Thank you. Wellness, Hello, to everybody in Zoomville.
And welcome everybody. We had a good week, so far we want to continue in first test alone, is we're looking at chapter 2 today it'll be versus 13.
Through 20 will take us to the end of the chapter, and then a brother Joel would be picking up in that first Test 3 let's, I have been new King James Let's turn there and read the Verses that We're gonna Look at tonight first Thessalonians Ch chapter 2,
Verses, 13, through 20, but first Let's open with a word of prayer.
Our father. We just come before you, and we're so grateful, Laura, that you've carried us through this week.
We are grateful, Lord, for your guiding hand, through all the trials and pressures in this world.
Certainly we are so thankful laura, that we can gather together.
Midweek here, or the fellowship among like-minded believers, and just study your word and enjoy it, and let it sink deeply into our hearts, as we apply it to our and then we ask again, that you would bless our time and in Jesus name amen.
First, s. 2 starting in verse 13, for this reason we also thank God, without ceasing, because when you receive the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men.
But as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works.
In you, who believe for Sessions, chapter 2, verse 13, verse, 14, for you brethren, became imitators of the Church of God, which are in Judea in Christ, Jesus, for you you also suffered the same, things from Your own countrymen just as they did from the judeans, verse, 15,
Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and it persecuted us, and they do not please God in our contrary to all men, verse, 16, forbidding us to speak to the gentiles, that they may be saved, so as always to fill up, the measure, of their sins
But wrath has come upon them to the outermost, 17.
But we brethren having been taken away from you for a short time and presence, not in heart, endeavoured more eagerly to see your face with great desire and therefore we wanted to come to you even I Paul, time, and again but Satan hindered us, verse 19.
For what is our hope, or joy? Or crown, of rejoicing?
Is it not even you, in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ.
It is coming verse, 20, for you are our glory, and join, so remarkable portion to take a look at as we saw last time we as we began the book we looked at chapter one and and that was the summary of it would be that they that the festival thessalonians or the Church and Thessalon I
Could go. was a model, church and they were a model church, for 3 reasons.
Number one they were. Elect. They showed the signs of being, said in Christ Jesus, the second point would be that they were evangelistic and as we look in this book we see that the results of their evangelism, resulted in persecution, but also the spreading of the word, of God this is a new
Church, New Believers, and they were eager to share what had been talked to them by Paul, Silas and Timothy, and then finally they were an expectant church, they were waiting for Christ return and so as we mentioned last time every time that we get to the end of a chapter, and for a thessalonians
There's something to set about the Lord's coming, and so they were looking for Jesus to to come, and they they fixed their eyes upon that in chapter 2 we're looking at in fact, the model Minister and that is Paul himself and there's a couple of things, that we can take a look
At here, Paul is a model minister. But what Paul is doing in this particular portion, versus 13.
Through 20 is autobiographical in nature, defending himself against the critics that said certain things about Paul, of course, we're reading between the lines, like a lot of epistles but basically they were saying that paul doesn't love you thatssalonians paul doesn't care about you paul
Left you, Paul. That's not he's not going to come back.
And most importantly, Paul isn't really an apostle
So this is Paul defending himself. It says, apologetic, defense to his commitment and love for the believers in Thessalonica, and there's one thing that runs through this whole passage, and that is Paul saying To them, i love you
When he talks about in verse, 17, if we take a look at that verse, there it says, Here he was taken away.
He says in verse, 18, I wanted to come back to you inverse 19.
It says you are our crown of rejoicing.
The other. Thing running through this is suffering. So even though it was a model church, and they had a model minister.
It didn't mean that life was easy. And of course that's the same for us.
They were facing, opposition and persecution. So let's go back and take a look at some verses before we get our versus tonight.
We go to chapter, one, verse, 6, and it says They were in much affliction.
Ch. Chapter 2, verse 14, says, They suffered the same things, as their countrymen, chapter 2.
Verse 15 says, And they have. These country would have persecuted us.
So these are the the themes that are running through this portion.
Here verse 19 of chapter 2, says, Satan Hindered Us, and then chapter 3, verse 3, which We're not going to get tonight, that no one should be moved by these affections, for you know that We are appointed to this in other, words Paul, is saying this is Part of my ministry
Suffering later on, as we looked at I mean, earlier, we looked at the Book of Galatians and as he finishes.
The Book he basically says, this is my resume take my shirt off.
