1. What can wash away our sins? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
a. I love that hymn, and I especially love that line.
b. It’s the precious blood of Jesus that washes us, and cleanses us from all our sins.
What can wash away my sin? Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my pardon, this I see, Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
For my cleansing this my plea, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Glory! Glory! This I sing— Nothing but the blood of Jesus,
All my praise for this I bring— Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Oh! precious is the flow That makes me white as snow;
No other fount I know, Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
1 John 1.9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
NOW: If we sat down to write a new song about our faith, what builds it, what establishes it, what makes it grow…
• We might have a line in the song like this:
• What can build our faith, nothing but the Word of God!
o When confusion comes? Turn to God’s Word.
o When questions arise? Lean on God’s Truths.
o When conflicts need resolution? Open the Word.
NOTE: Those of you that have made a habit of using God’s Word have found that it is powerful for every area of life.
Hebrews 4.12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
And that’s where Paul is as he closes this letter to church, the final letter we have written to the young church in Thessalonica.
• There are really 4 areas of concern he shares with them.
• First he asks them to Pray for the Word to go out.
• Then he Commands them to work.
• Then he Comforts them in their weariness.
• AND Finally he Concludes with Grace.
I. (3:1-5) Pray: Word to Go Out
1. (1-2) Pray For us
a. Remember, this is a church that can’t seem to get their end times theology right… they’re struggling in all sorts of areas.
b. And Paul doesn’t say, Finally brethren, pray for us, BUT SINCE you can’t get anything right, NEVER MIND. NO
c. He encourages them. Guys, please pray for us!
APP: It’s a great request for us as a church. Pray for us.
• Pray for the leaders in this church. Pray for the Sunday School workers, for the nursery, for the home fellowships… Pray.
• The bulletin becomes NOT JUST a list of events & opportunities.
• It becomes a weekly prayer list for various needs in the church.
• That the word of the Lord may run swiftly! Yes Lord.
Psalm 147.15 He sends out His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.
NOTE: You guys are a great congregation, a praying, serving, giving, loving, grace filled church!
• It’s such an honor to be a part of this.
• U know GREAT PASTORS don’t make GREAT CONGEGRATIONS.
• I believe it’s the other way around!
• Great Congregations make for useful pastors.
• As you guys pray for your pastor, God honors your prayers and all glory and honor and righteousness goes to Him!
Neh. 9.6 You alone are the LORD; You have made heaven, The heaven of heavens, with all their host, The earth and everything on it, The seas and all that is in them, And You preserve them all. The host of heaven worships You.
NOTE: The Body of Christ needs to be praying. It’s true.
Luke 18.1 Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart…
• And we do pray… NOT for our PROJECTS & PROGRAMS.
• But our prayers go forth for the PREACHING & PROCLAMATION & PENETRATION OF GOD’S WORD into the hearts of men!
2. (3-5) As we pray for you.
a. You pray for us, we pray for you! God is faithful.
b. He will establish… literally: to set fast, fix firmly
c. He will guard… literally: watch over, protect you.
NOTE: That’s really what we see here in our fellowship.
• Man is so limited. I’m limited. But He is not!
• My confidence as a pastor IS IN the Lord concerning you.
• He will establish, guard, enable, and direct your hearts!
• What’s your part? My part? Turn to Acts 2:42-46
II. (3:6-12, 14-15) Command: Work
1. (6-7) Disorderly Brothers & Sisters
a. Unfortunately, from time to time, we find those in the fellowship that are disorderly.
b. Their walk is in chaos, not by accident, but willingly.
c. It’s a word that refers to being out of order, out of rank.
BASICALLY it describes a person who willingly & knowingly disobeys God’s Word and has no desire to repent or change.
• Really, in complete opposition to Paul’s example (v7).
1 Thess 5.14 Now we exhort you, brethren, warn those who are unruly, comfort the fainthearted, uphold the weak, be patient with all.
So after the warning… there comes a time for separation!
Titus 3.10-11 Reject a divisive man after the first and second admonition, 11 knowing that such a person is warped and sinning, being self-condemned.
NOTE: Church discipline is NOT mentioned much today.
• It seems as if leaders today are more interested in GROWING THEIR CHURCHES NUMERICALLY than STRENGTHENING THEM SPIRITUALLY.
• But there is a need from time to time to put someone outside of the family when they are living in sin & refusing to repent!
• Don’t look at church discipline as a group of policeman, but rather as a family.
• Even as a father must discipline his kids to train them, so on occasion the leaders in a church must do the same thing.
• HOMEWORK… Matthew 18. We studied this in-depth.
NOW THE ISSUE in THEIR church was mooching & laziness.
3. (8-12) No Work, No Eating.
a. Paul knew that it was biblical for the church to support Paul & meet his financial needs as their shepherd and pastor.
