Is Time Running Out (Part 2)?
2 Thessalonians 2:13-17
Introduction
- Last week, we talked about the man of lawlessness; and where his power resides
-- It is key to understand his wickedness and deception, and even his motives
-- Why? When we know our enemy, we know how to fight / defend him
-- How? We fight with the truth of the Gospel, this is our 1st and best weapon
- This morning, we will see how Paul, after teaching on this, encourages us
-- For today, I want us to just relax – to breath in – to listen to what God says
-- There is so much noise, so much chaos, so much judgment in our world today
-- Right now, I feel that we could use a word of scripturally based encouragement
- Read 2 Thessalonians 2:13-17 / Pray
- TR: Often, these few verses get us into conversation of “predestination”
-- i.e., “God already chose who He is going to save so why should we bother?”
- But always remember, God desires all to be saved – for none to perish
-- It is why we’ve been given the choice to accept Jesus, and to pass it on
- So first, Paul shows how we are in this together. He says …
Point 1 – We must be thankful for those willing to work
- It is in this teaching that Paul is encouraging the church: be grateful for workers
-- APP: Together, we can rejoice in what God has done and reflect it to all
- Paul brings great praise for them; but not because of who they (we) are, but …
-- We (the brothers/sisters) have been called (v14) to this work b/c of the Gospel
- Get this: It is because the Gospel that we get to help in the work for the Lord
-- What is the Gospel? It is good news – it is the death and resurrection of Christ
-- GR: euaggelion (yoo-ang-ghel'-ee-on), literally meaning “good news”
-- It is the revelation of who God is through Jesus (know his actions and attributes)
-- It is ALSO the knowledge that b/c of what Jesus did … we can be forever His
- Being called to the work of the Gospel is something each believer has
-- Talked before about God’s revelation to mankind through Jesus’ sacrifice
-- This concern for His creation is in such a way that He pleads with us to choose
-- Talked about this before: 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed but wants everyone to repent.”
- So, in choosing to follow Christ, we share in His glory and His reward
-- Paul drives this home in Romans 8, giving us a promise to stand on forever
-- Romans 8:17, “And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But (don’t miss this statement) if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.”
-- We have a choice here, and when we choose Jesus, even Paul is grateful
- TRANS: First he thanks the church, then he exhorts them …
Point 2 – When we work, we must learn how to stand firm
- Paul’s direction to the church is clear: stand firm on what you know
-- “know what you know” - look it up - must understand what is true and false
-- It’s not about our preferences, or what we think ought to be …
-- Expound: Gospel is not about our wants, never has been, not new teaching
- To hold fast (or “stand fast” in KJV) is a military term of preparation
-- When the enemy would charge, the command is given to HOLD or STAND
-- This command calls on troop’s willingness to obey and to follow their leader
-- GR: Stekete: to stand, persevere
-- Similar to “hunker down” which means to hold stubbornly to a position
- BIG: As soldiers of the Lord, we are called to remain faithful to our post
- This faithfulness leads to our reward, our eternal reward (heir with Christ)
-- In the work, we show that we’re willing to lay it all out because of who we serve
-- The tie-in is simple: follow and get reward; desert and get destruction
- So, as Paul reminds them what they have heard and read; he pleads with them
-- For you and me, this is a great reminder of what we’ve heard as believers
-- (v15) “stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed onto you”
- As a pastor I can motivate … then what??
-- Each of us has an opportunity to choose how we’ll: react, act, ignore, etc.
-- But what we have in the Bible is an eternal promise; it’s something tangible
-- People learn by reading, others by hearing … either way, we’re being taught
-- TR: FACT: It is in God’s Word that we find something for today …
Point 3 – The Church needs to be encouraged
- ASK: Who doesn’t need a little encouragement from time to time?
-- FACT: It is in God’s Word that we find real encouragement
- Read (v16) First we see a reminder from Paul about Jesus’ role in our lives
-- He is the one who loved us and gave us eternal life through His death
-- This great gift from the Lord is what we can stand on day to day for strength
- 1 John 4:19, “We love each other because he loved us first.”
-- The Father loved the Son, and the Son in turn demonstrated that love for us
-- IMP: Don’t get the order wrong, we did not choose Jesus – He chose ALL of us
-- Why? Because His Father chose Him first, so it was passed onto us (agape)
- Ask: Many who struggle want to know, “What does that love look like?”
-- Romans 5:8, “But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners.”
Conclusion
- Read (v17) Be encouraged: we are NOT to walk around with our heads down!!
-- We are called to live in a way that shows that we belong to someone
-- So that when we do the work of the Lord, we will continue to grow stronger
- APP: His reward is what we should seek after, it is at His pleasure that we serve!
- Turn to Acts 7
-- Set up: vv1-53 is the best example of street preaching I’ve ever seen
-- Read Acts 7:54-60
- See what is happening here to a man being martyred for the faith
• Stephen was full of the Holy Spirit, his eyes fixed on Heaven
• He gets a vision of an incredible sight – Jesus standing at right hand
• And as he is being stoned to death, asks forgiveness for these men
Get after this …
- Most critical: Here we see Jesus standing, not seated (Matthew 26:64, Mark 16:19, Luke 22:69, Hebrews 12:2) … all of these refer to Jesus sitting
-- It is a sign of lordship, of power, of authority – to be seated on a throne
- Jesus’ response is one of approval, one of commendation, one of praise
-- Jesus, in a moment of Stephen’s life ending, gives him a standing ovation
-- I wonder, was Stephen at the cross that he knew what Jesus said (forgive)?
- Want to ask you: Whose applause do YOU seek? Whose reward do you want?
-- If you want to be encouraged today, get this in your heart:
• If you know Him as Lord, you are forever protected and a child of the king
• The work we do is for Him, and because of Him, and we must get after it
- (v15) “stand firm and keep a strong grip on the teaching we passed onto you”
- Pray
