08 I Thessalonians 3:1-5 Appointed For Affliction

January 11, 2026

Chris Freeman

Title: Appointed For Affliction Text: 1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 FCF: We often struggle believing God’s promises in the midst of opposition. Prop: Because true believers will suffer affliction for the sake of Christ, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by it. Scripture Intro: NKJV [Slide 1] Turn in your bible to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3. In a moment we’ll begin reading from verse 1 in the New King James Version of the Bible. You can follow along in the pew bible or whatever version you prefer. As promised, since we are beginning a new chapter, let me briefly review what the letter has been about up to this point. In chapter 1, Paul summarizes everything he is going to say in the entire letter. He expresses his thankfulness to God for the Thessalonian church because he knows they are elect of God, because the gospel came to them in the power of the Spirit and because he has observed how the Thessalonian church has become imitators of Christ amid affliction. In chapter 2, Paul zooms in to affirm that their visit among them was profitable. Probably to counter claims of unbelieving Thessalonians, Paul insists that it was a profitable visit because God gave them boldness to speak, they became a spiritual family, and because it produced results they had seen in previous outpourings of the gospel. Paul concludes chapter 2 assuring them that he greatly wished to visit them but had been hindered by Satan. But he assures them that they are his hope, joy, and glory in that they stand firm in their faith. And it is that topic that actually propels him into chapter 3. So please stand with me to give honor to and to focus on the Word of God as it is read. Invocation: Father, the Only Wise God, we come to You this morning in faith and in trust that Your promises are true. It is by Your promises and your absolute might to keep them that we can face all manner of difficulties, trials, and afflictions in this life, knowing that You will never forsake us. Help us today to see in Your Word, truths that will keep our faith steadfast and built up. May our faith thrive in adversity rather than die. And may you be most pleased with your servants and our attending to Your Word today. We ask this in Jesus’ name, Amen. Transition: [Slide 2] “Endurance and perseverance are qualities we would all like to possess, but we are loath to go through the process that produces them.” Jerry Bridges “We persevere through faith and never apart from it.” Sinclair Furgeson “Perseverance is the hallmark of a genuine interest in Christ.” Geoffrey B. Wilson “The question is not one of the retention of salvation based upon a persistence of faith, but of the possession of salvation as evidenced by a continuation of faith.” Kenneth Wuest “By perseverance the snail reached the ark.” Charles H. Spurgeon Meditate on these words, as we embark upon the text this morning. I.) True believers will suffer affliction from men for the sake of Christ, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by affliction. (1-3) a. [Slide 3] 1 – Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought it good to be left in Athens alone, i. Paul doesn’t relay all the details to us. ii. We aren’t sure to what lengths he went to try to visit the Thessalonian church. iii. We aren’t sure how many times he had tried. iv. We aren’t sure exactly what the circumstances were that prevented him from going back to the city, although a good guess would be the Jews in the city continuing to threaten Paul’s life should he return. v. Paul’s desire was to visit with the whole team. But since he was not going to be welcomed back to Thessalonica any time soon, that simply wasn’t an option. vi. So by way of a concession, Paul chooses to send someone in his stead while he stays in Athens. vii. Here he uses the plural pronoun we. viii. Although Luke does not record that Silas and Timothy joined Paul in Athens in the book of Acts, we can reasonably assume that they did and both were dispatched before he went to Corinth. ix. Silas was probably sent to Berea or possibly Philippi and Timothy was sent, as we will see, to Thessalonica. b. [Slide 4] 2 – and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ, i. Although this certainly is not the option that Paul wanted, we should not, and the Thessalonians should not think that this was Paul sending in the third stringers. ii. In fact, Paul extols the virtues of Timothy here. 1. Timothy was a co-worker with Paul and Silas. 2. Paul elevates Timothy to the same status and job description that he and Silas had. He does not call Timothy an apostle, because Timothy had never seen Christ, nor been commissioned by Him. Still – his job is the same as an apostle. 3. Some translations translate “minister of God” as “God’s co-worker” but this doesn’t seem to be the right use of the genitive construction. 4. Rather he is Paul and Silas’s co-worker FOR God and in His service. 