We're about to finish our first week - how is it going? Any ideas to make this study better? Let me know what you're thinking and how the study is making you think differently, if it is!
As for me, I can't help but think of the current situation in China as we're discussing Christian persecution. The horrific government that has controlled China for 71 years (since Chairman Mao announced the formation of the Peoples Republic of China in October 1949) continues to grow in evil doing as it intensifies it's opposition to Christianity. Just this week it was reported that Chinese officials have ordered some Christians to smash the crosses on their churches and remove images of Jesus from their homes. In the region of Shanxi religious images were demanded to be taken down and replaced with pictures of Communist leaders at the homes of impoverished believers. These Communist leaders are responsible for the murder and imprisonment of their Christian brothers and sisters, and yet they are supposed to be objects of their honor? In Zhejiang, an 80-year old woman was alleged to have been beaten as she tried to protect her church that was being destroyed.
So what we are talking about this week isn't a "maybe someday it could happen" thing - it IS happening, right now, in our lifetimes, all around the world. China is certainly not the only place. Throughout Africa, Indonesia, India and the Middle East, Christians are being persecuted at an ever-increasing rate for their belief in Christ. We need to be diligently remembering all of them in our prayers, that they may have the strength and perseverance that we would wish to have, and that they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit as a result of our prayers for them. If you want to read more about current persecution of Christians around the world, visit www.persecution.com or www.opendoorsusa.org. Both of these sites have lots of information that can give you specific things to pray for in specific areas. I know there are many other sites as well, but these are two that I visit most often.
OK - last day - first week!
OBSERVATION:
What I saw tonight in this passage is the stark contrast between "those" and "you".
"Those" afflict "you" and God's justice will not allow them to go unjudged.
"You" will be given relief and rest when Christ comes with His powerful angels.
"Those" do not know God and "those" do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Those" will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction and separation from God's glory.
"You" who have believed, will admire Christ in His glory forever.
Paul presents two clear groups of people in this passage, those who:
1. Believe the message of the Gospel just as Paul preached to Thessalonica and the same Gospel we have also heard - risk affliction/persecution here on earth - receive eternal rest, relief and life when Christ comes - live an eternity of admiring Him for who He truly is and seeing Him face-to-face!
OR
2. Refuse to know God, refuse to receive the message of the Gospel - be the ones with power here on earth to persecute and bully Christians - receive God's vengeance and retribution, and the ultimate penalty of eternal destruction - be forever separated from God and His glory.
The first choice may be persecution here on earth (temporary), but the second choice brings an eternity of destruction and separation from God (eternal).
"Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
Those who have been or will be persecuted may cry out "How long, how long?" but relief will come for them. We hold on knowing our Savior is coming to rescue His own.
WEEK'S WRAP UP
Our question this week was, "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?"
I think it's clear after this week's study that Christians are not exempt from life's difficulties and God does not protect His people from all suffering. In fact, suffering is not only possible, God tells us that it is inevitable for Christians. We may, at some point, truly face persecution for our Christian faith; what seemed impossible not that long ago, is now a foreseeable possibility in our futures. And while we ourselves are not currently undergoing physical persecution or suffering, we should be suffering "in kind" for our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world as is stated in Hebrews 13:3 "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." We should suffer deeply considering the wrongs of this world and the judgment that is coming. And we suffer through the sometimes really tough trials that life brings to us.
The follow-up question then is, "How will we respond to our suffering?" Our prayer should be that we would respond just like the people in first century Thessalonica did - with "perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure."
In the face of persecution:
I will know God knows - He has not abandoned me - my afflictions will be temporary. I will be in a family of believers that will encourage each other with our Christian bond of love. I will depend on the Holy Spirit to embolden me, carry me and infuse His gift of joy into my life, whatever the circumstances. I have learned to see suffering as an opportunity to grow into a deeper relationship with God, a "gifting" of greater intimacy with Him. - and I will remember that I have a Savior who will rescue me and bring me to a glorious, eternal rest.
Oh Lord, do not let me forget these lessons.
As for me, I can't help but think of the current situation in China as we're discussing Christian persecution. The horrific government that has controlled China for 71 years (since Chairman Mao announced the formation of the Peoples Republic of China in October 1949) continues to grow in evil doing as it intensifies it's opposition to Christianity. Just this week it was reported that Chinese officials have ordered some Christians to smash the crosses on their churches and remove images of Jesus from their homes. In the region of Shanxi religious images were demanded to be taken down and replaced with pictures of Communist leaders at the homes of impoverished believers. These Communist leaders are responsible for the murder and imprisonment of their Christian brothers and sisters, and yet they are supposed to be objects of their honor? In Zhejiang, an 80-year old woman was alleged to have been beaten as she tried to protect her church that was being destroyed.
