"That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. For verily, when we were with you, we told you before that we should suffer tribulation; even as it came to pass, and ye know."
1 Thessalonians 3:3-4
Part 3
Yesterday: Don’t Miss Your Appointment!
“By these afflictions.”
“Extraordinary afflictions are not always the punishment of extraordinary sins, but sometimes the trial of extraordinary graces. Sanctified afflictions are spiritual promotions”[1] (Matthew Henry).
“For yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto.”
“As sure as God puts His children in the furnace of affliction, He will be with them in it”[2] (C.H. Spurgeon).
Today: Believers, Prepare for Persecution!
“For verily, when we were with you, we told you before.”
Paul was an excellent teacher, and no doubt he covered a myriad of subjects with a Thessalonians. He had been with them a few months before he wrote his letter to them. He warned them that tribulation was coming and that they would suffer. Paul was wise, and the fact that he didn’t wait until after they were hit with hardships to explain to them, “oh, you’ve just been hit by persecution….” No, he believed that the topic of affliction and the child of God needed to be addressed well before the problem arose. In fact, his words “we told you before” are plainly “we used to tell you beforehand”[3] (Robertson). They had time to prepare their hearts ahead of their time of adversity, so they would not become discouraged.
Jesus Christ was very familiar with persecution personally. He had faced it His entire life and, in His ministry, here on earth.
“And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to slay Him…” (John 15:16a).
“…and the Pharisees and the chief priests sent officers to take Him” (John 7:32b).
“Then took they up stones to cast at Him” (John 8:59a).
“Then the Jews took up stones again to stone Him” (John 10:31).
Jesus taught his followers to be prepared for affliction when it comes, for come it will!
“Verily, verily, I say unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord; neither he that is sent greater than he that sent him” (John 13:16).
“The disciple is not above his master, nor the servant above his lord. It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master and the servant as his lord. If they have called the master of the house Beelzebub, how much more shall they call them of his household?” (Matthew 10:24-25).
“Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. But all these things will they do unto you for my name’s sake, because they know not Him that sent me” (John 15:20-21).
Jesus was here on earth “to seek and to save that which was lost” (Luke 19:10). Because Jesus was always going after sinners, Satan hated Him the more for it. The devil’s followers did what they could to persecute Jesus, and after He left, they still do what they can to come after God’s children. No believer should be surprised by this. As we go forth to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, we expect the devil’s children to be upset with us.
Quote: “[Affliction] shows the power of Christ’s blood, when it gives peace in an hour of trouble when it can make happy in sickness, poverty, persecution, and death. Do not be surprised if you suffer, but glorify God”[4] (Robert Murray McCheyne).
[1] Henry’s quote Downloaded: Wednesday, August 4, 2021. From: https://gracequotes.org/topic/affliction/.
[2] Spurgeon’s quote Downloaded: Wednesday, August 4, 2021. From: https://gracequotes.org/topic/affliction/.
[3] A.T. Robertson, Word Pictures in the New Testament, the electronic version in eSword.
[4] McCheyne’s quote Downloaded: Wednesday, August 4, 2021. From: https://gracequotes.org/topic/affliction/. Comfort in Sorrow, Christian Focus, 2002, p. 24-25.