5. Specifically in the proclaiming of the gospel of Jesus Christ. iii. But that leaves us asking the question, why did Paul send Timothy? Wouldn’t Timothy draw just as much heat and hate from the Jews in Thessalonica since he was Paul’s companion? iv. Actually, sending Timothy has everything to do with Timothy’s ability to blend in as either a Gentile or a Jew. If you remember, Timothy had a Jewish mother and a Gentile father. His father was probably dead, but his mother, Eunice, and grandmother, Lois, taught him in the Scriptures as he grew up in Lystra. v. However, since religious affiliation tended to follow the father at this time, Timothy, up until joining Paul on his most recent missionary journey, was not circumcised, which means he was not active in the local synagogue and was perceived by the Jews as a Gentile. vi. Timothy then is the ideal candidate to go back to Thessalonica to check on the church. He would probably pass unnoticed by the Jews there, and be able to spend some time with the Thessalonian church. vii. But what is Paul sending him to do? c. [Slide 5] to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith, i. To establish means to strengthen, to fix, to solidify, or to shore up. Like shoring up the foundation of a house, or a floodwall against a coming flood. This is Timothy’s first responsibility. He is to shore up and bolster their faith. ii. Second, he is to encourage them about their faith. iii. The word encourage has two branches of meaning in the New Testament and they are determined by context. One meaning used often by Paul is to urge or exhort. But considering the context, this seems to be less likely the aim of Timothy’s ministry to the Thessalonians. iv. More than likely this word adopts the second meaning which is to encourage, build up, or cheer up. v. Bringing these two concepts together, Timothy was sent to make sure that they were standing firm in their faith against doubts and fears and that they were trusting in God’s promises and joyfully resting in that peace. vi. But why is this necessary and what is Paul trying to shore up their faith against? d. [Slide 6] 3 – that no one should be shaken by these afflictions; i. Paul again, for the third time in the book, mentions that the Thessalonians are experiencing some kind of opposition or affliction. ii. Although we are never overtly told what these afflictions are, the best guess seems to be that the Thessalonian believers were experiencing the opposition of friends, family, co-workers, neighbors who have begun opposing their new found faith. iii. No doubt this ranged from light jibes to actual shunning and ostracizing. Perhaps even people refusing to do business with them while they still claimed the name of Christ and continued to turn from their ancestral gods. iv. You could see how such things, to new believers, would be quite difficult to bear up under, especially when those whom you would see as spiritual leaders were not able to be with you to guide you and care for you. v. This is Timothy’s role. He has arrived to help them. To Pastor them. vi. But he has not arrived to pull them out of these afflictions or to “heal” them from these afflictions. vii. He has arrived to be sure they are not shaken by them. viii. Why should their faith not be shaken by affliction? e. [Slide 7] For you yourselves know that we are appointed to this. i. Paul assures the Thessalonians in their own personal knowledge. ii. He assures them that they, like all other believers, are destined, ordained, or appointed for affliction. iii. Jesus himself told us that we would experience trouble, since no student is greater than his master. iv. All that He experienced we should expect to experience and perhaps even more. v. Indeed, investigating church history quickly proves this to be true. vi. Those who have claimed the name of Christ and stood for the true gospel of Jesus Christ, have suffered the most humiliating, excruciating, and diabolical things at the hands of wicked men throughout the last 2000 years. vii. We should know ourselves that we are destined for affliction while this world is still the way it is. f. [Slide 8] Summary of the Point: Paul speaks to these Thessalonians as his own children in the faith. He is sure that their visit was profitable. He is sure that they are genuine believers. In this, he affirms once again that it is normal for them to suffer affliction for the sake of Christ. Indeed, they are already suffering affliction from unbelieving Thessalonians. Although the affliction is acknowledged and difficult, Paul’s primary concern is not that they are comfortable or that the affliction ceases, but that their faith in Jesus Christ and His promises to them, remains unshaken in spite of affliction. From this we conclude that experiencing affliction from men for Christ’s sake is a normal part of the Chrsitian life. We should not be shocked that we are afflicted by unbelievers, nor should we despair. Rather we should expect this affliction and prepare ourselves to not allow our faith to be shaken by it when it comes. Transition: [Slide 9(blank)] But are unbelievers the only source of affliction we should expect? Are there other opponents that seek to shipwreck our faith? If so, what must we do? II.) True believers will suffer affliction from the tempter for the sake of Christ, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by affliction. (4-5) a. [Slide 10] 4 – For, in fact, we told you before when we were with you that we would suffer tribulation, just as it happened, and you know. i. Here Paul explains the two reasons that they should know that they were destined for affliction. ii. First, because the evangelists warned them of this, probably prior to many of them receiving the gospel. 