Growing Pains I Thessalonians 2: Be Ready By Warren Wiersbe Chapter 4

Not easy to be a Christian in Thessalonica when believers face persecution and suffering. Affliction (1:6, 3:3) – pressure from circumstances Suffered (2:14) – same words used for the Lord’s suffering Persecuted (2:15) – driven out and rejected Contrary (2:15) - used of winds that blows against and hinder progress Hindered (2:18) – like a road so broken that travel is blocked

In the midst of suffering, the Thessalonica believers experienced joy 1:6 – “And ye became followers of us, and of affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost;” Jesus warned in John 16:33 “In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.” Growing Pains? Facing persecution, religious and political as we share the Gospel to win the lost and glorify our Lord. We will suffer if we live godly life according to II Timothy 3:12.

God’s Word within us (2:13) The Same word that brings salvation also enables us to live for Jesus and endure for His sake. They appreciated the Word –Received in Word of God, not word of men –Bible is the Word of God inspired by Holy Spirit (II Timothy 3:16) and written by men of God who were guided by the Holy Ghost (II Peter 1:20, 21) –God’s Word is holy, pure and perfect (Psalm 19:7-9) –The way a Christian treating the Bible shows how he regards Jesus Christ

Jesus is the living Word (John 1:1, 14) and the Bible is the Word of God, but they are the same in essence. Jesus John 6:48 John 8:12 John 14:6 Eternal Son Roman 1:25 Bible Matthew 4:4 Psalm 119:105 John 17:17 Word of God lives forever Psalm 119:89; I Peter 1:23, 25 Bread Light Truth Eternity

God’s Word 1.Would you rather have your Bible the food? 1.Job 23:12 – “I have esteemed the words of His mouth more than my necessary food?” 2.Would you rather have God’s Word than money? 1.God’s Word meant more to the psalmist than - 1.“all riches” Ps. 119:14 2.“thousands of gold and silver” Ps. 119:72 3.“fine gold” Ps. 119:127 4.“great spoil” Ps. 119:162

3. Would you rather have God’s Word than sleep? 1. Ps. 119:148 – “my eyes anticipate the night watches, that I may meditate on Thy Word” **They appropriate the Word v. 13 “for the cause also thank we God without cursing, because when ye received the Word of God, which ye heard of us, you received not as the word of men, but as it is the truth, The Word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

First word means “to accept from another” Second word mean “to welcome” First, the hearing of ears Second, the heart of the heart Thessalonian believers heard the Word of God and made it part of their lives. Warning on hearing: Wrong kind of hearing Matt. 13:9 “who hath ears to hear, let him hear.” It means “take heed that you hear” Matt. 4:24 “Take heed what ye hear” Luke 8:18 “Take heed therefore how ye hear. “itching ears” (II Tim. 4:3) – choose what to hear like religion entertainment, dull of hearing (Heb. 5:11), too lazy to apply and pay attention

How do we appropriate the Word? By understanding it and receiving it into our hearts and meditating on it to become part of the inner man. Meditation is the spiritual food likedigestion to physical life. **They applied the Word Be hearers and doers of the Word (James 1:19-25) God’s commandments are God’s enablement. When we believe God’s Word and obey, God releases power that works in our lives to fulfill His purposes. A man with withered hand The Word of God within us is a great source of power in times of testing and suffering

Appreciate the Word – the heart Appropriate the Word – the mind Apply the Word – the will God’s People around us (2:14-16) Christians endure suffering because we are Christians. Thessalonica saints were imitation of Paul and Jewish believers in experiencing persecution. Jews killed Jesus as well as Romans. Mainly our sins that sent Jesus to the Cross (Isa. 53:6) No place in Christian faith for anti-semitism God called Israel to be a blessing to all the world (Gen. 12:13; 22:18)

Why did the leaders of Israel reject Jesus Christ and persecute His followers? They were only repeating the sins of their fathers They were also filling up their sins (2:16) and storing up the wrath for the day of judgment. Paul encouraged the suffering Christians by assessing them that their experiences were not new or isolated. Instead, suffering Christians had been purified and increased as seen in Judea Benefits of Local church: we stand together in times of difficulty and encourage one another Elijah Timothy A lonely saint is very vulnerable to attacks of Satan. Therefore, we need each other in the battles of life.

God’s Glory before us (2:17-20) “taken from you” – orphaned (2:17) Paul desired to stay to help the Christians ground in the faith, but the enemy drove them out. He was still with them in heart (Phil. 1:7) Paul wanted to return but was hindered by Satan. He moved on and looked ahead, living in the future time, even though he lived in the present time as well. Paul looked ahead by faith and saw his friends in the presence of Jesus Christ in glory (heaven) Motivation; we shall stand one day at the Judgment Seat of Christ motivate us to be faithful regardless of difficulties.

Judgment Seat of Christ: I Cor. 4:2, II Cor. 5:9-10, & Rom. 14:10-12 Rewards as crowns in I Thessalonians Victor’s crown, not royal crown of the king at the race In I Thess. 2:19-20 Crown? The believers he ministered We “wait for his Son” but while waiting we work for His Son so we have trophies to present for His glory –Reward for soul-winner Daniel 12:3 –A Crown for the believers subdues his body and keep it controlled for the glory I Cor. 9:24-27 Our bodies are the temples of God, therefore, don’t defile them.

–A crown for dying for his sake (Martyrdom) Rev. 2:10 –A crown for the believer who looks for Christ’s appearing; crowning of righteousness II Tim. 4:8 –A crown of glory for the faithful pastors I Peter 5:4 Instead of keeping for ourselves, we will lay down the crowns at His feet and worship Him Rev. 4:10 Our motive for serving Him is love, based on all Jesus has done for us. We will have rewards so we can have something to gain to Jesus in return. Due to intense persecution, some were attempted to give up. Don’t give up for we have the resources to lay hold: God’s Word within us, God’s people around us, and the Glory of God before you.