More blessed to give… (4 points)

• 1^st – The request of Paul… vs. 1-2 (2 points)
  • 1^st – PRAY – for the Word of the Lord… vs. 1
    • Having given the encouragement that the Day of the Lord had not come yet…
      • And the clarification what had to happen before the Day of the Lord…
      • Paul concludes his short second letter by empowering the church in how to live…
    • PRAY (imperative) – for us that the Word of the Lord may RUN swiftly and be glorified…
      • RUNS swiftly – speaking of spreading the Gospel quickly to the whole world…
      • Paul wanted the Gospel to be heard by EVEYRONE – one way to heaven – John 14:6
      • But I also have to think he knew what Jesus said – once EVERYONE heard the Gospel…
      • Matthew 24:14 – “This gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.”
    • The fullness of the gentiles – Romans 11:25
      • No one but God knows the number – or who will be the last gentile to be saved…
      • But when the LAST Gentile to believe – receives Jesus – the rapture – I Thessalonians 4:17
      • You never know who might be holding the rapture up – the last one to receive Jesus…
      • All the more reason to RUN swiftly – tell anyone – tell everyone about Jesus!
  • 2^nd – PRAY – for deliverance… vs. 2
    • DELIVERANCE – 18x in NT – literally to be rescued from danger…
    • In this case from unreasonable (harmful) and wicked (evil) men…
    • The problem with sharing the Gospel – is that it tends to get us into trouble!
    • Paul was constantly trouble because of the Gospel – II Corinthians 11:23
    • He was thrown in prison AT LEAST five different times…
    • 5 times Paul was scourged with 39 lashes / 3 times Paul was beaten with Rods…
    • Once Paul was stoned to death – Acts 14:9
    • The way to find out how valuable something is – how much would you pay for it…
      • Paul was willing to go to prison – scourged and beaten – even stoned for Jesus!
      • If you are only willing to pay 10 pesos for a something – it is not worth very much…
      • If you are willing to pay 10 thousand pesos – then it is a very valuable!
      • It is easy to SERVE the Lord – if it costs us nothing…
      • But how many people are willing to go to prison in order to serve the Lord…
      • How valuable is the Lord to us – what are we willing to give up for Jesus!
    • Suffering is part of the Christian walk – we are all going to suffer…
      • II Timothy 3:12 – “Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Jesus will suffer…”
      • This is not one of those promises we want to hand on our wall – life will be hard!
      • If life were perfect – never had any problems – we might never look for heaven…
      • God allows life to be hard – so that we remember this is not our home!

• 2^nd – The confidence of Paul… vs. 3-5 (3 points)
  • 1^st – The Lord is faithful… vs. 3
    • Paul was CONFIDENT – the Lord would be FAITHFUL to do two things!
      • To Establish (Future / Indicative) – used 13x NT sterizo (steroids) – to strengthen…
      • God will be faithful to strengthen us in the future – when we stand before Him…
      • When we stand before the Lord one day – we will deserve death – Romans 6:23
      • But instead because He is faithful – He will give us royal white robes – Revelation 3:5
      • And we will be able to STAND before Him – established by His Grace!
      • The same Grace though which He will give us EVERYTHING – His KINGDOM – Luke 12:32
    • Guard (Future / Indicative) – to protect – from THE evil…
      • THE evil – likely referring to the source of EVIL – which is satan…
      • I Peter 5:8 – satan is our adversary – like a roaring lion he seeks to devour us!
      • Adversary – is a legal term – it speaks of someone who is opposed to us!
      • Picture a courtroom – we are on trial for our sins – God is the judge…
      • Satan is accusing us – Revelation 12:10 – wants to see us condemned to hell…
      • He has all the evidence he needs – all our sins – long list of failures…
      • But Jesus – our defender – comes to GUARD us – He points out one simple fact…
      • All our sins were paid for in full on the cross – we are found not guilty!
  • 2^nd – You do and will do the things commanded… vs. 4
    • Paul had CONFIDENCE – (perfect / indicative) – he NEVER doubted…
      • That the believers in Thessalonica WERE doing / and WOULD do what he commanded…
      • COMMANDED – parangello – from an angel – or we would say from a messenger…
      • There were NOT COMMANDS from Paul– these were COMMANDS from God!
      • And there is great POWER in the Word of God – Hebrews 4:12
      • A number of years ago I had the chance to attend a Billy Graham crusade…
      • Billy Graham is an evangelist who has preached to over 250 million people!
      • 110,000 people crammed into the stadium to hear him preach the Gospel of Jesus…
      • What amazed me was how disorganized his message was – it was hard to follow…
      • Suddenly with little warning – he asked anyone who wanted Jesus to come down…
      • I watched as the stadium emptied onto the field – thousands responding to the call!
    • It is not fancy words – or eloquent teaching that transforms the life of sinners…
      • It is just Jesus – preaching Jesus – make sure that the message is all about Jesus!
      • The power to do and keep doing the things God commands all from Jesus!
      • I Corinthians 2:5 – “Your faith should not be in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.”
  • 3^rd – The Lord will DIRECT (optative) your hearts… vs. 5
    • DIRECT – 2x in NT – to make straight – or to remove all obstacles…
    • Paul desired for the believers to be directed by the Lord into two things:
    • The LOVE (agape) of God – because we should do EVERYTHING in LOVE…
      • When I was a child – I used to like to help people – not because I wanted to do good…
      • But because I liked to receive their praise – what a good boy you are…
      • I knew my motivation was wrong – I was doing the right thing for the wrong reasons!
      • Without LOVE to guide us – without LOVE as the glue to hold the body together…
      • We are destined to be torn apart by our selfishness – seeking our own glory…
      • It is all about LOVE – if we do not have LOVE our we become worthless / empty!
      • John 13:35 – “All will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.”
    • The patience (hypomone) of Christ – we might say – to ABIDE in Christ…
      • John 15:4 – we are told that apart from Jesus we can do nothing!
      • We must ABIDE – meno – in Him in order for us to be able to have ANY fruit!
      • Good fruit is the byproduct of a being connected to Jesus!
      • Without Jesus we can do NOTHING – fruit is produced not manufactured!
      • In the same way as long as we are connected to Jesus – we will bear good FRUIT…
      • We do not have to work at it – it is the result of our relationship with Him!

