In my last post (read here), we looked at the phrase every believer needs to stop using. I didn’t choose this title just because it works well as ‘clickbait.’ I believe many followers of Jesus are not mentally prepared for real, intense persecution that may be on the horizon in North America. Serving in Northern Africa for over 11 years, I am honored to know and have met courageous believers who have faced great peril, persecution, and threats of death for their faith.
I have met pastors who lead underground church ministries, primarily because the government would execute them if they were found out. Most of the believers who were baptized at our church this past year have been thrown out of their families, lost their jobs, and physically beaten or threatened, all for their decision to follow Jesus.
God allows his children to suffer because it prepares us for His kingdom. God allows his beloved to face persecution because our endurance glorifies Him. Suffering purifies the believer. We who have “turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God” are commanded, “to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come” (1 Thessalonians 1:9-10).
Scriptures tell us that God allows suffering to propagate the gospel through us.
As a reference, I encourage you to read the entire book of Acts. One of the byproducts of increased tribulation is the deepening of fellowship. As opposition increases, fellowship becomes more essential than ever, and in turn, the church’s mission is accomplished organically, and the gospel is propelled into the uttermost.
Paul wrote to a church that was under intense persecution, so intense that some of the members believed that they had missed the “gathering together” unto Christ and that the day of His wrath had come. This church had endured great opposition from their family and friends: “For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews” (1 Thessalonians 2:14).
Despite bearing the burden of the fellowship of the suffering of Christ, Paul encourages the church that they were fulfilling the Great Commission because of their steadfast faithfulness to the Lord.
For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye know what manner of men we were among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us, and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Ghost: So that ye were ensamples to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. For from you sounded out the word of the Lord not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith to God-ward is spread abroad; so that we need not to speak any thing.
1 Thessalonians 1:5-8
Suffering produced interdependence among the followers of Christ in the early 1st-century church life. They were unified in their faith in Christ and His doctrine. They were unified in their desire to love and serve God and glorify Christ who saved them. Unity in the church can never be solidified by compromise. True disciples will unify in Truth. The compromise of truth will never inspire SEEKERS OF TRUTH. As believers dedicated themselves to Christ and His doctrine, they deepened in their fellowship. As persecution increased, so did hope. They had every reason to despair. They faced unprecedented opposition, not only from Roman authorities but from their own countrymen.
And they continued stedfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, and in breaking of bread, and in prayers. And fear came upon every soul: and many wonders and signs were done by the apostles. And all that believed were together, and had all things common; And sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need. And they, continuing daily with one accord in the temple, and breaking bread from house to house, did eat their meat with gladness and singleness of heart, Praising God, and having favour with all the people. And the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved.
Act 2:42-47
You take care of God’s church, and He will take care of the church’s growth. Maintaining sound doctrine and walking in loving fellowship is the cornerstone of fulfilling the Great Commission. A church worthy of God will see addition as the Lord sees fit. Acts 2:47 says that the Lord added to the church daily such as should be saved. A local church growing spiritually in fellowship, evangelism, and discipleship will see healthy numerical growth as the Lord sees fit.
The church that cultivates a heart for the Lord and souls will see multiplication, that is, the sending forth of laborers to serve as missionaries and church-planters around the world. Sometimes, God uses the fellowship of suffering to purge a church body and bring them back to the heart of Christ, which is submission to the Father and seeking and saving lost souls. When a heart for Christ is produced in the hearts of the church membership, the Spirit will often see fit to set apart some members for world evangelism. As church members surrender to the call of the Spirit, they go forth where they are sent, reproducing the heart for Christ they developed in their sending church through the proclamation of the gospel to the uttermost. This is the Lord’s doing, and it is a marvelous thing to be a part of!
Fearless Faith Faces every Obstacle that Christ might be made known!
The early church had absolute confidence in God’s sovereign power and rule. Listen to their prayer of hope after the Apostles reported the persecution they suffered at the hands of the religious leaders:
“And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is…For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done…” (Acts 4)
The Doctrine of God’s Sovereignty dictates that there is no room for despair in the life of the believer.
Worry is not an option. Anxiety is a foe that the believer can choose to overcome by the indwelling Holy Spirit’s power. Paul reminded the believers that God has appointed afflictions and tribulation as a means of accomplishing His purposes. In his first epistle to the Thessalonians, Paul writes:
When we could no longer forbear, we…sent Timotheus…to establish your and to comfort you concerning your faith: 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 3:1-4
Paul’s letter is full of encouragement and comfort. He never once indicates that God will alleviate their suffering or persecution. In fact, the promise and glorious description of Christ’s return in 1 Thessalonians 4 is a means of comfort. In chapter 5, Paul exhorts: “Comfort yourselves together, and edify one another” and “warn them that are unruly, comfort the feebleminded, support the weak, be patient toward all men.”
We overcome despair and anxiety when we give our troubles to the Lord’s sovereign care. The Bible says to pray without ceasing. Give thanks in everything, for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. The Bible tells us that we should not be full of care “but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” The battle for spiritual and mental health is a battle of the mind. Philippians 4:8 tells us to meditate on things that are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, are of a good report, are virtuous, and praiseworthy.
Romans 12:2 tells us that we are transformed by the “renewing of our minds” in order to prove the “will of God.” It is the will of God to use affliction, tribulation, and even pandemics to strengthen our faith!
We fight the battle against the deadly spiritual contagion which is despair when we actively engage in comforting and loving one another.
Remember the words of Jude:
But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; How that they told you there should be mockers in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit. But ye, beloved, building up yourselves on your most holy faith, praying in the Holy Ghost, Keep yourselves in the love of God, looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And of some have compassion, making a difference: And others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire; hating even the garment spotted by the flesh.
Jude 17-23
“Have compassion, making a difference” has mostly been reduced to a simple idiom to describe the result of showing compassion (making a difference as in an impact). It means a disciple engaging the lost and fulfilling mission must discern individuals’ needs – and is a call to act accordingly.
Christ shares this intimate knowledge. To know Christ is to see the true needs of the world around us. When you walk in the light of the Truth of Christ in fear of God, you develop discernment to see the world’s true need. Christlike compassion is the product of truth and discernment empowered by the Spirit and grace.
An impactful church is unified by Truth and the fear of the Lord. They are ever maturing in discernment by grace and knowledge, fulfilling God’s mission in power and compassion.
The church at Thessalonica missed the point of theology. Doctrine is not given for doctrine’s sake alone but is given to reveal knowledge of God that we might rest in the hope that God is in control and His will is going to be accomplished. As we grow in grace, love one another, and endure affliction, Christ will fulfill His mission through us.
“But let him that glorieth glory in this, that he understandeth and knoweth me, that I am the LORD which exercise lovingkindness, judgment, and righteousness, in the earth: for in these things I delight, saith the LORD.”
Jeremiah 9:24