II Thessalonians 1 – A Glorified Life
Wednesday, 15th February 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-2 Proclaim God’s Grace and Peace
There were many problems in the church of Thessalonica, but Paul did not follow the problems. Paul built this church in short three Sundays, but he did not give up, he wrote I Thessalonians to teach them and support them, but there were still more problems in the church, so he wrote II Thessalonians. Paul taught us to bring the power of God, because all grace and peace belong to Him.
V1 ‘Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Again Paul reminded the church of Thessalonica that they were not alone, he also did not uplift himself, but brought together Silvanus and Timothy. Paul also emphasised on the God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. When we face troubles and problems in our lives, it’s easy for us to seek the help of people, but often we fail to see the great love of the Father in Heaven. Only His love is eternal, we are not orphans, the Creator God is our Father. We are not those, who are under attack, but those, being protected. This is our identity, when we know our identity, then we will not be afraid, we will not be angry, and we will not be offended.
We are not orphans, we don’t have to live our lives according to other people’s expectation. We are lost and we are confused, but today we are reminded again that God protects us, God covers us, and nothing can shake our faith. God is with us, who should we be afraid? V2 ‘Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Don’t feel sorry for ourselves, don’t live in the lies of the devil, but to now we have a good Father, we are covered and built upon Jesus Christ. Grace and peace are with us, and we can live a glorified life. Stop seeing the problems, stop fighting for ourselves, and start seeing the honour and glory God has already given to us.
Section Two V3-4 Give Thanks Always
V3 ‘We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other.’ The church of Thessalonica had been complaining about the problems they were facing, but Paul proclaimed peace and grace, he gave thanks for the church, and he brought down the glory of God. A lot of time, we can mourn with those who mourn, but we cannot give thanks for them. People may not see God’s great works in their lives, but we can. When we bring hope, faith and love to people, then we will not be affected by others, on the other hand, our lives can impact their lives and help them to walk out of darkness.
V4 ‘So that we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your patience and faith in all your persecutions and tribulations that you endure.’ God is an abundant God, He has prepared everything we need for us. Paul was facing enemies on every side, yet he still spoke the words of faith and the words of encouragement. When we serve others, their words, their emotions, their behaviour, their attitude… may offend us, so how can we continue to have love for them? To give thanks for them, to see God’s great works in their lives, just like what Paul did.
Paul did not see what the church of Thessalonica saw, he saw their faith and endurance. He did not uplift the troubles but the truth and hope. Today, what is our attitude towards our surroundings? Can we give thanks for what we have? Auckland is experiencing a storm, but we still have power, we still have water, and we can still be here. We already have more than so many others, but do we take it for granted or can we really give thanks for our current situation? Furthermore, we must show love to others, when we see we are sufficient, then we can also love others, see others with the eyesight of God.
Section Three V5-12 Always Pray and Uplift
V5 ‘Which is manifest evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be counted worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you also suffer.’ Paul taught the church of Thessalonica that everything they were going through was the evidence of the righteous judgement. We are the children of God, and we can live on earth as it is in Heaven. But this depends on what perspective we are looking at it from. Paul said that those who were attack the church were not attacking the people of God but attacking God Himself, and when they were attacking God, they were meant to fail. Because if God is for us then no one and nothing will be against us. This is the truth in the past and also the truth now in our current situation!
V9-10 ‘These shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of His power, when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.’ Do we see God’s face in our troubles? Do not live in darkness but in the light of the Lord, He has shown us the light, the light has come! But do we see it? If we continue to see the negative side of things, then we can never enter the light.
V11-12 ‘Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfil all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.’ Can we pray like Paul prayed? We don’t like to pray, we like to solve the problems, but they will also make us firefighters. We can stop all problems from the root, when we pray and uplift the people we love and care for, God will interfere. Let us live a life glorifies God in the dark time.
帖撒罗尼迦后书 1 – 得荣耀的生命
2023年2月15日 星期三
潘锡安牧师
面对在三个主日后就生出来的帖撒罗尼迦教会所经历重重的问题，保罗没有跟着问题跑，而是跟着神。当时教会内忧外患，保罗在书信中没有责怪人，而是带出“得荣耀的生命”这样的氛围。同理，我们要给人带下的是神的权能，让人看到盼望。
一、v.1-2 宣告恩惠平安从神而来
在混乱、被攻击的时候，我们更要称谢神，高举神的名。保罗再一次让帖撒罗尼迦教会的人知道，他们不是孤儿，保罗、西拉、提摩太三个都是关心教会的人。我们是有父亲的，眼目不要放在人的身上，而要聚焦在天父身上。我们不是自己面对仇敌的攻击，而是在耶稣基督的遮盖和保护之下的教会。我们若很容易生气，是因为我们不知道自己的身份。若我们知道自己君尊皇族的身份，就不会轻易被他人的评价影响。神与我们同在，我们还惧怕谁？
我们是否知道自己是属于父神和主耶稣基督的？我们没办法跳出过去的阴影，是因为我们不知道自己是归于父神和主耶稣基督的。我们看到的是争竞、问题，还是能看到恩惠、平安？
二、v.3-4 凡事感谢神
V3 帖撒罗尼迦教会的人常常向神抱怨，但保罗他们所带下的是“为你们常常感谢神”的氛围，因他看见的是恩惠、平安。我们在带领人的时候，是否看到神在他们身上的大作为？我们要帮助他们看见信望爱，而不是被人牵着鼻子走，不然就只看到负面的事情。保罗在帖撒罗尼迦教会看到盼望，且看到神是预备丰丰盛盛的神。我们在困难中，是否仍有盼望、信心、和爱心来面对神和人呢？
V4 帖撒罗尼迦教会看到的是负面、是被攻击，只看到自己是被丢弃、问题重重，看不到荣耀，但保罗看到的是“忍耐和信心”。在一切不可能当中，我们要凡事感谢神，我们能够有水、有电，又有食物吃，其实都是神的恩典。
三、v.5-12 常常祷告交托
V5-8 保罗看逼迫和患难为宝贵的黄金。他提醒帖撒罗尼迦教会的人，你们是属于天国的子民，那些攻击你们的人其实攻击的是背后掌权的神。面对攻击，我们要懂得祷告、交托，因为神必是公义的，必施行审判、报应。
V9 “沉沦”就是看不到神的面和荣光。在受挫、苦难中，我们是否看到神的荣光，还是会陷入“沉沦”？我们不要活在黑暗，而是活在荣耀中。
V10 耶和华的光已经来到，我们有看到主的面和他的荣光吗？
V11 保罗这次没有说差派哪一个人去，而是说“我们常为你们祷告”？我们是否有花时间为我们所牧养的人祷告？还是花很多时间去处理事情、解决人的情绪，以致身心疲惫？
在黑暗遮盖大地，幽暗遮盖万民的时候，让我们选择得荣耀的生命！