2 Thessalonians 2
11For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.
Stand Firm
13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Observation:
Paul spends time talking about the lawless one who is at work deceiving people in the world. Before Jesus comes back a second time, this lawless one will be at work doing things that look like the 2nd coming of Jesus, but they will be counterfeit signs, wonders and miracles. Those who refused to love the truth and so be saved, will be the easiest targets of this deception.
But for those who stand firm in the truth, which has been revealed by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, they will be strengthened and encouraged by holding on to the teachings that Paul had disseminated in person and by letter. As they hold on to these truths and don’t let the enemy’s lies permeate their hearts and minds they will be encouraged by Jesus himself.
Application:
What are the particular lies the enemy tries to sow in your mind? Often they can be subtle ones designed to get us on slippery slope of doubt, discouragement and disbelief in God’s promises. Importantly, Paul urges them to hold to the teaching they had passed on to them. The best antidote to deception is being steeped in the Truth. And of course that Truth comes from God’s Word, and specifically in the person of Jesus Christ.
As Rick Warren says, “We are all prone to “rationalize” (I.e. rational lies). We rationalize that we don’t need to attend church because we worked hard all week and need a break. We rationalize we don’t need to give of our time and money, because times are tough and so God understands. We rationalize that we can continue this particular behavior even though God has warned against it, because we think we deserve a little break now and then.
The problem is that as we buy into these subtle lies, we miss out on the abundant life God wants us to experience. At the heart of most of the lies is a desire to please self, versus give our lives away in service as response to God’s grace. As we continue to walk in the truth, we are set free to be the person God has created us to be. We can walk in the unique calling and authority that God has for us as a Son or Daughter of the King. As we walk in our calling and in God’s power, we can make a difference in ways that will have eternal ramifications. We can push back the darkness and be true lights in a world needing hope!
Prayer: God help us to be so steeped in the truth of Your Word, in the truth of Your Son, that we will be able to recognize the devil’s schemes. Help us to follow the teachings of those you have brought into our lives to guide us in the Way, the Truth and the Life. We know as we do this that Jesus, you will strengthen our hearts and live in and through us in the power of Your Spirit, Amen.
Stand Firm
13But we ought always to thank God for you, brothers loved by the Lord, because from the beginning God chose you to be saved through the sanctifying work of the Spirit and through belief in the truth. 14He called you to this through our gospel, that you might share in the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. 15So then, brothers, stand firm and hold to the teachings we passed on to you, whether by word of mouth or by letter.
16May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, 17encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
Observation:
Paul spends time talking about the lawless one who is at work deceiving people in the world. Before Jesus comes back a second time, this lawless one will be at work doing things that look like the 2nd coming of Jesus, but they will be counterfeit signs, wonders and miracles. Those who refused to love the truth and so be saved, will be the easiest targets of this deception.
But for those who stand firm in the truth, which has been revealed by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, they will be strengthened and encouraged by holding on to the teachings that Paul had disseminated in person and by letter. As they hold on to these truths and don’t let the enemy’s lies permeate their hearts and minds they will be encouraged by Jesus himself.
Application:
What are the particular lies the enemy tries to sow in your mind? Often they can be subtle ones designed to get us on slippery slope of doubt, discouragement and disbelief in God’s promises. Importantly, Paul urges them to hold to the teaching they had passed on to them. The best antidote to deception is being steeped in the Truth. And of course that Truth comes from God’s Word, and specifically in the person of Jesus Christ.
As Rick Warren says, “We are all prone to “rationalize” (I.e. rational lies). We rationalize that we don’t need to attend church because we worked hard all week and need a break. We rationalize we don’t need to give of our time and money, because times are tough and so God understands. We rationalize that we can continue this particular behavior even though God has warned against it, because we think we deserve a little break now and then.
The problem is that as we buy into these subtle lies, we miss out on the abundant life God wants us to experience. At the heart of most of the lies is a desire to please self, versus give our lives away in service as response to God’s grace. As we continue to walk in the truth, we are set free to be the person God has created us to be. We can walk in the unique calling and authority that God has for us as a Son or Daughter of the King. As we walk in our calling and in God’s power, we can make a difference in ways that will have eternal ramifications. We can push back the darkness and be true lights in a world needing hope!
Prayer: God help us to be so steeped in the truth of Your Word, in the truth of Your Son, that we will be able to recognize the devil’s schemes. Help us to follow the teachings of those you have brought into our lives to guide us in the Way, the Truth and the Life. We know as we do this that Jesus, you will strengthen our hearts and live in and through us in the power of Your Spirit, Amen.
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