1. An honest and clear presentation of the gospel must include the plea for those hearing to count the cost. 2. Many today try to woo people to the gospel with grand promises of health, wealth, and prosperity. It is odd to see this, since the apostles preached a message almost exactly the opposite. 3. Jesus and His apostles warned that you could lose your health, wealth, prosperity, family, friends, and be left with nothing if you follow Christ. And they warn those listening to count the cost before following Christ. 4. Certainly, salvation is a gift freely given by grace through faith, but it is a gift that alters your life forever. 5. Like a person who receives a heart transplant. Though they did nothing to earn it, and it was given purely by the compassion of someone who decided to be a donor after they expired, once received the gift changes the receiver’s life forever. 6. In a similar way, when we receive the gift of the gospel by grace and through faith, though it costs us nothing to get it, once we receive it, it will cost us everything. 7. One of those things it may cost us – is the discomfort of affliction. iii. But the second reason they should know that they are destined for affliction, is because everything that the apostles warned them about, has come to pass. iv. They have seen it unfold with their very eyes. v. They came to Christ and were immediately opposed by Jews and Gentiles, by those they had never met and by those who were their closest friends and family. vi. Such is the nature of the gospel. It divides. It knows no loyalties save loyalty to Christ. b. [Slide 11] 5 – For this reason, when I could no longer endure it, I sent to know your faith, i. Paul once again reiterates his zeal in sending Timothy to them. ii. Having told them that they would experience affliction, Paul himself knew it would be so. iii. And their time with them being cut short, and being since prevented from returning, Paul knows that it is only a matter of time for that affliction to begin and for their faith to be tested. iv. But Paul is not merely anxious that wicked men may afflict them and damage their faith. v. As Paul alluded to last week, and as he has experienced in his own ministry, Paul knows that there is something greater out there than mere wicked men who oppose the faith of believers. c. [Slide 12] Lest by some means the tempter had tempted you, and our labor might be in vain. i. Paul alluded before that Satan had prevented him from coming to them. In this, we noted last week that God’s people have an enemy. Not merely men. But an ancient, powerful, malevolent, and intelligent evil, a being that had come to be known simply as “The Adversary” which is what the word Satan means. Or “The Accuser” or “The Slanderer” which is what the word Devil means. ii. Paul now references one he calls “The Tempter.” Rather than seeing this as another evil spiritual entity, we should probably identify this as the same one who opposed Paul from returning to the Thessalonians. iii. Although this is not a title often used to describe the entity we know as Satan or the Devil, it is used in 1 key passage in Matthew 4 where “The Tempter” tempted Jesus. Later Jesus says, “Be gone Satan” to this being and then Matthew says that “The Devil” left him. Using this passage we can see that all these titles, at least by the New Testament, are applied to one specific evil spiritual entity. iv. But we should spend some time thinking here about what exactly Paul is afraid that Satan is tempting the Thessalonians to do. v. Oftentimes, we think of Satan tempting us to lie, to cheat, to steal, to commit adultery, to fornicate, to covet, or other such sins. But I’d encourage you to consider all the times we see Satan tempting people in the scriptures and notice a common thread. vi. Satan is not found tempting people to do something sinful. At least, not that alone. vii. Instead, Satan tempts people to do something sinful – but only as a necessary application of some doctrine or teaching he has tempted them to reject, disbelieve, or accept pieces or parts of. viii. In the garden – it wasn’t a temptation of the fruit that Satan foisted upon Eve. If we notice from the text the temptation of the fruit came from WITHIN Eve herself. Satan didn’t need to extol the tantalizing virtues of the fruit. ix. His temptation was focused on questioning the truthfulness and the goodness of God. He called God a liar and insinuated that God was keeping them from being like Him. The fruit… well Eve tempted herself to eat the fruit. Satan tempted her to distrust God. He attacked her faith. x. The temptation of Jesus follows the same diabolical pattern. 