Praying for the Right Things
One of my favorite commercials is for a cell phone company in which cellular static has caused some confusion between a married couple. The wife had just asked her husband to bring home “a movie, something old.” The husband however, thought she said, “Bring home a monkey with a cold.” The camera then shows a monkey lying on the couch with a thermometer in his mouth. In his best Joe Friday imitation, a man dressed in black says, “It’s the static, ‘mam.” After he gets done extolling the virtues of his wireless network plan, the wife says, “What about the monkey?” To which cellular man responds with something like: “Have him rest and drink plenty of fluids.”
Misinformation can mislead members of the church as well. That’s exactly what happened in Thessalonica. The Book of 2 Thessalonians was written just months after 1 Thessalonians because these Christ followers had encountered some spiritual static. As a result, the believers were bewildered. They were puzzled because of the intense persecution they were facing, which led some of them to think they were in the Tribulation period (this is addressed in chapter 1); many were confused about the Second Coming because of a letter they had received from someone who had forged Paul’s name (chapter 2); and a number of believers were mixed up so much that they had quit their jobs to wait for the return of Christ (chapter 3).
Each chapter contains a correction of a very common response that many of us have when faced with some misinformation. Here’s another way to look at this brief book:
Chapter One
Problem: Believers were forlorn
Solution: God will set everything right
Chapter Two
Problem: They were filled with fear
Solution: The Day of the Lord has not yet come
Chapter Three
Problem: Some were fanatical
Solution: Stay busy with the Lord’s work
As Paul, Silas and Timothy processed the information they received about these young brothers and sisters in Thessalonica, they immediately wrote another letter in an effort to correct their confusion and comfort their concerns. We can learn a few lessons from this.
We often need multiple exposures to God’s truth before it begins to make sense. I know that I need to hear something many times before it starts to sink in. That’s why it’s important for us to read and pray every day, make worship attendance a priority, to plug into a small group, to join an IMPACT class, and for women be involved in the ladies’ Bible study.
It’s easy for us to get sidetracked when things are difficult. Because these believers were undergoing trials their capacity to cling to truth was diminished.
Helping others grow requires patience and realistic expectations. We must remain committed to Christians who get confused and we’re called to be diligent when disciples get diverted. I told someone recently that the Christian life often feels like three steps forward and two steps back, but at least we’re making progress. Hang in there with those who are wayward, worried, or weak. Follow Paul’s methodology: comfort and correct, encourage and exhort, affirm and admonish.
Spiritual growth is often accomplished through a variety of means. Preaching and prayer were Paul’s primary means for maturing believers. But there’s one other way to accelerate growth. We don’t like to talk much about this but it’s unavoidable if we’re serious about following Christ. Do you know what it is? It’s persecution. Preaching, prayer, and persecution can be catalysts for Christian growth.
Introduction (1-2)
The introduction to this letter is very similar to the opening verses of 1 Thessalonians. Take a look at verses 1-2: “Paul, Silas and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” Once again, Paul writes as a member of a team with Silas and Timothy. The church of the Thessalonians was a church on fire, as keepers of the flame, but they were also a church in the fire because of the pervasive persecution they were facing. They needed to be reminded that they were in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. No matter what was happening, they were not alone. Grace and peace were available to them.
This chapter can be outlined as follows:
Indications of God’s Pleasure (3-4)
A Vindication of God’s Justice (5-10)
A Celebration of God’s Glory (11-12)
Indications of God’s Pleasure (3-4)
I love how much encouragement Paul gave to people. He was practicing his own admonition from 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to “give thanks always” when he wrote in the first part of verse 3: “We ought always to thank God for you, brothers, and rightly so…” The word “ought” means “to be under obligation.” He had no choice but to give thanks because God’s work was so obvious in their lives. Paul was positive, not negative about these believers. Instead of focusing on what was wrong with them, he “caught them being good.” That’s a good practice for us to follow.
A study of what pastors think about Christianity’s influence was just released this week by Ellison Research of Phoenix (www.charismanews.com). The alarming findings show that many ministers are not very upbeat about the future of Christianity. 40% of pastors predict that Christianity will have a decreased impact in the daily lives of Americans ten years from now. Almost half believe church attendance will decline.
While I can understand their feelings I don’t share that pastoral pessimism. Maybe its because I have the privilege of serving in a church that is filled with people who take their faith seriously, who love others, and who care about lost people. I mean that from my heart. I’m grateful for previous pastors like Frank Beatty who have taught you well, and I’m thankful for how you continue to respond to preaching, prayer, and even persecution.
