Mutuality & Confidence In Ministry

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Mutuality & Confidence In Ministry

2 Thessalonians 3:1-5

October 20, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 2 Thessalonians 2:6–12

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Introduction:

Wherever you find a spiritually healthy family, you find mutual love and care. And, in such a family, that mutuality extends from one generation to the next.

This is something that the Scriptures clearly teach for family life.

Children honor their parents.

Parents do not exasperate their children.

Husbands and wives love and care for one another.

Parents care for their children materially as they grow up.

Children care for their parents materially and physically in their old age.

What is true in the natural family is also to be true in the family of God.

And that is what we see in our verses today.

We see the beauty of salvation in the mutuality of ministry.

We see the apostle Paul seeking prayer support from those whom they had evangelized — the Thessalonians.

But in the very same context where he is seeking their help, he continues to provide spiritual guidance and shepherding.

It is a beautiful, God produced and God pleasing, mutuality in ministry.

Mutual love and care between spiritual shepherds and those being shepherded. A mutuality that speaks of the love and care and support that exists in the family of God.

IT IS A MUTUAL LOVE AND CARE THAT IS FOUND IN ANY HEALTHY CHURCH.

But there is something additional here.

While there is an appeal for, and a demonstration of, mutuality in ministry, there is also Paul’s knowledge about ministry that includes an unshakable confidence about the things that we ask for.

I. PRAYER FOR THOSE WHO BROUGHT YOU THE WORD (vs.1-2)

This is why I mentioned mutuality in ministry.

Paul’s appeal for prayer is given to those who never knew what true prayer was until he had come to them with the gospel.

They have been reached through his ministry, and now they are being asked to contribute to the REACH of his ministry through prayer.

His appeal is based on their mutual love as brethren (brothers).

His appeal is based on their knowledge of his ministry TO THEM.

A. PRAY FOR THE MINISTRY OF THE WORD OF GOD (vs.1)

“Pray for us” he says.

In what ways do we pray for you and those who labor with you Paul?

Pray for the ministry of the Word of God.

1. PRAY FOR ITS ADVANCEMENT

The word means “to run.” The idea being, as the various translations recognize, that the Word of God would run in the sense of ADVANCEMENT.

LSB – “spread rapidly”

ESV – “speed ahead”

May the ministry of the Word of God spread all around, may it find wide open opportunities so that it advances speedily.

PAUL UNDERSTOOD, AND ALWAYS WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND, THAT THOUGH THE WORD IS CARRIED BY HUMAN MESSENGERS, ITS ADVANCEMENT IS EXPLAINED BY DIVINE PROVIDENCE AND POWER.

All the human activity in the world will never explain the successful spread of the Word of God. The word RUNS when God opens the pathway in front of it.

ESV 2 Corinthians 2:12 When I came to Troas to preach the gospel of Christ, even though a door was opened for me in the Lord, 13 my spirit was not at rest because I did not find my brother Titus there. So I took leave of them and went on to Macedonia.

An Orderly Church

November 17, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 2 Thessalonians 2:6–12

