Sermon Tone Analysis

(NIV)

5 All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.

6 God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you 7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.

This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

8 He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.

9 They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might 10 on the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed.

This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.

Anacin.

Pain reliever from the Greek word anecin.

Means relief.

What does it mean to “obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ”?

It would be wonderful if we could go through life without feeling any pain.

But that is not always the case.

We get headaches, our muscles get sore from work or exercise, injuries cause pain.

It seems that the older we get the more aches and pains we have.

When we are in pain, we may seek relief in the form of medicine.

Often over the counter remedies are sufficient.

In some cases we need stronger relief.

If you were to take an over the counter remedy for pain relief, what would you take?

One product that has been available for over 100 years is Anacin.

I am not promoting this pain reliever over any other brand.

I mention it because the word ἄνεσιn is found in our sermon text today.

Not in the English, but in the Greek.

It is found in this verse.

(NIV)

7 and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well.

This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.

The word translated as “relief” is the Greek word ἄνεσιν.

Harris, W. H., III.

(2010).

The Lexham Greek-English Interlinear New Testament: SBL Edition ().

Bellingham, WA: Lexham Press.

We know how Anacin gives us relief from physical pain.

What troubles did the Thessalonians experience and how would God give them relief from their distress?

This is a reference to persecution at the hands of those who did not know God or did not obey the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

A common theme in the New Testament is how God’s people would suffer for the sake of Jesus.

(see passages)

It seems so unfair.

Jesus came to the world to save us from our sins, to give us freedom from shame and guilt, to make us children of God, to show us how to live, and to be a blessing to others as we glorify God.

Our lives are to be ones of service and helping others as we unselfishly use our gifts to benefit others.

It is to be a life known by love and good deeds and filled with the fruit of the Spirit.

(see passage).

It seems so unfair.

Jesus came to the world to save us from our sins, to give us freedom from shame and guilt, to make us children of God, to show us how to live, and to be a blessing to others as we glorify God.

Our lives are to be ones of service and helping others as we unselfishly use our gifts to benefit others.

It is to be a life known by love and good deeds and filled with the fruit of the Spirit.

(see passage).

One would think that we could all not just get along but be of help and encouragement to each other as we work together to show God’s love.

Why would anyone object to that or give trouble to those who have such lofty goals?

One would think that we could all not just get along but be of help and encouragement to each other as we work together to show God’s love.

Why would anyone object to that or give trouble to those who have such lofty goals?

And yet they do.

A distant cousin of mine recently posted on Facebook (He is on Facebook a lot) about how thankful he was for our synod and how his niece from Wisconsin was recently helped when she had an accident in Alaska.

He called our synod a “close knit” family and praised fellow members of our synod for their kindness and helpfulness.

In the comments section were these disturbing remarks (from people claiming to be Christians)

Must be your particular congregation.

We quit going and didn’t get contacted by a single elder or member.

I think all congregations are different; I woman I worked with whose husband left and was living with another woman (not in their church) get this!

They excommunicated my co-worker not the husband!

I also know that they don't let woman vote on issues.....sounds like a caveman group to me.

📷

Jana Secord I think all congregations are different; I woman I worked with whose husband left and was living with another woman (not in their church) get this!

They excommunicated my co-worker not the husband!

I also know that they don't let woman vote on issues.....sounds like a caveman group to me.

One wonders why some people need to make disparaging comments that has nothing to do with the content of the “Good News” story.

Even worse are those who take action against Christians who are brave enough to “let their light shine”.

Jesus says the goal of living openly as Christians is to be witness to other and hopefully they will praise God.

But he also knew and taught that there would be those who would reject Christians.

Well, the problem is sin.

There are those people who are so selfish and arrogant that they don’t want to help their fellow man but are more concerned about their own selfish pleasure or the love of money or pride that they not only take advantage of others, but who try to silence those who teach them otherwise.

When the early Christians taught and lived a life of sacrificial love, those who loved themselves more than others and God were intent on silencing them.

At the time, they seemed to have the upper hand.

This was nothing new.

The Bible shows how often those in control and with power used their power to suppress others rather than help them.

The one who was suppressed may have felt as though they had no chance because they just didn’t have the power to resist or overcome.

Application: We may feel at times as though we are in a hopeless situation and need an advocate and relief.

Well, the Lord would often encourage those who are suffering with the promise of better days ahead.

(Beatitudes).

The Lord also promised a future time when all rights would be wronged, the guilty would be punished, and the righteous would be saved.

This is the message of our text as well.

Mary sings of this in the Magnificat.

(See illustration from victims of crime or military oppression).

It is a consistent, comforting theme in the Bible for those who suffer.

If we are suffering unjustly at the hands of sinful men, we are reassured that God is still in control and that ultimately he will give us relief and everything will work out for our good.

In undoubtedly the most hard to understand book of the Bible (Revelation), this is the over riding theme which is sometimes lost in all of its imagery and dramatic visions.

St. Paul is certainly more clear in his words of encouragement here.

Well, the Lord would often encourage those who are suffering with the promise of better days ahead.

(Beatitudes).

The Lord also promised a future time when all rights would be wronged, the guilty would be punished, and the righteous would be saved.

This is the message of our text as well.

The people were suffering for being Christians.

Trust in God who will reveal his righteous judgment fully in the future.

Those who suffer for the sake of Jesus are doing the right thing (counted worthy).

Justice will be served.

Trust in God to do this in his way and in his time.

Although we may indeed see justice in our lifetime, this is not guaranteed.

What is guaranteed is that we will be exonerated and justice will be served ultimately on the Last Day.

This will be a time when God will declare us righteous openly and those who rejected him will be punished eternally.

Modern man does not accept this repeated teaching of Scripture.

They would prefer the incorrect maxims that “all dogs go to heaven” and that “all roads lead to heaven”.

This is not the teaching of the Bible.

Even though the Last Day will be a day of almost unimaginable destruction (read Revelation) and Peter, it will be a Day enjoyed by us.