Persevering Through Life's Unpredictable Challenges with Christ

In the same way as Christians, we are all in the same race called life. As followers of Christ, our desire is to persevere and make it to the end, even with the many challenges, challenges, and obstacles that come our way. And we are to finish well for God's glory. [00:03:59] (20 seconds)


Whatever the case, the Apostle Paul realized that even the steadfast Thessalonian Christians needed encouragement, and Timothy was sent to do just that. Timothy told them, the Thessalonians, how much Paul and Silas missed them, were praying for them, and rejoiced and gave glory to God that their Christian testimony was so wonderful and known throughout the region. [00:06:59] (30 seconds)


Timothy reminded them that trials and hardship were not upon them, but that they were experiencing challenges and hardship, are part of the Christian life, and that they are to remain firm and steadfast. In fact, many years later, the Apostle Paul would write Timothy and tell him the very same thing in 2 Timothy chapter 3 verse 12. [00:07:42] (20 seconds)


That's why Timothy was sent by Paul and said, to tell the Thessalonian Christians, you guys are okay. It's not you. It's the sinful environment in which you live. Experiencing persecution and hardships are normal for a follower of Christ. So hang in there and persevere. And my friends, we all need to hear this type of encouragement. [00:10:04] (27 seconds)


When was the last time you encouraged someone in their faith walk, in their service for the Lord? When was the last time you messaged someone in church for what they did, what they sang, how they served you, that meant a lot to you and blessed you? [00:11:50] (20 seconds)


Paul said that he was so worried about how they would hold up under the hardship, which he personally experienced from the unbelievers in that city, that he just needed to get an update on how they were doing. That was another reason why Timothy was sent to them from Athens to get a personal status update on how they were holding up from the tribulations they were experiencing. [00:16:07] (27 seconds)


So oftentimes, when people are just about to get on fire for the Lord, or they go through spiritual milestones like undergoing baptism or making professions of faith, he attacks hard to cause them to just give up and stop running the Christian race. The other way Satan gets Christians to stop living like followers of Christ is by enticing or tempting them with the allure of worldly pleasures. [00:19:37] (31 seconds)


First Peter chapter 5 verse 8 warns us this. First Peter 5 verse 8, be sober, be vigilant because your adversary, the devil, walks about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. We must be vigilant. We have to be watchful. We have to be ready and on guard because the devil is relentless. He doesn't give up. [00:21:44] (30 seconds)


And this truth reminds us that the anticipation of something better in the future causes us to patiently wait and hold off on the temporary, immediate pleasures of life. If you can just wait, for the reward, it will be worth it. The amazing promises and rewards of God for those who are able to persevere and fight Satan's temptations should cause us to reject the temporary, sinful pleasures of today. [00:27:11] (76 seconds)


Paul knew that while they were doing well, while they were doing well up to this point, the Thessalonian Christians still had a long way to go in their Christian growth and maturity. That's why he greatly desired to see them again in order to teach and train them more, to make up for what was lacking since their last time together in Thessalonica, which was cut short because of angry mobs. [00:32:37] (27 seconds)


Wise people do not wait until things break. They do regular maintenance to ensure things do not break. It is the same in the Christian life. Don't wait until your life is falling apart and you freak out because you have a crisis of faith. Do it now when things are calm and all right, to strengthen your faith so that when the crisis and trials come, you will have the fortitude to stand firm. [00:37:31] (35 seconds)


This beautiful benediction blessing by Paul is a reminder to the readers and to us that at the end of the day we must put our lives in the hands of God by putting Christ at the center of our lives why because verse 11 states he directs our ways the sovereign almighty God of the universe is the one who directs the paths of men. [00:38:25] (28 seconds)