Characteristics of Those Counted Worthy 2 Thessalonians 1: 1-12

What does it mean to be ‘worthy’ — adjective. having worth or merit or value; being honorable or admirable.

What says that we are worthy of God’s Kingdom?

When? At the Revelation of the Lord Jesus.... v.7

The word ‘revelation’ reminds me of those special times that God revealed something new about who He is and how He did that. Amazingly, in John 1:1, 14 he tells us that Jesus existed before creation and had now come to live among us as a man. Here in Thessalonians, we are given a glimpse .... just a small bit about His righteous judgment.

This description of God’s judgment upon the earth are described as both at the ‘revelation of the Lord Jesus’ and ‘in that day.’ It says at His 2nd coming, Jesus will come with powerful angels, taking vengeance with flaming fire on those who do not know Him or in other words, have not relied upon Him and do not acknowledge Him.

v.9 These will pay the penalty of eternal destruction from the Lord’s presence.... some good synonyms for destruction are ruin and worthlessness. What happens to those who do not have the strength of God, nor His Glory with them, who do not have His presence in their lives. Is there any hope for them?

In v.10, these words are associated with a time; “in that day.” This phrase throughout the Bible is associated with God’s judgement. Interestingly, the judgment that takes place ‘in that day’ can be be one of two things: it can be blessing for those who are God’s children; or woe for those who do not know Him, or have outright rejected Him.

What have we, the church to look forward to ‘on that day?’ Thessalonians says, “in that day,” Jesus will be glorified by His saints and admired by all those who have believed. It will be a glorious day of worship; which is somewhat dependent upon what we do now. God calls us to be a church of certain characteristics; which I will disclose to you as I close this message from God’s Word.

Individually, let me ask you to think about this: ‘In that day,’ will it be a day of blessing for you; or will it be consequently, a day of woe?

What is God’s Righteous Judgement that will be Revealed at the Revelation of Jesus v. 5-7

v.7 talks about persecution and affliction. Certainly, there is a vast amount of discussion we could have regarding that topic of persecution and affliction; so do not take anymore from this than what is specifically spoken of here in this context; which is specifically: “the righteous judgment of God.” I might also preface these comments by saying: nobody on this created earth knows more about righteous judgments than God Himself. When it says, God’s judgment is righteous, it means His judgment is just. It refers to His justice in all matters.

So what does the Scripture tell us here? First, that two elements of God’s judgment ‘on that day’ at the revelation of Jesus will be righteous. In other words, there will be justice! (Blameless justice)

First, that God will repay those who do not acknowledge Him, and who are causing suffering and affliction now; with the same affliction and suffering. Or in that somewhat popular saying, “they will get a taste of their own medicine.”

Secondly, and for those who do know Jesus; God will give rest to the afflicted.

Paul says, that it is because you endure these persecutions and affliction; that it’s clear evidence of God’s judgement and that the church will be counted worthy of God’s kingdom.

So, today, are most people concerned with God’s righteous and Just judgments about almost anything; or are they themselves the authority on all matters? I think we live in a world in which human authority is given precedence. There has been an attempt at dismantling God’s word on every important point of Christian theology, and might I add, the supernatural acts of God. It started with questioning whether He really is the Creator. It continues with whether or not He has rightly judged humanity. I am here to tell you, He is the Creator, He is a Just Judge, and every single word in this book; which is His Word is truth. Men have no ground to question it; even as it is that we do, and learn from our mistakes.

What Are the Characteristics of those Counted Worthy.... v. 3, 4, 10

v. 3, A CHARACTERISTIC IS THAT THEIR FAITH IS FLOURISHING

Are you growing in your faith?

Where the rubber meets the road, do you care about what I am talking about right now?

Are you focusing on Jesus and becoming an imitator of Him?

Are you turning from idols in your life and focusing on Him?

These are the things that will lead to the flourishing of your faith!

Mothers, does your faith grow when you raise your child and you have fear about all the things that can happen? Grandmothers, do you have a different perspective about that that kind of faith? Grandmothers, is your perspective about faith in the raising of children different than your daughters? How so?

And yet God is from everlasting to everlasting! There is not anything that He is not perfectly familiar with. There is no error that He cannot forgive. There is not any prosperity or adversity that He does not understand. There is nowhere where you go that He is not acquainted with? This is where your faith can grow! Can you trust Him more today than you did yesterday? The apostle Paul used to say, “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced” 2 Tim 1:12 that the promises that God has made will come to fruition. He had a growing and flourishing faith.

Favorite Illustrations (Faithfulness)

There are no crown-wearers in heaven that were not cross-bearers here below.—Charles Haddon Spurgeon

What will you do to increase your faith?

v. 3, A CHARACTERISTIC IS THAT THEIR LOVE FOR ONE ANOTHER IS INCREASING

Do you even care about the individual sitting next to you in church?

How can you show that you do?

This next question might highlight why an increasing love is important in church. What might be evidence that as a church, our love is increasing for one another? ....

