1442. How They Suffered

How They Suffered

"And ye have also suffered like things from your own countrymen" (1Th_2:14, \1911 Bible).

It always costs to go all the way with God, "Yea, and all that will live Godly in Christ Jesus, shall suffer persecution" (2Ti_3:12).

"Unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Php_1:29).

1. The Church at Thessalonica Received the Word of God in Much Affliction. It was not an easy path which they followed, when they received the Lord Jesus and the Word of God. It cost them much in every way. The story is not given in detail, but enough is given to show the attitude of the fellow-townsmen. It is written in Act_17:5, how that, after Paul had preached in the city, "The Jews, moved with envy, took unto them certain vile fellows of the rabble, and gathered a company, and set all the city in an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people."

This is only part of the story, we know that the persecution was so fierce that the brethren felt compelled immediately to send away Paul and Silas by night.

Amid all of this persecution the saints of this model Church joyed in the Holy Spirit.

They were glad and happy in that they were counted worthy to suffer for Christ's sake.

The first person we ever baptized was in South America. She was a woman in the seventies. When she was saved she brought images and idols valued at about one hundred and fifty dollars, and gave them to us.

When we led that dear old saint down into the water, the persecutors yelled and shouted and made hideous noises with their hands, until the words of the ceremony could not be heard.

We have never forgotten that face. She had received the Word in much affliction and with the joy of the Holy Spirit. As she came forth from the watery grave, her face shone as the face of an angel.

2. The Church at Thessalonica continued to suffer as the days went on. Their suffering was not a cloud which soon passed away, it abode, it hung over their heads like a pall.

Indeed, they became followers of the churches of God which were in Judea, churches which had suffered many things from the Jews.

Paul wrote unto them to encourage them in their trials. He said, "That no man should be moved by these afflictions; for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto" (1Th_3:3).

Paul told them even before they believed that they would suffer tribulation, if they received the Lord Jesus.

What we need to-day are men and women who are not ashamed of the testimony of Jesus Christ; men and women who are willing not only to believe, but also to suffer; men and women with iron in their blood.

Were not the worthies of old, happy in their sufferings? Were they not "tortured, not accepting deliverance"? Did they not have "trial of mockings and scourgings, yea, moreover of bonds and imprisonment"? Were they not "stoned, sawn asunder, tempted, slain with the sword"? Did they not "wander about in sheepskins and goatskins; being destitute, afflicted, tormented"?

Where are the saints to-day who are willing to go outside the camp and bear His reproach?

Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR