I Thessalonians 2: 13-20
INTRODUCTION:
Paul was grateful for those in Thessalonica who had received the gospel message. He was grateful because these believers understood that the Bible was different from others books or magazines. They understood that the Bible is the Word of God. Now, it is true that God used man to bring His word to us. II Peter 1: 21 says that, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Notice that these men spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. As they were moved by the Holy Spirit carries the idea of inspiration. As they were moved by the Holy Spirit, they spoke God's Word. They spoke what God wanted them to speak. The result is a trustworthy Book that is in effect, the Word of God.
Also notice, that as Paul shared with the Thessalonians the gospel message, they received it. When we receive His Word, it will effectually work in our life. God's Word, hidden in our heart, will keep us from sin. God's Word will also bring about spiritual growth and maturity. It will also produce fruit in us and through us. What a believer's attitude is toward the Word will determine how he or she grows spiritually.
Having received the Word, the Thessalonians became imitators of the churches of Judea. The church of Judea, through it's missionaries, had passed on the faith to Thessalonica. Our faith today has been passed down to us by generations of Godly believers. And, if Christianity is to survive, it must be passed from us to a new generation of believers who will then pass it on to their kids. In this passage, we also note that the churches of Judea and the church in Thessalonica not only had a common faith, but they also faced a common trial-- persecution.
DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, CHRISTIANITY HAS BEEN A PERSECUTED FAITH
We see such persecution in the life of Jesus Himself. John tells us that Jesus, "came unto His own and His own received Him not." Notice how Jesus was persecuted. For one things, Jesus was lied about. Jesus' detractors said that He refused to pay taxes. They also said that Jesus was going to physically destroy the temple. They also tried to discredit Jesus by saying that He was a winebibber and a glutton. Jesus often had to deal with the lies that others said about Him. As a matter of fact, Jesus eventually faced a trial before Pilate on trumpted up charges and lies. Jesus was also threatened with death. And, these threats were real. His critics did want to kill Him and they eventually succeeded. But, before Jesus was crucified, He was beaten and flogged. As Isaiah relates, that beaten left Him disfigured to the point that one couldn't tell that He was Jesus. Jesus was then nailed to a cross to die a painful and horrifying death. Jesus was persecuted because of Who He was, the perfect, holy and righteous Son of God. With that in mind, it is interesting to notice what Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper. John 15: 20 says, "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."
Persecution has taken place in the church since Jesus. That was a fact in Thessalonica as Paul shares in v. 14: "For you have suffered the same things from your countrymen." Down through the centuries, believers have been intimidated with threats of violence. Notice what happened in Acts 3: 17. Notice the strategy of the enemies of the church. "But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in His name." Even though we may not see threats of violence today, we do often see verbal abuse and ridicule for standing up for Christ. Down through the centuries, believers have also faced physical abuse for their faith. Believers were commonly beaten in Biblical times. Believers were also put to death for standing up for Christ. Even today, believers are being physically abused and put to death in some ares of the world. This is seen in Muslim countries and in places like North Korea.
That brings us to the question, why would believers die for their faith? Believers are willing to die for their faith because they know that death is a conquered enemy. We see how that Jesus endured death only to rise again. We know that if we share Jesus' persecutions, we shall all share in Jesus' triumphs. And that means we shall also experience a resurrection from the dead. Why fear death when we shall overcome it. Believers are willing to die for their faith because we know that death is simply a portal that leads to heaven. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing to receive Him home. Why fear something that leads to home? Believers are also willing to die for their faith because martyrs are promised special reward. Notice Matthew 5: 12: "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Notice what Jesus says. Great is the reward for those who endure persecution. And be prepare to endure because the Christian faith is a persecuted faith.
