Good evening. Tonight's message
is called Appointed Afflictions. Last week in our study, we looked
at verses one and two of 1 Thessalonians chapter three, and we focused
on the words establish you and comfort you, where we saw that
Timothy was sent back to Thessalonica to preach the gospel to the saints
there, to the young church that had been established at Thessalonica. And we looked at how the only
way a believer in Christ is comforted and established in the faith
is by the preaching of the gospel. Now, in our past studies, we
have seen that the Thessalonian believers, to whom Paul writes
to, have been going through afflictions. And these afflictions we see
in chapter two in verse 14. Let's turn there. 1 Thessalonians
chapter two, verse 14. For ye, brethren, became followers
of the churches of God, which in Judea are in Christ Jesus. For ye also have suffered like
things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews.
So we see clearly in verse 14 of 1 Thessalonians chapter 2
that the church at Thessalonica, the saints at Thessalonica had
suffered at the hands of their own countrymen. just like the
churches in Judea suffered at the hands of the Jews. In chapter
1, this is brought forth as well. Look at, turn over there quickly,
1 Thessalonians, we'll read verses 5 and 6. Paul tells the Thessalonians
that our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in
power and in the Holy Ghost. This speaks of the power of God
the Holy Spirit when he comes and regenerate in power, and
makes the word of God effectual in the believer. We're born again
by the Holy Spirit of God, and we believe on the Lord Jesus
Christ. We're granted faith to believe
on Christ, and we're granted repentance before God. And then
it says, in much assurance, as you know what manner of man 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 we see then that these believers
at Thessalonica, these believers who belong to a young church,
they're under severe affliction. We saw in verse 14 again of chapter
two that these afflictions and trials that they were going through
came at the hands of their own countrymen. And some who have
afflicted them may have been dear friends. Some who afflicted
them may have been loved family members. And some who afflicted
them may have been their own children. And they afflicted
them, they afflicted the Thessalonian believers for their faith in
Christ Jesus, our Lord. Remember, over in chapter one,
turn there if you will, over in chapter one, The scriptures
declared to us that by the power and might of God, the Holy Spirit,
that these Thessalonian believers, these Gentile believers, had
turned from idols to worship and serve the true and living
God. And now they waited for the return
of Christ. Look at 1 Thessalonians 1 9-10. For they themselves show of us
what manner of entering in we had unto you, and how ye turned
to God from idols, to serve the living and true God, and to wait
for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, even
Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come." So we see
there in chapter one, verse nine, that these Gentile believers
had turned to God from idols. They used to be idol worshipers.
They served these Idols, these dead idols, they worshiped these
dead idols. But now, now they serve the true
and living God, Jehovah Elohim. And they wait for his son, the
Lord Jesus Christ from heaven, whom he raised from the dead.
We know he raised Christ. God the Father raised Christ
from the dead for the justification of his people. And look who delivered
us from the wrath to come. the Lord Jesus Christ. He's delivered
his people from the wrath to come because the wrath that was
for us and deserved us fell upon Christ in our place. The sinless
substitute dies for sinners. Now tonight, we will see how
that Paul brings up that these afflictions that these Thessalonian
believers are going through, that they're all appointed by
our great God. And how much this can bring peace
to the believer from this precious truth, from this precious truth
that we'll look at tonight. Because we who are believers
now in this time can look and see that the afflictions and
the trials that we go through are all appointed by God. for
His glory and for our good. Now I'd like us to keep in mind
as we study how these afflictions are appointed for the people
of God by our great God, I'd like us to keep in mind that
the only sorrow and pain, the only heartache that we will face
is on this earth. The only afflictions that we
will face is on this earth. This world beloved of God is
a veil of tears and trouble, but in glory in the presence
of the King is everlasting joy, listen to what the scriptures
declare, of God's people in glory, and God shall wipe away all tears
from their eyes. And there shall be no more death,
neither sorrow nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain,
for the former things are passed away. These afflictions are only
for a season, beloved. These trials that we go through
are only for a season. They will pass away. When we
go home to be with the Lord, there shall be no more sorrow,
no more death, no more crying, no more pain, no more afflictions. They're all passed away. Praise
be to God. Now with that in our minds, let's
read our text tonight. 1 Thessalonians 3, verses one
to five. And our text for tonight will
be in verse three, but I wanna read this in context. Wherefore,
when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left
at Athens alone." The forbear there is they couldn't stand
not knowing how the saints at Thessalonica were doing. They
just couldn't stand it anymore. They needed to know. And look
what they did in verse 2. And said, Timothy, our brother
and minister of God and our fellow laborer in the gospel, of Christ
to establish you and to comfort you concerning your faith. Again,
we looked at the only way for the believer to be established
and comforted in our faith is through the preaching of the
gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. Now, here's our verse for tonight,
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 tempter have tempted you, and our labor be in vain."
