Shaken Faith

Introduction

Forewarned is forearmed. An old saying that isn’t used very often. It is a rather straightforward saying. If you know what may happen then you can prepare for it. If a country goes to war, it will gather as much information as possible before engaging. If you listen closely, those who are older can help you know and explore possibilities and then you can be better prepared to deal with those challenges. Our teens are going on Wilderness Trek this summer. Those who have gone before can share war stories. Those war stories can increase anxiety and fear, but it also prepares this year’s participants. It isn’t an easy journey. It is challenging.

When you think of camping in the fall, you may think of beautiful sunny days and crisp cool nights. What no one can really prepare you for is a night may be so cold that no amount of clothing and blankets can keep you warm. Or that it rains so hard that everything is damp if not completely wet. But to warn you to prepare and for you to prepare for less than ideal situations is wise. Think about marriage. We may envision ideal situations but if we are warned about the possible challenges that come, then we can be better prepared to deal with those challenges. Being married takes work. There are plenty of good and enjoyable experiences, but there are also challenges that make you question your sanity or the sanity of your spouse.

There is a principle at work here. Tell people on the front end what the challenges are and they will be better equipped to deal with dark days when they arise. Tell people only the good and they are not as well equipped when the dark days come. Leave people with the impression that only good is ahead and they will be sorely disappointed when the challenge comes. But prepare them for the challenge and the good is sweeter and the challenge isn’t as daunting. The same thing is true about the gospel. Preparation goes a long way to helping deal with the challenges that will come. Paul knew that was true with those early Christians in Thessalonica. Our study today will remind us of what our walk with God means.

Concern

Paul was so concerned about the Thessalonian believers that he sent Timothy to find out about them. Timothy was a special envoy for Paul. A young man, he was well-respected and appreciated. He spoke with Paul’s authority and understood that he was sent to these people to encourage them. Why? Verse 3, Paul was concerned that the trials going on would shake their faith. He was concerned that the trials they were going through would result in their questioning their faith. But Timothy’s purpose was not only to encourage these believers but to find out the facts of what was going on and report that to Paul.

Paul says that while he was with them he told them that trouble would come. He didn’t hide the truth from them and refused to tell them something that would only make it more difficult to live realistically and faithfully in this world. Paul preached the gospel message. It was a message that emphasized that we are sinners in need of a Savior and that Jesus is the answer to our sin problem. He did not preach a message that focused solely on the benefits.

He did not preach a message of health and wealth. He did not preach a message that said if you follow Jesus life would be easy. He did not preach a message that said if you follow Jesus there will be no disease. He did not preach a message that emphasized how much better life would be because you followed Jesus. By his own words in verse 4, he preached a message that said following Jesus will bring you difficult and challenging times. Following Jesus will result in people not understanding; people shunning you; economic troubles. His message emphasized that persecution was sure to follow because of their faith.

His message included that the tempter was now after them. That Satan himself would take an interest in making life more difficult so that they would deny their faith. And he told them that when those difficult times come, those who trying to make life difficult were doing the work of Satan. Forewarned is forearmed.

So what would it take for your faith to be shaken? I have done enough counseling with people to know that there are days that come that you never thought would come. And when those days come, there we find it difficult to keep moving forward. Don’t tell me there is nothing that can shake your faith. Every person has a time when their faith will be tested so severely that they will wonder if they can get through it.

Do you look at others and envy them?

Do you look at others and think that they don’t have any struggles?

Do you think that God cannot forgive you?

Have you been betrayed by a close friend?

Have you been treated so unfairly that you despised another?

Has someone died that you begged God to heal?

Do you feel that God has failed you in some way?

Do you feel that you are suffering with no purpose?

Then you have had your faith shaken. Things can happen that shakes our faith. Timothy found a group of people whose troubles had not resulted in their faith being discarded. So let’s understand this — shaken faith isn’t lost faith. There is value in the struggle that results from challenges to faith. But make no mistake — following Jesus does not eliminate dark nights or mistreatment at the hands of others or disease, but walking with Jesus allows you to be connected to someone who experienced all that you have experienced and remained true to his direction and faith.

Jesus said in John 16:33 — In this world you will have trouble but I have overcome the world. Whatever this world can throw at you, Jesus has already dealt with it.

Jesus was rejected.

Jesus suffered unfairly.

Jesus spent part of a night begging God to change his mind about his death.

Jesus hung on a cross while the sunshine of the day turned to blackness and God watched his sinless son become sin and take on the fullness of God’s wrath.

There is nothing that you experience that your Savior has already experienced and dealt with. And with each experience that you have, he speaks of the certainty of what your faith means. He demonstrates that a sin filled world cannot be a perfect place but that there is such a place waiting for us. And we go through the dark nights and challenges trusting that one day we will see him and hug him and praise him and thank him and our faith will be sight. Invitation.

Follow Jesus

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