Why does an increasing love matter? The reason is that our love for one another is glorifying to Him and His Church. Our love of each other is evidence that we too, love our savior. Love of others is combat against self-centeredness.

Further, love demonstrates faith! 1 John 4:18-19 says, “There is no fear in love; instead, perfect love drives out fear, because fear involves punishment. So the one who fears has not reached perfection in love. 19 We love because He first loved us.” An increasing faith requires love of others. There is no fear in love, there is no ‘unbelief’; so your faith is developed in love. Because Jesus first loved us; so we can love others. We love Jesus by loving others.

In Thess. 1:3, Paul calls it a ‘labor of love.’ In Gal 5:6, “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision accomplishes anything; what matters is faith working through love.” Its not about who is correct… its about who loves.

What will you do to show love to your neighbor?

v. 4, A CHARACTERISTIC WAS THEIR ENDURANCE THROUGH AFFLICTION

As the church’s love and faith increase, it is going to endure suffering (affliction and persecution).

God recognizes that you are enduring persecution and affliction and that you will be rewarded with rest. Your endurance is contributes to the glory of the whole church body and consequently, God’s glory; just as Jesus’ suffering on the cross was also His Glory. Jesus has not called us to go where He has not already gone. Alexander the Great demonstrated this:

300 Sermon Illustrations from Charles Spurgeon (He Walks with the Soldiers (Matthew 11:28–29; Acts 9:4; 22:7; 26:14; Romans 5:3; 2 Corinthians 1:4; Philippians 2:7–8))

Alexander was a great master of men, and one of the reasons why all his soldiers loved him so enthusiastically was that, if they were on a long march, Alexander did not ride, but tramped along in the heat and dust with the common soldiery. And when the day was hot, and they brought his majesty water, he put it aside and said, “The sick soldiers want it more than I. I will not drink until every soldier has a drink.”So is it with Christ. In all our afflictions he is afflicted, and he will not have joy until he gives joy to his people. Yes, he has done more than Alexander, for he emptied himself of all his glories, and gave himself to die upon the cross, and consummated the redemption of his people by his own agonies.

That Glory was not only realized because of Jesus’ work on the cross; but because of the testimony given about His work on the cross. It says in v. 10, Jesus will be glorified BECAUSE OF YOUR TESTIMONY TO OTHERS (“in that day when He comes to be glorified by His saints and to be admired by all those who have believed, BECAUSE OUR TESTIMONY AMONG YOU WAS BELIEVED.”

Paul sums up these three things in introduction of 1 Thessalonians: faith, love, and endurance.

The Holman Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

We always thank God for all of you, remembering you constantly in our prayers. 3 We recall, in the presence of our God and Father, your work of faith, labor of love, and endurance of hope in our Lord Jesus Christ, 4 knowing your election, •brothers loved by God.

And in the letter to the church at Thyatira *Rev 2:19, it noted similar characteristics: The writer says, “I know your works—your love, faithfulness, service, and endurance.” Notice..... their faithfulness, love, and endurance is what mattered.

Paul goes further and says, because you (church) have these characteristics, “that God will consider you worthy of His calling, and will, by His power, fulfill every desire for goodness and the work of faith, so that the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified by you (2 Thess 1:11-12).”

Invitation:

In conclusion, it is not the faith, love, and endurance as a work per say, that makes us worthy. In other words, these three things are not a formula for being worthy.

What makes us worthy? It is our trust and faith in Jesus that makes us worthy. It is when we rely upon Jesus, acknowledge Him in our lives and focus on Him in our lives that ensures we are worthy of His calling.

In other words, the faith love, and endurance that Paul mentions that existed in the Thessalonian church was a result of knowing Jesus. That is what made them worthy of His kingdom, come the judgment at His revelation.

1000 Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching (Faith in Afterlife?)

In an interview with Dotson Rader (Parade, March 6, 1983), Bette Davis declared:I keep wondering how it will all end. I keep making bets about how I will finally go. I’m curious whether it will be in an airplane or somewhere else. I don’t want to miss anything, that’s why I would hate to die. I’m very religious, though I’ve never been a big churchgoer. Being a working woman, I decided God would allow me Sundays off. I also have a deep belief that most truly religious people aren’t found in church. I don’ believe in an afterlife. No, I believe we have our heaven and hell here, and then it’s over.

If you ask me, I say that’s a sad commentary. The Bible tells us about a greater hope that only made possible because of Jesus. We may all contemplate our existence and wonder how it will end; but its not about who is hanging around the church building on Sunday, about our generalization of whether church is full of truly religious people. It’s not about our idea of an authoritative view of the judgment and afterlife.

Pray with me today......

There is only one way to be considered worthy of God’s kingdom, and that is through God’s grace extended through faith in Jesus.

So, will you know Him today? Will you receive Him into your heart?

Will you have faith that He can do what He says He can?

Will you give Him control of your life?