You can see all the the wounds that I've suffered as I filled up for the Church what remains in terms of spreading the Gospel, and the suffering, and remember course in the Book of Galatians when we looked at it the Judaizers didn't want to
Suffer for the gospel. They just wanted to make converts.
They wanted to put a notch in their in their belt.
Paul suffered for the furtherance of the Gospel, very powerful, awesome
The Christian faith playground, playground, to the world, or battleground, and in a sense I mean the whole theme of that book is that the Christian life is a battleground for us, so the thessalonians were afflicted, they suffered they were persecuted Satan was attacking them
Hindering them and also there were afflictions, that they were appointed to second Timothy, chapter 3 verse, 12, says, Yes, and all who desire to live Godly in Christ, Jesus will suffer persecutions.
So all that desire to live for God will suffer, persecution, and they and the Thessalonians, as many Christians do, endured these afflictions the Afflictions of various Kinds because they had Chosen to follow, Jesus Christ this should Be extremely inspiring to all of us as we look
At this Church. Young believers who through the discernment of Holy spirit, heard Paul preach and removed by that deeply moved by that and we have this theme of Satan hindering them around hindering Paul from returning and what we want to find out is or if Anybody.
has the question is the devil real give your life to Jesus Christ, and you'll find out real fast.
He is real he's a presence. He'll he does everything possible to interfere with the gospel or with your joy.
So so thankfully God has provided divine resources to us, to battle.
For the battles that we face and here are 3 of us, number, one.
God has provided the word of God for strength in the battle.
Let's look at verse 13. It says this, for this reason, we also thank God, without ceasing, because when he received the word of God, which you heard from us you welcomed it.
Not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word so for this reason we also we're looking at this Paul, is saying that they did their own assessment of the word of God and again, with young believers.
Through the servant of the Holy Spirit came to believe that this was true, and and and have, had to rely on the Word of God, to get them through these troubles and also when we look at the Church and festival like festival festival Loan Nikka can't say that too fast
they were born and found and transformed by the Word, the word worked effectively in those who believed, the Lord and the Hitting, a unique relationship with the Word of God when Paul came to Preach with Silas, and Timothy, they knew that the words that they were preaching were the very words of God Let's
look back to chapter one Versus, 5, and 6. It says, this first Thessalonians, chapter one versus 5, and 6, is for our gospel den not come to you in word, only but also, in power, and in the holy spirit and in much assurance, as you know, what kind of men we were among you
for your sake, verse 6, and you became followers of us and of the Lord having received the word in much affliction, with joy of the Holy Spirit.
So you notice this relationship, when first when Paul first came to Thessalonica for preaching God's Word, penetrated, their lives, He says in verse 6 For you, became number, one Followers you received the Word of God with Much affliction and you, had joy, in the holy, spirit powerful
Stuff so when Paul came to Thessalonica, he preached the word, they received the word, they are being affected by the word, but they had much joy.
Much to it. If we look at chapter 2 versus 9, the second part of that verse, it says, We preach to you the gospel of God.
And so for the believers to stand up against opposition and persecution.
They have to be strong in the word of God. Very much like Jesus's temptations use the word of God.
Against an enemy. He was a man, holy spirit, resting upon him devil, through everything he could at Jesus Christ, and eat ably defended himself with the word of God, the Skillful use of the Word, of God, so if anyone, wants to stand strong we must have a high value placed on the word of God and
you know, we do these studies, and and I think to myself, sometimes I'm writing.
This, and I think well, you know believers know these things you know it's.
These are common things, but I know I'm speaking to somebody, as we review these things that we have to place a high value on the word of God, sometimes we falter, or maybe sometimes in our lives.
We are bearing something we forget to ask for help or ask others for help, or review certain passages to to strengthen us and so that's really the the thrust here so on verse, 13, they received also as they received what Paul had preached not as men's word but as it were
The true, as it as it really is the truth or word of God.
These are new beliefs who demonstrated the discernment to know the truth, and as one commentator said today, we want expositional preaching and we want Expositional listening to the word of goals so It's, not Just Hearing a nice Sermon and and you know It's, okay.
We want the application done we want someone to appropriate the word of God and in the Church.
Today I think there are churches that don't place high value on the word of God.
And so you're cheating people. If you don't do that you need the word of God.
So we want to hear it, we want to receive it. We want to apply it and then we want to live it and God's word works effectively, in our lives.
