First Thessalonians (4)
Notes
Transcript
Standing Strong When Persecution Comes
Standing Strong When Persecution Comes
So much has happened to the Christian Church in recent years.
from fines for opening during covid
to Pastors being arrested for preaching the truth on the streets.
It is not a matter if persecution will come to VBC, it is just a matter of when.
It may come in the form of IRS audits or protests out in front of the church.
It will come, that is a fact, the question is, will you stand strong when it does come?
In our text we see how these believers at Thessalonica stood strong when they faced persecution.
Now, it may be decades before we see persecution like these believers but they still stood strong and I believe if we hold to these truths, when it does come we will stand strong as well
We dont have to look very hard to find three important truths in this powerful statement by Paul, that I believe show us how living with heaven on your mind will enable us To stand strong when persecution comes
I. Receive God’s Word When Preached
I. Receive God’s Word When Preached
In his essay “Recent Developments about the Doctrine of Scripture,” D. A. Carson writes;
“A high view of Scripture is of little value to us if we do not enthusiastically embrace the Scripture’s authority...To our shame, we have hungered to be masters of the Word much more than we have hungered to be mastered by it. ”
And the results of this type of hunger is a diminishing view of scriptural authority in the pulpit.
when there is a diminished view of scriptural authority in the pulpit invariably it will affect those sitting in the pews.
What a preacher believes about the Bible will determine how he preaches the Bible,
and how he preaches the Bible will influence how his church responds to what the Bible says.
and if you are to be transformed by Scripture you must trust completely in the authority of Scripture.
This is the problem in churches today,
they are unaffected by the very truth they claim to believe.
because they want to master it rather than be mastered by it
BUt this was not the case for the Thessalonian believers.
The Thessalonian Christians portray the kind of response to God’s Word that any Bible believing, Bible preaching pastor seeks.
When these folks heard Paul’s message, they recognized that he was speaking divine truth, and then they received it
they received it three ways.
They Received it by Appreciating It
They Received it by Appreciating It
If the Bible is the Word of God, then we must acknowledge three things:
it’s true and timeless,
it transforms,
and it can be trusted.
The Bible affirms all three:
Concerning its truthfulness, David says that God’s law is “perfect” (Ps 19:7).
Isaiah declares that it is timeless. (Isa 40:8
The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: But the word of our God shall stand for ever.
Peter points to its transforming work. He says that we
Being born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever.
The psalmist says it can be trusted as “a lamp for my feet and a light on my path” (Ps 119:105).
The Thessalonians longed for a word in which they could believe.
Because, Much like the modern world today, Thessalonica was a cys pool of religion.
A city with such cultural diversity
was sure to be the breeding ground for religious and philosophical speculation.
The Thessalonians had doubtlessly seen and heard it all.
But Paul brought a new message
One that they had not heard
One that when preached, changed thoughts, hearts and lives
They did not receive Pauls words as simply another message from a man,
They received it as the very Word’s of God and they knew that it was truth.
We must never treat the Bible as just another book, the Bible is of a
different origin,
a different character,
different content
and of a different cost.
The Bible is the Word of God
It was inspired by the Spirit of God 2Tim 3:16
All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:
and written by men of God 2Peter1:20-21
Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.
For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.
God’s Word is holy, pure, and perfect Ps.19:7-9
The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple.
The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes.
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
It was written at a great cost
not only to the writers but to the One who it is written about.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
The same was in the beginning with God.
All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.
In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
The way a Christian treats his or her Bible shows just how much he or she regards Jesus Christ.
Christ is the living Word and the Bible is the Written Word, but in essence they are one in the same.
Both are bread
Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceddeth out of the mouth of God
“I am the bread of life”
Both are light
For thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path
the light of the world
Both are truth
for thy word is truth
I am the Way, the Truth and the Life
Both are eternal
Christ is the eternal Son of God forever Rom. 1:25
Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen.
The Word of God will live forever Ps.119:89
LAMED. For ever, O Lord, Thy word is settled in heaven.
Let me ask you:
Would you rather have your Bible than food?
Neither have I gone back from the commandment of his lips; I have esteemed the words of his mouth more than my necessary food.
