Good evening everyone. Tonight's
message is called It's Come to Pass. Open your Bibles if you
would to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3 and we'll continue our study
in this wonderful epistle that the Apostle Paul wrote by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit of God to the saints which were at Thessalonica. 1 Thessalonians chapter 3, we'll
be reading tonight in verses 1 to 5. Wherefore, when we could
no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens
alone, and sent Timothy, our brother, and minister of God,
and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ. to establish
you and 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 you know For this cause, when I could no longer forbear,
I sent to know your faith, lest by some means the Templar have
tempted you, and our labor be in vain. Now last week in our
study we looked at verse 3, where we saw Paul, who wrote by the
inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God, he wrote to the saints
at Thessalonica and told them that their afflictions, and we
know as the people of God that the afflictions which we go through
in this life are appointed by God. And how comforting this
can be for the believer in Christ, knowing that we are but passing
through God's refining fire. And he keeps us all through our
afflictions and the trials and tribulations which we go through.
And we who are the people of God are being conformed to the
image of the son. Therefore the truth of Romans
8, 28, which states, and we know that all things work together
for good to them that love God, to them who are called according
to his purpose. The truth of that verse is brought
forth knowing that our afflictions, our trials, and all the sorrow
we go through in this life are working for God's glory and for
our good, all according to the will and purpose of God. Now
let's read verses 4 and 5, this will be our text for tonight.
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. For this cause, when I could no longer forbear, I
sent to know your faith, lest by some means the tempter have
tempted you, and our labor be in vain. Now one may ask, to
what extent did the early Christians suffer persecution? The Roman
government had a tolerant spirit for religions of those who they
had conquered, and they would allow the citizens of those countries
to practice their religions, their various religions. but
it all had to be under their rule. And when a religion threatened
their political power, or what they deemed to be a threat to
their position of power, they would try to crush it. Now, for
the Romans, it was one thing to tolerate existing religions,
and another to sanction a new one. And that new one, not wanting
to be practiced privately, but openly professing Christ is the
only Savior for sinners, and professing that he is the one
and true living God. At first the Roman government
paid little attention to the first preachers of the gospel,
except in so far as they endangered the safety of their government,
or led the breaches of public peace, which we know occurred
when the Christ rejecters persecuted the early church. Now there was
a time when the first believers were in favor with all people.
Turn if you would to Acts chapter 2 verse 47, this is about 4th
the scriptures in the book of Acts chapter 2 verse 47 and in
Acts 4.21 which we'll also look at. Look at Acts 2.47 speaking
of the church they were praising God and having favor with all
the people. And the Lord added to the church
daily, such as should be saved. Our brothers and sisters in Christ
behaved with such true and sincere love towards one another in the
church and with much wisdom and graciousness and friendliness
towards them that were outside of the church or the ecclesia,
the called out assembly. And they walked in a way that
gained the goodwill of the general people. They walked in Christ
and they loved one another. They loved Christ, they loved
his gospel, and they loved one another. And we know it's the
Lord that had them find favor in the people's eyes. Turn, if
you would, to Acts chapter 4, verse 21. After the healing of
the lame men at the gate called Beautiful, Peter and John were
bought before the council. And we see in verse 21 of Acts
chapter 4 that the council did not punish them. They desired
to punish them. But because of the people, because
the people glorified God at the wonderful healing which had occurred,
they did not punish them. Look at Acts 4.21, So when they
had further threatened them, they threatened them, didn't
they? So when they had further threatened them, they let them
go, finding nothing how they might punish them because of
the people. For all men glorified God for
that which was done. We see that they threatened them.
They had threatened them once before, and now they further
threatened them, and they let them go, finding nothing in how
they would punish them because of the people. For all men glorify
God for that which was done. Now these religious hypocrites,
they wanted to punish John and Peter. But you know why? They
were afraid of the people. They were afraid of losing their
credibility among the people. They were afraid they might lose
their standing before the people. They were fearful that the people
might rise up against them and be on the side of the apostles.
Now turn if you would to Acts chapter 7. Now at the preaching
of Stephen and the stoning of Stephen, we see a change amongst
the people towards God's preachers. We see a deep irreconcilable
hostility of those who are born again believers and those who
are Christ rejecters. And it's the Christ rejecters
who bring this to pass. Look at Acts chapter 7 verses
56 to 60. In the book of Acts chapter 7
verse 56 we see Stephen make this statement. Behold I see
the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing on the right
hand of God. Now look at these Christ rejecters.
