Coming to the Still Waters

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 3:1-5, which read,   v.1, 2 - Finally, brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you; and that we will be rescued from perverse and evil men; for not all have faith. Paul is not beyond asking for prayer for himself and his companions.  He is praying but he is asking for prayer.  The particular prayer involves first the spread of the gospel to go even further and even faster than before.  You will hear more about this, this morning as we talk about the sower and the seed.  Our main task on this earth is to sow the seed which is the word of God and that is what Paul is asking prayer for.  Secondly Paul asks prayer for protection against these "perverse and evil men."   But again, why does he ask for this protection?  Because not all have faith, not all have heard the gospel so I ask for your prayers of protection so I can continue...

Today our verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:16, 17, which read,   Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word. This is what we call a benediction.  You could say this to another or pray it for someone.  It could be said at the end of a service.  Paul is praying this blessing upon the Christians in Thessalonica.  What is contained within this blessing?   "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father,..."   The word "our" is a personal pronoun that designates a relationship with Jesus.  "Lord" gives Jesus' position in your life.  "Christ" gives Jesus' eternal title.  "Himself" punctuates what comes next. It wasn't passed off to someone else but He, Himself will do this.  The word "our" again is that personal pronoun that designates a relationsh...

The Parable of All Parables Preaching through the Gospel according to Mark we have come across the parable of all parables, The Parable of the Soils, given by Jesus.   To those in the church world and coming up through the Sunday School or catechism you would probably be able to give the basics of this story.   There are hard, rocky, thorny, and good soils.   Maybe you remember drawing this out in a Sunday School class with your classmates with those big crayons. Reading the passage this time, I had a couple phrases that jumped off the page as if I had never seen them before.   The first is in verse 13 of chapter 4 of Mark.   And He said to them, “Do you not understand this parable?   How will you understand all the parables?” Jesus is pointing to this parable of the soils as foundational to us as Christians and the church to understand if we are going to understand the 60+ parables he gives us through the Bible.   All the othe...

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:13-15, which read,   v.13 - But we should always give thanks to God for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God has chosen you from the beginning for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and faith in the truth. Paul turns his instruction on the end times and the coming of the antichrist and Christ the Lord to the present situation.  Paul reminds the Christians in Thessalonica that they have been chosen by God from the beginning for salvation.  The theological term here would be "justification."  You have been made right with God through Christ and this was chosen by God from the beginning.  It is a really hard human concept to understand but God on His level has the ability to do this.  We on our level respond to that calling from Him at the present time.  We don't know of all of time but He does.   Being made right with God through Jesus Christ leads to the second theologica...

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:6-12, which read, v.6, 7 - And you know what restrains him now, so that in his time he will be revealed.  For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only he who now restrains will do so until he is taken out of the way. Paul continues on his instruction about the end of times and the topic of the antichrist.  At this time the antichrist is restrained.  Something or someone is restraining the antichrist and ultimately Satan from being fully revealed although he is at work.  There are many thoughts about this restraining agent:  human government; preaching of the gospel; the binding of Satan; the providence of God; the Jewish state; the church; the Holy Spirit; and Michael the archangel. Without going into those thoughts, the point is that something or someone is restraining Satan's full revealing himself through the antichrist.  Satan is at work now but something or someone is going directly again...

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, which reads,   v.1,2 - Now we request you, brethren, with regard to the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together with Him, that you not be quickly shaken from your composure or be disturbed either by a spirit or a message or a letter as if from us, to the effect that the day of the Lord has come. Paul is writing again to the Thessalonians about the coming of the Lord, His second coming.  This is the fifth time he has mentioned it between the two letters to them.  He is warning them to "not be quickly shaken" or "disturbed" about this issue.  There might be other information, even information that looks like it is coming from Paul, contrary to what he has taught from the Scriptures and from the Lord through the Apostles.  How real this warning is.  It seems that we live in a day of technology that has such weight that if someone broadcasts something that is even contrary to the...

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 1:11, 12, which read, To this end also we pray for you always, that our God will count you worthy of your calling, and fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith with power, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ. The question here is what is Paul praying about for the Christians in the church at Thessalonica?  Paul is praying that they would be found worthy by God of what they were called by God to do and be.  The prayer was for them to excel in their ability to be good to others and also to see many others come to faith.  All this is so that the name of Jesus will be proclaimed and believed and raised up.  This is all possible because of the grace of God and the Lord Jesus Christ given to us. Is this the composition of our prayers for the church today?  Do we pray that God looks at our church and ...

