Sermon Central
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Moved By Afflictions Series
Contributed by Troy Borst on May 26, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: In this particular passage of 1 Thessalonians 3, Paul wants to encourage the Thessalonians in their faith in the midst of trials and doesn’t want them discouraged because he and his companions, including Timothy, suffer trials and hardships.
MOVED BY AFFLICTIONS
#1Thessalonians3
Therefore, when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God's coworker in the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith, 3 that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 4 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. 5 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. 6 But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us the good news of your faith and love and reported that you always remember us kindly and long to see us, as we long to see you— 7 for this reason, brothers, in all our distress and affliction we have been comforted about you through your faith. 8 For now we live, if you are standing fast in the Lord. 9 For what thanksgiving can we return to God for you, for all the joy that we feel for your sake before our God, 10 as we pray most earnestly night and day that we may see you face to face and supply what is lacking in your faith? 11 Now may our God and Father Himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you, 12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you, 13 so that He may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints.
I find this chapter in 1 Thessalonians a little different. Paul is explaining to the Thessalonians that he sent Timothy to them because he just couldn’t wait for news about them. He hears about them and is writing this letter in response to everything that Timothy shared about the Thessalonians. He is thankful. He is encouraged. He appreciates the love and care they have for one another. I do have a few thoughts from this chapter that are important for us.
THE WORD: ‘AFFLICTION’
This passage has a word that is repeated three times and I know I have said this before, but when the Bible repeats itself, we should pay attention. Repetition shows importance. In the midst of this personal letter to these believers, he is reflecting that everything has not gone well for him or them even though good is happening and the Gospel is spreading.
Verse 3: ‘that no one be moved by these afflictions’
Verse 4: ‘we were to suffer affliction’
Verse 7: ‘in all our distress and affliction’
Depending on the English translation you are using, the word repeated in these verses is ‘troubles’ (CEV) (MSG), ‘trials’ (NIV) (TLB), ‘difficulties’ (AMP), or ‘persecutions’ (HCSB) (NRSV). The word that is repeated is not a fun word. The word means trouble, tribulation, pressure, and affliction and distress which has its root in a word that means ‘hard pressed’ and also related to the word ‘to wear away a path.’
Affliction is something that presses down and presses down until we squish.
Affliction is something that wears and wears and wears and wears until we are worn out.
We see this word 45 times in the New Testament:
READ MATTHEW 13:21 || MARK 4:17 (ESV)
“yet he has no root in himself, but endures for a while, and when tribulation or persecution arises on account of the word, immediately he falls away.”
READ JOHN 16:33 (ESV)
“I have said these things to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
READ ROMANS 5:3 (ESV)
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance”
READ 2 CORINTHIANS 4:17 (ESV)
“For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison”
READ REVELATION 2:10 (ESV)
“Do not fear what you are about to suffer. Behold, the devil is about to throw some of you into prison, that you may be tested, and for ten days you will have tribulation. Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.”
The Bible talks about suffering and difficulties and trials. Even just looking at these few verses, we can see that afflictions and suffering are hurtful and stressful and not anything any of us want to go through. Jesus tells a parable in which faith falls away because of suffering. Tribulation makes us lose heart and takes our peace. Suffering makes us want to quit. Suffering puts pressing weight on us. Afflictions can be emotional, spiritual, and physical in nature and impact every single part of our lives. We get all of that just from summarizing only 5 verses of the 45 times it is used.
