SCRIPTURE – 2 THESSALONIANS 1
INTRODUCTION:
The church of Thessalonica was suffering persecutions from the outside and facing problems on the inside. Some were suffering loss and great trials. Some had misunderstood Paul’s teaching about the second coming of Christ. Many stopped working while others felt that the persecution must be the “Day of the Lord”. Discouraged and confused, Paul wrote this letter to answer the misunderstanding of the coming of the events at end times. He encouraged them to stand firm for Christ’s truth. He warned them not to be idle and pray for the strength to spread the gospel. He reminded them to keep working and use their time wisely.
BIBLE VERSES:
“God is just: He will pay back trouble to those who trouble you and give relief to you who are troubled, and to us as well. This will happen when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven in blazing fire with his powerful angels. He will punish those who do not know God and do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. They will be punished with everlasting destruction and shut out from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might” ( 2 Thessalonians1:6-10)
“With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may bring to fruition your every desire for goodness and your every deed prompted by faith. We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (2 Thessalonians 1:11-12)
THANKSGIVING AND PRAYERS (VS. 1-12)
PAUL THANKED GOD FOR THE THESSALONIAN BELIEVERS FOR THE FOLLOWING REASONS:
- Their faith was growing (v. 3a)
- Their love for everyone was increasing (v. 3b)
- Their perseverance in faith (v. 4a)
- Their endurance in all the persecutions and trials (v. 4b)
PAUL’S PRAYER FOR THE THESSALONIAN CHURCH:
- That God may count them worthy of his calling (v. 11a)
- That God may fulfill their every good purpose and acts prompted by their faith (v. 11b)
- That the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in them according to the grace of our God, Lord Jesus Christ. (v. 12)
THOUGHTS:
While undergoing persecution, the believers thought that they were already in “the day of the Lord”. Some became discouraged while others stop working and become idlers and busy bodies. Paul wrote this letter to explain the purpose of suffering so that they could remain true to the Lord.
THREE PURPOSES OF SUFFERING: (By Warren Wiersbe)
- Suffering makes us grow (vs. 3-5) – Tribulation produces perseverance. Suffering causes us to grow in faith and yield to God’s will.
- Suffering prepares us for His kingdom (vs. 6-10) – Suffering enables us to be confident that God will never forsake us. Our responsibility is to live worthy of His calling and God will work out His perfect plan for us.
- Suffering glorifies Christ (vs. 11-12) – Being able to withstand suffering and stand true to God is a testimony to the lost that glorifies Christ.