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 1:6-10, which read, v.6-8 - For after all it is only just for God to repay with affliction those who afflict you, and to give relief to you who are afflicted and to us as well when the Lord Jesus will be revealed from heaven with His mighty angels in flaming fire, dealing out retribution to those who do not know God and to those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus. Do you remember "'Revenge is Mine,' saith the Lord."  These verses are saying just that idea.  Paul has praised the Thessalonians for having an enlarging faith and an increasing love for one another and enduring suffering through persecution for Christ's sake.  Now he tells them that those who are persecuting will get their due punishment for what they are doing.  God will take care of that.  Actually this is high on His list of things to do at the judgment. I caught in these verses that we will get relief but don't be looking for i...

Today's verses are 2 Thessalonians 1:1-5, which read, v.1,2 - Paul and Silvanus and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. We have a typical Pauline starting to this letter with identifying who he is and who he is with.  We also receive who Paul is writing to, the church of the Thessalonians.  Paul includes God and Jesus in the very first verses.  The church of the Thessalonians is "in" God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  It is a church that believes and holds to God and also that Jesus is the Christ, the Messiah, and the Lord of all.  He prays or wishes upon them that they experience and continue to experience the grace and peace of God and Jesus that come from Them. v.3, 4 - We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brethren, as is only fitting, because your faith is greatly enlarged, and the love of each ...

Hello all, Just a break to spend some time with our grandchildren and also to read some other materials. I just finished a book call "Me A Culpa" by Kyle McClellan.  It was a book that talked about learning from mistakes made in ministry.  I could very much relate.  I wrote in the margins some of the names of the churches I have pastored and situations that related. I think the quote I will give you is this one about the importance of the place you are placed by God.  "Loving the gospel is one thing, loving the people you serve is another, but you must really learn to love the place you minister as well."   I need to continue to learn to love my new place. Now I am onto a book called "Tough Topics 2" by Sam Storms.  He starts off with the topic of the trinity and ends with the meaning of 666.  I should have all the answers when I am done with this one.  Ha ha ha ha.... Pastor Adam

Today’s verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:23-28, which read, v.23, 24 - Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be preserved complete, without blame at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  Faithful is He who calls you, and He also will bring it to pass. Paul is finishing out his letter with a benediction or a blessing upon the Thessalonian Christians.  First, Paul acknowledges that God is a God of peace, true peace that manifests itself in the following ways in our lives. Second, Paul acknowledges that the peace of God includes the growth or sanctifying of our lives that done by God.  Third, he acknowledges that the preserving of our whole selves is also done by God.  Fourth, he acknowledges that to be able to stand before the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ without blame is also done by God.  Fifth, he acknowledges that the God who is growing us and preserving us as a part of peace to stand without b...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:16-22, which read, v.16-18 - Rejoice always; praying without ceasing; in everything give thanks; for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus. Paul continues on with his short phrases of instruction at the end of this letter to the Thessalonians.  Have you ever wondered what the will of God is for your life?  There is general will of God and a specific will of God.  Usually we want to know God's specific will for our lives but we ignore God's general will for our lives.  How do we know God's specific will for our lives?  We keep and live in God's general will for our lives.  These short phrases are God's general will.  It starts with the short phrases that we looked at yesterday and so we add to our list. "Rejoice always;..." - For this to happen you have to be active in thinking larger than the situation that is happening is right in front of you.  To do this you need to keep your eyes on th...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:12-15, which read, v.12, 13 - But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work.  Live in peace with one another. Paul has been so thankful and encouraging to the Thessalonian Christians.  He is has given them comforting words to hold unto even in the midst of persecution.  Now he gives them something very practical to do right now in the midst of their own congregation. Paul is speaking to them to appreciate their spiritual leaders in the body.  He gives three qualities of these spiritual leaders.  They "...diligently labor..." is the first.  They are actually doing the work of the Lord and are pursuing it.  The second is "...have charge over you in the Lord..." meaning they oversee the flock as a shepherd oversees his flock of ...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:7-11, which reads, v.7, 8 - For those who sleep do their sleeping at night, and those who get drunk get drunk at night.  But since we are of the day, let us be sober, having put on the breastplate of faith and love, and as a helmet, the hope of salvation. Paul has been giving the Thessalonians comforting words about loved ones who were "in" Christ and have passed away and our reuniting with them and the Lord.  He is also reinforcing instruction that he had given them when with them about the coming of the Lord and the coming of God's judgment.  Paul continues on here. Those who are not "in" Christ are "drunk" or overcome by actions and attitudes that dishonor God and live for themselves rather than for the Lord.  Paul continues to make the contrast that the Christians are to be so different, they are "night" and we are "day."   We are not to be overcome (drunk) with somethi...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 5:1-6, which reads, v.1, 2 - Now as to the times and the epochs, brethren, you have no need of anything to be written to you.  For you yourselves know full well that the day of the Lord will come just like a thief in the night. Paul dealt last time with the topic of what will happen to those who have died in Christ before the coming of Jesus again.  Their physical bodies will be raised and meet the Lord in the air before we, who could be living at the time, meet up with them and the Lord.  Comfort words to know that we will see them again and be together again with them and with the Lord. Now Paul brings up the topic of the end of times.  This must have been something that he spoke about with them.  He must have spoken about it in depth if there is "...no need of anything to be written to you."     A thief comes when you don't expect him to.  The previous passage talked about Jesus coming for t...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18, which read, v.13 - But we do not want you to be uninformed, brethren, about those who are asleep, so that you will not grieve as do the rest who have no hope. Paul is going to talk about physical death with the Thessalonian Christians.  Some of their brothers and sisters in Christ have physically died.  How do we handle this as Christians?  Notice that we will grieve their passing but we will not grieve as those who don't know the Lord Jesus Christ.  We will grieve differently.  We will grieve with the light of Jesus and the hope in Jesus in the midst of our grief.  We will glorify God even in our grief, that is quite a difference than the one who does not have an eternal hope. v.14 - For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who have fallen asleep in Jesus. The hope that we have is that Jesus died and rose again.  This is what we have faith in....

