Faith Under Fire

2 Thessalonians 1:1-5

2 Thessalonians 1:4
'Therefore, among God's churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.'

Transforming Trials to Triumphs and Burdens to Blessings

2 Thessalonians 1:1 'This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

God Factor
God Factor in David: The Israelite army said of Goliath, hes too big its impossible for us to defeat him; David said, hes too big its impossible for me to miss him.

God Factor

God factor in Gideon: 1 + God = Majority

God Factor
God Factor in the Apostles:

Acts 4:13 'When they saw the courage of Peter and John and realized that they were unschooled, ordinary men, they were astonished and they took note that these men had been with Jesus.'

2 Thessalonians 1:2 'May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.'

 Grace - Undeserved favor; not because you love God but because He loves you Peace Not the absence of troubles but the assurance of the presence of God

2 Thessalonians 1:3-4 '[3] Dear brothers and sisters, we cant help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. [4] We proudly tell Gods other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.'

Result of their experience: Their Love was Abounding Their Patience was Increasing Their Testimony was Helping Others

Abounding Love, Persecutions and Hardships God

Factor

Increasing Patience,

Powerful Testimony

I. Faithfulness to Gods Call

John 15;16 'You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruitfruit that will last. Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name.'

I. Faithfulness to Gods Call

John 15:2 'He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful.'

"God never uses anyone to a great degree until He has broken that person completely."

II. Firmness in Gods Service

2 Thessalonians 1:4 'We proudly tell Gods other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering.'

II. Firmness in Gods Service

2 Corinthians 8:1-4 '[1] And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. [2] Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. [3] For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, [4] they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints.'

A saints life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, but our Lord continues to stretch and strain, and every once in a while the saint says, I cant take it anymore. Yet God pays no attention; He goes on stretching until His purpose is in sight, and then He lets the arrow fly. - Oswald Chambers

III. Faith in Gods Promises

2 Thessalonians 1:5 'And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering.'

Promise of Provision 1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

Promise of Presence Romans 8:38-39 [38] For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, [39] neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Promise of Purpose 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 [3] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, [4] who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.