So Paul did not say you are viewing my words your your your value.
My words too highly he didn't say you know I'm just a man, and my words are just things that I made up all said as you listen to me, preach.
You are hearing the words of the Lord God speaking through the Apostle, the Bible is given by instruction of God.
We think about first, Timothy, chapter 3, 16, It is God breathed, or if we think about another passage went to turn the second Peter, chapter, one, verse, 21, s, Peter, one, verse, 21 holy, men, of God.
Spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit
So these are just 2 classic passages talking about the inspiration of the word about We're, God, breathed out his word, go he moved authors to write these things down for us, and they apply to every culture, every time every person, so remarkable thing some when 19 talks, about 6
attributes of the word of God. It says number one, the word of God is perfect
Second thing, that it says is it converts the sold
Another point is that it makes is that it is sure it makes wise. The simple
It is right. Rejoicing in the heart. It's pure enlightening the eyes.
It is clear, it endures forever, and finally, it's true and righteous altogether.
High high value. That we're done some 19 verse 10, says this it is more to be desired than gold sweeter than honey, in the Honeycomb.
So so we're letting the word of God, guide us, and
It should cause us to say, speak, Lord and I will listen, and that's the whole point here I remember, Stuart, Brisco preaching he said, it's better to let it speak to you than to speak to it I thought that was always good comment so we go back to verse 13 chapter 2 they received the word
Of God. They also welcomed it. Jesus says in Luke, 8, verse, 18, Take Heed, how you hear the word of God
Jesus also said with respect to taking, Heed that you take you that you hear to heed what you hear, and take, you how you hear it.
So we want to learn, we want to listen to God. We want the word of God, to speak to us, and Jesus also gave us the parable of the Sewer, and in that particular, case he talks. So you could say it's really the parable of the heart, they have different conditions of the heart right we have
A sower, which is the preacher of the word of God, the seat which is the word of God and the soil, the rest receptivity of the listener, how receptive, the listener, is to it, if we think about the hard soil here at the heart, the sewer, is sewing some
Of the seed falls on that hard beaten path, and someone says no insane, is more than happy to partner with that person.
And take it away, and we have the stony, soil, which is the thin layer of soil, and the seed falls upon it it springs up, and there is growth, but without depth, and this is really the emotional, response to the word of God, it's it's not received it's
Not appropriate. I think everybody knows somebody that receives some word of God with great emotion, and then, persecution comes and they follow away.
I have a brother like that that's, and then later on, as you try to preach the gospel.
What they understood before is even lessened, so that you try to teleport the gospel, to the person later on, and and there seems to be no
What they had seems to have been, gone then you had the thorny soil you're the weeds, believe me!
I've dealt with weeds and I Home some of the Weeds that I have to deal with, are these crazy thorny plants that grow to like 2 feet high just have to battle, these things Up Going with these Heavy Duty gloves and almost a Mask, and take these these things I'll get this
Get the root out and stuff, and then they come back and stuff and but the the weeds on the thorny, Soil are the things that Choke, the Word of God off the Cares of this World, Worries, the Busyness, of Life and it bears no Fruit and then finally we have the
good, soil, unlike the hard soil, the soil is soft.
I like the stony soil. It's the soil is deep and unlike thorny soil.
It's clean, and it's ready to be received, and that's the Thessalonian Church, and like the others not unlike the others.
It generated, a turn return of 30, 60, and even 100 so we want to have our lives, changed by the word of God.
We wanted to let it dwell in us, richly, and going back to verse 13, again, they applied God's word it says the word of God Effectively worked in them, and was applied James says, be doers, of the word Appreciate it, appropriated apply it, to the word of God.
That's one call commentator says, no. We can look at Paul's Summary of divine resources.
Here in the first thing that we would say, is that we have God's word within us.
So the first resource that we have you, you, you you can't stand up to persecution without his word.
The second thing we would say, is we have the people of God among us.
It's the second resource that we have, and that that deals with that's mentioned in versus 14, through 16 let's read these Verses again, again, first Thessalonians Chapter 2, for you by brethren became Imitators of the Churches of God which are in Judea, in Christ
Jesus, for you also suffered the same things from your own countrymen, just as they did from the Judeans.
Who killed both the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and it persecuted us, and they do not please God and are contrary to all. Men.
So Paul lists he lists several indictments.
