That's good to see you all. I talked to.
I think everyone here and hello to everyone on Zoom.
We're going to be looking at second Thessalonians.
Chapter one tonight. And why don't we open another word of prayer? Heavenly Father?
We thank you that we can be in your word this evening.
Lord, your word is truth, and speak to our hearts.
This evening, and Mayor word edify us and build us up in our faith, and challenge us to continue walking and in newness of life, and in your ways, Lord, and be led of your Spirit.
We thank you for this time together, and ask your blessing.
And Jesus name. Amen. Alright, so you can turn to second Thessalonians.
Chapter one, it's been a while since we've been in first Thessalonians.
But we're gonna begin second, Thessalonians were.
Paul's writing a second letter to the Believers in Thessalonica.
Very soon after his first letter, and some believe it might have been within months of his first lever letter to them.
The purpose of this letter was to strengthen the faith of the Church, and to correct any doubts of the believers that they were having, or misunderstandings.
You know Paul? In this letter he talks about persecution.
He talks about the return of our Lord Jesus Christ and our need to remain faithful, and he gives a warnings to not be idle while we wait for his return.
You know, when the believers and the beliefs are looking for the return of the Lord Jesus Christ, it's gonna have an impact on our life in our walk.
And Paul rates second Thessalonians to correct a rumor that was starting, saying that the day of the Lord had already arrived and that will see that in chapter 2, so first, Thessal is ended talking about the day of the Lord.
And so Paul wanted to clear up this rumor that was started, apparently, and to encourage the believers in Thessalonica.
And that's why he writes probably writes the letter soon after the first one I teach in the school system, and sometimes a student of mine might say to another teacher, Mr. Keller said, I could come to your classroom when indeed, Mr.
Keller did not say that, so, invoking the name of another person is often a method of deception which students often use not all of them, but some do, and you know Paul went through this many times, people giving saying things in his name, but he wanted to clear up in
this letter. You know, believers, we're going through persecution.
But that did not mean they were in the great tribulation, and maybe many even thought they were in the great tribulation, just because they were in persecution.
Persecution of the Church during the church age is the wrath of man, probably orchestrated by Satan and demons, but it's the wrath of man on the Church, but the great tribulation is the wrath of who wrath of God poured out on this world
because of the persecution of his Church, which is his body.
You know the body of Christ is very personal to him.
It's his body. He's the head, and he does not shut his eyes to the persecution of the Church, and he sees everything that that is happening. He takes count of it, and there's gonna be a everyone's gonna have to give an account, the world's gonna have to give
an account to it. So let's begin reading. I'm gonna read the whole chapter, and then we'll look at it.
It's just 12 verses, but so I'll read the chapter, and then we'll look at it versus.
So Paul Sylvanus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians in God are Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ grace to you, and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you.
All abounce toward each other, so that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations, that you endure, which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment, of God that you may be counted worthy
of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer, since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you, and to give you who are troubled rest with us.
When the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels in flaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God, and on those who do do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from
the presence of the power, from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
When he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His good goodness and the work face with power.
That's the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you and Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
So let's look back at verse one again.
It says Paul, so Vinus and Timothy to the church of the Thessalonians, in God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Now Paul was with Sylvanus and Timothy, and the fact that he included Sylvanius, who is calling our faithful brother.
And first Peter, and then also Timothy. The fact that he includes both of them have these brothers shows, using that he's together with them.
Unity on these matters, and it also shows the importance of the body of Christ you know I don't believe the Lord would have us always do the work.
His work alone. You often send them out 2 by 2 or groups, and there are always times when we minister to someone in Aangelism right?
Personal evangelism. We've all done it and we're by ourself.
But the Lord made us as a body, and we minister as the body of Christ, and even if we're ministering alone, we include the body of Christ in our prayer requests.
I always appreciate it. I don't know if Mary's listening, but she does a lot of personal evangelism, and she will write me texts and tell me about someone to pray for that.
She's witnessed to, and other people in the believers have done that too.
And and it's it's nice that we work together like that.
And as a body of Christ.
Another point I would like to bring out is that we as believers, it says in this verse, Our in God, our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.
You know we often see the term in price throughout Paul's ratings, and I always love that phrase.
It reminds us of our position in Christ and our identity as being in Christ.
But here the believers that includes us are said to be in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
I I like to in in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus said, If we have seen him, we have seen who the Father and turn with me to flip around a little bit with some verses about this John 17.
The Gospel of John. After 17. I'm just gonna read versus 20 and 21.
