A Life of Prayer

At the beginning of Second Thessalonians chapter three, Paul prayed that you would be completely focused on Christ. He prayed that how you think and what you do would always be centered in Jesus. So, when speaking of things evident in the lives of those whose focus is on the Lord, Paul immediately turned to prayer. "Finally, brethren, pray for us" (2 Thess. 3:1a), he begins. Matters of the end times was his main concern in writing Second Thessalonians, however, as is his habit, he could not end the letter without adding some thoughts on personal application. "Finally" (v. 1a) indicates that he has completed the doctrinal teachings that were needed and now he is turning to those points of application.

As he begins this section, he requests prayer on the part of the young believers in Thessalonica. "Pray" (v. 1a) is in the present tense, meaning that he asked the Thessalonians to "continually pray," or "make prayer a constant pattern" in their lives. Specifically, Paul asked them to pray for his needs, a reminder that even the newest believers, through prayer, can have a part in releasing the power of God on behalf of the strongest and most experienced of God's servants (MacArthur's N.T. Commentary: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, [Moody Publishers: Chicago, 2001], 293).

First, Paul asked that they pray for success of the gospel. Going on in verse 1, he says, "pray for us, that the word of the Lord may run swiftly and be glorified, just as it is with you." The words "run swiftly" (v. 1b) are translated "spread rapidly" in the NIV and NASB. The ESV says, "speed ahead," while the KJV says, "have free course." All are excellent translations as the word literally means "to have free course" or "to spread rapidly," and it refers specifically to the idea of running. It is a metaphor from the Greek games for running a race.

Along side of this, Paul spoke of "the word of the Lord" (v. 1b), the gospel, being "glorified" (v. 1b) or "honored" (NIV), depending on your translation. This is the idea of triumph. As more people hear and receive the gospel, God is honored or glorified.

We are to pray that the gospel will "keep on running and keep on being honored." That is the thrust of this verse. All who are focused on Christ will pray in just that way. Paul's request is that you pray continually that Christ might win His race through your church leaders—your pastor and deacons, and all who lead your church. In fact, if you are focused in Christ you will pray continually that Christ will win His race through each of your brothers and sisters in Christ.

The concern is not just for freedom to run the race of discipleship for the Lord, but to allow the Lord to run in and through you without reservations or obstructions. In verse 1, Paul spoke of the Lord as running the race through us. The presence of the Lord in our lives frees us so we can give Him freedom to use us in the rapid spread of the gospel. Authentic freedom is clearing the track, opening the way, removing the impediments, and letting go with joyous abandonment. Give Him all areas of your life. Hold nothing back. Remove all obstacles and He will use you.

Paul mentions the areas where he needed prayer for Christ to work through him: "And that we may be delivered from unreasonable and wicked men; for not all have faith" (v. 2). Where do you need prayer so Christ can work through you? Let each other know on a regular basis and pray accordingly for one another, and watch the Lord work through you in amazing ways. Amen.

Established in the Work of God

Second Thessalonians 2:16-17 says, "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work. This prayer with which Paul closes this chapter is in slight contrast to the command of verse 15. We cannot make the command to stand firm on the Word of God effective by our own power. We cannot carry out this command apart from God. Only God who chose you and saved you by His sovereign will can empower you to stand firm. Likewise, it is God who will "comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work" (v. 17).

Note verse 16a: "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father." The pronoun Himself is singular and stands in the emphatic position in the Greek text. Therefore it refers to both "our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 16a) and "God our Father" (v. 16a), the first two persons of the Trinity. It could properly be translated, "Now may Himself our Lord Jesus Christ and God our Father" (v. 16a). The pronoun governing both the Son and the Father indicates that Paul views both as the source of comfort, strength, and encouragement. It also gives irrefutable evidence of Christ's deity. Jesus is fully equal in every way with the Father.

Paul goes on to remind us that God is the one "who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace" (v. 16b). The NIV says God is the one "who loved us and by His grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope" (v. 16b). Taken together with verse 17, Paul is saying that Jesus and the Father have loved you from all eternity. Because of that love, by grace God has saved you and given you eternal comfort and hope in Christ. Now Paul prays that Jesus Christ and God the Father will comfort and strengthen your hearts "in every good word and work" (v. 17b).

God loves you. God saves you. God makes you steadfast in the Word. God makes you like Christ and establishes you in His work. That is the progression of this passage. You were created "for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them" (Eph. 2:10). Paul prays that God and Christ will comfort you as you live for Christ, looking forward to that great hope of His return. He also prays that God and Christ will establish you and strengthen you in the work He has for you.

Lovers of the truth believe the truth of God, stand firm on the Word of God, and are established in the work of God. Such is the picture of a disciple who is truly following and serving the Lord Jesus Christ.