1. God’s Spirit told Jesus to go to the desert and God’s Spirit told Him to go without food. Satan pits The God-Man’s human desires against the will of the Triune God. If you are the Son of God, he said, you shouldn’t be hungry. Make bread and eat. But God’s Spirit led Him to be hungry. And Man’s desires and God’s Will are not always the same thing. Jesus responds to Satan in this temptation and says you shall not live by bread alone but by the Word of God. Meaning of course, that man should not live by what he desires, but by the will of God revealed in His Word. 2. In his second temptation, Satan keys in on Jesus’ words about being led by God’s Word. And he quotes a Psalm which indicates that God will not allow those obedient to Him to be harmed. In application, Satan beckons Jesus to prove He is God’s Son by testing if God saves him from a fall from the top of the temple. But Jesus’ quote from Deuteronomy and Exodus references the time when the children of Israel said to God, “if you are with us then you will give us water.” This is not faith. We do not bargain with God in this way. True faith believes even if… there is no proof. Jesus believed God that He would suffer no harm, because God said it, not because God had to prove it first. And to test God’s promise to see if it is true… is not faith. 3. Finally, Satan tempts Jesus with all the kingdoms of the earth. It is unclear how much Satan knew of the actual mission of Christ. But he seems to know what the Father has promised Jesus if He is successful. That He will be made King of Kings and Lord of Lords. Perhaps Satan is familiar with the Passage in Daniel about the Ancient of Days welcoming a Son of Man who rides on the clouds to His throne and gives Him a place to rule with Him? In any case, in order for Jesus to be given this throne, He must be successful in His mission. But Satan gives him the microwave answer. For these kingdoms belong to him at the moment. Or at lest he has been given them for a time. Satan gives him a shortcut. Much like the short cut to learning good and evil he offered Adam and Eve. Just reach out and take it for yourself by worshipping him. But Jesus says – You are to worship only Yahweh. xi. We take this deep dive into the temptations of Adam and Eve and the temptations of Christ to reveal that Satan is never really tempting you to merely sin. xii. I’ve said it before, and I keep finding evidence that it is true. Every sin we commit stems from a faith problem, not a behavioral problem. xiii. Meaning when we sin, it is primarily because we have chosen to trust our flesh, our tempter, our world, our culture, or something else… instead of trusting what God has said. xiv. Meaning of course, that every sin is at its core… idolatry. We put something else on the throne to govern our heart. xv. Paul is afraid that the tempter has tempted them… not to sin… but to forsake Christ. xvi. And we should make no mistake – that is his aim with us… always. Not merely to sin… for sin has been paid for at the cross. And God has a nasty habit of taking an erring child and restoring them beyond the place they were prior to falling. xvii. No if mere sin was the devil’s aim, he would be very frustrated indeed. But forsaking Christ… that is his higher goal. xviii. Paul is afraid that they will forsake Christ and render all the labor for the Kingdom to be empty and fruitless. xix. But isn’t this a baseless fear? Don’t we believe in once saved always saved? 1. It is no contradiction to say that those who are truly God’s elect will endure in faith to the end but also that many will claim Christ as their Lord and remain unknown to Him. 2. The reason it is no contradiction is because the Scriptures teach both. 3. The warnings of falling away and forsaking faith are heard and heeded by the elect of God but just like not all Israel was Israel – so now not all the church is The Church. 4. There are Christians who are merely Christians in name. They do not have true faith. They have not been unmade and remade by the grace of God. 5. Furthermore, the elect of God can be deceived for a time. Not ultimately, but for a time. 6. Paul himself saw this happen less than 5 years before writing this letter. He had just returned from a missionary trip to Southern Galatia, when he heard reports of the church there believing the Judaizer’s version of the gospel which taught that a gentile must become a Jew before he could become a Christian. 7. Paul wrote a VERY strong letter correcting their error and in that case he says “who bewitched you?” 8. So no, this is not a baseless fear. Paul doesn’t know whether these people are real Christians or not because one of the tests if they are real Christians is that they will endure in faith. 