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2 Thessalonians 3 Final Exhortations 2 Good morning, church. It is my hope this morning to finish our Study of the Thessalonian Epistles. We will be looking at Chapter 3 this morning of 2 Thessalonians. Let us pray… Last time we were together, we looked at Chapter 2, where Paul gave a wonderful revelation, of the greatness of our salvation, and that God from the very beginning chose us and saved us into His wonderful family. For those of us who believed on the gospel message we have the hope of glory ahead of us. And Paul, encouraged the Thessalonians, and we were encouraged as well, to stand fast in this hope and to continue in our Christian life and work for the Lord. P a g e | 2
Now as we move into the third chapter Paul will present the church’s responsibility and how a believer’s conduct should be manifested in these last days, as we await our coming Messiah. This last chapter is broken up into three sections. The first section is verses 1-5, Paul presents a reminder that all of us need prayer. The second section in verses 6-15 and it deals our Christian living and work ethic. The final section is verses 16-18, as Paul gives his Benediction and closing salutation. So let us start with the first section found in verses 1- 5… Pray for Us 3:1 Finally, brethren, pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you, 2 and that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith. P a g e | 3
3 But the Lord is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one. 4 And we have confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things we command you. 5 Now may the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ. Now the Apostle Paul was a manly man, and as we have seen throughout these two epistles, and we will see all throughout this chapter Paul uses military terminology to address the believers in Thessalonica. Paul often spoke with authority and strength, and did not consider ‘feelings.’ He had such a direct approach to truth, and I really appreciate that about him. But, although Paul was a man of duty and courage, he was not afraid to honestly present himself as only a man, and here he reminds the Thessalonians to pray for him. He asked for a specific prayer, that the Word of God may run swiftly and be glorified, as it was in their city. P a g e | 4
Paul knew it was the Word that changed lives, and He requested prayer that the Word would have free reign to work in each city he went. I would like to request the same thing here this morning. If you pray for this ministry, pray that the Word of God would run swiftly and be glorified here in this church and in the lives of the hearers. Prayer and the Word of God are a dynamic duo. Now, Paul, the greatest of all the apostles solicited prayer from his converts. This would surely lift the Thessalonians above their current miseries and persecutions, as Paul welcomed them to join in the ministry, in the fight against the enemy. Paul not allowing them to focus on their hardships, but giving them the most basic and most profound ministry of prayer. Notice in verse 2 there is an enemy against the work of God. P a g e | 5
We really dealt with God’s Sovereignty in detail last week, and this week, we see the balance, and the obligation and effect of man in the work. Paul requested that their prayers would be specific about those who are influenced by evil and do not hold to our faith. Remember Jesus even taught His followers to pray against our unseen spiritual foe who manifest his work through wicked men. Matt 6:13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. Time and time again in scripture we see prayer engages us into a battle of the ages, we are immediately connected to the throne of universe. By our faith, our prayers are heard, and although God is all-powerful, and all-knowing, He is timeless and so far beyond our understanding, even with these realities, we see man has been given opportunity to effectively change the course of history through our petitions. P a g e | 6
James 5:16 The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. We fight against an enemy that is not flesh and blood, Eph. 6:12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. This spiritual battle is very real, and Paul welcomed the prayers of the saints in his assault against those under the influence of the wicked one. You see those who choose to reject the offer of salvation, through Jesus Christ, have now opened themselves up to evil. Paul in Ephesians chapter 2 called our enemy Eph. 2:2 the prince of the power of the air, the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience Now, it is interesting, our weapons are not in our protest marches, it is not with the weapons of this world in our hands, our fight is not through arguments or powerful feats of strength or shows of force. P a g e | 7
