II Thessalonians 2 – Receive Peace in the Darkness
Thursday, 16th February 2023
Rev Daniel Xi An Poon
Section One V1-7 To Really Know To Wait Upon
Paul has been proclaiming the truth, the peace, and grace to the church of Thessalonica. Why do we need to receive this peace? This is the generation of darkness, and in darkness, people will easily be afraid. When we have the peace from God, then we will no longer fear and we can walk out of darkness. V1-2 ‘Now, brethren, concerning the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ and our gathering together to Him, we ask you, not to be soon shaken in mind or troubled, either by spirit or by word or by letter, as if from us, as though the day of Christ had come.’ Paul spoke out the darkness and confusion in the church of Thessalonica, they had been discussing what would happen when Jesus returned. It’s easy for us to be distracted from the Great Commandments from God because we often focus on the worldly teaching instead of the heart of God.
Jesus came not to enjoy this world, because He knew everything in this world is not eternal. Can we also live with the same attitude? Or do we only want to enjoy this world and avoid the calling from God? God called us to manage the world and Jesus called us to disciple the nation, but we waste time to talk about what would happen when Jesus returns. We must have a humble heart, do not try to be God, even Jesus did not know when He would return, therefore why do we think we will know?
V3-4 ‘Let no one deceive you by any means; for that Day will not come unless the falling away comes first, and the man of sin is revealed, the son of perdition, who opposes and exalts himself above all that is called God or that is worshiped, so that he sits as God in the temple of God, showing himself that he is God.’ What we want in our heart will cause us to reject the teaching given to us. When we don’t live under the fragrance of the Tree of Life, then we will easily be side-tracked and put our focus on the wrong things.
Section Two V8-12 To Discern To Really See
V8 ‘And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.’ These people did not know God and did not believe in God, and Paul was reminding the church to discern and recognise the works of the devil. We are here to work for Jesus, to preach the Gospel and to disciple the nation, whereas the work of the devil is for people to fall and make people the slaves of this world.
V9-10 ‘The coming of the lawless one is according to the working of Satan, with all power, signs, and lying wonders, and with all unrighteous deception among those who perish, because they did not receive the love of the truth, that they might be saved.’ The Word of God has power, and He will consume all the works of devil with the breath of His mouth. We must hold onto the Word of God, the true teaching we are given, and speak it to defeat all the lies of the devil.
Section Three V13-17 To Stand Firm
V13-14 ‘But we are bound to give thanks to God always for you, brethren beloved by the Lord, because God from the beginning chose you for salvation through sanctification by the Spirit and belief in the truth, to which He called you by our gospel, for the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.’ How can we stand firm? We must know that we are God’s beloved. Are we willing to follow God step by step? We always want to go faster and further, but we do not see God’s leading us one step at a time. We must be humble and receive the guidance of the Holy Spirit.
V15 ‘Therefore, brethren, stand fast and hold the traditions which you were taught, whether by word or our epistle.’ Paul told the church of Thessalonica that he has already wrote letters to them, but they chose not to listen and not to follow. What is it that we really want? We always want the things of the world, to go the easy way, instead of following the teaching of God. God has already prepared the path for us, it’s not the time for us to choose, but He has already shown the clear path for us! Stop seeking the materials of this world, but to arise and shine, preach the Gospel, disciple the nation, and win souls for God!
V16-17 ‘Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.’ We have been chasing after people, we want people to comfort us, to admire us, to recognise, and to praise us. But as Paul said, we have a loving Father, His love is more than anything of this world. We are not orphans, we are the army of God! Let us follow God, do not follow our worldly desires, but only God Himself!
帖撒罗尼迦后书 2 – 在黑暗中得平安
2023年2月16日 星期四
潘锡安牧师
我们要如何面对“黑暗”、“幽暗”？唯有得平安我们才能兴起发光，不被黑暗遮盖。
一、v.1-7 要真知道 要等候
V1-4 保罗说出帖撒罗尼迦教会所面临的“黑暗”- 他们一直在争论一个话题。我们很多时候会被一些似是而非的言论或事情影响，离开主耶稣给我们在世上的大使命。耶稣来不是在地上享受天堂的日子，而是为我们牺牲。我们是否忘了自己的使命，只享受大地却没有治理大地？连主耶稣都说自己不知道，我们就不要浪费时间或注意力去争论主降临的具体时候。
V5-7 我们的心和脑会“飘”，因为我们没有在生命树气息之下，一直在分辨善恶，就记不住主的教导。
二、v.8-12 要分辨 要真看见
V8-9 “不法的人”指的是那些没有蒙召、不认识神、不承认神话语的人。“运动”指的是法则。这些人帮助撒但工作，让世界沉沦，成为撒但的奴隶。神要让他的子民兴起发光，他的话就是两刃的刀，可以抵挡魔鬼一切的混乱和迷惑。神的光已经来到，我们还在醉生梦死吗？我们是否沉醉在世界里，被世上的谎言所模糊？我们蒙召，不是为了过物质界的生活，不是为了满足自己的情欲。圣经教导我们，要轻看这个世界，让神的旨意行在地上如同行在天上。
V10-12 我们很容易被神迹奇事吸引，只听那些有异能的人的话，然而，神吩咐我们要天天查考圣经。主耶稣给我们的大使命是门训万民, 我们若得到世界就丧掉生命。
三、v.13-17 要站立得稳
V13 保罗提醒教会，他们是神所爱的。他说他们“本该”为教会感谢神，因为神对他们的心意是“被圣灵感动，成为圣洁，能以得救”。圣灵帮助我们为罪为义为审判自我省察，有圣洁的生命，然而帖撒罗尼迦教会整天好奇的是那些神迹奇事，像追星一样去跟着那些行异能的人跑。我们里面的欲望让我们只想得到那些神奇的能力，却忘了耶稣已经给了我们一切权柄。
V14 我们是否知道在神放我们的“这地步”等候，还是我们不甘心、想要更多？
V15 帖撒罗尼迦教会不愿意去听去信保罗的“教训”，只想要他们心里所要的那些速成的东西，取易不取难。不要再用“自己没有预备好”做借口，因为神已经为我们预备好了，我们要兴起发光，为神得灵魂，门训万国，使万民做主的门徒。
V16-17 我们总希望从我们的权柄或其他人身上得到欣赏、称赞。然而，我们是有天父的，不是孤儿，我们不用追着人的爱去跑，要知道我们是“耶和华的军队”，是神国的精兵！神所训练的不是一群自怜自艾、软弱无能的人，他来召聚的是耶和华的军队，他是战士，是我们得胜的旌旗！