Message Notes

MORNING WORSHIP 25 October 2020
Text: 2 Thessalonians 2-3
Title: Confidence of Standing Fast

INTRODUCTION

1. The Faith of the Thessalonians

a) A genuine faith

b) A growing faith

c) A great faith

2. The Means to cultivate such an outstanding faith

a) God’s part

i) Through salvation in the Lord Jesus Christ

ii) Through the Spirit of God

iii) Through the Word of God

b) The part of God’s servants

i) The Apostles

ii) The pastors/ teachers

iii) Their lives

c) The part of the individual

i) Faith, Love, Hope

ii) Patience, Perseverance, Endurance

iii) Seeking to be established in the faith

EXTERNAL CHALLENGES

1. Persecution

a) Afflictions

b) Trials

2. Problems caused by False teachers

a) Doubts about the dead in Christ

b) Doubts about the Second Coming of Christ

INTERNAL CHALLENGES WITHIN THE CHURCH

1. Disorderly brethren (2 Thessalonians 3:6-11)

a) They do not work (2 Thessalonians 3:11b)

b) They are busybodies (2 Thessalonians 3:11c)

c) Social tension can arise

d) Quarrels among the brethren can affect the Church

2. Dealing with such brethren

a) Withdraw from such brethren (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

b) Remember good examples (Paul) (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

c) Wrong approaches can adversely affect the church too

3. The kind of admonishment to be given

a) Not as an enemy (2 Thessalonians 3:13a)

b) But as a brother (2 Thessalonians 3:13b)

4. The strong Christ-like spirit must be adopted

a) A call to exercise love

b) The challenge to exercise forgiveness

c) The need to cultivate the following

i) Patience

ii) Longsuffering

iii) Kindness

iv) Graciousness

CONFIDENCE OF STANDING FAST IN THE LORD

1. Confidence defined

a) Persuaded (Past)

i) Persuasion in the Lord

ii) Definite and deep

b) Persuaded (Present)

i) Certain

ii) Clear

2. Established Faith (2 Thessalonians 3:3)

a) God will establish

b) God will guard

3. Confidence expressed (2 Thessalonians 3:4)

a) Spoken out-loud

b) Shared openly

c) Convinced

i) By what God has done

ii) By what God continues to do

iii) By what is evidenced in the life of the Thessalonians

EVERY ENCOURAGEMENT TO STAND FAST

1. Not to grow weary in doing good (2 Thessalonians 3:13)

a) All too easy to grow weary

b) Loss of spiritual sight

c) Loss of energy

d) Giving up

2. The Peace of God (2 Thessalonians 3:16)

a) Always

i) In the here and now

ii) In the future

iii) In real-time

b) In every way

i) Heart

ii) Mind

iii) Spirit

CONCLUSION

1. Our faith in the Lord

a) Genuine

b) Great

2. Our Challenge to Cultivate this faith in the Lord

a) Personal

b) As a Church

3. Features hoped for

a) An outstanding faith

b) A faith that reaches out to many

c) A faith that will bring glory to the Lord