The Christian must humble himself, and deny his flesh, and petition our God for effective change and fruitful ministry. You know in modern warfare, it is a fact if you control the air through superior air power that you will win the battle. And that is how it is for us, whoever controls the air, the spiritual fight, will be superior. It is a wonder, that prayer nights are the lowest attended services, this has been the case in every ministry I have ever attended. Prayer is how we control the air, and defeat the work of the prince of the power of the air. It is how the Word of God can run swiftly and effectively. Jim Cymbala once wrote that he had a visiting pastor come to his church the night that he announced their main focus of the ministry would be on prayer. The visitor told him “you know how popular the church is by how many come on a Sunday morning, you can P a g e | 8 know how popular a pastor is by how many come to the midweek service, but you know how popular Jesus is by how many come to a prayer night.” You see this is a house of prayer, and it is vital to the life of the ministry here, that we are a praying people. Satan hates the prayers of the Saints, because it is through our prayers that the lonely missionary on the front line is strengthened in the Lord. It is through our prayers, that the hell-bound sinner comes to a saving knowledge of the Truth of God’s Word. It is through our prayers that the drug addict is freed from their chains and bondage. Your faith filled prayers move mountains, the faithful prayers of the Saints effectively help us fulfill our ministry here. Be encouraged this morning to pray and pray more, let us control the air in the battle over our community and even our state and country. P a g e | 9
God gives certain gifts to some, some he called to be teachers, some evangelists, to some he called to be leaders, and we each are given certain gifts and callings, but every Christian has the duty to pray, and involve yourself in the battle. Understand, prayer is simple, man has complicated it greatly… Jesus gave us an example on how to pray in Matthew 6:9-13 In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. 10 Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us this day our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, As we forgive our debtors. 13 And do not lead us into temptation, But deliver us from the evil one. P a g e | 10
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. It is a 23-second prayer. Listen, I know there are mornings and days that it just seems impossible to pray. Jesus gave us a 23-second prayer to pray as a template. You know the religious, the most holy reverent show boaty Churchgoers, they pray with lengthy prayers. I will be honest with you, when we are in groups, and someone prays one of these drawn out elegant prayers, my mind starts to wonder. And maybe you are more holy than me, and it does not effect you, but for me especially in group settings, when the prayers are coming around, I get so insecure if there is a pontificating person praying or a dominating person praying in the group. I start out at first with all diligence to agree with them in prayer, but if it goes more than a couple minutes, I P a g e | 11 am thinking “oh, I don’t have that much to pray about.” “I am going to sound so foolish if I don’t up my game to their standard,” and my mind just starts to wonder. Listen if you avoid prayer night, because the competition is too great, and you are insecure with your short to the point prayers; understand Jesus taught a 23-second prayer. In fact, much of His ministry He spoke against those who would pray with such elegance and prestige in order to sound more holy than and to be little others. Your short to the point prayer is actually more biblical. It gets even crazier if you get competing prayers, who spend the whole time trying to one up the other, they end up dominating the prayer time. Do you honestly think we can impress God with our wordy and elegant prayers, I imagine if we were truthful, it is not God we are trying to impress? P a g e | 12
I will be honest, I still feel very awkward praying in front of people, I have not arrived to the level of the mighty religious person. My prayers are still short and to the point, and when I get insecure I just think about what Jesus taught. 23 seconds is what Jesus taught. God does not need to be impressed with your words. Now, in our alone time, I have found on those mornings, when I am just empty and not knowing where to start my prayers, I start with the prayer Jesus taught, and in my personal time, the Spirit than begins to open from that starting place a wonderful time of prayer. Now, long lengthy prayers with you and the Lord, those are sweet times. Even if it is 23 seconds, in that moment, for me, I immediately am conscious of two factors… There is a God, and I am not Him, and usually as I recite the Lord’s prayer, sometimes in my own words, that P a g e | 13 this realization opens up a tidal waves of communication between the Lord and I. You know, I can in that moment join Pastor Hector in Mexico, who always feels alone, I plead with the Lord that he would not grow weary in the good work he is doing. I can immediately in my prayer time jump continents, and I am in Siberia with pastor Max, making mention of him to the Lord, and lifting up all my friends in Russia, I can head over to Novosibirsk with the Shepherd family and pray for Bill, whose daughters are both venturing out, one to college, and another to Serbia for missions work. I can pray for Cheryl and Len in Israel as they share the Gospel in a hostile culture. You know on our website, on our missionary page, you can view the current Newsletters and updates of all that is happening in the missionary’s lives, and how you can pray. P a g e | 14
