Closing Admonitions (2)

2 Thessalonians 3:1-18

2 Thessalonians 3:1–18 (NLT)

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.

5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.

7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.

9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.

15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

17 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. I do this in all my letters to prove they are from me.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

INTRODUCTION:

I. Pray and Be Patient (2 Thessalonians 3:1–5)

2 Thessalonians 3:1–5 (NLT)

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.

5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

A- Pray for Church Leaders. (2 Thessalonians 3:1-2)

2 Thessalonians 3:1–2 (NLT)

1 Finally, dear brothers and sisters, we ask you to pray for us. Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored wherever it goes, just as when it came to you.

2 Pray, too, that we will be rescued from wicked and evil people, for not everyone is a believer.

1- Pray for church leaders.

2- Pray that the Lord’s message will spread rapidly and be honored everywhere.

3- Pray for the safety of God’s servants.

B- Patiently trust in the Lord. (2 Thessalonians 3:3-5)

2 Thessalonians 3:3–5 (NLT)

3 But the Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.

4 And we are confident in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we commanded you.

5 May the Lord lead your hearts into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ.

1- God is faithful to his children.

2- The Lord is the source of our confidence.

3- We need to trust in the Lord to do His work.

II. Work If You Want to Eat (2 Thessalonians 3:6–13)

2 Thessalonians 3:6–13 (NLT)

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.

7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.

9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

A- The principle to follow. (2 Thessalonians 3:6)

2 Thessalonians 3:6 (NLT)

6 And now, dear brothers and sisters, we give you this command in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ: Stay away from all believers who live idle lives and don’t follow the tradition they received from us.

(Παραγγέλλομεν δὲ ὑμῖν, ἀδελφοί, ἐν ὀνόματι τοῦ κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ στέλλεσθαι ὑμᾶς ἀπὸ παντὸς ἀδελφοῦ ἀτάκτως περιπατοῦντος καὶ μὴ κατὰ τὴν παράδοσιν ἣν παρελάβοσαν παρʼ ἡμῶν.)

1- The principle is a command (Παραγγέλλομεν) from the Lord.

2- Withdraw fellowship from (στέλλεσθαι) lazy fellow believers who refuse to obey biblical teaching (παράδοσιν).

B- The personal example to emulate. (2 Thessalonians 3:7-9)

2 Thessalonians 3:7–9 (NLT)

7 For you know that you ought to imitate us. We were not idle when we were with you.

8 We never accepted food from anyone without paying for it. We worked hard day and night so we would not be a burden to any of you.

9 We certainly had the right to ask you to feed us, but we wanted to give you an example to follow.

1- We should follow the examples set by godly leaders.

2- Godly leaders should set an example of diligence.

(1 Thes. 2:9–12; Acts 20:33–35)

1 Thessalonians 2:9–12 (NLT)

9 Don’t you remember, dear brothers and sisters, how hard we worked among you? Night and day we toiled to earn a living so that we would not be a burden to any of you as we preached God’s Good News to you.

10 You yourselves are our witnesses—and so is God—that we were devout and honest and faultless toward all of you believers.

11 And you know that we treated each of you as a father treats his own children.

12 We pleaded with you, encouraged you, and urged you to live your lives in a way that God would consider worthy. For he called you to share in his Kingdom and glory.

Acts 20:33–35 (NLT)

33 “I have never coveted anyone’s silver or gold or fine clothes.

34 You know that these hands of mine have worked to supply my own needs and even the needs of those who were with me.

35 And I have been a constant example of how you can help those in need by working hard. You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ ”

C- The problem to avoid. (2 Thessalonians 3:10-13)

2 Thessalonians 3:10–13 (NLT)

10 Even while we were with you, we gave you this command: “Those unwilling to work will not get to eat.”

11 Yet we hear that some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and meddling in other people’s business.

12 We command such people and urge them in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ to settle down and work to earn their own living.

13 As for the rest of you, dear brothers and sisters, never get tired of doing good.

1- Avoid laziness.

(1 Thess. 5:14)

1 Thessalonians 5:14 (NLT)

14 Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.

2- Get busy and work.

(Col. 4:5)

Colossians 4:5 (NLT)

5 Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity.

3- Keep on doing good.

III. Hear the Word and Do It (2 Thessalonians 3:14–18)

2 Thessalonians 3:14–18 (NLT)

14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.

15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

17 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. I do this in all my letters to prove they are from me.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

A- Take note of the teachings of scripture and those who are disobedient. (2 Thessalonians 3:14-15)

2 Thessalonians 3:14–15 (NLT)

14 Take note of those who refuse to obey what we say in this letter. Stay away from them so they will be ashamed.

15 Don’t think of them as enemies, but warn them as you would a brother or sister.

1- Don’t encourage those who refuse to follow godly teaching.

2- Warn those who refuse to obey scriptural teaching.

(James 1:22–27).

James 1:22–27 (NLT)

22 But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

23 For if you listen to the word and don’t obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror.

24 You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like.

25 But if you look carefully into the perfect law that sets you free, and if you do what it says and don’t forget what you heard, then God will bless you for doing it.

26 If you claim to be religious but don’t control your tongue, you are fooling yourself, and your religion is worthless.

27 Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you.

B- Take note of Paul’s example of praying for others. (2 Thessalonians 3:16-18)

2 Thessalonians 3:16–18 (NLT)

16 Now may the Lord of peace himself give you his peace at all times and in every situation. The Lord be with you all.

17 Here is my greeting in my own handwriting—Paul. I do this in all my letters to prove they are from me.

18 May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.

1- Paul prays for spiritual peace for the Thessalonians.

CONCLUSION: