Paul has reaffirmed his
teaching on the purpose and particulars of the Tribulation to the Thessalonian
church members. The last chapter of this epistle answers the “Now what?”
question and therefore speaks to our preparation for the coming latter days leading
up to Jesus return (Rapture and Second Coming). Paul closes his second epistle
to the Thessalonians with encouragement for them to live on from this point
with a twofold two pronged preparedness: Prayer and Discipline.
Prayer
2 Thessalonians 3:1–18 (NKJV)
Finally, brethren, pray for us,
The
first thing Paul asks for when he does ask for anything is prayer. Prayer was a priority for Paul. If Jesus, the Word made
flesh, Immanuel – God with us, practiced a life of prayer, should we fallen
people practice prayer any less? Should we not pray for ourselves and for each
other? Should we not regularly seek prayer support? Prayer helps us tap into
the power of God. Prayer keeps our spiritual head on straight. Prayer brings us
close to God. Prayer consoles us with the heartbeat of God. Prayer comforts us
in the presence of God. We need to pray for ourselves and for each other.
I
recently saw a call for prayer for pastors on Face Book. This is what it said:
·
97% of all
pastors have been betrayed, falsely accused, or hurt by their trusted friends
·
70% of pastors
battle depression
·
7,000 churches
close each year
·
1500 pastor quit
each month
·
Only 10% will
retire as a pastor
·
80% of pastors
feel discouraged.
·
94% of pastor’s
families feel the pressure of ministry
·
78% of pastors
have no close friends
·
90% of pastors
report working 55-75 hours per week
·
Pray for your
pastor
We
need to be praying for our pastors. We need to be praying for those in
ministry.
Abraham
Lincoln, who was president of the United States during the Civil War, once
commented, “I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming
conviction that I had nowhere else to go.” One can only imagine the
circumstances that moved Lincoln to make that comment. The apostle Paul was not
a stranger to difficulty. Paul once described his ministry as he defended
against false accusations. He was inspired to write:
·
2 Corinthians 11:22–29 (NKJV) - 22 Are
they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the
seed of Abraham? So am I. 23 Are they ministers of
Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: 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. 29 Who is weak,
and I am not weak? Who is made to stumble, and I do not burn with
indignation?
That’s
the short list. Paul knew there was no way he could weather the storms of
ministry he faced in his own strength. He didn’t beg for money. He didn’t share
these words to garner sympathy or pity. When it came time for Paul to ask for
something he asked for prayer. He was
thankful for the church when it met his practical needs (e.g. the Philippians
cf. Phil. 4:10). But what he was quick and persistent to ask for were the
prayers of God’s people.
What
was it specifically that Paul asked the Thessalonians to pray for?
that the word of the Lord may run swiftly
and be glorified, just as it is with you,
First, pray “that the word of the Lord may run swiftly
and be glorified.” Paul was not
praying that the word of God be worshipped but that it be spread far and wide
and “glorified” (Greek doxadzo) honored, respected, praised what it was and continues to be, God’s word! When you honor, respect and
have praise for something you don’t hide your feelings about it you share them!
If you are a fan of a certain team, or shoe or purse brand you share it and
wear your feelings on your sleeve. You share and show to others that which you
are proud of, honor and praise. Do you honor God’s word?
How
is God’s word spread? A Bible is a book and while it contains a powerful
inspired message from God it is still an inanimate object. When Paul therefore
tells the Thessalonians to pray “that the word of the Lord may run swiftly” he
is telling them to pray for people to
carry that word far and wide wherever they go. Paul affirmed that the
Thessalonians did just that (“just as it is with you”); they revered God’s word
and spread it far and wide.
Do
you spread the word of God wherever you go? I can remember the small green
Gideon’s Bible I was given when I first accepted Jesus as my Savior and Lord. It
was small enough to keep in my pocket. And I took it wherever I went. At every
opportunity I would take it out and read it. When the opportunity presented itself
I would take it out and share it with others. To this day I will not go
anywhere with the word of God. Now that we have IPhones with Bible AP
capability, there isn’t any excuse to go anywhere without the Bible. And those
APs can search for verses and give definitions for words we don’t understand.
Take advantage of the technology of today and “run swiftly” with God’s word.
2 and that we
may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.