But, from that 23 second prayer, prayer then opens up, as God brings those with struggling marriages to mind, and I can pray for my unsaved family members. Oh, my beloved wife who is ministering to my children daily, the big decisions we have coming up, I pray for the changes coming to our lives. And you see, from that 23 second prayer, the Spirit of God helps you, and even throughout your day, He will bring someone to mind, or a prayer request will come across the prayer chain, and we can bring those names before the Lord. Our pastors, please, as the apostle Paul here is asking, we too are asking, pray for us, for your pastors, their lives are constantly on the move. They do not have a job that you clock on and clock off, they are running, sometimes every day of the week. They pray for you, we all met last night, and had a wonderful time of prayer, but your pastors work hard, they need prayer too. P a g e | 15
Pastor Jason, Pastor Josh, Pastor Joe, Pastor Ron, and now we have included Justin McCoy, who is being raised up in this calling as a pastor. Pray also for our Elders, our Overseers, Pray for them as they make the vital decisions and pray about the vision of the ministry, John Toomey, Henry Calhoun, Steve Dwiggins, Pastor Joe, and I meet once a month to work through the issues at hand and pray. Pray for the ministry leaders, as their lives are constantly under attack as Satan accuses them day and night. Your leadership needs your prayers, even if it is just mentioning their names before God. Paul solicited the prayers from the Thessalonians, and we all have the ability to pray, prayer changes things. Let’s control the air over this ministry, and over our work against the wiles of the devil, and those who do not have faith, and oppose the efforts we put forth. May we be a praying church, if not, our efforts will be powerless, and humanistic. P a g e | 16
Notice in verse 3, Paul reminds them, even with the efforts of wicked men coming against the ministry, God is faithful. Not once did God abandon Paul. Paul had every reason to doubt, according to his flesh, remember he told the Corinthians… he endured 2 Cor. 11:23-28 ….in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. 24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness — 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches. P a g e | 17
Paul after all of these evils coming upon him could say, “But the Lord is faithful…” And with this mighty testimony he could assure the Thessalonians God will establish them and guard them from the evil one. Paul, understood the Sovereignty of God, as Job did, whatever came upon him, he never doubted God’s Faithfulness, and in spite of his own infirmities God was faithful. Again we are challenged to look passed our circumstances and hardships and understand and know that God will establish us and guard us from the evil one. When hardships come, many fall away, but we are challenged this morning to be able to pray… Job 1:21….. The Lord gave, and the Lord has taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord." Christian, trust in your God, no matter what trial or hardship you are in the midst of this morning, God has not abandoned you, He has not forgotten you, He is P a g e | 18 still with you, and understand that He is teaching you through the tribulations of this life. Look back, even now, and see that God has always been faithful, and He will continue to be. Paul tells them, that because it is God establishing them, He is steadfastly setting them, as a Commander would to those soldiers under his command, God has placed them strategically. Paul says in verse 4 that his confidence is in the Lord, that through God, they will accomplish all they are called to do. Paul is reminding this suffering church, even though they are experiencing trials and tribulations, God is going to faithfully work things out for their good and His Glory. Church, this first section, reminds us to stay steadfast, if you are in the battle already, remain in the battle, Satan will overwhelm you with obstacles great to throw you off course, and he will send wicked people to try to woo you off course. P a g e | 19
