Paul speaks again here about the Second coming of Christ. Some apparently had been deceived and had been told that Christ had already returned. Paul tells them that this in nonsense and can not occur until the one who is restraining the lawless on is removed. I believe the one restraining the lawless on is Holy Spirit. Holy Spirit is the civilizing restraining one that Wesley referred to when he spoke of Prevenient Grace. This prevenient or preventing grace keeps us and all humanity from sliding in to the depths of carnality. According to Paul, when this restraint is removed, the Lawless one will be revealed.
The deception will be complete when, “For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion, leading them to believe what is false, so that all who have not believed the truth but took pleasure in unrighteousness will be condemned.” 2 Thessalonians 2:11-12. Lord, save us from taking pleasure in what is unrighteous and draw us by your Spirit to love your kingdom.
Paul encourages them and us to strengthen our resolve to live in the faith that we have received and not to compromise with the world. How many places and in how many ways have we adapted ourselves to the worlds wisdom and turned from the gospel? Lord, where have I become either a Pharisee or a hedonist in my walk?
Wednesday, November 12, 2008
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
2 Thessalonians 1
Paul’s second letter to the church in Thessalonica begins with encouragement and love. Paul assures the church that they are widely respected and that he talks about their faithfulness in all of his travels.
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that all of us who follow Christ should expect tribulations in this world, and that we must always be ready to support others who suffer and ready to endure suffering ourselves.
Paul encourages them by assuring them that when Christ returns the wretches who are tormenting them will also be tormented and punished in hellish finality. Perhaps it is because I am not being persecuted that this does not sound appealing to me. I wonder why the demise of others -- even those that harm us -- is held up as a desired end to the struggle.
How often do I buy into the desire for vengeance instead of leaning into the mind of Christ and begging for their forgiveness and salvation? I know the context of Paul’s appeal is dire, and I know that I live in the lap of luxury, but I still want to see Christ as Lord of every life.
Paul reminds the Thessalonians that all of us who follow Christ should expect tribulations in this world, and that we must always be ready to support others who suffer and ready to endure suffering ourselves.
Paul encourages them by assuring them that when Christ returns the wretches who are tormenting them will also be tormented and punished in hellish finality. Perhaps it is because I am not being persecuted that this does not sound appealing to me. I wonder why the demise of others -- even those that harm us -- is held up as a desired end to the struggle.
How often do I buy into the desire for vengeance instead of leaning into the mind of Christ and begging for their forgiveness and salvation? I know the context of Paul’s appeal is dire, and I know that I live in the lap of luxury, but I still want to see Christ as Lord of every life.
Monday, November 10, 2008
1 Thessalonians 5
This week we will finish the epistles to the Thessalonians and start in on Titus. Please read; Monday -- 1 Thessalonians 5, Tuesday -- 2 Thessalonians 1, Wednesday -- 2 Thessalonians 2, Thursday -- 2 Thessalonians 3, and Friday -- Titus 1.
As Paul closes this letter he chooses not to speculate on the end times. He says, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 NRSV. Even Paul, perhaps one of the greatest authorities on Old Testament prophesy, a man who had been caught up to heaven, didn’t presume to know when the Lord would return. Isn’t it a bit presumptuous for us to?
Paul’s call to the Thessalonians is my call to you, stay awake, live ready for the coming of the Lord, lest it surprise you and catch you unprepared.
Paul’s closing admonitions to the church are worth reading over and over again, “But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NRSV.
As Paul closes this letter he chooses not to speculate on the end times. He says, “Now concerning the times and the seasons, brothers and sisters, you do not need to have anything written to you. For you yourselves know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. When they say, "There is peace and security," then sudden destruction will come upon them, as labor pains come upon a pregnant woman, and there will be no escape!” 1 Thessalonians 5:1-3 NRSV. Even Paul, perhaps one of the greatest authorities on Old Testament prophesy, a man who had been caught up to heaven, didn’t presume to know when the Lord would return. Isn’t it a bit presumptuous for us to?
Paul’s call to the Thessalonians is my call to you, stay awake, live ready for the coming of the Lord, lest it surprise you and catch you unprepared.
Paul’s closing admonitions to the church are worth reading over and over again, “But we appeal to you, brothers and sisters, to respect those who labor among you, and have charge of you in the Lord and admonish you; esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves. And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the faint hearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them. See that none of you repays evil for evil, but always seek to do good to one another and to all. Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil.” 1 Thessalonians 5:12-22 NRSV.
Friday, November 7, 2008
1 Thessalonians 4
In the first half of chapter 4, Paul encourages us to live lives full of righteousness. We have been called to righteousness and not to lust and greed. Paul encourages us to live gentle, self contained lives so that we are able to help others and represent God well.
Paul next transitions to speak about the eternal life we wait for. He says, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NRSV. Notice that Paul does not say that we do not grieve, he says we do not grieve as those who have no hope! A Christian will absolutely mourn the death of loved ones, but we morn in faith, knowing that we will see them again!
