Strength In Stormy Times
II Thessalonians 2:13-3:5 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- God’s choice – II Thessalonians 2:13-14 NLT
Charles Spurgeon said, “he was glad God chose him before he was born, because nobody would want him after he was born.”that God chose you is a great source of .
“First fruits” means there is .
To be sanctified is to be for God’s service. - Our choice – II Thessalonians 2:15 NKJV
God’s divine initiative awaits a human .
“He chooses us not to the exclusion of our , but with the of our free will.Standing firm and holding onto the truth is somewhat like a in flood waters.
- God supports our choice – II Thessalonians 2:16
a. His love
b. Encouragement (consolation)
c. Good hope
We gain strength by these – II Thessalonians 2:17 - Pray – II Thessalonians 3:1-2
“God does nothing but in answer to prayer.” – John Wesley - God’s faithfulness – II Thessalonians 3:3-5
Ephesians 6:12
“If you don’t believe in the devil, it’s because you’ve never resisted him.” -Martin LutherThe Greek “hupomone,” translated patience, is used 30 times in the New Testament as a noun and 15 times as a verb. No single English word is its equivalent.
Personal Notes
“I Will Come Back” Jesus
II Thessalonians 2:1-12; John 14:3 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- Be careful what you . II Thessalonians 2:1-2
- Jesus’ coming will be preceded by apostasy and the . II Thessalonians 2:3-5 NKJV
Apostasy means .
Jesus quoted the Old Testament times. - What and who holds lawlessness at bay? II Thessalonians 2:6-7
St. Augustine, “I admit that the meaning of this completely .” - Satan will try, but Christ will . II Thessalonians 2:8-12
Greek “epiphaeia” in English is “epiphany.”
Shining forth or or .
Speaking Personally
- Good, Godly followers .
- Jesus Christ will .
- We don’t and can’t .
- Jesus’ second coming is to be and to the believers.
Personal Notes
Endurance Depends On Faith and Hope
II Thessalonians 1:1-12 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- One more time – II Thessalonians 1:1-4
- Learn from how faith grows (because you’re going to need it)
- Love is also to increase
- They were patiently enduring
Greek “hupomone” communicates activity: as in using the trial
- Pleasant or not, Scripture reveals the truth – II Thessalonians 1:5-10
- The unjust will suffer
Your life is - Eternal punishment is revealed throughout Scripture
Matthew 25:46
Luke 16:19-31
Hell is a matter of .C.S. Lewis suggested that a person who has chosen to be separated from Christ in this life is simply given the freedom to continue in that choice. In that sense, heaven or hell begins in this life. In death, that choice is sealed.
- Christ will be glorified and believers will marvel – II Thessalonians 1:11-12
- The unjust will suffer
- Continue to communicate with the God who rejoices in your love and obedience
Personal Notes
Living the Community of Faith
I Thessalonians 5:12-28 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- Regarding leadership – I Thessalonians 5:12-13
a. Those who work among you
b. Those in authority – same Greek word as in Romans 12:8
c. Those who admonish, in Greek put in mind - Correction in the community – I Thessalonians 5:14-15
a. Warn
b. Encourage or help
c. Help and be
d. Don’t allow - orders – I Thessalonians 5:16-18
At changing of the guards at Tomb of Unknown Soldier, eight words are spoken: “Post and orders remain as directed.”; “Orders .”
a. Rejoice always.
b. Pray continually
c. Always give thanks - Be Holy Spirit led – I Thessalonians 5:19-23
a. Don’t quench the Spirit
b. Don’t despise prophecies
c. Test them all
d. Abstain from all forms of evil - Paul’s conclusion – I Thessalonians 5:23-28
a.
b.
c.
Personal Notes
The Second Coming of Jesus
I Thessalonians 4:13-5:11 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
- What about believers who die before He comes?
I Thessalonians 4:13-18
a. To the Hebrew all of history was divided into two stages: the and the age to .
”The Day of the Lord” will mark the beginning.
b. The Thessalonians were wrong and therefore they suffered . - When will Jesus return?
