GOD’S TOKEN FOR GOOD

Sunday Morning:  August 13, 2000

Read: Acts 17:1-10; Philippians 4:10-19

Text: 2 Thessalonians 1:4-5  "So that we ourselves glory in you in the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that ye endure: [ana + ecw, present middle, to have again and again]

5. Which is a manifest token of the righteous [just] judgment of God, that ye may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which ye also suffer:"

TOKEN FOR GOOD

Psalms 86:17  "Show me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me."

PAUL LEARNED HOW

Philippians 4:12  "I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."

Philippians 4:16  "For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity."

Philippians 4:19  "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."

APPOINTED TO AFFLICTION

1 Thessalonians 3:3  "That no man should be moved by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto."

SUFFERING AND AFFLICTIONS

1 Peter 5:8-10  "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:

9. Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.

10. But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you."

UNFRUITFULNESS

Matthew 13:20-23  "But he that received the seed into stony places, the same is he that heareth the word, and anon with joy receiveth it;

21. Yet hath he not root in himself, but dureth for a while: for when tribulation or persecution ariseth because of the word, by and by he is offended.

22. He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful.

23. But he that received seed into the good ground is he that heareth the word, and understandeth it; which also beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty."

JOB ENDURED

James 5:11  "Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy."

JOB FEARED GOD

Job 1:1  "There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil."

SATAN SEEKING

Job 1:7-8  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Whence comest thou? Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it.

8. And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil?"

PERMISSION GRANTED

Job 1:12  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, all that he hath is in thy power; only upon himself put not forth thine hand. So Satan went forth from the presence of the LORD."

A ROARING LION

Job 1:14-22  "And there came a messenger unto Job, and said, The oxen were plowing, and the asses feeding beside them:

15. And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

16. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The fire of God is fallen from heaven, and hath burned up the sheep, and the servants, and consumed them; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

17. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, The Chaldeans made out three bands, and fell upon the camels, and have carried them away, yea, and slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

18. While he was yet speaking, there came also another, and said, Thy sons and thy daughters were eating and drinking wine in their eldest brother's house:

19. And, behold, there came a great wind from the wilderness, and smote the four corners of the house, and it fell upon the young men, and they are dead; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.

20. Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped,

21. And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD.

22. In all this Job sinned not, nor charged God foolishly."

SATAN IS STILL LOOKING

Job 2:2  "And the LORD said unto Satan, From whence comest thou? And Satan answered the LORD, and said, From going to and fro in the earth, and from walking up and down in it."

TRIED TO DESTROY JOB

Job 2:3  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? and still he holdeth fast his integrity, although thou movedst me against him, to destroy him without cause."

THE GODLY SUFFER

2 Timothy 3:11-12  "Persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me. 12. Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution."

LIMITED BY GOD

Job 2:6  "And the LORD said unto Satan, Behold, he is in thine hand; but save his life."

JOB’S FAMILY

Job 2:9  "Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die."

JOB’S FRIENDS

Job 42:7  "And it was so, that after the LORD had spoken these words unto Job, the LORD said to Eliphaz the Temanite, My wrath is kindled against thee, and against thy two friends (Bildad, Zophar): for ye have not spoken of me the thing that is right, as my servant Job hath."

JOB PRAYED FOR HIS FRIENDS

Job 42:10  "And the LORD turned the captivity of Job, when he prayed for his friends: also the LORD gave Job twice as much as he had before."

PRAY FOR YOUR ENEMIES

Matthew 5:44  "But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;"

GOD IS FAITHFUL

1 Corinthians 10:13  "There hath no temptation [affliction] taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted (tested) above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it."

TRIBULATION A MUST

Acts 14:22  "Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God."

GREAT REWARD

Matthew 5:10-12  "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."

DAILY RENEWAL OR DEFEAT?

2 Corinthians 4:16-17  "For which cause we faint not; but though our outward man perish, yet the inward man is renewed day by day.

17. For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;"

OUR CALLING

1 Peter 2:19-21  "For this is thankworthy [grace], if a man for conscience toward God endure grief, suffering wrongfully.

20. For what glory is it, if, when ye be buffeted for your faults, ye shall take it patiently? but if, when ye do well, and suffer for it, ye take it patiently, this is acceptable [grace] with God.

21. For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:"