Sermon Central
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Stand Firm Series
Contributed by Rev. Dr. Andrew B Natarajan on Jul 19, 2021 (message contributor)
Summary: Paul calls the readers of the Thessalonians to stand firm in giving thanks for others, stand firm in holding on to the teachings of Christ, and doing the good deeds and speaking with good words.
Stand Firm
The Lord is good; His love endures forever.
Introduction: Context of Thessalonica: Thessalonica city was founded about 315 BC by General Cassander worked under Alexander the Great, later became the king of Macedonia. Thessalonica was a daughter of Philip II of Macedon, and she was also the half-sister of Alexander and became the wife of Cassander too! (ref:jesuswalk.com).
Originally, Thessalonica was an ancient town named Thermai, meaning “Hot Springs” (ref:bible.org). Thessalonica was a capital of the Roman province of Macedonia and a major Mediterranean natural seaport. People from nearby villages had an attraction towards it due to the trade centre and school of philosophy. It had natural resources of timber, grain, continental fruits, gold and silver. It was a self-governed free city. As its citizens were Roman citizens, it was exempt from paying tribute to Rome.
Relation of Paul to this City:
The church at Thessalonica was founded by Paul along with Timothy and Silas, during his Second Missionary Journey in AD 50. This Church had believers from Jewish faith (Acts 17:4), and Gentile faith (1 Thess. 1:9–10). It had wealthy persons, like Jason, Aristarchus, and several leading women (Acts 17:4, 6–7; 20:4). Yet, it has largely consisted of manual labourers and slaves (1 Thess. 4:11). Paul here mentions that he used to thank God for the blessings of the Thessalonians.
Paul wrote to Thessalonians to emphasise the Second Coming of Christ. His main theme has communicated through 2 Thessalonians 3:5. He talks about the Lawless man and the coming judgement upon those people.
STAND FIRM
Paul calls the readers of the Thessalonians to stand firm in giving thanks for others, stand firm in holding on to the teachings of Christ, and doing the good deeds and speaking with good words.
1. Stand Firm to Give thanks for others - 2 Thessalonians 2:13-14
Give thanks for the sevenfold spiritual blessings and as well as for the several temporal blessing. God called us, loved us, God has chosen us before the formation of the World, made to believe the Truth, saved us in Christ, sanctified us through Holy Spirit, and called us to share the glory of Jesus Christ.
So, STAND FIRM during trials, temptations and persecutions till the Lord comes to this world, with eternity in mind and God’s time for everything in our lives. Paul emphasis the working faith in 1 Thessalonians 1:3. Which, demands the total life response to the commands and promises of the God who renews us and empowers us through his Spirit in our daily lives (1 Thess. 4:1–8).
Even Peter challenges the diaspora to stand firm (1 Peter 5:6-10. When we go through sickness and troubles, and afflictions, we seek the mercy of God. We also need to pray for others who also have the same matters as us.
Paul gives thanks to the believers in Thessalonica for their spiritual blessings and sailing through the problems.
Teachers and lecturers may be in the same position for many years or till their retirement. But their students may grow taller and taller in their lives, and they may be blessed highly. They rejoice over the development of their students.
Likewise, Ministers of God lead people to Christ, when they pray for their needs: such as, jobs, purchase of vehicles, acquiring plots and flats or anything maybe for that matter. When they had blessed with such blessings, that gives immense joy and excitement to the minsters too!.
Ministers or servants of God may not at par with their believers with their economic status and other facilities, but, they rejoice when they see their members had blessed with all that needed for their lives and exalted and promoted in their high ranks. Here Paul reflects the same pastoral mind. Christian maturity leads to standing firm in giving thanks to God for the blessedness of others.
But, “For most of us, we often give thanks for things that God has given us or has done in our lives. Many times we may have been thankful to God for good things accrued to us. It is about my comforts, achievements, desires, etc. (ref: thefellowship.site). When was the last time you have been thankful to God for the good things that God bestows on others?
Generally, people get jealousy, and they compare with themselves and react differently, even siblings lost the sense and heart thanking God for the development of one another. Let’s rejoice with those rejoicing.
Gill Comments: ‘Saints are not only to bless God’s name for what they receive from him, but for what others enjoy also, and that continually, the characters which show them to be different from the followers of antichrist.’
In Luke 1:58 we read that Elizabeth’s neighbours and her cousins heard how the Lord had shown great mercy upon her, and they rejoiced with her. Rejoice with those who rejoice (Romans 12:15).