Does what you believe in your heart have such an effect upon your life that others can see it? For those who are lovers of the truth it does. Let Christ have such a hold on your life. Live for Him each day. Amen.

Stand Firm on the Word of God

Second Thessalonians 2:15 is a call to doctrinal adherence, or sound doctrine. Having established the truth of salvation by grace through faith as a gift from God, in verse 15 Paul gives us a specific command: "Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle."

This verse turns on the word "therefore" (v. 15). Since God has chosen you for salvation you have a personal responsibility to fulfill. The NIV puts verse 15 this way: "So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter." Be steadfast or "stand firm" (v. 15, NIV) in your faith and keep a firm hold on the "traditions" (v. 15) or "teachings" (NIV) of Scripture. In other words, stand firm on the Word of God.

Paul does not want you to be weak. Rather, he wants you to hold your spiritual ground in all circumstances of life and to keep a grip on the truth of God. This is shown by his use of the phrase "traditions which you were taught" (v. 15).

Over the years, people have built up all sorts of traditions that are outside of and in addition to Scripture. Paul is not referring to those kind of traditions. He is not referring to traditions of men that are somehow considered equal to the Word of God. The Greek word translated "traditions" (v. 15) literally means "things handed down" and refers here to divine revelation, the Word of God which Paul had taught them. That is what is meant by the phrase "whether by word of mouth or by letter" (v. 15, NIV).

Had the Thessalonians maintained a stability in their faith and continued to keep a firm grasp on the basic Christian doctrines they had been taught, this letter would not have been needed. They would not have become so fearful, but would have maintained their hope and joy in the Lord.

In light of the circumstances, Paul writes these verses to clarify the doctrine of salvation so that they will renew their hope in Christ. Paul's purpose is that you remain "unmovable and cling tenaciously to these doctrines" (The Expositor's Bible Commentary, Volume 11, [Zondervan Publishing House: Grand Rapids, Michigan, 1978], 330). Your hope and joy in the Lord will remain constant if you do. Amen.

Love the Truth of God

Second Thessalonians 2:13-14 says, "But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ." Paul begins these verses by giving thanks to God because, "from the beginning" (v. 13b), God chose these Thessalonian believers "for salvation" (v. 13b). God chose them and God "from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (v. 13b).

No verse of Scripture speaks any more clearly concerning the security of the believer. In a sweeping statement, Paul reveals the fact that God, "from the beginning" (v. 13b), has chosen for salvation all who believe. You have a part in His redemptive plan because He has chosen you. Because God has chosen you, you are secure in Him. You can look forward with confidence to that day when Christ comes and gathers you to Himself for all eternity. Romans 8:29-30 says, "For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified."

This truth caused Paul to give thanks to God because such are "brethren beloved by the Lord" (v. 13a). Unbelievers are those who refuse to love the truth and are, therefore, disobedient to the truth. Believers, "brethren beloved by the Lord" (v. 13a), are those whom God has given a love for the truth and who willingly obey the truth. God judges those who hate the truth; He redeems those who love the truth. Those who hate the truth are the ones who believe Satan's lies; we who believe God's truth cannot be deceived. Those who hate the truth are the ones who follow Antichrist; we who love the truth follow Christ Jesus our Lord.

The work of salvation in you began with the sovereign, undeserved love of God. Flowing out of His predetermined love came His sovereign choice of you for salvation: "From the beginning" God "chose you for salvation" (v. 13b). Paul told Timothy, God "has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began" (2 Tim. 1:9). God's work of salvation takes affect in your life "through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth" (v. 13b).

Sanctification is the work of the Spirit that sets you apart from sin to righteousness. "And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God" (1 Cor. 6:11). This miracle begins with salvation and continues toward a total transformation of your life. "Salvation through sanctification by the Spirit" (v. 13b) involves complete change; nothing stays the same. "Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new" (2 Cor. 5:17).

The human factor in God's sovereign work of salvation is "belief in the truth" (v. 13b). Faith is key. Acts 16:31 says, "Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved." It is those who believe on Jesus who are saved. Romans 10:9-10 adds, "If you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." When you hear and believe the truth, you receive the gift of repentance and faith through the Holy Spirit resulting in salvation.

Gospel preaching is the means God uses to call us to salvation in Christ, a salvation that leads to being glorified with Christ at His coming. It is this salvation "to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ" (v. 14). Our salvation, our complete sanctification, and our glorification with Christ at His coming are all of God. We do not earn it in any way. It is all accomplished solely by God. It is all a gift He has given you who believe. Amen.

Believe the Truth of God

 Second Thessalonians 2:10b-12 says, "Because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved. And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie, that they all may be condemned who did not believe the truth but had pleasure in unrighteousness." Unbelievers will be deceived by the Antichrist and perish not because they did not hear or understand the truth, but because they did not believe and love the truth. They preferred the pleasure of unrighteousness instead. They reject Christ and the gospel. They reject God. Therefore, God will send a "strong delusion" (v. 11a) and allow them to "believe the lie" (v. 11b). They perish because of unbelief. God uses Satan and Antichrist as instruments of His judgment against unbelievers.

