The Biblical Response to Adversity

This week, a friend of mine shared something that was quite insightful. He and his wife have been trying various medications to help their daughter. As he’s observed her adjustments to the meds and the psychedelic side effects that his daughter has had to endure, he was heartbroken. In a way, he was not in favor of the meds to begin with, stating that if you learn to walk using a crutch, you’ll never walk on your own - you’ll never gain the strength needed to compensate for the weakness.

Now, I’m not trying to make any sort of blanket statement regarding medications or disabilities, but I think his point is worth noting. If we never face anything difficult, then we’ll lack the moral, emotional, physical, mental, and spiritual muscles needed to thrive in the face of adversity.

For many in our culture today, we are running away from adversity and pain by turning to safe spaces, medication, cancellation, and echo chambers that only feed us information that is consistent with what we already think or believe.

We’ve lost the art of constructive conversations.

We’ve lost the resilience that comes from the challenges of adversity.

We’ve lost our collective backbone.

But how should we respond to adversity?

If you have your bibles, open them to 2 Thessalonians 1.

Over the last couple of months, we’ve been considering Paul’s first letter to the Thessalonians. In that letter, we observed how Paul encouraged them for their persistent faith in the face of persecution. He also provided a bit of a course correction on some misguided behaviors and beliefs.

Over the next three weeks, we’re going to consider Paul’s second letter. In this, we’ll revisit some of the same themes from the first, but we will also get some new insight.

Today, as we dive into chapter 1, we get to learn from Paul and the Thessalonians about a biblical response to adversity - both our response and God’s response.

Let’s begin with our response. If we could look at Paul’s encouragement to the Thessalonians is verses 3-4, we’d can learn that our response should be steadfastness.

Our response: steadfastness (3-4)

Paul writes:

2 Thessalonians 1:3–4 ESV

We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring.

If you may remember, this young church was birthed in the face of great persecution. From the earliest days of their salvation, they grew up in the midst of opposition and adversity. As Paul did in his first letter, here he seeks to encourage their steadfastness - thanking God for His work in their lives.

Paul points out two areas where they faced adversity:

persecution

afflictions

What’s the difference between these two words?

I’m glad you asked.

Throughout the NT, persecutions seem to be intentional acts of oppression from one person or group to another person or group, often because of religious beliefs.

I think this is something we see in China as the Uyghur people face enslavement, re-education and even genocide because of their religious beliefs.

We see this a bit in the conflict between Hamas and Israel.

We see this in the burning of churches and the imprisonment of our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world.

Persecution is not pleasant - but it’s a reality that Christians must be willing to face.

Persecution for righteousness’ sake is what every child of God must expect.

Charles Simeon

The other word that Paul uses is affliction. This word has a broader range of meaning - which includes tribulation, suffering, trouble, and even persecution. It might be a direct action - as persecution is - or it might be an indirect by-product of something else.

Charles Spurgeon was known to suffer affliction in the form of depression and even physical health challenges. So, there were seasons when he would find it difficult to get up or even to breath. To address his mental afflictions, he would pray and trust God and press on. When his health afflictions became unbearable, he would take extended seasons in warmer climates in order to allow his lungs time to be refreshed before returning to the cold, wet, and congested climate of London.

Fanny Crosby was afflicted with blindness - and yet that didn’t stop her from writing thousands of poems, many of which we still sing today.

So, for the Thessalonians, it seems these persecutions were direct and intense. The afflictions were difficult. And yet Paul encourages them for their steadfastness and perseverance in the face of this adversity. As Armal encouraged us last week follow the example of godly individuals, I think the example of the Thessalonians becomes an instructive example for us.

Paul notes that their endurance or steadfastness produced two things:

Growing faith

Increasing love

Growing Faith

So often we think of faith as a definitive or decisive. We either have faith or we don’t. While that is true, there is an element of faith that is developing. As we mature, as we face various adversities and continue to thrive our faith grows. We can learn to trust God in ways that we didn’t trust him before. This is what Paul observes in the Thessalonians.

Is our faith growing? Are we trusting God more through the adversities that we face?

Increasing love

Paul refers to their increasing love for each other. The adversities that they face endear each other more and more to each other.

For those who are married, you may have experienced that. As your spouse faces different challenges at work or in health or with family, you learn to love, appreciate, and support her or him in ways that you may not have been aware you could when you first got married.

In our environment - I hope that our love for each other increases as we observe maturity and growth in each other’s lives - in the face of adversity, victories, failures. (Carolyn - finding a new ministry after years of working with children. Michelle and Misty putting their passion into practice with the kids. Mark - combining his passion with organizational skills. Dan - worship and deacon organizing. CG leaders pouring into others - opening homes).

So Paul encourages the Thessalonians by giving thanks. He also provides some encouragement by helping the Thessalonians and us to understand God’s response to the adversity that we face - a sure sentence.

God’s response: sentence (5-10)

When I was in biology class in high school, I learned about the fight or flight response that happens - whether in our bodies as we face infection or in nature as we see some animals run from conflict and others fight back.

In our society - we tend to see people want to get vengeance. Even some political candidates promise retribution.

But is that appropriate for God’s people?

Scripture tells us that vengeance is God’s job - endurance is ours.

Paul writes:

2 Thessalonians 1:5–10 ESV

This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering— since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.

There are several things that we can glean from this section. One of which is our worthiness is tied to our suffering. It’s not that we have to earn our way into eternity, but the suffering we encounter is one of the signs that we are truly part of God’s Kingdom.

The sentence or verdict or judgment that God lays out is His just response or vengeance for the suffering that His people endure. God will bring affliction on those who afflict and relief on those who experience affliction. In other words, God has our back, eternally.

