1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:06,160 When my neighbor from Brazil heard that I was a pastor, he 2 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,160 said, wow, you must be living well. 3 00:00:10,520 --> 00:00:12,280 And I asked him, what do you mean? 4 00:00:12,800 --> 00:00:16,520 He said, well, in Brazil, the pastor's drive the nicest cars 5 00:00:16,840 --> 00:00:20,800 and every sermon is about tithing over and over again. 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:25,840 And I told him that gospel that you've been hearing growing up, 7 00:00:26,600 --> 00:00:32,080 it's not from the Bible that actually originated in America. 8 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:36,720 It is America's most dangerous export. 9 00:00:38,680 --> 00:00:40,440 It's called the prosperity gospel. 10 00:00:42,000 --> 00:00:44,840 Follow Jesus and you'll never be poor. 11 00:00:46,040 --> 00:00:51,560 Jesus became poor so that we by his poverty might become rich. 12 00:00:52,520 --> 00:00:57,720 Follow Jesus and you'll never get sick, Isaiah said. 13 00:00:58,200 --> 00:01:05,040 By his wounds we are healed. Follow Jesus and you'll never 14 00:01:05,040 --> 00:01:09,760 suffer again. That's not the gospel. 15 00:01:11,160 --> 00:01:15,520 That's another gospel. It's a false gospel. 16 00:01:18,160 --> 00:01:19,920 Friends, I hate the prosperity gospel. 17 00:01:22,560 --> 00:01:26,280 It's often called the health and wealth gospel. 18 00:01:26,360 --> 00:01:32,160 If you follow Jesus, you'll be healthy, wealthy, happy. 19 00:01:32,400 --> 00:01:36,040 It's a gospel that's spreading throughout Africa and it's 20 00:01:36,040 --> 00:01:39,320 thriving in Asia and in South America. 21 00:01:39,480 --> 00:01:42,880 When people often talk about the rapid growth of Christianity in 22 00:01:42,880 --> 00:01:47,200 the world, friends, the prosperity gospel that is, it's 23 00:01:47,200 --> 00:01:52,480 dark underbelly. It's not the gospel and it's 24 00:01:52,480 --> 00:01:57,000 dangerous. I especially hate what the 25 00:01:57,000 --> 00:02:01,680 prosperity gospel says to Christians who are in the midst 26 00:02:01,680 --> 00:02:06,680 of suffering. Like one of my friends who heard 27 00:02:07,560 --> 00:02:12,840 when his daughter was terminally ill from his pastor, his pastor 28 00:02:12,840 --> 00:02:17,760 told them it's because you lack faith or maybe you're hiding 29 00:02:17,760 --> 00:02:23,960 some secret sin. Christian, you know that is not 30 00:02:23,960 --> 00:02:28,320 the gospel. It's a false gospel. 31 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:34,120 We know that in our heads. But then the question for us is, 32 00:02:35,200 --> 00:02:43,320 if we believe that is false, why are we surprised by suffering? 33 00:02:46,160 --> 00:02:51,840 Has our sound doctrine found a home from our head to our 34 00:02:51,840 --> 00:02:58,320 hearts, or deep down? Is there a little bit of 35 00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:05,360 prosperity theology, the idea that suffering is abnormal or 36 00:03:05,360 --> 00:03:10,760 accidental for the Christian? Are we in any way like Job's 37 00:03:10,760 --> 00:03:17,440 wife, praising God when the good times roll, ready to curse God 38 00:03:17,440 --> 00:03:22,760 and die when they don't? Brothers and sisters, we need to 39 00:03:22,760 --> 00:03:28,720 examine our expectations because in the true gospel, in God's 40 00:03:28,720 --> 00:03:36,000 gospel, in Paul's gospel, in the only gospel, suffering comes 41 00:03:36,000 --> 00:03:40,800 before glory. That's what we see in the book 42 00:03:40,800 --> 00:03:43,920 of First Thessalonians. If you have your Bible, please 43 00:03:43,920 --> 00:03:46,240 open the First Thessalonians chapter 2. 44 00:03:47,160 --> 00:03:49,400 If you don't have a Bible, feel free to raise your hand right 45 00:03:49,400 --> 00:03:50,560 now. Maybe you didn't bring one. 46 00:03:50,560 --> 00:03:51,880 Maybe you don't even have one at home. 47 00:03:51,880 --> 00:03:54,400 Raise your hand. Somebody will bring a Bible to 48 00:03:54,400 --> 00:03:56,920 you up here and you can follow along. 49 00:03:56,920 --> 00:03:59,600 First Thessalonians, It's in the New Testament. 50 00:03:59,600 --> 00:04:03,080 It's one of Paul's letters. We've been learning in the past 51 00:04:03,080 --> 00:04:07,800 couple weeks from the only church in the New Testament that 52 00:04:07,800 --> 00:04:12,520 Paul calls an example. They were only a few months old 53 00:04:13,080 --> 00:04:16,519 when Paul, Silas, and Timothy and his missionary team were 54 00:04:16,519 --> 00:04:19,040 forced out of town because of persecution. 55 00:04:19,360 --> 00:04:23,920 And yet this church is an example not only in how they 56 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,800 received the Word, but in how they suffered for the Word. 57 00:04:28,640 --> 00:04:30,800 In chapter 1, Paul encouraged this church. 58 00:04:31,000 --> 00:04:34,680 They were a model in receiving the Word in much affliction. 59 00:04:34,960 --> 00:04:39,000 In chapter 2, as we've seen, Paul reminded them of how he 60 00:04:39,000 --> 00:04:41,160 faithfully ministered among them. 61 00:04:42,120 --> 00:04:48,320 And now today, Paul's focus shifts to what happened after he 62 00:04:48,320 --> 00:04:52,360 left Thessalonica. So look there, chapter 2, verse 63 00:04:52,360 --> 00:04:55,520 17, all the way to chapter 3, verse 5. 64 00:04:55,520 --> 00:05:01,640 Listen as I read. But since we were torn away from 65 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:08,400 you, brothers, for a short time, in person, not in heart, we 66 00:05:08,400 --> 00:05:12,680 endeavour the more eagerly and with great desire to see you 67 00:05:12,840 --> 00:05:19,600 face to face, because we wanted to come to you, I Paul, again 68 00:05:19,600 --> 00:05:23,120 and again. But Satan hindered us. 69 00:05:23,880 --> 00:05:30,480 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of boasting before our 70 00:05:30,480 --> 00:05:34,160 Lord Jesus at His coming? Is it not you? 71 00:05:35,120 --> 00:05:42,400 For you are our glory and joy. Therefore when we could bear it 72 00:05:42,400 --> 00:05:46,480 no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone. 73 00:05:46,840 --> 00:05:50,640 And we sent Timothy, our brother and God's Co worker in the 74 00:05:50,640 --> 00:05:54,960 gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith 75 00:05:55,400 --> 00:05:58,360 that no one be moved by these afflictions. 76 00:05:59,360 --> 00:06:04,120 For you yourselves know that we are destined for this. 77 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:09,240 For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that 78 00:06:09,240 --> 00:06:14,440 we were to suffer affliction just as it has come to pass, and 79 00:06:14,440 --> 00:06:19,280 just as you know. For this reason, when I could 80 00:06:19,280 --> 00:06:24,360 bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear 81 00:06:24,720 --> 00:06:29,280 that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labour would 82 00:06:29,280 --> 00:06:37,760 be in vain. This months old church plant is 83 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,760 Paul's glory before Jesus Christ at his coming. 84 00:06:43,680 --> 00:06:47,920 But first chapters 3 verses one to five. 85 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:53,840 They must suffer affliction, They must suffer faithfully 86 00:06:54,000 --> 00:06:58,880 suffering, then glory as a church. 87 00:06:59,120 --> 00:07:05,400 Our job from this passage is to disciple one another to suffer 88 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:12,960 well, then enter glory. Disciple one another to suffer 89 00:07:12,960 --> 00:07:18,800 well, and then enter glory. If you're taking notes, there's 90 00:07:18,800 --> 00:07:22,800 two points. First is Bound for glory, 91 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:28,000 chapter 2, verses 17 to 20. Bound for glory. 