Confident Petitions

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Confident Petitions

2 Thessalonians 2:16-172 Thessalonians 2:16-17

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

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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.”[1]

[1] Martyn Lloyd-Jones, “Prayer,” 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.

The Sovereign Unveiling of The Man of Lawlessness

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

Introduction: What Paul and the other apostles taught the infant churches about the antichrist was not new. The Lord Jesus had spoken about these things in the Olivet discourse. And what Jesus spoke about it in the Olivet discourse, was spoken of long ago in the book of Daniel. What Daniel, during the Babylonian captivity, wrote about was still in the future when our Lord spoke of it. ESV Matthew 24:15 "So when you see the abomination of desolation spoken of by the prophet Daniel, standing in the holy place (let the reader understand), 16 then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains. 17 Let the one who is on the housetop not go down to take what is in his house, 18 and let the one who is in the field not turn back to take his cloak. 19 And alas for women who are pregnant and for those who are nursing infants in those days! 20 Pray that your flight may not be in winter or on a Sabbath. 21 For then there will be great tribulation, such as has not been from the beginning of the world until now, no, and never will be. 22 And if those days had not been cut short, no human being would be saved. But for the sake of the elect those days will be cut short. What Daniel wrote about, and what our Lord spoke of, was still future as Paul and the other apostles wrote about it. Where did Daniel speak of it? Our Lord talked about the abomination of desolation (Matthew 24:15) and said that Daniel spoke of it. ESV Daniel 9:27 And he shall make a strong covenant with many for one week, and for half of the week he shall put an end to sacrifice and offering. And on the wing of abominations shall come one who makes desolate, until the decreed end is poured out on the desolator." Paul describes what any Jew would consider a desecration of the temple in 2 Thessalonians 2:3-4. It seems clear that Paul has the same man, and the same activity in mind. What was previewed by the actions of Antiochus IV (Epiphanes — god manifest; king of Syria, desecrated the temple in 167 BC, led to the Maccabean Revolt), and described in Daniel 11, finds a GREATER EVIL EXPRESSION in someone GREATER who is coming. ESV Daniel 11:31 Forces from him shall appear and profane the temple and fortress, and shall take away the regular burnt offering. And they shall set up the abomination that makes desolate. John MacArthur — “Antiochus’ soldiers, no doubt working with apostate Jews, guarded the temple, halting all worship, while others attacked the city on the Sabbath slaughtering men, women, and children. Soldiers desecrated Israel’s temple, banned circumcision and daily sacrifices (1 Macc. 1:44–54), and sacrificed a pig on the altar. The Syrians on Chislev (Dec. 15, 167 b.c.), even imposed an idol statue in honor of the Olympian god Zeus into the temple. Jews called it “the abomination of desolation,” i.e., emptying or ruining for Jewish worship. abomination of desolation. Antiochus’ soldiers profaned God’s temple by spreading sow’s broth on the altar and banning daily sacrifices (cf. 8:14 and see note there) as described in 1 Macc. 1:44–54. Both Daniel and Jesus said this atrocity was only a preview of the abomination that would happen later under the final Antichrist (9:27; Mt 24:15).”#_ftn1 This man of sin whom Jesus said was coming — that Paul and the apostles said was coming — Paul ALSO SAYS WILL BE ALIVE WHEN JESUS COMES AGAIN. SO, HE REMAINS FUTURE UNTIL THE TIME WHEN JESUS WILL RETURN FROM HEAVEN. The man that Daniel wrote about remains future until the Day of the Lord. He will be alive on the earth when Jesus returns from Heaven and destroys him. ESV 2 Thessalonians 2:8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord Jesus will kill with the breath of his mouth and bring to nothing by the appearance of his coming. His destruction in described in Revelation chapter 19. ESV Revelation 19:11 Then I saw heaven opened, and behold, a white horse! The one sitting on it is called Faithful and True, and in righteousness he judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like a flame of fire, and on his head are many diadems, and he has a name written that no one knows but himself. 13 He is clothed in a robe dipped in blood, and the name by which he is called is The Word of God. 14 And the armies of heaven, arrayed in fine linen, white and pure, were following him on white horses. 15 From his mouth comes a sharp sword with which to strike down the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron. He will tread the winepress of the fury of the wrath of God the Almighty. 16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name written, King of kings and Lord of lords. 17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, and with a loud voice he called to all the birds that fly directly overhead, "Come, gather for the great supper of God, 18 to eat the flesh of kings, the flesh of captains, the flesh of mighty men, the flesh of horses and their riders, and the flesh of all men, both free and slave, both small and great." 19 And I saw the beast and the kings of the earth with their armies gathered to make war against him who was sitting on the horse and against his army. 20 And the beast was captured, and with it the false prophet who in its presence had done the signs by which he deceived those who had received the mark of the beast and those who worshiped its image. These two were thrown alive into the lake of fire that burns with sulfur. 21 And the rest were slain by the sword that came from the mouth of him who was sitting on the horse, and all the birds were gorged with their flesh. #_ftnref1 John F. MacArthur Jr., https://ref.ly/logosres/macartsbnasb?ref=bible.da11.31&off=31&ctx=rate+the+sanctuary.+~antiochus%e2%80%99+soldiers%2c (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Da 11:31.