The message is clear. Put in a positive manner, believe the truth of God, and you will not be deceived. Believe the truth of God, and you will not perish. Rather, God will give you rest in Him as He promised.

The American Banking Association once sponsored a two-week training program to help tellers detect counterfeit bills. The program was unique—never during the two-week training did the tellers even look at a counterfeit bill, nor did they listen to any lectures concerning the characteristics of counterfeit bills… all they did for two weeks was handle authentic currency, hour after hour and day after day, until they were so familiar with the true that they could not possibly be fooled by the false (Charles R. Swindoll, Swindoll's Ultimate Book of Illustrations & Quotes, [Thomas Nelson Publishers: Nashville, 1998], 131).

We need to study the Word of God and get to know it thoroughly. We need to remember God's Word and apply it in our lives until we become so familiar with His Word that we cannot possibly be fooled by anything less than God's real truth.

Stand on the Word of God, and you will not be deceived. Stand on the Word of God, and you will receive His blessings. Amen.

Know the Enemy of God

"And now you know what is restraining, that he may be revealed in his own time. For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. And then the lawless one will be revealed" (2 Thess. 2:6-8a). "And now you know" (v. 6a) indicates that they had already been told what keeps the Antichrist from taking over. Most likely God Himself, as "He who now restrains" (v. 7b) would indicate. No angel or human, not even the church as a whole, can restrain Satan. Obviously, God is the One at work holding him back.

Restrain means "to hold back," "to hold down," or "to suppress." Only God could possibly "hold back" the purpose of Satan for his Antichrist. As a result, he will "be revealed in his own time" (v. 6b). Satan finds himself on God's timetable. God will release him when God is good and ready.

Remember, however, that "the mystery of lawlessness is already at work" (v. 7a). That is why you must know the enemy. Evil, immorality, false religion is everywhere. You see it everyday. It is all around you. It will get worse as time goes on, culminating in that time when the Antichrist is revealed. But note, even while we are still here on earth, the evil around us is growing. Satan seeks to deceive us and lead us away from God. That is why you must know the enemy. The more you understand what you are up against in this world, the more you will rely on God and His Word to fight your battles for you. Trust Him and He will do it.

Remember also, that ultimately Satan and his Antichrist will be defeated. "And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming" (v. 8).

"The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish" (vs. 9-10a). The Antichrist's power comes from Satan. He will operate on Satan's energy. He will do signs and wonders so as to deceive. Unbelievers will be deceived. Believers will not. Know the enemy, and even now, when Satan sends false teachers your way to try to deceive you, they will fail, because you remember the Word of God and understand the things of God. Amen.

Remember the Word of God

This point is closely related to what we talked about last time, understanding the things of God, because if you forget the Word of God you open yourself up to deception. The key here is in verse 5: "Do you not remember that when I was still with you I told you these things?" In the Greek, "told you" (v. 5b) or "was telling" (NASB) indicates continual action in the past. Paul made the teaching of end-time events a constant part of his ministry. If they remembered the Word of God as he had taught them, they would understand the things of God and they would not be so easily deceived.

Paul singles out two events that they should have remembered, both of which must occur before "that Day" (v. 3a), the Day of the Lord, begins. First, "the falling away comes" (v. 3b), then "the man of sin is revealed" (v. 3c).

"Falling away" (v. 3b) is rightly translated "apostasy" (NASB). "Apostasy" (v. 3b) means "revolt" or "rebellion." The word refers to a "deliberate defection from a formerly held religious position" (MacArthur NT Commentaries: 1 & 2 Thessalonians, [Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008], 271). The definite article indicates that Paul is referring to a specific, identifiable act of apostasy that must occur. This act of apostasy is directly connected to the second event mentioned—the revealing of "the man of sin" (v. 3c).

This is the Antichrist and he will be "revealed" (v. 3c) by his act of "apostasy." He is further described not only as the "man of sin" (v. 3c) or "lawlessness" (NASB), but as the "son of perdition" (v. 3d) or "destruction" (NASB). Verse 4 goes on to describe him by his actions: "who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshipped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God." This is the ultimate act of apostasy—a wicked man presenting himself as being God. That desecration of the Temple, which Daniel identified as the midpoint of the tribulation period, is the unmistakable event that precedes the Day of the Lord.

Paul says to remember this truth of God's Word and you will not be easily "shaken" (v. 2a) and "no on" will "deceive you" (v. 3a). Rather, you will be able to stand firm in your faith until the Lord returns to gather us together to Himself. Amen.