Here, in other words, what was going on with the Jewish Christians in Judea, the intense persecutions that they're suffering is now happening to these Gentile believers in Thessalon Icon There's a parallel, there so now thessalonica Gentile, town, this
Church filled with Gentile believers, received the same type of persecution, and there's, there's great joy in that certainly, but because they are on fire.
For the Lord This is what's happening to them in the Judan Churches.
Persecution of believers was done by their own countrymen.
The believers they're persecuted they're Jewish, brothers, their countrymen, and they suffered for Christ, numbers, for team Paul of 15, sorry, Paul clearly States, his Indictment here, the first, thing, that he states, is that they killed, the Lord Jesus the second indictment is they killed, the Profits.
In the Old Testament, the third, indictment is, they persecuted us.
Force. They did not please God, and then finally number 5,
They are contrary to all man. So Paul, notice This about this, these indictments, Paul, fit the bill on several of these Demi he was zealous, unmerciful, wanted to make a mark for himself, participated in the violent persecution of the way had no tolerance for
Whatsoever, and then Christ converted him, he persecuted Christians, but now he lists these charges, so Jesus said in Matthew, chapter 5, or 11 of the reality, is he says, blessed, are those who are persecuted for righteousness, sake for theirs, is the kingdom
of Heaven, Luke, 6 adds this to it, for for they were presenting in the manners, just just like their fathers, did to the prophets of the Old Testament and of course he he says, they are to they are blessed happy because of these things, in terms of their
belief in Christ Jesus. So we're in good company. When we are persecuted for righteousness sake and all, again, all who live what would desire to live Godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer, persecution, second timothy chapter 3 let's look at verse, 16 another
indictment indictment over 6 is forbidding us to speak to the Gentiles, that they may be saved
The greatest crime really is the rejection of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I can't imagine the punishment that would follow those who have hidden the gospel the spreading of the Gospel, Versus for special audience.
Chapter 2, verse, 16, the second part in the verse says, this let's see here, so as always to fill up to the measure of their sins, but wrath has come upon them to the uttermost, so there is a day, that is coming when God will bring on the tribulation on this
World, on Israel, and then the Millennial Kingdom will follow.
But the point is that there and this, is this is punishment for the indictments that Paul has laid out, and of course, other sins.
Also Paul's point was He was letting them know that Christians in Judea are going through these same things, and the point is you're not alone you're in the Body.
Of Christ. You know when people suffer and there's a lot of suffering that goes on, you can become very self absorbed.
You can become very isolated one of the great things is that you can realize that there are others suffering in the body of Christ also You're not alone and it's it causes great joy.
Especially if one suffering does something for someone else. many people, who talk about that that, especially something suffering something and someone else suffering the same thing.
It can be a great comfort energy. I think of folks that are Bible, study of several going through cancer, right?
Now and they're able to speak to one another very effectively, something that I can't do. I've never had cancer.
But they're really and it's a it's a it's a joyful time to hear them.
You know, encourage one another. So you can join in sorrow and find one is going through the same struggle and be a joy to them.
And that's why we need the body of Christ, and that's.
What Paul is saying Here, You Gentiles suffering these things, your judy and brothers are going through the same thing, and we need the fellowship.
We need to pray for one another, to build each other up and to broke provoke one, another, to love and good works, as Paul, is getting to so the lonely Saint is when commentator Rates a Lonely Saint is Vulnerable to the Attacks, of Satan, I think It's very true I remember.
Bob Frall doing a study did a very effective job, and he just says watch when you're alone.
This guy was in his late seventys watch, when you're alone,
So I thought that was good good advice. So now we find the third resources that resource that Paul talks about, we've talked about the first resource being the word of God Within Us the second, one being the fellowship, of in God's Family those all around Us, the third, Reward, is the is is the Reward.
of God before us. Let's look at verse 17, Here says but we brethren having been taking away from you for a short time, and presence, not in heart, endeavoured, more eagerly, to see your face, with great desire so paul talks about being physically, taken away, violently Torn
Away it wasn't his desire He was with them emotionally.
His heart was still with them, but he left he had to leave, and he left them with great reluctance, and this builds up really to Paul's appeal to them, and that is the greek word here for being taken away is really the word that you would use for orphan and this is these are things that I look
Up I don't know Greek. I'm just saying.
But if the word is the same word use, for orphan, then we can summarize a couple of things in chapter one Thessalonians in verse 7.