Paul was very up on the Thessalonians, in spite of the spiritual static in their lives. I love how he consistently modeled a grace-based ministry. He expresses his thanks for three specific qualities he sees in them in verses 3-4. Follow along as I read: “…Because your faith is growing more and more, and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing. Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.”
I prayed with someone this week about a situation that seemed impossible. The very next day she told me that God had answered her prayers. She then said something that was really cool, “When I pray, I always expect God to answer.” Do you expect God to respond when you pray, or are you surprised when He does? One of the reasons Paul is so thankful is that the Thessalonians’ growing faith, increased love, and obvious endurance is a direct answer to his prayer in 1 Thessalonians 3:10, 12-13: “Night and day we pray most earnestly that we may see you again and supply what is lacking in your faith…May the Lord make your love increase and overflow for each other and for everyone else, just as ours does for you. May he strengthen your hearts so that you will be blameless and holy…”
Let’s look at these three indications of God’s pleasure and Paul’s reasons for praise. These are the marks of a maturing Christian and the habits of a healthy church. As we go through these ask yourself how you measure up, and if these characteristics are a good picture of PBC.
Our faith should be flourishing (3b). The phrase “growing more and more” literally means, “to increase above ordinary degree.” It can also mean, “super growing” and depicts a tree that shoots up rapidly and bears fruit before anyone expects it to. The initial seed of faith that sprouted when they first became Christians had been fertilized and now was exploding with growth. By the way, we have been guilty of making faith a “static” concept where we focus on putting our faith in Christ as a one-time decision. While this is certainly essential to becoming a Christian, our faith should always be growing more and more each day.
Our love should be limitless (3c). Look at the last part of verse 3: “…and the love every one of you has for each other is increasing…” This is agape love, a self-sacrificial commitment that puts the needs of others before our own. The word Paul uses here for “increasing” means “superabundantly” and paints the picture of a river overflowing its banks. Most of us have some boundaries in our minds of how far we will go in loving someone. Limitless love is love that goes beyond those barriers. A flourishing faith in Jesus and a limitless love for other people are two vital signs for spiritual life. Do you see these signs of life in yourself? That leads to a third indicator of God’s pleasure.
Spiritual stamina should be strong. Some of us shut down spiritually when we encounter difficulties. The Thessalonians didn’t do that. Paul actually bragged about them to other people in verse 4: “Therefore, among God’s churches we boast about your perseverance and faith in all the persecutions and trials you are enduring.” While it’s often a foreign concept to the church in America, suffering is actually a necessary tool for growth. Hebrews 5:8 says that Jesus “learned obedience from what he suffered.” If Jesus profited from problems, then so can we. Someone put it this way: “Talent is formed in solitude, but character in the storms of life.”
The nature of the suffering at Thessalonica is described as “persecutions,” which is a word used primarily for a systematic attempt to oppress and harass Christians. We focused on the persecuted church a month ago but let me remind you that 1 out of 4 believers face persecution today. Just one week ago a mob of over 100 unbelievers stormed into a church in Java terrorizing the Christians inside, forcing them to leave, and ordering them to close the church permanently. And, information has been pouring out of Vietnam about a recent wave of government repression against evangelicals. Documents acquired by religious and human rights workers confirm that 354 of 412 churches have been forcibly disbanded in one province alone (Crosswalk, Religion Today Summaries, 11/14/02). The Thessalonians lived in a similar environment.
The word “trials” is more general and refers to any pressure or stress. These valiant believers had strong spiritual stamina because they were “enduring,” or holding up under the pressure. The Bible never promises that our lives will be trouble-free. In fact, following Jesus sometimes stirs up problems that wouldn’t otherwise be there as we’re called to take up our cross daily (Luke 9:23). As we persevere under persecution, God can use our response, as he did with the Thessalonians, to comfort others. 2 Corinthians 1:4: “Who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God.”
Friend, no matter what is going on around you, or how difficult your life is right now, your faith can flourish, you can practice limitless love, and God can give you spiritual stamina.
The Vindication of God’s Justice (5-10)
Despite their persecutions and trials, the Thessalonians had a secure and glorious future. By focusing on the future, they could handle whatever happened in the present.
Reward and rest for believers (5, 10). The persecution they faced was evidence that God was righteous, working out His plan for them. Many of us think that suffering proves that God doesn’t care, when just the opposite is true. The signs of life – faith, love and stamina are proof positive that God has accepted them in verse 5: “…as a result you will be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are suffering.” The first part of verse 7 says that those who are troubled will be given relief. This word is the opposite of tribulation and was used of the releasing of a bowstring. When Jesus returns, He will set things right and liberate believers from the pressures of persecution.