I Thessalonians 5:1-3
Greek eschaton means .
a. “A thief in the night” does not mean Jesus is . It means people will be .
b. Those not prepared will be . - How do we ?
a. Be people of . I Thessalonians 3:5
b. Be a living . I Peter 2:4-5
Personal Notes
Paul Needed Friends…and So Do We
I Thessalonians 3:1-13 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
Paul was “A man of steel and velvet”
- His effort to strengthen their and encourage their – I Thessalonians 3:1-4
”Encourage” is translation of the Greek “parakeleo” which was used by Jesus
I Thessalonians 3:1-2 alludes to Paul’s “velvet”I Thessalonians 3:3-4 – Is it a burden or a cross?
John 16:33
Romans 8:28 - Paul’s primary concern was for his friends’ spiritual – I Thessalonians 3:5-8
Beware of the tempter – Matthew 4:3; Genesis 3; Acts 5:3; I Peter 5:8; James 1:13-15
Their was visible - Their was his – I Thessalonians 3:9-10
God is the and sustainer of life in the Christian community. - Paul’s prayer for his friends – I Thessalonians 3:11-13
Prayer pulls Christians .
In I Thessalonians 3:11 the Greek word for “direct” is singular (so what?).
I Thessalonians 3:12 the Greek “agape” is love.
In scripture the “heart” is reference to our capacity to think, , and make decisions.
Holiness is to be by God for His service.
It is to live our lives so as to reflect God’s glory, rather than conforming to the ways of the world.
Romans 12:1-2
Personal Notes
The God of Little
Mark 6:41 | Pastor Dan Bystrom
- He took it.
- He must have – that’s where miracle start.
- The most decisive thing is to give Him of our being.
- He gave thanks and it.
- When He blesses, He infuses .
- Ephesians 1:8 tells us He us with every spiritual blessing.
- That little boy’s lunch was .
- He it.
- We have to be broken away from .
- We have to be broken away from to the world.
- He it.
- It’s all in the verb tense!
- He gives , , , and over and over.
- Little Fears:
False
Evaluations
Accepted as
Real - Little faith? Do you trust Him?
Forsaking
All
I
Trust
Him
Personal Notes
The Biggest Thing God Ever Did
Acts 1:4; 4:29-31; John 3:16 | Pastor Jon Betz
Greatest Things God Ever Did
Sending His Son to redeem us.
Loving us to forgive and save us.
Choosing to include us in His plan and purpose.
Conclusion: What do we need to do?
O God, Give Us Trustworthy Leaders
I Thessalonians 2:1-20 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
Imagine being Paul.
Acts 16:16-17:9
- There is opposition to “God’s gospel.” I Thessalonians 2:1-2
- Regardless of Satan’s opposition, people will .
I Thessalonians 2:1, Acts 17:4-5 - Tests for the . I Thessalonians 2:3-6
a. Show me the chapter and verse.
b. What’s their I Thessalonians 2:3
Have they deceived others?
c. Who are they seeking to ? I Thessalonians 2:4
d. Are they using flattery as a ? I Thessalonians 2:5 - The is costly, are they ?
a. Caring like a , motivating like a . I Thessalonians 2:7-12
b. Do they ? I Thessalonians 2:9 - God our hearts because: I Thessalonians 2:4
a. we will explore what is in our heart. Deuteronomy 8:2
b. he wants to us. Psalm 66:10
c. it develops . James 1:22-25
Personal Notes
Do We Have A Choice?
I Thessalonians 1:4-10 | Pastor Terry Wilcox
How Do You Balance the Sovereignty of God Versus Our Free Will?
- God chose the Thessalonians. I Thessalonians 1:4
Election, predestined, foreknew, and whosoever will have sparked debates for centuries.
a. Adoption is the gracious choice of parents. Ephesians 1:5-6
b. Being chosen provides assurance and . John 1:12-13 - Transformation is of the power of the Holy Spirit. II Corinthians 5:17
a. Their lifestyles were becoming counter-.
Idol worship, sexual perversion, and persecution surrounded these new followers of Jesus.
b. God provided role models and . I Thessalonians 1:5-6
you have such? you such? - How do we respond to Jesus? I Thessalonians 1:8-10
Yes, the Thessalonian church was almost 2,000 years ago, but hasn’t changed.
a. They were known for .
Apologist or not, we all have a .
b. They left their to serve God.
I’ve known two attorneys who made major changes because of Jesus.
Don’t stress over God’s choice, embrace Him and for His glory.
Personal Notes