Pray the Word with David Platt is a resource from Radical.net.

1st Thessalonians chapter 3, verses 2 and 3.

And we sent Timothy, our brother, and God's co-worker in 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.

Did you hear that last statement that Paul just made?

He's talking about sending Timothy to the church in Thessalonica to encourage them,

to establish and exhort them in their faith. And then he starts

talking about afflictions. And he says, for you yourselves know that we are destined for this.

So what's the this he's referring to there? He's referring to afflictions. We are destined for afflictions. That's what Paul's saying here, and it's all over the Bible.

I was actually preaching on this not long ago, but followers of Jesus should not be surprised when storms come our way.

All throughout the Old Testament, there was not one person

who followed God, who didn't experience storms as a result of following and fearing and

worshiping and glorifying God. And then you get to the New Testament. This is the story of the disciples.

This is certainly Paul's story as he's writing different letters from prison.

As he's saying, I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection, the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings.

He knew he was following a Savior who suffered in this world of sin and evil. And so he says,

in 1st, Thessalonians 3, in a way that I've read this before, but it's just struck me in a

fresh way. You yourselves know that we are destined for this. So don't be surprised, Christian, when you face affliction, when you face

challenges in your life. And yes, there are times we experience suffering as a result of sin and

disobedience to God without question. Sin has consequences.

But there are other times when we experience suffering affliction,

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