So John Gospel of John, 17 versus 20 and 21.
Jesus is praying for all believers, and he says, I do not pray for these alone, but also for those who will believe in me through their word, that they all may be one, as you Father are in me, and I and you, that they also may be one in us, that the world, may believe that you sent Me isn't that
nice, then then turn to another one. Here's a favorite of mine.
Probably of many of yours, and I'm gonna be talking about this verse at Kids Club this week.
Friday, chapter 10, verse 27, to 30.
Oh, got John same, and John Gospel, John, chapter 10, verse 27, where Jesus says, my sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give them eternal life, and they shall never pish.
Neither shall anyone snatch them out of my hand. My father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of my father's hand.
I and my father are one, you know, and so we see in these verses that were secure in that the hand of Jesus, and secure in the Father's hand.
And so we're in God our Father, and in the Lord Jesus Christ, and just like this versus saying, and that brings us to chat verse 2, where it said, where Paul says, grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ and this is a very common
introductory statement that he uses. But I I have a question, why is it not peace to you and Grace?
Notice the word order. What? What do you think? Why do you think he uses that word order? Anyone?
Well, we need what I was thinking of. We need his Grace before we can have peace right if we can have peace before Grace.
Then Jesus really didn't need to come to die, for our since we can have peace with God before we can have grace.
So I just thought of that that word order.
I I think there's meaning to that.
There's a bumper sticker!
I want. I've never forgotten it. It says, No, Jesus, no peace, no Jesus, no peace.
So the first. No, Jesus was K, and ow, no Jesus, and then it was K. N O.
W. No, so no peace, and then, underneath it was an O.
Jesus, and oh, peace! So it's it's kind of a nice reminder, you know, if we know Jesus, we're gonna have peace.
But if we don't have any Jesus, we're not gonna have any peace.
So first comes this grace is mercy and grace, and it comes. This piece.
So that was verse 2. It was, and then verse 3.
We are. He says, we are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds towards each other.
So Paul shows thankfulness for the believers in theestal Andica, and he says, we are bound to thank God for for this, and this means.
This is something that Paul feels that he ought to do. Paul recognizes his personal, you know, obligation to thank God for them.
And why? Because their face, he continues in verse 4, so that we ourselves boast among you among the churches of God, for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations, that you endure now Bob, both about them to the other churches because of what their patience their patient and
they had face in the midst of these great persecutions and tribulations that they were enduring.
Can we learn something from this? Can we add to our prayer, thanksgiving for believers?
Who are suffering for their faith. I was just looking at the hallway, and I never saw this.
I don't know who put it there, but it's this, they have this in the hallway.
It says 10 ways to pray for our persecuted family.
I thought this good. If anyone wants to see it, there's 10 things it says, pray for our persecute believers.
We'll sense God's presence, and that gets a verse pray that they will feel connected to the greater body of Christ, and then at first Corinthians, 12.
So if anyone wants to see this after it's in the hallway.
So I just thought that was really nice. So we need to pray for the persecuted church.
Hebrews, 13 says, Remember the prisoners as if chained with them.
Oh, that's says those who are mistreated since you were yourselves are in the body also.
You know, sometimes out of sight, out of mind. We don't.
We don't see anyone being persecuted, and so it's hard sometimes to pray for them.
But it is happening all over the world, and believers in this country have not experienced severe persecution like that.
Yet maybe some have, but it could still come, and verse 6, 5 explains what persecution actually is says, which talking about the persecution is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also
suffer, you know, talking about persecution, Paul says it is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God.
You know the persecution that the believers face is evidence.
It's evidence that God is righteous in his judgment.
Of the world, you know. Turn with me to Revelation 6.
Revelation. 6.
And starting at verse 9.
This is the fifth CEO, and it's my hey, Bible!
Says the cry of the martyrs, I'm just read these verses when he opened the fifth SEO I saw under the altar the souls of those would have been slain for the word of God, and for the testimony which they held and they cried with a loud voice saying, how long O
Lord, holy and true, until you judge and avenge our blood on those who dwell on the earth.
You know, if here's the cry of the martyrs, and you know God isn't.
Judging at that time. But he what is he doing? He's is he just overlooking it, or is he storing up his wrath I think he's storing it up cause it's gonna be poured out at some point during the tribulation?
And you know persecution is evidence that judgment is coming.
You know it is a just and righteous judgment, eternal joint is for a rejection of the Lord Jesus.
Somebody did on the cross in dying for us since, and when someone rejects Jesus Christ, they are rejecting His gift of eternal life, and therefore the wrath of God says, abides on them.
