Destroy

We are making our way through Paul’s second letter to the Jesus followers in Thessalonica. Today, Paul predicts a really big win.


2 Thessalonians 2
1 Now, dear brothers and sisters, let us clarify some things about the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and how we will be gathered to meet him. 2 Don’t be so easily shaken or alarmed by those who say that the day of the Lord has already begun. Don’t believe them, even if they claim to have had a spiritual vision, a revelation, or a letter supposedly from us. 3 Don’t be fooled by what they say. For that day will not come until there is a great rebellion against God and the man of lawlessness is revealed - the one who brings destruction. 4 He will exalt himself and defy everything that people call god and every object of worship. He will even sit in the temple of God, claiming that he himself is God. 5 Don’t you remember that I told you about all this when I was with you? 6 And you know what is holding him back, for he can be revealed only when his time comes. 7 For this lawlessness is already at work secretly, and it will remain secret until the one who is holding it back steps out of the way. 8 Then the man of lawlessness will be revealed, but the Lord Jesus will kill him with the breath of his mouth and destroy him by the splendor of his coming. 9 This man will come to do the work of Satan with counterfeit power and signs and miracles. 10 He will use every kind of evil deception to fool those on their way to destruction, because they refuse to love and accept the truth that would save them. 11 So God will cause them to be greatly deceived, and they will believe these lies. 12 Then they will be condemned for enjoying evil rather than believing the truth.


Destroy. In sports, coaches (of good teams) commonly tell their players, “You can’t just show up and expect to win.” And yet, that is how Paul describes the encounter between Jesus and “the man of lawlessness”. He writes that Jesus will “destroy him by the splendor of his coming”. I love that phrase. Throughout the centuries (and even still today), many great men and women (who are more Godly and more intelligent than I) have tried to “clarify” what is known as eschatology (the study of the end times). They have covered topics like the rapture (check out 1 Thessalonians 4:14-18), the tribulation (check out Matthew 24:15-31), millennialism (check out Revelation 20:1-10) and ... the man of lawlessness. I would never make light of those theological pursuits; but what frustrates me is when the focus becomes the pursuit and not the point ... the point is, “In the end, God wins!” Seriously, reread each passage ... in the end, God wins ... which provide great hope and a great challenge. The hope is that we have the opportunity to be a part of the winning team. The challenge is helping as many people as possible experience that hope.

His

Over the next couple of days, we are going to take a look at Paul’s follow-up letter to the Jesus followers in Thessalonica. Today, Paul exposes God’s point of view.


2 Thessalonians 1
1 This letter is from Paul, Silas, and Timothy. We are writing to the church in Thessalonica, to you who belong to God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 3 Dear brothers and sisters, we can’t help but thank God for you, because your faith is flourishing and your love for one another is growing. 4 We proudly tell God’s other churches about your endurance and faithfulness in all the persecutions and hardships you are suffering. 5 And God will use this persecution to show his justice and to make you worthy of his Kingdom, for which you are suffering. 6 In his justice he will pay back those who persecute you. 7 And God will provide rest for you who are being persecuted and also for us when the Lord Jesus appears from heaven. He will come with his mighty angels, 8 in flaming fire, bringing judgment on those who don’t know God and on those who refuse to obey the Good News of our Lord Jesus. 9 They will be punished with eternal destruction, forever separated from the Lord and from his glorious power. 10 When he comes on that day, he will receive glory from his holy people - praise from all who believe. And this includes you, for you believed what we told you about him. 11 So we keep on praying for you, asking our God to enable you to live a life worthy of his call. May he give you the power to accomplish all the good things your faith prompts you to do. 12 Then the name of our Lord Jesus will be honored because of the way you live, and you will be honored along with him. This is all made possible because of the grace of our God and Lord, Jesus Christ.


His. Ever notice how everything is different from God’s perspective. Persecution can reveal justice. Blindness can provide insight (check out John 9:1-3). A real leader is a servant (check out Matthew 20:20-28). Life can overcome death (check out Luke 24:1-8). What is complex can be simple (check out Mark 10:13-16). Apparently, I need a new point of view.

Will

Today, we are finishing up Paul’s first letter to the Jesus followers in Thessalonica. Today, Paul addresses one of the most commonly asked questions.


