“Giving Truth A Free Run”
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
INTRODUCTION: We continue in our series in II Thessalonians.
Paul has just told the Thessalonian Christians the TRUTH about their SALVATION – 2:13-14
THEN – He told them what to DO with the TRUTH of God’s Word – 2:15
THEN – He told them what the TRUTH will DO FOR them – 2:16-17
NOW – Paul is telling them to SHARE the TRUTH – 3:1-5
3:1 – “free course” (KJV) = “run swiftly” (NKJV) = “spread rapidly” (NIV, NAS) = “run its course” (AMP).
God is counting on YOU to spread His Word to those who do not know it.
Last Sun. Night we heard from the Cooks, Missionaries to Mexico. They told how the millions in Mexico have a form of religion, but do not have the TRUTH … and how they are spreading the TRUTH of God’s Word.
What did they ask for? “Finally, brethren, pray for us!”
We need to pray that blinded eyes/ears might be opened to see/hear … that blinded hearts/minds might be open to receive/understand … THAT … “the Word of the Lord may have free course.”
“pray for us” … not just for those who are being preached to.
Sometimes, it’s hard to preach a sermon … because Satan attacks the messenger as well as the listeners.
Every time I stand behind the pulpit, I pray that the Holy Spirit will give me “free course” to say what He wants me to say … the way He wants me to say it.
Sometimes it’s not easy … Satan is attacking me while I preach … the words and thoughts don’t come freely … I struggle … I’m in a spiritual battle.
Sometimes I have “freedom” in the pulpit … and the words and thoughts flow freely.
Paul asked for PRAYER … And so do I … because there is a spiritual battle being fought every time the Word of God is preached.
Listen to what Paul asked of the Christians at Ephesus - Eph. 6:19 - “and pray on my behalf, that utterance may be given to me in the opening of my mouth, to make known with boldness the mystery of the gospel,”
God hasn’t called me to be a Missionary … like the Cooks … BUT … 1 thing still bothers me.
I heard a Missionary say 1 time: “I have difficulty preaching the gospel to hundreds of people who have heard it a thousand times … when there are millions who haven’t heard it ONCE.”
Paul is saying: “Pray for us, that the Word of the Lord will have a free run and spread rapidly, and be honored, just like it has been with you.”
Paul had experienced this BEFORE … in Antioch – Acts 13:48-49 - “When the Gentiles heard this, they began rejoicing and glorifying the word of the Lord; and as many as had been appointed to eternal life believed. [49] And the word of the Lord was being spread through the whole region.”
That’s a big part of the ministry of the Pastor … to preach the Word of God.
REMEMBER what Jesus told Peter (in our series on Sunday Mornings)? “Feed My sheep”.
REMEMBER what the early church Pastors said? Acts 6:2-4 - “So the twelve summoned the congregation of the disciples and said, "It is not desirable for us to neglect the word of God in order to serve tables. [3] "Therefore, brethren, select from among you seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom, whom we may put in charge of this task. [4] "But we will devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word."
If God’s Word is being faithfully proclaimed … BUT isn’t being effective … it’s probably because of a lack of prayer by God’s people.
3:2 – Paul also found OPPOSITION to his preaching - 2 Cor. 11:23-28
It is rare to receive such opposition in Gilchrist County.
In my ministry, I have been ordered off of people’s property, but never shot at or beaten. I have been told that my message was unwelcome, but never threatened with my life.
I have known some preachers (in the U.S.) who have been persecuted & threatened … who feared for their lives from the pulpit on Sunday … who have been kicked out of their churches for preaching the gospel.
The Word of God doesn’t received as warm a welcome in some places as in others.
Paul had some dangerous experiences.
3:3 – Paul had experienced God’s faithfulness … and he wanted them to experience it also.
“establish” – this refers to the INSIDE … to establish trust in God’s faithfulness.
“keep” – this refers to the OUTSIDE … to protect them from the attacks of “the evil one”.
21st Century Christians want to be COMFORTABLE in their Christianity … that’s the GOAL of most Christians today.
“If I don’t give Satan any trouble, maybe he won’t trouble me.”
When you become a “spiritual couch potato”, Satan will leave you alone … because he has you right where he wants you.
He’s lost your SOUL … there’s nothing he can do about that … he’s lost the WAR.
BUT … if he can get you to lose your EFFECTIVENESS … at least he can win the BATTLE.
We try to protect ourselves from the Devil by not rocking his boat … by laying low … by not making waves.
