Divine Provision for Desperate Days 2Thess 3
Divine Provision for Desperate Days
Text: 2 Thess. 3:1-5
I. The Reality of Wicked/Evil Men - 3:1-3
(2 Th 3:1-3 NIV) Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. {2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. {3} But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
A. The Denial
Human belief that all people are by nature good.
Evolution
Liberal theologians
Post-modern culture
B. The Testimony of History
1. Hitler
2. Stalin - killed 38 million
3. Mao - killed 80
4. Pol Pot - killed 1/3 of citizens of Cambodia
5. Saddam Hussein
6. Islamic Terrorism
Samuel G. Freedman writing in USA Today, December 23, 2002 states:
“Neither an ideological nor a military war against the Islamists can be won without recognizing the fact of anti-Christian hatred. Yet, time after time, American leaders in media, religion and politics have downplayed the inescapable conclusion, as if the worthy goals of interfaith tolerance, ecumenical dialogue and diplomatic alliance require rationalizing away atrocities.
The very phrase ‘war on terror’ skits reality. . . . Osama bin Laden’s own words could not be any more direct. Al Qaeda merged with Egyptian Islamic Jihad in 1998 -- before the collapse of the Middle East peace process, before the election of George W. Bush -- under the name ‘World Islamic Front for Holy War Against Jews and Crusaders.’
‘There are two parties to this conflict,’ bin Laden told al Jazeera in 1998, ‘world Christianity’ and ‘the Islamic world.’ Repeatedly, al Qaeda has described its enemy as the ‘Jewish Crusade coalition.’”
7. Average people
Child abandonment
How can a mother abandon her baby? It goes completely against nature. In 1991 there were 65-child abandonment’s in America. By 1998 that number had nearly doubles to 105. Child abandonment has become so rampant in America that 23 states have now enacted “Disposable Baby” laws to encourage parents to abandon their babies safely. In Europe there are drop off chutes to make abandonment accessible.
C. The Testimony of Scripture
Why is man so cruel? The answer is found in Genesis 3.
The Fall of Man
The Fall of the human race into a state of sin and misery is the basis of the biblical doctrine of God’s great salvation. The Bible teaches that man is totally ruined -- that he is in a state of guilt and depravity from which he is utterly unable to deliver himself, and that God would be completely just leaving him in that state to perish.
1. Sinner by chance - Rom. 5:12, 18-19
Eve’s Sin - Deceived - 1 Tim. 2:14
(1 Tim 2:14 NIV) And Adam was not the one deceived; it was the woman who was deceived and became a sinner.
Men would like to blame all the troubles of the human race on women. That’s what Adam did.
(Gen 3:11-13 NIV) And he said, "Who told you that you were naked? Have you eaten from the tree that I commanded you not to eat from?" {12} The man said, "The woman you put here with me--she gave me some fruit from the tree, and I ate it." {13} Then the LORD God said to the woman, "What is this you have done?" The woman said, "The serpent deceived me, and I ate."
Men have been blaming women ever since.
Adam’s Sin - Willful and deliberate
In full consciousness of what he was doing and with perfect realization of the solemn consequences, Adam deliberately chose to follow his wife in her act of sinful disobedience.
Warburton states:
“It was this deliberate willfulness of man’s sin which constituted its heinous character. Had Adam been attacked by Satan, and forced to yield through some overwhelming power being brought against him, we might have tried to find some excuse for his fall. But when, with eyes wide open, and with mind perfectly conscious and fully aware of the awful nature of his act, he used his free will to respond to the claims of the creature in defiance of the Creator, no excuse can be found for his fall. His act, in reality, was willful, defiant rebellion, and by it openly transferred his allegiance from God to Satan.” (Warburton, Calvinism, p. 34. Quoted in Loraine Boettner, The Reformed Doctrine of Predestination, Eerdmans, 1954, pp. 73-74).
Why does the Bible say that sin came into the human race through Adam if Eve was the first sinner? Here is a critical doctrine that sets the Bible apart from modern culture and all false religions.
The Imputation of Adam’s Sin to his Posterity - Romans 5:12, 18-19
(Rom 5:12 NIV) Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, and in this way death came to all men, because all sinned--
(Rom 5:18-19 NIV) Consequently, just as the result of one trespass was condemnation for all men, so also the result of one act of righteousness was justification that brings life for all men. {19} For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
The Bible describes the human heart as:
a. Blind - 2 Cor. 4:4
(2 Cor 4:4 NIV) The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
b. Hard - Ezek. 11:19; 36:16
(Ezek 11:19 NIV) I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh.
(Ezek 36:16 NIV) Again the word of the LORD came to me:
c. Dead - Eph. 2:1-5
(Eph 2:1-5 NIV) As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, {2} in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. {3} All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath. {4} But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, {5} made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions--it is by grace you have been saved.
d. Lawless - Rom. 8:7-8 (Unable to submit to the law of God)
(Rom 8:7-8 NIV) the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so. {8} Those controlled by the sinful nature cannot please God.
e. Angry - Eph. 2:3 (By nature the children of wrath)
(Eph 2:3 NIV) All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our sinful nature and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature objects of wrath.
f. Deceitful - Jer. 17:9
(Jer 17:9 KJV) The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
2. Sinner by choice -
a. God is holy demands holiness - 1 Peter 1:15-16; Lev. 11:44-45; 19:2; 20:7; Hab. 1:13
(1 Pet 1:15-16 NIV) But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; {16} for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy."
b. We miss the mark of God’s perfection - Rom 3:23
(Rom 3:23 NIV) for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,
c. We are lawless - Rom 3:10-18
(Rom 3:10-18 NIV) As it is written: "There is no one righteous, not even one; {11} there is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. {12} All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one." {13} "Their throats are open graves; their tongues practice deceit." "The poison of vipers is on their lips." {14} "Their mouths are full of cursing and bitterness." {15} "Their feet are swift to shed blood; {16} ruin and misery mark their ways, {17} and the way of peace they do not know." {18} "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
3. The penalty is eternal death - Rom. 6:23; Rev. 20:6, 14-15
(Rom 6:23 NIV) For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.