It is our bread Matt.4:4; milk and meat Heb.5:11-14 and our desert Ps.119:103
How sweet are thy words unto my taste! Yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!
Would you rather have God’s Word than money?
I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies, As much as in all riches.
The law of thy mouth is better unto me Than thousands of gold and silver.
Therefore I love thy commandments Above gold; yea, above fine gold.
I rejoice at thy word, As one that findeth great spoil.
How much is God’s Word worth to you?
Would you rather have God’s Word than sleep?
the Psalmist did, Psalm 119:148
Mine eyes prevent the night watches, That I might meditate in thy word.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Four: Growing Pains (1 Thessalonians 2:13–20)
The Jews had three night watches: sunset to 10, 10 to 2, and 2 until dawn. The psalmist gave up sleep three times each night that he might spend time with the Word. But some Christians cannot get out of bed on Sunday morning to study the Word.
If you are going to stand strong when persecution comes, you have to Believe that it is the true word of God. and receive it as such by showing your appreciation for it.
They Received it by Appropriating It
They Received it by Appropriating It
They allowed God’s Word to work powerfully in their heart and lives.
The Bible Exposition Commentary (Chapter Four: Growing Pains (1 Thessalonians 2:13–20))
Paul used two different words for “received”:
the first means simply “to accept from another,”
while the second means “to welcome.”
One means “the hearing of the ear,” while the other means “the hearing of the heart.”
The believers at Thessalonica did not only hear the Word; they took it into their inner man and made it a part of their lives.
Jesus repeatedly warned His hearers about the wrong kind of hearing, and His warnings are still needed.
Who hath ears to hear, let him hear.
In other words, “Take heed that you hear.”
Use every opportunity you have to hear the Word of God.
But He gave another warning in Mark 4:24
And he said unto them, Take heed what ye hear: with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you: and unto you that hear shall more be given.
think about it; How often do you hear the Word of God in Sunday School and church, and then get in your cars, turn on the radio, and listen to programs that help erase the impressions made by the Word.
Our Lord’s third warning is in Luke 8:18
Take heed therefore how ye hear: for whosoever hath, to him shall be given; and whosoever hath not, from him shall be taken even that which he seemeth to have.
Many people are careless hearers and cannot apply themselves to listen to the teaching of God’s Word.
These people have “itching ears” and want religious entertainment (2 Tim. 4:3).
Some of them are “dull of hearing” (Heb. 5:11), too lazy to apply themselves and pay attention.
One of these days our churches will be hungry because of a famine “for hearing the words of the Lord” (Amos 8:11).
Too many churches have substituted entertainment for the preaching of God’s Word, and many people no longer welcome the Word of God.
How do we appropriate the Word?
By understanding it and receiving it into our hearts, and by meditating on it so that it becomes part of the 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.
If you dont take time to meditate on the Word of God you will become cold and callus to it and other spiritual matters,
They not only appreciated it
and appropriated it
They Received it by Applying It.
They Received it by Applying It.
They obeyed the Word by faith, and the Word went to work in their lives.
It is not enough to just appreciate , or even to appropriate the Bible.
We must apply the Word in our lives and be hearers and doers of the Word (James 1:19–25).
It has well been said, “God’s commandments are God’s enablements.”
Jesus commanded the crippled man to stretch out his hand—the very thing the man could not do. Yet that word of command gave him the power to obey.
He trusted the word, obeyed, and was made whole (Mark 3:1–5).
When we believe God’s Word and obey, He releases power—divine energy—that works in our lives to fulfill His purposes.
The Word of God within 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 the victory.
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 2:168–169.
To stand strong when persecution comes..
I. Receive God’s Word when preached
II. Remember that You are not Alone
II. Remember that You are not Alone
Sometimes when we suffer, whether it is a health problem, an emotional problem, a family conflict, or persecution, we tend to think that we’re the only one in the world with this problem.
Even the godly prophet Elijah when he was under persecution complained to God that he was the only one left who followed the Lord (1 Kings 19:10).
Because of this tendency, Peter wrote to persecuted Christians (1 Pet. 4:12
Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:
We like to get Eeor syndrome when trials hit.