92 00:07:29,400 --> 00:07:32,400 Where was Paul? The Thessalonian church may have 93 00:07:32,400 --> 00:07:34,760 wondered. He planted the church. 94 00:07:35,120 --> 00:07:38,160 Then he skipped town. Perhaps Paul moved on to a 95 00:07:38,400 --> 00:07:40,680 bigger and better ministry assignment. 96 00:07:41,920 --> 00:07:45,600 In verses 17 to 20, Paul reassures the Church of his 97 00:07:45,600 --> 00:07:48,600 affection. He tells them the reason for his 98 00:07:48,600 --> 00:07:54,280 absence, and he reminds them once again of an important date 99 00:07:54,280 --> 00:07:57,520 on their calendar. Christ's coming. 100 00:07:57,520 --> 00:08:02,600 Look at verses 17 and 18. But since we were torn away from 101 00:08:02,600 --> 00:08:08,080 you, brothers, for a short time, in person, not in heart, we 102 00:08:08,080 --> 00:08:12,920 endeavoured the more eagerly and with great desire to see you 103 00:08:12,920 --> 00:08:16,240 face to face, because we wanted to come to you. 104 00:08:17,360 --> 00:08:23,800 I, Paul, again and again we were torn away from you. 105 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:26,960 That's how Paul describes his departure. 106 00:08:27,160 --> 00:08:30,840 He was driven out. He didn't leave voluntarily. 107 00:08:31,600 --> 00:08:35,760 Earlier, Paul had described himself as an innocent infant 108 00:08:35,880 --> 00:08:38,120 among them. He ministered among them with 109 00:08:38,120 --> 00:08:40,559 pure motives. He also called himself a nursing 110 00:08:40,559 --> 00:08:44,159 mother. He nurtured them by giving of 111 00:08:44,159 --> 00:08:48,080 his own self to them. He also said that he was a 112 00:08:48,080 --> 00:08:51,200 present father. He sat with them. 113 00:08:51,520 --> 00:08:54,080 He exhorted them. He instructed them. 114 00:08:54,400 --> 00:08:59,280 In verse 17, he gives the idea that he's an orphan. 115 00:08:59,880 --> 00:09:05,680 To them, the phrase torn away is literally Greek for having been 116 00:09:05,960 --> 00:09:11,440 orphaned. Paul feels as if he was forced 117 00:09:11,440 --> 00:09:15,640 from his own parents. One day Paul was caring for the 118 00:09:15,640 --> 00:09:17,960 congregation. The next day he was gone. 119 00:09:18,240 --> 00:09:20,080 There were goodbyes he never said. 120 00:09:20,920 --> 00:09:24,400 There were notes he never wrote. There were hugs he never gave, 121 00:09:25,200 --> 00:09:29,240 there one moment torn away the next. 122 00:09:31,200 --> 00:09:37,000 But it was notice in person, not in heart. 123 00:09:37,520 --> 00:09:41,640 Meaning you could physically tear Paul away. 124 00:09:42,360 --> 00:09:47,160 But his heart stayed put. He loved that congregation. 125 00:09:48,280 --> 00:09:50,080 Can you see his affection for them? 126 00:09:51,920 --> 00:09:54,760 Charles Spurgeon, the great Baptist preacher in London, He 127 00:09:54,760 --> 00:09:58,040 described what a pastor's heart should be. 128 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:03,280 He said a man must have a great heart if he would have a great 129 00:10:03,280 --> 00:10:07,440 congregation. His heart should be as capacious 130 00:10:07,680 --> 00:10:11,840 as those noble harbours along our coast which contains sea 131 00:10:11,840 --> 00:10:16,600 room for a fleet. When a man has a large loving 132 00:10:16,600 --> 00:10:22,920 heart, men go to him as ships to a haven, and feel at peace when 133 00:10:22,920 --> 00:10:26,120 they have anchored under the Lee of his friendship. 134 00:10:26,440 --> 00:10:31,280 Such a man is Hardy and private, as well as in public. 135 00:10:31,520 --> 00:10:38,280 His blood is not cold or fishy, but he is warm as your own 136 00:10:38,280 --> 00:10:42,880 fireside. One of the requirements for a 137 00:10:42,880 --> 00:10:48,600 pastor first Peter 5 verse 2 is that his ministry is not under 138 00:10:48,600 --> 00:10:55,040 compulsion but willingly, meaning that you don't have to 139 00:10:55,040 --> 00:10:57,800 twist his arm for him to do the work of ministry. 140 00:10:58,120 --> 00:11:03,800 You don't have to push him to be with people because his heart 141 00:11:04,320 --> 00:11:09,760 has been loved by God and that love overflows to his 142 00:11:09,760 --> 00:11:12,240 congregation. Brother, if you aspire to 143 00:11:12,240 --> 00:11:17,560 pastoral ministry, this is the heart you must have for your 144 00:11:17,560 --> 00:11:21,000 people. Are you such a man? 145 00:11:22,640 --> 00:11:25,880 The Apostle Paul certainly was, and his actions proved it. 146 00:11:25,880 --> 00:11:32,040 Look at, look at the verse. He endeavoured eagerly, with 147 00:11:32,040 --> 00:11:38,560 great desire, to see the Thessalonians face to face. 148 00:11:39,680 --> 00:11:47,000 Paul's ministry mode was face to face, in person, embodied. 149 00:11:47,240 --> 00:11:51,960 There's no replacement that exists for being face to face 150 00:11:51,960 --> 00:11:54,200 with someone. When we lived in Dubai, we would 151 00:11:54,200 --> 00:11:58,400 often try to sync up with our families over FaceTime and the 152 00:11:58,400 --> 00:12:01,600 time differences were so difficult and sometimes the 153 00:12:01,600 --> 00:12:05,640 connection was so spotty, it was almost worse to try to FaceTime 154 00:12:07,120 --> 00:12:08,800 face to face. There's nothing like it. 155 00:12:09,560 --> 00:12:14,640 That was Paul's ministry week after week, being in the same 156 00:12:14,640 --> 00:12:16,720 room with the same people, the same church. 157 00:12:16,720 --> 00:12:20,680 Do not underestimate face to face ministry. 158 00:12:20,680 --> 00:12:28,520 That's what Paul tried to do. He says I tried to come again 159 00:12:28,520 --> 00:12:34,920 and again, but look at verse 18. Satan hindered us. 160 00:12:37,120 --> 00:12:38,640 Friend, if you're not a Christian, what do you make of 161 00:12:38,640 --> 00:12:42,120 this verse? What do you think of Paul's 162 00:12:42,120 --> 00:12:46,720 comment here? Satan hindered us with our 163 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:49,560 Western worldview shaped by the Enlightenment. 164 00:12:49,800 --> 00:12:54,440 We've shut off the spiritual realm as if all that exists is 165 00:12:54,440 --> 00:12:59,440 what you can see with your eyes. We even laugh at the idea of a 166 00:12:59,480 --> 00:13:05,880 real, personal, evil spiritual enemy against all of humanity. 167 00:13:08,120 --> 00:13:10,120 But that's exactly what Paul's observed here. 168 00:13:11,200 --> 00:13:14,480 Not only do we have the vanity of the world that we have to 169 00:13:14,480 --> 00:13:18,880 face the temptations from our own flesh, we also have to deal 170 00:13:18,880 --> 00:13:24,080 with the devil. Paul tried to visit Satan, 171 00:13:24,080 --> 00:13:27,440 thwarted his plans. Satan hindered him. 172 00:13:27,760 --> 00:13:33,760 Hindered is a military term for breaking up a road so that your 173 00:13:33,760 --> 00:13:37,840 enemy can't pass through. That's how Paul describes 174 00:13:37,840 --> 00:13:41,840 Satan's schemes. Satan made Paul's road to the 175 00:13:41,840 --> 00:13:46,600 Thessalonian church impassable. There was no way to get to them, 176 00:13:47,520 --> 00:13:51,200 but he tried. How did Satan do this? 177 00:13:52,200 --> 00:13:54,800 It could have been ongoing persecution from the Jews. 178 00:13:54,800 --> 00:13:57,440 Remember, Paul was thrust out of town by the Jews. 179 00:13:57,680 --> 00:13:59,840 They followed him all the way to Berea. 180 00:13:59,960 --> 00:14:02,240 They forced him to flee, even to Athens. 