Second, pray, “that we may be delivered
from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith.” Paul asks the Thessalonians to pray that he and his
ministry team may (Subjunctive case) be “delivered” (Greek rhuomai) saved, rescued
delivered from “unreasonable” (Greek atopas)
perverse, unusual, wrong and “wicked”
(Greek poneros) painful, grievous, wicked, bad, evil, depraved men. These are
people who fall into a group described by Paul as “not all have faith.”
Paul
asks the Thessalonians to pray that he and his ministry team would be rescued
from the sea of perverse and pain producing people in the world. Paul wasn’t
praying to be saved from sinners. He was called by God to minister to sinners
and share the gospel of Jesus with them. But he did pray for deliverance from
those who weren’t interested in the good reason of the gospel; from those who
were evil, depraved, committed to their lives of sin and uninterested in
repentance from their sin. Paul was asking for the Thessalonians to pray for
the Spirit to steer him to good heart soil; heart soil that would receive the
word of God, let it take root, and then let it bear spiritual fruit to eternal
life (cf. Matthew 13; Mark 4; Luke 8).
Now
Paul reciprocates his prayer request with some encouraging affirmations of his
own to the Thessalonians.
3 But the Lord
is faithful, who will establish you and guard you from the evil one.
What better way to speak to
those whose faith and hope have been shaken by false teaching and who fear that
their salvation with God was somehow overlooked or rejected? “But the Lord is
faithful,” is where the focus of the Thessalonians needed to be. God is
faithful and will not let them be tested and tried beyond what they are able
but will help them in their time of need (1 Cor. 10:13). They and we can depend
on God for he is faithful. He is true to His word and we can depend on every
one of His precious promises. When you are discouraged, depressed or fear
always respond by reminding yourself of the faithfulness of God.
God is faithful to
“establish” (Greek steridzo) or to firmly affix, set in place, stabilize, build
strong, and set a foundation with these believers. God was going to help
them build their spiritual lives in a way that would keep them strong in the
storm. We know that such establishing involves taking in and obeying the word
of God (cf. Matthew 7:24-27). God is faithful to build us strong.
God is faithful to “guard you
from the evil one.” “Guard” (Greek phulasso)
means to guard, defend, watch over,
protect, or keep safe. God steps
in between us and the evil one Satan. There is nothing Satan or his minions of
demons does to us that he doesn’t have to get the approval from God to do.
Satan couldn’t do anything to Job without God’s permission (Job 1-2). That is a
principle of life. And if God allows the enemy to attack or test us it is for a
good reason; something that is part of His plans. We may not always understand
God’s reasons for allowing Satan to buffet us, we may not always appreciate
them, but we can be sure that if we were to see our circumstances from God’s
perspective we would have no argument with His decisions.
4 And we have
confidence in the Lord concerning you, both that you do and will do the things
we command you.
Sometimes we talk about
having faith in people. We can affirm people and encourage people but when it
comes to trusting in people we may be venturing into dangerous territory. Peter
told Jesus He could trust him but Jesus knew better (Matthew 26:31-35). Jesus
didn’t trust in people. Jesus trusted
in God. “Nevertheless, not as I
will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39).
Paul has encouraged and
affirmed the Thessalonians, but his “confidence” (Greek peitho) his dependence is
“in the Lord.” We should always depend on the Lord not on people. We should
always encourage people to trust and depend on Jesus not on us. People are
imperfect. God is perfect. People can and will let you down. God will never let
you down.
Paul was confident and
dependent upon God would help the Thessalonians to “do and will do the things
we command you.” God was the One Paul depended on to work in and through the
Thessalonians. He always trusted in God to work in and through people (e.g.
Phil. 2:12-13). He always released people to the grace of God (cf. Acts 20:32).
Are you trying to get people to depend on you or on Jesus? Are you depending
more on people than Jesus? These are important questions.
5 Now may the
Lord direct your hearts into the love of God and into the patience of Christ.