We seem to forget that we serve the God of the Universe.
The only wise and true God.
Creator and sustainer of heaven and earth.
Peter went on to say A few verses later:
Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:
Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.
But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.
To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.
It is important in a time of suffering or persecution to know that you are not alone.
There are many that have come before you that have faced the same if not harder trials and they came out on the other side.
There are many in the world today that are facing persecution as we speak and are standing strong.
Peter reminded his readers that God is in charge and He is sovereign even in our sufferings.
You can read about believers like Adoniram Judson, Hudson Taylor or Jim Elliot.
Read how Judson and his wife suffered in Burma, or Jim Elliot and his four friends in Ecudaor.
When you read of these men it really puts your puny trial in perspective.
If knowing that is not enough, just open your Bible to any OT or NT book and you can find account after account of believers facing suffering or persecution and coming through it, maybe beaten and scared but stronger then ever.
I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith:
Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.
Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
Remember, there have been others that have gone before you and wither they came out alive here or alive up there, they still came out on the other side. God is faithful to save us to the uttermost.
To stand strong when persecution comes..
I. Receive God’s Word when Preached
II. Remember that You are not Alone
III. Rejoice because We Win in the End
III. Rejoice because We Win in the End
Here in verses 15 and 16 Paul’s strong words against the Jews have led some to think that he either didn’t write this or he was anti-semitic. Both of these assertions are false.
For one there is no manuscript evidence to support such a conclusion that someone else wrote these verses
and two If he was anti-Semitic, then so was Jesus (Matt. 21:43; 23:31–38),
who pronounced judgment on the Jewish leaders and on the Jewish nation for their unbelief and sin.
Paul even said that if he could, he would forfeit his own salvation so that his fellow Jews could have eternal life (Rom. 9:3–5)!
And, wherever he preached the gospel, Paul always began with the Jews (Acts 13:5, 14, 46; 14:1; 17:1–2; Rom. 1:16).
So Paul was not anti-Semitic
But how then should we understand Paul’s vehement outburst here against the Jews?
First off we have To understand, that from the earliest days after his conversion, Paul had faced almost continual opposition from the Jews.
immediately after his conversion They would have killed him while he was still in Damascus (Acts 9:23–25).
In his first trip to Jerusalem, they tried to kill him, so that he had to flee to Tarsus (Acts 9:30–31).
wherever he went, the Judaizers ridiculed him and demonized him always trying to undermine his gospel (Acts 15:1–5; Galatians).
When Paul preached the gospel in Pisidian Antioch, the Jews opposed him and drove him and Barnabas out of that region (Acts 13:45–46, 50).
At Iconium, the disbelieving Jews stirred up the Gentiles against those who had believed, attempting to stone Paul (Acts 14:1–2, 5).
At Lystra, the Jews who had followed him from Antioch and Iconium, persuaded the Gentiles to stone Paul (Acts 14:19–20).
The same fierce opposition happened in Thessalonica, Berea, and Corinth (Acts 17:5, 13; 18:4–6, 12–13).
and much more happened to Paul at the hand of the Jews, so if anyone had a reason to speak ill of them it was Paul
But, Paul, here is making a generalization.
There were many exceptions to Jewish unbelief, Paul himself being Exhibit A.
He loved the Jews, but still he warns them of judgment.
In our politically correct day, you can’t make a generalization about any group or you get labeled as homophobic, racist, or religiously bigoted (if you say something against Islam).
But there are helpful generalizations and we should not shy away from making them simply because it’s not politically correct.
Someone needs to point out that it is abnormal and a serious sin for a man to want to be a woman, or vice versa.
It is sin against God’s created order for men to have sexual relationships with men and women with women (Rom. 1:26–27).
It is a fact of history that Islam has always conquered by the sword and then taken away freedom from other religions.
This does not mean that all Muslim people are that way; but the Quran does teach jihad against all infidels.
It teaches that men must keep their wives in subjection and even gives instructions on how to beat your wife properly if she is rebellious (Quran 4:34; 38:44; see www.thereligionofpeace.com).
I don’t say any of this to stir up hatred or any violence toward anyone.
We should treat all individuals with love and respect and should offer the gospel to all.
