The Word Is Not Imprisoned

2 Thessalonians 3

I suppose there’s always been and always will be people who underestimate and overestimate the evil one. If you need a good reason to pray, here’s one in verse one. Evil men and the evil one (Satan) is feverishly at work to stop the rapid spread of God’s Word and it being glorified!

What should you know before praying? The Lord is faithful. Because of that, he will strengthen and protect you and those you pray for. I, with Paul, am confident that you are doing this and will continue to do so. Verse 5 is one of those quick prayers that we should master: May the Lord direct your hearts to the love of God and to the steadfastness of Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 3:5

I bet some of the rest of this chapter sounds odd to many. Maybe it’s helpful to ask this question, “Where were these perverse and evil men Paul speaks of in verse 2?” I think the clue is “not all have faith” and the instructions in the rest of this chapter.

I think this means they are from within the church. Brothers (professing believers) who live “unruly” will hinder the rapid spread of the gospel. Paul had given them clear examples of how both ministry and work should been done. So, those who are leading undisciplined lives should be ashamed. The way Paul commands this to happen is by withdrawing from them in hopes of restoration.

Sin within the body is a big deal. There are those who are members that do not have faith. There are those who are members that live unruly and need to be admonished. Why? For sake of God’s glory and the spread of the gospel!!!

I’ll leave you with this, if a brother or sister in Christ (specifically those you are in covenant membership with) are living unruly lives you must do something to show them their error. Your relationship cannot go on as “normal” and expect them to get it or be ashamed.

My prayer for you: Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way. The Lord be with you all. – 2 Thessalonians 3:16

2 Thessalonians 2

I love Paul’s dual description: the coming of *our Lord Jesus Christ AND *our gathering to Him! We are a communal people. And someday we will commune together with God forever!

However, what if someone convinced you that the Lord had already come? What a reason to give up if Jesus has already come. But he hasn’t come yet!

A sign of maturity is knowing that you can be deceived. To be deceived means someone caused you to believe something that’s not true without you knowing what they did. The mature believer knows this can happen and is therefore very cautious with EVERYBODY that teaches the Bible.

Another sign of maturity is simply knowing what the Bible says in order not to be deceived. Of course, it’s usually not obvious. It’s often a mixture of error and truth which needs mature discernment.

Be the one praying for wisdom. Be the one to question the crowd about that which isn’t the truth. Be the one who knows which hills to die on and which ones that are not worth it.

All that needed to be said but let’s not end there. Notice how Paul addresses them, “beloved by the Lord!” What does it mean to be beloved by the Lord? You are beloved because you were chosen for salvation from the beginning.

Why? That you might “gain the glory of our Lord Jesus.” These are reasons…hopeful reasons to “stand firm and hold to” the truth.

My prayer for you is this: 16 Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace, 17 comfort your hearts and establish them in every good work and word. – 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Eternal comfort and good hope in Christ. Let that strengthen your hearts, beloved by the Lord!

2 Thessalonians 1

How does faith and love for one another become greatly enlarged? I would suggest that it’s possible the fruit of persecutions and afflictions had caused them to excel still more.

They are enduring together! They are finding ways (possibly being somewhat forced) to love each other in ways they had never thought of because of the suffering.

Not to mention, the next chapter will expose that someone had taught them wrongly and they were disturbed about the Lord’s coming. Being certain of the Lord’s future return is essential to living by faith in the present. It’s very freeing to know that eternal life awaits us.

What will spur you on to love and faith like this? Is there any motivation in this text? Absolutely there is!

-You will be considered worthy of the Kingdom of God for which you are suffering.

-The Lord will repay with affliction those who afflict you.

-And he will give relief to you when he comes.

-Jesus will be glorified in his saints and will be marveled at among all who believed.

We must keep our eyes on what is to come not what’s happening today. Let the beauty of Christ and his promised rewards compel you to greater faith and love still.

Now’s the time for this. Amid afflictions and panic may we be steadfast and sure.

My prayer for us: 11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. – 2 Thessalonians 1:11-12

I hope our response in these uncertain times will result in glory to Jesus! Look to him and point to him!

1 Thessalonians 5

Such providential timing for this passage! But the fact is fear can cause us to be overly concerned about the timing of the Day of the Lord. However, Paul says they already know what they need to know.