Jump down to verse 10 to see what we have to look forward to: “On the day he comes to be glorified in his holy people and to be marveled at among all those who have believed. This includes you, because you believed our testimony to you.” I love the words to the song Susan sang (in the first service): “The first time you came, they crowned you with thorns, as on an old rugged cross you were laid. But the next time you come, it won’t be as before, for this time we’ll crown you with praise…Alpha and Omega, Mighty God, the great I AM, Emmanuel, the Ancient of Days, King of Kings and Lord of Lord of Lords. Calvary’s sacrificial Lamb, we love you and we crown you with praise.”
Before we go much further in our study of this letter, an important distinction must be made. In 1 Thessalonians, the focus is on Christ coming for His church (4:13-18), but in 2 Thessalonians the emphasis is on Christ coming with His church in judgment on an unbelieving world (1:6-10; 2:3, 12).
1 Thessalonians 4:13-18
Rapture
Christ returns in the clouds
He comes secretly for the church
Believers escape the Tribulation
Occurs at “any time”
2 Thessalonians 1:6-10
Day of the Lord
Christ returns to the earth
He comes openly with the church
Unbelievers experience Tribulation
Occurs at end of Tribulation
2. Retribution for unbelievers (6-9). The first part of verse 6 establishes that everything to come in the future is because: “God is just.” His justice comes out of his inner being and is based on His holiness, His truthfulness, and His righteousness. Moses put it this way in Deuteronomy 32:4: “He is the rock, His works are perfect, and all His ways are just. A faithful God who does no wrong, upright and just is He.”
God always acts in a way consistent with the requirements of His character as revealed in His law. He rules His creation with honesty. He keeps His word and He renders to all creatures their due. The word “justice” in the Bible refers to conformity to a rule or norm. God plays by the rules.
While there is some justice in the world today, we’re still awaiting that day when God’s justice will be meted out. In the meantime, God’s apparent delay in dispensing justice may cause some to doubt, or to despair, or even to depart from the faith. When evil goes unpunished, and when good is not rewarded, some may be tempted to walk away.
I don’t know how many times you’ve been wronged or how many ways you’ve been victimized. I don’t know how long you’ve waited for justice to be served. But I do know that God is not deaf to your cries. Genesis 18:25 asks, “Will not the Judge of all the earth do right?” The answer is a resounding “Yes!” But that leads to another question, doesn’t it? “When will He make everything right?”
It’s helpful to remember that we’re living in the interval between Christ’s first Advent and his final Advent. 2,000 years ago, He came as an unrecognized babe in a manger. When He returns to earth, He will come as the inescapable Judge of all mankind.
Several years ago Johnny Carson had Billy Graham as a guest on his show. At one point there was a lull in the conversation and Johnny said, “You know what, Billy? I bet if Jesus ever came back to earth, we’d do Him in again!” Billy Graham leaned forward in his seat, and said, “In the Bible we read that Jesus predicted that He would return to earth again. But the first time He came in love, the next time, He’ll come in power. And no one will do Him in!”
God’s plan has always had two parts:
Redemption: He’s calling out a people for His glory right now
Retribution: A day of judgment is coming
The last part of verse 6 tells us that there is a future impending payday: “…He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you.” To pay back means to “give back as an equivalent.” People will eventually reap in accordance with what they’ve sown. God operates with a law of compensation. Warren Wiersbe writes pointedly: “Pharaoh tried to drown all the male babies born to the [Israelites], and his own army was drowned in the Red Sea. Haman plotted to wipe out the Jews, and he and his own sons were wiped out. The advisors of King Darius forced him to arrest Daniel and throw him into a lions’ den, but later they themselves were thrown to the lions” (“The Bible Exposition Commentary,” Volume 2, page 194).
Verse 7 reminds us that born again believers will have rest and relief while those who have not put their faith in Christ will face righteous retribution: “…and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels.” The word “revealed” is where we get the word “apocalypse” from and refers to an unveiling, a pulling back of the curtain to make something previously hidden now visible. Jesus is Lord right now but a day is coming when the Lordship of Christ will be revealed for all to see clearly. Jesus will come in blazing fire at the end of the Tribulation period. Blazing fire and powerful angels are often associated with judgment in the Bible.
When Jesus is revealed as Lord, justice will be done. Verses 8-9 are some of the clearest, and most troubling, words in the Bible about the fate of those who refuse to put their faith in Christ: “He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the majesty of his power.” There’s an interesting play on words here. The word translated “obey” in verse 8 often means, “to respond to someone knocking or calling at a door.” The obvious picture that comes to mind is the scene described in Revelation 3:20: “Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me.”