Introduction: Healthy churches are orderly churches. Disorder is the fruit of sin, and it is the work of Satan. His work twists, distorts, disrupts, and DEFIES everything that God put in place. The Bible declares that God is NOT a God of disorder. His wisdom produces order and peace. When Paul was addressing the chaotic worship practices of the Corinthian church, he makes this point in the middle of his instruction. NAS 1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not a God of confusion but of peace, as in all the churches of the saints. The word translated “confusion” is a word that means disorder. NET 1 Corinthians 14:33 for God is not characterized by disorder but by peace. As in all the churches of the saints, When Paul is forced to defend himself and his ministry to them, in his second letter, he voices his concern about what he might find when he comes to them. ESV 2 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear that perhaps when I come I may find you not as I wish, and that you may find me not as you wish-- that perhaps there may be quarreling, jealousy, anger, hostility, slander, gossip, conceit, and disorder. ALL OF THIS REPRESENTS TWO KINDS OF WISDOM IN THE WORLD — DEMONIC WISDOM AND GODLY WISDOM AS THE BOOK OF JAMES TELLS US. James 3:13 Who is wise and understanding among you? mBy his good conduct let him show his works nin the meekness of wisdom. 14 But if you have bitter ojealousy and selfish ambition in your hearts, do not boast and be false to the truth. 15 This is not pthe wisdom that comes down from above, but is earthly, unspiritual, qdemonic. 16 For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there will be disorder and every vile practice. 17 But rthe wisdom from above is first pure, then speaceable, gentle, open to reason, tfull of mercy and good fruits, uimpartial and vsincere. 18 And wa harvest of righteousness xis sown in peace by those who make peace. NOTICE THE PROGRESSION. Where there is natural wisdom there are self-driven desires. Where there are self-driven desires there is disorder. And where there is disorder there is an absence of righteousness and peace. What you can be certain of, then, is that the Spirit of God is pleased with orderly churches. CHURCHES THAT REFLECT SUBMISSION TO GOD’S WORD. CHURCHES THAT REFLECT SUBMISSION TO GOD ORDAINED AUTHORITY IN THE CHURCH. CHURCHES THAT REFLECT SUBMISSION TO THE NEEDFUL APPLICATIONS OF TRUTH AND ENFORCEMENT OF TRUTH IN THE LIFE OF A CONGREGATION. What that also means is that faithful shepherding aims at that order. Disorder should concern faithful shepherds. Disorder must be addressed by faithful shepherds. Disorder must not be allowed to continue in faithful churches. FAITHFUL CHURCHES ARE CHARACTERIZED BY SHEPHERDS WHO INSIST ON ORDER, AND BELIEVERS WHO FOLLOW THOSE SHEPHERDS. We see a great example of that in our verses today. Paul is thankful for all the good fruit that he has seen in the Thessalonian church. He has praised this church consistently. And when he considers this church, as a whole, he sees them as healthy. But he is aware of disorderly members. He must address that disorder, and the Thessalonians must prove his confidence in them to be accurate by helping him address that disorder. REMEMBER WHAT PAUL HAS JUST SAID ABOUT THEM. ESV 2 Thessalonians 3:4 And we have confidence in the Lord about you, that you are doing and will do the things that we command.

Confident Petitions

November 3, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 2 Thessalonians 2:16–17

Introduction: Prayer is not just the expression of praise; it is also petition. We SEEK the Lord for every kind of help, and we bring our needs to the throne of God — knowing that, in Christ, God’s throne has become for us a throne of gracious help. ESV Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. THAT VERSE REMINDS US THAT THE BELIEVER’S PRAYERS ARE ALSO ABLE TO BE CONFIDENT PRAYERS. Believers must be taught this. Believers must be reminded of this. That when we pray rightly, we can pray knowing that we have the things we are seeking from God. PRAYER IS NOT CHANGING THE MIND OF GOD; IT IS AGREEING WITH THE MIND OF GOD. ESV John 14:13 Whatever you ask in my name, this I will do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If you ask me anything in my name, I will do it. We have just finished a brief section of great celebration. We saw a contrast worthy of praise. We saw a conversion worthy of praise We saw a conclusion worthy of praise. We saw a conviction fitting for praise (in response to the things for which we give God praise). But now, Paul ends this section with PETITION. SHEPHERD’S DON’T JUST EXHORT TO FAITHFULNESS; THEY PRAY FOR FAITHFULNESS. GOD’S GREAT GIFTS TO US HAVE NOT ENDED OUR NEED FOR GOD. GOD’S GREAT GIFTS TO US GO ON BENEFITING US IN A WAY THAT STILL MEANS OUR DEPENDENCE UPON GOD. Both the confidence of prayer, and the seeking nature of prayer, are on display in these two verses. This morning, we think about confident petitions. I. THE BELIEVER’S HELPER (vs.16a) When we think about confidence in prayer, and dependence (or humility) in prayer, both are explained by the one who hears our prayers and answers them. WE SEEK THE FACE OF GOD. THE GOD WHOM WE HAVE TO COME TO KNOW IN OUR SAVIOR — HIS SON. THE GOD WHO HAS REVEALED HIMSELF TO US IN SCRIPTURE. PRAYER ALWAYS BEGINS WITH GOD. Before we ever utter a word. Before we ever voice a request. We begin by acknowledging God Himself. It is the knowledge of God that rightly informs our prayers. It is the knowledge of God that rightly regulates our requests. WE ASK ACCORDING TO GOD’S WILL. WE ASK IN THE NAME OF GOD’S SON. WE ASK IN ACCORDANCE WITH GOD’S NATURE AND CHARACTER AND REVEALED WILL. BUT WE ARE ALSO ASKING IN A WAY THAT REPRESENTS COMMUNION WITH GOD. We are not simply voicing words. We are not merely vocalizing our thoughts and desires. PRAYER IS NOT SELF-TALK. WE ARE APPROACHING GOD PERSONALLY, WORSHIPFULLY, AND COMMUNICATING WHAT IS ON OUR MINDS. Martyn Lloyd-Jones — “But now prayer means that you and I can go into the presence of God and that we have communion with God. We do not just go on our knees and offer up some pious hopes and fears and aspirations and our own thoughts. No, we are going to have communion with the living God! We are entering into His very presence. The first thing about prayer is that we realize that. Furthermore, as those New Testament prayers that I quoted to you illustrate so plainly, when we pray we do not immediately start with our problem or what we want or need. No; we start by worshiping God and by adoring Him. Take the Lord’s Prayer—how perfectly that puts it: “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.” This is adoration! This is worship! This is praise! Watch our Lord, the Son of God, praying, and listen to Him. This is how He prays: “Holy Father” (John 17:11)! This is not “saying a prayer,” not just “offering a prayer.” No, no! “Holy Father”! This is what prayer means.”#_ftn1 #_ftnref1 Martyn Lloyd-Jones, https://ref.ly/logosres/authchrnty?ref=bible.ac2.41-42&off=116037&ctx=se+god+dwelt+there.%0a~but+now+prayer+means in Authentic Christianity, 1st U.S. ed., vol. 1, Studies in the Book of Acts (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Books, 2000), 165.