181 00:14:03,240 --> 00:14:04,720 It could have been the legal ban. 182 00:14:04,720 --> 00:14:07,400 That was that place in Thessalonica by the politicians. 183 00:14:07,800 --> 00:14:11,280 Remember when Paul was in Thessalonica, they took Jason 184 00:14:11,280 --> 00:14:15,040 and made him pay them money. Perhaps part of that deal was 185 00:14:15,160 --> 00:14:17,600 this guy. Paul can never show his face 186 00:14:17,600 --> 00:14:21,320 back in this town. Some scholars think it might 187 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,880 have been Paul's thorn in the flesh, whatever that may be. 188 00:14:24,880 --> 00:14:27,680 Who knows? At the end of the day, Paul 189 00:14:28,120 --> 00:14:34,680 doesn't say how Satan did it. He just says that Satan was 190 00:14:34,680 --> 00:14:40,400 behind it, meaning any blame for distance in their relationship 191 00:14:40,960 --> 00:14:47,600 should fall solely on Paul's old, ancient enemy, older than 192 00:14:47,600 --> 00:14:54,600 humanity itself, the adversary. And friends, if you're a 193 00:14:54,600 --> 00:15:00,400 Christian, Satan has his sights set on you, too, Paul says in 194 00:15:00,400 --> 00:15:05,360 Ephesians 612. For we do not wrestle against 195 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:10,600 flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, 196 00:15:11,120 --> 00:15:16,280 against the cosmic powers, over this present darkness, against 197 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:21,800 the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. 198 00:15:23,360 --> 00:15:30,520 Are you aware of your enemy? Can you spot Satan's schemes? 199 00:15:31,080 --> 00:15:33,440 The Scriptures help us. They give us a couple pictures 200 00:15:33,440 --> 00:15:39,280 of Satan and his strategies. One is Satan is a snake. 201 00:15:40,480 --> 00:15:44,120 Now kids, I do not know why you like snakes. 202 00:15:44,200 --> 00:15:45,560 There should be no reason for it. 203 00:15:45,880 --> 00:15:50,680 Satan is a snake. He slithers onto the scene in 204 00:15:50,680 --> 00:15:54,920 Genesis chapter 3 and he whispers lies. 205 00:15:54,920 --> 00:15:58,960 He's crafty, craftier than any of the any other beasts. 206 00:15:59,320 --> 00:16:05,480 He deceives Eve, he tricks her, he lies to her, and she falls 207 00:16:05,480 --> 00:16:08,920 for it. So wherever you see deception at 208 00:16:08,920 --> 00:16:14,400 play, wherever you see lies or false teaching like the 209 00:16:14,400 --> 00:16:21,520 prosperity gospel, know that Satan, the father of lies, is 210 00:16:21,520 --> 00:16:25,280 working behind the scenes. Another picture of the Scripture 211 00:16:25,280 --> 00:16:28,280 gives us is a dragon. He's a snake. 212 00:16:28,840 --> 00:16:32,560 He's also a dragon. In Revelation 12, Satan the 213 00:16:32,560 --> 00:16:38,520 dragon attacks God's people. He wants to devour the church. 214 00:16:38,680 --> 00:16:42,040 He comes to steal, kill and destroy. 215 00:16:42,280 --> 00:16:46,960 He is a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. 216 00:16:48,360 --> 00:16:54,520 So wherever you see persecution attempts to destroy God's church 217 00:16:54,520 --> 00:16:59,760 through division, No, Satan's behind the scenes. 218 00:17:00,680 --> 00:17:05,599 He's pulling the strings. Satan's a snake, he deceives. 219 00:17:05,599 --> 00:17:10,760 He's a dragon, he destroys. Satan is not under every rock or 220 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:15,359 behind every flat tire. But it would be foolish, it 221 00:17:15,359 --> 00:17:19,400 would even play into his hand to not acknowledge that he's 222 00:17:19,400 --> 00:17:24,079 actively scheming against this church right now. 223 00:17:25,800 --> 00:17:29,080 He's actively scheming against you in this room. 224 00:17:30,840 --> 00:17:36,960 His aim is to hinder your marriage, to derail your family, 225 00:17:38,200 --> 00:17:40,440 to destroy your workplace, your neighborhood. 226 00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:45,960 He's out to get you. He wants to hinder you, to 227 00:17:45,960 --> 00:17:49,360 destroy you. He's setting up roadblocks as 228 00:17:49,360 --> 00:17:55,320 you seek to advance the gospel. And yet we don't need to be 229 00:17:55,320 --> 00:18:01,360 scared of Satan. He's a snake, he's a dragon. 230 00:18:01,600 --> 00:18:04,440 But the Scripture gives us the picture that he's on a leash. 231 00:18:05,600 --> 00:18:11,600 In other words, every one of his movements is determined by God 232 00:18:11,600 --> 00:18:15,840 himself. He cannot move an inch unless 233 00:18:15,840 --> 00:18:18,960 the Lord allows it. And so we don't need to be 234 00:18:18,960 --> 00:18:23,600 scared of him, but we need to be aware of him and we need to take 235 00:18:23,600 --> 00:18:28,040 comfort, Brothers and sisters, soon the God of peace will crush 236 00:18:28,040 --> 00:18:34,400 Satan under our feet. Why does Paul say this about 237 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,480 Satan? Because as we're going to see in 238 00:18:37,480 --> 00:18:40,760 the next, next section, Satan was not only at work against 239 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,640 Paul, he was also at work against them. 240 00:18:45,000 --> 00:18:50,080 But look at verses 17 and 19 and 20, verses 19 and 20. 241 00:18:50,760 --> 00:18:53,120 Paul's concern is not so much with Satan. 242 00:18:54,320 --> 00:18:59,240 Paul's eyes are on that last day when Jesus Christ returns. 243 00:18:59,920 --> 00:19:04,960 He wants to visit these believers verses 1920 because 244 00:19:05,480 --> 00:19:11,600 they are his hope, his joy, his crown of boasting before the 245 00:19:11,600 --> 00:19:15,840 Lord Jesus that is coming. They are the ones that he's 246 00:19:15,840 --> 00:19:20,880 thinking about them and Jesus. That's his concern. 247 00:19:21,120 --> 00:19:25,040 That's why he wants to see them. He sees everyone and everything 248 00:19:25,040 --> 00:19:28,560 in light of that day when the king returns. 249 00:19:29,720 --> 00:19:32,880 Paul's already considered the end multiple times in this book. 250 00:19:33,120 --> 00:19:37,160 He just did it in verse 16 of chapter 2, just a verse before. 251 00:19:37,800 --> 00:19:42,200 There it was considering God's wrath when Christ returns and 252 00:19:42,200 --> 00:19:45,600 judges his enemies. Here he's considering when 253 00:19:45,600 --> 00:19:48,800 Christ returns and saves his people. 254 00:19:48,800 --> 00:19:53,200 It's two sides of the same coin. That's what's going to happen 255 00:19:53,360 --> 00:19:57,280 when the king comes. That's the language here use 256 00:19:58,480 --> 00:20:03,840 coming a royal visitation, like when a king returns. 257 00:20:04,280 --> 00:20:08,120 What's Paul going to present to King Jesus on that day when he 258 00:20:08,120 --> 00:20:13,920 comes back? The Thessalonians, you, he says 259 00:20:14,880 --> 00:20:19,240 at the Roman Athletic Games, the victor was crowned with a Laurel 260 00:20:19,240 --> 00:20:21,360 wreath. It was the trophy they were 261 00:20:21,360 --> 00:20:24,960 given. Paul saying here you're my 262 00:20:24,960 --> 00:20:27,320 trophy. You're the one I'm going to 263 00:20:27,320 --> 00:20:29,640 present to Jesus on the last day. 264 00:20:29,880 --> 00:20:35,400 If you ask Paul at his post game interview, Paul, why'd you put 265 00:20:35,400 --> 00:20:38,480 in all those hours? Why'd you work so hard? 266 00:20:38,560 --> 00:20:42,560 Why'd you endure those beatings, those sleepless nights, those 267 00:20:42,560 --> 00:20:45,080 accusations, those imprisonments? 268 00:20:45,400 --> 00:20:51,120 What's in it for you, Paul? Paul would have said, I did it 269 00:20:51,120 --> 00:20:55,920 for them. I did it so that they would be 270 00:20:55,920 --> 00:21:03,080 safe at home with Jesus. Paul's glory and the 271 00:21:03,080 --> 00:21:08,200 Thessalonians glory were bound together in Jesus Christ. 