We are Destined for Persecutions

“Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know. For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.” (1 Thessalonians 3:1-5 ESV)

Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God (God incarnate) came down to the earth, took on human flesh, was born as a baby to a human mother, but was conceived of the Holy Spirit. So when he lived on the earth he was fully God and fully human. He performed all kinds of miracles and he preached repentance and obedience to God for the forgiveness of sins and for eternal life with God. But then the people killed him. Yet on the third day he rose from the dead. After 40 days of appearing to people he ascended back to heaven, and after some time he sent his Holy Spirit to indwell his followers.

And this was the beginning of the church. But as Jesus was persecuted and put to death, so were many who were following him in obedience to his gospel message, and so many of them were scattered, too. Now they did not meet in “church buildings” like many Christians do today. They met in people’s homes and in the temple courts, which were open to the Gentiles, and wherever they could find a place to meet. And the apostles were spread out among all these gatherings in these various locations. So, the apostles could not always be with one group of people for a long time.

At least, this is my understanding. And the apostles had to travel long distances, by foot sometimes. And Paul was in prison a lot of this time, so his only way of communicating with the Christians then was through letters which were handwritten and sent through a messenger and then read by the churches. They did not all have copies of the Bible like we have today in our individual homes. And the church of the Thessalonians was not necessarily one congregation of believers in Christ all meeting in one location. But these letters were generally addressed to all the believers in a single city. 

So, when Paul wanted to check in on a particular group of Christians in any given location, if he could not be there personally, he would send someone else to check on them and to help establish and exhort them in their walks of faith. Although they had the Holy Spirit living within them, again they did not have the written word like so many of us do today in our own homes. And they did not have the modern means of communication and transportation that we are so blessed with today to where we can communicate with people all over the world on a device in our own homes.

And the reason that it was so critical to have one of the leaders of the faith encourage and exhort the young Christians is because the early church also faced much persecution and opposition for their faith in Jesus Christ. And so I am certain that it could get very discouraging for them, especially if they did not have a leader with them all the time to help them in their walks of faith in obedience to the Lord. And then he reminded them that we are destined for such persecutions. And if we are not persecuted at all for our walks of faith, then something is terribly wrong.

And it is important that we are being told that if we follow Jesus with our lives, in truth, in practice, that we will be persecuted, so that when it happens, we are not taken out by it, but so that we can be strengthened and encouraged by it. For so many people today are so diluting the gospel message that the “faith” that many have is not biblical faith, and so they are not suffering persecution, because they don’t stand out as different from the world, and they are not standing for righteousness in a wicked world. Or if their faith is genuine, they are not spiritually prepared to suffer for Christ.

So, we must not sugar coat the gospel message or to make it so simple that it loses its power to change human lives. We must prepare people for the reality that a decision to believe in Jesus involves dying with Christ to sin daily and following our Lord in walks of obedience, or we don’t have genuine salvation from sin (Luke 9:23-26). And we must prepare them for the reality that if their faith is genuine, and they are actually doing what the Scriptures teach we must do, that they will be persecuted and rejected and cast aside even by those they thought loved them and cared about them.

And it is so critical, as the body of Christ, that we are in the practice of encouraging one another in our walks of faith in obedience to our Lord and in holy living so that not one of us is led astray by false teachings and diluted gospels and by fine-sounding words which tickle itching ears. So we are to be speaking the truth to one another in love so that none of us is hardened by sin’s deceitfulness, so we are not led astray by false doctrines, and so we are not discouraged nor frightened by those who will oppose us and attack us because of our faith in Jesus Christ.

[Romans 12:1-8; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 14:1-5; Galatians 6:1; Ephesians 2:8-10; Ephesians 4:1-16; Ephesians 5:15-21; Ephesians 6:10-20; Philippians 2:1-8; Colossians 3:12-16; Titus 2:11-14; Hebrews 3:13; Hebrews 10:23-25; James 5:19-20; Romans 6:1-23]

Why Are You Afraid?  

An Original Work / December 5, 2013

Based off Various Scriptures

Do not be afraid. 

Your Lord is always by your side.

Serve the Lord in righteousness

Before Him all your days.

Those who hate the light

Will not come to the Lord.

They fear their deeds

Might be noticed.

So, they hate the light,

And they embrace the night.

Do not be afraid,

Although your enemy attacks.

Dare to share your testimony

Of God’s saving grace.

Do not fear their threats,

But honor Christ, your Lord.

Be prepared to give an answer

For the hope you have,

With gentleness; respect.

Why are you afraid?

For all that’s hidden will be shown.

What I tell you, speak in daylight.

Let the truth be known.

Do not be afraid

Of those who’ll take your life.

Fear the Lord with understanding.

Trust Him with your life,

And give not up to strife.

Do not be afraid.

Take courage, it is I, your Lord.

Bow before Me; now adore Me.

Oh, why do you doubt?

Listen to the Lord.

Get up and bear His name!

Run and tell the world He loves them.

Jesus came to save.

Give Him your all today. 

https://vimeo.com/114668071