BUT – Paul tells us that Jesus will protect you … “the Lord is faithful” … and he can do a better job against the Devil than you can.
We think we’re doing a pretty good job of protecting ourselves from the Devil by not giving him any trouble.
If you proclaim the Word of the Lord, Satan will come after you … BUT … “the Lord is faithful, who shall establish you, and keep you from the evil one.”
3:4 – Paul encourages us to GET INTO THE BATTLE.
“command” – a military order passed down from a commanding officer.
Paul uses this term in 3:4,6,10,12
Being a Christian requires DISCIPLINE … like in the military.
What if the Army was run like the Church?
What if we went to drill like we go to church … whenever we feel like it … if the weather is good … if we have nothing else to do?
What if we obeyed the drill sergeant like we obeyed the Word of God … obey what we want to obey … obey what’s easy to obey … obey when we feel like it?
We would spend our time in the stockade … be court-martialed.
We would never win the battle.
Some Christians aren’t winning the battle, because we aren’t obeying the COMMANDS of our Lord.
1 John 2:4 (KJV) - “He that saith, I know him, and keepeth not his commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.”
1 John 5:3 (KJV) – “For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.”
Remember the hymn – “Trust And Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”
A disobedient soldier/child/Christian … will never enjoy the victory.
Disobedience shows a LACK OF LOVE … like a spoiled brat in the grocery store ….
If we love someone, we will obey them because of that love.
John 14:15 - "If you love Me, you will keep My commandments.”
Your obedience to Jesus shows Him how much you love Him.
3:5 – We should pray that the Lord would “direct our hearts into the love of God”.
NATURALLY, our hearts are directed toward pleasing and living for SELF.
We need for Jesus to RE-DIRECT our hearts toward pleasing & living for Him.
What is there in your life that is a ROAD-BLOCK to your obeying Christ?
Satan places DETOUR SIGNS in your path every day … to keep your heart from walking in the direction of “the love of God”.
It’s always self-centeredness … focusing on self, instead of focusing on Jesus.
“waiting for Christ” - We will all 1 day have to give an account of our obedience to the Lord.
I remember as a child, being given a “command” from my father, to have a certain amount of work done by the time he got home.
If I didn’t do it, I heard about it when he returned.
Some day, Jesus is going to return.
He’s been VERY PATIENT with you … hasn’t He? If He wasn’t, you would have been severely punished a long time ago.
BUT … Jesus is PATIENT … He understands that you are human … He understands your trials, problems & struggles.
AND … He will patiently give you the strength you need for victory … if only you will OBEY Him.
CONCLUSION:
What do you do with the TRUTH?
You SHARE it … you TRUST it … you OBEY it …
Paul tells us to let God’s truth have a free run in our lives … and then we’ll see spiritual growth in our lives.
OUTLINE FOR HANDOUT
“Giving Truth A Free Run”
2 Thessalonians 3:1-5
INTRODUCTION: Paul continues to share the TRUTH … NOW … How to SHARE the truth.
3:1 – “free course” – It’s YOUR responsibility to spread the TRUTH.
o PRAYER is essential for the TRUTH to have a free run.
o There’s a spiritual battle every time the TRUTH is proclaimed.
o Paul had experienced VICTORY – Acts 13:48-49
o Jesus commands us to share the TRUTH – John 21:17, Acts 6:2-4
o A lack of prayer hinders the sharing of the TRUTH.
3:2 – Paul had opposition – 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
3:3 – Paul’s prayer is that they might also see God’s faithfulness.
o “establish” trust in God’s faithfulness – INSIDE.
o “keep” them from the attacks of the evil one – OUTSIDE.
o Our desire for COMFORT keeps us from relying on Christ’s faithfulness.
o Jesus can do a better job at keeping us from “the evil one”.
3:4 – “command’ – see 3:6,10.12
o The Christian life requires DISCIPLINE.
o You will lose the battle if you aren’t obeying the COMMANDS of Jesus – 1 John 2:4, 5:3
o Disobedience shows a lack of love – John 14:15
3:5 – Sin directs our hearts toward love of self instead of toward the love of Jesus.
o What are the road-blocks that keep you from obeying Christ?
o One day you will have to give an account of your obedience to Christ’s commands.
o Jesus has been very patient with you … He UNDERSTANDS.
o OBEDIENCE gives you the patience and strength you need while you wait for Jesus.
CONCLUSION:
The TRUTH … share it … trust it … obey it!