Listen if you have a voice in your ear, telling you to take it easy, to step back from the work of God, feeding your flesh with the lies of “You deserve it.” Telling you that you have done enough, it is time for others to step up, that is a voice of deception. The Word of God would say “be established, stand fast, hold, because God is faithful, He will see you through this season of adversity.” God is faithful, church trust in that this morning, even if it is difficult for you to see right now, God is faithful. Now, once Paul established them with that reminder, he turns their heart to the Love of God and into the patience of Christ in verse 5. Now, we live in a world that is jealous for our attention and heart, it is captivating you everywhere you go, to distract from all that matters in your life, God’s love is real, Paul points our hearts there this morning. As we discussed last week, His love is available to all, and it is never God who takes His love from us. P a g e | 20
Paul directs them to God’s love, for this is one of the most important things in life. Only we can leave the love of God, it is always available to us, and we must continually be reminded and directed to the love of God. He above all else wills for us to love Him back, to be in this constant relationship of love with Him. Then Paul couples the patience of Christ with the Love of God, and puts the goal of the Christian expectation before the Thessalonians. Paul once again points to all that we are waiting for and anticipating, the Day Jesus comes for His Bride. The rapture of the church, and we are to be prayerful in these last days, watching, waiting, remaining steadfast, and enduring in the work, until this Great Hope is come. Once again church, when our hearts are directed toward the love of God, and the patience of Christ, we are lifted above the hardships of this life, and our eyes P a g e | 21 are taken off ourselves, and this puts everything in the right perspective. This is how we remain steadfast in the work. So next, Paul will change gears here, it is almost like Paul was about to end the letter, then he remembers something that he forgot to address. And it is clear, that those unruly that we have seen throughout Paul’s letters did not heed the correction Paul sent before, and they remained in their rebellion toward God’s Word. They refused to work, remember the frenzy and anticipation of the Lord’s return, caused some in this church to quit working and contributing to the work of the Lord. Paul clearly told them to get back to work, but Paul here experiencing the frustration of many teachers of God’s Word. The Word can be so clear on what is expected in our Christian living, yet, it is more clear, people will choose to only hear what they want to hear. P a g e | 22
So Paul once again gives instruction on church discipline and dealing with the unruly. Let us read now the second section in verses 6-15. Warning Against Idleness 6 But we command you, brethren, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you withdraw from every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from us. 7 For you yourselves know how you ought to follow us, for we were not disorderly among you; 8 nor did we eat anyone's bread free of charge, but worked with labor and toil night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you, 9 not because we do not have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. 10 For even when we were with you, we commanded you this: If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. 11 For we hear that there are some who walk among you in a disorderly manner, not working at all, but are busybodies. 12 Now those who are such we command P a g e | 23 and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that they work in quietness and eat their own bread. 13 But as for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good. 14 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. Now remember what Paul’s instructions were in the first epistle to the Thessalonians. 1 Thess. 4:11-12 11 that you also aspire to lead a quiet life, to mind your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you, 12 that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing. Paul even when he was with them, taught them to work. P a g e | 24
Now remember the Greeks despised labor, their culture taught it was only for the slaves to do hard work. This church was made up of mostly Greeks, that means the hard working Jews, were carrying the load of the ministry for the rest of the church. The Jewish fathers taught each of their sons a trade, they worked. Now the Thessalonians had at this time the template for the church structure as modeled in the first church. Acts 2:44-45 44 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. Now, the unruly in Thessalonica decided to take advantage of this model. Instead of contributing to the work of the Lord, they were portraying a person in need. P a g e | 25