The controversial doctrine in the church of “rapture is addressed briefly here. “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NRSV. What a ride that will be! We who are alive when Christ returns will be caught up in the clouds with the Lord. Let me say here that I do not pretend to know when this will happen, I only believe the Bible says here that it will. I am in sales, not management and I believe that some of these particulars are left in the hands of God alone -- right where it belongs!
Paul next transitions to speak about the eternal life we wait for. He says, “But we do not want you to be uninformed, brothers and sisters, about those who have died, so that you may not grieve as others do who have no hope.” 1 Thessalonians 4:13 NRSV. Notice that Paul does not say that we do not grieve, he says we do not grieve as those who have no hope! A Christian will absolutely mourn the death of loved ones, but we morn in faith, knowing that we will see them again!
The controversial doctrine in the church of “rapture is addressed briefly here. “For the Lord himself, with a cry of command, with the archangel's call and with the sound of God's trumpet, will descend from heaven, and the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.” 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 NRSV. What a ride that will be! We who are alive when Christ returns will be caught up in the clouds with the Lord. Let me say here that I do not pretend to know when this will happen, I only believe the Bible says here that it will. I am in sales, not management and I believe that some of these particulars are left in the hands of God alone -- right where it belongs!
Thursday, November 6, 2008
1 Thessalonians 3
Paul speaks here about the anxiety he felt for the Christians in Thessalonica over his own suffering. As he suffered persecution, he could not help worrying about the saints in Thessalonica and their faith life. He therefore sent Timothy to check on them, and he was delighted at Timothy’s good report.
Paul says he is not surprised by the suffering and persecution he has faced, and they should not be surprised either. Paul forewarned them that this was bound to happen, and now it has.
What expectations do you have about your journey of faith? Do we expect that everything will be easy and that we will be popular for standing up for the Gospel? If that is what we expect, on what do we base that expectation? It seems to me, that the only real glimpse we receive from Christ on our future in this life does not lend itself to these expectations! If we have been promised by Jesus that the world will hate us just like it hated him, if we hear him say “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" John 16:33b, why would we presume the opposite?
Lord, help me today to gain a realistic view of the call that I am trying to live into.
Paul says he is not surprised by the suffering and persecution he has faced, and they should not be surprised either. Paul forewarned them that this was bound to happen, and now it has.
What expectations do you have about your journey of faith? Do we expect that everything will be easy and that we will be popular for standing up for the Gospel? If that is what we expect, on what do we base that expectation? It seems to me, that the only real glimpse we receive from Christ on our future in this life does not lend itself to these expectations! If we have been promised by Jesus that the world will hate us just like it hated him, if we hear him say “In the world you face persecution. But take courage; I have conquered the world!" John 16:33b, why would we presume the opposite?
Lord, help me today to gain a realistic view of the call that I am trying to live into.
Wednesday, November 5, 2008
1 Thessalonians 2
Paul speaks to the church in Thessalonica with an intimacy that rivals the love letter of Philippians. Paul reminds them that he made no demands on them when he came preaching, and that they received him in the same love.
Paul labored night and day, so as not to be a burden on the saints. Paul worked to earn a living and ministered as well. This “tent making ministry” may become more common in the future as the economy worsens and the cost of supporting a full time pastor goes up. Many churches already either share a pastor, or have a part time pastor that works a “secular” job.
I think I can feel the love that Paul has for these churches after pastoring here in Boonville for 18 years. It is hard to move from church to church in the itinerant system that I am a member of, and so it is tempting to keep ones heart from being broken by keeping a professional distance on some level. I have loved all of the churches I have pastored, but the Boonville church has my heart.
Paul labored night and day, so as not to be a burden on the saints. Paul worked to earn a living and ministered as well. This “tent making ministry” may become more common in the future as the economy worsens and the cost of supporting a full time pastor goes up. Many churches already either share a pastor, or have a part time pastor that works a “secular” job.
I think I can feel the love that Paul has for these churches after pastoring here in Boonville for 18 years. It is hard to move from church to church in the itinerant system that I am a member of, and so it is tempting to keep ones heart from being broken by keeping a professional distance on some level. I have loved all of the churches I have pastored, but the Boonville church has my heart.
Tuesday, November 4, 2008
1 Thessalonians 1
Paul’s opening address to the church in Thessalonica offers us a glimpse into the success he had there. Paul says that their faithfulness is so widely known that they don’t even need to mention it any more! Paul writes, “in every place your faith in God has become known, so that we have no need to speak about it.” 1 Thessalonians 1:8b NRSV.
Paul says that when the gospel was preached there it came not only with words, but with power and the Holy Spirit’s conviction. I often wonder what power accompanies our preaching today. The New Testament records often that the preaching was followed by “signs and wonders” that led to great harvests of souls. I will pray today for a deeper vision of what God might be waiting to do among us if we would just let God.
Paul says that when the gospel was preached there it came not only with words, but with power and the Holy Spirit’s conviction. I often wonder what power accompanies our preaching today. The New Testament records often that the preaching was followed by “signs and wonders” that led to great harvests of souls. I will pray today for a deeper vision of what God might be waiting to do among us if we would just let God.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
