Title: EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW

Focus: Suffering and hardship on account of the Word of God are part of God’s sovereign design by which he tests our hearts and prepares us for the glory that is to come.

Function: To emphasize that God uses suffering and hardship by the enemies of the gospel to test our hearts and to prepare us for the glory that is to come.

Text: I Thessalonians 2:1-16

Randy Alcorn’s novel Safely Home set me to deep thinking about suffering and hardship on account of the Word of God. The spotlight of Alcorn’s book is on a group of Chinese Christians; the Communist government severely persecutes these Christians, and a number of them die at the hand of cruel persecutors. Alcorn’s book forces us to face the question, Am I willing to die for Christ and the Christian faith?

This is a question we rather avoid answering. Yet, when you consider what is going on today in many different countries in the world, we do well to take up the courage and ponder the question in light of God’s Word. The most recent issue of the magazine “The Voice of the Martyrs,” for example, pictures and describes the suffering and hardship by Christian minorities in Iraq, Pakistan, Sudan, India, North Korea, China, Nepal, Indonesia and Columbia to name a few countries. What would you and I do as Christians if God had called us to live in one of those countries?

With that question in mind, I turned to study Paul’s letter to the Christians in Thessalonica. In that letter, I picked up Paul’s concern for these Christians as they experienced persecution by their neighbors and townsmen.

Then to top it off, I read an opening paragraph from a memo written by Dr. Harry Plantinga, Director of the Christian Classics Ethereal Library newsletter (the CCL Times). He wrote: “When I encounter someone who is suffering, my instinctive inclination is to offer comfort and assurance. Thomas a Kempis does not handle it in that way. He offers the literary equivalent of a swift kick in the pants: ‘Jesus has always many who love His heavenly kingdom, but few who bear his cross. He has many who desire consolation, but few who care for trial. He finds many to share His table, but few to take part in His fasting. All desire to be happy with Him; few wish to suffer anything for Him.’” Then Plantinga concludes and writes, (Thomas a Kempis) “seems to say, ‘You complain about your suffering, but remember Jesus’ suffering for you. Will you not suffer for him?’”

On this day when we thank God for the freedom we have in this country, the Scriptures come to us with a sturdy message that is not easy to swallow: Suffering and hardship on account of the Word of God are part of God’s sovereign design by which he tests our hearts and prepares us for the glory that is to come.

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In I Thessalonians 2:1-16 the Apostle Paul first discusses what he and his companions have done when they visited the town of Thessalonica and preached the gospel. Then Paul highlights what the Thessalonian believers have done in response to the preaching and hearing of the Word of God.

For example, in verse 1 and 2 Paul writes: “You know…that our visit to you was not a failure. We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.” From this it is clear that Paul and his companions were in hostile territory. Thessalonica was not a safe place for Christians to evangelize and seek converts to the Christian faith.

In fact, Paul and his companions worked hard on keeping a low profile, on not being a burden to any of the Christian converts in Thessalonica. Thus Paul writes in verse 9 “Surely you remember… our toil and hardship; we worked night and day in order not to be a burden to anyone while we preached the gospel of God to you.”

It is clear, however, that Paul and his companions could not stay in Thessalonica. Luke tells us in Acts 17:5-10 that some jealous Jews in Thessalonica “rounded up some bad characters from the marketplace, formed a mob and started a riot in the city.” Later that night, we learn that some of the early believers in Thessalonica “sent Paul and Silas away to Berea.” Their lives were in danger.

This meant, of course, that these Christians were without a teacher and shepherd. And thus Paul worried about their faith—will these early Christian converts stand up and hold up in the midst of hardship and persecution?

Yes, they did. Paul writes in verse 13 “…we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.”

These young, new believers stood firm in the face of opposition from their neighbors and townsmen. They did not abandon their faith in the word of God.

In that context of perseverance in the midst of hardship and suffering, we need to observe and ponder three things from the text. Number 1. Paul noted that the Thessalonian Christians in their suffering had become imitators. He says so in 1:6 “You became imitators of us and of the Lord Jesus.” And in 2:14 Paul says, “…you became imitators of the churches in Judea, which are in Christ Jesus. You suffered from your own countrymen the same things those churches suffered from the Jews, who killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets and also drove us out.”

