Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we

thought it best to be left behind at Athens

alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s
fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen
and encourage you as to your faith, 3 so that no one
would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you
yourselves know that we have been destined for
this. 4 For indeed when we were with you,
we kept telling you in advance that we were going to
suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
5
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I
also sent to find out about your faith, for fear
that the tempter might have tempted you, and our
labor would be in vain.6 But now that Timothy has
come to us from you, and has brought us good news
of your faith and love, and that you always think
kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to
see you, 7 for this reason, brethren, in all our distress
and affliction we were comforted about you through
your faith; 8 for now we really live, if you stand firm
in the Lord.
Kaya't nang hindi na namin iyon matagalan, nagpasya
kaming magpaiwan sa Atenas 2 at isugo sa inyo si
Timoteo, isang kapatid at kamanggagawa ng Diyos sa
pagpapalaganap ng ebanghelyo ni Cristo. Sinugo
namin siya upang palakasin at pasiglahin kayo sa
inyong pananampalataya, 3 upang walang sinuman sa
inyo ang manghina dahil sa mga pagsubok na ito. Kayo
mismo ang nakababatid na ang pag-uusig ay bahagi ng
kalooban ng Diyos para sa atin. 4 Sinabi na namin ito sa
inyo noong magkasama pa tayo na tayo'y uusigin, at
alam ninyong ganito nga ang nangyayari
ngayon. 5 Kaya't nang hindi na ako makatiis, nagpadala
na ako riyan ng sugo upang alamin ang kalagayan ng
inyong pananampalataya sa Panginoon.
Nag-aalala akong baka nalinlang na kayo ng diyablo
at mawalan ng saysay ang aming mga paghihirap.
6
Ngunit ngayo'y nakabalik na dito si Timoteo at dala
ang Magandang Balita tungkol sa inyong
pananampalataya at pag-ibig. Ibinalita rin niya sa
amin na laging maganda ang inyong alaala sa amin
at nasasabik na kami'y makitang muli, gaya ng
pananabik naming makita kayo. 7 Kaya nga, mga
kapatid, sumigla ang aming kalooban sa gitna ng
aming pagkabalisa at mga hirap dahil sa inyong
pananampalataya kay Cristo. 8 Mabubuhayan kami
ng loob kung mananatiling matatag ang inyong
paninindigan sa Panginoon. (FSV)
II Cor. 11:28-29 Apart from such external
things, there is the daily pressure on
me of concern for all the churches. Who 29

is weak without my being weak? Who is led

into sin without my intense concern?
Col. 4:13 For I testify for him that he has a
deep concern for you and for those who are
in Laodicea and Hierapolis.
I. BY GIVING PREFERENCE TO THE SPIRITUAL
WELFARE OF OTHERS (BIGYAN NG PRIYORIDAD
ANG KAPAKANAN NG IBA) – VV. 1-2
Therefore when we could endure it no longer, we thought it best
to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our
brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to
strengthen and encourage you as to your faith...
Kaya't nang hindi na namin iyon matagalan, nagpasya kaming
magpaiwan sa Atenas 2 at isugo sa inyo si Timoteo, isang kapatid
at kamanggagawa ng Diyos sa pagpapalaganap ng ebanghelyo ni
Cristo. Sinugo namin siya upang palakasin at pasiglahin kayo sa
inyong pananampalataya...
A. We must prioritize the strength and
encouragement of others even
though we too need the same.
Phil. 2:3-4 Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit,
but with humility of mind regard one another as more
important than yourselves; 4 do not merely look out for
your own personal interests, but also for the interests
of others.
II. BY REMINDING OTHERS OF THE SPIRITUAL
OPPORTUNITY THAT BRINGS BY SUFFERINGS
(IPAALALA SA IBA ANG OPORTUNIDAD DULOT NG
PAGHIHIRAP) – VV. 3-4
3
so that no one would be disturbed by these afflictions; for you
yourselves know that we have been destined for this. 4 For indeed
when we were with you, we kept telling you in advance that we were
going to suffer affliction; and so it came to pass, as you know.
3
upang walang sinuman sa inyo ang manghina dahil sa mga pagsubok na ito.
Kayo mismo ang nakababatid na ang pag-uusig ay bahagi ng kalooban
ng Diyos para sa atin. 4 Sinabi na namin ito sa inyo noong magkasama pa
tayo na tayo'y uusigin, at alam ninyong ganito nga ang nangyayari
ngayon.
A. That they may be reminded that sufferings
are God-ordained situations.
1. They were told in advance that sufferings will
surely come to pass.