The fact is, that day will be a surprise to those not waiting for it. But that’s not so of believers. Though we do not know what day the Lord will come, faith anticipates and longs for it and therefore need not know when because we are patiently waiting for it everyday.

How do we wait patiently for it? How do we remain alert and sober minded in uncertain days? Sober ness has to do with a clear mind. How do you guard your mind? You put on the helmet of hope…in other words you think on the promises of God.

How you think, guards your heart (breastplate) by faith and love. Think on this: 9 For God has not destined us for wrath, but to obtain salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ, 10 who died for us so that whether we are awake or asleep we might live with him. – 1 Thessalonians 5:9-10

But we sometimes struggle to keep our mind set on Christ…especially when we are alone. Therefore, believers need to be together to be encouraged. Though many churches are pausing services, we must be eager to return.

But how can we be together to encourage until things return to normal…and we must do something. Write a letter. Call. Send a text. Set up a Skype or Zoom meeting (we really do not have any excuse with the technology we have).

No…it’s not the same. It’s not what we want. But we need encouragement to be light amid the darkness. The world will look for answers and we have the answer-the good news not the daily news. If you are discouraged you might not be ready to live as people that have hope.

My prayer for you is this: 23 Now may the God of peace himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24 He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it. – 1 Thessalonians 5:23-24

1 Thessalonians 4

It’s amazing to see an example we need for this season of life we are in as a church. Paul was unable to visit (gather) with the believers in Thessalonica. Though for different reasons than our own, we see Paul using the means available to teach and encourage the saints.

By way of letter, Paul resounds the repeated phrase “that you excel still more” or “that you do so more and more.” So, by way of letter (from a distance) Paul instructs the church in ways that we need to hear today.

The word excel means exceed or abound. It’s doing more than you’ve been doing. It’s like if you work 40 hours a week, now let’s exceed that amount and work overtime.

What a time to be alive! What an opportunity to display the character and love of Christ to many in our neighborhoods that have no hope.

Whatever this virus is or turns out to be, I’m certain it is a test for the church. It’s time to act. It’s time to trust. It’s time to excel all the more in how we walk with God (please Him). Abstaining from that which does not display God’s character. And loving the beloved of the Lord and our neighbors still more.

We of all people ought to live like this because we have hope…hope in the resurrection to come! This should be very comforting to you in such uncertain times.

My prayer for you is this: God is able to make all grace *abound to you, *so that having all sufficiency in *all things at *all times, you may *abound in *every *good *work. – 2 Corinthians 9:8

Grace and peace, beloved! May God’s grace abound to you so that you can abound in loving your neighbors.

1 Thessalonians 3

More examples of discipleship. I saw a quote last week that has really been working on me. Discipleship is not a program. Programs are scheduled time to do particular things that may or may not aid in discipleship.

Discipleship is specific to each person and what they need in the moment of their walk with Jesus. Of course it can have structure and plans but it adjusts to what life throws at you. Most of all it requires intentionality.

Paul longed for news about the faith and love of those in Thessalonica. He finally sent Timothy to check on them, face to face. We must do the same. Paul could have sent a letter asking them to send a letter in response to hear about them. But he didn’t.

Ask a fellow brother or sister in Christ how their faith and love for Christ is. When they say “good” like most people, ask them what they mean by good. You don’t have to push like this every time you see them but be intentional to do so often. And when you do, keep pushing and asking questions until you get to the bottom. Don’t let them hide behind generalities.

11 Now may our God and Father himself, and our Lord Jesus, direct our way to you,

12 and may the Lord make you increase and abound in love for one another and for all, as we do for you,

13 so that he may establish your hearts blameless in holiness before our God and Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints. – 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13

The last post was a combination of Acts 18 and 1 Thessalonians 1. I’m following the Foundations reading plan this year, so I’ll be posting the readings of that plan.

Thessalonians 2

Discipleship involves speaking the gospel amid opposition.

There’s always a risk in discipleship of speaking in a way to avoid suffering by pleasing men.

Sometimes defending your calling becomes necessary.

Discipleship must be with gentleness.

Discipleship includes speaking the word but also the giving of your lives to them.

Discipleship is hard work and long hours.

In discipleship, you must walk uprightly toward/with those you are discipling.

To make disciples one must exhort (strongly urge them), encourage, and implore disciples.