• 3^rd – The command of Paul… vs. 6-15 (6 points)
  • 1^st – Withdraw from those who walk DISORDERLY … vs. 6
    • Paul COMMANDED (parangello) the church in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ (serious)!
    • WITHDRAW (present) – 2x in NT – can also be translated to CONSTANTLY AVOID…
    • Every brother who walks (present) DISORDERLY – 3x in NT all here – ignoring rules…
    • The same root word Paul used – I Thessalonians 5:14 – warn the UNRULY!
    • Apparently – those who were being UNRULY did not stop – now Paul said to AVIOD them!
    • Because these men were NOT following the TRADITIONS they received!
  • 2^nd – The EXAMPLE of Paul… vs. 7-9
    • The believers had SEEN the EXAMPLE / TRADITION – they were to follow (mimic) …
      • Paul was NOT DISORDERLY – (negative of same word) when he was with them…
      • Paul did not eat bread for FREE – he WORKED for his food…
      • With LABOR (intense work) and TRAVAIL (hard work) – DAY and NIGHT…
      • So that they would not put a BURDEN on anyone else!
    • Not because Paul did not have the AUTHORITY…
      • Those who minister to the spiritual needs of the church – pastoral ministry…
      • As much as possible should be provided for practically by the church – I Corinthians 9:11
      • I Timothy 5:18 / Matthew 10:10 – “The laborer is worthy of his wages.”
      • If a pastor has to work to support himself practically – little time for the church…
      • It is a blessing to the people to provide for the pastor to free him up to minister!
    • Yet Paul WORKED as an EXAMPLE…
      • He had given them a TRADITION – and he expected them to follow it…
      • Paul supported himself to show – it is more blessed to give than to receive…
      • The typical stereotype of a Christian church is one with its hand held out…
      • Giving the impression that God is broke – that He needs our money…
      • Yet God gives us everything we need – and calls us to give not take from others!
      • And the TRADITION we have been given is to be an EXAMPLE of giving to others!
      • Acts 20:35 – “I have shown you in every way, by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, ‘t is more blessed to give than to receive.”
  • 3^rd – The need to work… vs. 10
    • Even when Paul was still with the church – he COMMANDED them…
    • If any man would NOT work – then he was NOT to eat (imperative)!
    • God promises to provide for us – give us food to eat – Matthew 6:26
    • God can / and does at times – miraculously provide for our needs – like manna from heaven…
    • He can also take care of us through the kindness of others – when there is a NEED…
    • But that does not mean we get to sit down and wait for the feast to arrive…
    • The most common way God provides – we work to put food on the table!
    • We are not to be a burden to others – we are to be accountable for our own needs…
    • The basic daily needs of life – each of us are personally responsible for!
    • Galatians 6:5 – “For each one shall bear his own load…”
  • 4^th – Do NOT be a busybody… vs. 11-12
    • Paul heard there were some who walked (present / active) DISORDERLY…
      • They were NOT working at all – they were choosing to be BUSYBODIES…
      • BUSYBODIES – only here NT – pretend to be working – but do NOTHING!
      • You all know the kind of person – you ask how they are doing – BUSY…
      • But you look at their lives – and there is NOTHING happening – BUSY about NOTHING!
      • There is an old saying – idle hands are the devils playground…
      • People who have too much time on their hands tend to get into trouble…
      • They spread rumors – stir up contention and strife within the church!
      • Proverbs 16:27 – “[Worthless men] create trouble; their words are a destructive blaze…”
    • Those who are like this Paul…
      • COMMANDED (parangello) – showing the authority Paul had…
      • Exhorted (parakaleō) – showing he was not angry – he wanted to HELP them…
      • By the Lord Jesus Christ – they should WORK – in other words get a JOB!
      • In QUIETNESS – 4x in NT – to be silent – in other words stop GOSSIPING!
      • Eat their OWN bread – finally stop taking advantage of the goodness of others!
      • There is a difference between helping and enabling someone…
      • If someone is truly in need – then by all means we are called to help them…
