THEME: THE CHURCH LIFE IN TIMES OF TROUBLES/TRIBULATIONS
LESSON: Four
TOPIC: TRIBULATION IN THE CHURCHES: A CASE STUDY OF THE CHURCH IN THESSALONICA
TEXT: Acts 17:1-15, 1Thess 1:6-10, 3:1-5, 2Thess 1:3-10 MEMORY TRACK
By the grace of God, in our last lesson, we were able to answer 2 key questions on the issue of Tribulation as it relates to man from the beginning. We saw how Adam would most definitely have needed tribulation to fulfill his destiny in God even if sin was not present as an option to man. We were also enabled to see that Tribulation has always been in the plan of salvation for man from the very beginning as a means to deliver man from the hold of the present.
In today’s lesson, we shall be looking at tribulation in the church, using the church in Thessalonica as a case study.
THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH: BORN INTO PERSECUTION (Act 17:1-15)
A cursory look at the epistles of Paul written to the Thessalonians would immediately reveal a central theme of afflictions, persecutions and tribulation, characteristic of this gentile church. Paul, on the heel of a great triumph of faith in Phillipi entered into Thessalonica, and for 3 weeks preached the gospel in the synagogues, contending with the Jews concerning the truth of Jesus being the Christ. Whilst many believed, the unbelieving Jews, sparked by envy, stirred up the entire city in an uproar, demanding that Paul and his cohorts be expelled from the city. Such was prevalent climate at the birth of the Church in Thessalonica.
IMPACT OF TRIBULATION ON THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH (1Thess 2:12-13)
It is said that tough times produce tough men and soft times produce soft men. Such is the mantra that drives the need for tribulation and suffering. It is easy to forget amidst abundance (and soft times) that we are at no time in our earthly sojourn, without warfare. The mandate of the church is to OVERCOME!, to wrestle down the enemy of life, of light, of our soul and of our God.
The suffering of the Thessalonians prepared them for detachment from this present world and for to receive the very Word of God, responsible for raising the citizens of the world to come. Hardly any other church was exposed to as much revelation of the coming of the Lord, like the Thessalonians. WHY?! They were prepared to receive it!! The suffering of the Thessalonian brethren fashioned in them to be open to the Lord.
Other things to note concerning the blessed Thessalonian Church are as follows
- Brotherly love prospered (1Thess 4:9): The Thessalonian brethren were charity men (2Thess 1:3). As a result of their sufferings, the Thessalonian brethren prospered in love of the brethren. Few things bind a company together like collective endurance of hardness. Going through things together has a way of uniting hearts and cementing brotherhood. The dealings of the Thessalonian church united them in Brotherly Love. They could not afford to fight amongst themselves seeing their whole city was against them.
- They understood times and seasons (1Thess 4:13-18, 5:1-2, 2Thess 2:1-12): Something about their persecution made their spiritual antennas sharp. The calendar of the Church was not so much of a mystery Paul was able to in much detail discuss eschatological matters amidst them, knowing fully well they were prepared to hear it.
- They were being qualified for entrance (2Thess 1:3-5): It is through much tribulation a soul enters into the kingdom. The Thessalonian brethren went through enough for to qualify them for access into the kingdom of God. Sufferings award a soul with scars that serve as gate passes through the many gates to glory (Ps 24:7-8). This is one way to describe the wisdom in Paul for to rejoice or glory in tribulation (2Cor 12: 7-10). His tribulation was to him an access point. His eyes however were not on the tribulation but on the glory that would follow, provided he endured to the obtaining of it (Heb 12:2).
These and many more are examples of the essence of tribulation in our salvation journey. May we also endure like these witnesses to the point of entrance in Jesus name. Amen.