“Reseeding Hope” • 1.11.15 •
Calvary Christian Fellowship, Sunday Morning Service
Intro.
- Between Paul's first and second letter lies a terse interval of at
least six months. Paul's first letter had been well received and it had brought
it's intended encouragement.
- The Thessalonians received a breath of fresh
hope given their circumstances and were certain of their relief and ultimate
victory in Christ.
- At some point along the way, the persecution
intensified and it seems that someone even went so far as to forge a letter
from Paul, indicating that the Day of the Lord had already come!
- Where was the rapture? Where was the hope of
His coming? Why was the wrong team still winning? This was a time great
concern.
- Thankfully, Paul had kept close tabs by
sending people their way, who informed him that it was time to write another
letter, which we are the beneficiaries of.
- This letter seeks to reset the Thessalonian
heart and restore some of the hope that might have been lost.
- He begins in this first chapter to commend
them (v.1-4) and confirm their track (v.5-12).
Intro.
• II Thessalonians 1:1-4 : "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians
in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We are bound to thank God always for you,
brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love
of every one of you all abounds toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of
God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that
you endure," : Paul
extends his usual Apostolic greeting on behalf of his ministry partners Silas
and Timothy.
- Silas joined Paul for his second
missionary journey and Timothy was chosen to come along shortly thereafter.
These men spent the better part of 3 years traveling together.
- They founded the church in
Thessalonica over the period of 3 weeks which came to an abrupt end due to a
threat upon the Apostle Paul's life from the unbelieving and influential Jews.
- In spite of that circumstance,
here they are addressing church, a group of people called out from the world
and invited into holy fellowship with God.
- Sometimes it's helpful to remind
ourselves what definitions apply to such often used words!
- The church belongs to God, has
been founded in God, and formed to honor and worship the Lord Jesus Christ,
God's Savior! Today, we are joined
through time by this definition.
- On behalf of God, Paul extends
the Lord's greeting of grace and peace. Grace was the phrase used by the Greeks
and Shalom was the favored phrase among the Jews.
- The church wasn't simply a Greek
or Jewish thing! The majesty of God's word was the He brought disparate people
groups together into a new whole, founded on His grace and peace!
- This comes from God the Father and
the Lord Jesus Christ, together as the source of favor and peace.
- Paul regarded Jesus as belonging
upon the same line as God the Father, bestowing these wonderful benefits upon
His people, as equal to the Father!
Anything less is scripturally inaccurate.
- Jesus Christ has always been and
will always be God! The scripture is united on that fact.
- Without blinking, Paul launches
into applause, a fit of praise to the Lord for what He has caused to occur
among them.
- We cannot underestimate the level
of relief that accompanied this thanksgiving, as Paul was forced to leave them
much sooner than he expected.
- Hearing of their continued
progress in the faith in such circumstances moved their hearts.
- Consequently, the Apostles were
under obligation, as if they were bondmen who owed a continual debt of
thanksgiving to the Lord for them!
- Thanksgiving was the fitting, the
proper response, sincerely, the only response that they could extend. What was
their reason? Paul offers three.
- First, their faith was growing.
It was increasing despite harsh circumstances to the contrary! Faith, like a
muscle, grows with the exertion needed to continually focus our trust in Christ
- It grows by feeding and by
energetically practicing. It grows as you and I obey His commands. This was
their testimony.
- Would you say that your faith has
grown in the last year? Is there a desire to see your faith grow this year? May
He have your complete cooperation as this year progresses.
- Second, their love was
abounding. It was church wide, as every one of them had an abounding love
for one another. The word refers to superabundance, an overflow of love!
- There is yet another reminder
before us that we are called to love one another in the Lord. That is a
tangible proof that the love of Christ is in us!
- The Thessalonicans were such
believers and they remain as an enduring example to us. Father, fill us with
your love for each other.
- Their love was the basis for
their third characteristic: Their patience was astounding! Their love
was the subject of the Apostle's boasting and the foundation for their
endurance through trials.
- They were persecuted by people
who thought that they were doing God a favor from without. At the same time,
they were under crushing pressure to move out from it, within.
- That word for pressure was used
in that exact way, as a method of extracting information had been to place a
heavy stone on the chest of a criminal, who was eventually crushed under it's
weight.
- This was how the Thessalonicans
felt, but their love for Christ and each other caused them to endure through
everything that came their way.
- Their faith had grown to such an
extent that their feelings were held in second place!
- It's interesting because we often
credit our will and determination to tough out circumstances. But how much
greater is the love for another, indeed for God, which sustains us through
difficulty!