      • But if someone is able to work – then they need to – so those in true NEED can be helped!
  • 5^th – Do NOT grow weary in doing good… vs. 13
    • To those who are following the TRADITION Paul gave…
      • Do not GROW WEARY – to be exhausted / burnt out / we might say drained…
      • DOING GOOD – 2x in NT – doing what is RIGHT – in context working for our daily needs…
      • We work HARD EVERY day – just to make ends meet – only to have to do it AGAIN…
      • It can make us GROW WEARY – wondering if it is worth it – what is the POINT!
    • In the parallel passage in Galatians – Paul adds…
      • Galatians 6:9 – “Let us not grow weary [same word] while doing good [same word], for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
      • We WORK to provide for our DAILY BREAD – but that is NOT the goal…
      • Much like a farmer who plants seeds – we are WORKING towards a harvest…
      • But in our case our seed is the WORD and our fields are the hearts of men…
      • And we WORK to be an EXAMPLE to them – bless them – so they might know Jesus!
      • Psalm 1:1-3 – “Blessed is the man… delight is in the Law of the Lord… he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season.”
  • 6^th – No more Fellowship… vs. 14-15
    • For ANYONE who does not OBEY (listen) to the words in this EPISTLE …
      • NOTE that person – only here NT – to MARK that person…
      • Do NOT keep company – 3x in NT – to mix or mingle – we would say have FELLOWSHIP…
      • That they might be ASHAMED (Aorist / Passive / Subjunctive) – hope for repentance!
    • Do NOT treat them as an enemy – but as a BROTHER…
      • Paul was not saying to kick someone out of the church over this…
      • He was escalating the encouragement he gave in I Thessalonians 5:14…
      • WARN – a word that means to reprove gently – the UNRULY…
      • If someone is acting UNRULY – we are to GENTLY reprove them…
      • But if they do NOT listen – they we are to escalate – and stop fellowshipping with them…
      • In an effort to convince them – to stop being DISORDERLY – and instead help!
      • I Corinthians 14:40 – “Let all things be done decently and in order.”
    • What started with 1 verse – turned into 10…
      • Because a problem was not properly addressed in the beginning – it got 10x BIGGER…
      • There is a tendency in our culture – to avoid confrontation…
      • If someone does something wrong – the accepted response it to IGNORE it / them…
      • As if somehow time will miraculously make everything OK!
      • Ephesians 4:26 – “Do not let the sun go down on your anger…”
      • Ignoring a problem – will make it 10x BIGGER – it is not worth the damage…
      • If we try and IGNORE a problem – we give an opportunity to satan…
      • Satan would love to cause division within the church – bitterness and hate…
      •  Do not let satan rob the church of the forgiveness and joy Jesus has provided!
      • II Corinthians 2:11 – “Lest Satan should take advantage of us; for we are not ignorant of his devices.”

AMEN – from the HEBREW – simply means let it be so!

4^th – The conclusion of Paul… vs. 16-18

1^st – The Lord of peace… vs. 16

May the Lord of PEACE – PEACE comes from the Lord – He is our PEACE – Ephesians 2:14

Give (optative) you PEACE – eirene – ALWAYS in in EVERY WAY…

How does the Lord give us PEACE – when the Lord is with us!

John 14:27 – “Peace I leave with you, My PEACE I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”

Most of us tend to spend a lot of time worrying / fearful – the opposite of peace…

The problem is worrying about problems does not help – it makes things worse…

Worry is the opposite of TRUST – we are worried because we are not trusting in God!

Instead of killing ourselves by worrying – run to Jesus and find PEACE!

Philippians 4:6 – “Do not worry about anything; instead, pray about everything…  and the PEACE of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

2^nd – The salutation of Paul… vs. 17

We know Paul dictated most of his letters to the churches – Romans 16:22

It is believed that Paul had a problem with his eyes – a severe infection…

And his handwriting was in large letters – because he could not see well – Galatians 6:11

But as was his custom – he would sign every Epistle at the end!

3^rd – The Grace of our Lord Jesus… vs. 18

The conclusion of the letter – THE GRACE of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all…