272 00:21:10,080 --> 00:21:14,600 You know, I'm not sure if you've heard of FIRE, financial 273 00:21:14,600 --> 00:21:17,640 independence. Retire early. 274 00:21:17,640 --> 00:21:21,440 It's a whole movement right now. People who are just working 275 00:21:21,440 --> 00:21:24,920 their tails off in their 20s and 30s and trying to put, you know, 276 00:21:24,920 --> 00:21:29,520 50 or 60% of their income into retirement so that when they hit 277 00:21:29,520 --> 00:21:33,400 40 or 45, they can just live the rest of their life and never 278 00:21:33,400 --> 00:21:36,960 have to work another day. So the whole movement happening 279 00:21:36,960 --> 00:21:42,480 right now, I think Paul would say it's too short sighted. 280 00:21:44,880 --> 00:21:47,920 You know, why is non Christians plan for retirement, for life 281 00:21:47,920 --> 00:21:50,360 after the ability to work? There's wisdom there. 282 00:21:50,680 --> 00:21:53,760 They intentionally set aside some of their income so that in 283 00:21:53,760 --> 00:21:56,480 the future when they can't work, they'll be able to live still. 284 00:21:57,800 --> 00:22:04,520 Something non Christians don't do is prepare for the end, for 285 00:22:04,520 --> 00:22:08,040 Christ's return for life after death. 286 00:22:08,960 --> 00:22:12,920 That's what Paul did. And what was his spiritual 287 00:22:12,920 --> 00:22:18,240 investment scheme? What was Paul's spiritual 4O1K? 288 00:22:19,120 --> 00:22:24,760 It was the Thessalonian church. He preached the gospel to them. 289 00:22:25,320 --> 00:22:28,280 He exhorted them to walk with God and to please him. 290 00:22:28,880 --> 00:22:34,400 He discipled them. His aim was their glory with 291 00:22:34,520 --> 00:22:38,600 Jesus at the end. That's an elders labour in a 292 00:22:38,600 --> 00:22:41,600 church to disciple the congregation. 293 00:22:43,120 --> 00:22:45,240 You know that happens in public teaching, like what I'm doing 294 00:22:45,240 --> 00:22:47,600 right now. It also just happens as you 295 00:22:48,040 --> 00:22:51,840 watch their life as an example of what it means to be a 296 00:22:51,840 --> 00:22:54,800 faithful follower of Jesus. It happens in all those little 297 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:58,480 conversations, the moments you have in their home as you sit 298 00:22:58,480 --> 00:23:01,280 with them over coffee constantly. 299 00:23:01,280 --> 00:23:06,400 Their aim with you, member of this church, is that you'd stand 300 00:23:06,400 --> 00:23:12,480 before Jesus on the last day in glory, that you'd be with Jesus, 301 00:23:12,600 --> 00:23:16,160 that you'd make it home. Every sermon, every 302 00:23:16,160 --> 00:23:20,320 conversation, every prayer, every encouragement, every 303 00:23:20,320 --> 00:23:27,880 rebuke is aimed at that day so that you'd stand before Jesus 304 00:23:28,920 --> 00:23:35,560 face to face and he'd look at you and he'd say well done, good 305 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:41,120 and faithful servant. And brothers and sisters, that's 306 00:23:41,120 --> 00:23:42,640 part of your job description too. 307 00:23:43,560 --> 00:23:46,760 Discipling is for every Christian. 308 00:23:47,080 --> 00:23:50,720 Every Christian's a disciple. Every Christian's commanded to 309 00:23:50,720 --> 00:23:54,120 make disciples. Brothers and sisters, who are 310 00:23:54,120 --> 00:23:58,520 you discipling? What's their name? 311 00:24:00,520 --> 00:24:05,200 Who are you depositing spiritual investments into? 312 00:24:05,480 --> 00:24:09,560 Who are you helping follow Jesus? 313 00:24:11,600 --> 00:24:15,520 If you can't think of anyone, if names aren't coming to your 314 00:24:15,520 --> 00:24:23,080 head, if faces aren't coming to your heart, is it possible that 315 00:24:23,080 --> 00:24:26,680 your priorities aren't in line with pulse? 316 00:24:27,680 --> 00:24:34,200 In other words, are you really living in accord with the coming 317 00:24:34,200 --> 00:24:40,200 reality of that day when you'll be face to face with Jesus 318 00:24:40,200 --> 00:24:43,760 Christ? Parents, you have built in 319 00:24:43,760 --> 00:24:47,840 opportunities with your kids. They are the most important 320 00:24:47,840 --> 00:24:50,040 discipling relationships. God's given you. 321 00:24:50,480 --> 00:24:52,800 Your children Don't complicate things. 322 00:24:53,440 --> 00:24:56,200 Keep it simple. Share the gospel with them. 323 00:24:56,960 --> 00:24:59,920 Read the Bible to them. Pray with them. 324 00:25:00,120 --> 00:25:02,680 Ask them questions. Ask them spiritual questions. 325 00:25:03,120 --> 00:25:04,880 Ask them what they thought about the sermon. 326 00:25:05,120 --> 00:25:07,080 Ask them what they're learning in kids class. 327 00:25:07,280 --> 00:25:08,920 Maybe your kids are out of the house. 328 00:25:09,240 --> 00:25:11,840 Have them over for dinner. See how they're doing 329 00:25:11,840 --> 00:25:14,280 spiritually. Ask them what they're thinking 330 00:25:14,480 --> 00:25:17,440 about the things of the Lord. Think beyond. 331 00:25:17,520 --> 00:25:20,480 If your kids are still in the house, like mine are, think 332 00:25:20,480 --> 00:25:22,480 beyond that day when they'll leave your house. 333 00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:27,240 Think beyond that day, even to that day when Christ will 334 00:25:27,240 --> 00:25:30,880 return. Let that be the aim in your 335 00:25:30,880 --> 00:25:34,480 parenting. Dads were specifically charged 336 00:25:34,840 --> 00:25:39,520 by Paul to bring up our children in the discipline and the 337 00:25:39,520 --> 00:25:42,760 admonition, the instruction of the Lord. 338 00:25:43,360 --> 00:25:45,760 Grab lunch with a couple of brothers in the church who are 339 00:25:45,760 --> 00:25:48,160 fathers. Disciple one another. 340 00:25:48,480 --> 00:25:50,640 See how you're doing in that regard. 341 00:25:50,800 --> 00:25:53,600 See how you're doing at discipling one at your kids. 342 00:25:54,280 --> 00:25:55,520 See how you could be growing in that. 343 00:25:55,760 --> 00:25:57,640 Be a good conversation over lunch. 344 00:25:58,640 --> 00:26:02,040 But beyond those, you're related to a couple ideas for your 345 00:26:02,040 --> 00:26:04,480 discipling. 1 Prioritise the local church. 346 00:26:06,080 --> 00:26:08,720 You're spiritually responsible, as we'll read in our church 347 00:26:08,720 --> 00:26:12,720 covenant in just a few moments, for one another in a way that 348 00:26:12,720 --> 00:26:15,720 you're not for other Christians. Prioritise your local church. 349 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:22,000 Open up your home and your life, the Apostle Peter says. 350 00:26:22,000 --> 00:26:27,440 Show hospitality without grumbling Who has been there 351 00:26:27,560 --> 00:26:31,120 having people in your home feeding them a meal and then in 352 00:26:31,120 --> 00:26:33,800 your heart you're there's so much to clean. 353 00:26:34,120 --> 00:26:37,040 I wish somebody would help. Peter knows that. 354 00:26:37,440 --> 00:26:39,200 Show hospitality without grumbling. 355 00:26:39,280 --> 00:26:41,320 You don't need to serve a three course meal. 356 00:26:42,400 --> 00:26:44,440 The house does not even need to be clean. 357 00:26:45,280 --> 00:26:51,040 You just need to open up your heart and your life honestly 358 00:26:51,640 --> 00:26:55,480 with members of this church. Disciple someone different than 359 00:26:55,480 --> 00:26:58,320 you. It is ordinary, even after this 360 00:26:58,320 --> 00:27:01,560 service, to talk to the people who are just like you. 361 00:27:01,840 --> 00:27:04,120 Keep doing that. That's good. 362 00:27:04,640 --> 00:27:09,840 But also consider what God could be teaching you about himself 363 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:12,520 from people who are different from you. 364 00:27:13,920 --> 00:27:16,200 Get creative with your opportunities. 