9. And so, he sent Timothy to see if the Tempter was able to draw some of them away. xx. One final question. Paul expresses concern here for the genuineness of the Thessalonians’ faith. Isn’t this worry? 1. Should Paul be anxious about this? 2. Doesn’t he say in another letter to be anxious for nothing? 3. Would not Paul advise others to trust the Lord and to pray fervently? 4. Is it sinful for Paul to fear that the tempter had made shipwreck of their faith? 5. I actually went back and forth on this myself. 6. Although it leads to a somewhat ill-defined line, it seems like the scriptures draw a careful line between godly concern and ungodly worry. 7. We see a similar line drawn between anger not accomplishing the will of God, and be angry and do not sin. We see a similar line where it says that wine is a mocker and that wine is good to cheer a man’s heart. 8. In this case, I think Paul actually demonstrates for us the appropriate kind of godly concern that does not venture into worry. 9. Paul obviously has prayed fervently and in faith for the spiritual safety of the Thessalonians. He says so in chapter 1. Paul trusts the Lord. Paul will very shortly write a book called Romans where he talks about the unbreakable chain of redemption where if someone is elected of God, they will be glorified. Paul believes in eternal security. 10. But, he has also seen many who convinced him that they were believers… who have deserted the faith. 11. So no, I do not think Paul is sinfully anxious here. He is trusting the Lord, while doing what he knows to do to check on those he was forced to leave in a spiritually vulnerable position. This is godly and pastoral concern, not worry. d. [Slide 13] Summary of the Point: So Paul again makes it plain that affliction is always going to be part of the Christian experience. We will be afflicted for the sake of Christ. But not all affliction comes from unbelieving people. Our affliction also comes by way of Satan and his angels. Satan seeks to shipwreck the faith of any person who has professed faith in Jesus Christ. He targets those especially who have a false faith, knowing that from a human perspective we can only see the outside of the person and we cannot see whether they are truly believers. And the damage that he can cause by leading a mere professor of Christ to abandon the faith, is quite severe. Therefore, in order to prove our faith is genuine, we must not allow our faith to be shaken by afflictions, no matter where they come from. We must continue to trust the promises of Christ and stand firm in our faith. Conclusion: So CBC, what broad concepts have we learned today that correct and inform our beliefs and shape and guide our actions? Broad Concepts of Faith and Practice: [Slide 14] Paul states quite plainly in this text that we as true believers have been appointed for affliction. It has been God’s plan from the beginning for us to suffer for the name of Christ. Indeed, Jesus actually says that someone who suffers for His name, is blessed. And this affliction comes from two sources in this text. First, from unbelieving men and women and Second, from the Devil and his cronies. But the reason Timothy was sent to Thessalonica is our application today. We must not allow afflictions of any kind, from any source, to shake our faith. To be afflicted for Christ’s sake should not only be expected, but it should be an honor and a joy. An honor because we get to share in Christ’s sufferings, and a joy because we know the end of those afflictions produces enduring faith. But let me zoom in a little and give you some more detailed applications this morning. 1.) [Slide 15] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that it has been appointed for us to suffer affliction for the sake of Christ. a. The New Testament teaching on this topic is clear and without dispute. b. Suffering for Christ’s sake is i. A blessing from God ii. A gift of God iii. An appointment from God iv. A guarantee v. A necessary part of our growth vi. The natural outcome of being Christ’s disciple vii. Follows naturally from how the world treated Christ, we will be treated c. My friends, even if the scriptures did not teach it so plainly, we must still arrive at this conclusion based on other doctrines. i. If God is absolutely sovereign yet we still suffer affliction – it must be because God has designed it to be this way for us. ii. And if all things truly work together for good to those who love God and are called according to His purpose, then all the afflictions we suffer are ultimately for our good. iii. And if all the things we suffer are planned of God and ultimately for our good – then the afflictions we face are a gift of God and a blessing. d. And even though the scriptures are so clear and definitive on this subject, it remains one of the more difficult things to prove to Christians living in the west. e. We have enjoyed relative freedom to worship God the way He has told us to worship Him for the last couple hundred years. f. But the Christian faith is still, easily, the most persecuted faith on the planet today. Across the globe a conservative estimate shows that 13 Christians are