But we should warn with love, those who are not in submission to Jesus Christ that they are under God’s wrath and will come under eternal judgment if they do not repent and believe in Christ.
Not only was it the Jew that were guilty of killing Jesus, but all of us are guilty of killing the Lord Jesus because of our sins.
Paul says (1 Thess. 2:16) that they “fill up their sins alway.”
What Paul is saying is, if someone goes as far as trying to hinder the gospel from getting out to the lost, that in and of its self is a sin of its own and for that Paul continues with “for the wrath is come upon them to the uttermost”
But what does Paul mean when he says this?
He uses an aorist verb, which here may look at God’s wrath in its entirety as a certain event, even though the ultimate fulfillment of it was yet future.
Paul is saying keep your head up, because God has already determined what will happen to those that oppose us
Paul uses this verb to encourage his readers letting them know that they can rejoice because by God’s time line, we have already won
God will have the final say in the end.
It may seem as we are losing the battle
but can I tell you this morning,
Rejoice because we have won the war.
Rev. 19 and 20 give us the account of total victory
And I saw an angel come down from heaven, having the key of the bottomless pit and a great chain in his hand.
And he laid hold on the dragon, that old serpent, which is the Devil, and Satan, and bound him a thousand years,
And cast him into the bottomless pit, and shut him up, and set a seal upon him, that he should deceive the nations no more, till the thousand years should be fulfilled: and after that he must be loosed a little season.
And I saw thrones, and they sat upon them, and judgment was given unto them: and I saw the souls of them that were beheaded for the witness of Jesus, and for the word of God, and which had not worshipped the beast, neither his image, neither had received his mark upon their foreheads, or in their hands; and they lived and reigned with Christ a thousand years.
But the rest of the dead lived not again until the thousand years were finished. This is the first resurrection.
Blessed and holy is he that hath part in the first resurrection: on such the second death hath no power, but they shall be priests of God and of Christ, and shall reign with him a thousand years.
And when the thousand years are expired, Satan shall be loosed out of his prison,
And shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
And they went up on the breadth of the earth, and compassed the camp of the saints about, and the beloved city: and fire came down from God out of heaven, and devoured them.
And the devil that deceived them was cast into the lake of fire and brimstone, where the beast and the false prophet are, and shall be tormented day and night for ever and ever.
And I saw a great white throne, and him that sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away; and there was found no place for them.
And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works.
And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works.
And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death.
And whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.
Rejoice because we win!!!
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
As we conclude our message this morning, let us be inspired by the Thessalonian example of steadfast faith amidst adversity.
Today, we have seen how they received the Word of God not as mere human words but as the divine message that brings transformation and joy.
This reminds us of the profound impact of Scripture in our lives.
In a world filled with challenges and opposition, we are called to stand firm in our faith.
Just as the Thessalonians imitated the churches in Judea by enduring persecution, let us emulate their unwavering commitment to Christ.
Let the apostle Paul's words resonate with us today: 1 Thessalonians 2:14
1 Thessalonians 2:14 (KJV 1900)
For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: ...
let us leave today empowered by the truth of God's Word.
Let us embrace it daily with joy, knowing that it is our strength, guide, and source of hope.
As we face trials and tribulations, may we find courage in the promises of Scripture and resilience in the presence of our Savior.
Today, I challenge each of you to deepen your relationship with God through His Word.
Let us stand firm in our faith, unshaken by the world's pressures, knowing that God's Word is our anchor and joy.
As we go forth from this place, may the joy of the Lord be our strength.
May His Word dwell richly in our hearts, transforming us from within and empowering us to live boldly for His glory.
Let us shine brightly as lights in a dark world, proclaiming the truth and love of Christ to all.
Maybe you are here this morning and you are one of those that dont really care for the message we are preaching, maybe you have ridiculed and mocked Christians before, may I encourage you to come this morning to the foot of the cross and repent and God will accept you as you are. Even the thief on the cross that started out mocking Christ, soon found out that He was the Messiah Christ. Wont you come today and be saved before His wrath is poured out on you!
So Live with Heaven on your mind and stand strong when the Persecution Comes!