365 00:27:17,120 --> 00:27:20,480 We all have different schedules, different bandwidths. 366 00:27:20,680 --> 00:27:22,440 All of us are called the disciple. 367 00:27:22,600 --> 00:27:24,880 Not all of our discipling will look the same. 368 00:27:26,200 --> 00:27:29,280 Steward the season that God's given you. 369 00:27:29,280 --> 00:27:33,600 Do you have a lunch break? Maybe you've got an early 370 00:27:33,600 --> 00:27:36,960 morning. Maybe you can have someone over 371 00:27:36,960 --> 00:27:41,040 while you're folding laundry. I have had many good spiritual 372 00:27:41,040 --> 00:27:43,840 conversations with brothers. While I'm doing dishes after 373 00:27:43,840 --> 00:27:47,640 dinner and does most of the cooking, I'm cleaning up. 374 00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:50,840 We're having a good spiritual conversation and the dishes are 375 00:27:50,840 --> 00:27:53,720 getting done. I learned that from a brother 376 00:27:53,880 --> 00:27:57,920 who is discipling me. Get creative with your 377 00:27:57,920 --> 00:28:00,640 opportunities. What should be ordinary in every 378 00:28:00,640 --> 00:28:04,720 church, not just our church, is that Christians are helping one 379 00:28:04,720 --> 00:28:08,640 another. Follow Jesus and by God's grace, 380 00:28:09,480 --> 00:28:11,880 that's happening in so many ways in this church. 381 00:28:12,160 --> 00:28:16,760 Even in this past week, many of you met up in the early morning 382 00:28:16,760 --> 00:28:21,320 hours or late at night or anytime in between to do one 383 00:28:21,320 --> 00:28:23,960 another spiritual good. Praise the Lord. 384 00:28:24,680 --> 00:28:25,840 That's what we want to see more of. 385 00:28:26,400 --> 00:28:30,080 We want to keep discipling one another in light of that day 386 00:28:31,040 --> 00:28:34,000 when Christ our Saviour will return. 387 00:28:34,640 --> 00:28:40,120 What will be our boast on that day when we see him face to 388 00:28:40,120 --> 00:28:44,320 face? We will not boast in our bank 389 00:28:44,320 --> 00:28:49,320 accounts. We won't boast in our degrees or 390 00:28:49,320 --> 00:28:54,720 our real estate or a corner office or political influence. 391 00:28:56,080 --> 00:29:01,480 But souls, people who were made to live forever. 392 00:29:02,640 --> 00:29:04,400 Let's live in light of that glorious day. 393 00:29:05,040 --> 00:29:10,240 We're bound for glory, but first we must suffer. 394 00:29:11,600 --> 00:29:13,440 The cross comes before the crown. 395 00:29:13,440 --> 00:29:16,840 Or as I was reading to my little daughter Piper earlier this week 396 00:29:16,840 --> 00:29:22,920 and little Pilgrim's Progress, the bitter must come before the 397 00:29:22,920 --> 00:29:30,920 sweet .2 Destined to suffer, destined to suffer. 398 00:29:36,360 --> 00:29:39,480 Paul shifts here. You can see it in chapter 3, 399 00:29:39,480 --> 00:29:43,040 verse one. Therefore, he shifts from his 400 00:29:43,040 --> 00:29:48,000 desire to see the Thessalonians to his decision to send Timothy 401 00:29:48,000 --> 00:29:51,280 instead. He was concerned about this new 402 00:29:51,280 --> 00:29:54,920 church plan because like him, they not only suffered 403 00:29:54,920 --> 00:29:58,880 affliction, they also face Satan's schemes. 404 00:29:59,520 --> 00:30:04,960 So Paul sent Timothy his right hand man, to establish them and 405 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,800 exhort them and inquire about their faith. 406 00:30:08,800 --> 00:30:13,680 Look at verses one and two. Therefore, when we could bear it 407 00:30:13,680 --> 00:30:18,160 no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone, and 408 00:30:18,160 --> 00:30:22,440 we sent Timothy, our brother and God's Co worker in the gospel of 409 00:30:22,440 --> 00:30:27,000 Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith. 410 00:30:29,440 --> 00:30:31,320 Eventually Paul could bear it no longer. 411 00:30:32,040 --> 00:30:34,680 He's like a parent waiting for their kid to come home. 412 00:30:35,480 --> 00:30:37,280 Eventually he's got to do something. 413 00:30:37,480 --> 00:30:40,560 He has to act. He can't keep waiting. 414 00:30:40,840 --> 00:30:42,800 Now. Paul's normal ministry pattern 415 00:30:42,800 --> 00:30:47,760 was plant a church and then strengthen a church, Plant, 416 00:30:48,080 --> 00:30:49,840 strengthen. He planted the church. 417 00:30:50,200 --> 00:30:53,400 He was trying to strengthen the church, but he couldn't go 418 00:30:53,400 --> 00:30:57,400 himself. He was hindered, and so he 419 00:30:57,400 --> 00:31:00,720 decided to send Timothy, another one of Paul's ministry patterns 420 00:31:01,040 --> 00:31:04,520 do ministry together. Paul, Silas, and Timothy landed 421 00:31:04,520 --> 00:31:07,520 in Thessalonica. But here Paul's willing to 422 00:31:07,520 --> 00:31:14,280 forego that, to be left alone in Athens to strengthen a church in 423 00:31:14,280 --> 00:31:18,400 Thessalonica. He sends his best, he sends 424 00:31:18,400 --> 00:31:20,480 Timothy. He calls Timothy elsewhere. 425 00:31:20,640 --> 00:31:27,200 My true child in the faith, His disciple, his right hand man 426 00:31:27,840 --> 00:31:32,080 here he calls Timothy verse 2. God's Co worker. 427 00:31:32,840 --> 00:31:36,520 What a commendation. Oh, I'm sending Timothy. 428 00:31:36,520 --> 00:31:37,600 Timothy. Yeah. 429 00:31:37,600 --> 00:31:41,760 God's Co worker. A partner with God in the 430 00:31:41,760 --> 00:31:43,680 ministry. That's who I'm sending. 431 00:31:44,520 --> 00:31:46,840 Not JV. This is varsity. 432 00:31:48,080 --> 00:31:53,400 You know there's a way to minister to other people where 433 00:31:53,400 --> 00:31:58,160 it costs you nothing. They're suffering, they're in 434 00:31:58,160 --> 00:32:00,880 trouble, they're going through difficult times, but you're 435 00:32:00,880 --> 00:32:02,920 good. You're in the clear. 436 00:32:04,400 --> 00:32:06,640 That's not how Paul cared for the Thessalonians. 437 00:32:07,200 --> 00:32:10,920 His relationship with them was not a cost benefit calculation. 438 00:32:12,240 --> 00:32:14,600 Friend, if you're discipling, never cost you anything. 439 00:32:16,040 --> 00:32:22,600 If it never cost you time or comfort or the emotional burden 440 00:32:22,600 --> 00:32:27,960 of caring for someone or sacrifice, then you're doing it 441 00:32:27,960 --> 00:32:31,440 wrong. Paul's ministry to the 442 00:32:31,440 --> 00:32:35,480 Thessalonians cost him dearly. He was left alone. 443 00:32:36,400 --> 00:32:41,920 He sent Timothy at great cost to himself, but it was a reaction 444 00:32:41,920 --> 00:32:44,320 that matched the appropriate situation. 445 00:32:44,600 --> 00:32:47,240 Look at their urgent need versus 3 and four. 446 00:32:47,680 --> 00:32:50,880 They were under attack from 2 fronts versus 3 and 4 from 447 00:32:50,880 --> 00:32:54,840 afflictions. Verse 5, temptations. 448 00:32:55,760 --> 00:33:01,000 In other words, they face suffering and Satan and that 449 00:33:01,000 --> 00:33:05,000 concerned Paul. He worried about them. 450 00:33:05,000 --> 00:33:07,920 Verse three. He worried that they might be 451 00:33:07,920 --> 00:33:12,920 moved by their affliction. He feared, verse 5, that the 452 00:33:12,920 --> 00:33:18,320 tempter had tempted them and his labour would be in vain. 453 00:33:19,480 --> 00:33:24,040 Suffering and Satan are difficult enough for mature 454 00:33:24,040 --> 00:33:27,520 Christians. They might prove to be too much 455 00:33:27,840 --> 00:33:31,040 for a new church plant for baby believers. 