October 10, 2021

2 THESSALONIANS: STAND FIRM, GOD IS FAITHFUL

October 10, 2021

Pastor Jonathan Falwell

 

Have you ever had your credibility threatened even though you were innocent? How did you handle it?

Today we learn some very relevant lessons from the book of Second Thessalonians, written to the believers in Thessalonica. They were confused and disturbed, possibly by a letter slandering Paul and the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul had to remind the church that they had believed the truth as he had presented it, and they needed to ignore those who were causing them distress. This short letter is so needed today, as it reminds us how to stand firm in our faith as the world becomes divided between good and evil, truth and lies. God’s word is truth, able to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

Focal Passage: The Book of 2 Thessalonians

Thankfulness produces faithfulness

  • Read 2 Thess. 1:3-4. Sometimes we are so grateful for something amazing that thankfulness just seems to burst from us. Can you think of an example? Why did Paul feel that he had to praise God for the way the church at Thessalonica was handling persecution?
  • Read 2 Tim. 3:12-15. What are we to do when suffering persecution? What will determine whether you overcome or give up?
  • Read James 1:2-3. How can these verses be considered similar to the truth that being thankful to God produces faithfulness?
  • Read 1 Thess. 5:18. Why does God desire us to cultivate an attitude of gratitude?

How does being grateful enlarge our faith?

Faithfulness allows us to remain strong when under attack

  • Read 2 Thess. 2:15. What does Paul tell the believers they are to do while under attack? Does someone have another word for “traditions”? What instructions was Paul referring to?
  • Read Eph. 6:10-13. How can we fight the evil one if we don’t know what the armor of God includes? Can you list the weapons Paul tells us to put on in the verses following? How can you use them unless you know their function?
  • Why is it so important to remind yourself of God’s faithfulness in caring for you during times of trials or crises? Have you ever kept a journal of these times?
  • It is not uncommon to have a sense of heaviness if Satan is trying to attack. Do you recognize this, and have plans prepared for those times? Do your plans include thanksgiving, praise, and singing?

Faithfulness leads to deliverance

  • Read 2 Thess. 3:1-3. Why does Paul covet the prayers of the believers? How is this like our world? Why is it so important that we pray for each other? How do you know that God hears and answers all of your prayers?
  • Read 1 Peter 5:8. Peter also warns believers that Satan is real, evil, and spends his focus trying to devour God’s children. How are believers to resist him?
  • Read John 10:10 and 16:33. Did Jesus believe Satan is real? Why do some believers think if they don’t “bother him, he won’t bother them”?
  • Is this thinking Biblical? Why not?

Close

For most of us, our circles are immediate family, then the circle of friends, followed by a circle of acquaintances, those who help (doctors, pharmacists, business workers, etc.), and then community. Can you see why—as was mentioned last week—the burdens of the care for the churches and believers were a burden to Paul? Where we might be surrounded by friends numbering less than fifty, and casual friends at perhaps one-hundred-fifty, Paul’s concern was for the believers in all the cities where he had started churches, always being aware that the Jewish leaders would not hesitate to be used by Satan to destroy the new Christians.

Why do we think we are any less important to Satan than Christians in the days of Jesus? He has no reason to bother the unsaved, the wicked, or the evil person. He wants only to see the followers of Christ give up, get frustrated, have disputes with fellow believers, and throw up their hands. Is that how we’re supposed to react?

Paul reminds the believers at Thessalonica to remember the things they have been taught, the basics of the gospel of Jesus Christ, and the word of God. In all these things they were to be continually giving thanks to God for His incredible gift of salvation, and His love and protection for them. These things are as needed today as they were then. Every day we can thank God for His faithfulness and give Him glory and praise for His constant care. As we reflect on His lovingkindness, our faith grows, for we know He loves us today as much as He did at any moment in the past, and will never love us any less the rest of our life. He loves us with a love we can only vaguely imagine. It is truly difficult to understand the reality of true, unconditional love. But He loves us so much that, while we were His enemy, He sent Jesus Christ to die for us. How can we ever repay Him? We can’t. But we can love Him with everything we have, thanking Him always for His care and faithfulness to us, and if we love Him, we will obey Him (John 14:21).

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