Worthy of the Kingdom of God
Blameless at His Coming: A Sanctified Church Awaiting a Promised Savior • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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· 6 views(Main point: Sanctification comes through suffering.) In his second letter, Paul praised the Thessalonians for their steadfastness “in all [their] persecutions and in the afflictions that [they were] enduring.” Paul said their suffering was making them, “worthy of the kingdom of God.” Suffering is an important part of the process of sanctification. Of course, none of us relish suffering, but if we desire to be worthy of the kingdom, then we ought to “consider it all joy” when we suffer, because it can shape us into kingdom people.
Notes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
Maybe you’ve heard people talk about the “kingdom of God” or the “kingdom of heaven” and not really know what people meant by that.
* Some people assume it’s heaven.
* Some people assume it’s the church.
* Some people talk about it in the future.
* Some people talk about it in the present.
“In a sense, they are all right…”
The kingdom is God’s uncontested rule and reign and the inheritance of God’s people.
The kingdom is God’s uncontested rule and reign and the inheritance of God’s people.
Can you imagine a NATION, KINGDOM, EMPIRE, WORLD in which the sole ruler is God?
No one disobeys him
Everyone loves and adores him
Everyone is as loyal to him as Jesus
EveryTHING serves him out of joy and gratitude
No tears, no mourning, no crying, no death, no cancer, no disease, NO SIN
That perfect world is the inheritance of God’s people.
Almost sounds too good to be true, doesn’t it?
Who is WORTHY to inherit a world in which God rules and reigns without rivals?
Who is WORTHY to inherit a world in which God rules and reigns without rivals?
The answer might surprise you, because it has to do with persecution.
Before jump into 2 Thessalonians, we need to know…
Biblical Text:
Biblical Text:
How did the early church think about persecution?
How did the early church think about persecution?
“Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Matthew 5:10).
(After they were beaten) “They left the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer dishonor for the name” (Acts 5:41).
(After Paul was stoned and left for dead) “Through many tribulations we must enter the kingdom of God” (Acts 14:22).
We are “heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him” (Romans 8:17).
“This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17).
“All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Timothy 2:12).
“If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you” (1 Peter 4:14).
The early church considered persecution…
The early church considered persecution…
an unavoidable aspect of pursuing God’s kingdom
a blessing to be received with joy and gratitude
a sign of God’s favor
So, what does persecution have to do with being worthy to inherit the kingdom of God?
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 ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing.
Your faith is growing abundantly
Your love for one another is increasing
4 Therefore we ourselves boast about you in the churches of God for your steadfastness and faith in all your persecutions and in the afflictions that you are enduring. 5 This is evidence of the righteous judgment of God, that you may be considered worthy of the kingdom of God, for which you are also suffering—
“this is evidence” of God’s righteous judgment - what is evidence?
steadfastness and faith OR
persecutions and afflictions
could be both, but probably the latter
considered worthy
the cross turns our perspective of suffering upside down
NOT evidence
God hates you
God has abandoned you
God has disqualified you
It IS evidence that they are considered worthy of God’s kingdom
This doesn’t mean the UN-PERSECUTED are UNWORTHY,
but it does mean we should be willing to suffer for Christ
we should see it as an honor if that day comes for us
we should understand that there is sanctifying value in suffering
6 since indeed God considers it just to repay with affliction those who afflict you, 7 and to grant relief to you who are afflicted as well as to us, when the Lord Jesus is revealed from heaven with his mighty angels 8 in flaming fire, inflicting vengeance on those who do not know God and on those who do not obey the gospel of our Lord Jesus.
An encouragement to persecuted Christians
leave it to God’s wrath
God will take care of them
don’t fight for yourselves, God will fight for you
What would have happened if the Israelites
refused to walk around the walls of Jericho, they wanted to launch stones instead?
refused to blow their trumpets, when they followed Gideon, they wanted to attack instead?
9 They will suffer the punishment of eternal destruction, away from the presence of the Lord and from the glory of his might, 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed.
It’s hard to know what is more devastating…
eternal destruction
away from the presence of the Lord
But God’s people will…
glorify him
marvel at him
11 To this end we always pray for you, that our God may make you worthy of his calling and may fulfill every resolve for good and every work of faith by his power, 12 so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
To this end…
because that day is coming
we pray that our God…
may make you worthy of his calling”
may fulfill your every desire for good and every work of faith by his power
according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ
Becoming worthy of the kingdom / worthy of his calling
is the work of God
it is according to grace
but we need to pray for it and surrender to it
Application:
Application:
It’s one thing to acknowledge that we are a “work in progress,”
It’s another thing to submit to the process of making progress
Are you submitting to God’s sanctifying work, which is preparing you to share in his kingdom?
Are you submitting to God’s sanctifying work, which is preparing you to share in his kingdom?
God can use all sorts of things to sanctify us
Bible study
worship
painful circumstances
God didn’t create the painful circumstances
but he can use them
if we allow him to refine us through them
Invitation:
Invitation:
Baptism is only the beginning of our journey
We have to become the people God has called us to be