So we see a great truth brought forth here before the Thessalonian
believers, which should comfort all of God's people through all
the ages. Paul is writing the Thessalonian
believers, and he tells them in verse three that all the afflictions
that they are going through are appointed by God. Let's read
that verse again. 1 Thessalonians 3.3, that no
man should be moved by these afflictions, for yourselves know
that we are appointed thereunto. So never forget, that the believer
in Christ is being conformed to the image of the Son while
we are here on this earth. And this all comes about by the
power and might of God, the Holy Spirit. And this occurs as we
go through various trials and afflictions in this world. Remember
that message, stones made ready? In this world, we're being chipped
away. We're being conformed. We're being made into that which
the Lord wants us to be made into, the image. of the Son. Let's look at verse 3 again,
and we'll be looking at this verse tonight. And we see that
God keeps His people through afflictions, which He appoints
us to go through. 1 Thessalonians 3.3, that no
man should be moved by these afflictions for yourselves. Know
that we are appointed thereunto. Now Paul is concerned about the
young saints at Thessalonica. He knows how the enemy of our
souls works, and this is evidently bought forth in verse five of
this chapter. Look at 1 Thessalonians 3, verse
five. 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. He knows that Satan wants to
destroy the church. He knows that Satan wants to
wreak havoc amongst believers. And Paul's well aware of the
enemy's devices and techniques. And he sends to know of the saints'
faith at Thessalonica, lest by some means the tempter have tempted
you and our labor be in vain. Now in verse three, there are
three words that I'd like us to look at tonight. We will look
at the Greek definition and where these words are used in other
portions of scriptures to give us a better understanding of
what is being brought out in this amazing verse. 1 Thessalonians
chapter three, verse three, that no man should be moved by these
afflictions for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. The first word I'd like us to
consider in verse three is the word moved. In the Greek, this
means to wag, to move to and fro as dogs and other animals
wag their tails in friendliness. In the New Testament, it's figuratively
to move in mind, to disturb, to be shaken. Now we've all seen
a dog's tail wag. It goes back and forth when they're
happy, sometimes at a rapid rate. So Paul desires that the believers
at Thessalonica would not be moved back and forth, side to
side, like a dog wagging its tail. Now we can all picture
that in our minds, can't we? And this is why Paul, again,
by the will and purpose of God, sends Timothy to establish and
comfort the believers in Christ. How? by the preaching of the
gospel, so that they will not be moved back and forth in these
afflictions that they are facing, so that they will not be moved
to and fro like a dog wagging its tail. Now, this is the only
place in the scriptures where this Greek word is used. We do
have some verses in the scripture that bring out this same thought
and this same theme. Here are some to write down.
Numbers 21, verse four. And they journeyed from Mount
Hor by the way of the Red Sea to compass the land of Edom.
And the soul of the people was much discouraged because of the
way. They were discouraged because of the way they were going. And
note in Numbers 21.4 there, the people were much discouraged.
