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"THE PROGRESS OF THE PERSECUTED"
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12

Wednesday AM Bible Study
May 12, 2004

How do you begin a letter to a group of Christians who are being terribly persecuted for their faith? How do you begin when your purpose is to encourage them, "Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught . . ." (2:15)? In Paul's case, when he wrote his second letter to the church in Thessalonica, he chose to congratulate them on their progress, and to remind them of the things that God was accomplishing through their persecution!

I. PAUL GAVE THANKS TO GOD FOR THE PROGRESS THEY WERE MAKING IN THEIR TRIALS (vv. 1-4).

A. His greeting to them (vv. 1-2) is similar to that of the previous letter. Though Paul wrote the letter, it was a team effort along with Silvanus and Timothy. Paul honors this church by addressing it as "The Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ"; which would also be an encouragement to them to remember that God had not left them or abandoned them.

B. Paul felt "bound" or "obligated" to give thanks for them (vv. 3-4). It wasn't because he didn't want to. Rather, it was because it would be the most natural and appropriate response to God because of what was happening in the lives of the believers there through their persecutions. When reviewing what God was producing through their trials, how could Paul do anything but thank God?

1. Their faith was growing exceedingly (v. 3).

2. Their love was abounding toward each other (v. 3).

3. Their reputation as a patient and enduring church was spreading (v. 4).

C. James teaches us that "tribulation produces endurance" (James 1:2-4). But he begins by urging his readers to "count it all joy" when we fall into such tribulations. God is the one who produces the positive results in us; but it's our job to "count it all joy". It helps if we look ahead to what it is that God is producing in us through those trials. That's what Paul did - both for himself in suffering and for the Thessalonians. May we do the same!

II. PAUL REMINDED THEM OF THE THINGS GOD WAS DOING THROUGH THEIR TRAILS (vv. 5-10).

A. With respect to the Thessalonians themselves, God was producing "manifest evidence" of His righteous judgment. Their suffering because of their faith in Christ will show them worthy of His soon-to-be-revealed kingdom for which they suffer (v. 5, 7).

B. With respect to their persecutors, God was also producing "manifest evidence" of His righteousness in repaying "with tribulation" those who "trouble" the saints (vv. 6, 8).

C. This will all happen on the Day when Jesus returns (vv. 9-10).

1. The wicked will be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power.

2. The Lord will be glorified in His saints and admired among all those who believe.

3. This will all be because the testimony of the apostles was believed among them.

D. An unbelieving farmer once mocked a Christian farmer, saying that God must not reward His servants very well. The unbeliever was prosperous and healthy, while the Christian farmer was not. The Christian farmer replied, "God doesn't always pay His servants in September." The rewards for faithfulness may come later; but they are definitely coming.

III. PAUL ENCOURAGED THEM WITH HIS CONTINUED PRAYERS FOR THEM IN THE MIDST OF THEIR TRIALS (vv. 11-12).
Because of these things, Paul encouraged the believers that he was always praying for them:

A. That God would count them worthy of this calling. There wasn't a question that they were; but rather, it was Paul's prayer for the endurance of their faith to the very end. The visible proof of their worthiness would be their perseverance.

B. That God would fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness in them. That is, that God would fully accomplish all that He was seeking to do in them through their trials.

C. That God would also fulfill the work of faith (their faith) with power. That is, that God would prove the validity of their faith by acting powerfully in their behalf.

D. That the name of the Lord Jesus would be glorified in them - and they in Him - according to the grace of God through Christ. Paul does not pray that they would be relieved; but that God would be glorified in them! What great things to pray for those who suffer for Christ's sake!