RESOURCES FOR SUFFERING AND PERSECUTION
1 THESSALONIANS 2:13-20
13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.
14 For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews:
15 Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men:
16 Forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they might be saved, to fill up their sins alway: for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost.
17 But we, brethren, being taken from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavoured the more abundantly to see your face with great desire.
18 Wherefore we would have come unto you, even I Paul, once and again; but Satan hindered us.
19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming?
20 For ye are our glory and joy.
Intro:
- It was not easy being a Christian in Thessalonica. In our text tonight, Paul references how the believers in Thessalonica suffered in much the same way as the Jewish believers in Judea had and were for their faith.
- He used such words as affliction (1:6; 3:3), suffered (2:14), contrary (2:15), hindered (2:18).
- What resources are available to us in times of suffering and persecution that can help us endure and overcome?
1. God’s Word Within Us (v. 13)
- The same Word that brings us salvation also enables us to endure suffering, affliction, and persecution.
Note what the Thessalonians did and we too can do:
1) They
- They received the Word which they heard of Paul, i.e. they accepted it.
- The word received in the Greek means to accept. They received the teaching from Paul, Silas, and Timothy; they accepted it. But note here that they accepted it with appreciation.
- They received the word, not as the words of men, but as the very Word of God.
2) They
- Paul used two different words for “received”: The first means to simply “accept from another,” while the second means “to welcome, embrace.”
- One means the “hearing of the ear,” while the other means “the hearing of the heart.”
The believers of Thessalonica not only heard the word, they took it into their hearts and allowed it to nourish the inner man.
How do we appropriate God’s Word? By understanding it and receiving it into our hearts, and by meditating on it so that it strengthens and nourishes our inner man.
- Meditation is to the spiritual life what digestion is to the physical life. If you did not digest your food, you would die.
3) They
- They obeyed the Word by faith, and the Word went to work in their lives.
When does the Bible work in us? When we apply it.
Here is an awesome principle: The Word of God has in it the power to accomplish the will of God. When we believe God’s Word and obey, God releases power that works in our lives to fulfill His purposes.
The Word of God in us is a great source of power in times of testing and suffering. If we appreciate the Word (the heart), appropriate the Word (the mind), and apply the Word (the will), then the whole person will be controlled by God’s Word and He will give us victory.
2. God’s
Around Us (vv. 14-16)
Paul encouraged the suffering Christians at Thessalonica by assuring them that their experiences were not new or isolated. Others had suffered before and were even then suffering with them.
Paul observed parallels between the circumstances and responses of the Thessalonican believers and the Jewish believers in Judea.
- First, both were suffering persecution from their own countrymen.
- Not only was their suffering similar in source, but they were also suffering for the same thing: they were suffering for the gospel. Their actual reception of and belief in the Word became the very reason for which they were suffering.
- Note one more similarity: they suffered with
- The churches of Judea had not been exterminated; if anything, they had been purified and increased.
- These believers in Thessalonica didn’t abandon their faith due to suffering. To the contrary, they exhibited works of faith, love, and hope. They were sounding out the word. They were furthering the gospel.
3. God’s Glory Before Us (vv. 17-20)
- Paul felt as if he had been “orphaned” from the believers at Thessalonica. (Reference Lesson 2 – comfort of a mother and concern of a father.)
- Paul wanted to remain in Thessalonica but could not. He wanted to stay and ground them in the Word.
- His absence, though, was physical. In his heart he was with them.
He wanted to return but was hindered (breaking up the road, putting up obstacles) from doing so by Satan.
Despite the obstacle set before Paul, he did not look back in regret and remorse. He instead looked ahead and rejoiced. Why? Because for the Christian, the
In times of trouble and tribulation and suffering it is important that we take a long view of things.
- Paul lived in the future tense and the present tense. His present actions and thinking were governed by what God would do in the future.
He knew that Jesus would return and reward him for his faithful ministry, and on that day, the believers at Thessalonica would bring glory to God and joy to Paul’s heart.
Paul did not say that he would receive a crown, though this is suggested. He said that the saints themselves would be his crown when he met them at the Judgment Seat.
When Paul looked ahead and saw them in glory, they brought joy to his heart.
When the Christians at Thessalonica read this letter, it must have encouraged them tremendously. They were going through intense persecution and suffering, and perhaps some of them wanted to give up. (cf. Hebrews)
- Paul encouraged them, “Don’t give up! Lay hold of the spiritual resources you have in Jesus Christ. You have the Word of God within you, the people of God around you, and the glory of God before you. There is no need to give up.”