456 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:35,760 Paul was concerned that wave after wave of suffering and 457 00:33:35,880 --> 00:33:39,640 affliction would threaten to pull this new congregation 458 00:33:39,640 --> 00:33:42,240 under. They had just learned to swim. 459 00:33:42,640 --> 00:33:48,000 They were a few months old. And so he sent Timothy, and 460 00:33:48,000 --> 00:33:52,160 Timothy's job was threefold, verse 2, to establish and exhort 461 00:33:52,160 --> 00:33:56,480 them in their faith, and verse 5, to learn about their faith, 462 00:33:57,280 --> 00:34:03,880 to inquire about them first. Though Paul says verse three, he 463 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,280 considers suffering. Look at verse 3 for you 464 00:34:07,280 --> 00:34:12,040 yourselves know that we are destined for this. 465 00:34:13,679 --> 00:34:17,960 Verse 4 For when we were with you, we kept telling you 466 00:34:17,960 --> 00:34:22,120 beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it 467 00:34:22,120 --> 00:34:28,520 has come to pass, and just as you know, they suffered. 468 00:34:29,560 --> 00:34:33,639 Why did they suffer? Is it that God could not prevent 469 00:34:33,639 --> 00:34:37,239 their suffering? Was there suffering an accident? 470 00:34:37,960 --> 00:34:42,440 Their church began by suffering. Chapter one, Verse 6. 471 00:34:42,639 --> 00:34:44,600 They received the word in much affliction. 472 00:34:45,520 --> 00:34:49,520 This church was ministered to by a man who suffered. 473 00:34:49,840 --> 00:34:53,239 Paul himself said that he had already suffered and been 474 00:34:53,239 --> 00:34:57,680 shamefully treated at Philippi. He declared the gospel to them 475 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:02,240 in much affliction. Chapter 2, verse 2, this church 476 00:35:02,240 --> 00:35:05,800 was a model of suffering. They suffered just like the 477 00:35:05,800 --> 00:35:09,480 churches in Judea. Chapter 2, verse 16. 478 00:35:09,840 --> 00:35:15,120 It was not that suffering was a possibility for the Thessalonian 479 00:35:15,120 --> 00:35:18,240 church. It's not like Paul ran a risk 480 00:35:18,240 --> 00:35:22,080 calculation for Christians in that region of the world and 481 00:35:22,080 --> 00:35:26,480 told them, brothers and sisters, it's likely that you're going to 482 00:35:26,480 --> 00:35:32,440 suffer, Paul says. Suffering was their destiny. 483 00:35:35,200 --> 00:35:36,920 In other words, it was not an accident. 484 00:35:38,960 --> 00:35:45,600 It was ordained by God himself. When Paul met with this church, 485 00:35:45,600 --> 00:35:48,040 when he shared the gospel with them, when he ministered to 486 00:35:48,040 --> 00:35:50,320 them, when they first believed, he told them this. 487 00:35:51,920 --> 00:35:56,040 He said, if you're following a suffering saviour, you're going 488 00:35:56,040 --> 00:35:59,360 to suffer too. And it's what's come to pass. 489 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:02,160 It's what he tells them. You've experienced this now. 490 00:36:03,880 --> 00:36:07,480 It shouldn't have surprised them, but it's so often 491 00:36:07,480 --> 00:36:11,440 surprises us, doesn't it? A few years ago, I was swimming 492 00:36:11,440 --> 00:36:15,480 at the beach in San Diego. I had gotten used to the waves 493 00:36:15,480 --> 00:36:17,440 in the Persian Gulf. If you've ever been to the 494 00:36:17,440 --> 00:36:19,440 Persian Gulf, they are little waves. 495 00:36:19,960 --> 00:36:22,360 They're tiny waves. You could barely even call them 496 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:24,960 waves. And I'd gotten so used to that, 497 00:36:24,960 --> 00:36:27,240 that when we went to San Diego and were swimming on the beach, 498 00:36:27,440 --> 00:36:30,880 I went straight in and turned my back to the ocean. 499 00:36:30,960 --> 00:36:35,520 First mistake. And I got hit with a huge wave 500 00:36:36,080 --> 00:36:39,800 and it took me under and the ocean ate up my sunglasses. 501 00:36:40,400 --> 00:36:42,720 They're gone forever. I the Lord knows where they are. 502 00:36:43,360 --> 00:36:46,920 I was not expecting it. I should have been. 503 00:36:49,120 --> 00:36:54,320 Sometimes suffering hits US so hard that it takes our breath 504 00:36:54,320 --> 00:36:59,640 away. It knocks us down, it threatens 505 00:36:59,640 --> 00:37:03,920 to hold us under. But it should never surprise us. 506 00:37:04,760 --> 00:37:09,240 Jesus explicitly told his followers to expect suffering in 507 00:37:09,240 --> 00:37:12,120 the world. You will have tribulation. 508 00:37:12,840 --> 00:37:17,160 John 1633. If anyone would come after me, 509 00:37:17,600 --> 00:37:22,680 let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. 510 00:37:23,440 --> 00:37:32,160 Matthew 1624 Jesus told everyone considering following him count 511 00:37:32,160 --> 00:37:38,840 the cost. Luke 1428 In Dubai we had an 512 00:37:38,840 --> 00:37:42,840 international student living with us for about a month and 513 00:37:42,840 --> 00:37:45,040 she was not a Christian. She was from a country that was 514 00:37:45,040 --> 00:37:48,160 persecuted, where they persecuted Christians, but she 515 00:37:48,160 --> 00:37:52,200 herself was interested in Christianity and she needed a 516 00:37:52,200 --> 00:37:54,480 place to stay. Han I saw it as a good 517 00:37:54,480 --> 00:37:56,760 opportunity to share the gospel with her. 518 00:37:57,040 --> 00:37:58,680 And we had her come live with us. 519 00:37:59,240 --> 00:38:01,560 Different cultures, lots of experiences there. 520 00:38:01,760 --> 00:38:04,840 But she came to church. She would read the Bible with 521 00:38:04,840 --> 00:38:06,920 us. She was even meeting with 522 00:38:06,920 --> 00:38:10,000 members of our church and reading the Bible with them. 523 00:38:10,280 --> 00:38:14,680 Near the end of our time with her, she told us, I think I've 524 00:38:14,680 --> 00:38:17,600 become a Christian. I want to follow Jesus. 525 00:38:18,680 --> 00:38:21,240 We praise the Lord, we praise God, and we start asking her 526 00:38:21,240 --> 00:38:24,120 some questions about it. You know, why do you want to 527 00:38:24,120 --> 00:38:29,960 follow Jesus? And the things she listed were 528 00:38:30,680 --> 00:38:36,760 less anxiety, more discipline. She said, I want to be 529 00:38:36,760 --> 00:38:39,520 optimistic when I face difficult situations. 530 00:38:40,360 --> 00:38:42,080 And we asked her a bunch of questions. 531 00:38:42,920 --> 00:38:49,440 Jesus never came up and so we told her we don't think you're a 532 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:52,120 Christian. This is what it means to be a 533 00:38:52,120 --> 00:38:55,320 Christian and we encourage her to count the cost. 534 00:38:56,920 --> 00:38:59,000 She actually, I think she was in Business School at the time 535 00:38:59,000 --> 00:39:01,080 because she came back to us the next day and she said I've 536 00:39:01,080 --> 00:39:05,400 counted the cost and she had a a spreadsheet for us to look at. 537 00:39:05,400 --> 00:39:06,600 She sent it to us. I saved. 538 00:39:06,600 --> 00:39:07,800 I was looking at it this morning. 539 00:39:08,160 --> 00:39:12,120 It had the cons cons of following Jesus, disappoint your 540 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:17,360 parents, social judgement, persecution by the government. 541 00:39:19,080 --> 00:39:21,360 The the pros were things I already listed. 542 00:39:21,880 --> 00:39:24,240 She also had a section the cost of inaction. 543 00:39:24,600 --> 00:39:29,800 I think that's from Business School emptiness, loneliness, 544 00:39:30,960 --> 00:39:32,640 she said. I feel like I'll be enslaved by 545 00:39:32,640 --> 00:39:39,760 money. We, we left it with, hey, you're 546 00:39:39,760 --> 00:39:41,920 about to leave. It was a couple days later. 