1 Thessalonians 5
12 Dear brothers and sisters, honor those who are your leaders in the Lord’s work. They work hard among you and give you spiritual guidance. 13 Show them great respect and wholehearted love because of their work. And live peacefully with each other. 14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone. 15 See that no one pays back evil for evil, but always try to do good to each other and to all people. 16 Always be joyful. 17 Never stop praying. 18 Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus. 19 Do not stifle the Holy Spirit. 20 Do not scoff at prophecies, 21 but test everything that is said. Hold on to what is good. 22 Stay away from every kind of evil. 23 Now may the God of peace make you holy in every way, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ comes again. 24 God will make this happen, for he who calls you is faithful. 25 Dear brothers and sisters, pray for us. 26 Greet all the brothers and sisters with Christian love. 27 I command you in the name of the Lord to read this letter to all the brothers and sisters. 28 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.


Will. What is God’s will for my life? It’s like the “holy grail” of spiritual questions. Some people have spent years reading books, watching videos and attending conferences in search of that answer. And yet, Paul is somehow able to rattle it off while using only 11 words. Is that possible? Can it be that simple? Yes and no. I say no because I don’t believe Paul meant it as an exhaustive list. I say yes because I believe Paul was demonstrating a pattern for our lives that would cultivate the will of God. There are certain characteristics (like joy and humility and gratitude) that should be so ingrained in our hearts that they naturally flow out of our lives on a consistent basis. This may disappoint you; but I believe God’s will ... his desire for your life is more wrapped up in who you are rather than who you marry or what job you have or where you live. If you’re wondering how ... I believe the answer is found in the verses that follow ... don’t suppress the impulses you have to do what is right (like being joyful and humble and grateful) ... even if it doesn’t make sense in today’s culture, do what God’s word says is right (like being joyful and humble and grateful) anyways ... if you don’t believe me, try doing it and see what happens ... avoid what you already know is wrong (like being angry and prideful and selfish).

Alert

We are making our way through Paul’s first letter to the Jesus followers in Thessalonica. Today, Paul provides an important “heads up” for our journey.


1 Thessalonians 5
1 Now concerning how and when all this will happen, dear brothers and sisters, we don’t really need to write you. 2 For you know quite well that the day of the Lord’s return will come unexpectedly, like a thief in the night. 3 When people are saying, “Everything is peaceful and secure,” then disaster will fall on them as suddenly as a pregnant woman’s labor pains begin. And there will be no escape. 4 But you aren’t in the dark about these things, dear brothers and sisters, and you won’t be surprised when the day of the Lord comes like a thief. 5 For you are all children of the light and of the day; we don’t belong to darkness and night. 6 So be on your guard, not asleep like the others. Stay alert and be clearheaded. 7 Night is the time when people sleep and drinkers get drunk. 8 But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us. 10 Christ died for us so that, whether we are dead or alive when he returns, we can live with him forever. 11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.


Alert. For those of you that don’t know me, I am a huge Ohio State football fan. Jim Tressel, the head coach, has a saying that he supposedly repeats frequently to his players, “Nothing good happens after 10 pm.” I am sure each of has a “10 pm” in our life ... a line we know we shouldn’t cross because it will only provide negative results. Nothing good happens when I watch (fill in the blank). Nothing good happens when I hang out with (fill in the blank). Nothing good happens when I drink (fill in the blank). Nothing good happens when I (fill in the blank). The goal is to avoid returning to the darkness ... even for a visit. The key is us being honest with ourselves about what our weaknesses really are, where they are most readily available and avoiding them at all cost. How alert are you?

Hope

We are making our way through Paul’s first letter to the Jesus followers in Thessalonica. Today, Paul shares one of the most important passages of scripture in the entire Bible.


1 Thessalonians 4
13 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we want you to know what will happen to the believers who have died so you will not grieve like people who have no hope. 14 For since we believe that Jesus died and was raised to life again, we also believe that when Jesus returns, God will bring back with him the believers who have died. 15 We tell you this directly from the Lord: We who are still living when the Lord returns will not meet him ahead of those who have died. 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven with a commanding shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trumpet call of God. First, the Christians who have died will rise from their graves. 17 Then, together with them, we who are still alive and remain on the earth will be caught up in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. Then we will be with the Lord forever. 18 So encourage each other with these words.


Hope. According to Benjamin Franklin, "The only two certainties in life are death and taxes." According to Paul, you can add one more certainty for a Jesus follower ... hope. Hope that this life isn’t the end. Hope that Jesus will return. Hope that we will be with God forever in a new life. If you don’t believe Paul, listen to Jesus (check out John 14:1-3). Here is the sobering part of this hope ... it is only available to Jesus followers (check out John 14:6). That reality makes what Paul has already written in this letter so important (reread Example or Messengers or Holy). It is also why it is so important for us to share our hope with others. Again, if you don’t believe Paul, listen to Jesus (check out Matthew 28:18-20). In fact, reread the whole chapter (Matthew 28). It will remind you where hope comes from.