And this is right before the Lord had Moses hold up the serpent
in the wilderness. And all who looked to it and
lived and all who did not perished. What a picture again we have
of the Lord Jesus Christ dying on the cross. In Psalm 112, verses
five to seven, the scripture declares a good man, and we know
that a man is only declared good in Christ, because there's none
good, no not one. A good man showeth favor, and
lendeth. He will guide his affairs with
discretion. Surely he shall not be moved
forever. The righteous shall be in everlasting
remembrance. He shall not be afraid of evil
tidings. His heart is fixed, trusting
in the Lord." In Psalm 112, verse 6, the word there, moved, The
Hebrew word for move there carries the same idea as the Greek does,
the Greek word for our text. In the text here in Psalm 112
verse 6 in Hebrew, it's defined as a wavering, wobbling action,
a response or condition in various situations. So very similar to
the dog's tail being wagged. during afflictions. The truth
of some who were not believers being moved despite their profession
is bought forth in the stony ground hearers in the New Testament. Now they had heard, they made
a profession, but they hadn't heard. They hadn't really heard
with an effectual call. Mark chapter 4 brings this forth
again. It says in verses 16 to 17 in
Mark chapter 4, and these are they likewise which are sown
on stony ground who when they have heard the word immediately
receive it with gladness and have no root in themselves and
so to endure but for a time and Afterward, when affliction or
persecution arises for the world's sake, immediately they are offended. So they have no root and they're
moved and swayed in afflictions. This is what Paul is talking
about. He's talking about, he's hoping that they weren't stony
ground hearers. That's what he was hoping. Now
the next word I'd like us to consider in our text is the word
afflictions. Let's go back to 1 Thessalonians
3. that no man should be moved by
these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are
appointed thereunto. Now the Greek word for afflictions
in our text is defined as to crush, press, compress, squeeze,
to break. Now think of this, you who are
a child of God, if it was not for our great God sustaining
and keeping grace, our trials and our afflictions would crush
us. They would break us. But praise
be to God, He is ever with His people. He will never leave us
nor forsake us, even when others do. Others may walk away from
us, but He will never ever do that. And God's born-again, blood-washed
people suffer all kinds of persecution in all kinds of afflictions and
trials, absolutely none of them which are easy to endure. Not
one affliction, not one trial, not one case of persecution for
our faith is easy to endure. Most of us have never suffered
physical abuse for our faith in Christ. But that does not
mean that our enemies haven't had the desire to kill us. Most
of us, if not all, have suffered either verbal abuse or the obvious
hatred for us. some at the hands of family members,
and some at the hands of religious people, or some at the hands
of both family members and religious people. Now remember, they cannot
get at God, whom they hate, so they persecute God's people.
And the fact of the ugly disbelief which they have for God, some
we have seen on the faces of our friends, relatives, and people
we work with. We have witnessed the truth that
God's people will face afflictions. So not only will we go through
afflictions for who we believe, Christ, but also for what we
believe. Now this same Greek word is translated
tribulation 18 times in the New Testament, affliction 11 times,
six times tribulations, three times trouble, three times afflicted,
once anguish, once burden, and once persecution. So we see then
that this word, this Greek word covers all situations which arise
in trials and afflictions. Here are a few times this word
is used in the New Testament. And here are words from the master
where this word is used. John 16, verse 33. These things have I spoken unto
you that in me you might have peace. In the world you shall
have tribulation. Same Greek word as afflictions.
But be of good cheer, I have overcome the world. John 16,
verse 33. And then in Acts 14, 22. The scripture declares, confirming
the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in
the faith, that we must, through much tribulation, same Greek
word as afflictions, enter into the kingdom of God. Then in 2
Corinthians 4, verses 16 and 17, for which cause we faint
not, but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is
renewed day by day. For our light affliction, same
word, Same word there, same Greek word, which is, but for a moment
worketh for us a far more exceeding eternal weight of glory. Now,
the scripture there in 2 Corinthians 4.17 says, for our light affliction. Our afflictions do not seem light,
do they? They don't. They don't seem light.