Now, I immediately want to separate out those who cannot work because of disability or sickness from those who choose not to work. There are those the church should help, and the church is privileged to do so, for those who cannot care for themselves. There is a big difference, the Word this morning is dealing with those who choose not to work, but are able too. Those who choose not to work and contribute to the work of the Lord are referred here to by Paul as disorderly, this is the same word he used in the last letter, ataktos, or unruly. This is a military term for someone who steps out of rank, or challenges authority. These disorderly are not doing their part and they are idle. Paul commands the Thessalonians in the name of our Lord Jesus, that they withdraw from the ataktos, the P a g e | 26 disorderly that do not obey God Word, and instruction on a man working. I will not go into detail, we covered a man’s duty to work in the last Epistle, and you can listen to it if you like on our website. I will say, men, you are to work; you are to provide for your family, this is the proper and a biblical model for a Christian household. You young men, it is unchristian to lay around all day on your mothers couch. Learn to work, learn to work as a man, you will find purpose and you will find satisfaction, more satisfaction than reaching that new level on your video game. Throw out that video game system, and get a job, a real job, that is what the Word of God instructs. I guess I am going to talk about it. I read an article this week entitled “Peter Pan Syndrome” Revisited: Helping Boys Become Men. P a g e | 27
It focused on the story of Michael Rotondo the 31- year old whose parents had to take him to court to force him to finally move out. Rotondo was quoted as saying, “It’s really unfair to me and really outrageous” He then complained how his momma stopped feeding him, and even cut him off the family phone plan. I do not know whether to laugh or cry about that! The entitlement in our culture is repulsive. But the article shared some eye opening statistics on how our boys are not being raised to crest into manhood. Many men from the ages of 18-36, the prime age for working and making a life, have failed to be challenged to go and make a life for themselves, the numbers have doubled verses the same age group 40 years ago. It is interesting that this age group of men have more confidence and pride in themselves than ever before, but these ‘lost boys’ are being held back. P a g e | 28
The article pointed out that the parents have failed to instruct their sons and teach them how to get their lives in order. http://www.breakpoint.org/2018/07/breakpoint-peter-pan-syndrome-revisited/ They have been handed much for very little work or effort, and they have all the facial hair of a grown man, but they are still little boys on the inside. I am not trying to offend anyone this morning, but the Word of God is telling us this morning hard work is right and good, it is God’s Will for us. Paul had to address it twice to this young church, and we will see this second time will be much more severe. Paul also pointed them to his own example, he worked as a tent maker, he paid for all of his food, labored and toiled all day and all night. He took no pay for the ministry, he explains in verse 9, he had the right too, but refused, to set an example of work. Now, Paul did take support from more established churches, but usually in the new ministries, or the P a g e | 29 struggling churches he worked among them, to keep and maintain a pure ministry before them. It would be foolish if we were to do an outreach to our community, to unbelievers, and right after the altar call, we collect an offering. Paul never did this among the new converts, only when the church was established did he call for a collection. And there is a time when a minister should abstain from taking a salary from the church. When we came here, the church was in no place to pay us for the work of the ministry, and we could not take a salary from this church. But as things became established and God brought an increase, the time came for the elders to provide us a salary. Each pastor here has had to work without a paycheck from the ministry, but slowly God is allowing each one to come on staff fulltime. P a g e | 30
And there are times where the calling comes without an income, and the pastor must work. And here, Paul refused his right to be an example. And from his own example, he tells the Thessalonians in verse 10 if anyone will not work, neither shall he eat. Now, many ministries in their Christian zeal, and their humanitarian passion, they fail to rightly address this verse. It is easier to avoid offense, and to just give the man bread, then to address his need to work. But understand, that hunger in his belly is motivation to work. In this life, we are too work, it was God’s command in the Garden to Adam, to tend the Garden, and it was given before the fall. God used men throughout the Bible who worked. The patriarchs were shepherds, Moses was met by God while tending sheep, Gideon was threshing wheat when God called him, David was tending sheep. P a g e | 31