- What did these persecutions
prove? Note how Paul continues.
• II Thessalonians 1:5-8 : "which is
manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted
worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer; since it is a righteous thing with
God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled
rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty
angels, in
flaming fire taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do
not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ." : Paul is not telling the Thessalonians
that persecutions and trials were happening to them as an evidence of God's
judgment against them!
- I'm sure that you understand
that, but there are many who count their trials and tribulations as judgments
upon themselves from the Lord. That is not the case at all!
- God efficiently uses what trouble
springs from living in a fallen world to our advantage. He holds us through
what we thought we'd never endure so that our faith becomes fact!
- The persecutions and troubles
which came from the Thessalonian opponents was proof both of the reality of
their faith and the judgment that resides upon the hostile horde.
- Essentially, when you suffer
through something, there is a genuine reality that you believe that cannot be
denied. When you are persecuted for Christ, the world is responding to reality
in you.
- The fact that someone else
attacks you on account of your faith proves that they believe it as well, which
presents an interesting problem for them as we'll see!
- On the account of the believer,
this is a wonderful blessing, as such behavior is fitting for members of the
Kingdom.
- We've encountered the word
"axios" before, from which our English equivalent "axiom"
is derived. When a believer stands up in the face of persecution, that is the
expected result of faith.
- Their suffering during that time,
which Paul does not elaborate upon here, was suffering reserved for members of
the Kingdom of God!
- They were not suffering for being
weird or obnoxious. They were suffering because they were rightly representing
what a changed life in Christ looks like. But then, the other foot drops.
- Since the hostile opponents of
the believers have actually taken the time to persecute believers, it reveals
that they believe the truth of Christ, but have not surrendered to Him!
- I would never think to persecute
a group of people who truly believed in the Tooth Fairy. Why? Because the Tooth
Fairy is not real!
- By persecuting the Christians,
they were in fact, authenticating the faith that they were attacking! That is
Paul's argument here.
- Sadly for those who are such
opponents, they seem to forget Paul's experience in Damascus. Paul, then known
as Saul, was on his way to Damascus to persecute believers in Christ.
- That's when Jesus met him and very
literally knocked him off of his high horse! He said this to Saul at that time.
• Acts 9:3-5 : "As he journeyed he came near
Damascus, and suddenly a light shone around him from heaven. Then he fell to the ground, and
heard a voice saying to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?' And he said, 'Who are You, Lord?'
Then the Lord said, 'I am
Jesus, whom you are persecuting. It is hard for you to kick against the goads.'" : Paul could testify that fighting
against God's people was to actually fight against Jesus Himself!
- The reality of Christ and His claim upon them
was what their opponents were responding to.
- Consequently, it's is right for
God to repay or avenge with trouble those that troubled the Thessalonians and
indeed, every believer who has ever suffered at the hands of a tyrant.
- Nothing is forgotten in the sight
of God and contrary to our present feelings, nobody gets away with it!
- God promises to afflict the
hostile unbeliever with trouble, especially should they die in their sins! For
those who cause trouble now will have trouble, but those who are troubled now
will rest!
- Paul tells the Thessalonians that
they will be eased and their bonds will be loosed with every believer, Paul
includes himself, at the revelation, the unveiling of the Lord Jesus!
- We will stand with our Savior and
all of His mighty angels! Today, don't you feel often that you are on the
losing team? Doesn't it seem that the Christian often fails to catch the break?
- That is only a temporary
condition! When Jesus comes, there will be no opponent that we need to fear,
for Jesus, our Savior will be here! And that will be a day of great sorrow for
the World.
- We believers will rejoice and our
hearts will ever be glad, but the unbelieving world will face the consequences
of their decisions in an explosive manner.
- The picture is of a hero who
comes and secures His object of rescue only to quickly turn and become an enemy
to the one that sought to extinguish the Hero's beloved.
- He will come upon them with
flashing fire, taking vengeance upon those that don't know God. These are not
people who are ignorant of the facts. They simply don't acknowledge His place.
- Perhaps you could call this a
passive indifference. They have heard the facts, but have paid zero attention
to the call of God's voice. Initially, they've put it off and have since shut
it off!
- On the other hand, there is the
opposite response which is aggressive defiance. These do not obey the gospel!
They refuse and are hostile to it, such as the Jews were in Thessalonica!
- You and I might think that such a
thing is not so bad, but consider a human being who has actively turned his own
heart from that which is lovely about the work of God?
- What happens to such a person?