They seem heavy. They weigh us down. But in light
of what our Lord suffered for us, in light of what he suffered,
dying in our room and place, in the room and place of his
people, in his life and in his death, in light of that, what
we go through are light afflictions, beloved. And remember that our
afflictions are only, well, we're on this earth. Once we breathe
our last breath and we're in the presence of the Lord, we
will not have any more afflictions. Scripture says that in 2 Corinthians
4, 18, it says, well, we look not at the things which are seen,
but at the things which are not seen. For the things which are
seen are temporal. It's all gonna perish, everything
we see, but the things which are not seen are eternal. Lastly,
consider the words of the Master in John 16, 21 and 22, where
he says, A woman, when she is in travail, has sorrow, because
her hours come. But as soon as she is delivered
of the child, she remembereth no more the anguish for the joy
that a man is born into the world. And listen to this, And ye now
therefore have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your heart
shall rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Oh, when
we see the Lord in glory, beloved, when we see the Lord in glory,
all these trials and tribulations which we go through will be finished. There'll be no more sorrow, no
more tears, no more heartache, and our hearts will rejoice to
be in the presence of the Lord. And no man will be able to take
that joy away from us. This is a promise from the Master,
beloved of God. Rejoice! Rejoice! Rejoice! Listen
to this verse again. John 16, 22, And ye now therefore
have sorrow, but I will see you again, and your hearts shall
rejoice, and your joy no man taketh from you. Praise be to
God! Now Paul, by inspiration of the
Holy Spirit of God, has bought these truths before us. And this
verse has one other gem within it. And Paul is going to bring
forth a great truth with the next word which we will look
at, which is the word appointed. Let's read 1 Thessalonians chapter
3 verse 3 again. That no man should be moved by
these afflictions. For yourselves know that we are
appointed thereunto. Now, the Greek word for appointed
here in our text is defined as to lie outstretched, literally
or figuratively, to be appointed, laid up, made, set. As I mentioned this weekend in
Sunday's message, as I mentioned this week in Sunday's message,
the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. Now, one is only
good in Christ Jesus our Lord, and we are told in the scriptures
that the steps of a good man are ordered by the Lord. As one
commentator brought forth, our steps are chalked out for us.
And we see here that our afflictions, which we go through in this world,
are also appointed for us. Here are some verses in which
this Greek word is used for appointed. Remember Simeon in the temple?
The Lord told him that he would live to see the Messiah. He uses
the same Greek word in his statement about Christ. Luke chapter 2. Let's turn there. Luke chapter
2. Warlock at verses 29 to 35. Starting in Luke chapter 2 verse
29. Lord, now lettest thou thy servant
depart in peace. according to thy word for mine
eyes have seen thy salvation his eyes have seen the messiah
the lord jesus christ which thou has prepared before the face
of all people a light to lighten the gentiles in the glory of
thy people israel and joseph and his mother marveled at those
things which were spoken of him and simeon blessed them and said
unto mary behold this child is set now that that word they're
set is the same Greek word for appointed. Behold, this child
is appointed for the fall and rising again of many in Israel
and for a sign which shall be spoken against. Yea, a sword
shall pierce through thine own soul also that the thoughts of
many hearts may be revealed. And then over in Philippians,
turn if you would to Philippians chapter one, this word is again
translated set. Same Greek word for appointed
is used. Philippians 1.15-17 Some indeed
preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of goodwill. The one preach Christ of contention,
not sincerely supposing to add afflictions to my bonds, but
the other of love, knowing that I am set. Same word for appointed,
for the defense of the gospel. Now there's one more place where
I'd like us to look where this Greek word is used. And over
in this verse, it's the word made, but it's the same underlying
Greek word that's used for appointed in 1 Thessalonians 3 3 1 Timothy
1 9. Knowing this, that the law is
not made, pointed in our text, The same Greek word, knowing
this, that the law is not made for a righteous man, but for
the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners,
for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and murderers of mothers,
for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile themselves
with mankind, for man-stealers, for liars, for perjured persons,
and if there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine,
according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God which committed
to my trust. And I thank Christ Jesus our
Lord. who hath enabled me. For that
he counted me faithful, put me into the ministry, who was before
a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious. But I obtained
mercy, because I did it in unbelief." So we clearly see then that the
persecution for Christ's sake that the Thessalonian believers
are going through is for the furtherance of the gospel, and
it has all been appointed by Jehovah Himself. Therefore, persecution
for our faith in Christ should not take us by surprise, and
it should not cause us to be moved by the afflictions which
we know now from studying this text have been appointed by God
for we who are the people of God. These afflictions that Paul
and Silas and Timothy faced, they endured it for the sake
of the gospel. And they preached the gospel
