Trusting Conversation with God
2 Thessalonian 2:13-15
We must thank God at all times for you, friends, you whom the Lord loves. For God chose you as the first to be saved by the Spirit’s power to make you his holy people and by your faith in the truth. God called you to this through the Good News we preached to you; he called you to possess your share of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. So then, our friends stand firm and hold on to those truths, which we taught you, both in our preaching and in our letter.
Trusting Conversation with God,Paul thank God for His love for the church.The love of God always reaches to His children regardless of what we have done, what are going through, and where you stand with God. The love of God is unconditional, it’s impartial and ever increasing- it does not fade away. Paul reminded the believers regardless of the many afflictions they faced, particularly, afflictions that caused them to question the love God has for them, he assured them God’s love is immutable, it’s a constant thread in all generation that cannot be uttered, earned, graded, or appeased, this love always embraces and nothing can separate them from it.
For I am persuaded that neither life nor death, angles nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Behold what manner of love the Father has bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God! Therefore the world does not know us, because it did not know Him. (1 John 3:1)
Paul reminded the brethren that God choose them before the foundation of the world, to be Holy and without blame before Him in Christ .God set them apart from the world, to conform them into the image of His Son, and intent for them to live a pure life, as they abide in the Holy Spirit who empowered them to abstain from sexual immorality, pursue righteousness, faith and love to not fulfill the lust of the flesh.
In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has send His only begotten Son into the world that we might live through Him. (1 John 4:9)
When they mediate on the word and put it into practice, their minds would be renewed and transformed, their thinking pattern would shift from a worldly to a biblical point of view, as workers, who do not need to be ashamed but rightly divide the word of truth that make them wise for salvation.
All scripture is God breath and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correction and training in righteousness. So that the servant of God may be complete, fully equipped for every good work.(2 Timothy 3:16)
As the brethren yield to the Holy Spirit, He would enable them to discern right from wrong, evil from good, godly from ungodly things through the mind of Christ. God call them to Himself through the gospel, when His Spirit convicted them of sin, judgment and righteousness in much affliction with joy to make them, Holy and righteous to belief in truth.
Paul admonished believers to stand firm on the word of God, have a repentant heart toward God, and believe God raised His Son from the dead, this Jesus who will deliver us from the coming wrath . At the same time, the brethren should continue in prayer, breaking of bread, the apostle’s teaching, participate in work of faith, labor of love and patiently wait for Christ return. Traditions,Paul taught them in words and epistles, which are applicable to believers this day.
"Having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building being fitted together grows into a holy temple in the Lord. In whom you are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit" (Colossians 2:20-22)
In this is love, not that we loved God, but that He loved us and sent His Son to be the propitiation for our sin. (1 John 4:10)
2 Thessalonians 2:16-17
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen you to always do and say what is good.
Trusting Conversation with God, Paul in the presence of God our Father, asked Him to comfort the brethren with scriptures to strengthen their souls, build up their faith, give them courage and unwavering hope to empower them to not grow weary.
“The Lord of host is with us, the God of Jacob is our refuge” Selah.
He prayed the Lord would strengthen them with might through His Spirit in their inner being. “ For the joy of the Lord is our strength”. Paul asked the Lord to make the words they speak effective: to restore, revive, show mercy and impart grace to the hearer. As witnesses of Christ, Paul asked the Lord to bless whatever their hands find to do in every place – For God will supply their needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus – to confirm the testimony of Christ in them, the same is true for believers this day, to the praise of the Father’s His glory and grace.
Jesus said:"Sanctify them by your truth, your word is truth. (John 17:17)
You are of God, little children and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world (1 John 4:4)
Request For Prayer
2 Thessalonians 3:1-2
Finally, our friends pray for us that the Lord’s message may continue to spread rapidly and be received with honor, just as it was among you. Pray also that God will rescue us from wicked and evil people; for not everyone believes the message.
Paul not only prayed for the church but he also asked the church to pray for him, Silas and Timothy,- please pause and pray for me- to fulfill the law of Christ. Paul asked the church to pray that the word of God would run swiftly by the power of the Holy Spirit to remove hindrances, to empower the brethren to boldly proclaim the mystery of the gospel, to change lives, so many would turn from sin to God, believe Jesus is the Son of God and receive eternal life.
And my speech and preaching were not with persuasive words of human wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power. (1 Corinthians 2:4)
Paul also asked the brethren to pray to God and asked Him to deliver them according to His word from wicked and evil people- with lying lips and deceitful tongue-because not all men have faith in God. He asked God to protect them from evil for His namesake, according to the multitude of His mercies through the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Jesus said: And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive it.(Mark 11:24)
Jesus said: I have given them your word and the world hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not pray that you should take them out of the world, but that you should keep them from the evil one. (John 17-14-15)
2 Thessalonians 3:3-5
But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. May the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.
Paul reminded the Thessalonians believers our God is faithful in all generation. He who begun the good work in them is faithful to complete it until the Day of Jesus Christ. The Lord is the strength of their life, He is able to protect them from the evil one -the sun will not smite them by day nor the moon by night, because He will protect their going out and coming in from evil.
Jesus said: I will not leave you as orphan; I will come to you. Let not your heart be trouble, believe in God also believe in Me. (John 14:18)
Trusting Conversation with God, Paul was persuaded what the Lord had started in the lives of the Thessalonians believers would continue and they would grow in grace, in the knowledge of our Lord and Savoir Jesus Christ, and in obedience to what they have been commanded. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Paul pray the Holy Spirit would pour the love of God in their hearts to love our God with a reverent heart in sincerity and truth, as they bear with one another, particularly with non believers, to demonstrate the love and patience of Christ to the praise of the Father’s glory. “ Bearing with one another and forgiving one another, if anyone has a compliant against another, even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. (Colossians 3:13-14)
Jesus said: And when you stand praying,if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. (Mark 11:25)
Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witness, let us lay aside every weight and the sin which easily ensnares us and let us run with endurance the race that was set before us, looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross despising the shame and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:1-2)
May we guard our hearts with the word of God to direct it to love the things of God , so that from the abundance of our hearts, our mouth speak words of life to build, strengthen and edify one other as the Lord does with us, He who call us is faithful. May grace, mercy and peace be with us from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of The Father, in truth and love. Amen