But there's also a judgment for God of God on the world for persecuting his Church.
And when you, when people persecute Christians, God sees it, and his wrath is storing up, and his wrath will justly be poured out during the great tribulation and.
I'm glad I'm not gonna be here, not gonna be here, and and you know his wrath is not.
For that is not poured out on his beloved church.
It's poured out on, and those for whom it's due, and he's waiting.
But there is still persecution and tribulation that people go through now in the church age, but it's not the wrath of got him a man for.
For all this persecution, that they do. Okay. If we can turn back to.
Thelonians, second Testilonians, and we're at verse 6 or 6, since it is a righteous thing with God to repay with tribulation those who trouble you he says it's a righteous thing.
It's so.
It's something that's right. And then verse 7, and to give you who are troubled, rest with us when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with His mighty angels.
You know the Church is going through all this trials and persecutions, troubles during the church age because of because of our faith in Jesus Christ.
But there's coming a time when there'll be rest.
So it is a righteous and just Guy doesn't overlook anything.
He sees every suffering we receive because of our faith in Jesus Christ.
If we suffer even just a little bit, no matter what type of suffering it is.
The Lord season, and there will be an accounting, and God doesn't close his eyes to what is happening in the world, and I think a lot of people think that God doesn't care because looks like a lot of people are getting away with a lot of stuff.
And just look on the news, and you can see all the wickedness of this world.
But there comes a time when God does judge.
You know even the disciples who are the 2 disciples was John, and the sun's of Thunder.
John? And who's the other one? His brother James. There we go, John and James.
What did he say? What did they say? Shall we, or should we call down fire?
You know they Jesus Christ is very long suffering, you know, if it were up to us we probably would have sent everyone to hell a long time ago, just like John and James.
The Sons of thunder. But Jesus Christ is long suffering, that, willing what that Annie should perish.
You know the reason. There's a lot of wickedness in the world is not because God doesn't care a lot of people use that as a a reason why got it, not just because he's allowing all this wickedness.
Well, the reason he's allowing it is because he's long suffering, wanting those people that are doing those very things to get saved he's not willing that any ship here she even those type kinds of people.
And he wants once he doesn't want anyone to suffer eternity apart from him, and that's why he went to the Cross today for all sinners like us, and like all the centers of the world and that brings us to 8.
And this is it very sad? But this is the truth, it says, inflaming fire, taking vengeance on those who do not know God and those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ.
You see, God gives a time of grace, but there comes a time when it runs out, and when he's rejected at the end.
This, this is what happens is he takes vengeance.
What does it mean to not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?
Yeah, to not respond to it. Now, what will happen to those who not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ?
The ones who jeopardize on him. You know they.
You know there's a time of grace, and then it's over at some point.
And so you know, today is a day of salvation.
Today is a day when people need to get saved so we need to pray for those around us.
That they can come to know him, and then it says, in verse 9, it says, these shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power.
You know what a tragedy people for whom the Lord Jesus Christ came into this world to die for not only us, but also for the sins of the whole world.
To reject the love of Jesus Christ, what he did for them, and you know he, the Lord Jesus Christ, was judged for their sins, and so he becomes now the judge, right and.
So greatest love it also. He is just and wholly, and he judges.
Just destruction. It says, everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of His power.
You know there will be a lot of regrets of the unbeliever.
In eternity, and but that's why we need to share the gospel when the Lord gives us the opportunity.
With people around us, and keep spreading the word verse 10 says when he comes in that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be admired among those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed you see the big contrast to the one it's distraction
punishment, and the other to be glorified in his saints.
Now, what do you think that phrase, to be glorified in his saints means?
What is it? What do you think that means? Anyone have a thought, Ray?
I think, yeah, basic point. God is glorified and his crisis, Umhm.
Yeah, I think that becomes certainly for us, but certainly in the second, those who have loved him.
Of course.
And also obviously.
So!
Turn back with me to John, chapter 17.
We're just over there. I just wanna read some of those verses again.
So thinking about, what does the phrase glorified in his saints mean?
And I think this touches on it to what you were saying.
Some of the verses that we're gonna be reading Ray John, chapter 17 versus 22 to 24, and the glory which you gave me I have given them that they may be one just as we are one I and them and you and me that they may be
made perfect in one, and that the world may know that you have sent me and have loved them as you have loved me.
Father, I desire that they also whom you gave me may be with me where I am, that they may behold Mike, Laura, which you have given me, for you loved me before the foundation of the world.
