Q1. Persecution and Spiritual Growth

[Commissioned]

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? What would we be like without the testing of our faith?

 

In persecution, pressure and stress we see God's faithfulness in answer to our fervent prayers, in this our faith grows and we grow stronger in Christ.  Without the testing of our faith we would never know that we can bear up under trials in the face of difficulty, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance, etc The testing of our faith brings us in closer relationship with our Father.

[Onerivertrail]

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? What would we be like without the testing of our faith?

 

Standing in the face of persecution tests our faith but especially shows how much we love the Lord. I am joyful when persecuted because of my faith in my Lord. Pressure can be subtle and sometimes not seen as persecution so this may cause us to fall back a bit in our race for the crown. It may kill our energy of sorts for a time so we need to love and encouage each other when this happens. If our faith was not tested and we did not show we could stand in the face of testing and trials then we would not be counted worthy. Jesus was the Son of God and became as we are and passed His tests. He prove Himself and we can do the same!

[JoanG]

When we are under extreme test of faith, we can either turn from God and join those that persecute us, or we can make a stronger stand in what we believe. We learn more about Jesus when we take a stand with him. Without these tests, we would never be able to grow. We would be like a pool of stagnant water. We would be frozen in time and space. We would never really grow. We would never really know what we stood for. We would know the right words but we would never have to use them.

[lighthouse2014]

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? What would we be like without the testing of our faith?

Persecution, pressure and stress help us to persevere in our faith. The Lord helps us in these situations and by prayer for his help we are strengthened in our faith because we witness the Lord's responses.

Without testing of our faith we would not grow in faith or ever come trails and tribulations. We would never learn to lean or trust the Lord. 

[Damary Alembi]

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? God answers our fervent prayers in the midist of our trials, our faith blossoms. Perseverance is as sign that you have stood the trust and are worthy of the kingdom to which they have been called. You emerge from trials and pain… with stronger faith and love.

What would we be like without the testing of our faith? We will not grow in faith, our love will not increase. We will not have the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficult, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness, perseverance. We would be weak in our faith. God’s judgment is right.

[Reuben]

Q1. (2 Thessalonians 1:3-5) In what ways do persecution, pressure, and stress help us grow strong in Christ? What would we be like without the testing of our faith?

When we are tested in our faith it serves as a mirror in which you can look and answer yourself in regards of where you are standing in your faith, and relationship with God. We are all in different scenarios when we are tested , some life threatening others less severe, but it is so rewarding when you are tested and make a stand and come out stronger on the other side. It fills you with joy when you persevere, and grows your strength and when you endure with other Christians, it strengthens the bonds between you as well. It makes us lamps visible to others, because if we are to be a glowing lamp for God, what use do we have if we were under the bed the whole time.

Without testing we would not keep growing in certain areas, like perseverance, strength, courage, and we will be put down and not be counted when we face those moments. If the early church had not been tested it is possible that it would have kept growing but how strong and pure would that have been, and id it was weak, and corrupted what would it have looked like today?

 

[Jonathan Edwards]

Persecutions, pressures and stress remind us that we have clay feet.   We need the balm of Gilead during dire times as we come to the end of our resources.  Many times we realize that how limited we are. Aaron came to that point right after his two sons died as did the Prophet Ezekiel after his wife passed away.  Aaron was involved in idol calf worship; he needed to be thoroughly instructed concerning the Holiness of God.   Aaron and Moses were schooled by God that the things of God are not be trifilied with.  Ezekiel heard the threefold self identification of Yahweh (Ezekiel 24:14,27).  God guaranteed the fulfillment of prophecy.   Ezekiel went on preaching the Word of God, no mourning clothes, no weeping.  Amazing how the Prophet Ezekiel went on with his ministry despite the hardheartedness of the people there in a pagan land; no Temple as well!

Without the testing of our faith, we could have ended up as "outer court" Christians.  1 PETER 2:9 would be so foreign to us.  The Epistle to the Hebrews would be a closed book.   The testing of our faith-the dark night of the soul is to prepare us for the beatific vision.   God in His divine wisdom knows how to refine us; the inward working of the Holy Spirit does the outworking in our lives so that we are conformed to Christ.