… you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God,
– 1 Thessalonians 1:9 (NIV)
This church is going through (vv.4,5,6,7)
…you also endured the same sufferings at the hands of your own countrymen, – 1 Thessalonians 2:14 (NASB)
(v.1) To the suffering: You are
To the church of the Thessalonians in God – 2 Thess 1:1 (NIV)
To the churches in Galatia – Gal 1:2 To all in Rome – Rom 1:7
I. What took place in them during persecution:
1. Their was (v.3)
Difficulty doesn’t just make me it me
…yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away. – Matthew 13:21 (NASB)
2. Their love was (v.3)
3. Their was (v.4)
…in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure: (v.4)
…tribulation doth work endurance; – Romans 5:3 (YLT)
4. Their testimony was (v.4)
We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.
– 2 Thessalonians 1:4 (NLT)
II. What we need to know in difficulty:
1. There is a for faithfulness (v.5)
All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
– 2 Thessalonians 1:5 (NIV)
If we suffer, we shall also reign with him: – 2 Timothy 2:12 (KJV)
2. There will be (vv.6-9)
…when the Lord Jesus will be revealed (apokalupsis) from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution…
– 2 Thessalonians 1:7-8 (NASB)
The revelation (apokalupsis) of Jesus Christ – Revelation 1:1
Powerful words: I will
(Jesus) …whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in Me to stumble, it would be better for him to have a heavy millstone hung around his neck, and to be drowned in the depth of the sea.
– Matthew 18:6 (NASB)
III. What Paul prays for them (vv.11-12)
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power (dunamis) (v.11)
1. That God would help them
…asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call
– 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NLT)
2. That God would (v.11)
He may fulfill every good purpose of yours
– 2 Thessalonians 1:11 (NIV)
3. That they would experience (v.11)
Dunamis: force – specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself) (Strong’s)
…for our gospel did not come to you in word only, but also in power (dunamis) and in the Holy Spirit and with full conviction;
– 1 Thessalonians 1:5 (NASB)
…the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the miracles (dunamis) which they had seen
– Luke 19:37 (NASB)
People draw conclusions about based on what they see in (v.12)