Thank you for reading the message this week. I have not had a good week at all. First of all, it has been a sad week. Second, I have contracted a bad case of pneumonia and have had to be off from work. Unfortunately, they are mad at me at work for missing time, but there is nothing that I can do about it. I am feeling just well enough today to get the message posted. I don't want to be all negative. I am really thankful to the Lord that I had my friend Toby with me for so long. I know we will see each other again. I am also thankful that I have medicine to take to get over pneumonia, and the Lord is always with me. I hope that you are all doing well.
A couple of years ago here on the blog, we had the opportunity to go chapter by chapter and verse by verse through the book of I Thessalonians. At that time, I had considered going right into II Thessalonians and covering that book as well. However, that is not what I had the sense that the Lord wanted me to do then. Now, I feel like the Lord wants me to go through II Thessalonians here on the blog, so that is what we are going to be doing over the course of the next several weeks.
Before we get too deep into II Thessalonians, let us just review a little about what I Thessalonians is all about. Paul visited Thessalonica on one of this missionary journeys as is recorded in the Book of Acts. He faced opposition and had to depart from the city. However, he was able to establish a church there.
In approximately the year 50AD, Paul wrote the first epistle to the Thessalonians. It was written to encourage the people and to make sure that some who were worried would understand that even those who had died would rise and meet the Lord in the air when He returned.
Apparently, Paul's first letter did not answer all of the questions and the false ideas that has arisen concerning the Second Coming of the Lord Jesus. So, in about the year 51 AD, Paul wrote a second letter to the church in Thessalonica.
Some people do not believe that Paul wrote II Thessalonians. It is somewhat of a theological "issue" right now. I think Paul clearly wrote this letter. He is simply dealing with some of the same things as in the first letter because there were still misunderstandings.
Paul begins this letter with a greeting sent from himself as well as Silas and Timothy. They were his faithful companions in the ministry. Paul wishes the grace and peace of the Father and the Son to be with the people to whom he is writing.
Paul gets into the heart of the epistle with verse three. He says that he thanks God because the people's faith is growing and their love is increasing. This is how it ought to be in every church. We can't just stay in one place spiritually. We have to keep growing and improving. We have to as we are empowered by the Spirit become more and more like the Lord Jesus every day. We also need to become more reliant on the Lord as we progress in the faith. We have our faith built up more and more as we see that the Lord is faithful to us. We must mature as Christians. In one place, Paul talks about leaving the milk of the Word and moving on to the meat. One way to do this is to read and study the Bible diligently and apply what it has to say.
We also need to increase in our love one for another. As believers in Jesus, we must love another and care about one another. That means sharing each others burdens and helping each other when and where we can. It means seeking the best for one another and helping each other become better and stronger Christians.
Paul goes on to say in verse four that he could boast about the fact that the people were enduring in the faith in spite of facing trials and persecutions. Christians faced persecutions from day one. Many people turned away. But not so with the people in Thessalonica. They were enduring and remaining faithful to Jesus.
There are fellow believers in this world who are facing persecution. In spite of it, they still remain faithful to Jesus. We should daily remember them in our prayers.
Finally, in verse five, Paul says that the people's endurance in trial is evidence that they are worthy of the coming Kingdom of God. Those who face persecution and do not turn away from Jesus show that they have a true possession of faith and not just an empty profession of faith.
Whatever trial we are going through, we can know that Jesus is with us. He is a friend that sticks closer than a brother. He will never leave us and He will not forsake us. One day, He will return and all will be made right. We will see more about what Paul has to say about this next week. Amen.
Prayer Requests
Please pray that I will get to feeling better. Pray that I can find a better job. Also, there are more storms in the forecast for my area. Please pray that things won't be too bad. Thank you.
Pray for peace. I heard a report on the radio this week about the terrible situation right now in Sudan. Let us really focus our prayers for peace on that country this week. The people need aid and help to reach them. Pray for peace in Ukraine, Israel, Gaza, Syria, Yemen and Myanmar as well.
Please pray that those recovering from the storms will get the aid that they need.
For our prayer focus countries this week, let us pray for those in the nations of Mauritania and Japan. Pray that many will come to know Jesus.
Next week, we will continue with our current series. I will post the verses on Monday. May God bless you all.
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