The Lord is awe-inspiring, fearsome, fascinating, intriguing, majestic, and full of splendor: breathtaking! Here is what I saw of him and what came to my mind and heart in 1 Thessalonians 2:2,
"We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition."
The historical account of Paul's treatment in Philippi is provided in Acts 16. The "strong opposition" he encountered in Thessalonica is given in Acts 17:1-9. So great was this opposition that folks there started a riot and attempted to keep Paul from sharing the gospel with the Gentiles "so that they may be saved." 1 Thessalonians 2:16. Additionally, they followed Paul to Berea and began to agitate the crowds there against him. None of the opposition that Paul faced, whether in Philippi, Thessalonica or Berea kept him from proclaiming the gospel message. Paul was tenacious, very tenacious.
In Acts 17 we read there was a synagogue in Thessalonica and that Paul went on three Sabbath days to reason with the Jews from the Scriptures. He explained and proved to them that Jesus was the Messiah, that he fulfilled the prophecies of his suffering and resurrection. We are told some of the Jews were "persuaded" and joined Paul and Silas. Additionally, a "large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women" joined them as well. These formed the fledgling fellowship there in Thessalonica.
The conversion of some of the Jews and the many Greeks caused other Jews to be jealous and so they started a riot in Thessalonica. The believers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at night, but when the hostile Jews heard of it, they followed them and agitated the folks against them there as well. Paul's opponents were likewise tenacious.
My perspective of this tenacity of both Paul and his adversaries manifests the reality of the spiritual conflict that has its impact on planet earth. God and Satan are adversaries and the conflict spills out here on planet earth as God's agenda is pursued. Paul was committed to carrying out God's purpose of building his family, his kingdom. Satan and his minions make their attempt to bring disruption to that effort.
I make this point as I marvel at hearing of these troublesome Jews. Not content with attempting to stop Paul in Thessalonica, but are so compelled, so driven, they travel the fifty miles (without the use of a car!) to Berea to carry on their opposition to Paul there! That is tenacity!
We read something of this spiritual conflict in Revelation 12:7-9, "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray."
A word to the wise as we consider our outreach. Engaging in spiritual conflict, which the propagation of the gospel enjoins, requires the anticipation of push back and opposition. We must be bold, we must be tenacious, we must expect opposition. Evangelism is an aggression in the spiritual conflict between God and Satan. This requires us to have strong backbones and a resolute spirit - just what the Holy Spirit provides us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
"We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition."
The historical account of Paul's treatment in Philippi is provided in Acts 16. The "strong opposition" he encountered in Thessalonica is given in Acts 17:1-9. So great was this opposition that folks there started a riot and attempted to keep Paul from sharing the gospel with the Gentiles "so that they may be saved." 1 Thessalonians 2:16. Additionally, they followed Paul to Berea and began to agitate the crowds there against him. None of the opposition that Paul faced, whether in Philippi, Thessalonica or Berea kept him from proclaiming the gospel message. Paul was tenacious, very tenacious.
In Acts 17 we read there was a synagogue in Thessalonica and that Paul went on three Sabbath days to reason with the Jews from the Scriptures. He explained and proved to them that Jesus was the Messiah, that he fulfilled the prophecies of his suffering and resurrection. We are told some of the Jews were "persuaded" and joined Paul and Silas. Additionally, a "large number of God-fearing Greeks and quite a few prominent women" joined them as well. These formed the fledgling fellowship there in Thessalonica.
The conversion of some of the Jews and the many Greeks caused other Jews to be jealous and so they started a riot in Thessalonica. The believers sent Paul and Silas off to Berea at night, but when the hostile Jews heard of it, they followed them and agitated the folks against them there as well. Paul's opponents were likewise tenacious.
My perspective of this tenacity of both Paul and his adversaries manifests the reality of the spiritual conflict that has its impact on planet earth. God and Satan are adversaries and the conflict spills out here on planet earth as God's agenda is pursued. Paul was committed to carrying out God's purpose of building his family, his kingdom. Satan and his minions make their attempt to bring disruption to that effort.
I make this point as I marvel at hearing of these troublesome Jews. Not content with attempting to stop Paul in Thessalonica, but are so compelled, so driven, they travel the fifty miles (without the use of a car!) to Berea to carry on their opposition to Paul there! That is tenacity!
We read something of this spiritual conflict in Revelation 12:7-9, "Then war broke out in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon, and the dragon and his angels fought back. But he was not strong enough, and they lost their place in heaven. The great dragon was hurled down—that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray."
A word to the wise as we consider our outreach. Engaging in spiritual conflict, which the propagation of the gospel enjoins, requires the anticipation of push back and opposition. We must be bold, we must be tenacious, we must expect opposition. Evangelism is an aggression in the spiritual conflict between God and Satan. This requires us to have strong backbones and a resolute spirit - just what the Holy Spirit provides us!
Anything of the Lord capture your heart from Scripture today? Share what moved you about him from your Bible reading today. I'd love to hear from you!
If you have someone you would like to receive these ruminations, send me their email address. I'm happy to add them to the list. If you are receiving this and would like to be removed from the list, just respond and let me know.
Trevor Fisk
trevor.fisk@gmail.com
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