martyred every day for their faith. That is 1 Christian every 2 hours. That is almost 5,000 Christians a year dying because of their faith. g. And keep in mind, these numbers are only talking about deaths. They are not factoring in Christians being persecuted, ostracized, imprisoned, beaten, tortured, and/or abused for their faith – but have lived through it. h. But since these afflictions are a blessing from God – perhaps we ought to wonder if we truly are better off? We shouldn’t yearn for affliction. That is ridiculous. But can we truly say that the health and the purity of the church has increased with our freedoms? It doesn’t seem like that is the case. i. But Western Christians are starting to wake up to the reality that they will be afflicted. Each year our culture descends more and more into madness and the lies of the evil one. j. Each year we see more and more ground given over to wicked ideologies. And more and more Christians turn to unbelieving politicians and godless parties to stop it from happening. k. While it is not wrong for us to use political means to attempt to slow the degradation, ultimately as the whole of our culture shifts, even these politicians and parties won’t be available to us. It has already begun. Which political party do you turn to who promotes traditional marriage as the only legal marriage? Which political party do you turn to who promotes abortion being illegal and punishable by death? l. The fact of the matter is, that no political party represents the Christian position on these issues. And it is only the beginning. m. We would do well to wake up to the fact that as followers of Christ… even in the land of the free and the home of the brave… eventually and even now we suffer affliction for the sake of Christ. n. Why? o. Because if we are genuine believers – we have been appointed for affliction. Indeed… it is a blessing from God. 2.) [Slide 16] Mind Transformation: “What truth must we believe from this text?” or “What might we not naturally believe that we must believe because of what this text has said?” We must affirm that our affliction can come from both the physical and the spiritual plane. a. So far this morning in the application we have focused primarily on unbelieving men afflicting followers of Christ. b. But we must recognize that affliction against believers comes from both the physical and spiritual plane. c. But we should not think that these function independently of one another. d. When unbelieving men harm the body of Christ and afflict them for their faith, it is safe to conclude that behind the scenes, whispering in the darkness is the evil one and his minions. e. They deceive, they twist, they pollute and wicked men are easily deceived and happy to be deceived. f. This is so true that Paul tells the Ephesians that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood but against principalities and powers and rulers of this dark world. g. Paul doesn’t deny that wicked men oppose Christians. Nor does he suggest that wicked men are not culpable for their opposition of God’s children, as if they were innocent victims. h. Paul simply desires to get the Ephesians, and by extension, all believers, to recognize that although wicked men oppose them, the true battleground is not here on earth with them, but rather in the spiritual plane where this dark world is guided and ruled. i. And Satan and his minions do not aim at merely getting us to sin. Such a goal is too shortsighted. j. Instead, they aim to topple the faith of believers. As Satan did in the garden with Adam and Eve, they continue to do so today. To mistrust and question who God is and what He has said. k. And lest we think that God will always ride in to rescue us from these afflictions… we must… 3.) [Slide 17] Refutation: “What lies must we cast down” or “What do we naturally believe, or have been taught to believe, that this passage shows is false?” We must deny that it is always God’s will for our afflictions to be relieved. a. Timothy came with a pastor’s purpose. He came to strengthen the Thessalonians faith and to cheer them up and encourage them in the Lord’s promises. b. But Timothy did not come to relieve them of their afflictions. c. Persecution and afflictions ebb and flow. Some countries notorious for terrible Christian persecution have lessened over time. Others have increased. d. God does not always see fit to relieve us of our afflictions. At least in this life. e. But there is one day when our race is run and we finish our course. On that day, it will truly end and we will know these afflictions no more. f. But for now – God does not always give healing. Nor does He promise that He will. He doesn’t always give relief, nor does He promise He will. g. But He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. And He has promised that His grace is available to us in times of trouble. h. So since relief is not always God’s will… what must we do against such afflictions from demons and unbelievers? 