Paul’s prayer for the
Thessalonians was “the Lord direct your hearts into the love of God.” “Direct”
(Greek kateuthuno) or lead and guide the Thessalonians into
“the love of God.” Leading and guiding speak of relationship. God will take us by the hand and lead us if we in
faith allow Him to. The Thessalonians had been falsely taught that the
Tribulation was upon them. Since the Tribulation is a time of God’s outpoured
wrath this meant that what they had been taught by Paul that God’s word about
being saved from the wrath to come was not true (1 Thess. 1:10; 5:9). But
worse, it would mean that if God punished His people who were saved by the
blood of Jesus the same way he punished sinners then they could easily have construed
this to mean God was not loving or they were not loved by God. Paul therefore
prays God would embrace them in His warm certain assuring love.
And Paul prays the Lord would
lead them “into the patience of Christ.” “Patience” (Greek hupomone) means endurance,
patience, steadfastness, perseverance. No one knows the day or hour of
Jesus return. Therefore we need to be patient and endure living in this world
until He does return. We may die before He returns. In that case we will go
immediately into the presence of the Lord (2 Cor. 5:8). Either way, either the
Rapture or death before the Rapture, we trust in God to help us to be
faithfully enduring whatever His will is for us.
Discipline
While we prayerfully endure
we are to live on with a certain attitude. Paul now turns to that attitude.
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.
Paul
now gives some pretty strong instruction. Paul says, “we command you, brethren,
in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Paul takes out his apostolic authority
which was substantial and then turns the authority of what he is about to say
up even a notch more by commanding them in the name of Jesus. So what he is
about to say is a strong order and command.
Paul
commands them “that you withdraw from” (Greek stellomai) or avoid, or
withdraw from “every brother who walks disorderly and not according to the
tradition which he received from us.” No notice Paul is speaking about those in the church. He is saying this is what
should be done in regard to “every brother,” or professing Christians. The
issue for which we are to withdraw from a professing Christian over are those
who “walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from
us.”
“Walks”
(Greek peripateo) refers to a way of
life. This is the way a “brother” is living. “Disorderly” (Greek ataktos) means irresponsible, idly, disorderly. The opposite of disorderly is
orderly (Greek tasso meaning to arrange, fix, appoint). Paul defines
this disorder as living “not according to the tradition which he received from
us.” “Tradition” (Greek paradosis) is
simply oral or written teaching that is to be passed from one generation to the
next. Therefore, a disorderly Christian is someone who is not applying or
living by what Paul has passed on to them.
We
often recoil and resist the idea of discipline.
When we hear the word “discipline” we think of drill sergeants, teachers
with whips and rulers, and maybe overbearing overlords. We have a lot of
negative responses and visual thoughts connected with this word. But really the
word “discipline” is derived from the word disciple.
A disciple is one who follows and
lives by the teaching of their master. A disciple is one who disciplines their
life according to their Lord.
There
is a fallacious false teaching that order and the work of the Holy Spirit are
contradictory. But really when we look at the Bible which is inspired by the
Spirit and look at the plans of God we see orderliness everywhere. We see an
order to the creation that was made in parts of six separate days with a day of
rest on the seventh. We see an order to the lineage of the Messiah, i.e.
through the line of Abraham. We see chapters devoted to the building plans of
the Tabernacle and Temple. We see an order in the calendar of God’s people and
Feast Days and the particulars of a sacrificial system. We see a meticulous
attention to the fulfillment of prophecy. We see an order to the death,
resurrection and then waiting in Jerusalem for the baptism with the Holy Spirit
on Pentecost. There is no disorder in what God does. The only disorder we see
is associated with Satan and sin. Therefore we need to understand that order is spiritual and disorder is
unspiritual.
The
most grievous evidence of disorderly conduct is when a professing Christian who
“walks disorderly and not according to the tradition which he received from
us.” Paul is not speaking about incidentals of disobedience to God’s word. Paul
is talking about a way of life adopted by a professing believer. He is talking
about someone who claims to be Christian but willfully disregards the word of
God in some lifestyle or habitual way.
When
do we “withdraw from every brother” who “walks disorderly”? At what point and
for what reason do we walk away and avoid a brother or sister in the Lord? I
think such a question can only be answered as it relates to the leading of the
Holy Spirit. We are to leave the 99 and search out the lost sheep according to
Jesus (cf. Luke 15:4-7). But there is also a time when repeated corrections and
instructions are disregarded by a professing Christian that because of their
disorderly lifestyle they should be avoided. I would say that such avoidance
and withdrawal is not something done in anger or vengefulness but it is done in
love to discipline a brother or sister in hopes that they will get right with
God. Sometimes love does have to be tough. Sometimes it is very hard to enforce
God’s truth in love. But we must do so in faith trusting in God’s word. We are
to obey God’s word and the leading of the Spirit and leave the outcome to God.