So what we are talking about this week isn't a "maybe someday it could happen" thing - it IS happening, right now, in our lifetimes, all around the world. China is certainly not the only place. Throughout Africa, Indonesia, India and the Middle East, Christians are being persecuted at an ever-increasing rate for their belief in Christ. We need to be diligently remembering all of them in our prayers, that they may have the strength and perseverance that we would wish to have, and that they will be empowered by the Holy Spirit as a result of our prayers for them. If you want to read more about current persecution of Christians around the world, visit www.persecution.com or www.opendoorsusa.org. Both of these sites have lots of information that can give you specific things to pray for in specific areas. I know there are many other sites as well, but these are two that I visit most often.
OK - last day - first week!
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?"
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. Do you have it down? Does it mean more to you after our discussion of yesterday? Love to hear from you on that!
OBSERVATION 5
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
"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. These will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction, away from the Lord's presence and from His glorious strength, in that day when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, because our testimony among you was believed."
We're going back to the continuation of the same passage of Scripture that we started with on our first day, the first chapter of Thessalonians. Paul wants to assure his Christian family that there is a day of reckoning when their afflictions will be over, and those who have persecuted them for their belief in Christ will be brought to justice. There is so much in this passage that we could pour over as far as end-times timing and exactly when these specific things are going to take place, but I don't think that will be my focus tonight. But if you have thoughts on that aspect of the passage, I'd love to hear them!
OBSERVATION:
What I saw tonight in this passage is the stark contrast between "those" and "you".
"Those" afflict "you" and God's justice will not allow them to go unjudged.
"You" will be given relief and rest when Christ comes with His powerful angels.
"Those" do not know God and "those" do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ.
"Those" will pay the penalty of everlasting destruction and separation from God's glory.
"You" who have believed, will admire Christ in His glory forever.
Paul presents two clear groups of people in this passage, those who:
1. Believe the message of the Gospel just as Paul preached to Thessalonica and the same Gospel we have also heard - risk affliction/persecution here on earth - receive eternal rest, relief and life when Christ comes - live an eternity of admiring Him for who He truly is and seeing Him face-to-face!
OR
2. Refuse to know God, refuse to receive the message of the Gospel - be the ones with power here on earth to persecute and bully Christians - receive God's vengeance and retribution, and the ultimate penalty of eternal destruction - be forever separated from God and His glory.
The first choice may be persecution here on earth (temporary), but the second choice brings an eternity of destruction and separation from God (eternal).
"Don't fear those who kill the body but are not able to kill the soul; rather, fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell." Matthew 10:28
Those who have been or will be persecuted may cry out "How long, how long?" but relief will come for them. We hold on knowing our Savior is coming to rescue His own.
WEEK'S WRAP UP
Our question this week was, "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?"
I think it's clear after this week's study that Christians are not exempt from life's difficulties and God does not protect His people from all suffering. In fact, suffering is not only possible, God tells us that it is inevitable for Christians. We may, at some point, truly face persecution for our Christian faith; what seemed impossible not that long ago, is now a foreseeable possibility in our futures. And while we ourselves are not currently undergoing physical persecution or suffering, we should be suffering "in kind" for our Christian brothers and sisters throughout the world as is stated in Hebrews 13:3 "Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering." We should suffer deeply considering the wrongs of this world and the judgment that is coming. And we suffer through the sometimes really tough trials that life brings to us.
The follow-up question then is, "How will we respond to our suffering?" Our prayer should be that we would respond just like the people in first century Thessalonica did - with "perseverance and faith in the midst of all your persecutions and afflictions which you endure."
In the face of persecution:
I will know God knows - He has not abandoned me - my afflictions will be temporary. I will be in a family of believers that will encourage each other with our Christian bond of love. I will depend on the Holy Spirit to embolden me, carry me and infuse His gift of joy into my life, whatever the circumstances. I have learned to see suffering as an opportunity to grow into a deeper relationship with God, a "gifting" of greater intimacy with Him. - and I will remember that I have a Savior who will rescue me and bring me to a glorious, eternal rest.
Oh Lord, do not let me forget these lessons.
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