Notice in this passage, there are two groups of people that God will particularly visit with this sentence. Those who don’t know him and those who don’t obey his gospel.

Those who don’t know Him - several commentators speculated that this would be people who don’t believe in any deity or believe in all sorts of religious beliefs. In the Thessalonian culture - this might be the pagans - people who would worship the pantheon of Greco-Roman deities. We might see this as secular people who ignore what is plain about God (Romans 1). The second group is...

Those who don’t obey the gospel - Again, some commentators have speculated that this might be Jewish people who reject the idea of Jesus as the Messiah. They clearly have a knowledge of God, but don’t fully obey the the faith that is commanded by the gospel.

So God will bring his just sentence on these two groups of people - His just judgment.

Thomas a Kempis has said:

Truly, when the day of judgment comes, we shall not be examined as to what we have read, but what we have done, not how well we have spoken but how we have lived.

Thomas à Kempis

Paul looks at the future day of judgment, which is what our present passage is about, he remains equally clear. The future judgment will take place on the basis of the entire life a person has led.

N. T. Wright

God is not willy-nilly or haphazard about his judgment. His justice has merit. His sentence is based on lived facts.

Notice, their sentence or their judgment is “eternal destruction away from the presence of the Lord.”

Now, I know, looking at passages like this may make it seem like God is a vindictive/angry God who is out to get people. Yes, God is holy and just. He has a standard. He is also loving and patient - not wanting anyone to perish.

For Christians who are facing or experiencing persecution and affliction, we can endure that with joy knowing that God will ultimately bring an appropriate judgment. He will provide justice. We have no need to try to get our own retribution or justice.

For those who may not yet believe - know that there will be a day of judgment - a day with the court of eternal justice is ended, a day when the gavel will fall and the sentence will be doled out. You have before you two options:

Continue in the way you are going - refusing to know God, refusing to obey the gospel - and face the sentence in the day that Jesus returns.

Know that God is a holy, just, and loving God. Know that Jesus in the good news of the gospel, fulfilled all the requirements and expectations of God’s holiness and justice. Obey the gospel by repenting, trust in Jesus Christ as your savior.

Some people would see this as one of those stereotypical baptist hell-fire and brimstone sermons. Yes, this is a sermon that talks about the judgment of God - but because it’s the next passage we’re studying.

As Christians, we don’t think we’re better than anyone. We know that were it not for Jesus Christ, we too would stand condemned under that eternal sentence of destruction. But in Jesus the gavel has fallen. He took the sentence that we deserve. You see His eternal existence that faced a mortal death paid the eternal death that our mortal lives deserve.

John 3:16–17 ESV

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.

There is that old adage that there are only two guarantees in life - death and taxes. Everyone will die. Everyone must pay taxes. Think about this judgment like taxes. There are expectations that we have. We are expected to accurately report how much we earned, gave, and paid in taxes. On or about April 15 - the tax bill is due. Some of us may file extensions, but eventually the bill is due, the tax will be paid. Friend, Jesus already paid your eternal tax, the eternal price for your sin. Put your sin, your life, in his holy ledger so that when you face death, you can do so with confidence and joy.

Closing Thoughts

Life may not be the easy, journey that we all might wish it could be. There will be times of persecution and times of affliction. We will have to endure adversity. But we can do so confidently knowing that through those God is producing in us a growing faith and an increasing love for one another for God’s glory.

Paul concludes this chapter with a prayer for the Thessalonians. May this be our prayer as well.

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 ESV

To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

On Friday and Saturday I attended the Annual Meeting of our two-state convention. During one of the messages yesterday, Victor Kirk shared the story of Samuel Morris, a missionary to Africa.

served for 25 years

on his trip home, he was on the same ship as President Theodore Roosevelt who had been on a three- week hunting trip in Africa

fanfare for the President

joyous welcome

no one came for Morris - even finding transportation was challenging because of all of the people.

He began to complain to the Lord - I’ve served you for 25 years. While the president has only gone to African to kill, I went to save lives for eternity. He gets this glorious welcome. My arrival at home goes unnoticed.

still small voice - Samual, you’re not home yet.

Beloved, let’s remain steadfast in whatever adversity that God allows. The growing faith and increasing love that is produced is a foretaste of the reception we will receive in His presence when he says well done my good and faithful servant.

Let’s pray.

Benediction

For our Benediction, let me reiterate that prayer from Paul - making it personal prayer for us.

2 Thessalonians 1:11–12 (ESV)

[May our] God may make [us] worthy of his calling and may [He] fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in [us], and [us] in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Community Group Discussion Questions:

Read 2 Thessalonians 1

Do you have any questions or observations that arise from this passage or from the sermon?

How have you experienced persecutions or afflictions? What is the difference?

How have you seen your faith growing or your love increasing? How have you observed that in someone else’s life?

In verse 5, Paul says “this is evidence of the righteous judgment of God...” What does Paul mean by that?

Who will be the recipients of God’s judgment? What will that judgment entail?

In verse 10, how will Jesus be glorified in his saints and marveled by those who believe?

How should we live in light of Paul’s prayer in verses 11-12?

Sources:

Constable, Thomas L. “1 Thessalonians.” In The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures, edited by J. F. Walvoord and R. B. Zuck. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1985.

Green, Gene L. The Letters to the Thessalonians. The Pillar New Testament Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI; Leicester, England: W.B. Eerdmans Pub.; Apollos, 2002.

Holmes, Michael. 1 and 2 Thessalonians. The NIV Application Commentary. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan Publishing House, 1998.

Stott, John R.W. The Message of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. The Bible Speaks Today. Downers Grove, IL; Intervarsity Press, 1991.

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