NOTICE THE PERSECUTORS
The goal of the persecutor is to keep others from coming to Christ v. 16. Satan know that as long as the gospel is being presented to the lost, people will be saved. Satan know the power of the gospel, whether we do or not. He knows that if we sow, we will reap. So, to keep people from hearing about Jesus, he will use all means at his disposal to silence the messengers of God. Satan will use religion to silence the messengers of Christ. The people who brought Jesus to Pilate and demanded that Pilate crucify Jesus were religious people. The early persecution of the church came from people who claimed to be doing God a favor by persecuting the church. Even today, much of the persecution that the church sees is from other religious bodies, such as those of the Islamic faith. Satan will also use government to persecute the church and silence it's witness. The Roman government was a source of such persecution for over three centuries. It was state persecution that caused the Pilgrims to leave England and come to America seeking religious liberty. Satan can even put his people in a Godly church to get the church sidetracked from her main mission. Satan doesn't want people hearing the gospel and being saved and he will use whatever means he can to stop those who are witnessing for Jesus.
That is why Paul gives us the description of the persecutors that he does in n this passage. One, Paul says that those who persecute God's people do not please God. Here is Satanic deceit at it's very best. Many people who persecute God's people think they are doing God a favor. When God spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road, God made it very clear to Paul that to persecute God's people is to attack God Himself. God wants us to deal with the enemies of the gospel but not with physical force. God's method of winning our enemies is through prayer, love and presenting them to a Savior who will love and forgive them. The persecution of God's people is not pleasing to God. The persecutors of God's people are also hostile to all men. By keeping people from hearing about Jesus, these men were hostile to all. By keeping them from hearing about Jesus, they are helping them to go to hell. There can be no one more hostile to another than the one who causes us to go to hell. The persecutors of the gospel are also recipients of God's wrath. One who keeps another from being saved will face a greater wrath than the one who just commits a sin of the flesh. That wrath will one day fall.
CONCLUSION:
God's people have been persecuted down through the ages. But, that persecution has strengthened, rather than weakened, His church. Just remember, Jesus has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
INTRODUCTION:
Paul was grateful for those in Thessalonica who had received the gospel message. He was grateful because these believers understood that the Bible was different from others books or magazines. They understood that the Bible is the Word of God. Now, it is true that God used man to bring His word to us. II Peter 1: 21 says that, "holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." Notice that these men spake as they were moved by the Holy Spirit. As they were moved by the Holy Spirit carries the idea of inspiration. As they were moved by the Holy Spirit, they spoke God's Word. They spoke what God wanted them to speak. The result is a trustworthy Book that is in effect, the Word of God.
Also notice, that as Paul shared with the Thessalonians the gospel message, they received it. When we receive His Word, it will effectually work in our life. God's Word, hidden in our heart, will keep us from sin. God's Word will also bring about spiritual growth and maturity. It will also produce fruit in us and through us. What a believer's attitude is toward the Word will determine how he or she grows spiritually.
Having received the Word, the Thessalonians became imitators of the churches of Judea. The church of Judea, through it's missionaries, had passed on the faith to Thessalonica. Our faith today has been passed down to us by generations of Godly believers. And, if Christianity is to survive, it must be passed from us to a new generation of believers who will then pass it on to their kids. In this passage, we also note that the churches of Judea and the church in Thessalonica not only had a common faith, but they also faced a common trial-- persecution.
DOWN THROUGH THE YEARS, CHRISTIANITY HAS BEEN A PERSECUTED FAITH
We see such persecution in the life of Jesus Himself. John tells us that Jesus, "came unto His own and His own received Him not." Notice how Jesus was persecuted. For one things, Jesus was lied about. Jesus' detractors said that He refused to pay taxes. They also said that Jesus was going to physically destroy the temple. They also tried to discredit Jesus by saying that He was a winebibber and a glutton. Jesus often had to deal with the lies that others said about Him. As a matter of fact, Jesus eventually faced a trial before Pilate on trumpted up charges and lies. Jesus was also threatened with death. And, these threats were real. His critics did want to kill Him and they eventually succeeded. But, before Jesus was crucified, He was beaten and flogged. As Isaiah relates, that beaten left Him disfigured to the point that one couldn't tell that He was Jesus. Jesus was then nailed to a cross to die a painful and horrifying death. Jesus was persecuted because of Who He was, the perfect, holy and righteous Son of God. With that in mind, it is interesting to notice what Jesus told His disciples at the Last Supper. John 15: 20 says, "A servant is not greater than his master. If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you."