Think of the disciples, four were called off their fishing boats. Jesus, God in the flesh, came and worked as a carpenter, a fine trade I might add. Paul had the callous hands of a tent maker. It should be mandatory for a young man going into fulltime ministry to learn a trade first, to know a skill, to fall back on. Too many young ambitious men start right out of Bible College into the ministry and they never learn a work ethic, they become lazy and unmotivated in the work of the Lord. If anyone will not work, neither shall he eat! Understand even in the church’s care for widows, Paul instructs young Timothy to make sure the family first cares for them. He says in 1 Tim 5:8 But if anyone does not provide for his own, and especially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. P a g e | 32
If the woman was over 60 and reported for good works, and served the people of God, then the church is supposed to step in and help the widow. Even widows who are able to work cannot be supported unless they are joined in the work of the Lord. Christian we are to work this side of eternity, and there is no avoiding that truth in scripture. Professor Henry Van Dyke once said “The blessing of heaven is perfect rest, But the blessing of earth is work.” Know that truth this morning, we are to be contributors to the work of the Lord not takers. We are to be a generous people, not a selfish people. We see in verse 11 what an idle man will become, a busybody, meddling in other people’s lives because he is not taking care of his own. Men, especially, when your hands are not working, that is when they get into trouble. P a g e | 33
Paul commands them in verse 12 through the Lord Jesus, understand this is strong language here, that they are to work in quietness and eat their own bread, not to mooch off others. Understand Paul lifts up honest labor to a prominent place in Christianity. And in verse 13 he encourages those who are carrying the load for the rest of the church. He tells them not to grow weary, they are doing good. The temptation in the church, is for those who are the ones contributing to the work here, supporting the missionaries, those of us who are paying the mortgage payments, those of us who are giving to the work of the Lord, contributing to the advancement of the gospel, those who are serving week in and week out, the temptation is to say, “forget it,” because the majority are not helping. Paul, tells them to stay faithful, their work and labor matter, their giving is right and good. P a g e | 34
They should not let the wrongs of the unruly influence the right on their part. Don’t grow weary in doing good Church, stay faithful and steadfast. Look at verses 14 and 15 again with me… As we look at a portion of scripture dealing with church discipline. 2 Thess. 3:14-15 And if anyone does not obey our word in this epistle, note that person and do not keep company with him, that he may be ashamed. 15 Yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a brother. This is the church’s instruction in dealing with the ataktos, the unruly, the disorderly, those who live their lives in disobedience to God’s Word. We are to note that person and then we are not to keep company with them. Notice what Paul says here, that the unruly person will be ashamed of himself. Now, this flies in the face of our offended culture. P a g e | 35
And many churches have closed their eyes to the unruly because they fear offending a person more than God. Now in Thessalonica, there was not another church down the street for these unruly to go and take their offense and remain unrepentant. Paul is giving a severe way of dealing with these rebellious believers. Some people picture the Apostle Paul a soft man, but it is hard to read through his Epistles and come to this conclusion, Paul was a direct man, and cared very little about the offense, but more about truth, and pleasing God. He says to disassociate with the person. Now, I have some very close friends, men I have traveled the world with serving the Lord, who I have loved like a brother, who were my closest confidants, but they now choose to be one of these ataktos, these rebels against God’s Word. P a g e | 36
And I have had to disassociate myself from fellowshipping with them. It has not been easy, but this is God’s will, found in His Word. It is interesting, I remember my youth pastor doing an illustration that I have never forgot. He had someone stand on a box of some sort, and he had another person stand below the box on the ground, and he had the two individuals grab hands and pull, to see who could pull the other to their position. Never was a person able to pull a person up on the box, it was always easier for the person below to pull the person off the box. Now, this disassociation is not only working to lead the other person back into a right relationship with the Lord, it is also protecting you from being influenced into falling. 1 Cor. 10:12 Therefore let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall. P a g e | 37
