Week One - Observation 2

Looking back at yesterday's observation, I realized that my observations from 2 Thessalonians 1:3-5 might not have been totally clear.  My observations were:

1.  That it takes an active, growing, flourishing faith to truly persevere difficult times in a victorious manner, a faith full of trust in our loving Father; 

and that
2.  It takes an active, loving Christian community encouraging one another during difficult times to cultivate an atmosphere of victory in which all can

Now those are my observations - they do not necessarily have to be yours!  Did you get something else out of this passage that I missed?  Please add comments!  It makes this a lot more interesting for me if you will share!  If you have any problems leaving a comment, e-mail me at janicehodges1356@gmail.com.

OK - now moving forward!

Remember our question to consider this week:
"Once we entrust our lives to God, are we exempt from the pain and difficulties of life?  Does our relationship with Him provide protection against suffering?"

And our first passage to memorize:
Philippians 1:29  "For it has been given to you on Christ's behalf not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him.

OBSERVATION 2:

2 Thessalonians 1:4-8 "Therefore, we ourselves boast about you among God's churches---about your endurance and faith in all the persecutions and afflictions you endure.  It is a clear evidence of God's righteous judgment that you will be counted worthy of God's kingdom, for which you also are suffering, since it is righteous for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to reward with rest you who are afflicted, along with us.  This will take place at the revelation of the Lord Jesus from heaven with His powerful angels, taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who don't know God and on those who don't obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus."

Paul continues his praise to his Thessalonian brothers and sisters - again about their endurance/ perseverance and their faith throughout their persecutions, afflictions, and suffering.  

These are our three key words for today:

Persecutions = diogomos (Greek) = "hostile persecutions.  It involves being pursued by enemies"

Afflictions = thlipsis = "to crush or to squeeze.  It refers almost invariably to something that comes upon one from outward circumstances"..."To be afflicted is to be oppressed with evil."

Suffering = thilbo = "to press or to be troubled.  It indicates sufferings due to the pressure of circumstances or antagonism from others."

What do you see in common from these expanded meanings of these three words?  

These are troubles coming from outside forces, these are persecutions, afflictions and sufferings caused by strong opposition, both from people and from spiritual forces.  Note that "suffering" can also include the pressure of circumstances --- I think this is what Jesus referred to in John 16:33 when He assured us that in this world we would have troubles.  Our earthly sufferings caused by natural circumstances (illness, death, natural disasters, accidents) are sometimes equally hard to bear, but they are not what is being talked about in this passage, I do not believe.  I believe this passage is dealing entirely with outside forces, both human and demonic, causing Christians hardship due to their belief in Christ.

That context is reinforced by the following verses regarding God's future actions in light of their current sufferings.  

First Paul throws in a verse that, to me, is confusing and causes me some concern (2 Thessalonians 1:5).  It seems to be saying that by God's judgment on them they can prove themselves worthy of His kingdom, for which they were suffering.  But that doesn't line up with other Scripture (Ephesians 2:9 "For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— not from works, so that no one can boast.")  When I get caught on a verse, I like to read Matthew Henry's Commentary - he always helps me see something a little clearer.  On this verse he says, 

"Their sufferings were a manifest token of this, that they were worthy or meet to be accounted Christians indeed, seeing they could suffer for Christianity. And the truth is, religion, if it is worth anything, is worth everything; and those either have no religion at all, or none that is worth having, or know not how to value it, that cannot find in their hearts to suffer for it. Besides, from their patient suffering, it appeared that, according to the righteous judgment of God, they should be counted worthy of the heavenly glory: not that they could merit heaven, but they were made meet for heaven. We cannot by all our sufferings, any more than by our services, merit heaven as a debt; but by our patience under our sufferings we are qualified for the joy that is promised to patient sufferers in the cause of God."

I know, Matthew Henry writes like someone from way, way back - because he is - he died in 1714!  But his words bring light to this verse for me - they tell me that God's righteous judgment was that these Thessalonians were up to the task of suffering for their faith, that their faith was true and would be proven true through their sufferings; and that through their sufferings they would become more like Christ and more suitable for life in God's eternal kingdom.  Suffering for our faith proves our faith - not to God, but to us and to those around us.  Suffering for our faith changes us into more of the person God designed us to be for eternity.  Suffering for our faith is something that we should not dread - but something of which we should see eternal blessing.

And then Paul goes on to explain that their suffering is not going unnoticed nor will their persecutors go unpunished.  God will repay those who oppress His children, and He will give His children relief and rest.  

Revelation 6:10 "They cried out with a loud voice: “Lord, the One who is holy and true, how long until You judge and avenge our blood from those who live on the earth?”

    

                                

Paul tells the Thessalonians as he tells us, our relief will come when "the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire."

Until then, Christians of all ages, from the first century to present, have had to deal with persecution and affliction.  As Christians in the United States we have been blessed with a country that has allowed us freedom to worship our Father God without fear of persecution. I sometimes question if that has been a true blessing or not, as I'm afraid we have developed a soft faith that may not be able to stand the threat of affliction.  I pray that I'm not right on that.  I pray that should we see persecution and affliction come to us here in America, that we will be counted worthy to withstand and hold firm to our faith, for as Matthew Henry reminded us, "Religion, if it is worth anything, is worth everything."

My observations today:

1.  Christian persecution, affliction and suffering come from outside forces, intent on destroying our faith.  These forces are both human and demonic.

2.  Those who live through Christian persecution have been counted worthy to do so and are refined in the process to a higher degree of Christ-likeness.

3.  We can trust God to deal with the sources of persecution and those who oppose Him.

4.  We should ask God to start changing our perspective on suffering for the Kingdom - to move from a position of dread to a position of absolute trust in our Father who sees and knows all.

Repeating, those are my observations - they do not necessarily have to be yours!  Please add comments!   If you have any problems leaving a comment, e-mail me at janicehodges1356@gmail.com.

In His Amazing Love,

Janice