Protect Your Sufferings
2 Thessalonians 1
Let us notice…
I. What kind of suffering can we expect?
A. There may be temporal sufferings.1. Persecutions (v. 4; Mt. 5:11-12, 44; 1 Pet. 3:17)a. Greek word is diogmosb. Diogmos comes from diokos (pursue) the root of which is dio (flee).2. Suffer (v. 5) pashco (painful impression)3. Tribulations (vv. 4, 6; Jn. 16:33)a. Greek word is thlipsis (pressure)b. Thlipsis comes from thlibo (see #4).4. Troubled (vv. 6, 7) Thlibo (to crowd), which is similar to tribos (a rut or worn track) the base of which is tribo (to rub).5. Endure (v. 4; Gal. 6:9; Heb. 12:1; Rev. 3:11)a. Greek word is anechomai (to hold oneself up against; put up with)b. Anechomai is a compound word made from two words: ana (up) and echo (to hold) B. There may be eternal sufferings.1. Repay (v. 6; Eze. 7:4; Rom. 12:19)2. Flaming Fire (v. 8; 2 Pet. 3:10)3. Everlasting Destruction (v. 9; 2 Pet. 2:9)II. How do Christians protect their sufferings?
Protect your sufferings by…
A. Allowing your faith to grow (v. 3). B. Loving everyone (v. 3).C. Practicing patience (v. 4).D. Enduring trials (vv. 4-5).E. Sharing your faith—“testimony” (v. 10).III. What is the reward of righteous living?
A. Count you worthy (v. 11).B. Fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and work of faith with power (v. 11).C. You may be glorified in Christ (v. 13).Protect Your Understanding
2 Thessalonians 2
We protect our understanding by …
I. Knowing of the Lord’s return (vv. 1-2).
II. Knowing the events that precede His return (vv. 3-12).
A. The Man of Sin, will be revealed—also called “the son of perdition” (v. 3).B. The characteristics of the Man of Sin (vv. 4-7).1. He opposes and exalts himself above God (v. 4).2. He sits on as God in the temple of God (v. 4).3. He shows himself to be God (v. 4).4. He (what he represents) restrains (v. 6).5. He will be revealed in his own time (v. 6).6. He is already at work (v. 7).7. He will be taken out of the way (v. 7).8. His work is power, signs, lying wonders and unrighteous deception (v. 9).C. What will happen to this Man of Sin?1. The Lord will consume him “with the breath of His mouth” (v. 8).2. God will send his followers a “strong delusion” (v. 11).3. He and his followers will be condemned (v. 12).III. Knowing how to prepare for the Lord’s return (vv. 13-17).
Protect Your Confidence
2 Thessalonians 3
We have assurance in…
I. God’s Word (v. 1).
A. It may run swiftly (1 Cor. 16:9) “for a great door and effectual is opened unto me, and there are many adversaries.”B. It many be glorified.II. God’s Power (vv. 2-5).
A. To deliver (v. 2; 1 Cor. 10:13) “There hath no temptation taken you but such as man can bear: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation make also the way of escape, that ye may be able to endure it.”B. To defend (vv. 3-4)1. God is faithful… (1 Cor. 10:13)2. …to establish you… (2:17)3. …to guard you… (Mt. 6:13; Jn. 17:15; Jude 24) “Now unto him that is able to guard you from stumbling, and to set you before the presence of his glory without blemish in exceeding joy.”4. …to help you… (Rom. 8:28)C. To direct (v. 5; Jer. 10:23; Jn. 15:4-5) ““Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; so neither can ye, except ye abide in me. I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same beareth much fruit: for apart from me ye can do nothing.”III. God’s Commands (vv. 6-12).
A. Withdraw from the disorderly (v. 6; Rom. 16:17).B. Follow godly examples (vv. 7-9; 2:15; 1 Cor. 11:1) “Be ye imitators of me, even as I also am of Christ.”C. Work quietly (vv. 10-12; 1 Cor. 4:12) “and we toil, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure.”IV. God’s Will (vv. 13-15).
A. Do good patiently (v. 13).B. Avoid company tenderly (v. 14).C. Admonish fraternally (v. 15).