Look at how they react. And then they cried out. with
a loud voice, and stopped their ears, and ran upon him with one
accord, and cast him out of the city, and stoned him. And the
witness laid down their clothes at the young man's feet, whose
name was Saul. Now look at what Stephen says
here in verse 59, They see that they stoned Stephen, but he called
upon our God. And they stoned Stephen, calling
upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled
down and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their
charge. And when he had said this, he
fell asleep. So these trials and afflictions
which come our way, which we saw last week are appointed of
God for the people of God. They should not surprise us.
Turn if you would to Matthew chapter 10. They should not surprise
us. Our Lord told us that he comes,
he comes with a sword and that there would be division over
the gospel in our families and amongst our friends and amongst
people we know and love. And so we who have faced affliction
for our faith in Christ know that his words are true. Matthew
chapter 10, starting in verse 34 and going to verse 39, the
master himself Speaks these words, think not that I am come to send
peace on earth. I come not to send peace, but
a sword. For I am come to set a man at variance against his
father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law
against her mother-in-law, and a man's foe shall be they of
his own household. Your brothers, your sisters,
your mom, your dad. He that loveth father or mother
more than me is not worthy of me. And he that loveth son or
daughter more than me is not worthy of me. And he that taketh
not his cross and followeth after me is not worthy of me. And in
this amazing statement in verse 39, he that finds his life shall
lose it, and he that loses his life for my sake shall find it.
So with that in our minds, let's go back to 1 Thessalonians chapter
3 and let's read verses 4 and 5. Now these Thessalonian believers
had suffered tribulation at the hands of their own countrymen.
And it says here in verse 4 and 5, for verily when we were with
you, We told you before that we should suffer tribulation,
even as it came to pass, and you know. For this cause, when
I could no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some
means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain.
Again in verse 3, Paul has told believers in Christ, and he is
telling believers in Christ today, via the letter to the Thessalonian
believers, which is penned by inspiration of the Holy Spirit
of God, and bought before us by the will and purpose of God.
He's telling us that our afflictions are appointed by God. And we
see in verse 4 that Paul writes to the young church that he and
Silas and Timothy had told them that they would suffer tribulation
for their faith in Christ Jesus our Lord. Look at verse 4. For verily, when we were with
you, we told you before that We should suffer tribulation
even as it came to pass. And you know, turn if you would
to 2 Corinthians 11. And we'll read verses 23 to 33. Now remember who's writing this
letter. Who's writing this letter to the Thessalonian believers?
This is the Apostle Paul. He has suffered much under the
hands of unbelievers. And he's went through much tribulation
and much suffering. And this is bought forth again
by inspiration of the Holy Spirit of God. In the second letter
he wrote to the Corinthians. 2nd Corinthians chapter 11. We'll
read verses 23 to 33. So Paul the apostle is the one
who is writing this letter to the Thessalonians and he is very
familiar with tribulation. He's very familiar with affliction. He's very familiar with suffering
for Christ's sake and he knows though just as he penned to the
Thessalonian believers, he knows these things are appointed by
God for the glory of God and for his good. And look what he
writes here in 2nd Corinthians chapter 11 verse 23 to 33. He's
going to tell us a little bit about his sufferings for Christ.
Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as a fool. I am more. In labors more abundant, in stripes
above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths often. For
of the Jews, five times received I 40 stripes, save one. He received
39 stripes, five times, five times for his faith in Christ,
for his preaching the gospel. And he goes on. Thrice was I
beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Thrice I suffered
shipwreck. A night and a day I have been
in the deep. In journeyings, often in perils,
of water, in perils of robbers, in perils by my own countrymen,
by the Jews themselves, in perils by the heathen, in perils in
the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils
among false brethren, in weariness and painfulness, in watchings
often, in hunger and in thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness, beside those things that are without, that which
cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak,
and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will
glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and
Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore,
knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor, under
Herodotus the king, kept the city of the Damascus a garrison
desirous to apprehend me. And through a window and a basket
was I let down by the wall and escaped his hands." He escaped
his hands by the will and purpose of God. And all through the book
of Acts, we see the suffering and persecution of the early
church. We see then that Paul's life
and the life of other believers were preserved through the those
sufferings and those afflictions that he had went through and
that they had went through. And some, though, some afflictions
were unto death. Turn, if you would, to Isaiah
chapter 48. We'll read verses one to five.
