Lessons From II Thessalonians
2 Thessalonians 1:4-5 (10/10/19)
October 10, 2019 • Benham Brothers
* These verses tell us exactly why there’s suffering and persecution in the world. * They can be broken down into three parts: * 1) The problem of suffering - it exists because of sin. * “This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God.” * 2) The proof of suffering - it exists to prove you’re worth in the kingdom. * “that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God.” * Faithfulness in suffering proves fitfulness in the kingdom. * 3) The plan of suffering - it’s all a part of God’s plan. * “for which you are also suffering.” * When you stand for God’s kingdom persecution will head your way in the same way it came to Him when the devil tried to overthrow Him in heaven.
2 Thessalonians 2:8-10 (10/11/18)
October 11, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* People don’t fall away from God because they don’t know the truth. * They fall away because they don’t LOVE the truth (vs 10). * The love of the truth keeps us from being deceived. * ex: my daughter used my wife’s phone to send me a text. I knew it wasn’t her right away. How? Because I know my wife - I know her because I’m in love with her. * The love of the truth also sets people free from addiction. * ex: John Bevere overcame porn addiction when he read this verse. * Not looking at porn because it’s not right will only last so long. * Not looking at porn because you love God and you love your wife will keep you from it forever.
2 Thessalonians 2:13 (10/11/18)
October 11, 2018 • Benham Brothers
* All throughout Paul’s letters he talks about how thankful he is for the people he’s writing to. * This is such a powerful principle for relationships. * Imagine talking like this to your spouse and kids every day. * Gratitude closes the loop of love and brings relational connection. * When someone does something nice for you a circle has been started. * The circle is completed when you thank them for what they did. * Even better is thanking someone for who they are. * If you don’t express gratitude then the circle of love isn’t closed and disconnection is the result. * The person receives your lack of expressing gratitude as ingratitude which ultimately leads to a feeling of rejection. * Relationships are built on thankfulness.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-13 (10/8/20)
October 8, 2020 • Benham Brothers
* When our work is worship we are consistently moving forward. * When work lacks meaning, we coast. * Backstory - some of the believers thought that Jesus was coming back in their day, so they stopped working and started coasting. * Because of that, the church was feeding these people and it became a financial burden on the church. * Paul rebuked them, telling them 1) Don’t be idle, 2) Don’t hang out with those who are. * Idleness will rob you of rest (only a working man can truly rest). * A car in idle has power but isn’t using it to move. * Vs 6 - What teaching? Vs 10 - No work, no food! * Hunger makes people want to shift from neutral into drive. * Vs 7-8 - when you work: * You’re not a burden to anyone. * You’re not beholden to anyone. * You can bless everyone. * Vs 9 - Paul gave up his rights for his responsibility. * Vs 11 - Idle people aren’t busy, they are busybodies - they’re bored. * A busy person thinks about what they are doing. * A busybody thinks about what others are doing. * Vs 12 - Principle - EARN WHAT YOU EAT! * If you don’t you won’t be satisfied by what you put in your mouth. * Vs 13 - “doing right” in this context is not growing tired of doing honest work as unto the Lord. * It doesn’t matter what the job is, we can make our work worship. * Don’t ever stop - just keep moving forward.
2 Thessalonians 3:6-8 (10/12/17)
October 12, 2017 • Benham Brothers
* An idle person is a lazy person - they refuse to move in the direction they know they’re supposed to go. * An idle person is not a restful person, because only a working person can experience true rest. * The opposite of idle is work. * This is why they are disruptive people - they want to ruin others’ rest. * From these verses we see two principles: * 1) Don’t be idle! * 2) Don’t hang around those who are! * Show me your friends and I’ll show you your future. * We need to be around people that pull us up not keep us down. * vs 8 - the reward for work: * 1) You’re not a burden to anyone. * 2) You’re not beholden unto anyone. * 3) You can be a blessing to everyone.
2 Thessalonians 3:9 (10/13/16)
October 13, 2016 • Benham Brothers
• Believers in Paul’s day were quitting their jobs and just waiting on God since Paul taught that Christ could come back at any time. • They wanted to live off the generosity of the church. • Paul told them they needed to be working while they waited. • Paul gives a great principle here: • There are times when we have the “right” to do something but we always have the “responsibility” to do the better thing. • For him he had the right to live off support. • But he forfeighted that right for his responsibility to teach them how to not be beholden unto anyone. • Paul placed responsibility above rights. • When your right collides with your responsibility then let your responsibility win. • If we lose our “rights” we never lose our responsibility to do what’s right. • The only way you’ll do this is to focus on others and not yourself.