Through Trials and Endurance

Kingdom Living—

Through Trials and Endurance

“Paul did not carry a cemetery with him, but a chorus of victorious praise; and the harder the trial, the more he trusted and rejoiced…” (A. B. Simpson, “Days of Heaven Upon Earth”)

Introduction:

Acts 14:19-23, “But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having persuaded the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing that he was dead.But when the disciples gathered about him, he rose up and entered the city, and on the next day he went on with Barnabas to Derbe.When they had preached the gospel to that city and had made many disciples, they returned to Lystra and to Iconium and to Antioch,strengthening the souls of the disciples, encouraging them to continue in the faith, and saying that through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God.And when they had appointed elders for them in every church, with prayer and fasting they committed them to the Lord in whom they had believed.”

Paul and Barnabas have caused quite a stir in Lystra. They have gone from having to keep the people from treating them like gods to Paul being stoned.

1. If Paul doesn’t let a “little” thing like being stoned stop him, is there really anything in our lives that can stop us?

2. Those that were instructed in the truth must know the certainty of the things in which they have been instructed; and those that have determined to follow Christ must remain steadfast.

3. Those who have truly come to faith in Christ receive instruction as strong encouragement to keep going.

4. Those who have not truly come to faith in Christ are discouraged with encouragements to endure.

5. Oftentimes the best encouragement we can receive is to be told the truth that kingdom living is difficult.

“We shall not only get through it, but get through itinto the kingdom of God;and the joy and glory of the end will make abundant amends for all the difficulties and hardships we may meet with in the way. It is truewe must go by the cross,but it is as true that if we keep in the way, and do not turn aside nor turn back, we shallgo to the crown,and the believing prospect of this will make the tribulation easy and pleasant.” Matthew Henry

Opportunities to Endure

Matthew 10:22, “…and you will be hated by all for My name's sake. But the one who endures to the end will be saved.”

1. When we endure being detested by the world, we will be saved by the One who loves us.

1 Corinthians 4:20, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.” (Read verses 11-19 first)

1. Words of hatred and persecution are no match for the power of the kingdom to endure.

1 Thessalonians 2:12-14, “…we exhorted each one of you and encouraged you and charged you to walk in a manner worthy of God, who calls you into His own kingdom and glory. And we also thank God constantlyfor this, that when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of menbut as what it really is, the word of God, which is at work in you believers. For you, brothers, became imitators of the churches of God in Christ Jesus that are in Judea. For you suffered the same things from your own countrymen as they did from the Jews…”

1. Imitating the faith of other believers will bring about the same persecutions they endured.

1 Thessalonians 3:1-5, “Therefore when we could bear it no longer, we were willing to be left behind at Athens alone,and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s coworkerin the gospel of Christ, to establish and exhort you in your faith,that no one be moved by these afflictions. For you yourselves know that we are destined for this.For when we were with you, we kept telling you beforehand that we were to suffer affliction, just as it has come to pass, and just as you know.For this reason, when I could bear it no longer, I sent to learn about your faith, for fear that somehow the tempter had tempted you and our labor would be in vain.”

1. The pastor, teacher, mentor, disciple maker’s greatest fear is that the enemy will still discourage those they have instructed to not endure, regardless of how many warnings are given about suffering.

2 Thessalonians 1:4-5, “Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering…”

1. The pastor, teacher, mentor, disciple maker’s greatest joy is to hear that those they have instructed are proving themselves true citizens of the kingdom by their endurance.

2 Timothy 4:18, “The Lord will rescue me from every evil deed and bring me safely into His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

1. There is not one trial, one hardship, one difficulty, one persecution, one suffering that God will not rescue us from and bring us safely home!

1 Peter 4:13, “But rejoice insofar as you share Christ's sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when His glory is revealed.

1. To the degree that we rejoice in our suffering for Christ here is the degree to which we will celebrate when He returns in glory!

Hebrews 12:28-29, “Therefore let us be grateful for receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, and thus let us offer to God acceptable worship, with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire.”

1. No matter how great our suffering, it cannot shake us out of the kingdom.

2. In worship, reverence and awe we will watch as our God consumes all the pain and all the heartache of our suffering for His sake.

Conclusion:

He placed me in a little cage,
Away from gardens fair;
But I must sing the sweetest songs
Because He placed me there.
Not beat my wings against the cage
If it's my Maker's will,
But raise my voice to heaven's gate
And sing the louder still!