By making this observation, Paul implies clearly that imitating Jesus in his sufferings is a commendable thing to do. As Jesus faced and endured opposition in his unique mission on earth, so Christians must be ready to endure hardship and suffering on account of God’s Word. We are to be imitators of Christ in all respects, including persecution. That’s a hard message to swallow. But it is true, nevertheless.

The second thing to ponder from the text is Paul’s commendation. Paul praised the early Christians in Thessalonica for receiving the gospel—NOT as some nicely concocted human story—but as the Word of God. Listen (vs. 13) “…when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” Paul made a similar commendation in 1:6 where he says “…you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.” In other words, there was a deep conviction in the hearts of these converts that God spoke to them and called them to repent from their sins and live a new life in Christ. And with that conviction came great joy—which has its source in the Holy Spirit who quickens our hearts and grants us faith in response to the preaching and hearing of God’s Word.

The third observation to ponder centers on Paul’s teaching that God is sovereign. God is fully in control—also in the context of hardship and persecution. In his letter to the Thessalonians Paul is strong on predestination and on the sovereign rule of God. Note 1:4 “…we know…that (God) has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction.”

And in 3:3 Paul mentions that he had sent Timothy back to them “to strengthen and encourage you in your faith, so that no one would be unsettled by these trials. You know quite well that we were destined for them.” Suffering on account of the gospel, then, takes place under the umbrella of God’s purposes and designs. I may not understand why I am called to suffer on account of Christ. But this much I must believe and draw strength from: Persecutions and hardship have a place in my life under God’s all-seeing eye and sovereign design.

In fact, the Scriptures teach us that God will use hardship and tribulations to test our hearts and to prepare us for the glory that is to come.

For example, in II Thess. 1:4 and 5 Paul writes, “…among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” From this it’s clear that God uses hardships as a way to test our faith and our commitment to God’s rule.

In verse 11 of that same chapter Paul writes, “…we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. We pray this 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.”

God tests our faith and hearts. He tests us whether we are “worthy of our calling.” In response to a trick question about marriage, the Lord Jesus hints at this “worthiness of our calling.” He said to some Sadducees: “The people of this age marry and are given in marriage. But those who are considered worthy of taking part in that age and in the resurrection from the dead will neither marry nor be given in marriage, and they can no longer die; for they are like the angels. They are God’s children, since they are children of the resurrection” (Luke. 20:35ff).

Let me say it again: suffering and hardship on account of the Word of God are part of God’s sovereign design. He uses these trials and tribulations to test our hearts and faith, and God prepares us for the glory that is to come. Perhaps Peter’s comments in his letter to persecuted Christians may help us. He writes (I Peter 1:3-7) about our inheritance—eternal life on the restored creation. That inheritance is kept in heaven for you, writes Peter, “…for you who through faith are shielded by God’s power until the coming of the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have to suffer grief in all kinds of trials. These have come so that your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may be proved genuine and may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.”

I realize the weight of the Scriptures’ teaching this afternoon. It’s difficult to accept the role of suffering and hardship. It’s hard to swallow. But here’s what we are to do:

Rest in God’s sovereign design and purposes. Let’s bow our knees before the mystery of God’s workings in our lives. God has not given us all the answers to our questions. There is much that he has NOT revealed to us. But this much I know: God is with us—in the midst of tribulations and trials—and he does not abandon us. He tests our faith and makes available the power of his Holy Spirit to shine in our lives.

Here’s another thing we should do: Focus on the glory that is to come. A mother who welcomes her new-born child must usually go through difficult labor pains. But that pain and misery associated with birth is soon overtaken by great joy as the mother holds her new-born child in her arms. So it is with us the Christian church today: today the hardship and labor pains of persecution and opposition to God’s Word—But tomorrow there will come the glory and the majesty of Christ, along with our inheritance—the new creation.

Then our sorrow will turn into rejoicing; then our tears will be no more. Then the opposition will be judged, and together with all God’s people, all of humanity will bow their knees and confess that Jesus Christ is Lord of lords and King of kings.

In the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Amen.