God’s Own Faithfulness
2nd Thess.3:1-15 (3:1-18)
July 25, 2010
As Paul comes to the conclusion of this second letter to the Thessalonians he ask for the prays of the saints v1. Paul always remembered them in his prayers and now he ask that they not forget him and his fellow-labourers in their prayer. As saints we are to always pray for one another and not just saints and Pastors we know, Eph.6:18. And we pray in hope that even those we don’t know in this life we shall see and know in The New Heaven and New Earth. Notice Paul specifically ask for the success of The Gospel Ministry v1b-d. Paul’s pray emphasize his greatest desire, that God’s Name be Sanctified and Glorified, God’s kingdom be advanced and God’s Will be done in the life of humanity that the interest of The Gospel in the world would move forward and be effective. Beneath the surface of the routine of daily life a fierce struggle between invisible spiritual powers is being waged. The forces of hell were then and still are opposed to The Word of The Lord. This opposition comes from unexpected people and places and at times we least expect, which is why Jesus says Matt.26:41 and 1st Peter 5:8. And so Paul ask v1, that opposition be removed, that The Gospel have free course to the ears, heart and consciences of men that sinners be convicted and converted and The Gospel of Christ be Glorified.
2nd Thess 3:2-3
As Paul continues, he prays v2 for protection and preservation from the evil one, and that he and his fellow-laborers be delivered v2a, those who are enemies to the preaching of The Gospel and persecutors of faithful preachers of The Gospel of Christ Jesus. Because these unreasonable, perverse, wicked men are so morally corrupt and capable of harmful acts and are not evil w/in themselves but also capable of corrupting others Rom.1:28-32, there is truly a need for spiritual protection from these unreasonable, wicked men who also are as atheist. These men have no conscience and their objective is to disgrace the ministers of God and God’s Word. Yet Paul says v3 to encourage them to trust God. When we pray we should also humbly expect what we pray for Heb.11:6. The fact that God has been faithful in other aspects of our lives we can be sure He shall be faithful to strengthen us and protect us from Satan Eph.6:10-18. God cannot lie and shall not altar what has gone out of His mouth Isa.55:8-11-2nd Peter 1:9. He is a faithful friend and never changes Heb.13:8. Also Consider Phil.1:6-1st Thess. 5:24-2nd Thess.2:16-17.
2nd Thess 3:4
In spite of Satan the Tempter 1st Thess.3:5 being as dangerous as he is, Paul v4 was more confident in God’s Power to accomplish His purpose for His faithful people thru His people. For God enables believers to respond to the instructions given to them Phil2:13-2nd Thess.2:17-1st Tim.1:12. Note: God knows how to stir up the heart of man by His secret silent irresistible power working in our heart to cause us to obey even when we don’t want to. Remember He is Sovereign and controls all the events of life by His work in the heart of man and this emphasizes the Truth of Jer.29:11 and Rom.8:28.
2nd Thess 3:5
Paul now makes a short prayer v5 for spiritual blessings for the Thessalonian believers, that their hearts be brought into the love of God, to be in love w/God as the most excellent Being, and brought to a greater appreciation of God’s Love for them and as we consider God’s Sovereign Love for us, it should cause us to really appreciate His Love for us. Especially as we consider that the only reason we can love God is because He loved us first and made it possible for us to love Him back 1st John 4:10, and we shall never be separated from His Love Rom.8:38-39. Note: To love God is the most reasonable and necessary thing for us to be happy. And if God does not direct our love for Him we are apt to go after other things that would ultimately damage our life and make us miserable and confused etc…Now to show our love of God we must patiently wait for Christ, living in a manner of anticipation of His coming v5b. If we believe Christ came in the flesh, then surely we must believe He Shall come in His Glory, and get ready for it, waiting and enduring w/courage and constancy.
2nd Thess 3:6-7
V6-7 Paul addresses those who were guilty of walking disorderly, not governing themselves according to their profession of faith in Christ and the teachings of the apostles for there were some among them who were idle and busy-bodies v11. And so Paul gave commands and directions of how they should behave and how the Church should act towards them. Now it seems that these persons may have misunderstood some of Paul’s earlier teachings concerning the coming of Christ 1st Thess.4:11-12, and they used this as an excuse to become derelicts 2nd Thess.3:10 and left the work of their calling to live in idleness. Note: If we are so sure that The Day of Judgment is so near, rather than become idle and irresponsible we must be about our Fathers business Luke 2:49 following Christ example John 6:38, that when our Lord comes He shall find us doing what He called us to do. And so Paul commands v6, and this social separation would provide a graphic picture of the seriousness of their conduct. Paul could make this command because he and his missionary associates had provided clear examples of a solid work ethic, which the Thessalonians could testify of.
2nd Thess 3:8-10
Paul and his company worked hard, buying what they needed so they would not became a burden to their fellow Christians v8, and not because they did not have the right to receive support v9-10, Consider 1st Cor.9:3-14 and 1st Tim.5:17-18. The disorderly not only refused to follow the apostle’s instructions but they also disregarded their example. No doubt they were just plain lazy, sponging off of others being a financial burden which is a poor testimony for Christ and the propagation of The Gospel Ministry. Relaxation and recreation provide a necessary and much needed balance to our life, but when its time to work Christians should jump right in a make the most of our talent and time to provide for ourselves and our dependents and this is an example of self-sacrificing love. The problem w/the disorderly Thessalonians is that some people in The Church were falsely teaching that because Christ would return any day, that people should set aside their responsibilities, quit work, do no future planning and just wait for The Lord.
2nd Thess 3:11-13
But their lack of activity led them into sin v11. Note: Because we know Christ is coming we as Christians should live in anticipation of His coming. By The Authority of Christ Paul commands v12. And then v13 he encourages the majority in The Church who were working not to be discouraged Gal.6:9. The hard working believers were tired of supporting the lazy and wanted to stop all help. Paul reminds them that the truly needy still required help and that the hard workers must not neglect them, Consider Deut.15:7-11-Prov.19:17-2nd Cor.6:10-Rev.14:13. But at the same time we must deal firmly w/those who deliberately chose to be idle busybodies. Now Paul says v14, don’t support them financially or associate w/those who insist in idleness. Hunger and loneness can be effective in making idle people productive. Paul was not advising coldness, but tough love that may bring them to repentance. Now consider Matt.18:15-17-1st Cor.5:9-13-Gal.6:1 for those who refuse to repent. The purpose is not rejection, for that person is a Bro. or Sis in Christ and must be dealt w/in Love and Firmly to restore that one back into fellowship w/Christ and the other believers, Gal.6:1.
In Jesus Name Amen
