Faithful in Trying Times

In Christ, Believers can stand firm in the face of adversity

INTRO: How should Christians respond in times of adversity, especially when the difficulty is because of their faith in Christ? Christians in Thessalonica were being persecuted for their faith, and Paul feared this might cause some of them to return to their pagan ways.

But, upon receiving Timothy’s report that the disciples in Thessalonia remained steadfast in their commitment to Christ. Paul rejoiced at the good news of their faithfulness amid adversity encouraged Paul to continue praying earnestly for them committed to the Lord.

SATAN AT WORK - Most of the Gentile Christian in Thessalonica came out of pagan backgrounds. For the pagans, these fake, so called gods were not even seen as all powerful, but rather more seen as emotional and cruel.

Compared to the one and only living God, Paul’s prayer was based on knowing the true God. Knowing God can and does act with benevolently on behalf of His children.

1 Thessalonians 3:13 NKJV

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.

NIV - May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy in the presence of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus comes with all his holy ones.

Faithful, Yet Faithful

God’s Word at Work

1 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NKJV

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

Here Paul returns to some of the same themes he had spoken to in 1Thessalonians 2:13-14-5

1 Thessalonians 2:13–14 NKJV

For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe. For you, brethren, became imitators of the churches of God which are in Judea in Christ Jesus. For you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans,

1 Thessalonians 1:4–5 NKJV

knowing, beloved brethren, your election by God. For our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Spirit and in much assurance, as you know what kind of men we were among you for your sake.

He wrote about how the Word was received, he returned to the theme of thanksgiving that he offered to God concerning the Thess.

Now the emphasis in Thess chap 2 is on the power of the Word of God working in thoses who believed. They took the message from Paul and his team as “the word of God”. Simply said, they believed they were hearing divine revelation.

When they believed the Word of God

they became believers in Jesus Christ

It went beyond just believing, the within them went from believing to “following”

Persecuted on behalf of Christ:

Friends, do you realize that you followed in the exact footsteps of the churches of God in Judea, those who were the first to follow in the footsteps of Jesus Christ? You got the same bad treatment from your countrymen as they did from theirs, the Jews who killed the Master Jesus (to say nothing of the prophets) and followed it up by running us out of town.

They make themselves offensive to God and everyone else by trying to keep us from telling people who’ve never heard of our God how to be saved. They’ve made a career of opposing God, and have gotten mighty good at it. But God is fed up, ready to put an end to it. (The Message)

Satan at Work

1 Thessalonians 2:15–20 NKJV

who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they do not please God and are contrary to all men, forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles that they may be saved, so as always to fill up the measure of their sins; but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost. But we, brethren, having been taken away from you for a short time in presence, not in heart, endeavored more eagerly to see your face with great desire. Therefore we wanted to come to you—even I, Paul, time and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at His coming? For you are our glory and joy.

The opposition the church faced came from their fellow citizens, probably for those that were counted as friends and even family members. There purpose to try and hinder others from hearing the gospel; from freely hearing and receiving!

The Jewish opposition were from sinful people moved and manipulated by Satan.

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood [contending only with physical opponents], but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this [present] darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly (supernatural) places. Eph 6:12 (AMP)

Not on the church’s, but Paul states the he also was under attack, and that this hindered them, his team also.

ENCOURAGEMENT AND PERSECUTION

Reminder of Teaching About Tribulations

1 Thessalonians 3:1–4 NKJV

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, that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; for you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know.

Paul had continually taught that they must not allow percution to unsettle their minds or lead them away from their faithfulness to Christ.

He stated:

all true Christian are destined to suffer for Christ sake

they could expect to face hardship and suffering

suffering persecution is normal for Christians

Romans 8:7 NKJV

Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be.

CONCERN ABOUT THE TEMPTERS EFFECTIVENESS

1 Thessalonians 3:5 NKJV

For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain.

Paul had a real concern about the Thessalonian believers. Why, because of Satan, “the tempter” effectiveness.

He, Satan was and still to this day used then and now persecution to tempt Christians to abandon our faith in Christ.

Paul’s concern was that if the Church in Thessalonia, the believers turned from Christ, then their labor was for nothing, in vain.

 Be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour. (1 Peter 5:8) AMP

REPORT OF FAITHFULNESS

Timothy’s Encouraging Report

Rather than being swayed by the schemes of Satan the church showed even more faith in God, charity toward God and others.

"charity toward God and others" expresses the biblical principle of love expressed through selfless giving, compassion, and active goodwill—first toward God in faithful devotion, and then toward others in tangible service and sacrificial love.

Again, Paul expresses thanksgiving to God, because he and his team had joy for them. Their joy led them to pray even more, that they might return to them.

So that they could supply what was missing, lacking in their faith.

Prayer for Continued Faithfulness

1 Thessalonians 3:11–13 NKJV

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, 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.

First: He prayed that he and his team would be reunited with the Thessalonian church.

Second: He prayed that the Lord would increase their love toward one another and all people.

Paul prayed this because: 1 Thessalonians 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.”

Conclusion: