“Purpose and Hope Amidst Adversity”

July 11, 2010 2Thess 1:1-12    Play AUDIO (mp3)  Play VIDEO (320x240 wmv, 218 kbps)

WHAT KEEPS YOU GOING WHEN THE WHEELS COME OFF?

•    trailer wreck trying for young family travelling
•    joy at being alive when “you should have flipped!”

WHAT GOOD CAN POSSIBLY COME FROM OUR TROUBLES?

•    rioting, turmoil, persecution marked church’s beginnings (Acts 17:5-10; 2Th 1:6, 2:14f)
•    1. Faith growing (3; Luk 17:5)
•    2. Love increasing (3; 1Th 3:12)
•    3. Good report published abroad (4; Rom 1:8)
•    4. Evidence of God’s righteous judgment (5; Can 4:37)
•    5. Counted worthy (5,11; Lk 20:35; Eph 4:1)
•    6. Appreciate rest (7; Lk 16:25; Is 57:2)
•    7. Bring glory to Jesus (10; Eph 1:12,18)
•    8. Occasion for others to pray (11; Col 1:9)
•    9. Action prompted by increased faith (11; 1Th 1:3; Jas 2:17,19)
•    10. We will be glorified in Jesus (12; Jn 17:22)

AND YOU THOUGHT IT WAS HOT ALREADY...

•    God will pay back / punish those causing trouble (6,8f; Ps 19:1ff; Rom 1:18ff)
•    blazing fire (7; Ex 3:2, 19:18; Is 66:15; Heb 12:28f; Mk 9:44; Mt 25:41)
•    everlasting torment (9; Mt 8:12; Mk 9:48)
•    shut out / separated from God’s majestic presence (9; 1Th 4:17)

PROBLEM OR PRESENT?

•    challenged by leader to view problems as ‘gifts’