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 4:9-12, which read, Now as to the love of the brethren, you have no need for any one to write to you, for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another; for indeed you do practice it toward all the brethren who are in all Macedonia.  But we urge you, brethren, to excel still more, and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you; so that you may behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need. This is a section that seems to be of contradictions.  The Thessalonians are doing so good that Paul doesn't feel like he needs to write anything more to them and then he tells them to excel still more.  They are loving one another in such away that it is reaching out beyond their borders to those who need help in the region of Macedonia.  They are a new church that is being known for their love.  They are getting a name or ...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 4:1-8, which read, v.1, 2 - Finally then, brethren, we request and exhort you in the Lord Jesus, that as you received from us instruction as to how you ought to walk and please God (just as you actually do walk), that you excel still more.  For you know what commandments we gave you by the authority of the Lord Jesus. Here are the points to write down on the sheet that Paul gave you with this letter.  Fill in these blanks by the 1, 2, and 3 or the bullet points provided.  This teaching is being relayed to them through Paul but it is from the Lord Jesus.  These are going to be real life action points, the application part of the sermon.  The Bible says.... v.3-6 - For this is the will of God, your sanctification; that is, that you abstain from sexual immorality; that each of you know how to possess his own vessel in sanctification and honor, not in lustful passion, like the Gentiles who do not know God; and tha...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 3:11-13, which read, Now may our God and Father Himself and Jesus our Lord direct our way to you; and may the Lord cause you to increase and abound in love for one another, and for all people, just as we also do for you; so that He may establish your hearts without blame in holiness before our God and Father at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all His saints. Here is another long sentence from Paul to close out this chapter.  Each verse has a major point. v.11 - "...direct our way to you;..." - Paul is praying for God to open up the doors to see the Christians in Thessalonica.  He is actively praying for more involvement in the lives of these Christians to see further growth.  A praying point for us to pray about opportunities for us to growth together in our walk with the Lord. v.12 - "...and may the Lord cause you to increase..."   in what?  "...in love for one another and for all people,..." is t...

Today's verses are 1 Thessalonians 3:6-10, which read, v.6-8 - But now that Timothy has come to us from you, and has brought us good news of your faith and love, and that you always think kindly of us, longing to see us just as we also long to see you, for this reason, brethren, in all our distress and affliction we were comforted about you through your faith; for now we really live, if you stand firm in the Lord. Another Pauline long run-on sentence.  Timothy has returned to Paul and Silas with a great report of the Thessalonian church.  The church not only has faith in the face of persecution but they have love meaning that their faith in not just surviving but striving.  Paul's mind and heart is at ease but he adds the last statement, "...if you stand firm in the Lord." "If" means that this is something that we continue to do.  The church is continuing to stand firm on a daily basis.  When we say "yes" to Jesus it is a "ye...