I Pet. 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal

among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as
though some strange thing were happening to you; 13 but to
the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on
rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may
rejoice with exultation.
III. BY PROTECTING OTHERS FROM POSSIBLE SPIRITUAL
DOWNFALL (PROTEKTAHAN ANG IBA MULA SA
MAARING PAGKAHULOG SA TUKSO) – V. 5
5
For this reason, when I could endure it no longer, I also sent to find
out about your faith, for fear that the tempter might have
tempted you, and our labor would be in vain.
5
Kaya't nang hindi na ako makatiis, nagpadala na ako riyan ng sugo
upang alamin ang kalagayan ng inyong pananampalataya sa
Panginoon. Nag-aalala akong baka nalinlang na kayo ng diyablo at
mawalan ng saysay ang aming mga paghihirap.
A. That Satan (tempter) might have carried out his
temptation.
B. That Paul, Silas and Timothy’s labour (preaching) might
end in vain.
IV. BY REJOICING OVER OTHERS’ SPIRITUAL
ADVANCEMENT (MAKIGALAK SA ESPIRITUWAL NA
PAG-UNLAD NG IBA) – VV. 6-7
6
But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us
good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly
of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, 7 for this
reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were
comforted about you through your faith...
6
Ngunit ngayo'y nakabalik na dito si Timoteo at dala ang Magandang Balita
tungkol sa inyong pananampalataya at pag-ibig. Ibinalita rin niya sa amin
na laging maganda ang inyong alaala sa amin at nasasabik na kami'y
makitang muli, gaya ng pananabik naming makita kayo. 7 Kaya nga, mga
kapatid, sumigla ang aming kalooban sa gitna ng aming pagkabalisa at
mga hirap dahil sa inyong pananampalataya kay Cristo.
A.They advanced spiritually in faith
B.They advanced spiritually in love
C.They advanced spiritually in respect
D.They advanced spiritually in yearning
V. BY APPRECIATING THE IMPACT OF OTHERS’
SPIRITUAL STABILITY (PAHALAGAHAN ANG
EPEKTO NG ESPIRITUWAL NA KATATAGAN
NG IBA SA ATIN) – V. 8
8
for now we really live, if you stand firm in the
Lord.
8
Mabubuhayan kami ng loob kung mananatiling
matatag ang inyong paninindigan sa Panginoon.
A. We become strong and stable in our faith
through the strong and stable lives of other
believers.
 TEXT TO PONDER

John 10:11-13 I am the good shepherd; the good

shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. 12 He
who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is
not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming,
and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf
snatches them and scatters them. 13He
flees because he is a hired hand and is not
concerned about the sheep.
 CONCLUSION
Concern may be a word we often say and hear
every day, but seldom see in action. We may
see it being practiced by some people, but
obviously with selfish motive. Not so with true
Christians, who can and will never be indifferent
to others, especially to the members of the
family of God to whom he belongs. We are
called upon to live in loving concern with one
another. Our Lord Jesus Christ was the first to
demonstrate it perfectly
by the way he lived until the way he died. So let
us not hesitate to extend our deep concern, as
much as we can and for as long as we live. May
we never get tired of giving preference to the
welfare of others, especially to our brothers and
sisters. Remind them of the good cause of living
in day-to-day sufferings. Be ready to protect them
so as not to fall away from the faith. Rejoice with
them as they advance spiritually. And finally,
appreciate the impact they bring to us through
their spiritual stability. God bless us all!