(Rev 20:6 NIV) Blessed and holy are those who have part in the first resurrection. The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with him for a thousand years.
(Rev 20:14-15 NIV) Then death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. The lake of fire is the second death. {15} If anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.
II. The Response to Wicked/Evil Men
A. Pray - 3:1-2
(2 Th 3:1-2 NIV) Finally, brothers, pray for us that the message of the Lord may spread rapidly and be honored, just as it was with you. {2} And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith.
1. Personal deliverance
2. Corporate deliverance
Praying for others lightens one’s own burden. The Apostles needed prayer too. They needed prayer for their ministry, the preaching of the Gospel. They also needed prayer for deliverance from the enemies of the gospel -- evil and wicked men and the evil one. As they went from city to city the opponents of Christianity tried to frustrate their efforts. Paul had shared this with the Thessalonians in Acts 17:5-9. The enemies were wicked (atoponI = perverse) and evil (poneronI = actively harmful).
Pray for the spiritual. Pray for the strong. Pray for spiritual leaders - pastors, national leaders, teachers, etc. Satan raises his biggest guns at spiritual leaders.
3. National deliverance
Pray for the president, his cabinet and advisors. Pray for congress. Pray for world leaders.
B. Preach
1. Personal soul-winning
It is not enough for professional spiritual soldiers to fight in the battle. Every believer is to be in the battle. The word command that Paul uses in verse four is a military order passed down from a superior officer. Paul used it in 1 Thessalonians 4:2 and repeated it in 2 Thessalonians 3:4, 6, 10, 12. Christ is our Commander-in-chief and He passes the orders down to us. It is not enough for just the officers to fight, every soldier must do his duty.
Illustration: What if an army were run the way some local churches are? If the soldiers attended drill whenever they felt like it or if the troops disobeyed their officers, they would never win a battle.
2. Corporate evangelism
Too much of what is done in the church today is accomplished by human plans and promotion. We tend to trust our programs rather than preach the Word. If God created and sustains the universe by His Word, surely He can accomplish His work today by His Word. But preaching is too often replaced by the entertainment of the world. D. Donald Coggan Archbishop of Canterbury, has said of Christian pastors: “It is their task to feed the sheep -- not to entertain the goats.”
The answer to Islamic terrorism, Saddam Hussein and other wicked people is the gospel of Christ. Jesus said we are to love our enemies. We need to send missionaries to them.
How tragic to grow up without the opportunity to hear the gospel.
Example: My resent trip to Poland and the villages where my grandfather and grandmother were born. If my grandfather had not immigrated to the United States, I might not be saved today.
(1 Cor 15:34 KJV) Awake to righteousness, and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame.
C. Promise
1. God’s Promise - 3:3
The Lord is Faithful
(2 Th 3:3 NIV) But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
Rather than being distraught over the enemies of the gospel, the Thessalonian church was confident because their confidence was in the faithfulness of God rather than themselves. The character of God should always be our confidence and not ourselves. Because God had promised to supply the believer’s needs, Paul had confidence that God would provide strength to withstand the temptation and trials and protection from both the devil and his emissaries. Note the reference to evil men in 2 Thess. 3:2 and the evil one in verse three.
(2 Th 3:2-3 NIV) And pray that we may be delivered from wicked and evil men, for not everyone has faith. {3} But the Lord is faithful, and he will strengthen and protect you from the evil one.
2. Our Promise - 3:4-5
(2 Th 3:4-5 NIV) We have confidence in the Lord that you are doing and will continue to do the things we command. {5} May the Lord direct your hearts into God's love and Christ's perseverance.
Paul also had confidence because of his belief that the Thessalonians would obey his instructions.
a. Obedience
b. Love
This prayer-wish of the apostle came from his growing appreciation of God’s love for the Thessalonians and their increasing love for God during increasing trials. When we meditate on the love of God and the patient endurance of Christ’s sufferings we in turn are motivated to obey God’s Word and to endure trials patiently.
c. Patience
The word direct in verse five means to “clear away the obstacles.” It is also used in verse 1 Thessalonians 3:11.
(1 Th 3:11 NIV) Now may our God and Father himself and our Lord Jesus clear the way for us to come to you.
It is God who clears the obstacles that hinder us in loving Him and having the patience that He wants us to have.
Soldiers obey out of fear and loyalty for their commanding officers. Christ’s soldiers obey out of love and patience awaiting His return.
Conclusion:
The answer for desperate days is more love for Christ.
More Love to Thee
Elizabeth Prentiss
More love to Thee, O Christ, more love to Thee! Hear Thou the prayer I make on bended knee; this is my earnest plea: More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Once earthly joy I craved, sought peace and rest; now Thee alone I seek—give what is best; this all my prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Let sorrow do its work, send grief and pain; sweet are Thy messengers, sweet their refrain, when they can sing with me, more love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee, more love to Thee!
Then shall my latest breath whisper Thy praise; this be the parting cry my heart shall raise; this still its prayer shall be: More love, O Christ, to Thee, more love to Thee, more love to Thee!