****2 thessalonians 1:1-5

Build on a Firm Foundation

FOUNDATION

2 Thessalonians 1:1–5 (NRSV)

1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of everyone of you for one another is increasing. 4 Therefore we ourselves boast of you among the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith during all your persecutions and the afflictions that you are enduring. 5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, and is intended to make you worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering.

Jesus has warned believers: if they build their lives on sand, the storms of life will wash them away (Matthew 7:26–27). This vivid point has been illustrated time and again by those who have built expensive homes on the beach.

Years ago, a man ignored the advice of his financial counselor and his building contractor. He invested a good part of his life’s savings in building a magnificent home with a great view of the ocean. For him, the closer to the ocean the better. In fact, he built his home right on the beach.

When storm season arrived, a devastating hurricane hit and totally destroyed his home. As he surveyed his loss, a reporter asked him: “Why did you take the risk of building your home so close to the water?” With a heavy heart he replied, “I just never thought a storm would hit this beach in my lifetime.”

Contrary to some popular beliefs, Christians are not exempt from the storms of life. We have no choice about some of the storms that come our way, but we do have a choice about where we build our lives: on the solid Rock of Jesus Christ or upon the shifting sands of this world.

Being in Good Spiritual Shape

SPIRITUAL STRENGTH

2 Thessalonians 1:1–5

(POSB: Introduction)

You have probably heard the phrase “No pain, no gain.” If you want to strengthen your body, there is a certain amount of suffering that figures into the equation. In order to get into shape, you cannot just rest on the sofa and stare at an exercise video. You must decide what is important to you and then ask yourself this question: “Is the gain worth the pain?”

You can tell the importance of being in shape every time you climb several flights of stairs or run at break-neck speed in order to catch your connecting flight at the airport. If you are not in shape, you wheeze and hold your side in pain; if you are in shape you are comfortable and take it all in stride. Your choice to endure exercise, to endure the stress on your body, paid off when your body was called upon to perform.

The same is true with a church: a church is either strong or weak. And never is a church’s spiritual strength more evident than when under savage attack or persecution. At such times believers must stand fast, be faithful, growing in the grace and peace of God