Good Monday, Friends.  How was your Easter weekend?

Friday night we gathered together with brothers and sisters in Christ to remember His sacrifice and praise Him for the salvation He has bought for us.  It was a cross denominational gathering… 2 different Baptist congregations, 2 Nazarene congregations, an Alliance congregation, and an Evangelical Free congregation… all under one roof.

All one family.

Four of the pastors formed a quartet to sing special music, and ALL of the pastors served the Body… from the music, to the message, to serving communion.

There are 2 more special joint services coming up in April.

I don’t think this is usual, but I know it is God’s will that the Body of Christ function without divisions.  Right here in the Thessalonians, we have been praying God’s will:

• that God’s church will grow in brotherly love for one another,
• that we will set an example for one another,
• that we will sound forth our faith
• and live in a community of unity and support.

We are praying, not only for “my” church or “your” church, but for THE Church.

My heart is warmed.  I’m praising God!  And I am asking Him what more does He want to do!?!

I wish I had taken a picture to share with you, but I didn’t even think of it.  My hands were full, wrangling a wrestless 2 year old!

What evidence are you seeing in your congregation and community that God is moving with your prayers for His will as demonstrated in the Thessalonians books?

Are you ready to dig into 2 Thessalonians, Chapter 2?  Lets pray for wisdom and for discernment before we begin.

 

My Notes:

vs. 5– Paul had formally {beforehand} educated the Thessalonian church as to what they should expect when Jesus returns {The Day of the Lord}.  Therefore…

vs. 1-3– Paul admonishes them not to let anyone or anything deceive them into believing Christ has already returned.

vs. 3,4,9,10– Jesus will not return unless the “apostasy” comes first {the anti-christ}.  The anti-christ will:

• exalt himself as god
• “display” himself, sitting in God’s temple
• display supernatural power, signs and false wonders
• will be aligned with Satan {the devil}
• will deceive those who are not saved (part of their judgement because they did not believe the gospel of truth).

vs. 6,7– Something {ultimately-God} is restraining the anti-christ from coming until the time God has appointed..

vs. 8– When God reveals the anti-christ, Jesus {when he returns} will slay him “with the breath of his mouth.”  Praise God, our Savior is all powerful!

vs. 13,14– Paul once again gives thanks for the Thessalonian church, confirming that God chose them to be saved by faith and to share in Christ’s inheritance.

vs. 15– Paul admonishes them to stand firm and hold to the truth they’ve been taught.

vs. 16,17– He blesses them, that God {by grace} may “comfort and strengthen their hearts in every good work and word.”

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I grew up in a denomination that stressed the coming Day of our Lord, but really downplayed the anti-christ and the uncomfortable days that come before.  It’s important that we recognize both, and what a merciful God we have, that He gives us His Word to prepare us to discern these times when they come so that we will not be misled or caught off guard.

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“And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us.  And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.”  1 John 5:14-15

How can I use these observations to pray according to God’s will?

Pray:

*Praise God, that in His loving grace, He has given His word which not only prepares us to live Godly lives today, but also prepares us to recognize what the reign of the anti-christ will look like, and the imminent Day of our Lord.

*vs. 8– Praise Jesus, just as we have been celebrating this Resurrection weekend—Our Savior wins!!

*vs. 13-15– Praise God for choosing you, and pray that the church will always stand firm and hold to the truth of His Word {the Bible}.

*vs. 16, 17– The blessing the Thessalonian church received is yours as well, beloved brothers and sisters!  I love to pray this verse for those we’re commissioning to do a new thing, and I am praying it for you as you spend time with your church congregation, your family, your school, place of work, your neighborhood, or whatever your mission field:

“Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, {who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace}, “comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.” Brackets added by me.

What did God teach you in this chapter? 

• Let us continue to pray that:
• We will be bold in sharing the gospel, regardless of our circumstances (1 Thess. 2:2)
• That we will continue to live lives worthy of Christ and set an example for other believers (1 Thess. 1:6, 7)
• That we will continue to sound forth our faith (1 Thess. 1:8)
• That the lost will receive the gospel, not in word only, but in Power, in the Holy Spirit, and with FULL Conviction!! (1 Thess. 1:5)

Though we are weak, God is faithful who is our Help, and He will follow through!

I’ll meet you next Monday to wrap up 2 Thessalonians!  And then?