You know so part of being glorified in his saints has having them with him, and beholding Him in his glory.
Now turn to first Corinthians, chapter 15. First Corinthians, 15.
Starting at verse 50.
Talking about our final victory. So first Corinthians 15, starting at verse 50.
Now this, I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does corruption inherit incorruption.
Behold, I tell you a mystery we shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed in a moment.
In the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet, for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised in corruptible, and we shall all be changed in a moment. In the twinkling of an eye at the last trumpet for the trumpet will sound and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed, for this corruptible must put on in corruption and this
mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible has put on immortality, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, death is swallowed up in victory.
Oh, death! Where is your sting? Oh, Hades, where is your victory?
The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law.
But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
You know there is part of our redemption that is yet future.
The redemption of our bodies. And that's gonna be wonderful to have our a resurrection body.
Jesus Christ will be glorified in His saints, because in that day we will receive a resurrection body, which Paul says you don't have to turn there. I'm just gonna read a verse says in Philippians, the Lord Jesus Christ will transform our lowly, body that according to the working by
which he is able to subdue all things to himself.
Oh, no! He will transfer my Libya, that it may be conformed to his glorious body.
According to the working by which she is able to subdue all things to himself.
I think another one says, fashion like unto his glorious body, and also in first John, chapter 3, it says, Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be.
But we shall know that when he is revealed we shall be like him, for we shall see Him as he is.
That is amazing. Thoughts, that of of our future, really of being face to face with our Lord Jesus Christ.
Seeing Him in His glory.
Having our nature just stripped out of these bodies and be having a glorified body.
That's gonna be a wonderful day, Walt. It!
Hey! Let's bring this back to Thessalonians, and we'll be in verse 11.
Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count.
You worthy of his this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith with power now, what was Paul's prayer for them?
That God would count them worthy of this calling. You know we have a high calling.
We represent Jesus Christ the King of kings, and the Lord of lords, and we're set to be his ambassadors, ambassadors for Christ.
And when when a country is going to war, what is what is something that they do?
Who did they pull back on the ambassadors? They don't leave them there, at least they shouldn't.
They shouldn't. But and that is what is gonna happen.
The Lord's gonna just snatch us away, isn't he?
He's, and then he's gonna pour out his wrath.
And but right now we're his ambassadors here, and we're not home.
This is not our home, and we don't have to ever really feel comfortable here.
We don't ever really have to get it together here.
Some people feel like, Oh, they've never really done.
The American dream. I haven't done this in this and this, and they compare themselves with other people.
It really, in in light of eternity. It doesn't matter if we get it together, kind of like the world gets it together.
If we're walking by faith and trusting the Lord Jesus Christ, each step of that walk of faith, we have it altogether, and and the Lord at some point is gonna snatch us out of this world.
And whether it be through death or through the rapture.
But even if we dive we're still in the rap show.
We just we have a head start 6 6 feet, start 6 foot, start head, start.
So we just have to remember that that we're ambassadors for Christ, and Paul's prayer.
Was it the guy would count them worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of his goodness and the work of faith?
It's all walk of faith is over and over in Scriptures.
All says, walk by faith, not by site, a work of faith with power.
And what power do we have the power of the Holy Spirit?
We have his power, he empowers us day by day, moment by moment, that we can walk in in faith and in and in His strength.
It doesn't matter for week. God uses. Does he use the strong people or does he use weak people?
I think he uses weak people, but we are strong in the Lord, and thank God that he works through vessels like us.
You know weakness.
And why is he do this? Verse 12, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you and Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
No, that's it. Name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified.
That's what he wants in you and you and him.
According to the grace of our God and Lord Jesus Christ.
That brings us to the end of the chapter, and I've written. I don't know if we have enough time, but I wrote out a few questions.
I thought we could talk. Have you ever have a few minutes left so I'm gonna just read some of these questions that I wrote out.
And we can maybe just get a little discussion going. The first question is, why is?
And we talked about Thanksgiving. Paul was talking about thinking God always for the brethren.
Why is thanksgiving so important for us?
Anyone. Why is Thanksgiving so important for us? If anyone on Zoom wants to chime in, too, you can, too.
Thanks.
Okay, that's right. He wants to hear our Thanksgiving, and we get a blessing.
When we were thankful.
Yup!
It's America. Believer. Thanks. Yeah. Thanksgiving.
And I think to without thanksgiving. I think we can become arrogant, and thinking that we deserve something that we have, and thinking God for other believers, too, is important, that that we remember that we need one another that we're part of a body or none of us are a spiritual.
island to ourselves, and so Thanksgiving is very important.