The Son of Destruction Part 2

October 13, 2024 • Richard Caldwell Jr. • 2 Thessalonians 2:1–5

Introduction: Eschatology (the study of last things) has long proven to be a place of disagreement among believers. It is a category of biblical knowledge that requires charity. We must not demonize our brothers. We must engage with each other about these issues graciously. We must always remember what the MOST important conviction about the end of the age is. All who believe the Scriptures are looking forward to the visible, bodily, return of Jesus Christ in His glory. All who believe the Scriptures confess that Jesus will return to the earth just as He left it, but this time in glory — just as the angel of God announced it. ESV Acts 1:10 And while they were gazing into heaven as he went, behold, two men stood by them in white robes, 11 and said, "Men of Galilee, why do you stand looking into heaven? This Jesus, who was taken up from you into heaven, will come in the same way as you saw him go into heaven." He will judge the living and the dead — He will fulfill every promise and purpose of God regarding the future — He will make plain that He defeated the great enemy of our souls. We will spend eternity with Him in the accepting presence of God our Father. And all of this is explained entirely by the grace of God, accomplished by the all-sufficient saving work of the Lamb of God. That’s the bare minimum that every Bible believer must embrace. On those things we can have no disagreement. But if we are to honor the Scriptures, we can’t stop there. We can’t stop there because the Bible gives us more information than just those bare minimum facts. We can’t just punt when it comes to the subject of eschatology. We can’t do that because we are going to encounter passages, like the one we come to today, that FORCE US to a position. So, to be clear, and without apology, the way I approach these passages is from a premillennial position, and from a pre-tribulation rapture position. And this is the formal position of our church on the subject. That doesn’t preclude us from loving each other if we differ. It doesn’t preclude us from serving with each other, respecting and appreciating each other. Because what we hold in common (we are looking for the return of Jesus) is greater than our differences over the details. BUT THAT DOESN’T MEAN THE DETAILS DON’T MATTER. In our verses we meet with a church that was being destabilized due to deception about eschatology. Someone, or some group of people, had been telling them that the day of the Lord had come. What this teacher or teachers said was in direct conflict with what Paul had taught them when he was with them, and what he had taught them in his first letter. What he says in this 2nd chapter required him to revisit the same subject matter he had written about just a few months earlier. What about the coming of the Lord Jesus, and what about believers being gathered together to Him? (vs.1) — that is the subject matter in our text. Paul had dealt with the return of Christ for His church in 1 Thessalonians 4, and the day of the Lord in 1 Thessalonians 5. BUT HERE THEY ARE CONFUSED ALL OVER AGAIN. And they are confused due to a DECEPTIVE DISSEMINATION OF DOCTRINE. People were disseminating their views but in the name of Paul. He mildly rebukes them for that, even as he patiently calls for their discernment, and for them to remember what he had already taught them. HIS APPROACH NOW, AS HE SEEKS TO STABILIZE THEM WITH THE TRUTH, IS REVEALING. He answers them with truth about THE ANTI-CHRIST. He tells them that the day of Lord could not have possibly come, because there are events that must take place before the day of the Lord arrives. The Day of the Lord, as Paul refers to it here, has a kicking off point. There is something that occurs at the beginning of it. The way he describes it is interesting. It consists of two things. It consists of an apostasy and of an anti-Christ, a man of lawlessness. It consists of a movement and a man. Paul mentions the apostasy first, and then he turns to the man. He gives an extended description and explanation concerning the man, and then he ends with more information about the apostasy.