547 00:39:42,160 --> 00:39:43,680 There's a good church we know of. 548 00:39:43,920 --> 00:39:46,120 There's Christians there. They're in your same city. 549 00:39:46,440 --> 00:39:49,240 Please, we'll get you in touch with them. 550 00:39:49,480 --> 00:39:51,960 You know, if you think you're following Jesus, keep following 551 00:39:51,960 --> 00:39:53,480 him. Count the cost. 552 00:39:54,880 --> 00:39:56,160 You know, we don't know what happened to her. 553 00:39:57,400 --> 00:40:03,720 We we've never heard from her since can't contact her, but she 554 00:40:03,720 --> 00:40:07,680 heard the gospel and we exhorted her to count the cost. 555 00:40:09,840 --> 00:40:17,720 Brothers and sisters, don't hide the cost as you exhort others to 556 00:40:17,720 --> 00:40:20,760 follow Jesus. There is a real cost. 557 00:40:22,120 --> 00:40:26,520 That's what Paul taught, he said through many tribulations. 558 00:40:26,520 --> 00:40:30,280 We must enter the Kingdom, Peter said. 559 00:40:30,280 --> 00:40:34,440 Don't be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to 560 00:40:34,440 --> 00:40:38,840 test you as though something strange we're happening to you, 561 00:40:39,240 --> 00:40:47,640 James even said, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you face 562 00:40:47,720 --> 00:40:53,800 trials of various kinds, brothers and sisters, we are 563 00:40:53,800 --> 00:41:00,840 destined for this. We should expect it, but it's 564 00:41:00,840 --> 00:41:04,120 one thing to expect it. It is another thing to 565 00:41:04,120 --> 00:41:08,560 experience it. Some of you right now are 566 00:41:08,560 --> 00:41:12,440 experiencing suffering. It sticks to you. 567 00:41:13,560 --> 00:41:16,960 It stays with you. Job described his suffering in 568 00:41:16,960 --> 00:41:21,640 Job chapter 3. He said before I eat, I sigh. 569 00:41:23,240 --> 00:41:28,120 Maybe that's you right now. Constantly a big deep breath 570 00:41:28,240 --> 00:41:31,360 hits you. You know, Paul described his 571 00:41:31,360 --> 00:41:33,320 affliction in Asia in Second Corinthians. 572 00:41:33,320 --> 00:41:39,880 He said we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength 573 00:41:41,160 --> 00:41:43,720 that we despaired of life itself. 574 00:41:45,760 --> 00:41:50,600 Suffering is a burden. It tests the limits of your 575 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:54,480 strength by adding just a little more weight. 576 00:41:55,160 --> 00:41:57,120 At our house, we've got a gym setup. 577 00:41:57,120 --> 00:42:02,040 We've got a 2.5 LB weight. Like any of you could hold that 578 00:42:02,040 --> 00:42:08,720 in your hands, but it's when you're at your Max that 2.5 lbs 579 00:42:09,760 --> 00:42:13,960 becomes unbearable. That's what suffering does. 580 00:42:15,280 --> 00:42:20,600 If you're burdened today, what can you do if your burdens are 581 00:42:20,600 --> 00:42:25,240 weighing you down? Lift them up to God in prayer. 582 00:42:26,000 --> 00:42:30,760 That's what the psalmist says. Psalm 5522 Cast your burden on 583 00:42:30,760 --> 00:42:33,120 the Lord and he will sustain you. 584 00:42:33,560 --> 00:42:38,640 He will never permit the righteous to be moved. 585 00:42:40,240 --> 00:42:45,840 Lay your burden at his feet. Jesus invites you, He says come 586 00:42:45,840 --> 00:42:50,560 to me, all who labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you 587 00:42:50,560 --> 00:42:55,840 rest. Jesus says, for my yoke is easy 588 00:42:56,800 --> 00:43:02,160 and my burden is light. There are times, brothers and 589 00:43:02,160 --> 00:43:08,360 sisters, where all you can do in your suffering is pray. 590 00:43:09,960 --> 00:43:16,040 You don't choose your cross. You don't choose when to enroll 591 00:43:16,440 --> 00:43:20,280 in the school of affliction or even what course you're taking. 592 00:43:20,800 --> 00:43:26,120 It comes to you, they meet you, but you must steward your 593 00:43:26,120 --> 00:43:30,800 suffering. The Puritan Thomas Case said so 594 00:43:30,800 --> 00:43:35,840 many times God's people come to know more of God by half a 595 00:43:35,840 --> 00:43:40,440 year's sufferings than by many a year's sermons. 596 00:43:41,720 --> 00:43:45,240 Brothers and sisters, pray that you wouldn't come out of 597 00:43:45,240 --> 00:43:47,720 affliction the same way you went in. 598 00:43:48,560 --> 00:43:53,720 Pray that your faith in God would even be strengthened. 599 00:43:55,880 --> 00:43:59,000 And if you're burned today, don't just lean on the 600 00:43:59,000 --> 00:44:02,680 everlasting arms. Lean on your brothers and 601 00:44:02,680 --> 00:44:07,760 sisters in the church. The only path to glory is a 602 00:44:07,760 --> 00:44:14,360 pathway lined by tribulations, but it's not a path that we're 603 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:18,200 ever called to walk alone. One of the way the Lord sustains 604 00:44:18,200 --> 00:44:21,840 us in our suffering is through our ministry to one another. 605 00:44:22,160 --> 00:44:25,920 That's why Paul sent Timothy to the Thessalonians. 606 00:44:26,200 --> 00:44:29,440 He did not want them to suffer alone. 607 00:44:31,320 --> 00:44:34,840 Brothers and sisters, how can we be faithful friends in 608 00:44:34,840 --> 00:44:37,640 affliction? How can we be like those like 609 00:44:37,760 --> 00:44:42,360 like Timothy who established and encourage the Thessalonians 610 00:44:42,360 --> 00:44:45,120 faith? In other words, Galatians 62. 611 00:44:45,360 --> 00:44:49,800 How can we be those who bear one another's burdens? 612 00:44:51,680 --> 00:44:55,560 If you know a member who's suffering, don't make them 613 00:44:55,560 --> 00:45:00,040 suffer alone. You can't solve their suffering. 614 00:45:01,760 --> 00:45:04,400 You can't even ultimately explain their suffering. 615 00:45:05,160 --> 00:45:07,640 You can't make their suffering go away. 616 00:45:09,800 --> 00:45:15,720 But you can sit with them. You can listen, You can cry with 617 00:45:15,720 --> 00:45:19,320 them. You can lift them up to God in 618 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:22,560 prayer. You can be a support that they 619 00:45:22,560 --> 00:45:25,520 can lean on. You can free up your schedule 620 00:45:25,520 --> 00:45:29,200 for them. You can let your faith in God be 621 00:45:29,200 --> 00:45:33,640 a consolation to them. You can minister to them with 622 00:45:33,640 --> 00:45:37,760 the Word and remind them of God's loving character. 623 00:45:38,240 --> 00:45:43,280 You can be a comfort to them. We're destined for suffering. 624 00:45:45,320 --> 00:45:49,440 If you're not a Christian, you might be wondering, why would I 625 00:45:49,440 --> 00:45:52,640 want to follow Jesus if I follow Jesus? 626 00:45:52,640 --> 00:45:55,560 Apparently that comes with suffering. 627 00:45:57,760 --> 00:46:03,680 Why follow Jesus? Because the only way to glory at 628 00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:10,080 the end is by Jesus suffering for you. 629 00:46:11,200 --> 00:46:16,240 That's the story of the Gospel. We were made by God to follow 630 00:46:16,240 --> 00:46:21,000 him, but we listened to the lies of the serpent. 631 00:46:22,360 --> 00:46:27,160 We followed ourselves. You know, all the suffering in 632 00:46:27,160 --> 00:46:34,400 the world is a result of Genesis 3, the sin of Adam and Eve, 633 00:46:34,400 --> 00:46:38,320 rebellion against God. That's the reason for all the 634 00:46:38,320 --> 00:46:41,160 suffering in the world. But in Genesis 3:15 there's a 635 00:46:41,160 --> 00:46:47,640 hint of good news. In Genesis 315, God says, I'll 636 00:46:47,640 --> 00:46:51,880 put enmity between you and the woman and between your offspring 637 00:46:51,880 --> 00:46:56,440 and her offspring. He shall bruise your head, and 638 00:46:56,440 --> 00:47:01,280 you shall bruise his heel. God was speaking to that 639 00:47:01,280 --> 00:47:06,120 Slytherin serpent. The whole story of the Bible is 640 00:47:06,120 --> 00:47:12,640 a story of enmity of God's seed, his offspring against the seed 641 00:47:12,840 --> 00:47:15,840 of the serpent. And the surprising news of the 642 00:47:15,840 --> 00:47:21,440 gospel is that the way that God defeats the serpent is by Jesus 643 00:47:21,440 --> 00:47:25,800 Christ suffering and dying on the cross. 