Paul tells the Roman believers that such a person becomes debased in his
thinking and is eventually released to the debasing of his body. (Romans
1:19-32)
- Such a person hates God and will
reap the consequences of that decision in time and for eternity! Paul's next
words testify to that being the case.
• II Thessalonians 1:9,10 : "These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the
presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be
glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because
our testimony among you was believed." : Those who resist the Lord will be punished, a word relating to
paying a penalty, with everlasting destruction.
- Please do not enter into guilt by
glossing that over or seeking to redefine it. For eternity, those who hate God
will suffer immeasurable, conscious torment.
- They will be ruined forever in a
present state of suffering, the origin of which will come primarily from the
presence of the Lord as the source of exacting that payment.
- The word also indicates an
eternal separation from or out of the place of the Lord's joy and
righteousness. For our minds, this is almost unbelieveable.
- We live as many as 80 or 90
years. In that time, there are many who never do anything even worthy of a
parking ticket!
- But it is not so much the offense
alone as it is the who the One who has been offended! If I commit a crime
against you, human law dictates certain punishments.
- A blasphemy against the Supreme,
Creator of the Universe, especially in light of the grace of His free gift of
salvation paid for by Christ Himself? What other punishment would be
appropriate!?
- You and I can cry
"foul" or rant about the seemingly unfair treatment, but we cannot
escape the reality that God has deemed His house fit for those who are wearing
Christ's righteousness!
- You may not necessarily want to
go to heaven, but you can't possibly be alright with going to hell! A place of
punishment, a place away from the face of God and His mighty power to act.
- It's a place where every
consequence will be the reality and there will be no restraint or relief! This
begins when Jesus comes, beginning with the rapture of the church.
- When that "Day," the
day of the Lord happens, there will be an outpouring of God's wrath upon the
unbelieving world, such as has never been before!
- Does His grace today, His
extended love and favor to mankind, not seem incredibly gracious in light of
this doom? The Gospel shines in the darkest place as the sole light of hope for
this world!
- While the world suffers, the Lord
has deemed to be glorified in His saints and admired or marveled at, among all
who believe. The saints and the ones who believe are one in the same!
- What is Paul referring to? There
are several possibilities. One, he is referring to a time of vengeance upon
those who were troubling the Thessalonians.
- While they began to understand
that this was the fruit of their persecution, they will look at the glory of
God in the suffering church and eventually admire their ability to stand for
the Lord.
- On the other other hand, Paul
could be referring to the Tribulation Saints who come to Christ after the
Rapture and who glorify Christ by giving their very lives for their confession.
- As much as they hate Christ, they
must admire one who inspires such devotion. Either way, this is true: When we
suffer, God is glorified and admired!
- Who suffers? Those who have
believed the Apostle's testimony about the One who came and who is coming
again!
- The One who receives glory,
adverstising by us and the One who will be admired for eternity!
• II Thessalonians 1:11,12 : "Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count
you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness
and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you,
and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ." : Because of the Lord's imminent return
to rescue His saints and recompense His enemies, Paul prayed that they would be
counted worthy of God's calling.
- Listen to the NLT on this verse:
"So we keep
on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his
call."
- What is a life worthy of His
calling? It's a life which conforms to His Word. It's a life that exists to
reveal His character.
- The invitation, the calling is from
heaven. What does a life leading to heaven look like? Whatever that is, may He
continue to enable you to walk that way!
- There is a life that brings Him
glory. There is a life that is worthy of His Name. You must look into the
mirror of His Word and make the determination as to whether there is a match or
not.
- The second part of Paul prayer
was that God fulfill, bring to a completion, the benevolent goodness and work
of powerful faith.
- I'm fairly certain that they were
tempted to find some other way to walk and that if they remained on this track,
that they might do so quietly. Paul says "No way!"
- Our trials aren't times to cut
off good things which stem from His presence in our life. May I challenge us to
see that Paul is calling them to continue to be a conduit of His divine work!
- Paul is praying that they would
have everything that they needed to express every good thing that their faith
would look toward, even in spite of present suffering!
- There could easily be an excuse
written and a suspension of good works on account of suffering, but Paul simply
says, "May you have what you need to continue!"
- We're never to suspend our
activities or to put off proclaiming the gospel of Jesus Christ! We are in fact
to call out to God for greater strength and vigor in that matter!
- What is the conclusion of such
living? That the Name of Jesus Christ would be glorified.
- The idea is to make more of, to
lift His Name to greatness, to participate on Earth with that which is true in
Heaven! God wants His church to glorify His Son!
- He wants to inspire, resource and
receive from that goal, all of which is done according to the grace of God and
our Lord!
Conclusion
Let's pray.
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