1 So when we could stand it no longer, we thought it best to be left by ourselves in Athens. 2 We sent Timothy, who is our brother and p g God's fellow worker in spreading the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, 3 so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them. 4 In fact, when we were with you, we kept telling you that we would be persecuted. And it turned out that way, as you well know. 5 For this reason,, when I could stand it no longer, I sent to find out about your faith. I was afraid that in some way the tempter might have tempted you and our efforts might have been useless. 6 But Timothy has just now come to us from you and has brought good news about your faith and love. He has told us that you always have pleasant memories of us and that you g to see us, just j as we also long g to long see you. 7 Therefore, brothers, in all our distress and persecution we were encouraged about you because of your faith. 8 For now we really live, since you are standing firm in the Lord. 1
James 5:14 14 Is any one of you sick? He should call the elders of the church to pray over him and anoint him with oil in the name of the Lord. Many Christians FORGET that God DIDN T save Daniel FROM the lion s d den, b butt rather th he h saved d Daniel THROUGH the lion s den! How a POSITIVE RESPONSE to DIFFICULTY is a SOURCE OF ENCOURAGEMENT to OTHER CHRISTIANS 2
3 FACTORS that ENABLED the THESSALONIANS to TRIUMP over their TRIALS : 1.) a PERSONAL VISIT from SOMEONE who CARED ABOUT THEM 1 Thessalonians 3:1 2, So when we could STAND IT NO LONGER, we thought it BEST to be LEFT BY OURSELVES in Athens. We SENT TIMOTHY, who is OUR BROTHER and GOD S FELLOW WORKER in spreading the GOSPEL of Christ, to STRENGTHEN and ENCOURAGE you in your FAITH... Were they being TORTURED? Were they being IMPRISONED? Were some of them being EXECUTED? Were they still MEETING TOGETHER? Had they WILTED under the PRESSURE of the PERSECUTION? Mary & Martha said, LORD, IF YOU HAD BEEN HERE, THIS WOULDN T HAVE HAPPENED 3
WHEN A CHURCH GETS LARGER, IT HAS TO GET SMALLER, AT THE SAME TIME. Matthew 18:20, WHERE TWO OR THREE ARE GATHERED, TOGETHER, IN MY NAME, I M THERE IN THE MIDST King Solomon said, TWO ARE BETTER THAN ONE, BECAUSE, IF ONE FALLS DOWN HIS FRIEND CAN HELP HIM UP. BUT, PITY THE MAN WHO FALLS, BUT HAS NO ONE TO HELP HIM UP! THOUGH ONE MAY BE OVERPOWERED, TWO CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES. A CORD OF THREE STRANDS IS NOTQUICKLY BROKEN. 3 FACTORS that ENABLED the THESSALONIANS to TRIUMP over their TRIALS : 1.) a PERSONAL VISIT from SOMEONE who CARED ABOUT THEM 2.) ACCURATE INFORMATION about WHAT life had IN STORE for THEM 4
1 Thessalonians 3:3,...so that NO ONE would be UNSETTLED by b th these TRIALS TRIALS. You KNOW QUITE WELL that we were DESTINED for them 1 Thessalonians 3:5,...I was AFRAID in some way THE TEMPTER might i ht have h TEMPTED you. 1 Peter 5:8 5:8 9, Be SELF SELF CONTROLED and ALERT, because your ADVERSARY, the DEVIL, prowls around like a ROARING LION seeking SOMEONE to DEVOUR! Resist him; h STANDING FIRM in the FAITH, because you KNOW that your BROTHERS, throughout the world, are UNDERGOING the SAME KINDS of SUFFERINGS WAIT 5