Now God's people go through the fire of afflictions. We are being
refined God's glory. We are being conformed to the
image of the Son. Look at this in Isaiah 48 verses
1 to 5. Hear ye this, O house of Jacob,
which are called by the name of Israel, and are come forth
out of the waters of Judah, which swear by the name of the Lord,
and make mention of the God of Israel, but not in truth nor
in righteousness. For they call themselves of the
holy city, and stay themselves upon the God of Israel. The Lord
of hosts is his name. I have declared the former things
from the beginning, and they went forth out of my mouth, and
I showed them. I did them suddenly, and they
came to pass, because I knew that thou art obstinate, and
thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass. I have even from
the beginning declared it to thee. Before it came to pass,
I showed it thee, lest thou shouldst say, mine idol hath done them,
and my graven image, and my molten image hath commanded them. So
with that in mind, let's go back to 1 Thessalonians chapter 3
verse 4. With that in our minds there,
I have even from the beginning declared it to thee. Before it
came to pass, I showed it thee, lest thou shouldst say mine idol
hath done them, in my graven image and my molten image hath
commanded them." Isaiah 48 verse 5. First Thessalonians chapter
3 verse 4 and we'll look at verse 4 here. 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. Now when Paul, Silas,
and Timothy preached to the believers at Thessalonica, they preached
the gospel to them, the gospel of Christ and Him crucified,
the good news that Christ died for sinners, that His blood was
shed to save His people from their sins. By His perfect, complete,
sin-atoning sacrifice, on Calvary's cross. And notice something here,
that when Paul and Silas preached to those saints at Thessalonica,
they were not like the modern preachers in this generation.
They didn't tell their hearers that if they would just make
a decision for Jesus, all their troubles would be over. Nor did
they tell them of a pie in the sky, everything was going to
be smooth sailing now all through the days of your life. they also
didn't say that they would have no more financial worries. No,
they did not preach such foolishness. They preached Christ and Him
crucified as the only hope for sinners. And they told the saints
at Thessalonica that they would face persecution for what they
believed. They would face persecution for
their faith in Christ. They would face afflictions and
trials in their lives. And We see that Paul, again in
verse three, when he wrote this letter back to them after he
had heard, he had heard of their faith, which we'll look at next
week. He had heard of their faith. There is a good report by Timothy
of their faith. And then he writes them and tells
them that all these afflictions, they're all appointed by God.
Now our Lord, our Lord in John 15 18 to 21 proclaimed that His
people would be hated because of Him. And remember He was hated
without a cause, but He told His people that they'd be hated
because of Him. They would not have it easy in
this world. John 15 verses 18 to 21, If the world hate you,
you know that it hated me before it hated you. If you were of
the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not
of the world, but I have chosen you. Oh, how beautiful. Beautiful
portion right there. I have chosen you out of the
world, therefore the world hateth you. John 15, 20 and 21 says,
Remember the word that I said unto you, the servant is not
greater than his Lord. If they have persecuted me, they
will also persecute you. If they have kept my sin, they
will keep yours also. But all these things will they
do unto you for my name's sake, because they know not Him that
sent me. Now look at that. They know not
Him that sent me. They do not know the Father.
So these scribes and religious Pharisees and hypocrites that
persecuted Christ and persecuted His people do not know the Father. Now Paul and Silas were faithful
preachers of the gospel. They preached the whole counsel
of God. They kept back nothing from their hearers. As our text
brings forth, look what Paul said in verse four. He said in
this letter, when we were with you, We told you before that
we should suffer tribulation, even as it came to pass, and
ye know." So they said, we're gonna suffer persecution. And
then look what it says, even as it came to pass, it came to
pass, what they said. And ye know, those Thessalonians
knew. They knew what persecution was
about. They knew what afflictions were. And Paul and Silas and Timothy
had warned them that this would occur. Now not all of what these
true ministers of Christ preached at Thessalonica was recorded
for us, but again, they preached the gospel of the Lord Jesus
Christ. They preached the one true gospel, which gives our
great triune God all the glory and points sinners away from
themselves to the only savior of sinners, the Lord Jesus Christ. And we see in our text in verse
four that they plainly warned the saints at Thessalonica that
they would suffer tribulation, and this had come to pass. And
this is recorded by the Holy Spirit of God for our learning,
for we who are the people of God today to teach us, to teach
the born again, blood-washed saints of God, that we will suffer
afflictions and tribulations in this world and that they are
appointed of God. Therefore, we know again that
all things work for God's glory and for our good. Think upon
this. These Thessalonian saints are
allowed the honor of suffering for the Lord Jesus Christ, and
so too for the people of God today. Peter and John felt this
way in Acts chapter five, verse 41, when they departed from the
council. We read in verse 41 of Acts chapter five, and they
departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they
were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name, to suffer
shame for Christ's name. Now the true gospel that gives
our sovereign God all the glory, it is offensive to natural man. And because it is, because it
is offensive to natural man, to religious natural man or natural
man, because it is offensive to them, the saints of God will
suffer afflictions and they will suffer tribulations in this world.