Persecution has taken place in the church since Jesus. That was a fact in Thessalonica as Paul shares in v. 14: "For you have suffered the same things from your countrymen." Down through the centuries, believers have been intimidated with threats of violence. Notice what happened in Acts 3: 17. Notice the strategy of the enemies of the church. "But so that it spreads no further among the people, let us severely threaten them, that from now on they speak to no man in His name." Even though we may not see threats of violence today, we do often see verbal abuse and ridicule for standing up for Christ. Down through the centuries, believers have also faced physical abuse for their faith. Believers were commonly beaten in Biblical times. Believers were also put to death for standing up for Christ. Even today, believers are being physically abused and put to death in some ares of the world. This is seen in Muslim countries and in places like North Korea.
That brings us to the question, why would believers die for their faith? Believers are willing to die for their faith because they know that death is a conquered enemy. We see how that Jesus endured death only to rise again. We know that if we share Jesus' persecutions, we shall all share in Jesus' triumphs. And that means we shall also experience a resurrection from the dead. Why fear death when we shall overcome it. Believers are willing to die for their faith because we know that death is simply a portal that leads to heaven. As Stephen was being stoned to death, he saw heaven opened and Jesus standing to receive Him home. Why fear something that leads to home? Believers are also willing to die for their faith because martyrs are promised special reward. Notice Matthew 5: 12: "Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you." Notice what Jesus says. Great is the reward for those who endure persecution. And be prepare to endure because the Christian faith is a persecuted faith.
NOTICE THE PERSECUTORS
The goal of the persecutor is to keep others from coming to Christ v. 16. Satan know that as long as the gospel is being presented to the lost, people will be saved. Satan know the power of the gospel, whether we do or not. He knows that if we sow, we will reap. So, to keep people from hearing about Jesus, he will use all means at his disposal to silence the messengers of God. Satan will use religion to silence the messengers of Christ. The people who brought Jesus to Pilate and demanded that Pilate crucify Jesus were religious people. The early persecution of the church came from people who claimed to be doing God a favor by persecuting the church. Even today, much of the persecution that the church sees is from other religious bodies, such as those of the Islamic faith. Satan will also use government to persecute the church and silence it's witness. The Roman government was a source of such persecution for over three centuries. It was state persecution that caused the Pilgrims to leave England and come to America seeking religious liberty. Satan can even put his people in a Godly church to get the church sidetracked from her main mission. Satan doesn't want people hearing the gospel and being saved and he will use whatever means he can to stop those who are witnessing for Jesus.
That is why Paul gives us the description of the persecutors that he does in n this passage. One, Paul says that those who persecute God's people do not please God. Here is Satanic deceit at it's very best. Many people who persecute God's people think they are doing God a favor. When God spoke to Paul on the Damascus Road, God made it very clear to Paul that to persecute God's people is to attack God Himself. God wants us to deal with the enemies of the gospel but not with physical force. God's method of winning our enemies is through prayer, love and presenting them to a Savior who will love and forgive them. The persecution of God's people is not pleasing to God. The persecutors of God's people are also hostile to all men. By keeping people from hearing about Jesus, these men were hostile to all. By keeping them from hearing about Jesus, they are helping them to go to hell. There can be no one more hostile to another than the one who causes us to go to hell. The persecutors of the gospel are also recipients of God's wrath. One who keeps another from being saved will face a greater wrath than the one who just commits a sin of the flesh. That wrath will one day fall.
CONCLUSION:
God's people have been persecuted down through the ages. But, that persecution has strengthened, rather than weakened, His church. Just remember, Jesus has promised that the gates of hell will not prevail against His church.
MIKE HONZELL, PASTOR
COLLEGE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
LEVELLAND, TEXAS
COLLEGE AVENUE BAPTIST CHURCH
LEVELLAND, TEXAS
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