Title: Suffering and Comfort (1 Thessalonians 3:1-13)
Contents
Suffering and Comfort (1 Thessalonians 3:1-13)
No one wants to suffer.
When we elect the president and when we elect members of the National Assembly, we select people who will make our lives better. How much more, if you choose a religion and say that your religion has hardships, who would want to believe in that religion?
That is why there are times when we talk like this when we evangelize or when we are living our faith life.
"If you believe in Jesus, all things will go well. All suffering comes from a mistake. Suffering comes because it is not God's will. Suffering comes because of sin. If we do not handle sin properly, suffering will not go away."
This is not a biblical teaching.
Because suffering comes even to those who are in the will of God.
Let's take an example.
When Jesus said to his disciples, "Come, let's go to the other side," even when they obeyed the Lord's command and were in the will of the Lord, a storm blew and waves blew up and the boat was filled with water.
They heard the words of Jesus, but great suffering is coming to them due to a storm.
Then, if our God is a good God, why does he give us suffering?
1. Suffering is inevitable.
Suffering does not come by chance; it always comes.
Do any of you go to church to avoid suffering? Christians are not runaways. Please accept the hardships boldly. The Lord will be with you.
(Philippians 1:29) "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him."
In addition, in 1 Peter, the apostle Peter in his letter to the people of God who are scattered because of persecution and suffering, in 4:12-13, tells us not to wonder that suffering is coming. Rather, we are told to rejoice in sharing in the sufferings of Christ.
(1 Peter 4:12-13) Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial that comes to try you, as if something strange happened to you, but rejoice in your sharing in the sufferings of Christ, for you rejoice and rejoice when his glory is revealed. to do it
In the book of Job, it is said that those born of women have suffering, which is like a spark flying upward, and it speaks of the universality of suffering. Indeed, the Bible shows that suffering is inevitable
2. Suffering is Necessary
Suffering is inevitable because it is inevitable, and because suffering is necessary, it is something we must experience.
In college, there are liberal arts subjects and major subjects. Among the liberal arts subjects, there are elective subjects and compulsory subjects.
If you look closely, only the subjects you don't want to study are mandatory. But why do colleges put such things in compulsory subjects?
This is because it was determined that character education and social life were essential.
That is why the world says that people who have completed such education are intelligent people.
God gives us suffering as a method of education that raises us as mature Christians.
It is a task that must be overcome because the Lord has allowed it.
David sings Psalm 119 and says in verse 67, "Before I was afflicted, I went astray, but now I keep Your word." Before suffering, I was wrong. We are experiencing this not only in our lives, but also around us.
Verse 71 says, “It is good for me that I have been afflicted, that I may learn Your statutes.”
There was one thing he benefited from his sufferings, and it said that he learned more about the Word of God through him. C.S. As Lewis said, 'Suffering is God's megaphone.' I confess that I have been able to hear the word of God that I had never heard before, and now I can hear the voice of God through suffering, and it has been beneficial to me because I have learned the ordinances of the Lord.
Let's take Sister Min-hee So in our church as an example.
Because I graduated from Hongdae, the best academic institution in Korea, I was able to easily work part-time and live without any inconvenience. But when I came to Japan to live, I had to work part-time, but I was told that I worked in a company. It's something I've never done before, so I'm not sure I can do it well, but the branch manager and staff were also not good people. I was going to give up studying in Japan and go back because I felt disappointed in myself and Ijime unique to Japan, but I met Sister Ji-seon and started a new part-time job while living in the church again. They even gave me permission to visit Korea for a month and even gave me a room to live with.
This is the benefit of suffering.
There are times when God intervenes or intervenes in our lives and the unexpected happens and we ourselves experience shattering. But please look forward to it. If he perseveres and overcomes, God will eventually bless him. And we see God begin to use him.
Suffering breaks our hardened hearts and breaks them. So you soften your heart. And now, make them sensitive to the voice of God.
Not only that, but now that I am going through hardship, I find out what kind of person I really am.
Therefore, through suffering my heart is broken, and through suffering I am humbled and humbled.
And through suffering, I can hear the voice of the Lord and look to the Lord and depend on the Lord. Although the path of suffering is not pleasing and unattractive, it is a necessary and necessary beneficial path.