IF we re going to TRIUMP OVER TRIALS, it is IMPERATIVE IMPERATIVE IMPERATIVE that we ANTICIPATE THEM! Our ENTHUSIASM for CHRIST, needs to b TEMPERED with be ith REALISM Matthew 8:20, WELL, THE FOXES HAVE HOLES, AND THE BIRDS OF THE AIR HAVE NESTS, BUT I DON T HAVE ANYWHERE TO LAY MY HEAD. 6
1 Peter 4:12 4:12 14, Dear friends, DON T BE SURPRISED at the PAINFUL TRIAL you are SUFFERING SUFFERING, as though something STRANGE was HAPPENING to you. But, REJOICE that you PARTICIPATE in the SUFFERINGS of Christ, so that YOU may be OVERJOYED when His GLORY is INSULTED,, REVEALED!! If you re INSULTED REVEALED because of the NAME of CHRIST, you re you re BLESSED by The SPIRIT Of Glory, and of GOD! It RESTS on you! MAYBE GOD HAS SOMETHING BETTER IN MIND FOR YOU John 16:33, In the WORLD you re GOING TO HAVE TRIBULATION (trouble), but BE OF GOOD CHEER; I have OVERCOME the WORLD 7
God IS in Heaven, but ALL is NOT RIGHT with the world! 3 FACTORS that ENABLED the THESSALONIANS to TRIUMP over their TRIALS : 1.) a PERSONAL VISIT from SOMEONE who CARED ABOUT THEM 2.) ACCURATE INFORMATION about WHAT life had IN STORE for THEM 3.) the POSITIVE RESPONSE of ONE who was INSPIRED BY THEM 1 Thessalonians 3:6 8, Timothy has just BROUGHT ME GOOD NEWS about you. He has TOLD US that you are ANXIOUS TO SEE US! Therefore, brothers, in all our DISTRESS and PERSECUTION, we were ENCOURAGED ABOUT YOU, because of your FAITH! And, NOW we REALLY LIVE, because you re STANDING FIRM in The Lord When you HAVE A TRIAL, you can RESPOND in ONE of FOUR different WAYS: 1.) You can RESPOND IRRATIONALLY 8
When you HAVE A TRIAL, you can RESPOND in ONE of FOUR different WAYS: 1.) You can RESPOND IRRATIONALLY IRRATIONALLY 2 ) You can RESPOND 2.) RESPOND RESENTFULLY RESENTFULLY RESENTFULLY!! REALISM REALISM is IDEALISM that has been THROUGH THE FIRE! CYNICISM CYNICISM and got PURIFIED PURIFIED! is IDEALISM that has been THROUGH THE FIRE and d got BURNED! BURNED! When you HAVE A TRIAL, you can RESPOND in ONE of FOUR different WAYS: 1.) You can RESPOND IRRATIONALLY IRRATIONALLY 2 ) You can RESPOND 2.) RESPOND RESENTFULLY RESENTFULLY RESENTFULLY!! 3.) You can RESPOND CREATIVELY CREATIVELY Warren Wiersbe Wiersbe,, Christian Theologian When you HAVE A TRIAL, you can RESPOND in ONE of FOUR different WAYS: 1.) You can RESPOND IRRATIONALLY IRRATIONALLY 2 ) You can RESPOND 2.) RESPOND RESENTFULLY RESENTFULLY RESENTFULLY!! 3.) You can RESPOND CREATIVELY CREATIVELY 4.) You can DEAL WITH THEM, FAITHFULLY FAITHFULLY 9
Job said, EVEN THOUGH HE SLAY ME, I WILL STILL TRUST HIM Romans 8:28, IN ALL THINGS GOD WORKS FOR THE GOOD, OF THOSE WHO LOVE HIM; WHO HAVE BEEN CALLED ACCORDING TO HIS PURPOSE Revelation 2:10, DON T BE AFRAID OF WHAT YOU RE ABOUT TO SUFFER. I TELL YOU, THE DEVIL WILL PUT SOME OF YOU IN PRISON, TO TEST YOU, AND YOU WILL SUFFER PERSECUTION FOR 10 DAYS! BUT, BE FAITHFUL, EVEN TO THE POINT OF DEATH, AND I LL GIVE YOU THE CROWN OF LIFE 1 Corinthians 1:27, GOD CHOSE THE FOOLISH THINGS OF THE WORLD TO SHAME THE WISE, AND THE WEAK THINGS OF THE WORLD TO SHAME THE STRONG 10
Isaiah 40:31, THEY THAT WAIT UPON THE LORD SHALL MOUNT UP WITH WINGS OF AN EAGLE, AND FLY! THEY SHALL RUN AND NOT BE WEARY, THEY SHALL WALK AND NOT FAINT 2 Corinthians 12:9, MY POWER IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS; FOR WHEN I AM WEAK, THEN I AM STRONG 11