4.) [Slide 18] Exhortation: “What actions should we take?” or “What is this passage specifically commanding us to do that we don’t naturally do or aren’t currently doing?” We must not allow our faith to be shaken by affliction. a. Knowing what God says and trusting what He says is the cure for keeping our faith strong and our spirits up. b. God’s sovereignty is uncomfortable to consider given the ramifications it has toward salvation. c. But my friends, God’s sovereignty is the ONLY reason we can have unshaken faith through affliction. d. If God is merely all powerful, we would wonder if He was truly good because we suffer affliction. e. If God was merely loving and good, we would wonder if He was truly all powerful because we suffer affliction. f. But because God is all of these and has said that HE has destined us for affliction – we can rest in knowing that any affliction we endure for His name is not only appointed by Him, but it is a gift, a blessing, and something He will use for our good and His glory. g. Notice also that the Thessalonians needed flesh and blood Christians to help them strengthen their faith and encourage them. h. In a real sense, we should be able to endure in our faith through affliction, only clinging on to Christ and His promises. i. I think we can all recognize that were we to have our God alone, He would be enough to sustain us through any affliction. j. BUT… God, knowing our weakness, has given us His church. We have been given pastors, teachers, servants, and friends who know what we are going through and who can help to strengthen and encourage us. k. And so one sure fire way to be susceptible to your faith being shaken, is to forsake the gathering of God’s people and the ministry of those God has given to His church. 5.) [Slide 19] Comfort: “What comfort can we find here?” or “What peace does the Lord promise us in light of this passage of scripture?” God says we are blessed when we suffer for Christ’s sake. a. Paul mentions in Philippians that not only are we granted the ability to believe on Jesus, but we are also, in the same way, granted the privilege of suffering for Him. b. But we often do not perceive suffering for Christ as a comfort or a blessing. c. So, who will you believe? Your thoughts and feelings or God’s Word? d. Should we try to escape affliction? Of course. e. But if we are not able, should we despair? Of course not! f. God has us exactly where He wants us and what He has given is a gift. We should rejoice. 6.) [Slide 20] Evangelism: “What about this text points us to Jesus Christ, the gospel, and how we are restored?” You must count the cost if you are going to follow Christ. a. Since affliction for His name is certain, let me speak to those among us who are not followers of Jesus. b. You may hear of all the benefits of following Christ. c. You may see all the glories of the church and the power and love that is found here. d. You may be enticed to desire the great mercies of our God and the wonderful love He offers in the sacrifice of His Son. e. But know this… f. You don’t get the bull without the horns. There is a cost to following Christ. And the cost is, that if He is to be your Savior… He must also be your Lord. He takes top priority and because He does – just as the world hated Him, they will hate you. g. You will have to reject much of what the world holds dear. You will have to disagree with what everyone believes and feels. You will be thought of as odd, out of touch, and dangerous. h. You don’t get eternal life without appointed affliction. i. So count the cost. j. If you truly understand what Christ offers as both a Savior and Lord – it is a cost you will gladly pay. [Slide 21 (end)] Let me close with a prayer by the reformer Peter Martyr Vermigli, an Italian former Augustinian priest and abbot who helped to write the 42 Articles of the Anglican church and revise the Book of Common Prayer. Most benign and merciful God, we yield to you the greatest and most thanks as we are able. You have ingrafted us in Christ, your true and natural son-not by the ministry of angels, or of any other creature whatsoever, but by the power of your own Spirit. And through Christ you have renewed and sanctified us, setting us apart. You have so much enriched us with the knowledge of your son, and with other heavenly gifts. So now we lack neither strength, energy, light, or any ability to will or do what pleases you. And thus we will live a cheerful and quiet life, even in the midst of persecutions, which often the world and Satan do stir up. And we are most fully persuaded by that Holy Spirit that we will obtain eternal life, and that not of our own merits, but by the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, which lives and reigns forever. It is in His name we pray this, amen. Benediction: Now may God grant you such that you may say like the psalmist, You are my hiding place; you protect me from all trouble And surround me with songs of deliverance. So that your work is produced by faith, Your labor is prompted by love, and your endurance is inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. Until we meet again, go in peace.