Dear members of Jesus Mission Church,
If you want to be used effectively and powerfully for God, please enjoy suffering.
If you want to upgrade me to the next level, please endure hardship and overcome it.
The content of today's Bible chapter 3 is the Apostle Paul's message to the Thessalonians who do not stumble in the midst of suffering.
Worried about the treachery and false teachings of false teachers and legalists, and eventually unable to bear it, he sends Timothy there on his behalf.
(3:1) For this reason we became impatient… ..
(3:5) For this reason, I couldn't stand it either... …
One of the things that the Lord's servants are most afraid of and trembling is that the believers' faith is falling.
Do you know who the most hated person is? He is a person who destroys the faith of others by not living in the church himself. Not only do you hate your servant, but God does not forgive such a person.
So the Apostle Paul sent Timothy.
(2) We are sending our brother Timothy, a minister of the gospel of Christ, who will strengthen you and comfort you in your faith.
In introducing Timothy, what kind of person are you introducing Timothy?
1. God's worker? It means God's co-worker.
The church needs workers. How much is the fee for recruiting evangelists these days? What time do you leave work? Are there vacations or bonuses? I'm going to ask you this. What can a person who studies God's Word to fill his body do for the church and the saints?
The Jesus Mission Church also needs workers. But it is not right for both you and the church to force yourself to do so.
I am so happy and grateful for the love I received from the Lord, so I want to share that love again.
2. To harden you-- "to harden" means "to support something that is going to sink into the water and make it rise above the water." It has the meaning of "supporting something like a raft firmly from behind so that it doesn't float away". In other words, those who have been through tribulation and suffering need a friend, a co-worker, or a brother or sister who can support them so that they can stand firm. That is why Paul sent Timothy.
When the Thessalonians were in trouble, Paul sent Timothy to strengthen them.
I want you to look back at me at this hour today. Am I a believer who supports those around me with faith? Or are you a believer like a rock that makes people around you sink into the water? You have to ask yourself.
3. By comforting your faith-- "encourage" means "to stand by him and to inspire him". There may be someone standing by our side all the time. However, there may be someone who is always there and pecks you.
When Job suffered, they called themselves friends and stood by Job's side, blaming him for not doing anything wrong. Who do you need right now in a situation where you are suffering and hurt? We need someone like Timothy who stands by and inspires and encourages, especially Timothy, who stands by and encourages and inspires us to look to God, depend on God, maintain our faith in the Lord, and live a Christian life. do. We need to remember that we need to be Timothy ourselves just as we need someone like Timothy.
In our church and in the world, we all need people like Timothy.
Then that Timothy wants me to be. I want you to be
The apostle Paul, who received a positive report because of Timothy, says in verse 7.
(7) Therefore, brethren, in all our afflictions and afflictions we have found comfort in you through your faith.
(Verse 8) Therefore, since ye stand fast in the Lord, now we shall live.
The servant of the Lord is comforted just by reporting that the saints are standing properly.
Paul, who could not bear the pain and fear that he would die, says he will live now. And I pray day and night.
(Verse 10) They supplicate fervently day and night, that when they see your face, they may complete the lack of faith.
In the end, that figure is manifested in love.
(Verse 12) And the Lord may increase and abound in love for one another and for all men, just as we love you.
(13) May your hearts be strengthened and be blameless in holiness before God and our Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.
Although it is manifested by the love that God gives, verse 13 says that he strengthens it. This is being strengthened by faith. Faith is not to be compromised. In other words, faith is a matter that cannot be compromised or compromised even in the name of love. May you be filled with the love that the Lord gives, but your faith will be stronger, in the name of Jesus.
I will arrange the words.
Suffering is inevitable and necessary for us.
It will always come, and it must be overcome. After winning, amazing comfort will come, and you will discover the way you have grown.
I want the members of our church to grow like Timothy.
1. Workers of God, 2. Workers who strengthen you, 3. We want to be those who can build you up by comforting you about your faith.
When that happens, we, Jesus Missionary Church, will become a church that leads many people to the Lord as a healthy church filled with the faith and love of Nippori.
I will pray.