Second question. Talked about a little bit about persecution.
Should we try to avoid persecutions and tribulation?
It's this is kind of a hard one, isn't it?
And there's actually, I found to examples of yes and no.
But anyone have a thought before I say my thoughts.
Okay, yes, that's a.
Well, Jesus said, that we all have persecution, regulation.
That's right. That's right. That's something that we should expect.
We shouldn't be bewildered by it, or like, this is something that.
And then our fate is growing.
That's right. That's right.
It says, persecution and tribulations are the manifest evidence, and Countess worthy for the kingdom, and that's what we read before.
And I was just thinking of an incident of Paul's.
Remember when the disciples came on the side of the wall in a basket, so that was a time when he was escaping persecution.
But then later he said that he was not only ready to be bound, but also to die.
In Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.
So the answer is, I feel like we just need to walk by the Spirit.
If the if we recognize the Lord leading us to go through the persecution, then we need to do it.
If we recognize that he's delivering us, and we see a open door to get delivered.
Then we shift through it, you know. I don't think there's there's a just a bad answer.
Really. Oh, yeah, yeah, he goes to Jerusalem, where he knows it's dangerous.
At the end of his life what it is. It's at other times when he said things and people are riled up, and they want to kill him.
I love that. Yeah. He walks. I don't know if everyone's zoom heard, Mike, but there's times that Jesus, what he said walk through the crowd that he did not.
It wasn't his timing for persecution, or to be to die today.
So I think we need to be led of the Spirit.
And so yes and no for that question. 3.
Why does God have the right to judge the unbeliever?
Okay, right? I think again, in the most basic.
Okay. Another by South Umhm. Obviously.
And that one of the thoughts I wrote on is that Jesus was judged for our sense.
So he rightly, rightfully becomes the judge. Those who reject free gift is he?
He suffered for them, and so he gets. He's the rightful judge.
Yeah. Any other thoughts on that one. Okay? And then the last.
Well that I don't want Josh unless he gave people enough time to repent.
That yes!
It doesn't judge before people know the truth.
Yes, and I think there, I don't know.
I think of those versus I don't know exactly where it.
What we're the versus, but it'll be more bearable for some than others, I mean, I think, to the extent people, the light of the gospel is given to someone.
It might be more difficult for some than others, and that's maybe something we could discuss.
But that there will be judgment, because everyone has some light that they have received from God.
The last question. It says, some believers say I don't care if I have rewards in heaven.
My question is this, why should we want rewards in heaven?
Why should we want rewards and heaven?
Okay. You say that again, Mary.
For Cros, good Lord!
Oh, for crowns for the Lord, yeah, actually, that's one of the thoughts I had was, you know, that in eternity, you know, we'll be reflecting His glory glory in eternity, and I just thought of the elders throwing down their crowns at His
feet, and from that act of the elders I glean that we can offer, our rewards back to the Lord, and so, if that's the case, why would we not want to get rewards?
If it's ultimately to glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, it's not to glorify us.
It's to. It's something we don't wanna go before him.
Empty handed. You know he gives us these rewards, so we can just give him back to him.
I love that picture so any other thoughts on that.
It shows what shows where I'll be the end.
Okay, yeah, we were obedient and walking by faith. And it's gonna you know, those works, our work that God Himself, we are His workmanship created in Christ Jesus unto good works.
And so they're going to ultimately glorify the Lord Jesus Christ, you know, even though we get the reward.
It's we were done doing it. In his strength and his power.
So just some thoughts to think about. So let's just close in prayer our Heavenly Father, we thank you for your word that we were able to look at this evening, and, father, just thank you so much for sending your Son Jesus to be our Savior Lord Jesus you board the raft
of of the Father in our place for our sins. Oh, you paid all of them for all of them, and we just thank you.
We love you, Lord Jesus, for loving us unto death, and we thank you that you're going to rescue us out of this world.
Before you're wrath is poured out on it.
That Lord. In in the meantime, when we go through any types of persecution or tribulation in this world, troubles and trials, Lord help us to walk by faith, trusting you and resting in who you are, knowing that we're.
Accepted in you, and that our home is in with you in heaven and not in this world.
Help us to represent you. Well, for the remainder days that we have in this world, and maybe more and more people come to know you, Lord Jesus, through our lives, through our words and through us here at well, towards the Bible Chat, or as as the body of Christ here locally
and just ask your blessing on this study this evening, and that we would think about these things in the days ahead in Jesus.
Name Amen.