Paul, Silus and Timothy Wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians

2 Thessalonians Kay Arthur Lesson 1

Would I like to please the heart of God? Would I like to be a part of history? (history is the known past- the record of past events- His Story- therefore, what kind of history am I going to be a part of?) What kind of legacy do I want to leave behind me? There is always someone watching. The legacy of the sufficiency of Christ. As one who was created by, for God- my life has sufficiency.

Paul, Silus and Timothy wrote 1 & 2 Thessalonians.

Ephesians 2:8-10- salvation is a gift- How am I treating it? Not of works… no one can boast- we are His workmanship created in CJ to do good works- We are to know the goodness of those good works- pleasing the heart of God. God breathed into the human scribes the account of His Story- the beginning to the end- He will give to every man ACCORDING TO HIS DEEDS. “This is My beloved child in whom I am well pleased” i.e.- Jesus’ baptism, Transfiguration- Why did God say this?

1)Jesus never acted independently of God- John 5:19- The Son does nothing of Himself- 2)God was always Jesus’ model- everything we need to know has been left in the Bible- the mind, will, way, heart of the Father; about Jesus- God and man- deity took on flesh, setting aside His deity and living as man should ,live and was created to live- in His image; John 1- Jesus explains the Father to us 3)Move according to God’s will- John 5:20,30- “I do nothing on my own initiative; seeking the will of Him Who sent me” We need to seek the will of the Father 4)Jesus spoke what was true to God’s Word- John 8:28- “You will know I AM, and I say nothing on My own initiative, but only what My Father taught Me.”; I need to know, understand and speak His Word- being VERY careful what I speak; James 3:1- Handle the Word carefully

John 8:29- I always do the things that are pleasing to Him; don’t give up even with a life of sin (i.e. David- the man after God’s own heart) repent and confess and accept God’s just judgment- God will restore the joy of his salvation; God has made provision for sin- confession and repentance- the Cross.

John 14:1-6- He will come again // 2 Thessalonians I am the Way, the Truth and the Life- Jesus’ legacy- We are now to reflect the Father and the Son 5)John 14:9-13- Jesus was at home with the Father and the Father in Him; If I want tot be pleasing to the Father learn to be at home in Him; abiding in Him; an intimacy; v.12- legacy- the one who believes gets to do the works of the Father- by abiding in Him and He in me John 14:16-18- the Spirit- the Helper- the Comforter to come to us-

John 16:7-8 – sent to us- IN us, convicting the world of sin because of our belief in JC- there is a Savior, a Master The root of all sin is unbelief Righteousness is doing what God says is right; JC convicts the world of sin because I go to the Father- How?- because the world sees righteousness in believers

John 16:25,28,33- the world’s fear is to be alone, abandoned, but when we walk with God He will never abandon or leave us alone In the world you will have tribulation but JC has overcome the world- take courage- present imperative—Keep on taking courage Overcome- perfect tense- a past completed action with a present and continuing result

John 17:14-18- Not of the world- Keep them from the evil one- sanctify with the truth- has sent them into the world: Matthew 28:18-20 commission to go out into the world- our legacy- go and make disciples; Make- an imperative- the main verb in the sentence- a command .. Go and make as you are going, teaching them all that I taught you, will be with us until THE END OF THE AGE which is coming

Acts 1:6-8- will not know the times- but can know how to recognize the times and what’s leading up to the times Acts is the legacy, the history of the disciples of Jesus; we carry the legacy of the disciples on Acts 7:56-60- Stephen stoned; Acts 8:1-4; Acts 9:1- Paul’s conversion- had to suffer much for JC’s sake; Acts 9:15-16; Acts 15:22- God puts together a team to do the work of God; Acts 15:40- 16:1- Paul, Silus, Timothy- Acts 17:1-3- trio in Thessalonica- he preaches 3 Sabbaths before persecution Acts 17:10,15;

1 Acts 18:1- In Corinth for 1 year 6 Mo- he was teaching the Word of God but he was also COMPOSING the Word of God without knowing it; we never know how God will use us- never realizing the significance of our lives until it is over- be faithful to do what God has called us to do Acts 18:5-last time Paul, Silus & Timothy being mentioned together

In Corinth –52AD he writes 1 Thess; 3-4 months later he wrote 2 Thes- why so close? This is the last mention of this trio being together and because the church was making history- all of Asia had heard of their faith in them midst of great persecution, leaving a godly legacy….BUT Paul had 3 concerns: 1) the suffering the church was enduring – Paul knew suffering, he had seen the suffering and faithfulness of the ones he had persecuted, so when he was told he would suffer he knew faithfulness was possible because he had seen it before -2Thes 1- tells them about he relief for the afflicted, and just judgment for the “afflictors”- those who don’t know God and do not obey the gospel of Jesus Christ -leave a legacy- don’t turn back 2) false teaching- part of our legacy is to hold to the truth of God- they were being taught falsely about the day of the Lord; someone had convinced them that because of the great suffering they were in the day of the Lord and Paul had taught them wrongly -2Thes 2- he takes them back to truth- remember the traditions we gave you 3) concerned about their undisciplined lifestyles- comes because of false teaching- thinking they are in the day of the Lord so why be about our work because its almost over, besides Paul’s was wrong and we’re suffering Paul wanted to make sure they left a legacy pleasing to God, by holding to the truth, holding to a disciplined lifestyle- What kind of legacy do I want to leave regarding suffering, leading a disciplined lifestyle; set heart on pleasing God- it takes you thru suffering, He brings you back from false teaching and it will help me to live a disciplined lifestyle. SET HEART ON PLEASING GOD. LET IT BE OUR HEARTS PASSION- TO BE AN IMITATOR OF JESUS CHRIST. Someone is watching.