He talked about being a gentle father among them, and then he talked about in the first that's chapter one number 7 also being a nursing mother, among them, and now the third, point that he's, making is that he's, an Orphaned Parent, taken away, from them this is this is Paul I mean
This is this is that violent man who held the the Close of Stephen, while he's being stoned, who had no mercy, whatsoever who was converted into a very gentle person caring for them and what does, he say, to this because his accusers, were saying, Paul does, not love you he
Left you. He doesn't care for you. If he loved you.
He would he would come back for you, Paul. Says no, we were orphaned, for and we wanted to come back to you.
But Satan hindered us, he made Paul says that he made repeated efforts to return them the hindering that Satan is doing here is is it could be restated Satan was a roadblock to paul's, efforts to come back verse 17 we endeavored more eagerly to see your
Face 17 chapter 2. Again with great desire, we desired to return to you, versus 18, but Satan hindered us it was a roadblock. And so Paul and verse 18, said, time and again, we tried it's, our desire to be with you again, Paul believed in a real devil who
Did devilish things, and he suffered a lot, and he makes it plain.
Here. So we need the whole armor of God to stand firm and I know that Paul did that also of course, that you have that love labor, that says greater is he that is within us than he that is without us.
You can do this, you know, and make a stand or Jude says he can make us stand fault.
Listen, blameless, before I remember one time that verse was quote in Lord Supper, and I saw somebody here with a little tear coming down their cheek really heard that for us, because he can do that you know he can do this in our lives first 19 and closing we can say this Paul, asked 2,
Rhetorical questions number one, what is our hope or joy?
What is our hope, or joy, or Crown of Rejoicing?
Any answers. This question of course, is it not even you in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Yeah, it is coming. So number, one, what is our hope, or joy, or crown, or crown of victory?
Again, that greek, word again, I'm told, is the crown that is given for the victor, who abides by the rules Paul saying, my rejoicing is getting to Heaven and seeing you there with me one day we will be in Heaven together and what a joy that's gonna be I'm I'm
Going through revelation right now, and my reading through the Bible and one of the things of note is that Emma green Rainbow like Appearance above God's Throne in a C Glassy, Scene Like Crystal what a Wonder, That's Going, to Be and All please Stand before God Hit the
Deck. This is their primary and angels, primary purpose to worship him ascribed worth to to God with an incredible time it would be so one things thing that kept this Church going was they were expected of his return just like Abraham this Church elect evangelistic, expected paul says, this is what
gives me joy, or my motivation. Seeing you Thessalonian believers growing in the Lord, seeing you in heaven with him that's his crown, especially the crown that we are we can be given for those who love his coming one of the 5 prones, that are mentioned in testament and you know we have
The beam of judgment. Our judgment will be centered on our service, for him, and we can ask a couple of questions.
Did I do, did, I do what I did in the power of the Spirit?
Did I do it according to God's Word, and did I do it for the glory of God, and of course.
You know the Lord is merciful, you know Paul says I don't even examine myself, but the point is that's really what the Lord is is interested in of course it's not a judgment, about sin, or whatever but there is a crown or waiting for us in heaven and when we worship him
There we'll be casting it down in his feet.
Just like, I can't even believe I'm rewarded for these things, and it all to the glory of God.
And it says, the 24 Elders constantly Crowns appearing constantly throwing them down
So at the end of each, of the chapters, it talks about something.
We related to the Lord's coming Chapter, one we have the Lord's salvation.
Chapter. 2 We have service, and show our joy, and crown of of hearing, those great words Well done, good and faithful servant
So why don't we just close in prayer? We can unless there's some Questions. Under last time I didn't ask for any questions, any thoughts on this anything I might have missed
At the end of Chapter 3, establish your heart's blameless and holiness before God, and Father, it is coming
Comforting one, another. I'm sorry, the End of Chapter 4, comforting one, another, with the thought that will always be with the Lord
And chapter 5
Yeah, the day of the Lord, okay, yeah, thanks for if you knew, what yeah, thanks for putting me on the Spot, but anyway, any, other thoughts.
Okay let's close with the prayer. So our father, we just give you thanks.
And praise for your living Company, and gratitude.
We are grateful Lord for the word of God. It's so dense it would take 100,000 lifetimes to understand everything in it.
One, day you'll review I pray you will reveal all these things to us.
Lord, and we're grateful Lord for your show, return, and for this Christian life.
Lord, yeah, we could be thanks and praise in your holy and precious name, or Jesus Amen.