If we act in good faith praying throughout that is all we can do.
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.
Notice
Paul is not a “do as I say and not as I do” apostle. Paul led by example. He
was able to say, “you ought to follow us.” Paul is going to speak about having
a hard working attitude and his teaching had weight and substance because Paul
himself was diligent and hard working. There is nothing more repulsive than a
lazy lackadaisical minister. Really laziness and lackadaisical should never be
mentioned in the same sentence with anyone serving the Lord or living for
Jesus. Even the appearance of such things should be avoided.
Paul
wasn’t “disorderly,” he lived out the word of God. He didn’t free-load and live
off other people. He “worked” (Greek kopos)
or labored to exhaustion, labored and
worked until weary. Paul worked “with labor” (Greek mochthos) or labored, toiled,
exertion, and hardship. And he did this “night and day.” Paul was known for being a hard worker. What
are you known for? Are you a lounger or laborer for the Lord?
Paul’s
motive in all of this was “that we might not be a burden to any of you.” Paul
was careful to never take advantage of people. He never wanted to be a burden
to those he served. Paul added, “not because we do not have authority,” or that
he had a right, as a servant of the Lord to be supported by those he ministered
to. The minister of the gospel should be supported by the church or those they
serve (1 Cor. 9:4, 6-14). But the greater purpose for Paul was “to make
ourselves an example of how you should follow us.” Paul was willing to go above
and beyond to serve in ministry even if it meant self-sacrifice and additional
hard work. There is a time when the pastor or minister assesses their life
circumstance and ministry and says, “It is not desirable that we should leave
the word of God and serve tables,” and “but we will give ourselves continually
to prayer and to the ministry of the word” (Acts 6:1-7). But the pastor and
minister should always be asking what
impression, what godly example of Christlike sacrifice am I making on those I
serve.
Ministry
is not for the faint of heart or those seeking an easy way of life. Ministry is
hard work physically, mentally and spiritually. There are times when the pastor
has to clean the urinal and times when he has to baptize new believers. And it
is all part of the calling of God and service of Christ.
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 and exhort through our Lord Jesus Christ that
they work in quietness and eat their own bread.
Paul lays down the principle
and standard especially for those in the church. “If anyone will not work,
neither shall he eat.” This is pointed towards those who can work but who “will not work.” There is a place for helping
those who can’t work for some reason. The church should have a benevolence
program. Government subsidies and social services were initially well
intentioned. The problem is that social services have become a substitute for
work. Some see their knowledge of the social service system as their work.
Their “work” is to work the system. Government feeds into this circular
imprisonment because a populace that depends on the government to eat and live
is more likely to vote in politicians who will meet their “needs.”
Those Paul calls out here he
refers to as “busybodies” (Greek periergazomai) meddlers, busy-bodies that move around but accomplish nothing,
those involved in useless unnecessary busyness. The opposite of a busybody
would be someone who is always engaged in something productive, something that
is aimed at eternal worth and spiritual edification or meeting the needs of
others. The alternative to being a busybody is to “work in quietness and eat
their own bread.” And Paul commands and exhorts “through our Lord Jesus Christ”
these busybodies to “work in quietness and eat their own bread.” That is
something we should consider today.
Are
you a busybody or diligent worker? Are you looking for a handout, living off of
others while you could be working yourself? How would you describe your
attitude in this area?
13 But as
for you, brethren, do not grow weary in doing good.
What about those who are
being taken advantage of? Even in Paul’s day taxes were high. In the church
there were those who worked hard while others loafed. Predo’s Rule of business
says 20% of the people do 80% of the work. Sometimes it seems like that could
be applied in the church. Paul encourages those who are diligent and hard
workers and tells them “do not grow weary in doing good.” To the Galatians Paul
said, “And let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap
if we do not lose heart. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to
all, especially to those who are of the household of faith” (Galatians 6:9-10).