This is what Paul was warning the Thessalonian believers about.
Professing Christians are not offended by the false free will
doctrine that's proclaimed around the world today, but all professing
Christians who are still blinded to the truths of God's gospel
are offended by God's sovereign, electing, redeeming, sanctifying
grace. In the true gospel that declares
that Jesus Christ saved His people from their sins, that He did
it all, oh, it offends works-based religionists. In the gospel that
plainly declares that all who were given to the Lord Jesus
Christ by God the Father in eternity shall come to Him, oh, this offends
those who believe in the universe of redemption. In the gospel
that says that man's so-called free will has nothing to do with
those who come to Christ offends the majority of professing Christians. The gospel that assures all of
God's born-again blood-washed sheep will be kept by that same
power that brought us to Christ, that same power with which we
were born again by the Holy Spirit of God, is the same power that
will keep the saint of God. And that one day we will be presented
before the presence of the glorified Christ of God faultless, based
only on the finished work of Christ, and this is offensive
to all false, self-righteous religionists. Now let's read
verse 5. For this cause, when I could
no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith, lest by some
means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain. So we see here that Paul could
no longer stand, which is forbear in our text, could no longer
stand not knowing how the Thessalonian believers were doing. He loved
these people. He had preached the gospel to
them and the Lord had granted them faith to believe the gospel
which Paul proclaimed. Well others did not and we see
then one of the reasons that Paul was willing to send Timothy
to them to comfort them and establish them by the preaching of the
gospel of salvation in and through Christ alone. Now, Timothy, Timothy
was a vital part of Paul's ministry at Athens. But we see that Paul's
desire to know how the saints were doing at Thessalonica was
greater than his desire to keep Timothy with him. And we see
that in verse five, look at, for this cause, when I could
no longer forbear, I sent to know your faith. lest by some
means the tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain."
The reason that Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonian believers
was to know your faith. Now God by His grace and mercy
and for the glory of His grace has preserved His chosen people
in Christ and He grants them true faith to believe on the
Lord Jesus Christ. True saving faith will preserve
to the end and it is God who will make sure of that. Note
in verse 5 that Paul sends Timothy to them to know your faith lest
by some means the tempter have tempted you and our labor be
in vain. Now some professing Christians,
when they are tempted by Satan, do turn back to their old lifestyle,
forsaking Christ and even forsaking the assembling of the saints.
Now God tells us in his word that they went out from us, but
they were not of us. For if they had been of us, they
would no doubt have continued with us. But they went out that
they might be made manifest that they were not all of us. 1 John
2, verse 19. This is why it's vital that we
do not forsake the assembling of ourselves together. Paul knew
that if those in Thessalonica who had made a profession of
faith had forsaken Christ and his gospel, then Their labor,
the labor of him and Silas and Timothy, had been in vain. And
the apostle speaks of his fear that Satan may tempt them, turn
back, and his preaching among them proved to be in vain. See
the word tempter and tempted in verse 5, they're the same
Greek word. And they mean to experience trial,
to try. to prove in either a good or
bad sense. Tempt, test by soliciting to
sin. Paul just had to know of their
faith. He could no longer stand to not know how they were doing. And this is how true love works.
If there's a way to find out, we just have to know how our
loved ones are doing, how our brothers and sisters in Christ
are faring. Let's close with these words
from the book. of Hebrews chapter 10 verses
32 to 39. But call to remembrance the former
days in which, after ye were illuminated, ye endured a great
fight of afflictions. Now look at that, afflictions,
a great fight of afflictions, Hebrews 10, 32. Partially whilst
ye were made a gazing-stock, both by reproaches and afflictions,
and partly whilst ye became companions of them that were so used. For
ye had compassion of me in my bonds and took joyfully the spoiling
of your goods, knowing in yourselves that ye have in heaven a better
and enduring substance. Cast not away, therefore, your
confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. Beloved
of God, do not cast away your confidence in Christ. Hold fast. And oh, may God make it so. Hold
fast. Do not cast away your confidence. And the believer's only confidence
is Christ. Hebrews 10.36 For ye have need
of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might
receive the promise. For yet a little while, and he
that shall come will come, and will not tarry. Now the just
shall live by faith, but if any man draw back my soul, shall
have no pleasure in him. But we are not of them who draw
back into perdition, but of them that believe to the saving of
the soul. Now the just shall live by faith,
it says there in Hebrews 10.38, and that faith is only in Christ
and Christ alone, only in Him. And we're not of them who draw
back into perdition. By the grace and mercy of God,
trust Christ and trust Him alone. He is the only hope for sinners. Amen and amen.