Destined For Glory

October 27, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 2 Thessalonians 2:13–15

Introduction: The grace of God, the mercy of God, the love of God, the unmerited kindness of God, is always best understood — it is most clearly recognized — against the backdrop of God’s holiness, and His just judgment. OUR SINS DESERVE HIS WRATH. The world of lost humanity will meet with His wrath. God could have justly LEFT US in our lost and delusional spiritual state, in which we would have justly belonged to those who meet with His wrath. But instead. He has saved us. We are safe from His wrath. We are destined to obtain the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ. ALL OF THIS IS REASON FOR PRAISE. ALL OF THIS MAGNIFIES GOD’S GLORIOUS GRACE. Whenever you meet a believer, God must be thanked. God’s grace is not something ABSTRACT. God’s grace is as real as the believer sitting in these seats. GOD’S GRACE IN SALVATION IS SEEN BY THE PEOPLE OF SALVATION. And that is what Paul celebrates in our verses. I. A CONSTRAST WORTHY OF PRAISE (vs.8-13a) He begins verse 13 with a contrast. And the contrast has to do with Paul’s own thoughts about the Thessalonians, in view of what he has just taught them. And by extension, HE IS ALSO TEACHING THEM HOW TO THINK ABOUT THEMSELVES. He had just protected them from the deceptive practices of false teachers who were suggesting that they were living in the day of the Lord. He has made clear that they are not in the day of the Lord, because the apostasy and the man of lawlessness MUST COME FIRST. He has reminded them that God is sovereign over these things. Sovereign over the unveiling of that man — the Spirit of God restrains him. Sovereign over the duration of that man — the appearing of Christ will destroy him. Sovereign over the results of the activity of that man — those who perish are those who will be deceived. And he has made clear that the results will be God’s just judgment upon those who have rejected the truth and taken pleasure in unrighteousness. BUT NOW HE CONTRASTS THEIR SITUATION, THEIR CONDITION, THEIR FUTURE, WITH THE DARK REALITY OF FUTURE JUDGMENT. THEY AREN’T DESTINED FOR JUDGMENT! There are those who belong to the darkness, but the Thessalonian Christians belong to the light. There are those who take pleasure in unrighteousness, but the Thessalonian Christians take pleasure in the truth. There are those who follow antichrist, but the Thessalonian Christians love and follow Jesus. THESE BELIEVERS ARE BELOVED OF THE LORD (vs.13). THESE BELIEVERS BELONG TO THE FAMILY OF GOD — THEY ARE BROTHERS (vs.13). When Paul considers judgment, he knows it is to the glory of God’s sovereign will. When Paul considers the church, he knows it is to the praise of God’s sovereign grace. IT IS FITTING THAT HIS PRAISE FOR THEM GOES TO GOD. HE IS BOUND BY WHAT IS RIGHT TO GIVE THANKS TO GOD ON THEIR BEHALF. HE IS COMPELLED TO GIVE THANKS ALWAYS TO GOD FOR THIS CHURCH. The sinner’s judgment is explained by man’s sin. The Christian’s deliverance is explained by God’s grace. II. A CONVERSION WORTHY OF PRAISE (vs.13b) But how did they come to be in this position? HOW IS IT THAT THEY DO NOT BELONG TO THE WORLD OF HUMANITY ON ITS WAY TO JUDGMENT? HOW WAS IT THAT THEY WERE DELIVERED FROM LIVING UNDER THE DELUSION OF SIN? Their deliverance is explained by God’s work of conversion in their lives. THEY TURNED. THEY WERE CHANGED.