Don’t give up, work hard and press on in what God sets before you to do. The
harvest is coming.
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.
Paul is to telling the
Thessalonians to see the busybody and lazy Christian as no longer being a
Christian. He is saying “do not keep company with him,” for a purpose, “that he
may be ashamed.” “Ashamed” (Greek entrepo)
means be put to shame, ashamed, not have
respect, not reverence. The person who will not work is a person that does
not have the power of God or presence of God in their life. There is something
missing; it is the approving presence of the Lord. Hopefully the person with
the disorderly and questionable way of living will be ashamed of not being what
God wants them to be.
There is a principle to
understand here. The Spirit makes His
presence known as we step out in faith . When we work in faith we create an
opportunity for the Spirit to make His presence known through our work.
Therefore, if we do not work we do not have opportunity for the Spirit to make
His presence known and we lack His presence in our lives. For the Christian
that is something to be ashamed of. This is the underlying principle behind
Paul’s instruction on how to deal with or discipline the disorderly and lazy
Christian.
But its important to remember
that Paul adds, “yet do not count him as an enemy, but admonish him as a
brother.” “Admonish” (Greek noutheteo)
means admonish, instruct, counsel, put
into mind. We are to correct and counsel brethren who are acting in
unchristlike ways. Again, it is important to follow the leading of the Spirit
who always works to restore and edify (build up) not isolate and eliminate.
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.
Paul closes with a
benediction praying that the “Lord of peace Himself give you peace always in
every way.” Their peace had been disrupted. They were pained by persecution but
that pain was compounded with the effects of false teaching that tried to steal
their peace. Paul has a closing remedy for this.
Paul prays their peace would
be restored. And the peace he offers comes from a personal relationship with “the Lord. . . Himself.” The pronoun
“Himself” used by Paul is a very personal comment. It’s as though Paul were
saying, “The Lord Himself, personally, is going to give you peace.” When our
peace is disrupted there is no better remedy than being reminded and knowing
Jesus Himself is there with you. That is a peace producing awareness. Jesus
will never leave us or forsake us (Heb. 13:5). If He is there, no matter what
we are going through, we can be at peace.
But you think, “I feel so
alone. How do I know Jesus is with me?” The Bible says He is. The Holy Spirit
makes His presence known to us wherever we are (Psalm 139). Jesus Himself said
He would always be with us (Matthew 28:20). When Paul was a bit rattled by
problems in Corinth Jesus spoke to Paul and said, “I am with you and no one will attack you to
hurt you” (Acts 18:10). When we are alone
and afraid Jesus says the same to us.
There is a poem that has
become a classic called “Footprints in the Sand” by Mary Stevenson. It illustrates the presence and care of Jesus in
hard times.
Footprints in the Sand
One night I dreamed I was walking along the beach with the Lord.
|
Many scenes from my life flashed across the sky.
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In each scene I noticed footprints in the sand.
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Sometimes there were two sets of footprints,
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other times there were one set of footprints.
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This bothered me because I noticed
|
that during the low periods of my life,
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when I was suffering from
|
anguish, sorrow or defeat,
|
I could see only one set of footprints.
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So I said to the Lord,
|
"You promised me Lord,
|
that if I followed you,
|
you would walk with me always.
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But I have noticed that during
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the most trying periods of my life
|
there have only been one
|
set of footprints in the sand.
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Why, when I needed you most,
|
you have not been there for me?"
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The Lord replied,
|
"The times when you have
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seen only one set of footprints,
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is when I carried you."[1]
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-
Mary Stevenson
|
Someone has humorously but
insightfully added to the poem the idea that there were times when instead of
just footprints there was a line in the sand. When Jesus is asked the meaning
of the line He responds, “That was when I had to drag you.” Jesus is always
with us; even when we don’t want Him. Jesus has the peace we need. If you are
going through a hard time, run to Jesus, walk with Him, let Him carry you when
needed, and don’t drag your feet.
Paul notes that this letter
is written “with my own hand, which is a sign in every epistle; so I write.” He
said this to show that this was not a pseudepigraphal writing but the real deal
genuine letter from him.
He closes in the grace of the
Lord Jesus Christ. All of God’s word is delivered and implemented by the grace
of the Lord. To that we join Paul saying, “Amen.”
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