1 Cor. 9.9-10 For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it treads out the grain." Is it oxen God is concerned about? 10 Or does He say it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written, that he who plows should plow in hope, and he who threshes in hope should be partaker of his hope.
b. But he came to the city and made tents not asking anything from the church… so that he might not be a burden.
c. So that he might give them, and us an example.
NOTE: It’s the example we followed here in Aurora.
• I worked a full time job during the early stages of the church.
• It wasn’t large enough to support me & my family.
• But as it grew, we knew that the church needed more support and attention and the board decided to bring me on staff.
• And as each new staff member is added, we see the Lord provide for the needs of their family.
NOW v10 addresses a group of disorderly people…
• They refused to work but still wanted the benefits.
• This isn’t toward those who are physically unable… but those that can should.
• The Bible has a lot to say about compassion toward those who cannot work…
NOTE: The danger from this sin is that those who can but won’t, become busybodies and so quickly corrupt those around them.
• Paul is using a play on words here in the Greek…
• They weren’t working but were still busy.
• That is they were “everywhere doing everything but doing nothing.”
• Apparently the ‘unreasonable & wicked’ men of v2 didn’t understand this as they had enough time to endlessly complain, and gossip, and confuse the flock!
APP: And so the best thing you can do with a busybody is stay away from him or her. Jump to v14-15
• Not out of rejection but in order to restore them.
• Truly what I’ve found is that if gossips and busybodies have no audience, then they eventually stop.
• Then their energies are better spent on those things that edify, build up, and strengthen the flock!
2 Cor. 12.19 Again, do you think that we excuse ourselves to you? We speak before God in Christ. But we do all things, beloved, for your edification.
III. (3:13) Comfort: Weariness
1. (13-15) But as for you…
a. There was that group in the church seeking God’s best and wanting to see God continue to do a work in that city!
b. As for you… don’t grow weary.
c. Why? Because it’s very easy to do!
d. Sometimes we grow weary in serving, in giving, in sharing, in ministering.
NOTE: Where’s all the help the children’s ministry servants think?
• Don’t grow weary?
Why should I keep giving financially, sacrificially?
• Don’t grow weary
When will he/she change, I’ve been praying of years.
• YUP, you guessed it, Don’t grow weary.
AND WE add to the weariness of service, the weariness of those who can be disorderly, those that are disobedient… whew!
• It’s more than we can handle isn’t it? YES! It is.
• Oh precious flock, let’s look at 2 Corinthians 2:12ff
• Then let’s flip over to Galatians 6:9ff
NOTE: Every ounce of energy you give to God is worth it.
• Every penny you give back to God is worth it.
• Every child you hold, paper you fold, floor you sweep is worth it.
• Why? Why is it worth it?
• Well, what price will you put on a soul? What?
• Yes, what price will we put on a soul?
• Is there a dollar amount? Is there a work limit?
APP: God has already determined that value you know?
• Your soul, my soul, his soul, her soul… is worth Jesus!
John 3.16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.
John 15.13 "Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.
IV. (3:16-18) Conclusion: Grace
2. (16-18) This is my letter and God’s Grace
a. And so Paul commends them to the peace, the power, and presence of God’s grace in their lives.
b. That’s really where they would be strongest and safest.
c. Let’s look at Acts 20:17ff… final words to leaders in Ephesus.
V17 – The salutation of Paul with my own hand.
• He signs it so that they know it’s authentic. It’s real.
• The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. AMEN.
This 2nd letter ends the way the first letter did…
1 Thess 5.28 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
• Except the word “ALL” is added for this one.
• It’s almost as if Paul is trying to draw, even the disorderly into rank, into order, by the love and grace of God.
• They aren’t excluded, but included… because truly it’s God’s grace and goodness that will lead them to repentance!
• Even though he had to share some strong words and write some hard things to say, Paul’s desire was and continues to be that God’s grace rules and reigns in the church!
NOTE: That’s definitely my prayer too for us at Calvary Chapel.
• That we would be a church full of grace, loving it & living it.
• Experiencing it and Extending it.
He starts the letter by pronouncing Grace & Peace upon them.
• He ends the letter with the same heart, Grace & Peace.
AND SO REMEMBER… these wonderful letters were the blessed fruit of a NO from God.
• Paul wanting to go one way, but God saying NO go this way.
• He did. On to Philippi, then Thessalonica… a church was born.
• It makes me remember, God is in control.
• & I’m learning more and more to rejoice in the NO’s of God.
Ps. 37.23 The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD, And He delights in his way.
• Might I add that His STOPS are also ordered by God.
APP: Will God use frustration? Can he bring joy out of heartache?
• YES!!! It’s through frustration that God is using to break our self-will, to break our self-dependence…
• He lets you get to that place where you cry out, What now?
2 Cor. 12.8-9 Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me. 9 And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
• God is fast at work in our lives… I’m glad that he is!