644 00:47:26,880 --> 00:47:33,400 He was crucified to free us from our bondage to sin and Satan and 645 00:47:33,400 --> 00:47:36,120 death. And when he rose again, 646 00:47:36,120 --> 00:47:41,600 victorious, Satan's days on this earth were numbered. 647 00:47:42,440 --> 00:47:45,000 He's been defeated. Friend, if you're not a 648 00:47:45,000 --> 00:47:48,600 Christian, you cannot be saved by your own suffering. 649 00:47:49,000 --> 00:47:53,440 You can only be saved on Jesus, suffering on your behalf, on the 650 00:47:53,440 --> 00:47:58,200 cross, bearing God's wrath for your sin that you deserved, 651 00:47:58,480 --> 00:48:02,840 trusting him, believing him, walking with him. 652 00:48:04,800 --> 00:48:09,120 And if you're a Christian, how should the gospel impact how you 653 00:48:09,120 --> 00:48:14,560 view your suffering? As you're suffering, you're 654 00:48:14,560 --> 00:48:17,880 actually identifying with your Saviour. 655 00:48:17,960 --> 00:48:19,840 You need to zoom out in your suffering. 656 00:48:20,400 --> 00:48:24,400 Your suffering, your participation in the sufferings 657 00:48:24,400 --> 00:48:30,680 of Christ are actually the very signs that you will also rejoice 658 00:48:31,000 --> 00:48:35,840 and be glorified with him. You can take comfort in that, 659 00:48:36,480 --> 00:48:39,960 that if you're suffering now, glory's coming. 660 00:48:42,440 --> 00:48:47,080 Paul was concerned about the Thessalonians suffering, but in 661 00:48:47,080 --> 00:48:52,360 verse 5, in our last verse, he was also concerned about Satan's 662 00:48:52,360 --> 00:48:53,640 schemes. Look at verse 5. 663 00:48:56,360 --> 00:49:00,160 Satan hindered Paul from visiting and he tempted the 664 00:49:00,160 --> 00:49:03,040 Thessalonians. Paul wasn't present with them, 665 00:49:03,600 --> 00:49:06,640 but apparently Satan was. He has slithered into 666 00:49:06,640 --> 00:49:09,920 Thessalonica, and he was attempting to undo Paul's 667 00:49:09,920 --> 00:49:15,920 ministry with temptations. How do you view temptations from 668 00:49:15,920 --> 00:49:19,840 Satan? You know, I know my kids love a 669 00:49:19,840 --> 00:49:22,800 meal. When there is nothing left on 670 00:49:22,800 --> 00:49:25,080 their plate and they're gunning for seconds. 671 00:49:25,320 --> 00:49:27,920 They're reaching in the table. They want more. 672 00:49:28,600 --> 00:49:35,280 Satan knows your appetite. He knows your favorite meals. 673 00:49:35,520 --> 00:49:38,360 Do you think when he tempts you, he's going to dish out garbage? 674 00:49:38,960 --> 00:49:42,520 The things you actually hate? You're not tempted by that. 675 00:49:43,200 --> 00:49:46,480 He studied you. He knows what you like. 676 00:49:47,440 --> 00:49:50,200 He tempts us by the very things we love. 677 00:49:52,320 --> 00:49:56,360 One of the ways we fight Satan's temptations, verse 5, is by 678 00:49:56,360 --> 00:49:58,200 inquiring about one another's faith. 679 00:49:58,200 --> 00:50:02,000 Look at verse 5. Notice Paul's assignment to 680 00:50:02,000 --> 00:50:10,000 Timothy, verse 5 To learn about their faith, to inquire, to ask 681 00:50:10,000 --> 00:50:12,920 questions. What are you, your thoughts 682 00:50:12,920 --> 00:50:15,520 about God right now in your suffering? 683 00:50:16,840 --> 00:50:18,920 How's your relationship with the Lord right now? 684 00:50:19,840 --> 00:50:22,120 What sins are you struggling to put to death? 685 00:50:22,880 --> 00:50:24,600 Tell me, how's how's your marriage going? 686 00:50:25,560 --> 00:50:29,320 What's been difficult at home? How's parenting in the season? 687 00:50:29,720 --> 00:50:32,320 How are you doing? Fighting for contentment at 688 00:50:32,320 --> 00:50:34,280 work? How's sharing the gospel going 689 00:50:34,280 --> 00:50:37,800 in your neighborhood? These should be normal questions 690 00:50:38,000 --> 00:50:39,960 for Christians to ask one another. 691 00:50:40,240 --> 00:50:43,960 Do not be offended if someone in this church is asking you 692 00:50:43,960 --> 00:50:47,280 personal questions. It could be that they're trying 693 00:50:47,280 --> 00:50:52,480 to do you some spiritual good. Pray that we'd be a church that 694 00:50:52,480 --> 00:50:58,560 asks awkward questions and answers awkward questions. 695 00:50:59,680 --> 00:51:02,920 We need to inquire about one another's faith. 696 00:51:02,920 --> 00:51:05,640 That's one of the ways that we help each other fight 697 00:51:05,640 --> 00:51:09,000 temptations. We also need to be aware of 698 00:51:09,000 --> 00:51:13,440 where we're tempted. Do you know how Satan would want 699 00:51:13,440 --> 00:51:18,760 to tempt you? If we flip through his files and 700 00:51:18,760 --> 00:51:22,440 pulled out your name, what would it say about you? 701 00:51:23,880 --> 00:51:31,040 Are you aware of it? Money, comfort, the approval of 702 00:51:31,040 --> 00:51:34,560 others. How does Satan want to take you 703 00:51:34,560 --> 00:51:38,960 out? One of my friends, I remember 704 00:51:38,960 --> 00:51:43,800 sitting with him in a coffee shop when he was explaining to 705 00:51:43,800 --> 00:51:46,320 me why he had abandoned the faith. 706 00:51:48,080 --> 00:51:54,480 He said there's no one at my workplace who makes the amount 707 00:51:54,480 --> 00:51:57,600 of money that I make, who believes in a God. 708 00:52:01,280 --> 00:52:06,160 What is it for you? Does anyone else know about it? 709 00:52:07,320 --> 00:52:10,320 Have you shared your temptations with a brother or sister in the 710 00:52:10,320 --> 00:52:13,520 church who you trust, Who can help you battle those 711 00:52:13,520 --> 00:52:18,600 temptations? Is there someone in this church 712 00:52:19,320 --> 00:52:21,520 who's enquiring about your faith? 713 00:52:23,040 --> 00:52:26,680 We need one another to fight. Brothers and sisters, we face a 714 00:52:26,680 --> 00:52:30,400 real enemy. We face real suffering. 715 00:52:30,840 --> 00:52:36,040 Do our expectations of the Christian life match up with 716 00:52:36,040 --> 00:52:39,160 what Paul's are, with what Jesus's were? 717 00:52:39,800 --> 00:52:46,720 Or are there any hints of that prosperity gospel, that 718 00:52:46,720 --> 00:52:50,120 suffering is abnormal or it's accidental? 719 00:52:51,960 --> 00:52:55,520 Satan's aim is that the labours of Trinity Baptist Church would 720 00:52:55,520 --> 00:52:59,240 be in vain. He wants our faith to fail. 721 00:52:59,240 --> 00:53:03,720 Sure, we've had a good start, Many churches do. 722 00:53:05,240 --> 00:53:10,200 But will we be a church that suffers Well, then enters glory 723 00:53:12,720 --> 00:53:17,800 By God's grace. I trust that as we look to 724 00:53:17,800 --> 00:53:24,280 Christ together, as we do one another's spiritual good, as we 725 00:53:24,280 --> 00:53:29,280 disciple one another even in suffering, and as we keep our 726 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:33,600 eyes on glory, that He will hold us fast. 727 00:53:34,800 --> 00:53:37,840 He did that for Paul. He'll do it for us. 728 00:53:38,640 --> 00:53:50,650 Let's pray. Father, we are confronted with 729 00:53:51,850 --> 00:53:58,890 temptations that we face and afflictions that we endure. 730 00:54:00,690 --> 00:54:07,000 Oh Lord, we pray, would you sustain us, sustain our faith, 731 00:54:07,360 --> 00:54:13,560 establish our faith and help us do that for one another. 732 00:54:14,440 --> 00:54:16,680 We pray in Jesus name, Amen.