In verse 9, those who refuse to open the door are described as being “shut out from the presence of the Lord…” Listen. Right now Jesus is standing at the door of your life and He’s knocking. He’s waiting for you to respond to His offer of redemption. But one day, this door will be locked. There will be no more knocking because the Day of the Lord will be a time of retribution.
I want you to notice something else. Those who don’t open the door will be punished with “everlasting destruction.” Some people like to make jokes about Hell but I don’t think they’re very funny. Some think of Hell as just one big party place. That’s simply not true. Jude 13 describes those in Hell as “wandering stars to whom is reserved the blackness of darkness forever.” These are very sobering words. C.S. Lewis captured an aspect of Hell that many of us don’t think about when he said, “In Hell, everybody will be at an infinite distance from everybody else.”
The King James Version refers to Hell as the “bottomless pit” in Revelation 9:2 and several other passages. Let me read how Bill Hybels described what Hell might feel like:
“The bottomless pit…conjures up dreamlike feelings of falling away -- falling, falling, falling. You’ve all had dreams like that; where when you woke your heart was beating because you were falling. Picture in your mind hanging over a precipice, and God is hanging onto you, and you’re hanging onto him. And you decide you don’t need him anymore. So you let go. But the moment you let go you know you made a mistake. You’re falling and every moment you fall further and further away from the only source of help and truth and love, and you realize you made a mistake and you can’t get back up and you fall further and faster and further and faster into spiritual oblivion, and you know you’re going the wrong direction and you’d give anything to go back but you can’t and you fall and you fall and you fall and you fall. How long? Forever. And all the while you’re falling you’re saying, ‘I’m further now; I’m further. I’m further from the only source of hope, truth, and love.’ In hell there is never the bliss of annihilation. You’d give anything for annihilation, but it’s unavailable, only the conscious continuation of emotional anguish, physical anguish, relational anguish, and spiritual anguish forever.” (http://pbc.org/dp/stedman/thessalonians/4097.html).
There are two truths that emerge when we think about the fate of those who refuse to open the door of their lives to Christ.
God’s justice will be carried out. God’s righteous reaction to cosmic treason is to judge those who have not put their faith in Jesus Christ. If we do not have Him as Savior and King, we will face Him as Judge. Philippians 3:10-11: “That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.”
The choice must be made right now before it’s too late. It was C.S. Lewis who said that God simply allows people to continue into eternity the decision they make now to live completely apart from God. You either say to God, “Your will be done” or one day God will say to you, “Your will be done” as He banishes you to the bottomless pit, to face everlasting punishment and eternal separation from Him forever. Jesus did not mince any words when He said in Matthew 13:49-50: “The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.”
A Celebration of God’s Glory (11-12)
Paul wraps up this first chapter by giving us a report on what He prays for. We know that he’s already experienced answers to his prayers from the first letter as he rejoices in their flourishing faith, limitless love, and strong spiritual stamina. The final two verses give us an idea of Paul’s prayer paradigm. What was it that he was after? What did he want to see happen? Simply put, based on his previous teaching of rest and reward for believers, and retribution for lost people, he prayed “constantly” for three specific things.
For their dedication. Look at the first part of verse 11: “…that our God may count you worthy of his calling…” God wants us to be totally sold out to Him and so Paul prays that He will make us worthy to walk with Him.
For their deeds. Verse 11 concludes, “…And that by His power He may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.” The return of Christ should comfort our hearts and minds, but it should impact our hands and our feet as well. The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is available to us today.
For their demeanor. What I mean by this is that we should radiate the breath-taking brilliance of the beauty of Christ. Look at verse 12: “We pray this 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.” I love seeing many of your faces every Sunday morning, not just because you’re in church, but also because you radiate the Redeemer’s love to everyone who looks at you. One of my favorite verses is Psalm 34:5: “Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame.”
This is a great model for us to follow when praying for ourselves and for those we love. Pray for dedication, deeds, and demeanor…and watch what God does!
Calling on Christ
As we wrap up this morning, I wonder if some of you believers are experiencing spiritual static in your life? Are you perplexed by some persecution you’re going through or wiped out with some worry? Stay on the line with Christ. Don’t despair and don’t hang up. One day God will make everything right. Our responsibility is to keep calling out to Him. Jeremiah 33:3: “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know.”
Some of you have not yet answered the Savior’s call for the first time. Can you hear Him today, or is there too much noise on the line? Listen. He’s calling your name. He’s knocking on the door of your heart. The call is for you. Will you answer? John 1:12: “Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.”