wherever they went, no matter what affliction came their way. And you know it was the same
for the believers at Thessalonica? Well, how do we know that? Turn,
if you would, to chapter 1. chapter one of this wonderful
little book, 1 Thessalonians. 1 Thessalonians chapter one,
and look at verses five to seven here. For our gospel came not
unto you in word only, but also in power. and in the Holy Ghost,
and in much assurance, as you know what manner of man we were
among you for your sake. And ye became followers of us
and of the Lord, having received the word in much affliction,
look at that, with joy of the Holy Ghost, so that ye were examples
to all that believe in Macedonia and Achaia. Now look at verse
eight. Look at verse 8, beloved of God,
and marvel at what is said here. We see why our brothers and sisters
in Thessalonica were persecuted. We see the reason brought forth
here. 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 were to spread abroad. so that we need not to speak
anything. They went before them, and they
went before them and they proclaimed the gospel of God's salvation
in and through Christ alone. They proclaimed the Lord Jesus
Christ, beloved, as the one thing needful to sinners. Now in our
day and age, how little are the wonderful truths and doctrines
of the scriptures proclaimed. There's so little understanding
of the perfect sin-atoning sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ in the
room and place of his sinners that it is a perfect, complete
work. It's done. When Christ cried,
it's finished. The work of salvation is finished. The general theme of our times
is to soften doctrine, these great doctrines, which are not
pleasant for others to hear, such as the truths of God's electing
grace, the total depravity of man, and the fact that Christ
died for his sheep and not everyone in this world. These precious
truths are tossed aside for man-made, sinner-exalting, damnable doctrines. So let the sent preacher of God
send forth the wondrous truths and hold forth the word of life,
the Lord Jesus Christ. Let we who preach the gospel
hold forth amidst afflictions and persecution for what we believe. Let us hold forth the electing
grace of God and choosing sinners to save some sinners, holy by
and in Christ Jesus alone. Let we who preach the gospel
hold forth amidst afflictions and persecution the fact of Holy
Spirit regeneration. Ye must be born again. Let we
who preach the gospel hold forth amidst afflictions and persecutions
the everlasting safety of the church, the final perseverance
of the Lord's redeemed ones. And let we who preach the gospel
hold forth amidst afflictions and persecutions the fact of
the perfect redeeming work of the Lord Jesus Christ, who has
saved his people from their sins and is now seated at the right
hand of the Father, having obtained eternal redemption for them,
all according to his divine will and according to his appointments.
Oh my, it's appointed by God that Christ would come and save
his people from their sins. So we have seen tonight that
Paul being concerned that these afflictions that the Thessalonians
are going through might trouble their minds or shake their faith
or move them from the hope of the gospel. He, by inspiration
of the Holy Spirit of God, brings forth this God-honoring truth
that the afflictions that they are going through have all been
planned and purposed by our great sovereign God. Now, how much
comfort can that bring we who are the people of God right now? to know that all that we go through
in this world, the afflictions that we go through, the trials
that we go through, the heartache that we go through has all been
planned and purposed by our great sovereign God. Now Paul, Paul
was an old soldier of Christ. He was used to hardness and afflictions. So he writes to these young converts
who are not used to such things and therefore might stagger and
be offended at these afflictions. like the stony ground here as
he writes to them. Oh, the whole fast in Christ,
to know that these afflictions are appointed by God, and that
the only afflictions that you're gonna face are the afflictions
you face while you are here on this earth. And beloved of God,
we see Paul's concern for the saints at Thessalonica, that
no one among them might be unhinged or moved by these afflictions
or succumb to the tempter under them. that their labor might
be in vain. So now let's bring this truth
home for every born-again blood-washed believer. Let's bring this truth
right home for us. All the afflictions, all the
heartaches, all our pain, all our sorrow, all our tears are
all appointed by our great sovereign God. And remember what the scripture
declares, a bruised reed shall he not break. He will not break
us. He will not break us. In a smoking flack shall he not
quench. No, He won't. He won't quench us. He won't
quench us. And that is to we who are the
people of God. He will not break us and He will not snuff us out. And remember that these afflictions
are for God's glory and for our good. And what do they do? One
dear sister in Christ here at Almonte once told me that she
believed that these afflictions that we go through, and this
is true, that these afflictions that we go through, these trials
and tribulations, they make us homesick for heaven. Do they
not? Do they not make us homesick
for heaven in knowing that these trials and afflictions are appointed
of God. She also said that she believed
that these were used to wean us from this world. Oh, what
a great truth. What a great truth. Are these
afflictions that we go through, these trials that we go through,
are all appointed by God? to wean us from this world. Oh,
what a blessed thought that one day we'll be in the presence
of God with no sin, no sorrow, no heartache, no tears, no trials,
no tribulations, no afflictions at all. And what a glorious,
glorious day that'll be. To God be the glory. Amen and
amen.