And lastly (and something we rarely talk about), the faith and growth of disciples will be our glory and joy. It is so encouraging to see others getting it! It reminds me of this: 3 For I rejoiced greatly when the brothers came and testified to your truth, as indeed you are walking in the truth. 4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth. – 3 John 1:3-4

Can we not start noticing how people are growing and being faithful and encourage them by telling them “I’m so thankful to see you doing _________!” Do we even notice? How encouraged one might be to press on?!?!

Acts 18

Making disciples will include meeting people with whom you have things in common. Paul’s connection with Aquila and Priscilla begins a journey of the gospel that is astounding.

Just tracing it in Acts 18, you can see them going on with Paul to Ephesus where Paul leaves them. A man named Apollos needed further instruction concerning Jesus to which Aquila and Priscilla were able to do.

Apollos continues on! Can you see the effects of discipleship? Teaching is vitally important.

Another character in the story interest me. Again, Paul would not have planned to be brought before the proconsul in Corinth but it seems that somehow it resulted in a new disciple.

In verse 17, Sosthenes, the leader of the synagogue, was beaten by the mob of Jews. In 1 Cor. 1:1, he is with Paul and he calls him a brother. You just never know what the Lord is up to when you follow him. It’s an adventure for sure. And suffering is never far behind.

Look for people with whom you have commonalities. Get to know them. Sow the seed of the gospel. Turn this world upside down by teaching Jesus. May it be like the spread of a virus!

That seems to be the case at Thessalonica. They became imitators Paul and his companions and of God and they became examples of a faith to imitate: * 7 so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia.

8 For not only has the word of the Lord sounded forth from you in Macedonia and Achaia, but your faith in God has gone forth *everywhere, so that we need not say anything. – 1 Thessalonians 1:7-8

Tuck the gospel seed away in some soil today. You will never know how it will bear fruit!

Some thoughts this morning on how the church responds to #covid-19 (#coronavirus)

Years ago, a group of men from the church gathered at a widow’s house in the neighborhood to make some repairs on her house. We stopped for a water break and sat down for a rest in the backyard.

When I took my seat, one of the men said, “That tree limb above you is dead.”

I look up and sure enough there hangs over me a rather large limb that is dead. So I get up and move to another location.

The person who told me about the limb asked, “You don’t have faith in God.”

I replied, “Sure I do. But I do not want to test God.”

I share that story because some Christians will respond to Covid-19 by testing God. I’m not saying this is a reason for not meeting this morning but for some they will come to church with a motive similar to that of those who handle snakes in church.

If you pick up a poisonous snake to show off your faith that’s not faith. That’s testing God. If you grab a snake to protect someone (love your neighbor) well that’s faith.

Faith in God and testing God can look the same yet with a different motive.

Let us come humbly before the Lord today. Let us pray for our neighbors, government officials and hospital staff. Let’s maintain our love for our neighbor because in doing so we are loving God.

Those who chose not to gather today doesn’t mean they are afraid. That could be the reason but not everyone.

Let’s be merciful, gracious, patient, gentle, and loving.

4 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant

5 or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful;

6 it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.

7 Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. – 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Acts 17

I think it’s very encouraging to see the gospel being proclaimed and believed! It seems rare to see new believers in our area. The continued proclamation without seeing any respond is discouraging.

So, be encouraged afresh by these three different locations bearing fruit!

And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas, as did a great many of the devout Greeks and not a few of the leading women. – Acts 17:4

Many of them therefore believed, with not a few Greek women of high standing as well as men. – Acts 17:12

But some men joined him and believed, among whom also were Dionysius the Areopagite and a woman named Damaris and others with them. – Acts 17:34

You might respond to this by thinking…well this was pioneer mission work. These new fields had not heard the gospel. How does that encourage me to keep proclaiming in this saturated field?

Two things: 1) there are people in our area that haven’t heard the gospel. I know that sounds odd but it’s true. We can be complacent in sharing the gospel because it’s easy to re-share than seek out new fields among us. 2) there are many people in our area that have heard (and believe) a false gospel. That’s a field too! One of our odd but primary tasks here is to evangelize the church.

Paul went to the synagogue to share. He reasoned with them. We must seek to persuade nominal Christians to believe in the gospel. I think this has so much to do with what kind of church we are. Can our community look at us and see a difference? Can they see what it looks like to follow and love Jesus?

Are we a compelling community of believers that displays the character of God while repentant of our daily failing before a watching world? May we desire this…Lord bring revival among us.