I have seen countless Christian’s from my childhood on even unto today, who try this missionary approach to their friendships or even worse their relationships. They think they can influence their friends who drink, they can be a light in the clubs, and they can help their backslidden friends by hanging with them. Or they missionary date, “Oh, they don’t believe in God, but I think God put this Romeo in my life so that I can lead them to the Lord.” And it always fails, I can’t remember it ever faring well for the believer. They always get pulled off the box. Especially if your friend is a believer that has walked away, Paul says let them feel shame over their choices. I have seen the most debased unruly churchgoers remain in their sin, because the believers in their lives are afraid to offend them, they are continually helping them, and enabling them, and propping them up, they never feel ashamed of their disorderly conduct. P a g e | 38
But you have to be careful, there is a balance, our hope is that they return to the Lord, Paul says in verse 15, don’t count them as an enemy, but admonish or warn him as a brother. Listen we must let them feel the weight and consequences of their choices, but when they are broken they are to be restored. Paul speaking to the Corinthians after giving them the same instructions, told them in 2 Cor. 2:6-8 6 This punishment which was inflicted by the majority is sufficient for such a man, 7 so that, on the contrary, you ought rather to forgive and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one be swallowed up with too much sorrow. 8 Therefore I urge you to reaffirm your love to him. They are still our brothers and sisters, our church discipline is administered in love and out of obedience, but once they are restored, we are to reaffirm our love to such a person. P a g e | 39
Again these things are much more difficult in the 21st Century Church, because as we try to do these things, the person can pop in at the church down the way, and when they are exposed there, they can pop into the other church down the way, and the offense remains, and often the ataktos remain unruly and are never restored. Because they bounce around from church to church. But this is the Word of God, and should be our standard. We must not fellowship with the unruly in hopes that their shame brings about repentance and restoration. So those in Thessalonica who did not work, and remained unruly, they were to be excommunicated until they repented and got a job. I imagine this instruction works in a Christian home, if you have a grown man for a son, and you are still buying his deodorant and shampoo, you are still making him a peanut butter and jelly sandwiches every P a g e | 40 day for lunch, you might be going against God’s Word here. He should be contributing to the household as a man. He feels no shame, and has no motivation to get right with God, if you are sustaining him or her. That young man if not willing to contribute needs to fly. The other day I saw a beautiful Red Tail Hawk just munching on some smashed rabbit on my road. A fully grown bird, out earning his way. Now how weird would it be, for that full-grown bird, to still be in his mommas nest, just taking up the whole place, still opening his mouth for momma to feed him? It wouldn’t happen, the laws of nature go against this, even the animal kingdom knows when to push that adolescent out of the nest, they are taking up too much space, and they have feathers now, and they are able to fly. P a g e | 41
And it is biblical to teach your kids to fly, and sometimes you have to shove them out. My father did this to me when I was 18, and guess what? I thought it was unfair and mean at the time, but I found as I flew, that my father had prepared me well for this life. It was difficult, but I am grateful to that man to this day for pushing me out to make me fly. This is sound doctrine. So after Paul’s final admonition, he ends his letter with the Grace of God… Benediction 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in every way. The Lord be with you all. 17 The salutation of Paul with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. P a g e | 42
Paul here authenticating his letter, since there were false letters circulating, we see Paul had a unique signature, and this is how he ended many of his writings. May the Lord’s peace be upon us all and the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us, Amen. Now I do not know about you, but I loved this study of the Thessalonian Epistles, there is rich instruction for the church of today, as we await our coming King. We are to live as Children of the Day, as Darkness grows bolder and stronger. Such practical teaching. It has been a joy. Now, next week we are going to shift gears, and we will be taking on a Study through the Gospel of Luke, and we will be studying Jesus’ life. We already saw Matthew the Tax Collector’s writing on Jesus’ life, now we will get a glimpse through Luke’s research from first hand eye-witnesses. P a g e | 43
I love the Word of God, and I am excited to see how He speaks to us as a church as we look at the writings of Luke. After Luke we will go straight into Acts, and then 1 and 2 Corinthians. Let us pray… I just want to remind you the Pastors and Elders will be available for prayer during and after this last song. Please make your way up front if you need prayer for anything this morning… We love you, and we are here for you.