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Message
2 Thessalonians 1:1-12
Having Consistent and Growing Christianity
Some time after Paul wrote his first letter Paul gets some more news from Thessalonica about other situations which have arisen within the church.
Now concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our being gathered together to him … let no one deceive you in any way.
2 Thessalonians 2:1,3
For we hear that some among you walk in idleness, not busy at work, but busybodies.
2 Thessalonians 2:11
Paul seeks to instruct the church and strengthen them in these areas, so a second letter is written, probably within a year of the first letter. Let’s read the opening chapter of that letter – 2 Thessalonians 1:1-12.
In reading these verses what we realise is that a few things may have changed in the Thessalonian church; we will look at those changes in coming weeks. However there is also a lot that is still the same.
The Thessalonian Believers Are Continuing To Mature.
Paul specifically identifies two areas where there is maturity.
They Have Hyper-Growing Faith.
If we want to give people an idea of the intensity of an action or an outcome we add the word “hyper”
There are many children who are active. Then there are children who are hyper-active. Sometimes all it takes is the addition of some lollies and fizzy drink.
“Faith is growing,” says Paul in verse 3. Not just growth – it is hyper-growth.
Holding onto, and growing in, a faith which knows the security of salvation.
Being sure, and growing in the surety, of what we hope for … and being certain, and growing in the certainty, of what we do not see.
Having an hyper-growing faith that see all circumstances and still believes that God always works for the good of those who love Him.
Hyper-surety about the promises of redemption and renewal. Hyper-belief that Jesus will return and that we will be with Him.
This is the Christian life which brings thankfulness.
It is also a Christian life that can happen today when we live as the Thessalonians lived.
• They had work produced by faith, labour prompted by love, and endurance inspired by hope (1 Thessalonians 1:3).
• They were imitators of the apostles/evangelists and of the Lord (1 Thessalonians 1:6).
• They became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia (1 Thessalonians 1:7)
• When they received the word of God they accepted it as the word of God (1 Thessalonians 2:13)
• They were standing firm in the Lord (1 Thessalonians 3:8)
Their hyper-growth in faith is the result of hyper-obedience. Actively living in response to all that the Lord Jesus has given us. So that even in the space of 6 months to 1 year the growth of an already mature group of kingdom believers is still measurable.
It is a description of what is happening in Thessalonica.
There is no reason why it cannot be a description of what the Lord can do in our lives today.
We can have hyper-growth. When we are mature we can also have Super-Abounding Love.
Super is always better.
We don’t just have heros … they are superheros.
Yet, when comes to “super” most of it is the stuff of legend, and comics and movies.
But when we are in Christ super is an achievable kingdom life-style. Super-abounding in the love – the agape … Christ-like-sacrificial … God sent his Son – love. Which we all have for everyone else.
How does it come about? Part of the answer is prayer.
May the Lord make your love increase (super-abound) and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you.
1 Thessalonians 3:12
Since writing the first letter Paul has constantly been speaking this blessing … this prayer … and the Lord was answering as Paul and the church prayed. We will not super-abound if we are not seeking the Lord in prayer and bringing this petition regularly before the Lord.
Another part of the answer is obedience.
Now about your love for one another we do not need to write to you, for you yourselves have been taught by God to love each other. And in fact, you do love all of God’s family throughout Macedonia. Yet we urge you, brothers and sisters, to do so more and more.
1 Thessalonians 4:9-10
The Thessalonian church didn’t stagnate with the first letter. They choose love more and more.
That is important to see.
We live in a world that has turned love into a feeling. There are feelings related to love – but love is not primarily a feeling – love primarily is a choice.
The choice to send his one and only Son as a sacrifice.
The choice to show the greatest act of love by laying down his life.
The choice that moves us from hyper-faith to super-abounding love.
Peter describes the choice process for us.
For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing (super-abounding) measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Peter 1:5-8
The active choice to make every effort to move from faith to ever increasing super-abounding love. It is the road to give-all-the-praise-to-God maturity.
There is a consistency in the church of the Thessalonians regarding their maturity.
There is also consistency because the Thessalonian Believers Still Find Hope In Their Eternal Destiny.
When you have hyper-growing faith and superabounding love you can be sure that you are walking faithfully in the calling of God and faithfully living in His will for your life.
Then Paul steps into that space and says:-
We boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring. All this is evidence that God’s judgment is right, and as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.
2 Thessalonians 1:4-5
Let that assertion occupy your thoughts for a moment.
Hyper-growing faith and superabounding love does not protect one from persecution and trials. Indeed the existence of such persecution is a sign of the right judgements of God.
Which is not always easy to reconcile.
How can situations of persecution demonstrate the right judgements of God?
Aren't we more tempted to say in those circumstances, “Why isn't God doing something?”
