can you help? You can be like Timothy. A kind word, a Bible verse or a prayer can help a friend stand strong.

What to do. Think of a friend who is having a hard time. This week, pray for them and share one Bible verse that helps you trust Jesus.

Acts 16:5 reports that the churches “were strengthened in the faith.” God did that strengthening through His Word and through His people.

Episterizo (14:22). Returning through Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, Paul and Barnabas were “strengthening the souls of the disciples, exhorting them to continue in the faith.” Strengthening is episterizo (say: ep-ee-stay-RID-zoh), to set firmly upon, to prop up and support. The same word returns in 15:41: “strengthening the churches.”

Truthful strengthening. They added, “We must through many tribulations enter the kingdom of God.” Real encouragement does not promise an easy life. It prepares believers to stand when trouble comes.

Timothy at Thessalonica (1 Thessalonians 3:1-2). “Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, 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.” Paul gave up Timothy’s company so that the new church would not stand alone.

Not shaken (3:3). “That no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this.” Paul did not hide that suffering is part of following Christ. “For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know” (3:4).

How it happened. The strengthening came through the gospel taught again, questions answered and lives shared. God uses ordinary believers to do His work.

The foundation. The faith they were established in is the good news. We have sinned, and “Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God” (1 Peter 3:18). He died on the cross in our place, and God raised Him from the dead. He lives to keep His people.

Strength through trials. Hard times show what we are standing on. A believer standing on Christ finds that He holds.

Strengthened again. The churches strengthened in Acts 14 were strengthened again in Acts 16 (16:1-5). Believers need strengthening more than once, because growing in faith goes on for a lifetime.

Being a Timothy. Every believer can strengthen others: sharing Scripture, praying, and showing up when someone is struggling.

Application. Get firmly rooted in God’s Word yourself. Then look for one believer this week who needs to be strengthened, and go to them.

The Lord Is Faithful

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Paul and Timothy worked hard to strengthen the churches. But who really makes believers strong? God’s Word gives a clear answer: the Lord does.

Good news from Timothy. Timothy came back from Thessalonica and “brought us good news of your faith and love” (1 Thessalonians 3:6). The believers were still trusting Jesus.

Comforted. Paul wrote, “in all our affliction and distress we were comforted concerning you by your faith” (3:7). Their faith brought Paul comfort in his own hard times.

Stand fast. “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord” (3:8). To stand fast means to stay firm and not give up.

In the Lord. They did not stand fast by being tough. They stood fast “in the Lord,” leaning on Him.

Paul’s prayer. “And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you” (3:12). Paul prayed that their love would grow and overflow.

Hearts made strong. He prayed this “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” (3:13). God would keep their hearts strong until Jesus comes again.

The Lord is faithful. In his next letter Paul wrote, “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one” (2 Thessalonians 3:3). God makes us strong, and He guards us.

He keeps His promises. Faithful means God always does what He says. He never gives up on His children. He finishes what He starts.

Keep trusting. Paul also wrote that believers should “continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast” (Colossians 1:23). We keep trusting, and God keeps us strong.

Why we can trust Him. We have all sinned. Jesus died on the cross for our sins and rose again from the dead. If God gave His Son for us, He will not stop caring for us.

When you feel weak. Everyone feels weak sometimes. That is a good time to ask the Lord to make you strong.

Strong together. God strengthens us in love for one another. Believers who love each other help each other stand.

What to do. This week, when you feel worried or weak, remember that the Lord is faithful. Ask Him to make your heart strong, and thank Him that He will.

The strength of a church does not finally come from its teachers. It comes from the Lord, who uses His servants but never hands His work over to them.

Timothy’s report (3:6-7). “But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and brought us good news of your faith and love.” The church had held firm under pressure, and Paul was “comforted concerning you by your faith.”

Steko (3:8). “For now we live, if you stand fast in the Lord.” Stand fast is steko (say: STAY-koh), to stand firm and keep your place. Paul felt alive again knowing they were standing.

Standing in Him. The key words are “in the Lord.” Believers do not stand by willpower but by being joined to Christ.

A prayer for growing love (3:11-12). “Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus Christ, direct our way to you. And may the Lord make you increase and abound in love to one another and to all, just as we do to you.” Firm faith shows itself in growing love.

Established until the end (3:13). “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.” God’s strengthening work keeps going until Jesus returns.

The Lord is faithful (2 Thessalonians 3:3). “But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.” The One who makes believers firm is the Lord, and He also guards them.

Grounded (Colossians 1:23). Paul wrote of believers who “continue in the faith, grounded and steadfast.” Grounded means settled and firm. God’s faithfulness is the reason believers can keep standing.

Love and holiness. Paul linked growing love (3:12) with hearts established in holiness (3:13). The Lord strengthens us not only to endure hard times, but to become more like Jesus.

The ground of it all. We have sinned, and we cannot keep ourselves. Christ died on the cross for our sins and rose again. Our faith rests on a finished work and a living Lord.

Weakness is not the end. Feeling weak does not mean God has let go. His faithfulness does not rise and fall with our feelings.

Application. Pray Paul’s prayer for your church and your friends this week: that the Lord would make their love abound and establish their hearts.

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