It takes kingdom maturity to see God’s right judgements in persecution.
It also takes kingdom maturity to be those who are persecuted.
More and more persecution is an issue we need to talk about in Australia.
At the moment the ABC is conducting a survey called “Australia Talks” – so far almost 55,000 people have voluntarily responded to the survey.
One question is
Do you believe that religious people are subjected to discrimination in this country?
(the chart for the data is here https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-11-06/annabel-crabb-australia-talks-religion-insights/11674076)
Even people with no religion see the reality, over 70% occasionally or often believe that religious people are subject to discrimination. Ironically, looking at this chart it seems that Catholics, Protestants, Non-Christian religions and Atheists actually all agree on this point!
We will be persecuted … and it will happen more and more.
As we stand firm, and speak the truth, and hold firm to the faith.
I was talking to Finn a little while ago. He was at school and the class was asked to write down who would be proud of your achievements at school.
Finn wrote down, "God."
When the teacher saw this they said, "Don't be ridiculous."
Keep in mind that Finn is only 6!
When you start thinking about this situation there seems to be reasons for anger, and wanting to protect, and recognising the situation as unjust. Alex and Carmen told Finn that even teachers are not perfect and make mistakes – and that school … even good schools … doesn’t teach you everything about life.
Which is a great response … and it is great for two reasons. Firstly it keeps affirming the idea that God is just. Secondly it flows out of seeing the bigger picture of God’s justice.
A day is coming when God will visit us again and separate those who have stood against Him for eternal punishment.
These people are going to experience an eternity of being separated from God and not experiencing the grace of God.
An eternity of no compassion, no love, no mercy, no forgiveness and no hope.
When the Lord returns repentance no longer available.
That is the bigger picture. When we have that eternal perspective it modifies our heart for those who are the cause of persecution.
“God will pay back those who trouble you … “
… that is not a triumphant expectation, “Just you wait God will give you what you deserve”.
… it is a call to respond in increasing faith and superabounding love, “If you don’t see what you are doing and the consequences of this, you well end up in that place of eternal punishment.
Anyone who truly understands what eternal punishment is cannot be those who would want to see another person endure such a destiny.
“Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” says Jesus to us in Matthew 5:44.
“Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing,” says Jesus as he is being persecuted and put to death in Luke 23:34.
The attitude of the heavenly Lord and Father in 2 Peter 3:9 is that “he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”
Knowing the justice of God is not a knowledge that leads to triumphalism and the anticipation of fulfilled vengeance. The justice of God, and the divergent destiny of those who are in Christ and those who are not, drives us to compassion. This compassion, back by hyper-growing faith and superabundance love for everyone will direct our response to persecution.
About 15 years ago there was a missionary in Russia. He was captured by the Russian army who were not very sympathetic to Christians. In order to humiliate the man the soldiers made him lay on the ground and then they urinated all over him.
When it was finished the missionary stood up and said, “Because Jesus forgive you so do I”.
That night when he was locked in his outdoor prison a soldier came to him and spoke with him in the dark. “Tell me about this Jesus who enables you to treat all people with dignity.” Through that conversation another believer was added to the kingdom.
Through our suffering Jesus can be proclaimed. Indeed we are doing is following in the footsteps of our Saviour who was the suffering servant for the salvation of the world.
Such an outcome comes by following the consistency of the Thessalonians and finding hope in our eternal destiny no matter what the circumstances.
Indeed it is in these circumstances, where they continue on in faith and love despite persecution, that The Thessalonian Believers Have A Purpose Which Gives Them Security.
What is the their purpose?
That they are made worthy
It is not a worth based on finances, vocation, family values, success, intelligence, status, or achievements.
It is not a worth that can be taken away by what others think of us, or the way we wrongly view ourselves, or the hurt we go through, or the circumstances that may cause us to doubt.
We are worthy because God has a calling in our lives. Those God predestined, he also called; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified (Romans 8:30).
When God calls us he will not let us go.
When God calls … glory is the outcome.
That is where our worth lies … a purpose which gives security.
That they have power
What does that power look like?
By his power God raised the Lord from the dead, and he will raise us also.
1 Corinthians 6:14
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes.
Romans 1:16
We have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us.
2 Corinthians 4:7
My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.
2 Corinthians 12:9
This power
… to complete every desire for goodness.
… to fulfil all the deeds prompted by faith.
That is given to us by God … this power gives us purpose and security.
So let’s summarise what we have seen today.
The Thessalonian Believers Are Continuing To Mature.
The Thessalonian Believers Still Find Hope In Their Eternal Destiny.
The Thessalonian Believers Have A Purpose Which Gives Them Security.
If we today in the strength of Christ continue with such consistent lives we also will be those who are a source of thanksgiving … as the Lord Jesus is glorified through our journey of faith.
Prayer
